我們一生所遇,都不是偶然的。本期居家專題,收錄前白宮祕 書 Linda Faulkner 女士,真情分享與心愛的德州家園如何相 遇,以及家中珍品的收藏故事與各種情思。一間有故事的房 子,讓生活充滿了更多層次。
願每一位敬愛的讀者,都能看見與您相伴的物件,其背後的真 實光亮,並且珍惜與它共度的時光。
drsebagh.com
Experience the rejuvenating, radiance-restoring power of Dr Sebagh’s highly concentrated super-serum. Used on its own or mixed with any serum, this deeply nourishing and repairing hero delivers a potent dose of three anti-ageing peptides, hyaluronic acid and the ‘youth molecule’ Resveratrol. Mineral boosters turn up the glow, and an anti-pollution film protects your skin. Available in-store and at drsebagh.com
EVE LOM’s Decadent Double Cleanse Ritual Set is a practical gift for anyone, male or female, as clean skin is the first step of a good skin care routine.
The Cleanser Balm deeply cleanses and hydrates, while the Foaming Cream Cleanser is the ideal second step for a perfect double cleanse. Last but not least, the Rescue Mask is the occasional skin-saver that draws out impurities without harsh exfoliants, revealing refined skin with a bright glow.
The set includes the 200 mL Cleanser, 20 mL Foaming Cream Cleanser, 100 mL Rescue Mask, a muslin cloth, and faux silk headband. ($155, evelom.com)
ELITE BEAUTY
Swiss skin care brand Valmont’s V-FIRM collection is specifically formulated to restore the skin’s firmness, making it the perfect gift for aging skin and anyone who wants to optimize skin density and firmness.
The collection includes the following three high-performance products:
V-FIRM Serum ($340): Restores the skin's firmness and tones the face.
V-FIRM Cream ($440): Firms skin and strengthens its natural barrier.
V-FIRM Eye ($290): Actively combats sagging eyelids and under-eye creases.
(lamaisonvalmont.com)
These two serums from celebrity cosmetic Doctor Jean-Louis Sebagh are the perfect stocking stuffers for any skin care lover.
Dr. Sebagh Supreme Maintenance Youth Serum ($175 for 30 mL) is a light, oil-free antiaging serum that deeply moisturizes while firming, rejuvenating, and smoothing skin for a youthful appearance. Perfect for daytime and under makeup. The Dr. Sebagh Serum Repair ($101 for 20 mL) is a potent anti-aging serum that gives an immediate lifting and tightening effect and works to repair and replenish your skin while you sleep.
(drsebagh.com)
For luxury skin care lovers, the following La Prairie gems are great gift choices: The new Skin Caviar Harmony L’Extrait ($820) is an intensive serum that strengthens, lifts, and re-densifies the skin, recapturing the look of youthful volume and firmness. Pair it with the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream ($555), a luxurious cream that lifts and helps skin regain firmness and elasticity while gently exfoliating and retexturizing for an even skin tone and beautiful glow.
(laprairie.com)
For those who suffer from thinning eyebrows or want bolder, fuller-looking brows, Revitalash's RevitaBrow Advanced Eyebrow conditioner is the perfect gift, as it rejuvenates brittle, sparse, patchy brows, making them healthier, thicker, and fuller-looking.
($110, revitalash.com)
With a burn time of 55 hours, these lovely candles from Mizensir are practical, elegant gifts for women and men alike. The Edelweiss Des Alpes Winter Candle ($75) indulges the senses with its scent of freshness, reminiscent of mountain air, and the Rose de l'Atlas Winter Candle ($75) with its alluring scent of rose and oud captures and lifts the warm holiday spirit.
($75, mizensirparfums.com)
For beautiful hair, the K-Beauty salon brand British M has some lovely hair products that make perfect stocking stuffers for men and women alike.
Kombucha Shampoo: This “teatox” shampoo is created with kombucha, known for its healing and antioxidant benefits. The shampoo gently cleanses, strengthens, and deeply hydrates, leaving the hair super smooth and shiny. It also removes environmental buildup on hair and scalp and helps prevent hair shedding. ($36 for 750 mL)
Kombucha Hair Mask: This healing Kombucha Hair Mask nourishes, hydrates, and strengthens the hair and leaves it silky smooth and shiny. ($38 for 750 mL)
Annatto Hair Oil: This award-winning lightweight, strengthening, and nourishing hair oil instantly absorbs into the hair, making it smooth and shiny. ($33–$67)
British M: Flex Gentle Brush: This unique maze-shaped brush allows dryer airflow to pass through for faster, easier, and more even styling results.The flexible design allows for smooth, gentle brushing to protect hair by putting less stress on the hair and scalp. ($21) (amazon.com)
Bio Ionic’s super light (less than 12 ounces) SMART-X High Efficiency Dryer is a practical gift for both women and men. It dries hair 75 percent faster than a leading competitor and comes with three heat and three speed settings and a fabulous selfcleaning function. It includes a Bio Ionic moisturizing heat technology that hydrates hair by emitting natural negative ions that allow water molecules to penetrate deep into hair strands, leaving the hair softer, shinier, and smoother.
($329, BioIonic.com)
EDITOR’ S PICK
Embracing
Joyful Colors
樂活風
The end of the year is a perfect time for putting colorful elements together to welcome the holiday season. Be bold and creative to spice up that special corner of your home.
1 LUMINANCE ARTS, REPRODUCTION OF WANG TUAN YUAN, CHINESE LANDSCAPE PAINTING BY XIU YITAN, FROM $268 DEPENDING ON SIZE, LUMINANCEARTS.COM | 2 ITALIAN MIDCENTURY BRASS, MARBLE AND RED LACQUER FLOOR LAMP BY STILUX MILANO, $2,626 (PRICE MAY VARY), 1STDIBS.COM | 3 TIFFANY & CO., EVERYDAY OBJECTS MAHJONG SET IN A TIFFANY BLUE LEATHER BOX, $15,000, TIFFANY.COM | 4 ROCHE BOBOIS, MEDIANE 1.5-SEAT SOFA, DESIGN BY SACHA LAKIC, $3,870, ROCHE-BOBOIS.COM | 5 SWAROVSKI, JOYFUL ORNAMENTS SANTA'S REINDEER, $145, SAKSFIFTHAVENUE.COM | 6 POLIFORM, ILDA COFFEE TABLE WITH AMBER ONYX, DESIGNED BY JEAN-MARIE MASSAUD, PRICE UPON REQUEST, POLIFORM.IT/EN-US/
ELITE CULTURE
DISCOVERING AMERICA’S UNIQUE HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
How people across the country embrace the season
COLORADO: TRACKING SANTA
州州歡慶 聖誕佳節尋奇
By Skylar Parker
With the help of NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command center, based in Colorado Springs, you can track Santa through the skies and beyond. It’s a local tradition that became one enjoyed around the world. Today, hundreds of thousands of children call the NORAD Santa hotline every Christmas Eve to speak to Santa and his team of elves. NORAD’s Santa Tracker receives 30 million visitors annually on Christmas Eve, from all over the world. For the inside scoop on NORAD’s Santa-tracking system, see the holiday feature “Where in the World Is Santa Claus?,” on page 16.
TubaChristmas is Boise’s long-awaited annual holiday —a community event for tuba and euphonium musicians that dates back to 1922. The musicians, a mix of novice and veteran players, come from a variety of ages, backgrounds, and professions. Locals typically gather around the state capitol building, where the musical ensemble plays a range of traditional holiday songs for all to enjoy.
INDIANA: 18TH-CENTURY TRADITIONS AND MODERN AUTOMOBILE RACING
As one of the first pioneer states in America, Indiana has plenty of fascinating history. Fishers, Indiana, hosts holiday events every year. The most notable is its Merry Prairie Holiday tradition, where locals can get a taste of Christmas during the late 18th century. The state is also well-known for its spectacular motorcar racing, particularly the Indy 500, which creates a special feature during the holidays in the form of a drive-thru light show, called Lights at the Brickyard. There, families can take their cars for a two-mile drive down an illuminated racetrack.
ALABAMA: A THEATER PARTY WITH MOVIES AND SING-ALONGS
Each year, during the month of December, locals in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, gather together at the Alabama Theatre for a special holiday movie marathon featuring classic Christmas films. Attending the theater during the holidays has become a family tradition. Doors open one hour before showtime, and sing-alongs, which take place before every screening, feature The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, one of the few remaining pipe organs left from the early 20th century. Alabamans also enjoy indulging in a Southern delicacy—pecan pie—and if they’re lucky, paying a visit to the famed Priester’s Pecans at Fort Deposit for some pecan candy.
