The House & Home Magazine: February/March 2019

Priceless

Love

your complete home resource guide and lifestyle magazine Essex • Northern Neck • Middle Peninsula • Gloucester • Richmond • Williamsburg

FOR THE

Chase

OF THE

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra Virginia Historic Garden Week

Battles & Benedictions Yeocomico Church www.thehouseandhomemagazine.com

February/March 2019

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February/March 2019

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We’re Waiting!

A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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e’re not so patiently waiting for spring. Once we’ve delivered our Valentines, the signs of a new season are all around us for those with eager eyes to see. There’s a little more daylight. Crocuses and daffodils are pushing their cold-hardy faces through the frosty soil. The trees are sporting those tiny nubs that signal new leaves and blossoms on the way. Sturdy little songbirds are showing themselves among the still-bare branches.

I like to think of these last cold months, the grumpy gasps of winter before the change of seasons, as a restful time to plan and prepare for the glory of what’s to come. I pore over new plant selections, do a little garden cleanup, maybe do some inside spring cleaning, all with an eager eye toward the energy of springtime in River Country.

In this February/March issue of The House & Home Magazine we’re happy to have one foot in each season.

We welcome you inside for comfort foods on cold nights and charcuterie platters for cozy gatherings with friends. While you’re still inside, you can read about the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences’ lecture series. Make plans

to attend a concert or to learn more about the marine world at one or more talks in the lecture series. Then, make a jewelry wish list by considering the mystical properties of our favorite gemstones.

On the other hand, we’re gradually venturing outdoors, too. We’ll preview all the area’s garden tours scheduled for Historic Garden Week in Virginia, as well as the historic Gloucester Daffodil Festival, a lively celebration of the daffodil industry in Gloucester County. Also, mark your calendars for Shuckapalooza, a day-long, multi-site adventure highlighting everything oyster. Learn, taste and sip your way through seven exclusive oyster experiences. In other stories, you can ride along on a stylish fox hunt, and learn about the singular Chesapeake Bay crab pot, invented and patented right here in Harryhogan, near Callao.

Still enjoying the great outdoors, we’ll feature songbirds of the Northern Neck. You’ll want to grab your binoculars and notebooks and venture out to catch flashes of yellow, red and green, and hear the captivating calls of our springtime feathered friends.

As always, you’ll see a few of our favorite local destinations, a little art, lovely homes and interesting people.

Come along with us on adventures both inside and outside. And don’t forget, wherever you roam, keep your copy of The House & Home Magazine close at hand.

Seize the day and read on my friends!

I like to think of these last cold months, the grumpy gasps of winter before the change of seasons, as a restful time to plan and prepare for the glory of what’s to come.

JANET EVANS HINMAN 6

February/March 2019

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PUBLISHER James L. Blanks EDITOR Janet Evans Hinman CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Zora Aiken T. Patrick Cleary Beth & Dan Fedorka Janet Evans Hinman Jackie Nunnery Linda Landreth Phelps Dianne Saison Deb Weissler ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER Kirstin Canough ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES James L. Blanks: 804-929-1797 Hilton Snowdon: 804-384-6986 JLB Publishing, Inc. P. O. Box 2564 • Tappahannock, VA 22560 Office: 804-929-1797 • Fax: 1-888-747-2267 thehouseandhomemag@gmail.com

Cover image courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography The House & Home Magazine is a free, four-color publication that specializes in providing home ideas, real estate, and lifestyle articles.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from JLB Publishing, Inc. The information contained herein are opinions of sources and interviews.

JLB Publishing Inc. claims no reliability or accuracy to any information contained within. The House & Home Magazine is published for reference purposes only and is not materially responsible for errors.

The House & Home Magazine is published bimonthly and is distributed at over 500 locations throughout Essex, Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, Gloucester, Richmond, and Mechanicsville as well as subscriptions, direct mail, and trade shows.

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February/March 2019

Contents

The House & Home Magazine • February/March 2019

14 Gloucester Daffodil Festival

18 Virginia Institute

of Marine Science After Hours

24 Songbirds of the Northern Neck

30 The Williamsburg

Symphony Orchestra

Community Pride, Community Support

36 For the Love of the Chase

40 An Extra Helping of Happiness

44 Local Waterman

Set the Standard

For a crab pot revolution

48 Historic Garden Week

The House & Home Magazine

www.thehouseandhomemagazine.com

62 Charcuterie

Sausage, bacon, and ham! Oh my!

66 Battles & Benedictions The profound history of Yeocomico Church

70 Magic & Mystery 78 Shuckapalooza A ticket to Oyster Paradise

80 Fine Properties 90 At a Loss

How aging affects your hearing

94 A Better Place to Heal

96 Chicken Soup for the Cold

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ith spring just around the corner, make plans now to visit the 33rd annual Gloucester Daffodil Festival on April 6th and 7th. The Daffodil Festival Committee invites you to come and enjoy a weekend of art, fun, entertainment and great food at this historical community event.

IT IS FROM THIS ABUNDANCE OF NATURAL BEAUTY THAT THE EXTENSIVE DAFFODIL INDUSTRY IN GLOUCESTER WAS BORN EARNING THE COUNTY THE TITLE “DAFFODIL CAPITAL OF AMERICA”

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The history of the daffodil in Gloucester County, Virginia is almost as old as the county itself. When Gloucester was formed in 1651 the early settlers brought with them reminders of their beloved English gardens, a variety of bulbs, and among them, daffodil bulbs. They soon found that the soil and weather conditions were ideal for the daffodils. The bulbs were passed from neighbor to neighbor and soon spread from the orderly gardens of the great houses to the surrounding fields. By the beginning of the twentieth century, daffodils were growing in abundance throughout the fields of Gloucester. It is from this abundance of natural beauty that the extensive daffodil industry in Gloucester was born earning the county the title “Daffodil Capital of America” in the 1930s and 40s.

The industry itself, as well as festivities and celebrations throughout the county, waxed and waned through the years until 1987, when a volunteer citizens committee, with the cooperation of the Gloucester Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism organized a new Spring Daffodil Festival, which they have continued to sponsor.

Along the Water’s Edge is the theme for this year’s festival which will certainly be reflected during the kick- off event, the Daffodil Festival parade starting at 10:00am on Saturday.

Arrive early, park at Gloucester High School and ride the daffodil shuttle to Main Street and the heart of the festival. A small fee applies but children under two may ride free.

Immediately following the parade make your way to the Main Stage located at the festival food court for the crowning of the 2019 Daffodil Festival Queen and the festival scholarship award.

The festival presented its first renewable scholarship in 1997 for $200. Since then, with the help of generous businesses and citizens of Gloucester, organizers have awarded $64,400 in scholarships to 46 deserving students of the county.

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The 2019 Daffodil Festival Queen will be the 30th Gloucester County young lady to be selected for this honorable title. The Daffodil Festival Queen represents the Daffodil Festival and Gloucester County during her one- year reign in many ways. Festival Queens participate in community events as well as events in and around Hampton Roads and Virginia.

The current 2018 Queen, Jennifer Herman, has exceeded those boundaries during her summer missionary trip to Uganda.

If you are a Gloucester County young lady between the ages of 16-19 and would like to apply to become the next Daffodil Festival Queen visit the festival website for details (daffodilfestivalva.org). The entry deadline is March 4, 2019.

For the second year 6 to 8-year-old little girls of Gloucester County may apply for, “Little Miss Daffodil.” Little Miss often accompanies the Daffodil Festival Queen at events. You can get all the details and apply on the Daffodil Festival website as well until the March 4, 2019 deadline. Little Miss Daffodil is crowned on Sunday, April 7th at 1:00pm.

Make sure you visit the Daffodil Show at Botetourt Elementary School on Main Street. Sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society, it is a must see! Hours are 2p.m. to 5p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5p.m. on Sunday. Since the festival is a dog-friendly event, a short-time dog sitting service is available at the show. Dog owners must register onsite at the show entrance. There is no fee for the service and volunteers will provide water and shelter from the sun. This service is only available for the time dog owners are visiting the Daffodil Show.

Speaking of your amazing dogs, be sure to enter your pooch in the “Amazing Mutt Show”, brought to you by volunteers from the Gloucester/Mathews Humane Society at 1p.m. on Saturday, April 6th.

Better than ever, don’t miss the Bulb Tours at Brent & Becky’s Bulb Shoppe, 7900 Daffodil Lane. Each two- hour guided tour will be led by the Gloucester Master Gardeners and includes a welcome and history video, tour of the farm, Bulb Shoppe gardens, greenhouse, warehouse and light refreshments. Tours run Saturday and Sunday, consecutively from 10a.m. to 3p.m. Park at Brent & Becky’s Shoppe this year. The tour buses will depart from there to the farm hourly.

Tickets are $6 in advance and $7.50 at the door. Advance tickets are available at the following locations: Virginia Cooperative Extension Office,7400 Carriage Court, Gloucester, Va. (804)693-2602; Gloucester Master Gardeners help desk, Main Street Library, Tuesdays only, 11a.m. to 1p.m.; and by email at gmgaskus@gmail.com.

Fourth - graders will get free tickets to the bulb tours, a great opportunity to link with “Ready, Set, Grow,” a handson program where fourth grade 4-H students in Gloucester County Public Schools learn about the parts of a daffodil through dissection, taught by Master Gardeners.

Organizers are hosting several pre-festival events this year as well. Saturday, March 16, the limited- edition festival print will be unveiled at a reception from 2p.m. to 4p.m. at Gloucester Arts on Main, 6580 Main Street; Saturday, March 23, History, Bulbs & Blooms presentation and luncheon from 10:30a.m. to 2p.m. at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, advanced tickets required and go on sale February 1st.

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New this year is a Daffodil Judging School sanctioned by the American Daffodil Society, Friday, April 5th at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs. For more information, visit (daffodilfestivalva.org). Preregistration is required by March 29th.

Festival events run Saturday, April 6th, 9a.m. to 5p.m. and Sunday, April 7th, noon to 5p.m. Shop more than 150 artist and artisans. Enjoy live music, great food and amusements and festival fun!

This annual festival honors an important era of Gloucester’s history, with proceeds going toward the beautification of the county through plantings and other projects. With full community participation, through schools, civic organizations, clubs, businesses and individuals, the Gloucester Daffodil Festival has truly become Gloucester’s Hometown Festival.

For more information about events, times and tickets, see the schedule in this issue of The House & Home Magazine, or visit daffodilfestivalva.org.

Parts of this article were originally compiled by Carol Ray, 1991, and up-dated

by Rhea Carter 2010. All rights reserved. H

“ALONG THE WATER’S EDGE” 33RD ANNUAL GLOUCESTER DAFFODIL FESTIVAL 2019 APRIL 6 AND 7 PRE-FESTIVAL EVENTS

Saturday, March 16: Limited Edition Print Unveiling Reception, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Arts on Main, 6580 Main Street Saturday, March 23: History, Bulbs & Blooms; 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Brent and Becky’s, 7900 Daffodil Lane Presented by Brent Heath in the Chesapeake Room. Admission is $40 and includes a presentation, lunch from historic Nuttall Store, a private tour of the greenhouse and a gift from Brent. Advance ticket purchase required. For more information and to buy tickets, see festival website, daffodilfestivalva.org; or call Gloucester County Parks, Recreation & Tourism at (804) 693-2355.

DAFFODIL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; April 7, noon to 5 p.m.

Saturday, April 6: 10:00 a.m. — The festival parade

kicks off the weekend 11:30 a.m. — Crowning of the 2019

Daffodil Queen, and

scholarship presentations 1:00 p.m. — The Amazing Mutt

Show, hosted by the Gloucester Mathews Humane Society.

Located on the Main St. stage 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Daffodil Show,

Botetourt Elementary School,

Main Street Sunday, April 7: Noon — Festival opens Noon to 5 p.m. — Daffodil Show,

Botetourt Elementary School,

Main Street 1:00 p.m. — Crowning of Little Miss

Daffodil. Located on the Main

Street Stage.

For more information, visit daffodilfestivalva.org. (left) 2018 Daffodil Festival Queen, Jennifer Herman at the Daffodil Show with festival ambassadors, Daff & Dill. (below) Jennifer with children during her 2018 missionary trip to Uganda.

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SINCE 2003, VIMS HAS PRESENTED A SERIES OF EVENING LECTURES IN WATERMEN’S HALL, LOCATED ON THE CAMPUS OF ITS WORLD-CLASS FACILITY AT GLOUCESTER POINT.

After Hours

VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE

By Deb Weissler

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s McHugh Auditorium in Watermen’s Hall filled and grew silent, Dr. Jeffrey D. Shields, Professor of Marine Science, warmed to his Valentine’s Day theme lecture, Romance Under the Waves. In keeping with the spirit of attraction and courtship, Dr. Shields delighted his audience in the ways some marine animals pursue one another and ultimately reproduce.

The passing on of genes to the next generation is a task that takes place throughout the animal kingdom, and while many of us are familiar with how most land mammals ensure their genetic legacy, how many know how barnacles mate? Or how crabs find one another in the vastness of the sea? Or how bivalves spawn? For nearly an

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hour, Dr. Shields engaged his audience in an enlightening and often humorous lecture about the love lives of creatures we know so little about. It was an evening filled with laughter and surprises; one of just many subjects shared monthly as part of Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s After Hours Lecture Series.

Since 2003, VIMS has presented a series of evening lectures in Watermen’s Hall, located on the campus of its world-class facility at Gloucester Point. Free and open to the public, these lectures are presented by scientists and researchers renowned in their fields and are designed to convey timely scientific information presented in layman’s terms that will open your eyes to the natural world just outside your door.

Whether your interests lie in the flora or fauna of the region, the effects of sea level rise, the plight of endangered

February/March 2019

VIMS campus from drone.

Photo courtesy of VIMS Photos courtesy of Mark Lowell unless otherwise noted.

Watermen’s Hall en trance into visitor ’s center and access to auditoriu m.

m floor e. The botto n li re o sh er Riv eek. om the York w hours a w fr fe a ed c w li b ie v u p s e Hall a is open to th Watermen’s library that h rc a se re a contains

species, the overall health of the Bay, local weather phenomena, or cataclysmic events that helped shape the region we call home, VIMS scientists explore the hot issues facing the Chesapeake Bay, its tributaries, and the oceans that span our globe.

AFTER HOURS LECTURES VIMS has a three-part mission: to conduct interdisciplinary research in coastal ocean and estuarine science; educate students and citizens; and provide advisory service to policy makers, industry, and the public. The After Hours Lecture Series was formed as part of its outreach education efforts.

What began in a small classroom of 35, quickly grew to auditorium size with hundreds of eager attendees, both in-person and later via live-streaming webinars that were added in 2011.

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Ceiling of Waterm en’s Hall displaying fishes and mamm als of the sea.

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After Hours reception with refreshments. Photo courtesy of VIMS

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Brass plaque in honor of Virginia’s watermen

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Display tank in lobby features living sea creatures and was built by Robert and Karen Podd of The Poddery in Mathews.

