January 2023

PUBLISHER: Greenhill Media, LLC

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kaitlin Hill | kaitlin@middleburglife.com

COPY EDITOR: Victoria Peace, Susan Stark

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR | PUBLISHER Christian Bentley christian@middleburglife.com

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES

Vicky Mashaw | vmashaw@middleburglife.com Jennifer Richards | jennifer@middleburglife.com

ACCOUNTS ADMINISTRATOR Joanne Maisano

INTERN: Gwen Peace

DESIGNER: Elisa Hernandez

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Nicky Marshok

ON THE COVER

Peggy Finnegan of Middleburg-based BodyBloom welcomes the weary into her warm studio for a massage or reflexology treatment. For more on Finnegan and her practice, turn to page 8. Photo by Michael Butcher.

ON THIS PAGE

A bit of frost remains on the sloping hills of Paris, Virginia, on a winter morning in December. Photo by Kaitlin Hill.

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Greenhill Media, LLC P.O. Box 328 | Middleburg, VA 20118-0328 540.687.5950 | info@middleburglife.com

All editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher. All unsolicited manuscripts and photos must be accompanied by return postage; the publisher assumes no responsibility. Middleburg Life reserves the right to reject any advertising. Distributed in Aldie, Alexandria, Ashburn, Boyce, Delaplane, Dulles, Front Royal, Gainesville, Haymarket, Leesburg, Manassas, Marshall, Middleburg, Millwood, Paris, Purcellville, The Plains, Rectortown, Reston, Tysons, Upperville, Warrenton, Washington, D.C., and Winchester.

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BELLE VIEW FARM

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

UPPERVILLE, VIRGINIA

44.55 acres of which 15 acres are producing grapes | 8.5 acres of Chambourcin, Traminette on 4.3 acres and Vidal Blanc on 2.1 acres | Vineyard infrastructure includes fencing, irrigation system and computerized well | Perc site for 4 bedroom home | Property is in conservation easement Property can be converted to Residential use $1,300,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

MINTER-SPILMAN MILL & MILL HOUSE

WARRENTON, VIRGINIA

The house & the mill together offer 4/5 bedrooms Renovated into a charming enclave of two homes Almost all of the mill’s working parts have been preserved Just miles from historic old town Warrenton Filled w/natural light, this property brings together the craftsmanship of Old Virginia w/ modern luxury.

$1,195,000

Helen MacMahon (540) 454-1930

Brian MacMahon (703) 609-1868

OUT WEST

MAIN STREET

THE PLAINS, VIRGINIA

This property has been used as a commercial property for over 30 years

Zoned residential and has the potential to be converted into a residence | Two half baths and fireplace on .54 acre. $549,000

Lynn Wiley 540.454.1527

104 & 106 PENDLETON STREET

MIDDLEBURG, VIRGINIA

Rare opportunity | 2 recorded lots with C-3 zoning in the town of Middleburg | 2 separate buildings with 8 offices, 5 storage bays and ample parking

All buildings are in excellent condition

$1,250,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY

MARKHAM, VIRGINIA

49.16 acres in 2 recorded parcels Frontage on Goose Creek, land rises to great views, mountain meadows on upper portion Access over Railroad and creek Excellent hunting land, surrounded by large tracts

$300,000

Paul MacMahon 703.609.1905

Brian MacMahon 703.609.1868

CATESBY VINEYARD

CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Baumstark has been writing for several lifestyle magazines and newspaper publications since 2005, specializing in history-related articles highlighting Virginia’s Piedmont. She has been with Middleburg Life since 2014. Over the years, she has featured hundreds of businesses, leaders, residents, historical sights, lectures, heritage programs, and museums in her work. Heidi hopes to inspire readers to pause and consider the people, places, and events that have shaped the story of our local history.

Michael Butcher is the owner of Butcher Photography. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, he resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his family. For the past 15 years, Michael has specialized in portraiture, event, and editorial photography. When not behind the lens, he enjoys gardening and swimming.

Diane Helentjaris chose Loudoun as her “forever home” in 1990 after experiencing Ohio, Michigan, Montreal, San Francisco, and New Jersey. Following years as a clinical physician and public health administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. A finalist in the 2020 Icelandic Writers Retreat, her book “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” comes out in June. Diane also writes a monthly newsletter, The Silk Mill, which is dedicated to those in love with fabric in all its glory.

Lia Hobel is a freelance journalist, known in town for her blog, Uplift Loudoun, which she launched during the start of the pandemic to share uplifting stories. In addition to her work for Middleburg Life, Lia writes periodically for online platforms with articles appearing on GOBankingRates, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Lia began her career as a broadcast journalist, but left TV news when she moved to Leesburg, Virginia, with her family. She is a Loudoun 40 Under 40 honoree and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the county.

Dulcy Hooper and her husband Richard moved to the country from Washington, D.C. nearly ten years ago. Shortly thereafter, both began writing occasional articles for Middleburg Life. Dogs are a big part of the Hoopers’ lives and several of Dulcy’s earlier articles focused on the couple’s Chinese crested powderpuffs!

Victoria Peace is a recent graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in French and Art History. On the weekends, she frequently visits her family in The Plains. In her free time, she enjoys playing polo with Twilight Polo Club, riding with the Georgetown Equestrian Team, gardening, walking her family's dogs at Sky Meadows State Park, and visiting her retired horse, Taco. Her perfect “Hunt Country” day would include a stop at the local farmers market in The Plains, a trip to her favorite Middleburg antique stores, and a sunset trail ride in the Virginia countryside.

Callie Broaddus is a Warrenton native and graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Architecture. After seven years as a book designer at National Geographic Kids, Callie founded the nonprofit, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, in 2019. Callie’s land preservation projects and focus on youth empowerment are aided by her talent for storytelling through her camera lens as a professional photographer. In her spare time, Callie enjoys Earl Grey tea, Harry Potter trivia, and dreaming of getting back into the jumper ring.

Laticia Headings is grateful to call Middleburg home. She discovered Middleburg by attending the first annual Middleburg Film Festival in 2013 and has come back to the event every year since as a volunteer, attendee, and for the past several years, as a writer for Middleburg Life. Laticia is the founder of Latitude Media and has 23 years of experience as a producer, writer, and camerawoman for television (Discovery, National Geographic), documentary film “Everest: A Climb for Peace,” and multi-platform media, and hosts and produces the docu-series, The Middleburg Life. Now, as a full-time realtor with McEnearney Associates, she is helping her clients realize their dream of calling Hunt Country home.

Bill Kent’s journalism has appeared in more than 40 national and regional publications including the Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Philadelphia Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and The Hunt. A former correspondent for the New York Times, he taught writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Temple universities, and is the author of seven novels, a Fodor’s Guide, and a history of Atlantic City. After graduating from Oberlin College with majors in English and Religion, he published his first piece in The Georgetowner. When not writing, he enjoys walking his westies on Washington Street.

Will Thompson is a writer and photographer interested in all things related to nature, conservation, and outdoor recreation. He has worked in communications and project management roles in renewable energy, international development, and mission-driven journalism. Will graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a B.A. in Communications.

