Country Spirit Magazine Fall 2018

Piedmont Media, llc

Fall 2018

Kiernan Slater And Chris Patusky Celebrate Slater Run Vineyards’ Harvest

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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SM.Country Spirit 8/18

7/26/18

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Mount Gordon Farm

Fidelio

Old Goose Creek Farm

The Plains, Virginia • $9,850,000

The Plains, Virginia • $9,500,000

Middleburg, Virginia • $4,500,000

128 acres and immaculate 3 level, 13,000+ sq ft stone & shingle main house • 5 BR • 8 FP • Exceptional finishes on every floor • Caterer's kitchen • Elevator • Spa • Separate guest cottage • Pool • Farm manager residence • 3 additional tenant houses • 12 stall center-aisle stable • Pond • Extraordinary land with incomparable views extending beyond the Blue Ridge Mts • Orange County Hunt Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Prime Fauquier County location minutes from Middleburg • Unbelievable finishes throughout • Antique floors and mantels, vaulted ceilings • 6 bedrooms, 5 full, 2 half baths • 6 fireplaces, gourmet kitchen • Improvements include office/studio, stone cottage with office, spa, guest house, pool and lighted tennis court • Landscaped grounds with stream, waterfalls, boxwood and special plantings • 61 acres Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Pristine equestrian property in turnkey condition • Exceptional location • Stone home expanded to approx. 7,000 sf. includes 4 main level suites • Lovely gardens, pool, garage apartment & pond • Blackburn designed 6 stall stable with 70x210 indoor arena includes observation deck, tack room, 2 wash stalls & office • Additional 4 stall barn • Entire property is fenced and cross fenced on 26 acres & 8 paddocks Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Salem Hill

Crest Hill

Mayapple Farm

Marshall, Virginia • $3,690,000

Hume, Virginia • $3,600,000

Middleburg, Virginia • $3,400,000

Prime Fauquier location, well protected • 6 bedrooms • 4 full and 2 half baths • 3 fireplaces • Great views • Pool with large flagstone terrace • Large county kitchen • 4-car detached garage with apartment/office • 9-stall barn • Covered arena • Outdoor ring • 4 stall shed row barn • 51 fenced acres Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

203 acres in Fauquier w/nearly 1 mile of Rappahannock river frontage • Elegant stone & clapboard house • 5 BR, 4 full & 3 1/2 BA • 4 FP • Wood floors • Gourmet kitchen • Gunnite pool with stunning views overlooking Blue Ridge Mtns and private pond • Situated amongst protected properties • 5 stall Jim Fletcher barn with pristinely maintained paddocks, pasture and gdns • 2 car garage with in-law suite • Old Dominion Hunt territory • VOF Easement Alix Coolidge (703) 625-1724

“Mayapple Farm," purist delight • Original portion of house built in 1790 in Preston City, CT • House was dismantled and rebuilt at current site • Detail of work is museum quality • Log wing moved to site from Western Virginia circa 1830 • 4 BR, 4 full BA, 2 half BA, 9 FP & detached 2-car garage • Historic stone bank barn and log shed moved from Leesburg, VA • Private, minutes from town • Frontage on Goose Creek • 37.65 acres Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Game Creek

Waverly

Belvedere

Middleburg, Virginia • $2,985,000

The Plains, Virginia • $2,950,000

Middleburg, Virginia • $1,950,000

A remarkable property located within a private enclave just minutes from town • Stone and stucco manor house with main level master suite • 7 additional BR • 5 stone FP • Beautiful gardens, terraces, salt water pool, cabana, carriage house & stable with 2 paddocks • Lovely finishes throughout & sweeping lawn to private trails to Goose Creek • 31 acres • Private, elegant & convenient Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Circa 1755, prime Fauquier County location, between Middleburg and The Plains • Additions in early 1800's & 1943 • Home recently restored • 62 gently rolling acres in Orange County Hunt • 4 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, 6 fireplaces • Improvements include salt water pool, pool house, large party house/studio, 2 tenant houses, stone walls and pond Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Gracious home with 5 BRs • Gourmet kitchen • Two-story floor-to-ceiling window display of the Blue Ridge Mountains • 3 FPs, coffered ceilings, random width rustic cherry floors • Large home office, gym, rec room, multiple porches and patios • Three finished stories, approx. 10,000 sf. • Carriage house • Garage • Privately situated on 27 acres Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930 Margaret Carroll (540) 454-0650

Piece of Heaven

Peace, Love & Joy Farm

Harmony Creek

Marshall, Virginia • $1,680,000

Warrenton, Virginia • $1,650,000

Hume, Virginia • $1,650,000

Absolutely impeccable custom home on 50 acres with lake frontage 10 minutes from Marshall • Beautiful millwork, extensive plantings, porches & terraces • Fantastic mountain views from oversized windows, rolling pasture & private dock • 5 bedrooms, 3 fireplaces, hardwood floors • Extremely well built home with endless amenities • Very special home in pristine condition Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

A long hard surfaced driveway leads to this special home built in 1985 • 6 bedrooms, 5 1/2 baths, 5 fireplaces • High ceilings, large rooms with good flow • Formal garden overlooks Carters Run. Large pond • Pool with pool house • Barn could have 4 stalls • Rolling land, very private - yet very close to Warrenton Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

Hilltop setting with beautiful distant views • Farm house circa 1920, completely restored and enlarged • 3BR, 3 BA, 2 fireplaces, wood floors, large country kitchen • 129.15 rolling & useable acres • Improvements include 3-bay equipment shed/work shop, guest house, 4-stall barn complex, riding ring, spring-fed pond and stream Paul MacMahon (703) 609-1905

110 East Washington St. • P.O. Box 1380 Middleburg, Virginia 20118 (540) 687-5588

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

info@sheridanmacmahon.com www.sheridanmacmahon.com

Editor’s Note:

Wine Time

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Best

20I7

I’ll admit it. When it comes to wine, I’ve always been something of a Troglodyte.

As a kid growing up on Long Island, I knew mostly about Manischewitz wine, which was always served on important Jewish holidays. It was a sweet Concord wine that was kosher for Passover and had catchy, kitschy advertising slogan: ”Man-O-Manischewitz What a Wine!” Add a little seltzer, and what a grape soda, too, with just a hint of a kick.

In college in the ‘60s, for a mule of a kick, it was on to Leonard Shapiro Thunderbird, Ripple, or Boone’s Farm. All three of my favorites, I later discovered, were the cheap adult beverage of choice for degenerate winos worldwide. In my 20s, I graduated to a far more sophisticated approach—Lancers in those distinctive rust-colored clay type bottles, or Mateus, in the decorative round containers.

As I’ve grow older, I’ve also learned a bit more, at least enough to know I prefer a Pino Grigio to a Chardonnay, a Merlot over a Bordeaux. I also definitely now agree with my late father-in-law, Dr. Charles Moon, who fancied himself something of a wine connoisseur, and always liked to say that grapes were truly wasted on jelly.

And now, after many years living out in the Middleburg area, I’ve also grown accustomed to seeing countless vineyards spring up here, there and everywhere in Loudoun, Fauquier and so many other Commonwealth counties far and wide.

And so, dear reader, this fall issue of Country Spirit, which comes out right at the height of the grape harvesting season, offers an intoxicating blend of stories focusing on the local wine scene, several of them written by Peter Leonard-Morgan.

Here’s the short-version bio: a Brit, a fine former rugby player and airplane broker who now works in real estate out of Hunt Country Sotheby’s (soon to open a Middleburg office). And, oh yes, he’s also a valuable member of the Middleburg Town Council, where water, not wine, is served at meetings, but of course.

Peter has signed on as our regular wine columnist, and we’re thrilled to have him join our team. And equally delighted to have Chris Patusky and his wife, Kiernan, on our cover, as well. They own Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville, and wait until you hear how a Harvard Law School trained attorney (Chris) and his English major wife, with a Master’s degree and successful career as a college writing instructor, ended up growing grapes.

And rest assured, there’s lots more non-alcoholic fare being served up in this issue, as well.

Remember Mike Tate, the last owner of the still much-missed Coach Stop in Middleburg? He’s now got his dream job, only a few miles from the restaurant where he began working in high school How about Alice Frazier, who started her own career at the Middleburg Bank and now is president of The Bank of Charles Town.

One of the oldest churches in Fauquier County has a unique graveyard in Upperville featuring headstones on top, but no remains down below. Sebastian Langenberg sorts it all out. Leslie VanSant has a lovely piece on the latest production from Middleburg’s “A Place To Be.” And Mara Seaforest writes about a rather unique local institution, Tri-County Feeds, celebrating its 40th anniversary next month.

And it’s not just about the feed.

There’s a whole lot more to savor, so kick back, maybe even pour yourself a glass of Chateau Whatever and Catch The Spirit.

Leonard Shapiro Editor badgerlen@aol.com

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540.347.0765 Warrenton | 540.825.6332 Culpeper 703.754.3301 Gainesville | 540.645.6229 Fredericksburg AC CountrySpirits_Ad.indd 1

10:30 AM3 Country Spirit • Fall8/1/18 2018

COVER PHOTO

Published 6 times a year by Piedmont Media, LLC

MIDDLEBURG COMMON GROUNDS

School Days, School Days...

ADDRESS 41 Culpeper Street Warrenton, Virginia 20186 PHONE: 540-347-4222 FAX: 540-349-8676

Let your learning lead to making a positive difference!

Publisher: Catherine M. Nelson, cnelson@fauquier.com Editor: Leonard Shapiro, badgerlen@aol.com Style editor: Barbara Sharp Entertainment editor: Emily Tyler Editor-in-chief: Chris Six, 540-212-6331, csix@fauquier.com Page designer: Taylor Dabney, tdabney@fauquier.com Contributing photographers: Caroline Fout, Missy Janes, Douglas Lees, Middleburg Photo, Crowell Hadden

How much fun was this month’s cover shoot? Just ask our photographers, Karen Monroe and Doug Gehlsen of Middleburg Photo. When our main mission of capturing Kiernan Slater and Chris Patusky was accomplished, we gathered for detailed shots of the bottles, signage and more.

And what more is a photographer to do when gifted all this lovely Breakfast & Lunch Coffee, Tea, “Some of us approach wealth planning by leaving it entirely to wine from Slater Run? Served All Day Beer & Wine “Some of us approach wealth planning it entirely to what it is they have the ‘experts, ’ often by notleaving fully understanding Well. the ‘experts,’ often notrecommended fully understanding what it is they have do, while some of us throw up our hands an Bottoms up, cheers and thanks recommended we do, while some ofwe us throw upwise. our” hands and do nothing.Street Neither•way is very to all.

114 W. Washington Middleburg, VA • 540.687.7065

Planning WealthWealth Planning You Can On Build On You Can Build Wealth Planning You Can Build On Wealth Planning You Can Build On Wealth Planning Wealth Planning You Can Build On You Can Build On

Contributing writers: Justin Haefner, Sebastian Langenberg, Sophie Langenberg, Lizzie Catherwood, Pat Reilly, Missy Janes, Caroline Fout, Sean Clancy, Megan Catherwood, M.J. McAteer, Jimmy Wofford Advertising director: Kathy Mills Godfrey, 540-351-1162 kgodfrey@fauquier.com

Ad designers: Cindy Goff, cgoff@fauquier.com Taylor Dabney, tdabney@fauquier.com Annamaria Ward, award@fauquier.com Sawyer Guinn, sguinn@fauquier.com

For advertising inquiries contact Leonard Shapiro at badgerlen@aol.com or 410-570-8447

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Greg and Charles Ellison

4

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PICKUP:

Car Talk: Spare Me the Details and Show Me the Color

By Carol Butler

As I enter the showroom, I’m approached by a car salesman – Lou. He wants to know if he can help me. If only he could.

To Lou, I look like a calm person, although a bit confused. He notices that I’m practicing breathing and that I don’t exactly make eye contact. He deduces that I’m probably nervous because I don’t know what kind of car I want or how to buy a car or how to get a good deal.

Lou begins to chitchat about the weather, what kind of car I drive now, whether I have a large family, dogs, or babies. He talks about horsepower, roll bars, wheel suspension, and the weight of the car. He talks about anti-lock brakes, climate control, four wheel drive and bluetooth.

No reaction from me. (I don’t tell him I’ve been driving the same kind of car for 20 years. I KNOW all about the car).

He talks about seat control with back support, XM radio, leather seats, power everything and finally the price. He explains that I won’t be able to buy this kind of car ANYWHERE cheaper than he can sell it to me. He’s willing to “lose money” on me because he’s done so well on the last three cars he sold and because he’s, well, just plain in a good mood.

No reaction.

All the time he’s talking, there’s a little monster inside my head dying to get out so it can scream, “IT’S NOT THE MONEY STUPID, IT’S THE COLOR.” He’s talking gas mileage, and I’m thinking – blue with tan interior.”

He’s talking airbags, and I’m thinking, “silver with grey interior.”

He’s speaking lease-or-buy language, and I’m thinking, “green, with black interior.”

Finally, in total desperation, he asks, “What color do you like?”

That’s when I hear something familiar, like the sound of my name when I’m coming out from under anesthesia. After about the third time, I realize he’s speaking to me about something I can relate to. I think that any minute he’s going to say, “Carol, can you hear me?”

But, just in the nick of time. I emerge from semi-consciousness. I understand that he’s asked about the color and he thinks he understands that he’s finally hit the jackpot.

He smiles.

He knows now that we’re not talking about what kind of car to buy or where to buy it. Once he’s identified the problem, he’s on the home stretch.

It’s not that I’m not a deeply, deep person. I spend a lot of time thinking about war, bio-technology, social injustice, politics, the moral and right and healthy way to live.

It’s just that I do those things better when my car is the right color.

Ask me about the economy, real estate, cutting horses, or Faulkner.

Talk to me about France, gardening, CPR, abortion, the filibuster, or Steinbeck. Just don’t ask me what color car I want.

What color suits my personality?

(I have several versions of my personality which may be the root of the problem.) Lou walks me through the happy colors, the sophisticated colors, the calm colors, the show-off colors and the safe colors.

Colors are a problem for me. I don’t want to stay in a hotel room that’s been decorated in red.

I don’t want yellow flowers in my garden and I get nervous when I have too many choices.

I’m sure I’m going to hell and when I get there, it will be filled with thousands of fabric swatches.

(In the 28 years of my marriage, we’ve never been swatch-free).

I finally managed to put down a deposit on a silver car with dark grey interior. The safe one.

I shake Lou’s hand and leave with a slight smile on my face. He looks a little like he’s had general anesthesia himself.

“Lou, Lou, can you hear me?”

E IC ED PRDUC RE

FIVE POINTS RD, THE PLAINS

450 ACRES | Offered at $6,300,000 Legacy Farm now available! 450 acres in Orange County Hunt’s most prized territory. Build your dream estate amidst rolling, park-like fields and stone walls, a lazy little creek (Cromwells Run) and framed by unmatched mountain views. The property is in a conservation and fox-hunting easement.

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

23460 SALLY MILL RD, MIDDLEBURG

25 ACRES | 4 BR | 4 BA | Offered at $1,695,000 Deer Creek -Just east of Middleburg off a quiet state road, you’ll find a beautiful Colonial boasting four fireplaces, pool, guest house, three stall stable, five paddocks on 25 acres bordered by Little River. Much of surrounding area in conservation easements. The charming village of Middleburg is three miles away.

Ted Eldredge (571) 233-9978

21004 WILLISVILLE RD, BLUEMONT

50 ACRES | 5 BR | 3.5 BA | Offered at $2,399,000 Custom 5000+ sq ft home on 50 acres with gorgeous views! Open floor plan in European Country design. Gourmet chef’s kitchen, sunken living room, den and sunroom. Main level master suite and full walk-out basement. Outdoor features include flagstone porches, heated pool, 2 car garage with 1 bed apartment above.

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

4350 FAUQUIER AVE, THE PLAINS

4 ACRES | 6 BR | 6 BA | Offered at $1,250,000 Small town living in horse country near restaurants & shops. Upgrades include: kitchen/ bar, window replacement, enclosed outdoor garden, painted roof, tank-less water system & more. Front & back outdoor porches. Lovely garden. Easy access to I-66. B&B possibility.

Peter Pejacsevich (540) 270-3835

Scott Buzzelli (540) 454-1399

39984 BRADDOCK RD, ALDIE

27 ACRES | 6 BR | 5 BA | Offered at $1,795,000 6,300+ s/f custom stone chateau. 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. Equestrian’s dream!