While most places enjoy the typical winter-themed festivities, Hawaiians have adopted a tropical twist on the traditional Christmas celebrations. Most locals import their Christmas trees months before the holidays begin, as the shipment requires a lengthy journey across the Pacific Ocean. Some grow their own trees— Hawaiin trees, that is. Walking around Hawaii, you will see palm trees, rather than firs, embellished with an assortment of lights. In Hawaii, Santa arrives at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort—riding the waves in a canoe, instead of his usual sleigh. There, visitors and locals can watch as he is warmly welcomed by a keiki hula group. This event is followed by a traditional Hawaiian luau—a feast featuring lively music and cultural performances. The holiday dinner typically involves kalua roast pig, specially prepared in an underground oven called an imu.
Holiday boat parades are a Florida specialty. The state boasts some of the most iconic Intracoastal Waterway boat shows in the country. For Floridians, participating in one of these parades is an important part of their Christmas holiday tradition. Fireworks light up the Intracoastal Waterway, heralding a spectacular display of boats adorned with holiday lights and festive decorations as spectators gather along the waterway to enjoy music and fresh seasonal treats. Favorite locations include the boat parades in Boca Raton and Palm Beach. The Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade partners with the U.S. Marine’s Toys for Tots organization, a toy drive that collects new, unwrapped toys to distribute to local children in need.
博卡拉頓(Boca Raton)跟棕櫚灘(Palm Beach)是 最熱門的賞船地點。此外,棕櫚灘聖誕船遊行,也與美 國海軍後備軍人發起的「Toys for Tots」慈善組織合作, 募集未拆封的新玩具,再將這些玩具分送給生活較為困 難的孩子作為聖誕禮,讓更多孩子都能享受節日的溫暖。
HAWAII
MAINE: CHRISTMAS FOR SEAFOOD LOVERS
Maine is known for its flourishing fishing industry. The locals love seafood so much that they incorporate it into their holiday celebrations. You’ll find Christmas trees made from stacked lobster traps, and a holiday menu filled with seafood delights. Maine residents traditionally enjoy a hearty seafood chowder on Christmas Eve, and lighthouses all across the state are often lit up with Christmas lights. Boothbay hosts some of the most incredible light displays in all of Maine—using 650,000 LED lights and transforming forests into a spectacular winter wonderland.
緬因:海鮮愛好者的冬季樂園
當地的海產業蓬勃興盛,當地居民尤其熱愛海鮮,這也 體現在聖誕節慶祝活動上,像是用龍蝦捕籠箱堆疊而成 的高大聖誕樹,或者在節日季推出各式美味、海鮮滿溢 的節慶大餐,如暖心又暖胃的海鮮巧達湯,是緬因居民 必備的聖誕餐點。而州內的燈塔也常會隨著聖誕燈一起 打亮。布斯灣每年舉辦緬因州最盛大的燈會,用上65 萬 盞 LED 燈,璀璨耀眼,寧靜的森林化身為冬季仙境。
DELAWARE: AN 1800S-STYLE CHRISTMAS Locals in Delaware enjoy re-creating what Christmas would have been like in the 1800s by attending Yuletide at Winterthur, home of American horticulturist and antique furniture collector Henry Francis du Pont. Considered the premier museum of American decorative arts, the home is transformed every year into a Christmas masterpiece. Visitors can learn about the traditional festivities celebrated by du Pont’s family during his lifetime, as well as view the assortment of early American furniture he collected during the course of his life. The highlight of the tour is viewing the pair of dried-flower trees covered with more than 60 varieties of flowers gathered on the property.
DELAWARE IMAGES COURTESY OF ALABAMA THEATRE, CONNER PRAIRIE, JEWEL SAMAD/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES, JOE RAEDLE, NORAD, SHUTTERSTOCK, AND YULETIDE AT WINTERTHUR.
FLORIDA
Where in the World Is Santa Claus?
北美上空聖誕夜奇蹟 節日特輯:聖誕老人在哪裡?
By Andria Pressel
Every Christmas Eve, NORAD puts its high-tech missile-tracking systems on a very special mission: following Santa’s journey around the world
每年平安夜,NORAD 的高科技導彈追蹤系統, 都有一個不同於平日的特殊任務——滿世界追著聖誕老人
ELITE HOLIDAY
For more than 60 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a binational defensive agency that monitors U.S.-Canadian aerospace for threats, has faithfully tracked the movements of Santa Claus as he travels on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to boys and girls across the world.
This unlikely responsibility is something of a Christmas miracle itself. It began by accident in 1955 when a child called a misprinted phone number in the local newspaper in hopes of reaching Santa. Instead, the phone rang Air Force Col. Harry Shoup’s secret military hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command, NORAD’s predecessor. When Shoup realized the caller was a child, he assured the child that he was indeed Santa Claus and mustered a group of airmen to answer incoming calls for Santa. What began as a child’s accidental phone call has blossomed into an annual program followed by millions. Now, the volunteer-supported hotline receives at least 130,000 yearly calls asking about Santa’s location.
In an interview, this year’s program director for NORAD Tracks Santa, 1st Lt. Sean Carter, provided an insider’s scoop on the magic behind Santa’s incredible journey.
What is your job at NORAD? What do you do when you’re not tracking Santa?
Lt. Sean Carter: I am a NORAD and U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) public affairs officer. Outside of my Santa-tracking responsibilities, I help to manage our community outreach division. We have the greatest job in the DoD (Department of Defense). It’s our team’s charge to interface with the American and Canadian people—to foster relationships with the beautiful city of Colorado Springs, which NORAD and USNORTHCOM Headquarters call home, to showcase the incredible binational relationship that is wholly unique to the NORAD mission, and to assure our citizens that they can sleep safe and sound.
What technologies are used to track Santa?
Mr. Carter: The NORAD North Warning System —a powerful radar system with 47 installations strung across northern Canada and Alaska—allows the team here to know the second that Santa begins his flight. Our guiding light, now 67 years since our first foray into Santa tracking, has always been Rudolph’s red nose. It’s that little nose so bright that allows NORAD to track the jolly old fellow’s flight path through infrared technologies.
Once airborne, the same satellites that provide warning of possible missile launches against North America kick into high gear. The intensity of Rudolph’s nose is on a par with that of a missile launch, and the satellites have no trouble following their route.
Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, operations officer at NORAD’s precursor organization, answered a wrong-number call on Dec. 24, 1955, from a child wishing to speak to Santa. As the number had been mistakenly published in a local newspaper, the colonel put together a team to answer the calls. It was the beginning of NORAD’s tradition of tracking Santa. _Courtesy of the Department of Defense
Two Canadian CF18 Hornet aircraft (top) and a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor.
_Cpl. Vicky Lefrancois/DAirPA (top) and Senior Airman Emily Farnsworth (bottom)
Canadian NORAD fighter pilots, flying CF-18s, take off from Newfoundland and accompany him as he travels through Canada. While in the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in F-15s, F-16s, and F-22s have the honor of tipping their wings to St. Nick. All of these systems come together to provide NORAD with a very good, continuous picture of his whereabouts.
How big a team does it take to track Santa?
Mr. Carter: Every holiday season, a team of more than 1,500 Canadian and American uniformed personnel, DoD civilians, and members of the community come together to volunteer to track Santa. It’s no exaggeration to say we receive thousands of calls each year regarding Santa’s whereabouts. The NORAD Public Affairs office manages the program, but it wouldn’t be possible without our corporate contributors.
Volunteers monitor phones and computers while tracking Santa Claus at the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center. _Charles Marsh/DVIDS
How fast does Santa fly in order to get to every child’s house? Does the speed change as Santa drops off more presents but stops for cookies?
Mr. Carter: NORAD intelligence reports indicate that Santa does not experience time the way we do. His trip seems to take 24 hours to us, but to Santa it might last days, weeks, or even months. Santa would not want to rush the important job of delivering presents to children and spreading joy to everyone, so the only logical conclusion is that Santa functions within his own space-time continuum—faster than starlight. To your second question, however, yes! We have verified that at the time of takeoff, Santa—himself of generous girth—has a whopping 60,000 tons of gifts in tow. Upon his return, the sleigh itself is significantly lighter, though its passenger has nearly quadrupled in generosity. These changes surely play a role in his travels, though we’re not sure to what extent.
Please tell us about the Santa Cams.
Mr. Carter: The Santa Cams are very special, highly technical tools that work to slow down time and make Santa’s presence in any given city perceptible to the human eye. We’re aiming for at least four new Santa Cams to come online this year, so keep an eye out on December 24 to see if you can spot the new cities.
