Keswick Life

Lifestyles in Keswick and its environs

Keswick Life

LIFE HAPPENS: Life is a Journey – Journal

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By Bonnie B. Matheson

Journalling for health and peace of mind works wonders. It is easy, free, and wonderfully cathartic.  We all carry around a lot of mental baggage. It weighs us down more than we know. Do you want to feel lighter and more energetic? Write down all the negative things you are harboring.  Get them outside of yourself. Then meditate on the positive aspects of your life.

The computer is excellent for writing. And it can help with spelling and punctuation, something that appeals to me because mine is not always correct. However, writing in a special journal in your own hand with a pen is even better.  It is fun to find a beautiful leather book with creamy blank pages. I have had quite a collection of those over the years.  But it can also be a colorful paperbound book or a spiral notebook. Years ago I always wrote with a fountain pen. Now I am not sure I still own one of those. Find a pen which seems to flow smoothly. Rollerball tips are smooth and seem to write of their own accord.

Once you have determined what you will use for your journal, you simply begin.  Getting all those worries, fears, triumphs, and self-doubts or self-congratulations out of your head cleans house.  It will leave you room for more information from outside yourself or maybe from deep INSIDE. Make room for it and then pay special attention.

It is important to realize that our souls, our inner or outer spiritual selves do not speak in words. They speak through symbols, and signs, poetry, and country song lyrics. It is through dreams and visions and meditation, coincidences, and sometimes pure magic that we come to see what our deeper selves are trying to convey. This is the language of intuition and deep inner truth. Listen carefully. You can transcribe what you just “know” and get it down on paper.

That little voice is quiet. It never shouts. If you are not paying attention, or if you ignore it, you may miss the message.

There may be things that bother you from your past, especially decisions you made which you now regret. Write about it and move on. We cannot go back and change the beginning. But we are fully capable of managing how things come out in the end. This is universally true. We can do what we need to do NOW, to ‘right the ship’ and sail on whether the waters are rough or smooth. Start writing the script for how you want things to turn out.

Perhaps it is not old wounds that rankle but newer losses, or ‘let downs’. After all, life gives us a constant supply on which to practice. So consider yourself fortunate and begin to decipher what that small inner voice is telling you.  Write it down so you can see where you are headed. Don’t fret. It is like emptying the trash. Of course, not all of it needs to be jettisoned. What you put down on paper will surprise you. Perhaps with its eloquence or at least with the pertinence to your life now.

For many people, summer is a quiet time, a time for reflection and inner growth. As we are working on ourselves, writing our thoughts, we can do some beach reading. Perhaps spend some time barefoot in the sand or simply walk without shoes in the grass at home. Write barefoot.

Grounding is the practice of walking or meditating barefoot in order to allow the earth’s energy to pass through our feet and pulse through us. It is supposed to be good for the immune system and overall well being. I believe it is good for us while we use our journal.

“Earthing (also known as grounding) refers to contact with the earth’s surface electrons by walking barefoot outside”– “the earth’s electrons induce multiple physiological changes of clinical significance.”**

Meditation, Journalling, walking barefoot, eating healthy food are all pro-active beneficial acts.  But my personal favorite is my journaling.  First of all, it calms me.  It enlightens me when reading what I have written later. And sometimes the words come to me delivered by unseen voices. Right through my fingers with their long nails, polished in turquoise. I watch my fingers flash across the keys or holding a pen and marvel at what transpires. Inspiration a la carte when you least expect it. Magic.

**For some more information, check out, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3265077/ an article in PMC Journal of Environmental Health. 

ONLY IN KESWICK: The Times They Are A’ Changin’

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By Tony Vanderwarker

You might have read recently that Berkeley, California (always in the vanguard of progressive ideas) is leading the way to a new genderless future.*  The city voted to purge gender from its communications. And it’s about time. I mean, how thoughtless it is to say “manhole” when instead you can say “maintenance hole” which Berkeley is suggesting. 

Berkeley is just picking up on a trend that has been going on for some time, “stewardesses” have become “flight attendants” and “waiter” and “waitresses” are now called “servers”, and “chairman” has morphed to “chairperson”. The gender bias has been rooted in our culture for too long, and must be completely eliminated if we are going to have a truly egalitarian society. If Joe Biden knows what’s good for him, he’ll stop saying, “C’mon, man.” And start saying, “C’mon, human.” Or maybe he should be saying,, “C’mon, huperson.”

“Policeman” needs to change to “policeperson”, “no-man’s land” to “no-human’s land,” “manhandling” to “humanhandling” and “menopause” to “personopause.” 

And the Berkeley City Council takes the issue to it’s logical extreme, getting rid of gendered pronouns like “he” and “she” and using “they” instead. So we should no longer say of someone, “He’s his own man.” To be correct, we should now characterize them as, “They are their own person.” 

While we’re at it, might as well deal with “woman” and “men”. “Woman” is easy=”woperson”. “Man” is trickier. The best I can do is, “otherperson”. Maybe the folks in Berkeley will weigh in on this one. 