Scott Buzzelli (540) 454-1399

Peter Pejacsevich (540) 270-3835

23308 MERSEY RD, MIDDLEBURG

4 ACRES | 4 BR | 3/1 BA | Offered at $899,000 Updated colonial perfect for comfortable family living. Wood floors throughout, spacious and airy rooms and a large sunporch are some of the special features of this home. Unique large living room with built in shelves surrounding a stone fireplace. Master suite and gourmet kitchen. Wonderful lot with plenty of privacy.

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

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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An Inspiring Love Story for a Gifted Performing Princess

By Leslie VanSant

Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story, the kind where people find inner strengths to accept differences, overcome adversities and changing minds all the while winning hearts and falling in love?

A princess story.

This fall, the Middleburgbased non-profit music therapy organization, A Place To Be, will premier its newest and eighth production under “Abira and the Mountain” will be presented by A the Same Sky Project: “Abira Place to Be throughout Loudoun County middle and the Mountain,” at middle schools this fall. It will go on stage in Middleschools in Loudoun County. burg on Sunday, October 7 at The Hill School.

It’s a story about coming of age, finding yourself, indecome from the same schools the tour pendence and love. Yes, a classic prinvisits, so they are performing for their cess story. friends and teachers.

A Place To Be (APTB) conceived “This year’s show, “Abira and the the Same Sky Project seven years Mountain,” is different. It’s the most ago in conjunction with Loudoun complex Same Sky show in set and County Public Schools (LCPS) to produce and present traveling musi- costume design. The music has an cal productions that would advocate Appalachia feel. But most imporfor and promote messages of empa- tantly, this is Amy’s story.”

Amy Stone, a long-time client of thy, love, inclusion and inspiration APTB, not only came up with the through music and performance. concept, but also plays the lead charThe Same Sky formula is the acter, Abira, who faces the struggles same—theatrical and musical produccommon to all young women: the tion followed by a discussion session desire to be independent, to be strong with students. The story lines vary, and see the world, and to love and be but all provide a safe environment to loved in return.

The difference is that embrace differences. In the nearly decade since, more than 60,000 students, Abira, which means strength in both primarily at LCPS, have engaged with Hebrew and Arabic, meets her challenges from a wheelchair. and learned from the shows.

Amy Stone has cerebral palsy and If you have seen any prior years is in a wheelchair.

Same Sky Project shows, such as “I always wanted there to be a “Behind the Label,” or A Will to Disney princess in a wheelchair that Survive” or “One Second of Grace,” little girls in chairs could look up to,” you know they address important isAmy said.

“It’s been a long struggle sues such as mental health, teen suito accept myself and find my purpose cide and acceptance. from a wheelchair.

There were no Theatrical concepts, scripts and music for the Same Sky would be primar- strong characters in wheelchairs to ily developed by APTB co-founders provide that role model for self-acTom Sweitzer and Kim Tapper. Using ceptance, so I wanted to create one.”

Amy and her boyfriend, Ryan simple sets and props, the productions would feature clients of APTB’s music Perry, who plays the male lead, came therapy programs, and give them an up with the concept together. Perry opportunity to use their voices to self- shared it with Sweitzer, who asked if he could develop it into a full proadvocate, educate and inspire others.

“But don’t forget, this is theater,” duction, so Perry composed and performs the music during the show.

Sweitzer said.

When asked if she’s nervous, Amy Same Sky productions usually have up to 25 actors in each show. replied, “yes, but I am humbled to know Rehearsals start in September and that my story might be able to open after five weeks, performances begin people’s eyes and help them see that life isn’t always going to be easy. You can at schools across Loudoun County.

“For some of the actors, this is their find allies in almost any situation.”

To learn more about APTB’s misfirst time performing. For most of the actors, this is their first time touring sion, programs and services including a show,” Sweitzer said. “It’s both em- the Same Sky Project, visit their webpowering and enabling because many site, http://www.aplacetobeva.org.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

7

Upperville

By Sebastian Langenberg

The United Methodist Church in Upperville has an interesting and surprising story that sometimes seems as if it’s historical fiction.

When visitors first walk up to the church, they see rows of tombstones on either side of the building, a total of 52 in all and most dating back to folks born in the late 1700s or the early 1800s.

That’s not all that strange at first glance, but those stones do not actually mark the graves, believed to be far behind and to the west of the church..

“Many years ago, and I’ve been going to this church for 49 years, so before my time, some minister decided to move the tombstones up here,” said John Lloyd, chairman of the church’s board.

“The actual graves are likely behind the church, but they’re now unmarked. Their location will most likely remain a mystery.”

It’s the oldest church in Upperville, completed in 1833, seven years prior to the opening of Trinity Episcopal. Over the last 185 years, the old church has its own unique history, including Union soldiers occupying the building and using the first floor as a stable for their horses during the Civil War “The balcony was used as a hospital,” Lloyd said. “It was pretty much destroyed during the war.”

The floor has since been refinished many times, but look closely enough, you might just see a hoofprint. Originally, the balcony stretched across the

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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United Methodist Has a Rich History entire room and was the seating area for slaves. part of this tradition, because the open house tour When the balcony was rebuilt many years after starts there with hymnal singing. the war, it was only extended by a few rows and it Upperville United Methodist also has a talentstill houses a few of the original benches. ed young music director and organist, Jack Wood, The church was one of who routinely organizes the earliest to have heatconcerts in the church. This ing, certainly a luxury in the past spring, the Ashby Run mid-19th century. The walls Bluegrass band performed a actually have small flues to free concert in conjunction vent the smoke from the with a hot dog cookout. crawlspace to the outside.

“If people want to get Luckily, this has long been married here, we’re glad for upgraded with a modern oil them to do so,” said Lloyd. furnace.

In fact, they’re so delighted Upperville United Methto have people share this odist is one of four active special moment in their churches in the village, church, they offer use of the and they all work together building for the ceremony to help the community. At completely free of charge.

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Upperville United MethValentine’s Day, and Easodist is now looking into the ter, parishioners from all possibility of expanding and the churches prepare generis actively in a fundraising ous food baskets and deliver drive. Plans call for building them to the local needy. an accessory dwelling that Even the Upperville horse will hold a meeting hall, reshow donates to their cause. strooms and a kitchen and will match the historic Each year during Christmas, several Upper- federalist style of the main building.

25102 are Country Spirit AUG 1 7/19/18 12:03 PM And most important of all, services are held ville homes decorated to2018.ai the nines and open their door to visitors. The church is an integral Sundays at 9 a.m.

PHOTOS BY VICKY MOON

The 52 tombstones in front of the United Methodist Church in Upperville are somewhat of a mystery.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

9

Inside the Big Dog Pots facility is a colorful display of all types of creativity.

For the Love of Dogs and Clay: Lori Langford and Big Dog Pots Pottery

By Caroline Fout

The spaces between your fingers are meant to be filled with mine.

Lori Langford, owner of Big Dog Pots Pottery studio in Marshall, has a love for all things furry. That would explain why her dogs, Max and Daisy, are the scruffy stars of the studio’s logo.

Her passion doesn’t stop there, however, because large portion of the studio’s proceeds goes to numerous local animal shelters.

“I have always had a deep connection to animals,” she said. “It brings me tremendous joy and peace to approach an animal and know that they know that I’m a friend, We’ve rescued numerous animals over the years.”

When she started as a potter, Langford exhibited her work at art shows, donating all her proceeds to local shelters, a trend that would continue on into the expansion of her business.

“I became known as the Dog Pot Woman,” she said, “ and that turned into Big Dog Pots.”

The Dog Pot Woman found her passion for animals and crafts at a summer camp in West Virginia, at age six. r MeditationRings are based on the ancient Tibetan Prayer Wheels. The practice of turning the prayer “We always did crafts there, I loved craft-making,”she said. “I also heel helps increase good karma and purify negative thoughts. Based upon these same principles our MeditationRings are designed to have one or several outer bands that you can physically spin aroundstudied geology at Guilford College actual ring, this is said to bring the wearer good luck and fortune and a sense of serenity and peace.” and have always been awestruck by the forces of nature.”

That interest in nature and her inherent creativity would quickly develop into learning stained glass-making.

“My husband (Hugh) and I began doing stained glass as a hobby about 30 years ago,” she said. “I would do the overall layout, color choices and soldering. He would cut the glass.

I’m fascinated by the physical process of taking either glass or clay and manipulating it, firing it and seeing what comes out of the kiln.

“I began pottery after I lost my mother suddenly in 2007. I was grief-stricken and, at my husband’s 524 Fletcher Dr, Warrenton, VA 20186 • (540) 341-8840 • warrentonjewelers.com continued encouragement, I tried working with clay. It became an ad-

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

diction, and it was the right thing at the right time. For 11 years I couldn’t be away from the clay for more than two to three days or I’d get uneasy.”

Hugh built her a studio near their home in 2008. Then again, in 2012, he built a second, larger studio on their property. Later that year, they purchased a late 1800s era house on East Main Street in Marshall. Four years later, the renovated studio space received its most recent expansion.

Big Dog Pots now has 3,000 square feet of additional space, seating for 50, room for expanded events, a new private party room, a new glass room and the addition of stained glass classes.

“We never had any doubts,” she said. “Since the first day we opened the community has been so supportive and the business was very well-received.”

Langford has created most of the pieces displayed in the studio’s gallery room herself.

“I make pieces as I’m inspired,” she said. “I’m not a production potter, so each of my pieces is unique, and my interests grow and change from week to week, I wake up every morning with a list of things I’m excited about trying.”.

Big Dog Pots offers a number of classes and workshops, ranging from stained glass, hand-building with clay, canvas and pottery painting, and wheel throwing. Between 15-20 local artists also call the studio their home.

With her business, she’s done more than follow her own passion for all things creative and furry.

She’s given the community a chance to share in it as well.

“I’m a prolific potter, and I’ve always loved animals,” Langford said.

“The love you give to them is always surpassed by the unconditional love they give to you.”

For more information, visit bigdogpots.net, or their online shop at www. etsy.com/shop/Bigdogpots.

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

11

For Lena Lundh, It’s All About Making Music in the Country

By Leonard Shapiro

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

For Lena Lundh, it’s always been about the music, all that sweet music.

Growing up in her native Sweden, the daughter of an architect father and an artist mother, her family’s home was always filled with the sounds of music.

They all sang in school and church choirs. Young Lena learned to play the piano.

The classics were almost always on the radio, or spinning on a turntable.

“We would have these little music nights at our home,” Lundh recalled in a recent interview at her home near Marshall. “People came over. We would PHOTO BY CROWELL HADDEN sing. I played the piano.

Lena Lundh hits all the right notes.

My father would read poetry. Our family did it in a very simple way.”

The mission also included givLundh moved to America in her ing those “young musicians support 20s, and music continued to play to perform on WPA’s concert series a significant role in her life, along at the Kennedy Center. Our intent with her distinguished career as a was also to support WPA music partner in the architectural firm Da- education programs for D.C. public vis, Carter Scott based in Reston. schools.”

Founded 45 years ago, it’s now one Clearly, it’s been mission accomof the largest locally-owned archi- plished on all fronts, including WPA tectural companies in the Washing- providing musical instruments for a ton area. financially-strapped D.C. school Lundh remains a highly sought- system that had drastically cut back after architectural designer, while at its music programs. the same time taking great care to “Music in the Country” organizkeep nurturing her musical roots. ers initially sent out 200 invitations These days, she’s chairman of the and were stunned by the response.

Grace Episcopal’s concert series, a The 80 available spaces quickly sold popular program that brings world- out, with a huge waiting list to hear class musicians to The Plains church. music performed, as Lundh said, In 1996, she became affiliated with “as it was historically intended in Washington Performing Arts, and chambers, private living rooms and over the years has been exposed to salons.” a wide variety of talented, worldThe Grace Church concerts began class musicians, many of them now 19 years ago with a $200,000 grant friends. from philanthropist Jackie Mars.

She chaired the WPA board for Lundh was asked to chair the series, two years and has been a long-time and she’s been at the helm ever since. board member, as well. In 2005, She clearly derives great satisfacLundh and some neighbors in the tion knowing that many of the young Middleburg area started a program artists who have performed locally called “Music in the Country,” a se- have since gone on to successful caries of afternoon concerts put on at reers on some of the world’s largest various local homes. stages. When they do come to the “I wanted to bring a similar cali- country, some of those budding stars ber of music out to the country where often stay with Lena and her huswe live,” Scott wrote in 2015 when band Lennart Lundh, a long-time the group celebrated its tenth anni- Swedish journalist and broadcaster.

“Some of these young emerging versary. “Our mission was to provide exemplary music for our friends and artists, if they are really exceptional, residents, to nurture emerging art- we also get them to play the Kennedy ists by giving them an opportunity Center,” Lena said. “It’s the first step to shine at the magnificent homes of for many of them to do something really big. It’s been very rewarding.” our friends.”

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

13

The Cow Jumped Over The Moon

Hey, diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle, The cow jumped over the moon;

By Vicky Moon

At first glance the black and white cows grazing, in a pasture off Zulla Road not far from Middleburg, look as if they either jumped over the moon and missed, or they swallowed the moon.

These endearing Scottish Belted Galloways live at Cheree Nichole’s Holly Hill Farm. We first visited in the winter, and the “Belties” were very fluffy. They’re known for their double hair coat, a rich dark brown underneath with a second coat of longer black hair. The first layer repels cold, the 14

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

longer black hair can grow to five or six inches in the chill.

Nichole gets up close and personal when she offers feed to her herd from the back of her pickup truck. She purchased the 50-acre farm in October, 2012 because, she said, “I wanted to live in a village where everyone lived and breathed horses.”

While driving north from South Carolina to visit Holly Hill, she saw the cows and “I was hooked.”

Horses have always been her life and she brought with her four imports from four different breeds: an Irish Sporthorse she hunts, and three others she has ridden successfully in dressage competitions: a Swedish Warmblood, Dutch Warmblood and an Oldenburg from Germany.

But, for now, it’s all about cows.

“When I first drove into Holly Hill, alongside the drive, there was a deep pool of water where the Belted Galloways would stand to keep themselves cool,” she wrote in a recent email. “It was my first

exposure to the serenity and restorative quality that is Holly Hill.”

“The same two Belted Galloways still live here.

They are not really ‘good for anything’ as the world might proclaim. But to me they represent the beauty of the land, the precious responsibility of stewardship that God has given me for this time.”

On a recent spring day, a Black Angus called “One Hundred” had gone rogue and jumped out over a five-foot fence into the next field. Nichole climbed over and high stepped through the tall grass to get him back with the others. When she bought the farm, he was already there and she kept him.

She described her bovine education as a “learning curve.”

“The Belted are sweet and non-jumping,” she said climbing back into her ATV “I’ve always loved them. They are super, super sweet. I can literally pet them. My goal is to provide for them an environment that’s true to their nature, to who

2.

1.

4.

3. and how God created them to be.”

Since buying the farm, Nichole has made many improvements, including erecting three crosses on a hill out back. She rebuilt a barn, added fences and stone walls and melted it all into contiguous pastures. She moved a stream and added cattle waterers, a well and septic. She credits the Piedmont Environmental Council for their input in refurbishing the grazing as well as cattleman and Virginia Delegate Michael Webert for his expertise on hay and grass.

“My cattle roam freely. They’ll never be slaughtered for meat that we, as humans, have no need to consume,” she wrote. “My horses are not penned in 10x10 boxes all day for my convenience, at hand for a ride whenever I choose, kept clean and impressive to guests.

“My horses are free to move in and out of enclosures as they feel necessary. They get dirty.

Their tails are not always coifed. That’s okay. I

1. This baby Beltie has not yet jumped over the moon.

2. Most Belted Galloways are easily identified by the white midriff.

3. In the summer Cheree Nichole gives her herd a bit of fly spray.

4. In the winter Cheree Nichole gives her herd some grain from the back of her truck.

PHOTOS BY VICKY MOON

give them baths, brush out their tails, etc. when needed.”

As for her cows: she now has eight with a possible ninth when another baby Beltie arrives.

“They grace the back fields of Holly Hill. They lay there under the crosses, often times at sunset, and remind me of what a gift we have in life; what a gift it is to live on this planet and what a responsibility we have to care for our animals, to care for each other, to honor our God.” “Life is a gift,” Cheree Nichole says.

To which we add: The little dog laughed To see such sport, And the dish ran away with the spoon.

