Victoria September 2022

Dear Friends Autumn eases into the verdant landscape of Scotland with an air of nobility, unfurling a carpet of gilded hues across the rolling landscape. From these shimmering hills of emerald and gold, lofty spires stretch heavenward. The skies also reflect the season’s splendor: intensifying to brilliant blues of sapphire or topaz on a crisp and cool afternoon, softening on misty mornings to a translucent gray reminiscent of the smoky tones in a Cairngorm gemstone. Our September issue, a tribute to the sweeping views and ancient architecture of Scotland, beckons you to escape to this storied nation. Beginning on page 25, photographer Jane Hope spirits us across the Caledonian countryside for a royal tour of such historic sites as Castle Fraser, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the Castle of Mey. We visit…

Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content you love. Take a closer look at some of our favorite September features: Steeped in Sweetness Perfect for infusing any menu with the loveliness of teatime, an array of sophisticated desserts flavored with Earl Grey serves to delight and inspire guests. Literary Gatherings In stories that vary as widely as those found within a library, our readers share reminiscences about their book clubs, along with favorite titles discussed. Among Heirlooms For the owners of an esteemed antiques gallery, living well includes the vision of dwelling comfortably within an elegant mélange of collected treasures. A Romantic Tour With their dreamy towering spires, historic furnishings, and exquisitely manicured grounds, the castles of Scotland bid our exploration in early fall. We love your ideas! Do you have any…

I currently enjoy a miniature book club with five other women. My church placed nearly thirty of us into five different groups with the goal of getting to know one another better. Each group was tasked with trying to gather for different activities throughout the spring. At our first meeting, we had coffee at my home. There, I presented the suggestion that we become a sort of book club. I had ordered copies of a novel with the hopes that the other ladies would want to read it, and they did! My selection was The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. Her descriptions of the Italian villa wrapped in wisteria, warm sunshine, and views of the water below made one feel transported within the story itself. Beyond that, like the main…

One afternoon, when I was a sophomore in college, I sat in a darkened classroom and watched a documentary about a small town on the west coast of Ireland. The narrator’s voice lilted and swayed, wrapping itself around the words. The rolling hills were an extraordinary green, with rock walls meandering across them as if straight was a concept for people who couldn’t sing. I stepped out into the bright and glaring light of Los Angeles, and all I wanted was to run back inside the classroom, diving into that movie once again. How would it change you to live amidst all that green? I wondered. To reside in a place where every word felt loved? Some places feel like home, even if we have never lived there. The ancient Romans called…

“IT IS THE TIME YOU HAVE SPENT ON YOUR ROSE THAT MAKES YOUR ROSE SO IMPORTANT.”—Antione de Saint-Exupéry“TWO THINGS CANNOT BE IN ONE PLACE. WHERE YOU TEND A ROSE, MY LAD, A THISTLE CANNOT GROW.”—Frances Hodgson Burnett…

With the arrival of the feudal system in Scotland during the twelfth century, sturdy structures built for administrative purposes eventually evolved into the majestic stone castles we associate with the days of dashing heroes, such as Prince Charles Edward Stuart and William Wallace. Many of these fortresses still stand, forever interwoven with Scottish history, offering visitors the chance to wander about the grounds of these venerable keeps. Founded by David I as an Augustinian monastery in 1128, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, located in the capital city of Edinburgh, serves as the official residence of the monarchy in Scotland. Its fascinating past includes many notable names, but none as prominent as Mary, Queen of Scots, whose dramatic narrative played out within these walls. Three hours north sits Balmoral Castle, an impressive example…