Watermen’s Hall Visitor’s Center

To date, people from 18 states, the District of Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada have registered to participate in the live-streamed webinars. The addition of livestreaming allows viewers to not only watch but ask questions and has helped VIMS extend its reach far beyond the region.

Topics are selected from a variety of subject matters vetted

by Sally A. Brooks, VIMS Outreach Coordinator, and her team. In the past, speakers chosen hail from VIMS, the United States Geologic Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, as well as a host of visiting scientists, all experts in their fields. Topics are designed for an adult audience and mature young people.

There is a core of attendees who are interested in anything related to the Bay and come for every lecture; others pick and choose the subjects that interest them most. Some say it’s a social engagement, arriving in small groups after enjoying dinner out together. Refreshments served afterwards in Watermen’s Hall amid its aquarium tanks and displays are an added plus.

To come up with several lecture topics every year may seem like a daunting task, but Brooks is in a unique position as a former VIMS graduate and now its Outreach Coordinator.

“We have so many fascinating research projects going on here all the time, with 50 or so faculty members doing interesting and innovative research,” Brooks explains, “but much of our research relates to subjects that not only impact the Bay but are of interest to those folks living near it, so it’s not hard finding topics that relate well to a public lecture.”

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2019 LECTURES All After Hours lectures begin at 7pm on the last Thursday of the month and reservations are required due to limited seating. This year’s lecture series began in January with a discussion on Virginia’s barrier islands. As with all barrier islands, they are in a constant state of flux and no barrier island system along the US Atlantic coast changes as swiftly as those along Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Dr. Christopher Hein shared the geology, human history, and modern changes taking place in this dynamic ecosystem.

In February, guest speaker Dr. Kate Mansfield, Director of the University of Central Florida’s Marine Turtle Research Group and a VIMS alumna, will share the innovative techniques being used to track very young sea turtles as they hatch and enter the ocean. Those lost years of a turtle’s life have been a missing puzzle piece in understanding the lives of these endangered creatures.

For fish lovers, join Dr. Eric Hilton in March to hear the story of the Coelacanth, a fish thought to have gone extinct 65 million years ago until a live one was caught by commercial fishermen in 1938. Much has been learned about this fish in 80 odd years; where it lives, what it eats, and how it is related to fourlegged land animals. VIMS has its own preserved specimen on display for an up close and personal look.

Following a break in April and the Institute’s annual Marine Science Day in May, the lecture series resumes in June with a pairing of VIMS and the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation to compare the Institute’s new state-of-theart research vessel, the R/V Virginia, to the recreated colonial ships docked at Jamestown Settlement. Durand Ward and Don Hulick will compare navigation methods and research equipment, as well as shipboard life from colonial times to the present.

In July, Dr. Robert Latour will discuss how his research is working to help people understand the ecosystem in the Bay and along the Atlantic Coast.

Throughout the year, researchers continually survey and collect fishes in an effort to understand the seasonal distribution of fish species, the age structure of fish populations, and who preys on whom in the marine food chain.

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February/March 2019

VIMS After Hours lecture in progress. Photo courtesy of VIMS

VIMS own Coelacanth specimen.

Photo courtesy of VIMS

Attendees will learn how to tell the age of a fish, what you can learn by studying its stomach contents, and why this ongoing research is vital to ensure fishes and their ecosystems continue to thrive.

One may wonder why the Ayeyarwady Delta in Myanmar (formerly Burma) has any relation to the Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Steve Kuehl, a faculty member at VIMS, has spent his career studying river deltas and the effects that nature and humans have on these fragile environments. In August, he will discuss his current study in Myanmar that will help us understand and perhaps predict how future environmental and human-induced changes will impact river deltas all over the world, including our own here at home.

How many times has the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood watch or warning for our region in the past year? Ever wish you could know in advance when flooding will disrupt your travels or way of life? At the peak of hurricane season in September, Dr. Derek Loftis will share the use of various innovative technologies to help Hampton Roads communities predict and prepare for flood events and rising sea levels.

The 2019 lecture series ends with an October discussion on harmful algal blooms and cytobots, autonomous underwater instruments trained to constantly monitor the region’s waters to identify harmful algae species in real time. Cytobots help to provide an early warning detection system. Harmful algae blooms, or HABs, have been in the news in recent month, as toxins produced by HABs can harm fish and humans. Cytobots are the stuff of science fiction and Dr. Juliette Smith, faculty member at VIMS, shares her vision for a network of cytobots throughout the Bay. Some subjects, like past talks on living shorelines, have been extremely popular as they are relevant to attendees living along the water’s edge, and who struggle to address accelerating erosion amid rising seas. The lives of sea creatures, both great and small, are infinitely fascinating. Lectures are enhanced with slides, photos, and videos, and pictorial journeys. “People who come to our programs and lectures are generally open minded when it comes to science, or they want to understand The House & Home Magazine

the issues facing our region. Our scientists are excited to discuss these subjects and share their research with the public as well,” Brooks says.

Information on upcoming lectures is posted on the VIMS website, www.vims.edu, under upcoming events. It’s easy to register online or call 804-684-7061 for further information. Come and enjoy a free lecture, tour the visitor’s center, enjoy refreshments, and stop by the gift shop. It’s well worth the trip! H

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Photos by Beth Fedorko and Dan Fedorko Prothonotary Warbler

Songbirds

of t he Nort he r n N e c k

By Beth Fedorko and Dan Fedorko

northern neck’s diverse habitats from wetlands to open fields to woodlands offer exciting birding opportunities. so, get out there and bird!

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id-April to late May is an exciting time in the Northern Neck as songbirds migrate through the area from as far away as South America. Some will stay in our area to nest, but many will continue farther north to breeding grounds in Canada, where the insect populations surge in summer and the food is plentiful. All you need to view these feathery jewels hidden in plain sight are binoculars, a bird guidebook, and a little knowledge of what to look for and where to find them.

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BIRDS TO DISCOVER Many of the spring migrants are warblers. The male warblers will be sporting their colorful breeding plumage. The myriad of field markings on these small creatures is astoundingly diverse. During migration time they also sing with such vigor that you may hear them before seeing them. Just look and listen. There are many species of migratory warblers, with some more common than others. Here are a few of the warblers and other migratory songbirds that can be found in the Northern Neck: The most abundant is the Yellow-rumped Warbler, identified when it flies away displaying the bright yellow patch where the tail feathers join the body. They are also colloquially known as “butter butts.” They may winter in our area. The vocal Pine Warbler also winters here. Another yellow-hued warbler is the Common Yellowthroat, which loves to stay in low bushy cover, but will come out of hiding to sing. Other warblers with prominent yellow field markings are the Magnolia Warbler, Prairie Warbler, the Palm Warbler, the Prothonotary Warbler, and of course, the Yellow Warbler.

Other warblers found in the Northern Neck during spring migration are the Black and Whites, small birds observed meticulously scanning the undersides of branches for insects.

We have found flocks of Blackpoll warblers stripping Holly trees of berries. The Blackburnian warbler spends time in high branches and you may catch a glimpse of his bright orange throat. The Red-eyed Vireo and White-eyed Vireo are small songbirds that you may hear more than see. They prefer to stay hidden in the foliage foraging for insects. The Red-eyed Vireo has a distinctive call that sounds like “here-Iam-where-are-you?” The White-eyed Vireo has a white ring around its iris, and the call is harsh and fast. The male Rosebreasted Grosbeak has a rich black back, a swath of crimson above white on the breast, and a large beak.

In addition to the warblers, there are other migratory songbirds that transition through or breed in the Northern Neck. Color is the first way to identify them. Birds in blue plumage include the distinctive and vocal Indigo Bunting and the Blue Grosbeak identified by their large triangular beaks.

Another blue-hued bird with splashes of yellow is the tiny Northern Parula that likes to hide in the tree foliage but will tease you to find it with its enthusiastic singing. Migratory birds in red are the Summer Tanager, with all over red breeding plumage, and the Scarlet Tanager, with bold black and red markings. Birds with distinctive orange coloring are the Orchard Oriole, with deep rusty-orange breast and black head, and the energetic little American Redstart with its mostly black body with splashes of bright orange and white.

Insects are the primary diet of the migratory birds, and there are some that make gathering food an acrobatic aerial show. The Eastern Phoebe perches while wagging its tail feathers before launching off the branch to snag a flying insect. The Eastern Wood-pewee will catch insects in the same manner, usually returning to the same perch over and over. Barn and Tree Swallows, with their pointy forked tails, soar like mini fighter jets in zigzagging flocks snagging insects and are most active at dawn and dusk. The Great Crested Flycatcher will alert you to its location with a sharp chirp as it The House & Home Magazine

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Prairie Warbler

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Great Crested Flycatcher

White-eyed Vireo Northern Parula

Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Common Yellowthroat 26

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perches conspicuously on a bare branch.

The Acadian Flycatcher prefers shady forest canopy and is smaller than the Great Crested. It announces its presence with a loud “peet-sah� song. It can catch insects by flying backward.

Two brown-hued migratory birds are the Ovenbird that struts like a small chicken on the forest floor, and the Wood Thrush, a secretive Robin-sized bird with a beautiful fluty call. The dark gray Eastern Kingbird has bright white on the tip of its tail and can often be found perched on power lines defending its chosen nesting territory.

One of the larger migratory songbirds is the Yellow-billed Cuckoo with its long slender body with a distinctive long yellow bill. When not feeding on caterpillars, it will sit very still in the trees. Our smallest migratory bird and the visitor to many a red-plastic sugar water feeder is the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. The early American settlers thought hummingbirds were insects. Your binoculars reveal a gem of a bird with tiny iridescent feathers and a long beak with a retractable long tongue for pulling nectar out of flowers and feeders.

BIRD WATCHING TIPS Binoculars and a good eastern United States bird guide are your primary tools for finding and identifying birds. There are on-line resources that can help you find and identify the spring migrants.

E-bird is useful to know what birds have been observed in specific areas on specific days (www.ebird.org/home). The Cornell Lab of Ornithology maintains a very user-friendly site that gives important data about all North American birds, with photographs, migration maps, and audio of bird song (www.birds. cornell.edu). You may also add an app to your phone that includes bird photos, information, and audio playback of birdsong (Caution: do not play birdsong to attract or flush out songbirds as it causes them undue stress). Sibley Birds and Peterson apps are highly rated. A good local resource is the Northern Neck Audubon Society. They offer birding walks to area parks, free of charge, and the information you gain on these walks is priceless.

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Summer Tanager practice your birding skills. Scan the trees and hedges, especially where they meet open spaces. Migrants will dart in and out of the cover of foliage to glean insects in the sunlight. If your yard has a water feature, especially where the water moves, you may attract warblers and other migrants to drink and bathe.

Since these birds are primarily insect eaters they may not take advantage of

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your birdseed feeders, but they will see that your yard is a safe place because your year-round birds are present.

What time of day you go is as important as where you go. It is best to go in early morning when the sun is first warming the air, coaxing out insects and birds that have migrated at night and are ravenous and very vocal. Mid-day is less birdy as the heat of the day drives them into the cool shade of foliage and the birds are quieter. Late afternoon and early evening is a good time as the birds are enjoying insects before their nocturnal flight northward or roosting for the night.

A good rule of thumb when looking for birds is to go low. If the trail goes downhill there may be water at the end of it — a small creek or stream. Trickling water catches sunlight and attracts thirsty migrants.

NORTHERN NECK BIRDING SITES If you want to grab your binoculars and explore beyond your yard, the Northern Neck has some excellent parks with diverse habitats that attract a great variety of migratory songbirds.

George Washington National Monument on Popes Creek and Westmoreland State Park (fee required) on the Potomac River, both off of Route 3 between Oak Grove and Montross, offer diverse habitats, walking trails that pass by ponds that attract migratory songbirds.

The Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge has two sites. One off of Route 17 north of Tappahannock has open meadows bordered by forest. Another site off of Route 360, north of Warsaw, has open meadow, forest, and a small creek and marsh. One early May morning from the deck of the visitor center and the nearby dam, we observed more than a dozen migratory songbirds.

Belle Isle State Park (fee required) in Lancaster County off of SR 354 is on the Rappahannock River and has farmland, forest, creeks, and tidal wetlands. This diversity of habitat and the miles of trails that traverse these areas make for excellent birding. Barn Swallows are regularly observed soaring after insects around the, you guessed it, large red barn. Also in Lancaster County off of

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Route 3 between Lively and Kilmarnock is Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve. This wildlife area, maintained by the Northern Neck Audubon Society, has mixed woodlands, ravines, and swamps with over three miles of wooded trails perfect for migratory songbirds that prefer dense forest canopy.

We spent a wonderful day in late May there. The highlight was observing a secretive Red-eyed Vireo building a nest on a branch over the trail.

Northumberland County has two parks that attract a large variety of migratory songbirds. Follow the signs off of Route 200 between Wicomico Church and Rehoboth Church. Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve is accessible on a gravel road through pine, bayberry and marsh. A grassy old farm road leads to the mouth of Mill Creek, and another trail from the parking area leads through a bayberry tunnel to an observation platform that gives you a panoramic view of the marshland on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. In May, we have observed a migratory flock of Indigo Buntings around the gravel parking area filling the air with their song.

Nearby Hughlett Point Natural Area Preserve offers forest, sandy beach on the Chesapeake Bay, and tidal marsh with a viewing platform. The forest of mostly pine merges with a trail bordered by shrub and forest. It is easy to spend hours here in April and May observing migratory birds flying back and forth across the trail.

As you can see, the Northern Neck’s diverse habitats from wetlands to open fields to woodlands offer exciting birding opportunities. So, get out there and bird, especially April to May, and enjoy the show! H

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Eastern Wood Pewee

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The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra COMMUNITY PRIDE, COMMUNITY SUPPORT

By Zora Aiken

T

here’s no way to predict where a good idea may lead. When a group of friends from Williamsburg wanted to bring free classical music concerts to children, they likely couldn’t imagine how the concept would develop, but with that initial goal, the Williamsburg Symphonia was formed in 1984. Over 35 years, the idea grew to produce a professional symphony orchestra with an internationally acclaimed reputation.

With the name changed to Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), today’s orchestra is the pride of its members and the pride of the community. The musicians come from different places around the area. Many of them trained at the finest conservatories in the country and play for major orchestras in Virginia and neighboring states. With a dedicated following, most concerts are sold out.

Every year, five main Masterworks concerts are offered in the autumn-to-spring season, each performed on two consecutive nights. “We perform other concerts as well, including four Holiday Pops concerts in December and a Cabaret and Cocktails concert in January,” says Carolyn Keurajian, executive director of the symphony. “We’d also like to feature musicians outside the concert hall, perhaps at a brewery or pub as a ‘pop-up’ concert, bringing classical music out of the concert hall and into unexpected places.”

Much of the orchestra’s present success is credited to Janna Hymes, the music director for the past 15 years. “When I came to Williamsburg, I had a vision artistically,” says Hymes, “and I know we got there. The orchestra is now at a completely different level. The musicians are more committed to their work of making great art. We’ve expanded the educational concerts, and we made our first 30

February/March 2019

Photos courtesy of Kim Kiely Photography unless otherwise noted.