– unknown, 1765 Belties come in many variations of white and black.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

15

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Ann MacLeod Still

By Leonard Shapiro

As always, Ann MacLeod was right where she belonged a few weeks ago – sitting in her clubhouse box overlooking the finish line on opening day at the Saratoga Race Course.

Old habits are hard to break, don’t you know.

“The Widow,” as she’s affectionately known to her legion of friends back home in Upperville, was celebrating 60 years since she first started coming to “The Spa” and its iconic thoroughbred racetrack. It’s quite a Ripken-esque iron-woman streak, only because she had to miss one year to give birth to her son, Colin Bruce.

Now 96, MacLeod has been a Saratoga fixture since 1958. She goes there to watch the races, to regularly attend concerts, plays and the ballet at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and to play lawn tennis on the grass courts at the Saratoga Golf and Polo Club.

She did all of the above, including the tennis, during her threeweek stay. Back in Virginia, she has a regular doubles game at The Middleburg Tennis Club at least three tines a week, and sometimes four if an emergency replacement is needed at the last minute. She only lives a few miles away, and yes, of course, she drives herself, so hold the Miss Daisy.

A few years ago, before a morning tennis match in Saratoga against then jockey Jerry Bailey and his wife, MacLeod had a bit of strategic advice for her own partner before they took the court.

“Always lob the jockey,” she said.

MacLeod is a native of Staunton, Virginia. Her love affair with Saratoga began with her love affair with her late husband, Colin “Sandy” MacLeod, who passed away in 1977.

They owned a 150-acre farm in Upperville and bred racehorses. Sandy MacLeod also was a successful trainer, and for a good part of every year, they had barn space at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga.

Their own space back then was the 60-foot boat they lived on—The Dunvegan, built in 1924 and also the name of their Virginia farm. It was anchored at Lookout Point on Long Island, conveniently located for short, 20-minute commutes to the nearby racetracks.

For Saratoga, the MacLeods embarked on a three-day cruise that included chugging out briefly to the ocean, making their way to the Hudson River and then heading upstate to Schuylerville. They docked the boat there for Saratoga’s summer race meet, only a 10-mile drive from the track.

Ann MacLeod with her late husband Sandy MacLeod.

“It was a wonderful time,” MacLeod said the other day, “and we always loved Saratoga. Sandy’s family had a box there going back to 1932.

There’s so much to do in Saratoga, and over the years I’ve made so many friends. I know so many Saratogians, and it’s just a fabulous place to be.”

After her husband’s death, the Dunvegan was sold and MacLeod spent her upstate nights on dry land at several locations around town.

For many years, she shared a small house that was always easy to find.

Saratoga Strong at 96

COURTESY PHOTOS

Ann MacLeod has occupied her box on opening day at the Saratoga Race Course all but one year since 1958. The only exception – when she couldn’t attend due to the birth of her son, Colin Bruce. That box also has attracted some intriguing guests. One afternoon, Al Pacino was sent over by a neighboring patron who apparently ran out of seats. MacLeod, of Upperville, VA., had a spirited conversation with Pacino, then later asked a friend “who was that guy, anyway?”

You only had to look for the gaggle of plastic pink flamingos she stuck in the ground out front, far easier to spot than the smallish numbers on the house.

The last few racing seasons, she’s been staying in a home owned by a couple she met in church. And every day, after some morning tennis, she’s up in her box, usually surrounded by nearby patrons she’s known for years.

If anyone has extra guests, they all know someone nearby will probably have a spare seat or two for the spillover.

One afternoon a few years ago, a fellow with a thick New York accent dressed in a designer suit dropped by and sat down in MacLeod’s box.

Soon, they were engaged in a spirited conversation. At the time, MacLeod had no idea who she was talking to until a friend later told her she’d been yakking with Al Pacino.

MacLeod has made countless friends in the horse world, and one of her best pals is Lenny Hale, former

executive director for the NYRA who now lives in Baltimore. He drove her up to Saratoga this year, and another Virginia neighbor will take her back.

She’ll surely regale him with countless stories, maybe from her days as a CIA operative in Salzburg, Austria in the early 1950s, or her work as a Red Cross nurse in Europe during World War II, or how she helped save a historic Civil War bridge back home from greedy developers, or perhaps about her organizing her church group to feed the homeless in Washington, D.C. She still rides the church van into town with them, as well, and works the serving line.

For sure it’s been a rich, rewarding and fascinating life for Ann MacLeod, who also shows no signs of slowing down save for a little loss of hearing. She’ll surely be packing her Saratoga trunk in 2019 for her official 60th opening day. And she’ll surely find a little court time to lob another jockey, as well.

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17

H

By Emily Tyler

ere are two of my favorite summer party dishes because they are both made ahead and do not you require the stove.

Gravlax

Gravlax, loosely translated means buried salmon which is exactly what the Vikings did to preserve their catch centuries ago. It became popular in the 80’s and my mother, always up for a new adventure in cooking technique, joined in. Gravlax is so easy to make – with a short list of ingredients and just 3 days in your refrigerator the salmon becomes this lovely interplay of sweet and salty with the dill, gin and juniper berries adding an herbal overtone.

Serve it on dark bread with unsalted butter and lemon wedges as an hors d'oeuvre or a light lunch with potato salad, cucumbers dressed with seasoned rice vinegar and rye bread with butter. Make sure the salmon you use is of the freshest quality and let the fishmonger know you are serving it raw. This recipe is the one my mother would use.Makes about 80 slices – a great party dish for about 25 people 4 pound filet of salmon, skin on ¼ cup gin 10 juniper berries ¾ cup Kosher salt (if you use table salt or any fine salt it will become too salty) ¾ granulated sugar 1 tablespoon crushed black peppercorns 1 bunch fresh dill, stems removed Brown bread, unsalted butter and lemon wedges for serving • Remove any bones from the salmon • With plastic wrap, line a glass dish that can hold the filet without folding it, with sides at 18

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

least 1 inch high. Plastic wrap should hang over the sides of the dish.

• Place the salmon, skin side down in the glass dish and pour the gin evenly over top • Combine the crushed peppercorns, salt and sugar and sprinkle evenly over the fish, then lightly rub the mixture in making sure the peppercorns adhere.

• Sprinkle half the dill on top, reserving the remainder for serving • Wrap the overhanging plastic wrap over the salmon • Place a heavy skillet on top of the filet to weight the fish down evenly, adding canned good (or a brick) to the skillet • Place this in the back of the refrigerator on the lowest shelf (generally the coldest spot) and let it sit for a full 3 days.

• When ready to serve, take the salmon out of the plastic wrap, remove the dill sprigs and wipe off the juniper berry/salt mixture • Finely chop the reserved fresh dill and sprinkle on top the the salmon • With a long narrow, sharp knife, keeping the knife at a 30 degree angle, cut the salmon in very thin slices (do not include the skin) • Serve with brown bread, unsalted butter and lemon wedges if desired

soak for about 5 seconds, they will continue to soften and become pliable out of the water.

• Place a shrimp in the center of the rice paper, cut side down • Cover with a leaf of lettuce • Stack lengthwise a few strips each of cucumber, carrot, mango and red pepper • Add a few leaves of herbs and a bit of minced chive • Add a small handful of rice noodles • Fold the left and right side of the rice paper in on the filling • Fold the side nearest you over the filling and roll over the remaining side • Serve with the peanut sauce • If you are not serving right away, store in the refrigerator on a cookie sheet in a single layer with a damp paper towel covering them

These light spring rolls are a refreshing change from the usual fried variety – you can switch out the shrimp with slices of chicken breast or steak.

These can be done ahead or put everything out in bowls and allow your guests to create their own.

Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce

4 ounces dried vermicelli rice noodles, cooked to package directions, rinsed and drizzled with a small amount of oil to prevent sticking 8 rice papers (8.5 inches diameter) 8 large cooked shrimp, deveined and cut lengthwise in half.

An assortment of basil, cilantro and mint leaves, torn 8 butter lettuce leaves - usually grown hydroponically in a clamshell 2 tablespoons minced chives 1 cup English cucumbers in thin julienne strips 1 cup peeled carrot in thin julienne strips 1 cup ripe mango in thin julienne strips 1 cup red pepper in thin julienne strips

1 cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup hot water (may need more to thin to desired consistency) 3 tablespoons brown sugar 3 tablespoon soy sauce 2 limes, juice and zest 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated 2 teaspoons sesame oil

• Fill a large shallow bowl with warm tap water • Dip the rice papers one at a time and let them

• Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix, thin with additional hot water if needed

Peanut Sauce

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The plains ~ Classic VA manor home on 47+ acres with spectacular pastoral & mtn views off Zulla Rd. Fully renovated and is move-in ready with 4 Bedrooms and 5 Baths. No details spared. 100 yr. old hardwood floors, fieldstone floor to ceiling fireplace, high-end fixtures & appliances, 2 potential luxury Master Suites, fully finished Lower Level, great entertaining spaces inside & out. Geothermal heating & cooling. Turn-key farm is fenced for horses. Large machine shed easily converted to a barn. 2-car attached garage, 2 ponds and gorgeous pool complete the property! Located in the OCH territory. $2,650,000

The plains ~ Custom Federal residence with 6 BR, 7 BA’s on 2+ acres. High ceilings, hardwood, marble & antique ceramic tile floors, 7 fireplaces & exquisite details. Clive Christian Kitchen w/LaCornue stove & Breakfast Rm. Formal LR, DR, Library, Great Rm, Master BR Suite w/fireplace, luxury Bath, His & Her Walk-in Closets. Guest BR suite on 3rd level. Walkout LL has Family Room, Media Rm, Music Rm, Weight Rm, Wine Cellar, 2nd Kitchen, Guest BR Suite. Attached 3-car garage w/Apt. $2,195,000

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Middleburg ~ Own a piece of local history. Meticulously renovated c.1890 VA fieldstone manor house set on 94 acresonly 1 mile from town. Features formal Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room, gourmet kitchen, 3+ Bedrooms, 3½ Baths, Office & 2 porches. Original hardwood floors, 5 fireplaces & custom cabinetry throughout. Extensive landscaping includes 200+ new trees, rebuilt stonewalls & new driveway. Gardens, pool, 2 barns, workshop, old tenant house & 4-board fencing. 1 division allowed. $4,425,000

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warrenton ~ This fully renovated brick home by Swiss architect Henri de Heller in 1938 sits on 5+ professionally landscaped acresin 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. $1,575,000

Middleburg ~ Bring your company to 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

upperville ~ Stunning c. 1843 Greek Revival style home in historic village of Upperville. Classic center hall design with hardwood floors & double porches in front & back. Formal Dining Room & Living Room with fireplaces, Family Room, Kitchen, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, enclosed Sunporch for office or Bedroom. Upgrades include new electric, boiler, roof, gutters, windows, baths & kitchen, AC & water system, parking area, fences & landscaping. 2-car detached garage & potting shed.

Turn-key. Commercial or Residential. $890,000

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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. Move in ready! $699,000

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Clarke County ~ Enjoy peace & quiet in your chalet-style house on 15 acres atop Paris Mtn. Watch magnificent sunsets off the wrap-around deck with views of the Shenandoah Valley or hike the Appalachian Trail. Newer log cabin addition allows for 2 1st floor BR options with full BA. Kitchen opens to the Great Room with woodstove, cathedral ceiling. 3 BRs/1 BA on 2nd flr. Walk-out Lower Level has Rec. Room, sauna, 1⁄2 BA & storage. Ornamental trees, berry bushes & fenced vegetable garden. 2-car detached garage/workshop, pond and old tennis court. $450,000

Middleburg ~ Desire a Middleburg address? Then build your dream home on one of 3 parcels available on 3 or 4+ acre parcels just East of town. Located in an area of lovely homes just South off Rte 50 at the corner of Sally Mill Road. Settings offer cleared home sites with pastoral views. Ideal commuter location w/EZ access to both Dulles Int'l Airport & downtown DC. All parcels have permitted septics, private access easements & covenants. $285,000- $299,000

CRICKET BEDFORD office: 540.687.7700 THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE Middleburg, Virginia 20118 (540) 687-6500 www.THOMAS-TALBOT.com

cell: 540.229.3201 http://www.2hdb.com/cricketsells 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.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

19

Tri-County

I

By Mara Seaforest

n a family-owned business, “retirement” often means just taking a bit of a break.

Bill Jackson, storied founder and CEO of Tri-County Feeds returned from his break this past summer to again take the reins of the equine emporium’s biggest event ever: a celebration of 40 years in service to its thousands of loyal customers.

Now known far and wide as “Tri-County Feeds, Fashions, Finds,” this Hunt Country icon started humbly in 1978, literally out of a garage, when Bill was just 22.

He already had an impressive background in horsemanship and developed good contacts to build his first grown-up business. His product was environmentally sensible horse bedding made from shredded Washington Post newspapers obtained from the newspaBill Jackson

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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Celebrating 40 Years of Feed, Fashion and Finds per’s print facility in Springfield, Virginia.

Michael Roach, Bill’s friend from back home in upstate New York, joined him to help out as the business took off. Its first big growth spurt coincided with becoming the first retail outlet for Pennfield feeds, previously distributed directly only to Amish and Mennonite farms in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Then, another close upstate tie, Jeri Noel Jackson, became Bill’s wife and Tri-County business partner. Jeri’s son, Jesse Noel, now runs the company’s marketing operation from his office in Remington.

Together, Bill and Jeri grew the business and by 2007 decided it was time to build a permanent site and expand their sales. Bill credits Jeri with the “fashion and finds” merchandising but says it was a mutual decision.

“We were already feeding the animals,” he said, “so why not clothe the riders and bring in all the things people need to lead a sporting life?”

They selected the land, just east of Marshall, for their new building and after clearing many hurdles, created a splendid store, with warehouse and ample loading area behind.

On a recent Country Spirit visit to the store, there was Bill adjusting an oil paint-

ing on a wall behind a handsome display of riding attire. Whether he’s in the warehouse filled with prime feeds and bedding or inside the store, this meticulous attention to detail, shared by the whole family and the store’s large staff, makes “the feed store” sing its own praises to all who enter.

An inspiring atmosphere indeed greets patrons of Tri-County.. Golden natural wood grounds the interior while its center soars skyward into a spectacular loft, like a modern cathedral framed out in the same softly lit timber.

Fresh air and the scent – real or imagined – of newly-mown hay is softened by an aura of fine leather boots and gloves, silk and wool. Everywhere the eye wanders, there’s something beautiful or unusually useful to savor.

Bill begins his new ride staying on top of opportunities to extend “better” to “best” in service to customers. For example, they’ll be selling new “Farm-to-Stable®” hay from his and Jeri’s organic farm in Upstate New York.

While the region’s horses munch on that, people can look forward to something enticing coming to the store for them. Bill isn’t ready to unveil the details, but he teases a whole new experience at “the loft above the

feed store.

Meanwhile, Tri-County’s 40th anniversary thank-you celebration begins in earnest with a Family Fall Festival on Oct. 20.

After 40 years in business, Tri-County also is dedicated to community service as its most important guiding principle. It’s one of their secrets to success, in spite of the retail rush to Internet sales that have taken its toll on so many of their fellow merchants.

“This is a region where people have a strong sense of where they are and who they are,” Bill Jackson said. “Unlike the Internet, which has drawn so many customers away from retailers, Tri-County Feeds acts as a hub to keep that sense of place alive, to bring people together, to offer a destination with a big, surprising ‘wow’ factor that brings them back for more. People crave that today.

We’ve always offered that exclusively and we always will.

“Whether you’ve been a customer for four hours or 40 years, we thank you.”

Tri-County Feeds, Fashion, Finds

7408 John Marshall Highway, Marshall 540-364-1891 tricountyfeeds.com

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

21

4 East Federal Street Middleburg, VA 20117

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Mike Tate: Living

By Leonard Shapiro

rant to Tate and his brother in 1988.

But now, 22 years later, by 2010 He was 48 years old, and co- in Tate’s mind’s eye it was time for owned the popular and profitable a major change. He also was hoping Coach Stop Restaurant that had be- that might involve something to do come an institution in Middleburg. with golf. He’d picked up the game Oscar-winning actor Robert Duvall, in his early 20s, loved to play whenwho lived on a nearby farm, was ever he could get away, and started a regular. NFL Hall of Famer and making inquiries.

