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Saving Lives One Tail At A Time Winter Farmer’s Market Farm-fresh And Friendly

Beyond Clutter Control Organize Your Goals

‘Invest In Your Nest’ All Things Beautiful

Home of the Month Family Friendly Ridgefield

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Bryan Haeffele photo

Greenwich Post New Canaan Advertiser The Wilton Bulletin The Redding Pilot

Vol. XIII, Number 2

A Hersam Acorn Special Section

Winter Sale

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February 2009

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‘INVEST IN YOUR NEST!’

At BB Abode in Darien by G. Lisa Sullivan

G. Lisa Sullivan

These colorful bottles are a sampling of the superb wares of BB Abode in Darien.

If it were up to me, I’d move right out of my house and into the beautiful Hamptons home of Erica Barry, the fictional Manhattan playwright depicted by Diane Keaton in the 2003 movie “Something’s Gotta Give.” According to a quote on architecturaldigest.com, director Nancy Meyers wanted Erica to reside in an elegant home, with the feeling of the ocean everywhere. “As a result, the interiors are awash in sea colors and blues,” the writer said, and if you’ve seen the movie, you were probably as bowled over as I with the creamy white walls, light fabrics, beach artwork, beadboard, and such natural elements as shells and flowers. I don’t know a single woman, at least, who didn’t fall in love with this house. So you can probably imagine my response upon visiting BB Abode, a similarly fashioned interior-design studio in the Noroton Heights section of Darien. Launched by design dynamos Roberta Ball and Dawn Beaver last summer, the business reflects the

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obvious love of its owners for all things natural and beautiful, and they might well have designed the interior of Erica Barry’s unforgettable home. In fact, when I first visited the studio, which also serves as a showcase and store for the company’s furnishings, antiques and accessories, my first words to the two women and their art director, Manny DeMagistris, were, “Wow, it feels just like I’m in the Hamptons!” I’m pretty sure they took it as a compliment. That isn’t to say that the interior of this entire shop, with its nod toward casual elegance and its many layers of textures and colors, couldn’t be picked up and dropped into any other area of the country. The pieces have been carefully chosen and edited by Dawn and Roberta, who, while having met little more than a year ago, could be mistaken for sisters, so similar dothey seem in personal appearance and design perspective. Both confess to an inexorable passion for accessories, and the items in their shop would be suitable for virtually any style home, be it beachfront, Manhattan loft, traditional colonial, or contemporary.

See BB Abode page 12

G. Lisa Sullivan

Girl Power

Located at 1 Ledge Road, next to Jake’s Place – a small, well-known breakfast and lunch spot – the cozy, brightly lit design studio and shop with large south-facing windows and living room-like interior makes you feel immediately at home. “We chose this location partly because of its proximity to the Noroton Heights train station and surrounding shopping mecca and to Exit 10 off I-95, as much as for its light, airy space,” said Roberta, a New York native. “We just love the studio, and it’s the perfect site for our business.” Roberta, whose passion is antiques and fine arts, had a previous career with retail giant Domain. Dawn worked as a sales rep for Gretchen Bellinger, a fabric company, and several furniture manufacturers until she had children. They divide their time between the studio, where they collaborate on design schemes for clients all over the country, and shopping for the furnishings – both reproduction and antique – and the

Dawn Beaver and Roberta Ball (l to r) create environments that have a subtle sense of style and beauty.

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HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

SAVING LIVES

One tail at a time by Olga Adler Pets have so much trust in their owners. And yet, so often trust is broken, sometimes never to be mended. Through neglect, cruelty or family misfortune, a dog or cat suddenly is homeless, or left at a high-kill shelter on a short list for euthanasia. Happily, some of the mistreated and abandoned get a second chance for life. Somewhere in Georgia, someone thought it was not OK to give a tiny black-and-white puppy named Zora only seven days to live. A team of heroic

John M. Queenan

Olga Adler and Gloria, devoted supporters of ROAR, invite you to an evening of laughter on Feb. 28 as a fund-raiser for the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue.

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HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

February 2009

volunteers helped her travel hundreds of miles to safety, to a wonderful little red shelter in Fairfield County — Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue. Through ROAR, she found my family, and a home for life. That’s how Scared of Everything Zora became Gloria, an adorable girl so smart and sweet she becomes everybody’s friend the moment they meet her. We can’t decide what’s more moving, the little face we see in the window as we drive away on errands, or the ecstatic full-body wag that greets us when we come home. Gloria has regained her trust in the world, and she knows she can count on us. So her life changed — new name, new home, new reality. But our lives changed even more. No, I can’t just leave for a whole day of shopping (for my clients, of course), and, yes, I had to switch from black pants to jeans because of the omnipresent white hairs, but the love I get from her makes it all worthwhile. And for my husband, William, who gets so focused when he works, one touch of her wet nose makes him drop everything and play. It is kind of like going back to a time when we were kids, and all we did was play ... when there