Over NORAD’s 66 years of tracking Santa, what have been some of the most memorable moments?
Mr. Carter: Just a few years back, we took a call from the sweetest little girl. She was very worried about her mom, who had deployed overseas just before the holiday season. All she wanted to know was
More than 1,500 American and Canadian uniformed personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and members of the community volunteer to help track Santa and answer thousands of phone calls every year.
_Staff Sgt. Alexandra Longfellow (right) and Dennis Carlyle (left)
that Santa would be able to find her mom this year, even though she wasn’t at home. It was the team’s great honor to inform the little girl that Santa would indeed have no problem finding her mom wherever she was. There’s no greater satisfaction than using our Santa-tracking tools to bring a little joy, reassurance, and holiday magic into the lives of children.
What’s your best advice for our readers who wish to track Santa and catch him as he arrives at their homes?
Mr. Carter: I’m so happy you asked. We know from past experience that Santa typically departs the North Pole by about 6 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (North America) to begin his rounds for the children sleeping
in the Eastern hemisphere. Santa typically arrives between 9 p.m. and midnight, and only when children are asleep. If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other homes and returns later. Hands down, the best way to keep up with his route is our website, NORADSanta.org, or by calling our call center at 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-4466723). OnStar users can also follow his travels on their devices, and Amazon Alexa users can ask, “Alexa, where’s Santa?” Also, be sure to check the Microsoft, Apple, and Android app stores for our official NORAD Tracks Santa app. Happy holidays, and we hope to hear from you on December 24.
This article was edited for clarity and brevity.
Christmas Morning by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, 1844. Oil on canvas.
ELITE ARTS
LIFE’S MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS
A realist’s window into 19th-century Austrian family life
最好的禮物
By Louise Rothman
Picture courtesy of the Belvedere Museum
Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller (1793–1865) was acclaimed for his landscapes and scenes of rural life. In Christmas Morning, a humble Austrian family gathers together while the children discover their modest presents. In Austrian tradition, children put their shoes on the windowsill in hopes that St. Nicholas will leave them simple gifts if they’ve been good. A realist painter, Waldmüller shows us an intimate family scene.
The austere setting, the clothing, and the scrawny Christmas tree with a few homemade ornaments show that these are common folk. The grandmother is in the center of the painting. Three of the children come close to her, eager to show her their gifts and share their delight in their little treasures. The gifts are simple pieces of fruit as well as ribbons for two of the girls. The boy on the left holds an empty shoe and hangs his head, with an unhappy expression on his face. Perhaps Santa passed him by because he was naughty. Two of the girls look toward their sister who is about to retrieve her shoe, curious to see what she may find.
To the right of the grandmother, the mother looks on wistfully. Is she saddened by the fact that she cannot provide more for her children?
Perhaps she’s worried about her son who didn’t receive a gift. Her husband seems to be trying to explain away her concerns. All the adults show their love for the children. In our modern age,
with its material abundance, we can also feel gratitude for the most precious gifts—the simple things in life, family bonds and, of course, the children.
Pictures courtesy of the National Palace Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Nature serves as our greatest artistic muse. It stirs feelings and emotions in us and was a source of inspiration for ancient Chinese artists. Four plants—the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum—were known as the “Four Gentlemen,” or “Junzi” in ancient China.
Ancient Chinese artists depicted this flora to evoke intellectual thought and spirituality rather than simply to portray the beauty of the natural world. Each of these plants personified the ideal qualities of a gentleman in ancient China. The artists combined their paintings with calligraphy and poetry, known together as the “Three Perfections.”
PLUM BLOSSOMS: INNER STRENGTH
The ancient Chinese praised the plum blossom for its ability to bloom vibrantly through the winter snow.
While most other plants hibernate in the fall, the plum blossom prepares itself to bloom before other flowers and is seen as a harbinger of spring. This plant isn’t particularly eye-catching, but it is considered a symbol of inner beauty and strength in adversity.
Wang Mian (1279–1368) was a Yuan Dynasty painter known for his plum paintings in ink. His paintings incorporated a calligraphic inscription over a flowering plum branch. In his poem “Plum,” he wrote:
A plum tree by my family’s inkstone washing pond, Blossoming flowers bloom with light ink, Don’t let people praise its color, Sweet aroma fills the air between heaven and earth.
Here, Wang praises the virtues of the plum blossom. It does not use bright colors to seek praise or please people; it wishes only to leave a subtle fragrance in the world. The petals are made with light dabs of ink to convey inner purity. Although it is not striking on the outside, the plum blossom is shown with a splendid and dignified inner life.
This plant is much like the artist. Wang grew up in a poor family, but he studied hard to make a name for himself in poetry and painting. He was not able to pass a civil service exam that would guarantee a steady income, and he later rejected several other civil appointments. Retiring to the mountains where he made his living by painting, Wang built a plum blossom retreat and planted a thousand plum trees around it. He compared himself to the plum blossom as being someone who triumphs over harsh conditions and doesn’t seek fame.
ORCHID: NOBLE YET HUMBLE
The orchid is delicate and fragile. Its flowers bloom with elegance and grace in the spring, and its blossoms are exquisite yet never overbearing. They often grow in hidden and secluded places emanating a faint, delicate fragrance. With these characteristics, the orchid embodies simplicity, solitude, humility, and nobility.
A solitary orchid floats against an empty background in Zheng Sixiao’s painting Ink Orchid . Simple, spare brushstrokes depict the orchid leaves; the ink strokes create symmetry, dividing the painting into a balanced composition. Zheng’s poem accompanies the painting:
元 王冕 墨梅圖 軸
Fragrant Snow at Broken Bridge, by Wang Mian, Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). Hanging scroll.
I’ve always bowed my head and asked Emperor Xi, What are you doing in this township? Before starting to paint the nares open, And the sky is full of antique fragrances.
The piece was created in response to the Mongolian army’s conquering the Southern Song Empire. Being loyal to the Song, Zheng rejected Mongol rule by signing the painting as “Southern-facing old man,” who never faced the Northern Mongolian court.
The orchid embodies someone of noble character, such as Emperor Xi, a legendary king and ancestor of ancient Chinese civilization. It is depicted without roots and seems to be displaced from the soil. When asked why that is, Zheng said, “Don’t you know that the land was stolen by the barbarians?” “Antique fragrances” suggests a wistful nostalgia for the motherland.
Seeing himself as the rootless orchid, the artist conveyed that he was without a home after the fall of the Song Empire. Yet he remained a patriot with noble integrity, without anger or hatred. The question he posed in the poem heightens his sadness, as he felt out-of-place.
BAMBOO: ENDURANCE AND INTEGRITY
The bamboo was admired by the ancient Chinese for centuries. The bamboo stalk stands straight and tall, representing uprightness and integrity. Yet the inside of the stalk is hollow, symbolizing endurance and tolerance. Although the bamboo grows straight, it bends and sways in the wind. It is strong and agile, making it a symbol of resiliency—of being able to recover quickly from difficulty.
Wu Zhen’s (1280–1354) Yuan Dynasty pictorial series, Manual of Ink Bamboo, features paintings depicting bamboo in different poses and stages: from tender shoots to old stalks, some upright and strong, some supple and bent down. The bamboo is also portrayed reacting to wind, rain, and snow, showing its adaptability. Each painting includes an inscription that describes the virtues that the bamboo plant symbolizes, rather than its actual features. 26
In this poem, Wu wrote:
When the trees shake and drop their leaves, This gentleman remains particularly green. With moral integrity and its mind more modest still, It cherishes solitude to keep its nature intact.
Here, Wu personifies the bamboo as a gentleman who maintains his moral integrity in the face of adversity. Wu expresses admiration for bamboo’s resiliency and modesty. Despite external pressure, this plant still preserves its true nature.
In another poem, he wrote:
The bamboo stands upright in the frost, Its shadows are slim and graceful under the moonlight.
If you understand the principle of self-effacement,
Then what matters will still weigh on your mind?
Wu invokes self-cultivation in this poem. Bamboo likes to grow in lofty mountains away from the world; it is content and carefree in its reclusiveness and uninterested in worldly affairs. It does not seek attention and is indifferent to fame and gain. By letting go of such desires, one will be at peace with oneself.
CHRYSANTHEMUM:
ENDURING ELEGANCE
Praised for its exquisite beauty, the chrysanthemum was a favorite flower of the ancient Chinese. Its blossoms thrive in the chilly autumn air while other flowers start to wilt. It doesn’t compete with other flowers, yet it outlasts them all, giving it an enduring elegance. The long lifespan of the flower represents living a life full of vitality.
