Priceless
your complete home resource guide and lifestyle magazine Essex • Northern Neck • Middle Peninsula • Gloucester • Richmond • Williamsburg
A Merry Middlesex Christmas The Antler Wearers Rockfish
Land a regional favorite for sport or for dinner
Gwynn’s Island
The amazing and significant history of a small island
Christmas Decorating with English Boxwoods
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November/December 2017
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OH, THE
places WE’LL GO!
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Cody Carlton, driver of the Essex Concrete car and winner of Arena Racing’s Top Dog title at Hampton Coliseum in February, is a speed reader of The House & Home!
Even on the Thames River in London, while admiring the view of the Tower Bridge, Graeme Rayner reads his House & Home Magazine. He won’t miss a word, mate!
Especially at the Super Bowl in Houston, Mike McAuliffe of Atlanta peruses his House & Home Magazine. Be like Mike!
While enjoying Christmas in Key West, Linda Cooke visits The House & Home Magazine online. You can too!
No matter where in the world our readers travel, they take along their House & Home magazines. Whether you pack your copy of the latest edition, or visit our new and improved website, you’re never far from Home! Snap a photo of yourself on your adventures near or distant. Share them with us and we’ll be sure to brag about you! We just can’t resist serving up a little slice of Home.
Even in Istanbul, Turkey, Billy Viverette reads his House & Home Magazine. Be like Billy!
Melanie Reavis pauses along her stroll on The Great Wall of China to check out a copy of The House & Home Magazine. That’s dedication!
H&H Intern Jennie Diggs takes a break to read her House & Home Magazine while working as a missionary in Togo, Africa. Be like Jennie!
While relaxing on Raa Atoll in the Maldives, Karen Saul takes time to show off her House & Home Magazine. Follow Karen’s lead!
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PUBLISHER James L. Blanks EDITOR Janet Evans Hinman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Zora Aiken Karin Andrews Captain Bob Cerullo Janet Evans Hinman Jackie Nunnery Dianne Saison Stephen Southall Deb Weissler Barbara Weldon ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Kirstin Canough ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES James L. Blanks: 804-929-1797 Cindy McBride: 540-229-6038 JLB Publishing, Inc. P. O. Box 2564 • Tappahannock, VA 22560 Office: 804-929-1797 • Fax: 1-888-747-2267 thehouseandhomemag@gmail.com
The House & Home Magazine is a free, four-color publication that specializes in providing home ideas, real estate, and lifestyle articles. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from JLB Publishing, Inc. The information contained herein are opinions of sources and interviews. JLB Publishing Inc. claims no reliability or accuracy to any information contained within. The House & Home Magazine is published for reference purposes only and is not materially responsible for errors. The House & Home Magazine is published bimonthly and is distributed at over 500 locations throughout Essex, Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Gloucester, Richmond, and Mechanicsville as well as subscriptions, direct mail, and trade shows.
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November/December 2017
Contents
The House & Home Magazine • November/December 2017
14 A Merry Middlesex Christmas
20 The Antler Wearers 26 Virginia Building Solutions
Home of the Year
28 Gathering ‘Round for Christmas
44 Gwynn’s Island
The amazing and significant history of a small island
52 Christmas Putzing 56 Show Your Spirit
What’s your Christmas lighting style?
32 Defining Your
60 Tinsel
38 Rockfish
62 Christmas Decorating
Furniture Style
Land a regional favorite for sport or for dinner
The House & Home Magazine
Sparkle with a split personality
with English Boxwoods
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66 Brunswick Stew The staple of the Southeast
68 Second Act Careers Making your hobby pay off
76 Front Door Appeal
First impressions count
81 Fine Properties 94 People and Relationships
The building blocks of a successful cancer program
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Merry MIDDLESEX Christmas
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ou are cordially invited to step away from the crowds this season and experience a cozy coastal Christmas in Middlesex County, where you can get out of the city and the shopping malls and enjoy a low-stress holiday getaway.
Enchanting surprises and hidden gems await in a place where you can “catch your breath, calm your mind and live your dreams.” 14
Whether your preference is strolling through a farmers’ market, enjoying nature trails, boutique shopping, arts and crafts, twinkling light shows, or a good old-fashioned Christmas parade, venues around Middlesex offer up a warm, family friendly atmosphere with the Americana charm of a Norman Rockwell painting. “Here in Virginia’s River Realm, we don’t stand in long lines to go shopping, we get out on the water and look at the lights,” said Michelle Brown, economic development and tourism coordinator for Middlesex County. Virginia’s River Realm (www.virginiasriverrealm.com) is the visitor/tourism resource for things to do, events, lodging, dining or getaway itineraries for the region. Surrounded by the inspiring beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, the area encompasses 465 miles of pristine shorelines in both Middlesex and Lancaster counties, and showcases the small-town delights offered in Deltaville, Urbanna, Kilmarnock, Irvington, White Stone, Saluda, Topping and Lively. Enchanting surprises and hidden gems await in a place where you can “catch your breath, calm your mind and live your dreams.” November/December 2017
Brown encourages every visitor and resident to “Find your shoreline — that happy place within yourself, or literally at the river’s edge, where you can enjoy the wonder of a perfect oyster, the promise of a back road or secret cove, and the peaceful pleasure of sharing a table with friends.” The holiday season is a perfect time to explore. Decorate your Christmas calendar with one or more of the region’s signature events. More to Explore Launching the seasonal line-up in Middlesex County is the Deltaville Maritime Museum’s Holiday Gift Market on Saturday, November 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a local alternative to the traffic and congestion of the traditional “Black Friday” weekend. While there, stroll along the avenues and through the gardens of Holly Point Nature Park. Shop local produce, honey, eggs, goat cheese or other specialties. Stock up on unique arts, crafts and gifts offered by more than 30 holiday vendors. Gather with friends and family to grab a bite for breakfast, lunch or snack time. Head to the waterfront to
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tour the museum’s fleet of historic vessels and take time for a refreshing river cruise. For more information, visit www.deltavillemuseum.com, or call (804)776-7200. The Urbanna Town Illumination will be held November 25 at 6 p.m., featuring the festival of trees and caroling. Next up is Christmas in Urbanna, the town’s presentation of “Our Gift to You,” a seasonal two-day celebration set for December 1 and 2. The events get underway on Friday at 11 a.m. with a fashion show and champagne brunch amid the lovely holiday decorations at historic Lansdowne in the heart of the village. The mansion is one of Virginia’s finest early Georgianstyle residences and believed to have been built as early as 1750. It was the home of Arthur Lee, a prominent member of the Lee family. Enjoy a delicious meal while local models show off the latest fashions from nearby boutique retailers. Later, festivities continue at 4:30 p.m. at the Urbanna Volunteer Fire Department, with treats provided by the women’s auxiliary. The annual Christmas parade begins at 7 p.m. and afterward, children are invited to the free community Santa Party.
Jackson Creek Christmas Cruise.Photo courtesy of Tom Chillemi, Southside Sentinel.
Christmas at Lowe Tide On Saturday, “Urbanna-style” Christmas events carry on throughout town from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. — twinkling lights, carols, decorated storefronts, and local restaurants are all ready for the occasion. The Christmas train kicks off the Pet and Children’s Parade at 9 a.m., bringing Santa to town and providing rides all day.
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The Deltaville Maritime Museum’s Holly Point Holiday Market features creek cruises for visitors.
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Some other highlights include: Rappahannock River Railroaders model train exhibit, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; photos with Santa, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; boat rides at the town marina, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; and a chocolate and wine tasting at the Chesapeake Inn for $10, 3 p.m-5 p.m. Throughout the day, visit open houses at several boutiques and galleries offering distinctive holiday gifts and drawings for giveaways. Enjoy a puppet show, “The True Meaning of Christmas,” the Festival of Trees at the town green, oyster exhibits and the “John Mitchell Map” at the Urbanna Museum, and delightful dining specials at local eateries. For more information about Christmas in Urbanna, visit www.urbanna.com or www.virginiasriverrealm.com. With a little advance planning, you may be able to snag a seat for Deltaville’s Jackson Creek Christmas Cruise and experience holiday “magic on the water.” This exceptional celebration is a widely anticipated regional favorite, attended by a sellout crowd every year. Hosted by the Deltaville Community Association and set for Friday, December 8 (rain date is December 9), guests gather at the town’s community center, where they are treated to homemade cookies and warm cider. The DCA will have a contest for the best homemade cookie, bar or sweet at the event. The Rappahannock River Railroad Club will sponsor a display of model trains to delight children of all ages. The fun continues on a hayride to the town dock, where passengers board a vessel and cruise the shorelines of Jackson Creek to view waterfront properties decked out in their twinkling holiday finery. Cruisers will ride on one of two deadrise boats, either the Bethpager or the Rob-Ann-Jay, for the 45-minute voyage. Four cruise times are offered for the evening: 4:30, 5:30,
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6:30 and 7:30. Each cruise accommodates 45 passengers. The cost for adults is $8. Children 12 and younger are admitted free, but they must have a ticket and be accompanied by an adult. Tickets are available beginning November 9, and must be purchased in person at J&W Seafood and Nauti Nell’s. (No mail order or phone purchases accepted.) The cruises sell out early, so make your plans well in advance. For more information, call Raynell Smith at (804)815-3102. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing holiday getaway, family friendly events, unique gifts for the season, or a delicious dining excursion, skip the crowds and traffic and come celebrate a coastal Christmas season in Virginia’s River Realm. You just might “Find Your Shoreline.” H
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Werowocomoco, translated from the Algonquin means the “king’s place” or the “place of the antler wearers.” Bronze relief image of Chief Powhatan adorns the grounds at the Pamunkey Indian Museum at King William, VA. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo.
Antler
THE
WEARERS By Captain Bob Cerullo
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t is hard to imagine what the area in which we live was like before the arrival of John Smith and the English colonists. Archaeologists have found evidence that the Chesapeake Bay region was a lush and beautiful place abounding with forests, streams, rivers and wild life. What is often lost in our understanding of the area is that it was home to historic tribes who were truly native Americans. The area was home to the Nanticoke, Wicocomico, Weapemeoc, and Chickahominy peoples.
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The most surprising of all is the fact that the native Americans who inhabited the Chesapeake Bay region were not newcomers. They were by no means, to use an expression popular in this area, “come heres.” A survey conducted by William and Mary College archeologists along the Chickahominy River found artifacts and human remains from native sites dating from the third through the seventeenth century. Oyster middens, which are huge piles of oyster shells, were carbon dated to the period between AD 500 and AD 900 and prove oysters were being roasted on an oyster platform as part of food processing. John Smith’s band obtained lots of maize (or corn) from the Chickahominys. In fact, they were harvesting corn as early as AD 1100. By AD 1450, they were growing beans in modest amounts. I asked Dr. Ashley Atkins, Ph.D., director of the Pamunkey Indian Tribal Resource Center in King William, Virginia, how long her people have lived in the Tidewater area. Dr. Atkins told me, “We say we’ve always been here, and there’s archaeological evidence that speaks to tens of thousands of years of occupation in Virginia.” Some historians have placed native Americans in a category described as the “savage slot.” Archeological evidence suggests nothing could be further from the truth. It is believed that Algonquin speakers, who had their origins among the Algonquin tribes, were planting and harvesting corn long before the English arrived. The people of Powhatan Chiefdom have been present in the Chesapeake Bay area for thousands of years, although it is not known where they originated. Evidence shows sophistication. There is evidence that they made fish traps out of hand-woven baskets, and that they grew and harvested corn. The very name Chickahominy is translated to mean “coarsepounded corn people.” The name Chickahominy describes the river, and it also is the name for the unified Virginia Algonquian communities living on it. The Powhatans were not only hunters and gatherers, they were advanced farmers. In addition to the maize and beans, they grew melons or pumpkins and two or three kinds of fruit trees. Contrary to the stereotypical notion that they lived in tents, the Powhatans lived in oblong houses 12 feet high and 36 yards long with rounded roofs. Many of their houses were protected by what was actually a triple stockade not unlike forts in the old west. Powhatans also made pottery and two kinds of rope. Despite efforts by Jesuit missionaries in 1570, they worshiped a multitude of deities. They paid worship to the gods of fire, water, lighting and thunder. Christianity eventually took hold, and there is now a vigorous Christian community among the Powhatan people. Many of the names the Powhatans used for various places, when translated, describe the place. For example, Kuscarawaok, when translated, means this is a “place for making shell beads.” The name Pamunkey translates to a description of the place as a “sloping hill.” Mattaponi is the name of a tribe, but it also translates to mean a “stopping place on the path,” The place name Macocanoc translated to English, means a “gourd field.” And, Werowocomoco, translated from the Algonquin means the “king’s place” or the “place of the antler wearers.” By far the most familiar place name and the name of the Chiefdom, Powhatan, is translated as “the hill of divination.” In his book Powhatan Landscape (University Press of Florida The House & Home Magazine
Native Pamunkey pottery on display at the Pamunkey Indian Museum. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo.
Former pottery school on the Pamunkey Reservation. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo. Archeological dig at Werowocomoco, Va. Photo courtesy Dr. Martin Gallivan, William and Mary University.
