Southern Living November 2020

THE FIRST TIME I volunteered at the Community Kitchens of Birmingham, it was part of a service day for my kids’ grade school. My wife, Susan, was an organizer and had signed up the family. Teams of parents and children were assigned projects around the city, and our group’s job was to make lunch for about 70 hungry people in Woodlawn, a historic neighborhood with more than its share of poverty. The day before, Susan had made a big run to the grocery store, and we showed up at Grace Episcopal Church early on a Saturday with a dozen 10-year-olds; a few sleepy parents; and a carload of lasagna, French bread, Caesar salad, and pound cake. The kids would be our waiters, and they had also brought some paper and…

Fresh Pick Anchor each setting with a pear. It’s a nice way to introduce green, a color not generally associated with fall, to the palette. For those who prefer more traditional autumn hues, consider other seasonal produce. “If pears don’t mesh with your decor or color scheme, try pumpkins, gourds, or pomegranates,” says Mariée Ami owner and founder Neillie Butler. Plus, guests can take home their fruits or vegetables as favors. Credits: Clear stemmed glassware and tablecloth; shophammett.com. Calligraphy by Grace Davis Hall; gracecalligraphy.com Photo Finish Skip the names, and place pictures of guests at their seats instead. “It makes for an extra-special conversation starter,” says Mary Baugh, Mariée Ami’s graphic designer, whose grandmother appears in the portrait above. We love the nostalgia of a black-and-white photo, but full-color family snapshots are equally memorable. Credits:…

Pretty Pumpkin Planter Maybe they used to be novelties, but now white pumpkins have become so popular you can find them just about anywhere. They’re a smart choice because they work with any color scheme and make a big statement without much effort. For this planter, we cut the stem and top off a large pumpkin with a low profile, removed the pulp, and filled it with dirt. Then we planted it with assorted succulents and softened the rim with a little moss. A mini orange pumpkin brings a bright pop of color, while dried white bunny tails add height. Bountiful Container Pick a pumpkin with an attractive stem. Cut off the top, and set it aside. Then clean out the pulp. Soak florist foam in water, and place it inside the pumpkin,…

Gravy Immediately: Wipe the stain, and add spot remover, if available. Afterward: Treat the item using a prewash stain remover with enzymes. Let soak overnight, and then launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric. Not machine washable? Wipe the stain, and dry-clean soon. Grease Immediately: Blot as much as you can with a dry paper towel; then blot again with a little bit of hot water and dish soap on a cloth or napkin. Let air-dry. Afterward: If the spot is still visible, treat with a stain remover before washing. Air-dry; repeat the process, if needed. Pumpkin Pie Immediately: Scrape off any excess pumpkin, and flush under cold water to loosen the stain. Afterward:Treat with a prewash stain remover. Launder in the hottest water possible using chlorine bleach, if safe for the fabric. Coffee or Tea Immediately:…

SPENDING WEEKS ON AN island in Fiji competing on Survivor: Winners at War inspired interior designer Kim Wolfe’s next challenge after returning home to San Antonio. “One of the hardest things about Survivor is how slowly time ticks by, but it also gives you an opportunity to think. I’d been doing a lot of interior design and realized that I wanted to start working on houses for myself. When I got home, I needed an outlet, so I poured my energy into flipping a property,” she says. A rundown ranch in her neighborhood caught her attention. “The home was in horrific condition. It had been hit by a tornado and still had tarps over the roof. It was the worst of the worst, but I fell in love with the…

BAD APPLES › After we moved to western North Carolina about four years ago, two apple trees in our yard produced huge amounts of fruit for two years. Then I read an article about making these trees shorter so the apples would be easier to pick. We have gotten no fruit since the pruning. Will these trees bear again? —CHASTISED EX-PRUNER HUSBAND, ED » Um, there’s a difference between “shortening” and cutting to ground level, Ed. No wonder you’re in the doghouse. Fruit trees need periodic pruning for several reasons: to remove suckers from the base, to eliminate water sprouts (shoots that grow straight up without branching), and to get rid of crossing and rubbing limbs as well as branches that grow through the middle of the canopy and not outward. The…