HOME Vol.XIII, Number 2 is a special section to: Greenwich Post, The Darien Times, New Canaan Advertiser, The Ridgefield Press, The Wilton Bulletin, The Redding Pilot and The Weston Forum in Connecticut, and The Lewisboro Ledger in New York • 52,000 copies published monthly • Jackie Perry, editor Jessica Perlinski, designer • Thomas B. Nash, publisher • For advertising information, call 203-438-6544 • For information on editorial submissions, call 203-894-3380 E-mail: home@acorn-online.com • Extra copies are available free at the Hersam Acorn office, 16 Bailey Avenue, Ridgefield, Conn. (behind the town hall) Copyright 2009, Hersam Acorn Newspapers, LLC

Box 1019 Ridgefield, Conn 06877 203-438-6544 February 2009

were no worries, projects and deadlines. Life is just plain better with a dog or cat in the home. So what is this place called ROAR? For starters, it’s a private, non-profit, taxexempt organization founded by volunteers in 2000. ROAR provides a haven for cats and dogs who have no place to go. They rescue animals from extremely difficult situations (abandoned, on death lists, thrown from cars); nurture them back to full strength; get them ready for adoption; and then place them in loving homes throughout the Fairfield County area, changing and bettering lives forever. ROAR exemplifies today’s best practices in shelter operation and animal care. It is a warm, safe welcoming place for homeless pets to recover and await adoption. ROAR community volunteers provide loving care, exercise, grooming, medication, playtime, training, and soft beds for all the cats and dogs under its roof. ROAR was created through the grace and energy of donors and volunSee ROAR page 17

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Taking organization beyond clutter control

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“Working with a professional organizer is like working with a personal trainer,” says Randi Hutton, founder of the RZ connection and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. “Most people are capable of the work, but the organizer helps set goals, keeps you on task and acts as a cheerleader.” The organizer acts as a guide, Randi continues, helping the home or business owner simplify life, reduce stress and increase efficiency. “Everyone has their clutter,” says Randi. “We help people set priorities, determine what they really need or want and how to make their situation work for them. We don’t use any particular storage system but work with what people have, enhancing where necessary and designing individual systems and procedures that will work for them going forward.” To begin organizing your home or office takes three steps, Randi says. 1. Make up your mind it is time to start organizing. 2. Write a list of your organizing goals. 3. Focus on one area and make four piles: keep, donate, sell, trash. “Remind yourself that if you haven’t used it or worn it in the past two years, it is time to let it go. Remember, when you donate, someone else will be able to use the items,” she notes. Services offered by the RZ connection, however, go far beyond the typical “let’s get your home or office clutter organized.” They include major life transitions, such as relocation (move-out/move-in management), downsizing and senior services that range from helping loved ones on a regular basis to coordinating estate dispersal and disposal. Establishing the RZ connection in 2006 formalized and expanded the many services Randi has offered as a Realtor at the Westport office of William Raveis during the last dozen years. “When the market first showed signs of slowing, I began considering what

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else I could do that was real estate-related, helpful and would be a money-making busiRandi finds that once people begin the organization process, they become enthusiasness. Becoming a professional organizer was the logical step. As a relocation specialist, I tic about it. “We never force anyone to get rid of anything,” she says. “Instead, we help have helped hundreds of people move and organize their homes and offices.” people find ways they can comfortably let things go. They may give things to family or She decided to offer these services not only to her real estate clients but to others as friends, sell or consign them, have a tag sale or donate to charity. Many find it easier well. She developed a staff of specialists and created a network of contacts to bring in and more satisfying to donate things to charity and take the tax deduction.” as needed. The business has grown rapidly, and now serves clients in Connecticut, New The RZ connection offers hourly rates, with a three-hour minimum, or packages York and New Jersey. and gift certificates that may be customized for new homes, engagements, weddings, When it comes to moving, the RZ connection works with onsite homeowners or parents, or any occasion. The initial consultation is free. businesses, or through a company’s relocation program, to take care of everything from For more information, call Randi Hutton at 203-451-3455, 800-757-4716; e-mail, beginning to end. Randi notes, “When some people move, they want to open the door randi@therzconnection.com; Web site, therzconnection.com. ■ and have everything put away and in place, and we can do that for them.” For the customer who is moving out, for example, the RZ connection will create a move-out timeline, provide support and guidance about what to keep, give away or sell, take a printed home inventory, label boxes for delivery, and oversee the loading process. Among optional services are arranging for the transportation of autos, plants or pets, and disposing of unwanted �� items. �� For those moving in, RZ connection will oversee the unpacking and uncrating of �� shipped items and arrange furniture, equipment and other items for maximum effi�� ciency. Optional services include unpacking boxes, finding a piano tuner, hanging mirrors and chandeliers, pet care, contacting �� and working with contractors. Seniors are a unique group, said Randi, �� who is a specialist in real estate for seniors. It’s a group she greatly enjoys working with. “Some want to downsize, or, looking �� ahead, want to put their affairs in order so their children have less to deal with when �� they pass. Sometimes children ask us to help their parents get organized, to avoid the emotional attachment they might have. �� We also offer services such as housekeeping or shopping, which helps kids help their �� parents.” Randi says that in the current real estate �� market, people who may want to move, but don’t have to, are sitting tight. “It is an excellent time to prepare yourself and your house, to put yourself in a position to make your move when you feel the time is right,” she said. “We can help you sort through things, pack away what you are not using, determine what home repairs might be needed, and help hire the people to do �� them. This slow market is an excellent time to get those contractors who will get too �� busy once things pick up.”

