Central Virginia HOME Magazine 2021 Nov/Dec/Jan

HOME CENTRAL VIRGINIA

design ✦ improve ✦ garden ✦ live

Home for the Holidays

PARTY PERFECT glassware guide entertaining ideas

DECK YOUR HALLS

diy wallpaper christmas trees & mantels

SEASONAL GREENS hot houseplants winter garden checklist

HOLIDAY/WINTER 2021

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Lauren Bell Real Estate would like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving & a Merry Christmas! Think of us during this holiday season if you’re looking to buy or sell. We would love to assist you with all of your Real Estate needs!

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

’Tis the Season for a

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HOME means togetherness now more than ever ...

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

CONTENTS Central Virginia HOME Holiday/Winter 2021

44 90

21 21

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE! Fresh ideas for the tree, the trimmings and the traditions

BY MARGIE LIPPARD

44

THE WINTER GARDEN CHECKLIST Tidy up, redesign and enjoy your garden this season

BY KATHERINE FULGHUM KNOPF

64 Cover photo: Michael Patch FACEBOOK: HOME Magazine INSTAGRAM: @homemagva

64

AT HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS How the Hunt family decks their halls for a magical time

BY CARTER HEALD BENDALL

90

CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE AND BEYOND Entertaining beyond the ball drop and the bubbly

BY MITZI BIBLE

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H O L I DAY/ W I N T E R 2021

DESIGN

39 WALLPAPER MAKEOVER

Peel-and-stick makes an easy DIY

BY KENDALL ATKINS LIVICK

50 MANTEL MAGIC

Local pros offer design tips for holiday hot-spot 86 PUT UP YOUR FEET

Ottomans and poufs are versatile furnishings

86

BY AMELIA POORE

IMPROVE 34 CHEERS!

A guide to glassware

BY RORY RHODES

75 FIND YOUR FRAGRANCE

How to scent your home

BY KATE ERICSSON

82 MONEY MATTERS

Financial planning for peace of mind

BY CHRISTY RIPPEL

57

75

GARDEN

57 AFRICAN VIOLETS

Brighten your windowsill with this old favorite

BY KATHERINE FULGHUM KNOPF

78 TECH IN THE GARDEN

Online resources for gardeners

BY BECKY CALVERT

LIVE

30 GIFTS FOR THE CHEF

Hot cookbooks for your favorite foodies

BY SLOANE LUCAS

54 SOUP’S ON!

Savory bowls for quick, cozy meals

BY SARAH NICHOLAS

96 FARM BASKET, REIMAGINED

Local favorite reopens under new ownership

BY JANE RENNYSON

14

54 Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Experienced and Compassionate Care from a Trusted Leader in Healthcare Change is good.

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EDITOR’S note Like many young families, picking out a fresh Christmas tree was a Thing We Did. I can’t call it “tradition” because it unraveled early. We want to stay in the car, the kids would whine. Let’s just get that one, I’d say, pointing to a tree still wrapped in its netting. Fighting with tangled strings of lights, wishing for that smell of fir that just wasn’t there, dropped needles and endless sneezing …

Then, the finale: the year it fell over, a tide of broken keepsake ornaments and many tears in its wake. With that, we went faux.

Now, with the flick of a switch illuminating perfectly placed lights and a scented candle providing all the nostalgia I’ll ever need, voila! The rest of the season is ours to enjoy!

Although this issue of HOME features a story on choosing a tree, we’re not here to convince you that one type is superior over the other—you do you! But we do believe that less-stress holidays, no matter what you celebrate, are yours for the taking once you determine your own priorities. If decking your halls tops your list, perhaps you’ll be inspired by six local design pros on how to decorate the fireplace mantel with fresh and fun ideas. Is your gift list a mile long? We offer a curated selection of hot new cookbooks for foodie friends. Will you be entertaining?

Our article on glassware will help you get organized and maybe even gift someone or treat yourself to a new set. A feature on entertaining for New Year’s and beyond includes ideas for a party that starts with a mug swap and ends with soup or chili.

And, since there’s nothing better than a steaming bowl of soup in winter, we share some delicious, versatile soup recipes.

After the holiday hullabaloo has subsided, you might like to tackle some home projects, so this issue’s got you covered there, too. For a low-commitment, easy-to-execute DIY, consider peel-and-stick wallpaper, which comes in stylish designs and works just about anywhere in your home. We also share tips on scenting your home after that last holiday candle is packed away.

And, since we know vitamin D is so important to good health, get some for yourself by going outside in your winter garden to do some clean up and planning for spring with our handy checklist.

Whatever you celebrate, don’t stress: Your home is there for you to enjoy, a place to gather and make merry, or to rest and rejuvenate.

Thanks for reading!

Meridith Ingram meridith@westwillowpublishing.com

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T’is the Season for Total Home Comfort

CENTRAL VIRGINIA

HOME VOLUME 15 ISSUE 5 PUBLISHER Julie Pierce EDITOR Meridith Ingram ART DIRECTOR Edwana Coleman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carter Heald Bendall Mitzi Bible Becky Calvert Kate Ericsson Katherine Fulghum Knopf Margie Lippard Kendall Atkins Livick Sloane Lucas Sarah Nicholas Amelia Poore Jane Rennyson Rory Rhodes Christy Rippel PHOTOGRAPHER Michael Patch

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Your Trusted Heating, Cooling & Air Quality Specialist for 85 Years

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Donna Collins OPERATIONS MANAGER Marianne Schatvet ADVERTISING SALES Kirsten Morey Becker Julia Belvin Julie Pierce Anne Marie Poore SUBSCRIPTIONS

Central Virginia HOME is published five times annually

by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. For an annual subscription, please send $20 and your name, address and telephone number to: Central Virginia HOME 2003 Graves Mill Road, Suite B, Forest, VA 24551 For advertising information please call (434) 386-5667 or sales@westwillowpublishing.com.

To discuss coverage of an event relating to home or garden, please contact Central Virginia HOME at info@westwillowpublishing.com.

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CORRECTION: Land Tech was a GOLD WINNER in HOME’s 2021 Readers’ Favorites Pool category but mistakenly listed as a Silver winner.

WEST WILLOW PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC (434) 386-5667 westwillowpublishing.com Copyright 2021 by West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from West Willow Publishing Group, LLC. All pictorial material reproduced in this magazine, whether in a produced ad or by itself, has been accepted on the condition that it is with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer or the artist concerned.

As such, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, West Willow Publishing Group, LLC makes no warrant to the accuracy or reliability of this information.

Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of ownership or management.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Make your Christmas tree shine B Y M A R G I E L I P PA R D

When the yuletide season arrives, our quest begins for the perfectly decorated Christmas tree to spruce up our homes with holiday cheer. Trimming your family Christmas tree can be a stress-free and joyful highlight of the holiday season from which cherished memories are made. Whether fresh or faux, Christmas trees festooned with twinkling lights, colorful baubles and garlands, and festive tree toppers and skirts will set your home aglow with holiday spirit.

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Grateful for my Family, Friends & Clients

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REALTOR

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The tree tradition

In pre-Christian antiquity, many ancients revered evergreens because, even in the starkest winter, their needles promised the sun’s return, spring’s rebirth, and, thus, eternal life. In medieval Germany, Christians celebrated the December 24th Feast Day of Adam and Eve by performing religious plays featuring an evergreen bedecked with red apples as Eden’s Tree of Paradise.

In 16th-century Germany, Protestant reformer Martin Luther adorned his Tannenbaum with candles to recapture the starlit evergreens he admired on a winter evening’s walk home. By the 19th century, England’s Queen Victoria and Prince Albert made the Christmas tree fashionable when The London News published an engraved illustration of the royal family gathered around a fancy candle-lit and decorated evergreen with beautifully wrapped gifts beneath.

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When embarking upon your Christmas tree decorating, decide first whether to mount a fresh, faux, or flocked tree. For many, the enchantment of a fresh evergreen tree is irreplaceable: The family ritual of choosing (or cutting) a favorite, gingerly carrying it home, and decorating its scented branches evokes magical holiday memories. Fresh Christmas trees not only suffuse our homes with their fragrant scent but enrich our environment by absorbing Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

carbon dioxide and emitting fresh oxygen.

When the holiday season ends, you can add your fresh tree to your mulch pile or recycle it for other beneficial purposes.

According to The National Christmas Tree Association, 98 percent of the 2530 million fresh Christmas trees sold annually are raised on U.S. tree farms, which preserve vast green spaces that infuse oxygen into the atmosphere.

Popular varieties are fir (Balsam, Douglas, Fraser), pine (White, Scotch, and Virginia), spruce (Colorado Blue, Norway and White) cedar, and cypress.

These conifers boast hardy branches that can bear heavy ornaments and preserve well. If you opt for a potted Christmas tree with an intact root ball to replant, purchase a container-grown tree, which will thrive better than one that has been cut and repotted.

When buying a fresh Christmas tree, first measure the width and height of the space the tree will occupy, then subtract a foot for a tree topper. Test for the tree’s freshness by gently shaking it to see if needles shed. Once home, sparingly hose the tree to remove any debris and hydrate the needles. Cut the tree trunk on an angle

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to promote its water absorption and soak it in water overnight before mounting it in a tree stand inside. Position your Christmas tree away from heat sources to avoid a fire and premature drying; initially pour warm water with tree preservative into the stand to conserve its freshness. Trees can absorb a gallon of water a day, so replenish the water supply often to ensure the trunk stays submerged in water.

Millions of Americans extol faux Christmas trees, which can come pre-lit, pre-flocked, and even pre-decorated. Artificial trees eliminate the need for watering, keep pine sap and needles from falling, and may save money since they can last several years.

Made of plastic and metal, artificial trees aren’t biodegradable or recyclable, likely giving fresh trees the environmental edge, yet they dominate the U.S. Christmas tree industry. According to the American Christmas Tree Association, 82 percent of the 95 million American households with Christmas trees are faux.

Artificial tree branches come in two types: hinged or hooked.

Hinged branches remain permanently attached while hooked branches are assembled. Most consider hinged branches superior in quality and convenience. When selecting an artificial tree, measure the space it will occupy and then choose the size, shape and color which best channels the evergreen it imitates. Select a Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

faux tree with a metal stand and center pole and plentiful branch tips, so it will stand sturdy and full.

Whether using fresh or faux trees, flocking makes dreams of a White Christmas come true with a simple spray of fluffy white powder on the tree branches. For convenience, purchase a preflocked artificial Christmas tree or use a flocking kit with a misting gun to create an authentic snowy look. Make a DIY flock by mixing soap shavings with cornstarch and warm water and flock from the top of the tree down, lightly daubing the needle tips.

Light it up

Now that you’ve selected your tree, illuminating it is the next step in creating a sparkling and elegant holiday centerpiece.

Choose the color, shape and style of lights that embellish your holiday decor and decide whether incandescent or LED lights emit the optimal glow. Mini or icicle white lights radiate a scintillating shimmer while large multi-color bulbs produce a bold colorful impact, often with a retro feel. A handy decorating rule of thumb is to lace 100 lights for every 1 ½ feet of tree.

When buying tree lighting, check to ensure all the lights work and confirm that other lights stay lit when one burns out. Many designers encircle lights from the tree’s base while others start at its top. Some lay lights vertically in an “S” pattern or drape net lights for a more uniformly lit look. All emphasize the importance of planning strategically for the strand that plugs into the electric socket.