Shayda Windle is a freelance writer covering the arts, people, and places that make Hunt Country so special. Her work has been featured in Plein Air Magazine, the Fairfax County Times, and several online media outlets. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying the great outdoors and exploring Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.

Gracie Withers is a local photographer who grew up in the village of Aldie and has been photographing local weddings, portraits, and events since 2016. She was a contributing photographer at Georgetown University for over three years and also has a wide variety of experience in sports photography. Her passion began when she received her first camera in middle school and she continued to study the craft in high school and in college. She joined Middleburg Life as a contributor in the spring of 2022.

“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow down anticipating the yellow light. I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. And CRUNCH!

I finally came to a stop when I hit the car in front of me.”

This tragic story was shared with us by Dan S an Ashburn resident who has peripheral neuropathy. And while no one was hurt in the accident, Dan S. had suffered almost every day of his life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot.

“The first stage is pain ” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness. “ You feel burning, tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides and the numbness sets in. Unfortunately the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems.”

This was the case with Dan.

SHE GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results!

“I said I wasn’t going to drive again What if that had been a pedestrian?”

It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and its debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ability to live their life. Dan was now reliant on his wife to drive him around, even the simple pleasure of cruising down to play golf or taking her out to dinner was outside his capabilities.

And even more common, Dan’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.

That’s where Rachal Lohr and her staff at FIREFLY come in. “About 75% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal.

“They’re in constant pain from neuropathy and it prevents them from not only living their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it

“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments!

My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly [Rachal] gave me my life back.”

While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s definitely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance BioTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery” shares Ann, a Senior Patient Care Coordinator at the clinic “It’s like watering a plant ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provide them the proper nutrients to heal and repair.”

Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment.

I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”

You can learn more about Rachal Lohr and the FIREFLY team at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263-2142 Visit www.FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com to learn more and to take advantage of their New Patient Off

THE Middleburg life TeaM

Community,

It is incredible to think that another year is behind us. As we reflect on 2022, the team at Middleburg Life is immeasurably grateful for the opportunities we have had to connect with the community, to share our town’s many stories, and to work in partnership with the wonderful businesses, big and small, across Hunt Country that make this region truly unique.

Looking forward, we are committed to building on the progress of 2022 while continuing to expand our capacity to serve the town of Middleburg and, more broadly, Hunt Country. Fresh formats for both our print and digital platforms,

new advertising opportunities, and an enhanced web experience for our online visitors are among the exciting changes coming to Middleburg Life in 2023. We look forward to sharing this vision with our readers and advertisers in the near term, knowing that our proposed growth is only accomplished with feedback and guidance from the community.

In the meantime, we offer our heartfelt thanks to those who have supported the Middleburg Life mission and continue to be champions for our magazine. And, we wish each of you a very happy New Year.

Sincerely, ML

Middleburg Life publisher, Christian Bentley, and editor-in-chief, Kaitlin Hill. Photo by Callie Broaddus.

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c e l e b r a t i o n . B r i n g a f r i e n d a n d e x p l o r e t h e w o r l d o f R e g e n e r a t i v e M e d i c i n e & A e s t h e t i c s . C h e c k o u t o u r s p a c e , s i p c h a m p a g n e , a n d e n t e r f o r a c h a n c e t o w i n o u r g i v e a w a y s a n d r a f f l e . W e ' l l b e h o l d i n g a s p e c i a l s a l e o n o u r s e r v i c e s f o r t h o s e t h a t a t t e n d

relax The body and Mind aT bodyblooM

Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Michael Butcher

Afew steps from the hustle and bustle of downtown Middleburg’s shopping district is a massage therapy studio that has comforted the community since 2019. BodyBloom, nestled on a quiet residential street, offers all who enter the promise of tranquility in the capable hands of Peggy Finnegan.

The name “BodyBloom” refers to how massage and bodywork can help one’s body “bloom” with an improved sense of wellbeing according to Finnegan, the owner and therapist. “I create a peaceful, private, and unhurried experience for my clients from the moment they arrive,” she explains. “My cozy studio is designed to feel restful and inviting. Clients receive my undivided attention for their entire appointment.”

Finnegan works as a solo therapist. She starts by carefully listening to her clients’ preferences and needs. From there, she works quietly using skilled, compassionate touch and a slower pace to help soothe the nervous system while softening and loosening muscle

tension. “For most people, it’s a welcome treat to have this uninterrupted downtime with zero demands on them,” she says. “Clients tell me they feel totally safe and cared for when they’re on my table.” Each session includes comforting extras like a heated table, eye pillow, hot stones, and steamy towels — the perfect accoutrement for an exceptionally relaxing experience.

Taking care of people comes naturally to Finnegan. She was a United Airlines flight attendant for 20 years, exploring the world while providing front-line safety and service to the traveling public. “On my days off from flying, I did rewarding work as a certified nursing assistant and also served for many years as an in-home hospice volunteer,” she says.

Finnegan was ready for a change after 9/11 and chose to follow her therapeutic spirit. She knew a quieter and more intimate setting appealed to her. After graduating from massage school and getting her license in 2012, Finnegan began work

Peggy Finnegan in her Marshall Street studio.

at a luxury spa and opened a private practice in Hudson, Ohio. For the next few years, she juggled both jobs, took advanced training classes, honed her skills, and built her clientele. In 2016, everything came to a screeching halt due to an unexpected health crisis which left Finnegan physically unable to do massage therapy work for nearly a year. “During my recovery, I experienced im-

ative relaxation work “because it’s what I love the most and I believe that [it] is exactly what a lot of folks need,” she shares. Finnegan helps many people seeking relief from general muscle tension from physical activity or from long hours sitting at their computer. “I also see many others who are feeling stressed out, anxious, or overwhelmed,” she says. Her clients include all genders and range in age from 16 to 93.

Massages not only restore the body, but also

[clients] receive at BodyBloom just adds to those good feelings,” Finnegan emphasizes.

Finnegan also strives to build a nourishing relationship between client and therapist. “My favorite part about having my own practice is being able to take the time to get to know my clients as people, not just bodies,” Finnegan says delightedly. “I love building a therapeutic relationship of trust with my clients, getting to know their needs, likes, and dislikes. I don’t like to rush, and I never

mense healing from a variety of complementary therapies including reflexology,” she says. That’s when she decided to make use of her time off from massage by getting trained and certified in the Ingham Method of reflexology which she has proudly offered at her Middleburg studio since she moved to the area with her husband.

Since opening its doors, BodyBloom has been a retreat for anyone looking to decompress in a peaceful atmosphere. Finnegan is trained in a variety of therapeutic modalities including deep tissue massage, neuromuscular therapy, and Thai massage. She has chosen to focus solely on restor-

the mind. Finnegan explains that relaxation massage stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which reduces your body’s stress reactions. This is also known as the rest and relax response.

“As the physical touch of massage activates the parasympathetic system, your heart rate naturally slows down. Then breathing also slows and your blood pressure lowers. Your hormones are also affected.” Stress hormones like cortisol drop off and serotonin, the feel-good hormone, spikes. This provides that improved sense of wellbeing and peacefulness that people feel after a massage.

