Middleburg Life | March 2018

POSTAL CUSTOMER

Volume 34 Issue 17 | March 2018 | middleburglife.com

Presort Std ECRWSS US Postage Permit #75 Fredericksburg, VA

MIDDLEBURG

LI F E Building Your Hunt Country Haven

& Spring Races: Getting Ready to Run

’S IAN R T S M UE EA EQ DR

466 MONTANA HALL LN S, WHITE POST

39984 BRADDOCK RD, ALDIE

3318 BUST HEAD RD, THE PLAINS

Many historic features to this property - 2 buildings on VA historic registry, property in VOF easement. Currently being farmed.

Superior quality land and location. 1-3 possible rental properties.

Low taxes. New efficient HVAC, 90 gal/min well. Views amazing, surrounded by protected land, valuable location.

Equestrian facilities and gorgeous custom stone French chateau home with 6,300+ square feet on 27 acres. Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and commercial appliances. Main level bedroom, au-pair suite/artist studio. 12 stall barn with full 2nd floor. 8 fenced paddocks with waterers and run-in shed.

Located on 17 wooded private acres includes terrace and pavilion! Stunning main entrance with large rooms and high ceilings.

Perfect for entertaining - gourmet kitchen including Vulcan range and hood, SubZero refrigerator/freezer and pizza oven. Lower level with large rec room including wet bar, study and full bath.

2 laundry rooms.

Peter Pejacsevich (540) 270-3835 Scott Buzzelli (540) 454-1399

Offered at $2,850,000 200+ AC | 4 BR | 8.5 BA

Anne McIntosh (703) 509-4499

Maria Eldredge (540) 454-3829

Offered at $1,885,000 27 ACRES | 6 BR | 5 BA

Scott Buzzelli (540) 454-1399

Peter Pejacsevich (540) 270-3835

Offered at $1,799,000 17 ACRES | 4 BR | 4/2 BA

20252 UNISON RD, ROUND HILL

17563 LAKEFIELD RD, ROUND HILL

240 ASHLEY WOODS LN, BLUEMONT

Custom all brick, quality built Flemish bond home, privately sited on 11+ acres between Purcellville and Middleburg. 4 Br, 4 Ba, 4500+ finished sq. ft. Elegance abounds in large bright rooms with stone fireplaces and high ceilings. Vulcan gas range. Potential 1st-floor master suite.

Lovely Colonial with 2 car garage and 4 car detached garage.

Beautiful in-ground pool with patio and screened in porch. Recent updates to the home include: fresh paint, refinished hardwood floors, appliances, siding, and fireplace cap. Creek runs through back of property. County easement on far side of property.

Mary Kakouras (540) 454-1604

Gorgeous custom home with stunning views. 3 open levels w/ guest suite on main level & master suite on 2nd w/ balcony. Inviting 2 story great room with floor to ceiling windows and FP. Gourmet kitchen w/ professional grade appliances & soapstone island. Wrap around deck, porches & patios to enjoy sunsets and access to Appalachian Trail.

Jane Hensley (571) 550-2728 Kim Hurst (703) 932-9651

35469 MILLVILLE RD, MIDDLEBURG

36160 PAXSON RD, PURCELLVILLE

22235 NEWLIN MILL RD, MIDDLEBURG

Animal swim center, equine/canine hydrotherapy, 2 parcels, 24 stall barn, recently replaced fencing, multiple paddocks, run-in shed, ring, ride-out, multi-bay garage, indoor circular 12 ft deep swim pool and linear 4 ft deep hydrotherapy pool, wash area. 2 BR cottage with gourmet kitchen, wood floors, fenced yard, deck.

Charming 3 BR stone & log home, c. 1791. Beautifully built 2 stall barn, tack room, fenced pastures. Five fireplaces, antique pine floors, separate DR with fireplace and elegant LR with fireplace, lovely porch with beautiful views. Great location, close to shopping and schools in Purcellville. Property has FIOS.

Completely remodeled, immaculately decorated, bright home with scenic views. Kitchen comes complete with large center island, breakfast bar, and ample storage. Main level master with two large bedrooms on upper level. Over garage apt with living room, kitchen, bed and bath. Includes propane generator. Close proximity to area private schools.

Peter Pejacsevich (540) 270-3835 Scott Buzzelli (540) 454-1399

Offered at $1,170,000 11 ACRES | 4 BR | 4 BA

Jane Hensley (571) 550-2728

Kim Hurst (703) 932-9651

Offered at $850,000 15 ACRES

Joy Thompson (540) 729-3428

Offered at $899,000 11 ACRES | 4 BR | 2.5 BA

Offered at $740,000 5 ACRES | 3 BR | 1.5 BA

Jane Hensley (571) 550-2728

Kim Hurst (703) 932-9651

Offered at $885,000 34 ACRES | 5 BR | 4.5 BA

Offered at $699,000 .92 ACRES | 3 BR | 3.5 BA

Please Consider Us For All Your Real Estate Needs! middleburglife.com

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MIDDLEBURG

LI F E MAR. 2018 middleburglife.com

PUBLISHER Greenhill Media LLC EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Elaine Anne Watt EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Chelsea Rose Moore COPY EDITORS Chelsea Rose Moore, Rachel Musser BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & DISTRIBUTION Thomas Jeffrey ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Thomas Jeffrey, Jennifer Richards ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Joanne Maisano CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mollie Bailey, Heidi Baumstark, Callie Broaddus Kerry Phelps Dale, Morgan Hensley, Kaitlin Hill Dulcy Hooper, Richard Hooper, Carolyn Kincaid Peter Leonard-Morgan, Peter Milligan, Chelsea Rose Moore Kate Parker, Beth Rasin, Ashley Bommer Singh Anne Sraders, Summer Stanley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Callie Broaddus, Eryn Gable, Doug Gehlsen Tony Gibson, Crowell Hadden, Joanne Maisano Karen Monroe, Julie Napear, Yetta Reid MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Abbey Veith DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok ADVERTISE IN MIDDLEBURG LIFE Greenhill Media, LLC P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg VA 20118-0328 114 W. Washington Street, Ste. 102 | Middleburg, VA 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com SUBSCRIBE TO MIDDLEBURG LIFE www.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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FIND US ON Instagram @middleburglife Twitter @middleburglife Facebook.com/middleburglife ON THE COVER Bob Ball of Middleburg Millwork in his workroom.

Photo by Callie Broaddus ON THIS PAGE At the Gold Cup 2017. Here they come!

The Spring Races are getting ready to run.

Photo by Joanne Maisano.

PERFECTING YOU WE ARE THE MENTORING TEAM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO INSTRUCT AND DESIRE TO IMPACT LIVES IN A POWERFUL WAY WHILE LEADING TO A NUTRITIONALLY SOUND LIFESTYLE CHANGE MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY www.re-juvenescence.com 540.347.1897

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ON THE

COVER

By Elaine Anne Watt

O

ne of the things we love best about Middleburg is that we are a close-knit community of doers. When we walk down the street we greet each other or introduce ourselves to a new face. We eagerly share information and resources and watch out for one another. When sadness hits, we help out, and when there is something to celebrate, we join in with joy and enthusiasm.

Our cover is graced by Bob Ball, a veritable institution in this beloved town of ours. His business as the owner/operator along with his wife Joyce of Middleburg Millwork is the place to go in town for everything you know you need and just about everything else you didn’t know you need-

ed until now. You’ll be greeted with a smile and provided knowledgeable and helpful service along with a laugh or two.

But, that is only a small part of the story. The rest has to do with all the things you haven’t yet learned about Bob. In our version of “All About Bob,” you’ll find out about the pair of hands that have helped craft the fabric of Middleburg and a remarkable citizen as well.

Thank you to Callie Broaddus, our writer and photographer, for bringing Bob’s story to light. ML Left: Bob Ball holds a photograph of the store as it appeared 49 years ago, when his father and architect Dan Burner opened Middleburg Millwork. Photo by Callie Broaddus.

Pet of the Year

Walter

PET OF THE MONTH Article courtesy of Melanie Burch, Director of Development. For more information, visit www.middleburghumane.org or call 540-364-3272.

Middleburg Humane Foundation operates a private, 4.5 acre farm shelter located in Marshall, Virginia. It is their goal to provide a haven for abused, neglected, and at risk animals, both large and small. Photo by Joanne Maisano.

Meet Vincent Van Goat, Age 8 My name is Vincent Van Goat and I am an 8-year-old, weathered Nigerian Dwarf goat. I am seeking companionship and I prefer my friends to be on the larger side. I must say, I have a soft spot for equines of all kinds.

Please make my day and bring me home with you! ML

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has exciting news!

MHF Blue Jean Ball April 28th, 2018 | Middleburg Community Center | 7 PM tickets on sale now @ www.middleburghumane.org Wear your Jeans & Gems to our 23rd Annual Gala 7p Oysters & Cocktails | 8p Dinner, Auction & Dancing $250 per person | $220 young professionals

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

T

here’s something intrinsically uplifting about the arrival of Spring. Middleburg is beautiful year-round, but we now get to see the fields returning to lush hues of green, trees laden with new growth, gardens blossoming, and the busy hum of our town returning to normal after the slower months. We’ll see foals and fawns, baby birds and fowl and evidence of the circle of life everywhere.

We’ll soon be off to the races again, and many of us will be looking to freshen up our homes and outdoor living spaces for family and friends to enjoy. You’ll find some ideas that might spark your interest on the pages ahead.

We’re also celebrating here at Middleburg Life and grateful as we prepare for our April 35th Anniversary edition. Hunt country is full of charm and history, and next month we

will bring you more of both.

We’re blessed to be able to bring you stories and happenings month after month highlighting our culture, our heritage and lifestyle.

In this way, we hope all our readers can share in living the Middleburg Life!

Warmly, Elaine Anne Watt

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THE PASSION RUNS THROUGH

By Elaine Anne Watt Photos by Joanne Maisano

E

mily and Jimmy Day are living out their dream at Daybreak Stables in pic-

turesque White Post, Virginia.

The dream is not easy, as being on the breeding, training and selling horses side of the equestrian world involves a lot of hard work and risk. But together, they are making a name for themselves and paying the bills that allow them to live on a 120-plus acre farm in Blue Ridge Hunt Country and do what they love. What they love is each other, their family and horses.

They met in Unionville, Pennsylvania, at a party to honor Jimmy’s employer at the time, Hall of Fame trainer Burley Cocks who was retiring. Jimmy had been working for him as a jockey and returned home the next day to his native Ireland, where Emily just happened to be heading on vacation. He pursued her there and upon their return to the United States, leading them to throw caution to the wind and get married. Two grown sons later

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and a string of successes in the world of the National Steeplechase Association, with show and foxhunting horses also to their credit, and it is clear that this team not only works, it thrives.

Arriving at their farm, once a part of generations of her family’s original property as

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the daughter of prominent veterinarian and editor Dr. Matthew Mackay-Smith and his wife Winkie, they first introduce their talented jockeys Amber and Liam on two of the farms’ Thoroughbred horses. We hop into their all-wheel drive truck and travel a short Passion | Page 8

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Base-15 -- Trim to 10.00”Wx14.00”D -- CMYK

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Passion | From page 6 distance to their glorious rolling training field, and the two mounts disappear beyond a hillock. While waiting, Jimmy and Emily chatter excitedly about the joy of finding a horse with potential or having one of their long-time clients bring them a young horse

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ready to be broken and trained up.

“You never know for sure, but you get a sense of what they might be able to do,” says Jimmy. “You’ve poured over catalogues, picked your favorite prospects; they’ve been vetted, purchased, and now you’re just trying to make them the best they can be.”

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Almost mid-sentence a flying horse with its rider crests the hill at a full-out gallop, breathtaking to see, somehow controlled and wild at the same time. All you can think is that animal is born to run. But mine are not the expert eyes.

“Timing is critical with 2-year-old sales horses,” says Jimmy. “You just want to have them peak, to blossom, right in the middle of May. That was Amber on Plated.”

Along with the love comes the practicalities of the business. Daybreak Stables makes money a number of ways, which is why it is able to be successful.

“We have 14 Thoroughbred racehorses in training, a few 2-year-olds, and a couple of yearlings,” says Emily. “Some are ours, and others are entrusted to us for training by their owners. We have broodmares mostly to sell their babies.”

“And we’ve been incredibly lucky because we work with great owners,” says Jimmy.

Practically speaking one on top of each other and ending each other’s sentences, it’s hard to sometimes follow the conversation.

Emily occasionally interjects an important detail, and Jimmy sticks mostly to the big picture, perhaps a key to why the two make such a formidable team. They also share knowing looks and quick smiles as the memories are told or a favorite story recalled.

“We also will do some ‘pinhooking,’ meaning buying a young horse before it runs, training it up and then reselling it before it’s raced,” says Jimmy. “You may lose some upside, but it keeps the risk down and the operation afloat.”

Just then the next horse can be seen streaking toward the flat ground at the base of the hill, stretched and fluid, one with its rider. “Liam’s good with the horses,” notes Jimmy. You can tell that Jimmy likes to get to the point.

A tour of the home stables follows, as the freshly exercised horses get tended to with very capable hands. Emily and Jimmy point out the names on the stalls and tell some history that goes with each. This is their life, and this is their passion.

Returning to their lovely home for a proper cup of tea and conversation, the rest of the pieces start to come together.

“We’re really venture capitalists,” says Jimmy. “We take risks and share rewards; we hedge our bets by selling some of the horses early in the hopes that they’ll do well, and we’ll get a breeder’s bonus. We’ve got some good bloodlines for our breeding operation.

We’ve trained and produced winners.”

In their words, two of those winners built Daybreak Stables.

Mandy’s Gold was one of their first big successes, and Like A Bull, Dancing Ballade’s first foal, was practically responsible for building the majority of the farm after Passion | Page 9

Passion | From page 8 selling for more than $400,000 as a 2-year-old in training. In 2015, they were thrilled to have back-to-back victories with Bonded and Plated at Saratoga, New York.

They train a combination of home grown and imports from their connections in Ireland and feel that they’ve been incredibly fortunate to have loyal clients willing to back their decisions and recommendations.

“It’s hard to make a living with jumpers,” says Jimmy. So, they live by a plan that mixes jumpers with flat horses, breeding with pinhook prospects, and a hand in show and foxhunting horses. Emily has a fondness for the two latter equestrian sports as they have been a big

part of her life.

They grow their own hay and make the most of their land.

Their kitchen is homey with the feel of frequent use and comfort.

All around you is a sense of lives fully lived.

“Our sons have spread their wings and gone in different directions, and we’re happy for them,” says Jimmy. “We won’t be able to do all that we’re doing now forever, but we have a plan to expand our breeding operations, and for now, things are all good.”

And with that, after a couple of lovely and generous hours of their time, Jimmy and Emily are ready to get back to work.

I think I know at least in part why they have named their farm “Daybreak Stables.” ML

Page 6: Amber Hodyka on Plated. Page 8, top: Amber Hodyka exercising Plated. Page 8, middle: Amber Hodyka and Liam McVicar heading out to excercise horses. Page 8, bottom: Liam McVicar breezing a 2-year-old. Page 9: Jimmy and Emily Day make a fabulous team in life and in business.

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A SENSE OF PLACE

By Beth Rasin Photos courtesy of Daniel Robey

At Huntlands Landscape Architecture, Daniel Robey gives expression to the area’s natural beauty.

A

bout a year ago, Daniel Robey took a bold leap. For 13 years, he designed, sold and managed projects, from plantings to pools, that ran up to $3 million, at a prestigious landscape architecture company in McLean, Virginia.

But the time was right for a change. “I pulled the trigger last year to start my own company,” says Robey, 38, of Hamilton, Virginia. “I wanted to work more in Loudoun County, in more rural areas.”

It was a good transition time personally, too. His three children (ages 8, 11 and 14) are all in school, and his wife, Elizabeth Robey, or “Muffy,” is teaching again. “It freed me in terms

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of cash flow and insurance,” he says.

“I worked for 10 months to get it set up, then hit the ground. It’s been really invigorating, really gratifying.”

High-end residential projects tend to be Daniel’s most frequent assignments. “Most of the time they involve a pool and pool houses, patios, anything around it,” he says.

He’s branching out as well to do wineries and wedding venues, which he says have a lot of overlapping features with high-end residential work.

Landscape architecture often brings to mind plants, but Daniel says he only deals with plants about 10 percent of the time. “I’m trying to get the framework of walls, patios, pool houses, drainage, all the things to figure out before you get to plants,” he says. “I work with a lot of builders, to get in alongside the architect and builder, get a team established if you’re building a new house, get a really comprehensive design approach, look at the whole site holistically.”

Robey earned a degree in Landscape | Page 12

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Landscape | From page 10 landscape architecture from Clemson University (South Carolina), and he did internships in Charleston, which influenced his style. “All these walled gardens and private spaces [in Charleston],” he says. “It’s a mix between formal structure and natural plantings, and I really like that.”

He also enjoys the problem solving inherent in the job. “You get this property and

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work around certain features, zoning codes and drainage and then tie in all the elements to solve a problem in a unique way, that looks good and fits the family’s lifestyle,” he says.

He loves the rural, open sites in Loudoun, and he’s also hoping to work on more equestrian properties.

Most of his projects develop through three stages, in a collaborative approach. The first step is the conceptual design, getting the

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framework of the job.

“This takes six to eight weeks depending on the client and scope of the work,” he says.

“I interview the client, take site measurements and photos, and I like to put together a couple of options for them. We go back over the different options and styles, any site features they want. It’s a collaborative approach, and we can combine elements of the options.”

The second stage involves details: plant materials, pool finishes, paint colors. “It’s like the idea of designing a house,” he says. “You look at the layout first then fine tune things like the cabinets. Detailing can take another six weeks.”

The final stage is construction. “I make myself available during construction as an advocate for them to make requests to the contractor,” says Daniel.

The typical pool project takes six to eight months to build, but there are four to five months planning before a shovel ever goes into the ground.

“It’s not like an HGTV episode where someone draws a picture in one day, and a crew is in the next day and done in two weeks!” Daniel says. “Those shows don’t do our industry any justice for sure. They never talk about realistic budgets or timelines in those shows.”

At the moment, Huntlands is a one-man show. “I’m set up a little differently than a lot of other ‘landscape companies’ in the area— right now it’s just me,” he says. “I don’t have my own crews to install the work, so I work through the design myself, then can suggest a list of preferred contractors, depending on the scope and personality [of the job and the client]. Some other companies have in-house crews, but I can personalize the construction approach. Once people work with me six to eight months there’s a level of trust there, and most clients appreciate my feedback during construction.

“It’s definitely not a straight-line path, but it’s fun,” he adds. “It’s a process but gratifying to work with families, see it come to life.”

He laughs as he describes how many of his projects involve “a little designing for the sexes,” he says. “It’s not often the husband and wife are perfectly aligned, but I try to appease them both. Being honest and giving your opinion, that comes with any type of design work.”

Although he also does work in Fauquier, Fairfax and the greater Loudoun area, Daniel, a Leesburg native, feels a strong sense of place in his work, a sense that is also reflected in his company name. “I didn’t want a typical landscape company with a tree or leaf name,” he says. “I wanted a sense of place. I’m a big fan of Loudoun County, and I think that the idea behind ‘hunt,’ being hunt country, deer hunting or fox hunting for whatever, goes with the more rural nature. That play off Landscape | Page 13

Landscape | From page 12 land and landscape, it’s a good mix with a sense of place.

“Growing up in the area, I have an innate sense of the region, and I love any time I can, to use natural materials and techniques,” he continues. “Some of the more historical residences, I don’t like to overdo it or outshine the historic properties. I design with restraint; I try to be respectful to the house or land. Restraint in design can take all different forms.

Some people want the waterfalls, etcetera, but I like to let the beauty of Loudoun shine through when I can.”

Daniel used to be an avid golf player, but with three children, his hobby has taken a back seat. “Anything my kids are interested in is what I’m after now,” he says. “Basketball, baseball games, there’s not much time for much else, between starting a business and all their activities.”

Earlier in his career, however, he’d considered designing golf courses. “It’s a tough industry, almost dying, and after a few internships I fell into this part of the industry,” he says.

