January 2022 Issue

Volume 39 Issue 1 | January 2022 | middleburglife.com

Local Advice for a Long Middleburg Life

HEMP IN THE HEART OF HUNT COUNTRY

Paws2Heal

wITH

KaTe YeuTTer & rIPleY

NVTRP: Life-Changing Therapy Work Inspired by Organizational Joy Subscribe Here

ATOKA

MIDDLEBURG REAL ESTATE

PROPERTIES

S I M P LY B E T T E R .

33846 FOXLEASE LN | UPPERVILLE

40213 DOE RUN LN | PAEONIAN SPRINGS

$9,500,000 | Magnificent Foxlease Farm on 160+/- acres. One-of-a-kind equestrian facility: 2 horse barns (12 stalls/17 stalls), 3 run-ins, machine shed, hay barn, riding ring, multiple fenced paddocks, 2 silos. Beautiful stone center building added to the existing 19th-century home.

$3,000,000 | This 6 bed/6-full bath & 2-half bath, 6,766 sqft contemporary farmhouse-style compound of 3 buildings, including a main house, guest house, guest tower and detached garage is located on 17+/- acres near Rt 7 & 9 with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and woods.

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1339

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1339

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

| 19492 SHELBURNE GLEBE RD | LEESBURG

21173 TRAPPE RD | UPPERVILLE

$5,200,000 | This tranquil 229.52+/- acres estate of significant historic importance offers a main house, guest house, and several out buildings in an 18th century setting. It overlooks Oliver Lake and has broad views to the west of the Blue Ridge. Add’l acreage available upon request.

$2,950,000 | Day Spring Farm offers 100 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The federal style brick farmhouse, pool, guest house, chicken coop, workshop & riding ring are surrounded by open, lush & green pastures with 4-board fencing, automatic waterers & run-in sheds. Piedmont Hunt territory & not in easement.

Scott Buzzelli 540.454.1339

Kristin Johnson 703.673.6920

Peter Pejacsevich 540.270.3835

700 WEST WASHINGTON ST | MIDDLEBURG

94 ACRES CREST HILL RD | MARSHALL

$955,000 | Enjoy living within Middleburg at this circa 1929 stone home with a freshly painted interior. The main level features a living room with a cozy fireplace, hardwood floors and a half bath. There are 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths and a large dressing room upstairs. The large lot has an oversized garage and beautiful gardens.

$990,000 | This 94 acres parcel at the intersection of Crest Hill Road and Leeds Manor Road is in a quiet setting surrounded by young trees and mature hardwoods that offer a canopy to the rolling landscape of springs, active creeks and trails. There are many potential home sites overlooking the adjacent creeks or pasture land.

Anne Michael Greene 540.364.9500

Ted Eldredge 571.233.9978

S I M P LY B E T T E R . | M I D D L E B U R G R E A L E S TAT E . C O M MIDDLEBURG, MARSHALL, PURCELLVILLE, LEESBURG, ASHBURN, WINCHESTER & CHARLES TOWN | CORPORATE: 10 E WASHINGTON ST, MIDDELBURG, VA 20117 | 540.687.6321 LICENSED IN VA + WV + MD | VA PRINCIPAL BROKER, PETER PEJACSEVICH | WV + MD PRINCIPAL BROKER, JOSH BEALL

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PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kaitlin Hill | kaitlin@middleburglife.com COPY EDITOR: Victoria Peace ADVERTISING DIRECTOR | PUBLISHER Christian Bentley | christian@middleburglife.com ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Vicky Mashaw | vmashaw@middleburglife.com Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR: Joanne Maisano MARKETING: Shell Peterson, Connor Duszynski DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok HOST OF THE MIDDLEBURG LIFE DOCU-SERIES: Laticia Headings ON THE COVER Paws2Heal owner, Kate Yeutter, outside her N. Pendleton Street office with therapy-dog-in-training, Ripley.

Read more about Kate Yeutter’s pet-centric practice on page 10. Photo by Sienna Turecamo.

ON THIS PAGE Salamander Resort & Spa’s 100-year-old stallion barn makes a cozy retreat after a day of winter activities.

In December, it was the venue for a feast of foraged delicacies which Middleburg Life writer Victoria Peace details on page 28. Photo by Kaitlin Hill.

CONTRIBUTORS Victoria Peace, Heidi Baumstark, Lia Hobel, Dulcy Hooper, Will Thompson, Callie Broaddus, Joanne Maisano, Sienna Turecamo WHAT TO WATCH Now on Middleburglife.com IGTV series, watch The Middleburg Life | Canine Companions ADVERTISE IN MIDDLEBURG LIFE Greenhill Media, LLC P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg, VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher.

All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility.

Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising.

Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Ashburn, Boyce, Delaplane, Dulles, Front Royal, Gainesville, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Reston, Tysons, Upperville, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester.

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LETTER FROM THE

EDITOR D

ear Middleburg Community, I am honored to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief of Middleburg Life. As a contributing writer for nearly five years, I have had the opportunity to get to know many of you, resulting in 100 articles for the magazine as of this issue.

Over those five years, I would often end interviews with the phrase, “It’s your story, and I am grateful I get to tell it.” More than a sign-off, it is a commitment to share the stories of our small town authentically and meaningfully, shedding light on the people, places, and traditions that make Middleburg, Middleburg.

In my new role, part of that brief is finding different and better ways to connect your stories with our readers. While continuing the level of excellence our print magazine is known for, my plan is to expand our digital presence, providing a platform to share more of the Middleburg and Hunt Country narrative. While this will broaden the visibility of our content, sending it further into Virginia and beyond, my editorial focus will always remain close to home.

As you read January’s publication, my first issue, I hope you will see familiar faces, learn something interesting about the community, and maybe meet someone new who has always been nearby.

And as I settle in, my greatest hope is that you will come to me to celebrate something in the Photo by Callie Broaddus.

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magazine you like or suggest something we can do better. My door – albeit figurative – is always open, and I welcome the opportunity to connect with you.

Finally, I would like to thank David Greenhill and Christian Bentley for offering me the opportunity to do what I love in an official capacity. The support of the Middleburg Life staff, the contributors, and the community has been a huge encouragement. I am very proud to work with this

team in this town towards our common goals for the publication.

Sincerely,

Kaitlin Hill Editor-in-Chief

It Goes Beyond Selling Homes Join our fundraiser for the Middleburg Humane Foundation

McEnearney Associates have partnered with Middleburg Humane Foundation to help animals in need throughout our Loudoun County community. We are working together to collect much needed items to support the local shelter. Your donations are greatly appreciated.

IAMS adult dry cat food (orange bag) IAMS kitten dry food (purple bag) Bleach Paper towels Hand soap

IAMS perfect portions kitten wet food Friskies pate canned cat food Non-clumping kitty litter Laundry detergent Dish soap

Items can be dropped off at the Leesburg Office of McEnearney Associates 107 N King St, Leesburg, VA 20176, through January 15, 2022.

McEnearney Associates, Realtors® Residential, Land, Farm, and Estate 11 West Washington Street, Middleburg, VA 20118 I 540.687.5490 I McEnearney.com Middleburg I Leesburg I Alexandria I North Arlington I Clarendon I McLean I Vienna I Spring Valley I 14th Street I Kensington Equal Housing Opportunity

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Advice for a Long Middleburg Life from Town Elders Written by Dulcy B. Hooper | Photos by Joanne Maisano

W

hat does it take to live a long and meaningful life? Is it the luck of the draw – or a lifetime of good habits? Is it knowing who you are and what you are meant to do? Or is it the ability to pick up new hobbies and interests and, likewise, know when it is time to give up old ones?

To find out the secrets of some well-known members of the Middleburg community, I reached out and asked if they would share their experiences and advice gained over their many years in Hunt Country.

Rose Marie Bogley’s long history of involvement in the Middleburg community is replete with equestrian, political, charitable, and social events, many of which she has chaired. From garden parties, stable tours, and hunt breakfasts, to travel, art, painting, and decorating, Bogley’s passion for life is abundant and genuine.

After getting her first racehorse over 50 years ago, Bogley subsequently became a breeder and owner of racehorses. In addition, she also competed in numerous sidesaddle competitions after teaching herself the art and etiquette of sidesaddle with the help of books and riding manuals.

Her success includes winning the sidesaddle event at Madison Square Garden three times.

Bogley also has a long history in animal rescue, having rescued a notable assortment of dogs and cats, as well as horses and chickens. Among the 22 horses she has rescued over the years, one is still with her: the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion who was abandoned by his owner after winning one million dollars.

Featured in a cover story in Middleburg Life a few years ago, Bogley is now taking time to “savor Peace and Plenty at Bollingbrook.” She still loves entertaining – only recently, a Saturday night cocktail party for 20 guests grew to an event for 40.

Hilleary Bogley, Rose Marie Bogley’s daughter, founded the Middleburg Humane Foundation and Bogley is pleased that “For 15 years in a row, we hosted the benefit here at Peace and Plenty.

