Morning at the Sea Shanty

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I’ve spent the most wonderful weekend in Mathews County, Virginia, for the Blog Fest held at the home of Chesapeake Bay Woman. There were several places to stay in the area, and I lodged with five other women (two of whom I hadn’t yet met) in a little ranch home about 8 miles away from CBW’s place where all the action was happening.

It was quiet at our little place, however. Come on through the gate and I’ll show you around.

Nestled at the edge of the woods on the shores of Blackwater Creek sits the Sea Shanty, a small rental home owned by Ted and Molly who live next door, through the trees.

This is the path in front of the house which leads down to the water where a comfortable hammock awaits.

Each morning, after doing our exercises in the yard, we’d take the kayaks out for a bracing jaunt around the creek. That Daryl was such a taskmaster. “Stroke! Stroke”, she would command, in her New Yawk accent, as Annie identified the birds that we spooked from the edges of the creek.

Not really. I don’t think we took the kayaks out once but it was funny to think of this scenario. And honestly, the only exercising at our place was Shelley doing her morning yoga routine on the front porch.

I’m seriously thinking of taking up yoga. It looks so relaxing and wonderful.

The photo above was taken while sitting on the hammock.

I loved the hammock. And life was good.

This is where Ted and Molly live. They invited us inside for a tour of their wonderful home and told us some of its history. The house used to serve as a general store up on nearby Rte. 14 and was moved to its present location via land and then water. They bought the house at auction in the 90’s, if I remember correctly.

I don’t always remember correctly, however.

This sweet little cat spent a lot of time following us around. She and her people once had to move into the Sea Shanty after a flood forced them out of their big house. They stayed for several months while they restored and added onto their home.

The cat clearly enjoys having visitors at her former place.

After coffee and breakfast, we’d begin the short journey over to CBW’s place to see what adventures awaited us that day.

And there were always adventures. More to come.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Staying at the house were Lauren [Mental P Mama], Annie [The Tombstone Chronicler], Daryl [Out and About in NYC], Diane [Asthmagirl], and Shelley [The Baroness].

To visit the blogs of the incredible people who attended this year’s Blog Fest, visit Chesapeake Bay Woman at [this post] for links.

For more photos during the week, I'll also be posting on my other blog, [A Picture A Day].

I don’t think she knew what she was getting into

Late last Fall, an offhand comment by a visitor to the blog of Chesapeake Bay Woman casually suggested that she host a blogging getaway in her beautiful part of the world. I’m still not clear on how it happened (nor is she), but immediately, several bloggers signed on, saying “I’m in! Just let me know when it is!” I think the fact that people would travel long distances just to see the place she calls home surprised our hostess, and as more and more bloggers signed on to attend, a real plan was needed.

Angie (below) signed on as co-hostess of the event and Blog Fest was born. And thanks to their planning, I have just returned from the most wonderful four-day trip to coastal Virginia where I was able to meet fellow bloggers from all over the country, and Canada.

I was one of the last to sign on because I really didn’t know anyone who was going, but after meeting Lauren, Daryl and Annie a couple of months ago, it was easy to let them talk me into attending and I do love a good Road Trip. Diane and Shelley joined us and we all stayed in a fantastic little cottage on the water, about 8 miles away from CBW and crew. In fact, I may have had almost as much fun at our little home-away-from-home as I did at the actual Blog Fest.

I’ll post more about it later this week, but for now I will tell you that we toured the delightful Mathews County area, right along the Chesapeake Bay.

We walked along the shore and immersed ourselves in the wild beauty of the area.

 

I have no idea why I was so nervous about going because I met the most wonderful people. This is Laurie below.

We explored the remnants of an old tabernacle that’s now an historic landmark.

This is Diane, the famous Asthmagirl and let me tell you, I knew she was a kindred spirit when she showed up not only with a Nikon DSLR but with the very lens I have been coveting for over a year (the Nikon 18-200mm) and she let me try it out a bit. So I offered her the use of my macro lens. I think it was a fair trade.