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2016), William and Mary professor and anthropologist Dr. Martin D. Gallivan reports, “There are indications in the archaeological record that Werowocomoco was an unusual town on the Virginia Algonquian landscape for at least three centuries prior to Chief Wahunsencawh’s rise to power. (Wahunsencawh was also known as Chief Powhatan.) The concentric earthworks constructed at the town beginning in the thirteenth century suggest that the settlement was an important center well before the Powhatan Chiefdom coalesced.” In my conversations with Dr. Gallivan, I was struck by his desire to tell the rich story of the Powhatan tribes that have been overshadowed by the arrival of the English settlers at Jamestown in 1607. The name Powhatan was also translated as “the hill of priests.” These wise men were known to wear deer antlers on their heads as a symbol of their position. This was going on at the same time that King John of England was putting his seal on the Magna Carta in a field at Runnymede in England; France was becoming the first kingdom to establish a permanent parliament when King Louis IX reserved a chamber in his palace for quarterly session; and Marco Polo was traveling through China and hanging around with the barbarous Kubla Khan, when he wasn’t busy ravaging whole countries. It is believed the Powhatan society goes back to at least AD 100. Powhatan Chiefdom members included the Pamunkey and the Mattaponi. They were quite sophisticated and organized. Clear evidence of that sophistication exists in the form of a drawn interpretation of the Powhatan Chiefdom drawn on deerskins. The “Powhatan’s Mantle,” a deer skin garment dating to the early seventeenth century, features a representa-
Chief Powhatan’s grave marker at the Pamunkey Indian Reservation. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo. 22
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tion of Tsenacomacoh and appears to be keyed to circular shaped symbols which, experts believe, represent the various Virginia Algonquin communities like the Pamunkey and Mattaponi. Oddly, the garment is both a coat and a map. Experts believe the circles represent social groups, from small villages to entire tribal confederacies. Professor Gallivan sees it in a broader context as native cartography showing the Powhatan’s sovereignty in Tsenacomacoh. The mantle is currently housed in Oxford’s Asmolean Museum. It is about eight by five feet. It is decorated with a large, squared-shouldered human figure surrounded by two animal figures and 34 circular disks made of marginella shell beads. Professor Gallivan suggests these figures might reference Virginia Algonquin social categories in the same sense that totem poles do. This interpretation may have already been being used by native Americans in the sixteenth century prior to the time of the English colonists. Professor Gallivan suggests the mantle may record the Union of Virginia Algonquin lineages or clans at the beginning of Chief Powhatan’s chiefdom. The mantle
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Powhatan Mantle. Photo courtesy of Asmolean Museum, Oxford, England.
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shows there was indeed order in the Powhatan community. It puts to rest the myth of half-naked wild savages screaming at visitors and each other as well. John Smith’s divination ceremony occurred over a three-day period. The ceremony was conducted by Pamunkey priests known as antler wearers and was designed to incorporate Smith into the Virginia Algonquin world. Ironically, although they were accepting John Smith as a friend, the priests depicted the English with the same symbol they used for their arch enemy, the “barbarous” Monacans. There were many tribes in this area, fortunately we have the Pamunkey Indian Museum as a repository of Pamunkey history. It is located on an actual reservation in King William County Virginia. There is a website, www.virginia.org/Listings/ Museums/PamunkeyIndianMuseum/. The museum’s address is 191 Lay landing, the Pamunkey Reservation in King William, VA. It is best to call (804)843-4793 to check museum hours. The museum offers artifacts of the Pamunkey people and some insight into their advanced society. At the museum, we spoke with Ms. Joyce Krigsvold, whose grandmother’s photo and her traditional Pamunkey clothing are on display. Joyce said, as a young girl, she trained in the art of pottery making at the former Pamunkey Pottery School. Joyce is a retired psychiatric nurse with a long career in nursing in Richmond. Her son is a filmmaker for NASA. Pamunkey descendants have achieved in just about every field. Among them are doctors, lawyers and present-day Indian chiefs. Chief Powhatan, it would appear, was not only a peacemaker, but a place maker. Through his diplomacy and leadership, the tribes were brought together into the Powhatan Confederacy by the seventeenth century. The Powhatan Confederacy is believed to have included as many as 15,000 people. In 1609, Chief Powhatan asked John Smith to have his men build him an English-style house. He seemed ready to adopt the English ways he liked, while rejecting those he did not like. His daughter, Pocahontas, eventually converted to Christianity and married the colonist John Rolfe. Chief Powhatan, the master organizer and wise ruler, died in April of 1618 at the age of 72. Because of some archaic laws in Virginia at the time, native Americans were 24
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considered to be non-whites. For that reason, native American Joyce Grigsvold says her brother was not permitted to attend high school in Virginia. To complete his education, he had to travel out west to an Indian school. Essentially, the reservation now is home to many retired descendants. They strive to preserve the rich Pamunkey history. The Pamunkeys and their neighbors, the Mattaponi, were victimized by the same mentality that victimized non-white Americans. Many other Native Americans have enjoyed privileges accorded them through treaties made with the U.S. Government — for example, the revenues Native Americans gain from gambling casinos in Connecticut. Because the Powhatan Chiefdom signed treaties with the English over a century before the establishment of the United States, they did not gain the benefits later treaties with the U.S. provided. Tribes that were recognized by U.S. government treaties have had distinct advantages over the Powhatan Chiefdom. For more information about the Powhatan Chiefdom visit the website: www. historyisfun.org/jamestown-settlement/ powhatan-village/. H
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Pamunkey Indian Museum. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo.
Old trading post on Pamunkey Indian Museum. Photo courtesy of Bob Cerullo.
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VIRGINIA BUILDING SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN AWARDED
Home of the Year 2017
BY MODULAR HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
The VBS team shows off its latest achievement.
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appahannock-based Virginia Building Solutions (VBS) has one more accomplishment to celebrate this season. The business earned national acclaim in October when one of its projects won Home of the Year 2017, an annual prize awarded by the Modular Home Builders Association. With headquarters in Charlottesville, MHBA is a national organization serving modular home builders and manufacturers. The honor for VBS’s “Scott Home” in Heathsville was announced at the organization’s annual meeting on October 11. The award is given to the project that “best represents the pinnacle of the modular home industry for the year,” said the MHBA. “We’re particularly pleased to receive 26
this award from the MHBA because it is a national organization of expert builders who nominated and then voted for this home to be the 2017 winner,” said John Garrett, founder and president of VBS. The Heathsville winner was chosen from among 12 “Home of the Month” finalists, which had been narrowed from hundreds of entries submitted across the country. “A masterpiece on the waterfront,” is the description given to the VBS entry, which was recognized as the MHBA Home of the Month in November 2016. Virginia Building Solutions created the Scott Home from a custom plan designed for views of the Chesapeake Bay from a waterfront lot in the Northern Neck. The 3,200-square-foot, two-story home features four bedrooms with three full bathrooms and a half-bath. The exterior of the home displays a blend of craftsman and waterfront cottage elements, including shake siding accents. Expansive elegance is exemplified in the vaulted great room by the wall of windows and two triple doors facing the bay view. The focal point of the
room is a 20-foot floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace with custom bookshelves on each side. The eat-in kitchen opens to the family and dining rooms and features a generous center island with granite countertops and painted black maple raised-panel cabinets. The first-floor master suite presents picturesque views of the bay, and the master bath includes a walk-in “infinity” shower. The switchback staircase opens on two sides with custom railings and iron spindles leading to the loft/balcony. Above the main home, there are two bedrooms with built-in window seats in the dormers overlooking the bay, and a large bedroom/ game room above the garage. “We cannot express how great of a building experience it has been working with Virginia Building Solutions,” said Pamela and Blake Scott of their Candy Point, Heathsville home. “We had a vision of our dream home and Virginia Building Solutions listened to our ideas and designed the perfect home for us! Everyone is so professional and great to work with. Their quality of work and attention to detail is excellent! It was the best building decision we have ever made.” VBS owner John Garrett founded the company in 2004 for the purpose of constructing systems-built homes and purchasing building lots in Williamsburg. After successfully building modular homes in Ford’s Colony, the number one planned community in America, Garrett began to receive requests to build modular homes for landowners who had seen the finished quality and structural advantages of systems building. With the experience earned while building homes for speculation, coupled with a decade of success in the factory-built home industry, Garrett decided to apply his expertise to custom building for clients and even site builders who were impressed with the quality and time savings of modular homes. “Virginia Building Solutions is committed to providing quality homes and superior building systems at a fraction of the time and cost of other methods,” Garrett said. “That is the VBS difference.” H November/December 2017
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All photos courtesy of Craig Davenport/ARC Imaging
Gathering ‘Round
f or C hr i s tm a s By Jackie Nunnery
Nothing can so easily conjure up the magic of Christmas than a house decorated with all the trimmings. At the Williamsburg home of Dave and Carol Pulk, they have created a home that is a perfect backdrop for the couple’s enjoyment of entertaining and Carol’s passion for holiday decorating. 28
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Built in 2010 by Cleckney & Smith Builders, their striking home is nestled between the James and Chickahominy Rivers in the Governor’s Land at Two Rivers community. Originally from Ohio, the couple chose the location not only for the surrounding natural beauty, but its proximity to Colonial Williamsburg, William & Mary, and exceptional golf at Two Rivers Country Club. The couple had very specific ideas when building and decorating since they knew the home would be a place for entertaining, especially around Christmas. With 9,500 square feet of living space and 2,500 square feet of outdoor terraces, they have plenty of space to accommodate both large and small groups. They also included storage space large enough to store Christmas trees completely decorated, along with 100 containers
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of other decorations. Adding elevator access to the storage space meant that Carol could handle most of the decorating herself. Because paint colors were chosen with specific Christmas décor in mind, the decorating doesn’t change much year to year but is tweaked as Carol acquires new items. She begins the process sometime after Halloween and finishes up by Thanksgiving. Just in time for the holiday entertaining season. As friends and family approach the house, they are warmly welcomed with classic window candles and wreaths that complement that traditional architecture. While the outside is beautiful, it’s upon entering the home that the real Christmas magic begins. The great room off the front entry showcases the first and largest of 20 decorated trees that you will find throughout the
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“I love sharing the gift of Christmas... it’s part of what Christmas is all about.” home. The decorating theme here—and every room has one—is nature. Deer, birds, pinecones, and greenery accented with browns, golds, and touches of blue, complement the view of the Chickahominy River just outside the three sets of French doors. The fireplace, one of six in the home, features a stunning mural of a sunset over the Chickahominy, painted by local artist Gary Robertson and his son Jesse. Immediately off the great room, a cozy gathering area awaits. The kitchen and sitting area features a charming blend of whimsical and traditional. Peppermint candies, gingerbread, cranberries and traditional plaids set the stage for Carol’s collection of Santas. The table is set throughout the holiday season, ready for guests. Santas perch amidst the tablescape and the centerpiece is from Carol’s collection of miniature Christmas trees. Additional miniatures are displayed on cake servers in the kitchen as well as other rooms in the house. The sitting area around the fireplace includes a tree with an eclectic collection of ornaments and the mantel is decked out in more peppermint, gingerbread, and cranberries. Perfect for the kitchen setting. There are even two cozy plaid cushions for warming by the fire. Just outside on the terrace, friends will find a place to enjoy conversation and river views along with a snowy Christmas tree decorated with cardinals, lanterns, red ornaments and topped with—a top hat, of course. The bright red pops of color are a striking accent to the black and white chairs, and the cardinals are a perfect choice for the outdoor setting. Visitors can also view Victorian Christmas in the formal living room and dining room. Lavish pinks and golds play off the rich dark wood of the traditional Queen Anne furniture. White poinsettias complete the scene in both planters and on wrapping paper. Carol has beautifully wrapped roughly 300 boxes which she uses as decoration and to hide things like cords. In the formal dining room, the table is set with Fitz & Floyd Christmas china, festive crystal goblets and traditional English Christmas crackers. Upstairs in the game room are decorations that appeal to the child in all of us. Carol has taken over the pool table to create an enchanting Christmas scene using more than 75 of the Department 56 North Pole Village pieces she has been collecting since Dave and Carol were married in 1993. There’s even a miniature train circling the charming little village. Across from the village, twin trees feature teddy bears in Santa’s Workshop. One of the more thoughtful touches is the garland, which is Santa’s “nice” list. Carol makes sure to include the names of children who will be visiting. “They get such a thrill out of seeing their names on the list.”
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The remainder of the second and third floors are guest bedrooms, each with their own tree decorated to match the room’s décor. While Carol loves to decorate, the elaborate holiday displays are really for everyone else. “I love sharing the gift of Christmas by giving tours to friends and neighbors when they stop by. It’s part of what Christmas is all about.” Friends and family who are unable to see their home decked out for Christmas catch a glimpse when the Pulks send out their Christmas cards, which feature a different room each year. You’ll have another opportunity to see the beautiful house (minus the Christmas magic) and tour the grounds when the home is featured on the Garden Club of Virginia’s Historic Garden Tour on April 24th of 2018. For more information about the garden tour visit vagardenweek.org. H
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Furniture Style DEFINING your
By Barbara Weldon
An eclectic mix of antiques and traditional contemporary pieces always reflects timeless style.
