Country Living May/June 2022

It was a quiet Saturday morning in the Tennessee countryside. We had rented an 1860s farmhouse in the small town of Centerville for the weekend, and as my children sat on the screened porch in their pajamas sipping their sugary cereal milk from the bowl—sensible breakfasts have no place on these sorts of weekends—we were startled by a snort straight out of critter central casting. Where had this tiny pig come from? Who, if anyone, did he belong to? What did he want? Was he even a he? My children, as you can imagine, squealed and hurried to the screened door in absolute delight, as I made sure the pig didn’t wiggle its way into the rental. “We need to feed it slop!” my daughter, Emmy, enthused before pausing to ask,…

1 Horsing around the stables, or the Belmont Stakes on June 11th 2 The happy, humble beauty of freshly picked chamomile and daisies tucked into a vintage pitcher (See pg. 30 for more ways to use enamelware.) 3 Marveling at the nightly light show, courtesy of hundreds of newly emerging fireflies 4 Cruising along gravel roads with the windows down, listening to the soundtrack of birds, bees, and bullfrogs 5 “Posting” the old-fashioned way—think fence posts, not filters 6 Celebrating Dad by laughing at his cringeworthy jokes (Groan at all our favorites at countryliving.com/dad-jokes.) 7 Perusing the local farmstand for jellies, jams, and other put-up perfection (See pg. 41 for strawberry recipes.) 8 How the best, most meaningful conversations always seem to take place on a porch swing…

This may be a slightly controversial opinion among the up-and-at-’em, hospital-corner contingency, but in this prioritize productivity world, lazing about is far too underrated an art form, and a disheveled duvet is its canvas. (Sleep-averse skeptics, take note: A woman’s unmade-bed-turned-art installation sold for $4.3 million at a Christie’s auction in recent years.) A taut topper with shipshape shams says: “Sorry, we’re closed—please go about your errands.” But a crumpled comforter and lazy linens whisper an all-day open invitation to linger a little longer, whether conquering crosswords, getting lost in literature, or drifting off to dream in the delightfully dappled daylight. When Saturday saunters in, resist the urge to “make” anything other than pancakes, and revel in the relaxed rebellion of a half-undone bed. Because pillow primping can wait ’til Monday…

1 PRETTY & PRACTICAL Self-Serve Shelving Homeowner Helen Norman paired her sage green Shaker style cabinetry with three rows of simple bracketed shelves (for similar, try “Corblynd;” bedbathandbeyond.com). “I think a kitchen breathes better with the openness above,” she says. Everything she and her guests need for cooking and serving—from colanders and cake stands to platters and pitchers—is kept within easy reach. 2 COUNTRY CLASSIC Yellowware Pottery First produced in the late 19th century, this pressed or thrown utilitarian earthenware was clear-glazed to show off the natural golden color of its clay. Potteries still produce yellowware to this day, but avid collectors seek out early primitive pieces, often with hand-painted stripes. GET THE LOOK: Farmhouse Pottery’s Yellowware Bowls from $165; westontable.com 3 TASKMASTER Built-in Desk “I run my farm and my photography business from this little ol’ desk,” says…

Object Lesson Country Cred: Farmers have been donning straw hats since man first invented the plow. Styles with large brims shield faces and shoulders from the sweltering sun, while taller, cowboy hat-like crowns help to keep air circulating and heads cool during long afternoons on the tractor. Hat Couture: The wider brims on hats associated with gardeners and beachgoers trace back to a French noble named Madame Bergeret, who was painted holding a floppy sun hat by François Boucher in 1766. Just over 100 years later, John B. Stetson created an equally lasting legacy while passing out his hats to cowboys across the Wild West. Americans weren’t introduced to the short-brimmed straw hat we know as the Panama style until 1906, when The New York Times published a now-iconic photo of President…

$725,000 Charlotte, VT 5 BR; 2 BA; 2,652 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: This stately farmhouse checks every box! Outside, you’ll find a surround of five acres with mountain views and two picture-perfect red barns. Inside, there’s a linger-longer sort of sunroom, beautifully unique window trim, and the sweetest vintage floral wallpaper in the upstairs bedroom. AGENTS: Kathleen O’Brien and Patrick O’Connell; fourseasonssir.com WORK REQUIRED: The CL Fixer-Upper Scale MOVE-IN READY NEEDS MINOR IMPROVEMENTS INVEST IN A DECENT DRILL PUT THAT CONTRACTOR ON SPEED DIA $625,000 Gloucester, VA 5 BR; 2.5 BA; 3,515 SQ. FT. WHY YOU’LL LOVE IT: With a barn that’s prime for entertaining and almost 11 acres of open pasture, there’s plenty of room here for horses and hoedowns! As for the Early American farmhouse, the kitchen’s exposed brick fireplace with cast-iron wood stove may cause heart palpitations,…