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The Essence of Simplicity

Blue sapphires in martini settings.

Will and Kate

Will followed family tradition… blue sapphire from Sri Lanka, fourteen brilliant, white diamonds surrounding. We too follow the royal tradition. Shopping for your princess? We have Will and Kate rings in stock, ready to ship.

Returning Tide Blue Sapphire Ring

There is something so compelling about the rising tide… the certainty, the predictability, its strength.

X3898.....$1,450.00

Lady Captain’s

North-South, East-West Blue Sapphire Rings

This morning you have two choices: northsouth or east-west. The destination chosen determines destiny.

Perfect size 7x5mm oval royal blue sapphire. Lovely presence on the hand.

Lady Captain’s Ring design. 14K yellow gold.

A. North - South Medium..X3277....$1,650.00

B. East - West Medium......X2279.... $1,650.00

Why You Should Consider An East-West Ring

East-West rings flow with the natural curve of your hand. East-West rings… pretty, natural, smart… a way of being comfortable without dressing down. East-West rings are child-friendly, tight fitting, glove-easy. East-West rings won’t snag nylons or sweaters. You’ve gotta love these EastWest designs.

We have the best collection of East-West rings you’ll find anywhere.

Absolute Satisfaction Guaranteed

BILL SCHELLER

A longtime Vermonter who’s written more than two dozen books and 300-plus articles, Scheller says his interest in the 1917 Halifax explosion [“How Boston Got Its Christmas Tree,” p. 124] stemmed in part from reading Barometer Rising, a 1941 novel centering on the disaster. “I’ve never taken the ferry between Halifax and Dartmouth without trying to visualize the devastation the city suffered that day,” he says.

AMY TRAVERSO

Scouting for the Editors’ Choice Food Awards [p. 70] is “my favorite kind of shopping,” reports Traverso, senior food editor. “I’ll come across some farm stand or market and discover a really good new cheese or chocolate—and I feel like a baseball scout who found the next great pitcher!” Besides overseeing Yankee ’s food coverage, she is the cohost of Weekends with Yankee and author of The Apple Lover’s Cookbook.

COREY HENDRICKSON

After spending a day on Melody and Patrick Houle’s tree farm [“A Movable Forest,” p. 108], photographer Hendrickson says one moment really stands out: After hours in the bitter cold trying to repair a client’s broken-down delivery truck, Patrick put together a hot meal of soup and cocoa and brought it out to the crew. “It wasn’t a question for Pat or Melody—they would do anything to help somebody in need.”

JOE KEOHANE

A native Bostonian transplanted to New York, Keohane was on the scene as Melody and Patrick Houle set up their Christmas tree lot in Brooklyn [“A Movable Forest,” p. 108]. Given that New York can be “a pretty brusque town,” says Keohane, who’s written for the likes of Esquire and The New Yorker, “seeing the repeat customers light up on seeing those two was fascinating and inspiring.”

GRACE ALDRICH

Originally hailing from Dorchester, Massachusetts, Aldrich is a storyteller and musician in Dublin, New Hampshire. Her saga of giving birth to son Calvin in a car [“Baby on Board,” p. 132] has a funny epilogue: The automobile in question was sold when Calvin was a toddler, and for a few years afterward he’d exclaim, “Hey! She has my car!” whenever the new owner passed him and his parents on the road.

HEATH ROBBINS

“I always love combining lifestyle and food and creating the feeling of a family/community meal,” Robbins says of photographing Justin and Danielle Walker’s big holiday get-together in Maine [“Thanksgiving on the Farm,” p. 54]. Plus, this Massachusetts resident is used to having delicious things in front of his lens, having shot for Food & Wine, Bon Appétit, and Panera Bread, among others.

A New Chapter

When our feature about the forthcoming sale of E.B. White’s former home [“The House at Allen Cove,” September/October] appeared in a special preview on NewEngland.com, the news was picked up by dozens of national and even international outlets. The story created a swell of interest in the historic Maine salt water farm where White wrote Charlotte’s Web, and which owners Robert and Mary Gallant had reluctantly decided to sell after 31 happy years there. “All these messages [from readers] are so emotional and touching,” Mary Gallant told us. “I didn’t realize others knew how much we cared.” She kept us updated through the selling process, recounting both the excitement of the intense interest and the bittersweet knowledge that their house would soon have a new owner. Shortly before this issue went to press, she wrote to say that a large family had signed an agreement for the farm—meaning that, with luck, there will continue to be young people laughing at play, boats being launched, and grounds lovingly tended there.

What I would give to just spend a day on this farm! I’m a retired third-grade teacher, and I read Charlotte’s Web over and over again to each classroom filled with my students, and each year I still got choked up when Charlotte died…. In my home now I am creating a Charlotte’s Web bedroom for my grandchildren, complete with two vintage barn doors and a piece of barn wood that says “Salutations.”

Leslie Ann Plucknette Spencerport, New York

I am the middle daughter of Henry Allen [the farm’s longtime caretaker]. I was so blessed to have had a dad who provided me the opportunity to spend my growing-up years with E.B. and Mrs. White. Among my fondest memories are the times when Mr. White and I would play piano duets on the grand piano in his study, and his dachshund would sit by our feet and chime in.

Decking The Halls

Lights and garlands by the mile

Are hung with an ecstatic smile...

The mirror image of the frown

With which we’ll later take them down.

—D.A.W.

I’m very grateful to the Gallants for allowing me and my husband, daughter, and granddaughter to visit and to walk through the barn, swing through the barn doors, and ride down to the boathouse. It looked the same as it did in years past: a beautiful home with beautiful surroundings.

Cheryl Allen Ginn Pell City, Alabama

Fair Point

I always love being kept up to date on what’s going on in New England, but again our city gets no credit for having, as you describe it, “the largest fair in the Northeast.” Your magazine’s event calendar [“Out & About,” September/October] states that it is in Springfield. It is not!

Since all of us who live in WEST SPRINGFIELD put up with all the crowds and traffic that come to our city, the least you could do is give us credit for having the largest fair!

Linda Brainerd West Springfield, Massachusetts