Another Magazine Bites the Dust

Seems that yet another magazine that I subscribe to has expired....you know died, perished, kicked the periodical bucket. But I need not fret because they are adding any unused issues of Gourmet to my Bon Appetit subscription. Great.....just what I need more issues of Bon Appetit. That should take me to 2014. What makes them think Bon Appetit will survive if Gourmet couldn't?

Last month it was Metropolitan which is a magazine I subscribed to for years but lately was uninspiring and some issues were just horrific. But like all the other mags that have gone bust the last issue came with a renewal attached to it. Several years ago I decided to quit Metropolitan but thanks to another mag folding, they added issues to a mag I no longer wanted.

So starting with the new year, I will not subscribe to anymore new magazines. Most of my subscription have oodles of issues left on them thanks to numerous offers of $5.00 a year and sending me numerous bills that made me think my subscription was running out.

These are the only magazines I will continue to subscribe to because of their constant high quality. These are the magazines that always offer me at least one inspiration or idea.

The keep subscribing to list.

Traditional Home one of the best, true to it's title, and great articles.

Martha Stewart Living what can I say but Martha rocks. Great all around mag.

Old Home Journal and Old House Interiors true to title except they need more 30's and 40's homes that aren't deco or kitschy.

Better Homes and Gardens A staple. A good all around mag.

This Old House. Great magazine but I have noticed several issues that were tossed after one reading. They need to do smaller renos with affordable products. Instead of 2 big renos maybe 8 with the home owner doing the vast majority of work and being guided by Norm, Tom, and the experts. Hey, R and I will even volunteer. Oh and they need to venture to other parts of the country. Maybe have four different homeowner renos from 4 different areas each year all going on at the same time and because the homeowners will be doing the majority of the work the renos should last all season. Four different areas, four different styles, and four different homeowners. This will insure that there is something that will strike a nerve with every viewer.

Country Living This mag should have oodles of great articles because of the demise of all the Cottage mags.

Midwest Living Well I do live in the Midwest so that's a no brainer.

Southern Living Some great issues and some not so great.

Taste of Home Great recipes that are doable and family oriented. Recipes are made with readily available items.

Here's the mags that I don't think will make it. Some of the magazines that have folded were lacking inspiration for months on end. Some of the decorating in these magazines were down right ugly.

Food Network Too many foodie mags already with recipes that are iffy for the average family.

Renovation Style Used to be filled with inspiration now it's just a shell of it's former self. Seems intent on offering renos of either gigantic proportion or just weird renos.

Bon Appetite I really don't think we need this foodie mag. The recipes are too out there, too expensive to try, and ingredients are sometimes unattainable in my area.

Most gardening mags. They rehash the same old thing. Most good all around mags have one garden article each month.

I refuse to buy magazines off the news stand. Far too expensive. Basically magazines are throw aways and I really do not like just throwing away $$$$. Some magazines are $5.95 or $6.99. Give me a break.

New Year's resolution number 1.....no new subscriptions unless it is a mag in my

Trying to catch up

As of January 1st......I am retired. I've spent the last month catching up on doctor appointments and whatever else I've put off for the last couple of years.

The piles of magazines alone have kept me busy during the evenings cutting out articles and ideas. While I was clipping, I noticed some magazines netted absolutely nothing in the save pile. Those magazines will not be renewed. I also jotted down the renewal dates. Because I send in renewals whenever they mail me one, I have inadvertently renewed some magazines through 2014.

Recently there has been a rash of magazines folding. I have lost at least 4 subscriptions in the last year. House and Garden folded and substituted Domino in it's place and now Domino has folded. I hope Conde Nast has a magazine left to fulfill my subscription.

I subscribe to appropriately 30 magazines only because I get a professional discount with some subscriptions only costing $5.00 for a year. I think I will go back to just subscribing to my long time favorites because they are the ones I get the most ideas from. My prediction for the next magazine to go under is Veranda. I only say this because I have been inundated with renewal requests at very low rates for long term renewal and this seems like a desperation move. I will not be renewing.

The weather has been extremely cold here in Michigan. R and I tried our best to rake all the leaves this past fall so that spring's clean up will be quick. I'm really anxious to get the house painted this year.

The following photos were taken at the end of the summer. The hosta beds and roses are starting to fill in nicely. The last couple of years we have concentrated on the landscaping since we had so little time every day to work on a project.
The fountain project is about 50% complete. We are looking forward to hearing the water dripping. Hopefully we can find a sunny spot for the solar panel that powers the fountain pump.

Sandy...here is a photo of what Blue Mouse Ears will look like. For reference....the stones in the photo are about the size of nickels with the largest stone about quarter size. It's such a cute little hosta.

Blogger and Firefox are both uncooperative tonight. I bet Google is still having trouble. I wish all hackers would buy old houses, then they wouldn't have time to hack or whatever it is they do.