There would be hundreds of people under tents we had set up, all for the benefit of Middleburg Humane.”

“I am enjoying life,” she says.

“I pray every morning and I thank

Left: Rose Marie Bogley. Right: Margaret Gardner. Photo courtesy of Margaret Gardner.

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God for another day.” Part of what keeps Bogley “trucking on,” to use her words, is her projects.

“I always have something going on,” she says. “I love the farm, and there is always so much to do.

I bought it for me – but also for my animals.”

Bogley is “grateful for my friends, and very grateful for every day that I am on this earth.”

Margaret Gardner, who has lived in Middleburg since 1965, is well known for her many years in the horse world, including a lengthy tenure as former joint master of the Middleburg Hunt. She is also known for her beautiful Italianate gardens and larger-than-life topiary of the hunt, a hobby she took up when she stopped riding. Her gardens have become the site of numerous charitable events for the benefit of animal rescue organizations.

Gardner gets down to brass tacks. In response to the question, “To what do you attribute your longevity?” her answer is prompt and to the point: “I haven’t a clue!” she exclaims. It didn’t take long, however, before she delved into some specific details.

Advice | Page 7

my puzzles.”

As Gardner sits in her dining room, a mass of jigsaw puzzle pieces spread out before her, waiting to be fitted into place, her favorite dog, Pepper, sits quietly and politely in a chair at her side.

“He’s the best, isn’t he?” she asks.

Advice | From page 6 “Well, I walk five miles a day, as long as the snakes aren’t out. I don’t eat much and what I do eat, I mostly grow myself. I go to bed early and keep the BBC on in the background. I keep up with what’s going on around the world! I’ve got to have a drink or two every day . . . but not to excess, mind you. Make sure you mention that – ‘not to excess’. And of course, I have my animals.”

Gardner’s animals include a lifetime of rescue dogs – with more than a few cats along the way. “I have seven dogs now,” she shares. “I’ve cut back, but most of the time, I’ve had 20 or more.”

Gardner also believes in the importance of challenging herself and spending time on her many interests, whether those interests are “good, bad, or indifferent.” From tennis, needlework, knitting, art, gardening, and tending to her numerous collections – including a beautiful library housing books of every kind and variety – Gardner does indeed have a lot of interests. “I know I am a born pack rat,” she admits.

To “keep the synapses connecting,” Gardner works on jigsaw puzzles every day. “Actually, twice a day,” she adds. “And I do 1,000-piece puzzles at a minimum – nothing less than that.”

She spends 20 to 30 minutes before lunch and another 20 to 30 minutes before dinner, “which I mostly don’t eat,” she reminds me. “It may be a useless waste of time, for all I know. But I enjoy

James L. Hatcher, Jr. (Jimmy), longtime horseman and foxhunter, has been part of the Middleburg community since 1966. He first rode in the Upperville show in 1949 and continued to show there for many years, riding horses that he had trained.

The first thing he mentions in response to my question about longevity: “Well, exercise is important. I walk every morning – not as much as I used to, but I walk every morning.”

Hatcher explains that in the course of his riding, he has “taken a lot of falls.”

“I fractured my skull for the first time when I was 14,” he remembers. “I was riding too many other people’s horses, and that’s what happens.”

He stopped riding for good when he was 80.

His mare was 18 and had some stifle problems and Hatcher says, “That seemed like a good time to stop. I was 80, and she was 18 and had some problems. It was a good time to stop.”

Hatcher says that while he misses riding, he is “well out of it now. And anyway, it wouldn’t be the same as it was.”

“I’m trying to find more time now to be with people,” Hatcher shares. “And, I have to say it – maybe it is as simple as this, but I just ‘keep on keeping on.’”

Something that Hatcher has much more time for now is reading. “I do read a lot. More than I ever had. I am just now reading the newest John Grisham book, and it’s great.” Hatcher says that he counts on the library to pick good books for him. “They do a great job at it,” he remarks. “And I really appreciate it.”

“I keep up with what’s going on around the world! I’ve got to have a drink or two every day ... but not to excess, mind you.” – Gardner do, California, and Virginia – and, along the way, she had “four glorious years in Europe, years of utter joy.”

Swift says she is grateful for having met “some truly fabulous people along the way.” Among those individuals were former president Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford. Swift was able to spend time with them and get to know them when she did the interior decorating of their home in Vail, Colorado.

Among the notable projects that are so much a part of Swift’s memory are a 16th-century chateau in Europe and the ambassador’s home and consulate in Morocco. Swift remains busy with The Shaggy Ram and her decorating and interior design work. “I love having met so many interesting people over the years,” she says, “and [having] the incredible opportunity to search for antiques abroad. Those experiences never leave you.” ML

Joanne Swift, long-time proprietor of The Shaggy Ram, has been part of the Middleburg community since 1986.

“I think the thing that keeps me going – the thing that makes my life what it is – comes down to the experiences I have had through living in so many parts of the world,” she says. “I can always fall back on those experiences and memories and realize how lucky I am.”

Swift grew up in Wisconsin and then moved on to spend time in Washington, Florida, Colora-

Top: Jimmy Hatcher. Bottom: Joanne Swift.

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Lawn Maintenance Plans Landscape Maintenance Plans Spring and Fall Cleanups• Seasonal Pruning Tree and Shrub Installation Landscape Design Services ..and much more!

E. Washington St. | P.O. 1380 | Middleburg,VA VA 20118 | 540.687.5588 | sheridanmacmahon.com Washington St. | 110 P.O. Box 1380 | Box Middleburg, 20118 | 540.687.5588 | sheridanmacmahon.co

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ALL’S WELL FARM

MARSHALL, VIRGINIA

Prime Fauquier County location on the Atoka Road | 88.34 acres with bold Blue Ridge views | Neoclassical brick home with slate roof completely updated & expanded | 5 BR, 5 full, 2 half baths, 5 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen | 10 stall barn with attached indoor arena | Pool, pool house, tenant house | Beautiful gardens | Superb condition

RUTLEDGE FARM

HALFWAY FARM

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

Premier Middleburg estate | Main house of stone and frame construction circa 1740 w/addition in 1820. 6 BR, 3 1/2 BA, 5 FP, high ceilings, moldings & detailed woodwork | Equestrian facilities are unmatched | 85 lush acres. 4 barns totaling 27 stalls | 14 paddocks | Derby field | 218 x 80 indoor arena | 250 x 150 all-weather outdoor arena | 80’ lunging arena | Polo field (or 2 grand prix fields) | 4 board, double fencing & automated nelson waterers | Other improvements include 3 BR, 2 1/2 BA guest house | Farm office attached to 3 BR house | Machine shed | Carriage house w/apartment | Stone spring house/office | 3 BR apartment | Pond with gazebo

SPRING GLADE

PLAINS, VIRGINIA

Privacy and 107 acres between Middleburg and The Plains | Residential enclave of great character within a rich array of natural resources | Classic Virginia stone and stucco c. 1820 | 4 bedrooms, antique floors and rich pine paneling Two guest houses, stone cottage, farm managers house, 2 stables, machine shed and work shop| Extensive Little River frontage and 2 ponds | Tremendous views.

SALEM HILL

$3,975,000

$7,500,000 MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIA VIRGINIA Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930 $6,000,000 (also available with 113 acresMARSHALL, for $7,000,000)

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Paul MacMahon Well 703.609.1905 French Country home, with renovations in 1999 protected Fauquier location | 6 bedrooms | Sandra Bravo Greenberg 202.308.3813 & 2017 | 4 BR, 5 full & 2 half BA, 5 FP, hardwood 4 full and 2 half baths | 3 fireplaces | Great views floors, flagstone terrace | Beautiful drive to hilltop | Pool with large flagstone terrace | Large county stetting overlooking pond, lake & mountains | Imkitchen | 4-car detached garage with apartment/ provements include pool, 2-car garage, 2 BR guest office | 9-stall barn | Covered arena | Outdoor house & apartment | Lovely boxwood gardens | ring | 4 stall shed row barn | 51 fenced acres Kitchen allowance to be provided | 79.89 acres

$3,900,000

$3,690,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

P MVINEYARD acMahon 703.609.1905 50aul WEST MASON FARM, LIGHTRIDGE FARM ROAD ALDIE, VIRGINIA M M 540.454.1930 h Existing farm winery established in 2015 | 38.47 acres 20+/- acres in fast growing Loudoun location | Currently MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA elen ac ahon

recorded in two parcels | Hilltop setting with magnificent views | 2,500 sq ft wine tasting room, main level consist of tasting room, seating areas, kitchen, restrooms, 2nd story more seating areas and bathroom | Club House of 5,100 sq ft contemporary style, wine tasting bar, seating areas, bathrooms, large deck, terrace & pool | 40 x 60 Butler building, large parking area | Unique opportunity

zoned TR3UBF | Willowsford, South Riding, Stone Ridge, minutes away | New county high school next to property | Currently improved by 2 residences, 2 ponds | Northstar Blvd around corner

$3,462,000 Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

203 acres i River fronta 4 full & 3 1/2 Gunnite pool and private | 5 stall Ji paddocks, pa | Old d

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THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

Gorgeous 71 acre parcel in a wonderful location between Middleburg and The Plains | Rolling land with stone walls and 2 ponds | Enchanting property | Property is in conservation easement and may not be divided further

$1,950,000 Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930

$3,950,000 Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

GAME CREEK

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THE ORCHARD MARSHALL HIGHWAY 1 CHINN LANE MIddLEBuRG, VIRGINIAJOHN RECTORTOWN, VIRGINIA MARKHAM, VIRGINIA MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

A stunning 1950’s brick home located on over 4 1/2 acres on the West end of Middleburg |3 bedrooms & 3 full baths | Eat-in kitchen | Spacious living room with a fireplace | Dining area & full basement | Screened porch | Flagstone terrace| Mature landscaping and a pond |Walk to restaurants and shopping.