“I believe that the additional nurturing and care

want you to feel rushed, so I leave myself plenty of time between my appointments so your whole experience feels relaxed and unhurried.” ML

BodyBloom Massage & Reflexology

107 West Marshall Street, Suite 106 Middleburg, Virginia 20117

BodyBloom specializes in restorative relaxation services including massage therapy, foot reflexology, and luxurious body scrubs. Those considering booking can do so through the BodyBloom website: bodybloommassage.com.

Left: Finnegan’s space is full of pleasant reminders. Middle: Messages of health and happiness are seen throughout the office. Right: Her model feet show the connections within the body.

WinTer Skin Care Q&a WiTh Middleburg aeSTheTiCianS

Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Michael Butcher

Unfortunately, winter air is not always kind to our skin. The cool, dry weather causes it to become dehydrated and cracked, provoking discomfort.

We spoke with two local skin care experts to find out their best skin-saving advice for the cold months ahead. Kristin May is the owner of May Aesthetics Boutique, and Brittany Grabski owns Middleburg Skin Care. The two share a boutique space at 10 South Liberty Street in Middleburg.

Continue reading to discover how you can survive the winter skin slump.

ML: How did you come to open your business?

Grabski: I graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Health Sciences and then went on to get my basic and master esthetics licenses and laser certification, and then I started working in plastic surgery. I took over Middleburg Skin Care in 2019. I do completely customized facials depending on one's personalized skin care needs. I also do lash [and] brow tinting, lip [and] brow waxing, electrolysis, and thermoclear (vessel removal, sunspot removal, skin tag removal, etc.).

May: I’m a nurse anesthetist. I got my doctorate in nurse anesthesia in 2015 and I’ve been in healthcare since 2006. I started getting Botox injections and I thought, “I love this more than anesthesia.” I trained for several months and started out on my friends and family, and then with the onset of COVID-19, I thought, “You know, I real-

Brittany Grabski and Kristin May in their shared Middleburg studio.

ly love doing aesthetics. Why don't I just go ahead and open a brick-and-mortar store?”

ML: What are your most important skin care tips during the winter months?

Grabski: Top tips for taking care of your skin in the winter include sleeping with a humidifier in your room to help keep your skin from drying out too badly. Use a heavier moisturizer or layer a hydrating serum under your current moisturizer. Also, don't take super hot showers or use really hot water when washing your face morning and night.

May: Switch up your cleanser to a more calm, gentle cleanser that's not going to leave your skin feeling tight when you wash. Secondly, I would suggest a hyaluronic acid serum. Also add a good day cream. Switch from a regular cream [to a] more hydrating one because you know when

you're outside and even when you're indoors a lot during the winter your skin can dry out, so all of those are really going to help.

ML: Any specific products or services you would recommend?

Grabski: It all depends on the person's skin. Facials should be a part of everyone's skincare regime spaced four to six weeks apart.

May: I also suggest a monthly facial. Everybody can benefit from a deep exfoliation. The second step is an aesthetic ultrasound. We can customize serum and [create] more hydrating ones for the winter that go very deep into your dermis, and then the third part is an LED light that we can customize to a customer’s needs. There’s an anti-aging collagen stimulant light. That's a really good idea as well. I think the biggest tip that I have is don't skimp on the moisturizer for sure and you can even switch a regular body cream for a more nourishing body cream as well.

ML: Why is it important to see a professional?

Grabski: It's important to see a professional because everyone's skin is so different and each person's skin needs a personalized approach.

May: I think in this area the average consumer, or my average client or patient, does know a lot about taking care of themselves, but it’s important to get someone who has a medical background [and] has had extensive training. I have clients come in that think they really want this one treatment and [I say], “Well that might not be the best for you because the treatment might damage your skin.”

ML: How important is it to build a skin care regimen?

May: I say it's like you're working out your skin. You need that foundation, and I tell everybody we can do every injectable in here. We can do any laser treatment. But if you're not taking care of your skin on a regular basis, you're not going to get those optimal results.

ML: What's something that people may or may not realize about skin care?

Grabski: You need to wear sunscreen every day,

whether you're outside or just hanging around the house.

May: Even though it's winter and we're not thinking about the sun's rays, the sun is the most damaging, so definitely do not neglect a good sunscreen.

ML: Any final thoughts for our readers?

Grabski: The top three things everyone needs in their skin care regime is a form of vitamin C during the day, a form of vitamin A [retinol] at nighttime, and sunscreen!

May: We're pretty much a one-stop shop. We always do a complimentary consultation. We set aside time and we really dive in deep to whatever the concern is, and we come up with a whole treatment plan based on a patient's goals. We want to build relationships with people and make them feel valued. ML May Aesthetics Boutique

Middleburg Skin Care 10 South Liberty Street Middleburg, Virginia 20117

Top: Brittany Grabski. Bottom: Kristin May.

TOP TIPS FOR A HEALTHY NEW YEAR

With New Year’s resolution season upon us, many of us are starting to think about health and fitness goals. However, with so many products and plans on the market, it can be hard to sort out constructive nutrition guidance from fad diets and fake fitness trends. Since the basis of any good health and fitness plan is proper nutrition, we asked Maureen St. Germain — owner and operator of Hunt Country-based nutrition counseling practice, Educated Wellness, and a Nutritional Therapy Association-certified Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner — for her top wellness tips.

1. Don’t starve yourself — eat good, quality foods. “If you focus on the quality of foods, the quantity works itself out,” St. Germain says. Nutrition for health and fitness is not about restricting how much a person eats, but rather concentrating on the quality of what is being eaten. St. Germain’s top guidance is to stick to whole foods that don’t have an ingredients list. Processed foods often lack the nutrients that whole foods contain, leaving people with a plate of empty calories but no fuel for their bodies. Those nutrients, including proteins and fats, are necessary for feeling full, creating energy, and keeping our bodies healthy. Luckily, Hunt Country is perfectly situated to source quality whole foods given the abundance of farmers markets, community grocers, and connections to the farming community in the area. “What is really nice about where we live is that there are great options for us, and we just need to learn how to take advantage of this,” St. Germain says. If the food does have an ingredients list printed on the label, St. Germain

advises looking at it closely. “If you cannot easily pronounce everything in that ingredient list, put it down,” she advises. If the ingredient can’t be readily identified, it’s most likely a processed food or food-additive chemical, many of which are designed in laboratories to be hyperpalatable by adding sugars and salts. St. Germain also advises clients to look at the total sugars and added sugars in packaged foods. Sugar-free items might not contain cane sugar, but may have dextrose or other sugar substitutes that act identical to glucose in our blood. If you are eating quality whole foods that lack excess sugars, then a restrictive diet or caloric deficit can actually work against your health and fitness goals.

2. Stay hydrated. “Dehydration is considered the number one nutritional deficiency,” St. Germain says. Being dehydrated can lead to lethargy, decreased athletic performance, dizziness, or even more serious health consequences. St. Germain suggests drinking enough water to stay hydrated throughout the day and flavoring water with things like herbal teas, lemon, lime, ginger, or cucumber. The amount of fluids needed to keep each person hydrated will vary, so people should consult with a nutrition counselor or their doctor to discuss their specific needs. Beverages like coffee, sodas, and alcoholic drinks act as diuretics and can actually exacerbate dehydration despite being water-based. “Reaching for the next glass of water would do you better than that next cup of coffee,” St. Germain advises.

