White (Day After) Christmas

Last Minute Christmas Shopping in Middleburg VA

I was back in Virginia for a couple of days prior to Christmas. Snow was on the ground and peppery Oak wood smoke hung in the air.

-I had a decision to make. Should we join the crowds on Rt. 66 at Fairoaks Mall or on I-95 at Potomac Mills? Third option. Take the beautiful back roads through The Plains, Warrenton and Upperville to shopping in Middleburg. Easy choice, really.

After completing my Christmas shopping, our final stop was at the town bakery. Full of tempting treats, we decided upon a few cookies to tide us over for the ride home.

We put caloric concerns aside and chose the bakery's claim to fame 'The Cow Puddle.' Lil' Bean snapped a picture before sharing it with me. Mmmmmm..... Buuuuuutttttteerrrrr...

Christmas Cheers!

The Grove Park Inn at Christmas Time

It's Chrismastime in North Carolina and I was recently lucky enough to be sent to a meeting at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. The historic Grove Park Inn shines during Christmas when its mammoth stone hearths and warm furnishings show off the abundent greenery and trimmings.

The Inn had been greatly expanded since my family last stayed there but I was really impressed with the state of the Inn. In the early 20th Century when the Inn was constructed, the Arts and Crafts Movement was in full swing and patent medicine baron Edwin Grove liberally applied those design concepts throughout the Inn.

Today, the Arts and Crafts Movement is still evident in the massive stonework throughout the Inn along with a very important collection of Stickley and Roycroft oak furnishings. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

Trailer Trad Grooming: Dr. Woods Peppermint Castile Soap (Re-shown)

When the zombies attack and everybody’s heading for the hills, Whole Paycheck (my term for that granola supermarket with Prius’ and Suburus filling the parking lot) is not the first place that I would rush to. However, there is one product there that will be bartered along with cordwood and genetically unaltered vegetable seeds. That product is Dr. Woods Peppermint Castile Soap.

This stuff makes a Swiss Army knife seem impractical. I have washed my hair with it, my face with it, put it in a pump and used it as hand soap and washed my clothes with it. In addition, you can wash your dishes with it. You can even wash off your vegetables with it. It is reasonably priced and lasts for a long time. It is perfect for camping or to have on hand at the weekend cottage. It epitomizes WASPy practicality and, boy, your buttondowns will smell better than ever!

Trailer Trad Attire: Recent Clothing Scores

Like a squirrel, I've been frantically running around, gathering up for the winter. But, in my case, that means digging up classic men's clothing that will keep one warm while in the duck blind, ski slope or campus (or cubicle, grocery store or laying on the couch).


In an estate sale jewelry box, I came across some old brass cufflink chain doohickeys that I can use to convert a button (or anything with an 'eye') into a cufflink. I did this to a couple of antique overall buttons. I'll keep looking for cool old buttons to try this with.

I found the Bean and Duxbak chamoise shirts at a great yard sale. -Remember Duxbak? I don't hear much about it but it really is one of the great heritage sporting goods brands. I remember that they used to have an outlet on the Eastern Shore of Maryland next to their factory years ago. The dog tie is excellent. I assume that 'Orvis Fishing Tackle - Manchester VT' is a tag from the 1970s.















You can't have too many lambswool sweaters and this Alan Paine number has been in heavy rotation. I've written about how much I like the wider 4.25 - 4.5 inch ties from the late 60s through the late 70s and how difficult they can be to find in all silk. This navy one knots great and looks good with about anything.

Nice grab at the local Junior League-sponsored thrift store. The Turnbull & Asser shirts fit great and are perfect with a tie or used as casual shirts. I wore the blue gingham one with my cashmere Fortnum & Mason jacket to the Montpelier Races steeplechase. I was ready to tailgate! The new old stock Levis have never been washed, were made in the USA and feel like NOTHING you can get at the mall!

Man, I love this flannel shirt that I picked up at a yard sale for $1. It's from the 70s or 80s and feels like a blanket on. It's sized as a XXXL! -Fits more like a full XL, though.