This author has not written his bio yet.
But we are proud to say that vaobserver contributed 308 entries already.
by Jeff Feldman The first egg of the season came as a surprise. In sync with the shorter days of winter, our chickens tend to “lay off” for a while. I wasn’t expecting (eggspecting?) any eggs until late January or so. Yet there, on the 15th of December, tucked into the straw of the nesting […]
The Mysterious Bloodroot By Doug Pifer If you tramp the woods in early spring while it’s still freezing at night but the days start to warm up, you might run across a colony of one of my favorite spring wildflowers. Your timing has to be just right, because the milk-white flowers of the bloodroot last […]
An informal haunt for locals and travelers By Ethan Vaughn Tucked away on a second-floor corner of the Battletown Inn is a slice of Berryville’s real nightlife—but even though the Gray Ghost Tavern is named for a rumored phantom, the Inn’s owner insists that the only apparitions showing up there are the patrons. “They say […]
One Little Meal, One Momentous Accomplishment By JiJi Russell Try this little experiment: Close your eyes, and ask yourself, “What’s for dinner?” See what kind of response the question elicits for you. If you experience anything akin to stress: a racing mind, body tension, anxiety, agitation, or difficulty breathing, this article’s for you. Creating nourishing […]
By David Lillard Next time you go food shopping, save yourself the aggravation of hauling all those bags full of groceries home. Instead, take $40 of the hundred you plan to spend, and throw it in the trash—or nearest compost pile. If you’re like most Americans, as much as 40 percent of the food you […]
By Annie Young Life has stung for honeybees since 2005, when Colony Collapse Disorder hit hives and killed bees at astonishing rates. Beekeepers were unsure what was even causing all the deaths, and the numbers kept climbing. There are many potential reasons, from chemicals used to invasive mites to heavy commercial transporting of hives for […]
By Jennifer Lee Kermit the Frog sang that it wasn’t easy being green, and though he was referring to his complexion, the same could be said for “living green” in an age of immediacy, convenience, and lots of disposable stuff. Not so, says Cheryl Ann Ash, executive director of Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville […]
Faraway Places at Fire House Gallery Sometimes it’s a bucketful of seashells gathered by a child. Or the photograph of extended family at a picnic that time when everyone took vacation together lakeside. Or the menu from a café. The photographs, the postcards bought but never sent, or that commemorative cocktail glass from a mountain […]
DC Area “Ballists” will recreate an early version of America’s pastime as “Cranks” cheer them on! Historic Long Branch will host a vintage base ball (originally two words) doubleheader May 11, from 10am until 2pm. Visitors to the event will take a step back in time as they watch the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore take […]