Required Equipment

The past few weeks have been a fury of activity for BTG and me. What with signing the papers on our new country home and beginning all the necessary improvements, I haven’t had much time for myself. Really. You should see my nails, they are in desperate need of attention.

What stirs me through all of the tireless renovations are the images of our future days in bucolic paradise, those which appear with every languid close of my eyes or during those last flickering moments of consciousness before slumber. In them, I’m adorned in full rural regalia with all the trimmings.

Alternative forms of transportation are mandatory.

Princess Sovereign by Pashley

Protective equipment, a non-negotiable.

Boots by Le Chameau

Heading to the market will no longer be dread-inducing.

Home Farm Store, Middleburg, VA

And new forms of nourishment will be discovered.

Victoria Sponge with Lemon Curd via Eating for England

Middleburg, Part Deux

Bow Tie Guy found himself a sartorial soul mate in Middleburg. With evident English-equestrian underpinnings and an abundance of bow ties, it wasn’t a matter of if he would indulge but rather to what degree. The details were enchanting. “Working buttons,” BTG exclaimed whilst examining jackets.



Middleburg’s most charming asset is its omnipresent wit. Take this display for The Tie Thing, a simple device whose function is to affix one’s tie to their shirt thus eliminating inappropriate tie behavior. The droll slogan was enough to compel BTG to purchase a set whose merit he’s appraising today.

Weekend Retreat: Middleburg, VA

Bow Tie Guy and I ventured out to Middleburg, Virginia on this sublime Sunday. Situated in the heart of Virginia Hunt Country, Middleburg is a cozy hamlet comprised of custom clothiers, countless antiques shops, and enough small-town charm to make the Modern Traditionalist squeal in delight. Steeped in history, this village was established in 1787 by the American Revolutionary War Lieutenant Colonel, Levin Powell. He purchased the land at $2.50 per acre from George Washington’s first cousin. What truly won me over, though, was the way in which such a traditional town embraced the modern world. Take, for example, the sign posted in the window of a women’s clothing retailer:



Now this is a town after my own heart!