3. Move every day. St. Germain says that this can be anything from short walks a few times a day to long runs.

Written by Will Thompson

Maureen St. Germain. Photo by Sharon Hallman.

“The best exercise is the exercise that you will do,” she explains. “If you enjoy yoga, that’s the exercise for you. And that could change on a daily basis — you could be up for a two-mile run one day then a 10-minute walk the next.” Consistency of movement throughout the day is also important. “If you run several miles once a day, then sit sedentary for the next 14 hours, you’re not doing yourself that much good,” St. Germain says.

4. Get enough sleep. “Give yourself a bedtime and stick to it,” St. Germain emphasizes. Sleep is our bodies’ time to heal and repair itself. A lack of sleep robs the body of the vital rest it needs to repair itself and rebuild the energy levels required to take on things that are essential to wellbeing, health, and fitness like exercise, work, outdoor activities, and hobbies.

5. Mindset matters. When it comes to health and nutrition, a positive attitude and mindset

can be the deciding factor in sticking to a nutritious whole food diet. As St. Germain notes, “The worst thing that you can do is beat yourself up when you’ve had to eat the food that was available or convenient, or strayed from nutrition.” That brings a negative outlook to nutritious eating and can lead to a sense of resignation and a cycle of poor nutrition choices. “We [have] a lot of emotion [around] food,” St. Germain says. “I counsel people to choose food consciously, enjoy it thoroughly, then let it go.”

6. Enjoy what you eat. Nutritious foods aren’t boring or tasteless! St. Germain tells people to eat what they like and be adventurous in the kitchen. New foods, flavors, and cooking methods can keep healthy food fun and interesting. When cravings do hit, it’s best to avoid buying packaged snacks and treats. Readers may be able to find indulgences with local Hunt Country bakers and food purveyors who use high quality ingredients

or could even try making their favorites themselves. “If you want it, try making it,” St. Germain suggests.

7. Get the nutrition counseling that is right for you! Though there are universals in nutrition — including concentrating on quality of food, hydration, sleep, and exercise — every person and their physiology will be complex and unique. “When it comes down to the nitty gritty of fueling our bodies, everybody is completely bio-individual,” St. Germain says. The best way to maximize nutrition for health and fitness is to meet with a nutrition counselor. ML

More information about St. Germain, her practice, and her nutrition blog can be found at educated-wellness.com. She is offering a five-week nutrition workshop called a RESTART beginning on January 11, 2023, which features a 21-day guided sugar detox.

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MeeT your

neighbor:

ROMEY CURTIS

Written by Laticia Headings

When Romey Curtis first visited Middleburg, Virginia, it brought back memories of Hampshire, the quaint village where she grew up in England. The pastoral countryside and sprawling fields and farms were familiar echoes of her childhood and serve as one of the many reasons why she loves living here today. “I do love it here, it’s a very pleasant lifestyle,” she says.

The youngest of three children, Curtis was raised near a port where her father served as a Royal Navy officer. Prior to the escalation of World War II, the family moved west to the coun-

tryside for several years to escape the risk of potential bombing. “Of course, the grown-ups were always talking about the war,” Curtis remembers. “We moved to the deepest, darkest part of Somerset where nothing ever happens — to a safe place.”

Throughout her early childhood, the young Curtis and her siblings lived simply and attended a village school. She was later enrolled at a primitive boarding school without heat where the inkwells would freeze during the winter, an experience she understandably disliked.

During the war, she remembers the family’s

diet being very limited and, like the rest of the country, having government-issued ration coupons for food and clothing. “There was a little shop that had biscuit boxes that should have been filled but, of course, they were empty. I used to look longingly at them,” Curtis recalls. “I had no idea what an orange or a banana was like because we didn’t get any imported during the war.”

In 1950, Curtis’ father was sent to Washington, D.C., for a two-year assignment. With her sister training to become a doctor and her broth-

Romey Curtis. Photo by Laticia Headings.

er an architect in England, Curtis moved with her parents. She finished her last two years of high school at National Cathedral School.

Like her two siblings, Curtis was career-focused. She knew from an early age that her path would involve the arts and went on to become an accomplished actress, playwright, and author.

Curtis had a natural flare for writing and theater as a young girl. Through the years, she took dance classes and wrote poetry, but didn’t formalize her acting skills until after high school because no acting programs were available. “I don’t remember how I got the acting bug, but I got it,” she explains.

Upon returning to England after high school, Curtis was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and completed the two-year curriculum. “I give great credit to my parents who allowed me to apply to RADA,” Curtis says. “A lot of parents would have thrown their hands up in horror and said, ‘Do something sensible, child!’”

After RADA, Curtis went on to become a repertory actor and performed in various plays. “Theater is a love of mine and it’s a joy to be part of,” Curtis shares. “Being on stage — it’s a huge responsibility and you’re very exposed. For me, it’s not so much about the performance as much as it is the journey.”

Though she never made an appearance on London’s West End, she did land several television roles.

In 1959, 23-year-old Curtis married her race car-driving sweetheart of three years, Timothy Curtis. Her husband transitioned from cars to boats after they were married, both racing and selling them. The couple had three children: Lucinda, Matthew, and Catherine.

Curtis paused her acting career for a number of years to raise her children. Timothy got a job with Zodiac, the iconic inflatable boat brand founded in France in 1896. Shortly after, Curtis once again found herself in America when Timothy’s job brought them to Annapolis, Maryland.

“Timothy was good with languages and spoke French,” Curtis says. Zodiac was expanding into the American market and with Timothy’s experience and linguistic abilities, he was an ideal representative for the company.

While in Annapolis, Curtis joined the Colonial Players, a local community theater company. She also got involved with Maryland Hall Story Theater, an outreach program committed to

| Page 16

Top: Graduation photo of Curtis and her National Cathedral School classmates. Bottom left: Curtis in one of her many stage performances. Bottom right: Curtis and her husband, Timothy, on their wedding day. Photos courtesy of Romey Curtis.

bringing the cultural enrichment of theater to the children of Anne Arundel County. “It was a very special time,” Curtis says.

The couple eventually found their way to Costa Rica in the mid-1980s. Now empty nesters, they spent 13 years living the “Pura Vida” lifestyle. Curtis worked at an English language newspaper and expanded her love of the written word.

Their next adventure landed them in Hawaii. What started as a visit to an expecting daughter and son-in-law turned into a 15-year stay on the island of Kauai. During that time, Curtis got involved with a women’s theater group and founded Kauai Shorts, an annual festival featuring 10-minute plays. Once again, she found herself acting, directing, and penning short stories.

A natural writer, Curtis decided her next ar-

tistic progression would be to write a book. Being a lover of murder mysteries, she wrote her own entitled, “His Death of Cold.” “The more you read, the more inspired you are,” she explains. “One naturally comes with the other for me.” The dedication in the front of the book is to her husband, Timothy, who supported all of her creative endeavors over the years.