A local waterman and his wife, both friends of CBW, took some of us on a boat tour. The boat ride on Mobjack Bay was perfect. From L to R are Ann Marie (steering), Auds, Meg, CBW (in the back), Lauren, Daryl, Annie and Diane.

As if on cue, dolphins began to follow the boat. What wonderful luck!

We saw a lighthouse . . .

. . . and went swimming on Gwynn’s Island underneath the most stunning skies.

It wasn’t only women who showed up on this retreat, either. This is CW, who came with his wife Nora. It was such a pleasure meeting the both of them.

And on the last evening, a party at the beach. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

  

I am still smiling. And I have some wonderful pictures to share with you.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

Midsummer escape

Everybody's talking at me.

I don't hear a word they're saying,

Only the echoes of my mind.

I'm going where the sun keeps shining

Thru' the pouring rain,

Going where the weather suits my clothes.

Backing off of the North East wind,

Sailing on summer breeze

And skipping over the ocean like a stone . . .

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I’ll be back Monday, my friends. Hopefully I’ll have some good photos to share with you. I need to be near the water, to feel the sand in between my toes, and perhaps have an adventure or two. I’ve auto-posted until then on A Picture A Day, my photo blog.

See you then,

Harry Nilsson lyrics, from Midnight Cowboy. [Florabella] textures. See my [Flickr page] for texture recipes.

Blue

I was so happy when I came home from work today! It was a beautiful day and I had wonderful news to tell my husband about the rental property in Maine we’d had our hearts set on. I was informed today by the rental agency that it was available on the week we’d chosen and I couldn’t wait to give him the news.

And then I opened my e-mail.

The agency had written me to tell me that the 98-acre preserve that was adjacent to the property and which we’d use to get to the beach had just this week posted signs warning “no dogs”. So to get to the beach, we’d be breaking the law by taking George. And we’d planned on walking him through those wonderful Maine forests adjacent to the house!

I almost started to cry.

I have spent countless hours scouring real estate agency and VRBO sites in vain. We have a one week window of time when we can go and it’s closing in. We’re also confined to a set price that we cannot go over. Plus we have a pet. We want a water view. We want privacy. I so wanted my husband to enjoy a vacation in a place that he loves. And now we’re back to the drawing board.

I realize how lucky I am to be able to even think about taking a vacation this year, with our limited funds, but still . . .

I’m just a little blue. I thought I had it licked. And if I had my choice between ding dang diddly and damnit, I think you know which one I choose.

I’ll get over it soon. I always do!

Love,

Hot signs in the city

One thing that always catches my eye is a unique sign. I saw a lot of them in New York City last weekend. My favorite was this one, at the Spice Market Restaurant.

Some day, I’m going to have a meal there. I hear it’s quite good.

I liked the font on this French country shoppe. And the cool ironwork out front.

Nobody seems to know what goes on here. Or what used to go on here. The world may never know.

It’s what’s for dinner. (Located down the street from [this place]).

The Wicked ad along the High Line is very noticeable.

Leonard Nimoy stars as Beethoven, among other things along this old storefront.

Too cha cha for words (my friend Margie’s favorite expression).

There are no words for this, however.

That was fun. Hope you enjoyed the little tour with me!

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

High Line photos from NYC

Warning: lots of photos in this post. I promised yesterday that I’d post a few photos of my trip to see the High Line, a new elevated park in New York City. I hope I didn’t go overboard.

The High Line was built in the 1930’s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan’s largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. The project gained the City’s support in 2002. The High Line south of 30th Street was donated to the City by CSX Transportation Inc. in 2005. The design team of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, created the High Line’s public landscape with guidance from a diverse community of High Line supporters. Construction on the park began in 2006. The first section, from Ganesvoort Street to 20th Street, opened in June 2009.

~Taken from “High Line History” on the [High Line official site].

I couldn’t help the last shot.

Thanks for stopping by, my friends. Until tomorrow, then . . .