By Doug Fabbioli “There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.” Aldo Leopold Growing up outside Syracuse, NY, I learned a little bit about the weather. Snow. Snow. And more snow. It impacted drives to school, work, and the grocery store, but we could shelter in the warmth of our home when it all became too much. Having a career as a farmer and wine maker, I have learned a heck of a lot more about the weather through my lived experience in the vineyard and out in the field. The weather for any agriculture business is really a make or break situation. Being aware of the weather — both the short and long term forecasts, is critical. It can be the determining factor in what work will need to be done and when — scheduled or not. Knowing what the long term weather and climate forecast is, gives us information to base critical decisions for future success and abundant growth. This past growing season was relatively dry. Without built-in irrigation in most of our vineyards, irrigating in a dry season is a hard thing to do. Young vines need the most care and attention. When we plant young vines, our work around without an irrigation system is a water tank on a trailer. This allows us to give each vine a drink when we don’t have the rains when they are most needed. Last spring we lucked out. Early in the season we watered our new plantings only once through this labor intensive process. Later in the year, we received a soaking rain right when we needed it — we and the vines were thankful for it….
By Erin Shackleford Polly is a 3-year-old female cat that came to us from our rescue partners in Barbour County, WV. Polly is a beautiful mostly white cat with gray spots down her back and golden yellow eyes. Polly is a little shy and timid when meeting new people. She likes to hide out in her tower and observe her visitors first. However, after a few minutes, Polly is usually ready to come out to socialize. She absolutely adores squeezable lick treats like Churus. Once she’s comfortable with you, she’s ready for lots of attention and pets. She loves getting her ears and chin scratched. Polly is such a sweet kitty — she just needs to find a person with a little patience. Photo courtesy of Lucia Smith Art. Arthur is an 8-year-old pint-sized pup who has two speeds – fast asleep or be-bopping around. As a senior gentleman, he certainly appreciates long naps (and sometimes all-day snooze sessions if he’s totally honest). However, he does have a spunky side. He likes going for short outings and he LOVES to play (and maybe de-fluff) plush squeaky toys. Arthur doesn’t much like the cold or rain, but honestly who can blame him? Arthur is quite a character with his quirky trot. He gets along with other dogs who match his speed. He loves to be pet and receive affection. Arthur will make a wonderful cuddly and personable companion. Photo courtesy of Deborah Davidson. Oscar is a 7-year-old gentle giant who weighs in at 109 pounds. This big boy is a sweet and easygoing guy who would love a home to lounge around in. According to his foster, he has perfect house behavior – he is not destructive, relaxed and potty trained. He enjoys leisurely walks, but after a mile or two, he’s ready to settle in for the day. He is a superb listener and knows sit, shake,…
By Ryan Unverzagt Welcome back to another edition of From the Trainer! Did you know that February not only recognizes Black History, but also marks heart awareness month? Most of us don’t think twice about our hearts unless you’ve had any chest pain, palpitations, heart attack, or cardiac arrest that will definitely catch your attention. This column will provide some insight on the precious organ that can “take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’”. As a cardiovascular sonographer, I have seen all forms of heart and vascular disease first hand. I get an up close and personal ultrasound view of the heart in action (good or bad). This article contains some interesting facts about the heart, but let’s start with the basics…… Heart Anatomy: A normally formed heart has 4 chambers with 4 valves. There are 2 chambers located on the top called the atrium and 2 chambers on the bottom called the ventricles. The heart is also divided into right and left sides. The right side receives deoxygenated blood from the body and pumps it to the lungs. The left side receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it out to the body. The right side has two valves (tricuspid and pulmonic) and the left side has two valves (mitral and aortic). Valves are located inside the heart and are designed to allow blood to flow one-way, either to the next chamber (atria to ventricles via the mitral and tricuspid valves) or to the pulmonary artery and aorta (ventricles to the lungs or body via the pulmonic and aortic valves). There is a network of arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygenated blood called the coronary arteries. These are small arteries that wrap around the outside of the heart. Each heart usually has the same major configuration,…