So how do you signal the difference between public bathrooms when you can’t use “his’ or “hers” or “ladies” and “men’s”. The Three Notched Brewing Company in Charlottesville has figured it out. The former ladies room now has “Sally” painted on the door and the men’s room has “Jack”. Not exactly gender neutral but heading in the right direction. 

*https:www.nytimes.com/2019/07/19/us/Berkeley-gender-ban.html?smprod==nytcore-ipad&smid=nyt-core—pad-share

Getting to true gender equality will take some work across our entire culture. 

The song that includes the term, “Mr. Sandman,” will have to be changed to “Mr, Sandperson, bring me a dream…” and the “Girl from Ipanema” to the “Human from Ipanema.” “Man in the Moon” to “Person in the Moon” and “Rooter-Man” will have to become “Rooter-Human,” “Manpower” changes to “Personpower” and “manufacture” to “humanufacture.” 

You will no longer “man a station”, you will “person a station”, and you won’t “manage” anything anymore. You will “personage” them instead. You will not call your dog, “man’s best friend,” he will now be “a human’s best friend.” And “one-upmanship” becomes “one-uppersonship”.

While initially, words like “humanufacture”, “personage” and “one-uppersonship” might seem awkward or even confusing, in a decade or so everyone will come to appreciate the importance of the change and the words will be rolling off everyone’s tongues.

Now being creatures of habit, going to a true genderless language might be a bit tough for us. As tempted as you might be to say, “Boy, oh boy, did you see that home run?” You’ll have to catch yourself and instead exclaim, “Small person, oh small person, did you see that home run?”

In time, famous works of literature will need to be retranslated as in, “The Old Otherperson and the Sea”. In newspeak, the opening paragraph would now read, “They was an otherperson who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and they had gone eighty-four days without taking a fish. In the first forty days, a small person had been with the otherperson. But after forty days without a fish, the small person’s parents had told the small person that the otherperson was now definitely saleo, which is the worst form of unlucky, and the small person had gone at their orders in another boat which caught three good fish the first week. It made the small person sad to see the otherperson come in with his skiff empty and he always went down to help the otherperson…” You get the idea.

Now when you cross the pond, you run into some real problems. Take “German” for instance. Does that become “Gerperson”? Hmm, might have to leave this one up to the E.U.

You have to thank the folks in Berkeley for pointing the way out of the sticky wicket we’ve been in. I mean how many years have we called it a “manhole” without realizing the harm we’ve been doing when in reality it’s so easy and so correct just to call it a “maintenance hole.” 

You go, BCC!

COVER STORY: Weddings | Jacqueline Camille Langholtz and William Rudolph Taylor

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Jacqueline Camille Langholtz and William Randolph Taylor met by chance at Common House, in Charlottesville, just weeks after the social club opened in the summer of 2017. The attraction was instantaneous and mutual, and on June first they were married in the chapel of St. Paul’s Memorial Church in Charlottesville. Thomas Taylor, of Keswick, brother of the groom, was best man and Annabel Taylor, the groom’s sister, offered a reading—Jacqueline’s sister, Gabrielle Langholtz was the bride’s attendant and her daughter Bess was flower girl. The multi-faith ceremony was led by Episcopal Rector Will Peyton with support by Catholic Deacon Chris Morash, with a recitation of Hebrew prayers by cousins of the bride.

Immediately following the noon wedding, the couple celebrated with family from near and far at a garden luncheon at Keswick Farm. Summer flowers, including Sweet William, came from the gardens of Monticello, Castle Hill, and area farms and were arranged by Lou Hatch. Guests enjoyed a lunch by Judy Johnson and JM Stock and the beautiful cake was a wedding gift, baked by Melanie Pyne, a local friend of the bride. Annie Vanderwarker kept things organized under the tent while dogs lolled under the tables and children played badminton.

The bride and groom with Annabel Taylor and Taylor cousins Colin, Tasi, Ben Taylor, and Peter Taylor with Peter’s girlfriend Jamie Whittaker.

Jacqueline was finishing a lunchtime meeting with the Director of Second Street Gallery, where she is a board member. William, a founding member of the club and patron of the art gallery, was there with his business partner and father, and asked to be introduced. “Hi, dad!” were Jacqueline’s first words to her future father-in-law. Sensing William’s sweetness, and admiring his suspenders, she hoped he would ask her back for a drink at Common House. He did. As she entered the club for their first date a week later, Jacqueline bumped into a woman who happened to be walking in at the same time. Seeing the two ladies approaching together, “Hello, mother,” was William’s surprised greeting. With that second parental introduction haphazardly taken care of, William and Jacqueline quickly found they had much in common: a shared love of Broadway’s “Hamilton: An American Musical,” an enthusiasm for the arts and community engagement, New York City, homemade pasta, August birthdays, many shared friends, and more. They realized that Jacqueline, Education Manager at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, had known William’s aunt, Monticello’s Executive Vice President, since she’d moved from Brooklyn for the job six years prior. Jacqueline owned up to having a “no dating bankers” rule. William, Assistant Vice President at BB&T Scott & Stringfellow, took the position that financial advisors weren’t really bankers. She chose not to argue the point. As luck would have it, Common House happened to take a photo of their social hall that evening and posted it to Instagram. Among the drinkers and diners it’s easy to see two people, both eagerly leaning towards each other, engaged in a lively conversation. William has a huge smile on his face. The club’s first couple will be their first couple to get married.

