A Christmas Story Told in Keepsakes - Landon McAFee

Landon McAfee is a creative soul from West Tennessee, stitched together from threads of nostalgia, imagination, and a deep love for all things vintage. He’s been a collector since childhood—long before he could explain why he loved certain objects, he was filling his room with pinecones, old thermoses, and anything that felt like it carried a story.

Christmas has always been Landon’s season. Bright, cheerful, and wonderfully sentimental, it brings old memories to the surface like ornaments rising from a dusty box. To him, the holidays are about joy, generosity, and tiny traditions that turn into lifelong magic. His advice for the season is simple: savor it all—every sparkle, every laugh, every moment that feels like it belongs in a snow globe.

One tradition nearly everyone shares is decorating for Christmas, and Landon believes a home should be a treasury of the heart. Reds, greens, and beloved keepsakes fill a space with meaning, and his top tip is to keep what you love—even if it’s out of style or slightly peculiar. A home should look like you, and nothing is more charming than a collection of pieces tied to memory.

Among all the things he’s found over the years, one of Landon’s most cherished discoveries is an ornament he uncovered while going through his grandmother’s belongings: a vintage Hallmark Winnebago camper he remembered hanging on her tree every Christmas. Now, it hangs proudly on his own tree, a tiny time machine that brings him back to her famously warm, 100-degree living room and the laughter shared there.

Though many of his childhood traditions now live in memory, one remains especially dear: as a family, they would drag out every ornament they owned and tell the stories behind each one as they decorated the tree—Home Alone playing faithfully in the background. His family still watches the movie together each year, a ritual that instantly brings him back to those magical moments of Christmases past.

A Handmade Christmas: Slices of Sunshine & Stories

There’s something quietly magical about Christmastime—the way the world slows down just enough for us to notice the small things. The scent of clove and citrus lingering in the kitchen. The way a single ornament can hold an entire memory. The soft glow of traditions passed through hands before ours.

This year, the heart of the season feels stitched together in the most simple, beautiful way: by drying orange slices in the oven—tiny suns you can hang on your tree, string across your mantle, or tie to a handmade gift. There’s a sweetness in making something so old-fashioned and simple, something our grandmothers might’ve done without even thinking, filling their homes with warmth and the scent of winter fruit.

As the oranges dry, the house hums with that cozy holiday magic—like time itself slows to watch. It’s a small ritual, but one that feels grounding, nostalgic, and wonderfully human. Handmade decorations remind us that Christmas doesn’t have to be perfect or polished; it needs to be felt. And nothing feels more heartfelt than a tree dressed in something you made with your own hands.

How to Make Oven-Dried Orange Slices (For Garlands, Ornaments, & Magic)

You’ll need:

– 3–5 oranges (any kind)

– A sharp knife

– Paper towels

– Baking sheet + parchment paper

– A bit of patience and holiday spirit

1. Slice the oranges.

Cut them into thin slices—about 1/8–1/4 inch. Thinner slices dry faster and become more translucent, like stained-glass sunshine.

2. Pat them dry.

Use a paper towel to blot away extra juice. The more moisture removed now, the faster they’ll dry.

3. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Give them a little space—no overlapping slices. They need room to breathe.

4. Bake low & slow.

Pop them in the oven at 200°F (93°C).

Bake for 3–4 hours, flipping every hour to keep them from curling.

They’re ready when:

– the flesh looks dry

– the edges feel firm

– no visible moisture sits on the surface

5. Cool completely.

This lets them finish drying and become beautifully translucent.

6. Decorate!

Use twine, ribbon, or wire to turn them into:

– ornaments

– garlands

– gift toppers

– simmer-pot ingredients

– wreath accents

– table setting magic

Add cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, cranberries, or star anise if you want your décor to smell like the coziest Christmas kitchen.

A Little Christmas Thought to Tie It All Together:

Drying oranges isn’t just a craft—it’s a pause, a breath, a soft reminder that handmade things carry heart. When you decorate with pieces you’ve touched, created, laughed over, and waited for, your home becomes more than festive—it becomes yours. Warm, imperfect, and filled with stories.

Amish Friendship Bread

A recipe that travels the world one kitchen, one friendship at a time.

Some recipes arrive quietly in your life, tucked into an envelope or handed over with a shy smile—no fanfare, no rules, just a promise. Amish Friendship Bread is one of them. It’s the kind of tradition that doesn’t belong to any one person; it belongs to the circle. It carries the soft nostalgia of kitchens warmed by ovens, the sound of wooden spoons scraping bowls, and the simple affection of “I made this for you.”

This story begins with a bag of batter—elegantly humble, slightly mysterious, and already alive. Someone trusted you with it, the way people trust you with small pieces of their heart. And now the care becomes yours.

The Starter (Day 1–10)

The beginning always feels slow—like tending something you forget is living until you see the bubbles rise.

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup milk (room temperature)

Directions

1. Combine the flour, sugar, and milk in a non-metal bowl. Stir with a wooden or plastic spoon.

2. Transfer the mixture to a large zip-top bag or keep it in the bowl loosely covered.

Days 2–5

Give the bag a gentle squeeze once a day. Nothing dramatic—just enough to remind it you’re still here.

Day 6

Feed your starter:

• Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk.
  Stir or squeeze to combine.

Days 7–9

Keep tending. A simple daily mash is enough.

