Casanova, VA

Two weeks ago I was showing some rural properties. In Prince William County where I live I border cookie cutter suburbia, and rural properties. Most of what I find buyers are interested in, particulary first timers, are the cookie cutter properties with all the amenities. This particular Sunday, I was helping a couple that were looking for something older, with some unique charm.

In our drive from one property to the other, I manuevered some byways I had never encountered before. Thank God for the built-in GPS, I never got lost. However, I did happen to pass an interesting property that caught my eye. And yesterday, my husband James in tow, I tried to retrace my tracks to find that property.

Low and behold, there it was: Neavils Mill in Fauquier County, VA. We walked around and took some photos. When we got too close to the pond, the bull frogs got anxious. Eventually, it sounded as though an army of them were getting ready to come after us. They'd synchronized their calls, making them louder and louder. Their nervous threats were heeded and walked away about five steps and the frogs quieted.

The Mill was less than exciting upon closer inspection, but a day off with my camera in hand, and nothing else to do seemed just perfect. Looks as though the Mill is currently being used as office space by an architectural company. Perhaps they are there temporarily to restore it and will move on. I can imagine this would be a great property for the County to rent for wedding receptions and other gatherings.