The bride, 35, manages educational programs at Monticello. A graduate of William & Mary, she has recently begun a doctorate program in Educational Leadership, Foundations and Policy at the University of Virginia. Jacqueline is the daughter of Dr. Danielle Moretti-Langholtz, a lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and Curator of Native American Art at the College of William & Mary. Her father, Dr. Harvey Langholtz, is also a professor at William & Mary and is a retired US Coast Guard Commander and Director of the International Peace Operations Training Institute.

The groom, 33, is Assistant Vice President and Financial Advisor at BB&T Scott & Stringfellow in Charlottesville, where he works in partnership with his father, Rocky Taylor. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, William is currently completing his MBA at Virginia Commonswealth University. William’s mother, Sandra Mirkil, lives in Charlottesville. His stepmother, Liza Nash Taylor, is a novelist. The couple will reside in Charlottesville.

COVER STORY: Weddings | Margaret Sutherland Carragher and David Gregory Kalergis, Jr.

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Margaret Sutherland Carragher and David Gregory Kalergis, Jr. met at the wedding of their mutual friends, Annie and Drew Thomasson, in May 2016. There was an immediate spark of attraction and three years later, Maggie and David wed at James Monroe’s Highland in Charlottesville on June 1, 2019.

The bride’s best friend, Hillary Parsons, served as the maid of honor with the groom’s sister, Natasha Kalergis, as one of the bridal attendants. The groom’s brothers, Hugh and James Kalergis, served as best men with the bride’s brother, James Carragher, as one of the groomsmen. The groom’s daugher, Virginia Porter, alongside his nieces, Harper and Grayson, and nephew, Alexander, served as flower girls and ring bearer. The service was officiated by The Very Reverend Charles C. McCoart, Jr., Rector of Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia.

Jim, David, Natasha, and Hugh Kalergis

A boisterous and spirited cocktail hour and reception followed the 5:30pm ceremony. Charlottesville-based photographer and friend of the groom, Meredith Coe, expertly captured the smiles, joyful tears, and love and happiness of the wedding celebration. Kelsey Mayo with Donovan-Groves Events coordinated the wedding celebration and Faded Poppy provided the floral decorations. Guests enjoyed mouthwatering BBQ and fried chicken prepared by BBQ Exchange and were then treated to an Albermarle Bakery carrot cake for dessert. The Virginia Beath-based 6-iece band, 10 Spot, kept the dance floor rocking as they entertained guests with tunes ranging from Motown to classic soul, rock’n’roll to contemporary party hits. The couple exited the reception under the lights of sparklers, surrounded by their closest family and friends, and made their getaway in a 1980s Jeep Wagoneer.

David dancing with his bride and daughter, Porter

The bride, 28, manages community partnerships and events at Lowcountry Land Trust, a conservation nonprofit based in Charleston, SC. A graduate of the University of Virginia, she moved from Washington DC to Charleston, SC shortly after meeting the groom. She has made her new home in the Lowcountry and enjoys spending summers at the beach with her family. Maggie is the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Tuttle, author and President & CEO of the American Horticultural Society, based in Alexandria, VA. Her father, Robert Carragher, serves as Senior State Affairs Advisor at the Society for Human Resource Management, headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia.

David dancing with his mother, Mary

The groom, 36, is founder of Lowcountry Family and Children, a family and child counseling practice based in Mount Pleasant, SC. A graduate of the University of South Carolina, David completed his Masters of Education in Counselor Education at The Citadel Graduate College. David’s mother, Mary Motley Kalergis, is an author, photographer, and interviewer living in Charlottesville, VA. His father, David Gregory Kalergis, Sr., is co-founder and CEO at Diffusion Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Charlottesville, VA-based biotechnology and pharmaceutical company. The couple and their family will reside in Charleston, SC.

COVER STORY: Weddings | Bianca Moreira Catta-Preta and Ross Michael Svetz

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The Wedding Site at the mountaintop cabin at East Belmont Farm

Bianca Moreira Catta-Preta and Ross Michael Svetz were married on June fifteenth two thousand nineteen. The ceremony took place at the mountain top cabin on East Belmont Farm which provided breathtaking views of the southwest mountains. The ceremony was presided over by Cathy Quick of Staunton, Virginia and a blessing was performed by Bruce Binney, originally from Keswick, Virginia. Ross’ cousin, Dex Wheeler, was the Best Man. Bianca’s sister, Jade Catta-Preta, was the Maid of Honor and Bianca’s best friend, Jessica Philhour, was the Matron of Honor. They had lots of other bridesmaids and groomsmen including Amanda Svetz Wainscott and Mary Alice Wainscott was the flower girl.

