This is the time of year when people are buying calendars. For most people, selecting a calendar is closely aligned with selecting a painting. After all, many calendars are month by month reproductions of everything from folk art to the old masters. Personally, I like to hang one of my calendars on the wall over my kitchen desk. This is the calendar that is important when it comes to securing dates. Whoever writes in an event first on this calendar gets priority when more than one event is scheduled on the same day.
For 2012, I selected The Lang Limited Edition 30 Years Anniversary Collection Calendar “Nature’s Grace” by artist Susan Winget. This artist has become one of America’s favorite country artists because of the warmth and gentility captured in her artwork. Living in North Carolina, she has lived and worked the farm that she and her husband have owned for more than thirty years. It’s not surprising that she can so gracefully and intimately capture the beauty in all her paintings. Her paintings are in many collections and have been displayed in many prominent collections including the White House. Her work reflects her traditional values.
This Limited edition calendar is so special because it comes practically gift wrapped in an envelope featuring one of Winget’s paintings. All of the paintings in this calendar are delicate renderings of flowers and they are accompanied by a quote from the bible. For the month of January, I will be looking at a painting of precious snow drops, one of the first flowers to bloom in spring and the joy of alpine gardens everywhere. “He hath made everything beautiful in His time” from Ecclesiastes is beautifully spelled out across the page. One month is as beautifully rendered as the next. If you’re like me, you’ll enjoy looking at the whole year’s offering as soon as you open that envelope.
For my office desk, “The Reading Woman” calendar is an absolute must. This calendar features great art by artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Carl Larsson, Felix Vallotton, and Edgar Degas. Each month features a masterpiece with the primary subject, a woman reading. An insightful quotation accompanies each painting. What is so difficult about having a calendar as stunning as this on my desk is that I just can’t help getting lost in the images every time I write in a date. I want to know more about the woman who is focused upon. I want to know what she is reading. Then, before I know it, I’m researching a piece of art. It’s a great calendar and a wonderful distraction. Ultimately, it is pure inspiration and reminds me how much I thoroughly enjoy reading.
Of course, every year calendars come out flaunting the works of Monet. Once I turn the calendar page from December 2011, I will have to say “goodbye” to my Monet calendar, which I currently have tucked in my notebook. Other favorites that I’ve had through the years included Linda Nelson Stocks Folk Art Calendar. Her calendars are a perfect fit for homes decorated in Early American or Colonial styles. Actually, her artwork usually depicts family scenarios. She has been painting most of her life and to date has created 29 calendars! What I especially like about her calendars are the Christmas paintings because Christmas is special to her. “I always paint a country church sitting on a nearby hill that will soon be filled with people celebrating a dear baby’s birth. And shouldn’t each window be filled with the glow of candles burning?” she wrote in her 2010 calendar. I kept this calendar because she painted the Glebe House in Woodbury, CT in it.
One of my all time favorites is the new 2012 calendar called “Inspiration 2012.” This is a calendar put out by BrownTrout Publishers, Inc. Featuring gorgeous art and photos each month is not only beautifully represented but accompanied with great inspirational quotes. For instance, the first month of the year offers great advice with a Japanese proverb: “One kind word can warm three winter months.” That happens to appear on a snowy scene featuring one solitary leafless tree. It is enough to prompt many kind words. Of course, you’ll also find quotes by some of my favorite writers including George Bernard Shaw. His quote is featured on a verdant page of fern and deep green moss. Of course, the green is perfect for the month of March, when St. Patrick’s Day is happily celebrated.
When it comes to selecting a calendar, think art and then start the New Year with 12 months of art looking back at you.
Happy New Year!

