December 7 & 8 –  “On the biggest day of the town . . . I am happy to be a part of this unveiling. It is not a piece of art. It is a piece of community spirit. It is not any one person’s effort, the entire community made it happen.” said Middleburg Mayor Littleton. With those words, the beautiful bronze sculpture created by sculptor, Gosksin Carey, was revealed from under its bright red cover.

• 

• 

• 

Melissa Craig, Chair of the Middleburg Arts Council, welcomed guests gathered in front of the Middleburg Community Center, “From all of us at the Middleburg Arts Council concluding a year of creative collaboration bringing more art and sculpture to the streets of our beloved small town and the chosen subject is one of our most enduring symbols of the town; the fox.” We were blessed to have a teacher and a sculptor and resident artist, Gosksin Carey, she is a member of our Arts Council. She was up to the challenge of creating the fox and poured her heart and soul into this project.”  The sculpture was created at the AiM (Artists in Middleburg) Gallery (Sandy Danielson, Director) and viewed and supported by the community throughout its creative process. “Now, we all get to enjoy this beautiful new sculpture sitting at its new home in front of the Middleburg Community Center with the cooperation and support of Olivia Rogers, Director of the Center,” continued Melissa.

Raising funds to enable the creation was a community effort with private and merchant sponsors. The Arts Council along with the Middleburg Garden Club were major sponsors of this effort.

“This is an emotional moment,” said sculptor Carey. “All of the town of Middleburg people came to support me and everyone has a little part of their emotion of this project. I love this fox. I didn’t know that she was going to get life in Middleburg town. Thank you so much! “ said Ms. Carey.

There was much merriment and enthusiasm on the Community Center steps and grounds. The audience included townspeople as well as festival guests. The entire town was energetic and incredibly friendly. Children, dogs, neighbors, friends, community leaders, merchants, and law enforcement came together in a warm and inviting spirit to support and admire the efforts and the creation of “Middleburg’s mascot.”

The unveiling and early merriment preceded the Middleburg Christmas Parade and was a lovely segway to the rest of the day’s events. Between the unveiling celebration and the parade, it was a shopping and eating kind of day. Blankets were “parked” in their chosen spots while their owners enjoyed the best that Middleburg has to offer – friendship, hospitality, and delicious refreshments.

Up NEXT: Piedmont Singers Perform final Middleburg concert at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 8. Stay Tuned!

Saturday, December 7 – Middleburg.  Blue skies and a fair breeze punctuated a day perfect for a parade. I was ready to participate in the Middleburg Christmas Parade. Amazing as that is, just the day before, I was debating whether to cover the parade at all. The traffic . . . the parking . . . the volume of people . . .  My decision became simple when I met parade organizer, Jim Herbert, at the Middleburg Christmas Tree Lighting the previous evening.  I shared my concerns with him. “Come! Park with the other press. In fact, there is a group that can use an extra person in their truck – you can have a ‘go-pro’ experience from inside the parade route,” he told me. All of my excuses vanished.

The last time I was involved in the Middleburg Christmas Parade was in 1995 when my husband and I rode our horses with the Middleburg Hunt through the center of town. My palomino mare danced down the parade route with little regard for order. We survived then. This now, seemed manageable.

The sun warmed the afternoon. The parade route was prepared and the merchants’ decorations enhanced the holiday spirit. I arrived early. As I drove to the appropriate parking spot, I passed a line of antique roadsters all decorated for the day.  I stopped my car and jumped out to photograph the wonderful vehicles.

I found a great parking spot. After collecting my gloves, iPhone, notepad, pens, and sunglasses, I organized everything in my tartan plaid handbag and marched off to meet the parade team.

To say that it was dream come true would suggest that I had ever considered such an opportunity. This was beyond my wildest imagination!. Jim made introductions to Matt Blush, the owner and driver of the 1990 Hummer I was going to ride in. Matt is the co-founder of Warrior Aviation / Warrior Flight Team, a non-profit disabled warrior rehabilitation organization. When my iPhone’s battery faltered, the other co-founder, Pat Marsh, loaned me his charging cord. As my phone charged, he shared photos of his two military jets (more on the jets later) that are used for air shows. Pat drove the truck with the Redskins Cheerleader Alumni.

While we waited, I photographed floats, cars, horses, a marching band, the Cheerleaders, and Redskins Alumni Bubba Tyer and Pat Fischer. When the Boxwood Vineyards entry drove to our intersection, a gentleman with a red scarf and Santa hat approached our group. Cheerleader Alum, Terri Lamb, greeted him and turned to introduce me. I held out my hand to shake the hand of the man who told me his name – John Kent Cooke!! I was standing among royalty! My head was exploding!

I watched the orderly staging take place. The high school marching band was warming up across the street. Corgis and their owners kept arriving. There were alpacas with their handlers milling around the corgis. Beyond them were harriers with their basset hounds. Scottish musicians in blue kilts warmed up their instruments. There was so much to learn yet so little time! Finally, it was time for our entry to pull into place. The Fauquier High School Marching Band and their flag corps strode out before us. They were preceded by a long line of the shiny antique roadsters, riders on horseback, lasso exhibitions, and floats by wineries – Greenhill and Boxwood.

Jim gave Matt the clear, and we were off!  With my iPhone poised, we turned the corner past Federal Street. There, I saw a tall young man in a neon yellow jacket holding the leash of a black lab service dog. That young man was none other than Forrest Allen. Forrest is the young  man who was the subject of the documentary, Music Got Me Here, that played several years ago at the Middleburg Film Festival. My heart smiled to know that he is doing well.