Washington Redskins broadcaster “I spent a month or two after we Sam Huff, another local resident, closed the restaurant doing nothing had breakfast at the counter almost really,” Tate said. “I guess I was tryevery morning. Imelda Marcos once ing to find a dream job in the golf stopped in for lunch. business, for which I was supremely However, after 30 years in the unqualified.” restaurant business, including the Still, one of his old restaurant last 22 running The Coach Stop, regulars knew one of the investors in Mike Tate was exhausted. He was a group that had recently purchased tired of walking down to the post of- Bull Run Golf Club in Haymarket, fice to pick up his mail and hearing a public course with a gorgeous laya patron tell him how the $25 steak out at the foot of Bull Run Mountain served the night before had been that had been badly neglected under tough as shoe leather. He was wea- its previous ownership. Tate sent in ry from all those 12- and 14-hour a resume, then spoke with the new days, many of them on the weekend, head professional at the course, Daso many hours spent away from his vid Finocchiaro. wife, Beverly, and their sons, Sam “We hit it off,” Tate said. “He told and Jack, and the constant me he didn’t have much struggle to find and keep They do call available, but if I was willgood help. it work for a ing, I could start off like And so, eight years ago, else—as a cart boy. reason. But anyone he was ready for a change.

It was minimum wage. You I really do washed the carts, picked He and his brother, Mark, who wanted to get into love it. It’s the range, got clubs out of politics, decided to sell the something people’s cars, cleaned their restaurant. But coming out clubs when they were done I always of the Great Recession of and made some tips. For dreamed 2008, there was not much me, it was perfect. It gave interest. They determined about. And me something to do. And it was time to walk away fun.” the dream it was and move on with their That entry level job came true. did not last vey long. Tate lives.

Mike Tate wasn’t sure eventually started workwhat that might exactly entail. He ing at the front counter, checking recognized he wanted to start focus- in players, taking tee times over the ing on life after 50. He was certain it phone and selling merchandise in the did not include the restaurant where pro shop. And when the new ownhe’d started working as a busboy ers of the course—Raspberry Golf during his sophomore year of high Management—found out he’d been school. in the restaurant racket, he was soon After graduating from Virginia asked to help out with the club’s food Tech with an aerospace engineer- and beverage business. ing degree, Tate had actually begun “I told them I really didn’t want his professional life as a civilian em- to, but that I’d do it for a year,” he ployee of the Navy at the Patuxent said. “Then it became another year.

Naval Air Station in Maryland. He But I really enjoyed it. Some days was single, living in a tiny apartment I would come here to Bull Run, or in Leonardtown, homesick and hat- work over at Raspberry Falls (in ing every minute of it.

Leesburg). They had a course in He’d worked at The Coach Stop York, Pennsylvania, and the Legacy all through college, and when then- Golf Resort in Phoenix, and I spent owner Brian Jillson told him he’d time at all those places. It was a huge match his Navy salary if Tate would change for me, but I loved it.” come back and help manage the Three years after he took that cartrestaurant, he jumped at the op- boy job, there was an opening for the portunity. Jillson also admitted he general manager’s position at Bull was thinking about retiring in a few Run, a 10-minute drive from Tate’s years and would give Tate the first home in nearby Aldie. This was a opportunity to buy the business. He no-brainer, the very sort of “dream kept that promise, selling the restau- job” he’d envisioned when he sold

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Mike Tate is the general manager at Bull Run Golf Club in Haymarket.

The Coach Stop, and Tate jumped at the opportunity.

He was uniquely qualified in many ways, not only from his restaurant and cart-boy experiences, but as a golf consumer himself. During The Coach Stop’s (pardon the expression) “salad days,” Tate had joined Evergreen Country Club in Haymarket, a private facility only a few minutes down the road from Bull Run. In addition to getting his handicap into the high single digits, he also became an active member, serving on the club’s board of directors.

“I was on the golf committee,” he said, “and I was able to get a peek behind the curtain of how a golf course operates. It was really interesting, and I had a great relationship with our head pro, Chris Hall. The people working there were actually living the life I wanted to live, and it also helped prepare me for what I’m doing now.”

What he’s been doing in recent years involves a wide variety of responsibilities, including overseeing a staff that swells over 50 employees during the golf season. He works

closely with all his department heads, handles personnel, focuses on generating more revenue, increasing the number of rounds and making sure the customer experience rivals just about anything a private club could offer.

When Tate first arrived at Bull Run in 2010, the course only recorded 15,000 rounds played a year.

These days, it’s up to as many as 33,000, with increases virtually every year. Tate modestly credits his staff as well as the principals at Raspberry Golf Management (which has seven courses under its corporate umbrella) for Bull Run’s continuing success.

But of course, his leadership also has been a critical factor.

“What I do is really not that much different from what I did at the restaurant,” Tate said. “It’s all about taking care of people and making them happy—your staff and the people who come here to play golf.

It’s not fun every day. They do call it work for a reason. But I really do love it. It’s something I always dreamed about. And the dream came true.”

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

23

From the top, left to right: Warriors and Red Stripes walking off field; The Warriors “Big Daddy”; Lisa Butler of Aldie is the on site representative for Loudoun County Parks and Recreation; Sticky wicket; Sid Saif, foreground, and his Warrior teamates; Mannish Dadhich;Red Stripes Captain Raj Thokale; Hat and bat; Sid Saif bowling for the Warriors.

24

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

A Field of Cricket Dreams at Mickie Gordon Memorial Park

By Leonard Shapiro Photos by Vicky Moon The late Mickie Gordon was a legend in local baseball circles, and now the 100-acre Middleburg Park just off Route 50 that bears his name is being utilized for another sport that also includes bats and balls, along with rubber-armed bowlers and the occasional sticky wicket.

The game is cricket, and every weekend from April to October, the two baseball fields at Mickie Gordon are filled with dozens of dedicated players from Loudoun and Fairfax counties who compete in the Loudoun County Cricket League.

The LCCL is organized by the county’s Park and Recreation arm. Northern Virginia has a large community of

cricket enthusiasts, mostly from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The league started in 2009 with just five teams; these days there are 48 teams and over 1,200 players.

Raj Thokale, captain of the Loudoun Stars team, has been playing since the league’s inception. “It was started to have another weekend activity for many of us,” he said. “We used to play at local schools, but then the county got involved and it’s been great for everyone.”

At Mickie Gordon’s main baseball field, there’s a permanent artificiallyturfed strip where a “bowler” takes a brief run, winds up and unleashes a pitch to a batsman using a modified cricket ball. It looks like a tennis ball, but is slightly softer than the standard cricket ball, so that players don’t have to use helmets and other pads associated with big-tine professional cricket.

Lisa Butler, an Aldie resident, works for Loudoun Parks and Rec and is on duty for most games at Mickie Gordon.

“The players are just so passionate about it,” she said. “One morning the hunt came through, with all the horses and hounds. These guys stopped playing for maybe a minute, then went right back to their game. They love their sport, and they weren’t going to be distracted for very long.”

Fredericksburg/Stafford Co.

Historic Ashland Farm

Equestrian Retreat $1,460,000 “Traumerie”, meaning Daydream or Reverie, is a private, serene thirty-six acre parcel convenient to Rt.95 and Rt.17, offering peace and tranquility near the Fauquier Co. line. The French Country/International influence is displayed through the highest quality workmanship and decor. The main level owners’ suite includes two separate full baths and French doors to the terrace overlooking fields, paddocks and woods bordering the property. The immaculate home presents formal and casual living areas, fireplaces in the parlor and two-story beamed gathering room, four additional bedrooms, chef’s kitchen and glorious views from all rooms. The upscale center aisle barn has wash stall, tack room, upper level hay storage,plus large outdoor arena.

Sited on 130 acres, has origins c. 1725, enhancements by architect William Bottomley & a total renovation b/w 2016-2017. The 8,477 sq ft stone manor house has numerous fireplaces, 2 kitchens & sumptuous master suite. There is a tennis court, sports barn, stocked pond, heated pool/hot tub, 3-BR guest house, 25 stalls, 190’ indoor ring & caretaker’s cottage. Offered furnished.

MICHAEL RANKIN 202-271-3344 | michael.rankin@sothebysrealty.com | www.ttrsir.com GLORIA ROSE OTT 540-454-4394 | gloriarose.ott@sir.com | www.ttrsir.com

Please contact Carole Stadfield of TTR Sothebys Intl. Realty for appointment or for additional information: Carole.Stadfield@TTRSothebysRealty.com | 703-899-8468

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

25

At F

By Vicky Moon and Leonard Shapiro

or Kiernan Slater and Chris Patusky, proprietors of Slater Run Vineyards in Upperville, it all came down to family, tradition, sustainability and community.

Married in 2000 at her family’s Rose Hill Farm near Upperville, they initially moved to Philadelphia, then Baltimore. Chris was a Harvard Law School graduate and a highly-regarded attorney. Kiernan was an English major at Davidson with a Masters from Georgetown who taught writing at the high school and college level.

So why wine?

They first began to get the grapeinduced itch during a 2008 visit to the family farm. Sitting at the kitchen table discussing the Slater family’s 300-year, 10-plus generation agricultural legacy along Goose Creek, they brains-stormed ideas for making a profitable business at the farm that could sustain the family legacy for future generations.

By chance they had recently read an article in the Baltimore Sun about Lucie Morton, a Virginia-based vineyard consultant. Once they met with her and did more homework, they decided to move back to Virginia and immerse themselves in all things wine.

They retained Morton as a consultant. They settled on five acres as the ideal growing space and the first order for 10,000 grape vines arrived in April, 2010: reds for a Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Franc; Cabernet Sauvignon; Merlot; Petit Verdot) and whites (Chardonnay and Pinot Gris).

Kiernan’s father, Bob Slater, supervised the planting in the closespaced, French style championed by Morton – one meter between vines, and seven feet between rows, with 2,000 vines planted per acre. In 2016, the added seven more acres.

Chris handles the business and marketing and also is vice chairman of United Therapeutics Corporation, a $5 billion public biotechnology company. It has pioneered the manufacture of human organs using genetically engineered pig organs and non-embryonic stem cells.

Kiernan works full-time at the vineyard and winery operation, and said “I do a little bit of everything.”

And they both also get great joy from their children, 16-year-old Luke and 12-year -old Alice.

Kiernan’s ancestors, the Glascocks, 26

the Roots Ru

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Kiernan Slater and Chris Patusky moved to Upperville and built the Rockburn Farm house in 1720. The Glascocks added Rose Hill Farm, which contained the current vineyard and winery site, to their holdings in 1840.

Her great-great-grandfather, George

Meacham Slater, was one of the nine original Mosby Rangers during the Civil War. He also purchased Mount Bleak Farm (now Sky Meadow State Park) and settled in Paris, Virginia in 1865.

His son, George Hoffman Slater,

PHOTOS BY MIDDLEBURG PHOTO

married Tacie Glascock Fletcher in 1905, and they owned Rose Hill Farm together, including the current vineyard/winery site. Ownership of the farm comes under the Slater name through marriage.

Kiernan also recalled a delicious

un 300 Years Deep

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Fall

Fall Into Entertaining!

A Floral Design Symposium

September 18, 2018 • 9:00am–4:00pm at Riverside on the Potomac, Leesburg, VA

• Breakfast coffee and sweets, box lunch and an after-event wine and hors d’oeuvres reception

Register online!

www.leesburggardenclub.org G UR

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This is a fundraising event. Proceeds will be used to further our mission “…to promote active interest in gardening and to assist in the protection and development of the natural beauties of the State”.

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your space today!

• Vendor tent shopping

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• “Cooking with the Caterers” demonstration of cooking special event cuisine

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Symposium fee is $150 and includes:

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special day with AwardWinning Jane Godshalk presenting secrets of professional floral design, event designers Grit & Grace who will create exquisite tablescapes and the husband-wife team of

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LEES

The Leesburg Garden Club invites you to spend a

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Grit & Grace

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Jane Godshalk, AIFD

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bit of alleged family history. deaux Blends include the “Roots” “The lore goes that the Slaters and “First Bridge.” A single barrel came here from Ireland, through wine is called “The Pit Jumper” their Baltimore,” she said. “One rela- smallest and most exclusive of Cabtive was a rum trader in Baltimore. ernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot.

Apparently he was working in the “We’ll release our 2016 vintage Caribbean and died. They sent him sparkling Blanc de Blanc in the next back to Baltimore in a barrel.” couple of years,” Chris said. “We’ll Chris grew up in Connecticut, also produce a Sauvignon Blanc and earned a Bachelor’s in history and Reserve Chardonnay, as we continue political science from to expand.”

Northwestern and a Both Kiernan and When I walk the Chris also are imlaw degree at Harvard.

He practiced law in mersed in the comfarm and the many forms, including munity. He’s the board vineyard, I like intellectual property, vice president of Buto think of my and he’s clearly intelchanan Hall, an advigrandfather and sory board member of lectually stimulated by both the winery, and Middleburg Montesgrandmother, his work with United and co-chair of and their love of sori Therapeutics.

Middleburg’s “Art of this land. There the Piedmont.” She’s Their elegant hilltop winery is 100 percent on the board and secreis something solar-powered. Because about being a link tary of the Community irrigation is not necesMusic School of the in a long chain sary in Virginia, the Piedmont and a board vineyard and winery, member of the Gifted of continuity in built by Bill Tyler, use this place that I Advisory Commitless water than the typitee, Fauquier County can’t explain, but Board of Education. cal family household. that I find very “We re-used wood Together, they’ve and structures from also invested in the incomforting. the farm and clustered ventive Field & Main – Kiernan Slater Patusky our buildings,” Chris restaurant in Marshall said, “We also use and host an annual environmentally-friendly vineyard Crab-fest at the winery each August management practices.” to benefit the Churches of UpperSlater Run wine is composed of ville Outreach. entirely French varietals and blendPlainly put, with hard work and ed under the direction of French dedication, the talented and greatlywinemaker, Katell Griaud. The col- admired Slater/Patusky team inlection since 2014 includes: single tends to carry their roots even deeper varietals of Piot Gris, Chardonnay, in their typical tasteful and low-key, Rosé, and Cabernet Franc. The Bor- unassuming style.

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Slater Run wines Country Spirit • Fall 2018

27

At Three Fox Vineyard, It’s Wine in the Vines

Photos and story by Peter Leonard-Morgan

There are numerous places to sip and relax at this Delaplane vineyard.

28

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Three Fox Vineyard near Delaplane in Fauquier County sits high above 50 lush and undulating acres, with excellent airflow and drainage for its 16 acres of vines.

During their travels around the world, owners Holli and John Todhunter fell in love with Tuscany. They brought a little bit of that Italian ambiance back to Virginia when they created this delightful wine property, all of which is self-evident when sitting down to a bottle of estate-produced wine among the vines.

To while away a few hours with good friends, sitting around a table between rows of vines is an unusual, thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended experience. Close by is an outdoor, vine-side tasting bar and an open-sided tented area with a bar mounted on oak barrels, allowing guests to enjoy their favorite wines al fresco while still enjoying cover from sun and rain.

The Todhnters acquired the property back in 2002, planting various grape varietals, including Cabernet Franc, Viognier, Nebbiolo, Merlot, Sangiovese and Pinot Grigio. Annually, they bottle some 3,000 cases of wine, with reds aged in Hungarian oak barrels between three and six months. All the whites are fermented in stainless steel tanks.

With the exception of their “La Boheme” Viognier and “Alouette” Cabernet Franc, their labels have colorful Italian names such as Il Signor Reserve Sangiovese and Calabrese Pinot Grigio, magically transporting you in an instant to the Tuscan hills above Florence.

Numerous awards have been bestowed on various Three Fox wines, including a gold medal for their 2014 La Boheme at the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition, a bronze medal for their 2012 Alouette at the 2015 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and two bronzes at the 2015 Virginia Governor’s Cup for 2012 vintages of their Piemontese Nebbiolo and La Trovatella Merlot.

Loyal customers can take advantage of the Three Fox Vineyard Connoisseur Club, essentially a “case club” where members sign up to purchase 12 bottles a year, on a quarterly basis. For that they receive healthy discounts plus complimentary tastings.

For those wanting even more, the Three Fox Vineyard Vintner’s Circle offers Connoisseur Club benefits plus special events, a dedicated plaque on a panel of grapes in the vines, pre-release tastings and increased discounts in return for a modest initiation fee and annual membership fee.

Families and dogs are more than welcome at Three Fox, with an adorable feature being a dog and cat of the month award. The winners are included on the vineyard website and a table is reserved for a month in the vines bearing the winner and winner’s owners. And what better venue for a wedding than here among the vines, with a resident civil celebrant ready to perform the nuptials, All in all, Three Fox Vineyard is a delightful destination for wine aficionados and anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors, soaking up the sun’s rays and witnessing glorious views.