Concertmaster Akemi Takayama.

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international presentation with a concert in Bermuda.”

That concert was sparked by the director’s desire to put a bit of history to music. Hymes asked composer Michael Williamson to write a piece about an English ship that had been wrecked in Bermuda in 1609. The crew was able to build two smaller ships and sailed them on to Jamestown. The concert was a gift to Bermuda, marking the connection between the two colonies.

After the final concert this year, Hymes will leave the orchestra. “I think I’m a builder,” she says. “I made goals for the orchestra and I accomplished them. I’m proud of that, and I think the musicians are proud of where they’ve come. Leaving is always bittersweet, but it’s a great orchestra, and I want to see it flourish.”

Concertmaster Akemi Takayama noted another aspect of the orchestra’s time under Hymes. “In every program, there was always one piece that we had never heard of — I don’t know where she found them. Also, each program has something famous and something fun. It makes it interesting and challenging for us and keeps us in shape!” It’s easy to imagine that from the perspective of the audience, such a mix of familiar and new is a treat at every concert. “The audience involvement in Williamsburg is wonderful,” says Takayama. “Many of the retired people who now live here came from New York, Chicago, and other large cities. They have seen top orchestras, and they seem to appreciate us. We feel so lucky.”

Separate from, but very connected to, the WSO are the Williamsburg Youth Orchestras (WYO). Established in 1995, this organization — which includes a full symphony orchestra, two string ensembles, and a brass ensemble — gives talented young musicians a remarkable way to develop their full potential. While auditions are the path to acceptance in any group, the age span for musicians is roughly from grades five through 12. Dr. David Grandis is the music director and conductor of the full youth orchestra, Rebecca Nixon is the string ensembles’ director, and Jordan Stehle is the junior wind and brass ensemble director.

The WYO does three main concerts each year, plus extra performances by smaller groups like trios or quintets.

Every two years, the WSO and the WYO present a Side-by-Side concert.

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The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra with conductor Janna Hymes

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“This would be the last concert of the season in spring. The two conductors choose the repertoire, which is all adultcaliber music,” says WYO Executive Director Tanya Song. “The musicians from both orchestras work together in pairs by instrument, so each position has a WSO musician seated next to a WYO musician. It’s a great opportunity for the young people to rehearse with and perform with the professionals. All the concerts give students the confidence that can only come with live performances.”

The WSO sponsors master classes which are taught by internationally recognized artists. Students have what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for a person who is a true icon in their field and thus receive individual advice and encouragement.

As an associate professor of violin at Shenandoah University and also concertmaster for the Roanoke Symphony, WSO’s concertmaster, Takayama, teaches master classes in Williamsburg and elsewhere. “I teach anywhere there’s an opportunity to work with young musicians. It is part of our work; I love the encounters, because I may give the students a different angle or approach.”

Keurajian also notes that the orchestra offers instructional coaching for students in local school districts. “A teacher can request assistance with the specific need, and the orchestra funds the lessons.

When I get a request from a teacher, I’ll do whatever I can to accommodate it. It’s not that we expect all of the children to become professional musicians, but it’s been proven that music contributes to learning in so many ways — math, focus, reading, collaboration, and more.”

Instruments for Kids is a special project also funded by WSO. Through community donations, aspiring musicians who cannot purchase their own instruments have access to instruments on loan from the WSO for as long as they play their instruments.

To help with the finances for all these programs, the orchestra is fortunate to have the support of the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra League (WSOL).

The league exists to raise money for the orchestra and provide volunteer support, and though the WSO has its share of grants and sponsors, a majority of its resources actually come from individual February/March 2019

Principal cellist Neal Cary

The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra and the Williamsburg Youth Orchestra in a Side-by-Side concert.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Jennifer Koh performs with the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra

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williamsburg has watched the orchestra’s status come from home-town to world-class. donations, a notable comment on the community and proof of its appreciation for the orchestra.

For its part, the league has its own ideas of innovation. In addition to more traditional means for raising money, the league arranges eight to ten events each year called Encore Affairs. Last year’s included a specialty restaurant, dinner on a Hampton cruise boat, and a “wizard of arts” tea party for parents and children.

An event might also be held at a private home, perhaps as a waterfront picnic or an outdoor concert. A set number of tickets are sold for each event, and the profits from these sales go to the orchestra.

“The Encore Affairs are fundraisers, but they’re also social events,” says Ken Mitchell, president of WSOL. “Anyone can purchase tickets — it’s not necessary to be an orchestra subscriber. Often, people who are not even familiar with the orchestra will come to an event after reading an announcement describing it, so these can serve as a good introduction, particularly for newcomers to the area.

The orchestra is a community treasure here in Williamsburg.”

Like all nonprofits, WSOL relies on the support of its volunteers. In addition to the typical needs for varied office work, orchestra volunteers handle ticket sales, ushering, help at rehearsals, plus host services like picking up an arriving guest artist at the airport and returning them after the concert. Volunteers put in a total of 4,000 hours annually. Since 2000, the WSOL has contributed over $640,000 to the orchestra, a record amount for an organization of its size.

Williamsburg has watched the orchestra’s status come from home-town to world-class. It may seem a challenge for the WSO to top that, but if history is any indication, there is most certainly more to come. H 34

February/March 2019

In July of 2018, the Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra began the process of choosing a new music director. The initial posting for the position produced nearly 200 replies, literally from around the world. “The level of talent was amazing,” said Executive Director Carolyn Keurajian, “giving us strong confirmation of the orchestra’s highquality reputation.”

The search committee is made up of board members, musicians, and members of the community, and together they spent 7,000 hours narrowing the list of responders to five The Williamsburg Symphony Orchestra conductor Janna Hymes.

Photo courtesy of Chris Bucher Photographs finalists. The next step will take place during the next concert season from autumn of 2019 After the last concert, the committee will be to spring of 2020, when each of the five candidates will polling board members, musicians, and audiences conduct one concert. Each candidate will submit three who will all rate the candidates. In the spring of programs for consideration, and the WSO Artistic 2020, the new music director will be named for his Review Committee will select the final programs for or her first full season of 2020-2021. the five Masterworks concerts.

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Love Chase

By Jackie Nunnery

for the

of the

An American take on an English tradition

M

ention a fox hunt and an English oil painting of an autumn pastoral scene probably comes to mind: men on horseback surrounded by foxhounds; riders in their distinctive scarlet coats, white riding breeches, black knee boots and top hats.

You might be surprised to know that traditional mounted fox hunting, though uncommon, is a sport still alive and well in Virginia. It is replete with its own etiquette, attire, and language steeped in tradition. Its origins are in the English countryside, but it lives on with a decidedly American spin.

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MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA: THE AMERICAN BIRTHPLACE OF THE HOUND AND THE HUNT The history of fox hunting in the United States is also the history of the foxhound. Back to 1650, Robert Brooke imported English foxhounds to Charles County, Maryland.

Fifty years later, the colonies had embraced the English tradition of fox hunting as both popular sport and agrarian necessity to protect poultry and livestock from foxes.

Maryland and Virginia became the center of colonial fox hunting, and the growing popularity of hunting led to a demand for more hounds.

One Virginian, in particular, was important in shaping the foxhound as we know it today. George Washington, an

February/March 2019

Susan Sanders and Master of Foxhounds Bob Ferrer hunt the countryside of Mount Vernon. Photo courtesy of Shelley Castle Photography

avid fox hunter, imported English and Irish hounds that were later bred with French staghounds, gifted to him by the Marquis de Lafayette. These hounds formed the foundation of a new breed that was further refined until it was distinct from the English foxhound and suited for the terrain of America. Today, the American foxhound is Virginia’s official state dog.

THE HUNT: HUMANS, HORSES, HOUNDS, AND QUARRY In the mountains of Virginia, the Piedmont Hounds, established in 1840, is considered to be the first foxhound club in the United States. Today there are 25 hunts, as they are called, located throughout Virginia that are registered by the Masters of Foxhound Association (MFHA), the governing body for organized mounted fox hunting. In addition to registering hunts, the MFHA works to educate the public about the sport and promote the well-being of hounds and horses.

And just as those paintings intended to convey, fox hunting is a harmonious dance between humans, horses, and hounds. There are distinct roles, etiquette, and attire to be adhered to during a hunt, though each club may have slight differences. These rules are determined by the Master of each hunt. The hounds lead the field, which is the group of people, horses, and hounds on the hunt. The hounds are followed by the Huntsman, who directs the hounds during the hunt, either through voice commands The House & Home Magazine

or sounds of the horn he carries. The horn also alerts the field to the progress of the hunt with calls like gone away, when the hounds are chasing a scent as a pack; or the recheat, a signal to regroup the hounds. Whippers-in (or Whips) follow close to assist the Huntsman, as an extra set of eyes and ears that help keep the pack together and protect them from the dangers of the road. They are followed by the Master of Foxhounds or the Field Master (sometimes they are the same person), who commands the field. Like a referee, Masters have final say over everything that happens on a hunt.

Depending on the number and the skill level of those participating, there can be up to three fields in a hunt. The first field riders are those with the most experience, following closer to the hounds, often jumping obstacles along the way.

Farther back, you may have second field riders, also called hilltoppers, following behind less urgently, usually riding around obstacles. Lastly, there can be a field which follows the hunt on foot or by car.

It is on the command of the Master that the hounds begin their work, or are cast into coverts, the underbrush and bramble where foxes have their dens and eat their meals, or hide during the day. If the hounds catch a scent, they excitedly run off in search of the quarry — the sly and elusive fox. You know instantly when a fox is sighted, because it is signaled by the cry of foxhounds, called giving tongue, and the call of the Huntsman’s horn, gone away. Then the excitement of the chase and the dance between all truly reveals itself — the quarry craftily evading the hounds, the hounds in full cry, pursuing the quarry. Horse and rider become one, especially in the first field, riding close to the 37

Ed Mitchell,MFH, Princess Anne Hunt and PAH member Pam Ault

Member Paige Riordan serving a stirrup cup

Bob Ferrer, MFH and hounds

Bob heading to the next cover with first flight overlooking Elizabeth Ferrer and Stuart Sanders at Mount Vernon

Susan Sanders and Elizabeth Ferrer, Joint MFH’s of Caroline

Red fox in snow

Bill Burnette, Joint MFH of Caroline

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Kit Cannon and Bob at the breakfast

February/March 2019

“MY FATHER TOLD ME THAT HORSES TEACH YOU RESPECT, HOW TO LEAD, AND HOW TO FOLLOW.” ~ ROBERT FERRER, MASTER OF FOXHOUNDS AT CAROLINE HUNT pack, jumping over fallen logs or fences. Through woods and across pastures, the field pursues the quarry with the emphasis on the chase, not on the capture. Though the hunt itself can last a couple of hours, the chase ends as suddenly as it began — when the fox goes to ground, retreating to the safety of a hole or den.

COMMUNING WITH NATURE AND WITH OTHER HUNTERS Even though it’s a fox hunt, it’s more about “enjoying the outdoors,” says Robert Ferrer, Master of Foxhounds at Caroline Hunt in Caroline County. On Ferrer’s Chase’s End Farm, where Caroline Hunt is located, Ferrer and his wife, Elizabeth, who is also a Master of Foxhounds, have built kennels to the very exacting standards that the MFHA requires for registering hunts. They house 20 couples (as they are counted in fox hunting) of American foxhounds, and Bob loves to spend a few hours on the hunt with them “watching the breed do what it has been bred for centuries to do.”

Bobs’s love of fox hunting is a result of being raised by parents who both hunted and his interest in riding horses.

He learned everything equestrian from his father, who rode horses while training in the U.S. Army. “My father told me that horses teach you respect, how to lead, and how to follow.”

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When the younger Ferrer told his father he wanted to go into the military, his father suggested that Bob learn to ride in order to understand how to lead people because “you take care of the horse before yourself, and you learn when to push on and when to pull back.”

With the hunt over for the day, the field heads back. The horses are returned to the stables and the hounds relax in the kennel. For the hunters, it’s time to relax, too. Like the nineteenth hole in golf, there is a gathering afterward. Events like these are important because hunt etiquette calls for little to no talking on the hunt, lest you distract the hounds or the hunt staff.

The Ferrers’ love of fox hunting and entertaining (they seem to go hand-in-hand) led to them adding a room onto the stables for the sole purpose of hosting guests. The Munnings Room, as it is called, is named after Sir Alfred Munnings, whose pastoral paintings of horses adorn the walls. It’s the perfect setting for guests to gather and relax in the warmth for a post-hunt tradition — the Hunt Breakfast.

There is plenty of tweed here along with food and drink. In addition to sustenance after a long ride, the breakfast offers a perfect opportunity for guests to share a story or two about the highlights of the day’s hunt. And in a sport where history and tradition play such an important and constant role, there is always talk in remembrance of masters, hounds, and hunts past. H

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happiness

AN EXTRA HELPING

By Linda Landreth Phelps

A

of

simple way to define comfort food is this: it has to taste and feel like a warm hug. Science backs up this definition.

Experimental MRI studies have been done that measure volunteers’ brain activity while they consume different foods. Researchers have documented that when subjects eat certain things, midbrain pleasure centers light up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Amazingly, dopamine (a powerful chemical linked to the body’s reward system) floods our system at the mere contemplation of consuming comfort foods. This is the same chemical linked to falling in love. But when it comes to what the individual brain craves, it’s all subjective.

A Quebec native’s neural pathways may sizzle and

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snap at the taste of poutine (cheese curds on a bed of fries, drenched in brown gravy), but leave a subject from Japan flat and longing for a simple miso soup.

Traditionally, Shepherd’s Pie, Chicken and “Dumplins,” and Shrimp and Grits (once known as a Fisherman’s Breakfast) are perennial cold-weather comfort food favorites in this region of Tidewater, Virginia. They join the classic Macaroni and Cheese casserole, ingeniously tweaked here with luscious lobster, to bring joy to the table, especially when the meal finishes with warm Apple Crisp, served with a scoop of melting, vanilla bean-flecked ice cream, or perhaps a slice of cheddar cheese.

Any one of these recipes should brighten up the darkest day and leave you feeling replete, soothed, and hugged.

Scientific studies confirm that the right scents and tastes make us feel happy, and in the gray depths of winter, don’t we all deserve an extra helping of happiness?

December/January February/March 2019

LOBSTER MACARONI AND CHEESE Ingredients: • 8 oz. macaroni or cavatappi pasta • 2 cups whole milk • 8 oz. American cheese, cut in cubes • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar • 4 oz. cream cheese, cut in cubes • 1 lb. cooked Maine lobster meat, roughly chunked • 2 slices crisp bacon, chopped • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, additional for optional garnish • Salt, ground black pepper and crushed red pepper to taste • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley for optional garnish • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated, (additional optional garnish)

Directions: Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, heat milk in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in American cheese, cheddar cheese, and cream cheese. Cook and stir until cheeses are just melted. Stir in pasta; cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Gently stir in lobster, bacon, and thyme. Season to taste with salt, black pepper and crushed red pepper. Serve garnished with chopped parsley.

