Country Living November 2015

If I’m going to make one thing this Thanksgiving, it’s this: a promise that my family will keep all phones away from the dinner table. Growing up, I spent almost every Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle’s home in Lanett, Alabama, and one of my favorite memories of those Thanksgivings past (besides Grandma Z’s cornbread dressing) is the convivial conversation that happened around the table after the meal—and the honest-to-goodness laughing out loud long before there was ever LOL. No, this year that warm post-turkey glow will not be replaced with the glare of a screen, the only apps will involve crostini (page 95), and I will fight all urges to share a photo of the S’mores Galette (page 100) on Instagram (as share-worthy as it is!). I realize that…

1. “Leftovers!” LAUREN TAYLOR, BRISTOL, PA 2. “Meals enjoyed out in the crisp autumn air.” BECCA SNIDER, CARY, NC 3. “Backyard bonfires, harvest festivals, and decorating my house in fall colors.” KATHY MILLER, SAN ANTONIO, TX 4. “Long, cool walks with my pups.” ALISON HUNT, ELLIJAY, GA 5. “Drinking hot cocoa and wearing comfy, oversize sweats.” NICOLE SIROTA, ST. PAUL, MN 6. “The days are shorter and the sunsets more beautiful.” JANICE COBLE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 7. “Fall flower arrangements!” JOANN HUNT, DARLINGTON, SC 8. “Warm pies cooling in the kitchen window.” CHRIS HAINES, KINGSPORT, TN 9. “Layering up in my favorite plaid pieces.” CAROL HUDGENS, NASHVILLE, TN 10. “Watching my boys play football.” AMBER STIVERS, GREEN, KS 11. “The changing colors on the country road that I travel on my…

COMPLETELY FUN, NO-OBLIGATION WAYS TO ENJOY THE COUNTRY THIS MONTH! 1. SHAKER SET These 4-inch pewter salt-and-pepper shakers are the cream of the tabletop crop. Shakers, $55; vagabondhouse.com 2. RUSTIC LIGHTING Feast your eyes on this mini chandelier adorned with wooden beads and a jute-wrapped frame. 19.5" x 16.25" Light, $450; shadesoflight.com 3. WOOD TABLE Seating additional guests is as easy as pie thanks to this table’s two center extension leaves. Table, $1,250; birchlane.com 4. FLORAL RUNNER Reap a stylish tabletop with an autumnal linen made of 100% cotton. 108"-long Runner, $60; williamssonoma.com 5. AUTUMN COLOR This rich hue is as cozy as its name implies. Spiced Pumpkin Paint; benjamin moore.com 6. RATTAN CHAIR Fall into this berry-hued find made of naturally durable rattan reeds. Chair, $98; anthropologie.com 7. NEUTRAL RUG…

#CLRECIPEBOX Assistant Editor Laurren Welch saw this cheerful box at a thrift shop in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Editorial Assistant Rebecca Katzman found this floral recipe holder at a Missouri Goodwill. Executive Editor Laura Kostelny scored this vintage Bisquick tin at a Dallas-area yard sale. Editor-in-chief Rachel Barrett ran across this retro-inspired stove box at a Birmingham shop.…

1 TRAVEL IN STYLE Get a $1,000 stipend to cover transportation to Music City. 2 LOOK THE PART Rock a pair of $795 cowboy boots from legendary boot manufacturer Lucchese. 3 SLEEP LIKE A STAR. Hang your 10-gallon hat at the world-renowned Gaylord Opryland Resort during a two-night stay. 4 JOIN THE PARTY You and a special guest can see the whole (sold-out!) show live and in-person.…

ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES, AND OTHER ONE-OF-A-KIND FINDS 1900s At the start of the 20th century, tourism was the domain of the wealthy who could afford ocean liner voyages—and the hired manpower needed to lug around giant steamer trunks. Luggage during this time was a serious status symbol, and no brand was more coveted than Louis Vuitton. This trunk (1) dates to the early 1900s when the luxury manufacturer introduced its now iconic checkered Damier pattern. VALUE: $21,000 1920s During this decade, train travel started to replace steamship trips. In turn, luggage got smaller and easier to transport. This particular style is called the Pullman (2) and got its name from the railroad cars whose seats it fit snugly beneath. This item is also of note thanks to its impressive assortment of…