A hot and rainy summer

Dear readers,

One of my favorite country artists is Randy Travis, and a line from one of his songs is resonating with me lately:

“As long as old men sit and talk about the weather

As long as old women sit and talk about old men…”

It’s been hot this summer; and whenever it’s not hot, it’s been rainy. All of that adds up to a stickiness that’s difficult to keep at bay—luckily, Barbara Winfield has you covered, with tips on eliminating the dampness (and ensuing mold and mildew) in your home.

If you do find a day without blast-furnace temps and “build an ark” precip, you might want to do some other home repairs. If plastering is on your list, you’ll find Annemarie Schuetz’s story an interesting read.

But if the thought of working on your house is too daunting, we have two exciting house stories to indulge you. Ted Waddell takes a deep dive into a beautiful, hand-hewn-log home where Amy and Wes Gillingham pursue an off-the-grid lifestyle.

For a more mainstream home—albeit one with gorgeous, modern Craftsman touches—check out the story on a Matamoras, PA house that’s on the market.

This summer has been hard on my gardens. Normally, I rejoice when it rains because I don’t need to pull out the garden hose. But my plants have just about had enough, thank you! There’s still time to plant flowers and vegetables for a late-summer bloom and harvest—check out my story on that for tips.

Of course, when the weather is just too much to handle, you’ll want to chill out with easy, no-oven-required meals. Jude Waterston comes to the rescue with five recipes covering each course—including the most refreshing sangria.

So pour a pitcher, kick off your shoes and peruse this issue of Our Country Home. Thanks for reading, and let us know how we’re doing!

Keep safe and have fun,

Jane Anderson

Section editor