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The British royal family palaces may be closed amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but that doesn’t mean we can’t explore them, thanks to royal historian Lucy Worsley’s upcoming PBS documentary special, Lucy Worsley’s Royal Palace Secrets, premiering on Sunday, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. E.T. (check local listings here). Fans of the monarchy have been in luck as of late when it comes to amazing PBS coverage of Britain’s royal family....

If you’ve ever spotted amber tumblers or rosy saucers in your mother or grandmother’s china cabinet, it’s likely Depression glass. This tabletop accessory secured its place in homes during the 1920s, continuing to be produced through the 1950s, and is still much-loved today. The History of Depression Glass During the Great Depression, unemployment soared, and family finances tumbled, so little luxuries like fine china and expensive home goods took a backseat to the necessities....

Alexandria, Virginia, may be a quaint, convenient landing spot for D.C. commuters, but the small town has a personality all its own. The waterfront town ticks all the boxes: It’s easily walkable, full of locally owned shops and businesses, and bursting with historic charm, especially in the winter months (it’s even earned the title of the perfect town for a Hallmark Christmas movie). Just 7 miles south of Washington, D.C., Alexandria combines small-town charm with big city access, making it a desirable place for families to settle....

Hollywood has come to small-town Texas! Crews transformed the tiny town of Venus into Hardin, Montana, to film scenes of the hit drama Yellowstone earlier this week. “They’ve repainted some stuff on the square, changed the names of some of the buildings to match what you’d see in Montana in their episode,” Venus Fire Department Chief Richard Allen told CBS News. By Tuesday morning, a number of downtown storefronts had had their signage and names changed for the scene....

Knowing what to write in a sympathy card, or what to say during life’s most tragic and hard times, can be difficult. As Southerners, we know mailing a card with a sympathy message, sending flowers with a condolence quote, or bringing a covered dish are good ways to express support. But it’s next to impossible to know what to say in a sympathy card; finding the right words can be quite difficult....

Crafts aren’t just for kids. There are plenty of creative hobbies adults can pick up at any age, and many of them boast major benefits for your mental and physical health. For instance, knitting is a soothing way to boost your mood and relax while creating something from scratch, and there’s no doubt that other crafty activities like needlepoint, sewing, and painting are also great ways to occupy your mind while keeping your hands busy....

One of our favorite family movies is Fantastic Mr. Fox, the animated Wes Anderson film about a well-heeled fox who steals chickens from three very nasty farmers. In one scene, Mr. Fox sits down to breakfast in a shirt and tie, has a polite conversation with his wife, and then noisily scarfs down his food like the wild animal he is. That would not be tolerated at the Evans house, where my wife, Susan, has an acute aversion to noisy eaters, and where she wages a relentless campaign to raise two children with good table manners....

A good lighting plan plays a more important role in the overall feel of a room than most people think. This space is a dream to work with because it’s new and has different types of lights, multiple dimmers, and a high ceiling. But what do you do in an older home with 8-foot ceilings, no overhead lighting, and small windows? Follow the same rules, but do it with lamps, picture lights, and candles....

While some might have you believe that you need to spend a small fortune on anti-aging skincare products, that’s simply not the case. There are plenty of affordable creams and serums that are packed with effective ingredients to keep your skin looking its best. L’Oréal Paris is one brand that we turn to again and again for high-quality products that won’t break the bank, so when we learned that America’s best-selling collagen moisturizer under $12 is L’Oréal Paris’ own collagen moisturizer, we didn’t even bat an eye....

Texas is mourning the passing of one of its most iconic voices. For the past seven years, Robert “Bob” Boykin anonymously served as the voice of the State Fair of Texas’ oversized mascot, Big Tex. He reportedly died on January 23 at the age of 73. While State Fair attendees aren’t supposed to know who is responsible for the 55-foot-tall cowboy’s booming “howdy, folks!”, the State Fair of Texas released Boykin’s identity yesterday along with a statement about his death....

Got a creative kid on your hands? Preferably one who loves their Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meal? Then perk up your ears. For the first time in the company’s history, Chick-fil-A is issuing an official call for children to step up to the plate—crayons in hand—and submit their greatest art creations for a chance for their work being showcased on Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meal prizes. “To inspire creativity in kids and celebrate young artists, for the first time, Chick-fil-A will be celebrating kid-created art designs and choosing a select few to be featured in Chick-fil-A® Kid’s Meal prizes in fall 2022,” the company announced in a recent post on their blog, The Chicken Wire....

