The Old Farmer's Almanac 2015 (3 page)

SECRETS OF A HEALTHY LIFE

• Giving of yourself: The mortality rate of volunteers is 22 percent lower than that of nonvolunteers.
  
• Berries: Women who ate three or more servings of blueberries and strawberries per week were 34 percent less likely to have a heart attack.
  

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

• wandering around in silence in public parks for mindfulness training
  
• relaxation coaches who improve our slumber
  
• spray-on caffeine to keep us alert
  

LIFE IS GOOD...

for spouses, in beds with snore features that allow a snorer’s headrest to be raised; bicyclists, with scarves that inflate automatically in an accident; poor posture sufferers, with belts that vibrate if they slouch.

As the economy improves, people are turning back to the big dogs they love, which cost more to feed and care for than the smaller breeds.

–
Lisa Peterson, spokesperson, American Kennel Club

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

• chickens, diapered and running around the house
  
• subscriptions for pet treats and toys
  
• pets using electronic devices to entertain themselves while home alone
  

DOMESTIC DELIGHTS INCLUDE

grooming stations; pet-size furniture, pet-height windows, and heated window seats; overhead catwalks; and entry tunnels with paw wash-and-dry systems so that pets don’t track dirt on carpets

TO TRACK ACTIVITY,

pets are wearing collar pedometers.

With more people ... making do with less square footage, there is a growing trend of furniture that does double duty.

–
Amanda Dameron, editor in chief, Dwell

OUR DREAM HOME IS

• A historical house, but not an exact replica; e.g., vintage exterior, with open interior
  
• a lighthouse renovated for living space
  
• a classic barn dismantled, moved, and rebuilt
  
• less than 500 square feet in a “micro-neighborhood”
  
• one with a small front yard setback and sidewalks
  

NEW HOME WISH LIST

• his-and-her master bathrooms
  
• ventless, smoke-free fireplaces on a wall or counter or midroom
  
• floor tiles that kill bacteria and improve air quality
  
• windows coated to repel stains and grime
  

HOME BUYERS’ BARGAINING CHIPS:

the seller’s possessions, e.g., houseplants, bed linens, pots, pans, and alarm clocks: We want it all!

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

• bright walls in mint greens, turquoises, pale yellows, and oranges
  
• freestanding walls of water, illuminated by colored lights
  
• wider, thinner handmade bricks in a variety of colors
  

WE’RE ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE,

with accommodation architecture that lets seawater in during storm surges; by moving utility controls from basements to attics; by installing moss roofs—their insulation effects cut heating and cooling costs; with “performance dashboards” that track energy and water use, indoor air cleanliness, and our recycling habits.

STUFF WE LOVE

• corduroy upholstery
  
• macramé and fiber art wall decor
  
• baby-changing tables that become bookcases
  
• crystal tables, lamps, and bowls
  
• smoke alarms that can be silenced with a wave of the hand
  

Technology is democratizing landscape design. People are taking mobile devices in[to] their yards for access to expertise that can save them time and money.

–
Julie Moir Messervy, author, landscape designer, and creator of the Home Outside Palette app

THE LATEST FROM THE LAB...

• cars that park themselves and come when called with a phone app
  
• plants that glow in the dark, with genes from bioluminescent bacteria and fireflies
  
• cars powered by solar panels that fit into the trunk
  
• DNA-driven regeneration of extinct frogs and other animals.
  

BEEN WHERE, DONE WHAT?

Space tourists will board pressurized 4-ton capsules that are lifted 20 miles up by giant helium-filled balloons to get a view of Earth. Ticket price: $75,000.

This will be the year of the mash-up ... a return to the exuberant, free spirit of the 1970s, with the structured tailoring and subdued color palette of the 1940s.

–
Dyanna Dawson, blog author, Street Fashion Style

THE LOOK FOR LADIES

• “regal,” with embroidery, emblems, and crests; hues of teal blue, deep red, honey, and reddish brown; and fabrics in luxurious mohair, shearling, and silk
  
• slim pants with high waistlines
  
• faux fur backpacks
  
• leather in sweatpants and square-cut sweatshirts
  
• motorcycle jackets in colorful hues
  

HUES FOR GALS:

gold, royal blue, navy, tomato red, and tan, as well as floral patterns

NEWS TO DYE FOR

“Colors in menswear will be much more daring and vibrant. It’s going to be acceptable, rather than astonishing, to see men wearing color,” says Scott F. Stoddart, dean of Liberal Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology.

CLOTHES THAT MAKE THE MAN

• double-breasted suits
  
• pleats and cuffs on pants
  
• fur trim on hats, boots, and parkas
  
• plaids reminiscent of the 1920s
  

TONES FOR GUYS:

sage, purple, indigo,and burgundy suits, slacks, and sport coats, plus flowery, geometric-pattern sport shirts

THE HIP MAN

will have short and slicked-back hair, plus a full beard.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

• T-shirts, socks, and underwear that deodorize by neutralizing smells at the molecular level
  
• purses with solar panels that recharge devices
  
• botanical dyes and fabric that depict the source plant
  

The “makers” movement will continue ... as consumers grow more and more interested in all things small-batch and handcrafted.

–
Rachel Hardage Barrett, editor in chief, Country Living

THE PACE OF OUR PASTTIMES

We’re racing modified lawn mowers and riding with “slow bike” clubs that pedal at a snail’s pace and celebrate the last cyclist to finish.

PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT

• turning parking spaces into mini parks for a day
  
• “slow TV,” e.g., knitting and chess programs
  
• taking “shelfies”—photos of our books
  

IN PURSUIT OF FUN

• We’re teaming up to take turns throwing axes.
  
• We’re searching for antique commodes, sinks, and toilet paper.
  
• Adults are taking classes in double Dutch jump roping.
  
• Metal detectorists are competing to find “treasures” set out the night before.
  

Crowd-funding is taking a giant leap forward.

–
Daniel Levine, director, The Avant-Guide Institute, New York City

WE’RE HOOKED ON HAGGLING

Forty-eight percent of shoppers bargained for a better deal at least once in the past 3 years. Each saved, on average:

• $100 on collectibles and antiques
  
• $200 on appliances
  
• $300 on furniture
  

Collecting will be driven by the millennial generation. The goal is to repurpose, reinvent, and reevaluate items from the past—all the time knowing that buying vintage is a green activity.

–
Gary Piattoni, appraiser, Evanston, Illinois

TAKE IT...

• pillows and purses in vintage fabrics
  
• early cameras and typewriters (as decorative objects)
  
• early-20th-century enamel-on-steel advertising signs
  

LEAVE IT...

Movie star autographs; most are by secretaries or assistants. “Even the legit ones have dropped in value because of a glut flooding the market,” says appraiser Rudy Franchi.

WATCH IT GO...

Sports items representing historic feats by great athletes are bringing record prices:

• $1.4 million for one of Jesse Owens’s 1936 Olympic gold medals
  
• $717,000 for a Lou Gehrig New York Yankees game-used uniform from 1927
  

BEST BUY: CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS

Those from 19th-century Germany are top-of-the-market, but values are also high for any made up through the 1950s.

Stacey Kusterbeck, a frequent contributor to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, writes about popular culture from New York State.

Hot Buffalo Chicken and Cheese Dip

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three or four shallow gratin dishes or one or two deep ones.

Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and corn and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chicken and Buffalo wing sauce. Simmer for 3 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch dressing mix in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer for about 1 minute, or until soft and fluffy. Add the blue cheese and chicken mixture. Blend evenly with a wooden spoon.