The chrysanthemum was beloved by Tao Yuanming (365–427), a well-known poet during
清 沈世傑 畫蘭 軸
Depicting the Orchid by Shen Shi Jie, Qing Dynasty. Hanging scroll.
Top: 元 吳鎮 墨竹譜 冊 輕蔭護綠苔 Manual of Ink Bamboo, Light Shadows Cast Over Green Moss by Wu Zhen, 1350. Album leaf: Ink on paper.
Bottom: 元 吳鎮 墨竹 冊 墨竹(二) Manual of Ink Bamboo, the second painting in the series, Wu Zhen. Album leaf: Ink on paper.
the Six Dynasties period. Although Tao appreciated the autumnal beauty of chrysanthemums, he liked their therapeutic properties even more, as he would mix their petals in wine to make a longevity potion. In his fifth poem, “Drinking Wine,” he wrote:
I built my house near where others dwell, And yet there is no clamor of carriages and horses. You ask of me, “How can this be so?”
When the heart is far, the place of itself is distant. I pluck chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, And gaze afar toward the southern mountains. The mountain air is fine at the evening of the day And flying birds return homeward together.
Within these things there is a hint of Truth, But when I start to tell it, I cannot find the words.
明 陳淳 花卉 卷 Flowers and Plants by Chen Chun (1483~1544), Ming Dynasty. In his early stage, Chen studied under Wen Zhengming. In middle age, he changed his style and featured flowers and plants in most of his artwork, capturing the spirit of the plants with ink.
This poem expresses the poet’s contentment in a rural setting. When he was young, Tao served as a government official to support his parents. But when he saw the government’s corruption, he withdrew from civil service and retreated to a pastoral life, surrounded by the beauty of the natural world.
The “hint of Truth” that Tao speaks of in the poem is the fleeting nature of life. Riches and influence don’t go with us when we die. Tao tells us that life is ephemeral, and desolation sets in at old age. He expresses the truth of living a simple life free of worldly desires, while picking chrysanthemums near the mountains.
Even a place full of people and commotion will feel distant when the heart is unshackled from the world. Integrating emotion and reason, Tao’s poem conveys that his tranquil state of mind is in harmony with nature, yet he “cannot find the words” to express this contentment.
The Four Gentlemen—the plum blossom, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum—awakened insights and beautiful thoughts in ancient artists and poets to inspire their paintings and poems for the world to enjoy.
Marie Kondo's lifestyle philosophy begins with a deep look at our possessions
為夢想生活騰出更多空間 ——近藤麻理惠的整理哲學
In the past several years, your philosophy of tidying has really captured attention and has been adopted by people all around the world. What do you think really resonates with people about this philosophy?
Marie Kondo: The KonMari Method is more than just organizing; it starts with physical objects, which are often just symbols of the larger self-reflection we need. Evaluating the things that spark joy in our lives to help us achieve the vision we have for the lives we want to live is a part of the KonMari Method that I feel people really appreciate and resonate with the most.
What are some of the early influences that attracted you to tidying and organizing?
Ms. Kondo: Tidying is something that I learned from my grandmother at a very early age, and she was always such a big inspiration to me. She was so careful and considerate of the things she owned, and that level of intent and care is now deeply rooted in the KonMari Method. If I can personally help people tidy and see positive changes in other areas of their lives, then I feel like I have done what is needed, while also honoring my grandmother’s memory.
When people go through the process and apply the KonMari method, they seem to have a lot of epiphanies. Many people start to realize that it's not just about things; it's about living and lifestyle. Was this always the starting point for you? How do you encourage people to think about lifestyle?
Ms. Kondo: As a young girl, I was truly captivated by the craft of organization after reading The Art of Discarding, a bestselling book in Japan at the time. Being inspired from this book, I really started to explore tidying more seriously, and at that point in my life, I thought that tidying was mainly about discarding. I remember once during a difficult tidying session, my body became heavy, and I ended up passing out on the floor. After several hours, I thought I heard a voice telling me to “look at the items carefully and closely,” and in this exact moment, I realized I had an epiphany. Instead of looking for reasons to discard an item, I should be looking for reasons to keep them. Right then, I knew that tidying was so much more than just cleaning and discarding items. It transformed into focusing on the things and moments in life that spark joy.
When applying the KonMari Method, it’s important to remember that you are not choosing what to discard, but rather, choosing to keep items that speak to your heart. Through tidying, people can reset their lives and make sure they’re spending the rest of their lives surrounded by the people and things that they love and cherish the most.
In your method, you mention some procedures and rituals. Tell us about the importance of rituals and how they can change the way we look at things?
Ms. Kondo: Before you can truly care for another person, space, or object, you have to know how to
take care of yourself, which is where the importance of rituals come into play. I prioritize daily rituals that enable me to honor my whole self because when the body, mind and spirit are in alignment, I can easily sense what sparks joy in my life each and every day. I have many different rituals that I perform throughout the day to help me maintain a rhythm, and I always encourage others to do the same. My morning ritual is one of my most important routines as it sets the tempo for the day ahead. I often begin by opening a window to let in the fresh air and then lighting incense. My favorite incense scent is yuzu because the smell of citrus brings energy and ease, which always helps me meet the day joyfully.
How does tidying and organizing affect one's mental state and life, and why?
Ms. Kondo: The KonMari Method helps explore the depth of personal matters and emotions through tidying. Tidying is as much about evaluating the things that bring you joy as it is about the past that you are ready to let go—it’s about making room for the future you envision for yourself. Through the tidying process, you confront yourself and determine what is most important to you, all on your own. It’s important to be open-minded when tidying. Think about what the KonMari Method can bring to not only your physical space, but also to your life as a whole.
In 2015, you were named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people. Decluttering was having a moment! What sort of cultural shift were you seeing from your perspective?
Ms. Kondo: What a great honor that was! Since that time people have become more easily accessible through the digital lives we lead. We are also more influenced by things that may bring joy, including other things that do not; it can sometimes be overwhelming. I think the KonMari Method still applies to people today. The Method allows people to revisit the things that truly bring them joy and discard the things that no longer serve the life they envision, which is as important today as it was back then.
You've also written a children's book. What are some memories from your childhood that have influenced memories you've tried to create for your own children?
Ms. Kondo: When I was little, I imagined being a good mother to my children one day, just as my own mother was to me. I also had a very strong bond with my paternal grandmother, Oba-chan (grandma in Japanese), and feel lucky to have had so many good role models throughout my life to demonstrate to me how to best take care of children. One of my nightly rituals with my kids has always been to read books together, and believe it or not, their favorite book to read is the children's book I wrote, Kiki ^ Jax. I wrote this book with my children in mind, so it brings me much joy when they ask repeatedly to read it with them before bedtime.
How can people learn more about your method?
Ms. Kondo: If you are tidying for the first time, I’d encourage people to read my first book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, or watch the digital tidying course KonMari Method: Fundamentals of Tidying. In the book and in the course, I break it down into simple steps so you focus on the fact that the outcome of tidying isn’t simply a tidier space; tidying can change your life.
Many people may not realize, but we also offer a KonMari Consultant Program. I'm extremely proud of the Consultant Certification Courses we developed to teach people how to become professional tidying experts. We have over 700 certified KonMari Consultants in over 54 countries. I love that I can share my expertise with the world to help bring joy into more peoples’ homes through the KonMari Method. This is also a great option for people who might be looking for a secondary career that brings joy to others.
Treasure the Times, for They Will Never Come Again
How to embrace every precious moment with your children
By Charles Mickles
Now that I am an adult, I can share these things with you.” Ugh, like a punch in the gut! Had my daughter really just said that? An adult? Really? When did this happen? This year had been like a one-two punch. First, my daughter turned 20. (How could I possibly have a daughter in her 20s?) If that was not enough, my youngest, today, began his last semester in high school. Like a puff of smoke, the years had evaporated before my eyes. Now 18, no longer that little boy nervously beginning his first year of kindergarten, a 6-foot man with a beard now stood before me, and I simply wondered, “Where did the time go?”
I thought back over the years—so many things had happened, so many memories, so many joys, so many sorrows, so many opportunities, and yes, even some regrets. Being a parent has been the greatest journey of my life, and at the same time, the most challenging.
As a young man, young dad, and young husband, so many things seemed important at the time: my image as a parent, what others thought of my children, providing for every need and want of the family, sports, grades, building a successful career, securing our future, making sure my children were … (fill in the blank with any number of nouns or adjectives). None of these things were necessarily bad. In fact, many were good, but as I look back now, I sometimes wonder: Did I really see and focus on what was most important during those times?
