Blue Ridge Life, Issue #171

JUNE 2019 NO. 171 PRICELESS (FREE!)

STUMPS TO SCULPTURE 10

• SHOWING SWINE 21

•

BLUEBIRD BOXES JUNE 2019 Blue Ridge LIFE271

We will Meet or Beat Most Cash and Prescription Plan Prices.

Approved Provider of Piedmont Community Health Plan Prescriptions Independent Distributor 16076491

STONEY CREEK PHARMACY

2831 Rockfish Valley Hwy, Nellysford, VA M-F 9-6, Saturday 9-2 Closed Sunday and Holidays.

24 hour prescription refills: 434-361-0370

With a heart for serving the community he loves, Bob Ladd is here to help manage your health.

Visit us on Facebook to reserve your spot in one of our exciting classes on how to live your best life!

We are currently buying old barns, sheds, cabins, and houses for salvage. have one to sell? call us.

Meade Shirley 540-241-9075 elkmountaincontracting.com

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

Nelson County… it’s a lifestyle!

Nelson County

Dark Hollow Road Wooded, 4.98-acre parcel with mountain and pastoral views. With select clearing, the views could be opened up to enjoy every season of the year. Land is mostly wooded and rolling but at the back of the property it has a steep drop off above an old quarry site. Exercise caution. Zoned agricultural. There is no homeowners association and thus no association restrictions. Situated within a few miles of Routes 29 and 151 for easy commuting to Charlottesville, Lynchburg, and Wintergreen. Convenience to outdoor recreation and numerous orchards, breweries, wineries, and more. Great location for full-time residence or vacation getaway! $39,900

239 Marwell Drive Follow Route 56 W to Montebello, to the top of the Blue Ridge, and the site of this restored cabin. Boasting new siding, windows and doors, refinished flooring, wraparound screened porches, gas fireplace, propane heating, eat-in kitchen with hickory cabinets and more.

1,592 square feet of finished living space includes 3 BR and 2 BA, master with attached bath, large family room with ceiling fans and a hot tub perfect for relaxing after a day of hiking. Walk to AT/fish hatchery and Spy Rock. $297,000

180 Blue Ridge Drive This beautifully maintained two-story home features a spacious kitchen with upgrades including granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Kitchen opens to a cozy living space with a fireplace. Main level also features a dining room. Upper level offers a master suite with double vanity & tiled shower, two additional bedrooms and an office. Lower level walkout boasts a family room with gas stove and tons of storage space. Conveniently located between Routes 151 and 29 for easy access to Charlottesville and all of the amenities along Nelson 151. $319,000

Crabtree Falls Highway Lots 3 & 4 Located just minutes from Crabtree Falls (the highest falls east of the Mississippi), this could be the site of your dream getaway home!

Comprised of two lots, both with ample Tye River frontage, this 10.07acre parcel is also close to the Appalachian Trail, the Blue Ridge Parkway, The Fish Hatchery and Spy Rock. Just a short jaunt down to the Nelson County Valley and numerous breweries, cideries, wineries, orchards and shopping. The Tye River is known for its excellent fishing as well as scenic swimming holes. Come out and see for yourself! $99,000

57 Pounding Branch Road Wellmaintained home with an open concept design located in Afton.

Main level has 9' ceilings. Living room with gas fireplace. The kitchen features maple cabinets, granite countertops, and an island for additional seating and work space.

Upstairs you will find a master suite with vaulted ceiling and walk in closet, plus two additional bedrooms, full hall bath and the laundry area. Large fenced area for the kids or family pets.

Attached garage for added convenience. Make this your dream home today.

Only 25 minutes to UVA! $289,000

18 Pheasant Run This COMMERCIAL commercial property is in the heart of Nellysford, near the village services, breweries, wineries, and cideries. A popular brewery is right next door! This is zoned B-1 under the Nelson County Zoning Ordinance, and accordingly, a variety of uses are permitted. On the corner of Rockfish Valley Highway (VSH 151), this prime location offers exceptional visibility to resort visitor and business traffic. Most recently, the main floor has been used as an Art Gallery, and the upstairs apartment has been a popular rental on Air B&B. $295,000

Sto n e y C r e e k 394 Cedar Meadow Lane A wellmaintained 2758 finished square feet, 5 BR, 3 full BA home situated on the fairway of Stoney Creek’s Shamokin 2. Offering seasonal mountain views, a circular drive, landscaped full acre lot and mature trees, this home offers the benefits of living in the Stoney Creek community. Nearby are restaurants, breweries, wineries, the Blue Ridge Parkway and Wintergreen Resort. Miles of hiking trails, a pool and tennis courts are community assets. Enjoy your retreat without surrendering creature comforts! $379,000

42 Knoll Lane Renovated Rodes Farm “Tobacco Barn” with 3BR, 2BA, a bonus bunk room and established vacation rental history. Open great room with a stone fireplace. Downstairs bath with radiant heat, whirlpool tub and separate shower. Private loft bedroom/bath suite. A screened porch and deck have been added for 3-season outdoor living. Mature landscaping. Walk to Rodes Farm pool, tennis court, pond, archery and stable.

Close to Nellysford. Stoney Creek golf, hiking and lake all nearby. 30 minutes to Charlottesville.

Sold furnished w/exclusions. Yard maintenance included. $299,000

112 Blue Chicory Lane This 5 BR, 4.5 BA architectural stunner is warm and welcoming.

True craftsmanship and character are seen throughout the 3,384-square-foot home on 1.2 acres. Mature landscaping, paved drive, courtyard area, pool, and 3-car garage with finished living space. Every detail was inspired with luxury and comfort in mind, with 3 fireplaces, vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, oversized decks, sauna, steam shower, sunken den with built-in bookcases, synthetic slate roof, and much more. The garage has space for additional storage and is finished with an upper level bedroom, office and full bath. $499,000

(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com

2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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AugustA HeAltH celebrAtes 25 yeArs 1994 - 2019 4

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

License Class A - (BLD) 32216A

Custom Homes | Major Additions | Renovations

434.316.0090

RMGantt.com JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

5

Editors & Publishers Yvette Stafford, Tommy Stafford info@blueridgelife.com

a mom & pop since 2005

Blue Ridge Life magazine (formerly Nelson County Life) is published monthly by The Afton Group, LLC and is distributed free of charge. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.

Advertising deadlines are the 15th of every publishing month. For advertising information, download our ratecard at BlueRidgeLife.com or contact us at info@blueridgelife.com.

Views reflected by our advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the company.

Blue Ridge Life Magazine, published by The Afton Group, LLC is pledged to the letter and spirit of Virginia’s policy for achieving equal housing oppotunity throughout the Commonwealth. We encourage and support advertising and marketing programs in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap.

All real estate advertised herein is subject to Virginia’s fair housing law which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, elderliness, familial status, or handicap, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.’ This magazine will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate that violates the fair housing law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this magazine are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

Contributors Linda Crowe Victoria Beecher Godfrey Stephanie Gross Kate Simon Advertising sales@blueridgelife.com Address: The Afton Group, LLC P.O. Box 455, Wintergreen, Virginia 22958

434.361.0104

Have a story idea? Email us at info@blueridgelife.com

june 2019

Y Make hay while the sun shines.

