Tower and Town, November 2020

  (view the full edition)

Colour Supplement: In Virginia

Having lived in many homes, I am appreciating enormously the one where I found myself at the beginning of the lockdown in March here in Virginia. I had just resolved a family dispute over a big chunk of mostly swamp land my cousins and I inherited from our two grandfathers. For years it had been a source of conflict among a few of the cousins, and a pain in the neck for the rest. As the largest shareholder, I felt I should try to resolve the situation. In a court case that took four years, I ended up with nearly 500 acres of forest and some great young ally cousins who wanted to keep our shares in the family and work together under a written agreement to maintain it as a wildlife habitat and sustainable hardwood forest.

That was October 2019. So when I arrived at the property in late February, with a long list of improvements to begin, the pandemic simply lengthened my stay. It is a half hour out to the grocery store, pharmacy, post office, bank, farm- & auto-supply and hardware; further to anything else; but I rarely need more. 

‘Weatherall’ is at the end of a five mile long country road and two miles of dirt track. I am alone out here, but should anyone want to try to reach me with less than kind thoughts, they have to pass a goodly number of neighbors, all with guns. ‘Trump’ signs and Confederate flags abound along the road, but they know me and will protect me. So I don't need a gun. Plus, all my neighbors planted huge gardens, of which I am beneficiary. One hunter friend even supplies deer meat. 

The Spring was very long and slow and lovely, lasting from March through June. July was very hot and dry and horrible, but with no bugs. Lots of work down in the bottom land. Then August arrived, with 100% humidity and 16 inches of rain, a huge bloom of edible mushrooms, and a voracious population of biting bugs: mosquitoes, deer flies, horse flies, gnats. The perspiration washes off bug spray quick as can be. Now we are getting a taste of autumn, with temps in the 70s and a breeze out of the north.

I greedily count the days I don't need to leave the property. Several of my neighbors are helping with major projects, like the barn and cabin rebuilds, the stone bridge reinforcement, walking paths through the woods, wisteria eradication. They have the big tools I don't have: tractors and excavators. Or we rent them. Everyone in the construction trades is working, as so many people are caught at home with nothing else to do. Since I can provide all sorts of projects in clean air and quiet, I’m a preferred customer. 

We don't wear masks out here, but I take one to the village for the interior places where one is required. There are no shortages at the stores anymore, and of course I can order online. The children are all headed back to school on the school buses now. So I am keeping away from friends’ children until I see how that works out. I may well be here through Christmas! 

Sally Adamson Taylor