Blog Posts by Country Living

Long live lawn games! These midcentury pastimes - from putt-putt to horseshoes - turn any yard into a full-on fun house, and any picnic into a party. These lighthearted, postwar suburban pursuits usually sell for $10 to $100 on auction sites like eBay (which is where we found all the vintage games here). "People are sentimental about what they played with as kids," says Joyce Grant of TimeWarpToys.com, which sells vintage toys. "And since these older sets were made so well, they last."


Horseshoes
While themed versions - with bases featuring images of Superman or the Lone Ranger - often command upwards of $150, this sweet and simple 1950s plastic pitching paraphernalia gets game day started for just $20.

Try these kid-friendly meals the whole family will enjoy.


Mini-Golf
This 1950s putt-putt set by Remco includes nine playful, painted wood obstacles--from the clown, lighthouse, and dachshund shown here to a pink elephant and storybook castle. Expect to pay up to $175 for a game in

Now is the time for weekend picnics, beach cookouts, and outdoor parties. It's also the time when farm-fresh fruits and vegetables fill the springtime markets, and the perfect time to start cooking. We've got some tips for choosing and cooking with fresh fruits and veggies.


To let the freshest fruits and vegetables star in your dishes, be flexible about the ingredients.

To Try: Chicken with Fresh Peas and Sparkling Wine; kernels cut from just-picked corn will add a crisp, sweet note to this casserole.





Since fresh produce has so much flavor, let it shine by keeping it simple; the added bonus here is that you are spending less time in the kitchen on hot days.

To Try: Luscious strawberries and creamy avocado mingle in a honeyed lemon dressing to create this simple and elegant Avocado and Strawberries salad.




Summerize creamed spinach by substituting milk for some heavy cream, and add a little zip with lemon juice and zest. When using fresh spinach, the key to success lies in soaking it

Looking to keep the kids busy this summer? These colorful (and useful!) craft projects are the way to go. Many of these ideas involve simple supplies - fabric, ribbons, thread, hot glue - and they're easy enough that kids can do a big part. Not only will you have fun collaborating, but you'll end up with a few creative new additions to your home.




Erasers
Spruce up your dull rubber erasers and even create adorable dry erase board erasers with this super-simple project. Glue scraps of vintage fabric, wallpaper, and old ads to the backs of standard erasers for retro appeal. Cheerful children's blocks are reinvented as erasers simply by gluing a piece of felt to one side.
Check Out 25 More Creative DIY Projects





Floral Favors If you're hosting a family gathering or dinner party with friends, this is the perfect project to leave for the kids. If you're fortunate enough to have a family garden, let the kids choose a few sweet flowers or swing by the supermarket for a few small bouquets.

Spicy, piquant, and fragrant, almost nothing evokes summer like fresh-picked herbs. We caught up with Lee Murphy, proprietor of Vista D'oro herb farm in Langley, British Columbia. Murphy, who manages the farm's catering business, specialty foods line, and cooking school, gave us some tips on cooking with fresh herbs.

Beautify your garden by planting herbs.

Herb Oils
Green-stemmed herbs such as basil and parsley can go straight into the food processor after being washed and patted dry. For woody-stemmed herbs such as thyme and rosemary, strip the leaves first.

For a robust mix, pair olive oil (extra virgin cold first press) with strong flavors such as basil and rosemary. Choose a neutral oil such as grapeseed to bring subtle-flavored herbs to the fore, or for a complex, heady medley, blend a nut oil such as pistachio with mint or walnut oil with sage.

Vintage or recycled bottles add a decorative touch and make nice gifts (8-ounce sizes are best). Sterilize before filling by running

Show Mom how much you love her with a handmade gift straight from the heart. Here are 5 of our favorites, but you can find 8 more craft ideas here.






Ribbon Vase Cluster pink peonies and tulips, red roses, and chartreuse verbena in an oversized square vase wrapped in striped and polka-dotted ribbons. Hot-glue the backs of the ribbons and adhere them to the vase (or substitute heavy-duty double-faced tape).
Learn Tricks for Arranging Flowers Like a Pro







Carryall Bag
This handy pouch can double as a laundry bag or a safe place to stash delicates when traveling. Or fill it with knitting supplies - needles and yarn fit neatly inside.

1. Line up two bandannas with the right sides facing in.

2. Sew together along bottom and sides, leaving 3 inches open on one side for drawstring casing.

3. Fold over casing and stitch at bottom edge (the hem should be roughly 1 1/2 inches).

4. Use a closed safety pin to help thread the ribbon through the casing.

5. Turn the finished bag right side out.

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When tea is served to friends in a lovely corner of the yard or garden, something enchanting happens. Women's voices ring in May breezes. There is laughter. And in the dappled sunlight, at a table set with favorite china, delicate confections, and tea sandwiches, affections are renewed. In celebration of mothers - and all the special women in your life - host an outdoor tea party in your own backyard.

Pastel Table
Fanciful, intimate, and simple to prepare, a tea party is a party like no other. Set the scene with fragrant branches of lilacs and vintage china adorned with English rose motifs. Floral-print napkins, tiered serving pieces, and a dash of pastel-colored sugar all add a touch of romantic grandeur. And a chandelier hanging from a tree branch lends the affair sophisticated charm. If you're looking to throw a larger outdoor affair, consider a garden party.

Colorful Spread
Colorful table settings, such as garden roses, lupines, peonies, and lilacs, set the scene, as do lush

Spring has us thinking about all the glorious buds that are popping up, and how much fun it is to infuse the home with them. But what to do if arranging flowers is not your forte? We checked in with the floral designers at Manhattan's Flower School New York and got their top tricks. (You won't believe what they do with tulips!)

Try these adorable spring crafts


Use Branches
Why bother with floral foam or marbles when the best arranging tool is right in your backyard? "You can use tree branches to form a backbone that will support more delicate stems," says florist Felipe Sastre. Here, Sastre crisscrossed six pear boughs and wove in hydrangea and lisianthus, as well as lady's mantle. If your branches are alive and leafy like these, scrape the bottoms, then split them up the center a couple of inches to aid water absorption.

Use nature to help you decorate your next outdoor party

Just Add Bleach
No flower food? No problem. "You can put a few drops of Clorox in the water as an

It's fun to take on a craft project, especially when you can put it to good use once you've finished! We've gathered a few of our favorite easy projects that help you organize around your home. Check out 8 more ideas here.





Storage Shelf: Jelly jars attached to a shelf provide extra storage space and a splash of color when filled with bright craft and office supplies.
Get the Instructions

Don't Miss Our Fun and Fresh Crafts for Spring






Magnetic Message Board: Turn a large frame into a chic message board for a bedroom or home office. You will need a large frame, zinc-coated steel (aluminum and stainless steel will not hold magnets), particle board, and fabric.
Learn How to Make a Message Board

Discover a New Way to Reuse Mismatched China






Shoebox Cord Keeper: Recharge your portable electronics - cell phone, iPod, BlackBerry, PDA - without getting your wires crossed. By repurposing a low-tech shoebox, you can organize and safeguard your high-tech accessories.
Try These Step-by-Step