10

stumps to sculpture One of these will feed 300 people, three meals a day, for three days.

The sun is shining now on Nelson County. If you’re thinking about listing your farm, home, or getaway, now is a great time to market your property. If owning a place in Nelson County has been on your bucket list, let’s set up a tour.

YvetteStafford

yvette@blueridgelife.com 434.760.4181 / cell

REALTOR

2788 ROCKFISH VALLEY HWY NELLYSFORD, VA

21

showing swine Area youth put their best pig forward at the Central Virginia Livestock Show.

27

native wood bird boxes A Nellysford man is creating bluebird boxes from trees native to Virginia.

inside

basic necessities ................. 9 cover story...........................10 ask the dr. ......................... 22 at home with marlo ......... 23 brain builders ..................... 30

on the cover Photo credit: Yvette Stafford Tom Harvey of Afton is carving woodland animal scultpures with his chainsaw. Story starts on page 10.

fromthepublishers While daddy’s away at the lake for a week doing things men do at the lake, mommy is burning her mom card.

The May 15th get-your-vegetable-garden-in deadline has come and gone. It’s like you’re walking down the street and you see someone coming right at you, that you’d like to avoid, but there’s no escaping this May 15 lady. Here she comes, pretend to look busy. Pick up your phone and look like you’re replying to an urgent text. That’s how I dealt with May 15 this year.

So the garden plot daddy so perfectly tilled before he left for the lake is still sitting there, and weeds are beginning to court it. I know exactly what I need to plant and where: the hickory king and the silver queen get the back row, then the purple hull peas and more sugar baby watermelons and pumpkins. The raised beds will get the greens this year and there’s a farm up the road that does a better job of growing tomatoes than I have so those are the ones I’ll can.

That farm has it so together – and their maters are so fantastic – people actually get married there!

Such is this beautiful county of Nelson of which we live. The fireflies

are putting on a show over the hayfield and to celebrate the season, we light the kettle for my kids’ version of S’mores: Peyton likes her marshmallows raw (and apparently straight out of the bag), never touching her graham cracker sandwich and chocolate. S’mores for Adam are a pyrotechnic event. To him, there is nothing more glorious than making “marshmallow poop,” a charred sugary mess that drips off stick and sizzles into a fiery pit.

It’s too late for me to beg the kids to take a shower and sure enough, there is my mom card in the kettle, burning up and disappearing like May 15.

Enjoy!

Yvette and Tommy Stafford JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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t a E & KEEP IT FRESH, DRINK LOCAL CHRISjack

Risotto Fritte rs

FARM-TO-FORK AT ITS BEST.

WILD WOLF BREWING COMPANY

Wild Wolf Brewing Companies’ original locaaon is strategically situated along the Brew Ridge Trail on Rt. 151. Our specialles - hickory smoked meats and award winning beer! Wild Wolf Brewing Company is a made from scratch restaurant and brewery featuring vegetarian and gluten free op oppons.

Visit our website for current specials and events! Check out our NEW locaaon in Charlooesville!

Sa l mon Bowl

Fried Ca la m a ri

2461 ROCKFISH VALLEY HWY NELLYSFORD, VA 434-361-0088

NEW CHARLOTTESVILLE LOCATION! 313 2ND ST. SE • CHARLOTTESVILLE 434-284-5220

WILDWOLFBEER.COM 8

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

basicnecessities

By Kay Pfaltz www.basicnecessities.com www.kaypfaltz.com To Chill or Not to Chill, Warm Weather Reds The solstice nearly upon us means bare feet and long sultry days...summertime. Diehard red drinkers, take heart. There are lots of reds to drink in summer. I know people grew up believing never to chill reds. In truth, we drink our reds too warm much of the time. I like my whites and reds about the same temperature, that is cellar temperature. The exception is in hot weather, when dining alfresco. Then, bring on the chill.

Heavy, tannic, or alcoholic reds do better in fall and winter. But there’s a host of lighter reds just waiting to get to know you. Of course, there’s Gamay, the grape of Beaujolais. Italian aficionados may reach for Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, or Grignolino. And Pinot Noir is always a sure bet. But let’s get a bit outside well-trodden territory; exciting new wines await. For summer reds, look for lots of fruit and soft tannins; acid a plus. Some lesser known wines and varietals to try include: St. Laurent, Nerello

Summer is a Great Time to Tour the Best of Wintergreen

Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Chinon (Cabernet Franc), Lambrusco, Cinsault, Corvina, Zweigelt, and Blaufränkisch. Here are my picks for June, all of which can be served lightly chilled: La Stoppa, Trebbiolo, Rosso, 2017 (organic) – I love this fresh and vibrant red from La Stoppa, but then I love anything Elena Pantelioni makes. “No, not a blend of Trebbiano and Nebbiolo,” Elena patiently explains. It’s named for the Trebbia river, which flows nearby, and a blend of Barbera and Bonardo (Piedmont’s Croatina).

Elena uses younger vines and chooses the largest berries to make a lighter style wine than the Macchiona, her other Barbera/ Bonardo blend. A big, soft fruit nose, with aromas of violet, tart cherry and a hint of animal notes.

Bright cherry fruit on the palate with already the footprint of La Stoppa terroir. Pair with pancetta, prosciutto and Grana Padano for appetizers. For main courses, try different risotti or tortellini. $26.99 Planeta, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, 2017 (organic)– Cerasuolo di

MLS# 585525

$83,500

3204 North Ridge Great 1BR, 2BA floor condo with Shenandoah Valley and mountain views. Ground floor, stairs from deck to back yard. Furnished.

Vittoria, a blend of Nero d’Avola and Frappato, is Sicily’s only DOCG. Pale in color, with strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate and clove notes from the feminine Frappato, and the darker, richer notes of the Nero d’Avola: blackberry, mulberry, licorice, tobacco, chile pepper and carob. An elegant wine that pairs with seared tuna, sautéed greens or mushrooms.

It also doesn’t mind slumming it one bit with a crusty pizza. $26.99 Domaine Rolet, Arbois, Poulsard, Vieilles Vignes, 2016 (organic) – Poulsard, grown in France’s Jura, is the perfect summer wine, but then again, I’ll drink this personal favorite any time of year. If unfamiliar with the grape, think of an earthier Pinot Noir with more acidity. Pale in color like pressed strawberry juice, with stewed strawberries on the nose, along with earth tones. On the palette there are cranberry and tart cherry notes with good minerality. Pair with the Swiss family of cheeses, mushrooms and trout. $26.99 To chill or not to chill? It’s summertime, chill out.

MLS# 589760

$149,000

12 Trillium Close Spacious 2BR, 2.5 BA villa with central to amenities location.

Many recent interior upgrades.

Great privacy. Furnished.

Café Wine and Cheese Shop A taste of Europe in the Blue Ridge!

Wine tastings offered on Wednesdays and every other Tuesday. Call for more information.

Mon 10am-4pm Retail Only Tu-Th 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-10pm Sun 10am-3pm Reservations advised for weekend dinner and brunch.