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INTO I THE I GARDEN ■

Gardens offer delight for the senses by Donna Clark Are you getting enough Vitamin F? Rutgers University has a campaign called Vitamin F, which is the result of a study on the Emotional Impact of Flowers. Researchers found that flowers create instant delight and happiness and increase enjoyment and life satisfaction. To get my Vitamin F each year, I order a special plant or two from White Flower Farm. This year my choice is Begonia Sentiment Blush, a Tuberous Begonia that I’ll grow in a 12-inch hanging pot. My choice last year was Antirrhinum Debutante, a perennial snapdragon. It grows to about two feet with raspberry pink on the outside and a white throat lightly brushed in yellow. It bloomed in June and continued

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HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

nonstop until the end of summer. I’m hoping to see it again come spring. If you don’t have a catalog, contact the farm at whiteflowerfarm.com or 1-800-503-9624. I find that a personal garden always has a few of these unusual plants. After all, plants can become boring, and there is nothing that gives us more pleasure than seeing something unusual and beautiful. Yes, you can get color from impatiens, marigolds and many other overused plants, but what piques your interest are those that are unusual. It’s human nature. Bush beans are one of the easier things to grow in the home garden. I look at the beans in the supermarket at this time of year and just pass them by. Most beans are ready to harvest in 50 days, so you can have beans from June through frost in October. I use an inoculant when planting, especially in the early spring because it helps the seeds germinate. I also plant the seeds closer than the package suggests, and when the plants are about five-inches tall, I thin them. I plant a variety – Fresh Pick, Cherokee (yellow wax), E-Z Pick, and Provider. I like to have a yellow and green bean at the same time for more color on the plate. Once you start picking the beans, you need to pick every other day. They say not to pick when the bushes are wet, but I find it’s better to pick them and risk fungus than have overgrown beans. You need to plant small amounts at a time and keep on planting every few weeks. Bush beans only produce for a few weeks and then stop. I also grow two varieties of pole beans, and this year it will be Kwintus and Smeraldo (ParkSeed.com). I have a four-foot fence for them to climb, and find they produce all summer. These are a more meaty kind of bean, but with the same good taste.

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The last bean variety I plant is a fresh shell bean. I use two different types – Borlotto (Park Seed.com) and French Horticultural (Vermontbean.com). These have unbeatable flavor for stews, soups and gourmet treats. They grow to about two feet tall, and I do stake them to keep the bean pods off the ground. Last year we used the new salvia Mystic Spires in all the gardens. I liked it a lot and will use it exclusively this year. It took a little longer to reach the mature height of two to three feet but it was worth the wait, and we were able to prop it up with stakes at angles to give it a more natural look. There wasn’t any deadheading until late September, and this salvia doesn’t get bare knees like other salvias so it can be planted in the front of a border. It is a more compact version of Indigo Spires (which can grow to six feet) with the same deep blue flower. Planthropology is a new book out by Ken Druse, and I have read it cover to cover. The photography is breathtaking, and a good share of the pictures were taken by the author. Druse takes readers deep into the mysteries of the plant kingdom and reveals little-known facts about rare and familiar beauties that are sure to amaze, educate and inspire the gardener in all of us. All the plants have tales to tell, and many of these stories are beyond sensational, according to Ken. Here are a few things I learned. Heirloom strains are also hybrids. So when we say, I want to grow only heirloom varieties – thinking they are the “old” plant varieties instead of the latest F1 hybrid – we are wrong. Another interesting tidbit: bees are attracted to the color blue. I guess I’ll stop wearing that blue shirt while gardening. And finally, one way to tell a moth from a butterfly is if its wings are open at rest – the moth has his wings open. Back to basics is the message for spring, bringing with it a new sense of frugality and common sense. What could be more frugal and make more sense than getting your hands back into the dirt of a garden. See you there.

Mystic Spires Salvia, a compact plant that retains its leaves, is ideal in a front border.

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BB Abode continued from page 5 one-of-a-kind accessories that distinguish their company from so many others. The two visit the D&D (Decoration & Design) Building in New York every couple of weeks, and also spend a lot of time at auctions, flea markets and estate sales, according to Roberta. “When clients walk in the door of BB Abode, they get a firsthand sense of what we’re all about,” she says, referring to the shop’s many furnishings and accessories, which are complemented by a background of soothing dove gray paint and white trim.