Mike and Betty Svetz, parents of the groom; Ross and Bianca, and Fernando Catta-Preta, father of the bride

Immediately following the ceremony, the happy couple held a reception for family and friends at the newly renovated Keswick Hunt Club, which also happens to be the same location where the Groom’s parents had their reception! Food was catered by Exchange Events of BBQ Exchange in Gordonsville, Virginia and the cake was provided by Hot Cakes of Charlottesville, Virginia. The breathtaking Keswick scenery was enhanced by the beautiful flower by Phlour Design & The Orchid Station, as well as by Gregory Britt Design. The couple, along with their guests, danced the night away to incredible music performed by Soul Expressions of Richmond, Virginia. The rehearsal dinner for the bridal party, family and out of town quests was held at Prospect Hill.

Father-Daughter dance at the reception in The Keswick Hunt Club.

The bride was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil and moved to Charlottesville, Virginia with her family in 1995. Her parents, Fernando and Sely Catta-Preta currently life in Charlottesville, Virginia and her sister Jade Catta-Preta lives in Los Angeles, California. Dianca received her bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College, where she majored in Art and played lacrosse.

The groom was born and raised in Keswick, Virginia. His parents, Michael and Betty Svetz currently live in Keswick, Virginia and his sister Amanda Wainscott lives in Richmond, Virginia with her husband and two children. Ross received his bachelor’s degree from Hampton Sydney College where he majored in Economics.

Bianca Catta-Preta and Ross Svetz met in Charlottesville, Virginia in summer of 2014. During the summer of 2016 Bianca and Ross moved to Keswick, Virginia where they currently reside at Cismont Manor Farm. After several years of dating Ross proposed to Bianca at their favorite spot on Cismont Manor Farm. Bianca is the Marketing Associate for Southern Development Homes and Ross is part of the sales team at Virginia Eagle Distributing.

LIFE HAPPENS: Splendor at the 4th

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By Bonnie B. Matheson

When I was a little girl, the 4th of July was splendid! The Second World War had ended, and patriotism was a national hobby.  We were so happy and proud to be Americans! 

One year that stands out in my memory, mothers dress, and my sisters and mine were matching red, white, and blue. My father was also enthusiastic. He gave us little American flags to wave.  We watched a parade somewhere downtown, and there were so many people and so many flags, so much bunting. Those flags were proudly flown and no one made any rude remarks about them. The idea that anyone would not be celebrating honestly and proudly was preposterous.

People looked forward to the celebration which might fall on any day of the week.  There were no mandatory Monday holidays then.  People were excited to celebrate the 4th on whichever day it fell.  There were barbeques and picnics in backyards in every neighborhood and municipal parks. Massive fireworks displays followed parades in the evening when the light failed.  The national celebration was enthusiastic and loud.

Set in the corner of our yard, far enough from the house so we would not risk burning it down, sat a big stone outdoor fireplace. There was a picnic table out there.  When extra guests were expected,  card tables were set up in the grass with folding chairs enough to go around them. Not many people had “garden furniture” as they often do today.  Everything was spontaneous.  It was just whatever came to hand and could be moved without too much trouble into the yard.

Paper napkins and paper plates were a modern convenience that was gaining popularity. Dishes of China were still often used though because some people felt it was more genteel. Paper plates and paper napkins were white.  I never saw any in colors till much later.

As a nation, I believe we were grateful. And gratitude can accomplish amazing things.

It was such fun. Home cooked fried chicken, not “carry out” and strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Eating watermelons was a favorite occupation. Spitting out all those seeds so that we would not grow a watermelon in our stomachs, kept us alert. Potato salad and cole slaw, hot dogs and hamburgers with buns added to the fun. Lots of mustard and catsup and sometimes relish or pickles accompanied these. 

None of us had ever heard of Grey Poupon mustard.  

Nor did I ever hear a word about cholesterol or triglycerides.  People did not even talk about getting fat, even though there was probably a big bowl of potato chips at every gathering. 

There were also jello salads with grated carrots and mysterious things inside including tiny marshmallows. Usually, there were plenty of deviled eggs garnished with olives, radishes, and celery.  Tomatoes were not ripe yet and so were rarely available at the market.  People waited till they were in season. (Same for corn on the cob). It ripened earlier in the south, but until then you simply could not buy it. It was such a great day when the corn was ready. Everybody buttered and salted it and ate it all up.  Then we were allowed to roast marshmallows when the coals died down. 

Fireworks were expected even at a private party.  Some were illegal of course, but the men had a way of coming up with them. Cherry bombs were impossibly loud.  Chinese fireworks worked best;  the dreaded Roman Candles were notorious. And they were dangerous! They still are.  Fireworks are so elaborate now, and a session can sometimes go on long enough for a viewer to get bored. But back in the forties and fifties, they were much simpler and certainly shorter, but to us they were magic!

Those days seem far away now. Protesters did not seem to be part of any celebration so close to the end of the Second World War.  The country was pretty together and feeling triumphant and victorious. Hope was everywhere, and no one scoffed at it.  We were all proud Americans.  We felt spared from war, and our job was to live productive lives.  Studying hard for the young, working hard for those who were older seemed reasonable.  

As a nation, I believe we were grateful.  And gratitude can accomplish amazing things.

Happy 4th of July!

WHAT’S COOKING: Nicoise Tuna Toast

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By Sam Johnson, Deputy Director of Cullinary | 1776

This recipe is a fun one. I loved the day I thought of this. So good and combines all the things I love in one. Also really great for summer lunches or a light dinner. I’m big fan I hope Keswick loves this as much as I do.   