2226 Rockfish Valley Highway Nellysford, Virginia ph: 434.361.1766 www.basicnecessities.us

Friend BASIC NECESSITIES Visit us on Foodwaze Review us on Trip Advisor and Yelp

MLS# 590251

$272,500

17 Trillium Close 4BR, 4.5 BA townhouse with two car garage. Golf front, walk to the Spa & Aquatics. On private rental program. Furnished.

Dima Holmes 434.962.2252 DimaDHolmes@gmail.com

MLS# 571718

$315,000

298 East Catoctin P.O. Box 747 Nellysford VA 22958 WintergreenResort.com

Craftsman mountain home built in 2014 and in like-new condition.

Golf front lot. 3BR, 2.5 BA plus a den (could be 4th bedroom).

MLS# 589938

$319,000

273 Devils Knob Loop Charming Lindal Cedar home on the golf course. 3BR. 2 BA with two car garage. In immaculate condition. Furnished.

MLS# 584266

$450,000

302 Pedlars Edge Dr Great value for this 5BR, 5.5BA home with all year round mountain and valley views. Two car garage. 0,71 ac lot. Finished.

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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AFTON

[ nelson county ]

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD

STUMPS to SCULPTURE An Ennis Mountain man is kicking up sawdust to raise money for the Nelson County Pantry.

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Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

It’s a sunny Friday afternoon on Ennis Mountain and Tom Harvey has a date with a big cedar log he salvaged from his property thanks to an ice storm.

“I’m a rookie. I’m a real rookie,” he chuckles. A rookie perhaps when it comes to carving eagles. The one under the carport stares at me with a gaunt face, less likely to soar into the Afton sky and more likely to tumble back onto an endangered species list. “Most of my eagles look like buzzards,” Tom notes. Even so, Tom’s bear and owl game is mighty strong.

Tom has given his Stihl chainsaw a rest, one of several he uses to maintain his property and to pursue his new passion: creating chainsaw sculptures of animals as a means of raising funds for the Nelson County Pantry.

“If someone wants to make a donation of $500, they get a bear or an owl … It’s something they can look at and realize they made a contribution.”

Consider the math: Tom says there are 1700 people in Nelson County every month that have to skip a meal because they can’t afford one.

“So what the Pantry tries to do, in the 20 years they’ve been around, is try to fill that gap.”

UPCOMING EVENTS AT OUR FARM IN AFTON Equine Partnering Creativity Workshop June 9th & July 6th Empowerment Class I June 11th & June 18th, 9a-11a Equine Partnering Leadership Workshop June 15th Empowerment Class II July 9th & July 16th, 5:30p-7:30p

TEAM BUILDING LEADERSHIP CREATIVITY HEALING

What’s Your Archetype? Personality Assesment Sunday July 21st, 1p-3p

Contact us to schedule a private session or workshop Louise Goodling 434/941-6485 louise@equinepartnering.com www.equinepartnering.com

continued on page 12

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Pick Your Own and Pre-Picked:

Blueberries: June Mother Nature determines when our Blueberries will be Ripe !!!

Please call to confirm availability !!!

SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM AND CIDER SLUSHIES!

continued from page 11

From Amherst: Take 29N to 56W, go 1

Hours:

– Friday mile, turn right onto Roseland Road. Watch Monday 8am to 7pm

for signs. From Lovingston: Take 29S to 56W, go 1 mile, turn right onto Roseland Road. Watch for signs.

Saturday 8am to 4pm Sunday 12:30pm to 5pm

For more information call

434-277-8130 www.seamansorchard.com

Lavender Day with Annie Baggett Come spend the day at Pharsalia and learn from the lavender expert, Annie Baggett of North Carolina, about growing, landscaping, harvesting, cooking, crafting, eating and caring for your lavender. Annie will share the best varieties to grow in Virginia and the region as well as versatile uses while also answering any of your lavender garden questions. This fun workshop will also include making a simple lavender syrup that you can take home to use as a base ingredient for recipes all summer long.

NELSON COUNTY, VIRGINIA

Register for events online: www.PharsaliaEvents.com

434-277-5231 Blue Ridge LIFE

In fact the pine tree that fell outside of the Rockfish Valley Community Center became one of Tom Harvey’s chainsaw bears.

Taking a break from the project, we settle into a pair of chairs on Tom’s back patio that overlooks the Rockfish Valley and I’m reminded of that Barbara Streisand movie, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Is this where Tom does most of his thinking? The creative day dreaming any artist needs? Or is it merely his place to recharge after a busy week in the Beltway running the Global Environment Technology Foundation, a nonprofit formed in 1988 that focuses its efforts on three main areas: water and sanitation, clean energy and climate change, and sustainability.

His team just finished a water project in continued on page 14

Tuesday, June 18, 2019 10 AM – 1:30 PM

12

So that soon-to-be black bear perched contently on a stump?

“One bear feeds 300 people, three meals a day, for three days.”

Tom heads over and grabs his weed dragon, a torch connected to a small propane tank, like the kind you’d attach to a grill.

After a few attempts to ignite it, the nozzle emits a roar and Tom approaches the bear.

Not all artists use brushes.

If you’ve ever seen a wooden chainsaw bear sculpture smiling back at you on someone ’s porch, now you know how they turn black.

Careful not to spend too much time on one area, Tom waves the fiery wand over the bear’s body, scorching it along the way, revealing the bear’s fur, paws and shoulders. Not every piece of Virginia pine is destined to be a 2x4.

JUNE 2019

HAPPY HOUR 5-9 LIVE MUSIC 5:30-8 6/7 - LOBO MARINO 6/14 - THE CROWLES 6/21 - JARED & KENNA 6/28 - SETH MARTIN MORE DATES AVAILABLE AT 9519 CRITZERS SHOP RD AFTON, VA 22920

(540) - 456 - 8020

Successfully Matching Buyers And Sellers Since 2004 CREEKSIDE AT WINTERGREEN

JUST LISTED !

STUNNING VALLEY VIEWS

51 Weeping Rock Ln, Wintergreen Resort $379,400 (MLS 589303) Bordering Shamokin Springs Nature Preserve with easy access to Shamokin Falls and the AT this home is an outdoor lovers dream! 3 BR, 3 BA, open concept living, dining and kitchen, and a den with screened porch access and double sided gas fireplace. Paved driveway, extra storage, double decks and more.

239 Marwell Drive, Montebello $297,000 (MLS 590007) Travel up Rt. 56 in Nelson County to Montebello, the site of this Blue Ridge Mountain retreat. The house borders a large tree farm, and is a short walk to the AT, fish hatchery, the Montebello store, and the start of Spy Rock hike. Lovingly renovated, with 3 BR, 2 BA, original hardwood floors in living room, converted gas FP, updated kitchen w/ hickory cabinets, wrap around screened porches and a bunk room.

219 Ravens Roost Ln, Wintergreen Resort $599,900 (MLS 588751) Welcoming over 100 friends and family over 20 years, this home has been filled with joy and laughter. At Raven’s Roost overlook, this home has stunning views of the Shenandoah Valley. Boasting 6 bedrooms (4 ensuite), 5 baths, 2-car garage, 2 family rooms, vaulted ceilings, and open kitchen dining & living space. The multi-level floor plan is great for large groups while allowing privacy.