We’re Southerners, a few things are in our DNA: biscuits, sweet tea, holiday decorations, country music, and football. (Okay, and tailgates too, but we’ll just call that football and country music tangential.) On the football front, country music great and Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker, just about summed it up: “For me, there’s two times a year, man — football season and waiting for football season,” he said per The Country Daily....

The immersive holiday experience from Enchant—now sponsored by the Hallmark Channel—is back, with locations in Washington, D.C. (Nationals Park), Dallas (Fair Park), Nashville (First Horizon Ballpark), St. Petersburg, Florida (Tropicana Field), as well as Las Vegas and two sites in California. The “whimsical and heartfelt” Christmas experience is a walk-through light (we’re talking 4 million lights!) maze, but that only skims the surface of this interactive wonderland. The Enchant experience includes gliding down the ice-skating trail, enjoying holiday snacks and sips (from a glowing glass, of course), visiting the artisan Christmas market, listening to live holiday music, and meeting Santa....

By now, we loyal Hallmark movie fans know that the family of networks doesn’t just provide us with endless hours of Christmas movies in December, oh no. They have themed cinematic offerings to get us through every holiday and season on the calendar. As the winter weather continues to wear us down, there is a glimmer of hope and sunshine ahead. Hallmark Channel’s “Spring Fling” lineup is here. Four brand-new, original movies will premiere on Saturdays in March and April....

When pressed for time or low on oven space, slow-cooking is a popular option for many cooks. Countertop cooking is the secret to making delicious sides and main dishes, especially during the holidays, without juggling bake times and wedging baking dishes around a 20-lb. turkey. Use your slow-cooker in the morning to fix-and-forget a hearty stew or roasted chicken, and have a savory and satisfying supper ready for you when you return home that afternoon....

Whether the Instant Pot already has a permanent spot on your kitchen counter or is on your Christmas wish list this year, Instantly Southern: 85 Southern Favorites for Your Pressure Cooker, Multicooker, and Instant Pot will be your new favorite source for one-button recipe inspiration. Written by cookbook author and Southern Living contributor Sheri Castle, Instantly Southern is a collection of Southern classics (Shrimp and Stoneground Grits, Chicken and Fluffy Dumplings, Yakamein) and new favorites (Braised Pork and Apples in Cider-Gingersnap Gravy, Ham and Cheese Bread Pudding)....

Sometimes when the brownie cravings hit, they really hit, and you just don’t have time for homemade. Instead of wasting precious time scrounging around in the back of your pantry for a box of mix, then stressing over whether you have oil and eggs to make your batter, Nestle Toll House is cutting out all those extra steps with the release of ready-to-bake brownies. It’s absolutely genius, yet so simple that we’re wondering why we didn’t think of it ourselves....

Whether homemade or store-bought, receiving something yummy around the holidays is always nice. You might not have time to whip up a batch of delicious treats, but these local establishments are ready to ship their goods right to your friends front door. 4 Rivers Smokehouse Winter Park, FloridaOur Pick: 4 Rivers Smokehouse Pitmaster Kit, $65; 4rsmokehouse.comWhat better way to surprise the grillmaster in your life? Our South’s Best Barbecue Joint of 2020 has bundled up their 4R Signature Sauce and 4R Hot Signature Sauce plus their Brisket Rub, Coffee Rub, and All Purpose Rub for the complete grilling package....

A bear advocacy group in Asheville, North Carolina, is “on cloud nine” after coordinating with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to rescue a bear cub this week. A community member notified Help Asheville Bears (HAB) about a precarious situation involving two bear cubs in the Kenilworth neighborhood Wednesday. The youngsters—which had gotten separated from their mama—were found clinging to a tree trunk about 40 feet in the air after one of the cubs got its paw stuck between the trunk and a branch....

Stuck at home with a full pantry and no idea what to make for dinner? New York City-based caterer and tabletop designer Stephanie Nass wants to help. “Is this what your kitchen looks like? A ‘random’ smattering of ingredients?” Nass asked on Instagram. “Don’t fret or make an unnecessary trip to the grocery store; #STAYHOME and send pictures of what you have. We’ll compose a meal based on that.” That’s right y’all....