Dawn and Roberta have a distinct knack for placing their wares strategically, drawing the eye from walls to ceiling to floor. A comfy loveseat, distressed crested leather chair, antique mirrors, small nesting tables, a copper urn, bamboo umbrella stand, colored glass bottles, silverplated flatware and flasks, votives, a vintage candy-store jar, stone-handle calligraphy brushes, vintage jewelry, and a selection of fine art combine to make a cozy, inviting spot to sit and plan a decorating project, have a cup of tea or just enjoy the scenery. “Having lived in Darien for almost 10 years, I’ve come to admire the sense of design and style that exist in this area,” Dawn says. “With the current state of the economy, I think people are really focusing on being grateful for what they have. One of our inspirations comes from a phrase that our talented art director and logo designer, Manny, said: ‘Invest in your nest!’” House Of Style

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Whether working with a client’s existing, treasured furnishings or starting from scratch, Dawn and Roberta strive to create an environment that is often simple and utilitarian, while maintaining a subtle sense of style and beauty. “Often, people coming into the shop will gravitate to a specific piece, and that helps us define their sense of taste and style,” Manny says. Offering in-home or in-store complimentary consultation, the BB Abode design team draws upon its expertise to choose just the right fabrics, furnishings, fine art, and accessories. “Editing of clutter and placement of accessories and fine art, as well as good lighting, are all key to developing a cohesive interior design,” Roberta says. “We don’t want to make a room look staged ... it should simply look like a million bucks by the time we’re done!” BB Abode is at 1 Ledge Road in Darien; for more information or to make an appointment, call 203-202-2840. ■

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THE I JEWELRY I BOX ■

Protecting your jewelry by Joe Brandt Q: I keep hearing about homes being robbed and people losing their jewelry. How can I protect myself from that happening? Should I get a burglar alarm system? Buy a safe? A: Never leave your fine jewelry in an obvious place, such as in a jewelry box on your dresser or “hidden” in the top drawer. Find a convenient place to stash any jewelry you’re not wearing, and do so on a daily basis. (In the event of a burglary, jewelry is often the primary target.) An old suitcase in the back of a closet may do nicely, or a hollowed-out book on a shelf or nightstand. Try to use your imagination, but avoid the medicine cabinet, and under no circumstances use the cookie

jar! And by the way, alarm systems are not a sure bet. They often rely on an audible external speaker (wires can be cut) or police response, but by the time the police See Jewelry Box page 25

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F e b r u a r y

Family friendly

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LOCATION: This Victorian-style farmhouse is in northern Ridgefield. PROPERTY: Three level acres offer plenty of space for all kinds of activities. HOUSE: Built in 2001, this well-designed home, with a delightful wraparound porch, features fine craftsmanship and many custom details throughout. On the main level is a living room with fireplace, dining room, family room with fireplace, gourmet eat-in kitchen with pantry, and a den. On the second level there are four bedrooms, one a luxurious master suite with fireplace and full bath with steam/sauna, a rec/playroom, and a laundry area. There are four full baths and two half baths. GARAGE: Three-car attached. PRICE: $1,395,000. REALTY: Higgins Group. Agent: Dena Chelednik, 203-994-1705. Photography: Bryan Haeffele.

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February 2009

ROAR continued from page 7

with Laughter” — a festive night of comedy, music and fundraising auctions (with great unique items) to benefit the work of ROAR. The evening will have a 1950s Las Vegas “Rat Pack” theme, and will feature a Sinatra-style crooner and stand-up comedy from humorists Richie Byrne and Brian Kiley, with Ridgefield’s own Tim Washer as emcee. An online fund-raising auction has already “gone live,” and can be found at auctions.readysetauction.com/ roar. To purchase tickets for “ROAR with Laughter” on Feb. 28 or for more information, call Pam Rybarczyk at 203664-1235. For more information about ROAR, visit the Web site at www.roar-ridgefield.org. Olga Adler is a Ridgefield resident and ROAR volunteer. ■

teers, and its ongoing operation depends on private donations, grants and pro bono services. ROAR’s objective is to be a model shelter — the model being the way we treat our own dogs and cats. Through the generous, enthusiastic help of its volunteers, business partners, local veterinarians and staff, every animal receives the same medical care, nutrition, exercise, attention, and love we would give our own family pets. All are spayed and neutered before leaving the shelter. Last year alone, ROAR rescued more than 450 dogs and cats (of every breed, shape and size imaginable) and placed them in loving homes in Bedford, Bethel, Danbury, Darien, Lewisboro, New Canaan, North Salem, South Salem, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, and Wilton. It’s hard to say who benefits more from ROAR, the animals or people. In addition to bringing love into area homes, the animals give back to the � community. ROAR “therapy dogs” bring kindness and laughter into eldercare facilities, and put confident smiles on the faces of elementary school children by acting as classroom reading “assistants.” ROAR is a presence in schools at all levels, sharing information about the rewards and responsibilities of pet ownership. What does it take to make all this happen? Countless volunteer hours, endless rounds of vaccinations, hundreds of spay/neuter procedures, and YOU, the residents of Fairfield County. Your generosity — with your time, talent, and yes, money —�� makes it all possible. �� Your donations allow ROAR to continue to provide excellent, compassionate care to dogs and cats, and to �� match them with loving new homes. �� ROAR fundraisers have become community happenings, like Paws for the Cause, a dog walk in the fall on Ridgefield’s Main Street for hundreds of dogs (and owners), and Woofs, Wines and Felines in the summer, the largest wine-tasting event in the area.

