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We’re all enjoying the simpler things in life more than ever right now. A blood orange sunset. Reading a book on the porch. Getting busy in the garden. Recently, Melissa Gilbert, who starred in Little House on the Prairie as Laura Ingalls Wilder, spoke with CBS Sunday Morning from her home in Sullivan County’s Catskills’ Mountains in upstate New York, or as she calls it, “Little House in the Catskills.” Watching the segment reminded us of another great way to escape daily life: Tuning into some episodes of the much beloved TV series....

Louie might not look like the most intimidating competitor, but even at 14-and-a-half years old, he shouldn’t be underestimated. The toy poodle from Texas will be the oldest competitor at the American Kennel Club’s 2021 National Agility Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, next weekend. Poodles account for just 5% of the 1,119 dogs set to compete in the championship. Amongst all the breeds, Louie is the only 14-year-old. According to a recent feature on the AKC website, Louie comes from a line of toy poodles that have enjoyed agility into their golden years....

If you loved Princess Diana’s classic tousled hairdo, you’re not alone. The timeless haircut has inspired thousands of cuts around the world, and manages to be equal parts elegant and relaxed. Now, in a recent interview with Town and Country, Diana’s personal hairdresser, Richard Dalton, sheds (pun intended) some new intel on the beloved royal’s iconic look. “Apparently, the princess wanted much shorter, easier hair for an upcoming trip to Africa, but was concerned about what impact a drastic change might have....

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, but sometimes it doesn’t work out that way. For many people, the moment that their minds are finally clear of the day-to-day distractions of work and school and family, their silly brains try to fill the void by worrying that they didn’t do something important, such as turn off the stove or another home appliance, before heading out on vacation. According to Lifehacker, there’s an easy fix to resolve the question of whether or not you left the oven on—as you make your way out of the house, step into the kitchen, and snap a photo of your oven on your phone....

The English language is full of odd quirks. For the most part, we accept them for what they are and move on. Rules are rules, y’all! But when you actually stop and think about them (like the fact that there are no eggs in eggplants!), many are truly bizarre. Take the contraction for “will not,” for example. If it were normal (like “could not” and “have not”), it would shorten to “willn’t” instead of “won’t....

Recently I found some (miraculously unexpired) protein powder at the back of my pantry and some frozen pineapple in the bottom drawer of my freezer. It was rent week–who was I to turn down a scrappy smoothie? Aren’t they the wellness food right now anyway? Pull It Away From the Wall I figured this one out on accident, after using my blender in the corner under the cabinetry. Simply bring it out in the open....

As of publication time, a blanket of below-zero temps and brutal winter storms has descended over the country from coast to coast—so if you’re anything like us, you’re likely daydreaming about the warm weather and sunny spring days ahead. But luckily, you don’t have to wait for the ground to thaw to make your home feel fresh and bright. Bath & Body Works’ best-selling Fresh Cut Lilacs 3-Wick Candle is here to spread some spring cheer, even if the weather outside is looking frightful....

It’s January. If you’re anything like us, that means a social media feed full of gym membership discounts, diet tips, and meal prep advice. Though we’re sure you’ve gotten your fair share of information on what carbs not to eat this year and which exercise is finally going to get you those elusive six-pack abs, we’re here to let you in on a secret. There is one tool missing from your routine that just might actually make it more bearable to stick to that new year, new you meal prep resolution....

Nothing beats a pan of golden brown fried chicken, still warm from the pan. But sometimes shortcuts are necessary if you’re feeding a large crowd or have a sudden, all-consuming chicken craving. Associate editor Hannah Hayes and I sampled four different types of Southern store-bought fried chicken in a blind taste test to find out which brands we liked the best. Read on to find out where you should pick up a bucket or bag of fried chicken....

Why We Love It It’s a real square! A perfectly symmetrical exterior is foolproof in our architecture books. From the street, you would assume that House Plan 1956 is an older, historic home instead of being a newly designed Southern Living House Plan. WATCH: Our Best-Ever House Plans Atlanta-based Architect Brandon Ingram packed 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and lots of spacious living areas into this one-story, 2,300-square-foot Colonial house plan. While most contractors build up and out to create rooms and space, Ingram created a compact and efficient square shaped layout for this Charlestowne Creek plan....