And bring the dog!

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

29

Wine mystery series writer Ellen Crosby, left. Second Chapter Books will be hosting a book event for Harvest of Secrets on Thursday, November 8 in Middleburg.

PHOTO BY JACKIE BRIGGS

Coming Soon: An Ellen Crosby Wine Country Mystery

E

llen Crosby has written eight Claude is found dead. previous books in her series But of course, there is no shortof Wine Country Mysteries. age of suspects who are not enamHer next mystery, the ninth, Har- ored with his gigantic ego and overvest of Secrets will be out in early bearing ways. Suspicion falls on November.

Miguel Otero, an immigrant worker This book invites readers to at LaVigne, who recently quarreled breathe in the sinuous ambiguity you with Jean-Claude. get in the surrounding Montgomery When Miguel disappears, LuEstate Vineyards. The search for the cie receives an ultimatum from her killer of an aristocratic own employees: prove French winemaker who You know, you Miguel’s innocence or was Lucie Montgomof the immigrant can only sweep none ery’s first cousin and community will work the rug under for her during the harthe discovery of dark family secrets put Luthe carpet for vest. cie on a collision course As Lucie hunts for so long. Sooner Jean-Claude’s with a murderer. killer It’s harvest season or later, people and continues to search at Montgomery Estate for the identity of the are going to Vineyard (just as it is skeleton abandoned all around the Middle- find out who the in the cemetery, she burg area about now) real [person] is. is blindsided by a deand this is the busiest He’ll get what’s cades-old secret that time of year for wineshatters everything makers in the fictional coming to him. she thought she knew Atoka, Virginia.

I guarantee it about her family.

Now facing a A skull is unearthed will happen. wrenching emotional near Lucie Montgomof Secrets choice, Lucie must deery’s family cemetery – frombyHarvest Ellen Crosby cide whether it’s finally and the discovery of the time to tell the truth to bones coincides with the arrival of handsome, wealthy those she loves the most, or keep siaristocrat Jean-Claude deMarignac. lent and let past secrets remain dead He’s come to be the head winemaker and buried.

Second Chapter Books in Middleat neighboring La Vigne Cellars.

But this man is no stranger to Lucie; burg will host an event for Ellen Croshe was her first crush 20 years ago by and Harvest of Secrets on Thurswhen she spent a summer in France. day, Nov. 8. Refreshments at 6 p.m., Not long after his arrival, Jean- with a talk and signing at 6:30 p.m.

“

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

that go 300 years deep.

Thomas Glascock Slater, Upperville, 1933

1500 Crenshaw Road • Upperville • VA • 20184 540.592.3042 Country Spirit • Fall 2018

31

A Visit to Boxwood and RdV Should Be Savored Slowly

By Peter Leonard-Morgan

Virginia wine aficionados are incredibly fortunate that the Commonwealth boasts no fewer than 276 wineries, an increase of over 20 percent in just four years. And while that number is well below ten percent when compared to California, it’s the growth in quality as opposed to just plain quantity that’s becoming apparent.

Loudoun and Fauquier county wineries are among the quality leaders, with numerous excellent reviews. Two such properties are Boxwood Winery, just outside Middleburg, and RdV Vineyards near Delaplane.

Boxwood Estate Winery was founded in 2004, on a property previously owned by the venerable General Billy Mitchell and acquired by Rita and John Kent Cooke, the son of former Washington Redskins owner, the late Jack Kent Cooke.

Rita’s children, Rachel and Sean, run the winery with their stepfather, John at the helm.

Boxwood began making wine in 2006 when renowned wine consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt joined the team.

Starting from a goal to create an exceptional wine producing property, 17 years later the results are evident, with 26 acres of vines, plus a striking and unique winery/tasting room designed by renowned Washington D.C. architect Hugh Newell-Jacobsen. Boxwood’s tasting room guests experience a contemporary, modern ambiance, sipping five wines produced from seven grape varietals, all estate-grown.

Boxwood’s wine club is cleverly three-tiered— Gold, Platinum and Diamond—catering to various budgets and “thirsts,” from a $60 purchase commitment every six months to $240 twice a year in return for bottle and case discounts plus complimentary tastings of various levels, depending on the program selected.

Rachel was the driving force and sole petitioner behind the establishment of the Middleburg AVA, or American Viticultural Area, from which numer32

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

PHOTO BY PETER LEONARD-MORGAN

Additional Wineries to Visit

PHOTO COURTESY

John and Rita Cooke and Rachel and Sean Martin at Boxwood. ous vineyards within the AVA now derive benefit.

Located on the Plains Road, just on the outskirts of Middleburg, Boxwood visitors relish glorious views and delightful wines, in a special environment.

RdV Vineyards, on Delaplane Grade Road, is another extraordinary wine property. Conceived by owner, Rutger de Vink, a former recon Marine, perfection was the only goal. And if they’re not already there, they’re not far off.

The 100-acre property was previously part of an Angus cattle farm which de Vink spotted in his travels, decided was the ideal location for his dream and, after much perseverance, was successful in purchasing from the owners.

Today, 16 of those lush, verdant and undulating acres are under vine, resulting in just 2,200 cases a year of two variations of Bordeaux style blended reds named Lost Mountain, at $125 a bottle, and Rendezvous priced at $75, plus a ‘Friends and Family’ line running at a more budget -friendly price point. Vines grown on the estate include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

The winery and tasting room are marvels of architecture designed by Andy Lewis of Neumann Lewis Buchanan in Middleburg and Washington, D.C. The underground wine cave was created by blasting into deep granite; the evidence is showcased in the barrel room with a wall of sheer jagged, cold rock giving a natural feel to this man-made wonder.

Jarad Slipp is RdV’s estate director. One of a select few Master Sommeliers (MS) on the East Coast, and a renowned chef in his own right, Slipp oversees the day to day activities at the property, ensuring that what comes together is an overall customer experience never to be forgotten.

Joining RdV’s Ambassador Club lets members into the inner sanctum and special wine and food-related events reserved for the select few. In return, ambassadors commit to buying half a case each year.

Both properties deserve dedicated scheduled visits, rather than visiting two in one day. Like great wine, they should be savored slowly and enjoyed.

• 50 West – 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg, 50westvineyards.com • Zephaniah Farm Vineyard – 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd, Leesburg, zephwine.com • Otium Cellars – 18050 Tranquility Rd, Purcellville, otiumcellars.com • 8 Chains North – 38593 Daymont Ln, Waterford, 8chainsnorth.com • Barrel Oak – 3623 Grove Lane, Delaplane, BarrelOak.com • Bluemont Vineyard –18755 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, bluemontvineyard.com • Doukenie Winery – 14727 Mountain Road, Purcellville, doukeniewinery.com • Fabbioli Cellars – 15669 Limestone School Road, Leesburg, fabbioliwines.com • Hillsborough Vineyards – 36716 Charles Town Pike, hillsboroughwine.com • Pearmund Cellars – 6190 Georgetown Rd, Broad Run, pearmundcellars.com

The winery at RdV was designed by Andy Lewis of Middleburg.

PHOTO BY PETER LEONARD-MORGAN

The four main buildings at Boxwood were designed by the noted firm of Jacobsen Architecture in Washington, D.C.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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VINEYARD VIEW

Local Wines Making their Mark in Commonwealth Competitions

By Peter Leonard-Morgan

Virginia now has over 260 wineries and contributes almost $1.4 billion to the economy. More than a dozen Loudoun and Fauquier wineries came away with gold medals from the Virginia Governor’s Cup competition earlier this year.

Lisa Christopher of Maggie Malick Wine Caves in western Loudoun, garnered two silver medals at this year’s Governor’s Cup, with nine wins there since 2015. She believes more local competitions, like the Governor’s Cup, “elevate and promote Virginia’s best, and give winelovers and consumers an idea of the yardstick by which we measure the progress of our state’s industry.”

Malick is a boutique winery and visitors to this unique tasting room ‘cave’ enjoy their wines standing at the bar, adjacent to racks of oak barrels which patiently age red wine for at least 22 months before bottling.

Sebastien Marquet is the winemaker at the Bazaco family’s Doukenie Winery near Hillsboro. He secured three golds, two silvers and a bronze for his Doukenie vintages at

Peter Leonard-Morgan the Governor’s Cup. Hailing from Burgundy, Marquet comes from a long line of French vignerons. He said that producing quality wine in Virginia is a challenge, one he relishes because it truly tests his skills as a professional winemaker every day.

Arriving initially in Napa Valley from France, Marquet enjoyed mak-

ing wine in the Golden State, where vines prosper in its excellent soils and exceptional climate. His Virginia calling came in 2007 and he’s never looked back.

“As a winemaker, I believe that entering wines into competitions, where they will be judged against the best in the industry, is a true test of the product which my team and I create,” he said. “The feedback I receive from expert judges helps me to focus on how and where I can improve. We all strive for perfection, despite the fact that perfection is, philosophically, unattainable.

“Virginia weather conditions can be difficult compared to other regions in the world. Today, Virginia wineries have proven that our wines are world-class, as demonstrated by the many successes on the international stage.”

Steve Bozzo, owner of Bozzo Family Vineyards west of the village of Hillsboro in Loudoun County, acquired and cultivated a 16.5-acre parcel of gently sloping land in 2013.

Bozzo was fanatical from the outset about doing everything absolutely right. As a result, he came away from

the 2018 Governor’s Cup with a gold medal for his 2016 Meritage labeled “2nd Act” even before the doors have opened to his new tasting room.

“We’re a new farm winery, have only one vintage bottled, and have not yet opened to the public,” he said.

“We entered the 2018 Governor’s Cup competition as a learning experience. We were totally surprised by the gold medal and attribute that achievement to joyous work and the steady support of family, friends, and the Loudoun wine industry.”

In 2017, the Commonwealth experienced a bountiful harvest in many counties, thanks to early warm spring weather which encouraged an early bud break and corresponding sooner-than-usual harvest. This all bodes well for some excellent wines in the coming years and, hopefully, many more medals for Virginia’s talented, tireless wine-making professionals.

Peter Leonard-Morgan is a real estate agent with Middleburg-based Hunt Country Sotheby’s International Realty, and a member of the Middleburg Town Council and Go Green Committee.

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Welcome to: Old House Vineyards, Distillery and Brewery.

Ryan Kearney and his father Patrick Kearney

By Vicky Moon

Ryan Kearney is the general manager of his family’s Old House Vineyards in Culpeper. Now in its 20th year, the business includes a vineyard, a distillery and a brewery.

“It’s a trifecta,” he said, referring to the gambling term of picking out the top three horses in order at the racetrack. “All the ingredients such as grapes, barley and wheat are grown here. ” A 2013 University of Virginia graduate, Ryan, 27, first went to work in Washington and decided: “I didn’t like the commute and decided I liked being outdoors versus being at a desk.“ His parents, Patrick and Allyson Kearney, purchased an abandoned 75-acre alfalfa hay farm in 1998 in Culpeper County and had been commuting there from their home in Fairfax. Patrick works full time as a museum fabrication expert and is a visionary and building guru. Last year he installed “Amending America” at the National Archives.

Ryan’s mother, Allyson, coordinates tasting room events and weddings. The family, which includes a younger brother and older sister, moved to the farm/vineyard full time in 2003. What began, as a weekend retreat is now a full service destination of 165 acres.

Patrick continues his work-related travels with projects in Greensboro for the Atlantic Coast Conference Hall of champions and other museums around the country. He has also imbued the distillery tasting rooms with a World War II atmosphere.

Old House Vineyards has 30 acres

of vines producing: 11 wines. Winemaker Christopher Harris works full-time creating Vidal Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Wicked Bottom-a red barrel aged Chambourcin Reserve, Clover Hill, a crisp white good with shellfish.

They also produce Rose’s Rosé, Bacchanalia, a Virginia sparkling wine called Péittante and Arctica, a dessert wine created frozen postharvest and a Chambourcin Dessert wine. It’s a blended port style French inspired by hybrid grapes and fortified by adding brandy. It’s aged in oak bourbon barrels and is 145 proof after sitting in those barrels for two years.

“There are two types of winemakers,” according to Ryan. “French inspired and those who are inspired by Virginia. The others are individuals who started from scratch and learn it as they go.”

As for his possible future as an oenologist, Ryan added: “I’m an average reader and I feel that I can continue learning as we go along . We have a wonderful network. “ In 2015, the Kearney family opened a distillery. This is where visitors will see the World War II installation and experience Dude Spirit, a vodka made from grapes. We might also mention a mean rendition of the recently released Limoncello.

Add to this: Old House Whiskey, Grog (originally intended for Scurvy!), Blue Agave Nectar, Amber Rum, the 88 proof Distiller’s Reserve, Queen’s Keep (109 proof) and Bumbo.

The Old House Brewery has had a soft opening and will swing open full time this fall with “session beer”

Facts and Figures

“Grog” is thought to have been introduced in 1740 by Vice Admiral Edward Vernon’s order 349 for the treatment of scurvy. History tells us that Vernon was nicknamed “old grog” for the cloak of grogram that he often wore. The beverage brought into service by Vernon would go on to be know as “grog. The Old House recipe is inspired by the original for their handcrafted Diceros Grog 349. known for its mild alcohol content of 4-6 per cent, with an emphasis on character and essence.

“It’s easier on the visitors for tasting as opposed to something that’s maybe 8 to 9 per cent alcohol content,”Ryan said.

As he concluded a chat about his family businesses, he also added that while Culpeper might seem off the beaten track of vineyards, he thinks it has a nice balance of a small town atmosphere with a gentle touch of tourism wrapped around it.

“They have not resisted change, but it’s not quite a suburb of D.C.,” he said. “There’s always something new and exciting happening at Old House, but the feeling of being home is always here.”

Indeed, welcome home.

Harvest is done in early September to late October as each of the varieties of grapes ripens.

We pick the grapes in the cool of the morning into 25 pound lugs then bring them to the winery.

The crushing and de-stemming is the first step of the pressing process. The crushed fruit falls down into the press or fermenter, depending on the type of wine being made.

The white wine pressing process is very gentle as it is important to keep the skins from breaking down too much. The goal is to separate the juice from the skins without adding any more solids to the juice.

The juice is allowed to settle in a tank and the sediment is racked off into a vessel for fermentation.

“Racking” is the term for sucking the clean wine off of the sediment or lees on the bottom of the vessel. The wine is transferred into a clean vessel and the lees is left behind in the old one.

Lees is filtered and kept separate or thrown away. Sometimes the filtered lees can be very good and can add another component to a wine.

Other times it can be hard or unpalatable and will be thrown away.

With red wine the grapes are crushed into a bin and fermentation begins. The skins of the red grape are very important in red wine--they have all of the color and a lot of the hearty character that defines a red wine.

The cap of a red fermenter is the grape skins that float to the top of the vat. These skins catch CO2 that is released from fermentation.

“Punching down” is done with a stick or paddle to get the cap back into the wine. This process is performed 2-3 time a day during the fermentation process.

To press off the grape skins after fermentation, the juice is pumped out of the bin and the skins are shoveled into the press. The pressing is similar to the whites in that pressing gently is better for the wine.

After a couple of days of settling, the wine is racked into oak wine barrels.

The barrels we use are a combination of both new and older oak. We use French, American and Hungarian oak barrels to make our wines. Each gives the wine a slightly different character.

– Courtesy of Old House Vineyards

Old House Vineyards 18351 Corkys Lane Culpeper, VA 22701 540-423-1032 oldhousevineyards.com info@oldhousevineyards.com

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A Middleburg institution on West Federal Street, The Tack Exchange remains a premier location for all manner of equestrian needs.

Whether it’s saddles, helmets, flasks or pink jackets, proprietor Jo Motion has it all.

Motion, who now lives in Rectortown, began her decadeslong equestrian career in her native England before moving to Canada and later Lexington, Kentucky, before eventually settling in the Middleburg area.

Her husband, Michael, was a long-time and now-retired bloodstock agent in England.

One son, Graham, is a nationally-renowned thoroughbred racehorse trainer. And his PHOTO BY VICKY MOON brother, Andrew, breeds high Jo Motion and her huggable Quinn quality thoroughbreds himself on his Middleburg area farm.