3 recorded parcels in Markham, VA. Frontage on Goose Creek, land rises to great views, mountain meadows on upper portion.

Access over Railroad and creek. Excellent hunting land, surrounded by large tracts.

Elegant and manageable home in the village of Middleburg | Custom finishes and hardwood floors throughout | Bright first floor bedroom has built-in book cases, a very large bathroom and substantial custom designed walk-in closet | Living room has a large fireplace and 2 sets of french doors opening to enclosed porch/sunroom | Second floor offers 2 charming guest bedrooms | Privacy wall encloses the garden area and provides an additional parking, detached heated garage with attached greenhouse.

A remarkable property located within a private 17 acres of rolling pasture land in the village enclave just minutes from town | Stone and stucco of Rectortown | Convenient to both Routes 50 manor house with main level master suite | 7 $997,160& 66 | Newly renovated | Private setting with additional$1,950,000 BR | 5 stone FP | Beautiful gardens, magnificent mountain views | 4 bedrooms, Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905 Trow Littleton 540.272.2032 terraces, salt water pool, cabana, carriage house & 4 full bath, 1 half bath, 2 fireplaces | Heated Lynn Wiley 540.454.1527 $975,000 stable with 2 paddocks | Lovely finishes throughout pool & spa | 2 bedroom guest house | Helen MacMahon 540.454.1930 & sweeping lawn to private trails to Goose Creek | Large shed & 2-car garage 31 acres | Private, elegant & convenient

$2,650,000

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Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

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Circa 18 rebuilt a beams an Barn a 2 bedroom multiple b outsi 9

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Paws2Heal:

Canine Companionship Sets Former Event Rider Down a New Career Path Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Sienna Turecamo Photography

K

ate Yeutter has always had a soft spot for animals. She moved to Virginia in 2006 from Woodstock, Vermont, to pursue a professional equestrian career. “I had aspirations to be an Olympic rider because who doesn’t at 21,” she remembers about that chapter of her life.

However, her dream of riding shifted to managing Locochee Farm, which she did for 10 years before deciding to go back to school to be a veterinarian.

During this time, she adopted Kyla, a Border Collie-Doberman mix. “I just [got] out of an abusive relationship,” explains Yeutter, adding that she always wanted a puppy but was waiting for the perfect time. She remembers in college everyone telling her to do therapy work with Kyla as she had the perfect temperament. “She was just an old soul. She was never more than two feet away from me.” Listening to the advice of her peers, she did the therapy training with Kyla and would visit hospitals with her.

PAWS2HEAL Yeutter loved what she was doing but had no idea it would turn into so much more. “[Kyla was] the start of everything,” she says.

Yeutter married in 2014 and credits her husband Jeff with encouraging her to shift from becoming a veterinarian to a mental health counselor. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” she recalls. “I wanted to combine my love for animals with helping people. And my husband being the straightforward person he is, was like, ‘Well, just go do that.’”

In July of 2020, she opened Paws2Heal in the town of Middleburg. Yeutter is a licensed profesPaws | Page 11 Yeutter and therapy dog Ripley.

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Paws | From page 10 sional counselor (LPC), nationally board-certified counselor (NCC), and certified clinical trauma professional (CCTP). Her husband Jeff helps manage the practice. Yeutter says she loves the play on words with “Paws2Heal'' but also likes that the name emphasizes the importance of animals to her. “I find them not only to be therapeutic, but they can bridge a gap that people can’t necessarily repair when there’s been interpersonal trauma,” she says.

Kyla unfortunately passed away in 2019, but she is still very much the heart and soul of the practice. Currently in a PhD program, Yeutter is writing her dissertation about using dogs to repair attachment trauma. She also has a new therapy dog, Ripley, who is two and a half years old and working to be at Kyla’s level of therapeutic ability.

Additionally, Yeutter helps many clients adopt service dogs or figure out if they are a good candidate for an emotional support animal or service dog. “People don’t understand the difference between a therapy dog, an emotional support animal, and a service dog. So, I make sure people are educated and that they get an animal that is going to match their needs,” Yeutter says.

Yeutter specializes in complex trauma, which is usually from childhood or chronic exposure to trauma. She works with first responders due to

the high exposure to trauma they experience. In addition to her therapy sessions, she also runs a first responder support group at the Middleburg Baptist Church at no charge. Anyone who classifies as a first responder is welcome. She says people come from all over to these meetings, which signifies the need.

“This is my passion. This is my life. I’m very happy to throw myself into it,” she says wholeheartedly.

Yeutter and her husband aspire to expand Paws2Heal, including adding interns and residents, which will launch as a pilot program this year. “I am a big advocate for affordable healthcare and a lot of clinicians charge $175 a service and don’t take insurance,” Yeutter notes. “I think that’s wrong. I feel like we have to find a way to make it accessible.” Her internship program will offer more affordable services at $20 or $30 per session.

With just over a year in practice at Paws2Heal, Yeutter says what she enjoys most about counseling individuals is that “there is no mold,” and she has never done the same treatment plan twice.

“Everybody is different with different sets of experiences and different ways they interpret those experiences.”

She remarks that she never ceases to be amazed by her job when people show her a new way of looking at things. “It’s always challenging me to look at things differently and be better,” Yeutter finishes. “And I love that.” ML Top: Ripley the resident therapy dog. Middle: Inside Yeutter ’s North Pendleton Street Office. Bottom: Yeutter and Ripley on a walk.

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Ne w Ye ar ’s Res oluti ons It’s that time of year again. Time for the New Year’s Resolutions we all rarely abide by. One of them that I hear often is “ I need to get my affairs in order so I’m not a burden to my kids.” In my 36 years in business, I’ve heard that a lot. Unfortunately, I’ve seen the results time and time again of people not accomplishing it.

Here are just a few of the things I’ve seen that you ought to consider as we venture into 2022.

Leave your affairs in order If you can’t lay your hands on your important papers, what makes you think your kids will be able to? We encourage clients and friends to put together their important papers in one place. Wills, Trusts, Power of Attorney, Advanced Medical Directives, Life, Long Term Care, and Disability policies. When you hit the off ramp, which we all will at some point, the people that you have entrusted with taking care of you and your affairs will need originals of these documents. Get them in one place and be sure someone knows where they are.

Make your intentions clear Upon finishing the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin’s last great quote included the words, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes”. Over the years, I’ve adopted and supplemented this quote just a bit by saying, “Death, Money, and Taxes change even the best people.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen it: family members inappropriately trying to take over a business, real estate landing in the wrong hands, control of family assets wrenched from those whom it was intended. Don’t leave things up to interpretation. Make your intentions clear in a written document or codicil to your will. You can always change it later.

Beneficiary Statements in General As the people in your life that you care about change, make sure you’re keeping up with your beneficiary statements. Life events happen: you get married or divorced, a parent passes away, you have more children, or you have a new need for life insurance. Did you update beneficiaries along with these life events?

Most separation and divorce documents null and void a beneficiary designation to an ex-spouse. The key word there is “most” not all.

Certain types of retirement plans, annuities, some IRA and 401(k) plans are not covered by the all-encompassing rule. The laws are also different in different states.

Think about Long Term Care expenses There are all sorts of statistics about long term care nursing homes etc. The generally accepted statistics are that 70% of people turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care services in their remaining years. Some people are fortunate enough not to need care and some are fortunate enough to be able to afford care but many are not. And what if one spouse needs care and the other doesn’t? Can one afford the same standard of living they enjoy while caring for the other?

Consider your own situation. Can you afford care for one or both of you? Have you considered Long Term Care Insurance? There are several new variations of life insurance that also have long term care riders attached. These are great alternatives. If you need care, the funds are available. If you don’t need care, those funds end up as a death benefit to your family.

Unload things This thought comes from personal experience. I lost my father a couple of years ago. As many times as I’d been in his home, I guess I never realized what a pack rat he was. I’ve since told the joke even though it is true, that if my father bought a toaster in 1970, and it stopped working in ’74, it was still on a shelf in the basement, in the original packaging with a note that said “broken”. It took me all of six months to clean out his house and get it ready for sale. Even today, I have boxes in my garage left over from his place. Go home every day and throw something out or sell it. Don’t leave that mess for your children.

