1. Beyond the practical matter of providing illumination, a glowing porch light is a welcoming beacon on dark nights. The vintage patina of this hammered-copper Arts & Crafts/Tudor-revival style fixture with leaded-glass panels makes the message even warmer. The circa-1915 sconce, which accepts incandescent or compact-fluorescent bulbs, may also be used indoors. $485, at Materials Unlimited, Ypsilanti; 734-483-6980, materialsunlimited.com.
2. Richly patterned, hand-stamped Polish Pottery can make a hearty casserole or side dish look even more savory. The European potter produces a wide variety of patterns and pieces; some are quite collectible. A practical note: The extremely durable, high-fired, non-porous stoneware dinnerware can go straight from the microwave or oven to table to dishwasher. $73, as pictured. Plain & Fancy Gift Shop, 323 S. Main St., Rochester; 248-651-5188.
3. Cook’s Country Best Lost Suppers highlights recipes from our culinary past. The editors of Cook’s Country magazine, a sister publication of Cook’s Illustrated, selected their favorites from among 1,000 submitted recipes. (Three of those published are from Michigan homemakers.) Comfort foods, potluck standards, a rich beef goulash, and Sicilian meatloaf are offered. The stories behind each recipe are included, tales that lend a taste of history. $29.95, at area booksellers.
4. Grab a book and a mug of hot chocolate and curl up swathed in the warmth of an American classic. Pendleton began making its signature woolen blankets 100 years ago, when the first Indian trade blanket rolled off the looms in Pendleton, Ore., in 1909. They serve their purpose well on fireside chairs, in cars, on beds, and in cottages. Merino throw, $108, lamb’s wool throw, $78, at The Pendleton Shop, Rochester; 248-601-1282.
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