Incandescent and LED lights have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Incandescent light bulbs cost less and cast a softer glow than LED light bulbs. With light-emitting

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diodes rather than a filament to generate light, LED light bulbs consume less energy, last longer, and burn at a lower temperature than their incandescent cousins, but their harsh bluish-white light may be too strong for those who enjoy basking in a warm Christmas tree glow.

Bring on the baubles: To theme or not to theme

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When trimming your Christmas tree, “to theme or not to theme” is a critical design decision. Your Christmas tree’s ambience will differ depending upon the lights and decorations you use; by making intentional designing choices, you can boost your tree’s style and charm. Consider adopting an overall decorative theme, which coordinates with your room’s decor, showcases your family’s treasured ornaments, and creates an exuberant yet harmonious palette which invites pops of unexpected colors and styles.

Before hanging your ornaments, festoon your garlands so your fragile ornaments won’t fall and break as easily. Garland favorites range from richly textured and patterned ribbons (think a lush red velvet or pretty tartan plaid) and glistening silver beads to rustic burlap ropes and woven fresh magnolia leaves and holly berries. Weave your garlands in and out of the lit branches or cascade them vertically from the top: Both styles will infuse interest while hiding conspicuous bare spots. For a Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

faux or flocked tree, garnish it with fresh evergreen twigs and branches to augment its fullness and allure.

You don’t have to buy an entirely new set of tree ornaments every year. Rather, update your heirloom baubles with a few modern ornaments that add dazzle and style. For a vintage or traditional theme, mix homemade ornaments— painted pinecones, twig tree ornaments, gingerbread men, and embroidered keepsakes, for example—with sapphire blue or candy pink adornments for a fresh take on the traditional red, green and gold seasonal palette. Try crafting some new ornaments by hand painting plain glass balls, or using decorative techniques like decoupage or marbelizing (tutorials are easily found online). Create a winter wonderland by adding sparkling icicle lights and dazzling monochromatic silver, gold, and bronze ornaments to your snowy flocked tree. Keep it simple with a rustic theme characterized by neutral, natural ornaments like pinecones, pomegranates, magnolias, berries, burlap, feathers, and even antlers.

LYNCHBURG’S BEST AGENTS OPENING LYNCHBURG’S FINEST DOORS As we prepare to turn the calendar on another year, the agents and brokers at Flint Property Group offer a sincere “THANK YOU” to our clients, and to healthcare workers, police, firefighters, teachers and all who have persevered day after day.

Despite many economic headwinds the central Virginia real estate market continued to thrive.

In serving you, we were a part of that joint success.

Kathy Acorn, Polly Flint, Moose Pierce, Billy Flint, Nat Perrow, Amy Scott, Victoria Bartholomew, Chantal O’Keeffe

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WE HOPE TO SERVE PAST AND FUTURE BUYERS AND SELLERS IN THE COMING YEAR!

Flint Property Group proudly represents the city’s finest new developments: Cottage Hill and The Preserve at Oakwood.

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Festive finishing touches

Tree toppers and skirts add beguiling finishing touches and unify your tree’s decorative scheme. Perched atop, brightly lit angels and stars prevail as classic tree toppers, but DIY billowy red velvet and tartan plaid bows, novelty wooden stars, and vintage-inspired multicolor glass finials are trending.

Down below, tree skirts are graceful yet useful accent pieces which integrate your decorative theme. The optimal skirt size covers the tree stand but doesn’t extend beyond the longest tree branches. Choose the skirt style and material that enhances your holiday decor. Popular skirt fabrics include quilting, velvet, burlap, fleece, flannel and felt, some of which may be machineor hand-washable depending upon the skirt’s decorative embellishments. Many designers craft their own crocheted or quilted tree skirts with holiday-themed “granny squares.”

Let your Christmas tree shine with necklaces of sparkling light and resplendent color to bring smiles and holiday cheer to those you hold dear. When you lean into your home’s decor, your trove of heirloom ornaments, and your own magical holiday memories, you’ll enjoy a renewed confidence that the Christmas tree you trim will be perfect for you and your loved ones ✦ Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

LIVE gifting cookbooks

Cooking Up Christmas CREATIVE COOKBOOK GIFTS

BY S LOA N E LU C A S

What could make a better gift for your culinary-minded friend or family member than a beautiful cookbook with inspirational recipes that, if you’re lucky, you may even be invited to enjoy? You could even create a gift basket by pairing a cookbook with a bottle of wine and spices used in the recipes for a thoughtful and meaningful offering this season. Here are some fantastic cookbooks that will make an impression.

PERFECT GIFTS FOR CLASSIC COOKS

Modern Comfort Food by Ina Garten Ina Garten, arguably one of America’s favorite home cooks, offers gift givers her 12th cookbook, perfect for stashing under the tree. The Barefoot Contessa takes a new twist on everyone’s favorites by kicking the classics into high gear. Some blue-plate specials that get a makeover include grilled cheese, reimagined as Cheddar and Chutney Grilled Cheese sandwiches, perfectly paired with Creamy Tomato Bisque, and Smashed Hamburgers with Caramelized Onions, served with waffle-iron hash browns instead of fries. The cookbook offers soup to nuts entertaining ideas from cocktails to desserts. Most Intriguing Recipes: Start with Pomegranate Gimlets and then try Lobster BLTs

Jubilee by Toni Tipton-Martin In Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking, James Beard Award–winning author Toni TiptonMartin shares more than 100 African American recipes and stories originating from a range of cooks, from enslaved chefs to entrepreneurs. There are some familiar classics like Sweet Potato Biscuits, Seafood Gumbo, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Pecan Pie with Bourbon, but also some creative dishes like Bourbon and Apple Hot Toddies and Baked Ham Glazed with Champagne. Interesting fact about the author: She has a collection of nearly 400 African American cookbooks dating to 1827. Many of those recipes are featured in this cookbook, making it a perfect gift for the culinary historian. Most Intriguing Recipes: Try the Braised Celery and the Beets Étouffée as unique sides 3 0

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

PERFECT COOKBOOKS FOR ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS

In Bibi’s Kitchen by Hawa Hassan with Julia Turshen Somali entrepreneur Hawa Hassan is the founder and CEO of Basbaas Sauce, a line of condiments inspired by her country of origin.

In In Bibi’s Kitchen, Hassan’s cookbook with food writer Julia Turshen, readers are taken on a culinary journey through Somalia and beyond to South Africa, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Tanzania, Kenya and Eritrea—all key countries in the global spice trade. Organized first by country, then by storyteller, 75 recipes are shared through the memories of bibis, or grandmothers, who welcome us into their kitchens to share flavorful recipes and stories of war, loss, migration, refuge, sanctuary, family and love. This cookbook is ideal for readers who want a story behind their recipes.

Most Intriguing Recipes: Double down on pasta with Ma Vicky’s Famous Lasagna (seasoned with adobo!), and Sweet Vermicelli Noodles with Cardamom and Butter for dessert

Beyond the North Wind

by Darra Goldstein Young Russians today are rediscovering their cuisine as a significant part of their heritage, and Beyond the North Wind celebrates that cuisine, rich with whole grains, preserved and fermented foods, and straightforward, robust flavors. With 100 recipes spanning everything from pickles and preserves, to infused vodkas, to homemade dairy products such as farmers cheese and cultured butter, to seasonal vegetable soups, the author honors the beauty of Russian food, elegant in its minimalism. This home-style cookbook is perfect for curious chefs who want to learn more about the little-known culinary history of this fascinating and wild part of the world as it brings to life Russia, its people, and its palate.

The cookbook was written by James Beardnominated author Darra Goldstein, founding editor of Gastronomica: The Journal of Food and Culture. Most Intriguing Recipes: Roasted

La Buvette by Camille Fourmont and Kate Leahy Francophiles will love receiving the charming cookbook La Buvette: Recipes & Wine Notes from Paris, featuring 50 recipes straight from the owner of a Parisian wine shop, bar and café. Author Camille Fourmont, with co-author Kate Leahy, focuses on simple, grazing-style food, paired with good wine, while celebrating the overall Parisian lifestyle. She also includes intimate portraits of some of Paris’s best wine and food makers. This cookbook is more of an overall entertaining guide, including tips on selecting wine and sourcing antique kitchenware. Most Intriguing Recipes: Apps to try include Camille’s “Famous” Giant Beans with Citrus Zest, and Goat Cheese, Black Garlic and Cherries

Eating Out Loud by Eden Grinshpan Eden Grinshpan offers a playful new take on Middle Eastern cuisine with more than 100 fresh, flavorful recipes that reflect her Israeli heritage. In Eating Out Loud: Bold Middle Eastern Flavors for All Day, Every Day, she mixes and matches simple, traditional ingredients in new ways. This cookbook is a perfect gift for a more casual chef who loves hosting impromptu gatherings. One highlight is a whole chapter on eggs, including multiple variations of shakshuka. Another “hand-held” chapter features on-the go, sandwich-style recipes. Grinshpan is a chef, food personality, and host of “Top Chef Canada” while collaborator Rachel Holtzman has worked on numerous bestselling books. Most Intriguing Recipes: Cauliflower-Turmeric Pickles, and Lamb Shakshuka with Lemony Yogurt

Radishes with Garlic and Caraway, and Black Currant Cheesecake

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PERFECT GIFTS FOR YOUR HEALTH-CONSCIOUS FRIENDS

Cool Beans by Joe Yonan James Beard Award-winning food writer and food and dining editor of The Washington Post, Joe Yohan bring us 125 globally inspired recipes celebrating some of the most stalwart workhorses in the culinary world—beans!

The cookbook includes mains, snacks, soups, and even desserts featuring beans as well as chickpeas, lentils, pulses and more. From a practical standpoint, the cookbook starts us with base recipes for cooking a variety of beans in multiple appliances, including both electric pressure cookers and slow cookers, as well as on the stovetop. The recipes draw from culinary traditions spanning the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Asia, and the American South. This would make an ideal gift for a plant-based chef who likes working with whole-food ingredients to create unique dishes. Most Intriguing Recipes: Start the party with Red Bean, Walnut and Pomegranate Pâté and finish the meal with Cardamom, Lime and White Bean Bundt Cake

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The Vegan Athlete’s Cookbook

by Anita Bean If you’re looking for something creative to give your super-healthy, fitness-focused friend, consider The Vegan Athlete’s Cookbook: ProteinRich Recipes to Train, Recover and Perform.

Author Anita Bean is an award-winning registered nutritionist, health writer, author and champion athlete specializing in sport and exercise nutrition. She offers over 100 exciting, healthy, and tasty vegan recipes, packed with all the protein and balanced nutrients athletes need to optimize performance. This book also features evidence-based advice on how to fuel workouts, debunks vegan myths, demystifies sports nutrition, and helps readers gain the confidence to create delicious, nourishing meals that will support their fitness goals. Most Intriguing Recipes: Mixed Grain Salad with Crispy Tempeh and Harissa Dressing, and Black Bean, Butternut and Cauliflower Curry ✦

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

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IMPROVE guide to glassware

I’LL DRINK TO THAT

A GUIDE TO GLASSWARE FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND

BY RORY RHODE S

Does your glassware collection need an update? In the market for a thoughtful gift?

If you want to refresh your stock for upcoming gatherings, need some holiday gift inspo, or just feel like splashing out on a little something fun for yourself, take a look at what’s available in the world of stylish sipping.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Types of glassware

There are so many drinkware options. When evaluating your collection, make sure you have something appropriate for basic beverage categories such as water, juice, soda, iced tea, beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. Here’s a quick rundown on the most popular glass styles.