Curtis admits the publishing process was difficult but worth the effort, mentioning that “His Death of Cold” can be found on Amazon. “I think it’s a truism that everyone has one book in them,” she says.

The many chapters of Curtis’ life led her to the Middleburg area in 2018, where her eldest daughter, Lucinda, lives. “I love the size of Middleburg and the feeling of a village; it reminds me of home,” she says.

Curtis still finds ways to stay involved with the

arts. For the past two years, she has volunteered for the Middleburg Film Festival. “It’s fun and gives you a sense of belonging and contributing, both of which you need if you come to a place where you plan to settle,” she says.

Though her writing days are over, the grandmother of four and great-grandmother of two is still an avid reader and doesn’t rule out performing again should the opportunity arise. “Nothing is more exciting. It’s not just the performance, it’s the rehearsal. … There’s a lot of exploring that happens and you learn a lot about yourself,” she says.

Curtis is grateful that theater was a guiding force for her throughout the decades. Without doubt, her lifelong passion for writing and performance has allowed her various talents to shine and make an impression on many. ML

Curtis volunteering at the 2022 Middleburg Film Festival. Photo by Laticia Headings.

Heronwood Estate

Upperville – Main house, private 18 hole golf course built to USGA standards. Two world class stables, 45 stalls, arena, 28 fenced paddocks. Spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain views. Convenient to Dulles, Reagan National and Washington, D.C.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

260 acres $5,200,000

Steeped in history and features a stunning first floor primary suite, grand rooms, chef’s kitchen & wonderful porches. Also: guest cottage, 2 tenant houses, machine shop with 2 BR apartment, barns and fenced fields. Easement potential.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Stoneledge

101 acres $5,000,000

A very special and rare private sanctuary. Extraordinary location only 6 miles west of Warrenton, 45 min. to Dulles Int. Airport and one hour to the White House. With world-class construction, Stoneledge is the benchmark for a luxury countryside retreat.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

25 acres $4,550,000

Spectacular country estate just minutes to Middleburg. Classic 5 BR / 5 BA fieldstone main house, 3 BR guest house, 1 BR apartment over the 3-car garage, swimming pool, 3-stall barn, garden shed, storage shed, fenced paddocks and more.

John Coles | Cricket Bedford

44 acres $3,850,000

Rectortown – Turn-key estate protected by conservation easement, which allows for development of equestrian facilities. Views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a 7 acre fenced vineyard with vistas of rolling hills, woods and pastures all around.

Will Driskill | 540-454-7522

Ashcroft

86+ acres $2,200,000

White Post – c. 1830 3 BR / 2 full, 2 half BA brick home offers privacy and incredible views. 3 acre pond. Farm office w/attached 3 car garage. Many improvements including renovated bank barn for entertaining family & friends. Great Clarke Co. location.

Cathy Bernache | 540-424-7066

Halfway Farm

The Plains – Privacy, protected views and charm. The historic residences at Halfway Farm are on the market for the first time in nearly 60 years. Just 4 miles from Middleburg with an array of natural resources and rural amenities. (Buyers agent)

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

152 acres $3,400,000

Open, gently rolling pastures and fields in prime Orange County Hunt Territory. Historic home dates to 1820. 5 BR / 5 BA with stone terrace and pool. Two Stables - 15 stalls and 6 stalls, Kraft Walker, 8 paddocks, 6 fields, 3 cottages.

John Coles | 540-270-0094

93+ acres $3,600,000

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

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

Mill Road

44 acres $2,000,000

Ideally located on a quiet country road just east of historic Middleburg, this gracious two story Cape Cod home is completely renovated and available immediately. Center hall floorplan, light filled rooms, huge gourmet kitchen, six car attached garage.

Brian McGowan | 703-927-4070

Willwyn Farm

Colchester

6+ acres $1,895,000

Purcellville – The ultimate country home. Renovated 5000+ square feet, beautifully imagined with lovely scaled rooms, each offering stunning mountain views. There is a game room and an amazing home gym, stone terrace and a pool.

Cricket Bedford | 540-229-3201

Anne Marstiller | 540-270-6224

White Oak Farm

Chilly Bleak

The Old Winery

Llewellyn

Far Hill

Claytonville

102+ acres

$4,500,000

Boyce – This exquisite Country Estate is surrounded by some of the finest estates in Clarke Co. and enjoys stunning Blue Ridge Mountain views. Designed for elegant living and grand entertaining. Protected by a VOF Easement.

John Coles | Cricket Bedford

129 acres

$4,095,000

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

John Coles | 540-270-0094

Lucky Hit

84+ acres $2,400,000

Lucky Hit is one of the oldest of the important houses in historic Clarke County. Built in 1791 it is located in a beautiful area of the county, surrounded by large farms and across from the 400 acre State Arboretum of Viginia.

Cary Embury | 540-533-0106

18+ acres $2,295,000

Stunning Colonial, built with extraordinary quality and craftsmanship. 4 BRs / 4.5 BAs, HW floors, gourmet kitchen, flagstone terrace. In the heart of Virginia’s renowned “Horse Country” an absolutely beautiful property in a storybook setting.

Jim McGowan | 703-927-0233

When you’re ready to sell your property, you want to list it with the preferred agents in Horse Country - Thomas & Talbot. We know the best way to sell your property because we know Horse Country. We have unmatched passion for the area, and know exactly why people love living this unique way of life. With decades of experience, international reach and modern real estate and promotional strategies, we can match your home with the people who are interested in buying it, no matter where they are. Contact us today to learn how our personalized, top-notch service is right for you.

10+ acres

$1,600,000

Stunning custom built colonial in pristine condition. Over 5000 sq. ft. with a fabulous open floor plan, 4/5 BRs, 5.5 BAs, granite counter tops, refinished HW floors, new carpeting and freshly painted. 2400 sq.ft. stable, 2 fenced paddocks, automatic waterers.

Brian McGowan | 703-927-4070

warranted nor is it otherwise guaranteed.

19+ acres $1,580,000

The main house was built in 1815, it is listed on the Virginia and National Historic Registers. Rolling pastures, large old trees, a pond, and complete privacy. Custom designed stable built in 2011. 3 board fenced pastures, run-in shed w/electricity and water.

Susie Ashcom | 540-729-1478

Corgidale

Deerfield Farm

Willow Downs Locust Grove c.1815

WALLET WELLNESS:

Make The MoST of your Money

Written by Diane Helentjaris

“P

lanning really moves the needle,” Amanda Merrill says when discussing how to build financial stability.

Merrill, a wealth advisor for Buckingham Strategic Wealth, is a certified financial planner with a law degree from Case Western Reserve University. Though everyone’s economic situation is unique, she offers some general tips to consider.

Putting together an emergency fund is first on her list. Life has unexpected surprises ahead for everyone. However, with at least six months of income set aside, disruptions lose a bit of their sting. Merrill notes, “An emergency fund assures a person can avoid portfolio liquidation at depressed rates. Volatility is upsetting. It’s always prudent to prevent [unnecessary] selling when investments are down.” Having money tucked away and ready for the unexpected moments in life can prevent one from accruing avoidable debt and neglecting other needs.