Day 10 – The Sharing Day

This is where the tradition breathes.

Feed the starter again with:

• 1 cup flour

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup milk

Then divide the batch into 4 equal portions (about 1 cup each).

• Keep 1 cup for yourself to bake with.

• Gift the other 3 to friends, neighbors, or anyone who feels like they could use something warm and homemade handed to them.

And now your kitchen becomes part of someone else’s story.

The Bread

Soft, sweet, cinnamon-dusted comfort—like a hug baked into a loaf.

Ingredients

• 1 cup Amish Friendship starter

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup flour

• 1 cup milk

• 3 large eggs

• 1 cup neutral oil

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 ½ tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 1–2 tsp cinnamon (your call on how cozy you want it)

• Optionals: 1 small box instant vanilla pudding, chopped nuts, mini chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease two loaf pans.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. The batter should smell sweet and familiar, like something your grandmother might have made on a quiet weekday afternoon.

3. Pour into pans.

4. Bake for 45–60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

5. Cool just long enough that slicing doesn’t steam your fingers. Enjoy warm if you can—it hits different.

A Little Story to Attach When You Give It Away

“This starter has a bit of a journey behind it—passed from one kitchen to another, from someone who needed comfort to someone who needed something to look forward to. Now it’s yours. Feed it, keep it, bake with it, pass it on. Recipes like this aren’t meant to stay still. They’re meant to travel, to warm homes one loaf at a time.”

Jennifer and Richard Lanne - Ballston Spa, New York

Growing up in upstate New York, Richard Lanne, Jr. dreamed of living off the land. His childhood was full of adventures he recorded in many notebooks, documenting the fleeting knowledge of the land and being able to do for oneself that he learned from the many scoutmasters and old timers that passed through his world. He grew up in a story akin to the Foxfire books of old. He spent much of his youth learning how to forage, trap, hunt, build, and forge his future.

In 2002 Richard and his wife Jennifer, a painter, moved to Ballston Spa, New York to a historic farm property once owned by an exiled Scot named Agnus McDearmid. The home was in fair shape when the two moved, but they were looking for a fixer-upper and the 1779 farmhouse was just what they were looking for. For both Jennifer and Richard, the most important part of finding a home was that it be historic and original. “So many historic homes in the area were gutted somewhere between 1970-1990 and completely remodeled,” says Jennifer, “but this one had the original floors and low ceilings we wanted.”

Today, over two decades later the house and property feels almost like a timepiece to an earlier era. The house, Jennifer’s studio in the equally old barn, and a blacksmith’s forge used by Richard in a former smoke house, feel cozy and eclectic. The spaces have been filled with handmade pieces and early American antiques. Jennifer’s extensive collections fill each of the rooms and cause visitors to slow down and study each room at length. 

Jennifer’s studio, a rambling space spread across two floors of the old barn feels like a mix of the very old, the old, and the new. A disco ball hangs perfectly at home next to salvaged early wood finds, and paintings created by Jennifer. 

The home feels especially cozy during the winter months. Richard lights a fire in the oversized hearth in the front room and the fire can be heard crackling throughout the house. Richard and Jennifer have done much of the work on the property themselves over the past two decades. Jennifer, speaking of Richard’s skills “He can really make anything, and that came in handy when we bought this farm,” say Jen. “Anytime we needed a bracket for a door he was able to forge it, he really does know how to make just about anything. If he doesn’t he teaches himself.”

When asked why they love the old home Jennifer, with a laugh responds “we love the character of the place.”

The house stand as an authentic example of a classic American farmhouse, one that was built for practicality and function, one that has stood for centuries and will continue to live on for many more to come. 

Italian Cream Cake

As a child this was the fancy cake that would be prepared for church gatherings, funeral dinners, of the Ashby Christmas. This cake was one that intimidated me as a child and it took me many years before I desired to master it. In reality it is a very easy and delicious cake, sure to always be a crowd pleasure and one that feels instantly nostalgic. 

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup oil

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup shredded coconut 

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups sugar

5 egg yolks

5 egg whites (stiffly beaten)

1 cup buttermilk

1 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream butter and oil with sugar, add egg yolks one at a time. Add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda to buttermilk, add to previous mixture alternating with flour. Fold in egg whites and vanilla. Add pecans and coconut. Pour into three eight inch greased cake rounds. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Icing

1 cup butter

1 pound powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

8 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup shredded coconut 

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Cream butter and softened cream cheese, add sugar and vanilla. Fold in nuts and coconut. Ice well cooled cake.

Winter Garden

The days grow short, the mornings are covered in crisp sharp frost that refracts and reflects the blueish early to mid morning light. The land is at rest. The season is one of nostalgia for me. The season feels like a time for Christmas, for the smell of hickory nut pies, for time spent indoors with the Saturday morning cartoons, and awaiting the fall of snow. The garden in this season is oftentimes an after thought, but it is a time for ordering seeds, for dreaming of the season ahead, and for clearing the remains of the previous season, and for enjoying the produce you’ve put back from the summer and autumn gardens. On a good year my cellar will be filled with pumpkins, picked from my own vines in late September, used for autumn decorating, and later put in the cellar to be saved for winter time pumpkin pies and pumpkin soup, a dish I am frequently requested to make. 