Tuna Salad Ingredients

  • 4 (5 ounce) cans tuna packed in water drained
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped celery about 1 rib
  • 2 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad Topping Ingredients

  • 3 heirloom tomatoes – quartered
  • 4 boiled egg sliced
  • ½ cup of pitted olive

Instructions

  1. Toss together with olive oil salt and pepper. All except boiled eggs. After place sliced egg on top once assembled.
  2. 6 slices of sourdough bread toasted

ONLY IN KESWICK: That’s Not Funny

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By Tony Vanderwarker

I recently volunteered to teach a class at Writerhouse, a not-for-profit supporting local writers with workspaces and classes, on comedy. What do I know about comedy? I’ve been writing funny stuff for twenty years so I thought I could pull it off. Since most of my comedy-writing abilities are intuitive, I sat down and tried to formalize them, make them concrete so I could talk about them. 

What’s funny, I decided, was when an author or comic takes you in one direction, then suddenly shifts into another, swerves, you might say, and the audience ends up in an unexpected place. Like in Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner’s the 2000 YEAR OLD MAN, when Reiner asks Brooks, who’s playing the 2000 year old man, “How many children do you have?” 

Brooks answers, “I have over 42,000 children (SWERVE)…and not one of them comes to visit.”

“What’s the biggest change you’ve seen?” 

And Brooks answers deadpan, “In 2000 years, the greatest thing ever devised was (SWERVE)…Saran Wrap.”

Or in Catch-22 when Yossarian explains that the only way to get out of combat is to be certified insane. But since it’s sane to want to get out of combat, you can’t be considered insane, as Yossarian explains, “That’s some catch, that’s Catch-22.”

Now I have the theory of writing comedy, but as the date of the class approaches, I start getting a creepy feeling. Will the class laugh at the funny writing? What if they sit there stonefaced? I start to sweat just thinking about it. An hour and a half of people staring at me, not laughing, just blankly staring. And I’m signed up for two days, three hours total, that could be terrible, just terrible.

One of the best things about writing comedy is that you don’t have to worry whether people will think its funny or not because you’re not there when they read it. They either think its funny or they don’t, the only way you know is when they come up to you and tell you what you wrote they thought was funny. So you’re insulated, in a sense. But in this class, I feared, I won’t be insulated, if they don’t laugh, I’ll be right up there dying. 

Adding to my growing fear was the suspicion that, for some reason, written comedy isn’t as funny when it’s read out loud. I was planning to read from my comic novel, Ads For God, from I’m Not From the South But I Got Down Here As Fast As I Could and from some of the pieces I’ve written for Keswick Life. 

As the date for the class approaches, I get a call from Writerhouse, “No one’s signed up yet, but you never know, most people wait until the last minute.”

No one’s signed up, maybe I’m off the hook, I think. And I put the class out of my mind. But three days before the date, I get another call: “We’ve got six signed up and I’ve heard that two or three may join in, so we’ll have a good group for your class,” Sibley, the director, says. Oh, sh**, I’m thinking, in three days, I’ll be facing the music. 

But then I get an idea. Maybe I’ll start by playing the 2000 Year Old Man. I get out my cassettes of Brooks and Reiner and play the 12-minute comedy sketch. It’s hilarious. Stuff like, “You claim to be 2000,” 

“Yes, but not yet. I’ll be 2000 on October 17th,”

And, “How did Bernie discover women?” 

And Brooks answers, “Well one morning, he woke up smiling.” 

Or, “What was the means of transportation back then?” 

Brook’s comeback: “Fear.”

The audience laughter on the track is contagious, you can’t help but laugh. So at least for the first twelve minutes, I’ll be on solid ground.

The day of the class, I bundle up my books, Mac, cassette and head over to Writerhouse. As I sit at the head of the table in the conference room. Six women, a couple guys, all ages, troop in and sit down. Sibley introduces me and I briefly explain what I’m going to be doing, go through my swerve lecture and start the cassette. 

Everybody’s laughing, whew!

I read some stuff from David Sedaris’s Me Talk Pretty Some Day. On a scale of 1-10, the laughs are a 3. Uh, oh. This stuff’s not funny, I mean it is, but not when you read it out loud. I quickly jump to Ads For God. I get a 6 there and a couple 7’s. 

I go to Not From the South, the rich story about Chita Hall and her husband, Chet, as told by a neighbor, “That parrot talked awful. Dirty, dirty, dirty. And Chet taught it all kinds of nasty tricks. Once an encyclopedia salesman came to the door and knocked. No one was home but that didn’t stop the parrot from saying, ‘Come on in.’

The salesman let himself in. The first thing he saw was an enormous Doberman sitting on the front hall rug. And then the parrot screeched, ‘Sic him, boy, sic him!’” The salesman barely escaped with his life.”

That cracks them up. I check my watch, only fifteen minutes to go. So I say, “Now you all must have some questions.”

They’re full of questions, even running over the time limit. This is going better than I expected. And the second class is the students reading their funny stuff, so the ball’s in their court. 