By Ron Powers In 1983 Texas blues rockers ZZ Top released a big hit called “Sharp Dressed Man”. With its strutting beat, stylish guitars, and charming vocals the song ran up the charts around the world and filled millions with the cool and confident feeling it exudes. But the power of this song has reached far beyond the 1980s: “Sharp Dressed Man” has garnered hundreds of millions of spins in the streaming era. The song even reentered the Billboard charts in 2020 after the release of the Grammy nominated documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas. The bearded boys get things started hitting on all cylinders. A full arrangement of drums, guitar, bass guitar, and synth blast through the speakers right from the start. We hear an energizing guitar riff rooted in the blues and rock-n-roll. We hear a tight disco-like drum beat with that iconic dead-room sound from the 1970s. We hear a single note bass line adding depth and power. And to top it all off, we hear that growling synth sound sprinkling magic all over the mix. As the band transitions out of the intro music, drummer Frank Beard leads the way into the verse with a snappy snare fill. This is followed by the raspy and cool sound of Billy Gibbons’ voice delivering a topline melody that mixes with the music to create the rock-n-roll magic that “Sharp Dressed Man” is famous for. Gibbons sings about getting dressed in nice clothes with the intention to impress women. The shallow and fun nature of the lyrics are a big reason why this song works so well. The combination of tough and cool music with the lighthearted lyrics create an experience that simultaneously lifts and stabilizes the spirit. Next, the progression of the song comes full…
By Melinda Myers Lift your winter time spirits and improve your indoor environment by taking part in the indoor gardening movement. An apartment or home filled with tropical, succulent and flowering plants can provide beauty, extend your garden season, improve air quality and create a peaceful environment to de-stress. Though some may find indoor gardening a bit intimidating, don’t let past failures or the thought of tending living greenery stop you from enjoying the many benefits. Knowing some basics in care and making needed adjustments to the growing environment can turn past failures into success. Water, humidity and light are key to growing healthy plants. When you match these to a plant’s needs and the growing media, you’re sure to experience success. Use a container with drainage holes to avoid overwatering that can lead to root rot and plant death. It should be no more than an inch or two larger in diameter than the plant’s root ball. Growing in a larger pot results in the soil staying too wet, increasing the chance of root rot. Select a quality potting mix that holds moisture but drains well. Cacti and succulents prefer a fast-draining mix while tropicals and African violets prefer a mix that stays moist, not soggy, yet drains well. Set your plant in a location that’s free from drafts of hot and cold air, but in the preferred light conditions. An east- or west-facing window usually provides adequate light for most plants. Keep cacti, succulents and other plants requiring high light within two feet of an east- or west-facing window. Pothos, philodendron, Chinese evergreens and those that tolerate low light can be placed near a north-facing window or up to six feet back or off to the side of an east- or west-facing window. Shears, awnings and trees can…
By Bob Tagert It seems like it has been forever since we headed out of town to do the R&D for this column. We always bring it home for the holidays in the December issue and recap the previous year in the January issue so I had to reach back into my memory bank to last November to retrace our steps to River Bluff Farm located on the Shenandoah River on the outskirts of Quicksburg, VA. As a point of reference, this little “burg” is near New Market (their physical address is listed as New Market) and fairly close to Woodstock. The main reason we headed out in that direction was because we were once again invited to the Fifth Annual Shenandoah Valley Wine Trail Awards & Gala that was being hosted in The Yellow Barn event venue near the entrance to the Shenandoah Caverns. This is the premier event for the 22 wineries that dot the landscape in the Valley. There were 73 wines submitted to the 2023 competition with Jump Mountain Vineyards taking home the coveted Shenandoah Cup with their 2019 Borderland. Borderland is made with a blend of tannat, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc grapes and it was very worthy of this award. Last year the event was held at Brix & Columns Vineyard that is close to Harrisonburg where accommodations are plentiful. However, the Yellow Barn isn’t as conveniently located and we wanted a place to stay as close to the venue as possible. After we did a Google search of the area, River Bluff Farm hit the mark. Located a mere 2.9 miles from the Yellow Barn and situated on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, it was the perfect choice. If any of you are like we are, we tend to lean toward…
By Bob Tagert Here it is February already and winter has finally set in. Part of me hopes we used up our quota for snow in January but I do admit that I like being out in it so the other part of me hopes we get another round (without the 20 degree temps) at some point in the next couple of months. February means that the oldest and largest George Washington Birthday Parade in the country takes place on Presidents Day, February 19th right here in Old Town. This is always a fun event and a great chance for the kids to see something special. As you can tell from the Calendar in this issue, there is a lot of activity all month taking place around “Presidents Day” for George, whose birthday is actually on the 22nd. Ever wonder why we don’t include President Lincoln this month as well. His birthday falls on the 12th. Guess since he wasn’t born here or have a huge complex in the area, he doesn’t get billing. If you have an interest in the history of Presidents Day, check out the column about it in this issue. February 14th brings us Valentine’s Day and Lori Welch Brown has penned a very clever column about the machinations people go through on this day in her Open Space column. Sarah Becker gives you some insight to the history of the holiday as she intertwines President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn’s love story in A Bit of History. And, obviously, the bulk of you will be looking for places to take your sweetheart for dinner. Clearly there are numerous great restaurants in Alexandria to visit on Valentine’s Day. You may want to consider the subject of this month’s Dining Out column, Elaine’s. This is one…