STRESS AND WORRY
As a young parent, I put way more pressure on myself and my children than was ever really needed. If you are a parent, you have probably experienced a day like this: up early, rushing out the door, running from place to place, errand to errand, desperately trying to cram everything in, becoming flustered and frustrated with unexpected issues (often brought on by the children we have in tow), no time to stop, no time to breathe. We come screeching into the house each night, cram in dinner, homework, projects, sports, baths, and then a crazy bedtime, only to drop into bed that night and awake the next morning to do it
all again. So worried about every grade, every event, sports, the next project, work, and so many other “important” items, that we succeed only in stressing everyone out and robbing the joy that could have been experienced in that moment.
As parents, it is easy to let the busyness of the world, and our ideas and impres sions of what is important, cause us to lose focus of all that is truly important and miss those magical and special mo ments right before us. We allow business, frustrations, and even “wishes” of how things could be different to cloud what really is special and memorable right before us, and that is some thing we cannot afford to let happen.
LESSONS LEARNED
Today, there seem to be so many pressures on families and kids—grades, sports, status, activity, plus so much more, and while these have their place, sometimes we overdo it. Many times, I wish I could sit my younger self down to have a quick, five-minute conversation with him and share a few things these last 20 years have taught me. If given the chance, I would simply remind him:
1. Don’t sweat the small stuff (it really is not as important as you think). Many of the things we focus on are not important, even if they seem like it at the time.
2. Don’t be embarrassed by things your children do (because when they are teenagers, you can embarrass them—plus, who cares what others think?).
3. Don’t be too busy for the important things. I can promise you that work or opportunity will always be there—but your children will not.
4. Take more time to listen and hear your children. Sometimes, we charge into a situation and fail to listen. Almost always, that blows things up and makes a much bigger mess.
5. Treasure the stage your children are in. It is easy to wish for what is coming next, but take time and treasure each moment. These times won’t come again.
6. Be their greatest cheerleader, and believe in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. See and encourage their uniqueness—and help them see God’s special plan for their lives.
7. Keep activity in perspective. Grades, sports, accomplishments are great, but not at the cost of relationships.
8. Everything doesn’t need to be a battle. Decide if this is a hill you need to die on. It may surprise you how often it is not.
9. Don’t let the little things annoy you. If anything, let them be things you laugh at. You will miss the things that annoy you the most, for often they are part of the sweet music that makes up your family.
10. Maybe that frustration really isn’t as big as you think. Most of the time, you won’t remember it in a few years anyway.
ACCEPTANCE AND GRATITUDE
Recently, I sat watching a young couple with three small children as I waited to get assistance with setting up my new iPhone. The couple was rushed and trying to do 50 things that day, and the children, clearly tired of being there, were restless, noisy, and maybe even a little cranky (but honestly, aren’t we all in that situation?).
I could see the mom was getting flustered and even embarrassed by her children, probably wishing that any number of things were different about this situation, including her children’s age and behavior. As I sat there watching, I could not help but think back on those days and moments when my children were so young. Yes, I would have been that “frustrated parent,” given the same circumstances, but now, almost 20 years later, I am seeing things a little differently than I did those many years ago.
She apologized, and I looked at her and simply said, “It’s OK, they are fine. I used to be an elementary school principal, and sometimes I miss those sweet sounds.” As relief washed over her face, I smiled, thinking back on those times with my kids, wishing for one more moment of them cradled in my arms, missing those moments that would not come again, yet thankful for the ones right before me.
Mom and Dad, your kids will make it. They will get there—whether they have straight A’s or not, whether they play every sport or not—they and you will make it. How they get there, though, will depend greatly
on you and what you show them is truly important. Enjoy the moments before you. Don’t stress and pressure yourself and your children. Yes, encourage them to do great things and to do their best, but keep it in perspective. Stop and take time to see what really is important before you. I promise, you won’t regret it. Treasure these times, for they are more special than you know, and they will not come again.
無論是不是全 A 的學生,無論有沒有參與所有的運動, 他們都會長大,你和你的孩子們終將走過這段日子。不 過,他們是怎麼走過來的,則取決於你怎麼看待他們, 以及他們從你身上學到了什麼樣的價值觀。當然,應該 鼓勵孩子們有大志向,鼓勵他們盡最大努力,不過凡事 也要量力而為,時不時地在不斷向前奔忙的生活中,稍 事休整一下,花點時間看看生命中的美好事物,我保證 你不會後悔。珍惜這段時光,這比你想像的更重要。
ELITE FOOD
ALASKA’S SALMON SISTERS
A sister duo makes Alaska’s fresh sustainable seafood accessible to all Americans
北方故鄉的召喚
阿拉斯加姐妹倆的「洄游」之旅
TBy Eric Lucas
here were more fish than people. Sisters Claire Neaton and Emma Teal Privat were raised on a remote Alaska island in a region where salmon outnumbered humans exponentially —10 billion salmon, a few hundred people. Privat and Neaton, whose family ran a commercial fishing operation, lived on a homestead near False Pass, in the Aleutian Islands. They grew up living, breathing, and eating salmon, and absorbing the values a pioneer subsistence lifestyle creates.
“We learned resourcefulness, determination— growing up in such a remote area meant that we relied on ourselves to overcome obstacles,” Privat recalled. “This taught us that nothing was impossible, and we could get through most challenges if we just worked at it for long enough.
“We also learned the value of family and good food—we were a family of four, and we all played a role in the success of our livelihood. As kids, we helped our parents plant the garden, pull fish from the net, pick berries, dig clams, harvest kelp, cook,
在這裡,魚比人多。Privat 家姐妹倆—— Claire Neaton 和 Emma Teal,在阿拉斯加一座非常偏遠的小島長大, 在那裡,上百億隻鮭魚的數量,遠大於島上數百居民。
Sisters Claire Neaton (L) and Emma Teal Privat are Alaskan fishermen and co-founders of Salmon Sisters, an Alaskan fish and nautical apparel company.
_Camrin Dengel
build, clean, mend, fix. We still work together on the fishing boat today, and it’s great to have that close relationship.”
Fishing was, and is, the foundation of their lives. So why not build a business based on marine everything, just like their own lives? Not only would it provide something to keep them busy in the winter, but it would also offer an outlet for what they learned in college: Neaton studied business and marketing, and Privat English, art, and design.
Thus was born Salmon Sisters, the now 10-yearold, wildly popular retail venture based in Homer that ships salmon, salmon-stuff, and marine-themed apparel to customers elsewhere in Alaska, in the lower 48, and around the world. From this famous little hamlet at the end of the road, customers can order salmon, halibut, and cod, frozen, canned, and “jarred,” to use an Alaskan term referring to salmon that is first smoked, then canned—a deliriously delicious, savory treat.
There are also hoodies, fleece jackets, and pullovers; scarves, headbands, and gaiters; sweatpants and leggings; and the all-important Xtratuf boots, an icon of life in Alaska without which civilization might cease. “These are still our most popular products since we started designing them for women with Xtratuf,” Privat reported. “That first octopus design we created remains our best-seller today.”
「鮭魚姐妹」(Salmon Sisters)應運而生。 10 年前, 品牌創於 Homer 市,廣受歡迎。
Having discovered a successful theme, almost all their items are emblazoned with marine-life designs—including sand dollars, mermaids, puffins, and of course, salmon.
CALL OF THE SEA
It’s impossible to exaggerate the importance of salmon in Alaska. These anadromous fish are born in almost every stream and river in the state, from the nearly 2,000-mile Yukon River to tiny creeks in Southeast Alaska measured in hundreds of yards. Ten billion salmon grow fat every summer in the food-rich ocean waters of the North Pacific; when they return to fresh water after four years, they are the foundation of Alaskan food. Every Alaskan is entitled to harvest about three dozen fish a year for subsistence; most Alaska households have a freezer dedicated just to that. Salmon are celebrated in art, music, language, religion, and literature—and in debates over which kind is best, a topic on which every Alaskan has a fiercely held opinion.
The salmon migratory cycle exerts its force on people, too, as Privat explained about the two sisters’ return to Alaska following college studies on the East Coast.
“The seasonal pull of the sea always brought us back for the summer salmon season. It was a constant in an unknown time of life right after college.
Center: Neaton and Privat learned to process and cook fish at a young age.
_Courtesy of Emma Teal Privat and Claire Neaton
Right: The sisters prepare to grill freshly caught salmon outdoors after a fishing expedition.