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On Saturday, Feb. 28, we are holding our biggest event of all, “ROAR

February 2009

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WINTER FARMER’S MARKET

Farm-fresh and down-home friendly by Isabelle Ghaneh You know you’re in the midst of a New England winter when the thermometer by your kitchen window registers zero. Another clue is when you depart from your favorite shopping plaza — having enjoyed a leisurely browse — and you need ice skates to get to your car. While you were happily trying on all the bargains in the clearance rack, a blast of snow has coated the ground and then turned to ice.

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But no matter how cold it is outside, you can still enjoy delightful farm-fresh goods if you visit the South Salem Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market, held every Saturday on Route 35 at Gossett Brothers Nursery. The rustic ambiance of the nursery is a perfect setting for the farmers and vendors, and is enhanced by a large wood-burning stove, a warming touch on a cold winter’s morning. Ulrich Figge is usually on hand to make coffee and hot chocolate, and he enjoys being part of the friendly down-home atmosphere. Ulrich helps out Pat Imbimbo, a farmer and manager of the indoor winter market. Pat is the owner of New England Farms, and is a major supplier of the meat and milk products available. Running a farm is a big job, and luckily Pat has Lind, his sister and assistant, and her three boys for support. Lind is new to the farmer’s trade, and she and her sons are now experiencing farm life first-hand. Pat’s farm is near the border of

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Vermont and close to Lake George, a long way from Lind’s former locale of West Palm Beach, Fla. “I love it in our small town,” Lind said. “Yes, it’s a big change from a warm city down South, but everyone is so friendly, says hello, and you don’t have to lock your car. It’s a very healthy way to live.” Pat and Lind sell organic eggs, maple-cured smoked bacon, chickens, rabbits, turkeys, pork, sausage, and milk, “which comes from a cow the day before we drive to South Salem,” Lind said. You can’t get milk any fresher than that, unless, of course, you have a cow of your own in your backyard. Pat is also a beekeeper and sells his own honey. Once you proceed past New England Farms you are at Bread Alone. Bread Alone offers crusty bread that appears to have just popped out of the oven. Next is the Red Barn Bakery, boasting an array of baked goods, including organic tarts with roasted beets and mushrooms. Just opposite is Madura Farms, which offers fresh produce, including potatoes, large, bright orange carrots, and the greenest collards I’ve ever seen. Madura Farms also has mushrooms of every shape and size, including varieties I had never seen before, or even heard of. There is a king oyster mushroom that resembles a large sea creature, and Maitake mushrooms, which have a very pungent The South Salem farmer’s market is held every Saturday from 9 to 1 at Gossett Brothers Nursery on and robust flavor. They make the supermarket mushrooms wrapped in plastic pale Route 35. in comparison. Madura’s Vivian Graziano has printouts of an intriguing canapé recipe for the black radishes she sells, and it certainly sounds exotic and flavorful. “Black radishes can be used to make spicy coleslaw, although they are not as crunchy as cabbage,” Vivian explained. Pika’s Farm is next down the line, with both large containers and smaller packets of savory soup. The squash soup looked particularly tempting. Pika’s Farm also sells lobster cakes with goat cheese, and potato and sweet potato gratin. More than just edible products are available at the winter market. The North Winds Farm of Pawling, N.Y., is a family owned lavender farm and has been in �� operation since 2005. North Winds has many homemade lavender products, including a Culinary Lavender Buds package, which offers recipes that incorporate the buds. You may also pick up dried bunches of lavender, sachets in various sizes, handmade soap, and lavender taper candles. �� Tom Gossett has owned the Gossett �� Brothers Nursery since 1982, and he is �� “thrilled to be able to host the winter market. The vendors and farmers are �� all great to deal with, and they are very �� hard-working. They grow what they sell �� and everything is very fresh.” �� If you are looking for fresh from�� the-farm meat, milk or produce, take a �� ride to sample the wares of the Winter �� Market. You and your taste buds will be �� glad you did. �� The Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market is �� held every Saturday from Dec. 6 to May � �� 16 at the Gossett Brothers Nursery, 1202 �� Route 35, South Salem, N.Y., from 9 to � �� 1. For more information, call Tom Gossett �� at 203-943-5545. ■

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HOME I MOANER ■

Flimflam flannel by Ben Guerrero The holiday season was bearing down like a nor’easter on my sensibilities, as I sat tube-side one chilly night in early December. That’s when I saw the commercial for the first time, possibly on the couch of my notoriously arctic parlor. As I lay under several layers of blankets, the images rolled across the screen. In the “before” scenes, the actors are trying, like me, to stay warm under various unsavory covers. They struggle to disentangle themselves when the phone rings, their pained faces reflecting the frustration of tangled arms fumbling to burrow out from under the folds. In other scenes, they are additionally pained by the act of attempting to sip a beverage or operate their remote controls while suffering the indignities inherent in positioning one’s self, supine under grandma’s tattered old Hudson Bay three-point blanket. Mom, Pop, Sis, and Junior, not to mention the old folks at the home, all suffer these agonizing indignities.