Planning well in the winter will ensure a well filled larder and cellar the following winter. Use these days and hours spent inside rather than tending to the garden to order seeds, to take notes on what you enjoyed about the previous garden, and what you dream of for the year head. Seeds are best ordered from a catalog, to stay true to nostalgia, and should be ordered early to ensure the desired varieties are not sold out. Use this time to read almanacs and books that were written by experts on developing the most wonderful and practical gardens. Martha Stewart’s Gardening book is the best resource I have found for planning a garden. 

The winter is also a fun time to craft with dried gourds, okra pods, and corn shucks from the summer months. Allow your mind to wander back in time and to create crafts that feel made by hand. Keeping an active body and mind during the winter months will be beneficial for being prepared for the grueling spring planting in the season ahead. 

Like in everything in life rest is required. The winter allows the garden and the gardener to rest.

Pea Picking Cake

This is my very favorite cake. When I was a child Aunt June would make this cake every summer. It has a freshness that is perfect for the summer heat. Over the years it has become that cake that my friends request most often. I love a cake that starts as a box cake mix. This allows you to whip up a cake at any moment. My pantry is always stocked with a dozen yellow cake mixes and the ingredients to easily pull together a variety of cakes on a moments notice. 

1 box yellow cake mix

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 11 ounce can of mandarin oranges

Beat all ingredients for three minutes and bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes in three eight inch well-greased cake rounds. Let cake cool completely. 

Icing

1 15 ounce can of crushed pineapple 

1 box Jello instant vanilla pudding mix

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups whipped cream

Mix pineapple (along with juice), pudding mix, and vanilla together. Fold in whipped cream. Ice well cooled cake. Best served cold.

Sterrekopje Farm

Tucked into the soft foothills of South Africa’s Franschhoek mountains, Sterrekopje Farm is a 50-hectare sanctuary where the wild world leads the way. Here, luxury isn’t loud — it’s the quiet joy of dirt under your nails, bread rising in the oven, horses greeting you at sunrise. It’s long breaths, slow days, and remembering what it feels like to belong to the land.

This is a working farm — alive, growing, healing. Regenerative practices nourish soil and soul alike, while ancient wisdom and modern creativity weave through every experience. Seasonal food, herbcraft, rituals, the very architecture — everything moves with nature’s rhythms, inviting you to do the same.

Over the past three years, partners in both life and purpose, Fleur Huijskens and Nicole Boekhoorn, have brought Sterrekopje’s ancestral grounds back into vibrant abundance. What has emerged is not a hotel, not quite a retreat — but a living ecosystem. A home. A community. A place where travelers arrive as guests and depart as part of the story.

Stay

Eleven sanctuaries — each a cocoon of calm — welcome you with botanical hues, hand-crafted textures and artworks grown from the land itself. Designed by Gregory Mellor with Nicole Boekhoorn, every space feels rooted and replenishing. Float in the saltwater pool, dive into the lake, wander barefoot from warm sun to the grounding rituals of the Bath House.

Rest

Across The Bath House, The Apothecary, The Yurt and The Soul Shed, a circle of holistic practitioners hold space for rest that goes deeper than sleep. Treatments draw on biodynamic principles and herbal medicine, tuning you back to the body’s quiet wisdom — the kind that only emerges when we finally, truly, slow down.

Grow

Seasonal retreats open doors into connection — with yourself, the earth and each other. From women’s gatherings to “Gardening as a Creative Act” alongside landscape designer Leon Kluge, these experiences encourage shared learning, stewardship and wonder. Think seed saving, soil tending, herbalism and artistry — all led by the turning of the seasons.

Play

In The Atelier, creativity becomes a form of renewal. Hands shape clay, pigments swirl, flowers press — imagination takes root again. With materials gathered from the farm, making becomes meditative, joyful and a celebration of nature’s gifts.

At Sterrekopje, you’re invited not just to visit — but to return. To land. To creativity. To ritual. To source. To yourself.

Book it: Rates start from 18,000 ZAR including all nourishing meals and beverages. sterrekopje.com

Sterrekopje Farm

Tucked into the soft foothills of South Africa’s Franschhoek mountains, Sterrekopje Farm is a 50-hectare sanctuary where the wild world leads the way. Here, luxury isn’t loud — it’s the quiet joy of dirt under your nails, bread rising in the oven, horses greeting you at sunrise. It’s long breaths, slow days, and remembering what it feels like to belong to the land.

This is a working farm — alive, growing, healing. Regenerative practices nourish soil and soul alike, while ancient wisdom and modern creativity weave through every experience. Seasonal food, herbcraft, rituals, the very architecture — everything moves with nature’s rhythms, inviting you to do the same.

Over the past three years, partners in both life and purpose, Fleur Huijskens and Nicole Boekhoorn, have brought Sterrekopje’s ancestral grounds back into vibrant abundance. What has emerged is not a hotel, not quite a retreat — but a living ecosystem. A home. A community. A place where travelers arrive as guests and depart as part of the story.

Stay

Eleven sanctuaries — each a cocoon of calm — welcome you with botanical hues, hand-crafted textures and artworks grown from the land itself. Designed by Gregory Mellor with Nicole Boekhoorn, every space feels rooted and replenishing. Float in the saltwater pool, dive into the lake, wander barefoot from warm sun to the grounding rituals of the Bath Hou

Rest

Across The Bath House, The Apothecary, The Yurt and The Soul Shed, a circle of holistic practitioners hold space for rest that goes deeper than sleep. Treatments draw on biodynamic principles and herbal medicine, tuning you back to the body’s quiet wisdom — the kind that only emerges when we finally, truly, slow down.