Allyson Alto of Upperville, Virginia, worked with Daniel to create a pea gravel patio with a boxwood entry for her farm.

34344 Snickersville Turnpike, Bluemont Private 5 acre property! EZ paved road access to Rt. 7 & minutes to Purcellville & Middleburg & vineyards. Beautful 3 level colonial -wood floors, kitchen w/ granite & SS appliances, main level study! Wrap around front porch plus screened porch & deck w/ hot tub. Nice combo of open land & mature trees plus a small creek- no HOA! DSL available! LO10151789 $619,900 Dorothy Beach 703-850-2864

“I’m an interior designer, and I spend a lot of time in other peoples’ gardens, dreaming about what I want,” says Alto. “I’m pretty specific about the look I want for my own place.”

A friend recommended Huntlands to Alto, and she was thrilled with the process and the outcome. “He came and looked at where we live, what we had, knowing I had a limited budget,” she says. “I told him a few hot buttons for me, and he immediately got me.

He knew the gardeners I admired, the look I was looking for. He did four or five drawings, and I loved all of them, and I’m pretty particular. I love hydrangeas, roses and peonies, and he got that look and was able to put together something within our budget that my husband and I liked immediately.”

She appreciated that he made use of her existing beds, telling her what she could divide out of what was already there and that he used many indigenous plants.

“He’s very easy to work with; he can meet any budget, and he’s not trying to do outlandish things that are going to push the box,” Alto says. “When he shows you his portfolio, you see massive residential and commercial projects. I said, ‘Have you ever done anything small?’ and he said, ‘That’s the way I live,’ so he has a wide range of scope.”

She found no surprises during the process and says Huntlands was “very reasonable in billing. And his follow-up was great,” she says.

“He had ideas that he would bounce off you, a lot of ideas for me to consider. He was great.

He’s an ideal person; he reminds me of this famous gardener in Atlanta, James Farmer.

He could have his own book; he’s the mold of a perfect gardener. He laughed when I told him that.”

Whether working with a client who wants garden sculptures, a playground space, a pool or a commercial overhaul, Daniel’s work runs the gamut and never fails to please. ML For more information about Huntl and s L and s c ap e A rch ite c tu re, go to Huntlandsla.com.

Page 10, top: A finished project combining the client’s vision with Daniel Robey’s expertise. Page 10, bottom: Daniel Robey is the owner and founder of Huntlands Landscape Architecture, offering comprehensive and integrated outdoor design services.

Page 12, top: Planting, layout, grading and drainage plans are all part of the construction detailing phase. Page 12, bottom: The first step of a project is the conceptual design phase, with clients reviewing several options and collaborating for the ideal outcome.

39556 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton All the Bells!! First floor master suite-a kitchen to dream about (Wolfe,Sub Zero,Bosch) cabinets with all the upgrades and hidden surprises-random width hardwoods on main level, Great room with 14’ ceiling large windows10+ mostly wooded acres- open w/ large windows 3 car side load garage-finished lower level walk out. LO10155904 $1,240,000 Joyce Bush 703-967-0144

17829 Yatton Road, Round Hill PRICE ADJUSTMENT OF $300,000! INVESTORS/DEVELOPERS !!! Rarely found developed lots ready for bonding and recordation. Engineering has been done and preapprovals secured.

Construction plans available. Zoned JLMA. Town water and sewer available. Ten 1/2 acre lots and one 5 acre lot with beautiful views of Stoneleigh Golf Course. These 11 lots are situated on 25 wooded acres. LO10001215 $1,350,000 Linda Culbert 703-431-1724

LongandFoster.com

60 S Rogers Street, Hamilton Wonderful Historic Home. Built in the late 1800’s and updated to make this one of a kind. Recently updated metal roof, windows, HVAC, Hardwood Floors, & kitchen granite. Exceptional both inside and out. Lovely front porch, back patio, and half acre lot that is certified as an “Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary”. Definitely will not disappoint! LO10157886 $475,000 Linda Culbert 703-431-1724

East Main Street, Marshall Stipe-Madux House, ca 1910 - Commercial space for lease in this beautifully restored historic building with large parking lot. Currently available: 1st fl. room for $550 mo., Entire 2nd fl. consisting of conference room, 2 separate rooms, full kitchen and bath for $2300 per month.

Includes utilities and Internet. 24 Hour Security System. FQ9944461 Joyce Gates 540-771-7544

MIDDLEBURG OFFICE

PURCELLVILLE OFFICE

LEESBURG OFFICE

8 North Madison Street Middleburg, VA 20117

100 Purcellville Gateway Drive, Suite 100B Purcellville, VA 20132

508 East Market Street Leesburg, VA 20176

540.687.8530

540.338.1350

703.777.2900

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PRACTICE PATIENCE BEHIND THE WHEEL Story and photos by Beth Rasin

Tractors, texting and tourists are just a few of the hazards on rural roads. Here’s how to stay calm and drive safely on.

I

’ll admit that I can be impatient. I’ve always got somewhere to go, a million things to get done, and better ways to spend my time than sitting in the car, no matter how inspiring a podcast may be. But having driven on either The Plains Road, Zulla, Atoka, 611, Foxcroft or others daily over the last 20 years, I’ve come to take a lot more caution behind the wheel than I once did.

And now, a fatal driving accident in January has spurred the Middleburg community to seek solutions to dangerous driving.

So what can we each do to make the roads a little safer?

It starts, perhaps, with recognizing the risks.

Coming up The Plains Road toward

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Middleburg one morning a few years ago, I was behind a car that was following a tractor. There was no way to pass, but the car kept approaching the tractor and backing off. When the tractor, heading north, swung right to make enough room to turn left into a driveway, the driver immediately accelerated to pass him on the left. Unfortunately, he wasn’t pulling over to let her by; he was turning right into her car. In this case, no one was seriously injured (other than her vehicle), but it was a good example of how impatience behind the wheel is rarely constructive.

According to Nationwide Insurance, the National Safety Council estimates that 15,000 collisions involving farm vehicles occur on U.S. roadways each year. And although only 19 percent of Americans live in rural areas, 55 percent of highway deaths occur on roads that are considered rural.

It’s not just other drivers, either. I’m pretty sure the deer are on a mission to destroy themselves on the grill of my car, and I’ve taken to driving insanely slow at twilight, when they’re most likely to be on Patience | Page 16

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Patience | From page 14 their suicide runs. (Department of Motor Vehicles statistics reveal that one in every 17 car collisions involves wildlife, and most of those occur at dawn or dusk.)

If you think you’re going to hit a deer, brake, don’t swerve. “Lift your foot off the brake rather than swerving, which could cause you to lose control of the vehicle,” says the Virginia Farm Bureau website.

And remember that deer travel in packs, so if you see one, stop or slow down and wait for the others to cross.

While they’re not as likely to be in the road as deer, cows have stopped me in my tracks more than once. And yes, so have horses. Every time you crest a rolling hill on these back roads, be prepared to stop in the event something is waiting on the other side of the slope. Safe driving is all about being able to stop in time, and on narrow, hilly roads, this is especially important, since you often can’t see as far ahead.

Tractors usually aren’t parked in the road, but they rarely travel more than 20 miles per hour, so the distance between a car going 60 miles an hour can pass very quickly. Often farm vehicles take up more than one lane, and it’s not advisable to pass them in a no-passing zone. Hopefully they have plenty of lights on—and will pull over to let you by at the first opportunity.

On the other hand, if YOU are the slow vehicle—think about pulling over and letting people pass, so you don’t create a conga line of annoyed drivers behind you.

Bicyclists: love them or hate them, they’re on our roads, and they’re vulnerable. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t drive too close to them!

“The bikers have an obligation to drive on the right side of road; they can’t occupy the whole road,” says Middleburg’s Chief of Police A.J. Panebianco. “They’re supposed to follow the same rules of the road that a vehicle has to follow. In turn, cars have to give them a three-foot break, so realize you’re sharing the road with them. When you have to wait to go up a hill to pass them, be patient—you’re taking five seconds longer to go up that hill—and be nice. Just because you’re in a hurry, don’t yell at them.”

Panebianco says whatever the challenge, the most obvious way to stay safe is to practice patience.

“The truth of the matter is that the overwhelming majority of time when I’m passed in my personal vehicle by someone in a super hurry, we get to a stop sign, and I’m beside or behind that person,” he says. “Where are they going to go that two to 10 seconds really makes a difference? My thing is, just take a breath, slow down and enjoy the view.

We have some of the most beautiful roadways in Virginia, even the nation—the horse Patience | Page 17

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Patience | From page 16 farms, wineries. People pay to fly here to see what we get to see every day for free, so slow down and enjoy it.”

And for the love of all things good, DO NOT turn left onto eastbound Route 50 at the end of Zulla Road—and beware of people from out of town who do so a few times per week.

“VDOT painted arrows in the roads [at the intersection of Zulla and Route 50] and put up a sign saying it’s a dual lane, but it’s not a huge, obvious sign,” says Panebianco. “People tend to be focused on their particular set of circumstances, and if they’re looking to go left… We hope to sign it better and take away the distractions.”

Panebianco, town councilmen Bridge Littleton and Kevin Daly and a few concerned citizens met with state senator Jill Vogel in February to work on traffic calming on Route 50 as well as the troublesome intersection with Zulla Road.

“A number of suggestions were made, from reducing the speed further back to rumble strips and an alert that it’s a dangerous intersection and more obvious signage that it’s split lanes,” Panebianco says. “When people are coming off Zulla Road, their GPS tells

them to turn left, and that happens multiple times a week, so we’re trying to address how to avoid having that happen and have less potential for a crash by slowing down traffic.”

So don’t be in a hurry to get into town—or you’ll pay a price. “We’ve set up a speed sign to collect data, and we’ve increased enforcement efforts on Route 50,” says Panebianco.

“If we stop you there, you are getting a ticket; we’re not giving breaks. We just had a fatality, and we don’t want to have another one. If all the signs and warnings and news of people getting killed doesn’t slow you down, the only option we have is to write tickets.”

He says the police often receive complaints of people passing on double lines as they’re approaching Middleburg. “That’s someone in a hurry, not slowing down but also driving very aggressively, and that’s going to cause an accident there too,” he says. “There are so many issues on Route 50—we’ve got to start somewhere, so we started with enforcement.”

Another thing Panebianco frequently sees is tired commuters. “They leave early and get back late, so they’re driving tired or distracted,” he says. “If you’re texting and not paying attention to the road, you’re going to do something that involves you in an accident.

I’ve stopped people I’ve been convinced were

drunk, pulled them over, and they’re just tired. They maybe left home at 3 a.m., and it’s 7 at night.”

He’s also trying to educate the community about safer driving. He gave a talk to students at Middleburg Academy about aggressive driving and distracted driving, and that PowerPoint presentation can be found on the Middleburg Police Facebook page.

Driving a car is one of the most dangerous things you do on a daily basis. We all need to get from Point A to Point B, but try to relax, enjoy the beautiful countryside, and keep your focus on what you’re doing—it’s only fair to yourself, your family and everyone on the road around you. ML Page 14, top: For the love of all things good, DO NOT turn left onto Route 50 at the end of Zulla Road—and beware of people from out of town who do so a few times per week. Page 14, bottom: Safe driving is all about being able to stop in time, so every time you crest a rolling hill on these back roads, be prepared to stop. Page 16, top: Tractors rarely travel more than 20 miles per hour, so the distance between a car going 60 miles an hour can pass very quickly. Page 16, bottom: Aggressive driving is especially dangerous on back roads. This car passed the truck on a double line moments after I took this photo.

Enjoy all of your eggs in one basket.

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Visit SalamanderResort.com or call 844.842.3198.

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A COUNTRY

GENTLEMAN

By Kerry Phelps Dale

D

onned in a button-down shirt and Levi blue jeans, John Coles slides onto the bench seat of his 1983 GMC two-tone farm pick-up truck, 183,000 unverified miles. A ball cap hangs on the 4-wheel drive stick, and the requisite dirt and hay remnants are scattered about the cab. He makes apologies for that day’s ride--his usual vehicle, a clean, client-approved Suburban, is in the shop this day, but the farm truck fits the horseman in Coles just fine.

Coles drives down the country roads of a region he knows like the back of his hand from countless hours behind the wheel as a realtor and even more intimately from atop a horse foxhunting. Coles is a superstar at both: many times named Leading Agent in Northern Virginia and longtime Joint Master of the exclusive Orange County Hounds.

Pulling to the side of the road, Coles jumps out of the truck to talk to some men building a fence. His demeanor is collegial; he laughs and converses with the men. He’s already talked to the landowner and wants to confirm that a way is left for the hunt to get through—one of the responsibilities of a MFH. A compelling number of the farms on these back roads of this treasured part of our area have been listed or sold by Coles over the past 40 years of his affiliation with Thomas and Talbot Real Estate in Middleburg. The former board member of Piedmont Environmental Council knows the conservation easements of all the properties in OCH and had a hand in most of them.

Sometimes the easements are in place with the listing; oftentimes they are put in place before, during and after the sale. “They are such a good tax benefit, and it’s still a great deduction. It isn’t a hard sell,” Coles says of the easements that safeguard the area from the rapid and haphazard development in surrounding areas.

“We’re very lucky to have all the country roads and open spaces. This area has changed very little compared to others,” says Coles. “In general, this is a very caring and generous place.”

A little further down the road, in an area protected by easements with rolling hills as far as one can see, a fox runs across the road and into a field. “That’s the third one I’ve seen today,” says Coles, an advocate of preserving the fox population. He explains that in the

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hunt field, “we try to do everything we can not to catch the fox.”

Virginia bred and raised, Coles was the 12th generation to grow up on the family farm, Cloverfields, part of what was a land grant to his mother’s distant relatives in 1704.

The Keswick farm Coles still calls home lies in the shadow of Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson of whom Coles is a direct descendent on his mother’s side. Like Jefferson, Coles is the quintessential Virginia Gentleman: a fine horseman, savvy businessman, land owner and gentleman.

Coles’ earliest interest in foxhunting and land conservation were seeds sown by a father who conveyed a love for the land and was for many years Keswick Hunt MFH. Coles began his riding career after attending Virginia Tech and raced over timber in Charlottesville and then in the Virginia Piedmont when he moved north to Middle-

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burg more than 40 years ago, a migration from one venerable slice of Virginia hunt country to another.

Coles showed up in 1975 as a young, aspiring timber and hurdle rider. He rode for different stables before he landed in the barns of George Ohrstrom, an owner and breeder of fine Thoroughbreds, who passed away in 2005. Ohrstrom had the horses that Coles wanted to ride, and Coles had the faithful persistence and talent to ride some of the best horses over fences. In time Coles became the regular timber jockey, trainer and manager of horse breeding and racing operations at Ohrstrom’s Whitewood Stables.

Though Coles came to Whitewood Stables already a gifted and accomplished rider, Ohrstrom took young Coles and schooled him in the businesses of racing, breeding and real estate and conveyed his passion for Gentleman | Page 19

Gentleman | From page 18 land conservancy.

It was a match made in heaven: Coles and Ohrstrom. “He was like a dad to me,” Coles says. “He was better to me than I ever expected.”

Coles worked for Ohrstrom from the age of 23 until he was 50 and was both launched and mentored by him. “There were many paths I might have taken had it not been for Mr. Ohrstrom,” says Coles. Not necessarily all good ones, he points out.

His admiration for Ohrstrom, from the way the global businessman conducted transactions with integrity to how he showed faith in the people with whom he chose to surround himself, has informed Coles in every facet of his life. “After 25-plus years with someone, you can’t help but be influenced by them,” he says.

Coles has combined a real estate sales career with a passion for preserving our beautiful countryside and way of life—an alchemy sometimes difficult to achieve.

“John is good at getting deals made,” says Okey Turner, designer and home renovations expert. “It’s hard to get two people, a buyer and a seller, to agree. John is easy to talk to, down to earth and very reliable.”

But Coles’ affable personality and sales finesse explain only part of his real estate success. He has a way of envisioning the potential of a home that is key to selling it to a client who can’t quite see it. “He’s good at seeing what to do with a property. He only comes to me when he’s stumped,” says Turner, who has collaborated with John on many properties.

Coles also is keen about divining what a client wants, even if the client doesn’t really know or thinks he knows. He has one client to whom he’s sold multiple properties after changes in life circumstances led to different home needs. When the client first was looking in the Middleburg area, Coles showed her what he thought would be the perfect place; she shunned it and ended up buying something else. Years and three properties later, the original farm was again available, and Coles took the same client to see it. “She loved it,” he says, and she even asked why he’d never shown it to her before. “I told her I had shown it to her years before, and she said she didn’t remember it.” He knew all along they would make a perfect fit, all in due time.

Upon first moving to the area, young bachelor Coles made a fortuitous friendship with Helen Wiley (“She was like a mother to me.”) and her family at Gordonsdale Farm in The Plains. “He came to the farm all of the time for meals,” says Wiley.

Her young girls were crazy about Coles, and they all noticed they hadn’t seen him in a couple of weeks. Wiley caught sight of Coles at a gas station, jumped out of her car and asked, “We haven’t seen you in weeks. What’s her name?” After some prodding, Coles Gentleman | Page 20

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Gentleman | From page 19 responded abashedly, “Julie.”

Julie Coles, who would become John’s wife a few years later, was an accomplished rider in her own right and rode hunters professionally. She continued her career until she became pregnant with her third child, when the maternal instinct tempered her fearlessness.

Though she gave up competing professionally she continued to show and foxhunt and later teach riding to young boys and girls.

John rode and won countless steeplechase and hunt races sporting the Whitewood silks and a few others, always as an amateur. He counts his three Maryland Hunt Cups in the early to mid- 80s as the highlight of his racing career. Bittersweet was in the 1982 running when he was beat by a nose, in the closest finish in Hunt Cup history. In 1985, John’s last ride of three in the Maryland Hunt Cup, wife Julie remembers standing at the finish line handing off their newborn to her sister-inlaw in fear she might drop the baby.

The Coles foxhunt together regularly, John in front, Julie back with the hunt. “He’s amazing on the back of a horse” says Julie.

“He hunts with the same mentality as he did when I met him.

“John is a real horseman: He thinks like a horse,” Julie adds. “He has a real connection with the horses.”

The real estate success that John has enjoyed takes no backseat to his horsemanship.

“He works harder than anyone else,” Julie says. “He’s up until midnight trying to get things right—making the best connections between buyers and properties.”

And about his vision with properties, she brings out a fitting analogy: “A good horseman can see through a muddy horse.”

When not on the road with a client or out foxhunting, John can usually be found on their farm. The Oaks, 100 acres smack dab in the middle of Orange County Hunt, has been the Coles’ home for the last nine years. The c.1929 stone house sits on a hill that affords a view shed miles and miles to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Within their view in an intimate valley lies Springfield, a 350-acre farm where the Coles are in the process of renovating the main house, c.1780, with the intention of moving there sometime in the future. Many of the dependencies have been restored, and Springfield already is where most of the retirement horses they care for are pastured.

There are three grown Coles children.

Youngest daughter Sloane, a professional rider and trainer, works out of one of the main barns at The Oaks when not in Wellington, Florida, for the winter show jumping circuit.

Son Peyton lives and works in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife, often makes it up to Middleburg on business, and still likes to foxhunt. Fraley, the oldest and married is a social worker in Baltimore and the mother of the Coles’ lone grandchild, John, named after

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his grandfather.

The richness of Coles life lies in the sum of its parts. It’s the combination of the love of family, the adrenaline of a real estate deal or a chase in the hunt, and the authenticity of farm life which brings him pleasure.

“It’s all part of the game,” says John. “Happiness is having a good day, and I have a lot of good days.”

Gentle of spirit, fearless on horseback, talented at deal making, John Coles is the real thing, a country gentleman who lives with cultivated balance. ML

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Page 18: John Coles Realtor, Joint Master of Orange County Hounds, country gentleman. Photo

by Kerry Phelps Dale. Page 19, top: John and Julie Coles at an event at Morven Park. Photo courtesy of John Coles. Page 19, bottom: Joint Master of Orange County Hounds. Photo by Douglas Lees. Page 20, top: Coles stands upon the ground he loves, The Oaks, with the mountains and his Springfield farm behind him. Photo by Kerry Phelps Dale. Page 20, bottom: The Coleses have pensioned Thoroughbreds on their farms. Says John, “Whenever there's mud around, the horses will roll in it.” Photo by Kerry Phelps Dale.