LOWBALL: Also known as a rocks or old fashioned glass, these short, sturdy vessels typically hold 6 to 10 ounces and work for anything from non-alcoholic beverages to simple mixed drinks and spirits. The double rocks, or double old fashioned, glass adds another couple ounces of capacity, making it even more versatile.

HIGHBALL: Tall and slender, highballs are good for anything carbonated, over ice, or cocktails with more mixer ingredients. They usually hold 8 to 12 ounces. A Collins glass is a little taller and narrower than a highball.

WINE GL ASS: Oenophiles might enjoy having varietalspecific stemware, but most of us can get by with red and white wine glasses, or even simplify to an all-purpose shape.

White wine glasses are usually smaller and narrower than red.

Capacity varies wildly, from a few ounces to mega goblets that can hold most of a wine bottle, but regardless of size, 5 ounces is considered a standard serving of wine.

SPARKLING: Flutes are a classic shape for sparkling wine, as they gather up all those delightful bubbles. However, a coupe, or champagne saucer, is an even older glass style, and one that

offers more versatility. The broad, shallow bowl of a coupe glass works well for shaken or stirred cocktails.

COCKTAIL: Often referred to as a martini glass, these conical glasses are designed for chilled beverages without ice.

Most are meant for 3- to 5-ounce drinks. Larger cocktail glasses can be up to 10 ounces, but the shape makes it tricky not to slosh. Coupe glasses can be substituted for cocktail glasses in almost any situation, if desired.

A Nick and Nora glass (named for the boozy couple in Dashiell Hammett’s novel, “The Thin Man”) is a smaller, bellshaped cousin to the coupe. It typically holds only about 3 to 4 ounces, supposedly to ensure that the drink is consumed before it gets warm.

BEER GL ASS: Like wine glasses, there are different shapes depending on the type of beer. If you have a favorite beer, go with the appropriate vessel. Otherwise, an English pub glass (also called a Nonic pint) or Pilsner glass will work for most occasions.

What you need

With a dizzying array of glassware options, how do you figure out what you want and need? Your top two considerations are lifestyle and storage space.

Small children, enthusiastic pets, and lively parties all lend themselves to sturdy glassware, preferably replaceable. If breaking it will break your heart, save it for special occasions where some level of decorum is anticipated—a sit-down

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dinner instead of a Lindy Hop dance-off, for example. Thicker, tempered glass can survive repeated tumbles to the floor. Long, slender wine glass stems are lucky to survive a trip through the dishwasher, whereas a chunkier goblet-style stem will do just fine. Stemless wine glasses are less likely to tip. And of course, dishwasher-safe is important for daily use items.

Having generous storage space means you can indulge in plenty of specialty glassware. But when space is at a premium, focus on the essentials first. A set of lowball, highball and wine glasses will accommodate the majority of beverages. If possible, include coupe glasses for sparkling wine and cocktails. From there, add items you know you’ll use as space permits. These could be specialized shapes for cocktails—think mules, mint juleps, brandy and schnapps. Or they might be special-occasion glassware, something fun to bring out for a celebration or gettogether.

Stackable glasses are a boon for smaller cabinets. Finally, make sure to measure cabinet height before bringing home that stately stemware and discovering it doesn’t fit.

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Colorful glassware is having a major moment. Or should we say, another moment, because any vintage glass enthusiast knows that colored glass has been a popular item since Depression glass entered the scene in the 1930s. It’s no surprise that interest in cheerful hues ramped up during the pandemic, so now is the time to have fun with vibrant colors. Don’t forget texture too—cut crystal, faceted glass, fluting and raised dots all add visual appeal.

You’ll find plenty of new colored glassware at your favorite shops, but if you’re looking for vintage, focus your online attention to sites such as Etsy and Poshmark (and do your research so you know that anything advertised as a famous design is the real deal). In person, scour antique and consignment shops, thrift stores and garage sales for goodies.

Tell store managers what you’re looking for and to let you know if something comes in. And, in this era where many heirlooms go wanting for homes, you might find a relative willing to gift an item or two to an appreciative recipient.

There are so many gorgeous glasses available now that it’s just a matter of finding what looks both attractive and functional.

Chunky tumblers, delicate Collins glasses or sleek stemware might be exactly what your pantry needs for the season ahead.

And if you’re searching for a thoughtful holiday gift, a set of funky or artisan glasses might be just the thing. Cheers! ✦

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Tabletop Tips ■ Jewel-toned glasses will see you through the holidays and beyond, but there’s no need to stop there. Pink can be festive too; try pairing it with red for a candy-colored effect.

■ Have fun mixing shades— purple with green and gold, or a range of different blue tones with heirloom silver. Note that if you’re mixing patterns and colors, it looks more cohesive if each place setting has the same assortment of objects.

And, if everything is patterned, pay special attention to color continuity so that the effect is intentional rather than hectic.

■ Pair something simple with something ornate. Clean white plates set off fanciful goblets.

Streamlined pastel glasses contrast nicely with heirloom china.

■ Red wine and other tinted beverages might not look appetizing in certain colored glassware. In this case, save the color for water glasses and pale liquids.

Lighting for Luxury

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

DESIGN diy wallcoverings

Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper

DIY YOUR WAY TO A WHOLE NEW VIBE

BY K E N DA L L AT K I N S L I V I C K

If you’re in the mood for something easy breezy lemon squeezy that you can DIY for a quick pick-me-up, then find a new friend in peel-and-stick wallpaper. This simple process allows you to bypass the tedious applicator glue and cumbersome methods required for the traditional wallpaper counterpart. Peel and stick is about as simple as it gets to make a dramatic transformation in minutes, whether wallpapering the entire room to set a vibe, or an accent wall or ceiling to create a point of interest. It’s also easy to reposition or remove if needed. c vhomemaga zine .com 39

Top trends

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In this current era, anything goes! If you’re just starting to entertain this idea, here are some ideas to kick off your brainstorm.

Geometrics paired with florals: The look here is about pairing two contrasting patterns. Choose a pattern with classic geometric lines for the wallpaper, and bring in floral accents to other parts of the room, like a rug or mat, paint stenciling, fabric prints, pottery, or an actual vase of flowers. Alternatively, go for the opposite. Choose a bold and colorful floral pattern for the wallpaper and a classic floor pattern of black and white squares, diamonds, or another multi-sided figure. This combo looks fabulous in a bathroom.

Textured: This aesthetic will turn a few heads and can even come across as something of an optical illusion. The goal is to choose a pattern that mimics an entirely different material. It can appear shiny and metallic, matte like a stone, gritty like faux concrete, splotchy like terrazzo, rough like brick and mortar, or even soft and plush like velvet. Textured style is great for gathering hubs in the home, where conversations are likely to take place, such as living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, youthful bedrooms, and music and game rooms.

Murals: If you’re looking for something that goes a bridge further than a monochromatic background with a repeating pattern, opt for a mural. It could be a landscape or cityscape of a place you love, a nod to modern art, or a nature scene playing out in a botanical garden or tropical rainforest.

You can even find wallpaper mural artists on Etsy or other artistic platforms to create a custom design that matches an image from your imagination. This is perfect for any room that you want to feel sacred and near and dear to your heart, where observers can take flights of fancy and escape for a bit.

How-to tips

You’ll need the following materials: a tape measure, painter’s tape, the wallpaper roll(s), scissors, a smoothing tool, and a utility knife.

Measure the height and width of the wall and calculate how many rolls you need, allowing for a little extra to account for any fixtures or features that 4 0

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

disrupt the flat surface. You can trim up any surpluses after coverage.

Always start with a clean, dry, smooth wall for the optimal results.

If walls are newly painted, allow four weeks for the paint to prime before applying wallpaper. Use a screwdriver to carefully remove any electrical or light fixture plates on the wall.

The same goes for hardware, picture hanging gear, or anything that can be removed to create a flatter surface. For angles, cut outs, windows, trim, or any other fixture that is not easily removed, simply paper these areas as part of the process. Then cut, peel and remove what doesn’t need to remain at the end.

Stand on a ladder or stepstool and match the top left corner and edge of the wallpaper to the top left corner and edge of the wall. (This is the recommendation for those who are right-handed. If you are left-handed, right to left might feel more natural.)

Carefully unpeel the top corner from the backing of the wallpaper, folding back a few inches to give you a section of tack to get started. Several inches at a time, press the sticky side to the

wall, while removing the backing as you make your way down the wall.

Use your smoothing tool to press out any air bubbles. Work from left to right and top to bottom, unpeeling and smoothing slowly as you go. When you finish your first sheet, match the next sheet to the continuing pattern like a puzzle piece. You might want to make a few attachments with painter’s tape to hold the precise placement while you repeat the smoothing pattern. Where the sheets come together, the seam should be barely detectible. When finished papering, use your utility knife to trim any excess paper hanging at the top or bottom of the wall, and around electrical openings and any fixtures that you want to remain uncovered.

Carefully replace plate coverings and hardware. Now stand back to admire your covered wall.

When life feels heavy, sometimes DIY decor therapy is just the ticket to a state of fulfillment. And to think this process is as simple as peel and stick! ✦

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the comforts of home

There’s never been a better time to refresh and renew your space. Home is where we love and are loved, and where we are energized. It’s our place to relax and live some of life’s most wonderful moments.

Your home says a lot about you and it can either drain or inspire you. Small room adjustments can have a big impact! Neutral colors as a base (think walls, floors and larger furniture like sofas and sectionals) provide a wonderful palette for bright or contrasting occasional pieces, rugs and artwork.

At Virginia Furniture Market our consultants will work with you to create spaces perfect for entertaining or spending time with family. Free consultations on our full range of furniture, mattresses and more make selecting pieces a breeze. We work on your schedule.

We also offer in-store or virtual appointments and will create curated groups just for you. With our largest ever in stock selection, there’s a lot from which to choose and an incredible selection of custom options, too!

With Virginia Furniture Market, you can feel confident that you are getting the very best while creating a place you are excited to come home to.

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Our Bedford Showroom is filled with in stock furniture, mattresses and more. Choose from a huge selection or our design specialists will help you customize pieces that fit your taste and budget. With top brands and great options, we’ll work with you, free of charge, to turn your house into a home worthy of entertaining and sweet family moments.

Diahn Gilbert, Sales Consultant shares, “The most satisfying and rewarding part of my job is the connections that I make with my customers and playing a small part in helping them bring their dreams to reality” Whether you are redoing a room or customizing your sleep experience, Diahn and the rest of the VFM Bedford team are at your service. Stop in today!

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W

inter gardens come alive visually; as leaves fall and plants wither, the garden’s remaining shapes, textures and other features become clear and well defined.

Additionally, landscapes viewed from inside your home offer a different perspective. During the cold, dark days of winter, a garden presents opportunities to learn and be entertained by wildlife. Now is a great time to observe the bones of your landscape, plan some changes, do some cleanup and a few final plantings, then sit back and enjoy from inside your cozy home.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Do your homework

Winter is the best time to plan a garden. Determine what shrubs have outgrown their space, where architectural details such as an arbor are needed, and decide what plant additions would benefit the birds and the bees next spring. Evaluate which areas of the garden need refreshing.

Once the first full freeze occurs, some trees and shrubs may be pruned.