In the “after” shots – Hallelujah! – happier and clearly more intelligent loungers are able to perform all of these tasks and more with the aid of the latest invention: the Snugglies™. I watched them in ecstasy, comfortably wrapped like tamales in yard after yard of luscious, machine-washable acrylic fleece. The delightfully self-confident couch potatoes, necks encircled with full cowl collars and two – count ’em! – two sleeves, one for each arm, are effortlessly manipulating all the various gizmos and labor-saving devices warmly – yes, snuggly – in this amazing, useful and shockingly affordable product. On the screen, wrapped in Snugglies™, were grannies knitting, housewives pouring steaming mugs of coffee, families roasting marshmallows by a campfire. All in all, there seemed to be virtually nothing you couldn’t do, and do warmer and happier, in a Snugglies™. And, if that wasn’t enough, and it clearly was, if you bought two, and why the hell wouldn’t you, they’d send you a fabulous book-light ($19.95 value), absolutely free of charge.

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February 2009

So I called the number. Me and a million other saps. The line was busy for a while. But I was thinking, jeepers, here I am, lying unsatisfactorily under this old, sleeveless blanket, trying to come up with an inspiration for an ideal Christmas gift that would, as the voice so succinctly put it, be fun for the whole family, and it is being laid out right in front of my very eyes. Plus, I bet the rest of the folks on my list were watching the very same infomercial, and I bet they were all thinking, “Man, I’d really like one of those bad boys under my tree this year.” So I ordered a Snugglies™ for each member of the family, eight in all, which meant four of the crew were going to get book-lights as well. I envisioned a Christmas morning where all of us would unwrap our Snugglies™ and then lounge around in them the rest of the day, posing for holiday snapshots and welcoming jealous neighbors in for wassail. I would be the favored family member for sure. Maybe we’d all go outside and roast marshmallows by a campfire. As the day grew closer, I began to have a gnawing fear that I wasn’t going to get the Snugglies™ in time for the big day. The UPS man brought plenty of boxes:

oranges from Aunt Myrtle in Florida, a box from the California contingent, your occasional proverbial fruitcake, but nothing even vaguely Snugglies™. The 25th of December came and went, and by this time, my daughter, marinating in the same genetic juices as her father, had mentioned to me that she had seen the infomercial, and I had foolishly alluded to her that there might be a sage green, fleecy miracle in her personal nativity scene. But alas, it wasn’t until January had been working its way through the calendar and the children were packing their rucksacks for the return trip to college that the familiar thud of a cardboard box hit the porch, and I could sense in my frozen bones that the day had finally arrived. See Home Moaner page 24

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RACKING I ONE’S I BRAIN ■

Happiness still possible, though tough times take a toll by Tim Murphy Each year since 1972, the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey has asked participants the same question: “Taken all together, how would you say things are these days – would you say that you are very happy, pretty happy or not too happy?” Considering current conditions, it probably wouldn’t be a bad idea for the researchers to wear chain mail and a football helmet while distributing the survey this year. With layoffs, foreclosures and worry rising, and home prices, income and hope falling, one would imagine the 2009 survey results to reflect a dramatic plunge in the country’s happiness level. A corresponding graph might resemble someone diving off a cliff at Acapulco – if anyone could afford to go there anymore. Even in economic hard times like these, happiness remains among the most subjective of measurements. Those 50 or so people in every high-school graduating class who list “to be happy” as the final line in their yearbook profile likely have different percep-

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tions of what will get them to their goal. But that ambiguity hasn’t stopped researchers from trying to get to the bottom of it all. Various studies of happiness have arrived at the same depressing realization: Despite decades of rise in gross domestic product, Americans are no happier now than they were in the 1950s. Neither are the Japanese, even though they have had a more startling increase in domestic GDP since World War II. Those findings have led researchers to conclude that money, indeed, doesn’t buy happiness. Or at least not past a certain point. While Americans who are making $50,000 per year are much happier than those making $20,000, there is little difference between those making $100,000 and those making $50,000. There is also not much difference in happiness between those earning $5 million per year and those earning $100,000. “Once you get basic human needs met, a lot more money doesn’t make a lot more happiness,” said Dan Gilbert, a psychology professor at Harvard and the author of Stumbling on Happiness.