Grow

Seasonal retreats open doors into connection — with yourself, the earth and each other. From women’s gatherings to “Gardening as a Creative Act” alongside landscape designer Leon Kluge, these experiences encourage shared learning, stewardship and wonder. Think seed saving, soil tending, herbalism and artistry — all led by the turning of the seasons.

Grow

Seasonal retreats open doors into connection — with yourself, the earth and each other. From women’s gatherings to “Gardening as a Creative Act” alongside landscape designer Leon Kluge, these experiences encourage shared learning, stewardship and wonder. Think seed saving, soil tending, herbalism and artistry — all led by the turning of the seasons.

At Sterrekopje, you’re invited not just to visit — but to return.To land. To creativity. To ritual. To source. To yourself.

Book it: Rates start from 18,000 ZAR including all nourishing meals and beverages. sterrekopje.com

Kaleb Wyse -Iowa

The fields of Iowa have a way of growing without limits, stretching to the horizon and beyond. East to west, north to south the rows of corn and beans feel eternal. Life out there on what was once the plains and prairie feels timeless in a way. The farms transition from one generation to the next as the combines and machinery get bigger and the passage of time is marked by ever increasing horsepower and hybrid varieties of grain that will feed the world. Kaleb Wyse grew up right here in the middle of it all…a family farm that stretches to the horizon and that is bisected by the straight as a crow flies roads. 

For Kaleb home is a house that was built in the 1880s and was originally built with victorian details. Those original details were taken down in the mid 1900’s, and now that gives the house more of an American four-square appeal. His grandparents purchased the home and farm as a place for his parents to move into once they married. When his dad was ready to take over the farm, his grandparents and parents swapped houses so his parents could live at the generational farmhouse. 

Kaleb purchased the Home from his grandparents when they chose to move into something smaller. He says he has always felt connected to the family farms. “I feel a sense of belonging living in homes that past generations of family have lived and worked.”

“I restored the main floor with some original details. I matched all the woodwork to the original second floor pieces. I opened some doorways to make the flow better and updated the kitchen but kept the heart of an old house in the design. Cresting a story of what could have been there all along.” To almost anyone else this is the middle of nowhere, but for Kaleb this is the place that feels most like home. His father passed away in 2004 and he says he feels connected to what his father loved and where he loved to work on the farm. 

“I have collecting in my blood. I am constantly finding pieces that tell the story of what I love. I look for items that are timeless. They could have been in the house originally and been used daily, Like yellow ware pottery. I love the create a home that feels like it has stories to tell, like the items in the home have lived with the house. I have no rhyme or reason but choose what makes me happy. If I fall in love with it I know I will find a place for it.”

Jen and Micah O’Connor - Warwick, New York

2002 Jen and Micah O’Connor felt the call to head out of New York City, a place Jen had always called home, and move to Micah’s hometown in the Hudson Valley. Warwick, an idealic pre-Revolution town about an hour of north of New York City, just west of the mighty Hudson River, and in the foothills of the Catskill mountains seems like a community out of a story book. A bustling downtown, a thriving agriculture community, and an era rich with culture and history have long made Warwick a place for people ready to leave the city to plant roots, start a family, and to not feel like they’re too far from New York City. 

For Jen and Micah this truly was a family affair, over the years much of Jen’s family have also made their way up from the city and now live in or near Warwick. You’ll almost always see the O’Connors and their three children taking part in local parades, festivals, and homecoming celebrations. These former big city folks have eagerly jumped in to living a small town life. 

Jen an urban planner turned art dealer, writer, and business consultant has raised three children while running a business from the dining room table for the past two decades in a house that started as a cookie cutter suburban 1990s build and has transformed it into a home that is filled with an extensive collection of female made art and folk art, and collections of antiques and relics that would easily be enough to fill a museum. The property, much like the Lanne’s home two hours north, has cabinets, shelves, and rooms filled with the most fascinating of curations. 

Many of the most fascinating art pieces in the house have been created by friends of the O’Connors. Jen has made it a subtle point to only have original works throughout her house. She often jokes that her walls are a constantly rotating gallery of her Earth Angels Studios art inventory. Each piece comes with it a story of who created the work and how their paths intertwine with the owners of this house. 

Jen’s mother, Rosie, was a well-known antique dealer in New York City, often revered as a source for Americana, a reputation she passed on to her daughter over the years. O’Connor also inherited a skill of collecting en mass. Never afraid of investing in things she finds unique and worth sharing the house often times feels like a primer in various eras of collecting. Throughout the house you’ll find torque pottery or glass cake stands, or transfer ware tucked into corners, beneath the cupboards, and most likely under the beds. 

Chocolate Banana Bread - Jen O’Connor

This recipe is from my friend . Whenever you go to her house she always has this bread freshly baked and under a cake dome on her kitchen counter. It is a dessert that can easily be served at breakfast. This recipe will make two 8/9 inch cast iron skillets or one Bundt pan. If using Bundt pan coat will with baking spray, this cake tends to stick. 