The Community Music School of the Piedmont's 11th Annual Candlelight Fundraiser

A CELEBRATION OF CHOPIN WITH BRIAN GANZ Story and photos by Elaine Anne Watt

T

he ballroom at Barton Oaks provided a magnificent setting to experience some of the lesser-known works of Chopin through the skilled interpretation of acclaimed pianist Brian Ganz. With a program entitled “Chopin the Traveler, Chopin the Teacher,” Ganz took us on a delightful tour of the power and persuasion that defines Chopin’s music.

Brian Ganz is a member of the piano faculty at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, where he is artist-in-residence, and he also serves on the faculty of the Peabody Conservatory.

Music | Page 22

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Music | From page 21 Past accolades include being a laureate of the Marguerite Long Jacques Thibaud and the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium International Piano Competitions along with an impressive solo career where he has appeared with many notable symphonies and conductors here and abroad.

A prominent Belgium newspaper, La Libre Belgique, accurately captured the evening when it said of Ganz: “We don’t have the words to speak of this fabulous musician who lives music with a generous urgency and brings his public into a state of intense joy.”

Ganz bounded into the room with vibrant enthusiasm, shared each work with dynamic energy and flair, and jumped up from his piano bench upon the completion of each with an enormous smile and face full of delight.

Clearly relishing his role as both performer and teacher, Ganz encouraged his audience to absorb the chosen music as a way of discovering and rediscovering Chopin, falling in love all over again with his work based upon what we might be familiar with in light of these hidden gems.

Beginning with the light and pleasing Bourrée No. 1 In G major, Op. Posth. and then shifting immediately into the Boléro, Op. 19, you could see and feel Ganz’s joy as he flowed through the music, clearly fully living each note and chord confidently drawn forth from his instrument, the dainty trills turning into lush moments of power and magnitude.

He followed-up with the drama of Polonaise in A major, Op. 40, No. 1, one of the more famous of Chopin’s works considered to be representative of his pride in his native Poland. Here he used his body movement and musical flourishes to great effect as he delivered the climatic passages and dramatic pauses, his face full of passion as might Chopin’s once have been.

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Other highlights included the tender delivery of Chopin’s Étude in E major, Op. 10, No. 3 and the revelatory beauty of the Étude in A flat major, Op. 25, No. 1. Chopin never named his compositions, but this last piece has been compared to an “Aeolian Harp” by music critic Robert Schumann, meaning it is as if played by the wind with its floating, liquid sounds.

Fantaisie-Impromptu, Op. 66, was published posthumously against Chopin’s wishes.

Ganz held it up to the audience as an excellent example of why not to self-censor, choosing to believe that something is not up to our standard of excellence. Ganz said, “We all have something inside us that we don’t think is good enough that we need to let out…just imagine a world without this.” He went on to play an upliftingly haunting, almost ethereal piece of music that burst into full bloom at the end.

The wonderful connection between Ganz and his audience as he engaged us in a running conversation throughout the evening

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enhanced the performance and left us with a greater understanding and appreciation for Chopin.

After two standing ovations and an encore that he called his “goodnight kiss,” Ganz left the stage, but lingered to mingle with the room full of appreciative guests.

Ganz’s two granddaughters study at The Community Music School of the Piedmont, so his performance was a gift to both them and us. ML Page 21, left: Brian Ganz received two standing ovations after his jubilant performance. Page 21, right: The ballroom at Barton Oaks made a perfectly intimate setting for the event. Page 22, top left: Host Claude Schoch with Andrea Ross. Page 22, top right: Naomi Fraser is the recipient of the Katherine Jameson Piano Scholarship. Back row left to right are Angela Fraser, Kwasi Fraser and Stephen Jameson. Front row left to right are Naomi Fraser, Marlene Baldwin, Julia Jameson and Sara Jameson. Page 22, bottom left: Adam Campbell, Shannon Davis and Edward Ewbank. Page 22, bottom right: Brian Ganz and Diane Cormicle-Ganz.

OBSERVING THE PALE BLUE DOT

By Dulcy B. Hooper

T

he subject matter was as fascinating as it was sobering: the dramatic changes documented over five decades of observations made by NASA scientists viewing Earth from space.

Members of the audience who may have hoped to have their minds put at ease that climate change is not real would have been sorely disappointed.

The event took place on February 2 at the Hill School Performing Arts Center and Dot | Page 24

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Dot | From page 23 was co-sponsored by Land Trust of Virginia (LTV) and Goose Creek Association. Laura Chlopecki, a member of the Goose Creek Association board of directors, was enthusiastic about the joint effort.

“My involvement has awakened me to the ongoing challenges between preservation and development,” she said. “Working together with LTV and others, we hope to support smart growth within the larger context of a sustainable natural environment.”

The audience of nearly 180 heard about the potentially dire consequences of continued carbon emissions and so much more, from severe droughts to rising sea levels to the reality of the ever more powerful storms experienced by many around the world and certainly here in the United States.

Christopher Dematatis, chairman of LTV’s board of directors, opened the evening with a few comments. “You cannot view our planet from that perspective and not be a conservationist,” he said. LTV currently protects more than 16,000 acres in Virginia through conservation easements.

Dematatis introduced Dr. Ellen Renee Stofan, a planetary scientist who most recently served as NASA’s chief scientist and principal advisor on their science programs and related strategic planning. Stofan’s research efforts, prior to NASA, focused on the geology of Venus, Mars, Saturn’s moon Titan, and Earth.

“Venus is fascinating to me,” she said, “because it really is the Earth gone wrong. And Mars is the place to look to in answering the question of whether or not life evolved off Earth, which is the most complex planet in our solar system.”

With a series of dramatic photographs taken from space, Stofan showed images of a sinking California coast, the shrinking mass of habitable land in Bangladesh, and the impact a lack of water is having on Cape Town.

“Too much water is a problem,” she said, referring to melting ice in the Arctic. “But not enough water is a problem, as well. If there is not enough water, we cannot grow the quantity of food necessary to meet the needs of populations around the world. This is not compatible with life. So our question is: Is it natural? Or do these weather events signal change?”

Stofan is unequivocal that our planet is warming and that the warming has accelerated over the last decade. She views 2017 as “an epic year” in terms of the many signs of climate change.

“Already,” she said, “we are seeing climate refugees here in the United States, with Florida having to accommodate so many people coming in from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Harvey. And the situation in Bangladesh will have worldwide implications in the coming years.”

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Stofan’s message is that there is no time to waste.

“What can we all do?” she asked. “The fate of the planet is in our hands. We need to keep this planet habitable. To do that, we need to get close to decarbonizing our economy in the next five to 10 years.”

Stofan recently attended the World Economic Forum in Davos and says that she is confident that the country’s businesses are “seeing the writing on the wall” and are stepping up to the plate. She is also heartened that the largest states in the U.S. economy are sticking with the Paris Accord.

In her closing remarks, Stofan quoted Carl Sagan, the astronomer who was once considered the most popular scientist in the country.

“Look again at that dot,” Sagan wrote.

“That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human

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being who ever was, lived out their lives.

The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every ‘superstar,’ every ‘supreme leader,’ every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” (Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space, by Carl Sagan 1994). ML Page 23: Ellen Stofan. Photo by Callie Broaddus. Page 24, top: Mike Kane, Lori McGuinness and Meg Mullery. Photo by Richard Hooper. Page 24, bottom: Laura Chlopeki and Kat Hitchcock. Photo

by Richard Hooper.

38386 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg VA

22553 Creighton Farms Drive, Leesburg, VA 20175

38386 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg VA Mosby Highway, 22553 Creighton Farms Drive, Leesburg, VA 2017 38386 John Middleburg VA 22553 Creighto

22553 Creighton Farms Drive Leesburg, VA 20175

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$2,099,990

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Exquiste Renovated Gem Farm… with over finished square perchedproperty on Investors Dream with a five year tenant in place through May, 2022. 9,000 Welcome to Woodland 169,800 breathtaking acres offeet equestrian Investors with a five year tenant in place through May, hand2022. eight acres with pristine views! inVast planwith separate square foot Dream Farmhouse-style home with Habersham Plantation kitchen, andprime majestic countryside nestled theopen heartfloor of Virginia’s renownedoffice, Hunt 9,000 square footfloors, Farmhouse-style home withwalk-in Habersham Plantation LIving and Dining Rooms, Chef’s Kitchen, Sun Room and two story Family Room scraped hardwood elegant master suite with closet fit for royalty.

Country. Stately masonry pillars and a winding paved drive will guide you over kitchen, hardwood floors, master with with fireplace.

Upper level hosts En Suites.custom, Master stone Lower levelhand-scraped theater room and wet bar, stone wineelegant cellar and 4-stopsuite elevator. themasonry clear mountain stream and up the hillfive to spacious the extraordinary, walk-in closet fit for royalty.

Lower level theater room and wet bar, retreat features a Sitting Room, dual sided fireplace, walk in closets and Extensive hardscaping and heated custom pool with spa and pool house. and hardiplank main residence. Situated on a knoll, views of lush pastures, stone treed, wine 3cellar and 4-stop elevator. Extensive hardscaping and private Master Bathroom is aseen private with of dual Private, acre fenced lot. rollingbalcony. hills and wooded land can be fromoasis all sides thisvanities, exquisitesoaking home. heated custom pool with spa and pool house. Private, treed, 3 acre tub and separate shower.

Lower level boasts an expansive Room, full This beautiful country estate also boasts a five-stall centerRec aisle bar, fenced fenced lot.

Bathroom and a blank canvas of unfinished perfect for a sixththat Bedroom, riding ring and a Guest Cottage with twospace separate apartments each $2,099,990 $2,699,9 $2,099,990 Kitchen, and with wet bar. on the property. overlook theMedia woodsRoom and stream located

Welcome to Woodland Farm… 16 breathtaking acres of equestrian property Welcome to Woodland Farm… 16 breathtaking of with equestrian Investors acres Dream a fiveproperty year tenant in place through May, Investors Dream wit and majestic countryside nestled in the heart and of Virginia’s Hunt majesticrenowned countryside nestled in the heart of Virginia’s renowned Hunt home with 9,000 square foot Farmhouse-style Habersham Plan 9,000 square foot Fa Country. Stately masonry pillars and a winding paved driveStately will guide you over Country. masonry pillars and a winding paved drive will guide you over kitchen, hand-scraped hardwood floors, elegant suite kitchen, master hand-scrap the clear mountain stream and up the hill to the the extraordinary, custom, stone clear mountain stream and up the hill to the extraordinary, custom, stone walk-in closet fit for royalty. Lower level theater room and walk-in closet fit we fo and hardiplank main residence. Situated on a knoll, views of lush pastures, and hardiplank main residence. Situated on a knoll, views of lush pastures, stone wine cellar and 4-stop elevator. Extensive hardscaping stone wine cellar a rolling hills and wooded land can be seen from allrolling sides hills of this exquisite home. and wooded land can be seen from all sides of this exquisite home. heated custom pool with spa and pool house.

Private, treed, 3 heated custom poo This beautiful country estate also boasts a five-stall aisle bar, fenced This center beautiful country estate also boasts a five-stall center aisle bar, fenced lot. fenced lot. riding ring and a Guest Cottage with two separate each riding apartments ring and a that Guest Cottage withfenced two separate apartments that each overlook the woods and stream located on the property. overlook the woods and stream located on the property.

22694 Creighton Farms Drive, Leesburg VA 20175

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$2,699,000 $2,699,000 Double thick honed Calcutta marble, commercial grade Wolf$22,000 appliances, per Mon Incredible Great Falls location with public water perfectly situated on May/June 2018 delivery. Incredible Great Falls location with public water Magnificent all brick colonial on five plus acres backs to number 10 on dual wine refrigerator, 8 indoor/outdoor fireplaces, 6-car garage, infinity 1-acre cul-de-sac lot backing to mature trees. 2nd home being built in perfectly situated on 1-acre cul-de-sac lot backing to mature trees. 2nd home Chantilly County Club golf course with stunning lake views. This beautiful Double thick honed Calcutta marble, commercial grade Wolf appliC Incredible GreatHomes.

Falls location with public water perfectly situated onoutdoor Double thick honed Incredible Falls location withliving public water perfectly situated on bar, pool, room, handsome basement movie-theater, and built Enclave five Custom Over 9,000 square feet of Great being in and of Enclave five Custom Over 9,000 square feet five Bedrooms, four full Bathrooms and twofireplaces, half Bathrooms. dual wine refrigerator, 8 indoor/outdoor 6-carrefrigerato garage, 1-acre of cul-de-sac lotHomes. backing to mature trees.

2nd home beingresidence built in features dual wine 1-acre cul-de-sac lot backing to accordion mature trees.

2nd home being built inoverlooking sunroom with glass walls and balconies majestic unparalleled living space on three levels with 11' ceilings, Pella windows, of unparalleled living space on three 11’ ceilings, PellaOver windows, New in 2016. new HVAC units in 2016.

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Artists in Middleburg Exhibits

“Love in the ‘Burg” Story and photos by Elaine Anne Watt

2 1

4

3 February 10th found an eager crowd gathered at the Artists in Middleburg Gallery to see the entries to the juried competition, “Love in the ‘Burg,” and to hear some of the artists speak about their works.

Sandy Danielson had done her usual marvelous task of assembling and displaying a variety of mediums from a talented group of local artists. Susan Byrne

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of The Byrne Gallery was the sole jurist, but a decision was made not to single out any particular winners from the entries selected for participation.

Instead, onlookers had the pleasure of exploring the works and finding their own favorites. Deb Cadenas graciously welcomed everyone on behalf of the Exhibit | Page 27

Photos: 1. Let’s Leave This Place, Acrylic by Rebekah Keene. 2. Leanne Fink stands next to her painting, Ware Hound, bottom center at the Opening Reception for Love in the ‘Burg. 3. Two of John Ellingson's marvelous photo-GRAPHICS, top The Hounds, and bottom The Race behind the refreshments welcoming guests to the opening of the exhibit. 4. Gallery Director Sandy Danielson, Jurist Susan Byrne of The Byrne Gallery, and Deb Cadenas on behalf of the Middleburg Arts Council.

5. Foreground, Seamus, a bronze by Jean Ann Feneis. Magnificence by Lori Goll.

EXHIBIT (continued from page 26)

1 Middleburg Arts Council, and guests enjoyed light refreshments as they strolled the gallery.

Leanne Fink’s “Ware Hound” was inspired by watching the annual Hunt & Hound Review from a second floor window and seeing the excited hounds running against the pavement of Washington Street.

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2 “Every year I choose something to explore as an artist, and this year is movement and contrast,” she said. “With the Chinese New Year being an homage to the year of the dog, it just came together.”

As you can see from the pictures, there was much to see and appreciate in this wonderful exhibit. ML

3 Photos: 1. Left, John Ellingson's The Parade, center, Golie Maimee's In The Spotlight, and right Bishops Gate digital photography. 2. Sunflowers with Emerald Green Sari by Barbara Sharp. 3. Garden Shed with Sunflowers, mixed mix media on canvas

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MIDDLEBURG DESIGN COMPANY & CEI

CREATE YOUR DREAM RETREATS

By Elaine Anne Watt | Photos courtesy of MDC & CEI

G

retchen Yahn came to realize that she didn’t want to go to medical school as originally planned, be an engineer or an architect or any one thing. But she was drawn to building and making

things, and so she majored in Building Construction at the University of Florida and began to work for respected builders. She immediately recognized that having many compartmentalized parties with separate tasks was not the most efficient or client friendly way of doing business.

“It was very disjointed,” Yahn remembers.

She wanted something much more for her clients and herself.

“Understanding what the client needs and assimilating it into the details and implementation is intrinsic to me,” says Yahn. “Out here in horse country, you may be creating a village between the main home, the barns, the carriage houses and outdoor living and work spaces. You have to be able to conceptualize

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and often phase the projects over time to complete the owner’s vision.”

Initially, Yahn might appear all business, but her warmth and passion for what she does becomes apparent within minutes.

She’s established two thriving companies that work together to deliver everything from a modest remodeling project to a full-scale design/build estate encompassing 50-100 acres or more.

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Middleburg Design Company and CEI are two branches of a whole: the design company that develops the plans, sources the materials and components, and creates the aesthetic for a project, and the construction group made up of subcontractors and suppliers who have been carefully curated over many years that make up Yahn’s core teams.

Yahn approaches each project with the same care and enthusiasm as every one that has come before.

“Almost every client I’ve built for never thought they wanted to build,” she says. “They couldn’t find what they wanted. I’ve spent a lot of time looking at land and discussing the possibilities. My job is to listen to my clients and give them realistic insight into what it will take to get the job done.”

When asked how to pick a builder, Yahn says, “Pick a builder who will implement your taste.” After all, this is your haven.

“I have many repeat clients who Retreats | Page 29

Retreats | From page 28 I’ve worked on multiple projects with; typically they want to have that multigenerational home for family gatherings and entertaining. That means that there’s a lot of site implementation and optimizing the functionality of space so that all the amenities are there for their kids and future generations. I have to think about incorporating all the elements for ease of personal use, catering and entertaining, pools and guest houses, and maybe even an ongoing horse farm operation,” she says.

“That means planning for all the gathering spots, hardscapes and landscapes, and those places apart to enjoy the peace and quiet of the country.”

Though when she first fell in love with construction, Yahn felt she “had no understanding of the creativity in me.” Ask her devoted clients, and they declare that she is unquestionably a master at design and organization.

Bill Ballhaus raved about the work Yahn has done for him which includes multiple projects locally and one recently in Florida where Yahn had to come down and take over a project, integrating with the local contractors available to her there.

“With every job, she has totally exceeded our expectations in terms of quality and performance,” Ballhaus says. “Gretchen is fantastic, a true professional, whom we absolutely trust to deliver our vision, with a unique ability to partner with us and execute on sched-

ule. The creative process is so collaborative, with Yahn willing to listen and take our ideas and then bring in some of her own so that we actually end up with something better than we envisioned in the first place.”

Tracey Liberson used remarkably similar adjectives to describe her and her husband Dennis’ experience while building a house in Delaplane and currently renovating a home in Great Falls with Yahn. “I’ve worked with three other builders in the past that treated the little details that mattered to me as if they were unimportant. We’ve had such a different experience with Gretchen. She answers all our questions and brings the whole interior design eye as well for planning for furniture placement, fabrics, window treatments and just everything,” says Liberson.

Even more importantly, she says, is that, “I can rely on her opinion and choices, because she’ll show you different things that spice up what you like but just give you so much more variety than imagined.”

Both Ballhaus and Liberson emphasized that Yahn is always there when they need her, whether or not the project is done or even much later if a maintenance or other issue arises. “She never forgets you; it’s a level of personalization that I’ve never experienced anywhere else,” says Liberson.

Perhaps a bit of a surprise is the predictability with which Yahn works.

“It’s all like a bit of a puzzle, and my brain loves puzzles. I have to put all the pieces together in such a way that everyone knows

what to expect. Timelines from the beginning of design until project completion,” says Yahn. “Women are used to juggling a lot of balls up in the air, and I never ask someone to do something I wouldn’t do. And, for my clients, a lot of what they are buying is my experience.”

Relishing the creative process keeps Yahn and her teams engaged. “We accomplish so much in the typical six weeks of preconstruction planning on a project. We probably shorten the construction timeframe by about six months because of the level of detail we go into ensuring that we have the materials selected, ordered and staged for the build to go smoothly,” she says. “And, it doesn’t hurt that I absolutely love the entire process right down to the choice of tile.”

“We’ve never experienced any delays,” says Liberson. What a testament to anyone who has faced the challenges of remodeling or building!

If you love what you do, and Yahn clearly does, the work is never done, and the ties that you’ve built with your customers last forever. ML Middleburg Design Company and CEI are located at 103A West Federal Street, Middleburg, Virginia and can be reached at 540-687-3660.