_Sashwa Burrous
It made sense to come back for a job we knew how to do, a semi-reliable paycheck, and spending time with our family, but also it was a part of our identity we didn’t know how to live without. It was, and is, deeply ingrained in our family and upbringing,” she recounted, expressing a sentiment shared by hundreds of thousands of Alaskans, whether they fish commercially or just recreationally.
SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPECT
The two siblings, just a year apart, are both now married and fishing with their respective husbands during all or most of the various commercial seasons in Alaska, and on the boat of their still-active father, Buck. Lean and hale outdoorswomen, their angular bone structure reflects their Lithuanian heritage and resembles the dynamic wild fish they harvest. Both express pride that their state manages its fish stocks rigorously to ensure they are not depleted, and they vow that if Alaska’s sustainable fisheries survive our challenging times, their family legacy can continue for decades.
“Sustainable fishing is written into Alaska’s state constitution, and protecting Alaska’s fisheries with sustainable practices helps address hunger and food insecurity,” Privat said. “In Alaska, seafood is responsibly managed, utilizing a world-leading, science-based
Despite the success of their business, the sisters say they won’t stop fishing, as it’s an important part of their identity.
approach to help fish stocks, communities, and entire ecosystems thrive for generations to come.”
This issue is directly addressed in the sisters’ recent cookbook, The Salmon Sisters: Feasting, Fishing, and Living in Alaska (Sasquatch Press, 2020). Lavishly illustrated by Privat, it contains 50 recipes reflecting their homestead heritage, stories about life growing up in one of Earth’s most remote locales, and pleas for readers to respect the land and seas that feed us. A new book expanding on this theme is scheduled for publication in the fall of 2023.
“As fishermen, we’re lucky to work in incredibly wild places and witness such natural abundance and vitality in them,” Privat said. They also do their part in preserving them.
Salmon Sisters actively opposed the Pebble Mine proposal, for instance, which threatened to place cyanide leach from the world’s largest gold mine in the headwaters of the Bristol Bay fishery. The world’s largest single salmon fishery, Bristol draws 50 to 75 million sockeyes and other salmon every year; record numbers in recent years signify the health of the runs.
DEEPLY ANCHORED
The two sisters’ earliest memories are of helping their mother, Shelly, pick salmon from the net in front of their homestead, Stonewall Place.
“Our childhood was rich and remarkable though its reality was challengingly remote as well as extremely dependent on the seasons and the bounty of the sea,” the sisters write in their cookbook. “Fresh fish was the king of our wild foods, demanding the most work and the most reward.”
Hence their deep dedication to fishing and outdoor life, no matter how successful their retail business may be.
“This is our identity,” Neaton declared. “It’s our source of pride. I am not going to give up fishing for this business.”
“At this point, our Salmon Sisters and fishing businesses have both grown so well it doesn’t make sense to be anywhere else,” Privat said. “We have a team and shops and we’re deeply rooted in the North now, and it feels good to be living seasonally and in connection with our community and nature.
“Our primary value is feeding the world healthy, sustainably harvested wild fish while stewarding the
The sisters published their first cookbook The Salmon Sisters: Feasting, Fishing, and Living in Alaska in 2020.
marine ecosystem and celebrating the wild places where we live and work,” she said. “Mother Nature’s gifts leave us with a healthy respect for living things beyond ourselves.”
Experience the ocean’s freshest delicacies with our mom’s favorite fish stew. Originating in San Francisco, this Italian-American dish was traditionally made from the cold and salty Pacific Ocean’s catch of the day stewed with juicy fresh tomatoes in a wine sauce. Our mom’s recipe pulls in Alaska’s seasonal shellfish, halibut, crab, and shrimp. The beautiful thing
about it is that seafood can be substituted according to seasonal availability. This dish calls for storebought arrabbiata pasta sauce as the base, which is typically made with tomatoes, garlic, and spicy red peppers cooked in olive oil. Serve the stew with crusty, buttery, toasted sourdough bread for dipping and prolonging the rich flavors of the sea.
Makes 6 to 8 servings
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion (or 3 shallots), diced
1 medium fennel bulb, thinly sliced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 large carrots, diced
4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 jar (24 ounces) arrabbiata sauce
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
6 cups fish or chicken stock
1 bay leaf
Fish sauce, clam juice, or anchovy paste, for seasoning (optional)
1 pound manila clams, scrubbed
1 pound mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1 pound firm fish, such as halibut or salmon, skin removed, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 pound scallops or large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 pound crab legs or prawns (optional)
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
DIRECTIONS
Heat the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and fennel and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add the celery, carrots, and garlic and continue sautéing for 5 more minutes. Season with the salt and pepper. Add the arrabbiata and wine.
Bring the liquid to a simmer and allow it to reduce by half before adding the stock and bay leaf.
Taste and adjust the seasoning. If you would like to create more depth in the broth (especially if using chicken stock), add a splash of fish sauce, a small bottle of clam juice, or even a few teaspoons of anchovy paste.
Once the carrots are tender, the broth is ready. It will take about 10 minutes to cook the seafood, so the broth can rest on the stovetop until just before serving. You could also make it ahead of time, refrigerate it, and reheat at mealtime.
Add the clams, mussels, fish, scallops, and any other seafood to the pot. Cook for 10 minutes, or until the clams and mussels have opened and the fish is cooked through. Ladle the stew into bowls, garnish with the parsley, and serve with crusty buttered bread.
Copyright 2020 by Emma Teal Privat and Claire Neaton. Excerpted from “The Salmon Sisters: Feasting, Fishing, and Living in Alaska” by permission of Sasquatch Books.
PHOTO BY BRIAN GROBLESKI; ILLUSTRATIONS BY MACROVECTOR AND PCH.VECTOR.
Home Is Where the Hearth Is
The fireplace area in your home is not only a great place for displaying your heirloom treasures and private collection, but also a wonderful place for strengthening family bonds. Some of the best memories of the holiday season are created around the hearth: gathering with family, enjoying the warmth, sharing the love and laughter.
1 ECOSMART FIRE, XL700 ETHANOL BURNER, FROM $3,095, MAD-USA.COM | 2 STÛV AMERICA, STÛV 30 WOOD STOVE, PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, STUVAMERICA.COM | 3 WILLIAMS SONOMA, BLACK MARBLE AND BRASS FIREPLACE TOOL SET, $395, WILLIAMS-SONOMA.COM | 4 STÛV AMERICA, STÛV 6 FIREPLACE INSERT, PRICE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST, STUVAMERICA.COM | 5 CYAN DESIGN, LUDGATE FIRESCREEN, $540, BURKEDECOR.COM | 6 BD STUDIO, DURO SMALL FIREWOOD STORAGE, $249, BURKEDECOR.COM
By
Linda Faulkner Johnston
Photos by Imaginary Lines, Mary Brandt Photography
Our house has brought together two people— my husband and myself—along with 17th-, 18th-, and early 19th-century hand-water-colored prints of flora and fauna from around the world, which decorate our walls today. They speak of the glory of God’s creation.
Gilbert and I met in Washington, D.C., during the Ronald Reagan administration. He was working on Capitol Hill as a legal aide to a friend elected to Congress, and then later to an Alabama senator. I was working as deputy social secretary to the White House, where I would eventually become the social secretary during the final three-and-a-half years of Reagan’s administration.
Left page: Gilbert and Linda Johnston at the entry hall of their home, in front of decorative prints from The Aurelian by Moses Harris.
Annandale, Gilbert and Linda Johnston’s house.
Gilbert’s milieu, Capitol Hill, or “The Hill,” as it is called, will always hold a fascination for me because I never worked within those hallowed halls. What I knew was the White House. As social secretary, I was responsible for producing all events hosted by President Ronald Reagan and first lady Nancy Reagan— usually in the White House, but one was in New York, and one at the American Embassy in Moscow. One fun memory was during a 1985 White House dinner to host Prince Charles and Princess Diana: I tapped John Travolta on the shoulder to ask him to cut in on the president and dance with the princess. An iconic photo ensued.
WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE
I greatly enjoyed working with Mrs. Reagan. She was the consummate hostess and a gift to our country. What fun we had deciding not only who would be invited to sumptuous state dinners, but who would sit next to whom. One of my favorite duties was advising Mrs. Reagan about entertainers at the White House, from the brilliant pianist Van Cliburn, who performed at a state dinner in honor of then-Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev and his wife, to the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, which performed at a Congressional picnic in 1986.
Linda Faulkner (L) with First Lady Nancy Reagan. Courtesy of White House staff photo
Decorative prints by Mark Catesby, Comte de Buffon, and James Otto Lewis on display in Annandale's sitting room.
