If we told you that in 1629 this place became the first town in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, would you be able to name it? How about if we said that it was the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne and that he wrote his most famous novel, The Scarlet Letter, here? Still not sure? We could […]
Living
One of New England’s best-kept real estate secrets has always been the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont (i.e., the three counties in the state’s northeast corner). For most, the area was always too far, too remote from the world, and, of course, prices reflected that perception. Well, “remote from the world” has become attractive — particularly […]
Most cast-iron door stops you’ll find today were likely made in America sometime between the turn of the last century and 1940. Perhaps the only things more welcoming than open doors are the brightly colored cast-iron door stops holding them ajar. Like the best collectibles, these seemingly indestructible household objects are as visually appealing as […]
Homes
Who Was Rufus Porter?
Most people think of Rufus Porter as the itinerant muralist who traveled New England from the early 1820s to about 1845. His vivid landscapes are characterized by rural and coastal images and the open brushstrokes used to achieve his signature feathery trees. Porter’s art is so closely identified with the region that he has achieved […]
Like Lisa, you can learn decorative painting techniques from professionals. In a 1,000-square-foot studio in Boston, the Institute of Surface Design offers classes in areas ranging from wood graining and marbleizing to creating traditional Venetian mosaics and designer plaster. To help you concentrate exclusively on developing your new skills, classes include full breakfast and lunch, […]
It takes a creative person to make a house a home. Artist Lisa Nelthropp did more than that when she purchased a property near New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee seven years ago. After evicting families of squirrels and bats who’d been in residence for years, Lisa realized maybe the former inhabitants didn’t really have it so […]
The leaves on my blueberry bushes and crab apple trees are tattered. I notice lots of inch-long green caterpillars on the branches. What can I do to stop this damage? — D.S., Hanson, MA The leaf damage you describe is likely caused by the winter moth. This European pest has just recently become established in […]
Gardens
Koi Pond: Home Projects
Project: Indoor-outdoor koi pond When John and Charlotte Pratt relocated to Bethlehem, Connecticut, they transported the koi from their outdoor pond in a horse trough. Charlotte dreamed of having a place in their new house where she could enjoy the fish year-round. She now has a pond in the breakfast nook where she and her […]
If you were planning to move to a town in the immediate Boston area, Winchester would have to be one of the top choices on your list. It’s a town known for its great schools, quality community life, and fine (and, sure, expensive) homes, and of course, it’s an easy 15- to 20-minute commute to […]
When graphic designer Carol Kolodny built her cottage in Vineyard Haven in 1981, she had plenty of room for herself and could accommodate her nephews on their frequent visits. But some 20 years later she was feeling crowded, particularly when company came calling, as it often does for residents of Martha’s Vineyard. “My brother joked […]
Photo/Art by Boston Red Sox It’s hard to know the precise moment one falls in love. But in 1974, I spent seven glorious days with my best friend, Jeff, watching the Red Sox at spring training in Winter Haven, Florida. At dawn we hopped the fence of an orange orchard behind the right-field fence of […]
Give an antique valentine and receive a heart in return.