Page 28, left: Horse Country Estate. Page 28, right: Wine Cellar. Page 29, left: Not just for horses - Equestrian facility with living spaces.

Page 29, right: Master Bath.

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JOE STETTINIUS REMEMBERED

By Elaine Anne Watt

W

hen the shocking news about the sudden death of Joe Stettinius reverberated through our community, our prayers went out to his wife of 22 years, Regina, his two children, Isabel and Alexander, his twin brother Ted, and the rest of his family and friends. Stettinius, 55, suffered a heart attack after having spent a day at his avocation of foxhunting. The fact that more than 1,000 people would attend his funeral just days later at Trinity Episcopal Church in Upperville is a testament to the deep affection and high regard in which he was held both personally and professionally here and in the world of business.

Daniel “Speedy” Smithwick met Stettinius back in the early 1980s, when they both aspired to be race jockeys. They shared one horse for a time in Richmond and spent a couple of summers doing everything they could to pursue their passion. Smithwick reflects that Stettinius rode very well and was always a pleasure to be around. They treasured a close connection over the years, and Stettinius was Godfather to Smithwick’s daughter, Patricia.

“Joe was the happiest man on God’s green earth,” said Smithwick. “I will always remember him best as a sportsman, as someone who was a lot of fun, social, engaging, sarcastic in a good way, and a very good friend. He was a world traveler, spending a lot of time in Australia particularly, and then he just really fell for foxhunting three to four years ago.”

Joe Davies recalled how Stettinius always was a “free spirit” who eschewed following the traditional path. “He only went to college for about a minute, but he managed to learn the essential business principles better than the rest of us,” he said.

Even though Stettinius loved horses and racing, after five or six years of competing, he realized that he needed to do something else for a living. And that he did.

Stettinius enjoyed a tremendously successful career as a leader in the commercial real estate industry, most recently serving as Cushman & Wakefield’s Chief Executive Officer for the Americas. He was respected for his deep knowledge of all aspects of complicated real estate transactions and for the commitment and integrity with which he conducted his life.

Also, Stettinius served as a Trustee of the Virginia Historical Society and as a Board Director for the Boys & Girls Club

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of Greater Washington.

“He was so proud of his family and was just hitting his stride,” said Davies. “He’d achieved enough financial success to enjoy having horses with both Piedmont and Snickersville, and he loved every minute of it,

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staying to the very end on his last day as part of the field.”

More importantly, “He and wife Regina, ‘Reg,’ made a great team in business and socially. She turned their rundown farm, Oakfield in Upperville, into a masterpiece. Regina always was so supportive of everything Joe did,” said Davies.

Davies said that recently Stettinius had talked extensively about how “he wanted to focus on the important things, to devote more time to his family and friends. He was interested in getting into breeding and pursuing his love of horses.”

Davies went on to say that “he had a very irreverent sense of humor and was enjoyed by everyone around him. He made people laugh and not take things too seriously. He was an excellent friend, and he will be sorely, sorely missed.” ML Photos by Joanne Maisano.

AllenRealEstate.com RealEstate.com

25-ACRES

25-ACRES

Hard to find 25-acre estate. Elegant country house features 2-story entrance hall, wide plank hardwood floors, library, 2-story family room with massive stone WALNUT SPRINGS Situated on Springs Rd just minutes from Old Town on 2-parfp, walls of arched windows, morning room, fully cels (25&29ac). Large spacious home with grand curved stairfinished lower level and incredible 130’ wrap porch for case in entrance hall, very large and bright gathering room w/ sunrisesand andFP, sunsets the mountains. built-ins formalover DR, paneled library, conservatory, wonderful distant views surrounded $849,000by estates – best location.

Hard to find CULPEPER 25-acre estate. Elegant ST country house Old Town 2-story Historic District w/gleaming features entrance– 1938 hall, cottage wide plank hardwood hardwood floors throughout, LR w/Built-ins FP, large floors, library, 2-story family room with and massive stone DR w/corner cupboards, 3-BR, 2 ½ baths, large screened fp, walls of arched windows, morning room, fully porch w/slate floor, balcony off master BR overlooking finished lower level and porch for fenced yard w/gardens.

Fullincredible basement. 130’ Walkwrap to concerts, Great Run on property and 9-stall stable. $1,975,000 cafes, banks, $498,000 sunrises andetc. sunsets over the mountains. $849,000

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Freshly and professionally decorated, better-than-new home convenient to town. Cottage-style staircase, elegant upscale wood trim, 5BR, 5-baths, bright and sunny kitchen and breakfast area, 2-FPs, media area, large deck, views patio, 3-car garage. Just listed. $669,000

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COMPLETE HORSE FARM

28-acres in two parcels, 4-board fenced, 12-stall center aisle barn, 190x110 Atwood GGT ring, dressage ring, immaculate recently updated country house with large guest/ in-law suite/trainer wing, heated pool w/waterfall. JUST REDUCED $200,000 for early sale. $998,500

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THE HIGHLANDS

C. 1935 – stone w/slate roof, fabulous walnut/beechwood paneling, main floor master w/luxury bath, chef’s kitchen, elegant dining, separate stone building w/office, gym, garage. 2-BR guest cottage, 30-acres, stables, pool, sports court and pond. Just Listed. $2,250,000

OLD MILL FARM

Very private setting in the Springs Valley two miles from town. Special country house with 2-FP, 4-BR, 3 ½ baths, conservatory, wonderful breakfast room, pool. Watch foxhunters ride by from the porch. Great Run runs through on 27-acres, apple orchard, much more. $1,200,000

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All-brick French country house on 12-fenced acres convenient to town. Freshly updated, 2-FP, lots of glass, 40’ patio, 3-car garage w/lovey apartment above, luxury paneled library, private master suite, 7-stall stable. $995,000

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C. 1850 on 100-acres. Manor house w/7-FPs, superb condition, stone cottage, guest house, pool, 6-stall stable, garaging for 8-cars, pond, barns, lovely views. $1,495,000

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SPRING RACES:

GETTING READY TO RUN Photos by Joanne Maisano

1

2

3 4 The excitement is in the air once again as the Spring Race season is about to begin. Our area is blessed with amazing locations and strong traditions that will delight you as you come out to watch, perhaps plan a tailgate party and enjoy our legendary sport.

We’re recapping the event schedule here for you, but please do visit their websites for all the details on tickets, parking and other options for your day or days at the races!

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Warrenton Hunt Point to Point on March 17; Piedmont Fox Hounds Point to Point on March 24; Orange County Hounds Point to Point on April 1; Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point on April 7; Loudoun Hunt Point to Point on April 15; Middleburg Spring Race Meet on April 21; Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point on April 22; Foxfield Spring Race Meet on April 29, and the Virginia Gold Cup Race Meet on May 5.

See you there! ML

Photos: 1. Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point 2017. 2. Gold Cup 2017. 3. Middleburg Hunt Point to Point 2017. 4. Orange County Hounds Point to Point 2017.

5. Warrenton Hunt Point to Point 2017.

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BOB BALL A COMMUNITY BUILDER

Story and photos by Callie Broaddus

I

f you can maneuver past the high end clothing boutiques, inviting smells of gourmet

food, and elegantly filled storefronts that entice visitors on Middleburg’s Main Street, you might discover that the best retail therapy can actually be found on the corner of Madison and Federal, under the proprietorship of a man named Bob Ball.

When you shop at Middleburg Millwork, you might walk in the door for the hardware, the lumber or the custom millwork that the business has been known for in its 49 years of operation, but it’s hard not to go home with at least one bonus when you run into Ball.

“He just kind of rubs off on you, and you leave with a smile on your face,” says Punkin Lee, the owner of nearby Journeymen Saddlers, which she has run for 40 years.

“He runs a great business, and he offers the community a lot of great services out of that business that people aren’t that much aware of, and they should be.”

Lee is referring to the lesser-known sides of the business, the hardware store and lumber supply. With nearly 15,000 stock keeping units (SKUs) in the system and about half a million dollars in inventory, Ball jokes that he used to call the store his father David Ball co-founded the mini-Lowes of Middleburg.

“But I got shot for that every once in a while from my old man; he didn’t like that,” says Bob with a laugh.

However, Bob isn’t joking when he says the shop can offer every necessity a customer could want from a big-box store. From salt to cement, from paint sundries and barn boards to baby pools and loose screws, they probably have it in stock. And if they don’t, they go above and beyond to get it for you.

“A couple weeks ago, a guy came in and wanted 15 gallons of paint,” says Bob. “Well, we had eight gallons of paint.” Bob and his wife Joyce live in Winchester, Virginia, about 20 minutes south of their supplier. “So I made a will call. I called the guy and said, ‘I’ve got the paint.’ And he said, ‘I thought your truck wasn’t coming in.’ I said, ‘You needed it, so I got it.’”

Bob’s can-do, will-do attitude is well

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known amongst his friends. At the Middleburg Business and Professional Association, he serves on the board alongside MBPA President Punkin Lee and another Federal Street neighbor, Tone Moore, owner of Popcorn Monkey.

“I think Bob is that last screw to tighten things and snug ‘em down. He really does give his all,” says Moore, who found a kindred spirit in Bob when the pair volunteered to lead kids in the Halloween parade two

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years ago (in full costume). “There’s no forethought; there’s no afterthought. There’s no, ‘Hey what’s in it for me?’ It’s, ‘We gotta get it done, let’s do it.’

“We’re kind of like the Batman and Robin, not knowing which one is Batman and which one is Robin,” says Moore of their participation in the MBPA, adding with a laugh, “I think he’ll get a tickle out of that.

“We kind of came in together, and we’re Builder | Page 35

Builder | From page 34 just kind of Frick and Frack in meetings,” he continues. "It’s always a good time; he’s very open minded and really a breath of fresh air.

He typically says what needs to be said in a Bob Ball kind of way.”

been in town? What can be done; what can we do?” Bob says. “I’m all for tourism; that’s what Main Street is. But when they all go away, you’ve gotta work!”

With rising lumber prices and a soft building market, Bob finds himself

What is the Bob Ball way? Moore says, “I think Bob is really good in a nonchalant and mentoring way at getting information out and being able to articulate what needs to be said. It’ll make somebody go, ‘huh,’ and kind of tilt their head like that dog with the ears flopping over.”

As a new board member at the MBPA, Bob wants to elevate the discussion around older and less tourism-centered businesses. “What about us old businesses that have

wondering where the business will be in 10 years. “There’s always the next step, and I just have to ride it, see what happens, what goes on,” he says. “But right now it’s taking care of the community. Be the working store.”

Thinking back to when his father still owned the business, Bob recalls a conversation he had with a man named Jimmy Roberts, who lived up the street. “He walked in one day when I was a young man at the front counter. He said, ‘Bob, I’ve got a problem.’”

Bob reenacts a look of trepidation. “I said, ‘What is it, Mr. Roberts?’ He says, ‘The problem is your store—and I’m going to tell your father this—there’s nothing in here fun.

Everything I get in here I have to work with.’ ” Bob chuckles in his convivial manner; clearly “work” and “fun” are separated by a very blurry line in his mind. “It’s just such a…I don’t know how to describe it. I get excited about coming to work every day,” Bob says with a smile. “Well, it’s all about the customer service and meeting people like yourself, and you know, it’s just—it’s fun!”

Judging by Bob’s staff retention rate, it really must be fun. Kenny Milbourne has been on the books for 32 years. Cindy Wines has clocked 16 years. Bob’s wife Joyce has put in around 11 years, and shop foreman Jimmy Beatty has been there for nine. Other employees worked for 28 years, 33 years and more. Bob has been there for 39 years, starting when he was a teenager making $5 every Saturday working 7 a.m. to noon. And that doesn’t include the years he spent as a child riding his Tonka truck in the old grease pits, remnants of the Ford dealership.

Milbourne, who works the counter and contractor sales, says Bob’s genial personality is the reason people tend to stick around. He says Bob picked up this trait from his father, who started the company on April Fool’s Day, 1969, alongside architect Dan Burner. “He can be tough, but he’s fair. He always has been that way,” says Milbourne.

Wines adds, “He knows what working people want, and he’s pleased with everything we do. We all know what has to be done. We do it, and we have a good time doing it.”

Whether you’re a first-time visitor to the area or a longtime resident, pop down to the hardware store to meet one of the friendliest faces in town, and you can grab that tape you always forget you need while you’re there. Like any town, Middleburg reflects the people who have built its character over the years. Fortunately for us all, this builder has all the right tools.

“Bob is Middleburg,” says Moore. “I mean you think about Middleburg, Bob encompasses everything that it’s about. He’s warm, he’s inviting, he’s natural; he just takes you in and embraces you. He’s the guy that’ll open the car door and pick you up off the street, take you home and wash you up, then pat you on your head and give you treats!”

To put it simply, “He dresses up and leads the Halloween parade, you know; he’s a participant,” says Lee. “And that’s what small towns need.” ML Page 34: “I had to shine this equipment every day when I was a kid.” Photo by Callie Broaddus. Page 35, top: The Middleburg Millwork team: Joyce Ball, Cindy Wines, Bob Ball and Kenny Milbourne. Photo

by Joanne Maisano. Page 35, bottom: “Gadgets and tools are the nuts and bolts of his business.” Photo by Callie Broaddus.

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s John Coles s “ Specializing in Large Land Holdings”

oAkeNDALe

oAtLAND vieWS

RALLYWooD

Oakendale Farm is the epitome of an exquisite Virginia hunt country estate in prime Orange County Hunt territory. From the William Lawrence Bottomley designed Manor house to the meticulously manicured gardens, grounds, dependencies and the hundreds of acres of surrounding pastures with protected view-sheds.

333 acres @ $8,990,000 or 837 acres @ $17,990,000

ALDIE – OATLAND VIEWS off of Oatlands Road - 271 ACRES divided into 11 Parcels ranging in size from 13 – 41 Acres with private road frontage on Clear Creek Lane. 10 of the 11 parcels have wells and Certification Letters for 4 Bedroom septics. Land protected by Loudoun County Open Space Easement. $5,500,000.00

World class equestrian facility comprised of 115 Acres in the OCH Territory. The U shaped complex encompasses an 80’ x 180’ lighted indoor riding arena connected by a breezeway to the 12 stall center-aisle barn and extraordinary living and entertaining quarters overlooking the outdoor ring.

Additional structures include tenant houses and large heated equipment barn. $4,400,000

meADoWgRove

BLACk RoCk

LANDmARk

Breathtaking mountain views and glistening spring fed 10 acre lake, create a magical setting for this stunning historic estate. Encompassing over 180 gorgeous acres features include a stone and stucco 16 room residence with an ultra modern gourmet kitchen, new tiled baths and separate 2 bedroom guest wing. The 10 stall stable & tennis court complete this fabulous estate. $2,995,000

Great elevation, fantastic views, open land, woodlands and river frontage on the Rappahannock River. 726.66 acres in 14 parcels, all of which are 50 acres or larger.

Accessed from Hume Road and from Black Rock Ford. Mixed game for hunting. Great opportunity for tax credits. $2,979,306

Stone posts and walls mark the entrance to the 133 acre country estate of Landmark. As the driveway gently rises, curves and then circles in front of the handsome two-story stone manor house, one notices that the home is sited perfectly to enjoy the expansive mountain views from the Bull Run to the Blue Ridge. The setting for this four bedroom, four bath residence is further heightened by the massive boxwoods and the stately trees. $2,790,000

oRLeAN LAND

CoopeR HouSe

LAND

!

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151 Acres of good mixture of hardwoods and open land on Leeds Manor Road with easy access to Warrenton, Marshall, Middleburg and I-66. $1,050,000

Lovely 2 story Brick Colonial on Landmark Road. 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Baths on 13 acres. 2 car garage and fenced for horses. Great ride-out. Orange County Hunt terrirory. $1,150,000

CHuDLeigH FARm Section 2 ~ 379.75 Acres on the north side of oatlands Road between Rt. 15 and Snickersville turnpike. Currently divided into 16 Building Lots developed under the Low Density Development option. Homesites range in size from 13.83 Acres -38.12 Acres. open Space easement in place with potential for tax credits. $7,500,000

www.thomas-talbot.com Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

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( 5 4 0 ) 27 0 - 0 0 9 4 StoNeLeDge er

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WAveRLY FARm

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This grand 101 acre equestrian estate in the Warrenton Hunt Territory and is within easy reach of Washington DC. Elegant custom-built home with 11,000 sf, smart-wired, 3 finished levels-all accessible by elevator. Features include 12-foot ceilings, heart pine floors and granite and Viking kitchen. Guest cottage, Barn, 2 streams, Stocked pond. Stunning countryside retreat. $3,475,000

c.1823, with a stunning tree lined entrance, offers one of the grand manor homes in the famed horse country of Upperville. Recently renovated, the home offers wonderful indoor and outdoor living areas. Porches, gardens, barns, paddocks, riding arena, pond, pool and magnificent views from the Bull Run to Blue Ridge Mountains. $3,200,000

Middleburg~A graceful & charming 5 bedroom French Country home is set amongst nearly 40 serene acres enhanced by majestic trees, rolling lawns and fenced paddocks. This wonderful horse property also includes a 7 stall center-aisle barn with office, additional 4 stall barn with apartment, indoor arena, and tremendous ride out potential. Located in the OCH Territory. $3,200,000

DeStiNAiRe FARm

mouNtviLLe LAND

StoNeHAveN

Impeccably maintained, this is an exquisite 118 acre horse farm with ten fields and paddocks of 4 board fencing, gently rolling land and panoramic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains with glimpses of Skyline Drive. In addition to the stucco and stone main residence, there are guest and tenant homes, numerous barns and run-ins to house 25 horses comfortably, and an indoor dressage ring. $2,750,000

145+ acres of land in sought after location on Mountville Road near Foxcroft School. Several home sites with wonderful views and vistas yet extremely private, half wooded and half pasture with over 2,000’ of Goose Creek frontage.

Minutes from Middleburg with easy access to Dulles International Airport and Washington DC. Middleburg Hunt Territory. $2,465,250

A picturesque and tranquil retreat nestled on 158+ acres in pristine Rappahannock County. At the end of the private drive is the historic Stone residence, c. 1745 with additional stone cottage for guests or office and tucked into the woods, beyond the home, is a charming and beautifully restored 2 bedroom log cabin. Gardens, lawn, barns, paddocks and tremendous ride out potential provide an outdoor haven. $1,845,000

LAND

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FReD WARReN LANe 137.74 acres with frontage on Little River, open Space easement, rolling fields with mature hardwood forest, orange County Hunt territory, great ride out, very private, within 5 miles of the village of middleburg. 3600 views $2,534,500

The lovely 22.8 Acre Ridgeview Farm offers a private, 4 bedroom residence sited on a knoll, with spacious rooms and views into the trees that border Little River.

Located in prime Orange County Hunt territory the horse facilities include a 6 stall barn with tack room and wash stall, machine shed, run in shed and 4 beautiful board fenced paddocks, fields and round pen. VOF Easement. $1,095,000

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Fenced pastureland and 2 stall barn are to the right of the drive that leads up to the Charming 3 bedroom, 3 ½ bath Williamsburg Colonial. Special features include first and second floor master suites, hardwood floors, 3 fireplaces and gracious entrance foyer. Sited high, the 20 area parcel enjoys spectacular western views to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Wonderful Orange County Hunt Territory, convenient to Middleburg, Marshall, The Plains, and I66 to Washington, D.C. $975,000

ThoMAs AnD TAlBoT ReAl esTATe (540) 687-6500

middleburg, virginia 20118

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A CONVERSATION WITH

VINCENT BATAOEL

By Elaine Anne Watt Currently, there are three registered candidates for Mayor of Middleburg for the coming election in May: Vincent Bataoel, chairman of the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee since 2014, Mark Snyder, a Town Council member since 1998, and Bridge Littleton, a Town Council member since 2016. Middleburg Life intends to sit down with all candidates to discuss their visions for our town.

V

incent Bataoel and I met over delicious omelets and hot coffee at Market Salamander to discuss his hopes for the town and thoughts on the coming election on what could only be described as one of those typical February days that leave us longing for spring to arrive. However, Vincent greeted me with his usual enthusiastic smile, and we got down to business.