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urniture has long defined wealth and luxury. From the Jacobean style of the 1600s through the contemporary simplicity of the Scandinavian designs of the mid-1900s, furniture has been used as a personal statement of style and is a tangible display of personal taste for your home. Knowing what you like can be simple because we tend to choose what is pleasing to our own eye, but defining the look
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that you prefer can make it easier to find pieces that will work with the collection that you currently have. Here is an overview of some popular styles that have stood the test of time and remain popular today. One of the earliest styles of furniture that is still popular today is Jacobean. It is a style born in England and describes much of the furniture from the reign of King James to King James II, but was highly influenced by
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Elizabethan style in its early stages. Jacobean furniture is characteristically very sturdy, massive in size, notoriously uncomfortable and made to stand the test of time. The popular pieces were mainly chests, cupboards, wainscot chairs, gate legged round tables, and trestle tables. Pieces were made to be wonderfully decorative and were made with lavish carvings while maintaining straight lines. Often larger pieces of furniture were made with an internal framework covered with panels that completed the piece. The feet are usually straight and square, but later in the period the ball foot was introduced. William and Mary style antique furniture was better known as Early Baroque in museum circles until the 1720s. It originally comes from Holland and is named for the king and queen who reigned together over England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689-1694. The William and Mary style was the first to move away from the heavy Jacobean style and into a much lighter design that allowed for more flexibility in room design. This style ushered in the technique of dovetailing to join pieces together, making construction lighter and much more innovative. The legs on William and Mary pieces were fashioned with chisels or other tools while being spun on a lathe. This made the Flemish scroll leg and the longer, more column design style of the trumpet leg very popular with this type of furniture. Artisans of the day would fashion the William and Mary style with scroll and Spanish feet to reflect the elegance of the style. Chair designs were made to be thinner and have high backs with lavish embellishments. Chairs
William and Mary style antique furniture was better known as Early Baroque in museum circles until the 1720s. It originally comes from Holland and is named for the king and queen who reigned together over England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1689-1694.
were made with cane or rush, and some were made with cushioned upholstered leather. Wing chairs and daybeds were introduced during this period. Queen Anne style furniture dates from the 1720s to approximately 1750 in England, but production in the United States ran up to about 1800, falling within the Colonial period. Because it blends well with the William and Mary style, Queen Anne can be difficult to date. However, the Queen Anne style shifted furniture style towards simple elegance and refinement in American furniture. This style was the first to incorporate the curving cabriole leg that has defined Queen Anne style. The light look of the pad foot is the most common, but spade and trifid feet were used as well, replacing the heavy ball foot of the William and Mary style. Later pieces may have the ball and claw feet, but this look is more indicative of the later Chippendale style.
Updated Victorian pairs with Queen Anne and Chippendale elements in this living room/dining room combination.
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William & Mary chairs, crafted of carved walnut with cane backs and tapestry upholstery, late seventeenth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com.
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The Colonial-period style of Queen Anne furniture included broad but overall delicate features with curved elements. The artisans would frequently use simple fan and shell carvings to embellish cabinet fronts or on the knees of chair legs. Chairs would often have yoke-shaped top rails and back splats with a solid vase shape, as with the introduction of the Hogarth chair. Seats are often not upholstered and have a horseshoe or compass shape to them. Space saving became important during this period so the drop leaf and tilt top table features were incorporated into the styles. Chippendale style furniture was named after Thomas Chippendale, a London cabinetmaker who published The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker’s Director, a publication he put out several times between 1754 and 1762 as a guide for constructing various pieces of furniture. However, the Chippendale style is American crafted furniture that falls within the Colonial period, 1750-1780, and is conservative in style compared to English designs from the same time period. Closely related to the Queen Anne style, Chippendale style is characteristically made from mahogany, cherry, walnut and maple wood. The legs on Chippendale styles were inspired by Chinese design elements like the straight Marlborough leg. Many pieces still use the cabriole legs but cabinetmakers from Newport, Rhode Island often used reeded or fluted legs while furniture makers from Philadelphia were influenced by Rococo legs which used elaborately carved legs. The Pembroke style of Chippendale has straight legs but incorporates other ornate characteristics that are common with this style. The ball-and-claw foot was embraced by the American Chippendale craftsmen and made popular during this time. Settees, stools and chairs were upholstered with the finest of fabrics, and arms on chairs were often intricately pierced and carved with ribbon motifs. Federal style furniture gets its name from the time period following the Revolutionary War. When America was still forming as a country, furniture took on the simplicity of dÊcor that November/December 2017
defined the simplicity of the era. The decorative arts of the time moved away from the ornate pieces of the past. Large, heavily carved furniture became less popular as early Americans embraced Neoclassicism that came about during this time, combining the characteristics of Hepplewhite and Sheraton furniture. Federal is defined by graceful, straight lines, light construction, and refined elegance. Pieces in the Federal style are characterized by sharp geometric forms and simple, straight legs. Although simple in style, craftsmanship varied from town to town, and studying pieces closely can help a potential buyer to narrow down the origin of the piece. The similarities stem from common influences of those who were renowned in their field. For instance, Englishman George Hepplewhite and Thomas Sheraton both impacted the Federal style with their own interpretations of Neoclassical style. Hepplewhite is characterized as crafted of mahogany or having mahogany veneers over cherry wood and is sometimes called “poor man’s mahogany,” while Sheraton’s work made a name by designing square-shaped seating while keeping traditional round legs for the table. Empire style furniture is French inspired Neoclassical and the name comes from the First French Empire under Napoleon’s rule. The style gained popularity in the United States after 1820 and is considered a more robust phase of the Neoclassical style. In America, the style gained popularity in New York while interpretations of the style were made popular in Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. The most elaborate forms of Empire style furniture often incorporated columns with rope-twist carvings, paw feet, stars, and acanthus-leaf details. Furniture artisans would often incorporate gold gilding and antique green to simulate aged bronze. Simplified versions of American Empire furniture are frequently referred to as the Grecian style and generally displayed plain surfaces in carved forms. They also incorporated highly figured mahogany veneers or gilt stenciling. Popular pieces of the day are usually massive chests of drawers with scroll pillars and glass The House & Home Magazine
An Empire-style gilt and mahogany cabinet, late nineteenth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com.
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An American Arts and Crafts dining table and chairs is right at home in this craftsman-style bungalow. pulls or work tables with scroll feet and fiddle back chairs. Victorian style furniture was made popular in the early 1800s during a time of industrial revolution. This time period ushered in mass production and changed furniture manufacturing forever. Machines had taken over and pieces were made to satisfy a growing demand by a growing middle class. It became fashionable to have a home overflowing with furniture to show status to peers, and Queen Victoria encouraged the
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production as she identified herself with the middle class. Because of this, there are many pieces of antique Victorian furniture that still survive today. Unfortunately, craftsmanship fell to the wayside and designers no longer had direct contact with customers, and the fast pace of manufacturing also led to poor quality production for many pieces. The well-known characteristics of Victorian style furniture are detailed carvings on cumbersome pieces. Buttoned upholstery became popular on armchairs
that displayed low arms that were scrolled on the front. Balloon back chairs and spoon backs were introduced. Thonet’s steam bent chair was also introduced. Ladies’ easy chairs without arms were created during this time period to accommodate vast, luxurious skirts. When chair arms were added, designers removed the upholstery to help lighten the appearance. Arts and Crafts style furniture was created to return style back to simplicity, beauty, quality and functionality. This style was made popular in the mid-1900s and was a complete turn from the previously popular Victorian style that was popular during the earlier half of the century. At that time, furniture had become industrialized and Victorian furniture was being made quickly and cheaply. Arts and Crafts furniture was being produced simply, by hand, and embodied solid craftsmanship. The pieces are usually simple with square, straight lines. Curves and arches are simple with eased edges. As the nineteenth century came to a close, Arts and Crafts style became popular in homebuilding as well as furniture. The movement used simple designs and durable raw materials. The philosophy was to have little decorative flair so that the furniture would allow for flexibility in surrounding dÊcor. Pieces were designed to impress with functionality as well as comfort. Pieces were made from solid oak and other natural woods so that they would survive over decades of use. Over time, craftsmen added their own personal style to pieces, thereby adding well-known characteristics to the style. Gustav Stickley and Harvey Ellis created Stickley furniture that incorporated lighter pieces into the Arts and Crafts style. Art Deco style furniture is undoubtedly November/December 2017
one of the most popular and long-lasting movements in the history of design. It extends beyond home furnishings and into architecture, interior design and more. It has become the popular style of today even though it began in the early twentieth century, and it combines aspects of Neoclassicism and Art Nouveau. The furniture style reflects the positive attitudes of the post-war society of World War I by incorporating vivid colors and playful motifs. Art Deco combines metal, wood, glass, stainless steel, and more to create the desired look. Furniture artisans have even used marble and plastics such as Bakelite and lucite in creating simple pieces that could be produced cheaply and easily. Lacquer was used to bypass using exotic woods such as ebony. The lacquer also allowed for deep color and shine that gives a rich look to less expensive materials. Chair styles in Art Deco often feature curved lines and organic forms that are paired with angular lines that create an attractive contrast. The use of chrome is often paired with leather and create highly collectible pieces. Beds designed in this style are generally characterized by oversized headboards and footboards that are constructed from wood or metal. Cocktail tables became wildly popular during the introduction of this style and are often constructed of chrome legs and glass table tops. While some styles closely resemble styles that preceded the introduction or creation of each furniture style, each is a unique expression that often defined that era. Craftsman were able to have their names live on in styles that defined their artistry. Knowing the style you prefer can help you to better find pieces to add to your collection, add to your home or complement your current dĂŠcor. H
A Chippendale-style carved mahogany cabinet, early twentieth century. Photo courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com. The House & Home Magazine
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Rockfish:
When the heat of the summer slides away and brisk autumn and early winter temperatures prevail, the fair-weather fishermen and the party boaters have docked their vessels for the season. It’s time for serious anglers to gear up and get out on the water to take advantage of fall/winter rockfish season on the Chesapeake Bay.
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Land a Regional Favorite for Sport or for Dinner By Janet Evans Hinman
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edicated anglers and devoted cooks have a couple of common traits — namely creativity and passion. Whether you’re fishing or cooking, it’s best to be willing to try something new and to be enthusiastic about the process and preparation. It’s no surprise that rockfish season from October through December provides ample opportunities to indulge both pastimes.
When the heat of the summer slides away and brisk autumn and early winter temperatures prevail, the fairweather fishermen and the party boaters have docked their vessels for the season. It’s time for serious anglers to gear
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up and get out on the water to take advantage of fall/winter rockfish season on the Chesapeake Bay. Rockfish are among the top recreational sport fish in the bay and along the Atlantic coast. From 2005 to 2014, the recreational harvest there averaged 26.2 million pounds per year, according to the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Recreational landings for rockfish account for roughly 75 to 80 percent of coastal landings, NOAA reports. When water temperatures cool, rockfish (also called Atlantic striped bass or stripers) leave their “summer in the Hamptons” of New England and make their long journey south to the warmer waters of their winter homes along the coast of Virginia and North Carolina. Seasoned fishermen and amateurs alike are drawn by the annual migration of tens of thousands of rockfish heading back into the Chesapeake Bay for one last feeding stop before they move on to deeper water in the Atlantic. It’s the time of year when rockfish tournaments heat up, charter trips are booked and anglers vie for prime fishing spots outside of tidal flows, among islands, and around pilings of bridges and channel markers, where rockfish hide to ambush moving bait fish. When the rockfish school up, the fishing isn’t difficult or technical. It offers rewards for all types of anglers — hardcore veterans, fly fishers, buddies out for a good time, parents taking children on their first fishing trip, or groups looking to try something new. Everyone can take part in the action, and leave with fond memories and tired forearms. What’s the appeal of recreational striped bass fishing? “The strike!” said Robert Erickson, avid fisherman and retiree of Virginia Farm Bureau insurance company. “It’s the excitement of knowing you have found the perfect rip of a moving tide over a sandbar — casting a surface lure or a rattletrap in anticipation of it,” he said. “The adrenaline from the strike of a rockfish crushing the lure is unmistakable, unforgettable!” And wherever there is good fishing, the creative energy of rockfish anglers translates into fine dining. Rockfish is a regional favorite seafood among foodies, home cooks and professional chefs. It has white meat with a mild flavor and a medium texture, firm and flavorful with a large flake. Rockfish is extremely versatile in that it can be pan-seared, The House & Home Magazine
(above) Darren Wilmore and Jimmy Harmon show off their rockfish catch.(below) The day’s catch is displayed for anglers to admire after a successful charter on Scott Moss’s Captain Joe Bill, out of Kinsale.