Conclusion We wish you the very best for the New Year. If we can help in any way with accomplishing your New Year’s Resolutions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!

Tom Wiseman

Lucy Zimmerman

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At Home with Mackenzie Horne Mackenzie Horne, McEnearney Associate

Licensed in DC, MD, VA

Being at home is about much more than physical space... it is the feelings you have with people and things close to you. It means that you are comfortable enough to trust someone and that they will always be there for you no matter how challenging life can get. And that is exactly what Mackenzie Horne wants her clients to feel when they work with her to make one of the most important decisions of their lives. Connect with Mackenzie to make your next move with a trusted advisor.

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NVTRP: Life-Changing Therapy Work Inspired by Organizational Joy Written by Kaitlin Hill | Photos by Sienna Turecamo Photography

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or the team at Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program (NVTRP) in Clifton, improving quality of life for their patients is all in a day’s work. The organization, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020, offers a range of equine-assisted physical therapy, occupational therapy, and psychotherapy programs for children and adults with disabilities, marginalized communities, and military personnel. The program’s already admirable aim is made even more meaningful by the foundation of genuine joy on which all operations are so obviously based. “One of our organizational values is joy, and that’s what the horses bring to everybody,” shares NVTRP’s executive director, Kelsey Gallagher. But more than the horses, joy seems to be a requisite quality for each member of the staff and the many volunteers who are dedicated to making a positive impact on all who enter their barn.

And with some recently achieved expansion and plans for more, Gallagher and her team have their sights set on spreading the joy even further for years to come.

“The program started in 1980, when therapeutic riding and equine-assisted services were really new to the United States,” Gallagher explains. “At first, the idea of putting people with disabilities on horses seemed a little shocking.”

When word of the benefits spread, a group in Clifton, Virginia, decided to bring the practice to their community. “It started with a couple of volunteers with borrowed horses in somebody’s field. And for the first couple of decades, we had a nomadic existence.”

Gallagher, who has been with the program for 20 years, says the goal was always to have a permanent address, but it wasn’t until an unfortunate incident that the opportunity presented Joy | Page 15 Shelby Morrison, Kelsey Gallagher, Sydney Sawyer.

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Joy | From page 14 itself. “It was just one of those weird life things that through tragedy, something great worked out.” NVTRP experienced a barn fire in 2007 and while all the horses survived, the venue and equipment did not. “We were looking for a new place, and we were fortunate that this property became an option to rent,” Gallagher says. They moved to Little Full Cry Farm in December 2007 and instantly knew they wanted it to become their forever home. “So, we fundraised to buy it,” Gallagher notes. Five years of fundraising later, NVTRP was able to purchase the 17-acre farm, now named O’Shaughnessy Farm, where they remain today.

At the farm, NVTRP offers a handful of distinct programs: therapeutic riding, occupational and physical therapy incorporating horses, equine-assisted learning, and psychotherapy incorporating horses.

Grants and Communications Manager Shelby Morrison says, “We fall under the umbrella of PATH international, or the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. That is who we have our accreditation through.” She adds,

“The physical therapy and occupational therapy sessions are within a medical model of treatment.

It’s the same as if you were going to traditional physical therapy, just with a horse incorporated.”

Sydney Sawyer, a physical therapist at NVTRP adds, “I treat patients using horses…I am using the movement of the horse to affect different functional outcomes. My goal isn’t to have them learn to ride, it’s to use the horse as part of my physical therapy plan.” And Gallagher adds, “[Patients] are working on therapy goals of a certain amount of strength or flexibility or coordination.”

Anita Saplan brought her son Mason to NVTRP to address physical challenges resulting from his cerebral palsy diagnosis. “It’s non-traditional…but being on a horse helps open his hips which are really tight because of his legs crossing over when he was little,” she says. “After therapy, he stands a little taller when he walks, his legs don’t cross over, and his core is much stronger.”

For Mason, who has worked with Sawyer for four years, the changes aren’t just physical. “It’s the social aspect of the volunteers too. He loves going.

There are two [people] he absolutely adores, his therapist, Sydney, and one of the volunteers, Gin-

ny,” Saplan says. The fun that comes with getting to spend time around horses makes the session seem less like a doctor’s appointment and more like an adventure. Wendy Baird, NVTRP’s development director says, “Physical therapy is hard. It hurts and it’s hard, but then they come here to the horses, and they don’t really even know that they are working. It’s just fun and they are motivated.”

That same concept of beneficial distraction applies to the equine-assisted psychotherapy and their work with veterans too. “Those sessions are unmounted…but the beautiful thing of working with a horse is that it forces you to stay in the moment. The horse requires you to remain calm and to be present. You get a break from whatever else might be going on in your life,” Morrison says.

This translates to their work with local military organizations to address PTSD and substance use disorder.

NVTRP can take its services on the road too, and often use the miniature horses Teddy and Eleanor, who are easier to transport. “We also take horses to senior homes and assisted living facilities that have high populations of dementia,” Joy | Page 16

Left: Mason playing basketball. Right: NVTRP’s new indoor space.

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Joy | From page 15 Morrison explains. “Or we partner with different school groups or after school programs to work on academic and life skills. [This] can include communication, trust building, teamwork.”

“In DC, we take the horses to the Washington School for Girls which is in the Anacostia area and we [have] a leadership curriculum. Teddy helps teach lessons about being a good citizen, using listening skills, and paying attention.

When you are working with horses you have to be mindful of yourself,” Gallagher says. “The kids are engaged because it is fun to interact with animals, but it also helps them become stronger, more selfaware, and more confident.”

The final piece of the puzzle is therapeutic riding, the service NVTRP was built on. “Therapeutic riding is basically an adapted horseback riding lesson.

Through riding, they are maintaining strength, balance, confidence, and having fun,” Gallagher shares. “What’s nice about having both programs is that a client can graduate from physical therapy to therapeutic riding.”

The long list of services is driven by community need and staff dedication. “The beauty of being a small nonprofit is that we can adapt and see where there’s a need and really fit that,” Gallagher explains. And they are planning to offer even Left: Teddy the mini horse. Right: Lula and the volunteers.

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more, with the recent completion of their indoor arena. “I am still pinching myself that we finally did it,” exclaims Gallagher, full of enthusiasm.

Morrison emphasizes that the new facility will have a significant impact on the number of people they can serve, saying, “It’s going to give us the ability to grow our program by an estimated 60%.” The team at NVTRP hopes that the ex-

panded capacity will help them cut down on their two-year-long waitlist, a result of having a high retention rate. “Once someone is in, they’re in,” Gallagher shares.

That holds true for volunteers too, of which they have 150 throughout the week. “A lot of our volunteers have been here for 10 years, if not more,” according to Gallagher. She attributes that to a ripple effect they call “vibrations of happiness.”

“We talk about the ripples of volunteering, the work we do for our clients makes such an impact,

and what the volunteers gain from that makes an impact. Actually, one of our board members called it ‘vibrations of happiness.’ Maybe Mason is on the horse having a good day and feeling stronger. He goes home feeling better, so his family feels better. And the volunteers who are a part of it feel great because they were a part of something positive. And then they go home feeling better.

Vibrations of happiness,” Gallagher says with a smile.

Ne e d m o r e proof ? Just ask Mason’s mom. “If it ever came to an end, it would be devastating. I get emotional thinking about it. People never leave the program because it is just too great — the volunteers, the employees, the communication, everything. It’s the best I’ve seen in Mason’s 11 years,” she says.

The imp ortance of what they do isn't lost on any of the staff at NVTRP. To them, it is more than a job — it’s a calling. When asked what is most rewarding about her job, Gallagher tears up. “I know what a tremendous impact our small organization makes.

It is truly changing lives. I get emotional talking about it, because I feel like we are really making a difference through the horses. We are helping make people stronger, more confident, it’s really making the world a brighter place.” Morrison echoes her sentiment saying, “The most amazing thing is to make the world a little brighter, a little happier, one horse at a time.” ML

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501 acres $19,500,000 Upperville – Private 18 hole golf course built to USGA standards. 2 world class stables, 45 stalls, arena, 28 fenced paddocks. 500+ spectacular acres with Blue Ridge Mountain views. Convenient to Dulles, Reagan National and Washington, D.C.

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102+ acres $4,600,000 Boyce – This exquisite Country Estate is surrounded by some of the finest estates in Clarke Co. and enjoys stunning Blue Ridge Mountain views. Designed for elegant living and grand entertaining.

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93+ acres $3,600,000 Middleburg – 1st time offering of this wonderful ‘Hanback built’ home with spectacular Blue Ridge Mtn views. 5 BR / 5.5 BAs. 4 fireplaces, hardwood floors. Pool & mature landscaping. 2 BR / 1 BA tenant house, 6 stall barn w/paddocks. 2 ponds.

37+ acres $3,495,000 Bluemont – Just north of Middleburg, stunning colonial 12 rooms, 6240 sqft of living space with 10 foot ceilings, 4 BRs/ 4½ BAs, wood burning fireplaces, gourmet kitchen. A 6 stall stable and board fenced paddocks. Blue Ridge Mountain views.