Every year on Christmas Eve someone somewhere reads to a child for the very first time the most famous Christmas poem in the world – “T’was the Night Before Christmas.” Originally titled, “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” some families create a tradition around the reading of this fine poem. Snuggling up with an excited youngster who will surely have a difficult time falling asleep, this is a bedtime poem that will make even the most cynical adult have delightful dreams of reindeer and a jolly old man bearing gifts. As a collector of pop-up and specialty books, I take all my Christmas books off the bookshelves in December and place them around the house. There are a few on my coffee table in the den, a gorgeous edition of The Nutcracker in the living room, and many other beautifully decorated Christmas books in the upstairs television room, guest room and of course, in the bedroom. However, when I pulled out my pop-up Robert Sabuda edition of “The Night Before Christmas” –I noticed that the author’s name for the poem was “Clement Clarke Moore.”
“Hmmn,” I thought. I better be sure to save this one. Considering that there has been a controversy over who really wrote the poem, I thought I’d share with you some of the research that has been done on whether Moore wrote the poem or if he had plagiarized the poem. The controversy has not yet been put to rest.
It all started when a newspaper received a copy of the poem anonymously. The paper published it anyway because it was too perfect not to be included. Once that poem caught the attention of the paper’s readers, it was all over. Everyone started reproducing it. Readers kept requesting it year after year and before anyone really knew who wrote the poem, it was popular all over the world. Attributing proper authorship is always important, but for the poem that essentially described for the first time Santa Claus as a fat jolly old man with a reindeer driven sled, the author shouldn’t be overlooked. It is after all, the most popular Christmas poem in the whole world. It is nothing short of ironic that we don’t know for sure if it was Clement Clarke Moore or Henry Livingston who penned this holiday rhyme. Both men wrote poems for their children. Research lends support to both of these men, so authorship is still nebulous.
According to the New York Institute for Special Education, Clement Clarke Moore was born in 1779 to Benjamin Moore, president of Columbia College and bishop of the Episcopal Church in New York. “From 1840 to 1850, he was a member of our school’s board of managers. The school was then know as The New York Institution for the Blind. The school was located on 34th  Street and 9th Avenue during that era.”  Considering that he wrote pamphlets anonymously and was a professor of classics at the General Theological Seminary in New York, it seems likely that he would have written this poem and with his college background, one would hope he would never have plagiarized. The school states on its website that Moore wrote the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” as a Christmas gift for his children in 1822. The problem is that since he wrote the poem in 1822, one has to wonder why  he waited until 1837 to finally attach his name to the poem?
Jennifer Ciotta reported on the Literary Traveler, an online website, that one piece of strong evidence for Moore’s claim to authorship is another poem that he wrote that has the same structure and melodious rhyme to it. Consider the following:

On a warm sunny day, in the midst of July,
A lazy young pig lay stretched out in his sty,
Like some of his betters, most solemnly thinking
That the best things on earth are good eating and drinking.
At length, to get rid of the gnats and the flies,
He resolv’d, from his sweet meditations to rise;
And, to keep his skin pleasant, and pliant, and cool,
He plung’d him, forthwith, in the next muddy pool.

-Clement Clarke Moore

However, Ciotta includes in the same piece that Livingston, who also wrote poetry penned the following:

To my dear brother Beekman I sit down to write
Ten minutes past eight & a very cold night.
Not far from me sits with a baullancy cap on
Our very good couzin, Elizabeth Tappen,
A tighter young seamstress you’d ne’er wish to see
And she (blessings on her) is sewing for me.
New shirts & new cravats this morning cut out
Are tumbled in heaps and lye huddled about.
My wardrobe (a wonder) will soon be enriched
With ruffles new hemmed & wristbands new stitched.
Believe me dear brother tho women may be
Compared to us, of inferiour degree
Yet still they are useful I vow with a fegs
When our shirts are in tatters & jackets in rags.

-Henry LIvingston Jr.


Henry Livingston, Jr. was of Poughkeepsie, New York. According to the website http://www.iment.com/maida/familytree/henry/xmas/livingstonmoore/index.htm, the biggest argument in favor of Livingston comes from what was reported as a reading of the poem to a group of children in 1808. However, there is no written record of the poem at that time. Having collected Christmas books for many years, I have yet to come upon a book with Livingston’s name as author on it. If you have one, do let me know and do hold  on to it. Actually, hold on to any of these books, who knows someday someone may actually come up with the definitive answer. However, I have just come across the famous poem that is attributed to both Moore and Livingston.  I found it on:

http://www.christmas-tree.com/stories/nightbeforechristmas.html.

