By Sandra Hutchinson
Last Sunday, as my husband was walking out of the house to head downtown to our office, I told him I thought I’d make a fire in our fireplace. He hesitated, and said, “Maybe I should make it for you.”
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Yearly Archives: 2016
Should your dog wear a winter coat?
By Sandra Hutchinson
When the mercury outside begins to drop, my thoughts turn to couture — canine couture, that is.
Some people may think it’s ridiculous to dress a dog in a coat or sweater, but as it turns out, there are sometimes very good reasons for doing so.
Our two Wheaten Terriers don’t seem to mind wearing their L. L. Bean field coats with plaid flannel lining. There’s even a pouch on the back to hold treats! As a bonus, the human can wear a matching field coat.
Fear of falling firs
By Sandra Hutchinson
By this time, less than a week before Christmas, most people who are going to have a Christmas tree in their home have already set it up and decorated it. But if you are one of those folks who follow the Old World tradition of not putting the tree up until Christmas Eve, or if you’ve had a disaster befall you similar to the one I’m about to describe, I would like to offer some hard-earned advice on the importance of an extra-sturdy, heavy-duty tree stand.
2016 Christmas tree at New York Public Library’s main branch, Fifth Avenue, NYC—undoubtedly securely anchored!
27 hours in Manhattan — Hamilton!, holiday windows, Pooh bear, Bemelmans Bar and more!
By Sandra Hutchinson
Ten months after finally securing much-coveted tickets to the Broadway smash hit Hamilton, my husband and I finally got to see it last Wednesday evening. We tried to make the most of our short time in the city. Here’s an overview:
1. Hamilton! Does the hip hop historical musical live up to its hype? Yes it does. It’s a work of genius by Lin-Manuel Miranda about the life of Alexander Hamilton (based on Ron Chernow’s biography). Hamilton, of course, was one of the founding fathers, and was General George Washington’s chief aide during the American Revolution. Hamilton was key in the development of the Constitution, principal author of the Federalist papers that helped it win ratification, and the first U. S. Secretary of the Treasury.
Hamilton cast after final bows. In front, with arm extended, is Javier Munoz, as Alexander Hamilton.
Turkey talk—heritage Narragansett Red or modern Jaindl?
We decided to try something new this year for Thanksgiving dinner. We ordered a locally-raised “heritage” turkey— a Narragansett Red, to be exact, raised in southern Washington County.
The heritage Narragansett turkey after roasting
Thanksgiving dinner: the mother of all menus
By Sandra Hutchinson
I’d bet that nearly everyone reading this can recite, item by item, every single dish served at their family’s Thanksgiving table while growing up. The Thanksgiving menu is pretty much inviolate. Even the slightest change is noticed by all. I think I still remember the year my mother started adding apples to her stuffing.
Getting the place cards ready—Pilgrims ready to be labeled, along with their flock! The turkey cards are from Caspari. (See my post from 8/16/16 about Caspari.)
Post-election therapy: Watch ‘The Crown’ on Netflix!
By Sandra J. Hutchinson
One thing that has saved my sanity during election week came from an unexpected place—the online streaming platform Netflix. When I had had enough of Anderson, Megyn and all their ilk, I could go to my Roku and disappear in to the intrigue of 20th century British monarchy.
Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II; John Lithgow as Winston Churchill; Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret; Matt Smith as Prince Philip
On November 4, Netflix released the first season of The Crown, a biographical epic of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest ever reigning English monarch. I had never “binge-watched” anything until getting hooked on The Crown. I just couldn’t get enough of it.
My quest: finding the perfect paint color
By Sandra J. Hutchinson
This story originally appeared in The Chronicle’s 2016 Summer Home issue.
I’m a woman on a mission — to find the right paint color for my kitchen cabinets. They’ve been a rich, barn red for about 13 years now, and I’m ready to lighten them up.
This endeavor — nay, obsession — has me poring over color charts, paint strips, paint chips, pictures in magazines and books, and wooden boards that have been painted as samples showing what a particular color would look like on a raised panel door, in my kitchen.
Chronicle Classic Photos: 1980-2016
By Sandra J. Hutchinson
I may be just a tad biased, but I think the current exhibit at the Chapman Historical Museum in Glens Falls is a MUST SEE.
The exhibit, which opened October 27, features nearly 100 photos from The Chronicle’s over 36 years of publication — images that illustrate intriguing human interest stories and community events that have defined recent decades. There are many familiar faces and photos of major events that have taken place in our region. The exhibit also includes some of the infamous April Fools front pages (remember the bridge across Lake George?).
Here’s one of the signature photos, taken by me, while aloft at the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival.
The dragon’s view at the Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival
A visit to Rockwell Museum & lunch at Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, Mass.
Although my husband and I have been in Stockbridge, Mass., many times, we never made a point of visiting the Norman Rockwell Museum there until this September. We both enjoyed the museum so much that we wondered out loud why it had taken us so long to get there.
Exterior of the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Mass.
We also had an excellent lunch at the Red Lion Inn, the classic New England lodging in the center of town.
Sandra's Town & Country 