We turned right on John Mosby Highway. Both sides of the street were lined with smiling waving people. At first I felt that I should not wave to not interfere with the Redskin alumni in the back seats. “Go ahead and wave,” Matt told me. Wave I did. Something magical happened as I waved. I connected with many people by simply waving. There were adorable children in cute headbands and hats, matching coats, precious dogs, happy people, and of course, Redskins fans!! Everyone had come to breathe in the special Christmas spirit of the little town of Middleburg. We waved, I waved. The feedback from the crowd was unexpectedly  energizing. My face was in a permanent happy smile. We turned right on S. Hamilton Street.  There, a serious Redskins fan joyfully jumped up and down and pumped his fists in support – Bubba and Pat waved back. More waves and greetings followed. Then, like that, the parade was over. But the Middleburg Christmas festivities continue.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Middleburg, Virginia!

Stay tuned for more Festivities coverage – The Unveiling of the Fox Statue at the Community Center, and the Piedmont Singers Concert, the Wheatland Gala at Salamander Resort and Spa, and much more!

December 7; Middleburg, VA. On a brilliant day dedicated to celebrating the beginning of the Christmas season in Middleburg, dogs held center-stage for their owners and their admirers. Hundreds of adorable pups were spectators while many participated in the parade as well. Here are some of the cutest canine images of the day –

Coming Next –

Middleburg Parade. the Statue Unveiling at the Middle Community Center, Wheatland Gala –

• 

• 

Dec. 6, 2019 – Middleburg, VA. “Tonight, we stop, pause, and say thank you…” said Pastor, Dan Morgan, of the Middleburg Baptist Church, while he gave the invocation.

Master of Ceremonies, Middleburg Business and Professional Association President, Punkin Lee, spoke about the community saying, ‘Not only are we here tonight to light our town tree, but I think we should take a moment to pause and think about why we live in and around the small town we all call home. We are a generous, caring, and loving community. We will help a neighbor and a friend with volunteers who willingly serve such groups as Seven Loaves, Fish, Middleburg Humane, the Community Center, their churches, and their schools. We love our countryside, our open space, all of our critters, and our people’s way of life. We are all so fortunate to live here and should never take this place for granted. Yes, tomorrow is another fun day of festivities in Middleburg but it is also the 78^th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and we should never forget.” With those words Ms. Lee invited Mayor Littleton to the podium.

• 

The Mayor spoke about the importance of  the tree and how to fund its lights and ornaments, volunteers called on businesses and residents for donations, “Not a single merchant or person we spoke to said no. Donations ranged from $2 to $500, and we were able to amass, through a community effort, the lights that you are about to see. Just so you know this is a work in progress. I’d like to ask every community member to bring an ornament and make this truly a community tree.”

The large crowd gave a huge round of applause to the town merchants for their support of the Christmas tree effort. After a 10-9-8-7….3-2-1 countdown, the switch for the tree was flipped and beautiful light streamed from the many strands of lights, casting a violet glow on the surrounding buildings and the street below.  More carols followed with elves and Mrs. Clause mingling with the guests.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Many guests came with their dogs. There were straight, pointy, fluffy, and curly tails wagging while friends and neighbors greet one another.  The most prevalent breeds of dogs at the lighting were labs, doodles, and golden retrievers. The dogs, although, amid a crowd, were peaceful and happily exchanged wags for pats on their heads.

• 

• 

• 

With the Season officially “open,” a number of social gatherings ensued. Once such event took place just around the corner at the law offices of  Bruce R. Smith where guests toasted the upcoming holidays and friends shared their excitement of the season.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Middleburg – a tiny town in Western Loudoun County with  a huge heart. Let the revelry begin!

“We are going to my grandma’s house,” A classmate said of her upcoming holiday plans. Another chimed in, “My cousins are coming over.” There was a holiday coming up. It was not Christmas or Easter but it seemed  important. There were borders of autumn leaves, pumpkins, and turkeys encircling my classroom’s chalkboards. Yes, it was something with turkeys and food and family. “What is a Pilgrim?” I thought but would not articulate for fear of sounding ignorant.

It was my third month in first grade year in America. I was still figuring out the English language and American traditions. Mine was the trial by fire method; sink or swim – I was on my own. My parents spoke even less English than I did. We had no relatives nearby and barely any friends. We had landed in this strange country just five months earlier as immigrants/refugees from Bulgaria  via Germany.

Thanksgiving. While my classmates were busy comparing family and social notes, I expected nothing. One day after school, my mother showed me a postcard that had arrived. We thought we read that we had won a turkey. My mother opened her English/Bulgarian dictionary and we looked up every word. Sure enough, we had won a turkey!

The Grand Union grocery store was a short walk from our apartment. My mother and I dressed in our best coats, hats, and gloves, pulled on our boots, and headed for the store. There was a muddy construction site between us and the store and we cautiously picked our way to the other side. As we walked, I asked my mother how it happened that we had won this amazing thing. She was uncertain but told me, ”People in this country seem to be very generous. We must have an angel over us.” As newly arrived refugees and non-English speaking, our resources were very thin. My father worked two jobs just to pay the rent. A turkey was the last thing that we would have considered that first year.

Somebody in the store recognized my mother and asked to help us. Sheepishly, she withdrew the postcard from her purse and showed it to the clerk. “Oh, you are one of our winners! Congratulations!” exclaimed the delighted clerk, who hugged her shoulders. “Come this way and bring your basket, it’s a big one,” said the clerk. I went to the front of the store, pulled out a shopping basket, and pushed it to my mother. The clerk disappeared , returning several minutes later with a 20 pound turkey. It was frozen and packaged in plastic with blue and red writing on the package. Still hugging my mother’s shoulders, the clerk guided her in the direction of the bakery and then the canned goods. Our basket filled with bread, cake mix, canned cranberries, potatoes, and greens. “Can you get all this home now?” asked the excited clerk? We were not exactly sure what she asked but my mother nodded. She opened her purse to pay for all of the food but the clerk shook her head and said, “The is all for you from us! Happy Thanksgiving to your family!” In a daze, we pushed the cart home through the muddy construction site. What had just happened?