Shaping them is easier now as foliage doesn’t block the view. Removing excess or dead branches and suckers allows more air to circulate once the leaves sprout next spring, creating healthier plants. Removing leggy branches underneath and tightening up shrubs’ sides helps reclaim planting area in a newly opened space. Only remove about one-third of a shrub so that the plant is not stressed. Caveat: For spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia, azaleas, lilacs, rhododendrons, and some hydrangea, cutting back in the winter removes the buds, resulting in fewer flowers. If in doubt, research your specific plants before using a heavy hand with the pruning shears. Conifers must be trimmed lightly for health and shape, since they don’t regenerate from heavy cutting.

To tame or not to tame

Leave flower heads on perennials such as black-eyed Susans and purple coneflower, as well as perennial stalks and ornamental grasses, for food and shelter for birds, insects and other wildlife. Such leftovers also give the winter garden some architectural character. Native plants left to go to seed also provide a healthy food source for wildlife. However, do put blackened, moldy plants and sticks in the trash to prevent disease, and place old vegetables and tired annuals in the compost bin.

Don’t be so tidy in the outskirts of your yard. Piles of sticks and leftover flower stalks are home to insects overwintering. Many of these are beneficial critters, so allowing them to stay for the winter makes one less chore and gives them a home.

A few chores

Turning heavy or clay-packed soil and adding compost makes it easier to dig in the spring. Even frozen, exposed clay soil benefits from air and wet winter moisture. Clear overgrown vegetation and move plants and small trees such as evergreens that would benefit from a new location. New varieties can be added to the landscape where holes appear.

Shred leaves and allow them to settle into the lawn or spread them in the perennial beds to feed the soil. Repair broken tools or take them to the repair shop. It is a good time to sharpen and oil them. Any damaged areas on trellises, gates, fences and arbors show up nicely once the leaves fall, and now is the perfect time to get outside and fix these problems. Days over 40 degrees offer a good opportunity for a fresh coat of paint.

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What to plant

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Hardy plants like leeks, spinach, radishes, turnips and broccoli can be planted in early winter before the ground freezes.

Kale, spinach, and collards can survive freezing temperatures. Growing food in the winter provides an outdoor activity and the ingredients for healthy meals like veggie-laden stews, soups and casseroles.

Ornamental kale, pansies and chrysanthemums bestow much-needed color outside. Plant some in pots or in beds around the yard for some living decoration for the dark months ahead.

Snowdrops, hellebores, winterberries, and beauty berry along with nandina and hollies tender flowers and colorful foliage; their cuttings work well for interior arrangements and holiday decorations too. Red twig dogwoods and blue spruce show off their color best in the winter light. Plant daffodils and crocus in early winter for spring blooms. These plants need time to settle so getting them in the ground before the winter holidays is recommended. Research native plants to add to your landscape. Make a list to order or buy at local nurseries as winter winds down.

Winter is a fine time for bird watching.

Without foliage in the garden, birds become more visible. Attracting birds to the yard isn’t complicated. Bird baths, bird feeders, and perennials left with their flower heads intact all invite wildlife.

Looking out a window or glass door, bird watching stills the mind and induces peaceful acquisition of knowledge as you observe their habits. Birds are a joyful garden addition, and keeping them happy is not hard.

What birds eat: Birds’ winter diet consists mainly of nuts, seeds and berries.

Some of these are provided by nature or your plants, but bird feeders are a good addition to offer more variety. Different types of feeders are beneficial for specific feeds. Sunflower seeds work well in tubular feeders or hoppers with perches that allow birds to sit and remove the casing, then eat the seed. Suet or balls of peanut butter and seed come in many sizes and shapes to be hung from a metal stand or tree limb for easy pecking.

Premixed seed in large bags can be poured onto platform feeders or scattered on the ground. Store bird seed in a metal or plastic container with a tight-fitting Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

lid to keep rodents out, and make sure you wash your hands after handling the feeder.

What spot is best: Moving bird feeders around in the yard once a month keeps the yard cleaner, since the ground below gets covered in seed hulls and droppings. If moving feeders isn’t an option, rake up the spent casings and put them in the compost bin. Seed should be replenished every few days, and don’t stop refilling once the grass greens up, as birds get accustomed to this piece of their diet. They may come less frequently once insects appear back on the scene, but discontinuing filling the feeder during the warm months deprives them and causes stress. It is best to put out small amounts of bird food every day or every other day to eliminate excessive mess and pests.

Large quantities attract unwanted wildlife such as racoons and bears.

Chores to keep them happy:

During winter months with lots of moisture, a covered bird feeder is the best choice to prevent the seed from getting wet and molding. Dump old or wet feed when replenishing the bird feeder. Use a brush to clean the debris out and keep

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the container sanitary. Clean feeders every other week with one part bleach to nine parts water. Let dry in the sun and refill with seed.

Old nests should be cleared from birdhouses. Late winter is a good time to clean out unoccupied birdhouses and get them ready for a spring arrival. Clean a birdhouse the same way recommended for feeders; brush out rubbish and waste, then use bleach and water to sanitize them. Repair cracks in the roof and sides. A fresh coat of paint keeps out water.

Safety is important: Birds are resilient. They live outside in extreme weather, always alert to predators and hopefully fleeing just in time, but keeping intruders away from bird feeders makes sense. A large metal disk (often referred to as a baffle) mounted on the pole below the feeder protects birds from wildlife such as squirrels and raccoons. Place feeders far enough away from trees that offer launching pads for squirrels and cats to leap onto the feeder. And do not place them too close to windows; a misjudged landing can cause a bird to fly into the glass and break its neck.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

ATTRACTING BIRDS TO THE YARD ISN’T COMPLICATED. BIRD BATHS, BIRD FEEDERS, AND PERENNIALS LEFT WITH THEIR FLOWER HEADS INTACT ALL INVITE WILDLIFE.

Birds like houses too: Watching a bird as it feeds, flies or builds a nest is inspiring and educational. To see how meticulous birds are, watch them hunt for nest supplies and then slowly place every twig and bit of straw. There are many types of man-made birdhouses; certain designs attract different species to settle there. Research different styles and build or purchase one for the garden. Birds are particular; different shapes and placement heights matter for their nesting criteria.

Many say winter is the best time to look at the bones of the landscape. Winter garden tasks alleviate boredom and provide entertainment.

Getting outside clears the head and energizes the body. Clearing, pruning, planning, observing and meditating are all richer in the quiet of a winter day. The garden is always out there waiting to inspire. ✦

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DESIGN holiday mantels

mantel magic

TIPS FROM LOCAL PROS WILL MAKE YOUR MANTEL SPARKLE Photography by Michael Patch

S

econd only to the Christmas tree, the fireplace mantel presents a prime opportunity to decorate for the winter holidays. From tucking in simple fresh greens to swapping out your standing accessories for some over-thetop holiday decor, your mantel can be an inviting focal point this holiday season. Here, be inspired by local design professionals’ takes on a starquality holiday mantel.

SIMPLE YET PERSONAL

“For the mantel, I wanted a simple but dramatic look,” says Lia Melder of Reid’s Fine Furnishings. To achieve this, she uses an oversized piece of art—a winter scene from Left Bank Art—to fill most of the space.

A personal collection of nutcrackers in all colors and sizes creates contrast against the gray tones in the art and showcases special memories. Fresh winter greens add another festive touch to the look.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

NATURE MEETS GLAM

Using a mix of materials, Kathy Potts of Decorating Den Interiors has created a natural/ glam look without overdoing either style, she says. “I wanted to create symmetry in a more free-flow style that pulls the eye inward and outward with organic and metal materials,” she says. Tall candleholders and flocked mini trees add height while round platters create a backdrop for mercury glass vases to stand out against the stone of the fireplace.

She suggests running lights along the mantel to fill in any negative space, and greenery to complete the look and hide any cords.

LAYERED STYLE

Ashley Hilbish and Mady Greer of Curtains, Blinds and Bath say that neutrals for the holidays are hot this year.

They embrace it here with oatmeal-colored stockings, books and natural grasses.

“We also believe that greens are a neutral and a must-have during the holiday season!” says Greer. They use additional textures like glass, paper and ceramics for more interest, and incorporate only a few touches of color, primarily in the artwork. “Don't be afraid to mix non-traditional holiday items into your design to create a different feel,” she says. To style, she suggests starting with the largest piece then layering around it. “Since the mantel is a narrow space, it can easily look one dimensional,” she cautions. “You want to create a gradual step or peak effect so that your eye goes up and comes back down to create a pleasing visual look.”

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CREATING BALANCE

Sarah Girten of Sarah Girten Interiors uses a fresh garland made evergreens, magnolia leaves and cranberries and woven with a strand of wooden beads. A swag of greenery offset on top of the mirror draws the eye up while balancing the stockings hanging below. “I love the idea of Christmas decor spread throughout, which is why we chose the ceramic trees and green bowl for the side cabinets,” she says.

She incorporates various textures for a cozy holiday feel. “The plush texture of the stockings and pillows makes you want to cuddle up next to the fire.”

DECORATE WITH MEMORIES

Jackie Barringer of Portobello Road uses salvaged architectural pieces as anchor points for her design. She then brings in those special holiday pieces, like a Santa made by local artist Becky Carney, as well as other vintage ceramics that evoke holiday nostalgia. Then, she suggests bringing the outdoors in with greenery, real or faux. “Real greenery is easy to tuck in after everything is in place, plus they smell heavenly!” she says. “Faux garlands many times make decorating easier.”

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

HOLIDAY SOPHISTICATE

Troy Deacon of High Cotton Fine Home Furnishings and Gifts designs this mantel in a sophisticated look with an unexpected touch of whimsy.

Silver accessories that work year-round, like this box, pair of urns and collection of birds, are transformed into holiday sparkle when surrounded with greenery. A silver tinsel tree adds height to the arrangement as well as a note of holiday fun. ✦

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LIVE savory soups

Research shows how food affects our functioning bodies; there’s evidence to suggest that certain ingredients might make us feel “happy” or “energized.” I love to think about special recipes in a different way—about how they make our souls feel and allow our memories to wander.

SWEET POTATO, APPLE AND PARSNIP SOUP VELVETY MUSHROOM AND HAZELNUT SOUP SPICY SESAME PORK SOUP

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

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oup can be a magical cure for the body and the soul. I venture to say soup is the best way to foster a cozy, at-ease, blissful feeling. One spoonful can release aches in your body, relax your mind and warm you from the inside out. There is nothing more comforting than settling in for a cool winter day with a hot bowl of soup. So, this winter, do me a favor: Make one of these soup recipes and share it with your loved ones.

Close your eyes, picture your favorite things about the season, and spoon it in. Magic!

SWEET POTATO, APPLE AND PARSNIP SOUP

VELVETY MUSHROOM AND HAZELNUT SOUP

6 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 1 cup parsnips, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes 2 shallots, chopped ½ Vidalia onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon ground cumin ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon kosher salt 7 cups vegetable stock 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 1 ½ cups apple cider (the fresher the better!)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper Honeycrisp apple, diced, for garnish

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 4 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced 15 sage leaves 2 ½ cups mushrooms, sliced (use your favorites) ½ cup hazelnuts, skinned, roasted and coarsely chopped 2 ½ cups vegetable stock 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1 cup heavy cream Sour cream and minced chives for garnish

Hello fall in a bowl! This is perfect for the holiday table and has all the classic fall flavors we love.

Preheat oven to 425. Line a large sheet tray with parchment paper.