grilled, steamed, poached, roasted, broiled, sautéed and deep fried. “I love to eat it, and I love preparing it,” said Murphy Packett, local chef and dedicated food enthusiast. “I’ve been catching them myself since I was a little kid,” he said. “Rockfish is probably the best locally sourced fish in the Northern Neck. The flavor is perfect, especially seared with 39
the skin on. I’m a huge fish taco eater, so to have a quality fish in the taco is great,” he added. Rockfish, or striped bass (Morone saxatilis), are large predatory fish with dark lines running across their silvery sides. They are found primarily along the Atlantic coast of North America, mainly ranging from Maine to North Carolina. They are the official marine (saltwater) fish of Virginia, New Jersey, New York and New Hampshire; and the state fish of South Carolina, Maryland and Rhode Island. The history of the rockfish/striped bass in North America dates back to colonial times. Many written accounts by the first European settlers describe the immense abundance of striped bass. They were once so plentiful, they were used to fertilize fields; but because of their value to early settlers, such use was banned by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1649. Rockfish are known to be a semianadromous (saltwater) fish, living most of their lives in either the deep channels of the Atlantic or in the Chesapeake Bay, and annually ascending to spawning grounds in freshwater or brackish rivers. While some rockfish can be found year-round in the bay, they typically migrate north and south seasonally, depending on water temperatures, preferring cooler northern waters during the summer season and heading to the warmer southern climate for the winter. Spawning occurs from April to early June in the bay’s tidal tributaries. During spawning season, several males court a single female, who lays her eggs in fresh or brackish water near the shore. Eggs hatch in two to three days, after which larvae move slowly downstream. Juveniles live in the shallows of tidal rivers throughout the summer. Most spend their first two to four years of life in the river in which they were born. The bay is the largest rockfish nursery area on the Atlantic coast — 70 to 90 percent of the Atlantic Rockfish population uses the tributaries of the bay to spawn. After spawning in the spring, adult rockfish swim downstream to the bay, and some continue on to the ocean. Most spend the summer along the New England coast, and the fall and winter 40
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off of North Carolina. Rockfish are a long-lived species, with a lifespan of between ten and 30 years. On average, they grow two to three feet long and weigh between ten and 30 pounds, although they can reach a length of six feet and weigh as much as 125 pounds. During different stages in their life cycle, rockfish feed on zooplankton, fish larvae, insects, worms, squid, crustaceans, anchovies, menhaden, spot, herring, shad, white perch and yellow perch. Historically, the rockfish population was one of the most important on the Atlantic coast. Overfishing and poor environmental conditions led to the collapse of the fishery in the 1980s — the population had declined to less than five million by 1982, according to NOAA. Coordinated efforts to rebuild the stock proved successful and the fishery was considered restored as of 1995. In 2007, there were nearly 56 million striped bass of all ages. Recreational anglers and commercial fishermen caught an unprecedented 3.8 million rockfish in 2006, NOAA reports. Species management
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regulations include size limits, quotas, and biological reference points. Sport fishermen use a variety of hook-and-line methods, including trolling and surf casting, as well as bait casting with live and dead bait. The array of food choices preferred by rockfish serves to encourage the creativity anglers can display when designing lures or choosing bait for fishing excursions. Experts note that striped bass will take a number of live and fresh baits — including bunker, clams, eels, sandworms, herring, bloodworms, mackerel, shad, bluegills, crayfish, bucktails jigs, silver spoons, and sassy shad baits. For more information and regulations about fishing for striped bass/rockfish, check with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, dgif.virginia.gov, or the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, asmfc.org. Whether you’re a seasoned angler, a recreational novice, a dedicated home chef or fine dining foodie, now would be a good time to land a regional favorite — either at the end of your line
Rachel Garrett is pleased with her rockfish reward. or on your plate. By any name, rockfish or striped bass have a well-earned reputation as a local delicacy. With fishing season in full swing, use a local catch in a familiar or new recipe. H
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ROCKFISH WITH CAPERS, OLIVES AND TOMATOES Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: • 4, 6-7-ounce rockfish fillets • All-purpose flour • 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided • 2 large shallots, chopped • 1/4 teaspoon dried, crushed red pepper • 4 plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped • 1/2 cup chopped pitted Kalamata olives • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil, divided • 1 tablespoon drained capers • 1/3 cup bottled clam juice • 1/4 cup dry white wine
Directions: Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour. Heat two tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish and sauté until lightly browned and just opaque in center, about four minutes per side. Transfer fish to platter. Heat remaining two tablespoons of oil in the same skillet. Add shallots and crushed red pepper;
sauté one minute. Mix in tomatoes, olives, 1/4 cup basil and capers. Add clam juice and wine. Boil until sauce thickens slightly, about four minutes. Mix in 1/4 cup of basil. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over fish and serve.
ROCKFISH TACOS WITH MANGO SALSA AND CILANTRO LIME SAUCE Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: • 2 pounds rockfish filets • 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 2 tablespoons soy sauce For Lime Sauce • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise • 1/2 cup low-fat yogurt • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice • 1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, finely chopped • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped or pressed • Salt For Mango Salsa • 1 bell pepper (red, yellow, and/or orange), seeded and chopped into 1/4-inch squares • 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced • 2 just-ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped into 1/2-inch square chunks • 1 handful cilantro, washed, dried, stemmed, and chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • Juice of 1 lime • Salt to taste 42
To Assemble: • 10 to 12 corn tortillas, warmed • 3 cups shredded cabbage
Directions: Combine the fresh lime juice with the vegetable oil and soy sauce in a rectangular baking dish (not metal). Add the fish, turn to coat, and set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes. For lime sauce, in a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, yogurt, lime juice, chipotle and garlic. Season to taste with salt. For salsa, toss together peppers, onion, mango, cilantro, garlic, and lime juice in a bowl; season to taste with salt. Remove fish from the marinade and grill or sauté over medium heat until cooked through and browned. Let cool slightly, then flake into bite-size chunks. To assemble a taco, place a bit of cabbage on a warm tortilla, add fish chunks, drizzle with chipotle-lime sauce, and top with mango salsa. November/December 2017
GRILLED ROCKFISH WITH JAMAICAN JERK BARBECUE SAUCE Makes 4 servings
Ingredients: • 4 rockfish filets • 3 cups ketchup • 2 tablespoons honey • 2 teaspoons molasses or tamarind paste • 2 teaspoons pickapeppa or Worcestershire sauce • 1 teaspoon hot mustard • Juice of one lime • Zest of one lime • 2 tablespoons Jamaican jerk seasoning • 1 teaspoon of salt
Directions: Rinse rockfish filets, pat dry and set aside. Combine sauce ingredients in a medium pot, and simmer for ten minutes, or until thoroughly combined. Coat rockfish filets with sauce; grill or pan sear over medium heat until cooked through and browned. Baste as needed. Remove filets to a platter, and drizzle with more sauce. Serve with your favorite grilled or sautéed fresh vegetables.
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ROCKFISH SALAD Serving size varies
Ingredients: • 6-12 ounces of cooked rockfish, flaked • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley • 1/4 cup chopped celery • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice • 1/4 cup chopped onion • 1/4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning (or a little more, to taste) • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix well and refrigerate until chilled. Garnish with parsley and a sprinkle of Old Bay or paprika, if desired. Serve on crackers, toast points or slices of crusty bread.
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Gwynn’s Island The Amazing and Significant History of a Small Island By Dianne Saison
An aerial view of Gwynn’s Island in Mathews County. Photo courtesy of Gywnn’s Island Museum.
The entire island evokes the feeling of a seashore vacation getaway, with sandy beaches and impressive water views. it is only upon a closer look that visitors realize that the depth of history the small island has to offer is not only impressive, but also includes some of the most impactful records of our national history.
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t the southern end of the Piankatank River, deep in northeast Mathews County, lies a tiny island accessible only by a swingbridge. Travelers who choose to go off the beaten path will discover a true gem of Virginia’s heritage upon arriving on the remote, 3.5-square mile body of land known as Gwynn’s Island.
After a visitor crosses the Milford Landing waterway, Gwynn’s Island slowly unfolds. A public pier with a restaurant being built, residents taking in the views, and boats with merry passengers being loaded and offloaded, are warm and welcoming sights to visitors. Traveling deeper into town, the well-paved roads are dotted with bungalowstyle homes, proudly adorned with flags and Chesapeake November/December 2017
Gwynn’s Island Museum, dedicated to preserving its local culture, is packed with amazing historical relics, pictures and documents. Photo by Dianne Saison.
Bay-style décor. Closer to the beaches, large capes and chalets are nestled between smaller cottages. The entire island evokes the feeling of a seashore vacation getaway, with sandy beaches and impressive water views. It is only upon a closer look that visitors realize that the depth of history the small island has to offer is not only impressive, but also includes some of the most impactful records of our national history. Originally part of Powhatan lands, Gwynn’s Island got its current name after an unlikely interaction between Colonel Hugh Gwynn, a Jamestown colonist from England, and one of the most beloved figures of Native American history. Legend tells that in 1611, Gwynn was exploring the Chesapeake Bay when he heard cries for help from an Indian girl who had fallen from her canoe into the deep, cold waters. Not about to let the child drown, Gwynn The House & Home Magazine
rushed to her aid, diving into the Piankatank River and pulling her up from the waters. Once safely ashore, the young girl introduced herself. Her name was Pocahontas, daughter of Chief Powhatan. In gratitude for saving her life, Gwynn was gifted the island by Pocahontas. In 1635, Gwynn then claimed the island in the name of the King through the process of headrights. In that time, it was common in Virginia to be awarded lands, instead of money, according to the number of people that an individual financed and/or brought over from England to colonize the Americas. Gwynn’s Island, therefore, was actually a part of the original Jamestown Settlement, as Gwynn himself had arrived and claimed the land under those auspices. According to the patent, Gwynn received 1,000 acres of land at the mouth of the Piankatank River, including much of Gwynn’s Island 45
The original Gwynn’s Island Ferry, pictured here circa 1912, was hand-pulled and carried goods, visitors and residents across the waters. Photos courtesy of The Gwynn’s Island Museum. and land on the south side of Milford Haven. Whether Gwynn lived on the island, or merely settled his servants and colonists there, remains uncertain. However, he continued to expand his holdings throughout the remainder of his life while also serving in public office. Gwynn represented Charles River County in the House of
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Burgesses in 1639, served as a justice in York County in 1641, represented York County as a burgess in 1646, and served as a burgess for Gloucester County in 1652, the latter of which indicates he was resident on or near his island by 1652. For the next century, Gwynn’s Island residents mainly tended to farming, herding and fishing. The Keeble family, along with the Grymes family, bought land from Gwynn’s descendants and expanded their families on the island. It was a quiet existence, but with the advent of the Revolutionary War came a small skirmish that became a far-reaching, pivotal point in Gwynn’s Island and national history. In late spring of 1776, John Murray, known as Lord Dunmore and the last Royal Governor of Virginia, encamped his forces on the island. Earlier that month, Dunmore had been anchored near Norfolk. An unpopular man, Dunmore was known for creating and meting out his own brand of law against colonists. Calling his rules “the King’s Justice,” Dunmore alienated Virginians by disbanding their legislative group, denying colonists any representation and creating his own dictatorship in the name of the monarchy. Learning that American forces were preparing to attack his smallpox-weakened troops, Dunmore raided a colonial armory in Williamsburg, gathered up his Tory sympathizers and led them to the safety of a 90-ship fleet harbored near Norfolk. He then armed his private militia of approximately 600 freed slaves, which he named his “Ethiopian Brigade.” Dunmore led the fleet, packed with as many militants and sympathizers as he could rally, and sailed to Gwynn’s Island, the home of acquaintance and loyalist John Randolph Grymes. At that time, Dunmore had been assured by Captain Andrew Snape Hamond, the senior British naval officer in the Chesapeake, that Gwynn’s Island was an easily defendable refuge with an excellent harbor. November/December 2017
Fishermen bring in their shad to Callis Wharf after a hard day of fishing. Photo courtesy Gwynn’s Island Museum
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(left) Beautiful inlets provide easy water access to year-round and summer residents of Gwynn’s Island. Photo by Dianne Saison. On May 26, 1776, Dunmore landed a combined force of about 800 men, including his own 14th Regiment, the Royal Marines, loyalists from Norfolk, sailors, and the Ethiopian Regiment. Once there, Dunmore’s forces built two batteries and a stockade fort on the southeastern tip of the island, while British ships secured the water approach. Dunmore hoped also to set up a safe camp where his sick and dying troops, who were suffering from smallpox and the plague, could rehabilitate while he re-established his royal governorship of Virginia. American General Andrew Lewis answered Dunmore’s threat. He and four companies of men from the Gloucester County battalion erected the earthworks known as Fort Cricket Hill, the remnants of which survive archaeologically to the present day. By early July, Lewis acquired canons, and on July 9, 1776, American forces opened fire on the British ships. The Otter and the Dunmore both sustained serious damage, with reports that Dunmore himself was injured after a canon came through his stateroom, shattering his fine china and raining debris on him while another shot killed his boson. In addition, four tenders ran aground, one was captured, and five 48
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(above) Callis Wharf, circa 1960, was the hub of Gwynn’s Island and even featured a grocery store. Photo courtesy Gwynn’s Island Museum.
burned. The Virginia regiment then turned its canons on Gwynn’s Island and the embankment on its southern edge. The battle’s finale became the bloodiest day in local history. Dunmore’s men were decimated, with the cannons wreaking havoc. Once Lewis crossed the waters onto the island, none of the royal supporters were left alive. The island belonged to the dead and wounded, many left where they lay. Dunmore, realizing he would receive no aid from the British forces, fled, never to be heard from again. Gwynn’s Island was therefore the last home to Virginia’s final Royal Governor. Gwynn’s Island transitioned peacefully into independence. Residents moved back to the island, resuming their quiet farming and watermen life. The Gwynns and Keebles continued to be the predominate names associated with the island. From 1798 to the 1830s, James Gwynn and his family operated a store on the island, and Humphrey Keeble operated as a licensed merchant and shipbuilder. Gwynn’s Island slowly began to move away from a heavy reliance on agriculture, and more towards a diversified economy that drew merchants, fishermen, and men in the shipbuilding trades to the island. One of the notable new businesses was Mathews Built Schooners, a major sail-powered, ship-building company. The money crop, however, soon proved to be oysters. According to local watermen, in the bygone days, Gwynn’s Island’s waters were so inundated with oysters it became hard to come ashore in some areas, as the oysters were so abundant and deadly sharp they would tear up and peel away entire hulls. Although the island saw little action during The Civil War, it benefited greatly from Reconstruction, as steamships from Baltimore brought travelers and the water trade flourished. Goods from The House & Home Magazine
Baltimore were brought in to the island for sale to the surrounding region while oysters and harvested fish were exported by the ton. The travel and the commercial seafood industry shaped the daily life of Gwynn’s Island’s community well into the twentieth century. The best surviving example of this on the island is Callis Wharf, which today operates as Oyster Seed Holdings. Captain William James Callis built the wharf in the late nineteenth century, and his son, W. Eugene Callis, improved it in the early twentieth century. Soon after, the Maryland Steamboat Company and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Steamboat Company, began using it for passenger travel. By 1912, the wharf also supported a seafood packing house, commercial traffic, passenger traffic, and live entertainment, including the James-Adams Floating Theater, which inspired the Edna Ferber classic, Showboat. During the decades between the Civil War and World War I, the growing community on Gwynn’s Island used resources from fishing and farming to seat itself firmly in the modern era. In 1883, the people of Gwynn’s Island built their first post office, and during the summer of 1883 the community, spearheaded by the women of the island, who were tired of not being able to travel across the waters without getting wet, raised funds to launch a ferry service between the island and the mainland. In 1924, The Mathews Journal reported that the Gwynn’s Island Fish and Oyster Company produced 108,000 cans of herring and 2,000 barrels of “rightly packed herring.” Gwynn’s
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The molar of a mastodon, discovered alongside a cast of the Cinmar Knife and a portion of mastodon tusk, are all on display at the Gwynn’s Island Museum. Photo by Dianne Saison.