With the aid of her dictionary, my mother translated every word of the directions for  cooking the turkey . With my father’s help,  we somehow managed to get it prepared and into the oven. Our apartment smelled warm and delicious all day. Not being a cook, the process was strange to my mother. She even followed the directions on the cake mix and baked the cake. Being new and without a television, we relied on pictures from  newspapers paper and  magazines to understand what the meal looked like and its presentation. When it was finally cooked, we set the table, dressed in our best clothes (we had very few)  and had our first Thanksgiving meal.

After our holiday break the children were comparing their holiday adventures. One turned to ask me about mine, “Our turkey was 20 pounds!” I exclaimed. We ate turkey until Christmas.

Our thanksgiving is  not limited to just one day. We are thankful for our lives, our freedom, our opportunities, and the love and generosity of the American people. After many years, we remember our first Thanksgiving as we pay it forward with others.

“Capturing light is my inspiration,” says fine artist, Bobbie Brainerd of Monterey, California, “I love expressing what I see around me – in plein air  and in the studio.”

An artist by education, Bobbie spent many years as a professional graphics artist in Northern Virginia. When a work transfer moved her family to California and her children grew up, Bobbie “moved into the next phase – growing as an artist – in the oil medium.” Her new phase began in 2013.

“My goal is to bring beauty to people’s lives to improve and transfer their impressions of life; touching their souls with beauty,” says Bobbie of her hope for her paintings. She is a voracious art museum student and has visited many of the world’s galleries where she views and studies the techniques of the masters.

• 

Living in Monterey gives Bobbie exceptional opportunities to capture the natural beauty of the region.  Her favorite is working in “plein air” where she paints outdoors capturing the moment and experiencing the light, much like Monet did more than 150 years ago. “My studio is often a knoll overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I also have a studio. My studio does not have to be perfect. It is workable,” says Bobbie.

How has Bobbie gained popularity in such a short time? “My Instagram followers have doubled from 250 to over 500. I participate in guilds and coops where my paintings get exposure. I am vice president of Central Coast Artists Association where we have frequent exhibits. I love being able to help give other artists opportunities to exhibit and grow,” said Bobbie.

• 

Bobbie has been my friend for nearly 30 years. While I knew that she was “artistic,” I had no idea how really capable and talented she is until I started seeing her work on social media. I found many of her pieces irresistible. Fortunately, I have been able to acquire several of  my favorites. Each piece that I have speaks something special that touches me in a meaningful way.

My first piece was  Lavender in a Blue Vase with Copper Turkish Coffee Pot. Why? Well, the coffee pot’s gleaming copper side drew me in and brought back warm childhood memories of a copper pot on my grandmother’s stove. The Utah Road  road takes me to a place of trail ride memories with my beloved horse, Daisy. Sunflowers and tulips? Flowers  evoke feelings of joy and promise. My latest – Wildflower Bounty, captured my heart with memories of bluebells on the trails in Great Falls, Virginia, and the vast light and expanse where Daisy and I once rode.

Growing is Bobbie’s goal. She would like to be represented by a gallery. She has gained recognition in shows and competitions. “To grow, you have to work on your craft daily. I loved participating in the 30-day painting challenge because I had to produce one painting each day for 30 days. This stretched me – my discipline as well as my vision,” said Bobbie. “I am always looking, studying, learning, and expressing.” Bobbie grows through giving to others – whether it is beauty or exposure.

“My favorite tool is light,” concluded Bobbie. It is that light that first captivated my imagination for her paintings.

Thoroughbreds love to run. They are smart athletes with great power and energy. Even if somebody never goes to a racetrack, they often tune in to watch the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in  May.

The road to victory at the racetrack is one paved with patience, understanding, consistency, attention to nutrition, and teaching to the individual horse’s needs and abilities. English-born, Neil Morris, does just that at the newly restored Middleburg Training Track in Middleburg, Virginia.

Neil credits his early exposure to horses and racing in England to his passion for working with horses today. ”Horse racing is a dominant sport in England. Everybody is exposed to it,” says Neil. “I had a little pony jumper as a child and got hooked on horses very young,” he continued. He is the only one in his family with the “horse fever.”

Morris’ passion grew from jumping  his pony and taking him on local fox hunts to attending agricultural college and studying equine science. “It was not my parents’ first choice for me but my passion persisted.” Over the years, Neil worked for horse owners and trainers in both the U.K. and the United States. Eventually, his success and business grew in the U.S. Today, in addition to being an effective and successful trainer, he is Joint Master for the Orange County Hounds.

Neil said that he chose Middleburg, Virginia because, “ I was fascinated by the vastness of the land where one can ride and train without coming to blacktop roads. It is no like that in the U.K.”

• 

Thoroughbreds race on the flat at racetracks as well as on grass and over timber and hurtles in steeplechases (point-to-point races). Neil trains horses for all of these disciplines. Typically, he rides steeplechasers in the hunt filed to build them up and keep them fit for racing. The Virginia hunt season begins in September and ends in March. Steeple chasing begins in February and ends in May, returning for several point-to-points in October.

In 2018, Neil Morris was “the only trainer on earth to win a four (4) mile race and 4 ½ furlongs race,” according to This is Horse Racing. His trainees have repeatedly won the Virginia Gold Cup races at Great Meadow in The Plains.  On October 26, 2019, Dapper Dan, owned by Donna T. Rogers and trained by Neil Morris won the 3 mile Steeplethon Stakes at the International Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow.

In addition to having more than 30 horses in training, Neil competes his trainees in races on tracks along the East Coast – from New York to Florida. He carefully selects venues and races that will showcase his trainees’ best skills.

To properly develop an athlete, Neil focuses on nutrition and fitness. He understands the importance of controlled growth and development – physical and mental.