The next day, we assemble again. I ask who wants to start first. A woman starts reading, her stuff’s hilarious. So are the others. My class is a success, who knew?

BOOKWORM: The Heat is On – Summer Reads

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By Suzanne Nash

It’s finally summer and with its arrival comes the summer reading list, so get ready for a beach bag full of great reading material, whatever your taste!

I’ll start with the mystery and thriller category of books with a relatively newly published novel called The Other Woman by Sandie Jones. I consider this a perfect summer read…. just enough psychological tension to keep your attention as you bake in the sun, but ok to put down if you need to take a dip!  Emily is the main character and she has finally found true love with Adam…or so she thinks. The title is a bit of a red herring, since the “other woman” in this case is Adam’s mother who is a scary piece of work. The snag is that Adam never sees the side of his mother that Emily sees.  Chaos and mystery ensue!

Another newly published thriller is Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear and I really loved the narrative of this charged novel. Cat Kinsella is a detective constable with the Metro Police Force when the body of Alice Lapaine shows up and throws her into the fears of her past. She has to face the memories that have plagued her for years and her suspicions that her father was involved in a disappearance of a young girl during a holiday in Ireland. Well written and filled with enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes, this is a psychological thriller that keeps you guessing.

The Shadows We Hide by Allen Eskens also involves questionable paternal ties. Joe Talbert Jr. is a reporter for the Associated Press in Minneapolis when he is sent to investigate the murder of a man who may, or may not, be his father. From all accounts Joe Sr wasn’t a particularly nice person, so there are plenty of suspects in his murder and with his death comes the possibility that Joe Jr may inherit some pretty valuable real estate which puts him in the crosshairs as well. Enjoy the ride, as Joe Jr struggles to find the truth about a man he never knew but who certainly will play a large role in his future!

Amber Cowie’s mystery, Rapid Falls, also asks its main characters to face the past to discover hidden secrets. Cara and Annie are sisters who struggle to maintain a relationship due to a past tragedy that impacted them both. Cara’s senior year of high school ended in disaster when a car carrying Cara, her boyfriend, Jessie, and Annie crashed. Jessie was killed and Annie can’t remember that night very well, but she spent time in jail for driving under the influence and has been fighting addiction ever since. The question is…what REALLY happened that night?

For a sweeter summer book try Cottage by The Sea by Debbie Macomber.  It’s an easy read that is a bit like the Hallmark Channel plots in its simplicity. Lead character Annie Marlow is recovering from the tragedy of losing her whole family in an accident when she decides to move to Oceanside in the Pacific Northwest.  It is a small coastal village she remembers from family vacations with her parents and the perfect place to heal. The village is of course filled with characters such as the town recluse, the troubled teen and a gentle giant of a man….single of course. It is simply written but that’s not a bad thing for a beach book.

If you are looking for a bit more of a bite to your summer try An Elderly Woman Up to No Good: Stories by Helene Tursten. I loved this tiny little treasure.  You can’t class it as a mystery because you know who committed all of the murders, but it is funny, short and very irreverent.  I have always enjoyed Swedish writers and Tursten didn’t fail to please me with her latest book. Maud lives in Gothenburg Sweden and this 88 year old is a force to be reckoned with.  She manages to solve any of the problems cast her way…whether it is travel problems, old boyfriends, antiques theft or someone looking to move into her apartment, with a method that is a bit over the top. You can finish each story in the time it takes you to rotate for a tan, so be sure to pick this one up!

On a more serious note Wayetu Moore’s She Would Be King is a masterpiece and well worth putting on your list. She weaves a tale of mythic proportions out of three special people’s lives who are sent by forces beyond themselves to save Liberia. Gbessa is the young girl who will not die, June Dey is a runaway slave from a Virginia plantation whose strength cannot be tamed, and Norman Aragon is the bastard son of a scientist in Jamaica who takes advantage of a young Maroon girl working for him.  Callum, the father, is determined to learn the secret of his Maroon slave, Nanni, who can disappear from sight and has magical powers which her son inherits.  These three larger than life characters come together on the shores of Liberia in Monrovia, an American colony formed for freed slaves in the 1800s. This a tale of magic and hope and the desperation of oppression and it is beautifully written.  It has made me want to learn a lot more about the history of Liberia, which prior to this book I knew very little about. Monrovia is indeed the Capital of Liberia and was named after President James Monroe in 1822 and was founded by the American Colonization Society as a self-sufficient colony for emancipated black slaves.

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict is a novel based on the life of Heddie Lamar.  I must admit I knew a little about Heddie Lamar, but this book shines a light on what a truly remarkable woman she was.  An Austrian Jew from Vienna she ended up marrying an arms dealer who provided equipment to Mussolini and eventually Hitler.  She was often the only woman in the room during strategic discussions involving the weaknesses in the Nazis military equipment and when she finally escapes her abusive husband, she makes her way to America and Hollywood.  Heddie was not only beautiful but canny as well. She works with a composer to invent and patent a radio guided torpedo system that can’t be jammed and struggles to be taken seriously by the US Military. She helped to develop technology we still use to this day.  She was not just a pretty face but an intellectual powerhouse!