After the administration, Gilbert and I lost touch; he returning to Alabama and I to Texas. But years later, we eventually, and thankfully, reconnected— neither of us having married. When he began to talk about marriage, Gilbert secretly planned a destination event six months thence, at which he was planning to pop the question. He asked me, pre-proposal, where I would most like to live someday (he was still in Birmingham but liked smaller towns, and I was in Dallas), and the word “Terrell” flew out of my mouth.
ANNANDALE: HOME SWEET HOME
Terrell, Texas, is within commuting distance to Dallas, where I am vice president of communications and public relations for The Tradition, which develops and manages luxury rental retirement communities in Texas. I knew
The Tropic Bird, an 1835 hand-colored etching from John James Audubon’s The Birds of America, is mounted above the living room mantlepiece.
Left: The house is sometimes open to the public, as the couple love to share their beautiful collections with others.
Right: A hand-colored etching of artichokes from the work Hortus Eystettensis, published in 1613 by Basilus Besler.
The book details the plants in the garden of the Prince Bishop of Eichstatt in Bavaria.
that this small town had a beautiful historic district with homes originally built with wealth from the cotton and cattle industries. The first automobile to be purchased in Texas was by a resident of Terrell.
Gilbert went online and found this exquisite Georgian revival home with a carriage entrance for sale in Terrell. However, the home had a potential buyer on the brink of commitment. So, he quickly proposed over the telephone (who wanted to wait six months for a proposal, anyway?)—and we bought the house!
Our house was built in 1917. It was historically a focus of entertainment, with its annual “silver charity teas”—where people would bring silver coins to donate to charity—and its third-floor ballroom, which hosted dances for Terrell young ladies and British cadets from the No. 1 British Flying Training School during World War II. The famous Texan and 20th-century speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Sam Rayburn had been a guest here.
We call our stately home “Annandale,” for the Scottish location of Gilbert’s ancestors (who are
這些博物學家和藝術家終其一生都沉浸於造物主的 傑作,及其帶來的奇蹟、讚頌和喜悅。如同偉大的音樂作 曲家巴哈和韓德爾,用他們的才能來榮耀上帝(soli Deo gloria),這些先人們也是如此。在著名的昆蟲學家瑪麗 亞 梅里安(Maria Merian, 1647~1717)的第一本毛蟲和 蝴蝶著作中,有她精美的植物與昆蟲繪圖。她寫道:「在
related to Samuel Johnston, an 18th-century statesman who was a delegate to the U.S. Continental Congress). We love history and have honored it by highlighting the work of scientific artists who lived during the golden age of natural history and exploration. It was a time when educated, cultured Europeans and Americans—undergirded by the findings of early scientists such as Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, and John Ray—became consumed by the desire to discern the world around them. They were driven by a missionary zeal to understand God’s creation as completely as they could and spread that knowledge to others. They felt compelled to read “the unwritten book of nature,” that is the created world. The written Bible and the “book of nature,” a term used by Saint Augustine and early Christian theologians, were understood as the two ways to learn about the Creator.
These natural history scientists and artists enjoyed a lifelong appreciation for God’s creation, which generated wonder, praise, and joy. As the great musical composers Bach and Handel dedicated their talents to God’s glory (soli Deo gloria), so did these men and women. In notable entomologist Maria Merian’s (1647–1717) first book on caterpillars and butterflies, she made beautiful drawings of plants and insects. She wrote: “Seek not in this to honor me but God alone, to praise him as the Creator of even the smallest and least of worms.” Beautiful, hand-painted prints by these artists were ultimately gathered in leather-bound books. In addition to Maria Merian, others such as Basilius Besler (1561–1629), Mark Catesby (1683–1749), George Edwards (1694–1773), Moses Harris (1730–1788), John James Audubon (1785–1851), and Sir William Jardine (1800–1874) are just a few of these important natural history artists and scientists.
The scientific art now hanging on our walls is set among the beauties of natural objects—minerals, shells, and butterflies—as well as among period English, American, and French furniture, some of which was passed down through our families. The art, furniture, and architecture recreate a Georgian period interior on a smaller scale, not unlike homes of earlier centuries that exhibited this “passion for natural history.” These iconic houses were filled with cabinets of curiosities—collections of striking birds, insects,
minerals, and more—along with libraries stocked with exquisitely tooled, leather-bound, natural history color-plate books. The grounds and spectacular gardens of their homes were planted with the most recent botanical discoveries of the day.
Gilbert has nurtured a love of nature throughout his life, and he has witnessed great nature sites on six continents. He has backpacked, canoed, and kayaked throughout North America.
He subsequently transformed our lot into a nature-friendly haven by planting flowers and shrubs that provide food for butterflies and birds, with many bird baths and feeders. We look forward to seasonal changes because of the different migratory birds that visit our yard. Gilbert has identified over 100 different bird species here over the years. And I can now identify a downy woodpecker!
THE INTERIORS
Today, almost eight years after our wedding, I walk through the rooms of our house and am grateful for our life together. When I was working in the White House, I was constantly surrounded by the beauty of Federal-style decor, very similar to its Georgian counterpart in England. And now, the beauty of the same period surrounds me. Natural light pours in from Palladian windows, filling the ground-floor rooms and illuminating our art.
Nothing is fully appreciated unless it is understood, and for that purpose, Gilbert has placed “museum-like” cards alongside each work of art in our home, explaining something about the artist and how the work was produced. We regularly open our house to others to share beauty and historical information.
However, do not let the word “museum” deceive— our home is anything but. Vibrantly colored walls, true to Georgian decor, warm up the rooms with rich yellow, apricot, and blue hues—which leads me to a word
Left page
Top: The Iceland Falcon, a chromolithograph by John James Audubon, is shown on a display stand in the elegant dining room.
Bottom left: Annandale’s second floor gallery is filled with 18th- and 19th-century hand-colored etchings and lithographs of flora and fauna.
Bottom right: Jardine George Edwards’ Natural History of Uncommon Birds, 1743–51. This was one of the most expensive British publications of its time.
J. Gilbert Johnston
about the decorator. Having known my husband since the 1980s as a master of conservative public policy, an adventurer in the wilds, an art collector, a print dealer and owner of Antique Nature Prints, and a lecturer on the art of natural history (my Renaissance man), I had never known him as an interior decorator! And yet, he set about decorating our home with a sure hand—just as he landscaped our land—suggesting paint colors, purchasing furnishings at auction, and placing the art and furniture so happily together that they seemed made for each other.
Which is just what I feel about us—made for each other. And any beauty in our home is dedicated to the glory of the Author of beauty—the Lord of Creation.
If you take a stroll in midtown Manhattan in the enclave known as “Billionaires Row,” you will see one of New York’s most prestigious residential buildings: 111 West 57th Street. At 1,428 feet, it is the second-tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere and the world’s slenderest skyscraper. Justin Davidson, the well-known classical-music and architecture critic, said of the building: “It’s practically calligraphic. It will glint on the skyline, thanks to a genuinely opulent exterior finished in terra-cotta and bronze.”
The property, which developed by JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group. It is composed of two structures: The first is the landmarked Steinway Hall, once home to Steinway & Sons piano company and crafted in 1925 by Warren & Wetmore,
the famed architecture firm behind New York landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal. The second is a new construction tower designed by SHoP Architects. Perhaps the source of such beautiful music has contributed to the soul of the building. The neighborhood is still rich in art and culture. Carnegie Hall is across the street, and Lincoln Center is just a few blocks away.
Award-winning Studio Sofield, led by William Sofield, designed the interior architecture for the history-making development. There are a total of 60 residences: 14 in the Steinway Hall building and 46 full-floor and duplex residences in the 91-story tower. With its bold yet slender silhouette, the tower has redefined the Manhattan skyline. The neoclassical building’s ornate historic rotunda and Indiana limestone façade were painstakingly restored in collaboration with the Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York.
Residents have access to an array of amenities and services, including an 82-foot, two-lane swimming pool with private cabanas, a separate sauna, a double-height fitness center, a private dining room and a chef’s catering kitchen. The building is the only new development in New York City to have a padel court. A private porte-cochère on 58th Street provides residents a gracious and secure entry.
The 4,492-square-foot model on the 42nd floor is priced at $28,500,000 and has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a powder room, and direct elevator access. A spacious great hall, which comes with most units, provides a stunning view of Central
Park. Because the building stands at the center of Central Park’s south side, its upper floors provide a symmetrical panoramic view. All things considered, the condominium complex is a residence of unparalleled luxury.