The store began as just one items from other tack stores, meanroom with items purchased from a ing some are fresh off the shelves. friend who had recently retired from An average month? hunting. Motion and her business Between 40-50 saddles sold, over partner, Laurie Westerman, envi- 500 checks mailed to consigners, and sioned a shop where members of each Thursday the website (www. the hunt and equestrian community middleburgtack.com) is updated to could find all their tack and dress ensure that customers are getting the needs, partially inspired by the store most up-to-date product information. that Motion used to take her children All merchandise is sorted into coto in England. ordinating colors, divided by items for And where better to locate that in children, men and women. Neat rows the heart of Virginia horse country? line the store and the basement is “I wouldn’t have done it anywhere filled with saddles for those who don’t but Middleburg, really,” said Motion. have time to check out the website, or The Tack Exchange has almost want to see them up-close-and-perdoubled in size from when it opened in sonal. The store also ships.

1992, but one thing has not changed: What also sets the Tack Exthe rules of consignment. Motion ad- change apart is the quality of the mitted she’s “fussy” about what she’ll people behind the counter. At the take, but only to ensure that the high- helm is Motion, closely followed by est quality is maintained. family members and friends. Also a Once items are accepted, they’re gathering place for weathered huntsscrupulously inspected, and Motion men and tourists alike, the store noted that if even one stitch is miss- perfectly embodies the small-town, ing from a saddle, it will be sewn in friendly atmosphere often found in before going on the racks. most Middleburg businesses.

As of last month, the store has Whether you’re in search of the had 12,781 consigners. perfect hunting jacket or a play-stable Beyond consignment, The Tack for your five-year-old, it’s probably on Exchange also receives a large por- the shelves here. Monday through tion of its stock from the liquidation Saturday, Motion is likely to be of other stores nationwide. Motion’s around, with one of her four children policy of trying to give owners’ of the or many grandchildren occasionally liquidated stores wholesale price on popping in for a visit. As of July, there their items has made her a go-to des- was also a great-grandchild.

And don’t forget a loving lick tination for sellers and agents. Additionally, the store receives overstock from Quinn, the huggable store dog.

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Garden LEGO sculpture exhibition at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley

By Vicky Moon

Renowned artist Sean Kenney of Brooklyn, New York has created an intriguing sculpture exhibition in the seven-acre garden at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester. Kenny has designed and created a contemporary sculpture exhibit on view through September 3 called: Nature Connects®: Art with LEGO® Bricks.

Kenney is the author of nine children’s books, and his work has been featured in many news outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, PBS Arts, BBC Arts, NHK Japan, ELLE, and Wired. The exhibit has been traveling since 2012.

The images include 13 colorful larger-than-life displays made out of LEGO bricks, including a six-foottall hummingbird, a peacock built with 400,000 pieces and a giant Galapagos tortoise with a finch riding on its back.

Cory Garman, MSV Director of Exhibitions said this is the first outdoor exhibition to be presented at the facility. Garman added that the museum’s formal gardens have been transformed into a fun, outdoor gallery for the exhibition.

Perry Mathewes, director of gardens, has said the exhibit is to encourage visitors to explore the landscape as they search for the large LEGO brick sculptures.

The largest display in the exhibi42

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

PHOTOS BY RON BLUNT, COURTESY OF MSV

The largest display in the exhibition is a family of deer, which includes a buck, doe, and fawn. Made with 84,442 pieces, the deer are displayed in the Rose Garden. tion is a family of deer, which includes a buck, doe, and fawn. Made with 84,442 pieces, the deer are displayed in the Rose Garden. A giant corn spider made with 16,492 LEGO pieces hangs from a large sugar maple tree in the lawn in front of the Museum’s Glen Burnie House. A seven-foot-long dragonfly hovers in the Water Garden, where real golden trout swim in the pond, and a sculpture of a Monarch butterfly perches amongst pollinator plants in Kathie’s Spring Garden near a spring-fed stream.

Each sculpture display in the nature-themed exhibition includes an interpretive panel that describes the habitats of the featured plants

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Above, a giant corn spider made with 16,492 LEGO pieces hangs from a large sugar maple tree in the lawn in front of the Museum’s Glen Burnie House. Right, a sculpture of a Monarch butterfly perches amongst pollinator plants in Kathie’s Spring Garden near a spring-fed stream. and animals and connects them to the gardens. For example, the sign accompanying the larger-than-life sculpture of a hummingbird drinking from a trumpet flower explains that hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly in any direction. The sign also encourages visitors to explore the Perennial Garden, where they might see an actual ruby-throated hummingbird drinking from the cardinal flowers, larkspur, and gladiolus.

Along with learning about nature, visitors can interact with the exhibition by building with tens of thousands of LEGO bricks in a “Play and Let Stay” hands-on station. They also

Admission to Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks, includes admission to the MSV galleries—is $10 for adults, $8 for youth ages 13–18 and seniors, and $5 for ages 5–12.

Exhibition admission is free to ages 4 and under and to members.

The MSV includes galleries, the Glen Burnie House, and seven acres of gardens. The site is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also be open on Labor Day Monday, September 3, the final day that Nature Connects will be on view in the MSV gardens. Extended hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. will be offered on Wednesdays from May 30 through August 29.

Museum of the Shenandoah Valley 901 Amherst Street Winchester www.theMSV.org 540-662-1473 can take pictures in an anthill mosaic built with 12,990 LEGO bricks. In addition, families may bring picnics to enjoy on the grounds, and they may purchase ice cream, light snacks, and souvenirs at a special Pop-up Shop in the gardens.

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

43

Straight Shooter Andy Duffy Aims to Win, and Teach

By Leonard Shapiro

Andy Duffy travels the country.

He is a world-class competitor, particularly in sporting clays, and is a popular, much soughtafter instructor.

Andy Duffy with student Maite Carta Dougherty.

The shooting began for Andy Duffy in the backyard of his family’s home in Middletown, New York with a .22 rifle. It was pointed at a target set up by his father, a pipe fitter by trade and a “bird-dog guy” by passion who also enjoyed hunting, often taking his young son with him out in the field.

Even at age 10, Duffy had an exceptional eye and an ever-burgeoning love for shooting sports. Now, four decades later and countless national and international championships in all shooting disciplines on his remarkable resume, he’s also loving the life he’s leading as both a world-class competitor, particularly in sporting clays, and as a popular, much sought-after instructor.

Duffy essentially travels the country these days without a real permanent address. His home is a specially outfitted horse trailer that has a bed, a bathroom, a shower and a refrigerator. There’s also room enough for his two bird dogs and a new puppy. He hopscotches from New York to Virginia to Texas to Illinois to Montana and many places in between, stopping off at gun clubs all around to teach students how to do it safely and successfully.

Duffy came through Virginia and parked his trailer at several spots around the state, including Orange and Delaplane, where he had a number of lessons already scheduled. He gets $150 an hour—“I’m not cheap,” he said—and has several clients who will pay him between $2,000 and $5,000 a year for truly special attention.

Early on, Duffy thought he was going to follow in his father’s professional footsteps. His uncle got him into shooting skeet and as a teenager Duffy worked for his company, with both taking off on Thursdays to go hone their skills.

Duffy also won a bunch of local and regional junior competitions, though he never did much like skeet.

“But I did like being with my uncle,” he said. “Sometimes we’d go out and shoot crows. It was good for the environment because crows are really tough on the song birds.”

Duffy eventually went into a plumbing and steam-fitting apprentice program in Rockland County, N.Y. , taking weekends off to travel upstate with his father to hunt ruffled grouse, his dad’s favorite pursuit.

He also shot at a gun club back home, and when a halfdozen members, knowing his prowess, asked him to teach them, Duffy initially told them he wasn’t really a professional instructor.

Then he reconsidered, He’d do it for $100 a man, he said, and they never hesitated. He soon had $600 in his pocket “and I was looking at what would have been a week’s pay as a pipe fitter. That’s when I realized I could make a living doing this.”

In 1991, at age 29, Duffy quit the union and started teaching around the Middletown area.

“When I would call a club, they’d put up a flier and I’d get a lot of people to sign up for lessons,” he said. “I’m a gypsy now. I’ve been doing this for 30 years and it’s still pretty much the fliers and word of mouth. It’s a fascinating job, and I’ve met some amazing people.”

Indeed, one of his Middleburg-area students is a heart surgeon and one recent day, he invited Duffy to come to his hospital for an up-close-and-personal look at a triple bypass operation.

“That was something really special,” Duffy said.

And obviously, so is Andy Duffy. He recently returned from winning a few more prestigious titles in Europe, and now he’s back on the road again, shooting and teaching.

“I really do love the teaching,” he said. “When I tell them something and the light bulb comes on, they get a big kick out of it. And I get twice the kick. My shotgun has taken me all over the world. Hey, I was a pipe fitter, and I was good at it. But I was better doing this.”

PHOTOS BY VICKY MOON`

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

45

Middleburg’s Pierce Ends Remarkable Collegiate Lacrosse Career

By Justin Haefner

Beth Ann Pierce and her Adelphi College teammates took women’s lacrosse by storm during her four years at the Long Island school. They won two NCAA Division II national championships and advanced to the quarterfinals this past season after she scored four goals in a first-round game. She graduated this past spring as both a highly-accomplished athlete and student.

Pierce grew up in Frederick, Maryland and moved to Middleburg in the seventh grade because her father, Kurt, a standout football player when he attended the University of Virginia, has a dental practice in the area.

Her love for lacrosse began at a young age.

“I started playing in fourth grade,” she said. “But before that I was involved in dance and musical theater.

I have an older sister and two older brothers who also played lacrosse.”

During her freshman year at St. John’s Catholic Prep high school in Frederick, she became more serious with lacrosse when she joined a club team.

“I actually started playing club basketball,” she said. “But I knew that I didn’t want to play that in col-

46

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

lege so I started playing club lacrosse during high school. We always had a good team, and we won a few conference titles.”

In 2014, Pierce went to Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. on an academic and athletic scholarship. She had originally planned to attend a Division I university, but was convinced to try Adelphi, a Division II school, by a former coach who had gone on two become an assistant at Adelphi.

“I had never heard of the school before, and it wasn’t any of one of the ones I was looking at,” she said.

“I ran into my old high school coach at a summer tournament for my club team, and she was the assistant coach at Adelphi. We didn’t really talk about it at the time but she went to the head coach and said ‘you really need to see this girl.’”

Pierce had an incredibly successful run with the Adelphi team.

“In my freshman and junior years we won national championships, and in my senior year we made it to the quarterfinals in the NCAA,” she said. “We also won three (Northeast -10) conference championships.”

In her senior year alone, Pierce was named a third-team Division II All-American for the Intercollegiate

Beth Ann Pierce on the attack.

Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association and made the IWLCA AllRegion second team. Just as impressive she was honored with a Division II Academic Achievement Award in 2016 and named to the IWLCA Division II Academic Honor Roll in 2017.

Her team ended the 2018 season with a 19-3 overall record and capped the careers of a decorated senior class.

PHOTOS COURTESY ADELPHI UNIVERSITY

The graduating players were part of two national titles, four Northeast-10 regular season titles and three NE-10 tournament crowns.

Pierce’s collegiate athletic career is over now, but she’s planning to go back to Adelphi in September to get a graduate degree in sports management. She’s already managed lacrosse quite well.

Mac attack helped Cougars stick foes

MacMahon is Kettle Run Girls Athlete of the Year

By Josh Dorsey

Katie MacMahon had a smile that shined bright for Kettle Run field hockey and girls lacrosse teams.

“On the field you don’t want to get in her way but at practice and in school she likes to have fun,” said Kettle Run lacrosse coach Joanie DeGoosh.

“She works hard and has always worked hard but she has fun doing it. She is one of the girls I am going to miss having around because she is just fun.”

MacMahon’s undeniable zest for life, combined with her uncanny ability to defend in two sports, made her the 2018 Fauquier Times Kettle Run Girls Athlete of the Year.

MacMahon was the Region 3B Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Year. The daughter of a coach her grandparents, aunts and uncles live in The Plains and Middleburg area. She started playing lacrosse at early age, including throwing balls to the dogs.

It wasn’t always easy for MacMahon to keep a smile on her face at Kettle Run. The unexpected and tragic loss of her older brother Jamie, 18, during fall of her junior year in 2016 and her father’s cancer diagnosis during her senior year of lacrosse brought uncertainty to her athletic career.

“He (Jamie) passed away on a Tuesday and I

PHOTO BY DOUG STROUD

Katie MacMahon helped Kettle Run win a region title in lacrosse and also flashed leadership and stick skills in field hockey. The 2018 Fauquier Times Kettle Run Girls Athlete of the Year is choosing between attending the Savannah College of Art and Design or Roanoke College. “Katie is a competitor and always has been but she goes about it in a lighthearted way,” said lacrosse coach Joanie DeGoosh.

decided to come to our field hockey game on Thursday,” MacMahon said. “I realized if I was sitting home alone I wasn’t accomplishing anything. When I went to the field and got the hugs it felt a lot better. I was questioning if it was going to be my last year of sports. I decided that I deserved to have fun and stuck with it.

“I think I had the ability to lead to start with.

But after the tragedy I think it came out more,” MacMahon said. “I really wanted to help people and didn’t want anyone to ever feel alone. I’d make sure to help anyone that was having a bad day. We really bonded as a team and I will be friends with these girls for the rest of my life.”

Her father Steve is recovering from cancer, which is great news in the MacMahon house, and may allow Katie to attend one of her first-choice colleges.

“I love film. My dad, who has been a great influence in my life did act for a bit. He had some roles in commercials and as an extra in movies. I thought the stories were so cool. I just love watching TV shows that make me laugh. I want to make other people laugh and be happy.”

She is considering Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Her father’s illness made her lean towards being closer to home and attending Roanoke College, but dad’s recent recovery has brought SCAD back into the mix.

She is also interested in playing lacrosse. “Katie can survive anything and whatever Katie sets her mind to she can accomplish. She is a strong young lady and yet very grounded,” said DeGoosh.

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47

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United States Hunter Jumper Association sent out congratulations to the 1.20/1.25m Junior Champions USHJA Zone 3 Team 2 – Thea Bitaral along with Nancy Alcock and her sister Beverly Alcock of Purcellville at the Jumper Team Championships at the Tryon International Equestrian Center.

Sandra Ruiz served as coach.

The community of Middleburg mourned with entertainment world with the passing of actor Tab Hunter who made his last visit to Virginia during the Upperville Horse Show. Bryce Lingo, Kathy Kusner, Tab Hunter and his good friend Snowden Clarke.

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Bob Appenzeller and Carol Miller traveled with a group from Trinity Church in Upperville to serve at SOME in Washington.

PHOTO BY VICKY MOON

Verna Stern, Gavin Fleming (with the pooch), Andie Lyle, Maddy Garrison (shelter manager), Fauquier SPCA Executive Director Devon Settle, airport assistant, Pilot Jeffrey Locke and Lea Fleming. Locke, of The Plains, keeps his airplane at Fauquier Airport and also flies for Pilots for Paws. The group greeted welcomed canines from the Rescue and End of Life Sanctuary in Tennessee that are now up for adoption. “There are some hard days in rescue, “ Settle said of the outing sponsored by Middleburg Design. “But this was a great day and the children made it.”

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

49

Nature Composed

By Sophie Scheps Nature Composed lays nestled on the corner of South Pendleton Street in Middleburg with an inviting, slightly obscured porch full of greenery and sweet-smelling flowers and herbs.

Proprietor Jenn Pineau moved from Washington Street earlier this year and reopened with her same effortless style and focus on seasonal offerings.

“We’ve only just begun,” she said, sitting in a rocking chair out front, surrounded by plants. “I haven’t even touched the back yet.

I can’t rush anything. When it comes to the garden, I need to get to know it first. I spend the time weeding it and watering it, so I can just zone out and see what its telling me.”

Her style lets the beauty of nature speak for itself. Opposed to following trends, Nature Composed offers what’s grown locally, either on her farm in Rochelle, Va. or other growers, neighbors, and even friends.

“Our network is pretty huge, but local,” she said. “That’s how I like to work. It’s how we can end up with really interesting stuff.”

Pineau launched Nature Composed as a wedding/events florist ten years ago after working with the flower-to-table movement started in Napa Valley. In 2015, after learning about Middleburg through working with the Red Fox Inn on their Christmas decorations, Pineau had the opportunity to open a retail location. The village was the right fit.

“You need a market that really appreciates what we do,” said Pineau.

Pineau has carved out a strong niche. Since she started in the industry 16 years ago, there’s been a huge shift in how and where people buy flowers.

“Florists were really busy back then because every grocery store wasn’t selling flowers,” she said. “The market has really changed. Wegmans can even beat our wholesalers.

Pineau sticks with the basics, what’s in season, what looks good.

