Martha Stewart Living January/February 2022

Sow Days Every January, Martha combs through seed catalogs to order old favorites and try new varieties. Her go-to sources include Row 7, Floret, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and Select Seeds. “I have adored begonias since I first saw them at my maternal grandmother’s house. I’m always looking for unusual kinds, and love that they propagate so easily.”—Martha Grow Tips To help her begonias thrive, Martha keeps them in bright, indirect light and is careful to water them only when the top inch of soil is dry to the touch. She starts fertilizing in late winter when they begin blooming, and continues through the growing season, stopping in late fall. ILLUSTRATIONS BY ENYA TODD; PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER ARDITO (SEED PACKETS), LISA HUBBARD (BEGONIA)…

A FEW YEARS BACK, I got to see a service animal at work. Unlike the ones I’d come across sniffing out trouble in buildings or airports, this was an emotional-support dog, and he was keeping a watchful eye on his owner, a woman who was clearly nervous to board our flight. Every so often she would stop pacing and sit down, and he would put his head or a reassuring paw on her lap and she’d take a deep breath. When she caught me observing them, I couldn’t help but say, “Your dog is amazing.” She smiled and said, “You have no idea.” I recently thought of those two, and how support systems—whatever form they take—can make all the difference in crossing our own personal finish lines. Maybe it’s, quite literally,…

ON THE ROAD Stone-Cold Fun Fulfill your Frozen fantasies at a crystal fortress constructed entirely of ice. Live reindeer, horse-drawn sleighs, and the slickest slides you’ve ever sped down are just a few of the draws at the LaBelle Lake Ice Palace, in East Rigby, Idaho (shown), run by the eight-member Youngstrom family. Here are three more places where you’re sure to enjoy a chilly reception. SARANAC LAKE, N.Y. For 125 years, the centerpiece of this Winter Carnival (February 4 to 13) has been its Ice Palace, built by over 100 hardy volunteers using 1,000 to 4,000 two-by-four-foot blocks. NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. Along with its titular attraction, Ice Castles has a tubing hill, an ice-sculpture garden, and a winter fairy village of wee, glowing houses from mid-January to late February. STILLWATER, MINN. From January 15 to February 20,…

ALL YOU NEED TO MAKE A FRESH START THIS YEAR Let’s Keep in Touch! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. Facebook: @marthastewart Instagram: @marthastewart Pinterest: pinterest.com/marthastewart Twitter: @marthaliving YouTube: youtube.com/marthastewart LENNART WEIBULL (HEARTS); JOHNNY MILLER (CATS); RYAN LIEBE (LADDER); CHRIS SIMPSON (SOUP)…

EVERY YEAR AT LIVING, we challenge ourselves to create something beautiful and delicious for Valentine’s Day. Sarah Carey, our editorial director of food and entertaining, and I meet to discuss such pleasant “problems,” and this year we came up with two delectable confections: mini flourless chocolate cakes, and a layered vanilla heart cake garnished with raspberries, crème-fraîche frosting, and coconut. They both say “I love you” twice: once when you look at them, and again when you devour your serving! The chocolate Roberta heart recipe, which we’ve adapted into sweet individual servings, was developed many years ago in my catering kitchen by baker Roberta Kins, who once made 38 large ones in a single day for a party (hence it’s named after her). We all loved this dessert, and it was…

COLLECTING How to Find It Often sold as souvenirs, Nemadji pottery fanned out across the country in tourists’ suitcases. Follow our pro pointers to score some now. 1 TRY A FEW TERMS Nemadji is the name of the Minnesota town-ship where the clay was sourced. When hunting for pieces online, type in “Minnesota swirl pottery,” too. The ceramics are often called that due to their design and provenance. 2 PEEK INSIDE While all Nemadji is unglazed on the outside, creating its signature matte or “bisque” finish, some pieces have glazed interiors and others don’t. If you plan to put water in yours, look for fully glazed. 3 CHECK THE AGE Aficionados date pieces by the marking on the bottom. The earliest is shaped like an arrowhead, as the town of Nemadji is in Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region. CELEBRATE Waffly Cute These little…