In a bowl, toss together sweet potatoes, parsnips, shallots, onion, garlic, olive oil, salt, cumin, nutmeg and cinnamon. Place on sheet tray and roast for 40 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven, gently bring vegetable stock, vinegar and cider to a boil over medium heat. Add the sweet potato mixture and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring often. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes. In a blender, puree until smooth. Depending on blender size, you may have to do this in batches. Return to Dutch oven and stir in butter and pepper. Taste to see if it needs more salt.

To serve, garnish with diced apple.

This is my all-time favorite soup. It is decadent with nutty and woodsy flavors of fall.

In a large Dutch oven, over low heat, brown butter to a deep brown color and nutty aroma. Be careful not to burn. Add garlic and sage and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. You should really smell the sage and nutty butter. Turn up the heat to medium-low and add the mushrooms and hazelnuts. Mix to combine and cook until mushrooms are wilted and the water from the mushrooms has evaporated. Stir in stock, Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce.

Bring to a boil and immediately turn down to a low simmer. Place lid on the Dutch oven and simmer for another 20 minutes. Lift lid and stir in heavy cream. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.

Using an immersion blender (a stand-up blender will work too), partially puree the soup, leaving some chunks of mushroom for texture. If using the stand-up blender, add soup back to the Dutch oven, warm it up, and season for taste. To serve, add a dollop of sour cream and minced chives to the top.

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SPICY SESAME PORK SOUP This soup looks like it has a lot going on, but don’t worry, it’s fairly easy! It is deep, rich and satisfying.

4 eggs, medium 3 ¾ cups chicken stock (if store bought, buy low sodium) 4 tablespoons red miso paste 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted 2 cups water 3 ½ cups mei fun noodles (thin rice noodles) ½ tablespoon olive oil 2 cups ground pork 3 garlic cloves, crushed 1 jalapeño chili, seeded and thinly sliced 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari) 1 ¾ cups bok choy, leaves separated (napa cabbage works well too) ½ red onion, thinly sliced Lime wedges and chopped peanuts to serve Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add eggs. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes. If you prefer a firm

yolk, leave for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cover the pot. Allow to cool for 8-9 minutes, then place eggs in an icecold water bath. Peel, slice in half and set aside.

Pour stock into a large stockpot over medium heat. Whisk in miso paste, sesame oil and sesame seeds. Allow to simmer gently, stirring often. Be careful not to burn, as miso can get very bitter.

In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Place noodles in a colander and slowly pour the boiling water over the noodles. Rinse with cold water. Once drained, arrange in four soup bowls.

In a large fry pan, over medium-high heat, add olive oil and ground pork.

Break up lumps of pork, and brown.

Once browned, add garlic, jalapeño, brown sugar and soy sauce. Cook for another 3 minutes. There should be no pink pork.

Add bok choy to the stock and simmer for 1-2 minutes or until slightly wilted.

Ladle stock and bok choy evenly over noodles. Divide pork amongst the bowls and garnish with egg halves, red onion, lime wedges and peanuts. ✦

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GARDEN windowsill color

AFRICAN VIOLETS BRIGHTEN UP YOUR WINTER WINDOWSILLS B Y K AT H E R I N E F U LG H U M K N O P F African violets are hip again. Once maligned as a dull, old-fashioned plant, these tropical beauties have renewed status as a trendy houseplant. This isn’t your grandmother’s plant; there are new varieties being produced with variegated leaves and multicolored flowers. With deep-green fuzzy leaves and vivid flowers that bloom repeatedly during the year, African violets add vibrance and charm to your living space.

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African violets hail from the tropics. Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire, an avid plant collector and German colonial official in Eastern Africa, discovered them in Tanzania. He named the plant for the common violet that their flowers resemble, although they are not related. As he was traveling through fog-ridden African rainforests in 1892, these colorful flowers caught his eye. He gathered seeds and sent them to his father, a botanist in Germany, to propagate. Quickly gaining popularity, the African violet flourished into hundreds of clones and hybrids that continue to be grown today.

African violets bloom in clusters of flowers, in colors from whites to pinks to purples, with small yellow centers. They come in many sizes from small (4 to 5-inch pot) to large (16 inches or bigger) so depending upon space, try one, or grow a collection.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

WITH DEEP-GREEN FUZZY LEAVES AND VIVID FLOWERS THAT BLOOM REPEATEDLY DURING THE YEAR, AFRICAN VIOLETS ADD VIBRANCE AND CHARM TO YOUR LIVING SPACE.

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Violets are easy to maintain if you give them what they need. Consider these tips to keep them healthy:

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n Keep them in a warm spot (65-75 degrees during the day and at least 5565 at night). n Bright, indirect light is best, although during the short, light days of winter, they do fine with some direct sun. n To encourage lots of blooms, keep them slightly root-bound; don’t repot them more than once a year, or every few years for some varieties. n Water from the bottom. Their fuzzy leaves don’t like water sitting on them, so put a saucer under a pot that has drainage holes. Provide enough water in the saucer so the soil soaks it up and is slightly moist but not soaking wet. Allow the soil to dry before filling the saucer again. Misting the flowers is good. n Another option is to fill a tray with pebbles and water, and place several containers of violets on top. While you should not let the plants touch each other or sit in water, the tight grouping helps keep humidity high, and plants can absorb water as they need it from below. n If leaves get dirty, brush them lightly with your fingers or an old soft toothbrush to keep to clean them.

When leaves dry and shrivel, cut them off at the stem and discard. n Fertilize as often as every two weeks with a high phosphorous plant food, or one made especially for African violets.

Cut back feedings if the plant seems listless. It is easier to overfertilize African violets than to underfertilize.

They bloom well with the right light and moisture content even with infrequent fertilizer.

Practical matters

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It is time to replant an African violet when the leaves start to wilt, or the neck of the plant grows tall and leggy. This signals that the soil needs to be replaced. Select a pot 1 to 2 inches larger in circumference than the current one. Choose a wider—not deeper—container, as African violets have shallow roots. You can purchase soil made especially for these plants, or combine 1/3 potting soil with 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 perlite or vermiculite. These plants favor loose, well-drained soil amended with organic matter.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Violets often develop multiple crowns announcing it is time to cultivate one for a friend or to divide it and start a windowsill full of violets. Simply cut the plant in two between the two crowns and place each piece in its own pot filled with fresh soil. An easy method to propagate African violets is to root a leaf cutting in the windowsill until small roots develop.

Use a bottle with a small neck to hold the stem in the water, keeping the leaf above

the water line. Or cover a jar of water with netting, secure with a rubber band, and poke the stem through so the leaf stays dry. Once several roots emerge from the stem, place it in a small pot of dirt and mist the soil heavily every few days until it is established.

Winter is a good time to try growing a tropical plant such as an African violet.

It’s a small task with many rewards.

Vibrant blooms and textured leaves make a cheerful home accessory; the chance to propagate plants for friends or increase your own collection offers a challenge; and they don’t require a lot of grooming or maintenance. African violets truly give more than they expect. Perhaps that is what Baron Walter von Saint Paul-Illaire envisioned when he saw them growing quietly in the misty forest that day. ✦

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All-out holiday decor makes the season magical Christmas with the Hunts B Y C A R T E R H E A L D B E N DA L L Photography by Michael Patch

Looking for an older home that was warm and welcoming, Sara and Vaden Hunt knew they had a winner when, in 2010, they walked through the doors of a traditional Colonial on Clayton Avenue in Lynchburg. Built in the early 1940s, the brick home with a slate roof quickly felt like home for the Hunts and their young sons, Vaden and Penn. With two sports-crazed children, the Hunts have worked on creating a beautiful home but also creating a comfortable place to raise active boys.

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lmost immediately after moving in, the Hunts painted the exterior brick of their home a pale gray—a big change from the original red brick. They also set about brightening the trim to white and painting the shutters black. This refresh set the tone for the rest of the redecorating as they respected the traditional bones of the house but added some modern elements along the way. Instead of knocking down walls to open up the house, they have embraced the separate spaces for their kitchen, dining room and den. They wanted the house to feel cozy with lots of different places to find a comfortable chair and enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine.

At no other time of the year does the house feel more welcoming than during the Christmas season. Sara loves the holidays and especially loves decorating for them. With the help of both her mother and mother-in-law, Sara goes over the top to make the season bright for her two young boys. “We always choose a behemoth tree that is way too big for the room,” Sara says. In fact, the ceiling shows the scratch marks from the trees over the years which Sara intentionally leaves alone because it shows character and reminds her of the season. The live tree is festooned in turquoise and gold ornaments with white lights.

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Peacock feathers jut out from the limbs and gold ribbons swirl all over the tree.

The living room walls are painted pale yellow which allows the blue sofa and pair of floral club chairs to pop in contrast.

Flanking the sofa are pink skirted tables, the tops covered in treasured silver-framed family photos. Above the sofa is a gold mirror featuring a cameo that Vaden’s parents purchased for the couple at a flea market in Paris. The mirror took a year to arrive stateside, but Sara says it was well worth the wait. “It’s one of our most treasured possessions in the house,” she says. Spread around the rest of the walls are original watercolors from Venice and original oils of Russian street scenes.

Besides the large tree, the living room mantel is also overthe-top, in the best way possible. The mantel is adorned with a mixture of both real and faux greenery. Sara spray painted real magnolia leaves to mix in with other faux gold sprays and peacock feathers. She says she set aside a Saturday to “spray paint gold anything that wasn’t moving.” These touches of golden greenery are found all around the house, tucked into bookshelves, bowls, and other garland. Sitting above the magnolia sprays on the mantel are a pair of gold angel figurines as well as two glitter miniature Christmas trees. “This is the room I love to sit in and turn the gas logs on while I enjoy the tree in

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

the evening,” says Sara. “It’s therapy for me when things get so busy in life.” It’s easy to see why this room would bring serenity.

In contrast to the overt splendor of the living room, the sun room, located just off the living room, is home to the children’s Christmas tree. This 4-foot-tall white artificial tree is covered in UVA ornaments (Sara and Vaden’s alma mater), sporting event ornaments and schoolmade ornaments. The angel on top was hand crafted with a picture of young Vaden’s head on it. At the base of the tree is a child’s nativity set that is “well loved” according to Sara. She says the family jokes about which member of the nativity will garner another broken or lost limb during the season. The Hunts enclosed the former screened-in porch to make it a sunroom soon after purchasing the house and have loved the bright natural light it provides. Being the only female in the house, Sara decided to go markedly girly in this room with hot pink walls, pink zebra-striped lamp shades and a framed Hermes scarf on the wall. Needless to say, Sara enjoys hiding out in this room when given the chance. c vhomemaga zine .com 67

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Stretched across the back of the house is the room the family hangs out in the most: the den. The room has a comfortable gray sofa and matching ottoman for watching TV and a hardworking Oriental rug on the floor that hides a multitude of spills. Currently she has two blue and white lamps on either side of the sofa, but jokes that she “can’t get too attached to anything because it will end up broken with two boys.”

On the walls are two framed blue-and-white-fabric screens, purchased from Enchanted Antiques, as well as a wall of original watercolors from Lynchburg artist Purnell Pettyjohn. One whole wall features built-in bookshelves that hold the TV and a huge Dickens Village collection. The village was Sara’s grandmother’s and was in her parents’ house growing up. Her dad built special wiring units to make the lighting easier to turn off and on once it was given to Sara. In the corner of the room is a flocked Christmas tree covered in blue and white chinoiserie ornaments, many of which Sara and her mom made. Blue and white ribbon acts as the garland for the tree and picks up on the other blue and white accents in the room, like the pillows on the sofa and the ginger jars on the floor at the foot of the tree.