44 acres $3,495,000 Rectortown – Turn-key estate protected by conservation easement, which allows for develop-ment of equestrian facilities.

Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 7-acre fenced vineyard with vistas of rolling hills, woods and pastures all around.

129 acres $3,300,000 Upperville – Impeccably restored brick manor house, ca. 1844. Perennial gardens and orchard, guest house with theatre, guest/pool house, pool, 5 bay garage, workshop, 2 ponds, fenced fields and paddocks.

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51+ acres $2,489,000 Marshall – Virginia’s horse and wine country w/ mountain, lake and pastoral views. Custom-built home has 5 BRs / 4.5 BAs. High ceilings; HW flooring; 4 fireplaces. Fenced, mature pasture for horses. New 45’ x 70’ equip. building.

246+ acres $1,800,000 Markham – Beautiful and protected area of Fauquier County. Pristine forest land with several high points and clearings suitable for building. Spectacular views in all directions. Eligible for division and conservation potential with tax benefits.

12+ acres $709,999 Site your new home on this lovely rolling parcel located less than 3 miles East of the historic village of Middleburg. Situated just North of Rte. 50 in Loudoun County, this parcel offers close to 400 feet of road frontage. Land is currently planted in hay.

20+ acres $525,000 Travel a tranquil country road to arrive at this wooded parcel tucked into the Bull Run Mountains. A massive rock ledge at the top overlooks a cleared building site surrounded by mature trees. Minutes to the town of The Plains or Middleburg.

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Legacy Farm

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HEMP IN THE HEART OF HUNT COUNTRY Written by Kaitlin Hill

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ith the legalization of industrial hemp production at the end of 2018, many of Virginia’s farmers shifted gears to capitalize on a new and exciting market. Nearby, from Lovettsville to Front Royal, hemp farms seem to sprout from the ground in abundance like the easily identifiable kelly green leaves they cultivate. Though business is booming, local growers and business owners, Jeff Boogaard of Cannabreeze, and Heather and Christoph Quasney of Old Dominion Cannabis, explain that industrial hemp in Hunt Country is much more about wellness than wealth. In fact, over the course of a conversation, they share that their businesses are built around family and community support, focus on environmentalism, and a desire to educate the CBD-conflicted.

First, it is important to understand what hemp is, and why it is different from recreational marijuana. Boogaard’s path towards understanding started with the letters CBD. “I didn’t know anything other than those three letters,” he explains. Three other letters, THC, might ring a bell too. Both CBD, the abbreviation of cannabidiol, and THC, short for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. While both are present, their properties are different. THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that can become intoxicating and cause “a high,” whereas CBD, which is not psychotropic, is touted for its ability to

Industrial hemp field. Photo courtesy of Cannabreeze.

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address a diverse set of health issues. In fact, in 2018 the FDA approved its first CBD-derived drug, Epidiolex, which is used to treat specific severe forms of epilepsy.

The level of THC in the cannabis plant designates whether it is hemp or marijuana. To qualify as hemp, from which CBD is sourced, the plant being processed must have lower than 0.3% THC. Christoph Quasney sums it up nicely saying, “There is a clear difference here. It’s the same plant, but the difference is the selective genetics that bred a plant that has very low THC which is the federally prohibited cannabinoid. We want to target those cannabinoids that are legal, but also have demonstrated some sort of afforded health benefits.”

Those selective genetics result in seeds, which – unsurprisingly – are where the growing process begins. And, Christoph Quasney shares, there is the capacity to be even more selective there, supporting small seed companies.

“We wanted to go with [seeds] we knew would be compliant, but we also wanted to reach out to local genetics companies, and we found some doing new crosses and new cultivars,” he says.

The path from seed to CBD happens from roughly May to October in Virginia, and for both Cannabreeze and Old Dominion Cannabis, begins with indoor germination. “We germinate indoors for the first three or so weeks, and then [the seeds] are transplanted outside.

They’ll propagate outdoors from sometime in

June towards the end of September,” Boogaard explains. The remainder of the growth cycle, when the plant begins to flower, is driven by light. Christoph Quasney says, “The new growth stage occurs when you are getting 14 hours or more of sunlight a day. Once you drop down to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark, the plant starts flowering.” While the process might seem as straightforward as night and day, growing in Virginia presents unique challenges. “The growth cycles are reflective of Virginia’s unique growing situation. We have really high humidity, which is a challenge from a fungus standpoint,” Christoph Quasney says.

Pests pose a threat too, but Boogaard fights them off naturally. “You can battle bugs with some good organics, or live predators. We use ladybugs and praying mantises.”

Old Dominion Cannabis works with – versus against – nature too. “Being environmental is a core part of our business model. From an energy standpoint we use LED lighting, with regards to watering we use direct drip irrigation, so we use very little water. And we utilize organically derived fertilizer,” Christoph Quasney says.

Once the flowers are mature, the hard work of harvesting starts in the fall. Boogaard laughs, “We always say, the work begins when the stock is chopped.” After the plants are harvested, they are dried and then “we’ll buck it” Hemp | Page 21

Hemp | From page 20 Christoph Quasney shares with enthusiasm.

Bucking is the process of removing individual flowers from the stem. “Once it is bucked, we put it through a trimmer…that gently rolls the flower around,” he explains. “What you are left with is a nice trimmed, aesthetically pleasing flower.”

The penultimate part of the process is curing.

Of their process, Christoph Quasney shares, “We transfer it to glass jars and start that four-week curing process…with bi-daily venting.”

The final step – extraction – is perhaps the most challenging, or at least the most expensive. Extraction can happen in one of three ways: CO2 extraction, ethanol extraction, or infusion.

Boogaard says, “That component is the most expensive yet the most crucial part of the process.”

With that in mind, Boogaard is building an extraction facility and will welcome other farmers to use it. He adds, “Our goal is to support all the farmers in the region.” His production facility has faced delays due to the pandemic, but Boogaard would rather do it right, than do it quickly. “All of our equipment in our facility, in our labs is American made,” he says proudly. His ovens come from Oregon and the extraction system is from Pittsburgh. They also have a nano emulsification system from Miami.

Extraction is so crucial because it is when the flower transitions from dried plant to usable biomass that can be administered in three ways through a variety of products. “There are basically three modes of delivery,” Christoph Quasney explains. “Inhalation, topical, and ingestion. And we wanted to make sure we offered a variety of all three.”

While inhalation is self-explanatory, the products designed around topical and ingestion are somewhat surprising. For topical, Old Dominion Cannabis offers a sore muscle salve and massage oil, and Cannabreeze has body oil and bath bombs. Each company has interesting edible offerings from tinctures and gummies to Old Dominion Cannabis’ CBD infused honey. Heather Quasney recommends adding a little of their Hemp + Honey to a cup of green tea.

According to the National Library of Medicine, there are at least 837 CBD studies and

clinical trials happening around the world. In Charlottesville, the University of Virginia is currently studying the effects of topical CBD in osteoarthritis of the hand, while The Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston is researching CBD as a treatment for anxiety in advanced breast cancer patients, signs of the hypothesis that CBD might have both physical and mental benefits for a wide-ranging set of symptoms.

For now, CBD success stories are largely anecdotal, but both the Quasney family and Jeff Boogaard have their own reasons for believing in the bud. Heather Quasney shares, “I used it after I gave birth to my daughter for postpartum depression. And, Christoph has been using it for his chronic back pain for years.” They even use it for their dogs. “We have an older arthritic dog and an older dog who has always had anxiety and the products have just been wonderful for us. We found it beneficial for our family,” Heather Quasney says.

Boogaard’s turn to CBD was family-oriented too, after his daughter received a rare cancer diagnosis. He remembers, “We made the decision right then and there to go all in. And we felt that it was almost this divine providence that we had this opportunity to create something we think could be so beneficial for so many people.”

Each sees cultivating CBD as a way to support their communities. Boogaard says, “What we want to bring to our community is a balanced approach to health and wellness.” And Heather Quasney adds, “We decided to farm here because this is our community. We love Front Royal.”

Part of that community support is educating those who are still unsure, or even buy into the stigma surrounding CBD. When asked how to advise a CBD newbie Christoph Quasney says, “What I always say is try it out, experiment, have fun with it. And don’t be afraid to reach out to your local farmers or CBD people like ourselves.

We are always happy to answer questions. We actually look forward to it.” Heather Quasney adds, “We love to talk. We love to get to know the members of our community. And we just love being able to share what we are doing with everyone.”

“If you’re willing to take the dive, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised with what CBD can do for you,” Christoph Quasney finishes. ML

Top: Heather and Christoph Quasney. Photo by Kaitlin Hill. Middle, left: Hemp + Honey. Photo by Kaitlin Hill. Middle, right: Cannabis flower. Photo by Kaitlin Hill. Bottom: Jeff Boogaard. Photo courtesy of Cannabreeze.