CROCKPOT CHICKEN AND “DUMPLINS” (Here in the South, there is no “g” in dumpling. Ever.)

Ingredients: • 1 large onion, diced • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of celery soup • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped • 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning • Black pepper to taste • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth or bone broth • 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables or peas and carrots, defrosted • 1 can refrigerated biscuits (Buttermilk, Country or Home style) or purchase Annie’s frozen strips.

A SIMPLE WAY TO DEFINE COMFORT FOOD IS THIS: IT HAS TO TASTE AND FEEL LIKE A WARM HUG.

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Directions: Add onion to a six-quart crock pot and top with chicken breasts. Combine cream of celery soup, cream of chicken soup, parsley, poultry seasoning and pepper in a small bowl. Spread over chicken breasts. Top with chicken broth and cook on high for a total of 5 hours. Approximately one hour before serving (after 4 hours of cooking time), roll each biscuit thin and flat and cut into 4 strips. Add vegetables to the slow cooker and stir. Add biscuits or purchased frozen strips on top.

Replace lid quickly (cooking time will be extended if you let the heat escape)

and continue to cook for another hour. Remove chicken breasts and shred into chunks. Add chicken back to slow cooker and stir. Cook, covered, an additional 10 minutes and serve.

A simple stove-top alternative method uses purchased, precooked rotisserie chicken, shredded. Combine all ingredients except biscuits in a pot and cook over medium heat for 25 minutes, covered. Add biscuit strips, cover again and simmer for 1 hour. Delicious and easy!

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SHEPHERD’S PIE Ingredients: • 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil • 1 sprig chopped fresh thyme (optional) • 1 lb. ground beef (or 1 lb. ground or minced lamb to be authentic!)

• 1 large onion, finely diced (can use frozen) • 1 1/2 cups frozen peas • 2 tablespoons flour • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tablespoon butter • 4 oz. dry red wine • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce • 1 cup chicken or beef stock or bone broth • Black pepper and salt to taste • 6 cups mashed potatoes, fresh or leftover • 1 egg, beaten • Paprika and chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sauté onions in olive oil until transparent. Add the garlic and sauté for another minute, then add the meat.

Season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned, then drain fat.

Add butter and peas. Sprinkle with flour and stir.

Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire. Simmer, then add stock and reduce down until you have a nice, hearty gravy. Check seasoning, add more to taste. Remove from heat; transfer mixture to a buttered casserole dish and top with potatoes. Brush with beaten egg; return to oven until slightly browned. Garnish with parsley and paprika before serving.

APPLE CRISP Ingredients: For the crumb topping — • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats • 1/2 cup light brown sugar • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves • dash of salt • 1/3 cup unsalted butter, cut into small pieces For the apple filling — • 3-4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced • 3 tablespoons butter, melted • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 3 tablespoons milk • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/4 cup light brown sugar • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon • dash of salt For serving — • Vanilla bean ice cream 42

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Crumb topping — Combine ingredients with a pastry blender until it resembles small crumbs, then refrigerate.

Apple filling — In a small bowl, combine melted butter and flour until well blended. Add lemon juice, milk and vanilla and stir well. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Pour mixture over apples, toss to coat. Pour filling into an 8x8-inch baking dish and spread evenly. Sprinkle crumb topping over the apples. Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving with ice cream … or cheese, if you insist.

February/March 2019

CHEESY SHRIMP AND GRITS Ingredients: • 3 cups chicken broth • 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • 2 tablespoons butter • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese • 4 slices bacon, chopped • 2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley • 6 green onions, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Directions: Bring chicken broth to a boil in a pot over medium-high heat; stir in dry grits. Stirring occasionally, cook 5 to 7 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in salt and next 3 ingredients. Set aside, and keep warm. Cook chopped bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until crisp; remove bacon from pan, drain. Stir-fry shrimp in same pan over medium-high heat for 3 minutes or until almost pink. Don’t overcook, or you’ll have a rubbery mess of shrimp on your hands! Add lemon juice and next four ingredients, then cook 3 more minutes. Stir in bacon. Spoon grits onto individual plates or into shallow bowls; top with shrimp mixture.

Can also be used as an impressive appetizer if you serve smaller portions in martini glasses with teaspoons. Serve immediately.

After just reading these mouth-watering recipes, you should be experiencing a serious rush of dopamine. Are you happy yet? Here’s a challenge for our House & Home readers: If you decide to indulge in some “Comfort Food Self-Medication,” send a picture of the finished product to us at blanksblair@gmail.com. We always love feedback! H The House & Home Magazine

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this humble and industrious waterman can claim the distinction of revolutionizing an industry forever.

Local Waterman SET THE STANDARD FOR A

CRAB POT REVOLUTION

By Janet Evans Hinman

G

enerations of watermen have plied the depths of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, making their livelihoods harvesting the famous Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, or “beautiful swimmer.” It’s always been difficult work, with a day beginning before sunrise and ending up in the crab shack after sundown. The work ethic is fairly simple: Work hard, work fast and follow the crabs.

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Once the first European explorers reached the shores of Virginia, as early as the 1520s, according to the Virginia Department of Education, native Americans showed them how to find the best places and employ the best practices to catch crabs. Even early treaties between the settlers and natives included provisions for the rights of “Hunting, Crabbing, Fowling, and Fishing.”

For centuries, the standard method for crabbing was the trotline, preferred until about 1929. A trotline is a heavy fishing line with bait attached at intervals, usually anchored on the bottom and attached to anchored buoys at the waterline.

February/March 2019

Patent Medal. Photo courtesy of Essex County Museum and Historical Society The baits are attached to the main line or by simple slipknots or by shorter lines called dropper lines (known as trots or snoods). Once the line is set, it’s left for a time and the waterman later pulls it up, hopefully with crabs biting the bait. Crab trotlines are usually baited with chicken necks, chicken livers, bull lips, eels or other inexpensive baits.

When crabs are caught by trotlines,

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the line is set and the workboat moves slowly end to end, bringing the line to the surface where the waterman catches the crabs. Crabs on a trotline are not hooked, they are simply netted by the waterman at the surface, with the workboat moving slowly enough through the water that the crab does not discern movement as it eats the bait. Once the crabs have been netted at the surface, the trotline is lowered back to or toward the bottom with the same bait intact to attract another crab. Depending on the length of the trotline (usually from at least 100 yards and up to a mile), a commercial waterman can catch anywhere from four bushels to 20 bushels of crabs daily, but it’s backbreaking work.

Watermen experimented with other methods of trapping crabs, but with little success, until one enterprising local native found a better way and forever transformed the harvesting of blue crabs in and around the Chesapeake.

The late Benjamin Franklin Lewis (1858-1950), of Harryhogan near Callao in Northumberland County, was the designer and patentee of the modernday crab pot, or crab trap. According to a 1989 article by Larry Chowning in The Rappahannock Record, it was on the Yeocomico River, at Lewis’s home in Harryhogan, that Lewis, a waterman most of his life, first started experimenting with the pot. One of his first designs in the 1920s was made from two flat pieces of wire mesh that were laced together. Since the early pot had no sides, the bait pocket in the bottom was used to separate the two sheets of wire and keep them spread apart so crabs could move around, but once the crab grabbed the bait, it would swim to the top and usually find its way out.

Lewis’s next attempt resulted in a 1928 patent on a simple, four-sided wire cage that worked better. Yet he continued to tinker with improvements to the design, and in 1938, he was issued a second patent on a trap that was identical to the present-day crab pot, which has an upper chamber that traps crabs once they are inside.

Crab pots use the crabs’ escape instincts to trap them. The bait box is typically filled with pieces of eel, herring or menhaden to lure the crabs. Early on, crabbers used salted bait, it took some time for watermen to realize that fresh bait was the best way to catch crabs in a pot. Smelling the bait, crabs enter the “downstairs” of the pot through one of two or four entrance funnels, known as “throats,” which allow the crabs to easily enter, but not exit.

Once downstairs, the crabs are unable to reach the bait through the mesh box.

When a crab feels frustrated or threatened, its instinct is to swim toward the surface to escape. In this case, it swims into the “upstairs” or “parlor,” a holding chamber from which it can’t escape.

Crab season typically runs from April to November but is regulated state by state. A waterman usually works hundreds of pots to catch hard shell crabs. Licenses in Virginia

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are issued for between 85 to 425 pots.

Working hours are heavily regulated, as well as maximum harvests. Hard shell crabs must be at least five inches across to qualify as keepers and crab pots must be hauled up by hand without the benefit of a mechanical winch. Pots weigh about 18 pounds empty, but their weight can more than double with a full catch.

The waterman’s workday has been limited to eight hours of crabbing a day, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Depending on the weather, that time easily can be spent in hard labor on the water, collecting crabs and re-baiting pots. Most crabbers begin their day hours earlier in the crab shack, tending floats (holding tanks), checking gear and preparing bait. “Peeler” crabs that have molted overnight will be sent to market as soon as possible. If a waterman catches a crab nearing the end of its molting cycle, he places it in a “shedding float,” After molting, the shell begins to ossify, or harden. To keep the shell soft, the crab must be removed from water. As a result, floats must be checked every six hours around the clock. Many crabbers have turned to catching soft shell crabs because they are more profitable, but it’s

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February/March 2019

slow, backbreaking work.

Experienced watermen learn to check the crab’s stage of molting by the markings on its swimming legs. That’s where the faint outline of the second exoskeleton can be seen forming underneath the old shell as the molting process approaches. A white line around the swimming leg means the crab will molt in about two weeks; pink means molting will happen within a week; and red means molting within two days. After a long day of crabbing, watermen return to their crab shacks to ice down their catches for market, check the floats and prepare pots for the next day’s outing.

Crab pots, or crab traps, are the number one method of crabbing worldwide, although styles vary depending on the type of crab being caught, geographic location and personal preference — there are ring crab traps, pyramid crab traps and box crab traps. However, for catching the Chesapeake Bay blue crab, Benjamin F. Lewis’s crab pot set the standard. Once Lewis successfully patented his second crab trap, he faced a challenge of a different sort — trying to collect royalties on his invention was another matter entirely. Once watermen learned of the success of Lewis’s crab pot, its use spread rapidly.

According to Chowning’s 1989 article, Lewis tried to collect a $4 royalty on every 50 pots sold, but it was an impossible task.

He even purchased one of the first automobiles in Harryhogan, a Model A Ford, so his son could travel around the area to collect fees. Sadly, he wasn’t able to collect even a fraction of what was due him for his inventions, although in 1941, he won a patent infringement lawsuit. A little searching will unearth a few paragraphs about Lewis and his crab pot invention, but in most history books he is largely unheralded. But for those who care to know, this humble and industrious waterman can claim the distinction of revolutionizing an industry forever.

GET TO KNOW YOUR CRABS The Atlantic blue crab, regionally known as the Chesapeake blue crab, is officially Callinectes sapidus, literally meaning “beautiful swimmer.” It is a hardy, bottom-dwelling predator with formidable claws. Crabs have gills that filter oxygen from the water, much like fish. They have articulating plates around their gills that help seal in moisture, allowing them to survive for long periods out of the water. They have five pairs of legs with 70 segmented joints that enable them to move quickly. Their compound stalk eyes give crabs almost 360-degree color vision. Female crabs “paint their fingernails,” meaning they have bright red claw tips. Male crab claws are a bluish-gray color.

The crab’s exoskeleton, largely made of chitin (a substance also found in fingernails), has no growth cells. Crabs have to shed, or molt, to grow. During the process, the shell cracks between the carapace and abdomen and the crab (now a “buster”) backs out of its old shell. The crab is now a “soft shell” until its new shell hardens. A crab can increase in size by one-third when it molts. Females molt 18 to 20 times during their two-year life cycles; males molt up to 23 times during their three-year life cycles. The older a crab gets, the longer it takes to molt. A four- to five-inch crab takes up to three hours to shed its shell.

Paper shell: Within 12 hours, the soft shell feels like leather.

Buckram: Within 24 hours, the shell starts to harden but is still pliable.

Hard shell: Shells become hard after 72 hours, but the crab’s meat content is low. As days pass, the meat content increases.

Jimmies: Male crabs, with abdominal aprons shaped like the Washington Monument.

She-crabs: Immature females, with V-shaped aprons.

Sooks: Adult females, with abdominal aprons shaped like the U.S. Capitol dome.

Sponge crab: A female crab carrying an egg mass. One female can lay up to a million eggs, but only two of those will become adults.

Doublers: A pair of mating crabs swimming as a unit, with the male above the female.

Sources: Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, blue-crab.org. H

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK REDMAN HOUSE

GARDEN CLUB OF THE NORTHERN NECK

COLONIAL BEACH

Playground of the Potomac

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2019

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elcome to Colonial Beach, the second-longest public beach in Virginia and aptly named “The Playground of the Potomac.” Located in historic Westmoreland County and developed in the 1880s, the resort town is rich in scenic views and beauty with a golf-cart community making it a unique spot to come and play. It is in close proximity to many historic landmarks perpetuating the life and culture of Colonial America. The tour highlights five beautiful homes and cottages along the Potomac River, circa 1800s to present day. Nearby, celebrate the inaugural opening of James Monroe’s Birthplace, culminating a 90-year effort to provide 48

10:00AM – 4:00PM

our fifth U.S. President a historically correct representation of his family home.

REDMAN HOUSE (943 Bryant Avenue) — Built in 2004, this quintessential coastal-style home was purchased by the current owners in 2011. Artistic redesign resulted in a style suited to an ever-growing family and their pets. This serene beach-themed property consists of three buildings: the six-bedroom main house, a three-bedroom guesthouse with in-ground pool, and a separate teen space. With expansive private waterfront views, the main home opens to multi-level decks, and a fully outfitted bar and private dock. The owners stress that the greatest asset to having this home is the town of Colonial Beach itself, with its small-town friendliness, many music festivals, and other wonderful events throughout the year. Jon and Robin Redman, owners.

February/March 2019

STARFISH COTTAGE

SWEETWATER HALL (1109 Irving Avenue) This Victorian-style home, built in 2010, follows the same footprint, floor plan and design as the original, unsalvageable home it replaced.

Every detail was important, including matching shades of paint so the wall color remains consistent as the morning and afternoon light filters through the home’s 69 windows. Recent renovations are reminiscent of long-ago family summer homes, crab boats in the early morning mist, sailboats in the distance at full sail and fun-filled speedboats zipping by. Light and water views dominate the house. Lounging on the upstairs veranda or beautiful wide porch would be an easy way to pass the day.

Thomas and Julia Savage, owners.

WIDERIVER

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STARFISH COTTAGE (1203 Irving Avenue) This period bungalow, circa 1930, displays the charm of yesteryear, is decorated in a whimsical beach motif and offers an unobstructed view of the Potomac River.

A wraparound porch welcomes visitors with exposed rafters and beadboard siding below expansive six-over-one windows.

