We would like to thank all those who visited our website this year. Hopefully this has been a valuable resource for you as you chose where to buy or build a home on the Northern Neck. Here are some of this year's happenings with Packett Properties:

1) Packett Properties completed Town Center Village: a 16-unit, multi-family building in Warsaw, VA. Town Center Village is comprised of two 16-unit buildings that provides affordable luxury housing nestled between Rappahannock Community College Warsaw Campus and downtown Warsaw. Providing residents, great location to all of Warsaw's ammenities. To find out more, visit PackettRentals.com.

2) A waterview home was completed on Lot 10 of The Landing at Totuskey Creek. This beautiful home boasts an open floor plan, large kitchen and living area, a main floor master bedroom (with walk-in closet), bonus room, and multiple upgrades. The owner built the house as a 'trial' home and is now looking to sell it to build a waterfront home on Lot 2. Apparently the trial is over... visit Century 21 to see the listing.

3) A waterfront home is nearing completion on Lot 7 of The Landing at Totuskey Creek. The proud owners of this home have been integral in the planing and design process. Working closely with Packett Builders, Inc. the owners have had the home built  to their exact specifications.

4) Packett Builders, Inc. freshly renovated a waterfront cottage on Piscataway Creek. This home (now on the market) offers gorgeous views, private boat ramp, fresh landscaped yard, oversized deck for entertaining, deep water and detached shed for all of your nautical storage needs. With two master bedrooms (three total) ALL bedrooms have a view of creek. For more information visit OakStone Properties.

5) Homes, additions, and renovations. Packett Properties had the opportunity to work with customers in all phases of home construtction. Thank you for all those who turn to us for your construction needs. It's been a great year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

-From Packett Properties

1) The first Thanksgiving may not have included turkey.
While more than 700 million pounds of turkey is consumed (or left-over) from Thanksgiving dinner in the US. There was no specific mention of turkey in the early accounts of 1621. A group went on a 'fowling' mission but that could refer to ducks and geese. Because they lived on both costal and tidal waters, seafood like fish and mussels were most likely the meat consumed.

2) Pumpkin Pie wasn't served in 1621.
Unfortunately, the Pilgrims didn't have flour or an oven after their first harvest. They most likely had pumpkin and or squash, but it wouldn't have been served as a pie like we think of today.

3) The Pilgrims weren't the only Europeans in the New World.
We usually think of the Pilgrims as the only Europeans in America at that time. But there was also about 1,200 colonists in the Jamestown / Middle Peninsula / Northern Neck area of Virginia. There was very little, if any communication between these two groups at that time. The population in Virginia was significantly reduced by about 1/4th after the Indian Massacre of 1622.

4) The potatoes weren't there either...
Potatoes hadn't been introduced in Europe. If they had, they weren't common enough at the time to make a trip to the New World. There are records of eating other roots (yes, potatoes are a root) but there isn't any mention of eating roots and they definitely didn't eat potatoes.

5) Facts about turkeys:
If you're driving around the Northern Neck around dusk, male turkeys (toms) have a few distinguishing features: they're bigger (by about 8 to 10 pounds), they gobble (females make a clicking sound). If you're looking for signs of turkey, a tom's poop is spiraled while the hen's is J-shaped.

6) Thanksgiving isn't the only major holiday where turkey is consumed.
While Thanksgiving is the biggest day of turkey consumption. Christmas and Easter are the second and third biggest holidays turkey is most consumed. On the Northern Neck / Middle Peninsula you can have fresh turkey because, turkey season opens for one day in the Fall: Thanksgiving day.

7) Speaking of hunting, turkeys are very keen.
Don't move! A turkey can sense movement from over 90 yards away. A turkey can run 25 mph and fly up to 55 mph.

8) Eating turkey doesn't make you sleepy.
Turkey doesn't make you sleepy. When you eat a lot of food, particularly carbohydrates like potatoes and rolls, your body needs to digest. So you become sleepy so your body can use energy to digest the food. Similar to when you are sick and sleep a lot.

Now you have some talking points for your thanksgiving meal!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sources:
Smithsonian , History.com

Crab, specifically Blue Crab, is a staple of life on the Northern Neck. Residents all along the Rappahannock River take great pride in the food sources provided by the river. If you take a boat trip down the Rappahannock River and visit some of it's many tributaries, you'll definitely find crab fishing. Crab are harvested commercially but many of the pots and traps serve as a hobby/food source to river residents.

Similar to Oysters, external factors such as fertilizer, harvesting, and drainage has led to a reduced population of crab. Fisherman are some of the biggest supporters of protecting crab in the Rappahannock and Cheasapeake as they depend on healthy populations to support their livelyhood. Extensive efforts by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and non-profit organizations have put in place legislation and grants to support the overall health of the rivers that drain into the Cheasapeake Bay to preserve the rich habitat it provides.

'Picking' crab is a fun, unique experience that helps us appreciate what the tidal waters provide. Many people are apprehensive about being able to eat a crab. If you don't know, or are unsure about how to eat them, it can be a frustrating, long process that doesn't satisfy your appetite. There are youtube videos that will help you get the most meat out of a crab below is just one of many:

Whether you like to eat crab or just like the Northern Neck culture, crab are a favorite to the lives of residents on the Rappahannock.