Additionally, Merrill encourages people to take the time to know where their money is and how it has been allocated. This allows one to adjust and customize their holdings. Being cognizant of interest rates for savings accounts and comparing them to other possible investments helps investors make strong decisions.

The best mix of stocks, bonds, and alternative investments varies with a person’s appetite for risk, their stage of life, and even their anticipated

longevity. Life expectancy is projected to continue rising — according to a 2020 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the average life expectancy for Americans will grow by six years and rise to an average of over 85 by 2060. Merrill confirms that increased longevity and family history of longevity are important considerations in financial planning for retirement.

On average, everyone can expect to experience at least one recession during their lifetime. Economic slumps can create opportunities to “capture a tax loss.” Painful and counterintuitive as it might be, selling investments at a loss may be a good idea in some cases — later, when the market improves, these losses could offset gains.

A free and straightforward task for individuals looking to build their financial stability is to access their personal credit reports from the three major credit reporting bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. These companies are required by law to give a free report to consumers annually which they provide on their websites. The three reports differ slightly, so checking each one is important. Doing so allows one to correct any errors and to track changes in credit worthiness.

Another potentially profitable and very simple action to take is to check for unclaimed money. Virginia’s Unclaimed Property Program returns “money, stocks, bonds, dividends, utility

| Page 21

Amanda Merrill. Photo courtesy of Amanda Merrill.

deposits, insurance proceeds, tangible property and more” to residents who may have moved, lost a check, or forgotten about a bank account. VaMoneySearch.com is the place to start. The federal government has additional information on finding unclaimed money at their USA.gov site. A few years ago, Merrill’s mother checked for unclaimed property belonging to her and discovered a small retirement fund from a long-ago teaching job. An annual review of insurance coverage can also save consumers money. Supply and labor costs have increased in recent years due to inflation and old insurance levels might not be adequate. For Hunt Country residents who own historic homes and lands, the need for special skills or materials to restore damaged properties may

justify increasing insurance levels.

Merrill notes that umbrella insurance — policies which provide extra insurance beyond standard home, auto, and boat insurance — is “tremendously affordable.” Umbrella insurance can kick in and provide coverage when homeowner, auto, or boat insurance has tapped out. It also may cover claims excluded by other insurance policies. Individuals who serve on boards, own horses, employ staff, or have a high public profile might consider buying umbrella insurance, Merrill advises.

Finally, Merrill recommends people have an estate plan (at minimum, a will) and review it for completeness. This may include arranging appropriate guardians for children who are minors and other dependents. The Commonwealth of Virgin-

ia has laws covering those who die without a will. Property in that case is dispersed among relatives using a formula set by the state. For instance, in an example of special interest to equine owners, horses whose owner has died could end up the property of a relative who may not have the resources or interest to properly care for them. Merrill notes that a trust may include horses, with specific language to assure their wellbeing.

When it comes to financial planning, Merrill makes it clear that simple actions and attention can reap rewards in the future. ML

Buckingham Strategic Wealth

112 West Washington Street, Suite 204 Middleburg, Virginia 20117

Telephone: (540) 931-9051

BuckinghamStrategicWealth.com

RUBANO’S: CULINARY AMBITION IN ALDIE

Written by Bill Kent

All restaurants are no more than a dream before they open, when nothing is certain and big plans materialize as effortlessly as steam from a coffee cup.

But Carlos Miranda, owner of future Hunt Country restaurant Rubano’s, isn’t dreaming. “I know, right now, this restaurant [will be] a success,” he says. “I can feel it. I am completely certain.”

In the last six months, Miranda acquired the Aldie Country Store and a 20acre farm on Sally Mill Road where Chef Brad Rubano is currently living. The farm will supply many of the fruits, vegetables, and spices for Rubano’s farmto-table menu.

Miranda describes the video he plans to post online about the new Aldie restaurant in the months before he and Rubano open in May. “It will begin with a drone shot … with the Seaspice octopus logo on the outside of what was once a white building, now painted a bold matte black,” he says. “Then we go through the front door,” he continues. The footage would then rise up over the dark, rustic reclaimed wood tables, meander toward the bar, drift over the 10-seat tasting table, offer a glance through the pass-through into the persimmon-colored kitchen walls, then linger on a matte black, white-and-persimmon painting of horses that Miranda and his wife Maryam bought in the Dominican Republic.

Ambition | Page 25

Top: Brad Rubano and Carlos Miranda at the Aldie location. Photo by Michael Butcher.

Bottom: Rubano’s exterior. Photo courtesy of Maryam and Carlos Miranda.

Miranda, a Florida native, has a design degree from Marymount University. It was there that he met Maryam, who was studying business. They

went on to open restaurants in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, and to design restaurant and hotel interiors for Starwood and Mandarin Oriental.

Since last summer, Carlos Miranda has been between Florida and Middleburg, having set up shop with his family at a Snickersville home the

couple purchased two years ago when the family decided to send their daughters to Foxcroft School. “Of course we fell in love with Middleburg,” Maryam Miranda adds. “Who wouldn’t? It is one of the world’s most beautiful places.”

Of the new restaurant project, Maryam Miranda shares her aspirations. “When we open, we’re going to be the French Laundry, only [in] Middleburg,” she says.

With Carlos Miranda adding, “We’re going to be better. We’re going to be like the Inn at Little Washington. We’re going to bring in people from Washington, D.C. — everywhere.”

The Rubano’s team is even considering the use of a helicopter to transport celebrities from D.C. and even further, who, he is sure, will come to his new Hunt Country restaurant after having dined at Seaspice Brasserie, his south Florida seafood restaurant on the Miami River.

Given the high level of Italian cuisine already represented in Washington, D.C., and Hunt Country, this could be a daunting task. Rubano, however, has no qualms about having his name on the restaurant.

“If this had happened to me twenty years ago, I’d be a little bit scared,” Rubano admits. “But I’m 45 now. I’m ready for this. This is [exciting].”

Born on Long Island, New York, Rubano is of Sicilian descent. “I have a dozen aunts and uncles and cousins from Taormina,” he shares. “Everybody cooks. As a baby I smelled

“That ties it all together, don’t you think?”

Carlos Miranda. Photo by Michael Butcher.

“I know, right now, this restaurant [will be] a success. I can feel it. I am completely certain.” – Miranda

the sauce on my grandmother’s braciola. She’d start it on Saturday so it would be perfect on Sunday.” After getting an associate degree from the New York Restaurant School, Rubano and his father Tony opened a fast-casual restaurant in Merrick, Long Island, called The Pit Stop.

Experience Rubano gained at his father’s fine dining restaurant — the now-closed Wild Fish Raw Bar in Freeport, Long Island — set him on a path to the kitchen at a new restaurant called Seasalt and Pepper, carved out of a warehouse in a Miami River neighborhood better known for its auto body shops than its cuisine. Eventually rebranded as Seaspice, the 250-seat restaurant became a surprise hit.

“Before they opened, everybody told them the location was wrong, that nobody would come,” Rubano remembers. “Carlos and Maryam [have] been in the business long enough to have an instinct for these things. So, last July, when I was in my office at Seaspice and Carlos came in and said, ‘I’ve found our next place,’ I didn’t have to ask where. I found out a half an hour later when a voucher for a plane ticket to Washington appeared on my phone. A few months later, I [saw] snow for the first time in ten years.”