Enter through French doors to the living room with fireplace, handsome mantel and beamed ceiling. The house boasts an updated kitchen and a bedroom wing with a large master bedroom and sitting area. The shared bath in the hall has an antique buffet converted into a vanity. The back garden is a dream to behold, with a tall magnolia, myriad roses, hydrangea, hostas and more.

Glenn and Teri Lewis, owners.

SWEETWATER HALL

WIDERIVER (121 Irving Avenue) This original-period home and adjoining cottage on the same property are opened together. The two-story frame house (c.

1886) boasts Queen Anne, Folk Victorian and Stick Style influences and was built

by John B. Hammond, a well-known early developer. It bears many resemblances to its sister house, the Bell House, former home of Alexander Graham Bell. The cottage is built in the “Katrina” shotgun style used in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. It utilizes exterior paint colors and decorative bargeboard to give the impression it is a peer to the main house.

Neil Austriaco and Terry Miller, owners.

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK DUFF HOUSE

TOUR INFORMATION: This is an escorted shuttle tour beginning at headquarters: Colonial Beach Community Center, 717 Marshall Avenue. Shuttles depart 10am to 3pm. Parking is only at headquarters.

NO parking at tour homes.

DUFF HOUSE (910 Bryant Avenue) Built in 2015, the owners chose a cottage style to blend with the local architecture.

On display is an extensive collection of American and European paintings, watercolors, etchings, lithographs and Japanese woodblock prints. Exquisite landscaping boasts a beautiful collection of mixed evergreen and deciduous hedges

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and an experimental sun/shade garden.

Nearly 400 shrubs, trees and perennials planted through the fall of 2018 provide year-round structure, seasonal color and textural diversity. Paver patios were added in 2017 and a back deck was converted into a second screened porch for additional bug-free outdoor living, dining and napping.

James and Brenda Duff, owners. H

Advance Tickets: $25 pp, www.vagardenweek.org/main/tickets.

Locally: Colonial Collectibles, Warsaw; The Dandelion, Irvington; Callao Coffee & CafÊ, Callao; The Art of Coffee, Montross; Wilkerson’s Restaurant and Riverview Inn, Colonial Beach. Day of Tour Tickets: $35 per person at CB Community Center.

Lunch: Fourteen local restaurants and one fast food option.

Bus and Group Tour Information/ Lunch: Contact Gail Sigler, gsigler@toast2.net, 804-472-2409

February/March 2019

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK BEN LOMOND

GARDEN CLUB OF THE MIDDLE PENINSULA

ESSEX COUNTY

Tidewater Treasures

FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019 10:00AM – 4:00PM

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ake a rural drive back into history down Route 17 South in Lower Essex County. Many of these homes, often referred to as Tidewater South, share common architectural features: gabled roofs, dormer windows, and a large chimney at either end. Four of the houses on the Essex County tour are examples of Tidewater South preservation and date to the eighteenth century. Visit a fifth house, which is a reconstructed farmhouse featuring original fireplace and mantel, barnwood floors, and river views.

BEN LOMOND (269 Ben Lomond Road) Built in 1730, Ben Lomond is steeped in history. On the grounds is a cemetery where both Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers rest beside the Garnetts, who

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owned Ben Lomond for a span of 114 years. In the early 1840s, a mirror addition was added to the home making it a foursquare Georgian. The interior boasts original hardware on the doors and in the dining room. Visitors will see a mural depicting Essex County as it would have looked in the early 1800s.

Craig and Zorine Shirley, owners

RIVERSIDE (264 Lower Field Road) Riverside is a blending of old and new. The original structure, built circa 1900 by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hudnall Ware, Sr., was substantially renovated in 20152016. It remains in the extended Ware family and is a modern yet traditional design, retaining several original features, including the fireplace stair banisters, and wooden inlay boards in the front entrance hall. Family portraits and antiques mix with a modern kitchen and contemporary art to give this home a sense of appreciation for the past and the present.

Patsy and Spottswood Taliaferro, occupants.

February/March 2019

RIVERSIDE

RAPPAHANNOCK CHRISTIAN CHURCH (339 Dunnsville Road) Rappahannock Christian Church was founded in 1832 and is one of the oldest churches of the Disciples of Christ.

In 1858, the growing congregation commissioned construction of the present building. Visitors to the church will appreciate the elegant simplicity of the tall arched windows and arched pulpit. The church underwent a major restoration in 2006 and is the headquarters for this year’s garden tour.

ASPEN GROVE (1234 Wares Mill Road) The bucolic setting of Aspen Grove appears today as it did when built around 1721 by James Cauthorne. The original center section of the “hall and parlor family” was enlarged in 1810 to include the present parlor and a second upstairs room.

A two-story 1770s house from Sperryville was dismantled and then reassembled as a master bedroom wing on the right rear in 1993. Dependencies on the 80-acre farm also date to the eighteenth century, including the smokehouse, the pool house, the workshop, and a portion of a 1790s barn. John and Paige Garrett, owners

RAPPAHANNOCK CHRISTIAN CHURCH

ASPEN GROVE ROSE HILL

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK

ROSE HILL (305 Dunnsville Road) Rose Hill was built by James Dunn, circa 1790. Flowers, shrubs and trees planted by the Dunn family, who lived in Rose Hill for 190 years, fill the yard. The broad front entry door opens into a wide center hall. To the left of the hall is a story-and-a-half addition built in 1843. The staircase to the upstairs is original, as are the five fireplaces in the house and many window panes are hand-blown windows original to the house. In 1993, the owners erected a rear wing which expanded the kitchen and added a bedroom and bath in keeping with the style of the house.

Scot A. and Elizabeth Katona, owners WOODLAND MANOR (26275 Tidewater Trail) Sycamores, magnolias, and boxwoods beckon you to step into the past at Woodland Manor, circa 1790. From 1847 to 1849, the house functioned as a girls’ school. Today, it is a venue for weddings and special events. Each room, as well as the English basement, has a fireplace with an original mantel and original heart pine floors. One room is completely furnished in the style of a 1920s bedroom and some antique furnishings are on display throughout the house. Linda Ludeke, owner H 54

WOODLAND MANOR

TOUR INFORMATION: Tour Headquarters: Rappahannock Christian Church, 339 Dunnsville Rd., Dunnsville, VA 22454.

Advance Tickets: $30 per person, www.vagardenweek.org. Available by mail before April 25. Make check payable to GCMP, along with a self-addressed, stamped (2 stamps) legal-sized envelope, to Mrs. Kelly Gwathmey, 6357 W. River Rd., Aylett, VA, 23009. Day of Tour Tickets: $35 per person.

Tickets available on tour day at headquarters only.

Passes and online tickets must be redeemed at headquarters.

Lunch: Several local and fast food restaurants in nearby Tappahannock.

Bus and Group Tour Information/Advanced Tickets by Mail: Contact Kelly Gwathmey at (804) 769-2601.

February/March 2019

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK ABINGDON EPISCOPAL CHURCH Photo courtesy of Linda Tjossem

THE GARDEN CLUB OF GLOUCESTER

HISTORIC GLOUCESTER

House & Garden Tour SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2019 10:00AM – 5:00PM

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loucester County’s rich history dates from just after the settlement at Jamestown in 1607 and boasts a prime location across from Yorktown.

This key military vantage point is the location of one of our properties, Little England Farm, built in 1716. Other properties on tour include Sweetgrass, a low-country style home which looks across the Severn River to Warner Hall, George Washington’s great-great-grandfather’s estate and Belvinhem Quay, which overlooks Timberneck Creek and boasts an extensive art collection. Abingdon Episcopal Church, the largest colonial church in Virginia and one of only eight remaining, will be tour headquarters.

ABINGDON EPISCOPAL CHURCH HEADQUARTERS (4645 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Hayes (White Marsh)) Abingdon parish was established in 1650 and the current building was erected between 1751 and 1755 on land donated by George Washington’s grandfather. Built in the shape of a Latin cross, it is 56

Virginia’s largest colonial church and the third largest in the colonies. The two balcony galleries are the most complete example from the colonial period and where young Thomas Jefferson sat when he attended worship while visiting. Although occupied during the Civil War, the colonial silver donated in 1703, the pulpit, and some additional furnishings were removed for safekeeping and are in use today.

BELVINHEM QUAY (Accessed via shuttle from Abingdon Elementary School, 7087 Powhatan Dr., Hayes) Belvinhem Quay was built in 1998 on Timberneck Creek with views of the early 1700s farmhouse on Timberneck Farm. The house is large and open and is bursting with an extensive art collection with a concentration on portraiture in every medium. A mostly glass wall in the living room bathes the art collection in natural light. Mature trees around the property give the home a green and lovely ambience. The beach sitting area lures February/March 2019

the visitor to sit and contemplate water and sky and a private tennis court greets visitors. Leslie and Keith Belvin, owners.

[Open for the first time]

LITTLE ENGLAND FARM (8066 Little England Road, Hayes) Little England, built in 1716, occupies a point between the York River and Sarah’s Creek and enjoys sweeping views of water on three sides. This prime military location served as a lookout for ships during the Battle of Yorktown, as a hospital for wounded soldiers during the war of 1812 and as a garrison during the Civil War. It occupies 58 acres of open

LITTLE ENGLAND FARM Photo courtesy of Sandy Gieger

landscape with meadows, white fences and grazing horses. The property, a 14room Georgian brick home with a slate roof, is one of Virginia’s least altered and best-preserved colonial plantation homes.

Karen and Steve Barrs, owners.

SWEETGRASS (4523 Osprey Lane, Hayes) Sweetgrass enjoys dramatic views of the northwest branch of the Severn River, overlooking pastoral Warner Hall built

by George Washington’s great-greatgrandfather. Built in 2007, Mrs. Howard found house plans in Southern Living that she could fine tune to her liking

creating a home suited to indoor and outdoor living. The predominating colors are blue and grey throughout, giving a summery ambience of river, water and sand. The name of the house is inspired by the handwoven baskets that are made exclusively in the coastal area of South Carolina, many of which are on display.

Dr. and Mrs. Vaughan Howard, owners. H

TOUR INFORMATION: All details available at www.vagardenweek.org/main/tours.

Headquarters: Abingdon Episcopal Church. Lunches, tours of the church, live organ music, tickets, and local brochure with map available on tour day.

Lunch: Pre-ordered box lunches from Nuttall Country Store and VA Blue Crab will be available for pickup at tour headquarters as well as à la carte offerings from the VA Blue Crab food truck. Gumbeau’s Catering available at Brent & Becky’s Bulbs.

BELVINHEM QUAY Photo courtesy of Sandy Gieger

SWEETGRASS Photo courtesy of Sandy Gieger

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Advance Tickets: $35 pp. Available at www.vagardenweek.org. Tickets also available locally until Wednesday, April 24, at Angelwing Stationers, Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, Little England Mercantile and Mathews Visitor Center by check or cash only.

Day-of-tour tickets: $45 pp. Tickets available on tour day at headquarters only by credit card, cash or check.

Not available at houses.

Parking: Available at Abingdon Episcopal Church, Little England and Sweetgrass. Belvinhem Quay is only accessible by shuttles. Shuttles will pick up and drop off at Abingdon Elementary School located at 7087 Powhatan Dr., Hayes. Shuttles depart 10 am to 4:15 pm.

Special Activities: Brent & Becky’s is sponsoring “Art in the Garden” which will showcase plein air painters, local artists and artwork, music and lunch offerings from Gumbeau’s Catering.

The Master Gardeners will be available for guided tours of the gardens.

Brent & Becky’s Bulbs is located at 7900 Daffodil Lane, Gloucester.

(804) 693-3966.

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK

The Williamsburg Home & Garden Tour TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019

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illiamsburg Garden Club’s 90th Anniversary tour features restored eighteenth-century residences plus a tour of the Governor’s Palace Garden in Colonial Williamsburg. Also, visit three stately homes in Ford’s Colony, a unique planned community that is open for Garden Week for the first time. Included in your ticket is a tour of the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, located near Ford’s Colony.

10:00AM – 5:00PM

FORD’S COLONY TOUR (116 Hurlston) A William Poole design, this Greek Revival-style home is based on the circa 1860 drawings of the Lisle-Shields Town Home located in Natchez Mississippi. Expansive windows enliven the color scheme of plum, fern, rose, terra cotta and cream that is repeated in wall coverings, rugs and fabrics. The kitchen commands one wing of the home where a table for 12 is set against windows that overlook the herb garden. Oak, maple, holly and other native trees offer shade for a secret garden that is home for ferns and hellebore, and is a quiet place to sit.

Debbie and Ralph Abrams, owners

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February/March 2019

219 HURLSTON Photo courtesy of Sigmon Taylor Photography

(219 Hurlston) Front and poolside lawns are defined by a textured mix of hostas, azaleas, shrub roses, hollies, grasses and specimen trees that are admired through Palladian windows. If this home has a theme, it might be that one finds a delightful surprise around every corner. In the living room, a mural by Peter Lyons honors the homeowners’ present life in Williamsburg, and opposite, a diptych by Leo Rawlings recalls English country sporting scenes. The kitchen’s double islands serve as the site for a weeklong gingerbread house construction party. Used in all seasons, the veranda features a fireplace. Diane and Doug Filer, owners (120 Southport) Paintings of the homeowners’ former residences line the staircase of this home that was designed to accommodate the couple’s collections, passions and pursuits. Her collections include a display of dolls that will be dressed for Garden Week, and a craft room that holds more than 6,000 rubber stamps used for creating greeting cards. A pair of 1953 MGTDs and a 1970 Morgan are among the antique cars in his collection.

Enhanced by dry-stacked stone walls, hellebore, ligustrum, and mahonia flourish in the back yard that is tucked in the curve of the woods. Mark and Sue Strang, owners WILLIAMSBURG BOTANICAL GARDEN (5537 Centerville Road) The Williamsburg Botanical Garden is a two-acre site located within Freedom Park. It was established as a demonstration

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2019 HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK

DR. BARRAUD HOUSE

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116 HURLSTON

GRISSELL HAY HOUSE

February/March 2019

garden and education center for plants that are suitable and environmentally sustainable in our Virginia Coastal Plain region.

120 SOUTHPORT

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG TOUR DR. BARRAUD HOUSE (331 E. Francis Street) Minimal restoration was required to this home so that it remains very close to the home that Dr. Philip Barraud would have inhabited in the 1780s. After studying medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Barraud returned to Virginia, where he served in the army during the Revolutionary War. Following the war, he purchased this home in Williamsburg.

GRISSELL HAY HOUSE (101 West Nicholson Street) Situated on the corner of North England and Nicholson streets, the Grissell Hay House may have been one of the first houses on Market Square. The core of the house dates from around 1720.

Apothecary Shop owner Peter Hay lived

here in the 1960s, and after his death, his widow, Grissell, operated the dwelling as a lodging house.