For your Christmas reading enjoyment, here is “T’was the Night Before Christmas”

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

by Clement Clarke Moore
or Henry Livingston

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I

knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes — how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,



“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

We’ve all gone into homes where the pictures on the walls help create a feeling of elegance within the room. This is not necessarily because of the pictures themselves, but because of the way the pictures are placed on the walls. If the pictures are situated properly horizontally and vertically, if multiple pictures on a wall complement both the décor and the other pictures in the ensemble, if the picture or pictures do not get lost on a wall that is proportionally too large, if the picture or pictures do not overwhelm and crowd a wall that is proportionally too small ~ all of these things can make or break the visual balance of a room. Are there rules for proper hanging? Yes. But the rules go hand-in-hand with a variety of styles based on the size, shape, and location of the area to be covered.
If you have a long, vertical space to fill, pictures can be hung in a single or double vertical arrangement (depending upon the width of the space). The pictures should be large enough to catch the eye, but not so large that they leave too little surrounding wall space.
When hanging pictures over furniture, the size of the picture must be a consideration if you are to maintain balance. A picture that is too large will draw the eye away from the furniture. Conversely, if a picture is too small, it will get lost on the wall and will be seen only when directly in front of the furniture piece. If you have a wide space, as over a sofa or a long wall table, several smaller pictures can be centered in a horizontal arrangement. This will fill the area just enough to create balance for the eye.
When we speak of creating balance for the eye, keep in mind that pictures should generally be hung at eye level Eye level is defined as having the center of a piece at 58” from the floor. Most museums use this measure for all pictures, no matter the size. Eye level when hanging over furniture is 4” – 6” above the piece.  Any more than this will bring the eye to the blank wall between the furniture and the picture, upsetting the balance.
You can be very creative with large wall areas by varying frame sizes, shapes, and layout. As long as you can create a balanced effect for the eye, you can use combinations of round, square, rectangular, and oval frames together on one wall. A good way to see if your design will be pleasing to the eye is to arrange all the frames on a large table or on the floor until you get the desired look. When ready to hang the pictures, start with the center picture and make sure it is at eye level (58” from the floor). This may put some frames above and below this measure, but the arrangement will appear balanced with the center at eye level.
Similarly, it can seem that we do not have enough wall space to hang paintings or photographs that really look best when grouped together. We need to get rid of the old mindset that only one picture should go on a given area of a wall, and creatively group pictures that will complement rather than overwhelm the limited wall space. As long as the pictures do not crowd the wall space (there should be enough of the wall visible so it creates its own frame around the pictures), the visual balance of the ensemble will be accomplished.
For those who like symmetrical arrangements (where the two sides of the arrangement are mirror images), make sure the spacing is exact. This will draw the eye to the overall design at a glance. While symmetrical arrangements tend to have a more formal look to them, they are also pleasing to the eye. This creates a comfortable and inviting atmosphere in the room.
From a decorating standpoint, there are rules governing the placement of pictures that will create visual balance and ultimately add a touch of elegance to a room. These are good rules to be aware of when designing the areas involved. However, when all is said and done, it is just as important that the design is pleasing to you. It has to look and feel right in order for it to be successful to your discerning eye. If you get that feeling of balance when you stand back and look at your design, you’ll know you have achieved that success.

Thomas Edison, the founder of General Electric and the incandescent bulb, rigged several strings of electric lights, each wrapped in a different color of crepe, and hung them outside his laboratory to celebrate the Christmas season of 1880.  This happening is believed to be the first use of electrical Christmas lights.
Two years later, the vice president of Edison’s company, Edward H. Johnson, used the string of colored lights on the Christmas tree that decorated the parlor of his home – the first in the city to have electricity.  The company wanted to make certain that this historic occasion was documented by the press; however, most news outlets thought it was another of Edison’s publicity stunts and did not attend.  One newspaper, the Detroit Post and Tribune, did send a reporter who chronicled ,what was to become, the first news story of the world’s first Christmas tree lighting. He  wrote:

There at the rear of the beautiful parlor, was a large Christmas tree presenting a most picturesque and uncanny aspect.  It was brilliantly lighted with many colored globes about as large as an English walnut and was turning some six times a minute on a little pine box.  There were eighty lights in all encased in these dainty glass eggs, and about equally divided between white, red and blue.  As the tree turned, the colors alternated, all the lamps going out and being relit at every revolution.  The result was a continuous twinkling of dancing colors, red, white, blue, white, red, blue – all evening.

