Each year, Americans festoon their homes and businesses with holiday decorations of varying sizes, shapes and colors. But for some people, all that festive fluff is overwhelming.
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What happens to a home when it is not properly maintained? After a while, things tend to start falling apart, don’t they?
In the 1980s, dhurrie rugs from India, with their bright colors, geometric designs and sturdy flat weaves, were all the rage. In 1983, one of the first things my husband and I selected for our new apartment in Washington was a $499 red and white 9-by-12-foot dhurrie rug from the Kellogg Collection. I wish I still owned it.
I think it’s likely safe to say we don’t usually think about mistletoe except during the holidays (unless you live in Oklahoma, where it is their state plant). In the 18th century, mistletoe was hung during holiday festivals and men would steal kisses from women under it. One berry was removed for every kiss received. When the berries were gone, so were the kisses. Yet beyond this timeless tradition, I suspect most of us take for granted the backstory to this fascinating and very real plant.
Tradition claims that it was the bubonic plague in the 14th century that inspired the creation of beer steins. Many people had noticed that there were more deaths in filthy places in town than in clean sections, and that there were clouds of insects along with the illness in Central Europe.
Dear Heloise: I was going to toss out an old 18-bottle wine rack. My husband took it to the garage and filled the rack with old golf shoes and tennis shoes. It’s nice to have all those shoes in a neat place and easy to locate. Guess wine racks can hold more than just wine! — Mary Anderson in Las Vegas
The busiest room in the house in the coming weeks is going to be the kitchen. And no matter if it’s a roast turkey or a glazed ham that’s about to go in the oven, anything that can make the effort a little easier and less time consuming is welcome.
Say “wreath,” and the beloved evergreen standard comes to mind — unadorned or dressed for the holiday season with lights, bows, fruit or ornaments.
People seem to have two perspectives on decorating fireplace mantels for the holidays. Some see this long piece of wood as a stage for their masterpiece. To others, it seems more like a gangplank — decorating this key focal point feels intimidating.