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Investing in Classics with The Callaways Written by Heidi Baumstark Photos by Callie Broaddus

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tep into a classic car and step into a different world; it’s like taking a trip to a bygone era.

And who can pass up that nostalgic feeling of cruising down memory lane? Obviously not many, because Callaway Classics in Marshall, owned by father and son, Tom and Chris Callaway, has been selling classic American-made cars since they opened in the spring of 2021.

Tom has been collecting cars for years. Back in 2000 during the stock market bust, Tom lost money in IT stocks. “I needed to make some changes, so I put extra money into buying classic cars. It’s important to diversify your investments and classic cars [are] one way to do that,” Tom explains.

Chris agrees. “Some customers are looking for classic cars for pure enjoyment. Others purchase for investment benefits,” he says. “Every year the number of classic cars dwindles so it’s a great investment.”

In 2018 when Tom sold his business – T.A.C. Ceramic Tile Company in Manassas – it opened the door to purchase the old Ford dealership in Marshall and transform it into Callaway Classics.

Tom adds, “Collecting classic, muscle cars from Tom and Chris Callaway.

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the 1963 to 1973 year range has been my hobby, my passion. And opening this business is a dream come true.”

In January 2020, Callaway Classics opened in the old Ford dealership at the intersection of Main Street and Winchester Road in Marshall.

The original Ford dealership dates to 1915 and is known as the oldest continuously run Ford dealership in the nation. Throughout 2020, the two buildings underwent an extensive makeover with mindful attention paid to retaining their historic character. Though technically Callaway’s is not a Ford dealership, they still sell Fords and like to think they are continuing the legacy of the buildings. Following the renovations, Callaway’s officially opened in April 2021.

Callaway’s beauties include a diverse selection of collector cars dating from the 1930s with their base inventory including the niche market of American-made cars mostly from the 1960s and 1970s. “I have over one hundred cars that I’ve collected over the years,” Tom says. Favorites that top his list include the 1968 Ford Mustang, 1965 Buick Riviera, and his 1978 original Ford pickup truck, which he still has. “I really like working on

them – the tactile function of it all. And, seeing the ‘before and after’ of restoring cars is so fulfilling.”

Tom’s first car was a white 1965 Chevy Impala. “It was my grandfather’s old car,” he adds. “My dad said if I could fix it, I could have it. I was only 14. My dad knew I was mechanically inclined, so I read up on it and fixed it up.” Tom wasn’t even old enough to drive, but once he got his license, you bet he drove it.

In 1976, Tom was eyeing another car and saved enough money to purchase it while working as a janitor at Iverson Mall in Hillcrest Heights, Maryland. “I paid $850 for it; it was my first car that I bought. It was in great shape in a burgundy color, a 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback,” he remembers. “And that’s the image on our logo.”

Chris’ first car was a silver 1979 Pontiac Trans Am with an eagle image on the hood. “I still have it,” Chris says. “When I bought it in 2003, I was only 15. It had 28,000 miles and was all original.

I started getting into cars when I was 12 or 13. I learned the mechanics, read books. My dad took me to car shows and I was taking an interest in it.”

Classics | Page 25

Classics | From page 24 CARS AND COFFEE One way to bring enthusiasts and potential classic car investors together is through Callaway’s Cars and Coffee held the second Saturday of the month, April through October, from 8 to 11 a.m. “It’s a good entry into the car industry,” Chris says. “You get to see other people’s cars and talk to the owners. Some come to us to sell their cars; and we buy them, clean them up, and put them up for sale.”

When asked what he enjoys about Cars and Coffee, Tom says, “Tinkering on them, polishing them, and the camaraderie it brings.” Likewise, Chris answers, “When people see classic cars, there’s a nostalgia surrounding them. When you drive around, others look, and are intrigued. It sparks memories from a generation of people who remember them.”

One of those people is Fauquier native, Charlie Ebbets, who grew up in Marshall. From 1948 to 1951, his dad owned a grill across the street in the building that is now the 7-Eleven. “It was called Eat at Joe's, named after my dad,” Ebbets

says. “As a kid, I’d go across the street from my dad’s grill to the dealership. Years later, I bought the Ford dealership and owned it from 1976 to 1988. Willard Scott [former weather reporter on NBC’s Today Show] would come in and sit around the old pot belly stove; that was in the early 1980s. Farmers would bring their trucks to be worked on and sit at the old stove, drink coffee, and talk.” Today, the Callaways continue that social camaraderie through their Cars and Coffee events, where all are welcome to check out the lineup of classic rides.

WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING Erick Gustafson, a D.C. resident with a house in The Plains, bought a white 1987 Chevrolet Blazer from Callaway’s in July 2021. “It has a terrific burgundy interior; it’s super cool,” he shares.

“I’m a little bit of a car guy. But living on Capitol Hill, it’s kind of hard to be a car guy in the city,” Gustafson admits. One day in the countryside, he stumbled upon Callaway Classics and spotted the white Blazer in the window. “They’ve got an exClassics | Page 26

Top: 1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1, 1971 Plymouth GTX, 2004 Dodge 1500 SRT-10, 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Convertible, 1970 Dodge Challenger. Middle: Chris and Tom peep under the hood of a 1972 Ford Mustang Mach 1. Bottom: Ford Model A Pickup.

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Classics | From page 25 traordinary collection of vehicles – it’s not a typical dealership – it’s more of a collection.”

Gustafson said he loves cars of all kinds, but the classic ones have such unique character. “It’s cool to drive in an older car seeing all this local history,” he says. “Trips from Millwood to Middleburg, The Plains to Marshall, my wife and I drive on those country back roads, stopping at places to enjoy the food and wine scene. I really love the area and meeting people like Chris.”

Sherri Spellar of Aldie is another classic car enthusiast who has wanted a Mustang since she was 14 years old.

For years, Spellar searched for a 1965 Mustang convertible and wanted to buy locally. In October 2021, she finally purchased a Rangoon Red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible. “One day

while in Marshall,” she recalls, “I saw Callaway Classics before they opened, and kept looking on their website for inventory updates. Chris was very accommodating and honest, and he still checks in to see how I’m enjoying the car. I love driving through Middleburg, The Plains, and Upperville enjoying the beautiful landscape of Hunt Country.

It seems like a dream when I walk out to my garage and see her sitting there – and by the way – her name is Scarlett.”

Making dreams come true, diversifying portfolios, and keeping legacies alive. That’s what Callaway Classics does. Really, who can resist?

To see Callaway Classics’ online inventory, visit callawayclassics.com.

Drop in at their location at 8323 W. Main Street in Marshall, Virginia, or call 540-364-5484. ML

Callaway Classics exterior.

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Fascinator W orkshop

Gr ea t

At the National Sporting Library & Museum

GI FT

April 7, 2022 10:00am–1:00pm

ID EA !

Ticket sales close soon!

Participants will learn how to manipulate various materials to create their own fascinator to take home.

As the featured milliner of the 148th Kentucky Derby, Jenny Pfanenstiel will share her hat making skills, tips, and tricks, in this workshop.

Ages 15+, limited availability. $250/$175 NSLM Members Photo by Clay Cook

Scan the QR code to learn more and to register, or visit www.NationalSporting.org J A N U A RY 2 0 2 2

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Winter Foraging with Clay Morris Written by Victoria Peace | Photos by Kaitlin Hill

W

hen people think of Hunt Country, they usually picture foxhunting – galloping at an exhilarating pace through rolling hills to keep up with hounds. However, on a cold morning in early December, I found myself getting ready to set out on an entirely different type of hunt. I was about to participate in my first-ever winter foraging class at the Salamander Resort & Spa. December is usually around the time of year that I stop going out to my garden. My vegetables and herbs have long since wilted and died, the trees are bare, and the hedges that border my yard have become brown and prickly. So, I was curious about what I would be able to forage. However, over the course of instructor Clay Morris’ threehour class, I was amazed at how much nature still had to offer. I tried heirloom pears, chokecherries, wild grapes, rosehip, and hairy bittercress

“I believe that food is the one great commonality amongst all cultures, and all humanity can come together over a plate of food and gain an understanding of one another.” — Morris

greens while learning about the ecology and history of foraging in Virginia. Afterward, Morris served a spread of homemade foraged delicacies including dandelion coffee, acorn cookies, pickled wild onion flowers, and roasted burdock root.

His culinary skills coupled with his contagious passion for wild plants made the time fly by – I am already looking forward to signing up for one of his spring classes.

Morris is a botanist, history enthusiast, and consummate foodie whose ultimate goal is to “reinvent, explore, and find new ways to enjoy foraged foods.” He has been teaching foraging classes at Salamander since the spring of 2021. While foraging might seem intimidating at first, Morris wants people to recognize that “we have been eating these foods for 10,000 years and have just recently moved away from them.” By reintroducing these natural foods into our diet, we get the op-

Left: One of Salamander Resort & Spa’s many heirloom pear trees. Right: Morris discusses the uses of a cattail.

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portunity to explore new and interesting flavors.