It would be several years before the electric Christmas lights would catch on with the general public.  There were tow reasons for this: first, unless you lived in a major city, electricity was not yet available to most homes; and second, the cost was quite prohibitive.  This was due in part to the fact that these colored lights had to be installed on a wire by an electrician.
The electric Christmas lights began to grow in popularity at elite social events after 1895. It was that year when President Grover Cleveland sponsored the first Christmas tree with colored electric lights in the White House.   Christmas tree parties, hosted by the who’s who of the social register, became the ‘A’ list event of the holiday season.  The cost for these parties were exorbitant. The price of a Christmas tree, complete with electric lights, could run more than $300 – the equivalent to $2000, today. 
Edison decided that advertising was necessary for his Christmas lights to gain visibility.  The November 28, 1900 edition of Scientific American Magazine carried the earliest known General Electric advertisement for lamps to be used on Christmas trees.  The ad offered the lights for sale or rent.
In 1903, GE introduced the first set of pre-wired sockets, known as festoons, to the public.  The cost of a set of 24 lights was $12.; expensive, considering the average weekly paycheck was approximately $13.
The market for Christmas lights was about to be blown wide open as a result of a ruling by the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office.  They refused to papent the socket sets because it was not considered a new invention.  The office sited that “the wiring of the socket is based on common electrical knowledge.” 
Shortly after this decision came down, several companies went into the electric Christmas light business.  Immediately the price began to fall, making colorful Christmas light sets affordable for most people.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY – Citizen scientists from around the U.S. will be participating in the Audubon Society’s 112th Christmas Bird Count beginning on December 14 and running until January 5.  During this period, thousands of volunteers, armed with binoculars and bird guides, will collect data to access the health of the bird population

The communities of Greenwich and Westport will conduct their 24 hour counts on Sunday, December 18.  This will be the 100th count for Audubon Greenwich.

In Westport, the count area travels beyond the town lines, and includes a 15 mile radius around the twin brid ges on Route 57.

Birders of all experience levels are welcome to join a count team in the field or register to count birds that come onto their property.

For further information or to sign up for the count, contact Brian O’Toole in Greenwich at
(203) 869-5272, x221; or in Westport, Mardi Dickinson at (203) 846-0359 or mardi1d@
gmail.com.

Unique Holiday Card Display at Easton Library

BETHEL – A unique display of one- of- a kind Original Holiday  Cards are in the Showcase at the Easton library now thru January 4. The cards  have been designed and created  by 8 professional artists from Easton or  connected to Easton as  participants in earlier art exhibitions at the  library. Each of the artists is expressing their holiday greetings thru their  own well crafted, artistic skills.

Among the 8 artists are David Beem, Easton  resident and project architect; Diane Van der Kropf, former resident and  professional costume designer; Joseph Kochiss, portrait artist, author and  musician; Marjorie Tomchuk, nationally known master printmaker and paper artist;  Hans Wilheim, international known childrens’ book illustrator and winner of many  awards; MattShlian, Easton native and paper engineer/packaging designer and  paper artist; Christine Leddy, botanical painter and creator of fine needlework,  and Dolly Curtis, curator of the Gallery Space at the library and textile artist/photographer.