Sara McGann

434.996.4962 sbmcgann@gmail.com JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Blue Ridge Homecrafters Environmentally friendly custom building remodeling & renovation

blueridgehomecrafters@gmail.com www.blueridgehomecrafters.com facebook.com/blueridgehomecrafters

Owner, Philip Wangensteen Building High Quality Homes Since 1994

Call us today

434-987-0991

SATURDAY, JUNE 15TH | 11AM-6PM | . . . . .

live music & food truck

Tours and Tastings daily 299 eades lane lovingston, Virginia 22949 www.vadistillery.com | @vadistillery 14

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

continued from page 13

With a little chainsaw charity and vision, this cedar stump becomes an owl sculpture. Tom Harvey of Afton is creating mostly bears and owls from fallen timber on his property to raise money for the Nelson County Pantry.

For more information, visit them online at NelsonCountyPantry.org

Kenya that provides water access to 800,000 people, most of whom are in the capital of Nairobi. To date, Tom says, his foundation – with the support of AID and Coca Cola – has delivered clean water access to 4 million people. And he has a goal of bringing water access to another 2 million people.

Mind blowing numbers when you look at the lush, green Blue Ridge landscape before us.

“We are fortunate here in Nelson County, we do have good access [to water]. But the poverty thing, the hunger thing, we all have a responsibility to fix this. This is not our neighbor’s problem. If our neighbor can’t eat, it’s our problem.”

And when you’re a family struggling to put dinner on the table, or lunch in your child’s backpack, you don’t necessarily spend the little spare time you have contemplating big picture ideas to climb out of poverty. But here at the top of Ennis Mountain on this clear day, if you cannot see forever you can at least see the seasons and it’s hard not to be an optimist when you’re chatting with Tom, who has developed a trigger finger from all of the chainsaw work.

“I’ll keep carving as long as I can,” Tom tells me. “God is good.”

And meanwhile, his neighbors are hungry and he’s got plenty of fallen timber ready to be turned into meals.

“Bears are always hungry. That’s why we call them the pantry bears.” BRL

Wintergreen Music Festival Erin Freeman, Artistic Director

Tickets & Weekend Packages on sale now Wintergreen-Music.org or 434.361.0541

July 7-August 4, 2019 JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

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Mountain Homes for Your Outdoor Lifestyle.

MOUNTAIN HOMES AT WINTERGREEN

$249,000

MLS# 581266

$269,000

MLS# 582781

MLS# 588978

$71,900

125 Oak Lane

53 Devils Bend

728 Laurelwood Condos

Ski chalet filled with charm! Seasonal views from inside & the back deck. Quiet location (walking distance of slopes), skylights & vaulted ceilings. Wrap-around deck offers a large hot tub. Woodburning fireplace and lots of updates - new roof and stainless appliances.

Charming mountain chalet on the golf fairway.

Few Wintergreen homes have such access to amenities (walk to ski shuttle). Exterior completely renovated. New kitchen, hardwood floors & ceramic tile, new furniture, new baths, paint inside, new front porch & much more.

Beautifully updated and ready for you to furnish.

Perfect location to enjoy all the resort has to offer in the Black Rock Village Center. Walking distance to restaurants, ski slopes, hiking trails, fireworks & music festival. Plus, this complex has its own private pool.

$325,000

MLS# 588168

238 Shamokin Springs Trail Beautiful contemporary mountain cabin.

Features modern conveniences of a newer build with the warmth & feel of a classic log cabin. From the hardwood floors, pine paneled walls, oak cabinets, & solid wood door; house exudes quality & excellent workmanship.

$364,900

MLS# 582168

MLS# 588517

$355,000

764 Shamokin Springs Trail Craftsman, A-frame with spacious great room.

Dining & kitchen are perfect for entertaining.

Large windows in great room for natural light.

Gourmet kitchen, two master suites (one on main-level). Furnished, including hot tub to enjoy the sound of nearby natural springs.

MLS# 589091

$524,500

MLS# 589363

$129,900

2044 Stone Ridge Condos The perfect price and location for a family who wants to be close to everything. Ski shuttle to lower mountain stops in front of complex. Pools, Spa, golf, tennis, restaurant, hiking trails is all just a short walk away. Condo is on the 18th green of Devils Knob Golf Course.

MLS# 584203

$179,000

71 Split Rock Trail

245 East Catoctin

1826 High Ridge Court Condo

Looking for a charming, well-maintained mountain retreat that has privacy and plenty of room? This is it! Situated on a quiet cul-de-sac, this beautiful 6 BR home is spacious & inviting.

Two masters, great room filled natural light & a large deck; perfect for entertaining!

This home is owned by a very attentive builder and was built by one of the area’s best builders.

A short walk to all the facilities of the upper mountain. The house has many extras. One owner, never rented, beautifully decorated, in mint condition and only five years old.

Looking for a well maintained 2BR condo with breathtaking views of the resort and mountains at a fantastic price? This is it!

Turnkey & ready for immediate occupancy.

Conveniently close to everything, this property is close to the Chestnut Springs pool & park.

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200

16

CONDOS AT WINTERGREEN

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

WintergreenRealEstate.com

To Learn More, Contact Us Today!

434.361.0500 / 800.325.2200 STONEY CREEK AND NELSON COUNTY

MLS# 589064

$74,900

MLS# 588862

$110,000

MLS# 585221

$499,000

3220 North Ridge Condos

431 Three Ridges Condos

780 Stoney Creek East

This spacious 2BR 2BA condo is a winning combination for you and your family to enjoy all that Wintergreen has to offer, in both the winter and summer seasons. Walking distance to upper mountain activities. Ski shuttle stops at complex.

Motivated seller - priced to sell.

Nicely maintained 2BR 2BA villa within walking distance to the ski slopes and Black Rock Village activities. Recent renovations include: new paint, bathroom and kitchen cabinets, bathroom fixtures, refrigerator, engineered flooring, high efficiency heat pump. Never rented.

On a private lot with seasonal views, this home welcomes you the minute you enter with an open floor plan & vaulted ceiling. Gourmet kitchen, master suite with a sitting room, spacious family room on the lower level. Close to the walking trail around Lake Monocan.

MLS# 589319

$129,000

MLS# 588851

$157,500

$529,000

MLS# 588521

2015 Stone Ridge Woods Condos

11 Ivy Glen Lane

629 Lakeland Lane

This is 2BR 2BA end unit condo offers better privacy than others. Nicely furnished and walking distance to all facilities of the upper mountain(Devils Knob): restaurant, golf, tennis, spa, advanced skiing, exercise facilities, hiking, etc. Ski shuttle stops at parking lot.

A 4BR 3BA townhouse for $157K! Furnished and in good condition. Great location, walk to Devils Knob amenities. Ski shuttle stops nearby. Full kitchen, wood burning fireplace, two-car garage. Ready for your updates to be a second home or investment rental property.