HBO’s new Perry Mason series debuted last week and it’s safe to say we’re all still dreaming about the characters and plot twist—and the sets, oh, the sets. The amazing glimpse the sets give us into what the 1930s in Los Angeles looked like took many, many hours of work and the beautiful, realistic backdrops help make the show as captivating as the actors. Recently, Architectural Digest took a deep dive into the show’s spectacular design and we love all the intel we picked up in their piece....

Start with the heart of the home by checking out cookware deals from top brands like Le Creuset and Lodge. There are also deep discounts on blenders, griddles, and coffee makers from customer-favorite brands like Ninja, Cuisinart, and Keurig, respectively. You can also spend more time in the backyard by outfitting your outdoor space with patio furniture sets, umbrellas, and fire pits that are now up to 43 percent off. And to jazz up the living room, look no further than these deals on accent rugs, loveseat couches, and coffee tables with hidden storage capabilities....

Moving to Birmingham from San Francisco, I was quickly introduced to a myriad of foods previously unknown to me. The fried green tomato won over this tomato-hater. I memorably ate chess pie on the side of the road in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. Though I’m still personally not a fan, I gave pimiento cheese a try too. And then it was time to taste cheese straws. When I first stumbled upon the Southern Livingselection of cheese straw recipes, my first thought was that they barely resembled a straw....

An Alabama family vacationing in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, wound up entertaining an unexpected visitor earlier this month. McKinley Sellers Poe told WVLT that she and her family were headed out to a pirate show on August 5 when her father-in-law spotted a young bear. “It walked right up to the patio and hung out for a little while,” she recalled. “I just wanted to hug him.” Despite its cuteness, the family stayed a safe distance away from the bear as it lounged on their porch for roughly 10 to 15 minutes....

The holidays have always been a special time of year for Dolly Parton, whose traditions still reflect the Christmases she used to share with her parents and 11 siblings in a tiny cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains. Dolly’s newest album, A Holly Dolly Christmas, is jam-packed with personal touches, but one track in particular shares an extra-special connection to her childhood. On “You Are My Christmas,” Dolly duets with one of her younger brothers, Randy, whose daughter Heidi provides the harmony....

Once upon a time, in a magical land with rhinestones, and butterflies, and big, blonde hair, lived a lovely lady named Dolly Parton. At nighttime, she refuses to let this magical land lose its glamour, so she keeps her bold lipstick hues, shimmery blush, and statement-making smoky eyes in place. Much like Santa Claus or Mickey Mouse, the Queen of Country wouldn’t dare risk anyone seeing her out of character. Can you blame her?...

All aboard the largest steamboat ever built for one-of-a-kind tours of the Mississippi River. American Queen Voyages is celebrating its 10th season with exclusive new June trips on its flagship paddlewheeler, American Queen. The cruise line is kicking off the summer season with four newly added Lower Mississippi River itineraries. The nine-day journeys will sail between Memphis and New Orleans with departures on June 5, 12, 19, and 26. Ports of call include Cleveland (Terrene Landing), Vicksburg, Natchez, St....

My Southern magnolia tree is blooming. I don’t have to see it to know. I can smell it from 20 feet away. Waxy, white blossoms up to 10 inches across crown its glossy, evergreen leaves. Some flowers may smell as good, but none smell better. With magnolias in bloom or nearing bloom, I have been getting a lot of questions about this native stalwart—and I have finally answered them. Read below for all your questions answered about this staple Southern tree....

We’ve been enraptured with Ron and Rita, a bald eagle couple residing in Florida’s Miami-Dade County, since they first burst onto our livestreams in March of 2021. Thanks to a 24-7 livestream managed by the Wildlife Rescue of Dade County as part of the Ron Magill Conservation Endowment, we’ve had the privilege of having an up-close-and-personal view into the lives of the famous pair. We’ve been there for all the ups and downs of life in the wild, including the incredible birth of the couple’s three eaglets earlier this year, and the loss of the youngest just a day after it hatched....

Two Georgia Power linemen found themselves in the right spot at the right time on Tuesday morning. Shane Porter told 11Alive that he was at a job site in Gainesville when his coworker David noticed two tiny puppies about to run into the road. With freezing rain pouring down, the men used a Slim Jim to coax the timid puppies toward them. Just as Porter got his hands on one of them, a man approached carrying a third puppy wrapped up in a jacket....