2 sticks + 3 Tbsp butter* 

3 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder 

½ tsp salt

3 super ripe medium bananas (MUST BE previously frozen and thawed)

4 tsp lemon juice

3 tsp pure vanilla extract

2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup chocolate chips

1. Place rack in center of oven; heat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Drop 3 Tbsp butter into skillet, set in oven to melt as oven heats (you want it very hot and bubbly by the time you place mixed ingredients in your skillet). Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder; salt in separate bowl; set aside. In stand mixer beat butter, thawed bananas, lemon juice and vanilla. Add sugar; beat until as creamy as you can, it will still have lumps. Add eggs, 1 at a time and beat through; add chocolate chips; mix. Add dry ingredients, mix lightly. Put ½ the batter in center of skillet (use a 10-12” adjust cooking time as needed). Place in oven; bake for 1 hour or until batter is pulled back from edges of pan and fork comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack; flip out of pan onto a pretty plate to serve.

A Small Business Christmas - Emily Ridings

Tell us about your business? Who are you, what are you? Where are you?

My name is Emily Ridings, and I’m an artist aiming to reinterpret the ancestral art of basketry through a modern, intuitive lens. I’m based in Lexington, KY, creating sculptural and functional pieces by hand using reed and wood, emphasizing sustainability and zero-waste production.  

Tell us about your Christmas season?

My Christmas season is a whirlwind of making, sharing and celebrating. It’s a lot, but I can’t miss out on the opportunities to connect with people, and turn my space into a gingerbread house.

Why are you making by hand/making in America. 

The biggest reason I make by hand is because I love it. The process keeps me present and curious, and when that energy can be felt through the work, it’s a win-win.

What is your favorite thing about Christmas?

I love how Christmas can encourage us to be intentional with happiness: to create it, share it, and nurture it.

Why support small business/handmade/American made?

When you support small businesses and handmade goods, it ensures your purchase goes directly towards the hands that shaped it and keeps their skill in the world. It’s a huge deal!

What are you giving away?

I’m giving away a mini basket garland, featuring a collection of six unique mini baskets, looped onto a strand of seagrass. It’s a sweet adornment for the Holidays, or any day.

A Visit to North Branch Cider Mill — Western Catskills

Tucked into the rolling landscape of the Western Catskills, the revival of the North Branch Cider Mill stands as one of Sullivan County’s most thoughtful and intentional reinventions. Driven not by nostalgia alone, but by a commitment to craftsmanship, community, and history, Anna and Tom have spent the last several years breathing life back into a long-silent landmark. Their work with Homestedt had already integrated them into the area, now their revival of North Branch Cider Mill—blending old-world sensibilities with a fresh, modern vision, has them invested in the area's future and past.

How and why did you end up in Sullivan County? What drew you to such a rural place—and to opening businesses there?

I first came to Sullivan County more than a decade ago, escaping the city with a friend to go fly fishing. One visit led to many, and over time we fell completely in love with the area. I grew up in rural England and Anna in Sweden, and there was something about the rivers, the mountains, and the constellation of small, close-knit towns in the Western Catskills that felt deeply familiar to both of us. It reminded us of home—of the places where we grew up and the people we grew up among.

Where some people dream of moving out of the city to slow down, we saw the opposite: a place where we could roll up our sleeves and build something of our own in a community where we instantly felt rooted.

As we spent more time in the area, we met others who were in their own early stages of building businesses or bringing long-held dreams to life. There was a sense of camaraderie and encouragement rather than competition. The region then was still a bit down on its heels, but there was a shared belief that the Catskills could reclaim a bit of the magic it was once known for. Looking back, I think we’ve watched that spark catch.

Why did you buy and reopen the North Branch Cider Mill? What’s your long-term vision for it?
For several years Anna and I were working with the owners of Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery on the design and build of The Boarding House in Callicoon. Our commute took us past the old North Branch Cider Mill almost daily. You couldn’t miss its charm—even as it slowly fell to the elements.

We started asking questions, poking around, learning its history. The more we learned, the more we felt drawn to it. Growing up in places where history is woven into the fabric of everyday life, I think we both missed being surrounded by it. The Cider Mill had operated continuously from 1942 until 1999; letting it disappear felt like losing a tangible piece of Sullivan County’s story.

Eventually we became convinced we were the right people to bring it back. That led to an eighteen-month pursuit to buy a building that wasn’t even for sale—countless three-hour drives to meet with the owner—until we finally closed in December 2022.

Our long-term goal blends restoration with reinvention. We want to honor its past (much of which was shaped by an English couple in the ’70s and ’80s), bring in elements from the places we grew up, and weave in the full identity of Homestedt.

In simple terms, the North Branch Cider Mill will house our old-fashioned country store, the century-old cider press, and a tea room and café. Next door, the Homestedt Barn will hold our home goods shop, woodshop for custom furniture, design studio for home builds and interiors, and a flexible space for workshops and events. Down by the river, we’ll have our goats, a cutting garden, an ice-cream and drinks stand, outdoor seating—and perhaps a couple of saunas.

Ultimately, we want North Branch to be a place where everyone feels welcome—somewhere you can pop in for basics or spend an entire afternoon with family and friends.

Why do you believe in investing in small businesses and small towns?
We’ve always been drawn to the individuality of small towns. Each one has its own character, its own stories, its own rhythm created over generations. Independent businesses become the carriers of that history—hubs that connect neighbors and help visitors understand the soul of a place. Being part of that feels meaningful. It feels like contributing to something bigger than ourselves.