GOVERNOR’S PALACE GARDEN (300 Palace Green) Completed in 1722, the home and gardens were styled in popular fashions of the time and created an elaborate and impressive presence of the crown

in Virginia’s capital city. During the Revolution, the Palace also served as home to the first two governors of the new Commonwealth of Virginia, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. The formal gardens include special features such as a hedge maze, bowling green, and terraces. The kitchen gardens also have been restored to give us a glimpse into the cuisine of this fine home. H

TOUR INFORMATION: Parking: • Colonial Williamsburg: Regional Visitor Center, HGW ticket-holder may board buses on the lower level of the Visitor Center to ride to historic area.

• Ford’s Colony: 240 Ford’s Colony Drive, Ford’s Colony Country Club.

HGW ticket-holder must board shuttles to travel to homes in Ford’s Colony.

No parking at tour homes.

• Botanical Gardens: Free parking at Freedom Park, 5537 Centerville Road.

Advance Tickets: $40 per person, www.vagardenweek.org. Locally: Seasons Florist and Wild Birds Unlimited (cash or check only), until 4:00 on Saturday, April 27. $50 per person, Colonial Williamsburg Visitors Center on Monday, April 29, 9am-4pm. Day of the tour: $50 per person at the Ford’s Colony Country Club, or the Dr. Barraud House in Colonial Williamsburg.

Lunch: Ford’s Colony Garden Bar lunch is $20, ordered before April 15, 2019, by contacting Cathy Adams at cbtbka@cox.net or 757-220-2486.

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CHARCUTERIE

Sausage, bacon, and ham! Oh my!

By Jackie Nunnery 62

February/March 2019

FORGET THE PLAIN OL’ VEGGIE PLATE.

UP YOUR ENTERTAINING GAME WITH A CHARCUTERIE BOARD.

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harcuterie (shar KOO tuh ree) has become increasingly popular, showing up on more restaurant menus, Pinterest boards and cooking blogs. Part of its popularity is in the variety of offerings. With meats, breads, cheeses, and more, there’s literally something to please everyone. And for entertaining at home, the prep work is all up front, allowing you to spend more time with your guests.

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN While the trend is new, charcuterie itself is not. Loosely, charcuterie is about prepared meats. So, if you’re like most people and have eaten bacon, cold cuts, or hot dogs, you’ve had charcuterie.

There is a long history leading up to those modern-day favorites. The term charcuterie comes from the French for “flesh” (chair) and “cooked” (cuit) and was used to designate French shops that sold products made from pork or organ meats. As the practice refined itself, the term began to include prepared meats, still primarily of pork, but now also beef and poultry.

Preserving meat began well before the invention of refrigeration, most commonly done by curing with salt or smoke. This practice has been going on almost as long as man has hunted and cooked meat with fire. The formal culinary practice of charcuterie, while not quite as old, was practiced in one form or another by ancient civilizations around the world. Archeologists have found sausage recipes belonging to ancient Greeks, and the Egyptians are thought to have made a type of pâté from goose livers.

PREPARATION IS KEY There are several meat preparations available for charcuterie, though you can make these trays as simple or complex as you want. There are no rules, which is another reason to experiment with one at your next

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salami. Pâté that is cooked in a loaf pan is called a terrine. It is also served cold or at room temperature but is sliced for serving.

COMPLEMENTS AND CONDIMENTS

CHARCUTERIE HAS BEEN EMBRACED AND UPDATED FOR MODERN ENTERTAINING.

Even though the stars of a charcuterie board are the meats, you need complementary food to highlight their flavors.

That’s done with breads, cheeses, fruits and anything else you can think of that will play off textures and flavors to create the perfect bite. When building your board, keep in mind that charcuterie is informal and meant to be eaten with your hands.

Breads: Crusty breads and crackers provide a nice base to build a bite on.

Cheeses: Choose a variety between hard and soft cheeses as well as mellow and sharp flavors. Think soft brie or goat cheese on one hand and hard pecorino on the other. Also balance mild mozzarella with sharp cheddar.

Fruits: Provide sweet counterparts to the savory meats and salty cheeses. Choose dried or fresh — cranberries, apricots, grapes, or apples, just to name a few.

Vegetables: In addition to cooling cucumbers or crunchy carrots, include salty olives and tangy pickles, or pepperoncini.

Condiments: Mustard, horseradish, olive oil, or any type of relish, will help build flavor. Also add chutneys, jams or jellies for a sweet contrast.

Nuts: For salt and crunch.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

get-together. If your charcuterie board is the entire meal, figure on about four ounces of meat per person.

Italian cured meats, also referred to as salumi, are both savory and fatty. Typically, they are dry-cured with salt along with sugars, spices or other aromatics such as wine or vinegar: • Prosciutto: Paper thin slices of ham; prosciutto cotto is a similar sausage made with cooked ham • Bresaola (breh ZOW la): Thinly sliced dried beef Italian dry-cured hard sausages, called salami, are marbled with fat. They are usually made from pork, but beef, duck, and wild game are becoming more popular: 64

• Soppressata: Traditional salami • Cacciatorini: Small “pocket sized” salamis that were favored by Italian hunters, so they are also known as hunter sausage.

• Pepperoni: More than just a pizza topping, they provide a sweet and spicy kick. They are also known as salame picante.

If you’re feeling adventurous, there are other preparations you can make: • Pâtés and terrines: French for “paste,” pâté is typically made from cooked chicken liver, pureed into a creamy spread that is served cold or at room temperature. It offers a nice contrast in texture to hard-cured

When it comes to serving, any food-safe cutting board or platter will do. If you cut everything up beforehand, it’s easier for guests to serve themselves and for you to restock the board during the evening.

Start with small bowls for the olives, nuts or condiments. You can also serve some items, like pickles, directly from the jar. Everything else can go directly on the board, filling the spaces in between.

Despite its humble beginnings as mere food preservation long-ago, charcuterie has been embraced and updated for modern entertaining. It’s a way to highlight foods and allow guests to appeal to their own tastes. It’s also a more casual way to entertain, allowing you to spend less time preparing and serving and more time enjoying the evening. So dig in and grab a bite. H February/March 2019

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Photos courtesy of Dianne Saison.

The entrance to Yeocomico Episcopal Church stands unique with its brick porch and historical wicket door.

Battles &Benedictions

the profound history of

YEOCOMICO CHURCH

By Dianne Saison

FOUNDED OVER 365 YEARS AGO, YEOCOMICO EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PART OF COPLE PARISH, STANDS TODAY AS THE OLDEST CHURCH ON THE NORTHERN NECK 66

February/March 2019

The altar is uniquely placed to the left of the pulpit and beautifully lit by large windows.

ROGERS TRACKED DOWN THE HISTORIC BAPTISMAL FONT AND REUNITED IT WITH THE CHURCH, WHERE IT WOULD BE RESTORED, ALONG WITH THE ALTAR, TO ITS ORIGINAL GLORY.

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estled on a quiet street in campestral Westmoreland County, resides a church steeped in faith, mystery, and revolution.

Founded over 365 years ago, Yeocomico Episcopal Church, part of Cople Parish, stands today as not only the oldest church on the Northern Neck — but also the fifth oldest in the commonwealth and ninth oldest in the United States. From its ancient brick wall, to the grounds and interior furnishings, the whispers of our nation’s beginning, bloody battles for independence, and the strength of faith in the face of adversity call to visitors, sharing a tale that lingers in one’s soul long after the telling.

The earliest known records indicate that Yeocomico Church, so called after the local river of the same name, was founded around 1653, with the first building of worship being built in 1655. Originally made of oaken timbers sheathed with clapboards in a medieval style, the existing structure was rebuilt around the frame of that first church in 1706 from brick fired in a kiln just yards from the site. Although no specific architect was in charge of construction, a stone in the yard commemorates the two main craftsmen, John Cogger and Peter Moon, British or Scottish immigrants who are also believed to have been ships’ carpenters.

Early members of the congregation included the first pillars The House & Home Magazine

Within the brick outer wall, and to the left of Yeocomico Church, reside the unmarked graves of approximately 100 souls, who will forever remain unnamed. of our nation, including Robert “Councillor” Carter III, and Colonel George Eskridge, a deputy to the House of Burgess and guardian to Mary Washington, mother of George Washington. It is said that Mary often rode her dappled grey horse to services alongside Eskridge, who also served as a vestryman at Yeocomico Church from 1731-1735. Members of Virginia’s historic Lee family also attended the church, and on April 5, 1732, George Washington and Richard Henry Lee, writer of the Lee Resolution and signer of the Articles of Confederation, were baptized at Yeocomico Church.

In 1781, all of the regional churches of England were abandoned. Used briefly as military barracks during the Civil War, and also a schoolhouse, Yeocomico Church then fell into disrepair, where it lay dormant for more than 30 years. The War of 1812, however, would bring not only battle to the church’s door, but also redemption.

During the war, American troops were patrolling the Potomac, which was being heavily bombarded by British forces.

In 1814, an infantryman well versed in the area, suggested troops fall back to the Yeocomico Church grounds, where a 67

The ancient font, used for both George Washington’s and Richard Henry Lee’s baptism, was lovingly restored to the church after the War of 1812, when it had been used for sacrilegious libation.

The mysterious inscribed initials date to the earliest incarnation of Yeocomico Church, yet their meaning remains unsolved.

fresh spring, long used to refresh thirsty parishioners, could help alleviate the discomfort of heat and mosquitoes plaguing the soldiers. It was during this time that the communion table and baptismal font, of Washington and Lee fame, were removed and “greatly abused” by the troops. The table is believed to have been used as a butcher’s block, while the font was absconded and taken miles away from the church to be used as a bowl for liquor and other spirits.

It was during this time that General John P. Hungerford arrived at the church along with 650 soldiers of the 36th U.S. Infantry Detachment, comprised of men from Westmoreland, Essex and Richmond Counties, to fight a British incursion of more than 1,200 fighters who had plans to utilize the Machodoc and Nomini Creeks to further the incursion north towards Alexandria. A terrible battle ensued, nearby Nomini Church was burned to ash, and area homes and plantations were destroyed. British officers cried foul, claiming that the American soldiers had purposely left poisoned wine for the British to find at the nearby Thompson House. A formal charge was made by the British accusing the Virginia Militia of “Uncivilized Warfare,” however, on August 3, 1814, after a week-long court of inquiry was held at Yeocomico Church, Lt. Col Vincent Branham, Maj. Moore Brockenbrough and Maj. John Tuberville found the accusations “utterly without foundation.” A historical marker commemorating the trial is located just outside the church grounds.

It was during this time that William L. Rogers of New Jersey, a member of the same 36th Regiment, fell in love with both the church and possibly Anne Ballentine Murphy, the daughter of local gentryman John Murphy of Ayrefield. After finishing his service, Rogers returned to Yeocomico Church in 1816, to marry Anne and visit the church that had taken hold of his heart. He was devastated, however, to find the Yeocomico church in ruins. Trees had fallen in through the ceiling and were resting on pews. Wild animals and a multitude of lizards and insects had taken up residence in the crumbling building.

Outside, the cemetery headstones were crumbling, including those bearing the names of Washington, Lee, Parker and many other famed “First Virginians.” The cemetery was overrun, and the land was overgrown to the point of near wilderness. Mortified by the desecration, Rogers — who it is important to note was not an Episcopalian, but rather a Presbyterian — enlisted the help of Murphy to rebuild the church. In 1820, Rogers penned a letter to William Meade, the third Episcopal Bishop of Virginia. In it, he said: “In the year 1820, being on a visit to Ayrefield and seeing Old Yeocomico still a ruin, even more deplorable than when I left it, I proposed to Mr. Murphy to undertake its repair. To this, he not only assented, but gave money, labor and his personal service.

The gentlemen of the neighborhood subscribed cheerfully and liberally, and the work was pushed forward by employing suitable mechanics and importing from Alexandria lumber, shingles, paints and seven or eight barrels of tar for the roof, which had not a shingle put on it since the year 1788, at which time I heard Mr. Murphy say, the gentlemen of the surrounding estates were assessed to meet the expense.”

The high, open ceilings and windows shed beautiful light on the eclectic interior architecture.

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Devoted to its renewal and outraged by the sacrilege, Rogers tracked down the historic baptismal font and reunited it with the church, where it would be restored, along with the altar, to February/March 2019

its original glory. The restoration took years, but the efforts have withstood the tests of time, resulting in the preservation of a truly historic landmark still currently in use.

Today, visitors and parishioners are awed by the wicket door at the entrance, which is original to the 1655 church and the only original functioning door of that style in the nation.

Fashioned of a smaller door inside a larger one, it was used to keep in the warmth during the cold of winter and keep out the heavy heat of summer. The outer walls of the church itself are fashioned from brick laid in both Flemish and English bond, with glazed headers, corbels on the gables, and light sconces inside the enclosing front porch. Also surviving is a 1717 sundial, which can be viewed in the parish hall, although a replica has been placed in its original location. There is also a group of mysterious inscriptions on the bricks of the church’s exterior.

The inscriptions include a Scottish Thistle — a badge of the House of Stuart — between the initials G, M & S, which have never been explained, as well as a G with the Roman numeral II, and a host of other initials and letters found clustered near the roof and dated 1921.

Perhaps most intriguing of the mysteries are two bricks, one at each corner of the ancient outer wall, with “Jamestown Colony” clearly inscribed on their faces. Historians, both local and in Jamestown, are at a loss as to how they got there or their meaning. Although many of the grave markers have been refurbished, researchers have found that approximately 100 unnamed souls are buried in the grassy area inside the church’s outer walls, and it is also believed that some of the markers of those buried on the grounds have been lost to time, yet their lives and contributions are still honored by church goers.

Additional renovations to Yeocomico Church were made in the 1820s, 1873, 1928, and 2006, but visitors who enter the church feel an almost instantaneous transformation to an earlier age, when parishioners arrived in their carriages, came in through the wicket door, walked quietly down brick aisles, and listened keenly to their pastor speaking from the raised pulpit. Interestingly, the altar and communion area are offset and on the left-hand side of the pulpit in the cross-shaped building. High ceilings are gloriously open, featuring huge wooden beams, kicked eaves, and a wild mix of Baroque and Gothic features that are truly beautiful to the eye. The natural light that floods in from the large windows reflects off the cool white walls and dove grey painted ceilings, highlighting the marble and wood, as well as the gleaming crosses, offerings and plaques honoring the many notable bishops and reverends who have provided grace within its walls. In 1906, a preservation society was founded to continue to keep up the historic church, and its members have stayed vigil in their dedication.

Blessed with devoted caregivers from its birth to the present day, Yeocomico Church has withstood war, political intrigue, denominational fighting, and the ravages of time and mother nature, only to come out stronger, more dignified, draped in colonial beauty, and honored by parishioners and historians from around the country.

The House & Home Magazine would like to extend its deepest appreciation to historian, Northern Neck of Virginia Society past President, and Yeocomico Church honorary tour guide Steve Walker for his invaluable assistance, as well as the Westmoreland County Museum. For more information on the Yeocomico Church, please visit www.copleparish.com. H The House & Home Magazine

The wicket door dates back to 1655 and is the only remaining functioning door of its type in the country.

The weathered and three century-year-old stone commemorates the two main craftsmen of the 1706 construction of Yeocomico Church.

