Pop Castle Sea smoke shrouded the Rappahannock River as I lay back on the grassy rise below a house once owned by Mr. James W. Gresham of Lancaster VA. I strained to see objects on the river; the mist had reduced visibility to no more than a few yards out into the river. I could hear muffled... Read More >>

RivahFest One day each summer, downtown Tappahannock becomes a homecoming celebration. Thousands of people who have called Essex County home, along with thousands of others who simply love the area, gather for RivahFest, a community festival now in its 8th year. There’s something about... Read More >>

Structure in the Garden Sure you say, I can do structure…but what in the world is it? Structure is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary as “the interrelation of parts,” or “to give form or arrangement to.” Landscape design is multifaceted. Perhaps the term “exterior design” is more appropriate. The... Read More >>

Boxwoods Among the family of landscape plants, boxwood has long been a favorite of Virginia gardeners. It makes an elegant planting in many different situations. Used as a hedge to define a border, to line an entranceway, or in a formal garden, boxwood is unbeatable in giving year round beauty... Read More >>

Fireflies: Nature's Lanterns Do you remember the lazy days of summer when we were still children? Without the bells of school and deadlines to meet, one day seemed to melt into the next. After dinner our parents would often tell us to “skedaddle” and play outside. For many of us, catching fireflies (often... Read More >>

American Red Cross It was a bitter cold winter morning, yet the heat from the blazing fire scorched my face as I wrapped a warm woolen blanket around the shoulders of the resident of the two story frame home, now reduced to ash. She lost all her belongings. Her memories, her pictures of long ago were... Read More >>

Green Thumbs From the air, a common American neighborhood probably appears as a patchwork quilt of green squares and toy houses. As Pete Seeger sang, we love our little boxes made of ticky tacky and we like to drink our martinis dry on our back porches gazing over our fabulously green yards. If... Read More >>

Highlight Your Home's Beauty In today’s busy world, people often work all day or have hectic schedules and do not have time to relax until later in the evening. For this reason, the enjoyment of outdoor living spaces has become popular, along with outdoor lighting. Homeowners are taking advantage of outdoor... Read More >>

Historic Prints In the eighteenth century, and even into the early nineteenth century, most Virginia gentry houses were decorated with prints. Paintings were rare, and if found in gentry houses, were usually family portraits. One did not see, too often, paintings that were genre works of art, or... Read More >>

Designing Women For one day, June 11, 2010, the campus and several buildings at Christchurch School will be transformed by an exhibition which will include demonstrations, lectures and exhibits that appeal to all ladies who love fashion, their homes, flowers, gardening and good food. Around the... Read More >>

Eric Miller, DDS Part of the charm of our region is knowing you can buy milk and see a friend in the dairy aisle. You may own land that has been in the family for generations. Maybe your family name is on a local gravestone or monument. These rarities in modern times contribute to the unseen wealth of... Read More >>

Heathsville, Virginia Previously known as Northumberland Courthouse, Heathsville is without question one of the most charming little towns on the Northern Neck of Virginia. Situated where Route 360 intersects Route 201, it appears like an oasis after leaving the four lane super highway from Lottsburg... Read More >>

Enhance a Home's Character Walk into any older home and you’ll always find a lot of hardwood details — wainscoting, crown moulding, fireplace surrounds, spindled staircases, even chair rails — because decorative trimwork used to be standard in new home construction. But after World War II, builders began... Read More >>

Fresh Ideas for Outdoor Entertainment When it comes to having friends and family over for summer gatherings, first thoughts often turn to late afternoon barbecues with sizzling burgers, plastic cups and paper plates. If that’s your idea of outdoor entertaining, maybe it’s time to get out of the house. So many people are... Read More >>