How would you describe the North Branch Cider Mill to someone who’s never been?
On the surface, North Branch Cider Mill is an old-fashioned country store and working cider press. It’s retail the way it used to be: every item chosen with intention, sold with pride, and carrying a story. It’s a place where everyone who walks in the door is greeted warmly and welcomed into a space that feels like it’s always been there—because it has.

But it’s also more than that. It’s a living thread of local history and a reflection of the community it serves.

How have the first 1.25 years been? What comes next?
As with any small business—especially one in a place with real winters—the first year has had its share of highs and lows. The support from the community has been extraordinary. People come in and share their memories of the Mill, often going back generations, and seeing their joy as the building comes back to life has been incredibly rewarding.

Winter was tough, and getting a hundred-year-old cider press to meet modern health codes has been even tougher. But this place breeds resilient people, and we intend to persevere.

What’s your favorite item you carry—and why?
Choosing a favorite is nearly impossible since we only carry things we genuinely love, so I’ll narrow it down to two.

First: our Cider Mill Pickles. For our Cider Mill range we searched New York State for the most authentic, best-quality flavors we could find. The pickles come from a wonderful maker named Tabor in Saratoga—one of the few pickle producers who grows his own cucumbers on site, makes everything by hand, and uses no artificial preservatives or flavorings. They’re exceptional.

Second: our canvas prints. I’ve always been obsessed with antique books, especially the hand-painted botanical and fauna plates inside. A few years ago we began scanning some of our favorites and working with a UK printer to reproduce them on large-format canvas. They arrive to us in rolls, and we cut, stitch, and batten them in our woodshop. The result is a timeless wall hanging—reminiscent of old roll-down school charts—that you can mount with just a single nail.

Old Fashioned Banana Pudding

Growing up we had a very simple banana pudding recipe that I loved and could eat way too much of. Over the years I have altered that classic recipe to be a bit richer and more luxurious. 

INGREDIENTS

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 cups ice cold milk

1 (3.4 oz.) box vanilla instant pudding mix

3 cups heavy cream

4 cups sliced bananas

1 (12 oz.) box Nilla Wafers

PROCESS

In a large bowl, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well combined, add the pudding mix and beat well. Cover and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or overnight. In a large bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the fresh whipped cream into the pudding mixture.

Arrange 1/3 of the Nilla wafers covering the bottom of a bowl or pan, overlapping if necessary. Next, layer 1/3 of the bananas, and 1/3 of the pudding mixture. Repeat twice more, garnishing with additional wafers or wafer crumbs on the top layer. Cover tightly and allow to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours – or up to 8 hours.

Progress with Preservation - Shannan Haupt

"Ambition for the home: Progress with preservation without ruthless destruction and disregard for impossible to replace has been the carrying theme for Shannan and Drew Haupt’s home since 1969, but the home’s story starts long before the 1900s. The home’s original rooms date back to the 1740s, with additions coming over the past 250 years. 

As the couple have made this house their home that have been acutely aware of the responsibility to make changes with respect to the history, after all they will be just a chapter in a home that is nearly one hundred years older than the nation they reside in.

Shannan and Drew both grew up in North Carolina, were high school sweethearts and both grew up admiring the early settlements in their hometown. When the couple moved to New Jersey a decade ago they knew they wanted to have an old home. Settling into this old home fulfilled a lifelong dream of living in a historic house. The stories of the past captivated them.

“My favorite pastime is antiquing and thrifting for pieces that are unique and speak to my soul.  Old things have better stories to tell and have my whole heart.” As the couple spent weekends browsing antique stores and pickup up finds they used it as an opportunity to explore New Jersey. On one trip, as they passed a rural community, surrounded by horse farms, and in many ways reminding them of North Carolina, they stumbled across the house they now call home. “I remember when we first visited this house it took my breath away.  Walking through each room pulled you in more than the previous and each original feature stole a piece of my heart that day.”

“I love the 250 year old original wide plank yellow pine flooring still throughout the main body of the home, the exposed beams and floor boards above display the primitive structure as it has settled and contoured over the centuries,  and the three fireplaces are just a few of my favorite features in this home.” The home is very primitive in its construction, nothing level, humble in its origins. Although there were some unfavorable modern updates made to some areas in the home, the major projects were done, the couple is slowly un-renovating the modern updates that were done in the kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms during a renovation flip and adding in more period appropriate fixtures. 

“We have restored a few original warming cupboards that were almost lost to time hidden behind the walls from modern updates and drywalled over.  I researched and found some old online listings with photos, that I can no longer find online, where I saw a tiny hint of a cupboard door ajar in the main bedroom next to the fireplace. I wondered if it could still be there and had to find out.  The other original cupboard was pictured in the main living room. Giving those original cupboards back to the home has been one of our favorite restoration projects. Gaining back some irreplaceable history as well as restoring much needed storage space and charm back to the home.”

“Although there is much left to do and dream for this home it has already been so rewarding our time spent in this house. With each change trying to give the house back some things that were lost over the years using our combined skill sets, resources, vision, and time.  Living among the history & untold stories, restoring old features to be enjoyed again, and creating new stories daily...has been one of the greatest joys that we experience daily in our historic home away from home."