Matt Shlian’s die cut, beautifully designed cards  on display have been commissioned by Queen Raina of Jordan to be sent to distinguished people throughout the world. Diane Van der Kropf’s cards are hand  drawn, water colored musings on light hearted Santas and his reindeer. David Beem and family cards are so unique they can not be topped. He goes miles beyond  commercial card producers.  Dolly Curtis’ collage cards are a visual treat  wrapping up the year in photos/snippets and tongue in cheek commentary.  Joseph Kochiss’ cards are superbly drawn, cut, folded, and water colored.  Christine Leddy has perfected botanical and natural images for her  holiday  cards. She also has created  the specially smocked holiday decorations with  fabric and threads which are highlighted in the case. Hans Wilheim has taken  illustrations from his many childrens’ books as the subject for his cards.  Marjorie Tomchuk has taken her skills as a highly regarded printmaker and paper  artist and scaled it down to a visual jewel made from handmade paper with an  embossed surface and individualized print as the focal point to catch the eye.

Each of these cards and artists represent the finest  examples of original holiday cards that could be displayed in any art  museum.

The exhibit is open during library hours from now till January  4. For library hours and more information call (203) 261-0134 . For more  information about the artists and display, please contact Dolly Curtis at dollycurtistv@40aol.com.

PAWS Sets Up Giving Trees at Local Pet Shops

NORWALK – What does a homeless pet want for the holidays?
Ideally he or she wants a forever home. But if a holiday stay at the shelter is in the cards, then having all the supplies for a happy holiday season is the next best thing.
PAWS will have Giving Trees set up at the following local stores to collect much needed items to help care for the animals that currently reside at the shelter. ChoicePet, 352Westport Road, Norwalk; ChoicePet, 360Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk; ChoicePet, 949High Ridge Road, Stamford and Global Pet Food, 25 Old Kings Highway North, Darien. The Giving Trees will have ornaments with adoptable pet photos and a list of items needed will be at the store.  Items purchased can be placed in the large gift boxes under the trees. PAWS volunteers will pick up the items and bring them to the waiting adoptable pets at the PAWS shelter. PAWS would like to thank the Boys and Girls Club for making our ornaments. Happy Holidays to everyone!
PAWS is a non-profit animal shelter dedicated to the rescue and placement of homeless and abused pets. All proceeds from the event will be used to provide food, medical care and shelter to pets while they await placement in theirnew homes.  For more information about the event or PAWS in general, visit www.pawsct.org or call 203.750.9572; or send e-mail inquiries to paws@pawsct.org.PAWSwww.pawsct.org.

Students’ Poetry to Fly in Westport

WESTPORT – Original poems exploring the idea of flight is the theme for the Flight of Imagination writing contest.  Open to all Westport students, the competition is a part of the Westport Public Library’s WestportREADS program – an annual program ‘designed to encourage dialog inspired by literature.’  I Was Amelia Earhart is this year’s theme book. Entries will be judged in three divisions: elementary, middle and high school.  Deadline for submissions is Friday, January 13, and will be announced on January 27. Gift cards from Barnes and Noble will be awarded to first, second and third place winners in each division. , and the winning poems will be published on the Westport Library website. Submission guidelines are available on the library’s website.  For further information, contact Jaina Lewis at (203) 291-4809,  jlewis@westportlibrary.org; or Kris Nash at (203) 291-4813,  knash@westportlibrary.org.

Career Workshops Offered by Library

MONROE – Career Development Workshops at the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library Monroe, CT – Beginning Tuesday, January 17, 10:00 a.m., Edith Wheeler Memorial Library and the CT Department of Labor will sponsor monthly career development workshops to assist with a job search or to re-enter the workforce. The workshops are on the third Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. as follows: January 17, Get Connected with LinkedIn!; February 21, Job Search Strategies; March 20, Cover Letters, Thank You Notes and More!, and April 17, Resume Basics. Registration required for all sessions at  reference@ewml.org ADVANCE \d 5 or by calling the Adult Services Desk at 203-452-2850 x 6.

Whiskey Eggnog
Makes 2 Gallons

12 eggs
1½ pints half and half
3½ cups sugar
1½ cups whiskey
6 quarts milk
Nutmeg

Separate eggs. Beat egg yolks until lemon colored; beat in sugar.  While beating, slowly add the whiskey, half and half, and milk. Beat egg whites until stiff. Fold egg whites into mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Vanilla Cream Eggnog
Serves about 12

4 eggs
½ cup sugar
1 quart milk
1 qt vanilla ice cream
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Nutmeg

Scald milk. Separate eggs. Beat yolks until lemon colored; add sugar and beat until creamy. Stir ½ of scalded milk into egg mixture. Pour the new egg mixture into the remaining scalded milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Cool. Beat egg whites until stiff. Pour egg mixture into punch bowl. Fold in egg whites. Float ice cream in center of mixture. Sprinkle with nutmeg.