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Especially enjoyed during the Christmas season, the dining room is the little jewel of the house. Plaid silk draperies dust the hardwood floors, with the green wall color pulled straight from the colors in this fabric. A sisal rug banded in green sits under the dining room table. A small antique sideboard sits directly opposite an antique chest, with the dining room table in between. On the front walls are two pictures from Paris that Sara and her mother-in-law found together in their travels. One is a page from a sample book of antique wallpaper and the other is an original antique pattern for a French settee. Additionally, a watercolor of Vaden’s grandfather’s childhood home in Norfolk hangs on the back wall. To acquire local artwork, Sara loves to attend local estate sales as well as the Lynchburg Art Club art show at E.C. Glass High School each year.

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Sara chose to work with silver and gold as her color theme during the Christmas season in this room. On top of the sideboard and chest are silver putz houses and bottle brush trees. Above the corner cabinet, which the Hunts added and made to look like an original built-in, is a bowl of large gold balls and more of the gold spray-painted magnolia leaves. The dining room table often stays set during the season, waiting for the special Christmas meal. Sara places a white table cloth on the table and then layers on beautiful traditional accoutrements. A gold charger rests underneath her Limoges wedding china. Waterford crystal water goblets and green-stemmed wine glasses pick up on the green in her china, and Old Maryland engraved sterling flatware rounds out the place settings. Silver Christmas trees and sterling candlesticks create the centerpiece. Sara describes the dining room as “happy” and hopes to use it more as the boys get older, transitioning from the kitchen table that is currently used the most.

In the front hallway, Sara combined the turquoise and gold from the living room with the silver and gold from the

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

dining room to unify the themes in one space. A large garland drapes down the stairway, swagged on both sides of the banister. The base of the garland is faux but Sara added more spray-painted-gold live greenery to it, including nandina, yew, camelia, holly and magnolia. More peacock feathers and turquoise balls tie it back to the living room as well. Sara also added a garland above the exterior front door, using the same technique. It creates an impact walking in the front door and signals guests for what to expect once inside.

Combining art and furniture found both locally and while traveling abroad, the Hunts have created a home that respects the past but is very much livable in today’s world with two young sons. They are very aware that with two young boys at home, some updates are better suited for a later time. For this reason, the house will grow and evolve alongside the boys.

The Christmas decorations also vary slightly year by year, and by doing so, every Christmas season is a fresh and magical experience for their sons and the rest of the family. ✦

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IMPROVE home scents

the art of fragrance SCENTING YOUR HOME

FOR MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT

B Y K AT E E R I C S S O N Because of the position of the olfactory system in the brain, scent has the power to trigger emotions, memory and creativity. Perhaps you’ve experienced the jolt of memory caused by a stranger’s perfume or a nostalgically familiar laundry detergent.

Realtors have been known to pop cookies into the oven to infuse the house with a delicious smell (and perhaps raise potential buyers’ endorphin levels) to set the stage for a positive showing.

According to the Sense of Smell Institute, the average person is able to distinguish over 1,000 different odors. Some of the top 10 that trigger happy feelings include the smell of baking bread or cookies, vanilla, freshly mowed grass, pine, citrus and baby powder. When it comes to your home, there is a unique smell to it, even if you can’t detect it. Within the space of just a few breaths, we can lose our ability to detect new odors due to olfactory adaptation. But if you go on vacation and return to your home, you will notice its unique smell. c vhomemaga zine .com 75

Today the aroma of a home is a big business that markets ways to not only clean your home but enhance its scent.

Oddly enough, a clean home should smell like nothing. Masking unpleasant odors with cleaning products is never the way to go. If you want to improve or change the scent of your home, you need to clean first and scent later.

There are certain unpleasant odors and problem areas that should be tackled first if you notice them. Moisture is the number one cause of household odors.

Musty smells are often the result of mold or mildew that thrive in areas that don’t get much ventilation. Dehumidifiers help here. You can counter mustiness by regularly cleaning your trash cans, washing machine and dishwasher.

A monthly inventory of your fridge to ensure that contents are fresh will help prevent bad smells. Wipe down the inside, including shelves and drawers, with a 1-to-1 mixture of hot water and white vinegar with a tiny drop of dish soap.

Bedding, carpets, throw pillows and window coverings attract smells. While you can’t launder your mattress, you can

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sprinkle baking soda on it and vacuum it like a carpet. If the care labels on these items indicate they can be machine washed, they should be cleaned regularly. And if you have pets, you absolutely need to vacuum often. A sprinkle of baking soda 20 minutes prior to vacuuming will help neutralize any smells.

Once your home is clean, you can add in a subtle scent with essential oils (highly concentrated extracts from flowers, leaves and other plant parts), candles or diffusers. A drop or two of your favorite essential oil on your air filter will help circulate a signature scent. Candles offer a quick way to infuse a room with a favorite scent, and soy wax gives you the cleanest burn. To extend the shelf life of a candle, burn a new one for three to four hours, rather than a few minutes, so that the wax pools across the container from rim to rim. Wax has memory and won’t pool past the circumference of the previous burn; it will tunnel down, causing waste. Trim wicks to 1/4 inch prior to each burning, and upcycle the container when the candle is burned away.

There are a variety of diffusers on the market, ranging from the simple to the luxurious. Reed diffusers consist of a vessel containing fragrance oil into which reed or rattan sticks are inserted. They absorb the scent like little straws, moving it up the length of the reed to the top where it evaporates and disperses the fragrance into the air.

Ultrasonic diffusers use electronic frequencies to create vibrations in water, which then create a fine mist of water and essential oils that is released into the air. Since these diffusers utilize water, some people choose them in winter to help humidify dry air.

A lampe berger is a heat diffuser that marries a beautiful container with air purifying and perfuming capabilities. The lamp was initially invented in 1898 to help with disinfection in hospitals. A lampe berger uses a catalytic burner that heats to burn an alcohol-based liquid fuel. In just 20 minutes, the alcohol releases molecules into the air that eliminate odor while diffusing scent at the same time.

The smells that you’ll enjoy the most in your house this time of year are the ones that recall favorite memories of past holidays.

Winter may be all about cozying up inside by a fire, but some of the most traditional scents are those found in nature. A stovetop potpourri can fill your house with a variety of delicious smells.

Try cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves, citrus peels, fresh ginger, pine sprigs or vanilla extract. A favorite meal in the crockpot or gingerbread cookies in the oven are also surefire ways to infuse your home with the holiday spirit. ✦

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GARDEN: online tools BEING A TECH-SAVVY GARDENER MIGHT SEEM LIKE A CONTRADICTION AT FIRST, BUT THE INTERNET CAN BE A GREAT TOOL TO HELP MAKE YOUR GARDEN ALL YOU WANT IT TO BE.

the internet for gardeners

a

ANOTHER TOOL IN YOUR GARDENING TOOLKIT B Y B E C K Y C A LV E R T

s any gardener can tell you, there seems to be an infinite quest for knowledge to help manage your garden. What’s this bug on my plants?

When can I cut this back? Why is this not thriving/flowering/growing?

Thankfully, with today’s technology, finding information is at the tip of your fingers. From what to plant, to where and how to plant it, to how to take care of it, the answer is out there with a few simple clicks. But how do you narrow down all this information to just a few reliable apps or websites? c vhomemaga zine .com 79

Let’s start with the device most likely to be in the garden with you: your smartphone.

Among the apps that can help you in the garden are PlantSnap and PictureThis, both popular offerings that help identify plants and provide information on how to care for them. PlantSnap offers a free trial before you subscribe, while PictureThis has both free and paid premium account options. Both work by snapping a photo of the plant in question, which uploads to a database to deliver an answer quickly.

Want to identify a strange bug in your garden? PictureInsect is the app for that; it works the same way, by identifying your uploaded photo. Want to redesign your yard? There are apps for that too, including iScape, helping you design and visualize your landscape plan before you start digging—and buying plants. Want help planning or managing your vegetable garden? Try Planter, the vegetable garden planning app.

And while smartphone apps are great resources, sometimes you just want to talk to other people about your garden. That’s where social media comes in. Just about every social media site hosts gardener groups; for starters, Pinterest, Houzz,

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Instagram, Twitter, Reddit and Facebook offer opportunities to connect with other gardeners. Whether by following gardening accounts or by joining a group, there are many ways to connect and engage. Ranging from large, international groups to smaller, more localized ones, such groups allow you to exchange information, tips and ideas with others on the same quest. Local groups may offer the opportunity to swap seeds, plants and advice specific to your area. Many of these groups have policies regarding what can be posted, staying strictly to garden information and therefore avoiding some of the more unpleasant pitfalls of social media. To find a group, a simple search for “gardening” on your preferred social media site can set you in the right direction. To find more local-to-you groups, add in the name of your area to your search. You may have to request to join, sometimes answering clearance questions, but once you jump through the hoops, you will find yourself connected to gardeners of all levels.

The gardening information available online isn’t just limited to plant identification and social media groups.

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Just like nearly every other aspect of our lives, you can also shop online for almost any plant you can imagine. While nothing replicates the experience of shopping at your local nursery, there have long been gardening catalogs that gardeners pore over, particularly in winter months, plotting their spring gardens. In keeping up with times, many of these catalogs have gone online, where they offer a wealth of information; in addition to seeds and plants, they often sell books and offer advice on best growing and harvest practices for the items they sell. There are several fantastic “local

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to Virginia” nurseries to order from, including Gloucester-based Brent and Becky’s Bulbs (brentandbeckysbulbs. com), and Clarksville’s Pine Knot Farms (pineknotfarms.com) which specializes in hellebores. Looking to add some edible elements to your yard? Nelson County-based Edible Landscaping (ediblelandscaping.com) has a wide array of fruit trees and shrubs to offer.

Perhaps you’re just looking for seeds for your vegetable garden? Louisa County’s Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (southernexposure.com) specializes in varieties that grow well in the Mid-

Atlantic and Southeast regions. Southern Exposure’s website also offers an online garden planner to help manage your garden through the seasons. Many of these nurseries are an easy day trip and offer workshops and tours, taking the online to an in-person experience.

Not to be overlooked is the Virginia Cooperative Extension website (ext.vsu. edu). Brought to you by Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, the website offers a vast array of gardening and other horticultural information as well as links to local offices. Other Virginia websites of note include Virginia Invasive Species (invasivespeciesva.org), which identifies invasive species and offers tips on battling them, as well as the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s site with a page devoted to native plants (dcr. virginia.gov/natural-heritage/nativeplants).

No matter your gardening conundrums, help is nearly always at hand in a wide range of apps and websites. Being a tech-savvy gardener might seem like a contradiction at first, but the internet can be a great tool to help make your garden all you want it to be. ✦

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PLAN YOUR WAY TO FINANCIAL PEACE OF MIND

I

BY CHRIST Y RIPPEL

f you don’t know how much is in your checking account right now, you aren’t alone. According to a mint.com survey, 65 percent of Americans said they didn’t know how much they spent last month, and nearly a third of those surveyed said they wished they’d spent less. But you don’t have to resign yourself to being “bad with numbers.” You can become the master of your own financial destiny with some careful planning.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

YOUR FINANCIAL CHECKLIST You’ve conquered budgeting and saving. Here are five more ways to get ahead: Rethink tax refunds: If you are getting a yearly refund, you are in effect providing the government with an interestfree loan on your money.