The Cinmar Bi-Faced knife, dredged up by a Mathew’s waterman, is the oldest known artifact of Paleo-humans ever found in the Americas. Photo courtesy The Gwynn’s Island Museum. Between the beautiful beaches, friendly island folk, up-and-coming restaurants, and the rich historical tapestry, Gwynn’s Island stands unique in both its beauty and breadth of history readily accessible and just waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveler.
Island had become the center of heavy investment in seafood processing. In addition to the Gwynn’s Island Fish and Oyster Company, it was also home to the Mathews Seafood Products Company, J. Newton Foster & Son, the Gwynn’s Island Operating Company, and the Great Atlantic and Pacific (A&P) Tea Company. Although tough times hit Gwynn’s Island, along with the rest of the country, during The Great Depression — which caused A&P to shutter its island operations — the fishing industry remained strong, and the demand for seafood during World War II brought another wave of prosperity. The construction of W. D. Jenkins’s marina complex, beginning in 1964, helped reinforce the increasingly recreational nature of Gwynn’s Island’s economy. Arguably the most exciting and impactful event in Gwynn’s Island’s recent history involved the discovery of ancient bones and tools, the likes of which have rewritten history books concerning early man. In 1970, Captain Thurston Shawn of Mathews was dredging for scallops on his boat the Cinmar, 40 miles off of the Virginia Capes, when he pulled up an ivory mammoth tusk, a large molar and a stone knife. 50
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Shawn later donated those items to the Gwynn’s Island Museum. Just over a decade ago, an archaeologist from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., went into the local museum seeking shelter from a rain storm and happened upon the displayed items. His reaction was immediate, calling his boss and directing a team of scientists to investigate what he felt to be a hugely significant discovery. After two years of testing, including carbon dating and DNA tests, it was concluded that the molar was from a 30-year-old female mammoth who died 20,000 years ago. The knife, now named The Cinmar Knife, after Shawn’s vessel, became the oldest paleo-human artifact to be discovered in the Americas. Researchers have since been able to determine that the knife had European origins, and that hunters and gatherers once crossed the North Atlantic in ice boats, coming to the region to hunt large game. The original knife, which will be displayed at The Smithsonian, was replicated and is on display at the Gwynn’s Island Museum along with the original tusk and molar Shawn discovered. Today, the community on Gwynn’s Island seamlessly reflects its colorful history while embracing modern values and comforts. Perhaps the most important place that is reflected is at the Gwynn’s Island Museum. From its creative display of Gwynn saving Pocahontas, to the Cinmar exhibit, to the Merchant Marine and Military room of honor, to the hundreds of pictures depicting daily life though the island’s history, the museum has created a bastion of both preservation and learning for visitors and residents alike. Between the beautiful beaches, friendly island folk, up-and-coming restaurants, and the rich historical tapestry, Gwynn’s Island stands unique in both its beauty and breadth of history readily accessible and just waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveler. The House and Home Magazine would like to extend warm thanks and appreciation to The Gwynn’s Island Museum, its director Tom Edwards, and all of the residents who helped compile their island’s history. For more information on Gwynn’s Island, visit www.gwynnsislandmuseum.org. H The House & Home Magazine
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Christmas PUTZING
By Deb Weissler
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ll that glitters is not gold” is a truism that couldn’t be more apt for the Christmas season. Welcome to the world of glitter or putz houses that sparkle and shimmer year-round. For over a century, the German-American vernacular “putz” has meant to putter about, but to the baby boomer generation putz houses have always been synonymous with the Christmas season.
Since their inception, diminutive putz houses have delighted millions of collectors, regardless of size. From tiny 52
mica or wooden crèches to entire villages bedecked with glitter and set atop cotton-batting snow, putz houses have helped signal the start of the Christmas season. Actually, the term putz comes from the German word “putzen,” which means to decorate or adorn. Putz houses, elaborately constructed scenes that depicted the story of Christ’s birth, were begun by the Moravians of Central Europe as part of their annual Christmas traditions. As many left their homelands and immigrated to America, they brought their religious practices with them. So, who are the Moravians? The sect had its origin in ancient Bohemia and Moravia in what is now part of the November/December 2017
Czech Republic. These countries converted to Christianity in the midninth century through the influence of two prominent Greek Orthodox missionaries. They translated the Bible into a common language and developed a set of church tenets. But as the region gradually came under the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church, protests arose. Moravians rejected the Pope as their intermediary with Christ and in 1457 the Moravian Church officially organized. As religious persecutions increased, some Moravians sought refuge in the New World, joining General Oglethorpe’s 1735 philanthropic venture in Georgia. When they failed to establish a community in Savannah, the group purchased 5,000 acres in Pennsylvania and in 1742 they founded the towns of Bethlehem and Nazareth. Their beloved putz scenes have been part of the American Christmas landscape ever since. The original putz structures were constructed of natural materials gathered in nearby forests in late fall. Moss, ferns, lichen, twigs, and stones were used to construct miniature crofts, trees, and mountains. Later, tin foil or mirrors were used to simulate water features, and tiny creatures were added to bring life to the scenes. There were no established scales and whatever was found in nature and around the house worked. In later years, Moravian families would visit each other’s homes to view the various putzes, and in 1937 the church established its annual Christmas Putz. Early in November, flocks of volunteers head to the Pocono Mountains to gather live moss, tree bark, and stumps to form the bases of their putzes. Construction begins in mid-November and soon a landscape of rolling hills, deserts, farms, and home scenes appear to help tell the story of Jesus’s birth. The Christmas Putz attracts thousands of visitors every year. Surprisingly in America, Christmas wasn’t always our favorite holiday, and interest in the holiday waxed and waned before it was declared a federal holiday on June 26, 1870. In the early seventeenth century, a wave of religious reforms changed the way Christmas was celebrated in Europe, especially in England. Oliver Cromwell and his The House & Home Magazine
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Purple Cottage. Courtsey of Margaret Crossland
Nativity. Courtesy of Margaret Crossland Puritan forces vowed to rid the country oof decadence and declared Christmas celebrations heretical. The Pilgrims were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs and, as a result, Christmas was not celebrated in the early New England colonies. In fact, from 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was outlawed in Boston. Anyone
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caught celebrating the season was fined five shillings. By contrast, the southern colonies enjoyed their Christmas celebrations with feasts and libations. Captain John Smith, a prodigious writer, recorded that the Anglican Jamestown settlers enjoyed their Christmas celebrations early on. When England’s most famous author, Charles Dickens, penned A Christmas Carol in 1843, entire generations of Englishmen and Americans had grown up with Cromwell’s holly stake firmly planted in their hearts. There was little left of the old celebrations that had begun as far back as 601 A.D. Even the 1660 restoration of the English monarchy and its relaxations on theater, sports, and dancing, failed to completely revive the season’s past frivolities. Christmas remained a primarily religious celebration until the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria and German-born Prince Albert introduced the first Christmas tree to Windsor Castle in 1841. English royalty quickly embraced the decorated fir tree, and high society on both sides of the Atlantic took Christmas and its requisite decorations to their hearts. The Industrial Revolution gave access to a variety of new materials with which to fashion holiday decorations. Tinsel, glass balls and ornaments, candles, and garlands became part of the Christmas scene. When it came to putz houses, carved and painted figures, hand-stamped doors and windows, glitter, and faux snow added wonderful new dimensions. Soon entire villages of putz houses sprang up to adorn the fireplace mantle or reside beneath the Christmas tree. The German region of Erzgebirge, famed for its toy making, exported hundreds of pre-made putz houses that Americans embraced with fervor. WWI decimated Germany’s toy industry and so American importers looked elsewhere for these tiny structures. No one knows for sure how and when the Japanese discovered putz houses, but their ingenuity began with tiny candy boxlike containers and holes punched in the back to fill with Christmas candies. Eventually someone came up with the notion of adding lights inside to illuminate the tiny abodes. By the late 1920s, sparkly materials, faux snow, and cellophane windows were common features. The number and variety of putz houses created in Japan before and after WWII numbered in the thousands and were sold by mass marketers like Woolworth’s and Sears-Roebuck, and by local five-and-dime stores all across America. When WWII broke out and access to Japan’s markets ceased, North American toy and novelty companies created their own versions, albeit made of cheaper materials. Though imported putz houses reappeared shortly after the war, their numbers never recovered. Television had become the new centerpiece in America, replacing the fireplace and mantle as the heart of the home. As the years have passed, the tradition of decorating with putz houses waned. By the mid-1960s, putz houses had all but disappeared, and none are commercially manufactured today. But industry’s loss is often an artist’s gain, and putz houses are now available in all shapes and sizes as part of the growing e-commerce market. Exceptional artists are creating oneof-a-kind structures and kits, from as much as a foot tall to micro structures that top at just an inch high, and not only for November/December 2017
Christmas but with Halloween and Easter themes as well. Modern materials may have replaced the old standards but still retain the look and feel of the originals. Most of these reproductions are constructed from heavy card stock, paint, glitter, faux snow, and chenille, which is used to make trees that help decorate their tiny yards. All these materials are readily available in craft stores, which carry inexpensive Mylar glitter in a host of colors that has helped trigger glitter-mania. Many artists prefer using fine glass glitter manufactured in Germany that comes in a variety of grades: glitter dust, super shards, fusion glitters, Rosengold, glitter crystals, and custom blends of fine and course grits. The variety of materials has never been greater. From attics and basements, vintage putz houses continue to emerge and eager collectors snap up these vintage treasures at consignment shops, antique stores, auctions, tag yard sales, and as treasured hand-me-downs. Some of these collectors have seen the value in preserving, cataloging, and researching putz houses before all knowledge of them disappears forever. The late collector and historian Ted Althof gathered a wealth of information with the intent of publishing a collectors’ guide. “At one time I believed that there might be 1000 of them in existence,” he said on his website, Papa Ted’s Place, some years ago. “But I was wrong. I now have thirty chapters with no end in sight. Since previously undiscovered houses show up all the time, I don’t think I’ll ever finish this project, but I will die trying.” Sadly, Ted passed away in 2012 but his website is still available online and maintained by his trustees. It is a wealth
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Church assembled using a Cynthia Howe kit.
Cottage with sled
of information containing helpful links on putz house history and tips on how to conserve and repair your vintage treasures. It’s up to us to preserve the memories of our childhood putz houses and pass the memories on to those who follow. Perhaps then, putz houses will continue to sparkle in the bright lights of Christmases for years to come. H
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Show Your Spirit!
By Janet Evans Hinman
What’s Your Christmas Lighting Style?
I
t’s the most wonderful time of the year! If you haven’t started already, it’s time to open up the storage boxes, unspool the strings of Christmas lights, untangle the cords and deck those halls. What’s your outdoor Christmas decorating style? Are you a minimalist who prefers candles in the windows, evergreen wreaths and a few well-placed spotlights? Are you a traditionalist who adds some white lights to the landscape and architecture, designs natural garlands, topiaries and wreaths, and fashions elegant bows 56
in seasonal colors? Do you seek a sophisticated twinkle like the grand illumination at Colonial Williamsburg? Maybe you’re a kid at heart who takes a youthful approach to decorating — colored lights, candy canes, Santa Claus and animated reindeer on the roof. Or, are you an over the top “More is better” kind of person who favors a Vegas-style light show with multiple themes and syncopated flashes set to music and your own radio station? Inspiration is never far away. NBC, CBS and Fox News have all mentioned Richmond as a self-proclaimed “Capital of Tacky Christmas Lights,” while Williamsburg, Fredericksburg, November/December 2017
Kilmarnock, Reedville and Deltaville have all been praised as favored destinations for magical holiday light shows. Your lighting style is probably a nod to your childhood influences. Some people prefer to reflect the style of nearby historic venues. Others adhere to the colorful vibe of the baby boomer neighborhood where they grew up. Lots of parents, who are bursting with their own childlike enthusiasm, festoon their surroundings with a wonderland of kid-friendly delights. Meanwhile, some families just can’t resist their competitive spirit and completely bedazzle every surface, perhaps vying for a spot on their local Christmas light tour. Your style reflects your unique personality and family history. Fa-La-La! Don your favorite tacky Christmas sweater, have an eggnog and show your spirit!
In the darkest days of the year, light displays lend a festive glow to an otherwise dim landscape.
Where Did it all Begin? Lights are synonymous with the sparkling spirit of the holiday season. In the darkest days of the year, light displays lend a festive glow to an otherwise dim landscape. All over the country, homeowners, storekeepers and entire municipalities show their artistic and spiritual creativity with displays that will tickle your heart. Many cultures celebrate light when daylight hours are few. Almost every faith has celebrated its holiest days with lights. For centuries in the northern hemisphere, people have observed the tradition of Yule, which coincides with the Winter Solstice (December 21 this year), the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night. Candles, bonfires and the “Yule Log” are customary ways to light up the darkness. The Hanukkah Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Temple and the temple oil that burned miraculously for eight days. Christians decorate with lights to evoke the star of Bethlehem and the birth of their savior, the “Light of the World,” Jesus. The American tradition of lighting the outdoor landscape at Christmastime has been around only for about 60 years. At the 1957 Christmas tree lighting ceremony, President Eisenhower The House & Home Magazine
explained the developing tradition: “The custom we now observe brings us together for a few minutes this one night — you and I, here, are not alone in a world indifferent and cold. We are part of a numerous company, united in the brotherhood of Christmas.” Today it is estimated that more than 150 million light sets are sold in America each year, with more than 80 million homes decorated with holiday lights. Regardless of whether we call them Christmas lights, holiday lights, fairy lights, twinkle lights, or any other term, this great tradition has evolved over thousands of years, across multiple cultures, nationalities, and religions.