Contemporary home offers all the modern amenities in a country setting. Bright, open floor plan with high ceilings. Large master suite & kitchen. Special features: 50-year roof, Hardie plank siding & much more. Only minutes from golf, wineries, breweries, dining.

MLS# 588614

$239,000

MLS# 588295

$239,900

MLS# 584725

$549,000

1539 Cliffs Condos

B-7 Shenandoah Ridge

947 Black Walnut Drive

Beautifully renovated 2BR villa is located along the highest point of Blue Ridge Drive, offering unparalleled vistas. Elegant furnishings, granite counter-tops, stainless appliances. Easy access!

The Devils Knob amenities are a short walk away. Ski shuttle stops at complex.

Nice 5BR townhouse with views across the Shenandoah Valley. Adjacent to golf, spa and fitness center, tennis club, and restaurants. A Resort Rental that has been maintained to one of the highest ratings in the resort. The ideal investment or vacation property.

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Home has a bright sunroom off the kitchen, large family room, breakfast room, large dining room, master with his & her master baths.

3079 Rockfish Valley Highway, Wintergreen Resort VA 22958

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

17

asktheDr.

By Dr. Steve Schmitz Afton Family Medicine

CALL US TODAY!

434-263-4500 8535 Thomas Nelson Hwy Lovingston, VA 22949

FOSTERFUELS.COM PROPANE • GAS LOGS • TANKS • HEATERS • GRILLS & MORE

Last month Dr. Cole wrote about the history and clinical course of measles. He finished his column stating that the best protection against the disease is getting the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Since he wrote his article the CDC has updated their statement on which adults should consider getting the vaccine. I thought it might be helpful to summarize that here: According to the CDC, you can consider yourself to be immune to measles if any of these 4 things is true for you: 1. If you were born before 1957.

(If you were born before 1957, you probably had measles disease, even if you don’t remember.)

2. If you were born in 1957 or later and had measles disease - AND you have documentation showing that it was confirmed by a laboratory test.

3. If you have had a blood test that confirms you’re immune to measles (from either disease or vaccination).

4. If you have had one or two doses of live measles or MMR vaccine AND you have a written record of them.

If any of the above is true for you then you don’t need a MMR shot. If you don’t fall into one of those groups, you should have a MMR vaccine.

One dose as an adult is enough.

Immunity to measles can be checked through a blood test as well. That is something to consider if you are not sure if you fall into one of the above groups. Also, the killed virus that was used for some people in the early 60’s was not very effective. If you had that one you should get a dose of the MMR. There are a few individuals who should not receive the MMR vaccine-but they are unique cases.

For most people it is a well tolerated and safe vaccine. The MMR is a normal part of childhood vaccines, given at age 1 year old and age 4-5 years old. So, if you have a child who has had the recommended vaccines he or she should be covered!

Dr. Steve Schmitz is a licensed medical doctor based in Afton. This column is provided as a service to readers of Blue Ridge Life Magazine and it does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers of this magazine. If you have a question about your personal health, please consult your doctor.

S E N TA R A A F T O N FA M I LY M E D I C I N E

TAYLOR MADE BUSINESS SERVICE, LLC Offering Bookkeeping, Payroll, Personal Finance, and Notary Services.

Call or email for an appointment. p: 434.361.2208 • f: 434.361.2131 TaylorMadeSvc@gmail.com

DISCOVER WHY PEOPLE TRUST SENTARA AFTON FAMILY MEDICINE OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8:30am-5pm 10950 Rockfish Valley Hwy (SR151), Afton, VA For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit sentara.com or call (540) 456-6710.

Follow us on Facebook @MarthaJeffersonHospital, and Twitter @MarthaJefferson.

18

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

athome

Tools of the Trade MLS tips that can reach prospective buyers

withMarlo

By Marlo Allen Marlo Allen is a licensed Realtor residing in Nelson County

Home selling tips are flooding the marketplace. When you Google home selling tips, you get 750 million search results. That’s enough information to boggle anyone’s mind.

If you are having trouble seeing the forest for the trees, step back and return to the basics. How can you create more exposure, in hopes of creating more demand for your home?

It can be as simple as providing good information and it can start with the multiple listing service (MLS). The MLS is where most of the internet marketing initiatives take root. If you are selling, it is important that you understand how to partner with your agent to get the most out of the MLS. Here are the basics: Photos – Photographs are powerful bait. Good ones can lure buyers; poor ones can turn them away. The Charlottesville MLS allows 50 pictures, yet many properties have only a few photos.

Buyers will completely pass over

properties with no and/or limited pictures. Pictures should tell a story and invite the viewer to want to take the time to see more. As the seasons change, consider updating the photos especially if main photos show snow. If you have favorite home photos share them with the agent. Otherwise, list with an agent willing to take professional quality photos that fully represent what the home has to offer both inside and out. Remember a picture is worth a thousand words!

Text Descriptions – Don’t dismiss the power of a message, or the lack of a message, either. Incomplete or poorly written descriptions don’t entice a buyer. While there are character limitations, the text description should be eye catching and informative. It should address the major home features to attract the targeted buyer. If your house doesn’t sound attractive to you, why would it be to anyone else?

Marlo Allen

Driving Directions – Can potential buyers find your home? Be sure that your property is correctly mapped within the MLS. Improper mapping can result in missed opportunities as many buyers have specific locations or communities of interest. In rural areas providing proximity information is essential for the buyer to understand the conveniences for easy commuting, shopping, dining, and more. Make it easy for a buyer to locate your home and understand what the specific area has to offer!

Other Documents – There can be a wealth of information online; make information easily found by having your agent upload documents and marking them as publicly available.

Helpful documents may include survey plat, floor plan, renovations, building specs, utility data and covenants or restrictions. Good information can enable a buyer to determine if your home is a potential

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match and worth scheduling a showing.

IDX inclusion – The MLS is where most of the marketing efforts begin. Many nationally recognized home search sites, such as Zillow. com, Realtor.com, and Trulia.com, will pull the MLS data to populate their inventory database. Your home should be out there for the world to see, so inform your agent to include your home in the IDX, Internet Data eXchange.

The MLS is a valuable tool if it is used to its fullest potential. Take an active role in supplying important documents and information to your listing agent. After reviewing the MLS listing, ask yourself, would you buy your home?

Marlo Allen, frequently referred to as “That Girl,” calls Nelson County home. In fact, she grew up in Nelson County and helped found Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery of Nellysford. Marlo provides real estate services in Nelson and surrounding counties.

InsistOnThatGirl.com Great Price in Stoney Creek !

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Beautiful, large, level parcel with mountain views and log home with wrap around porch! Features: high ceilings with beams in dining room and living room, wood burning stone fireplace, hardwood floors, large kitchen open to dining room, first floor bedroom, spacious guest rooms on second floor, incredible closet space for storage, garage, exterior stone chimney, 6 year old roof, and new hot water heater. Great opportunity to have a nearly two acre parcel to enjoy privacy and have plenty of space for gardening, recreation, and pets; invisible fence in place. Ideal location for easy access to resort amenities, farmers market, and Nellysford town hub for groceries, dining, banking, doctors, and more!

Marlo is a top-producing agent throughout Nelson County, Stoney Creek and Wintergreen.