“We try to hit all the senses,” she said, pointing to a pot overflowing with herbs.

“Even using basil so you can just really get into it.”

Her industry experience has also strengthened Pineau’s resolve to create a system of little waste.

“In my garden, we follow a permaculture approach, a way of gardening that thinks about it not just as a garden for me, but the whole ecosystem. I’m excited to see what we can continue to do with the space.”

Nature Composed has a newly-launched website and soon Pineau will begin offering small classes and workshops. She also plans to expand into another workshop and greenhouse space in the future.

Meanwhile, patrons will continue to enjoy the beautiful arrangements, and also unique gifts throughout the store, all hand-picked by Pineau.

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Jenn Pineau lets the beauty of nature speak for itself.

Not Your Grandma’s Flower Shop

PHOTOS BY JODI & KURT PHOTOGRAPHY

Nature Composed is now open on South Pendleton Street in Middleburg. Nature Composed was launched as a wedding/events florist ten years ago after Pineau worked with the flower-to-table movement.

Pots and greenery of all kinds are set out at the front door to welcome visitors, and the shop and workrooms are filled with all things for a beautiful setting.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

51

Perspectives on Childhood, Education, and Parenting

By Tom Northrup

before (he) slept.”

Improving middle school (also Dr. Lieberman’s statement got known as junior high) programs has my attention. Throughout my career long been a priority in this country.

I had not heard another scholar ex- For decades educators have recogpress this perspective so strongly– the nized that the needs of the young middle school years holding “the key.” teenager are not met by the tradiSeveral years ago the tional curriculums offered father of a seventh grade in elementary or high My belief is school programs. boy, Eddy, was bemoanthat junior ing to me that while his The resulting reforms son was enjoying school, high (seventh have been inconsistent in he wasn’t excelling acasuccess, and parents like and eighth demically. In his view, Eddy’s father have often the school year had been grades) holds continued to feel con“wasted.” the key to our fused, frustrated, or worMy perspective difeducational ried about their children’s fered. Eddy was new to behavior and achievement woes. the school, and spending in middle school.

– Dr. Matthew much of his mental enerLieberman, a professor gy trying to find his place Lieberman from his of psychology at UCLA 2013 book “Social, in his class and in the and a father, makes a perschool. The faculty had Why Our Brains Are suasive case that AmeriWired to Connect” observed that at school he can middle schools today was responsible and coare not capitalizing on the operative, making friends, and per- power, curiosity, and growth potenforming adequately in his work. tial of the adolescent “social brain.”

I advised the father that I was He states that at no time in a peroptimistic about his son’s prospects son’s life is the “social brain” so active not only for eighth grade, but for and engaged. high school, college, and beyond. He From an evolutionary perspecwas doing fine, and as Robert Frost tive he wrote, “the social interests wrote, there would be “miles to go of adolescents are no distraction.”

cies has depended on our ability to interact with others: • “We will spend our entire lives motivated by social connection.”

• “The greatest ideas almost always require teamwork to bring them to fruition.”

• “Our sense of self …. often leads us to help others more than ourselves.”

If we accept these principles, it’s important that we design and provide an environment in middle school that meets the needs of the growing adolescent brain, to help children develop their interpersonal skills, their self-knowledge, and their identities.

These qualities are more difficult to measure, but readily observable by experienced teachers and parents.

I have long felt the most important ‘“need” of the 12- to 14-year-old child is the need to belong, to feel valued, and to feel capable. When the conditions are provided for children’s social and emotional growth, I believe that, like Eddy, all children’s academic effort and achievement will follow accordingly. They go hand in hand.

Tom Northrup is the Headmaster Emeritus of The Hill School in Middleburg, the school he has served since 1981.

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Find yourself complaining that people are mumbling or slurring their words?

Have trouble hearing at the movies, house of worship, concert halls, or at other public gatherings—especially where sound sources are at a distance?

Continually ask people to repeat words or phrases, though they feel they’re speaking loud enough?

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Preventive Measures to Ease Some Pitfalls of Aging

By Tom Wiseman

The physical and mental effects of aging can be a source of anxiety for many approaching retirement or for those who have elderly parents or family members.

Along with the perks of grandbabies and flexible travel time come some drawbacks—increased medical costs, limited mobility and loss of memory, among others.

It’s important to start planning when you “still have all your marbles.” It will make things easier and more pleasant on your elderly self and family members. The same goes for your parents.

As your parents age, there’s a strange reversal of roles where you feel more like the parent and less like the child. Health care, elder care, and financial protection are important pieces of the aging puzzle.

Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind if you or other family members are of an applicable age: The increased costs of medical care are a major issue for the Baby Boom generation. It’s a common misconception that Medicare is blanket, inexpensive health care coverage. In addition to the standard Medicare Part

A, there are supplemental plans covering outpatient expenses and prescription drugs, both often coming at a high cost.

Before you casually enroll Tom Wiseman yourself or a parent in Medicare, meet with a specialist who can advise you on the most suitable plan for your needs or even to review the plan you already have.

Medicare also does not cover any custodial care, which can be very costly. According to a Department of Health and Human Services study, 52 percent of Americans turning 65 will require long-term care at some point in their lives. With a nationwide shortage of caregivers, the costs will only go up.

Many rely on their families, neighbors and volunteers to help in their day-to-day care. This certainly can be a hardship for the caregiver, but many of us have no alternative because the cost of professional care can be too expensive for a family to bear.

For example, the average cost in 2017 for a semi-private nursing home in Winchester was just over $300 a day.

Keeping that in mind, you may want to consider long-term care insurance. Those policies reimburse policy-holders a daily amount for services that assist with the basic activities of daily living—bathing, dressing, eating. This insurance could make a huge difference in the quality of care you receive as well as a means to protect your assets.

Health care and custodial costs are not the only culprits in diminishing your nest egg. The elderly are vulnerable and have become a targeted group for scams and theft. It’s been done by an “attentive” neighbor looting your mother’s house while dropping off cookies, or by sophisticated organizations posing as Social Security representatives.

Older Americans often become victims because they’re lonely and trusting. In many instances, simply being informed and wary can make a huge difference. Others are targeted because of illness or forms of dementia. They can no longer remain independent and rely on people (in many cases family members) who appear

to be trusted associates but are not.

It’s also difficult for friends and family to intervene and offend the aging party, which leads to the question: at what point does one intervene?

The answer? The sooner the better.

By creating the appropriate documents and putting preventive measures in place, future headaches and hardship can be avoided.So keep these tips in mind: • Have a Power-of-Attorney document drafted. This gives another person the authority to act for another in legal or financial matters.

• Add a trusted contact, someone with trade authorization, or even a name of someone to receive duplicate statements on investment accounts.

• Add a trusted caregiver’s name to checking/savings accounts.

• Use Lifelock or some other identity protection.

These are just a few measures to ease the anxieties of aging. When things seem overwhelming or you’re depressed by a few more wrinkles and greying hair, remember, the only other alternative is far worse.

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

53

Virginia Equine Alliance Helped Save Virginia’s Racing Industry

By Jeb Hannum

The re-opening of Colonia Downs for thoroughbred racing in 2019 was the result of years of effort by many individuals and organizations, most notably the Warrenton-based Virginia Equine Alliance formed in 2013, the same year the last race was run at Colonial Downs.

A protracted contract dispute followed the last racing season in 2013 after the horseman’s association (HBPA) and track owner Jeff Jacobs were not able to agree on the number of racing days for the 2014 season.

The HBPA is much like a union, and in Virginia racing, the track and the union must agree on race days, purse distributions, and other matters in order to conduct live racing.

When Jacobs was unable to get Virginia’s horsemen to agree to an extremely short racing meet for the 2014 season, he closed the track and handed in his racing license to then Commission Chairman Sarge Reynolds.

At the point, many Virginians with an abiding love of racing soon began to take action. They included Will Allison and Al Griffin of the Virginia Gold Cup, Frank Petramalo of the HBPA and Debbie Easter of the Virginia Thoroughbred Association, among others. They all saw the writing on the wall and had started to make plans should Colonial Downs fail to re-open.

I joined the group in 2014 and one of our first tasks was to go to Richmond for the 2015 General Assembly session with a legislative package to stabilize the reeling industry and to provide a path forward. Amazingly, the VEA came out of the 2015 General Assembly with just about everything it needed. Sen. Jill Vogel and Delegate Mike Webert were instrumental in this success.

On July 1, 2015, the Virginia Equine Alliance, a non-profit, 501 (c) 6 organization, was officially recognized by the state. There’s no other organization like this in the country with the entire racing industry represented by a non-profit.

Over the last few years, the VEA, and its member groups, did everything we could do to stabilize and support the industry.

Perhaps our greatest accomplishment occurred last year. The VEA worked with a Chicago group known as Revolutionary Racing on a legislative change to the Racing Act that would enable the installation of instant racing or historical horse racing machines at the track and in off54

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Jeb Hannum track betting sites.

The normally anti-gambling General Assembly voted to approve House Bill 1609 with approximately 80 percent support in both the House and Senate. The bill was signed by Gov. Ralph Northam on April 9 and once again, Webert, the bill’s sponsor, and Vogel led the charge.

Historical horse racing machines played a major role in the re-opening of Colonial Downs by Revolutionary Racing, once again providing a home for flat racing. Secondly, historical racing will provide new funds to the VEA. The money will go to support its member groups—the Virginia Gold Cup, flat and harness racing, the breeders, and other programs, including local point-to-points.

Virginia now has a more competitive footing, and the new funds will help attract quality horses and horsemen to the state while also benefitting horses already here. A vibrant racing industry is good for the Commonwealth’s entire equine industry and, in turn, all agricultural-related businesses.

While Virginia racing may have been a 100-to-1 longshot in 2014, there’s now renewed optimism.

Look for racing to return to Colonial Downs next fall, and the VEA should have the resources to invest in all aspects of the racing industry in years ahead. We’ve come a long way since 2014, proving again that Virginia horsemen are always a good bet.

Jeb Hannum lives with his family in Marshall. He was appointed the first executive director of the Virginia Equine Alliance in 2014. More information can be found about Virginia’s racing program on www.virginiahorseracing.com.

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REAL Estates:

This log home is tucked away on Enon School Road between Marshall and Warrenton.

Embrace the Rustic Surroundings on Enon School Road

This lovely log home in Fauquier County provides an extraordinary prospect to own a unique architectural gem and a window to history.

The craft of log housing was brought to the Virginia Piedmont by an influx of German Americans and Scots-Irish immigrants during the 18th and 19th centuries. Each group employed unique and consistent criteria in their design and construction techniques.

Located on Enon School Road between Marshall and Warrenton, county records reflect a German family constructed the log home in the 1840’s. Many of the original details have been preserved with thoughtful additions and renovations done by the current and previous owners.

The warm feel of a log cabin is best exemplified in the living room, which has a fireplace on opposite ends and hardwood floors leading to a downstairs bedroom and staircase to two upstairs 56

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

bedrooms. The living room door opens to a front porch and grassy area for outdoor activities and gardening.

A sunny breakfast nook connects to the kitchen. Off the kitchen is a dining room with door for outside access and stairs to loft. The library anchors the first floor with windowed doors that let in the light. A bathroom, loft and small entry room/mudroom complete the first floor.

The home and outbuildings are on a huntsman’s dream of 70 predominantly wooded acres abounding with birds and wildlife. The outbuildings include a structure with electricity that could be turned into an office or studio. There are also a barn, potential smoke house, and storage.

The current owners purchased the property as a weekend retreat for their growing family in the 1970’s. Over the years, they indulged their passion for antiquing and flea markets and filled the home

with furniture and collectibles, many with a local history. Some of these items might be available for purchase.

The home is sold “as is.” The heating is electric baseboard space heaters and the fireplaces. Window units are used for air conditioning. The bathroom has a shower with washer and dryer hookup.

The log construction is in good condition. The metal roof was installed six years ago. The log cabin and outbuildings are on approximately five cleared acres with space for new construction.

The home is waiting for the special buyer who wants to embrace the rustic surroundings to create something spectacular and conserve and preserve this piece of history.

Listed at $699,000 by Anne Michael Greene of Washington Fine Properties (540)364.9500 or am.greene@wfp.com.

1.

2.

3.

4.

1. Many of its original details have been preserved with thoughtful additions and renovations done by the current and previous owners.

2. The warm feel of a log cabin is best exemplified in the living room.

3. The dining area is filled with natural light.

4. The rear view.

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BCT President Alice Frazier: She Knows About Community

By Leonard Shapiro

W

hen Alice Frazier walks into her West Virginia office at the flagship branch of the Bank of Charles Town (BCT), she likes to tell people “I feel like I’m home.”

Not her house “home” in Leesburg, but her former home base at the Middleburg Bank where she started her banking career at age 26 in 1991. She moved from a loan review officer at the start to chief operating officer before she left in 2007 to take charge of BB&T’s operations in Loudoun County.

After helping BB&T exponentially expand its Loudoun operations, Frazier was recruited by Cardinal Bank in Reston and named its COO. She stayed for eight years until the bank merged with United Bank of West Virginia. During her time at Cardinal, assets grew from $1.8 billion to $4.2 billion. She was then recruited by BCT and named president in July, 2017, clearly a match made in financial heaven.

“This bank (BCT) is so much what the Middleburg Bank was in the 1990s when I was there,” Frazier said. “People come in to the bank, they know everyone. They talk to everyone. They see their friends and neighbors.That’s why it felt like home.

It felt like this is the way it should be.”

A native of Wintergreen, Virginia, Frazier and her Middleburg-native husband Todd have two adult sons.

She credits much of her banking success to the training, advice and counsel she received from so many of her former Middleburg Bank colleagues— the late John Palmer and Bill Curtis and now-retired Ed Wright and her main mentor, former bank president Joe Boling.

“Joe really taught me about community banking,” Frazier said. “My philosophy, and I learned this at the beginning, is that if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers. And if you take care of your customers, the bank will continue to grow.”

BCT was founded in 1871 by 38 local Jefferson County farmers and orchardists and there are only 229 American banks that are older.

Frazier is particularly proud of the bank’s independence and its justunder 1,000 shareholders.

“Most of them are just regular people in the community,” she said.

“No one owns more than three percent, so there’s no influence from outside partners. Our shareholders are all local people.”

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Alice Frazier Shortly after Frazier took over BCT, she convened a shareholder meeting at the iconic Bavarian Inn in nearby Shepherdstown.

“I asked if anyone in the room

COURTESY PHOTO

could trace their ownership back to the original owners,” she said.

“Twelve people raised their hands. To me, that is history that is so precious.”

And so, too, is its independence,

as well as a commitment to true community banking. BCT now has assets of about $425 million, and Frazier’s five-year goal includes pushing it to $750 million. She’s also expanding the bank’s reach into Loudoun County, with a Middleburg branch since 2013, a recently opened equally full-service branch in Purcellville and plans for another in Leesburg by the end of the year..

BCT now has eight branches and offers a full range of services, including trust and estate planning operations dating back to the 1920s.

They’ll even do bill-paying for some of their elderly patrons.

In addition to its West Virginia locations and one bank in Hagerstown, Maryland, Frazier wants to continue expanding east to Loudoun. Every new executive hire at the Loudoun branches also lives in the county and has at least ten years banking experience.

“Having the bank remain a locally-owned community bank is the long-term goal,” she said. “To do that, we need to grow and earn our independence every day. The best way to do that is to provide a great customer experience.”.

“What’s different about us is that we’re just as interested in consumer business as we are in business business.”

Her former employer, the Middleburg Bank, merged last year with Reston-based Access Bank and is now clearly focusing on business business far more than consumer business. Asked about the shift from the days when she worked in Middleburg, Frazier diplomatically said she preferred to focus on her own bank.

BCT’s slogan is “owned by the community for the community” and it recently debuted a newly-designed logo, a drawing of a billowing tree to represent all those original orchardists and farmers.

Frazier also is a huge fan of the bank’s 105 employees. Last year, they contributed over 2,000 hours of community service to local nonprofits and donated $25,000 to a United way campaign, which the bank matched. BCT also will award $860,000 in college scholarship money this year from a fund contributed by deceased clients and administered by its trust department.

Frazier’s said her overall banking philosophy is best described in five tenets – “integrity, teamwork, growth, consumer focus and community engagement.”

“It’s not about me,” Alice Frazier said. “It’s about the communities we serve.”