His plans for 2020? “To win more races. I’ll go where my horses take me – hopefully to the winners’ circle,” says Neil Morris.

Nov. 8 – Washington, D.C. – The 2019 William & Mary Annual Reception, 2019 Evening at the Embassy, was held at the Italian Embassy. The Reception is an important event in the Chapter’s annual activities. This is where alumni meet, greet, and listen to the latest developments at the College and learn about the goals for the future of the Association and the College. Being the mother of a Class of ’05 alum, I have the privilege to participate.

The sold-out event was held on Friday evening. Alumni, parents, family, and friends were in attendance. The dress was business formal and in true William &  Mary spirit, guests came in suites and dresses with high heels, albeit a little wind-blown. The reception featured bars serving Italian wines and a buffet of Italian delicacies. The long bar lines gave opportunities for cheerful conversations.

• 

• 

• 

• 

On either side of the marble floored atrium was a collaboration between the Italian Studies department and the Muscarelle Museum. W&M faculty member, Sara Mattavelli, Lecturer of Italian Studies and Italian Language House Advisor, represented a five week summer 2020 travel abroad program to Florence, Italy. The immersive program will house students with local residents, conduct classes and tours in Italian, and help the students experience Florence not as tourists, but as locals. “There will be opportunities to experience fashion design, learn Italian cooking, tour galleries and museums, be surrounded by the Florentine architecture, visit wineries, and breathe the Tuscan air,” said Sara. Her eyes sparkled with her passion for the program and the beauty that is Florence.

On the opposite side of the hall was the exhibit, The Tomb Project That Never Saw the Light . W&M Michelangelo scholar, Adriano Marinazzo, Scholar-In Residence at the Muscarelle Museum of Art, presented snippets of his digital findings of the original intent of the Sistine Chapel. He explained, “There are many levels and I have inspected with high powered equipment and believe that this was intended to be an architectural project.” The layers depicted on the monitor demonstrated his findings. As Michelangelo was, Arinazzo is also an architect. The project is vast and intriguing.

Funding is a key consideration of every university; W&M is no exception. “The goal to reach $1 billion by 2020, while enormous, it is attainable inasmuch as $75 million is still outstanding,” explained W&M Advancement member, Jonathan Overstreet. Being a University of Maryland alum myself, I shared that I was not keen on supporting their efforts given my early experiences. Thoughtfully, Jonathan listened, then asked, “Is there no aspect of value that you took away with you that has helped you in your life so far?” Well, then. That was never how I looked at my relationship with my alma mater, yet, his challenge was impressive and worthy of consideration.

The evening was joyful, professional, and energetic. Seeing friends and classmates connect was heartwarming. The next event for the D.C. Metro Alumni Chapter will be the Yule Log celebration in December. There, guests place their wishes for 2020 on holly springs in baskets that are then carried to The College in Williamsburg, Virginia, and tossed onto the fire of the yule log. Being the second oldest university in the country, the College has rich traditions and a deep heritage.

• 

We were celebrating my daughter, Tiffany’s, birthday. The day was perfectly autumnal with bluebird skies and an ever so slight chill in the air. We were here to visit the Costuming The Crown exhibition –  our wonderful friend, Susan’s gift to Tiffany. Being avid fans of the Netflix series, The Crown, an afternoon looking at the costume details and learning about their design and creation was exciting.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Before entering the impressive Winterthur house, we rode a tram where we were treated to a delightfully narrated tour along winding lanes and sweeping vistas. Our tram guide told us about the vision of Winterthur founder, Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) to create gardens of colors and textures to delight throughout the year. She told us about the azalea grove’s “watercolor pastels shades”  of early May, about the tens of thousands of bulbs planted to “carpet the hills with flowers,” the whimsey of the Follies, and about certain special trees.

“The two Sargent cherry trees to the left, were planted in 1918 and are the oldest cherry trees in the United States,” our guide told us. “On the right, we are passing the Enchanted Garden with the Faerie House – see it’s thatched roof? This is the children’s garden.” “The American sycamore next to us is 273 years old and is the oldest tree at Winterthur,” she described as we oohed and aahed.  Someone exclaimed, “Look – there is a hawk in that tree!” Our guide stopped the tram and allowed us to take time admiring and photographing the handsome raptor.

• 

• 

• 

• 

In addition to out arboreal and landscape discussion, we were treated to a conversation about the Follies that dotted the landscape. Follies, we learned, are architectural constructions intended to amuse, delight, and pique one’s curiosity. The Follies Exhibition presents 13 follies. The follies that we passed ranged from the simply charming to the darkly gothic to the reflective and the floating. The garden whimsies were set among the landscape, and true to their intent, captured interest and curiosity. The Chinese Pavilion folly at the entrance of the house greeted us. It’s green structure and garden themed design made a lovely transition from the natural beauty we just experienced to our anticipated adventures.

There was a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers at the check-in desk. Having just heard about “pastel watercolor shades,” the bouquet brought forth a metal image of the azalea grove in springtime. Tiffany enjoyed its fragrant, delicate flowers of cream colored roses, lilac and pink snapdragons,  rose calla lilies, and nectar-colored flowers that we could not name.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

At the top of the stairs, was the grand exhibit, “Costuming the Crown.” It was a visual celebration of light, color, texture, design and inspiration. A vast collection of 40 costumes from the first two seasons of the Netflix series, The Crown, beckoned. The exhibit showcases and describes  the costume  similarities and differences of the original garments and their adaptation for the modern audience, the physical attributes of the actors, and their movement on set. The designers’ reflections on their creative process, commitment to details, explanations of fabric selections, detail adaptations, and design specifics gave us a new appreciation.

The exhibit was at once splendid and very personal. The displays were accessible, often, nearly 360°. While observing the detail of the Queen’s wedding veil, we were amazed that a security guard did not ask us to step away.