Revisit your W-2 and adjust so you come out even at tax time.

That money can earn interest in savings, or be used to pay off debt.

Check into mortgage refinance: Dig into your most recent mortgage statement and find out your interest rate, payoff balance and remaining term. Rates are at historic lows, and you could save big money on your monthly payment and interest over the life of the loan.

Call your insurance agent: When was the last time you checked your homeowner’s policy? Make sure it includes any costly recent purchases, like art or jewelry. Also, home construction prices have jumped in the past year, so be sure you are adequately covered in the event of a fire/ total loss.

Consider a financial advisor: As you move toward retirement years, your funds should be allocated differently to guard against market fluctuations. Consult with a financial advisor to review your situation and determine if you’d benefit from expert management.

It starts with the budget

“A budget is really the centerpiece of building a successful long-term wealth plan,” says Eddie Link, an advisor with RBC Wealth Management in Roanoke. “A budget is best if you set it in place—and then don’t ‘budge - it’.”

While budgeting is a simple concept (don’t spend more than you make), it takes commitment to stick to it, especially when life gets busy or you feel tempted to make an impulse buy. If you’re tracking your money for the first time, consider programs from mint.com or ramseysolutions.com that can walk you through the process. Your bank may also have a free program available, so that’s another place to start.

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it down, or use a spreadsheet on your computer.

“The best budget is one you will use, so do what fits your personality and lifestyle,” says Joel Bengds of HSC Wealth Advisors in Forest.

Bengds says to gather three to four months of credit card and bank statements to get a handle on expenses. From that analysis, it may be obvious what to cut to create a margin for savings. Consider negotiating on non-fixed bills, or search for better deals on your cell phone, internet and other services. Meals out and entertainment costs can balloon when you aren’t minding them, so see if you can trim those back by half. When you’ve negotiated down some bills, canceled services you don’t use (music subscriptions, apps that charge fees,

Improve financial literacy: Link recommends the books “The Millionaire Next Door”

by Thomas Stanley and “The Warren Buffett Way” by Robert Hagstrom. Bengds likes the websites nerdwallet. com, moneywise.org and ramseysolutions.com.

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magazines you don’t read), and reined in your weekly Thai food habit, you’re ready to explore what to do with that savings.

Saving frees you

Some people resist the idea of a budget because it feels like deprivation, but if you can switch your mindset to embrace the abundance that savings can bring you, you might find the fun in it.

“When we have emergency funds set aside, a budget can help show you where you can spend money,” says Bengds. “This opens up great freedom to give money to charities or people in need, save for retirement, or go on a much-needed weekend trip.”

Link advises to sock away at least 10 percent of your earnings first to retirement, via a company-sponsored 401(k) or other plan, like an IRA, which is offered through many banks and financial institutions. These vehicles are designed for long-term savings, and ideally, you won’t be drawing on the funds until you retire (if you do, you’ll pay hefty penalties).

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You need to have other liquid savings (easily accessible, no penalty for withdrawal) for unexpected expenses, like car and home repairs, medical expenses, or a job loss. If you don’t have any savings, Bendgs says a good goal is to get the equivalent of one month of your essential expenses saved up, and keep increasing that until you have three to six months of expenses. A good strategy is to set up an online savings account that is not part of your daily banking routine; it might be best to use a different bank, so you aren’t tempted to dip into it for non-emergencies. You can set up an automatic deduction from each paycheck, so you get used to living without the money.

When you’ve started retirement savings and built up an emergency cushion, you can begin saving for things you want, like an exotic vacation, home improvements and charitable causes. Imagine how much more you’ll enjoy that trip when you know the credit card bill won’t be following you home! ✦

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DESIGN ottoman chic REID'S FINE FURNISHINGS

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THE OTTOMAN’S RENAISSANCE

BY AMELIA POORE

When it comes to basic furniture pieces, the ottoman doesn’t always come up right away; we have to get through the beds and tables and sofas, leaving the ottoman, undeservedly, as an afterthought. But the ottoman has grown up: No longer second-fiddle to a matching chair, the ottoman has moved beyond “footrest” (although that is still a very important function) to limitless possibilities.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

F

rom a designer’s perspective, an ottoman or pouf is a simple and effective way to add color, contrast and interest to a space. An ottoman typically has more structure and heft than a pouf, but both serve similar aesthetic functions. Placing a rectangular tufted ottoman in an interesting pattern at the end of the bed is a quick way to add an unexpected element to an otherwise neutral bedroom, while adding two poufs covered in a rich velvet side-by-side in front of a twill sofa creates contrast in the living room. Most commonly, ottomans are used as an interpretation of the coffee table, often serving as the focal point of the room. And of course, adding a lower footrest with a surprising needlepoint design in front of a favorite chair is always a good idea!

Ottomans can also be a functional choice. Today, many are literally built for storage and extra seating. Using an ottoman with a removable top to store blankets, extra throw pillows, or even kids’ or dogs’ toys is a great way to keep your house functioning without compromising the overall feel of the space. Consider finding an option with wheels to make clean-up time quick and painless. The storage ottoman can also work double duty as extra seating for guests—simply move to wherever you’re entertaining!

Moreover, the glass and Lucite coffee table trends allow ample room to store ottomans beneath the see-through tables for easy access. Adding ottomans beneath the table is also a great way to add color and texture to the room by warming up the cold, empty space beneath the coffee table and avoid wasting space, especially in smaller rooms.

So, how do you actually choose the right ottoman for your space, style and purpose? Fortunately, the ottoman’s simple structure provides a virtually infinite breadth of options.

Unfortunately, that makes the decision a bit more challenging.

The clear first step is measuring the area you want your ottoman to occupy and starting your search with those parameters in mind. Consider whether a rounded shape or a more squared-off shape would work best, or just which one you prefer. Then turn to questions of style. The classic tufted rectangular or circular ottoman is always a safe choice, but consider the size needed for your purpose: are you looking for a focal point, like a coffee table, or extra seating that can be easily tucked away? Then play around with the fabrics, textures and details that best complement your space.

Once you establish the basics, then you can move on to the style of the piece. Like all furniture, ottomans are extremely customizable in terms of fabric, finish and overall form.

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Many ottomans are outfitted with leather and nail trim for a more masculine (and durable) feel. Others are slipcovered to complement the other furniture in the room. Others have open legs, more like a table, while some are solid to conceal the items stored inside. Fortunately, every shape and style can be found in essentially any fabric and finish you could imagine, whether you’re sticking with the classic look or seeking something a bit trendier. On trend right now are shag poufs: extra seating that’s extra comfy and plush, like a chic grown-up beanbag with a bit more structure. When not in use, they maintain their cube or rounded shape instead of sagging, making them appear both cuddly and clean. On the other end of the spectrum, solid darkwood frames with light and natural caning enclosing the sides are everywhere, adding a boho-but-still-classic vibe to any space.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

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Lots of options, especially with tuftedtops, are popping up in luxe velvet—pale pinks and grays or jewel-tone teal or emerald. For storage-purposed ottomans, benches built specifically to fit items like yoga mats are designed in sleek, rounded shapes with midcentury-modern wooden frames and clad in every kind of fabric from pale beige suede to Black Watch tartan. Look for details like brass-capped legs or contrast piping as well.

Ottomans are deceptively simple. Their traditionally uncomplicated shape, size and purpose once made them easy to forget. But now, with expanded uses and looks, this once-lowly footstool has become elevated to a focal point in any space. ✦

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Beyond the Ball and the Bubbly Fresh ideas to entertain family and friends now and into the new year

BY M I T ZI B I B L E

After watching the festivities unfold in the Big Apple, sipping champagne, and saving that midnight kiss for a special someone, most of us consider New Year’s Eve the finale of our entertaining for a while— at least for the next few months. But stretching out the fun could help us fight off those wintertime blues. HOME has some ideas to not only liven up your New Year’s party but continue the celebration well into 2022.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Party like you need a party

Do you know that post-holiday letdown you feel when all the fun is over, when you have to return to work after vacation or start making all those to-do lists for the house again? Hosting a post-holiday gathering could give you something to look forward to and break up the day-today routine.

If you want to throw a party at home— for New Year’s or even weeks later—a few entertainment elements could help your guests make their final, favorite memories of the year or their very first ones of the new year.

Everyone knows music makes the party, so create a memorable playlist and ask your family and friends to help by sending you their favorite tunes in advance. To make it more meaningful, ask them for a particular song that sums up the past year for them or a song that personally motivates them to take on new challenges in the new year—and let the music lead to party conversation.

Theme parties aren’t just for children these days. A luau in the dead of winter?

Why not? Celebrate with a taste of the tropics. Or host a costume party, even if it means just asking everyone to show up in a wig and crazy sunglasses. Call it the “New Year, New You” party.

Go for the fun with party decor, too.

Streamers and balloons are nice, but most New Year’s celebrations are all about the big lights and the sparkle (can we say “huge psychedelic ball hanging above a city?”), so try something shiny, bright and new that’s popular with the kids, too, like a “Neon New Year’s.” Turn your dinner party into a glow party by using glow necklaces to outline your place settings.

Make a fun chandelier with tiered glow sticks or use glow sticks to decorate your ceiling fan for a fun effect as it circulates.

Many of your favorite party games can be played in a glow-in-the-dark or black light setting with a little creativity (and helpful searches on the Internet, of course).

Another fun way to light up the night is to plan a bonfire—the perfect time to burn your Christmas tree—and then warm up some more inside with a movie night. Pop the popcorn and stream some classics with New Year’s scenes, like “About Time” (2013), “When Harry Met Sally” (1989), “New Year’s Eve” (2011), “Ocean’s 11” (1960), and “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993) and its inspiration, “An Affair to Remember” (1957). c vhomemaga zine .com 91

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Whether you’re a fan of the musicians at Times Square or other televised New Year’s Eve events around the country, you can be a fan of your own guests and host a karaoke night. With a little organization, you could bring the playlist idea into the mix, asking your guests to sing their chosen song, but only after prefacing their performance with the reason they chose the tune.

And if you film the event, it could be a fun way to kick off next year’s party by watching highlights of the star performances from the year before.

The new year is also a great time to hold a pampering party.

Probably more common with the ladies than the gents, it could be a throwback to the makeover slumber party days of your teens, when everyone would try a new hairdo, makeup and nails while sporting some new clothes.

You can also host a post-New Year’s gathering that centers on trying an entirely new hobby. The “Something New for 2022” party could be anything from hosting a cooking class or a craft or paint night, to learning yoga, a martial art, or origami, to getting a primer on a new language or writing poetry. Track down your creative, talented friends and ask them to play instructor for the night.

You could also relate the party theme to new beginnings and future plans by focusing on a milestone or event that 2022 will bring. Maybe the new year will include that trip of a lifetime to a faraway land, building your dream home, adding a new family member, or simply spending more time with the people you love. Plan activities and decorations related to these events to stir up excitement for the special moments to come.

If your family likes to huddle around the TV watching the Rose Bowl, maybe add a friendly sports competition to your own plans for New Year’s or the Super Bowl. Hold a cornhole tournament, a Wiffle ball game, or a driveway hockey match.