International Gold Cup Races Saturday, October 27, 2018

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West Virginia Breeders Classic

Running, Jumping, Racing and Chasing

By Vicky Moon

The summer swelter should be a distant memory as the Virginia countryside transitions into fall, with the sound of thundering hooves replacing the crash bang of thundering summer storms.

An assortment of horse-related Autumn events are scheduled, ranging from exciting steeplechase racing to cross country events geared toward young riders and seasoned sophisticated amateurs.

Then attention turns to flat racing on one very special evening.

Pack your binoculars, corkscrew and tweeds for the Virginia Fall Races at Glenwood Park in Middleburg on Saturday, Oct. 13. The featured races will include the Joseph Stettinius Jr. Memorial and the $40,000 National Sporting Library & Museum Cup Timber Classic.

Spectators can entertain at tailgates in the shade of 100-year-old oak trees and experience what is often called “the best view in jump racing,” with views of all the fences. Be sure to check out the Concours d’Elegance and “Family Fun Fair” with a petting zoo, pony rides and face-painting sponsored by INOVA Loudoun Hospital Foundation.

Post time is 1 p.m. Details: vafallraces.com or call 540-687-9797.

After a day of steeplechasing, head over to the

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Race Track just a hop away in West Virginia on Saturday evening, Oct. 13. (It’s a fabulous drive.) Post time is 7 p.m. for the West Virginia Breeders Classic Races orchestrated by Carol Holden, president, Theresa Bitner, executive secretary and our favorite NFL Hall of Famer Sam Huff, chairman emeritus.

Nine races for just under $1 million will feature the West Virginia Breeders Classic and the Cavada, for fillies. Details: wvbcmbn@frontier.com, wvbc.com and 304-725-0709.

On Saturday, Oct. 27, the 81st running of the International Gold Cup will unfold at Great Meadow in The Plains.

The race was first held in 1930 at Grasslands Downs, Tennessee, where the King of Spain provided a spectacularly beautiful gold trophy. The race moved to Virginia in 1984, and the winner is presented with the same magnificent hardware.

“The International Gold Cup has a large annual following,” said Will Allison, president of the Virginia Gold Cup Association. “Our fall event is always blessed with spectacular scenery with an amazing display of fall colors.”

Gates open at 10 a.m. with pre-race entertainment and the first race gets underway at noon.

The event also features pari-mutuel wagering.

“Bring cash for wagering,” Allison noted.

This year also features new ticket pricing. General Admission parking passes-for one vehicle and four guests are now $50 each. Everyone entering the event grounds under general admission and going to the north or south areas must have a wrist band at $25 each. Members Hill badges are $55 each.

“Now everyone entering the International Gold Cup must either have a Member’s Hill badge or a wrist band, except for children 12 and under who must be accompanied by an adult,” Allison said.

Details: vagoldcup.com or 540-347-1215.

Finally, on Sunday, Oct. 28, riders will gather at Karin and Mark Ohrstrom’s Old Whitewood near The Plains for the Orange County Hounds Team Chase, an adaptation of the British version.

Held in the heart of fox chasing territory, it kicks off at noon with the Hilltopper Pairs over 13 fences (trotting permitted!). Following a lunch break, the First Flight Hunt Teams will ride over 18 fences. Prizes go to Best Turned Out Pair and Best Hilltopper Pair as well as Beat Hunt Team, Best Turned Out Team and Optimum Time.

A Junior Championship and First Flight Hunter Championship will conclude this timeless country afternoon event. It’s laced in camaraderie, rooted in classic horsemanship and topped off with good sportsmanship. Details: pippymcc@gmail.com.

I AM 32 YEARS OLD.

My name is “First Lagniappe,” but Mom thought I was such a “sweet little bunny” when I was born into her lap on June 5, 1986, that I have been called “Bunny” ever since. For most of my life, until I was

twelve years old, I would show blood in the white line of my hooves every spring and fall when the sugars would rise in the pasture grass. (It wasn’t particularly good pasture and I was only turned out at night, anyway.)

But my life changed when I turned twelve because Mom took away the national brand feed that she had always fed horses, and instead fed me HorseSense Balanced Optimal Nutrition.

I never showed so much as a trace of laminitis ever again; my feet are always perfect even though I am turned out 23-7 in large rich pastures. Oh, I get fat in summer but with the addition of a little MiraChrome in my food, it doesn’t matter in the least!

Another odd thing happened after my food switched to HorseSense: I got smarter! I used to “dither” whenever Mom tried to teach me anything new. She had wanted to teach me to be a foxhunter, but I freaked when I saw the hounds and would not stop running. (The blood of my grandsire “First Landing” came out at all the wrong times.) So Mom gave up and just rode the trails in our “territory” except on hunting days. Then one day when I was 16 years old, on our way home from a nice outing, I felt a little indirect pressure on my right rein and Mom’s left leg behind the girth. She had never done this before, but I knew what she was asking and although I had never done it before, I performed a perfect half-pass to the right. Then she switched rein and leg and I half-passed in the other direction. We did this three more times. Mom was so proud of me – I felt her crying.

Don’t let anyone – and I mean anyone – ever tell you these products don’t work! – Bunny

HorseSenseNutrition.com Mira-Chrome.com 60

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

(540)253-9987

Horse Sense 4292 Belvoir Road (Rt. 709) Marshall, VA 20115

Win…Place…Show…

CLASSIC.

Photo: Allison Janezic

Saturday, October 13, 2018 • Post Time 7:00 PM Featuring the West Virginia Breeders Classic and the Breeders Classics Races

West Virginia Breeders Classics, Ltd. wvbcmbn@frontier.com • www.wvbc.com P.O. Box 1251 • Charles Town, WV 25414 • 304-725-0709 Carol Holden - PRES. • Theresa Bitner - Exec. Sec. • Sam Huff - Chairman Emeritus

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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A CUP OF COFFEE

For My Man Papou, it was a

Wonderful Life I

Family Pet Aftercare

By Sean Clancy

was in love. Twenty-one and head-overheels, walk-off-a-cliff in love with a beautiful Greek girl from Birmingham, Alabama.

I met Annie Kontos at Atlantic City Racecourse, she was wearing a red dress, my life was never the same. I came home for Thanksgiving, 1991, the first time to meet her family, her whole family. Mom, dad, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins – everybody was a cousin.

Sean Clancy The only things that came faster than the hugs and kisses were the food and the drinks. Food is love. Love is food.

“My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” the movie, came out 11 years later.

I could have written it that week. The only thing missing was the Windex.

Still in college and riding jumpers for 90 bucks a pop, I was concerned about impressing Annie’s dad, like really concerned.

A self-made man, he took a family-run fruit cart on the corner and turned it into one of the biggest produce distributors in the South. I didn’t know anything about fruit, distribution or making money and certainly didn’t know anything about the University of Alabama’s football program.

After a couple of days, I thought I was getting somewhere as “Papou” (everybody called him that) started calling me, “My man.” Like all day, every day.

“Hey, my man, you know the name of the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby?” he’d ask, always laughing when telling me it was Aristides. His God-given name was Aristides, but his family changed it to Steve, thinking he would never make it in this tough old world with a name like Aristides.

“Hey, my man, I don’t think there’s too much horse racing in there today but here you go,” he’d say, handing me the sports section of The

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Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Birmingham News.

“Hey, my man, grab yourself a Buffalo Rock,” he’d say about his favorite drink.

“Hey, my man, how are the horses running?” he’d ask, uncertain of what I actually did for a living.

It was beautiful, the father of the woman of my dreams liked me, I was his man.

Papou and I got up early, drank coffee, read the paper and he’d call me “my man” five times before breakfast. I sat in a chair on one side of the living room while Papou sat in a chair on the other.

The day after Thanksgiving, Papou went back to work. Well, he was in the same chair but now he was working.

He pulled up a tray table, placed a cardboard box full of papers in the middle, a phone, a regular, push-button, landline phone sat on the right. I never heard the phone ring and he never dialed a number, but he was on the phone for hours, hitting the call-waiting button as if he was plugging holes in a leaky dike.

Before the internet, before caller ID, before cell phones, before texting, Papou sat in his bathrobe, working that phone like Hendrix worked a guitar, starting and ending every conversation the same way.

“Hey, my man…”

He would talk for a while, part banter, part salesmanship, then shuffle them off the phone, “All right my man, OK, my man…” Then he’d hit the call waiting, “Hey, my man…”

I was crestfallen. But undeterred.

I kept going to Birmingham, off and on, marrying Annie in 2006.

Her mom died in 2000, and it was brutal. Vibrant, vivacious, soulful, the thread that wove everything together, it was never the same after that.

But Papou kept going, strong-willed, determined to live his life, going out five, six, seven nights a week, always taking the corner table, back to the wall so he could see the scene, know the score.

Friends and family would gather at Dugan’s, Bottega, Highlands, Jinsei... he was the man about town, scoffing at socializing with his age group. “They’re so damn old,” he’d say.

On the way home from dinner, he would drive by a dozen places, looking in the windows to see how business was going. It would take an hour to drive five miles.

He made friends, young and old, rich and poor, suave and certifiable, somewhere along the line, he picked up – or picked – the nickname, “The Guru.”

He’d say, “Love and finance are my specialties but I can help you with anything,” We were at Bottega, one of his regular spots, and a guy cried the blues about not being able to find a woman. Papou looked at him, “Well, damn, look at you, you’re 20 pounds overweight and look at how you dress... no wonder you can’t find a woman.”

Most people would have argued or been hurt, but not this guy. He nodded, agreed and I swear he went for a run the next morning and bought new clothes the next afternoon.

The greatest optimist I’ve ever known, he lost his wife, a son and his eight siblings but swore he never had a bad day.

Steven Alex Kontos, 97, died July 9, 2018.

Rest in peace, my man.

THE VIRGINIA

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Saturday, October 13, 2018 • Post Time 1:00 PM Glenwood Park • Middleburg, Virginia The Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship Finals 9:00 AM Family Fun Fair • Pony Rides • Petting Zoo Vendors • Food Trucks • Concours d'Elegance For information: 540-687-9797 • Visit our website www.vafallraces.com

Gates Open at 8:30 AM

For the Benefit of INOVA Loudoun Hospital Foundation

JOIN US FOR THE

JOINCOUNTY US FOR HOUNDS THE ORANGE 2018 TEAM CHASE ORANGE COUNTY

HOUNDS 2016 TEAM CHASE

PHOTO BY EQUINE EVENT PHOTOS

Old Whitewood Farm The Plains Sunday, October 28 | Start Time: Noon For Info: pippymcc@gmail.com

raphy

Steve Kontos

Paul Desmond Brown (American, 1893-1958) Sketch from “Daubs” Sketchbook (page 37), 1944, watercolor, 7 1/2 x 9 3/4 inches National Sporting Library & Museum, Gift of Nancy Searles, the artist's daughter, 2011, ©Paul Brown

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Am

At the tender age of 14, Danny Marzani was not jumping in the car, but jumping over the car.

Ambulatory and Clinic Appointments

Wellness and Herd Health Sports Medicine Critical Care Elective and Emergency Surgery

On Call 24/7

540-364-4950

www.piedmontequinepractice.com

4122 Zulla Road, The Plains VA 64

Country Spirit • Fall 2018

Danny Marzani won The Amagansett Hurdle HandicapAqueduct-June 25, 1948. It was a $10,000 added, about 1 ¾ miles time 3:22 3/5. The horse, H Hour, was owned by Mrs. W.M. Jeffords and trained

by Arthur Ridgely White of Middleburg.

Danny Marzani: Full

By Vicky Moon

Danny Marzani, a champion steeplechase jockey and trainer who managed George Ohrstrom’s Whitewood Stud in The Plains for 22 years during the 1950s and ‘60s, passed away in mid-June.

Danny grew up in rural Peakville, Pennsylvania and began riding horses as a young boy. His father, Bruno Marzani, loved horses and they traveled to many horse shows in the area, including the Pennsylvania National in Harrisburg.

Full of guts and no fear, little Danny, age 14, once leaped over a car. He was the world’s record holder (at that time) for the broad jump at the Mt. Pocono Horse Show on August 24, 1940, on Mint D’Or “The Wonder Horse” at 29 feet, five inches.

At 18, he was an apprentice to John H. Whitney and shortly thereafter became a jockey. His skills took him to the winner’s circle on the steeplechase circuit during the 1940s and 50s During World War II, Marzani spent three years in the Navy. During the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, he was just 19 and serving as a gunner at Utah beach in Normandy

Danny Marzani passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2018, age 93. on the landing ship LST 59.

He returned to the U.S. in 1946 and when he arrived, there was a telegram from a trainer asking him if he wanted to ride a horse for him that very day.

Of course, he did.

But it didn’t turn out to be a dream ride. The rider and the horse fell. Marzani’s leg was shattered.

The surgery required a plate in his

In a familiar spot, the winner’s circle, Danny Marzani is shown here with his sister, Rita Smith, who now lives in Ocala.

As the World’s Record holder for the broad jump at the Mt. Pocono Horse Show on August 24, 1940, Danny Marzani rode Mount D’Or “The Wonder Horse” to leap 29 feet, five inches.

of Guts and No Fear

In racing silks with saddle in hand, Danny Marzani is ready to ride. leg and all through 1947, the determined Marzani continued his rehab.

By 1948 and ’49, he won consecutive American Grand National Championships at Belmont on American Way and His Boots.

In 1957, Danny married Madelyn Colombo a former advertising sales guru for The Piedmont Virginian newspaper and several other local publications, including The Fauquier

Democrat, now known as the Fauquier Times.

While on their honeymoon, the Marzanis traveled to England so he could experience the British way of jump riding and perhaps find a ride in the Grand National at Aintree, a lifetime goal.

British reports said his arrival “caused quite a stir at the time.” He managed to get a call to ride in the Grand National on Battling Pedulas trained by John Beary. They fell at the sixth fence, Bechers’ Brook, which had a deadly six-foot drop on the far side.

Danny and Madelyn divorced in 1967 and she died June 11, 2005 at the age of 77. He’s survived by his sister, Rita Smith, and brother Bruno “Pepper” Marzani, who sent us these family photos. He was pre-deceased by his sons, Stephen and Danny Jr., as well as his long time companion, Peggy Haver.

And, in the world is small department, my son is married to Danny’s distant cousin, Victoria Ingenito.

They both love horses, too. I don’t think they have any Grand National ambitions… but I can’t speak about the next generation.

Quality and Compassionate Veterinary Care for all Companion Animals General Wellness Diagnostics Surgery Dental Care

540-364-4954

www.piedmontsmallanimal.com 4122 Zulla Road, The Plains VA Country Spirit • Fall 2018

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Thistle

Little

Cutie Pie

Cricket

Porky

Nut

Osborne Thorn

We would like to tell you it’s the Dog Days of Summer, but we are beyond that now. And, these dogs are way too elegant.

We just wanted to share the gorgeous photo portraits done by our friend professional photographer Crowell Hadden.

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JoHN CoLEs

“ Specializing in Large Land Holdings” oaKENDaLE

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UPPERvILLE ~ First time offering of 1511 acres offers hardwood forest on the eastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountain, 33 verdant pastures, wildlife habitat and the largest flatland timber stand in Loudoun County. In prime horse country, with olympic riders and the Piedmont Hunt, riding trails are maintained on the property. Residences include a historic manor house, a second manor house, the original patent house and 3 tenant houses. $19,750,000

tHE PLaINs ~ 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 surrounding pastures of 435 acres with protected viewsheds.

aLDIE ~ 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 to 38.12 acres. open space Easement in place with potential for tax credits. $7,500,000

RaLLyWooD

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tHE PLaINs ~ 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

HUME~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

UPPERvILLE ~ c.1823, this stunning 6 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath, offer is one of the grand manor homes in the famed horse country of Upperville on 34 acres.

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. $2,950,000

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MIDDLEBURG ~ 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 feet of Goose Creek frontage. Minutes from Middleburg with easy access to Dulles International airport and Washington DC. Middleburg Hunt territory. $2,465,250

THOMAS AND TALBOT REAL ESTATE (540) 687-6500 Middleburg, virginia 20118 68

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HUME ~ 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. $2,450,000

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MIDDLEBURG ~ Exquisite custom home designed for indoor and outdoor living and entertaining on 23 private acres minutes from Middleburg. Grand rooms with 12’ high ceilings and beautiful moldings, elegant main level master suite with fireplace and French doors to terrace. Nearly ¼ mile of frontage on Goose Creek.

Charming Guest Cottage. $2,249,000

www.Thomas-Talbot.com

Country Spirit • Fall Offers 2018 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.