Church historian and preservation supporter, Steve Walker, stands near a monument where the old brick kiln fired the bricks during the 1706 reconstruction of Yeocomico Church.

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l iss e bW

er

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t er y

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De By

“The French are glad to die for love, They delight in fighting duels, But I prefer a man who lives and gives Expensive jewels.” ~ Lyrics from “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” The song was first Introduced by Carol Channing in the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin, but was most famously performed by Marilyn Monroe in the 1953 film of the same name.

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emstones have been admired for their beauty, sparkle, and rarity for thousands of years. Today the mining of gemstones is well understood, but for our ancestors the notion of such stunning substances lying buried in the ground was nothing short of magical. With little scientific knowledge, gems possessed an aura of mystery and even held spiritual significance as sources of great power and healing. Many were worn as talismans and amulets in hopes of warding off evil, preventing illness, or effective as cures.

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Each gemstone type has represented some unique quality due to their color, luster, and form, thereby surrounding them with a touch of the mysterious. Their rarity was reserved for the very wealthy and, as such, they served as status symbols. Rulers and clergy flaunted gems as signs of their wealth and power.

Alchemists ground gemstones into powders and combined them in attempts to create something greater than the sum of their parts. Powers attributed to various gems to prevent or heal illnesses and infirmities were documented as far back as the Babylonians, Indians, and Egyptians. Lapidaries cut, polished, and engraved them. Over time, specific gems became imbued with presumed magical properties and lore. Today, gemstones are commonly associated with weddings, birthstones, zodiac signs, and as symbolic or beneficial stones, but folklore and legend continue to surround gems and the mystical properties they impart.

DIAMOND This gemstone is the only one composed of one pure element, carbon, whose molecules are bonded with such perfect symmetry in every direction. It is the hardest natural substance on earth and has the highest degree of refraction of any naturally occurring substance in the universe. Its name comes from the Greek word adámas meaning unbreakable.

Its strength and clarity have given rise to the beliefs in its power, strength, longevity, incorruptibility, and good fortune.

Of course, history teaches that there are also famously cursed diamonds. The Persians believed the diamond was a source of sin and sorrow; not unreasonable considering lives have been lost and blood shed in mining, selling, and acquiring the stones.

The strength of the diamond has been associated with protection, warding off evil spirits, increasing physical strength, curing the sick, and safeguarding the wearer on the battlefield.

There are several famous and a handful of infamous diamonds on display in museums, royal vaults, and crown jewels: the 41-carat Dresden Green of Germany; 45.52ct Hope, a blue diamond with a curse that dates back to 1653 and now safely tucked away in the Smithsonian; Star of Africa or Cullinan I, 530.20ct, once cut from the largest gem diamond ever found at 3106ct, adorns the English royal scepter; Koh-i-Noor at 108.92ct resides in the crown of Queen Elizabeth II; Tiffany at 128.51ct was bought by Tiffany jewelers and cut with an amazing 90 facets; and the Florentine, a yellow diamond with green overtones that was once owned by the powerful Medici family and whose whereabouts is unknown. Today, diamonds come in all shapes and sizes and remain the jewel of choice for engagement and wedding rings. Diamonds truly are a girl’s best friend!

RUBY A gemstone long associated with beauty and wisdom, the ruby is the red variety of corundum; the various colors of sapphire comprising the rest. Closely linked with the element of fire, the ruby has been tied to the intense emotions of passion and fury.

The word ruby comes from the Latin word ruber, meaning red.

Although there are various shades of red called ruby, only those with the intense “pigeon’s blood” red with a hint of blue is considered a true ruby. Those with brown, pink, or purple undertones The House & Home Magazine

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A GEMSTONE LONG ASSOCIATED WITH BEAUTY AND WISDOM

are actually sapphires.

Corundum is the hardest mineral after diamond, but its hardness can vary across its matrix. Inclusions are common, making it brittle and a challenge to cut and set. Ruby is one of the most expensive gems; large rubies being rarer than comparable diamonds. The largest was found in Burma, the source of the world’s finest,

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and weighed 400ct.

In India, where the most prized “pigeon blood” rubies have been mined since 600 AD, warriors believed it to be the stone of invincibility. But it wasn’t enough to actually wear the stone in combat. Each soldier was expected to become one with the ruby and actually embedded the stone into their skin.

The gemstone has also been an object of desire by royalty. In 1367, England’s Edward the Black Prince was given a ruby by the Prince of Granada.

Every king from Henry V through Richard III wore the jewel in battle. King Henry V wore the ruby in his helmet and credited the jewel with saving his life by deflecting a blow during the battle of Agincourt in 1415. Today, the jewel can be found in the Imperial State Crown of England.

SAPPHIRE The name sapphire, from the Greek word blue, has long been associated with the heavens. At first only the blue variety was called sapphire, but today corundums of all colors except red are called sapphires and include not only blue but yellow, pink, violet, green, orange, and clear.

Clergy during the Middle Ages wore sapphires to symbolize heaven and blessings. Indian mystics believed the jewel could open a passage to heavenly realms.

Near Eastern lore believed that the earth itself was a sapphire and credited the color of the sky to its reflection by the sun.

This association with the heavens also led to the sapphire’s perceived power over dreams and attributes of the mind. Sleeping with a sapphire by one’s head was said to turn dreams into reality or get rid of unwanted thoughts. For those who communed with spirits, such as the famed ancient Greek oracles at Delphi, the gem was worn to receive clear visions.

Large sapphires of any color are rare.

The Star of India is perhaps the largest cut star sapphire in the world at 536ct.

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Two famous sapphires, St. Edwards and the Stuart sapphire, are part of England’s crown jewels.

EMERALD Beryls are called emerald, derived from the Greek smaragdos, meaning green stone, and it is for this trait that the gemstone has forever been linked to the earth and nature. Just as being outdoors is known to ease tensions and induce calm, it was also held that simply gazing at the green gemstone could soothe the mind.

Perhaps the best-known lover of the emerald was Egypt’s Queen Cleopatra, where the stone was first mined around 330 BC. She held strong beliefs in the power of the verdant jewel and is said to have gifted visiting dignitaries with large emeralds carved with her likeness. The gem has been associated with youth and fertility, believed to treat ailments of the eye and thought to cure a host of visual disorders. The green color is derived from the chemical chrome. In the absence of chrome, other beryl colors of gem quality are called precious beryl, with the exception of blue, which is called aquamarine.

NEAR EASTERN LORE BELIEVED THAT THE EARTH ITSELF WAS A SAPPHIRE AND CREDITED THE COLOR OF THE SKY TO ITS REFLECTION BY THE SUN.

AQUAMARINE Another beryl, whose outstanding blue hue has forever been connected to seawater, aquamarine has a long history of admiration by those living close to the sea.

Its name is taken from the Latin aqua for water and marina meaning sea. The Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, was said to have been represented by the stone. Sailors would carry an aquamarine with them for protection, and those left behind, waiting for their loved ones to return, are said to have tossed aquamarines into the sea in hopes of seeing their relatives’ safe return.

Akin to the natural properties of water, some cultures held that wearing an aquamarine promoted emotional flexibility, intellectual reasoning, and gentle demeanor, which made it the stone of choice for those who were faced with life’s challenges. It is for this reason that aquamarine is considered the stone of peace and serenity.

OPAL Few gemstones conjure up thoughts of the mystical like the opal. With the finest examples displaying a brilliant play of color The House & Home Magazine

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IF GIVEN AS A GIFT, IT WILL BESTOW AFFECTION AND PROSPERITY TO BOTH THE GIVER AND RECEIVER.

or fire that has been compared to the glory of the universe and the light of heaven, it has been a stone most strongly associated with spiritualism and imagination.

Ancient peoples were convinced that for those who possessed supernatural abilities, the opal would help amplify those gifts. Black opals, in particular, were thought to assist in reaching a higher spiritual plane by erasing inhibitions and negative emotions. Black opals were also used by our ancestors in palliative care, believing the gemstone had the ability to replace

physical pain with feelings of peace and love.

Opals always contain some percentage of water and over the years, as the stones lose their moisture, the color dulls. The aging process can be avoided if stored in moist absorbent cotton wool. Color can be restored temporarily by saturating with oil, resin, or water.

TOURMALINE Tourmaline is one of the few gemstones that comes in nearly every color imaginable. For that reason, the jewel has been associated with creativity and goodness. Ancient India credited tourmaline with fostering feelings of optimism and could even help the wearer figure out the source of their troubles. It was also thought to assist in communication and reconciliation, attracting healing and camaraderie.

Unicolored tourmalines are quite rare. Most show various tones and even colors within the same crystal. The most desired colors are intense pink and green. Multi-colored stones with pink and green hues are referred to as watermelon.

GARNET The final jewel in our examination of mystical gemstones is the garnet. It has often been referred to as a “karma stone.” If given as a gift, it will bestow affection and prosperity to both the giver and receiver. If it is stolen, it will bring terrible misfortunes upon the thief until it is returned to the owner.

Warriors associated the garnet with protection and, if an injury did occur, the jewel was thought to stop the flow of blood and assist in healing if inserted into the wound. Egyptians believed the garnet to be so priceless that pharaohs were buried with multitudes of garnets to accompany them into the afterlife.

The term garnet is derived from the Latin word grano, meaning grain, because the round crystals resembled the red kernels of the pomegranate.

Delving into the ancient mysteries of gemstones adds even greater intrigue to their already fascinating histories. Although they may not actually possess extraordinary powers, there’s no denying the joy they bring to those who wear them. H

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Photos courtesy of Maxwell MacKenzie

R A N D A L L J.

K I PP ARCHITECTURE

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W W W. K I P PA RC H I T E C T U R E . CO M 81 K I N G C A R T E R D R I V E I R V I N G T O N VA 2 2 4 8 0 804.438.6287

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To fully capture the essence of this area, design your home with Randall Kipp Architecture.

Serving primarily the Northern Neck and eastern Virginia, Randall Kipp Architecture is an international award winning full service architecture and interior design firm based in Irvington Virginia. The philosophy of the firm is to provide comprehensive services that include schematic design, design development, construction documents and construction administrative services. Essentially, from the initial idea to your finished home, Randall Kipp Architecture is with you every step of the way.

When designing waterfront homes, Kipp and his team design with the intention of expanding the home to the outdoors and inviting the outdoors into the home thus creating an extension of the space.

Randall Kipp Architecture seamlessly blends building structure with interior design and finishes for an

The House & Home Magazine

all-encompassing home building experience. Modern architecture is alive and well in rural Virginia and proves to be the ideal architectural style for truly embracing the scenic surroundings.

For architecture to be successful, the client’s needs must be met. The notion of building for building’s sake will never provide satisfactory results. It is Kipp’s belief that the best and only viable solution for successful architecture is to include the client as part of the design team, inviting them into the design dialogue as partners and providing them with an education about thoughtful and successful design.

Partner with Randall Kipp Architecture to build your dream home on the river.

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A Ticket to Oyster Paradise

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on’t miss out on this backstage pass to everything oyster. Shuckapalooza, April 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is a day-long event featuring seven unique experiences around the River Realm at the epicenter of this beautiful bivalve’s resurgence. One ticket allows you exclusive access to events rarely offered to the public — whether it is touring an oyster nursery, learning about harvest methods, ecology with a real-life waterman, seeing some of the latest technology used to open oysters, or letting your palate do the work to distinguish coastal flavors.

This self-guided driving tour is the perfect way to become an oyster aficionado. You’ll feel smarter when you leave this intimate occasion sponsored by Virginia’s River Realm. Proceeds support Friends of the Rappahannock.

The day’s tour begins with check-in at event headquarters at Christchurch School, 49 Seahorse Lane, Christchurch, Virginia.

Along the way, you’ll be treated to samplings of oysters, wine and beer pairings, and authentic experiences at seven different locations. Visit as many or as few as you wish.

SEVEN SINGULAR SITES Babies & Beer Tour an oyster nursery, and sample a signature oyster along with a tasting of Chesapeake Oyster Stout at Rappahannock Oyster Company, 784 Locklies Creek Road, Topping. The company’s roots reach back to 1899, when Ryan and Travis Croxton’s grandfather founded an oyster business on the Rappahannock 78

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River. A century later, the cousins are back at the business and are in part responsible for sparking the growth of oyster farming in Virginia’s River Realm. Attendees will be able to tour the farm operation and see what it takes to get the bivalve babies from seed to table.

Oysters 101 Students teach the process of growing Chesapeake Gold oysters.

Visitors can taste the product, paired with a sample of Ingleside wine. Christchurch School, 49 Seahorse Lane, Christchurch, is a small private boarding and day school located on the Rappahannock River. Using funds earned from recycling aluminum cans, this student-run oyster program began as an environmental/educational project. The school now leases 101 acres of river bottom at its waterfront to use for oyster farming. Students watch the growth of the oyster from a two-millimeter seed to a harvestable adult (three inches or larger) — a process which takes approximately two years.

Tools of the Trade Tour an authentic shucking house, view demonstrations, and sample a wild-caught oyster. On this stop at Urbanna Seafood Market & Raw Bar, 453 Johnsons Drive, guests will have a rare opportunity to tour one of the few oyster shucking houses still in operation. View a small oyster vessel for a short lecture on the tools of the industry from a native Rappahannock River waterman. In addition, attendees will also be able to tour a crab shedding facility and view a demonstration from a local oyster shucker on how best to open those tasty bivalves.

The “Shucking” Sanctuary Take a boat tour to learn about oyster restoration and how to get involved. Sample 2 fried oysters with a Tides Inn twist. Located at the dock of The Tides Inn, 480 King Carter Drive, Irvington, this stop on the tour features a short boat trip provided by Friends of the Rappahannock to the Ellery Kellum Oyster Sanctuary.

Learn all about how this man-made oyster sanctuary was created through the efforts of The Tides, Kellum’s Seafood and the Friends of the Rappahannock. At the reef sanctuary, there will be plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and discussions about FOR’s oyster restoration programs and ways to get involved with protecting the Rappahannock River.

East vs. West Shuckdown Compare the terroir/merroir of the Chesapeake Bay in this wine and oyster showdown featuring comparisons between samplings from the Eastern and Western shores. Wine and oysters take on the unique tastes of their homes. This stop at the Dog and Oyster Vineyard, 170 White Fences Dr., Irvington, features pairings of wine and oysters from two distinct areas. It’s where terroir and merroir meet.

Beach Roast Visit Willaby’s on the Rappahannock and Miss Mary Seafood, 327 Old Ferry Road, White Stone, to experience a traditional oyster roast over a fire pit. Hit the beach for a hands-on experience setting up this authentic Southern oyster feast. A local waterman will demonstrate harvesting techniques and you can admire the The House & Home Magazine

deadrise boats anchored just off the shore. Enjoy roasted oyster and craft beer pairings.

Shuck No More At this stop, you’ll discover a high-tech method for opening oysters. On-site at HPP of Virginia, 27 Industrial Drive, Topping, visitors will see a demonstration of the company’s revolutionary pressure machine for opening oysters before they go to markets.