Eggnog Punch
Serves about 12

6 eggs
½ cup sugar
3 cups half and half
3 cups cream
1 teaspoon nutmeg
3 teaspoons vanilla
½ gallon vanilla ice cream
2-liter bottle ginger ale

Beat eggs, sugar, and nutmeg until light and creamy. Stir in the half and half, cream, and vanilla. Pour into punch bowl. Add ginger ale while stirring slowly. Scoop ice cream into punch.

Personal Mug of Instant Eggnog

1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
8 ounces milk
4 ounces shaved ice in tall glass
Whipped Cream
Nutmeg
(You can add a splash of whiskey, if desired)

Combine egg, sugar, and milk; beat until smooth. Pour into a glass over shaved ice. Cover glass and shake well. Strain into mug. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Best Friend – Marilyn sang that diamonds are… And these ‘little’ sparklers will be a perfect gift for your significant other.
Hochberg Jewelers
Trumbull

www.hochbergjewelers.com

Thanks for the memories…

‘Home of Happy Dancers’
a new book about the Ritz Ballroom,
will bring back thoughts of the good ol’ days to those who lived it or
to those who heard about the Ritz from their parents.

www.home-of-happy-dancers.com

A very good year…
Hand-crafted from grapes grown on the family farm,
Jamie Jones’ wines have garnered top awards. A gift basket of these fine  wines will be especially appreciated by those who support CT Grown.
Philip Jamison Jones Winery

Shelton  www.JONESFAMILYFARM.COM

Pampered –
The holiday stress will melt away,
and that lucky ‘someone’ will think
they have gone to heaven after only a few minutes of massage.
It’s even perfect for Santa’s helper.
Massage Works!
Bridgeport
(203) 374-6000

Good little girl & boy land –Hot new toys for the little ones include the ‘Squishable’ and the loveable ‘Wahoo’ that all little kids will love to ride.  There’s also a smaller version you can send in the mail without packing.  Just write the address on the body, stamp it  and drop in the mailbox.
The Toy Room Bethel  ww.thetoyroomonline.com

Coffee, mate –
For a friend at the office or as a stocking stuffer,these gourmet blends can be purchased individually
or in a gift sampler.
Redding Roasters Coffee Company
Bethel

www.reddingroasters.com

Bicycles built for…

Recreational or professional cyclists will find all the gear
they need to enhance the sport.  From helmets to reflective clothing
to top-of-the-line bikes for every level of rider, you’ll also get
some expert advise from the owner 6-time All American and
national duathlon champion,

Greg Pelican.                        Bethel Cycle, Bethel www.bethelcycle.com

Preferred clients and special friends –
Will be impressed when you gift them with a 3, 6, or 12 bottle gift box of wine – chosen by a wine selection specialist. Knowledgeable about the world’s great vineyards, The specialist will do his/her best to match the wine to the palate of the recipient.
Grapes
Norwalk

www.grapeswine.com

For the outdoor sportsman,

Who loves to shoot skeet or trap,
or the indoor marksman who loves
the challenge of the target,
a wide variety of cases for rifles and guns  and everything the enthusiast needs to keep their arms in top shape.
Connecticut Gun Exchange
Monroe www.ctgunexchange.com

Home brewers rejoice –
Tess & Mark have written 3 books
that will take the do-it-yourselfers step-by-step into the world of beer brewing.  And their store, the largest in CT, offers all the ingredients to create your own or a clone of your favorite. And don’t forget the winemakers, everything needed To make the ‘juice of the grape’ is under this roof –
Including the grapes.