I hope you have time to enjoy a few books this summer and I will be sure to refill your beach bag next month. Stay cool and keep reading!!

COVER STORY: Beyond the Gates

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Insiders Guide to the 10th Annual Grace Church Country Fair and Farm Tour

Please join us June 8 as we celebrate 10 years of charitable giving and present our 10th Anniversary Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair, “beyond the gates”.

Come along with us as we go “beyond the gates”, past those rock walls and stroll with us down the tree lined paths to six of Keswick’s celebrated historic farms, the Keswick Hunt Club and Grace Church.  Our chosen route for this special day in the country was first traveled by Virginia’s earliest settlers, future Presidents, Revolutionary and English militia, Confederate and Union troops and the grounds are as beautiful today as they were 300 years ago.  

Grace Episcopal Church stands at the site of one of six colonial churches in Virginia that still have active congregations. Foundation stones of the original church, constructed of wood and completed in 1748, are visible today under spreading oak trees in front of the present structure. A mountain chapel had previously existed on the premises, having been built by the earliest settlers in the area, probably in the 1730’s. Thomas Jefferson served as a member of the Vestry from 1767 to 1770.

The present church edifice was completed in 1855 and was later damaged in a fire in 1895. The stone tower and 4 walls remained standing and were incorporated into the present structure when the church was rebuilt. A 1,575-pound bell was salvaged from the ashes and is still in use. 

The first annual Blessing of the Hounds was held at the Church in 1929.  Each Thanksgiving Day, this colorful ceremony brings together foxhunters and their horses and hounds in the church yard for prayers and thanksgiving. 

Today Grace Church has over 200 members and provides personal and financial support for numerous charitable missions, including Grace’s food closet, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels and many others.  100% of Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair proceeds are dedicated to funding these special ministries. 

…and Country Fair Stepping back to “Yesteryear”, Grace’s Church Yard transforms to an earlier time, when families, friends, and neighbors gathered to celebrate each other, a bountiful spring harvest, baby livestock and the sharing of memories past and present. 

The Country Fair has something fun for every member of the family.  Let the kids get up close to the 4-H Livestock exhibits featuring over 50 entries during Albemarle County’s only sanctioned 4-H Livestock Show. Meet the llamas and learn about keeping bees and enjoy live music throughout the day as you visit farm to table vendors, talented artisans and taste some of the delicious food offerings from Grace Grill and food truck vendors. Take time to visit our Historic Grace Church and observe the restoration taking place as we prepare to welcome our new organ later this year. And if you have a green thumb and have questions about gardening in Virginia, there will be Master Gardeners and representatives from Southern States to answer your questions.  Children’s pony rides available after 2:00 PM.

Gates open promptly at 10 AM and will close at 4:00 PM.  Y’all come!

Four in hand, see the carriages at Old Keswick

Old Keswick is part of a tract given by Thomas Walker to his daughter, Jane Frances Walker, who married Dr. Mann Page. The estate’s residence was built in stages beginning in 1736.  The Page family sold the farm to Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Augustus in 1952. Formed here as a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation, Keswick Stables has sold many notable horses, including Sabin, Simply Majestic, Alwuhush, Eishin Guyman, Johnny D, Raise a Native, Natalma, and the 2015 Eclipse Award winning filly Stellar Wind, who won more than $3 million. 

Equestrian, Ann Sutherland, will demonstrate combined driving, a sport that showcases skills in dressage, marathon, and cones.  Equestrian, Tadd Coffin, will discuss and demonstrate his latest saddle technology, SmartRide Rx, and Thera-Tree. Coffin won two gold medals at the 1996 Montreal Olympic Games. He appeared in the movie National Velvet and will be in the upcoming film Billy & Blaze.

Belvoir Cemetery was first settled by Col. Robert Lewis and was later owned by Dr. Thomas Walker and his son, Col. John Walker. Col. Walker was a U.S. Senator and an aide to General Washington. During the Revolutionary War, British Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton and his men stopped at Belvior en route to Charlottesvile, in an attempt to capture Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and others. 

Col. Walker’s only grandchild, Eliza Kinloch, inherited Belvoir and married Judge Hugh Nelson. Nelson served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, a federal judge, and President elector in 1809, a Congressman, and Minister to Spain,  Several prominent figures lie in Belvoir’s cemetery, including Dr. Walker, Col. Walker, Eliza Kinloch, Hugh Nelson and Thomas Warner Meriwether,  Grace Church, Walker’s Parish, now stands on 2 acres of land John Walker transferred from Belvoir in 1769.

horses and farm life at Montanova

At nearby Montanova, visitors may watch a farrier’s demonstration from 10 am to 1:00 pm; enjoy twin sisters, Lise Pratt and Marcy Burke, demonstrate dog agility training; observe riding lessons; and see horses, ponies, goats and chickens.  Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary will all so be onsite.