Your guided tour of the facility will end with a sample of an oyster prepared out of the HPP machine. While on the grounds, get a first-hand look at the uniquely engineered “Oyster Eco Reef Module.”

TICKETS: STANDARD (UNTIL MARCH 8) $125 LAST CALL (MARCH 9 TO APRIL 8) $150 RAIN DATE: APRIL 26, 2019 GET MORE INFORMATION AND PURCHASE TICKETS AT SHUCKAPALOOZA.COM. 79

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SENIOR LIVING

AT A LOSS How aging affects your hearing

IT HAPPENS GRADUALLY AS WE GET OLDER, SOMETIMES SO SLOWLY YOU DON’T NOTICE IT AT FIRST.

By Jackie Nunnery

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magine missing out on the laughter of your grandchildren, the “I love you” from a family member, or everyday conversations with your friends. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicable Disorders (NIDCD), that’s what is gradually happening to a quarter of older adults over 65. And as we age, it gets even worse. By age 70, nearly half of older adults report a level of hearing loss that is disabling.

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Hearing loss is one of the most common problems affecting older adults. Called presbycusis (pres bih CUE sis), it happens gradually as we get older, sometimes so slowly you don’t notice it at first. While you can’t reverse this type of hearing loss, you should talk to your doctor about getting your hearing tested to identify any loss as soon as possible and protect what hearing you have. It might also be an opportunity to consider hearing aids, so you’re not missing out on conversations with friends and family.

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WHY AM I LOSING MY HEARING? At first, it might be missing sounds at certain frequencies or things sounding muffled. It may also be difficulty picking out voices in crowds or asking people to repeat themselves. Whatever your hearing difficulties, there are a few common culprits. But first, to make sense of what’s wrong with your hearing, it’s helpful to understand how your hearing works.

Sound waves enter your outer ear and travel down the ear canal that leads to the eardrum. As the name implies, the eardrum is a membrane that vibrates like a drum in reaction to sound waves.

Eventually, these waves reach the fluid-filled cochlea in the inner ear, which creates ripples. The ripples then interact with hair cells, which bend and send signals to the auditory nerve for processing by the brain into recognizable sounds.

The most common type of hearing loss occurs when these hair cells become damaged and no longer effectively send signals to the brain. Called sensorineural (sen sor in NUR ul) hearing loss, it accounts for about 90 percent of hearing loss in older adults. So what causes damage to these hair cells?

• Aging: simple wear and tear on the hair and nerve

cells that send signals to the brain.

• Noise: long-term or repeated exposure to loud sounds.

NIDCD states that sounds at or above 85 decibels (dB)

can cause hearing loss with repeated or prolonged exposure.

Decibel level of common occurrences: »» Normal speech: 60dB »» Vacuum cleaner: 70dB »» Lawnmower: 90dB »» Motorcycle: 95dB »» Factory Noise: 100dB »» Music at maximum volume level (earphones): 105 dB »» Sirens: 120dB • Medications: Certain antibiotics and chemotherapy

drugs have a chance of causing permanent damage.

High doses of NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs) including aspirin and ibuprofen

(Advil or Motrin) can also damage your hearing, but the

damage is usually not permanent.

LOSING YOUR HEARING MEANS LOSING MUCH MORE Hearing loss can be particularly damaging to your emotional well-being. Because people with hearing loss quite often have difficulty understanding speech, particularly in crowds, they have a tendency to withdraw from friends and social The House & Home Magazine

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situations. In a 2014 study by the National Institutes of Health, researchers found that hearing loss nearly doubled the risk of depression in adults. Other studies have shown that the isolation and loneliness that leads to depression also increases significant health issues like cardiovascular disease and mortality.

In addition to the physical and emotional impacts, hearing effects your awareness of your surroundings, leading to safety concerns. Being able to hear smoke alarms or kitchen timers in your home or emergency vehicles on the road is crucial to living independently and getting around on your own.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION While most hearing loss is not reversible, there are steps you can take to avoid additional damage and the worsening of age-related hearing loss.

Wear ear protection around loud noises, especially over prolonged periods of time. Whether at work around machinery or at home mowing the lawn, use earplugs to protect your ears from harsh noises.

Turn down the volume. Listening to loud music regularly, especially through headphones or earphones, can be particularly damaging. A simple rule of thumb — if you can hear the music coming out of the headphones or earphones when they’re not in your ears, it’s too loud.

Have your hearing tested. Consider regular hearing tests. Early detection of hearing loss allows you to take steps to keep the hearing you have.

A POUND OF CURE To take control of your hearing loss, there are skilled health professionals who can help diagnose and treat your hearing problems, but start with your family doctor first. Your doctor may refer you to: • otolaryngologist (oh toe lair in

GAH lo jist) Also called an ENT

because they specialize in treating

the ears, nose, and throat. These

physicians can diagnose the cause

and type of hearing problem you

have as well as offer treatment options.

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DON’T LET HEARING LOSS COME BETWEEN YOU AND THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LEAD. • audiologist Can identify and

measure your hearing loss. Some

may also be licensed to fit hearing aids.

• hearing aid specialist Conducts

and evaluates basic hearing tests.

Can fit and test hearing aids.

HEARING AIDS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO HELP. WHY AREN’T MORE PEOPLE WEARING THEM? Unfortunately, most people with hearing loss try to live with it for years before seeking out help. And when they finally do, they don’t often accept a tool available to them — hearing aids — to improve their hearing. The NIDCD says that only a third of those who should be wearing hearing aids actually do.

There is a common perception that hearing aids don’t work very well, but you might want to rethink that. Digital hearing aid technology has improved the experience over older analogue models.

In addition to a much more discreet design, they’ve reduced feedback issues, improved sound quality, and created preprogramed settings for different listening environments.

Also, hearing aids need to be worn regularly to be most effective. If you only wear them on certain occasions or a few hours of each day, you never get the full benefit from them. Hearing really happens in the brain and it takes time for it to adapt to the technology and new sounds. This is especially true if you’ve been living with hearing loss for some time. Your brain is simply not used to processing as much sound information any longer. Regular hearing aid wear will re-train your brain.

Like wearing glasses for helping our aging eyes to see, hearing aids can help aging ears to hear. From the ability to communicate and maintain healthy relationships, to living independently, hearing plays a vital role in your health and wellbeing as you age. Don’t let hearing loss come between you and the life you want to lead, or between you and those you love. H The House & Home Magazine

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H E A L T H

Photo courtesy of Sara Harris Photography

A BETTER PLACE to Heal

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ollowing years of planning and construction, Riverside Health System unveiled the completed portions of its $55 million renovation and expansion of Riverside Walter Reed Hospital in Gloucester, Va.

“I want to reinforce the importance of having quality health care like you have here at Riverside, because certainly in my profession, in neurology and in cardiology, every minute counts now,” Governor Northam, a pediatric neurologist, said at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “If someone has to go an hour or two hours to receive their health care, that may be the difference.”

The expansion and renovation project marks the most significant construction project at the community hospital since it opened in 1977, Riverside President and CEO Bill Downey said.

The hospital’s new two-story, 54,000 square foot Surgical and Inpatient Services building and new main lobby area opened for patient care on Feb. 4, 2019.

The Surgical Services Suite includes three new state-of-theart operating suites, two procedure rooms, and pre-operative and post-operative recovery areas. Among the advances in the surgical suite include advanced LED lighting that puts off less heat and are camera equipped, enabling surgical video integration that provides a complete picture of the patient’s condition at any given moment.

In addition, any case can be handled in any operating room at any time, allowing maximum scheduling flexibility.

All seven new pre-op rooms are fully private, equipped with televisions and music therapy is available to help relieve patient anxiety. Thirteen post-surgery patient bays/rooms also allow for increased privacy while supporting best practices in infection prevention, safety and monitoring.

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Riverside Walter Reed Hospital opens completed portions of renovated and expanded hospital on Middle Peninsula.

“These improvements will mean better care, more comfort, more safety and quicker recovery. I don’t think you could ask for anything more for a local hospital like this,” said Barbara Van Hoy after completing a tour during the community open house.

Van Hoy, a Gloucester resident, underwent emergency hip replacement surgery with Dr. Steven Hospodar at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital last summer.

“It really helps people that want to stay in the community, and it allows their families to be right here with them for whatever they are going through,” Van Hoy said.

The second floor of the new building also houses 36 next-generation private inpatient rooms equipped with private bathrooms and showers, convertible sleeper sofas and additional seating for visitors and family members and numerous other features designed to increase both care and comfort.

Each room also includes its own fully integrated computer system, enabling safe, efficient access to Electronic Medical Records and built-in telemetry capabilities to be monitored by trained technicians stationed right on the floor 24/7.

“Each room will provide a healing environment that is comfortable, not only for the patient but for their family members and visitors,” said Esther Desimini, Riverside Vice President and Administrator at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.

The new Surgical and Inpatient Services building is located adjacent to the existing Medical Arts Building and will become the hospital’s new main entrance – complete with a drive through drop-off area, and expansive lobby and registration facilities.

During his visit and tour of the new hospital facilities, Governor Northam also commented on the positive impact that high-quality health care has on local economies, noting that February/March 2019

H E A L T H while the unemployment rate is at a 17-year low in Virginia, and Scoot’s Barbeque in Gloucester, who captured the essence and impact of the project best, Desimini said. rural areas lag behind.

“Gary told me ‘often you have to go the hospital, but now “One of the most important things to help bring all of the hospital has come to us.’”

Virginia back up, especially rural Virginia, is for people who For more information on Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, want to live in rural Virginia to have access to affordable and visit riversideonline.com/rwrh. H quality health care,” said Governor Northam. “That’s important for quality of life, and it’s also important for helping businesses WORDS FROM RIVERSIDE PATIENTS that want to grow and that may want to come to rural Virginia.” »» “We are so blessed to have something like this in such a small “It’s a top priority for our business leaders to make sure that community.” their employees have access to good healthcare. And nobody I »» “We are so blessed to have something like this in such a really think has embraced that more than Riverside,” Governor small community. I hope all of the residents here realize just Northam said. how fortunate that they are to have doctors right here.” -Jane The complete renovation and expansion project at Riverside Niethamer, Gloucester resident who recently relocated from Walter Reed Hospital also includes the expansion of the Northern Virginia. hospital’s Emergency Department which services nearly 22,000 »» “It’s a wonderful addition for the community. Riverside patients a year. The new Emergency Department, scheduled for always does things big time.” -Jane Sterling, Gloucester completion later this year, is being enlarged from 6,300 square resident who worked in nursing for Riverside for 20 years. feet to more than 16,000 square feet and includes 18 beds, »» “It is so nice, when you walk into a hospital, to see everything three major treatment rooms, a trauma room and a dedicated brand new and clean, and it definitely gives you more Family Care Room. confidence in the hospital.” -Connie Licone, former Other major enhancements to be completed later this year Gloucester resident include a new central pharmacy, the relocation of various »» “It’s really very nice to be able to get care here in your administrative offices and the opening of a new gift shop and hometown hospital.” -Meg Carmine, Mathews resident a coffee bar in the new lobby area, offering grab-and-go food »» “I am super impressed. I now feel like I can go out into the and beverage items. New interior hallways will also be opened, community and give Riverside Walter Reed a five-star creating multiple connector halls from the new Surgical and review. The facility is great, the staff is great. It makes Inpatient Services building to the existing hospital and the me feel good. The community needed this. The community Medical Arts Building. deserved this.” -Joanna Jenkins Sibley, Gloucester resident It was perhaps Gary Ward, owner of Olivia’s in the Village

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house &home?

Chicken Soup for the Cold

By T. Patrick Cleary

M

y wife returned home from work to find a large lump under the covers in the bed we normally share.

“Is that you in there, Patrick?” she inquired, to rule out the possibility it might be the dog. “I’m sick,” I replied, in my puny, pathetic, sick voice. “Let me guess,” she said. “You’ve caught your first cold of the season, haven’t you?” I peered out from behind the covers. “How did you know?” I asked. She gave a nod in the direction of the serpentine path of pill bottles that wound its way to the foot of a tall mountain of used Kleenex. “Your effort to single-handedly prop up the pharmaceutical business was a giveaway,” she added.

“You don’t suffer colds well, Patrick,” she stated, in a most unsympathetic, matter-of-fact tone. “Do you have any idea how many trees you’ve already sacrificed to assuage your sinusitis?” “Trees are a renewable resource,” I argued. “Besides, I’m higher up in the food chain then they are.” “We don’t eat trees, Patrick. The food chain argument simply doesn’t apply,” she shot back. “For goodness’ sake, wife, I’m on my deathbed,” I countered. “Have you forgotten your ‘in sickness and in health’ vow? I could really use a little sympathy.”

“I’m merely suggesting, Patrick, that your spending on cold remedies shouldn’t meet the IRS threshold for a medical

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deduction on our tax return. You have a common cold, that’s all,” she asserted.

“You’re not a medical professional,” I replied. “And besides, none of my colds have ever been of the common variety.”

“Well, on that point we can agree,” she said. “How about making me some chicken soup?” I asked, hopefully. Without a reply, my wife turned and left.

Chicken soup is often referred to as “Jewish Penicillin.” To be sure, the addition of matzo balls puts their stamp on it, but I don’t think the Jews invented chicken soup or penicillin. In fact, animal sacrifice was old hat long before Abraham trekked up Mt. Moriah and traded the life of a free-range sheep for his son’s. The ancient Greeks and Romans offered various animal sacrifices to their gods. While in the earliest rituals the sacrificed animals were completely burned, the ancients eventually worked out a rationale for giving the gods a burnt offering consisting of only certain, less edible parts. In time, they reckoned that gods didn’t eat meat — burnt or otherwise — and so offered them only the smoke.

The chicken, gallus gallus domesticus, is the preferred modern-day animal sacrifice to the Greek or Roman god of commune frigus, the common cold. Come to think of it, that’s Latin, so it’s probably intended for the Roman god. If a modern-day chicken is the sacrifice, the soup pot is

the modern-day vessel for preparing it.

Consuming the soup is really just a postsacrifice means of disposal.

I’m no expert, but I believe for such a sacrifice to be acceptable, that the chicken must be a particular chicken, singled out as a sacrifice for a particular cold. It might warm you up, but chicken soup dispensed into cans on a high-speed production line and destined for random cold sufferers doesn’t cut it.

Back on the farm, mom maintained her own pecking order of hens for the soup pot. She may have been judge, jury, and executioner, but the sacrifice was rarely for her personal benefit. Nor was it pleasant (if you think harvesting soup from a can is messy, try harvesting a chicken.) It was a true demonstration of a mom’s love for her children. And those chickens taught me an important lesson that still holds true for writers everywhere: produce or die.

Poking her head back in the bedroom, my wife announced “There’s a bowl of chicken soup on the table for you, dear.

Come get it while it’s hot. I’ll join you after I throw the soup can in the recycling bin.”

Oh, well, praise the Lord, and pass the Kleenex. H T. Patrick Cleary is a Williamsburg-based freelance writer and student of marital relations who maintains a solid “C” average.

February/March 2019

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