Maplewood Farm - Gina and Brian Bishop

Gina and Brian Bishop live at Maplewood Farm. It was originally a 300 acre maple tree farm and the middle part of their home was built in 1824. An addition you see from the drive added on in 1850, and a back addition in 1950. Today only 3 1/2 acres of the original farm remains, but it is right within walking distance to the darling historic town of Hudson, Ohio, just east of Cleveland. This area was settled by New Englanders who were promised land in payment for their service in The Civil War and they were seeking religious freedom. Hudson was a well-known stop on The Underground Railroad. The woman who originally lived in the home came to Hudson with the founder of the town when she was a little girl. Her father was the only doctor in the Western Reserve. 

The home is a Federal style wood structure like how they built in New England. Brian and Gina still have many of the original windows and floors. A son of the original owners won a gold medal at the World’s Fair in Chicago for his invention of the Maple Syrup Evaporator. They used the syrup as a sweeter as sugar was costly at the time. There were six barns on the property originally and now the Bishops are down to one just behind the house. Over the years Gina has frequently hosted barn sales in the barn. As the smallest barn on the original property it was likely to have been used for carriages. The barn is at least 100 years old and it’s petite size and charm have been the perfect space for Gina to create in.

The house you see coming up their driveway was added on to the original structure in 1850. The rooms are larger sizes for that time and that particular part of the house was used as an infirmary. The office/den that Brian uses now was the doctor‘s office and Patients would ring a bell that is still there. It is Brian’s favorite thing in the home.

Gina has decorated in a style that honors the age and bones of the historic home, but does not feel like it was decorated as a colonial style home. “I like that I have added whimsy and unexpected items to each room and have placed the items in ways that wink to just me. I try to not take myself so seriously and love color so I just go for it. I also love mixing pattern and just playing in my home. I do not really adhere to other people’s rules when it comes to decorating and just do what feels right for me. People describe my home as happy and I take that as the highest compliment.” Gina says of her unique style. 

The sunroom is one of Gina’s favorite rooms and the family sits there for morning coffee and after dinner. It looks on to a Wisteria Arbor and it is beautiful in all seasons. Gina has collected all of the needle point artwork and paintings in that room and just decided to cover the walls with the piece. “I have so many quilts and love the handmades so I layer them.” Pillows made by friends and some were in her Homegirl home decor line.  “I feel like that’s a Granny’s room but for some reason it feels really nice for me to be surrounded by all of those cute things.”

“The office I again just mixed what felt right. The day bed acts as guest room when needed. The fireplace never stops come winter.” Gina adds. 

The living room is an unusual mix for the home and Gina wanted to tone down the whimsy with leather sofas and other heavier furnishings. Gina laughs “Even if I try to be serious in execution of design it just never feels like me until I add that smile element.”

Since moving to their home nearly two decades ago Gina, Brian, and their two daughters — Lila and Edie — have made a colorful, yet cozy home. Gina’s reputation for being the Mother of Barn Sales has made her a voice for the Americana style within much of the U.S. “I could not love my quirky, whimsy house any more than I do and am happy to call it my home.”

Flores Lane — Trish Baden

Trish Baden, the owner of West Hollywood’s Flores Lane, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. When she first moved there from Madison, Wisconsin in late 2014 to work in marketing for a tile and flooring company she found herself needing a creative outlet. Channeling a childhood hobby, she started making candles as a side hobby. It wasn’t long, though, until her side hobby became her full time business.

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'"I grew up the middle child of three girls. My mom was an amazingly strong woman, and raised the three of us on her own in Cincinnati, Ohio. If you had told me as a kid that I would grow up to own a business making candles everyday, I probably would have been upset. Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut more than anything. However, I have made candles since I was a kid and remember the first being a dipped pillar I made at a day camp when I was seven.

I was always a hustler. As an older kid, I used to iron shirt for family at a rate of one dollar per shirt. I made good money doing so, and my family was gracious enough to pay me for small tasks like that. As a teenager, I got my first real job working at an ice cream shop owned by a young married couple. They really trusted me to help them run their business, and it was extremely empowering as a teen to be trusted with someone’s livelihood—but, at the time, I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur.

After high school, I moved away to college and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I studied marketing, and went on to work in Wisconsin after graduation, but eventually moved to my new home in West Hollywood in November 2014. When I first moved to Hollywood I worked in marketing for a flooring and tile company. In December, living in a new city and with the holiday season approaching I found myself needing a bit of extra money. Wracking my brain for ideas, I remembered my childhood hobby of candle making.

I named my company Flores Lane, and in the following months I began devoting more time to it. In the beginning, I was selling scrubs, lip balms, deodorants, sprays—and candles. I was exhausting myself making everything, I wasn’t perfecting any one product or bringing enough to the table. Sitting back and looking at sales, candles were clearly selling better, so I ditched the other products to perfect my craft.

Since starting my business three years ago, it has gone from a part-time hobby to becoming my full-time job. My identity as a business owner has now blended with my personal life because a lot of my time is spent networking or meeting clients. I end up with friends AND clients or clients as friends. At first, I felt an internal crisis because I felt like I was losing my own identity in this business or people were only talking to me for candles, etc. It wasn’t until I was reflecting on Flores Lane as a brand (over the period of 6 months), that I realized Flores Lane WAS a direct reflection of me. I AM the brand. Establishing that boundary in my life was extremely important for understanding my own role in the business, the brand, and most importantly my life. One thing I wish someone told me: don’t be afraid to own your creation and be proud yourself.