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

19

SAUNDERS BROTHERS FARM MARKET SINCE 1915

Monday, jUly 8

devils Knob PreMier MoUntain Golf CoUrse WinterGreen resort, va

sWinG for HealtH Golf toUrnaMent

Pie and Dessert Sampling with The Wooden Spoon bakery from 11-2 on June 22

donate a sMile & iMProve dental HealtH Many in our community are in serious need of dental care, but lack the means necessary to get the treatment they need. Oral health can affect not only your self esteem, but overall health as well. With your contribution, Blue Ridge Dental Center can breakthrough this barrier to dental care. non-Members invited for more information and to register, visit brmedical.org/golf

& Beef and Pork Sampling from 11-2 on June 29!

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Mon-Sat 9-6 (closed Sunday) saundersbrothersfarmmarket.com bring this ad in for 10% off expires 5.31.19 BRL 2

434-263-4881

434-946-5059

Call us for our Microchip Made Easy Program which includes microchip, hassle-free registration, and ID tags.

20

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

RUSTBURG

[ campbell county ]

STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY by YVETTE STAFFORD

Showing Swine

Bittersweet moments of showing your prize pig at the Central Virginia Livestock Show continued on page 22

JUNE JUNE 2019 2019

Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

21 21

continued from page 21

Is it Time for a Better System?

You’ve tried to keep up, but it’s just not working. Call us today to learn about setting up an easy-to-manage system.

This is where the little guys get to do stuff just like the big guys.

Wearing jeans and an orange shirt that matches the color of a nearby feed pail, a boy not yet tall enough to lean on the top rung of a cattle gate walks over with his father to the set of pink sheets tacked to the side of a corral area where hogs are being weighed. After months of muddy mornings feeding, watering, and working with his pigs, showtime is near. A finger stops at a heading typed in bold letters: CLASS 105N B – NOVICE JR DIVISION. And there’s his name and county, making this moment feel very official: Griffin Seay, AMH. His father, David Seay, tells me his son is 9 and this is his first show.

“You’ll see young people who’ve done a lot of hard work, and are not scared of getting dirty. When a child takes a paper towel and cleans the backside of an animal. Who wants to do that? Nobody wants to do that. But they humble themselves to do this and do those types of deals so their animals are perfectly clean when they come in the ring.”

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434.263.4805

22

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

David is a proud father beaming plenty but with conviction.

He knows farming isn’t easy. There are plenty of old timers at the Lynchburg Livestock Yard who could chew your ear off with stories.

But in an age of screens and pixels, how is a kid in 2019 going to get some dirt under his nails?

“Without this ... these kids are our future.”

David is talking about the future of farming and inside this large metal building, he’s preaching to the choir. He grew up in this world.

His wife, Jenny? Not so much. But she has since come around and she’s now part of Team Seay in this year’s Central Virginia Livestock Show in Rustburg, which includes Griffin, his older brother, Wyatt, and Carrie, their sister and oldest sibling. Carrie, who’s now in college, used money she made from raising animals to buy her first car.

“Its a huge deal,” Jenny tells me. “These children here this weekend, they know where their food comes from. They know the importance of family farming. You don’t just go to the store and that’s where meat comes from.”

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

This spring we’ve brought back your favorite dining specials and added some new ones.

As David will tell you, the connection to the animals is real and on days like today, tears are often shed by children showing them.

Griffin and Wyatt’s adventure began months ago when the family went to a farm in Nelson County.

“We put them in the trailer, washed them, clipped them,” Griffin tells me. He’s showing me a poster he and his brother made that describes their show pigs. Griffin’s pig is a 350 lb gilt named Spot (a gilt is a female pig who has yet to breed). Wyatt’s pig is Ms. Gioa,

weighing in at 310 lbs. Written in Sharpie is the pigs’ birth date: 9/22/18. Their parents consist of a Landace/Duroc mix boar, and a purebred Yorkshire sow.

“A lot of these kids will raise their projects from birth all the way up to the sale tomorrow night up until they’re sold,” Jenny explains. “They’re marketing the animal and they know what’s happening next. It’s a lot of tears when they come out of that sale ring, put them in here and take that halter off for the last time.” continued on page 24

Sundown on the Veranda at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill It’s your Wednesday pick me up with live music and entertainment, drink specials and an appetizer buffet.

Friday Night Lights Join us at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill the last Friday of every month for great live music and a dinner buffet.

Sunday Brunch There is no better spot to enjoy Sunday brunch than at Stoney Creek Bar & Grill.

Dine alfresco and enjoy the view!

Visit WintergreenResort. com for details and eat, drink and be merry.

Stoney Creek Bar & Grill: 434-325-8110

855.245.5011 wintergreenresort.com

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

23

ANTIQUES

TuckahoeAntiques.com Rt. 151 Near Wintergreen

CovesvilleStoreAntiques.com Rt. 29 south of Charlottesville

VeronaAntiques.com Rt. 11 north of Staunton

continued from page 23

There’s a 16-year old several pens over who will agree with that statement.

“I actually got really attached one year,” Nathan Saunders tells me. “The first time I showed them I named them and got all attached to them and everything. I saw them walking to where they were going to get killed at Green Valley and they were kind of fighting a bit and I teared up and started crying a little bit. I quickly learned [not to] get too attached to them. I think I named pigs one more year after that but I think I stopped that.”

The tall man in a Hokie shirt next to him is his dad, Jim Saunders, of Saunders Brothers, a wholesale nursery in Nelson County. He’s got his Muck boots on, chasing down a livestock ear tag tool — Jim is in his zone and it shows.

Rockfish River Gallery Fine Art and Exquisite Crafts from Virginia Over 70 artists, artisans, writers and musicians – We are unique!

Part Of Our Mission Is to Allow As Many As Possible Local And Extended Local Artists And Artisans To Display Their Work and to Promote Art in the Community at Large.

Rockfish Valley Community Center 190 Rockfish School Lane, Afton, VA 22920 We are open all year Weds. through Sat. 10 AM to 4:30 PM. Check our website for info, map and news. www.RockfishRiverGallery.com 434-294-4668.

BECERRA LAWNCARE Call to schedule your mulch and chipping job!

Contact: Carlos Becerra

434-962-3266 Firewood • Debris Cleanup • Wood Chipper Mowing • Weed Eating • Pruning/Weeding Tree Trimming • Planting/Fertilizing • Mulching Spraying Weeds • Raking Leaves • Much, much more ...

24

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

SK8 NELSON

5th ANNUAL SKATE JAM - FUNDRAISER

ROCKFISH VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER

JULY 20th 4-9 RAIN OR SHINE $5 admission Kids 12 and under FREE Sponsored by:

BLUE MOUNTAIN BREWERYBOLD ROCK CIDER TRAGER BROTHERS COFFEEBLUE RIDGE BUCHA CARDINAL POINT WINERYFREESTYLEACTION FOR ALL UPPER LEVEL SCREENPRINTING

Live Music Shagwuf - The Blndrs

The Falsies - 7th Grade Girl Fight Min Pin skate jam sessions start at 4:00 Best Trick Competitions 6-8 $5 entry fee for contests $5 entry fee for Game of Skate - Cash Prize

“The beauty of it to me is they learn responsibility,” he says. “They have to take care of the animals when it’s 100 degrees out and they have to take care of them when it’s 10 degrees out. To me that’s the beauty of it. You’ve got to take care of them on Thanksgiving day, Christmas day.”