The great lengths that the designers went to create exact copies or make them as close as possible, is evident in the creation of the Queen’s wedding dress and veil where a team of six embroiderers sewed by hand, for seven weeks – beading and embroidering the gown and veil. This was important to gain the confidence and respect of the audience.

Things that we, as viewers, take for granted include the intricate details and quality of the costumes, the necessary adaptations for the actors versus the actual persons, and even the movement of the actors in relation to  the historic figure(s).

• 

• 

• 

• 

The wedding gowns worn by the Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret, were created as closely as possible to the actual garments. However, the actresses portraying the Queen and Princess presented physical challenges in maintaining the scale of the gowns. Margaret was five feet tall. Vanessa Kirby, who plays her is 5’7”. The dress had to be re-proportioned so that it would look right on the actress. Accomplishing this required additional and various weights of fabric to develop the look and movement of the gown. The Queen’s gown proportions required reworking the sleeves to fit actress, Claire Foy.

• 

• 

John Lithgow who played Sir Winston Churchill is 6’4”. Churchill was 5’6” tall. Lithgow’s scale and proportion challenges were overcome with construction of an undergarment that added bulk to the body and adapted posture –  some “behind the scenes” bits demonstrated the designers’ and creators’ humor.

• 

• 

One of my favorite displays was the Kennedy visit. Both the Queen and First Lady wore beautiful gowns in shades of blue for the state dinner. The video playing above that exhibit is an exchange between the Queen and her designer, “ …one must ask oneself what precisely one wants to feel when wearing it.” The Queen (Claire Foy) replies, “I just think that one doesn’t want to feel . . .second best.” ”Quite.” Replies the designer who continues, “Especially when one is very much the senior of the two individuals. . .  In terms of rank, ma’am. To that end, I have something quite specific in mind. … Mrs. Kennedy may have dazzled in Paris, but let’s not forget France is a Republic – This is a monarchy. And if you’ve got it, flaunt it, I say.” The tension between the Queen and Jackie Kennedy is well documented.

• 

• 

Click to see and compare the actual gowns and setting with those of The Crown.

Costuming goes beyond clothes. It includes jewelry, crowns, diadems, tiaras, hats, shoes, gloves, the smallest of accessories, and the awe-inspiring swords at the sides of the royal men’s formal attire. Distinctions between black tie and white tie were explained. To create the plausibility and reality of the series, it is the details that keep us spellbound. The jewels are breathtaking.

We walked around each room many times, stopping to examine various missed details. “This exhibit is incredible,” said Susan, with a satisfied smile. “It is worth many times its cost of the admission ticket. And we get to tour the entire house and property as well!”  After our last pass and almost memorizing the displays we headed for the gift shop.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We walked back to the Visitor’s Center. We came across a grove of very tall trees. What surprised me was the absolute straightness of their trunks. They were very tall with their branch canopies more than 100 feet above. I wondered if squirrels climbed that high.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Costuming The Crown and Follies: Architectural Whimsy in the Garden, will be on display at Winterthur until January 5, 2020. This is a worthwhile trip for those who appreciate The Crown, architecture, American art, landscapes, trees, breathtaking views, and very nice staff.

• 

• 

Founder, Cherry Tapley, thanked the enthusiastic crowd gathered at Delirium Café in Leesburg for participating and helping raise funds for the mission of Nalani Horse Rescue. She repeated the statement, “Saving one horse will not change the world, but surely it will change the world for that one horse.”  The day’s events included stops at many local breweries, including Black Hoof Brewing Company, Bike TrAle Brewing, Black Walnut Brewing;  ending at Delirium Café.

The sunny afternoon inspired patrons and supporters to come out for some fellowship and fun and show their support for the horse rescue efforts of the organization. Cherry’s son, Wim, was the feature entertainer. His music transcends decades and stimulated the upbeat atmosphere.

Nalani Horse Rescue, is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to provide horses in need of rescue and care with rehabilitation and training with the goal of finding them safe forever homes. In her short presentation, Cherry explained that one horse can cost up to $10,000 per year to rehabilitate and manage until the right rehoming opportunity arises. There are four horses at Nalani now. The most recent rescue, “Devil in the Shadows,” now called, Belle, a 6-year-old thoroughbred, was a race track discard headed to slaughter. With just enough funds raised, Belle came to Nalani. Now, she is in good flesh and in professional training to go to her next career as a purposeful riding horse for the lucky person.

• 

• 

“Nalani means ‘The Heavens” in Hawaian,” explained Cherry. “The horses that we rescue give back more than we can ever give them. We want to give them the opportunity to live a loving, healthy life, in a trusting respectful environment. We are committed to saving as many horses as financially possible. Your help makes our mission manageable,” she said.

Since their inception in 2013, Nalani has rescued and rehomed a number of horses. Having just moved to a different farm, they are gearing up for a busy 2020. The funding needs are huge. Cherry’s faith is strong. She believes that the best occurs with faith and perseverance. Among the special aspects of this organization is that it is small and very personal. Nalani is Cherry’s labor of love. She is personally invested and available to address questions directly.

Did you wish for a pony or a horse when you were young? Now, you can help rescue a horse (or several) with your donation. Horse rescue is a serious business with immeasurable rewards. If  you want to help the mission and make a world of difference to a horse, consider donating

• 

Abby responded to a question about her inspiration to create art, “The world needs beauty and imagination. I play with pigments, mostly watercolors and brush pens, because I need beauty and imagination, too.”

Asked about her preferred themes, Abby  replied, “Back to nature, beauty, exploring the moment. My favorite subjects are usually animals and landscapes.”“I try to capture the personality of the animal. In landscapes, it is  feeling rather than fully representational that is important. It is that moment and the place that inspire me,” she continued. For Abby, it is about time and space.

