Manufacturing in the US posted a net increase in jobs for the first time in over a decade. 130,000+ net new jobs were created.

Corporations are flush with cash and poised to expand.

Architectural Firms reported a significant upswing in business.

Speculators are building luxury homes around the country in anticipation the rich and famous are ready to buy… in the $20-80,000,000 range!   Second home sales are on the increase in stable communities around the country.

Investors in the Washington, DC area are beginning to reap profits.  The Hartford Building in Arlington (offices), purchased for $71.5 Million in 2009 was just sold to a Chicago based investment firm for $112 Million.  Job growth in the Washington, DC area has outpaced the rest of the country and investors are bullish on the market’s future.

Are we out of the woods?  Not yet.  Too many global factors to consider.  However, US and local indicators are inching upward.

November 6 –  $5000 GRAND RAFFLE sponsored by The Rappahannock Lions Club (better hurry, only 150 tickets sold!).   Catered meal, open bar.  10 finalists are chosen for final elimination or sharing of the $5,000 prize.  If even one wants to “go for it”, then one number from ten is drawn and that person is eliminated.  Repeated until all agree to split or one wins it all.   Enjoy other fun raffles and a silent auction.  All funds go to worthy causes within Rappahannock, including sight and vision screening for children, 4H, senior care, county athletics, boy & girl scouts,  scholarships, food pantry and a great deal more.   Call Kaye & Rick Kohler for tickets or information.  540-675-1373  realtorrick@crosslink.net

November 6-7 – The RAPPAHANNOCK ARTISTS TOUR.  Visit artists in their home studios.  A map is provided for this fun weekend of touring and art delight.  Come to the Grand Raffle afterwards on Saturday!

November 13 – CCLC AUCTION A great event with lots of food, wine and wonderful items to bid on, from furniture to art, most donated by local folks.  Always a variety of interesting and often valuable items, some too cheap to pass up!

November 13 – Caulfield Gallery preview:  Davette Leonard (A one person show)

Two of Kaye’s recent shots:

Lunch for Two

Moon Rise Butterfly

Kaye and I had the pleasure of attending a small garden party by Mary and Dennis showing off their new turkey pen, a miniature National Zoo project with overhead netting, roosts of all kinds and an interesting flock of birds, some with tail feathers in full regalia.  Birds for  holiday feasts and turkey eggs are in the near future. We currently get fresh chicken eggs from them.  They are careful about their carbon footprint and have begun a charcoal system of replenishing the soil.   An interesting project.

Also fun are our other neighbors from Wit’s End Farm.  They raise sheep for wool.  Kathy shears and spins.  Her wools are highly prized.  Kaye loves the occasional truckload of manure from her horses.

It’s feels good to know we are surrounded by niche eco-farmers.  Typical Rappahannock….

Amazing film classics are shown at Mt Pony in a beautiful theatre with a burnt orange velour curtain.  Occasionally, if an early silent film is viewed, a piano is brought out for live music, just like the old days!  It’s too much to miss, and best of all…..it’s free!  Call for reservations.

Dates are Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1, 11 to 5, at Rappahannock Cellars

Rappahannock County, VA, July 15, 2010 – Five wineries located in Rappahannock County, Virginia, will celebrate the launch of the new “Artisanal Wineries of Rappahannock” wine trail at FESTA RAPPAHANNOCK on July 31 and August 1, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Online Registration is $18; tickets at the gate are $22.  The celebration will take place at Rappahannock Cellars, 14437 Hume Road in Huntly, Virginia.  Proceeds will benefit Hospice of the Rapidan. For more information, visit www.artwinerc.com or call 540-635-9398.

To me, it is the youth.   Seeing so many students of the arts in one place.  Not just an orchestra or an opera with professionals doing their jobs, but a stage alive with youth, an eagerness in the eyes, a smile on the lips, a desire to perform to the best of their abilities…quite amazing abilities at that!   The exuberance of youth makes this affair so passionate.

Thank you Lorin and Deitlinde Maazel for bringing this amazing opportunity to Rappahannock County.  Your devotion to the arts is truly a pleasure to behold.

A charming story begins here.  We have a terrific Food Pantry in our county.  Anyone in financial difficulty will not go hungry.   Our son, Andrew, was asked by Hal Hunter to pick up a donated freezer for the pantry.  He took the directions and found the house on a small road near Castleton.  The freezer sat empty on the back porch.  He and his friend Matt hauled it to the Pantry.  A few days later, someone called to ask why the donated freezer had not been picked up…..Uh-oh.

A bit of good natured wrangling took place over whether the writer or reader of the directions was at fault and how to correct the situation.   Should the sheriff be notified?…No, no.  Returning to the house, Andrew met the son of the owner.  The surprise was obvious.  ”We’ve been keeping the gate locked all week;  we thought we had been robbed!”  The parents were visibly relieved and waived return of the freezer, donating it to the Food Pantry.  In all, a perfect ending.  Only in Rappahannock.

The Food Pantry is located in Washington, Virginia at the intersection of Blue Ridge Ave and Rte 211, but will be moving to a new location in the near future.  Donations are welcome.  Call 540-675-1177      (The pantry is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings 9am- 4pm with a volunteer staff).

IL TABARRO:  This short opera takes place on a barge/boat (a fantastic set) with the owner/captain and his wife.  They are having marital problems (we discover they lost their young baby)…she has an affair with one of the mates and they are MADLY in love.  The husband suspects, but cannot figure who it might be.  He finds out by accident when he lights his pipe after an argument with his wife.  The lover thinks the match is a signal from the wife to come aboard because her husband is asleep.  The enraged husband attacks the mate, makes him confess, and then KILLS him, strangling him to death.  He covers the body with his cloak.  When the wife comes up from below they bewail their problems and begin arguing.  He grabs her and THROWS her down atop the cloak.  Pulling the cloak back, she sees her lover and SCREAMS and SCREAMS….the drums are pounding in the orchestra, the horns and strings are vibrating furiously…. Ba ba BOOM…

What more can you ask?  IL TABARRO is the first of three operas presented as IL TRITTICO.   View remaining programs at www.CastletonFestival.org There is a 20% discount for Rappahannock residents.   ~ Rick and Kaye