Vincent and his wife, Nelina Loiselle, started their sustainable design studio, Above Green, back in 2007 in Fairfield, Iowa. As their business began to grow and opportunities developed out east, they decided to relocate in 2009. Nelina, a devoted equestrian, had fallen in love with The Chronicle of the Horse and read all about Middleburg. She promptly said that if they were to move, it had to be here. They were looking for a charming small town and a country lifestyle. And, that is why Vincent is running for Mayor.

“The role of Mayor is to maintain the vision of Middleburg as a small, charming town and make that come first when making all the decisions that we will encounter,” says Vincent. “We need to attract the kinds of businesses and people we want here by going out and inviting them.” Vincent believes Middleburg is “a great place for all kinds of businesses, especially those that serve residents and businesses alike.” He’s proactive about recruiting small, independent businesses that can help Middleburg become self-sustaining like it was in the past.

“I will work to fill our empty storefronts,” he says.

As part of his role as Chairman of the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, a position appointed by the Town Council and where he currently serves in his second consecutive term, he has sought out potential businesses that might be a good fit for Middleburg and asked them to consider opening up here. That’s how the King Street Oyster Bar came to Middleburg. “He [the owner] was invited to come take a look and found a great opportunity,” says Vincent.

“The job of Mayor is to knock on doors, to listen to people and their stories, how they

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got here and why and to make sure they are fairly represented,” he says.

This is the first contested race for mayor in 26 years, and Vincent “sees the value and opportunity to give back” by serving as the town’s “chief advocate and promoter.”

Vincent emphasizes that only 76 of the 500 registered voters turned out and actually voted in the last election. “I want to get voters excited and engaged again and to be part of the process,” he says.

Having spent the better part of last year and this year knocking on doors, Vincent says it is amazing how many people he’s talked to who have said they’ve never felt like anyone was interested in what they had to say or asked them for their opinions or concerns.

“I want to change that. I want everyone to know that their concerns and needs are being heard and addressed,” he says. Running a small business, understanding what it takes to make one thrive, having a vision for where it is going, “those are the same skills that I will bring to the role of Mayor.

“For the first time in a long time the town

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has significant excess cash reserves, $3.2 million dollars, and it’s time to make improvements that are needed and to reduce the burden on our residents and businesses,” he continues. “Both can be done at the same time.”

Therefore, his first priority is to give people the services they’ve been asking for, whether it’s sidewalks in their neighborhoods to protect residents and their pets from increased traffic or water rates that are more comparable to other areas with “affordable water that you can drink from the tap.”

With a very capable town staff and the long anticipated capital improvement plan under development, the Mayor will be working closely with the Town Council and the citizenry to make sure that the right vision and priorities are set.

Part of that vision includes engagement with adjoining areas. Vincent is on the Board of the Aldie Heritage Association that is currently fighting to save the gateway to Middleburg, historic Aldie.

Conversation | Page 39

Conversation | From page 38 In his words, “Middleburg is already changing, and it needs new blood to shape the change, but that also understands the leadership that has come before and the importance of preserving Virginia hunt country.” Vincent wants everyone to address change “in a way that is sustainable, and that does not make us a tourist town, but a town that is welcoming to healthy businesses and visitors alike.

“Middleburg is close to being perfect,” he adds. “It needs a few small tweaks, and we have plenty of resources to make that happen.

I am an optimist.”

Vincent wants to harness the current cash reserves and the projected General Fund surplus of $1 million annually to reduce the cost of water rates while preparing for the needs of the future.

When asked about the affordability of town to potential residents, Vincent says that Middleburg draws from a large pool of talent in surrounding areas. “We don’t have to change who we are on the inside, and we don’t have to be something we’re not” to have Middleburg do well. He wants to see limits on development within areas receiving public services.

“I hear residents concerned about homes that are too big for their neighborhoods,

bringing too much traffic, and about what’s going on in their backyards,” he says. “We want our small town to stay small and charming. I came here for the small town, and others have, too.”

The answer, in Vincent’s view, is “finding the businesses that are good for residents and good for visitors, small professional businesses that employ people and will bring people here.”

“This is horse country,” he adds, “and even if you’re not a part of it [equestrians], this is fundamentally who we are and includes horses, vineyards, open spaces and a quiet life.”

Vincent says, “Whether you’re born and raised here or new to town, we’re all here by choice; we choose to be part of Middleburg because we share a common bond for the country life. ” ML

m

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All New Design House

March l 2-3-4 April l 6-7-8 May l 4-5-6

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SET YOUR TABLE FOR SPRING WITH HELP FROM MIDDLEBURG MAINSTAYS

By Kaitlin Hill Photos by Callie Broaddus

F

inding inspiration for spring décor can be more difficult than, say, Christmas or Fourth of July, where the color schemes are chosen for you.

But with a few simple guidelines and help from two local shop owners, dressing an elegant yet accessible table is a breeze for any spring event you have on your calendar.

Tara Wegdam, owner and keen eye behind Middleburg’s Crème de la Crème, sets three gorgeous springtime spreads and explains how each unique table is influenced by the same set of principles.

Tara’s process begins with a single question and then a single source of inspiration. “What I like to start with is ‘who’s coming,’” she says.

The guests’ level of familiarity with the hosts will often determine how casual or formal she makes the table. “You need to consider how comfortable they are going to be if you make it complicated. If you don’t know them well you should be traditional with what you are serving and how you are serving it,” she recommends.

From there, she picks a piece to build around. “I like to start with something interesting,” she says. “If there are tons of apples in the yard, I’ll take a big vase and fill it with those apples.” Her approach is applicable in all occasions and results in eye-catching displays that, with a couple of tips and a little practice, are easily replicated.

Her first example is a vibrant tailgate table that looks like something Renoir may have seen while painting dancing couples in Bougival. For outdoor dining, Tara emphasizes the importance of using pieces that are not only colorful and cheery, but also durable and low maintenance. The bright colors she uses—red, blue and yellow—are marked with different patterns that enhance the individual elements of the table versus competing with each other.

The French “Fermob” Bistro Table and Chairs are popular outside Parisian cafés and even in Times Square, but they’re also ideal dining in spring’s often unpredictable weather. “They fold up, they are great quality, and they can withstand anything,” Tara explains.

The French influence continues with a Valdrome Spring | Page 42

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492 Blackwell Rd, Warrenton, VA 20186 • 540-347-2250

Hedgecock Ln, Warrenton

Leeton Lake Dr, Warrenton

Menlough Manor

Fabulous brand new home, 3200+ sq. ft., 4 bdrms, 3.5 baths, 3 car garage, high ceilings, upscale chef’s kitchen, oak flooring, large rear porch on 2+ acres surrounded by $1M estates, wonderful views.

To be built Southern Cape Cod, 3400 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, main level master, 3.5 baths. Large front porch, high ceilings, 3+ acre lot, 3 car side load garage, too many extras to mention. This is an award winning home. Still time to choose colors, carpet, wood floors and lighting.

Stately Colonial built in 1853 situated on 8.8 park like acres located in the Town of Warrenton. This home would be a perfect Bed and Breakfast. 6 Bedrooms, 5 full baths, formal living and dining room, sunroom with indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and work out room. There is a 6 bay garage, a 2 bedroom apartment, green house and barn. This property offers so many possibilities.

Well priced at

$825,000

$979,000

$1,895,000

Charlie Ebbets Cell: 540-229-7808 Office: 540-347-2250

Charlie Ebbets Cell: 540-229-7808 Office: 540-347-2250

Gloria Beahm Phone: 540-229-2051

Kelmar Farm, Fauquier County

Marshall, Bell Haven Farm

Summer Breeze Rd, Fauquier

7200+ sq. ft. equestrian estate home on nearly 100 acres. 5 bedrooms, 3 full and 2 half baths. 20 ft. ceilings, 3 finished levels, first floor master. Huge Kitchen, formal dining, maple floors, 8/10 stall stable, Geothermal heating and sophisticated security system in place. Large equipment and hay storage sheds, run in sheds, fenced and cross fenced, Farm managers house, paved circular drive beautiful setting and a very good value for this custom built home.

47+ acres, four houses, mostly open (5 acres wooded), fenced. Main house has 5 bedrooms and 5 full baths, large rooms, huge kitchen, formal dining room, wood floors.

Large Equipment/storage shed. 1 mile to Marshall, perfect for horses or other farm animals. 3 other houses all in good condition, all currently leased for good income. Long paved Drive. This is an excellent value for this property, and seller is offering OWNER FINANCING WITH GOOD TERMS.

Summer Breeze describes this one of a kind property. 55+ acres, Cape Cod beautiful grounds and gardens. Guest house with garage, detached 2 car garage, paved circle. drive into the property. Small kennel w/A/C, exercise area, 4 board fence w/wire so dogs can run. Great weekend getaway or full time home.

$1,495,000

$1,879,000

$795,000

Charlie Ebbets Cell: 540-229-7808 Office: 540-347-2250

Charlie Ebbets Cell: 540-229-7808 Office: 540-347-2250

Well priced at

Charlie Ebbets Cell: 540-229-7808 Office: 540-347-2250

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Spring | From page 40 tablecloth in a Provencal print. Le Cadeaux plates and plastic stemware, made from melamine, are delicate yet sturdy, an important quality for al fresco dining. The Porto motif adds an additional pop of color to an already dazzling table. Finally, the use of high quality paper napkins adds sophistication without a huge price tag. Although this design seems as if it was plucked from Provence, Tara recommends it for The Middleburg Spring Races that are just around the corner.

For a relaxed Easter breakfast with family, Tara adorns a rustic wood table with Vietri Italian “Chicken Plates” and bold Gingham napkins. Springtime meals with family are the perfect time to, as Tara puts it, “Be whimsical.” Her use of Claude Dozorme’s rainbow colored flatware is certainly that. She nestles Heidi Callard’s Ceramic Chickens in packing materials, white hydrangeas and pink tulips for added innocence.

For her third table, Tara proves formal can and should also be fun. She recommends pairing old-fashioned china with contemporary touches. “Dust off your stodgy china and silver inherited from grandmother and freshen it up with colorful, modern table accessories,” she advises. She uses Hester & Cook leaf paper placemats and silver-rimmed white china for a look that helps, “dress it up and dress it down at the same time.” Spring colored cloth napkins add a subtle pop of color to a traditional table that is anything but dull.

Bearing in mind that developing an eye for table styling doesn’t happen overnight, she encourages building relationships and working with local vendors, therefore benefitting from their expertise. Geraldine “Gerry” Chittick, proprietor of Middleburg Floral Gallery, has more than two decades of experience in the flower field and is happy to give guidance. Her advice for setting a spring table? Lilies, tulips and hydrangeas arranged in small vases.

“Spring flowers and summer flowers especially are more conducive to smaller arrangements grouped together. It makes a much nicer statement,” she says, adding that you can give the small vases as gifts when the festivities are finished, and that’s your party favors figured out.

Tara’s table displays and Gerry’s flower arrangements all serve as examples of Tara’s advice: “Don’t be afraid to mix it up.” With seemingly endless choices for placemats, flowers, centerpieces, color schemes, flatware and even ceramic chickens, it’s easier now more than ever to blend different styles and create a distinct and personalized motif. Finally, Tara says, it is important for a spring table-setting novice to “trust your instincts” and “know the rules, but know that you can break them.

“Don’t worry if it’s not perfect,” she says, “because usually the things that aren’t perfect end up being the best.” ML Page 42: Paper leaf placemats add a casual touch to a traditional setting. Page 43, top: This French countryside-inspired tailgate table pairs bold patterns and durable materials to turn even rainy picnics into a sunny experience. Page 43, bottom: Ceramic chickens and brightly colored flatware make a whimsical breakfast table.

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JOHN O’CONOR: AN IRISH LOVE STORY

By Elaine Anne Watt

M

iddleburg audiences are in for a very special treat when the

Middleburg Concert Series brings famed pianist, John O’Conor to perform here on April 15th.

O’Conor studied in his native Dublin and in Vienna with Dieter Weber, and then he was tutored by legend Wilhelm Kempff prior to winning the Beethoven International Piano Competition in Vienna in 1973. This recognition opened the door to a performance career spanning more than 40 years on some of the most illustrious stages in the world.

In the words of The Washington Post,

“This artist has the kind of flawless touch that makes an audience gasp.” And, the Chicago Tribune says, “He represents a vanishing tradition that favors inner expression and atmosphere over showmanship and bravura… in technically complex passages he goes the extra measure to find the ideas behind the flurry of notes.”

O’Conor is widely recognized as one of the most important piano teachers today, and he currently is Distinguished Artist in Residence, Professor of Music and Chair of the Piano Division at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, Professor of Piano at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, International Visiting Artist at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a Visiting Professor at Showa University in Japan, all while teaching master classes at many other prestigious venues and serving as jurist

for international competitions.

Credentials aside, let’s talk about the joy of sharing a conversation, albeit by phone, with an Irishman who instantly conveys his love of life, music, family, friends and teaching, all of which are inextricably intertwined as part of his daily mosaic.

Like many other exceptional talents, O’Conor started to play the piano at a very early age, with his sister making it fun. As he got older, says O’Conor, “People thought I was a bit peculiar because I always talked about what wonderful, fun teachers I had had. Piano lessons should be fun! If I can give a young person a love of music to enjoy all their life, what could be better?”

O’Conor first made a connection with the Shenandoah Conservatory when he was Love | Page 44

The 47th Running of the Orange County Hounds Point to Point

A VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY Sunday April 1, 2018

Preserve & Protect Middleburg Safe, sustainable water and utilities Supporting our local businesses Investing in our future www.bridgeformiddleburg.com 571-276-7730 | bridgelittleton@gmail.com

Saturday March 31, 2018

Paid for and authorized by Bridge for Middleburg

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Love | From page 43 teaching a master class at the Kennedy Center in the late 1990s. Gradually, he was invited to teach master classes and then week-long intensives on a more and more frequent basis at Shenandoah, eventually falling in love with the area and splitting more and more of his time between Ireland, where he still is very active in championing the work of Ireland’s leading 19th century composer John Field and others, and here.

“I just want to instill a love of teaching in my students, so that they will take that with them and pass it on no matter what they end up doing. Most won’t have a career performing professionally but will teach or contribute to the field of music in some other way,” he says.

If he had to sum up the legacy he hopes to leave, O’Conor says it would be to “inspire a generation of people to love the arts and be touched by and share the absolute beauty of music to sooth the savage beast.” Laughing, he goes on to say that as an Irishman, he’d “love to have a grandson to carry on the family name—but that does not look likely at this point.”

However, he adores his wife, two sons, family and granddaughter, along with a lifelong passion for Beethoven and natural affinity for teaching. His students are like extended family, with O’Conor attending all their important events like weddings and keeping up with their lives.

“Why would I ever want to stop teaching?

What on earth would I do? I’d be bored. As long as students keep wanting to study with me I’ll keep teaching, although my wife has promised to tell me if ever I should stop,” says O’Conor.

As to his music, and in particular Beethoven, O’Conor “feels very close to him—I am constantly surprised by his music, and there is always something more to find. I just adore his music. I know the man very well and am looking forward to meeting him.”

And he feels his own personality, which is warm, open, friendly and embracing, is reflected in how he performs. As he says, “If they come to hear you, this is me, they should get your interpretation.”

Hopefully, you will come to hear him play.

His music will undoubtedly capture your heart with its ethereal flow and masterful nuances, and you can’t help but love the man himself. He’s eager to meet you as well. ML Arts in the Afternoon with Pianist John O’Conor is presented by the Middleburg Concert Foundation as part of the Middleburg Concert Series. The event is Sunday, April 15, 2018, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Middleburg

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United Methodist Church, 15 West Washington Street, Middleburg, VA 20117. A special cocktail reception is to follow at the nearby National Sporting Library & Museum. Concert attendees will be able to personally meet Mr. O’Conor at the reception and enjoy a private showing of the brand new exhibit, “A Sporting Vision: The Paul Mellon Collection of British

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Sporting Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.” Tickets are available at $100 per person at www.eventbrite.com, by emailing middleburgconcertseries@gmail.com, or by calling 540-326-4611.

Page 44: John O'Conor. Photo courtesy of Diane Saldick.

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n o o n r e ft A e h t Arts in

presents

Featuring World Famous Pianist

JOHN O’CONOR

Sunday, April 15th at 4 PM

Middleburg United Methodist Church 15 W. Washington Street Middleburg, VA

John O’Conor appears by exclusive arrangement with Diane Saldick, LLC, 225 East 36th Street, New York, NY 10016, www.dianesaldick.com

Sponsored by:

Concert followed by a cocktail reception at National Sporting Library and Museum with a private viewing of the new exhibit “A Sporting Vision: The Paul Mellon Collection of British Sporting Art from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.”

To purchase tickets go to www.eventbrite.com or middleburgconcertseriesgala@gmail.com

Betty McGowan Charitable Trust Howard and Gloria Armfield

or call 540-326-4611 M A RC H 2 0 1 8

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BEE FOOD

By Ashley Boomer Singh

O

n our farm, the minute you exit your car, hungry mouths greet you.

You’ll find the dog, the chickens, the cows, a chorus of animals wanting treats and attention. But other farm friends need our attention, too: bees, butterflies and various insects that make it all possible.

With tulips, daffodils and alliums poking through the soil and witch hazel blooming, my 4-year-old likes to run outside and report on progress. He shouts, “The bees are out, and they’re starving!” And he is right. After living off their stores in the long cold winter, bees are on the hunt for pollen and nectar.

Honey bees do some 80 percent of the pollination in the United States. In fact, from almonds, apples and avocado to watermelon, many of your favorite foods can only be pollinated by bees. By some estimates, one of every three bites you take depends on bees, and they are under unprecedented strain. Many colonies fail to survive each year.

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The causes are complex, from the mysterious Colony Collapse Disorder that started in 2006 to viruses and parasites and the impact of pesticides. But you don’t have to be a beekeeper to help: Bees with diverse sources of nutrition do better, and even a small backyard plot can give local bees a better diet.

Bee food varies over the seasons. Right now, skunk cabbage, crocuses, hellebores and bush honeysuckle are their meal ticket. Soon maple and eastern redbud and cherry will be steady sources. Flowering quince, crabapple, apple, pear and linden trees are great for

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pollen and nectar too. But bees need a hand.

According to our neighbor and expert beekeeper Joan Gardiner, black locust trees, once a steady and preferred source of bee food in the Virginia Piedmont, are on the decline. “The black locust and sugar locust is not a popular tree, and developers tend to cut them down first,” she said. “But to the bees, it is their No. 1 forage.”

Locust nectar can be 50 percent sugar and vital for bees. In good years, the snow-white blossoms are alive and buzzing. Says Joan, “When the blossoms fall, and flowers gather like mounds of snow, the beekeeper can harvest this beautiful, light colored honey, as delicate and flowery in taste as spring itself!”

Joan introduced us to honey bees, and my husband diligently manages the hives under her tutelage. He learned to assemble hives and frames with her husband, John. Starting from one couriered shipment of bees from Georgia, we have had between one and four hives and harvested 50 to 85 pounds of honey each year. We were amazed to find that our first harvest of honey looked and tasted different from Joan’s, just a field away. Her “Unison Honey” is blond and rich while ours is dark and earthy.

Seeing Joan and my husband hard at work, I feel an obligation to feed these vulnerable Bee | Page 47

Bee | From page 46 pollinators who provide us so much. Most of the plants in our garden are bee and butterfly friendly. In the fall, we put in tulips, alliums, crocuses, hyacinths and snowdrops for spring nectar and/or pollen. And when the ground thaws, we ensure they have water sources and some special pollinator gardens.

Bee balm, yarrow and butterfly bush boast prolific blooms. Cosmos, cleome, dusty miller, Queen Anne’s lace, foxglove, heliotrope, sweet clover, marigolds and verbena are great sources of nectar, while dandelions, quince, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, thyme, mint and tulips are terrific for pollen. Lemon balm is a wonderful source of both pollen and nectar; we love it for tea.