Make a Plan If you’re dreaming of crafting a stunning light display to brighten your holidays, it’s always best to start with a plan. Pick a theme that suits your personality; consider the style of your home; plan your color scheme and decorative accents and gather your materials. It’s helpful to stake out a staging area in which to lay out tools, accessories and decorations — a garage, carport, shed, or sheltered yard area is helpful if you can spare the space. Consider hiring a landscape
professional to help with the nitty gritty details. Many landscapers double as holiday decorating contractors. They likely have the necessary expertise and equipment to make the job a little easier, and they’ve seen the trends and have the know-how to employ them. They sometimes offer storage services as well. When thinking about a theme, plan for the level of effort your decor requires, as well as the materials and accessories you may need. Shop around early and often. After-Christmas sales will get you some bargains on accents for next year. If you’re a “keep it simple” kind of decorator, a minimalist vibe is for you. Candles in windows are a good place to start — the simple warm glow of lighted windows always says, “Welcome home.” Then, let natural materials take center stage in your holiday home decor. Magnolia leaves, pineapples, artichokes, pomegranates, berries, apples, holly sprigs, pine cones, evergreen boughs, citrus fruits and seed pods (which can all be purchased fresh, dried or “faux”) make beautiful, botanical focal points. Place a few strategic spotlights and your home exterior is graciously appointed and ready for a serene homecoming. Add strings of white lights, icicle lights, pathway markers, or blankets of mesh 57
lights to add sparkle while keeping the traditional ambience. Bows and ribbons add a festive flair — consider using different hues of the traditional red and green, or try silver and gold tones. Remember to emphasize architectural details like arches, columns, porch railings and fences. Interesting trees, shrubs, planters and topiaries can be decked out with twinkle lights to add dimension to the nighttime landscape. Find illuminating inspiration in unexpected places. Perhaps a birdbath or lawn sculpture would look pretty with a little extra light. Colored lights are a surefire way to spangle your decor and please the kiddos. Candy canes, Santa, reindeer, winter wonderland scenes, synchronized and animated figures, snowfall tubes and snowdrop lights are charmingly reminiscent of vintage department store windows. On the other hand, if you’re an overachieving, fantastically enthusiastic holiday entertainer, you can design a light show extravaganza. Gather together elements of every style, animated creatures, inflatable characters galore, and set the whole shebang to music. You can even feature the entire production on your own FM radio frequency. That should win you a spot on someone’s top-ten list. A quick search on the internet reveals a good selection of computer hardware and software that allows you to program your lights and sound to produce a professionalquality show. WikiHow has a complete 12-step guide at www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Christmas-Lights-Flash-toMusic.You can also buy a device to broadcast the soundtrack over a short distance, but be aware that FM broadcasting is sometimes frowned upon by law enforcement, so choose a channel that’s empty and away from other stations. If your decor is super flashy and bright, and accompanied by a musical score, it’s a good idea to seek the cooperation of close neighbors, and perhaps set some reasonable showtimes. Don’t neglect safety — check lights, connections, circuits and equipment regularly to dodge dangerous hazards and avoid a Clark Griswold-style Christmas Vacation disaster. Also, don’t let the electric bill shock you. Whatever your preferred Christmas lighting style, make sure it reflects your own special character. Take time to shine for the holidays. Choose a decorating plan that makes you happy to come home on those dark winter nights and puts you in the Christmas spirit the minute you turn into your driveway. H 58
Expert Tips for Dazzling Holiday Lights From Better Homes and Gardens Read on for some expert advice about using outdoor holiday lights to create a Winter Wonderland. t Stay safe. Only use lights with the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) label and be sure you’re using lights specifically designed for outdoor use. t Know your lights. There’s a type available for every nook and cranny of your house and yard. Whether you want blinking rope lights to outline windows or net lights to blanket shrubs, studying up on your holiday light knowledge will help you get the most bang for your buck. t Check for burned-out lights. Test light strings and replace any burned-out lights before decking the halls. Burned-out lights drain power from the entire string and the other bulbs will grow dimmer. t Out with the old, in with the new. Avoid oldfashioned nails, staples, screws or hooks when mounting your display. Electrical tape is a quick and easy alternative — it won’t damage your roof, and it’s a good tool for protecting electrical connections. Shingle tab clips or parapet clips hold lights to surfaces by applying simple, safe pressure. There are also many new adhesivebacked hooks and clips available at local retailers. t Work your way up. To string the trunks of deciduous trees, start at the base and wrap the lights around in a spiral. If you want to illuminate an evergreen, start at the top and zigzag lights through the center of the tree, getting wider with the tree’s shape. t Avoid overload. Holiday lights can be dazzling and fun, but be careful not to overload circuits. Include no more than 1,400 watts on a circuit. If other lights in the house dim when you turn on the holiday lights, your circuit is overloaded. t Call in the pros. If you don’t have roofing experience, limit your lights to eaves, gables and the edges of the roof. Keep lights and cords away from metal. Beware of overheated wires, aluminum gutters and ironwork decor. If you want more lights on the roof, or don’t have electrical expertise, call in a professional. November/December 2017
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Sparkle Tinsel: with a
By Zora Aiken
split personality Tinsel was intended to mimic the look of gently spinning icicles, bouncing reflections from ornaments and lights to create a flickering, changing picture of the tree. Tinsel’s root word means “to sparkle.”
T
insel—the kind that’s now considered vintage or retro—was originally seen as something lovely. Thin strands of silver were draped gracefully over the Christmas tree’s branches as the finishing touch to the traditional holiday decoration. Tinsel was intended to mimic the look of gently spinning icicles, bouncing reflections from ornaments and lights to create a flickering, changing picture of the tree. Tinsel’s root word means “to sparkle.” Given that background, traditional tinsel might be embarrassed to be lumped into the same categories as today’s tinsel, which covers a remarkable number of things that are not connected to the original concept. Dictionaries clearly recognize 60
tinsel’s alternate definition as “something superficially attractive but of little real worth.” Some folks might argue with the use of “attractive,” no matter how it is qualified, as tinsel now describes any variation of mostly plastic (albeit metallicized plastic), often multicolored material used for garlands, wreaths, fabrics, curtains, hair extensions and on and on up to and including full-sized tinsel trees. The term goes beyond décor (as with “Tinseltown”), but that’s yet another category. Opinions abound, but like them or not, the new decorations contrast sharply with vintage tinsel’s connection to the Christmas tree—the new tree-trimming strands do not meet the standards of the original. How did vintage silver tinsel strands get from lovely icicle to a plastic assortment with little real worth? Tinsel’s problem was not with its appearance. It is still fondly recalled and sought after by many people of a certain age who see the good side of vintage. Tinsel lost its place on the Christmas tree simply because of its material. When first introduced, the silvery finish on tinsel strands was actually achieved with a coating of real silver. Unfortunately, silver will eventually tarnish, and tarnished tinsel could not do its reflecting job. Manufacturers tried other metals, sometimes in combinations, with limited success. Aluminum was initially considered the most promising, as it seemed to satisfy the visual requirement, but the material is so lightweight that it did not hang properly. Perhaps it was the aluminum phase that started the November/December 2017
practice of some tree-trimmers (often blamed on “the children” but not always the case) of throwing handfuls of tinsel strands at the tree and leaving them in whatever position and condition they landed. This was hardly the icicle effect of tinsel’s original intent, and it may have been a contributing factor leading to the perception of tinsel as tacky. Lightweight tinsel of whatever material does not “drape” or hang relatively straight down like an icicle should. It drifts about with the slightest breeze, tangling with each drift and in no way producing the imagined appearance of melting ice. In the early 1900s, a German company patented a tinsel made of a lead alloy with a shiny tin bonded to the top. It was called “Stanniol Lametta,” from the Latin for tin and Italian for “tiny blade.” By the early 1950s, a Philadelphia company was also selling tinsel strands made with lead, and it seemed that a substitute for the original silver tinsel had finally been found. Lead had the required weight to keep
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the tinsel hanging straight, and the surface coating had the reflecting advantage without the tarnishing disadvantage. Unfortunately, the solution was short-lived. By the 1960s, the health risks associated with exposure to lead were wellknown. Consequently, the Food and Drug Administration arranged an agreement with the tinsel manufacturers to stop producing lead-alloy tinsel in the United States. Most tinsel products today are made of plastic with a thin coating of a metallic finish. The weight problem for treetrimming tinsel strands has not been resolved, but with so many households now using artificial trees, there is probably much less demand for the vintage tinsel. However, for those who still remember the good old tinsel and would like to see it on their good new Christmas tree, one German company still markets real silver “lametta.” The Vermont Country Store advertises “original metallic tinsel from Austria, made by the original manufacturer for the past 100 years.” www.vermontcountrystore.com. H
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Christmas DECORATING with
ENGLISH BOXWOODS By Stephen Southall
C
of Virginia
hristmas is certainly a time when we all think of decorating, and for many of us, boxwood plays a central role in that process. But, did you know that using boxwood cuttings for your decorations actually helps the boxwood plants?
For optimal health, boxwoods need air and light to penetrate the interior of the plant. Light fosters new growth on stems that do not have any leaves, and this leads to foliage that is not only pretty on the outside of the plant, but extends deep into the interior. Air penetrating the plant keeps the interior dry, preventing aerial roots which develop in dampness and also disease which thrives in warm, wet conditions. Healthy boxwood often becomes too thick on the outside, preventing this optimal interior environment. When this happens, it is advantageous to thin the plant. To correctly thin boxwood, reach into the interior of the plant and either cut or break random stems anywhere from four inches to eight inches in length, depending on the size of the plant. Never, never, use a hedge trimmer, because this ultimately fosters a very dense layer of leaves that are only an inch or two deep with nothing but stems underneath that dense layer. The dense outer layer caused by the trimmer prevents interior growth, air circulation, and light from entering the plant. What better time of year to do this thinning than at Christmas, when the cuttings can be used in decorating? One should pick cuttings from plants that are dark green, disease free and totally clean. For maximum beauty, the color of the leaves is very important. Leaves need to be consistently dark green across the entire leaf. Areas of yellow or blisters will detract from the overall appearance. The size of cuttings taken will depend on their use. A small table wreath approximately eight inches in diameter will require smaller cuttings than a larger 16- or 20-inch wreath
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November/December 2017
hung outside. When taking cuttings, simply reach into the plant and break or cut stems the approximate length that you will need for your project. Take the cuttings from areas that are thick, overgrown, or encroaching on walks, railings, or windows. In order to maximize the longevity of the cuttings, it is important to care for them properly. The lack of humidity in homes during the winter contributes greatly to boxwood decorations drying out. Hydrating cuttings in water for 12 hours or more will increase their longevity. An additional method of prolonging the life of boxwood decorations is spraying them with a mixture of liquid floor wax diluted with water before hanging. The mixture is comprised of one part liquid wax to two parts water. Simply spray the mixture on the finished decoration and allow to dry to create a barrier to hold moisture within the leaves. The wax also adds a nice shine to the leaves. Making boxwood wreaths can be a great group experience for a family or organization. The round straw forms come in various sizes. Nursery pins are used to hold the boxwood onto the wreath. Nursery pins are very similar to bobby pins, except that the top is about a quarter inch wide. The technique is to lay the form down on a flat surface and place a cutting on the form and pin it to the form by inserting the pin over the cutting about halfway up the stem of the cutting. Halfway up tends to keep the cutting from “wiggling” at either the top or bottom. Sometimes two pins are required, one at each end of the cutting. Thinking of the wreath lying down as a clock face, begin at the “12 o’clock”position and place cuttings on the inside, top, and the outside of the wreath form. Next, at the “one o’clock” position, do the same thing with the top leafy part of these cuttings, placing in a manner that covers up the stem ofthe previous cuttings. It is important to pin cuttings on all three sides of the form because as it is viewed from the front, you will want cuttings on all visible sides of the form to give a full appearance. Smaller cuttings tend to give the wreath a smoother, more homogeneous look. Of course, if the wreath is going to be mounted on a glass storm door and seen from both sides, the cuttings will need to be placed around the entire form, including what would normally be the back, in order to give an attractive “two sided” view. Hanging the wreath is easily done by wrapping a string of thin nursery wire around the top of a nursery pin, and then inserting that pin in the back, bottom side of the top of the wreath form, which prevents the pin from pulling out.
Making boxwood wreaths can be a great group experience for a family or organization
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To add dimensions of color and interest, various fruits can be placed on the wreath. Bamboo skewers are very handy for attaching lemons, apples, or tangerines to make a totally colorful presentation. It is very easy to place the fruit on the wreath and then skewer it in place by inserting the skewer down through the fruit into the wreath. The excess skewer left on top can then be removed. Two or three skewers may be necessary to secure fruit if the wreath is hanging, as opposed to lying flat on a table. Boxwoods make beautiful Advent wreaths to be displayed as centerpieces on a table. Candle holders with spikes on the bottom can be inserted into the boxwood wreath after it is made to complete the decoration. Mantel applications are always pretty and festive and
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can be very diverse in their appearance. Because the area to be decorated requires more coverage than a wreath, the use of longer sprigs is advantageous as they will provide more coverage and will stay in place with greater ease. Pine boughs, magnolia, and holly with bunches of berries can be placed within the boxwood. Of course, just as in the wreaths, fruit adds color and contrast to the green background. Thus far, I have only discussed the use of natural elements. Recently, strings of very small LED, batterypowered lights have become available. These lights can be worked into the interior of the mantel decoration, and because of their small cords the wiring will not be visible. A garland made of boxwood is very pretty and quite unique, since most garlands purchased on the retail market
November/December 2017
are made of pine. A light rope is ideal as a base, because it not only needs to be strong but pliable. You will also need nursery wire, which is a very thin wire sold on spools. Tie and secure both ends of the rope to objects very substantial, like two posts. The distance between the objects depends on the length of garland that you wish to make. The rope needs to be taut between the objects, sort of like an old-fashioned clothes line. Now, with boxwood cuttings in hand, place a cutting along the rope and begin to circle the stem of the cutting (not the foliage) very tightly with the nursery wire. The process of laying the cuttings along the rope is very similar to that of making a wreath. The foliage of one cutting covers up the stem of the previous one. The wire needs to be wound very tightly around the stem and rope to keep the cuttings secure. If you are making a garland for a doorway, it is advisable to make two garlands in which each would begin in the horizontal center of the doorway, one going to the left side and one going to the right. The reason for this is that you probably want the foliage on each side of the door hanging downward. If you use one long string of garland around the entire doorway,then on one side of the door the garland will hang downward, and on the other side the garland cuttings will be facing upward, which will give a very different appearance between the two sides. Of course, creativity is always in order. You can add other greenery like holly with berries, which will add beautiful color to your garland. The satisfaction of making your own garland and seeing its freshness is also much greater than going the store-bought route and purchasing a garland which has probably already begun to show signs of dryness. H
The satisfaction of making your own garland and seeing its freshness is also much greater than going the store-bought route.