Or play funny indoor party games themed around football, like having a team member make a field goal with their arms and seeing how many large marshmallows you can toss through the uprights.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

A TASTE OF WINTER

Everyone knows that a party, no matter what time of year, won’t be a success without good food. In the spirit of trying something new, break from the typical party foods and involve your family and guests in your post-holiday entertainment.

Similar to the silly “Dirty Santa” games we play at Christmas, ask each guest to bring a fun coffee mug and take turns choosing one from all of the mugs or stealing one from someone else. At the end of the game, serve warm comfort foods to ladle into your mugs, like chili or soup, and your guests can take their new mug home as a party favor.

Another idea for an activity after the mug game is to use them for a hot cocoa bar. Fill Mason jars with all the fun toppings and accessories: peppermint sticks, marshmallows, chocolate chips (or butterscotch or peanut butter chips), caramels, sprinkles, and fancy spoons or paper straws. Add containers of cinnamon, flavored syrups, and whipped cream. Make the hot chocolate yourself or provide instant packets with hot water in a teapot or coffee urn nearby. Include coffee and teas for alternatives.

For appetizers, jump “on board” with a popular hostess trend: charcuterie boards. Like all food trends, people are letting their creativity run wild with this by serving up these colorful, decorative, grab-your-own assortments with everything from cubed cheeses to fruit, veggies and small pastries. For New Year’s, decorate the center of your board by lining up some of the food to form the digits 2022. Candy charcuterie boards can make great party treats any time of the year. For a more formal event, make your board more elegant by choosing candy with gold, shiny wrappers (like Rolos) to make the 2022 digits (or any shape or

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initial you like), and fill in the rest of the board with all-white candy (like marshmallows, white chocolate chips, coated pretzels and yogurt-covered raisins) or scatter in silver-wrapped candy (like Hershey’s Kisses).

Coming off a busy holiday season, the long days of winter can make you feel nostalgic for tastes from the past, too. Throw an old-fashioned candy-making party and make all those homemade treats that had you drooling over your grandmother’s kitchen counters decades ago. Remember potato candies, buckeyes, meringues, butterscotch, taffy, and of course hard candy coated in powdered sugar? Gather some old-timey aprons to wear, crank up some classics on the turntable, and lay out a gingham tablecloth and you’re all ready to go.

Another way to make food preparation a party in itself is by baking homemade pretzels. This is especially a good idea if you have little ones to entertain. Children love to play with dough, so choose an easy homemade recipe. Help them form the pretzels into the shapes of the digits 2022. It’s also fun to make personal monogram pretzels.

Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

I RESOLVE …

A new year brings the traditional task that some of us end up hating: making resolutions.

Having dreams and aspirations isn’t a bad thing; it just sometimes comes with unwanted pressure. While the end of a year can be a time for looking ahead, it can also be a reminder of the resolutions we never kept. We can end up feeling defeated and have less motivation to forge ahead.

But making resolutions doesn’t have to be serious business. Instead of writing real resolutions, have everyone write a silly collective bucket list with things they would like to try in 2022. Toss all of the ideas into a real bucket and have fun pulling them out and reading them aloud, seeing if anyone can guess who wrote them. A little exaggeration can make this party game a lot of fun if you encourage guests to write down outrageous activities that are very unlikely to come to pass (and very unlikely to match your guests’ characters and interests).

If you really want to take some resolutions to heart, though, decorate “resolution jars” that your guests can take home with them. Write reasonable resolutions on small, silver-dollar-size cards.

They could be a simple chore you need to knock out (cleaning a closet) or a charitable deed you feel led to do for someone. Put the resolutions in the jar and pull one out each week. If you complete them, mark them and return them to the jar so you can read them at the end of the year and feel a real sense of accomplishment and value.

If you’re over the whole tradition, try and remember the ones you made last year— the ones you broke as soon as you had the chance. Write them down and bring them to that great bonfire you planned. Nothing says “take that, New Year’s resolution” like watching it go up in flames.

Ringing in the New Year just wouldn’t be the same without some of our familiar festivities, but adding something new to our parties can only add to the fun. As we sweep up the confetti, hang our 2022 calendars, and watch January march on, we shouldn’t give up on the fun quite yet. Remembering how much it warmed our hearts to spend time with family and friends over the holidays should prompt us to make this main resolution: plan more creative, memorable get-togethers throughout the year. ✦

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LIVE shopping local

farm basket refresh

NEW OWNERS BRING EXCITING CHANGES TO LOCAL LYNCHBURG FAVORITE

BY JANE RENNYSON

O

pening a store had been on Alex Wood’s mind for quite a while. With a business background and a keen eye for design, she has been helping clients decorate their homes with a mix of antiques, new pieces and other unique finds for the past few years. After hosting successful pop-up events in her home selling that same curated mix of specialty decor, she wondered if it was time to try her hand at retail. So when she was approached about purchasing the Farm Basket on Langhorne Road, she jumped at the chance to put her own spin on a local institution.

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Alex and her husband Sackett were born and raised in Lynchburg, and grew up getting vegetables from the produce stand that was once in front of the Farm Basket. They know it’s a special place to the people of Lynchburg and plan on continuing its legacy since opening the doors in October.

“I have gotten a lot of input about things that definitely need to stay,” says Wood. “Specifically, people are extremely passionate about the giftwrapping service, Simon Pearce crystal which is hand blown in Vermont, cheese straws, pimento cheese and Virginia ham. These items aren’t going anywhere.” The gist of the Farm Basket remains the same: a specialty gift shop with a focus on customer service. There are still baby gifts to delight new parents, wedding registries to shop from, personalized baskets to create, and gifts to be delivered. But when you walk through the doors, things look completely different.

The front of the store features casual gifts and the one-of a kind pieces Wood is known for finding. There is a mix of antique and vintage with modern and new. She plans to have home items such as lamps, pillows, vases, and a few pieces of furniture along with seasonal items. An exciting addition to the new store is space dedicated to Moore and Giles, of which Sackett is president.

Farm Basket will offer their handmade leather goods, including bags, men’s gifts such as wallets and belts, as well as furniture pieces available for purchase from the showroom or custom order.

The café, still in the back of the store, continues to offer many classic menu items that customers have come to know and love. But there are several new sandwiches and treats to try while sitting at the new lunch counter. Wood also hopes to host happy hour in the cafe at least once per week, where you can come enjoy a glass of wine and a charcuterie board.

Another addition includes a Golf Park Coffee satellite shop staffed with a barista in what used to be the solarium. Visitors to the Farm Basket can also enjoy fresh produce one afternoon per week in the iconic gazebo, with specialty items available around the holidays, provided by a local farm.

The amount of planning, renovating and revamping has been a challenge, but Wood credits those who have helped along the way. “I can’t imagine starting this project from scratch. It would have been impossible. I couldn’t have done any of this without the help of [former general manager] Kerry Giles, [former owner] Rie Godsey and all of the amazing staff, most of whom are staying to help run the newly updated store,” Wood says.

“I’m most excited to see people’s reaction to the inventory and the new café menu items.” ✦

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Tiller, Esq........................................................................................................................ 78 Curtains, Blinds & Bath............................................................................................................. 28 Daniele Mason, Realtor.............................................................................................................. 19 Decorating Den Interiors......................................................................................................... 23 DoorTek Garage Door Service.............................................................................................. 10 Embrace Home Loans, Joni Hamlett................................................................................ 88 Enchanted.........................................................................................................................................74 Estates Revisited.......................................................................................................................... 78 F&S Building Innovations........................................................................................................... 8 Fabulous Finds SML...................................................................................................................40 Farm Basket.................................................................................................................................... 33 Findings............................................................................................................................................. 62 Fink's Jewelers................................................................................................................................. 5 First Bank & Trust Company..................................................................................................46 Flint Property Group..................................................................................................................27 Forest Farmers Market............................................................................................................. 98 Francis Oil........................................................................................................................................ 26 Frank Good Builders ................................................................................................................. 24 Freedom First Mortgage.........................................................................................................80 Generation Solutions.................................................................................................................46 Grace Marie..................................................................................................................................... 78 Grand Home Furnishings...........................................................................................................4 High Cotton Fine Home Furnishings and Gifts........................................................... 63 HSC Wealth Advisors................................................................................................................84 Image Maker Hair Salon and Wig Studio........................................................................ 85 Isabella's........................................................................................................................................... 63 James River Ironworks.............................................................................................................60 James T. Davis / Katrina & Co................................................................................................ 41 John Stewart Walker.................................................................................................................. 81 Johnston Cooling and Heating..............................................................................................12 Just Liz............................................................................................................................................... 22 Kathy Terrell, Realtor................................................................................................................. 22 Kevin Midkiff, DDS....................................................................................................................... 25 Kidd's Services.............................................................................................................................. 88 Kitchen Crafter's of Virginia.................................................................................................. 85 L.G. Flint............................................................................................................................................ 29 Land Tech ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Laura Simms Webb, Realtor.................................................................................................. 58 Lauren Bell Real Estate............................................................................................................... 7 Lilly Construction........................................................................................................................60 Love Painting................................................................................................................................. 85 Lynchburg Aesthetics and Wellness................................................................................. 76 Lynchburg Dental Center........................................................................................................ 59 Lynchburg Landscapes............................................................................................................ 47 McBride and Blackburn Opticians.....................................................................................40 Meals on Wheels of Greater Lynchburg.......................................................................... 38 Mr. Pave.............................................................................................................................................48 Nadine Blakely, Realtor...............................................................................................................11 National Pools ............................................................................................................................... 16 Paisley Gifts & Stationery........................................................................................................ 62 Peakland Catering Co............................................................................................................... 92 Persian Rugs & More.................................................................................................................. 62 Piedmont Eye Center...................................................................................................................9 Piedmont Floor Show Carpet One..................................................................................100 Reid's Fine Furnishings............................................................................................................. 89 Reserve...............................................................................................................................................74 Riley Dental..................................................................................................................................... 32 Runk & Pratt......................................................................................................................................17 Scott Insurance............................................................................................................................. 73 Southern Landscape Group.................................................................................................. 99 Spearman Artisanry................................................................................................................... 98 Spectrum Stone Designs......................................................................................................... 56 Stones n' Bones............................................................................................................................ 85 Sweet Peas Lighting and Decor.......................................................................................... 37 Terrell E Moseley, Inc.................................................................................................................. 18 Terry Volkswagen Subaru.......................................................................................................... 3 Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory..................................................................................... 49 The Columns................................................................................................................................... 24 The Dahlia......................................................................................................................................... 61 The Summit..................................................................................................................................... 93 The Vinyl Porch Rail Company................................................................................................ 2 Timberlake Lighting of Lynchburg..................................................................................... 78 Valley View Retirement Community................................................................................. 58 Virginia Furniture Market........................................................................................................ 42 Virginia Garden Supply............................................................................................................48 Visiting Angels...............................................................................................................................72 Watts Petroleum.......................................................................................................................... 36 Westminster Canterbury...........................................................................................................15 Wired Up Electrical..................................................................................................................... 95 Your Community Credit Union............................................................................................. 28 Yvonne Jansen, Realtor........................................................................................................... 53

FOR ADVERTISING INFO CALL (434) 386-5667 OR SALES@WESTWILLOWPUBLISHING.COM. Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021

Expand your living space and escape to the great outdoors! We can build or refurbish your deck to create a cozy outdoor spot for spending time with family and friends. Contact us to help make your dreams a reality!

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Central Virginia HOME Holiday/ Winter 2021