Celosia, late in the season, is not considered a favorite of honey bees, but is popular with solitary bees and other pollinators. (And our ladies do frequent the fiery blooms.) We let herbs and many vegetables flower, which gives the bees food and gives our honey complex flavors. Fennel has beautiful yellow fireworks displays that I let bloom through fall.

Carrots, asparagus, cucumber, melons and peppers all provide nectar, too.

With even a small space, you can plant pots on patios with bee friendly food. Two favorite patio combinations from David Lohmann, the owner of Abernethy & Spencer Garden Center in Purcellville, Virginia, and his spirited colleague, Frank Ellmore, look beautiful and taste great: Pineapple sage with diamond frost euphorbia and heliotrope or Victoria blue salvia with showstar melampodium and pentas.

Butterflies, especially the Monarchs, provide joy and wonder once you set up a milkweed garden. Monarchs need milkweed to lay eggs, nourish caterpillars, and feed after breaking free of their jewel-like chrysalis.

“Got Milkweed” is a popular T-shirt at Abernethy. Try for a native variety like butterfly weed or common milkweed. It is magical to be a stopping point for the Monarchs on their multi-generation migration all the way from Canada back to Mexico.

The large yellow-striped butterflies you see in spring are tiger swallowtail, the state insect of Virginia. They crowd native Turk’s cap lilies. The native purple passion vine Passiflora incarnata, sometimes called maypop, is the swallowtail’s host. Zebra butterflies with the creamy white and black wings love the lavender in our garden, and all manner of butterflies love catmint.

Attracting beneficial insects such as ladybugs, lacewings, ground beetles and flower flies, wasps and spiders should also be a goal of your garden. Herb gardens are especially important for these critters, as the small flowers of dill, mint, chives, thyme, basil, oregano and fennel all provide food at different stages of the insect’s life. These insects will reduce the need for pesticides and do their best to eat the larvae of pests that can be problematic.

I am always inspired when I see schools creating special areas for the butterflies and bees. Children love to be outside, and seeing life bloom is magic in their eyes. One of our favorite family videos is of our son watching with wonder as a monarch emerges from its chrysalis.

Hummingbirds love everything red, thus the iconic feeders filled with a mixture of sugar and water. If you are not up to replacing food on a daily basis, you can attract many hummingbirds with your plantings, especially long red flowers. Red zinnias, trumpet honeysuckle, foxglove and bee balm are favorites.

Pineapple sage, pentas, fuschia, day lilies, clematis, viburnum, and columbines also do the trick.

The Abernethy team helps schools plant pollinator gardens that last well into fall when the children are back from vacation.

Zinnias, bee balm, echinacea, rudbeckia, goldenrod and asters are great for summer and fall blooms. Registering these gardens with the Monarch Waystation Program or Million Pollinator Garden Challenge so kids can tag these winged creatures and help scientists understand the health of our monarch population is even more fun.

This year I like to think the bees and butterflies should have a feast all around our region. Whether in town, in the city or in the country, we all can do our part. ML Page 46, top: The author's bees. Photo by Bennett Green. Page 46, bottom: Monarch enjoying local Unison cosmos. Photo by Vikram Singh. Page 47, left: Monarch chrysalis in the morning light. Photo

by Vikram Singh. Page 47, right: New monarch drying its wings. Photo by Vikram Singh.

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MEET MIDDLEBURG

Beth Ann Mascatello, fundraiser & event planner Story and photo by Kerry Phelps Dale

C

hances are you’ve been to a party or event that Beth Ann Mascatello

has chaired or created. If not, you probably have or know someone who has benefitted from her efforts. Her Midas touch, when it comes to fundraising, has enriched our community in countless ways.

Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing, Middleburg Community Center, The Hill School, Wakefield School and the Windy Hill Foundation, are all recipients of Beth Ann’s gifts for bringing people together for a good cause.

From fashion shows to school auctions, from teas to galas, Beth Ann has been instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for these community organizations.

Beth Ann’s love for bringing people together started when she attended Seton Hall University in her home state of Pennsylvania where she crowned herself the head of the much-needed social event calendar at her all-girl school.

During her employment in a placement agency in Washington, DC, she met a sports agent named John, who happened to be looking for a secretary. Beth Ann presented John with two of three candidates, and he chose a candidate who was not her client. Still, their meeting led to another, and Beth Ann declared to a friend, “I met the guy I’m going to marry.” And so she did, some 20 months later.

When the newlyweds moved to the Middleburg area some 24 years ago, Beth Ann began channeling her party planning talents into fundraising initiatives when she joined the board of Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing in Leesburg, Virginia. She pitched her fundraising idea for an American Girl Fashion Show, featuring the then wildly-popular historically-themed dolls.

The board was unimpressed with the idea, but gave her the go ahead anyway. “Good Luck with that doll-dressing thing,” they told her as she exited the room.

“We blew it out of the water,” Beth Ann says of the event that made over $75,000.

Every dollar went to children who couldn’t

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afford hearing aids at $5,000 each.

“I came back to the next board meeting and told them, ‘that doll-dressing thing just made over $75,000.’”

Thus, the fund-raising doyen was born.

“Raising money for people in need and bringing people together – my two passions,” says Beth Ann. “What better way to do both than to have a party?”

Windy Hill Foundation, an affordable housing and services organization, is currently the most notable recipient of board member Beth Ann’s golden touch. The annual Fashion Show Luncheon and the more newly-minted Gala have been primarily under Beth Ann’s inspiration since 2009, breaking records of money raised year after year. Last year’s gala brought in $145,000 for the Education Fund alone, which assisted college-bound students in the Windy Hill Foundation’s properties with tuition. In 2016, gala proceeds provided for two 14-passenger mini buses to aid in the seniors’ activities, mobility, and transportation for children living in The Plains to attend Middleburg’s summer camps.

“We don’t just put a roof over their heads,” says Beth Ann, “We provide all kinds of

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services to help them help themselves.”

Much of Beth Ann’s drive and satisfaction come from the community itself. “People are so giving—so generous with their time, and financially giving of themselves however they can.”

When Beth Ann and her husband moved to Middleburg in 1992, they wanted to raise their three children in the community. Brian, their oldest, lives in San Francisco and is an analyst for a small venture capital firm.

Their daughter, Olivia, is a Sophomore at High Point University studying Visual Merchandising in the design school. Luke, their youngest, is a Junior at Episcopal High School where he plays soccer, squash and lacrosse.

“There really is no place like Middleburg,” said their oldest son Brian, when observing the attendees’ heartfelt generosity at last year’s Gala.

Beth Ann and her husband are both avid tennis players. It comes as no surprise that she will be taking her party planning finesse to the Middleburg Tennis Club when the longtime member goes on the board in March.

“I’ll be on the social committee, of course,” she says. ML

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Middleburg ~ Meticulously renovated c.1890 VA fieldstone Manor house on 94 acs. Less than 1 mile from Middleburg.

Formal Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room, gourmet Kitchen, 3+ Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, separate Office & 2 porches. Hardwood floors, 5 fireplaces & custom cabinetry throughout. Extensive landscaping 200+ new trees, rebuilt stonewalls & new driveway. Gardens, pool, 2 barns, workshop, old tenant house & 4-board fencing. 1 subdivision allowed. $4,425,000

The plains ~Exceptional custom Federal style residence w/6 BRs, 7 BAs on 2.43 acres.High ceilings, hardwood & antique ceramic tile floors, 7 frplcs & custom trim. Clive Christian Kitchen w/ La Cornue stove & light filled B-fast Room.

Formal Living Rm & Dining Rm, Library, Great Rm, Master BR Suite w/frplc, luxury Bath, His & Her Closets. Guest BR suite on 3rd level. Walkout LL has Family Rm, Media Rm, Music Rm, Weight Rm, Wine Cellar, 2nd Kitchen, Guest BR Suite & storage. 3-car garage w/1 BR Apt. above. $2,195,000

Middleburg ~ Custom built Colonial manor house on 23+ acres just 1.5 miles from downtown Middleburg. Recently renovated with new SS appliances, bathroom countertops & toilets, carpet, paint & roof. 8 Bedrooms, 6 Full Baths, 21⁄2 Baths. Exquisite details throughout include . Eat-in Kitchen, formal DR & LR, Library with Wet Bar, Sunroom, LL Family Room, Rec. Room & Wine Cellar., 3-car Garage with 2 BR Apt, pool, 3-bay Workshop, Shed, Garden House, Koi pond & stream. Room for horses. $1,850,000

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This fully renovated brick home by Swiss architect Henri de Heller in 1938 sits on 5+ professionally landscaped acres in downtown Warrenton. House has influences from the Modernistic Movement & listed on the Nat’l Register of Historic Places. 4 BRs, 5.5 BAs, formal Living Room, Dining Room, Den, Conservatory, gourmet Eat-in Kitchen, Family Room & 6 fireplaces. The grounds have over 100+ species of trees, shrubs, flowers, terraced gardens & stonewalls all centered around a sunken garden. 3-car Garage. $1,775,000

Fabulous equestrian training facility, ideally located minutes north of Middleburg on 20+ acres. Beautiful setting; stocked pond, manicured lawns,board fenced paddocks & multiple dependencies. Residence includes 3 separate apartments for staff. Property includes huge indoor arena, attached 20 stall barn, plus 2 additional stables with 8 stalls and 6 stalls. $1,395,000 Outstanding value!

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Middleburg ~ Excellent commercial investment opportunity in downtown Middleburg. One commercial building that appears like two buildings which are adjoined on the corner of Madison and Federal Streets. Offers 4 separate entrances. Mixed Use includes retail & office spaces. Includes 7parking spaces off Federal Street. Active business in one building. Seller desires to rent back. Priced below $950,000 recent appraised value. Zoned C-2.

Middleburg ~ Custom estate home on 3+ lush acres minutes to town. This 6,000+ sq. ft. former model has open floor plan with 5 Bedrooms, 6 Baths, stunning Chef's Kitchen that opens to Family Rm w/fireplace, wall of windows & spacious side covered porch. Formal Living Rm w/fireplace, Dining Rm, Den/Office, & Master Suite with Sitting Room, his & her Walk-ins & Luxury Bath. Quality finishes throughout include hardwood floors & crown molding. Spacious Nanny Suite on top level. Fully finished lower level with Rec. Room. 3-car attached garage. $895,000

delaplane ~ Located in the historic village, this 4 Bedroom, 2.5 Bath home has been meticulously renovated features original hardwood floors, 5 fireplaces, formal Living Room, Dining Room & Library. All new gourmet Kitchen, Baths & Master Bedroom Suite.

Re-plastered walls, new lighting, new furnace/AC, sound system, extensive landscaping, fenced back yard, expansive rear terrace, covered front porch & detached 2-car garage. $749,000

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Marshall ~ Fully renovated cottage nestled amongst large farms on 1 manicured acre. Enjoy a traditional country home on the outside with a sophisticated, contemporary design within. 3-4 BRs, 2.5 BAs w/open Kitchen and Eat-In area, DR w/ original stone fireplace, LR with builtins, bay window and fireplace, separate Office or 1st Floor Bedroom. Master Suite w/lux BA & His & Her Walk-ins.

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COMMeRCiAL ~ Great location,Rte 50 , Paris Mountain. Over 3,000+ Sq. Ft. of useable commercial work space on 2 floors. Plenty of parking, Zoned Commercial/Industrial. Large reception area & conference room , spacious side office filled with windows, full bath & 2 storage rooms.. The 2nd Floor can serve as an apartment or office space which includes a kitchen. Negotiable Commercial Lease prepared by Landlord. 3+ year lease desired. Use subject to Clarke County approval. No smokers. Security deposit, credit report & references required. 24-hour notice to show. $2,200/mo

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Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

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CELEBRATING IRISH HISTORY & HERITAGE with

Traditional Recipes

By Kaitlin Hill Photos by Callie Broaddus

F

or many, St. Patrick’s Day can be a blur of green beer and bad decisions, but, as the proud daughter of Northern Irish ancestry, I like to celebrate a little differently.

In our house, March 17 is a time to celebrate our heritage, Irish history, and, of course, favorite Celtic cuisine. After all, before pubcrawls and parades, that’s how the holiday was traditionally observed, following St. Patrick’s death more than a thousand years ago.

Named for the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was initially a religious holiday of modest merriment. In 9th and 10th century Ireland, the holiday was more commemorative than celebratory. Irish families paid their respects to St. Patrick and his many legends with a trip to church and a small break from Lenten sacrifice for a special meal. The celebrations of yesteryear were far from the city-sized parades and booze-centric festivities that come to mind today. In fact, until 1970, Irish law mandated that pubs close on St. Patrick’s Day out of respect for his holiness. Though March 17th would morph markedly over the millennium since its inception, change was slow coming and largely happening on American soil.

Interestingly, the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was not in Ireland, but in New York.

On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English army took to the streets of The Big Apple, blasting traditional music as a way to diminish their homesickness. The parade aspect of the Celtic celebration grew in popularity in the States as the number of Irish immigrants expanded. As early as 1813, parades were being held in every major city from Chicago to Savannah—both cities lay claim to today’s popular green-dyed river visual.

In 1845, at the start of The Great Famine in Ireland, around 1 million poor Irish flooded into America to avoid starvation.

Thick accents and foreign traditions often led to unflattering stereotyping and isolation at the hands of their new American neighbors.

As a result, the parade, still an expression of homeland longing, also became a display of ancestral and cultural pride in the face of bias.

These days, that bias is long gone. As it is, on St. Patrick’s Day everyone wants to be Irish, and those of us who actually are try to be generous enough to tolerate it…for a day.

Traditional | Page 51

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Traditional | From page 50 But what it means to really be Irish remains the same. It is more than wearing green and drinking Bushmills. It is pride. And it is longing. Proud of our ancestors and, at least in my case, longing to feel connected to them.

I feel most in tune with my Irish roots when cooking Irish food, and this St. Patrick’s Day I plan to celebrate with a feast of Irish Stew and Soda Bread – two classics I

can imagine my ancestors enjoying. My Irish Stew is inspired by a recipe my dad found and forwarded to me while traveling in Ireland. As for the soda bread, I was surprised to learn that like the famous parade, its roots are also American, Native American, actually. Though the Native Americans, pioneers in leavening without yeast, invented the bread, it became a hit in Ireland after the famine and is still on nearly every Irish table today. Celebrate this March 17th with these traditional

recipes, and you too can be Irish, even if only for the day.

SODA BREAD RECIPE: Ingredients •

4 cups all-purpose flour

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1 tablespoon sugar

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1 teaspoon baking soda

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1 1/2 teaspoons salt Traditional | Page 52

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Traditional | From page 51 •

1/2 stick of very cold butter, cubed

•

1 3/4 cup cold buttermilk

•

1 egg

tate the pan and bake for 25 minutes more. Test the bread by inserting a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick has wet dough clinging to it, the bread needs to bake longer. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes. The total bake time will be between 50 and 60 minutes depending on your oven.

Directions: 1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and sugar in a large bowl.

10. Once the bread is golden brown and the test toothpick comes out clean, it is finished baking. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly. While the bread is still slightly warm, slice and enjoy.

3. Next add your cold cubed butter. Using a pastry cutter work the butter into the flour mixture. Continue to work the butter into the flour until it is the size of peas.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg and cold buttermilk together.

Ingredients

5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry.

Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry using a spatula.

•

1 ¼ pounds beef stew meat

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1 tablespoon flour

6. The dough will look lumpy and will be very wet.

•

1 tablespoon butter

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1 large onion, sliced

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4 stalks of celery, cut on an angle

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3 carrots, cut on an angle

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1 clove garlic, minced

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1 ½ cups stout

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1 ½ cups beef broth

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1 bay leaf

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2 – 3 sprigs thyme

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2 medium russet potatoes, peeled and chopped

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salt and pepper, to taste

7. Dump the dough out onto a generously floured work surface and knead a few times until the dough forms a smooth ball.

8. Transfer the dough to a sheet tray lined with parchment. Using a very sharp knife mark the top of the dough with a large “X.” 9. Place the dough in the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes, then ro-

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IRISH STEW:

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Directions: 1. Heat a large saucepot over medium heat and add the butter. As the butter begins to melt, toss the meat in the flour and season it with salt and pepper. Transfer the meat to the pot and brown on all sides.

2. When the meat is evenly browned, add the onion, carrot, celery and garlic.

3. Add the stout, beef broth, bay leaf and thyme.

4. Bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook at a simmer on medium to low heat for 40 minutes.

5. After 40 minutes, add the potatoes and cook for an additional 50 minutes until the vegetables are fork tender and the meat is cooked through.

6. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs and ladle into serving bowls.

Enjoy! ML

Page 50: Stir occasionally for even cooking. Page 51, top: Sourcing fresh ingredients locally can make a more flavorful stew. Page 51, bottom left: Once you've added your favorite stout, cover and let it simmer for 40 minutes as the flavors deepen. Page 51, bottom right: Serve up the stew for an Irish meal worthy of St. Patrick. Page 52: When nicely browned, remove the soda bread from the oven for a toothpick test.

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2445 2445 N. N. Taylor Taylor St. St. Arlington Arlington $799,000 $799,000 Build Build great great value value with with easy easy renovation renovation potential! potential!

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susan.hensley@huntcountrysir.com susanhensley@huntcountrysir.com susanhensley@huntcountrysir.com susan.hensley@huntcountrysir.com susanhensley@huntcountrysir.com susanhensley@huntcountrysir.com

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Interior by Daniel J. Moore Design Photo by Tara Jelenic Photography

3/3-5/5

Opening Re ception of Gennady Zubkov: Nature’s Way at Youngblood Art Studio (4 p.m. – 6 p.m.): Youngblood Art Studio in The Plains is pleased to present an early spring selection of oil paintings by Gennady Zubkov. This exhibit runs through May 5th. For more information, please contact Dianne Beal at 202-957-1401 or youngbloodartstudio@gmail.com.

3/10

Consignment Day Event with Weschler’s at The Byrne Gallery (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Appraisers from Weschler's Auctioneers & Appraisers, who have been serving auction and appraisal needs of Maryland, DC and Virginia since 1890, will be at The Byrne Gallery to provide complementary verbal auction estimates for up to three items from 10 am to noon. Contact the Byrne Gallery

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for more information at (540) 687-6986.

3/11

Glen Manor Vineyards Wine Dinner at The Ashby Inn & Restaurant (5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.): Jeff White, owner and winemaker of Glen Manor Vineyards in Front Royal, has been named the Virginia Vineyards Association Grape Grower of the Year. We invite you to an evening of his wines and Chef Tom Whitaker’s cuisine at The Ashby Inn and Restaurant in Paris, VA. 5-course menu for $115 per person. Please call 540-592-3900 to reserve your space.

3/11

Weddings in Loudoun Open House (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.): The Open House is free, county-wide and self-guided, letting you choose which wedding venue(s) to visit. Participating venues

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and vendors include Atoka String Quartet, Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast Inn, Goodstone Inn & Restaurant, Greenhill Winery & Vineyards, Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery, Salamander Resort & Spa and The Red Fox Inn & Tavern. For more information, contact Dana Henry, henry@visitloudoun.org.

3/16

Éirinn go Brách at Side Saddle Café (6 p.m. – 10 p.m.): Join us, March 16th 6 pm-10 pm to kick off the celebration of one of the greatest weekends of the year....Saint Patrick's Day weekend!! Live Irish music by the Plank Stompers, Green Beer and Irish Blessings all around!

3/16-18

Irish Whiskey Weekend at Salamander Resort & Spa (11 a.m. – close): Gold Cup is serving up a special menu all

weekend in honor of St. Patrick’s Day that delights the Irish in all of us! Listen to an authentic Irish band each day starting at 6 p.m. while indulging in traditional St. Patrick’s Day fare (25% off your Gold Cup bill to guests wearing green on March 17!).

3/17

Saint Patrick’s Day Brunch at L’Auberge Provencale (11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.): We will be serving an Irish brunch featuring Irish fare and a few things French. We have John Friant and his Irish band The Brogue Rogues playing some lyrical tunes. Please call 540-837-1375 to reserve your table.