About her background as an artist, Abby told of her childhood, “After dinner, my father would read to us for long periods of time. He would read and I would draw. In college, I made detailed drawings while taking notes. Today, I listen to stories while I draw and paint. The stories are not related to the art, but they put me in ‘The place.’”

The process of creating a painting is multi-layered. Abby explained that she uses a variety of media to create and capture her subjects. “Daniel Smith watercolors are my favorite watercolors. They are soured from organic minerals . They are made from real jade and real amethyst. These produce vivid colors and are amazingly colorfast. Brush pens provide a wide variety of use options and are portable and a fantastic for detailing; they can be ‘bled’ with water. Inktense offers opportunities to be used dry or can be wet for different textures. To be permanent, it has to be wet.” How did Abby develop the knowledge and skill to employ the wide variety of media? Abby smiled and said, “My mother-in-law is an artist and challenges me to experiment.”

Drawing form photographs and experience is Abby’s preferred method. The horses that she loves and rides, the barn cats that frolic through the barn, the beautiful pastures and trails that she sees and rides provide material to her imagination. “It is about the beauty, the movement, the particular moment” that inspire me,” said Abby. She freelances, takes commissions, and sells her work on Redbubble, Etsy, and through local galleries. Her website is Rave’s Landing – https://theravenslanding.com/ What better gift can we give than one made with love and imagination – with talent?

• 

• 

October 30, 2019. Houston. – Washington Nationals win the World Series over the Houston Astros.!! The underdog team never gave up trying and won  6-2.

While every news outlet will be reporting statistics and play-by-play analysis for the next several months, here, we will look at not the numbers and RBIs but at the heart of the team.

The players were interviewed and their responses were consistent. Pitcher, Max Scherzer, replied to Fox sportscaster, Tom Pertucci’s question of how he feels, “I’m part of the greatest team 2019. Everybody gave their all. Stay tough, trust  your instincts, lay it on the line. Just compete. Give it whatever you’ve got. …Energy, camaraderie. Everyone believes in each other.”

Perducci asked Third baseman, Anthony Rendon, who  hit the homerun that turned the game, “Five times facing elimination, trailing in all five games, and you win all five. What is it about this team?” Rendon replied,  “We stuck together. When we had nothing left to lose, when people had written us off, we were facing elimination games and when people didn’t think we should have been there in the first place – we kept on fighting and we came out on top.”

“The dream came true,”  said founding principle owner of  the Nationals, 94- year-old  Ted Lerner. “We brought it for the fans,” he proclaimed.

Dave Martinez, Nationals manager replied to Pertucci’s comment, “This never dies, does it?” “Never. Never ever. They’re a bunch of relentless resilient bunch of guys. They love to play the game and they play the game every day. Tonight we were down but they never thought they were out. This is a testament to these guys. They fought all year long, and guess what? We won. We won the fight! The biggest thing for us is never quit. We know that.”  

Ryan Zimmerman, first  baseman and first draft pick when Nationals moved from Montreal to Washington, said, “What a group of guys. The way this game went is the way the season went. We never gave up, kept fighting. What a story, what a fun year, man! Baseball, gosh, is the greatest sport in the world, man….What a great thing for this city and the fans. Thank you guys so much! I hope DC is ready for us to come home.”

Sportscaster, Kevin  Burkhardt, summarized the Nationals’ season,  “ Pull together in the same direction, you get something done.”

Baseball Commissioner, Rob Manfred announced that, “The Willie Mayes Most Valuable Player is pitcher, Stephen Strasburg.”

Stasburg’s  reply to the interviewer, “To be able to do it with this group of guys is something special We didn’t quit. I love every one of these guys. I took it one pitch at a time. It was a big team win. We took it one day at a time one game at a time.”

Brian Sweeney, U.S. Vice President of Chevrolet awarded Strasburg the keys to the latest model  (going into production soon)  red Corvette Stingray.

The Nationals are the “First team ever to win 4 World Series road games,” proclaimed Burkhardt.

A DC fan in Houston said, “This win gives us something to cheer about, something to celebrate about, we fought long and hard!”

“It’s a unity thing. When you play as a team – look what happens,” said Burkhardt.

The great news is more than the fact that the underdogs won four out of seven games, it is about a group of athletes and trainers giving their best all the time, working and trusting as a team, staying focused, and never, never giving up.

Thank you Washington Nationals!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

October 29. Boyce, VA. The State Arboretum of Virginia – University of Virginia Blandy Experimental Farm. Social media struck this morning! My calendar, overloaded with appointments and tasks, offered no respite for for the day. I was taking my sweet dogs, Giselle, our poodle; and Sophie, our newly added bernedoodle, on my appointments.

As I was leaving, a Facebook friend shared photos of brilliant yellow ginkgo trees in Boyce. They were at peak. I wanted to wonder through that grove too! With enough will, I found a way. WAZE listed our ETA at 3:15 PM! The facility is open until dusk. If not now, when? Rain is expected for the next few days and the beautiful leaves will wither and fall.

Turning on to Blandy Farm Lane, I felt that something magical was about to happen. There was peace. . The western sun illuminated the landscape brilliantly. Arrows pointed to “Ginkgo Grove.” As I approached, the grove of golden ginkgos greeted us a “with open arms.” Ginkgo leaves quaked on every branch. Never have I seen such a profusion of color or that many ginkgo trees. From the website, I learned that there are 300 trees in the grove.

A photo shoot was in progress atop a knoll in the grove. Red parasols punctuated the golden backdrop. Beautiful Asian women in lovely long skirts posed, some with guitars. It was hard to not gawk. However, my curiosity drove me to move on and explore more.

Sophie and Giselle trotted beside me on loose leashes. Had I stepped through a magic door? Golden leaves fluttered on their branches; some quietly floated in the air, landing silently on the green grass. below. The leaves were so precious and delicate that I tried not to step on them.