During the week, Morris serves as the environmental services section chief for Prince William County. In addition to this role, he works with the Pamunkey community in King William County, helping them rediscover how native plants were traditionally used by their tribe.

“Understanding human history and how cuisines have evolved over millennia is fascinating,” Morris says. “I believe that food is the one great commonality amongst all cultures, and all humanity can come together over a plate of food and gain an understanding of one another.”

FORAGING AT SALAMANDER One of the main reasons that Morris likes to teach foraging classes at Salamander is that the resort has made a point of restoring large sections Foraging | Page 29

Foraging | From page 28 of the grounds to their natural state and encouraging the growth of native plants. During his foraging classes, Morris tends to stick to the outskirts of the property’s wooded areas. This surprises many class participants, who expect that the best plants are probably found in the most isolated and hard-to-reach places. However, “from an ecological point of view, the most productive regions in terms of energy flows and diversity are the edges of the forests,” Morris says. “The most productive plants are not in the woods, not in the fields, but right here.”

Before starting the class, Morris emphasized that in order to stay safe while foraging, “the most important thing is identification – that’s the big challenge.” But he also tries to make his classes approachable, even for those who don’t have a background in botany. Many of the plants he uses are those that we have learned to identify since childhood, like dandelions.

Dandelions were the first plants that we saw on our walk and are Morris’ favorite plant in terms of utility. “It’s an amazing plant – you can use every bit of it,” Morris says. The greens and flowers are both edible, and he makes a coffee out of the roots. Dandelions are an invasive species brought over by the colonists. But when it comes to invasive plants, Morris believes that “if you can’t beat it, you should eat it!”

Next, Morris pointed out hairy bittercress. It is a small, hearty green plant that is a member of the watercress family. Much like its more popular relative, it has a peppery, vegetal taste. According to Morris, it’s a great plant to look for because “it grows everywhere.” Greens like hairy bittercress,

dandelions, and mustard greens have historic importance because traditionally, there was no way to consistently access fresh fruits and vegetables during the winter. When these greens emerged in the spring, people were extremely excited to add these fresh foods back into their diets.

While Salamander has made an effort to reintroduce naturally occurring plants into the landscape, there are also several heirloom pear trees scattered throughout the property that were planted when the land was still used as a horse farm. To Morris, they are one of the most fascinating things about working at Salamander. Despite their lack of pruning, the trees have kept on producing over the years and were absolutely dripping with pears at the time of our walk. Morris explained that old-timers would call them “keeper pears” because their thick, sandy skin meant that they would keep in the cellar all winter. They also provided a crucial source of vitamin C throughout winter months when other fresh fruits were not readily available. Unlike the pears in the supermarket, these pears need a frost to set the sugars in them – cold weather makes them sweeter. When I tried one, it tasted like an Asian pear although a bit grainier and with a somewhat tart aftertaste.

In addition to the pear trees, Salamander has five different varieties of blackberry bushes – two native and three non-native. Since it was winter, they were not producing. However, I did get to try chokecherries which look like berries but are more closely related to cherries or plums. Though they hit their prime in November, there were still some left on the bush for me to sample. Morris explained that you can extract the juice, or

“This isn’t some exotic thing imported from another country – I plucked it out of the yard.”

— Morris

create a pulp out of them. But because of their small size, it takes a lot of work. “What I want to try to get you to think about is the time and effort required to do this type of foraging, the seasonality of it,” Morris emphasized. Collecting and processing foods like blackberries, chokecherries, walnuts, hickory nuts, and wild grapes was a labor-intensive process. Furthermore, what foods were being collected and processed changed depending on the time of year, so people needed to be in tune with the rhythms of the natural world to know what to forage during each season.

One particularly beautiful plant that we saw on our walk was sumac. Its flowers are a stunning scarlet color, and its hearty nature makes it a favorite plant of landscapers. Sumac is also a very popular spice in Middle Eastern cuisine. When dried, it has a piquant, sour taste, and it is rich in vitamin C. Over the summer, Morris used it to make lemonade for his children. For a more adult beverage, Morris also pointed out the berries of the juniper tree which are used to flavor gin. While not edible on their own, if you crush them between your fingers, they smell just like the liquor.

Near the end of our walk, we saw a plant that was always one of my childhood favorites because of its unique look – cattails. I had no idea Foraging | Page 30 Top: Morris holding freshly harvested hairy bittercress greens and an heirloom pear. Bottom left: Juniper berries, commonly used to flavor gin. Bottom right: Sumac berries.

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Foraging | From page 29 that if processed correctly, this plant could be edible. Morris explained that in the spring, you can collect protein-rich pollen from cattails and add it to your flour. In addition, when what is usually the fluffy part of the cattail is still encased in its husk, you can roast it and eat it like corn on the cob. But the utility doesn’t stop there – the roots, which are loaded with starch, can be made into flour. Native Americans also used the fluff from cattails to make diapers, and the leaves were used to make mats. One important thing to note about cattails is that they are bioaccumulators. They absorb things from the water they grow in, which makes it dangerous to consume cattails that are growing in stormwater management ponds, near parking lots, or in other contaminated bodies of water.

FORAGED DELICACIES After our walk through the grounds of the Salamander, Morris took me back to the old stallion barn to try a variety of homemade foraged delicacies that he had prepared prior to the class.

This was a great opportunity because it allowed me to try some of the plants that we had talked about, but that weren’t currently in season.

First, I tried dandelion and wild onion vinaigrette. The flavor was deliciously herbaceous with just a hint of bitterness and earthiness from the dandelions. For Morris, one of the most exciting parts of eating foraged foods is being able to taste the terroir – as soon as you put it in your mouth, you can tell that it was grown in the wild. “You

want to be able to taste the dirt,” he says.

Next, I sampled a pesto made from hairy bittercress greens. The best way to describe it is that it tasted like the smell of freshly cut grass – it was both an olfactory and culinary experience. Following the pesto, I tried some roasted burdock roots, which according to Morris, are a perennial favorite. Burdock is one of the plants that leaves burrs all over your clothing when you walk through tall grasses. The roots reminded me of a cross between a potato and a carrot and had a wonderfully crunchy texture and umami flavor.

After trying a few more spreads and vinegars, including elderberry vinegar, pine needle vinegar, and garlic mustard spread, I was ready to move on to the pickled section of this feast.

Traditionally, people only had three main ways of preparing their food so that it would keep over the winter: pickling, smoking, or drying. True to this tradition, since it was wintertime, Morris prepared pickled wild onion flowers, pickled wild onion bulbs, pickled milkweed, and spiced, pickled pears. These were some of my favorites – the flavors and textures were unlike anything I had eaten before. Morris explained that on their own, wild onion bulbs would be noxious. However, when pickled, they have a lovely mellow flavor and a fantastic crunch.

Perhaps the most adventurous food that I tried during the class was acorn cheese, which is vegan and made entirely from the meat of acorns.

I was astonished at how much the flavor and texture reminded me of cheese. It had a funky, fermented taste, but it would not have been out of

place on a fancy cheese platter or canapé. Even though the process of leaching the tannins from acorns is intensive, the end result is a product that is rich in healthy fats.

To finish off the day’s tasting menu, Morris gave me an acorn cookie and a cup of dandelion coffee. The coffee was a pleasant surprise – its aroma smelled like chocolate, but its taste was subtle and earthy. The cookie was also delicious with a wonderfully crumbly texture.

The goal of Morris’ culinary experiments is to “explore old foods in new ways.” And the result he achieves is absolutely mouth-watering. The flavors and textures are so innovative that many participants are surprised when Morris explains that “this isn’t some exotic thing imported from another country – I plucked it out of the yard.”

In the future, Morris is considering delving further into mixology. If the honey locust syrup and sparkling water mocktail that he served is any indication of his skill, then his drinks are sure to be a success.

HOW TO SIGN UP Morris concluded his series of winter foraging classes in December. However, he plans to resume spring foraging classes at the beginning of April. They are held every other Saturday and can be booked through the Salamander Resort website. Because of the popularity of the classes, Morris is also considering launching foraging day trips, multi-day foraging excursions, and cooking classes using foraged food. Please reach out to jclaymorris@hotmail.com to express interest and to be put on his mailing list. ML

Left: Dandelion vinegar, wild onion oil, and dandelion and wild onion vinaigrette. Middle: Acorn cheese. Right: Acorn cookies.

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Experience the authentic with award winning wines around a warm fire O p e n D a i ly 1 2 p m t o 6 p m 2 3 5 9 5 Wi n ery L a n e M i d d l e b u r g , VA 2 0 1 1 7 ExperienceGreenhill.c om

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FOUR FITNESS FAVORITES AROUND HUNT COUNTRY Written by Will Thompson

G

iven all the benefits, it is no surprise that prioritizing regular exercise usually tops the list for New Year’s resolutions year after year. Whether it’s better sleep, improved mood, more energy, or a longer life that you’re after, finding a workout that works for you makes achieving your goals that much easier. Here are a few of our favorite studios in and around Middleburg that just might become your next sweat session obsession.

