Behind the scenes in House Key
A modern scene for a painting of King searching for Mosby through the woods on Spade in 1863
A friend, who had been cleaning out old boxes in her parents’ house, came across this photograph of her great-grandfather’s former home, dated 1929. She rushed over to show it to me, asking if I could guess which house it … Continued
A Pride of Place: Rural Residences of Fauquier County, Virginia by Kimberly Prothro Williams My rating: 4 of 5 stars This book offers a good overview of Fauquier County historic homes and their architectural history. It is well-researched and laid … Continued
Today, as the hunt season comes to a close, a reader shared this beautiful photo along with an excerpt from “House Key”: “The thrill of it, the rush of crisp morning air filling the lungs in a heart-pounding gallop across … Continued
We learn in House Key that it doesn’t take much for trees to come down around here. I think it was the overnight winds this Monday that brought the one in the picture crashing across our road — a tree big enough to block us in. Trees … Continued
I knew House Key would be set on Wildcat Mountain the first time I rode its trails years ago. Rich in visual and historic detail, the air is permeated with a spiritual quality that elevates the soul. If the climb doesn’t take … Continued
Love this view of Great Run! It’s an oil on copper by Patty Rice that absolutely captures the essence of one my favorite spots described in House Key. Jordan first introduces us to it in Chapter Four, Jury of Peers: “We reached … Continued
June is one of my favorite months of the year. There is always so much to look forward to, such as the annual Upperville Colt & Horse Show. I’m excited about attending this week, not only to see the hunter and jumper … Continued
“Chapter 30: Country Road” in House Key is not only about love and remorse but about celebrating things unique to Fauquier county that enrich the lives of its inhabitants. “Country Road” is about wild berries and wine, about how Jordan and Santiago … Continued
I didn’t believe my Smart phone weather app. It predicted a 50% chance of thunderstorms in half an hour. But the sky was as blue as innocence and I’m smarter than Siri. No way was there a storm coming, even though June … Continued
