Looking Back to Move Forward: Vol. 7 (July)

In her letter to readers in the March, 2012, issue of the magazine, Martha Stewart Living editor-in-chief Pilar Guzman makes an intriguing comment about looking back to former issues of the magazine in order to move forward. She writes: "...we will feature images on this page that inspire us from the magazine's archives. Sometimes it's important to look back in order to move forward." As a longtime subscriber, I felt like playing along! I'll be raiding the archives each month to showcase my favourite issue. Here is my selection for July.
MY FAVOURITE JULY ISSUE: 2006
A shady garden, something cold to drink, a Fourth of July cookout on a sunny farm... The July, 2006, issue of Martha Stewart Living has every summer staple covered, from ice-cream to outdoor lighting, with a few unexpected surprises along the way. This issue marked the first real glimse of Martha's Bedford farm, Cantitoe Corners. All dressed up for Independence Day, the renovated historic home shines with rural elegance. Guests to Martha's barbecue, all dressed in white, enjoyed lunch on the terrace, overlooking the paddocks and stables beyond.

The issue had two variations on the cover, as you will see below, including one presenting a trio of festive parfaits that Martha made for her party. This cover was sold on newsstands while the other cover, showing Martha enjoying said parfaits with some of her younger guests, was sent to subscribers. The magazine closes with an inspiring trip to Asia with gorgeous photos (and text) by Alistair Hendy. Delicious Asian-noodle dishes are the stars of the feature, but Hendy does a beautiful job of transporting the reader to the places where these culinary creations were first conjured. It is a wonderful summer issue that inspires as it teaches, which is what Martha does best. Below are some highlights from the issue. Click here to read my other "Looking Back" entries and tell me your favourites!