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In one oft-cited global survey measuring happiness on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest), American multimillionaires averaged a 5.8. Nearly the same self-rating was given by the Masai of Kenya, who live in dung huts with no electricity, running water or HBO. A much-publicized study led by American authors and published in the British Medical Journal last year concluded that happiness has a ripple effect, extending three degrees before dropping off. For example, having a happy friend who lives within a mile boosts your own odds of being happy by 25%. Practically applied, that might mean borrowing sugar from the neighbor who just got a promotion, not the one who just got a visit from the repo man. While the idea of happiness being influenced by an extended social network is new, the importance of family, friends and good health have been well documented. Surveys by the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center have found that people with five or more close friends are 50% more likely to describe themselves as “very happy” compared to those with smaller social circles. A good relationship with your spouse, partner or significant other is even more important, as people in stable, happy relationships report being far happier than those who aren’t. It’s also wise to avoid trying to keep up with the Joneses – or at least try to live somewhere they don’t. A study that matched census data on earnings with data on self-reported happiness showed that of two people with the same income, the one living in the richer area reported being less happy. Stay around long enough though, and you might smile more. Americans apparently become happier as they age, as maturity leads to positive psychosocial traits such as self-esteem. Baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964), however, are not as content as other generations, possibly because of unrealistic expectations.

Ironically, the current economic woes could actually lead to higher levels of happiness in the future if Americans are inspired to make lasting changes, such as moving away from consumerism. In one study that asked more than 30,000 people what gave them the most pleasure, the latest electronic gadgets were mentioned by just 19% of the respondents. That was well behind good health (84%), a home you own (60%), children (48%), an interesting job (46%), and free and leisure time (36%). Survey takers even preferred impatiens to iPhones as more of them (22%) got pleasure from a yard or garden. One plus of historically rough times is that lowered expectations have a positive effect on future happiness levels – as long as that rough time eventually ends. For example, people who grew up during the Great Depression reported higher levels of subjective well-being than those who didn’t. Consider that a bit of good news. It may be the only one you come across for a while. ■

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Home Moaner continued from page 21 I ripped open the box, eager to start my new toasty life. I was ready to perform all the activities of daily living, like some sort of minty monk, the envy of my friends, the neighborhood and all of those who scoff at ingenuity. What I got was a small blanket with two tubular sleeves. I unfolded it and immediately discovered that it could not wrap completely around my girth. It would cover my length as I stretched out on the couch, but there was no way I would be walking around in the thing. It’s just a too small bathrobe, with over-sized sleeves that you put on backwards and lie down. I realized, after I had it in hand, and the commercial in front of me, that you never see the back side of any of the rapturous revelers, cavorting amid campfires and coffeemakers on the television. I could see now that everyone appeared stiff and unmoving on the screen as if, were they to

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exhale too exuberantly, their cowl collars would unravel and the safety pin holding the back corners together might pop and send the Snugglies™ sides asunder. The Snugglies™, you might not be surprised to discover, is a piece of crap. And I have eight of them. And only three book-lights, which, incidentally, weren’t so bad. In fact, I felt as though I had bought three book-lights and they had thrown in eight Snugglies™. It’s cold this winter. Perhaps it is a prequel to our long winter of discontent that casts its low shadow over a world that is long on problems and short on solutions. Maybe this box of folded fleece, and boy, do I know fleece, is a metaphor for our complacency as a people to accept the “bait and switch” in place of the social contract. All I know is, I am too damn lazy to do anything about it – but, fool me twice, shame on who? Besides it’s soooo cold. I’m thinking of ordering a Sham-Wow™. ben.guerrero@sbcglobal.net. ■

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Jewelry Box continued from page 13 arrive, it can be too late. Most small safes (unless professionally installed) aren’t worth the money, because they can be picked up and carried away! Q: I’m always worried whenever workmen have been in the house, even though nothing has ever been taken. Am I being unnecessarily concerned? A: Not in the least. Many times, thefts are the result of someone observing something of value on an earlier visit, and an accomplice (who will pay a visit once there’s nobody home) is tipped off about the location. This could be from any number of sources, not just workmen: delivery people, telephone repair technicians, even friends of your teenager. Jewelry that is not being worn should always be hidden from sight. If you get into the habit of doing that, you’ll never be sorry. Q: My aunt told me it was a good idea to turn my engagement ring around and have the diamond face inward when I’m in public, to avoid unwanted attention. When I asked my jeweler about it, he said that wasn’t a good thing to do. Who’s right? A: They both are. In certain situations, you may not want to display a ring of high value; however, the ring is much more susceptible to damage when worn in that position. As long as you’re aware of this, it shouldn’t be a problem. Q: Long ago, I was told that I should always hide my good jewelry. My house has a big attic. Is that a good hiding place?

A: Yes, but an attic space gets mixed reviews, as there are notable exceptions. Some jewelry (especially certain types of colored stones) is heat and/or cold sensitive, and should never be subjected to extreme temperatures of any kind. (This also applies to the use of your refrigerator’s freezer compartment.) An exposed jewelry box is an excellent place to keep your costume jewelry, since it could act as a “red herring” in the event of a break-in. Bear in mind, any hiding place that may not be easily accessed will become useless in short order. Also, you should always tell someone you trust implicitly where your hiding place is, because if you were to become incapacitated for any reason (and your hiding place was clever enough), your jewelry might never be seen again! Questions or Comments

Questions regarding jewelry may be sent to Joe Brandt at JLBCO@hotmail. com. Because of space limitations, we will be able to publish answers to only a few questions, although every effort will be made to respond privately to all reasonable inquiries. (Names will never be used in any published questions.) Please use the word “Jewelry” in the subject line. Joe Brandt, a local resident, is a consultant to retail jewelers and provides advisory service to the public. His company, J.J. Brandt, has been in business since 1928. He is the author of Protecting the Family Jewels.