Questions and Correspondence – For more detailed information on various boxwood topics visit www.englishboxwoods. com. Please feel free to contact me with questions about your individual boxwood needs. Stephen Southall, English Boxwoods of Virginia, 3912 Faculty Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501 Email: southall@lynchburg.edu The House & Home Magazine
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Brunswick Stew The Staple of the Southeast
By Zora Aiken
S
ometimes remembered as “hunter’s stew,” the now popular and much enjoyed Southern classic Brunswick Stew apparently originated with a meat base of rabbit, squirrel, or opossum—the available choices easily obtained for the campfire cook pot. A familiar expert on all things Southern, humorist Roy Blount, Jr., is credited with this observation: “Brunswick stew is what
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happens when small mammals carrying ears of corn fall into barbecue pits.” Thankfully, today’s Brunswick Stew is otherwise described as “a staple of the Southeast: an unpretentious thick succotash-like vegetable mix slow-simmered in a tomato-based sauce with big hearty chunks of beef, pork, game or chicken (my mother used the latter, the preferred Virginian way, with a bit of smoked ham or bacon for flavor.)” So wrote cookbook author Crescent Dragonwagon, whose book Bean by Bean devotes two separate recipes to the stew. One is a vegetarian version, a surprising November/December 2017
contrast to the hunters’ humble beginning and good news for a growing number of cooks. Between those extremes, Brunswick Stew today lends itself to an unknowable number of variations, as each cook adds, exchanges or removes ingredients at will. Even the source of its name (and thereby its origin) is up for discussion. Brunswick County, Virginia, argues with the city of Brunswick, Georgia, for “stew starter” rights, with Virginia’s reported date as 1828 and Georgia’s 1898. Brunswick County, North Carolina, may not claim the stew’s origin, but in a state known for barbecue, it could claim bragging rights. It’s also possible to find a recipe called German Brunswick Stew, but despite that title it’s still identified as a “Southern classic.” Some recipes are written for unusually large numbers of servings because the stew is often featured at group events like
political rallies, church suppers, farmers markets, and fire department or other fundraisers. It is the obvious highlight of the popular Taste of Brunswick Festival and Cook-Off held each year in the town of Alberta, Brunswick County, Virginia. At these events, the tempting smells of cooking stew are carried to all visitors for hours. Once served as a side dish for barbecued meat, the stew is now more likely to be the main dish. Whatever its origin or modern source, Brunswick Stew is now universally tomato-based, thick, and hearty. Chicken is the most popular primary meat in today’s stews, but pork, ham, and beef are frequently added to further satisfy the hearty requirement. Corn and lima beans are must-haves. Onions are a given, potatoes are common, green beans a maybe, and okra is the final touch for many aficionados. In more normal quantities, Brunswick Stew fills its place in family tradition as
the comfort food, the holiday specialty, the much-anticipated reminder of the joys of family gatherings. Serious cooks will prepare the stew slowly, using only fresh ingredients added in their proper order and time. While many recipes call for some canned or frozen ingredients, others specify fresh, though simple availability may be the deciding factor. In any case, the process will take a good part of the day. It is often the slow-cooked meal that doesn’t need a modern slow cooker. The house is filled with familiar aromas wafting from the kitchen, guaranteed to ensure a hungry crowd around the table when the dinner bell finally chimes. Choosing a “typical” recipe for Brunswick Stew is a challenge for all the reasons already noted. The following recipe is from Jackie Garvin, the personality behind the blog Syrup and Biscuits, “a Southern food blog that champions the best the South has to offer…” H
OLD FASHION BRUNSWICK STEW
From Jackie Garvin of Syrup and Biscuits Ingredients: • 1 whole 4 to 5 pound chicken • 1 (4 to 5 pound) bone-in Boston butt pork roast, cut in large pieces • 5 onions, divided • 1 bay leaf • 1 tablespoon kosher salt • 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed • 2 pounds whole kernel corn (I prefer Silver Queen) • 2 pounds tiny green limas, shelled (we call these butterbeans) • 2 pounds okra, sliced • 2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes and the juice (or equivalent fresh tomatoes) • 32 ounces ketchup • 1 tablespoon Tabasco sauce • Salt and pepper to taste
Directions: Place chicken and Boston butt in an extremely large pot along with one whole peeled onion, a bay leaf, and one tablespoon kosher salt. Cover with water and simmer 3 to 4 hours or until both chicken and pork are shreddable. Remove chicken and pork and let cool. When they’ve cooled enough to handle, remove bones, skin and excess fat. Shred. Strain cooking broth and return to pot. Add chicken and pork back to the pot. Chop the remaining 4 onions and add. I want the meat and onions to cook all alone to give the onion flavor a chance to permeate the meat before the other ingredients
are added. Bring to a boil and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes. Permeate, onions, permeate! Add peeled and chopped potatoes. Don’t make the chopped size any smaller than an inch or the potatoes will cook to mush. Add fresh corn, butterbeans (green limas) and okra. If not available fresh, substitute high quality frozen. Add tomatoes (fresh or canned) and ketchup. Add Tabasco sauce and bring to a boil. Cook for 30 minute or until all vegetables are tender. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Serve hot.
Note: The large pot is a jelly canner, 13” across and 9” high. syrupandbiscuits.com/right-smart-recipe-old-fashioned-brunswick-stew The House & Home Magazine
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SENIOR LIVING
Perhaps it’s
time to
explore a second act or encore career, where your experience, passion or hobby can become an enjoyable source of income and meaning
Second Act Careers Making Your Hobby Pay Off
I
f you’re one of the four million Baby Boomers that, according to the Social Security Administration, retire each year, you’ve probably puttered around in the garden, played a few rounds of golf, maybe even gone on that much dreamed of trip. Now, like a growing number of retirees, you
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By Jackie Nunnery
have an urge to do something more meaningful with your time or just earn a little more income. Perhaps it’s time to explore a second act or encore career, where your experience, passion or hobby can become an enjoyable source of income and meaning. Here are a few suggestions for getting started.
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Crafting your pastime into a business A hobby is a great place to start when looking for a second career because not only is it something you enjoy, but it’s also something you’re already familiar with. If you are crafty and have been making jewelry or other crafts such as pottery, knitting, or needlework, you may have already thought about selling your handcrafted items just to pay for your hobby. Think bigger. You can turn your crafts into a home business and sell at local consignment shops, farmers markets, or if you’re technologically savvy, online. If you’re not up to creating a website and learning the ins and outs of digital marketing, using sites like Etsy, eBay, or Amazon, which all sell handmade items, will allow you to quickly set up a shop and shorten the learning curve. Another benefit of these sites is that you already have a community shopping there. There is a small fee for this convenience, but it will allow you to get started faster and focus on creating your products. Are you always capturing every family event with your camera? If you have a decent camera and the ability to use photoediting software, you could start a photography business. Some photographers specialize in portraits: focusing on milestones like graduations, engagements, births, or weddings. Maybe you like getting outdoors and capturing nature. In addition to selling prints of your landscapes directly, you can also sell to agencies where you receive royalties when they are used commercially. What about making a business from those weekend woodworking projects? As you start out, it’s best to create smaller items to make it easier to transport or ship. Create furniture or other home décor items like wall art or sculptures and give them to friends and family to start word-of-mouth advertising for your business. Capitalizing on your knowledge You’ve spent years accumulating the skills and know-how related to your hobby, why not share it with others? Creating a workshop to do that not only provides a source of income, but you get to meet others who share your passion. If you’re familiar with Facebook, promoting your class through a post or ad on social media is an easy, effective, and inexpensive way to find interested students. Some fun examples of painting workshops in the area are the Wine & Watercolors or Sip & Paint classes. Taught by local artists, they are a popular way to combine the fun of sharing wine with friends while learning how to paint. If speaking in front of a large group sounds too intimidating, think about teaching individual students or The House & Home Magazine
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You’ve
spent years accumulating
the skills and know-how related to your hobby, why not share it with others?
smaller groups. If you want to teach others how to play guitar, you could create an after-school program for kids or offer private lessons in your home. In addition to using social media to promote yourself, you can post flyers in local libraries or the YMCA to find students. Another way to share your knowledge is by posting instructional videos on YouTube. You can create your own channel to share gardening advice or show how to make flower arrangements. In addition to sharing information, videos are a way for customers to find you, so tell them where your flowers are sold. You can also become a part of the YouTube Partner Program, which allows you to make money from ads posted on your channel. The YouTube Creator Academy is a great resource for how to create interesting videos and grow your audience. Do you feel more comfortable writing rather than speaking? Maybe it’s time to start blogging about your cooking or baking hobby. There are numerous blogging platforms like Blogger
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or Tumblr that provide a space for you to publish your articles free of charge. Bloggers make money a couple of ways: through paid advertising space on their pages, or from commissions for selling products (their own or someone else’s). If you’ve been selling Pampered Chef products (more on that later), blogging would be a wonderful way to combine your love of writing about your hobby with the ability to generate sales from your audience. A passion for service When thinking up business opportunities related to your hobby, don’t limit yourself to products. There are plenty of services you can offer as well. Do you love to sew? How about creating an alteration business? People are always in need of someone to repair or alter clothing, especially related to special occasions. Try working with stores that sell formal wear, since prom and wedding dresses are typically altered to fit. Perhaps your passion has always been for animals. Pet sitting, dog walking, training, and grooming are all great ways
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Sometimes you get enjoyment just by helping others. Who hasn’t wished for help in getting errands or shopping done? This is especially true for older folks who are not driving anymore.
to combine your love of animals with running your own business. What if you’ve spent many weekends restoring classic cars or boats? This is a hobby that requires a lot of space, tools, and equipment to turn into a business. Rather than try to be a one-stop shop, specializing in engines, bodywork, painting, or interiors would reduce your investment. You can find customers by networking at car rallies, boat shows, or local repair shops. Places where you are probably spending time anyway. Sometimes you get enjoyment just by helping others. Who hasn’t wished for help in getting errands or shopping done? This is especially true for older folks who are not driving anymore. As a personal assistant, you can offer services like light housekeeping, shopping, or transportation
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to appointments. As a tutor, you can help students with subjects you are particularly interested in, like history. Work through teachers and guidance counselors at local schools or post flyers at local libraries to find students who need help. Should your hobby stay a hobby? You should think carefully before turning your hobby into a business. Hobbies are leisurely paced — you work on them when you want to. Once you turn a hobby into a business, you need to invest more time, which may mean working when you don’t really feel like it. Will that change how you feel about an activity you love doing? Keeping your hobby a hobby doesn’t mean you can’t start a home business
relatively easily. Selling products from a multi-level, direct-selling company like Avon, or newer product lines like Rodan+Fields, Pampered Chef or LuLaRoe, provides an opportunity to earn through commission sales. There is an investment for product samples, but you run it like your own business, selling directly to customers and finding people to host “pop-up” stores in their homes or virtually on Facebook. In addition to commissions, typically you get products at a discount, or even free, if you run successful events, so choosing a product line you really like is essential. There are many opportunities out there; so take the chance to pursue your passions. As writer C.S. Lewis once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream.” H
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Front
Door
Appeal first impressions count!
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“You never get a second chance to make a first impression”.
