Wyeth died in his sleep at his home in the Philadelphia suburb of Chadds Ford, according to Hillary Holland, a spokeswoman for the Brandywine River Museum.

“We can’t fire our bears or furlough our sea lions,“ said John Calvelli, executive vice president of public affairs for the Wildlife Conservation Society, which operates the Central Park and Bronx zoos and the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn, among others.

“‘You will drink beer if you’re going to beat dirt into tires,’” said Louisa County resident Randy Holladay.
Take a guided tour of the house

“She’s a Kennedy, but she’s a lot like us,“ was the headline of a Dec. 28 column by Anne Glusker in The Washington Post. “If you strip away the glamour, the name and the money, then Caroline is ... me. And many of my friends.“

“And I had but one penny in the world
Thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread.“
—William Shakespeare

It’s easy to play: Just pick up a mic, pick a song and start warbling.

It’s that time again—the beginning of a new year, and I’ve got a good 7 extra pounds on me from the holidays. I really want to drop the pounds, but I just can’t do diets. Is there any way to lose this weight without having to go on some kind of diet or starve myself?

“Around the world tonight, in thousands of places around the world, there are gatherings like this one . . . to tell the world we still believe in goodness, we still believe in religious freedom,“ said Rabbi Yossel Kranz of Chabad of Virginia.

“I’m up to 1,600,“ sighed Bruce Kern at one point during the decorating, glancing up at the artificial 10-foot fir—already so covered in decorations that barely any green was visible.

“As I was cleaning up the kitchen, I thought, ‘What was I thinking, baking cookies with a 2-year-old?‘“ recalled Hammer, who lives in Chesterfield County. “Just then Zachary burst back into the room and said, ‘That was so fun, Nana. Thank you for making those boys with me!‘“

The Monday before the week of Christmas is typically the busiest mailing day of the year, as people rush to get their Christmas cards and gift packages out for the holidays.

Tuckahoe is a working plantation that includes a circa-1733 house, the schoolhouse where Thomas Jefferson studied as a youth, original outbuildings, 600-plus acres and a spectacular view of the James River.

Temperament trumps cuteness when picking a puppy, says Jack Volhard of Culpepper, Va., a professional dog trainer and co-author of “Dog Training for Dummies.“

Passengers will spend three days at a five-star hotel in Dubai waiting to rejoin the 490-foot (150-meter) vessel in Oman’s port of Salalah for the remainder of the around-the-world trip, which began in Italy.

Organizers of “Day Without a Gay” — scheduled to coincide with International Human Rights Day and modeled after similar work stoppages by Latino immigrants — also are encouraging people to perform volunteer work and refrain from spending money.

The sisters began distributing blankets to the homeless four years ago. The idea, they say, grew out of charity work they did with their mother, Sharie, a volunteer in a project called Wake Up America that distributed leftover baked goods from a local supermarket to the homeless.

“People want to wear color to bring a smile to their face,“ says Jesse Garza.

“I think it’s going to be a very cold winter, and I’m not a weatherman,“ said Calyon Securities airline analyst Ray Neidl.

“It’ll be the great big tree that this year will be decorated with ornaments from all around the United States, decorated by artists from all around the United States,“ the first lady said of the tree that will serve as the centerpiece in the White House holiday decor.

Preliminary reports from several major retailers including Macy’s and Toys “R’‘ Us said that crowds were at least as large as last year’s, but many shoppers sounded notes of caution and concern.

Forecasters said travel weather was dry from the Plains through the Southeast, but heavy rain swept southern California early Wednesday.

“So much history in this, honey,“ Brew said. “You gonna get me a ticket?“

With holiday travel getting into full swing this week, Alaska Airlines says there are ways to ease the holiday stress normally associated with flying.

Whether you’re planning your first Thanksgiving or looking to dress up your traditional holiday feast with minimal costs, this guide offers suggestions and pricing for making basic turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and rolls for 12.

“People are calling us, begging us to take their animals,“ said Dianne O’Kelley Inman, a volunteer and foster home for Cat Adoption and Rescue Efforts Inc.

An audio slideshow and downloadable recipe card on how to prepare dinner biscuits

An audio slideshow and downloadable recipe card on Indian pudding.

An audio slideshow and downloadable recipe card on how to prepare the best pumpkin pie.

An audio slideshow with step-by-step instructions on how to carve a turkey.

“We do see first ladies as representative of what the American woman should be,“ said Linda B. Hobgood, a University of Richmond speech and communications expert whose research interests includes first ladies.