As I get back into the blogging mindset, I decided to feature this heel/outfit combo because of its fall vibes.  Orange is such a fall color and a nod to pumpkin season.  The skirt and top are from Ann Taylor Factory and the Kenjay heels are from I.N.C. International Concepts, a Macy’s brand.  I love the sexiness of the d’Orsay style and mesh details.  So Parisian chic!   And a pair of stilettos will elevate any look, right?  😉

We stayed local for this photo shoot and what a treat I get to share with all of you, especially my history enthusiasts!  Mt. Aventine Mansion is a Southern Maryland treasure hidden on the grounds of Chapman State Park.  Dad discovered this spot while hunting for new photo shoot locations.  One fall weekend, we headed there hoping to find some fall foliage.  Unfortunately, the fall foliage continues to elude us as you saw in the cover shot.  Sigh…oh well. 

The mansion had various owners over the years, but between the mid-1950s and 1984, it was owned by Hungarian Countess Margit Sigray Bessenyey.   She was the daughter of Hungarian Count Antal Sigray, an aristocrat and politician.  Her mother was an American, Countess Harriot Daly, the daughter of Marcus Daly, one of the three Copper Kings of Montana.

Countess Margit was born on December 29, 1910. She was Catholic, European educated, and fluent in several languages. She loved reading and horses. Growing up on a 16,000 acre estate in Hungary, the Countess enjoyed breeding and training Hungarian Half-Bred horses. Margit had an idyllic childhood often traveling to Montana to visit her American grandparents at Bitterroot Stock farm, a race-horse farm.

Sadly, during World War II, her father was arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned at a concentration camp in Austria.  So, our tenacious and courageous Countess responded by joining the Hungarian underground Nazi resistance movement!

Fortunately, the family survived and relocated to the United States.  Needless to say, the Countess’ aversion to communism, totalitarianism, and despotism was a direct result of her harrowing experience under Nazi rule.  That trauma strengthened her resolve to help Hungarian refugees and she remained charitable to this cause the rest of her life.

After her grandfather’s death, Countess Margit inherited the Anaconda Copper Company (now ARCO Oil) as well as Bitterroot Stock farm.  She used some of her inheritance to purchase the historic Mount Aventine for $150,000.  She lived here part-time and used the farm as a place to raise and train her Hungarian Half-Bred horses.  The Countess is credited with designing and building extensive riding trails around Chapman State Park.  She also established Mount Aventine as a nature preserve by adding parcels of land.

Countess Margit kept herself busy indulging in her passions.  Love came later in life for her when she married former Hungarian diplomat, Baron George Bakach Bessenyey, in 1958.  Shockingly, the Countess lost her husband when he passed away 13 months later.  Despite her heartbreak, Countess Margit lived a full life.  She died in her hotel room in NYC of a heart attack on October 23, 1984.  She was found with a book in her hands.   

Of course, since it is Halloween, I would be remiss if I didn’t share a possible paranormal encounter at Mount Aventine.  After we were done photo shooting, I changed into flats because the terrain was not ideal for stilettos.  Dad led the way out and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw this:

It was a pacifier, reminiscent of the pacifier we encountered at St. Ignatius church at Chapel Point in Port Tobacco, MD.  See post here.  Of course, there could be lots of logical explanations, but what is the likelihood of randomly encountering 2 pacifiers in the same vicinity around the same time period?  Hmmm…

Have fun trick or treating!  Hopefully, more treats than tricks.  😉  Y’all know how much I love this time of year!  I’ve been watching horror films non-stop all month.  Gotta love AMC.  Lol!  And checking out Halloween attractions with my college bestie, Packy! 

We went to Markoff’s Haunted Forest last weekend with her son, Tristan, and my co-worker, Sherrell.  Every year, Packy and I seek a group with men to ask if we can join their group.  We’ve always been lucky.  This year, however, the worker manning the lines put us in a line by ourselves!  When we voiced our concerns about entering the forest alone, the worker responded, “Too bad, sucks to be you.”  EEECK!!!

As we were trying to figure out who would lead, another group lined up next to us and that group had plenty of guys.  Me being me, I volunteered a total stranger, Rob, in that group to lead.  So, he got up there with our group of four following him and his bigger group behind us.  Initially, Rob’s group was a little confused as to why he was with our group, but he said something to the effect of not having a choice.  LOL!!! 

At some point in the beginning, I jumped and grabbed Rob’s arm and then asked if that was ok.  He assured me it was fine and I was relieved to hear that.  Rob was a gentleman!  😊  The trail was long and full of expected and unexpected scares.  We screamed and laughed throughout the entire “haunted” trail.  We kept yelling, “there’s more?!” “When does this end?!”  But, well worth the experience.  It was so much fun!   Add Markoff’s Forest to your Halloween attractions for next year!  I highly recommend it!

There’s one last Halloween scare I will share that cracks my besties and I up every time we watch the accidental video.  While on our girls trip a few weeks ago, Packy, Tammy (childhood BFF), and I went to Barrett’s Haunted Mansion just outside Boston.  

Before we even entered to buy our tickets, the worker asked us to pose with this devil man and he would take our picture.  We couldn’t tell if the devil man was real or not so we were slapping him in the leg to see if he would move!  Well, the worker accidentally took video of us doing this and the scare we had soon afterwards!  

Again, have a great Halloween and weekend!  😊  OH…and get out and vote!  I voted early for the first time this election.  I loved it!  No lines.  I was in and out.  Until next time, enjoy the pics!

Take Care,

Lizzy