3/17

Irish Whiskey & Fare Class at Salamander Resort & Spa (2 p.m. – 4 p.m.): Sip on Irish whiskey while learning the traditional techniques for making your Irish favorites like beer battered fish, homemade bangers and mash, and much more. $79 per person. For more information, please call 540-326-4070.

3/17-18

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend at Market Salamander: Get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with our corn beef and cabbage special. Wear green in the Market on St. Patrick’s Day and receive a free clover cookie and enjoy live music each day from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. $10 per person.

3/18

Live Music at Greenhill Winery & Vineyards (3 p.m. - 5 p.m.): Come listen to Jason Masi and enjoy the afternoon sipping some of your favorite wines. For more information, please contact Lisa Capraro at lisa@greenhillvineyards.com.

3/18

Painting Class with Uncork and Color at Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds (2 p.m. – 4 p.m.): Join Uncork and Color for a canvas painting class, perfect for all skill levels. Follow along stepby-step in creating "Bridle Path." You will be sure to leave happy with your 16 x 20 artwork, with your own personalized horse! Enjoy a Blue Valley Vineyard and Winery tasting while you work. Tickets on sale for $35. Questions?

Email info@uncorkandcolor.com.

3/18

Linden & RdV Wine Dinner at L’Auberge Provencale (12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.): Back by popular demand, we are hosting another fantastic wine dinner with these fabulous winemakers, Jim Law and Rutger de Vink! The dinner reflects the best of our region of the Shenandoah Valley and the expert pairings by Sommelier Christian Borel and Chef Richard Wright.

This six-course dinner is one of the most sought-after dinners. Please call 540-8371375 for reservations.

3/24

Second Annual Middleburg HEAL 5k & Expo at the Middleburg Community Center (8 a.m. – 11 a.m.): Middleburg is an official Healthy Eating Active Living Town! This Expo is designed for all ages and fitness levels, whether you are more comfortable on a couch or running a marathon, need to increase your balance or want to experience a Boot Camp, the HEAL Expo has something for you. To register for the 5k, visit https://Middleburg5KFunRun. itsyourrace.com/register/.

3/24

Iceland: Land of Boiling Mud Pots, Puffins, Waterfalls and Sheep at Middleburg Library (2 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.): Biologist Emily Southgate will illustrate her talk about the fascinating natural and cultural history of Iceland with pictures from her recent visit. Southgate saw geology happening before her very eyes: lava flows from the mid-Atlantic Ridge forming new land, glaciers still carving valleys, waterfalls pouring over cliffs left from the last Ice Age.

3/24-25

The Fox Trail Passes: Visit all four participating locations (King St. Oyster Bar, Greenhill Winery & Vineyards, Boxwood Estate Winery and Mt. Defiance Cidery & Distillery) and receive your swag bag at the end of the trail! Show your pass when making a purchase and get it punched. Passes which are used at all four locations are redeemable for a swag bag at either Boxwood or Greenhill wineries.

3/25

Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisor y Board Monthly Nature Walk (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.): Join the Purcellville Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to discover nature's secrets during monthly walks at the Chapman DeMary Trail.

The nature walks will be held the last Sunday of each month and will be led by experts.

Families, scouts and students are welcome for these free activities. RSVPs are encouraged.

For more details, visit www.SignUpGenius. com/go/5080E4BAEAC28A4FA7-discover.

3/29

Little Fork Animal Rescue Meet & Greet (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.): Join us at Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds for a Meet & Greet with Little Fork Volunteer Technical Large Animal Rescue Team!

Learn about the only volunteer unit in Virginia that specializes in technical rescues of horses and cattle.

3/31

Easter Egg Dying at Salamander Resort & Spa (3 p.m.): One of the best things about Easter is dying and designing your eggs! Join us for Easter Egg Dying and decorate your own six eggs to take home and hide for your loved ones. $15 per person. Located in the Fitness Center.

4/1

Easter Brunch and Dinner at L’Auberge Provencale: We will be serving Easter Brunch from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. and Easter dinner from 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Chef Richard will be preparing a new menu featuring all that is best in spring. We invite you to join us in sunny Virginia and enjoy a new seasonal cocktail list and some great Virginia wines featured by sommelier Christian Borel. Call 540-837-1375 for reservations.

4/1

Easter Sunday Grand Buffet at Salamander Resort & Spa (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.): Hop over to our ballroom for a delicious brunch buffet with sweet and savory holiday favorites for the entire family.

The brunch also features a make-your-ownkeepsake designing station as well as a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. $98 per person, $45 per child.

4/3

Farm Series: Mill Road Farm at Middleburg Library (7 p.m. – 8 p.m.): Learn how changes in Loudoun and the region led the Hatch family to successful direct-to-consumer farming, with “Hatch brother” Chris of Mill Road Farm explaining his own role in the “eat local” movement.

His presentation will include a slideshow to illustrate the story of this award-winning Loudoun farmer. This Farm Series is presented in recognition of Earth Day.

4/6

Middleburg Life’s 35th Year Anniversary (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.): Middleburg Life has reached its 35th year of capturing all that defines Middleburg and the heart of horse and hunt country.

We will be holding a cake and sparkling reception at the National Sporting Library & Museum to celebrate the release of our April anniversary issue! RSVP via email to info@middleburglife.com.

4/7

Shakespeare in the ‘Burg Presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream (7:30 p.m.): Shakespeare in the 'Burg welcomes back our acting company, Shakespeare in the Square, for a special performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. The performance is at The Hill School's Shelia Johnson Center for the Performing Arts. For more information, visit www.shakespeareintheburg.com.

4/8

Annual Cars & Coffee at Orlean Market (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.): Interested in showing off your antique, new, exotic, or just plain special-to-you car, truck or motorcycle? Car enthusiasts will show off their exotics, classics, and antiques. No registration, no fee, just a chance to see and talk about some shiny things on wheels. Family friendly environment, so bring the kids and they will have a good time!

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Art of the Piedmont 7th Annual Auction & Reception Story and photos by Elaine Anne Watt

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The Middleburg Community Center came alive with the vision of many of the area’s talented artists as they placed their works up for auction to help support the programs and scholarships developed by the Middleburg Montessori School. Head of School Beth Ann Slater expressed her appreciation for all the contributors to the evening, “donors, parents, teachers, volunteers, advertisers and, most importantly, our supporting artists.”

Soon after the doors opened, the rooms were filled with interested patrons looking to support the Middleburg Montessori School and to perhaps find another treasure to take home from the evening.

Middleburg Life wants to congratu-

6 late all who participated in this wonderful community event. ML Photos: 1. Paul Aliloo with Photographer Tara Jelenic. Mr. Aliloo's rugs decorated the Community Center's floor for the event.

2. Maria Vadivieso left and Jen Ashton warmly welcomed attendees. 3. Artist Misia Broadhead with two of her works. 4. The art was beautifully displayed at the Community Center. 5. Artist Cody Leeser's Pheasant on top and Goose Creek on the bottom.

6. Anthony Barham's After the Hunt on top and Dana Lee Thompson's A Place to Rest your Head on the bottom.

Mcgowan associates Bolinvar

Cloverland

Magnificent Estate on 100 acres in a spectacular setting. The stone house boasts 22 elegant rooms, 9 fireplaces, high ceilings, all superbly detailed and beautifully appointed.

Brilliant gardens surround the heated pool.

Fabulous 11 stall stone stable with 2 staff apartments. Riding ring, green house all in pristine condition. additional 227 acres are available. $10,000,000

This gracious and charming manor is a masterpiece, offering luxurious country living in a truly idyllic setting. This historic estate encompasses 149+ acres of magnificent rolling countryside and brilliant gardens and breathtaking mountain views. Ideallylocated just minutes from the charming village of Middleburg. The gorgeous stone Georgian manor was designed and built with extraordinary quality and craftsmanship. $6,250,000

Beautifully sited on the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Randleston Farm encompasses 117 acres of lush pastures, flowering trees and English gardens. An exquisite 10,000 square foot stone manor is meticulously restored, enjoys incredible views and borders the Shenandoah River. 20 stall stone and stucco stable, 3 bedroom managers house, run-in sheds, all create a $5,995,000 fabulous equestrian facility.

Fabulous 227 acre parcel with magnificent land bordering Goose Creek. A charming and spacious one level residence, beautifully updated, a 2 bedroom tenant house house, and a 22 stall stable are included. Board fenced paddocks, ponds, rolling fields and stonewalls complete this idyllic farm. $5,675,000

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97+acres beautifully sited at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The historic main residence was built in 1840 with several modern additions.

High ceilings, Paneled Library, Formal Dining Room, updated Kitchen & Baths, 3 finished levels, 2 center aisle Stables, 2 Tenant Houses and several Storage Buildings. Tennis court and several ponds. land in easement. 5 additional parcels available! $3,400,000

Stunning custom built French colonial on over 92 acres of magnificent land just minutes from Middleburg. Extraordinary quality & design, featuring 3 finished levels, a pool surrounded by stone terraces, 4 wood burning fireplaces, a gourmet country kitchen,heated floors & beamed ceilings throughout. A six stall center aisle stable & fabulous new barn & paddocks make this a spectacular equine estate. $2,850,000

Absolutely charming, completely renovated, historic farm house on 25 acres & minutes from Middleburg. Features 5000 SF of beautiful living space, new Master Suite with fireplace.& luxurious bath. Vaulted ceilings in Great Rm with a gorgeous stone fplc & walls of windows overlooking pond & mtns.

Gourmet kitchen opens to covered terrace.

Guest house, stable, run in shed. Property is ideal for horses. $2,000,000

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7 washington street

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Fabulous historic colonial,c.1870, beautifully updated and in pristine condition,on 21+ rolling acres within minutes of Middleburg.

Towering trees, lush board fenced pastures & fabulous views of the Blue Ridge. New gourmet kitchen, 3½ modern baths, 6 fireplaces, antique wood floors, and absolutely charming throughout! ideal for horses with stable,run-in shed,corn crib, equipment shed, all in an idyllic setting! $1,295,000

Charming historic property, circa 1750, on approx. 7 acres with brilliant gardens, charming guest house, & fabulous 5 stall stable with office, kitchen, exercise room, crafts room & pine floored loft, ideal for Hunt Breakfasts & entertaining. Main residence was renovated with meticulous care & boasts a gourmet kitchen, premier appliances, 3 fireplaces, gracious rooms & $1,290,000 an idyllic setting.

Main street ~ Middleburg Beautiful commercial building (C-1) available in prime location in the center of historic Middleburg. High ceilings, large display windows, tile flooring and charming detail. Currently an ideal antique shop, but excellent space for a variety of uses as retail shop, restaurant, etc. Parking in the rear. $1,250,000

A spectacular 88 acre parcel at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains on a quiet country lane.

Surrounded by beautiful estates & picturesque horse farms. The land is open & rolling with a strong stream. It is an ideal setting for a gracious country estate & perfect for equestrians. Recently approved permits for the well, septic and roadway to the beautifully sited $1,195,000 building envelope.

pleasant Meadow

MiddleBurg house

purcellville~Stunning 3 level colonial on 13+ acres with sun-filled rooms, 2 story foyer, fabulous gourmet country kitchen, open to fireplaced family room & spacious breakfast room. Huge master suite & luxurious bath, three additional bedrooms & baths on 2nd level.Walkout level ready for completion. Fantastic center aisle 6 stall stable, board fenced paddocks, riding ring (120X200), run in shed - ideal for equestrians! $1,100,000

Stunning antique colonial, circa 1790, with over $50,000 in recent updates. Approx.

4400 sq.ft. of elegant living space with hardwood floors, antique fireplaces, charming sun filled rooms all in excellent condition! French doors lead to flagstone terraces. Separate 1 BR apt. Commercial zoning allows multiple uses for this fabulous property with beautiful rear yard. $895,000

Spectacular land with rolling, verdant fields, lush woodlands and a spring fed pond, on 415+ gorgeous acres in unspoiled Hume.

Offering four parcels of 100+ acres each, this property is ideally located off scenic Leeds Manor Road, amongst other beautiful estates, many in conservation easements. Easy access to I- 66 and within an hour of the nation's capital. $5,000,000

forest hill road

Crooked Bridge

Beautiful 10 acre parcel offering spectacular frontage and views of Goose Creek. Mature hardwood trees, private road and installed well are some of the features of this parcel. Convenient to Leesburg, Middleburg and Purcellville with easy access to the Dulles Greenway. Loudoun County previously approved a 6 Bedroom drainfield and septic system design plan that just needs to be $299,000 re-newed.

Two beautiful wooded parcels totaling 27.4 acres located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Loudoun County. (Tax ID# 665392980 & 665492430) The land offers privacy with spectacular views. Property is currently in Land Use. $270,000

(540) 687-5523 THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE Brian Mcgowan

Middleburg, virginia 20118 (540) 687-6500 www.thoMas-talBot.com

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Jim Mcgowan

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SMILE. YOU’RE HOME. Where does true happiness come from? From living in a

luxurious,

custom-built

home nestled in a beautiful private club community?

From sharing a calendar full of special events and fun activities with family and friends? From having one of the region’s best golf courses right outside your door, along with an enviable list of resort-style amenities? At Creighton Farms, happiness stems from all these things—and many more. We invite you to visit our

CALL (703) 957–4812 TO SCHEDULE A TOUR OR VISIT US ONLINE.

extraordinary club community and you’ll see for yourself: At Creighton Farms, home is where the smiles are.

C R E I G H TO N FA R M S . C O M Juno Loudoun, LLC is the owner and developer of the project. Access to and use of recreational amenities are not included in the purchase of real estate in Creighton Farms and require separate club membership which is subject to application, approval, and payment of applicable fees and dues. This is not an offer to sell property to, or a solicitation of offers from, residents of NY, NJ, CT, OR or any other state that requires prior registration of real estate. Obtain the property report or its equivalent, required

by Federal and State law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property.

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Go Green, Go Run, Go to the Fair, Middleburg!

O

n Saturday March 24th, at 8:00 a.m., in keeping with the character of our lovely town, the Huntmaster will blow his horn to signal the start of the second annual Middleburg 5K run from the Middleburg Community Center. If you are reading this article, hot off the press, you still have time to sign up to take part in the fun at www. middleburg5kfunrun.itsyourrace.com.

If you aren’t in the mood for a 5K, no problem! There will also be a 1-mile fun run plus a dog walk, so there’s something for everyone in this delightful, local social event.

Runners, joggers and fast walkers will enjoy a truly pleasant country experience, starting off running east on Marshall Street and then turning left to take in the inimitable Foxcroft Road with its hills and bends and hedgerows, watched over by our very own Middleburg Police Department with safety being their priority number one.

The turnaround will be just before Glenwood Park with the home stretch deviating through the lush grounds of the Salamander Resort, one of the many sponsors

and supporters of the event.

The Middleburg Go Green Committee, in association with Boy Scout Troop 2950, organizes this community occasion in conjunction with its annual Healthy Eating Active Living (H.E.A.L.) “Fit Fun Fair” which kicks off at 9:00 a.m., concluding at 2:00 p.m. in the town Community Center.

The fair is a great place to come and listen to speakers who are experts in various health and fitness fields such as nutrition,

exercise and health and wellness. As was the case with last year’s inaugural Expo, there will be some 25 booths from local and nearby providers where visitors can check out the latest technology, obtain proper sneaker fitting and hear all about various ways in which to stay on the right track from a health and nutrition perspective.

Visitors to the fair also will have the opportunity to take part in sample exercise classes including yoga and physical fitness/ strength training, while Inova Health will be on hand with their high tech mobile health unit to provide complimentary screenings and blood pressure check-ups.

There is no fee to enter and browse, chat and listen, and we hope that many of our citizens, locals and not so locals, will join in for this fun, informative and rewarding day and gain inspiration into new ways to stay on top of their health.

See you all on March 24th! ML Story by Peter Leonard-Morgan, Middleburg Town Council Member and Middleburg Go Green Committee Council Representative.

IT’S TAILGATING SEASON! WE’VE GOT IT COVERED FROM SIPS TO SNACKS Mouthwatering Sandwiches Made with Ayrshire Farm® certified organic, Certified Humane® Meats Variety of Organic Sodas, Kombucha, Wines & Beer Tantilizing House-Made Desserts Scrumptious Sides & Salads Distinctive Cheeses Grocer • Butcher • Café 8372 W. Main Street, Marshall 540-837-4405 • GentleHarvest.com 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. 7 days a week

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SUMMER CAMPS & SOCIAL INTELLIGENCE ‒ THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

By Sharon Peruzzi Strauchs, Director, Cortona Academy | Photo courtesy of Cortona Academy

T

here are two common kinds of basic summer camps available for children.

There are the traditional camps we all think of when we think of summer camps: structured, outdoor adventure camps filled with hot summer days, punch, and plenty of buzzing insects. Then there are the other kind, for the, we'll say, less fortunate children: the academic cram camps, where students sit glued to their seats, attempting to boost their GPAs with a steady diet of geometry, pre-calc, blood, sweat, toil and tears.

Due to the high-stress, competitive atmosphere in Northern Virginia, many parents feel compelled to put their students into the latter. Unfortunately, the pressure cooker environment can have harmful effects on the students. Angela Woolsey in the Fairfax County Times' annual Fairfax Youth Survey recently reported high levels of stress on Fairfax County students, with more than a third of all students reporting high stress levels. Another Fairfax County Times article,

by Cathy Cruise, reported that lack of sleep is common for Fairfax County students and that this dangerous lack of sleep leads to depression. She quotes GMU professor Adam Winsler's study showing the correlation.

Summer camps should strive to take out the stress and make sure students are learning in a happy and nurturing environment.

In such a positive atmosphere, then academic rigor can occur, but only with the accompanying social and outdoor activities. This then helps summer students not only prepare for college or the next school year, but also helps them prepare for life.

Michael Ungar, PhD, writes in Psychology Today that summer camps provide a much-needed place for students to build relationships outside of their home, with new kids. It forces them to meet new people, strengthening their identity. He also points out that forming relationships with other adults is important for building confidence. Perhaps best of all, he says, students gain a sense of belonging in summer camps that they don't get by staying at home playing video games.

Linda Cameron of Ourkids.net is associate professor in the Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Department at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. She believes strongly in the educational power of summer camp, saying it positively influences the lives

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of many children. "Camp provides opportunities for children to adapt and grow social and emotionally. They can learn in a safe and caring environment how to cope with separation and operate successfully without depending on their parents," Cameron says. As an educator, she has become concerned over the trend to push kids too far academically, while keeping them sheltered emotionally. Children need the opportunity to interact spontaneously with their fellow students, so they can learn to problem solve collaboratively, an invaluable tool for later life.

Creating a summer which becomes a lifelong memory, that is the unique balance of academics and fun is, indeed, the goal of all parents because it is when children are happy and still progressing intellectually that parents feel confident that their child will transition smoothly to the following school year, with tools to move ahead...and memories of the blast they had during the summer. ML

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Since 1992, Sharon Strauchs has been leading a talented team at Cortona Academy in Herndon, Virginia.

Sources: Cameron, Linda: "Learning Benefits of Summer Camp,” http://www. ourkids.net/camp/learning-benefits-ofsummer-camp.php Cruise, Cathy: http://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/fairfax-teens-at-greater-risk-for-depression-suicide-due-to/article_e5633680-1ec7-11e6-b090-e36dfd21 a8d1.html Ungar, Michael, PhD: https://www. psychologytoday.com/blog/nurturing-resilience/201202/summer-camps-makekids-resilient Woolsey, Angela: http://www.fairfaxtimes. com/articles/health_and_food/annual-fairfax-youth-survey-reports-high-teen-stresslevels/article_ce29c472-94ae-11e6-8dd7 -7ba2b0ca9541.html

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04.06

.18

joinus

invites you to the

35th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Friday, April 6th at 6:00 pm

National Sporting Library & Museum 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg, VA 20117 RSVP to info@middleburglife.com

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THEN & THERE

Making a Complete Spectacle of One's Self Story and photos by Richard Hooper

P

arades have existed for centuries, taking on any number of forms, from celebrating military victories to touting sporting events, observing holidays, expressing local or civic pride and, of course, to herald a circus coming to town.