By Carl Trevison and Stephen Bearce To have less stress and more confidence about the future, taking the time to review account statements is helpful. But it can be even more meaningful to have a single place where you can see the total picture of all of your assets and liabilities — and how it may fluctuate over time. Building a comprehensive account summary or net worth statement can make it easier to connect the dots. As more dots are connected, you get a more meaningful picture and see a clearer, more actionable path. As individuals build wealth, it becomes more challenging to keep track of one’s overall financial picture. There will likely be household cash accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, real estate, loans, and a number of credit cards. Executives may have stock options and other equity-based benefits that vest over time, and deferred compensation plans. Business owners often have multiple entities related to their core business, along with real estate holdings connected to the business. You may have private investments as well. So gathering financial information and documents from different sources can become a bit of a chore. How do successful people do this? Don’t get overly complicated. Build something that works for you. Remember that the goal is to see the big picture, not to focus on the microscopic details. Let technology do some of the work for you. Many credit cards offer very useful spending summaries. And increasingly, financial institutions are offering account aggregation tools that make it easier to see all your accounts, even at various institutions, in one place. After you take a little bit of time to set this up, you don’t need to wait for a monthly statement or quarterly review to get a broader view of your finances. Values are updated…
By Steve Chaconas Professional bass anglers must supply their tournament entry fees, travel costs, and support a family and household as well. This puts the sport out of reach for many new and veteran participants. Pro angler income comes from sponsors with a modest amount from prize money. Tournament wins, top ten finishes, and BASSMASTER Classic qualifications used to carry bass pros through several seasons, garnering media attention, endorsements, and personal appearance fees. But outdoors show opportunities aren’t what they used to be. Retail sponsors like Bass Pro Shops prefer content rather than in-store appearances. As familiar faces leave the sport, so does sponsorship money. It’s not about winning and personal promotion, it’s about clicks. Still competing after nearly 30 years, Triton/Mercury pro Brent Chapman has fished at bass fishing’s highest level, including the Bass Pro Tour, Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing. Earning the most prestigious title, Bassmaster’s Angler of the Year, Brent has 4 BASSMASTER wins, and 14 BASSMASTER Classic qualifications. He also qualified for Major League Fishing’s Championship and MLF Bass Pro Tour Redcrest. Today, companies rely on college marketing majors who stress social media to reach target audiences. Brent carries his integrity into the bits and bytes of electronic media. Consumers are bombarded by YouTube content creators and Brent says, “There’s no other sport or profession where anyone can start a social media account and become an expert.” He’s concerned kids and fans can’t discern what’s relevant. Team Chapman has adapted and delivers. Brent’s wife Bobbi manages the fishing business and together they raised and homeschooled their two children. She tracks social media stats daily to present to decision makers. Making the marketing person look awesome to their boss, the Chapmans look good too. Enabling Brent to focus on fishing, Bobbi sets a schedule for him…
By Matthew Fitzsimmons When Negus Winery opened its doors, it wasn’t just the start of Alexandria’s newest winery. It was owner/winemaker Gize Negussie’s way to introduce Tej, or Ethiopian honey wine, to the world. Honey wine is a cultural staple in Ethiopia, with a history going back to the Queen of Sheba. While it’s an alcoholic beverage related to mead, don’t expect to taste something you’d find at a renaissance festival. “Think of Tej as a cousin of mead”, Gize explained. “To make an Ethiopian honey wine, you need the right kind of honey and yeast. The fermentation process is also different. Mead gets a lot of its flavors from fruits and spices, but we don’t add anything to our honey wine, not even sulfites. If you ask members of the Ethiopian community if Tej and mead are the same, they’d disagree.” While Ethiopia has tasting houses dedicated to this beverage, Gize is proud to say Negus Winery is the first such establishment in the U.S. But the road to opening his own tasting room was a winding one. Originally from Ethiopia, Gize arrived in San Francisco in 2011. His time in California exposed him to the wine industry. “I grew up in a business-oriented family. I started a tour & travel company which explored California wine country, and that allowed me to make connections in the wine business. Winemakers encouraged me to introduce Tej to the United States, since it’s completely different.” Gize first opened a brewery in D.C., which included a honey wine on the menu. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit and the business didn’t survive. Speaking with his family, Gize came up with an idea that was both new yet familiar; opening a honey wine establishment in the D.C. area, with beverages using his family’s recipe. “When we…
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