The scale of these gardens was so sweeping that when I climbed the final step to the top of the belvedere, I drew a breath. The size, yes, but also the remarkable attention to detail. Hemmed in on all sides—by a storybook village, a 12th-century church, a forest, and its namesake château—the gardens at Villandry spread, lovely and ornate, across 22 acres. Just below, are gardens devoted to love, complete with broken hearts, mazes to signify the dance and whirlwind of passion, and even blades and swords to indicate its tragedy. There are labyrinths, ornamental gardens, kitchen gardens, and water gardens built to reflect the heavens above. After rambling around above, and then down on a network of paths that meandered among all the perfectly coiffed greenery, I heard the sound of a church bell, reminding me it was almost time for lunch. On my way back to the parking area, I saw a man walking toward a work truck. I had read that maintaining the gardens at Villandry required the best efforts of 10 full-time gardeners, and as he was dressed casually, I assumed he was one of them. Pruning takes place all winter long—maybe he was just finishing up his morning and was heading to his own hot lunch.
Turning, he introduced himself. “Hello, my name is Henri, and I’m the owner of this château,” he said, friendly and unassuming. “Welcome to my place.”
I was taking a little road trip through the Loire Valley, piloting my four-door Renault along winding roads, tracing this great river and hopping from château to château. Altogether, hundreds of castles dot this “garden of France,” at its closest point about an hour southwest of Paris. I saw just a small fraction, having picked up my rental car in Orleans and then venturing through Tours and many surrounding towns.
For a North American accustomed to wide-open spaces, the logistics were a challenge. I drove my car the wrong way down one-way streets. I squeezed it through tiny lanes in medieval villages. I followed my GPS onto what would, in a couple of cases, end up being not a lane but a footpath. But in every case,
The breathtaking grounds at Château de Villandry. _Courtesy of Château et Jardins de Villandry
the destination was always worth the trip, with each château’s story, size, and beauty completely distinct from the last.
AMBOISE
For example, set on a hill over a busy town, the grand Royal Château of Amboise was once home to a succession of nine French kings. During that period in the 15th and 16th centuries, kings would move from castle to castle, and an entourage of 10,000 would move with them.
“It was like an old circus,” said my guide, Catherine Reyes. “They would even bring the animals— everything was moving at the same time.” And while time, revolution, and abandonment destroyed much of this château, what’s been restored tells a compelling story.
On one floor, royal apartments date back to the 16th century.
“This staircase is a time machine,” Reyes said as we climbed the winding stone stairs to an upper floor restored to celebrate Louis Philippe, the last king of France. His “July Monarchy” was initially popular, and he’s been described as a “citizen king.” His huge portrait hung in one room, showing a man with thick mutton chops. Reyes thought he looked a little like Elvis.
在城堡某些樓層的皇室套房,可以追溯至 16 世 紀。「這個樓梯是座時光機,」在我們爬上彎曲的石梯 時,雷耶斯告訴我們通過樓梯到達的上方樓層,是為了 讚頌路易 菲利普一世( Louise Philippe)而修復的。 他是法國的最後一任國王,被稱作「公民國王」,其「七 月王朝」起初很受人民歡迎。他巨大的肖像畫,就掛在 一個房間裡,那是一位兩鬢有著厚厚落腮鬍的男人,我 的嚮導覺得他長得有點像貓王。而文藝復興時期的大 師,李奧納多 達文西( Leonardo da Vinci),便葬 於城堡的教堂中。
Left: The gardens at Villandry, which span 22 acres, required 10 full-time gardeners to maintain. _Hannes Klöpper/Unsplash
Right: A dining room in the Château de Villandry. _Courtesy of Château et Jardins de Villandry
Leonardo da Vinci is buried at the chapel here. A short walk away, a pleasant stroll across town takes you to the much-smaller Château du Clos Lucé. Here, Leonardo, invited by King Francis I, lived out his final years, from 1516 to 1519. Recreating his bedroom and workshop, the owners of the château have also turned the structures and grounds into a science museum, actually building a number of his ideas and inventions from his sketches and notes and bringing them to life, with a room full of video games demonstrating his flying machine.
權勢的女士們的領地,如法國王后凱薩琳 德 麥地奇 (Catherine de Medici)和貴族黛安 德 波迪耶(Diane de Poitiers)。我的遊覽路線隨著跨越河流的長廊,穿 過廣大的廚房,再下到平地。接著來到可能是這個地區 最值得拍照留念的城堡,香波堡(Chambord),參觀頂 端林立的塔樓群,城堡向四處延伸的建築結構(也許有 受到達文西的一些影響),一開始是為皇家狩獵行宮而 設計。
The Château du Clos Lucé, in Amboise, houses the Leonardo da Vinci Museum. The artist lived the last three years of his life there and died in 1519. _Pecold/Shutterstock
In its heyday, the Loire, still France’s longest river, was once navigable, bringing trade from southern reaches of the country. Goods were unloaded here and transported to Paris. The wealth of that period during the French Renaissance is still evident everywhere, from handsome towns to excellent wineries.
CHENONCEAU
At Chenonceau, with its remarkable château that forms a bridge over the River Cher, I saw the domain of powerful women like Catherine de’ Medici and Diane de Poitiers. My tour winded through extensive kitchens down at water level, with galleries stretching right across the river. At Chambord, perhaps the region’s most photographed castle, I took in the forest of towers atop a rambling structure initially designed (perhaps with some influence by Leonardo to be a royal hunting lodge.
VILLANDRY
And of course, Villandry. Owner Henri Carvallo took me for a tour, showing me the inside of the château,
cozy and comfortable, fires crackling in the fireplaces.
“We’ve tried to preserve the feeling of a family home,” he said, showing me family photos, and noting that he still lives just next door.
In one room, he pointed at a portrait. “Those are my great-grandparents,” he said, noting that the Spanish-American couple bought the château in 1906.
Nighttime view of Chateau Chenonceaux on the River Cher. _Guillaume Souvant/AFP via Getty Images
The two poured hearts, souls, and treasure into transforming the tumble-down palace back to its Renaissance glory. He showed me their 17th-century collection of art, a 15th-century Moorish ceiling with 3,500 individual pieces, as well as the greenery all around, including within the rooms and halls. Carvallo says it’s all about bringing together both a natural and cultural heritage.
“My goal in life is simply to give some beauty,” he said—a mission, it seems, abundantly accomplished at Villandry and all across the Loire.
VISIT FOR CHRISTMAS
An annual highlight for both visitors and locals, many of the châteaus across the Loire dress themselves up in sparkling lights and greenery and so much seasonal finery. Each one has a theme.
For example, at Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, chef and artist Veronique Chauvet has filled the tables and ovens with delicious-looking papier mâché culinary creations (the wild boar roasting over a fire looks particularly tasty). At the former bishop’s palace in Meung-sur-Loire, a place once captured by Joan of Arc, playful displays reveal Santa’s secrets. At Chenonceau, some of France’s top florists spend weeks planning and creating the castle’s arrangements.
IF YOU GO 旅遊資訊
Getting There 交通
Most visitors to the Loire Valley will arrive at one of Paris’ s two international airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. From there, it’ s about an hour by train to Orleans, and just a few minutes more to Tours.
While each city in the region has a serviceable public transit system, you’ re best off renting a car, as many of the châteaus are located in small villages or relatively remote locations. Behind the wheel, you can enjoy both the drive and the destination.
While both Orleans and Tours have larger, business-style hotels, you can opt to sleep in unique accommodations for example, Hotel Trogolododo, where rooms are dug into the porous soil of the hillside, or Le Moulin du Port, once an important flour mill and now a warm guesthouse where the owners will serve local wine and cook delicious meals with ingredients drawn from their neighbors’farms. One such dinner featured a hearty, steaming Parmentier (casserole) with duck and sweet potatoes. 奧爾良和圖爾都有較大型的商務旅館,您也可以選 擇下榻一些特色旅店,例如Troglododo飯店,那 裡的房間是從山坡挖掘出來的洞穴;或是港口旅館 Le Moulin du Port,前身是當地重要的碾磨場, 現在則是一個溫馨的旅店,旅館主人會提供當地釀 造的葡萄酒,佳餚則是採用的在地食材。例如,曾 經有特色晚餐是使用鴨肉和地瓜泥焗烤,豐盛又熱 騰騰的牧羊人派。
_JC Coutand
Tiny Doorways to Surprising Delights
The miniature gifts in Advent calendars are carefully curated. Unveiling each little surprise builds up the anticipation of Christmas one day at a time.