Southern Lady October 2021

Most people think of summer as vacation season, but as far as I am concerned, nothing beats an autumn escape! I can’t imagine a more enjoyable way to spend a crisp, sunny afternoon than touring one of the South’s beautiful historic sites or taking a drive to marvel at the brilliant leaves. Our region is blessed with so many pockets of nature and hidden gems, and in this issue, we highlight a fascinating one: St. Luke’s Historic Church & Museum in Smithfield, Virginia (page 47). This small brick structure, which dates from Colonial times and survived the American Revolution, has quite a story. It’s reason enough to plan a trip to the area—though there’s plenty more to see and do while you’re there. Closer to home, October’s cooling temperatures are a…

FESTIVE FALL It is a joke in my family that I didn’t inherit the holiday decorating gene. My mom has a grand time decking her house from top to bottom for all possible occasions—Valentine’s Day to the Fourth of July to Thanksgiving—whereas Christmas is the only time of year I really get into it. But after perusing our collection of simple fall ideas on page 75, I think it’s time to step it up and bring a touch of October to my own home, like the mini pumpkins perched on antique spools or the variegated leaves pressed inside a gilt frame. With so many natural treasures just outside the front door, what could be easier? What I did inherit is my mom’s affinity for setting a beautiful table. I love old and…

Get a glimpse of the beautiful images our social media friends have shared with us, capturing their own inspirationfrom the pages of Southern Lady. Top row: Burgundy hues blend with olive notes in @design_rheonna’s alfresco table for two. We can’t think of a cozier front porch swing, and neither can @firsthomeforever’s adorable four-legged friend. Using a trio of galvanized vases, @alabamaedenfarmstand shows off her vibrant farmers’ market floral finds. Middle row: Pumpkins and mums in an array of seasonal shades beautifully bedeck @jillian_eversole’s entry. Blue-and-white china mingles with rust dishware, setting the scene for @bonniechasedesigns’s spectacular autumn arrangements. Bottom row: With fall baking in full swing, @pennypenningtonweeks dresses her pumpkin pie with pastry leaves and sugared cranberries. Pairing powder blue seersucker and gingham linens with Baby Boo gourds, @morganmcak imparts…

Alabama bed-and-breakfast owner Brenda Gantt didn’t expect that her old-fashioned biscuit-making Facebook post would escalate to a million views in two weeks or result in a cookbook chock-full of wit and wisdom, but the 74-year-old is going along for the ride. “I really don’t know what happened,” says Brenda of the immense popularity of that first early-pandemic video last year. “It is incredible.” She followed it up with more posts laced with practical life advice, which show how to make all manner of creamy vegetable casseroles, luscious desserts with whipped toppings, and nitty-gritty Southern basics like biscuits and dumplings. Cooking with Brenda Gantt now has nearly 2.5 million followers on Facebook. Her new cookbook coming out in November—It’s Gonna Be Good Y’all, A Collection of Family Recipes & Stories—takes the videos a…

Ariene Bethea launched her career in human resources hoping to help people love their work, yet it was the work space that caught her eye. After revamping her office as well as her boss’s, she traded the somber surroundings of the corporate world for the playful prints and spirited hues that reign supreme at her popular design studio. “If people are looking for color and pattern, they usually come my way,” says Ariene, whose Dressing Rooms Interiors Studio in Charlotte features handpicked finds from refurbished furniture to vintage tabletop accessories. Stylish vignettes highlight her rotating collection of international textiles, worn leather pieces, and a medley of brass and chrome accoutrements. Many of her featured products are African, Asian, or Indonesian, a distinctive aesthetic that she shared with her late mother, who…

Our enduring love affair with succulents takes the spotlight with these jaunty arrangements that play up October’s prismatic allure. Using hot glue, affix frilly chartreuse moss atop mini white pumpkins to create a decorative bed for your favorite rosette-shaped Echeveria. For seasonal color, embellish with flowering orange and white kalanchoe and then gracefully drape string of pearls sprigs to soften the effect. Group the gourds tabletop on a rustic tray, or put one at each place setting to bring heartfelt smiles.…