Maltose Express Monroe                www.maltose.com

Hostess with the mostest –
Will thank you for these beautifully crafted
cheese knives – or a set of classic stemware –
perfect for holiday celebrations.
P.J.’s Garden Exchange
Trumbull

www.pjsgardenexchange.com

How does your garden grow?
Gardens and lawns will be impeccable if the right equipment is in the shed. A line-trimmer, tiller, chain saw or lawnmower/
tractor (or any of the attachments) will have a place of honor under the tree.
L&R Power Equipment
Monroe

www.landrpowerequipment.com

Red, White & Sparkling –
Festive occasions call for a superb vintage.  And bringing the right wine to the party or sending an outstanding selection to a business associate will leave you in good standing. Wine specialists are ready to help you to choose the perfect gift.
GlenRo Spirit Shoppe

Monroe   www.glenroct.com

Near & Far –
Whether your friends will be home for the holidays or not, a wide assortment of gifts, floral arrangements and plants are just right for giving.  And your selection will let them know that they are in your thoughts at this special time of the year.
Alice’s Flower Shop & A Country Touch Gifts
Bethel

www.alicesflowershop.com

Don’t go empty-handed –
To the holiday bash.  Homemade cakes, pastries and cookies Will let your host know how much you appreciate sharing the holiday spirit with friends.

Jennie’s
Monroe

www.jenniespizzeria.com

There is always a visual reaction when someone first enters a room. The reaction can be very calm and subdued, very strong and dramatic, or totally absent. Sometimes rooms are designed and decorated with these reactions in mind. Very often, however, the reaction desired is a balance of comfort and focus – drawing the eye to a certain feature without overdoing the effect. This is accomplished by creating a focal point in the room that draws the eye as well as complements the surroundings.

There are several ways to create an effective focal point in a room. One of the most popular (and obvious) is a fireplace. Even if a fireplace was not originally built into the room, you can add a free-standing electric or gas fireplace against a suitable wall. If the fireplace does not have a mantle, you can add one. A large framed mirror or framed artwork can be hung above it, or the walls themselves above and surrounding the fireplace can be framed and painted white or with an attractive color that somewhat contrasts, yet complements, the other colors in the room (as well as the fireplace itself).

Another way to create a focal point is to paint one wall in the room with a deep, rich color that brings out the color accents of the furniture, floor, rug, and remaining walls. The wall can be decorated with framed artwork, an interesting wall clock or a beautiful tapestry. The wall can also be highlighted by centering a console against it with a small- to medium-sized lamp, small sculpture, and table clock.

In most bedrooms, the bed itself is usually the focal point. A striking headboard (with or without footboard) and attractive linens, color coordinated with the wall colors, is usually enough to draw the eye. If the room is large enough, a small sitting area with chairs, end tables with small coordinated lamps, and an interesting rug centered in the area can become the focus of the room.

In some homes, the view through a large window can make that particular window the focal point of the room. Windows as focal points can present a decorating dilemma. Should the window have blinds and/or drapes; or should it simply be nicely framed and painted and left without other treatments so that the view can be enjoyed to its fullest without distraction? It really depends on the window itself and the preference of the homeowner. If you do decide to use window treatments on a ‘window with a view,’ just be careful that the treatments do not draw the eye away from the actual view. If the treatments overwhelm the window, the focal point created by the view will be lost. If the window is of an attractive architectural design or unusual shape, it can be left treatment-free and will actually enhance the attraction.

Creating an effective focal point in a room will elicit a positive visual reaction from all who enter the room. It will deliberately draw the eye as they enter the room, creating a balance of comfort and focus that allows them to enjoy the atmosphere you imagined and created.

All will agree that farming is a hard lifestyle.  Farmers work 7 days a week, from sunrise to sunset, in good and bad weather.  Not too many people are willing to make that commitment.

It takes someone who genuinely loves the land and the legacy of the family farm.

During the summer months, many farms open stands or stores in a barn or shed; or they bring their vegetables and fruits to Farmers’ Markets.  By purchasing produce from local farmers, not only are you getting the freshest of crops – picked that very morning; but you are also supporting the farms’ continuation as part of the Fairfield County landscape.

Until next month,

Michael Hoffman

Publisher

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