Ancient Romans relished triumphal processions, displaying chained captives marching toward execution or enslavement.

They were followed by the wealth and weapons of the captured, with painted scenes of the war held aloft for an admiring citizenry. The message of power was clear. Dressed splendidly for the occasion, the conquering general rode in a richly ornamented chariot.

Although it was heady stuff, the general, by

tradition, was expected to exemplify humility. To help him achieve this end, someone would sometimes ride beside the general, whispering in his ear that he, too, was mortal.

The efficacy of such pomp and power was not lost upon the emperors who, over the years, began to usurp the position of the generals to put themselves on ever more elaborate and expensive display. Hype, rather than humility, prevailed.

In the Middle Ages, the preeminence of the church led to pageant wagons that were used as movable scenery for passion plays.

As the Renaissance emerged, monarchs, princes and wealthy merchant families (such as the Medicis, who wore many hats) began to take their cues from the emperors of the later Roman Empire, using parades as the person-

ification of power. While parades could still celebrate a military victory, royal wedding ceremonies, state visits, alliances between nations, royalty entering a city, or honoring a prince could be cause for the spectacle of a parade.

To add virtue to their branding, Renaissance kings (as in all things Renaissance) looked for inspiration to ancient Greece and Rome and incorporated their gods and goddesses as parade themes. In the most opulent processions, floats, now large and grandly intricate, represented ancient stories from classical mythology. Such parades would stop at stations located throughout the route where “tableaux vivants” celebrating similar triumphs of virtue or the follies of life were Spectacle | Page 64

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Spectacle | From page 63 enacted. Anecdotes about pagan gods began to surpass lessons from the Bible.

In a parade in Bologna honoring the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1628, one float was designed as a turtle more than 30 feet in length. It billowed smoke and featured a landscape on its back detailing a small grove of trees and about a dozen people enacting the rescue of Cupid from captivity by Diana and Venus. Other floats at this venue included a six-headed monster, a fully rigged warship, the Trojan horse and a gigantic elephant.

Occasionally, there were parades where real elephants (as well as bears, camels and other “exotic” animals) were called into service for pulling floats. After such an event, a prince’s ratings could only go up, especially if the citizenry turned a blind eye to the cost.

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Parade entrances could stretch on for days. In 1533, when France announced the betrothal of Catherine de’ Medici to Henri d’Orleans (the future King Henri II) the city of Marseilles, the French soil where Catherine would first set foot, hosted three parades.

Pope Clement VII, Catherine’s uncle who had brokered the marriage, was honored first. The following day, the procession honored King Francois I, Henri’s father. For the comfort of the horses, the streets were covered with crushed stone and blanketed with rosemary and lavender, releasing their scent under the weight of the hooves. Indeed, the streets, as part of an infrastructure project, had been made wider solely for these entrances by the tearing down of buildings. Nine days later, at the culmination of wedding negotiations, Catherine was paraded into Marseilles to be

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wed. The deal was done.

Parades could be one-off events. Usually, though, they were followed by other spectacles such as jousting, equestrian ballets, plays, dances and feasts. Fireworks could fill the air; mock sea battles could take place on water.

When Maria Magdalena of Austria entered Florence in 1608 to marry Cosimo II de’ Medici, there was the usual royal parade into the city. There was also an equestrian ballet performed in the Piazza Santa Croce entitled the “Joust of the Four Winds,” and a play written by Michelangelo Buonarroti, the Younger (nephew of the painter and sculpture) about the Judgement of Paris in which was expressed the alternative fact that Florentine native Amerigo Vespucci had been the true “discoverer” of America, and not Columbus Spectacle | Page 66

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Spectacle | From page 64 from the rival city of Genoa.

And then there was the “Argonautica,” a mock sea battle that took place on the Arno River flowing through Florence. Some 32 richly ornamented ships gave a dramatic interpretation of the story of Jason and the Golden Fleece. The ship captained by Jason (played, of course, by Cosimo) sailed under the protection of the god Pallas Athena. Other ships were under the protection of Mercury, Apollo, Cupid, Neptune, the Tritons and other pagan deities. One was guided by Bacchus and another by the mythological figure Periclymenus, who had the ability to change into whatever shape he wished. He was portrayed on the Arno in the shape of a gigantic, floating lobster. True to form, as the lobster approached its appointed destination, it opened up into the form of a ship in which sat a gentleman dressed as a knight.

And, it was huge! It was amazing and entertained everyone, boggling the minds of all.

It was beyond anyone’s imagination.

Such are the spectacles of those who were, or would be, monarchs. ML

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Page 62: The turtle float from “Amore Prigioniero i Delo by Giacinto Lodi,” 1628. Courtesy of a private collector. Page 64, top: Two engraved panels out of 33 depicting a royal entry into a German city from “Della Cavallaria” by Georg Loehneysen published in 1624. Courtesy of a private collector. Page 64, bottom: A contemporary etching of the mock sea battle on the Arno River. The lobster is at the lower left. Courtesy of a private collector. Page 66, top: A member of the court of Louis XIV dressed as an American for a spectacle held in Paris in 1662 from “Courses de Testes et de Bagues” published in 1670. Courtesy of a private collector. Page 66, bottom: A contemporary engraving of Jason's ship in the mock sea battle. Courtesy of a private collector.

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The Horse and the Camera

From the Judith and Jo Tartt, Jr. Photography Collection

Extended through March 18, 2018

Coffee with theCurator Coffee with the Curator Guest Speaker: Jo Tartt, Jr.,

Exhibition Lender and Photography Expert Mar. 3 | 10:00-11:30 am | $5 Non-members THE HORSE AND THE CAMERA is an intimate survey of almost 70 tintypes, photogravures, albumen prints, gelatin silver prints, and collotypes created from the 1870s to the 1960s. Explore how advancements in cameras, black & white ďŹ lm, and stop-motion photography captured human imagination and the horse at rest and in motion.

Register to ABarnes@NationalSporting.org, 540-687-6542 ext. 25 Miss Barbara Worth Performs a Cossack Jump, 1933, gelatin silver print, on loan from the Judith and Jo Tartt, Jr. Photography Collection.

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MIDDLEBURG’S WINTER

SIDEWALK SALE Story and photos by Elaine Anne Watt

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The weekend weather ran the gamut from sunny to stormy, with icy flakes covering the sidewalks on Saturday afternoon, but it never put a damper on the enthusiastic response to Middleburg’s finest on sale! Shoppers were not deterred from seeking out the last of the winter fashions in area shops and a lot of perennial favorites for the home as well.

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Gallery on Madison, closing the end of April, had gorgeous paintings, scarves, pottery and home décor available for eager patrons. Some stores were offering 70% off and more on seasonal items. If you missed it, be sure to look for the Summer Sidewalk Sale later this year. Middleburg is nearly perfect, but Middleburg on sale is a shopper’s paradise! ML

Photos: 1. Business was brisk even with a bit of snow on Saturday. 2. Plenty of finds were found. 3. Jeremy Noel, President & CEO of Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds was on hand during the weekend. 4. There's always a reason to take home chocolate. 5. Did you get your deals and steals at area stores?

VISIT THE FARM STORE Enjoy hand selected fresh and local produce and gourmet food items including Greenhill Charolais beef & Greenhill honey.

HOURS

Farm Store Open Friday - Monday Noon ‘til 6pm Tasting Room Open Daily Noon ‘til 6pm

www.GreenhillVineyards.com (540) 687-6968

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BUDDING TO BLOOMING:

SEASONAL STYLES OF HOMEGROWN ARTISTS break getaway or in the nature of

By Summer Stanley

W

hen March winds blow another season of change into view,

we crave the lighter and fresher fares of life. It’s easy enough to think about transitional pieces in

scenery that is most appreciated. A visit to a museum or gallery often gives us that same gentle nudge in perspective, as we leave awakened and inspired for change.

fully more time spent outdoors

We’re shining the spotlight on three talented artists, each with a passion for creating and illustrating your next visual escape.

Their unique styles are blended with a love of Loudoun, as you’ll find modern, traditional and fashionable ways to update your spaces, plan your soirees, and give your calendars more than just a glance.

with extra daylight. Whether you’re

SWEET TEA STATIONERY

our wardrobes (everyone knows a new floral dress can bring you out of a winter slump), a good spring cleaning of our homes, and hope-

on that long-anticipated spring

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Lindsey Kite of Sweet Tea Stationery in

Chantilly, Virginia, studied interior design with an interest in graphic design and typography infused with art. Her days are spent working for a local architecture and interior design firm to promote brand building for her clients through the transformation of commercial and retail spaces. Working in that deadline driven, fast-paced corporate real estate market made her realize a need for professionals to slow down and connect in more meaningful ways.

She began producing handmade paper goods, such as thank-you notes, so the time-honored elegance of a personal communication wouldn’t be lost, while still providing another medium for brand recognition between businesses. Kite has now expanded her side business to include greeting cards inspired by country music lyrics, wedding invitations, and digitally enhanced watercolor Blooming | Page 71

Blooming | From page 70 and pen sketches. Influenced by her southern style of easy front-porch living, each wedding line of Sweet Tea Stationery is “infused with a different flavor,” Kite explains. Clients can choose their base from contemporary paper designs in the Lemon, Mint, or Clove collections and customize their tastes from there.

How refreshing is that?

Kite’s 2018 desktop calendar is made up entirely of barn sketches from photographs taken while “barn hunting,” which she fondly describes as a favorite pastime that involves jumping in the car with her mother, a retired high school art teacher, and going in search of undiscovered beautiful barns.

“I love when you drive down Route 50 and start to see the fields and pastures emerge,” says Kite. In her experiences with research-based design, she sees more young people being drawn to the country for wineries, antique shopping, and the general sense of community as a way of closing the generational gap.

Follow Sweet Tea Stationery on social media for a sip of the creative process through Kite’s Monday mood boards, inspired by texture and color. You’ll find her products at a few local artisan shows during the year, and the Sweet Tea Stationery Etsy shop online is always open for custom orders and everyday paper goods.

LYDIA MARIE ELIZABETH Lydia Schrader, of Philadelphia, spent much of her childhood and formative school years in Middleburg, always with a brush in hand. It remains a special place where she remembers walking around town, surrounded by history, and admiring the traditional and timeless spaces that are still relevant today.

“Even the landscape seems perfectly proportioned,” says Schrader, who admits to having a greater sense of appreciation during her visits home since leaving the area for college.

Schrader earned a degree in interior design, and just as she was honing in on her love for interiors, she began missing the paintbrushes of her youth. She started working as an interior designer at an architectural firm in Greenwich, Connecticut, where she found time to illustrate the scenes that most inspired her during the day. In 2015, she decided to launch her own brand, Lydia Marie Elizabeth, as a full-time artist, focusing on architecture and interior watercolor illustrations.

“What is so intriguing about buildings is their reflection of those who inhabit them,” she says. “Interiors and architecture are what we intentionally surround ourselves with, both for shelter and comfort. Once we’re beyond the structure of the building, architecture has the ability to touch on what we like to project about ourselves, much like how we dress, and interiors can be a very intimate Blooming | Page 72

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Blooming | From page 71 portrait of a person’s inner self.”

While you might be familiar with some of her illustrations of popular Middleburg sights like The Red Fox Inn & Tavern, or the Hunt Review with horses and hounds at Christmas, Schrader also sketches her own travels, most recently in Palm Beach, Florida.

She joyfully paints places inspired by nostalgic or daydreamed moments, where she finds the colors of a memory to be most evocative. Much of her work comes from commissioned pieces, often including custom illustrations for wedding stationery and live event painting.

Visit lydiamarieelizabeth.com to view the gallery, read the blog and shop stationery, prints and the 2018 Around the World Desk Calendar. Don’t forget to follow Lydia Marie Elizabeth on Instagram to hold her accountable for the original #LME365 painted sketches she vowed to post daily this year!

INSLEE BY DESIGN Inslee Fariss of Inslee by Design, is a native of Leesburg, Virginia, currently living and working in New York City as an artist and illustrator. Pinterest is flooded with her fashion illustrations, each with her signature magazine cover style depicting effortlessly chic socialites captured doing seasonal activities or simply being en vogue. Many of these watercolor illustrations were born from a calendar she releases each fall for the holiday gift season. Inslee also creates a popular calendar filled with luscious botanical prints, and new for this year, an animal calendar with images that go perfectly in a nursery.

Having worked as a full-time artist since 2008, she credits the social media rise for how her business has really blossomed over the past 10 years. “I wouldn’t be where I am without it,” says Inslee. Building that social network made the world feel smaller as her name got out there. Creating art for both individual clients and large companies, she’s been commissioned by the likes of Lela Rose, Neiman Marcus, Dior, Jack Rogers, Elizabeth Arden and many others.

“As my life changes, my art changes,” explains Inslee. What began as an outlet to celebrate her love of fashion illustration has evolved over time into a brand that is very much a wedding paper resource. She works with brides regularly now to create wedding suites, bridal portraits, save the dates and bridesmaid gifts. Her live illustration events span weddings, department stores, even a White House Correspondents’ Brunch, all beautifully detailed on her blog.

Though she enjoys the opportunities of living in New York, Inslee says she still feels like a Virginian at the core. The traditional and preppy East Coast aesthetic that comes through her work speaks for itself.

“I love the beauty of changing seasons in Northern Virginia, and they have influenced my art and the way I style fashion in my calendar through the year,” she says.

To learn more and shop all things Inslee by Design, visit inslee.net. You can also visit her studio in the West Village, where she welcomes visitors by appointment. ML Page 70: Inslee Fariss. Photo courtesy of Inslee Fariss. Page 71, top: Lydia Marie Elizabeth Live Painting. Photo courtesy of Alison Dunn Photography.

Page 71, middle: Foxes, Inslee by Design. Photo courtesy of Inslee Fariss.

Page 71, bottom: Lindsey Kite of Sweet Tea Stationery. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Kite. Page 72, top: Classic Calendar, Inslee by Design (photo courtesy of Inslee Fariss. Page 72, middle: Virginia Interior, #LME365. Photo courtesy of Lydia Schrader of Lydia Marie Elizabeth. Sconces inspired by Irene Lummertz Jewelry. Page 72, bottom: Barn Sketches Desktop Calendarr. Photo courtesy of Lindsey Kite of Sweet Tea Stationery.

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just when you thought dinner was extraordinary.

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ProPerties in Hunt Country STONYHURST

GONE AWAY FARM

KENTHURST LANE on

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The Plains ~ Set on a knoll with views of the Blue Ridge Mtns, this 83 acre farm is well designed and was extensively remodeled in 2011 offering every amenity. The main house has 4 BD, 7 BA, 4 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, and gracious entertaining spaces inside and out. There is a 3BD, 2 BA tenant house, charming guest house, swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, 4 ponds and extensive landscaping. There is a 4 stall barn, 2 stall shed row barn, equip. shed, 3 run in sheds. Protected by a conservation easement, $4,980,000

Middleburg ~ Meticulously renovated c.1890 VA fieldstone Manor house on 94 acs. Less than 1 mile from Middleburg.

Formal Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room, gourmet Kitchen, 3+ Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, separate Office & 2 porches. Hardwood floors, 5 fireplaces & custom cabinetry throughout. Extensive landscaping 200+ new trees, rebuilt stonewalls & new driveway. Gardens, pool, 2 barns, workshop, old tenant house & 4-board fencing. 1 subdivision allowed. $4,425,000

The Plains, VA ~Exceptional custom Federal style residence w/6 BRs, 7 BAs on 2.43 acres. High ceilings, hardwood & antique ceramic tile floors, 7 frplcs & custom trim. Clive Christian Kitchen w/ La Cornue stove & light filled B-fast Room.

Formal Living Rm & Dining Rm, Library, Great Rm, Master BR Suite w/frplc, luxury Bath, His & Her Closets. Guest BR suite on 3rd level. Walkout LL has Family Rm, Media Rm, Music Rm, Weight Rm, Wine Cellar, 2nd Kitchen, Guest BR Suite & storage. 3-car garage w/1 BR Apt. above. $2,195,000

ASHCROFT

LEES RIDGE

MADISON & FEDERAL ST

Emily Ristau (540) 687-7710

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Cary Embury (540) 533-0106

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Cricket Bedford (540) 229-3201

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White Post ~ Ashcroft" is a historic 1830 brick country house on 86.5 serenely beautiful acres. The house is sited above a 3 acre pond, with picturesque views of mountains and open fields. A second 2006 building has a three-bay garage and an elegant 1,700 sq.ft. farm office w/3 bathrooms and a full kitchen. Stone and wood bank barn, swimming pool, stream frontage, total privacy. $1,750,000 Conservation Easement.

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Cricket Bedford (540) 229-3201

Warrenton ~ Ideal 49+ acre equestrian property. 4 bd/3.5 baths, large open rooms for one level living, renovated gourmet kitchen with granite, vaulted ceiling, beams, geothermal floors, in ground pool, garage,3/2 tenant house. New beautiful custom 12 stall barn with hay loft and 2 breeding stalls, smaller very functional barn with 9 stalls, 2 Morton sheds.

Stream through property. 3 parcels. $1,190,000

Anne Marstiller (540) 687-4200 LAND

Middleburg ~ Excellent commercial investment opportunity in downtown Middleburg. One commercial building which appears like two buildings that are adjoined on the corner of Madison and Federal Streets. Offers 4 separate entrances.

Mixed Use includes retail & office spaces. Includes 7 parking spaces off Federal Street. Active business in one building. Seller desires to rent back. Priced below recent appraised value. Zoned C-2. $950,000

THISTLE HILL~ Spectacular land with rolling, verdant fields, lush woodlands and a spring fed pond, on 415+ gorgeous acres in unspoiled Hume. Offering four parcels of 100+ acres each, this property is ideally located off scenic Leeds Manor Road, amongst other beautiful estates, many in conservation easements.

Easy access to I- 66 and within an hour of the nation's capital. $5,000,000

Marshall ~ Move in ready 3 bedroom, 1.5 Bath townhouse in the heart of Marshall. Features all new carpet, new hot water heater, new HVAC & new roof.

Fresh paint, Washer Dryer & newer appliances.

Kitchen opens to spacious Dining Room with sliding glass doors that overlook rear fenced yard. Light filled front Living Room with large bay window. Walk to restaurants, grocery and/or shops. 2 Parking spaces included. $185,000

Cricket Bedford (540) 229-3201

Cricket Bedford (540) 229-3201

GRAY HOUSE

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BERRYVILLE LAND ~ 255 acres of beautiful open, rolling land in VA horse country with mature pastures, cropland and several lovely home sites. Listing includes an income producing, established equine vet clinic/surgical center with 6 stalls, 50 x 120 machine shed, paddocks, sand arena and an open turf gallop of nearly a mile in length & Gordonsdale event $1,900,000 course.

The Plains ~ Completely renovated 3/4 bedroom home with upgraded kitchen (granite counters), 3 all new bathrooms with custom tile, vanities and fixtures & 2 fireplaces. Finished lower level could be spacious office. Bright rooms with all new windows and large ROKEBY ROAD~ Upperville 1.84 acre parcel with 3 deck overlooking private back yard. No smoking, No Bedroom septic Certificate on hand. Mostly wooded with pets. Long term lease possible. Shown by appointfantastic views to the east! Great opportunity to own in a ment only. $2,500/mo plus utilities prime location! $299,999

Rein duPont (540) 454-3355

Please see over 100 of our fine estates and exclusive country properties by visiting www.THOMAS-TALBOT.com Susie Ashcom Cricket Bedford Catherine Bernache Snowden Clarke John Coles Rein duPont Cary Embury Barrington Hall

THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE A STAUNCH ADVOCATE OF LAND EASEMENTS LAND AND ESTATE AGENTS SINCE 1967 Middleburg, Virginia 20118

(540) 687-6500

Phillip S. Thomas, Sr.

Celebrating his 56th year in Real Estate.

Julien Lacaze Anne V. Marstiller Brian McGowan Jim McGowan Mary Ann McGowan Rebecca Poston Emily Ristau

Offers subject to errors, omissions, change of price or withdrawal without notice. Information contained herein is deemed reliable, but is not so warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.