Looking up, I saw the bright blue sky through the golden branches in the shape of puzzle pieces. The trees cast shadows on the fallen leaves. I bent down and collected some golden leaves. No two leaves were the same – like snowflakes. Some are wider, some are longer, some angle to the right and others to the left, some have smooth edges, others were scalloped – the scalloping patterns were unique as well.

We were surrounded by nature’s beauty. When I finally took my eyes off the trees and leaves, I noticed some red roofs nearby. Beyond those roofs were hills covered in vibrant trees; followed by a line of lilac misty clouds. The colors transitioned from the yellows to blues and to violets the further I looked. How blessed are we to live in the most beautiful place on earth?

Following our Ginkgo Grove sensory overload, we piled back in the car and followed signs for the “Loop” drive, I discovered a beautiful white ante-bellum mansion, Tuleyries, a private residence. Sun-lit stone walls lead to its white stucco entrance arch. We crested hills with magnificent views, passed the greenhouses and experiment center, with every turn revealing more wonderful surprises.

At the last bend in the road, the landscape opened to vast fields dotted with hay rounds. The sun glared in my eyes, but I caught a glimpse of a horse, and then a second horse. I had noticed bridle path markers earlier. Now, my day was complete. Slowing down not to startle the horses, I watched the two riders carefully ride along the designated trail. As I reached them, I asked them about their trail experience, “It is beautiful here we love riding these trails, yes, we o come often, ” replied  the woman on the dark horse. I smiled as I drove away. Our drive finished at Route 50. Our magnificent adventure had come to an end – for today.

The State Arboretum of Virginia is open dawn to dusk. Visit their website http://blandy.virginia.edu/home . Walking and riding trails beckon a return. Walking trails can be as short as 3/4 of a mile to 2 miles and longer depending on one’s curiosity and enthusiasm. With so much to explore and learn, our return is imminent. If you have not visited, do so. You will be glad you did.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Purcellville, VA, Oct. 26.

It was almost dusk and set up was complete for the Halloween Block Party on historic 21st Street. The festive atmosphere was contagious as friends and neighbors greeted one another. Faces were placed with FaceBook site managers, politicians, Rotarians, American Legion members, and business owners.

Costume creativity was unsurpassed – from Dorothy, to Luke Skywalker, Batman, ghosts, ghouls, witches,  super heroes, and princesses galore. Canine neighbors and friends enjoyed the camaraderie as well.

Hope Marquart, co-founder of the Round Hill Community FaceBook page was thrilled that the site was enjoyed. “I love your site,” I told Hope. She came out of the booth and gave me a big hug. “I am so happy that people enjoy the site,” she said. “Yes, it is very helpful and such fun to connect with neighbors,” I told her.  The booth was elaborately designed and featured games and prizes for the children.

Liam Spengler of Loudoun County Ghostbusters asked if we had any need of their services. The team of  five, along with their specially marked car are an official franchise from Columbia Pictures.

Along the way, a new Cafe was discovered – soon to open, Hardware Cafe. Proprietor, Valerie Campbell introduced her team –  general contractor, John Watson and Cleressa Shipman, coordinator. The Cafe will occupy the west side of the Nichols Hardware store. Nichols Hardware will continue to operate as usual and is the process of  “renovating to offer a better shopping experience.”

As evening fell, the crowd grew. Laughter of children rang out over the adult conversation. The musicians at the Hardware Store keyed up, the chef from Magnolias at the Mill, finished their booth set up and the smell of delicious food wafted down the street.

In true block party fashion, the atmosphere was jovial, the food plentiful, and friendships old and new were rekindled. Such is the beauty of living in a small historic town.

Middleburg, Virginia, October 17-20. The weather was classic Virginia autumnal splendor complete with blue skies and crisp bright mornings. The little rain that fell on Sunday did not dampen the spirits of the movie-goers. Walking between venues was ideal after sitting in full length movies. However, luxury shuttle buses transported those in a hurry to catch the next film.

Celebrating their seventh year of the Middleburg Film Festival, 34 films (33% were sold out) were presented. In addition to films, the Festival hosted conversations with critics and bloggers and a Tribute Concert with Terence Blanchard, composer of the score for Harriet. The films and conversations were open to the public for the price of a ticket. Receptions and after-parties enhanced the experience.

Many films were followed by question and answer presentations with directors, producers, creators, or participants of the films. The Festival, headquartered in the luxurious Salamander  Resort, filled the charming Virginia town of Middleburg. Middleburg,  known for horses, fox hunting, and a country chic atmosphere was a gracious host. In addition to Salamander Resort, The Middleburg Community Center, The Hill School, and the National Sporting Library and Museum hosted films.

It is impossible to see all films or to participate in every event, so we chose carefully based on our interests and tastes. With me this year, was a dear college ski friend, Sharon, and my adult daughter, Tiffany. For the most part, we viewed the same films with a few exceptions. I love documentaries. My friend loves adventure and photographic artistry. My daughter enjoys plot twists and satirical comedies. There was something for each of us. We experienced eleven films, a conversation about Oscar contenders in the richly appointed Salamander Library, and Concert and Tribute to composer, Terence Blanchard.

• 

• 

• 

• 

The Festival experience is multi-layered and goes far beyond movie viewing. It is replete with the vision, passion, and accomplishment of the producers and directors. Some producers have carried scripts and ideas for nearly a decade until the time was right. Getting that inside glimpse of the inspiration of a film, is priceless to the overall experience.