Jim may have helped with vaccinations and such but when it came to putting in the hard daily work these animals required, his son was in charge.

“Normally I get home from school, I go to the barn and tie my calves up. I come home and work with the pigs for about 30 minutes or so and then I go back up to my grandparents’ house where my calves are and then I work them a little bit.”

No sleeping in for this 16 year-old. The morning farm chores mean getting up an extra 15 minutes or so early. This year, he is showing two market pigs, two market steers, and one heifer.

Since today is pig day at the show, Nathan is focused on the pair he and his dad just guided into a pen. With the help of Cole Ramsey — Nathan’s ag teacher and FFA advisor — and a slender friend who’s scrambled up to the top of the pen, the team is rigging up a PVC pipe that shields a water hose. If you want to hear a pig squeal, try tagging their ears in such a space. This is where it helps to have a father who’s done this before. It’s apparently muscle memory for Jim, who in a matter of seconds successfully tags an ear.

“I tell people this is the gifted and talented portion of our agriculture program,” Cole Ramsey explains. “The students really work hard with their animals.”

And their moment of truth is about to begin as people start filling up the chairs assembled for them around the show ring. Since we first chatted with Team Seay, the brothers have traded their shirts for crisp button-downs neatly tucked into their jeans. Griffin tops off the Western look with a sharp looking cowboy hat, black like Clint’s.

The judges seemed to have liked what they saw, human and hog. Wyatt came in 3rd and Griffin placed 6th in Showmanship. Griffin won Grand Champion Breeding Gilt with Spot.

See Spot win. See Griffin grin. BRL

YOGA RETREAT at Friday June 28th- Sunday June 30th www.mark-addy.com

(434)361-1101

Enjoy a serene getaway at our bed and breakfast including yoga classes, guided meditation, menus prepared especially for the retreat, and more!

Call to Book now! Locals 15% off!

11th Anniversary

June 22, 2019 11:00 am – 6:00 pm 8 Wineries ] Live Music on 2 Stages ] Arts & Crafts ] Belly Dancers ] Petting Zoo

If your hair isn’t becoming to you, you should be coming to us!

Bring the Kids! 12 & Under FREE!

Call for an appointment!

Beech Grove Salon 434-361-1810

910 Beech Grove Rd (Rt. 664) Roseland, VA

Lazy Days Winery, 1351 N. Amherst Hwy, Amherst, VA 24521 Just south of US Hwy 29 and Virginia 151, 3.5 miles north of Amherst Info & Tickets: SummerSolsticeFestival.com 434-381-6088

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

25

Wintergreen Resort 910 Devils Knob Loop Spectacular views, ample room for family and friends, totally updated, tastefully furnished and turnkey, in Wintergreen's most coveted location! Unsurpassed views of the Blue Ridge and Blackrock Village ski slopes from every room. 6 BR, 5 BA, bonus room, 2-car garage, paved drive and 1000 feet of breathtaking outdoor decks, and ideal for entertaining.

Garage, bonus room and 1st floor master added in 1992 and recent updates include interior painting, main floor flooring, new kitchen, and tasteful furnishings , window replace and repairs, lighting and much more. $849,000

98 Laurel Springs Drive If you have ever played the Devils Knob Golf, you have admired this beautiful home perched above the 10th Green with exceptional architectural lines and sense of place. The soaring wood-paneled ceiling, massive floorto-ceiling stone fireplace, wall of glass with decks beyond, updated kitchen, and handsome furnishings are just part pf the allure. The spacious main floor master also has a stone fireplace, large master bath with access to the deck and golf views! Downstairs is a family room with fireplace, 3 bedrooms and baths and first floor deck. Beautifully maintained, turn key and ready to enjoy summer 2019 and years to come. $569,000

1211 Blue Ridge Drive Well-maintained home with privacy, golf course access and views! Ideal opportunity to have a mountain getaway and an income producing property. Privately rented with income of $17,000 per year. Sold turn-key with ability to sleep 12. Cathedral ceilings, stone fireplace, open flow for easy entertaining, spacious kitchen with breakfast nook, 2 master suites, baths for every bedroom, second family room, 800+ square feet of wraparound decking, lots of parking, and ideal location to walk to amenities such as golf, tennis, hiking trails, and the Chestnut Springs Park with pool and playground for owners/guests. $374,900

972 Devils Knob Loop Sweeping views of the Rockfish Valley and Eagles Swoop from this home perched high on Devils Knob Mountain. Bright, open floor plan with hardwood flooring, wall of windows/ doors, gas fireplace and vaulted ceilings. Updated baths, kitchen appliances and tasteful furnishings make this move-in ready!

This home has had only 2 owners and has never been rented. Lot value alone is over $300,000. Lower level basement suite with 1 BR, 1 BA, and a sitting area offers rental opportunities. Windows and doors have been replaced. Don't miss this unique property! $525,000

(800) 361-5155 • (434) 361-2440 • www.MountainAreaRealty.com 2788 Rockfish Valley Highway • Nellysford, VA 22958

Experience the sunrise side of the Blue Ridge.

From milepost 0 of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the mighty James.

Wear yourself out at our wineries, breweries, cideries, distilleries and eateries, then hit the sack in a cozy cabin or bed & breakfast. Learn how to

relax. nelson style.

nelsoncounty.com/50-years-of-love/ 800.282.8223

26

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

nelson county VIRGINIA

SCHUYLER

[ nelson county ]

STORY by YVETTE STAFFORD PHOTOGRAPHY by STEPHANIE GROSS

The Rocket Science of Bluebird Boxes Paul Davis’ goal to build bluebird boxes out of each type of wood from native trees in Virginia is as ambitious as putting a man on the moon. He should know a thing or two about that.

“I just enjoy putting things together and I worked for NASA for a long time,” he tells me inside a storage room filled with his bluebird boxes. Paul’ was part of the Apollo Program Management team where he specialized in pyrotechnics and explosive devices – things that go boom. And when they go boom correctly, giant leaps of mankind happen. continued from page 28

JUNE 2019

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27

1997 – 2019 Come Celebrate with us !

22 years of supporting local farmers NELSON Farmers Market MORE THAN 50 VENDORS SaturdayS 8– 12 IN THE HEART OF NELLYSFORD LIVE MUSIC UNDER THE TENT June june june june june

1 – KIM & JIMBO CARY 8 – Buzzard Hollow Boys 15 – rockfish gap 22 – sisters and brotHers 29 – the BLNDeRS

Nelson Farmers Market Cooperative

www.NelsonFarmersMarket.com

SPONSORED BY

continued from page 27

“Launch day was the most fun but really the most fun was putting the thing together to get ready to go. Spacecraft and the boosters as well.”