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February 2009

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HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Impeccable taste and artful design CREATE AN IRRESISTIBLE HOME

by Lois Alcosser

As artfully designed as the interior, the terrace, gardens, apple trees and meadow will draw you forth come summer.

HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

Spectacularly charming. Formally informal. Freshly historic. They sound contradictory, but they make sense as you walk from one room to the other in a remarkable home that can truly be said to have a kind of magic about it that even the best photographs can’t convey. It’s a quality of light – warm and golden – a sense of ease and everywhere a level of taste that’s rarely seen. A thoughtful house, every space concerned with function and comfort and sparked with originality. Perhaps it’s because this is a home owned by an artist, a really topnotch artist, president of the prestigious Salmagundi Club in New York. Claudia Seymour’s color sense and attention to detail is inborn. She and her husband have lived at 575 Silvermine Road in New Canaan for seven years, and during that time have enhanced their home and property until there seems to be nothing missing. The core of the house dates to 1790. The Seymours have always chosen to live in historic homes and have usually needed to do lots of restoration. But a former owner was an architect, and the beamed ceilings, wainscoting, many of the built-in cupboards and shelves, the beautifully graceful staircase, and other improvements were already there. Cathedral ceilings in the family room, kitchen and master bedroom create a spacious airiness and brightness rarely found in historic homes. The ambiance begins at the doorway and doesn’t falter. Situated on over two acres, 575 Silvemine Road could almost be called February 2009

a mini-estate, except that sounds too pompous, and above all, this house hasn’t a An original stone wall bordering the property indicates that the beautiful bit of showy pomposity. It’s all imagination, subtlety and romance. As you walk grassy meadow was once farmland, with its mood of mellow tradition. This home through the garden to a separate guest cottage, there are grape vines, cherry trees, has to be experienced to capture its charm. The Seymours have created a world which Ms. Seymour says become a pink cloud in the spring, and perennial beds of timeless elegance and serenity. that have been nurtured to provide three seasons of color. For more information, call Kathryn Tanner at 203-966-3507 at Brotherhood & The winterized guest cottage has a great room with a cathedral ceiling, a stone Higley in New Canaan. ■ fireplace, bedroom, bath, and its own water system. It’s currently Ms. Seymour’s studio for her oil paintings – a most private retreat. Every bit of space in this home has been used creatively. Contemporary touches such as the lighting tucked into the beams in the living room contrast nicely with the random-width chestnut floor boards and multi-paned windows (which are thermal and storm-proof ). Historic nostalgia is freshly conceived, imaginative, sparkling. For example, what was probably once a garden room or small enclosed porch has been transformed into a climate-controlled wine room with a Dutch door. Near the dining area, it’s a charming, accessible addition for entertaining (and the built-in wine racks can be inherited by the new owner). What Ms. Seymour calls a wonderful “entertainment flow” begins in the living room with its magnificent stone fireplace, continues through the dining to the tidy bar in an original cupboard under the stairs. The scale of everything is carefully proportioned – nothing overwhelms – but spacious. Any sense of the frugal proportions of many historic homes is absent. Yet the charm of the past is captured in the two parlors, which flank what was originally the front door. One is a library/office and the other a cozy sitting room, the kind where you curl up on the couch to read, feeling wonderfully relaxed. Every aspect of this antique home addresses function and comfort, sparked with originality. That same feeling of comfortable serenity is in the master bedroom, with a tiled fireplace, garden view and cathedral ceiling, plus a luxurious new hisand-hers master bathroom, with an elegant chandelier, antiqued tile floor with radiant heating, glass-walled shower, and whirlpool tub. Overlooking the terrace, gardens and heirloom apple trees is the most livedin area of the house, the windowed family/breakfast room and kitchen, which is an architectural delight in itself. With a cathedral ceiling, efficient work and storage space, bright and sophisticated cabinetry, the kitchen has all the best and newest requisite appliances. “I wondered,” Ms. Seymour said, “what I was going to do without a huge kitchen, but I find this is actually easier to work in, with more storage and workspace than anyone could wish for.” A graceful staircase takes you to WILLIAM F. VERRILL the upstairs bedrooms, one of which is Ms. Seymour’s second studio, for her pastel paintings, though it could certainly be a bedroom, playroom or FINE WOODWORKING - FROM DESIGN TO INSTALLATION study. A full bathroom serves these 30 YEARS OF LOCAL EXPERIENCE - BY APPOINTMENT - 203-761-9109 bedrooms.

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February 2009

HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

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HOME, a Hersam Acorn special section, Ridgefield, Conn.

February 2009