Since then, “It’s been non-stop because there is so much going on, in terms of what is grown, and the variety of what is grown [in Virginia],” Rubano notes regarding his ingredient list. “I’m just amazed by the range of what’s here. I just had some incredible venison and wild berries. It’s like I’m discovering a new world.”

Part of that world will include local wines, spirits, and beer with Italian vintages and brews — some of which he expects to sample at the end of this month. To solidify their menu, Rubano and the Mirandas are traveling to Italy where they will sample both traditional and trendsetting Italian cuisine.

So confident is Carlos Miranda of his restaurant’s success that he has already made

plans to open a branch of Rubano’s in part of a Miami nightclub and hotel complex in 2024. In 2025, he plans to open a Rubano’s in Washington, D.C.

For now, until the whirling rotors of helicopters can be heard overhead, every table is filled, and there is something Sicilian to savor from the kitchen, the lofty ambitions in mind for Rubano’s

are just that. However, the restaurant is certainly worth keeping an eye on. ML

“I’m just amazed by the range of what’s here. I just had some incredible venison and wild berries. It’s like I’m discovering a new world.”

– Rubano

Brad Rubano. Photo by Michael Butcher.

Ambition | From page 25

Dr. Michael Poss

THE LONG HISTORY OF LLANGOLLEN

In the heart of Virginia’s Hunt Country sits Llangollen, an equestrian estate with 18th-century roots and luxurious 21st-century amenities. Its 1,100 pristine acres are located in western Loudoun County (with four of those acres in Clarke County) at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The name Llangollen originates from a small town near the River Dee in Denbighshire, North Wales, in the U.K. It takes its name from the Welsh word llan meaning “church” or “religious settlement,” and the monk Saint Collen — the traditional founder of the sixth-century town.

Just eight miles from Middleburg, Llangollen

Llangollen.

was originally part of a 10,000-acre land grant. The house’s oldest section is the patent house, built in 1795, which has since been incorporated into the 1830s manor house. Over the centuries, the estate has received extensive additions and renovations. In 2017, the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been forever preserved under a conservation easement through the Virginia Outdoors Foundation.

Since it was first erected in 1795, the main house has undergone four major building campaigns (circa 1830, 1918, 1930, and 1989), significantly expanding the footprint to a whopping

12,500 square feet consisting of nine bedrooms, 11 baths and 17 fireplaces, four of which are in the primary suite. The massive acreage includes a mile-long driveway, three polo fields, an arena, a unique horseshoe-shaped barn with capacity for meeting space, and nine tenant houses.

THE 1700s

In 1763, three decades prior to establishing Llangollen, Leven Powell purchased property in Colonial Virginia which would become the town of Middleburg. Powell made his fortune through tenant farmers and enslaved workers who farmed

Written by Heidi Baumstark | Photos by Roman Caprano/Sky Blue Media

at Llangollen by transporting agricultural products to Alexandria’s international shipping port, and by trading imported goods into Loudoun.

According to the 2017 National Register of Historic Places report, Llangollen was established on Virginia’s Native American frontier during the Colonial era when Powell, who served in the Revolutionary War, received title to the land from Lord Fairfax.

The primary historical structure is the twoand-a-half-story brick dwelling with stucco exterior, originally constructed in 1795 as a 16-by20-foot patent house constructed to establish title to the land. Records indicated that Powell built the structure and began farming on the property following the Fairfax prescriptions of leasehold, which mandated not only the construction of a dwelling, but also planting of “an orchard of one hundred apple trees … well tended and walled,” according to an excerpt from the 2017 NRHP report.

THE 1800s

When Powell died in 1810, one of his sons, Cuthbert Powell — a Virginia lawyer, merchant, and politician — inherited Llangollen and turned his attention and investment into farming. He and his wife, Catharine Simms Powell, and their children moved from Alexandria to Llangollen in 1813.

During the antebellum period, the Powells raised crops with an enslaved labor force and participated in the merchant economy tied to Alexandria. Many speculate that Thomas Jefferson stayed at Llangollen, though this has not been confirmed. “But, it is believed that Lafayette stayed there in 1825 [during his 1824-1825 American tour],” shares Peter Leonard-Morgan, a local realtor with Hunt Country Sotheby’s International Realty Middleburg.

The 1830s and 1840s were prosperous times at Llangollen for Cuthbert and his family. It is likely that during this period, Cuthbert built the house’s Federal-style center block adjacent to the modest patent house. This type of construction revealed the Powells’ status and wealth.

In 1849, at the age of 74, Cuthbert died at

History | Page 30

Top: The parlor. Middle: The library. Bottom: The music room.

Llangollen and was buried in the family cemetery on the property.

In September 2022, the Virginia Piedmont Heritage Area Association held a program in the large horseshoe barn at Llangollen entitled “Llangollen and a Newly Discovered Loudoun Civil War Diary.” The presentation was led by Alison Herring, an independent researcher from Richmond.

Herring’s research indicates that about 20 to 30 enslaved people were working at Llangollen at any given time during Cuthbert’s ownership (1813-1849). The decade before the Civil War was an uncertain time for Llangollen as the property had been sold to various owners. In 1852, Catharine wrote in a letter to her daughter, “Llangollen is deteriorating.” It was sold in the early 1850s on the heels of Cuthbert’s death.

Near Llangollen, Civil War cavalry battles broke out in June 1863 up and down Route 50, and the Battle of Upperville (June 21, 1863) was fought at Goose Creek Bridge. Mosby’s Rangers were active in the countryside. “Folklore says John Mosby and his hooligans gathered at Llangollen,” Leonard-Morgan adds.

THE EARLY 1900s

In the early 20th century, Loudoun’s economy began to revive. Land prices stabilized, and Middleburg was blossoming into “Hunt Country” due to increased popularity of equestrian sports, with New Yorkers migrating to Virginia’s milder climate for longer foxhunting seasons.

By 1930, the estate was purchased by millionaire John Hay “Jock” Whitney for his fiancée, Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Altemus, as a wedding gift. The Whitneys had a passion for foxhunting and racing. Polo became popular at the property too, which led to the construction of multiple barns, tack rooms, paddocks, a training track, employee and guest cottages, and other buildings to support this large equestrian mecca. During the Whitneys’ ownership, the house was transformed into a Colonial revival-style manor house.

The Whitneys divorced in 1940 but Liz continued to live there, turning Llangollen into a major breeding and training center for foxhunting horses as well as for Thoroughbreds for racing and steeplechase events. She remained there until her death at age 82 in 1988.

With the Whitneys came a changing view to-

ward rural life. No longer tied to an agricultural-based economy, the rural landscape at Llangollen was enjoyed for its qualities of society and leisure. Llangollen became a magnet of Middleburg’s social, foxhunting, polo, and steeplechase scene.

THE 1980s - EARLY 2000s

In 1989, the farm was sold to Roy L. Ash and his wife, Lila. The Ash family invested millions building two additions on either end of the house and restoring the barns.