Castalia entry gates

Castalia was owned by relatives of famed explore Meriwether Lewis for much of the 18th and 19th centuries. Murray Boocock purchased the farm in 1894 and initiated a breeding program known as the Castalia stock Farm.   He built two large livestock barns, one of which burned down. The “upper barn” was a massive two-story structure with ground floor and second story central sliding doors with large singe pane, divided light windows. Three louvered cupolas graced the peak of the standing seam gambrel roof. Lattice work under the eaves provided additional ventilation. In the ventilated second story, hay was stored before being dropped through chutes to the stalls and feeding pens on the ground.

In 1986, Castalia was acquired by Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Hitchcock, who bred, raised and showed champion Paso Fino horses.  In 2013, Paul and Diane Manning purchased Castalia and restored the upper barn to active use while preserving much of the original fabric.  During the Farm Tour, the historic barn will be filled with antique dealers from the Mid-Atlantic offering art, furniture, textiles, silver, jewelry, books and accessories.

old cars at Cismont Manor

Cismont Manor Farm was formed from the Cloverfield’s plantation in 1820, as a home for Peter Minor Meriwether and his wife, Mary Walker Meriwether.  The Meriwether’s initially lived in a tavern on the property, which later served as a home for Rev. Ebenezer Boyden.  The tavern, which no longer stands, became known as the Cottage Rectory, and Boyden conducted a school there. The Meriwether’s built the present residence in 1836. The Wheeler family acquired the farm in the 1950’s and have bred trained and exhibited some of the country’s top show horses.

Carriage Museum at Cismont Manor

Cismont Manor consists of a main manor house and four cottages on 200 acres of land. There are three barns with several turnout paddocks, and three jumping coups for use by the Keswick Hunt Club. In the pass 50 years, two major additions have been added to the main house. In the 1960’s, formal rose gardens were established, and a lake added.  Visitors will see a collection of rare antique carriages and classic automobiles, as well as stables where number of U.S. Equestrian Foundation Hall of Fame horses have been trained, including Showdown, Isgilde, Gozzi, Super Flash, Apollo Sand, Tijuana Starlet, One For The road, and Celebrity.

Hounds at the Keswick Hunt Club

Keswick Hunt Club was founded in 1896, and its recently renovated clubhouse was built in 1898. Foxhunting has been an important part of the community since 1742, when, according to sporting histories and family tradition, Dr. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill imported a pack of foxhounds. Walker also helped found the city of Charlottesville in 1762. 

The Hunt Club has hosted at least one annual horse show since 1904.  Initially, the lower ring’s proximity to the railroad tracks was a convenience for spectators who traveled to the event by train from Charlottesville.  Riders whose horses were spooked by the trains welcomed construction of the upper ring in 1957. 

During the club’s early decades, hounds resided at whichever area farm belonged to the Master of Foxhounds. In 1937 hunt club officers decided to locate the kennels on hunt club grounds.  The present kennels, built in 2018, are home to about 70 American Foxhounds who lead mounted club members on chases in designated territory in four counties.  The hunting season stretches from last summer to early spring. 

Ben Coolyn was first settled by James Clark under the name of Clark’s Tract.  Clark built the first dwelling in the early 1800’s on a site to the east of the current home.  The Clark’s named the property “Ben Coolyn”, meaning “Breezy Mountain” in their native Scottish language.  An heir added orchards and renamed the property “Fruitlands”. It was named as Ben Coolyn in 1918 by the Bogert family, who renovated the residence to take advantage of frequent breezes. In the late 1940’s, the Hallock family downsized the house by removing the sleeping porches and the second story north bedroom. 

In 2001, Ann and Peter Taylor bought some of the property, and the name “Ben Coolyn” conveyed with the sale. A number of Hallock’s still live on part of the original land, which was named “Fruitlands”.  The Taylor’s restored several gardens, created an arboretum, and planted many native trees, including 176 willow oaks, and deciduous flowering magnolia cultivars and crosses. Ben Coolyn has a bank barn standing on an older rock foundation, and a circa 1850 dogtrot corn crib.  Katie and Chris Henry bought Ben Coolyn in 2017 and established a vineyard.  Vineyard Manager Emily Pelton will give short presentations during the day.

Fruitlands tree-lined drive

Fruitlands was originally part of the Ben Coolyn estate, which was settled by James Clark under the name pf Clark’s Tract.  Clark Clark’s names the property “Ben Coolyn” meaning “Breezy Mountain” in their native Scottish language.  A subsequent heir, Major Jimmy Clark, added extensive orchards and renamed the property “Fruitlands”.  The estate was renamed as Ben Coolyn when it was acquired by the Bogert family in 1918.  They renovated the residence to take advantage of frequent breezes. 

In the late 1940’s, the Hallock family moved from their Long Island farm to Ben Coolyn. Several generations of Hallock’s continue to reside on a large portion of the original land, which was renamed “Fruitland”.  During the Farm Tour, the Farmington Beagles will demonstrate the sport of beagling at Fruitlands. The pack consists of 30 beagles that hunt primarily in the western portion of Albemarle Country, in Louisa County, and further afield by invitation. 

Please visit www.gracefarmtour.org for additional details.

Tickets can be purchased on line for $15.00 before the event, and for $20.00 the day of the event. Children are free. Please contact Bill Anda, Historic Farm Tour and Country Fair spokesperson at 434/906-5138, [email protected].