Building a brand takes time and education—educating the consumer takes time but yields trust and allows you to be the subject matter expert. I’ve learned to be transparent, people like that. If you can’t make a deadline, or your box supplier fell through—not that that has ever happened to me—communicate with your client as soon as you sense issues and keep everyone informed. You will make mistakes. That’s a simple fact, and some larger than others, but don’t take yourself too seriously and never stop learning from them. Learn from my lesson in the beginning, keep things simple. When I realized I was overexposing myself trying to make so many varied products, I simplified my brand.

This past holiday season was wild and I only recently hired full-time help until mid-December…needless to say, there was one point at which I hadn’t slept for 3 days straight because I was filling so many orders. As a woman in business sometimes I feel like I have to work a lot harder to garner the respect because I’m not taken seriously. I’ve learned, though, not to let this feeling stop your hustle, rise above it. It wasn’t until I was reflecting after a long week of candle-making for the holiday season that I was making other candles for myself to enjoy and I realized, ‘I really love making candles.’ I never thought I would own my own business, but now that I do, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!

If I have learned one big lesson through my experience as a business owner, it’s that being yourself and loving what you do makes all the difference. When customers and clients see you being your authentic, transparent—in my case, unabashedly weird—self they tend to want to be a part of that. I am genuinely inspired by the human spirit and how we can create such amazing things through collaboration and group thought. That’s why I’m also not afraid to trade product for marketing or photography, we can learn so much by working together and sharing the word of our favorite people and things. Above all, have fun! The more fun people see you having, the more they will love you and your brand.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

Fear, fear's a powerful thing. I mean it's got a lot of firepower. If you can figure out a way to wrestle that fear to push you from behind rather than to stand in front of you, that's very powerful. I always felt that I had to work harder than the next guy, just to do as well as the next guy. And to do better than the next guy, I had to just kill. And you know, to a certain extent, that's still with me in how I work, you know, I just... go in. – Jimmy Ivon

7 most important hardworking pieces of advice:

1. A rising tide lifts all ships: create a circle of makers or like-minded creators that you can collaborate, trust, and share best practices. When you collaborate with other hustlers, it’s inevitable they will hold you accountable for your big challenges, help you if shit hits the fan, but also reassure you of

2. The natural ebb and flow of business- some weeks, you’ll feel on top of the world and like every email or call you make lands! Then the next week you look in the mirror like WHAT HAVE I DONE!?!!?!?! Coming from the world of corporate, I still have moments where I question myself and I always come back to the realization of the ebb and flow.

3. Following through on every meeting, order, call, event, (whatever) is important and will help your credibility as a business owner and brand.

4. Every person counts/ treat every client like they are your biggest client- they will be your best salespeople!

5. Planning is key: if you’re feeling overwhelmed, planning your way out of anxiety is the path to success. What does this mean? If you’re feeling over booked, get a day planner that has hour slots for you to map your days. If you’re feeling scatter brained, start writing lists- even if you have to keep a notebook in every room ( I do this) and then consolidate notes every evening.

6. This may seem like silly advice, but it’s really important and will save you money: make sure your business is properly filed with your state government. What does this mean exactly? In order to have a business in the US, you need to file your business with the secretary of state (and other applicable entities). For example, my business is owned by me and I was working a full time job when I started it, so I decided to file as an LLC – and file my taxes as a schedule “C”

7. Let the robots help you work- quickbooks and legal zoom are not overrated- I use both regularly and love them.

Fried Biscuits

You have to trust me on this recipe. It almost seems too simple, but use the canned biscuits. I have made it with scratch made biscuits and store bought, the store bought biscuit dough simply works better. This is a recipe that can be made in excess for a party, but is best when the donuts are served fresh and warm. These are especially delicious when served with apple butter. 

12 canned biscuits cut in half

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar 

1 tablespoon pumpkin pie or apple pie spice

In a deep sided pan heat cooking oil to medium heat. You’ll know it is the appropriate temperature when a pinch of dough begins to sizzle when added to the oil. Slowly add the halved biscuits to the oil. Turn once the bottoms are golden. Allow to fry on both sides. Remove and allow to drain on a paper towel covered pan or plate. Mix together sugars and spices. Roll fried biscuits in mix and serve warm.

Cast Iron Skillet Apple Pie

It absolutely isn’t fall until the first iron skillet apple pie is made. When baking the house even smells of the season. This is truly a simple dessert that will always please.

4 cups peeled and sliced apples (Granny Smith are best)

1/2 cup sugar

Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste

1/2 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

2 pie crusts 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While preheating add butter and brown sugar to the a 9 inch cast iron skillet and sit in oven to heat. Remove once butter has melted. Please one of the pie crusts on top. In a box mix together apples, sugar, and spices. Fill pie crust. Top with second crust. Bake 20-25 minutes. Best served warm.

Here is the peach cobbler:

Everyone has a peach cobbler recipe they use in The South…most are that cuppa-cuppa-cuppa sort of thing that has like four ingredients and can be made just as easily with a can of fruit cocktail as it can peaches. There is a time and place for those sort of recipes, but during peach season you deserve better…and this is the recipe for that.

Cornmeal and buttermilk are two of the most southern ingredients and it truly surprises me that they aren’t with peaches more often. I add cinnamon and brown sugar to add an extra depth of flavor that create a crispy sort of crust that has the taste of Captain Crunch.