CATROC YOGA Catherine Rochester’s yoga journey started close to 30 years ago when she began using the practice to improve her competitive equestrian skills by developing her breathing, balance, strength, and flexibility. Today she is an experienced Yoga Alliance registered teacher, offering group and private Hatha yoga classes that are effective and achievable for all levels. “Everybody comes in, from beginners to advanced, and then we modify accordingly,” Rochester says. “You can make any pose as challenging as you want. Even a simple yoga pose can be made challenging.”

Rochester’s teaching philosophy is to promote a well-rounded yoga practice that exercises the body, mind, and spirit. “In almost every yoga pose, you activate your core muscles… so you gain a lot of core strength from yoga, as well as leg strength, arm strength, and breathing strength,” Rochester says. Students of CatRoc have reported that practicing yoga has helped them in other sports including horseback riding, tennis, and golf. “It really helps your mental state of mind too,” Rochester adds. CatRoc Yoga classes are held at various locations in the Middleburg area, including the Community Center, with the latest schedule available on the studio’s website. Rochester also offers private sessions for both beginner and experienced practitioners. catrocyoga.com catrocyoga@gmail.com 571-510-0435

MOLD ME FITNESS Mold Me Fitness, a personal training studio in the heart of Middleburg, offers a customizable experience to clients of all fitness levels in a clean and bright studio that contains top-of-the-line equipment. “Our motto is your will, your way,” says Leo Grant, the owner and head personal trainer at Mold Me Fitness. “If someone comes in, we can help them lose weight, or get stronger, or be the best horseback rider… whatever they want to achieve, that’s how we train them.” Mold Me's unique approach to personal training begins with understanding each person as an individual, including his, her, or their goals, then working with them to achieve results. Hanging in the studio is a sign that reads, Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends. “It’s a very real thing at Mold Me,” says Grant, who is quick to explain that effective personal training falls back on friendship. “We really do build trust and friendship with each person.

We get a lot of joy and laughter throughout the training sessions.” Along with personal training, Mold Me Fitness offers a regular schedule of group classes, including boot camp, yoga, spinning, core training, and zumba.

7 W. Washington St. Middleburg, VA 20117 moldmefitness.com | info@moldmefitness.com 540-687-8878 Favorites | Page 33

Top: Catherine Rochester outside the Middleburg Community Center. Bottom: Leo Grant outside his Middleburg Studio.

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“People come for more than just sweating, they’re part of something bigger.”

– Vourlatos Favorites | From page 32 CYCLELUV CycleLuv, a boutique spin studio in Leesburg, offers clients an encouraging, friendly community to complement its highly effective workouts.

“People come for more than just sweating, they’re part of something bigger,” says Iris Vourlatos, CycleLuv’s owner, operator, and lead instructor.

“Everyone asks your name and wants to talk with you…we laugh in class, we sing, there’s a lot of interaction.” The dedicated indoor cycling studio boasts state-of-the-art Keiser M3i stationary bikes, allowing classes to challenge each individual based on their experience. The safe, low-impact classes are comfortable, welcoming, and effective for all fitness levels, from beginners to seasoned triathletes. Central to CycleLuv’s offerings is a belief that exercise needs to be enjoyable for people to stick with it and achieve results. The studio’s instructors provide a welcoming environment that is not only challenging, but also fun.

“We make sure that we give everyone a customizable spinning experience that they enjoy so they keep coming back,” Vourlatos says. “Our business plan is we want you to show up, and we want you to see the results of your hard work.” If potential clients would like to see what CycleLuv is all about, every new visitor’s first class is free!

13 Fairfax St SE Leesburg, VA 20176 cycleluv.com | info@cycleluv.com 703-431-0347 NATIVE BARRE Native Barre’s unique approach to fitness uses natural movements to work every muscle group in the body, helping those who practice it to improve flexibility and overall health, tone, and build muscle. “We do tons of different movements involving compound muscles. Every day is different, we never do the same class twice,” says owner and founder, Bridget Wilson, who used her own background as a figure skater, ballet dancer, and barre practitioner to develop Native Barre’s innovative method. Native Barre offers low-impact classes that rely on isometric, lateral, and compound movements combined with deep lengthening stretches to tone and build the body as a whole. “It’s using the natural design of our bodies as they’re supposed to be used to make you lean like a dancer and powerful like a bodybuilder,” Wilson says. Native Barre’s classes are gentle on the joints, yet challenging, making them effective for all ages, fitness levels, and personal goals. During group classes, Wilson and her highly skilled instructors provide individualized attention to clients, creating a caring atmosphere.

“We can see in your body what you need,” Wilson says. Along with group classes, Native Barre also offers private sessions. ML 8 Jay Street 2ND Floor Middleburg, VA 20117 nativebarre.com 540-454-6304

“It’s using the natural design of our bodies as they’re supposed to be used to make you lean like a dancer and powerful like a bodybuilder.”

– Wilson

Top: Iris Vourlatos welcoming riders to CycleLuv. Bottom: Bridget Wilson from Native Barre.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TWELFTH NIGHT AT OLD DENTON January 6 | 6 - 8 p.m. piedmontheritage.org Celebrate Twelfth Night at historic Old Denton!

After its construction in the antebellum period, Old Denton witnessed dramatic moments in the Civil War, the turmoil of Reconstruction, and was a site for many who engaged in the growing sport of foxhunting in the early 20th century. Join the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association (VPHAA) to hear about the incredible history of this home preserved in time. Tickets are $65 for VPHAA members, and $75 for non-members.

ZUMBA AT MOLD ME FITNESS January 7, 14, 21, 28 | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. moldmefitness.com Mold Me Fitness in Middleburg offers a variety of classes for your fitness needs including weekly Zumba sessions. Each Zumba session is $15 dollars per person.

January 7, 8, 14, 21, 22, and 28 |

COOKING CLASS SERIES: TRICKS OF THE TRADE WITH CHEF PETE AT MARKET SALAMANDER January 11 and 25 | 11:30 a.m. salamanderresort.com

Check website for times | lostbarrel.com

Tuesdays just got a lot more exciting! Join Chef

LIVE MUSIC AT LOST BARREL BREWING

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Join Lost Barrel Brewing for food, drinks, and amazing music. Beer, wine, and hard seltzer will be available. These events are family and dog friendly!

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Pete Smith at Market Salamander on select Tuesdays this winter for a cooking demonstration.

Each class will begin with a light brunch complete with coffee, mimosas, and sangria, followed by a cooking demo where Chef Pete will create and teach you how to make two easy-to-master dishes. After the demo, enjoy the meal that Chef Pete has prepared for you along with recipes that you can create at home. The cost is $70 per guest.

To make a reservation, please call 540-687-9726.

SIP AND SCULPT AT THE CONCHE January 13 | 6 - 8 p.m. the-conche.com Join Master Chocolatiers Sara Dobson and Kathleen Faliskie for a hands-on Sip and Sculpt class in the exclusive chocolate lab designed by Santosh Tiptur, chef and owner of The Conche. Your Calendar | Page 35

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Calendar | From page 34 ticket includes an introduction to the history and origin of chocolates, how to differentiate between good and bad chocolate, and chocolate tastings.

Tickets to this class also include two drinks from the bar and light appetizers. For more information or to get tickets, visit TheConche.Eventbrite. com.

FAMILY NATURE WALKS January 15 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. cliftoninstitute.org Families with children in grades K-8 are invited to come along to explore the field station and experience winter in Virginia. Explore the woods to look for changes in the landscape and migrating birds. A different trail is chosen each month, offering different stops to look at and learn about the plants and animals that live in Northern Vir-

ginia. The event is free of cost, but registration is required. Please register at cliftoninstitute.org.

COOKING CLASS WEEKEND AT BRIAR PATCH BED AND BREAKFAST January 21-23 | briarpatchbandb.com Learn something new during your next getaway by spending a weekend cooking at the Briar Patch Bed and Breakfast. This cooking class weekend features Chef Matt Finarelli. You will eat and learn how to prepare 4-course gourmet meals. Wines from local wineries will be served.

To make a reservation, please email info@briarpatchbandb.com or call 703-327-5911.

YOGA ON TAP WITH ORNERY BEER COMPANY January 22 | 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. ornerybeer.com

Your $15 registration fee covers a 75-minute all-level yoga class and a post-yoga pint. The class will use breathing techniques to help you alleviate physical tension and mental stress as you increase flexibility, stability, and strength and most importantly: Tap into feeling amazing!

CABIN FEVER FILM FESTIVAL January 29 | franklinparkartscenter.org The Cabin Fever Film Festival features films created by residents of Loudoun County or those with ties to the community. Feature length films, documentaries, short films, live-action, stop-motion, animation, music videos, even home movies are submitted. The film line-up will be announced January 3. This year, cash prizes will be awarded, including one for audience favorite, so be ready to vote for your selection! Masks are required regardless of vaccination status. ML

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Your Plate Reimagined Discover imaginative dishes and whimsical desserts that tell the story of Virginia’s Piedmont region. Immerse yourself in local flavors and sweeping views of the countryside.

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