The brief reviews of the films that we viewed:

• The Capote Tapes: Troubled; vindictive,  Gifted writer.
• Varda By Agnes: Vision, passion, and sharing –  in French
• The Aeronauts: Breathtaking.
• Harriet: Heart rending  – Live Free or Die!
• Blow the Man Down: Women rule.
• The Hoy Boys:  Mid-century photo journalism connects the dots…
• The Traitor: The unraveling of tough guys – in Italian
• A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers – Simply faithful.
• Ford v Ferrari:  Determination, ambition, speed!
• The Irishman: Jimmy Hoffa, Lee Harvey Oswald, Cuba, Kennedys, more…
• Knives Out:  Who done it?? Plot twists and turns amid seriously funny episodes.

October 16. Chevy Chase, MD. Woman’s fashion retailer, Talbots, presented an evening fashion show that ended under a full moon. Talbots carries flattering contemporary clothing for women of all sizes and ages. The evening’s show featured ten models of various heights and shapes and ages. Each model was elegantly styled from shoes to accessories in the season’s color and texture trends.

Blazers, festive dresses, skinny jeans, and cozy sweaters were modeled by “friends of Talbots” patrons. Indeed, regardless of height, age, or shape, the fashions enhanced each woman. Along with their Talbots brand, a new offering this season is the Barbour line. A favorite with the audience, it was purchased before the model could change out of it.

“The Talbots clothes are good quality and I enjoy wearing them,” said model, Susan Easler, of Ashburn, Virginia. Susan showed a beautiful long caramel brushed wool blazer over a notched neckline shell and skinny jeans. The leopard print loafers, graphic scarf and tortoise colored flower lapel pin created an elegant and fun look that would work from business casual to relaxed weekend. Another of Susan’s outfits was a classic knit dress ideal for the holidays with a buttoned mock turtleneck and bold red stripe. Her look was completed with the pearl lariat necklace, a tartan plaid handbag and black booties. She was ready to step out for an elegant evening.

Holiday formal gatherings called for little black dresses kicked up with tartan plaid flats and silver shawl or velvet polk-a-dot trousers, ivory bejeweled shell under a quilted velvet jacket.

The equestrian look is big this season. Knee patch breeches, horse patterned blazer linings, corduroy skirts with imprinted bridles and horse tack all recalled the elegance of country casual.

Models spanned all sizes and sizes, shapes, and ages and aptly demonstrated that anyone can look fantastic in well-made fashions in beautiful fabrics.

“As a child, I used to cut out pictures of the White House Rose Garden from Life Magazine,” said Author, Linda Jane Holden.As an adult, she worked at the White House in the Regan administration where her respite was the Rose Garden.

During her tenure at the White House, White House head gardener, Irvin Williams, shared gardening tips and stories of the history of the White House gardens with Linda. He had worked with Rachel Lambert “Bunny” Mellon to redesign the Rose Garden at the request of President, John F. Kennedy. “Mr. Williams told me that Mr. Kennedy wanted lots of color,” shared Linda.  Through their friendship, Williams helped bring the old cut out photos to life.

Linda’s recently published book, The Gardens of Bunny  Mellon,  is replete with brilliant photography, by Roger Foley along with reproductions of Mrs. Mellon’s watercolors of her gardens and landscape plans that Linda collected. “This is only one of two books written about ‘Bunny’ Mellon. I wanted to write a book that focused on Mrs. Mellon’s passion – gardening – and became convinced this was the right thing to do when I read in her journals that she wanted to write a book about gardening but hadn’t had the time. Because of my admiration for Mrs. Mellon I wanted to create a tribute to her achievements – a book about her gardening that would include the stories of the gardens accompanied by exquisite photography. I wanted to capture it while it was still capturable.”

“She wanted to climb the horticultural ladder; not the social ladder,” shared Linda. Mellon’s interest in gardens goes back to her early childhood. Her father had given her a plot of land to design a playhouse and its gardens. Reading Mellon’s entries in her journal, Linda says that Bunny’s father visited her in her garden every day. “She figured it out as she went. She was not afraid to be wrong.”

As she researched material for her first book, Presidential Gardens, Linda discovered that all of the gardening archives were stored at the Mellons’ Oak Spring Garden and Farm in Upperville, Virginia. While arranging access to the archives, the librarian told Linda that Mrs. Mellon wanted to meet with her.

Linda recalls her meeting, “I was having the meeting of my life. She was so great and so kind. She was wearing her blue Keds. She was so casual. We talked for hours. Time slipped away. She asked, . . .’I know you worked in the White House. Under which president?’ I worked for President Reagan, I told her.  ‘Ronnie was my second favorite president. Jack was my first!’ she exclaimed.” 

“I met Mrs. Mellon when she was 99 years old. She would live another four years. I spent much time at Oak Spring. It became a part of me,” recalled Linda. “As I researched, I wanted to know how she did what she did. I felt that I was touching history.” The development of the book became an organic product of Linda’s voracious readings, fondness for Mellon, and gratitude and deep friendship toward Williams. She said that she spent much time looking at the Rose Garden, “The zig zag of the shrubbery around the garden formed a ribbon around the flowers. Mrs. Mellon said, ‘We were creating a show. We had to be able to make it more beautiful than the day before.’”

“Mrs. Mellon is known for her statement, ‘nothing should be noticed,’ when in truth – she herself didn’t want to be noticed.  She never sought attention or credit for her work. She wanted to be a gardener. That’s how she saw the world. She wanted everything to be in harmony.” explained Linda,

From her early collection of White House garden photographs to her work at the White House, to her first book, all roads lead to Mrs. Mellon. Asked if she, herself is an avid gardener, “I used to garden, but I have pulled things in. This book has been my garden.”  Her favorite garden of Mrs. Mellon’s ? “The Rose Garden.”

The Gardens of Bunny Mellon presents the lovely gardens that Mrs. Mellon touched and created throughout the world. More than a coffee table book, this book presents a feast for the eyes and soothes the soul. A wonderful gift for the gardeners in our lives. Because books are always welcome.