In 2007, Ash sold the property to Donald and Patricia Brennan. Leonard-Morgan adds, “When Mr. Brennan bought it, they poured more into it. It just captured his heart.” The Brennans took great pride, continuing the traditions of world-class equestrian pursuits. Their daughter, Maureen — a former Grand Prix rider — played competitive polo, filling the fields once again with horses, and formed the Virginia International Polo Club training facility at Llangollen. On special occasions, the Brennans opened their estate to the public, hosting community events for organizations like the VPHAA and charity polo matches.

LLANGOLLEN TODAY

Today, Llangollen is back on the market and Leonard-Morgan is the listing agent.

When asked about his favorite part of the property Leonard-Morgan admits, “The patent house.” He adds, “So many have been destroyed. But this is not only restored; it’s enveloped into the whole property. It’s now a breakfast room and feels just lovely. It’s like a museum with intricate woodwork. It’s so rare to have such a large parcel with all this history, so close to D.C., and in such great shape.”

When asked how he would describe Llangollen in one word, Leonard-Morgan’s response was simple: Exquisite.

Llangollen’s 18th-century roots, coupled with its restorations, stands as a testament to one of Virginia’s finest estates. With all this history — and a conservation easement that protects the land in perpetuity — its value goes well beyond its monetary worth. ML

The horseshoe barn from above.

HUNTLAND WELCOMES MOC BEAGLES

Dr. Betsee Parker and the historic Huntland Kennels welcome the MOC Beagles in temporary residence. This will be the first time Huntland has had hounds in residence in 110 years.

Photos by Joanne Maisano

Bye Bye Bedhead Silky Satin Pillowcase, $12, Available at The Fun Shop

Our Favorite Health and Wellness Gifts

Large Airplant Frame (plants included), $200, Available at Nature Composed

Face Mask Sets, $30 each, Available at Lou Lou

Mini Hand Creams, $9 each, Available at Crème de la Crème

Fulton & Roark Aftershave Towelettes, $28, and Solid Cologne, $42, Available at Highcliffe Clothiers

Crumbles and Dust Bath Fizz, $6 each, and Bath Fizzies, $2 each, Available at Sherrie's Stuff

Photos by Callie Broaddus

Tonic Soak & Soothe Bath Soak, $45, and Tonic CBD Essential Oil Roller Ball, $35, Available at Zest Clothing & Co.

Soap For Every Occasion, $12, Available at Brick & Mortar Mercantile

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THE ART OF COCKTAIL MAKING AT THE CONCHE

January 7 | 2 - 4 p.m. | the-conche.com

Join The Conche’s master mixologists for an educational, popular, and fun event! The Conche at Village at Leesburg presents a two-hour class where participants will learn the history of cocktails and how to prepare and create what will certainly be some of their absolute favorite drinks!

Tickets include a welcome drink, snacks, fun, an amazing cocktail education, and a sweet finale featuring The Conche’s signature dessert to be paired with the last sip! Tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased at eventbrite.com

THE ALLURE OF MILKWEED PODS

January 14 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. | osgf.org

Join Lara Call Gastinger for this one-day workshop to learn how to draw and paint the breathtaking milkweed pods that are common in the

local winter landscape. This class will be for all levels and will include a morning session of drawing in pen and watercolor to learn about the structure of these pods and how to capture the opening follicles and delicate threaded seeds. In the afternoon, participants will be able to create their own composition in pen or watercolor. Visit osgf.org for more information, tickets, and recommended supplies. Tickets are $150 per person.

LIVE MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY WITH PIANIST CALEB NEI

January 14 | 12 - 1:30 p.m. | calebneijazz.com

Jazz pianist Caleb Nei travels to the Middleburg Library to play a selection of songs from the Great American Songbook, ranging from classic jazz standards to contemporary pop hits. The event is free to the public and no reservations are required. Some seating will be available. For more information, call (540) 687-5730.

WINTER WORKSHOP: BOUQUET MAKING CLASS AT LOST BARREL BREWING

January 15 | 1 - 2 p.m. | lostbarrel.com

Learn how to create a hand-tied bouquet from floral designer Saige Harris while enjoying drinks courtesy of Lost Barrel Brewing. Harris will walk participants through the basics of floral design, as well as how to properly care for your bouquets after you take them home. Tickets are $75 and include all tools and supplies. More information about the event and how to purchase tickets can be found at lostbarrel.com/calendar.

YOGA & SOUND HEALING WINTER WELLNESS RETREAT AT THE MIDDLEBURG COMMUNITY CENTER

January 21 | 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Yoga & Sound Healing is a full-day retreat at the historic Middleburg Community Center. This

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

event aims to relax your mind, move your body, nourish your soul, and connect you with others!

It will begin with an opening ceremony followed by yoga and sound healing, lunch, an exclusive shopping experience with local holistic vendors, and services like reiki, acupuncture, and spiritual guidance. Tickets can be purchased through eventbrite.com

JIM O'FERRELL LIVE AT OLD BUST HEAD BREWING CO.

January 21 | 5 - 8 p.m. | oldbusthead.com

Jim O’Ferrell, a top-40 charting artist, travels to Old Bust Head Brewing Co. to play a selection of acoustic songs ranging from his own hits to covers of classic artists including Pink Floyd, Hank Williams, and U2. There will be food available for purchase provided by Rolling Wraps Food Truck. The event is free of cost and does not require a reservation.

THREE NOT-SO-LITTLE PIGS PUPPET SHOW

January 25 | 10 a.m. | franklinparkartscenter.org

Mrs. Pig, Little Yellow, Little Blue, Little Red, and Bernard — the good wolf — star in this hilarious show about learning to cooperate. This show is appropriate for kids aged 2 and up and will last for roughly 40 minutes. The classic Three Little Pigs story gets an entertaining twist in a rendition of this show originally produced in 1988. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased on eventbrite.com.

AN EVENING WITH ELLE AT FIREFLY CELLARS

January 28 | 4 - 6 p.m. | birchtreebookstore.com

Join Birch Tree Bookstore at Firefly Cellars in Hamilton to raise a glass for bestselling author Elle Cosimano and her latest release! This will be an evening of cozy conversation with Elle and

Firefly owner Leah Fallon followed by round table discussion with Cosimano over a glass of Firefly’s wine and charcuterie. Tickets will also include a personalized copy of “Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun,” Cosimano’s new book, before it is released on January 31. For tickets visit birchtreebookstore. com

SUNDAY SKETCH AT NATIONAL SPORTING LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

January 29 | 2:30 - 4 p.m. | nationalsporting.org

NSLM will host both a virtual and in-person Sunday sketch during which participants will have the opportunity to create a unique piece of sporting artwork under guided instruction. It is free to participate and all materials will be provided to live attendees. The instructional portion of the event will be streamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot make it in-person to the museum. To RSVP for the event, email EReeb@ NationalSporting.org. ML

HAPPY NEW YEAR

During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to our communities and to our clients. This past year, we were proud to partner with local non-profit and community organizations to help make where we live a better place for everyone. Thank you to our partners and neighbors for trusting us as the real estate resource for Middleburg and beyond. We look forward to working with you in 2023.