So let’s take that mindset and apply it to these wooden bird shelters that are dotting the grounds here at the Quarry Gardens in Schuyler, a public garden that features a visitor’s center and 2 miles of walking trails. Paul had originally thought the Virginia Department of Forestry would love to display his creations, actual working boxes built to Virginia Bluebird Society specs.

“I couldn’t find anyone to talk to or who would talk to me or who wanted them.”

Sometimes you have to talk to the right people. At a Master Naturalist meeting, of which Paul is a member, he mentioned his dilemma. It just so happened that the owners of the Quarry Gardens were at the gathering and jumped at the opportunity to use, display and sell the boxes.

“We are trying to realize the potential of this site, to bring it back and to make it special,” Bernice Thieblot explains to me just as a group is about to head out on a tour of the property. “We are not planting anything here unless it’s native to within 15 miles of Schuyler. We are clearing out invasive the best we can.”

Clear out the invasives, and honor the natives.

“What I really like, I think its the prettiest wood I’ve ever seen is this one over here.”

Paul walks over to a box he made out of Eastern redbud, page 82 in Common Native Trees of Virginia. Its trunk and limbs are generally fairly narrow so Paul pieced together several boards to get the width he needed. “I think I cut this at home out of my yard, out of my woods.”

He grabs another box, a pretty heavy on, flipping it upside down to reveal the label: Locust. And beside it is another heavy box, this time made of cypress.

“There are so many pretty woods in Virginia.”

And pretty woods look naturally at home here at the Quarry Gardens. After watching a video, a tour group departs for a hike that traces the perimeter of the abandoned quarry. The weather report had threatened rain and though clouds loom in the distance, the weather cooperates for now. The quarries form ponds that are filled with water, 28

Blue Ridge LIFE

JUNE 2019

Brady S. Nicks Attorney-at-Law,

Get in the Swing Come Play at Wintergreen!

Counselor, and Officer of the Court, serving Citizens of Nelson and Surrounding Counties in Matters before the Courts, Civil or Criminal, or between Parties.

forming mirrors that reflect the soapstone cliffs. These bluebirds have quite a view.

“They say boxes have to be facing the east and the hole has to be a certain size,” Paul says. “But the problem in real life is that … if they’re nesting in the wild, they’re nesting in the tree and they’re in a hole 90% of the time or better where a woodpecker has made a hole in the tree. The spec for the bluebird in the wild is a lot different.”

Consultations are Confidential and Free.

434-263-4141 All Client calls returned within 24 Business Hours.

Office Located on the Courthouse Grounds, Lovingston. nicksatlaw.com

Pack A Picnic!

MAC’S Country Store FRIED CHICKEN The Best Around Paul is right. A bluebird shelter in the wild looks nothing like this cozy contemporary perched on a post. The slope of the roof is exactly 20 degrees. Paul bore the hole with a bit about 1.5 inches wide. He even cut ridges along the inside of a board so that the young birds would have something to grip as they climbed in and out. But as a man who spent his career putting people in space, Paul appreciates the time and effort spent into design.

“I think mostly what I learned from my NASA experience was if you’re going to take the time to do something, do it right the first time. Don’t fool around and cut yourself short because you’re probably not cutting yourself short, you’re cutting somebody else short.

Somebody has spent a lot of time designing it, testing it, and doing things like that so when you put it together right …”

Whether it’s designing the spacecraft that sends a man to the moon or building a home for a bluebird. BRL

Conveniently located near Crabtree Falls, the Appalachian Trail, Wintergreen, & The Tye River Featuring a deli, homemade foods, Virginia products, local wines, seating for 14.

Combining 45 holes of golf with two completely different course layouts, Wintergreen offers a unique golf adventure.

Devils Knob is Wintergreen’s Member and resort guest exclusive mountaintop course.

Defined by tree lined fairways, speedy and undulating greens and perfect playing conditions, Devils Knob, at 3850 feet, offers the ultimate mountain golf experience.

Just a short drive down the mountain, Stoney Creek course boasts 27 holes of championship golf. The Rees Jones designed course provides challenge and opportunity using the Blue Ridge Mountains as its backdrop.

Whether you are looking for a day outing or an affordable overnight package, we invite you to come and enjoy the unique golf experience Wintergreen offers.

7023 Patrick Henry Hwy, Roseland

434-277-5305

855.245.5011

Mon-Sat 6am-8pm Sun 9am-8pm EXXON GAS 24/7

wintergreenresort.com

JUNE 2019

Blue Ridge LIFE

29

BRAIN BUILDERS

ANSWER KEY

30 30 30

Blue Ridge LIFE Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

NOVEMBER 2018 JUNE JUNE 2019 2019

n O k r o P r u Get Yo We’ve just stocked the freezer with a fresh batch of our chestnut-finished Maple Brook Farm pork!

BONE-IN PORK CHOPS: $9/ea (2 chops/pack) BRATWURST: $8/pack (4 jumbo links/pack) BREAKFAST LINKS: $7/pack (7 links/pack) GROUND PORK: $7/pack (1 lb pack) Available now at Tuckahoe Antiques on Rt. 151 in Nellysford.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

,

Yolks for Folks

Eggs picked daily by humans, laid by hens that enjoy a life on pasture, and nest on fluffy piles of hemp.

Sold by the dozen at Tuckahoe Antiques, Rt. 151 in Nellysford.

Maple Brook Farm ROSELAND, VIRGINIA

Where in my talent contract do I get royalties for use of this photo?

#hensonhemp JUNE JUNE 2019 2019

Blue Blue Ridge Ridge LIFE LIFE

31 31

InsistOnThatGirl.com

Marlo Allen

434-996-3525

Marlo Moves Property Marlo is selling more property in Nelson County than any other agent.

Pricing and marketing consultations are FREE! * Sales volume pulled from CAAR MLS from 1/1/19 to 5/15/19

NE

S TO

EEK

R YC

84 Hunters Pt; 3Br/3Ba; #590209; $487,000

Love where you live - architect designed contemporary on large, level parcel with mountain and fairway views!

Relax, entertain, or simply enjoy nature and views from the 1,000 sq ft of outdoor living areas with covered patio and porches. Interior is bright and open; great room has wrap around windows making it feel like a sunroom. High-end materials and finishes: SIPs construction for energy efficiency, Pella windows/doors, Kohler generator, Rinnai tankless hot water heater, 9’ and cathedral ceilings, wood floors, maple cabinets, Quartz countertops, 1st and 2nd floor masters, high speed internet; 30 min to Charlottesville.

ER

B FA

140 Rainbow Ridge Rd; 4Br/2Ba, 3.16 Acres; #590353; $269,000 NOT a cookie cutter home! Features: attached greenhouse/solarium, vaulted ceiling, wood floors, wood stove, stained glass and transom windows, living or great room open to kitchen and dining, extra den or study, spacious bedrooms, attached storage with root cellar. Enjoy mountain and pastoral views especially in the winter, creek in back woods, and multiple garden sites. Has fiber optic internet! 10 minutes to Nellysford.

Livebeautifully in Nelson County Marlo G. Allen, Assoc. Broker 434-996-3525 InsistOnThatGirl.com

434-996-3525 Blue Ridge LIFE

Marlo Allen

InsistOnThatGirl.com JUNE 2019