By Karin Andrews
T
the front door. It is important to note that hroughout our lives we Less is more a glossy door has greater color and design have often heard the Simplicity is the foundation of all good impact than a dull finish. The gloss will old adage, “You never design. The architectural lines, color, exadd clarity to the color you have chosen terior finishes and character of your home rather than “dulling it down”. get a second chance to make will guide you in determining the choices More stately colors like dark green, a first impression”. This prothat you should make with regard to the rich brown, eggplant, black, garnet and foundly simple statement was overall all color theme of your front door every shade of grey are also lovely, if you never more-true as it pertains and any other accessories that you wish are looking for a less whimsical color to include. You will want to consider any to the front door appeal of our choice. White front doors should be surrounding gardens, trees and homes, if avoided as they can seem sterile and home, which is the most obvithey are part of the picture. un-welcoming on any house. ous focal point of every house. Whether you just want to update the The front door and entry makes front door impact of your home or are A Word on Color a definitive statement about the considering placing your home on the Red – is a strong and extraverted color homeowner and the home itself. market, the key to a striking re-do is a and not for the faint of heart. Ultimate cohesive color theme and choices that There is no other exterior imreds for the front door include: classic red “pop”. Of utmost importance is to allow provement that we can make to the front door to speak for itself in a strik- coat red, deep red garnet, rich barn red and deep maroon. Red doors are fearless our home that will have a more ing and welcoming way. and bold. They are most often found on Before you consider painting a front profound and powerful impact. door, make sure that the door works with more traditional and colonial homes. It will either speak or reek. Eggplant, Amethyst and Plum − believe it the overall architecture of your home. If Welcome or repel. Whether we it doesn’t work, no amount of color will or not these colors are absolutely gorgeous change that. Exterior wooden storm doors against a taupe colored home with white like it or not, a dynamic and trim and black shutters. I have seen this will upgrade even the most mundane of tasteful front door will stop color combination twice recently, which doors and should be painted the same everyone in their tracks, causing color as the front door for continuity and left me utterly speechless. Who knew that them to take note of what the various shades of eggplant, purple or plum the maximum impact. They look beauticould ever so beautifully complete a home door has to say about itself and ful and provide a window in and out and create such a stunning focal-point. when the front door is open. the homeowner. There are several design elements in play when considering which color is most appropriate for your home and design style. It is good to remember that color evokes subjective responses in all of us. For the mere investment of a can of paint, you can significantly boost your goodwill in the neighborhood and your property value at the same time. The House & Home Magazine
Color Counts In recent months, I have seen bright ruby red, deep magenta, plum, robin’s egg blue, bright gold, rich maize, peacock blue, deep orange, periwinkle, black and regal navy blue doors that absolutely “pop” and bring to life an entire property. Their accessories are limited and frame
Orange − Pumpkin, coral, burnt sienna, or deep orange can be very striking on the right color of house. These doors have a warm, autumn quality all year long. Burnt Sienna or pumpkin is beautiful on a white, olive, soft cream or pale yellow home with large shade trees. Blue − Deep navy or indigo blue doors are among the richest and most regal shades 77
for your front door. They are a sublimely elegant alternative to black, when black is just too formal. Bright blues like periwinkle or garden gate blue will definitely get your smaller home or cottage noticed without being overbearing. It has a sweetness and whimsy to it that work well in a garden setting. Light grey and white houses are particularly striking with a glossy navy or indigo blue door. Black − a black door and shutters are always in good taste. A glossy black door and shutters is a luxurious and versatile color choice. A black and white diamond or checker-board floor cloth will compliment the look. The best house colors for a black door include – brick, taupe, light grey or yellow houses with white trim. Pastel and lighter hued colors are offset beautifully by black. A glossy black door is simply stunning with a heavy brass door knocker. Brown − A deep rich brown front door has a sensual quality like dark chocolate and is a striking, yet understated contrast to the white or grey house. Brown doors look wonderful juxtaposed against silver toned door hardware. Interestingly, brown is the most fade resistant of all door colors. 78
November/December 2017
Feng Shui − is not a color but a philosophy of design/placement. If you are into Feng Shui, you might want to paint your front door depending on the direction that the door faces, in order to attract positive chi energy into your home.
Preparation Once you have chosen your color, make sure that it will be acceptable to any homeowners associations if you are governed by one. Remember good preparation of the door is essential to the finished work. A must do is to remove any loose, cracking or peeling paint, sand it lightly with a fine grit sandpaper sanding block or paper and use either a matching tinted primer for your first coat or a paint/primer combination. Good paint adherence is important if you don’t want your finish to become an eyesore down the road. If you leave your door in place, you’ll want to protect your door knob and hardware from being painted. If you wish to replace your door hinges and hardware, after painting, you’ll want to remove your door and re-hang when your project is completed. It is a rule of thumb as well that the inside of the door should The House & Home Magazine
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be the same as the outside color – for continuity.
Painting Supplies After you have chosen the color you wish to paint your front door, you’ll need a good glossy alkyd or latex based paint, a foam roller, brush for areas where the roller will not work and a soft rag to wipe up any spills. Painters tape is also necessary if you plan to keep your door on its hinges, unless of course you are a master at cutting in or a fine artist. As paint is one of the most inexpensive improvements you can make with the most impact, be sure to choose the very best paint you can afford, as “cheap” doesn’t always perform. Your paint store of choice will have many pre-chosen paint combinations for your home and front door if you need some color guidance. They can take the guesswork out of choosing a front door color. They can also advise you whether or not a primer is required, depending on the type of door you are painting or paint you are using.
Finishing touches that wow It is important to note that “less is more” and that the most successful design statements and entryways rely on a main theme, without being overly-accessorized. Now that you have taken the leap of faith and painted your front door, you might want to consider embellishments and accessories such as a whimsical or stately brass door knocker, or even an antique knocker you have been holding onto for years. If you already have one that you love, you might want to polish it up just a bit for that added “pop”. Updated door hardware can do as much for your front door as paint. Remember to stay with the character of your home, while exercising your personal preferences. House numbers, a raised name plaque or gilded coat of arms will add immensely to the statement and appeal of your home, as will a well placed wreath. Other touches include lovely urn shaped pots that flank both sides of your door – complete with topiaries or flowering annuals. The style of home and desired look will determine your choices here, but keep it simple. 80
November/December 2017
In Closing I am now embarking on my own front door re-do, complete with painted entrance porch, deep navy front door, white, navy, peacock blue and grey diamond floor cloth. Cast urn planters will flank both sides of the door. The possibilities for creating a welcoming presence, while increasing the value of your home, are limited only by your imagination A good realtor will tell you that staging is very important on the inside and outside of your home. If a potential buyer can see themselves there, and if it is in their price range, they may make an offer on your home. In the current real estate market – your front door appeal is more important than ever. I hope that you will join us as you embark on your own front door adventure with enthusiasm and anticipation. Go ahead and seize the day! May the paint gods be with you! H Karin Andrews is a licensed real estate agent (Virginia), a writer and fine artist. www.karinandrewsart.com
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Magnolia,
c. 1700
East River Splendor
M
agnolia is thought to be one of Mathews, Virginia’s earliest homes. The land traces its beginnings back to a patent to William Armistead in 1635. By 1651, the patent was in Philip Hunley’s name. Although the Mathews County property record lists 1700 as the date of Magnolia, the home has traditionally been known as a seventeenth-century homestead attributed to Philip Hunley. Notably, during recent renovations by John England, a highly regarded contractor in historic restoration, a whole tree was found (under the house) that served as a sill running the entire length of the oldest block. Numerous brick piers of varying ages are evident under the house. These elements are typical in houses of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Loblolly pine floor boards which run the length of the main block on the first floor suggest the original section was one room. While the history of the house is impossible to know definitively because some of Mathews County’s historical records were lost, local lore says Magnolia remained in the Hunley family for more than 250 years. Interesting newspaper articles with anecdotes and eulogies pertaining to the Hunley family and Magnolia have survived. For example, in 1926, The Reverend R. C. Moore’s eulogy for Miss Mollie Hunley, who was born at Magnolia in 1858, portrays an endearing member of the Hunley family. Miss Mollie had suffered an attack of inflammatory rheumatism at the age of six, leaving her an invalid for life at Magnolia. “At the grave a poor widow woman said about Miss Mollie to Reverend Moore, ‘I loved
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that woman, she bought the goods and, with her crippled hands, made the dress I wore the first Sunday I went to Sunday school.’ She was constantly thinking of others.� In the 1800s, the strikingly beautiful East River was used as a passage for learning. Children were transported by boat across the East River to school at Magnolia. Several children of The Reverend Thomas Muse Hunley, a Methodist minister who owned Magnolia, were teachers while they lived there. The eighteenth-century schoolhouse which served the property then was eventually connected to Magnolia, and this charming wing now serves as a first floor bedroom/ study with studio above. Today, Magnolia encompasses approximately 51 acres (nine parcels). The home is privately situated with about 1,100 feet of shoreline on the East River, noted for centuries as the most navigable river in the area for shipping and commerce. Magnolia has evolved and changed through generations and centuries from its early and simple existence into a gracious, well-loved Tidewater home with warm and gentle appeal. A focal point of Magnolia is the river room and kitchen, featuring floor to ceiling windows and a beautifully finished, reclaimed, heart pine floor. Over the past few years, Magnolia was extensively renovated and upgraded by John England. His collaboration with Mid-Atlantic Region architect, Jennifer McCann, to incorporate today’s conveniences into the historic fabric of Magnolia resulted in an exceptionally comfortable and functional home. Dependencies include a 2.5-bay, cedarsided carriage house with loft; and a large barn with work room, studio, an open gated area, two equine stalls and a fenced paddock. A reproduction dairy house encloses a 20-kilowatt generator, and a guest cottage with screened porch features one bedroom, full bath, front room, media room and kitchen. A dock on the East River has two deep-water boat slips, water and electricity, and a spring-fed pond is located near the brick pillar entrance. In 2013, Magnolia was open to the public for the Virginia Historic Garden Week Tour. Offered at $1.595 Million H
Frank Johnson 804-815-8722
Frank@VaBayHomes.com
Elizabeth Johnson 804-240-5909
Elizabeth@VaBayHomes.com www.VaBayHomes.com
Although information contained herein is believed to be accurate, it is not so warranted, nor is it otherwise guaranteed. The House & Home Magazine
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H E A L T H
PEOPLE & RELATIONSHIPS:
The Building Blocks of a Successful Cancer Program at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital
S
ince Esther Desimini took the helm at Riverside Tappahannock Hospital in 2015, she has been on a mission to grow services in the Tappahannock and Northern Neck regions to bring the best medicine closer to home for the more than 52,000 residents and countless visitors to the area.
As someone who began as a cancer nurse and then spent the next decades of her career serving as caregiver, teacher, and eventually administrator, Desimini has a lot of experience building programs that are designed to meet the needs of cancer patients. It is not surprising, then, that one of the most prominent examples of growth at Riverside Tappahannock is its cancer program. The hospital has invested resources to build a facility that supports cancer patients with the opening of its Cancer Infusion Center last December. But if you ask Desimini what makes a new program successful, she is quick to point out that people are what really matter. The people who help build the program and the people that program is meant to serve. So when she set out to build a community-based cancer program, she started by finding the best people for the job.
An investment in people AnnMarie Simmons began her career as a nurse nearly 25 years ago in Texas. She was drawn to cancer care because her brother 94
had recently been through a colon cancer diagnosis. She was warned early in her career that cancer care was not for everyone – it could be a hard specialty for many. “I’ve always loved it,” Simmons says of her decision to focus on cancer care. “It has never felt like a job to me, and I consider it a privilege to help care for patients throughout their journey.” Today, Simmons is the Oncology Program Coordinator at Riverside Tappahannock, serving as a nurse navigator for cancer patients. She left Texas as a military spouse and has worked in many regions of Virginia, including Richmond and Northern Virginia. Desimini paid her a personal visit to convince her to be part of building and growing the cancer program in Tappahannock, which is what brought her to her current role. As a nurse navigator, Simmons provides guidance and support to patients with cancer. She is often present when they receive their diagnosis and she supports patients and their family throughout treatment and recovery. She can assist in setting appointments, providing education, and even connecting them with outside resources when needed. Patients take advantage of Simmons’ open door policy, often stopping by or calling with questions and concerns. She will accompany patients to appointments or simply stop by to see them if they are receiving tests or treatments in the hospital. Dr. Kimberly Schlesinger is a medical oncologist who joined Riverside Tappahannock earlier this year. No stranger to the Riverside system, Schlesinger worked for the Riverside Cancer Network for nine years overseeing various cancer programs and clinics on the Virginia peninsula before relocating to the November/December 2017
H E A L T H Fredericksburg area. “I know from experience that Riverside is committed to local care and I was very intrigued by the opportunity to develop a program in Tappahannock,” Schlesinger said about why she chose to return to the health system. “The opportunity to create something for a community in need really attracted me.” Working out of the new Cancer Infusion Center, Schlesinger sees patients in the clinic there and checks in regularly with patients receiving infusion care. She is also able to work closely with staff at the infusion center, as well as Simmons and other specialists involved in the cancer program at Riverside Tappahannock.
Relationships, not medicine, mean the most When Victoria Kindig learned she had breast cancer, she also learned she had an advocate on her side. “AnnMarie was sitting beside me and promised me I was not going to be alone,” Kindig recalls of hearing her diagnosis.
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“She promised to stick to me like glue, and she has.” Simmons was there to help educate Kindig about what she could expect. She had information pulled together, phone numbers, pathology reports, bio information on doctors and even a calendar. Kindig’s treatment would include surgery to perform a double mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She readily admits that – prior to her diagnosis – she had no clue that anything was wrong. Simmons helped her process everything as she learned it, meeting with her surgeon, and accompanying her to follow up tests. Simmons even checked in on her after surgery and talked with her son to see if they had any questions she couple help to answer. Kindig describes meeting Schlesinger and feeling immediately at ease. “She is a petite woman with amazing medical knowledge,” Kindig laughs. “She greets all her patients by name with lots of energy and a big smile.” Kindig felt comforted by Schlesinger’s compassion for patients and staff within the Cancer Infusion Center. She marvels
at the doctor’s ability to talk with people at any level – from professor to “80-yearold chemo brain.” Kindig even recalls when Schlesinger drew sketches to help her understand when something was confusing. Kindig is complimentary of the entire team and the caring environment at the Cancer Infusion Center. Often referring to the experience as a spa day, she was also able to be vulnerable with Simmons, Schlesinger, and the staff at the center. “When you have cancer, you feel like you need to be strong for everybody when they ask you how you’re doing,” says Kindig. “When I was there, I didn’t have to be strong for anyone. I didn’t have to say I felt great. They had my back.” Getting ready to start radiation therapy, Kindig remains passionate about her experience at Riverside. She holds a very special place in her heart for all the caregivers and has now become their advocate to friends and neighbors. “I tell everyone about my great experience at Riverside,” Kindig adds. “It really is an amazing place.”. H
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