If a single sound and a single scent can hold the essence of a New England summer, surely they’re the crash of the surf breaking on our shores and the salty tang that hangs in the breeze as you get ever closer to the sea. Nature and geography have bestowed many gifts on our New […]
Lynne Cox’s strange and wonderful relationship with the coldest waters on the planet began, naturally, as a youngster turning blue in the lakes and coastal beaches of Maine and New Hampshire. She went on to set world records for duration and distance in a variety of exotic cold water settings, first as a teen crossing […]
For efficient, comfortable, and clean-burning wood heat, a masonry heater is the answer. The concept’s not new — Romans heated their baths this way, and Scandinavians have been using this method for hundreds of years. It was Frieda’s husband, Alan, who really pushed for a masonry heater. They chose craftsman Rod Zander to design and […]
1. Effective Insulation [What you can do] Reduce heat loss through the roof by making sure you have 10-14 inches of insulation (fiberglass, rigid foam, or cellulose) in your attic. Distribute insulation evenly so there are no low spots along the eaves and floor joists are covered.Get Our FREE Yankee Best New England Vacations Guide! […]
This brand-new house in Vermont has everything — a spacious kitchen with soapstone counters, a great room with mountain views, an attached three-story barn, and a basement gym. Frieda Wimmelman and her husband, Alan Binnick, have built a dream house, but much of what makes this home stand out is actually hidden from the eye. […]
In 1879, the granddaughter-in-law of Revolutionary War hero Major General Israel Putnam (1718-1790) donated “these memorials of the opening scene of the Revolutionary Drama” to Lexington. Now displayed in the Hancock-Clarke House of the Lexington Historical Society, these elite Scottish officer’s pistols originally belonged to Major John Pitcairn (1722-1775), a Scot who commanded the advance […]
If dining on deck, especially with kids, avoid snacks that will blow away or are oily: “Chips, pretzels, and crackers fly away with the slightest puff of wind, and the kids’ hands get covered in grease — which ends up on everything they touch on a boat, and that can be dangerous. Cut-up fruits and […]
“It was our love for the ocean that brought us together in the first place,” says Helen Gallo Bryan. She met her husband, Dave Bryan, manager of the Boston Sailing Center, more than a decade ago when she first signed up for sailing lessons. “We quickly figured out we had a passion for wine and […]
Want to add a bit of flair to your wardrobe? Try a scarf. Mitzi Johnson manipulates colors and patterns on broad bands of fabric such as silk, velvet, crepe, and chiffon. There are basically three options: hand-painted, hand-dyed in a single color or in a fade, and hand-dyed in two contrasting colors (one on a […]
Sea-glass jewelry is a New England summer fashion must. But which piece to choose?
Wrap yourself in a Swans Island blanket for cool evenings. These beautiful works are woven of wool from local sheep; it’s spun in Vermont and dyed at a weaving studio in Maine. Wool is a naturally breathable, moisture-wicking fiber, and the high-quality materials used here exude comfort. Our favorites are the summer-weight blankets in indigo […]
In addition to everyday concerns (a mother of three boys is used to problem solving), Becky O’Neil considers such conundrums as: Button or bow? Shoulder strap or two handles? Fabric handle … or plastic or bamboo? Her nascent line of handbags uses everything from silks to cottons to twills to corduroys, and appeals to the […]
