Just Having Fun « Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Archive for the ‘Just Having Fun’ Category

Garden Week 2013 On Eastern Shore Virginia– The 80th Annual Event Sponsored By The Garden Club of Virginia

Monday, May 20th, 2013

The Beautiful Southern Tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia

April, 2013 marked the celebration of the 80th Annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia, presented statewide by the Garden Club of Virginia each Spring since 1929. This year’s official Garden Week book indicated that 178 homeowners all over Virginia, assisted by over 3000 volunteers from the 47 member clubs, opened their homes and grounds to public tours last week. Proceeds from the Tours help preserve the grounds of historic landmarks all over the state as well as to fund scholarships in landscape architecture. The Eastern Shore of Virginia has so many beautiful historic homes that have been preserved and restored that going to the Garden Week open houses here is always a delight. The homes that are selected are always great and the last week of April is a perfect time to show gardens in full bloom here on the Shore. This year six waterfront homes in Northampton County’s beautiful southern tip were opened for Garden Tours and we devoted our Saturday afternoon to visiting three of them, two historic and one quite contemporary home. Each was gorgeous in its own particular way. I only wish that interior photos were allowed because the architectural detail is often remarkable in these homes, as is the decor, including some outstanding collections.

Old Castle’s Elegant Approach

Our first stop was at Old Castle, home of Northampton County Supervisor Rick Hubbard and his wife, Kate. It’s a lovely traditional style home located on the Cherrystone Creek inlet from the Chesapeake Bay near the historic little town of Eastville,VA, seat of Northampton County, well known as the oldest repository of continuous court records in the nation. The house itself is of a telescoping design, a favored architectural style on the Eastern Shore in the 1700 and 1800’s, with a gambrel roof . The approach to the front door is through a double row of ancient boxwoods, taller than I am, and pressing close in, don’t think that someone the size of Pavarotti could have made it through without a bit of a push, not that I am the size of Pavarotti. Once inside the spacious foyer, which features a striking custom floor covering by well-known local artist, Mariam Riggs, it quickly became clear that a lot of love and work went into the restoration of this lovely home. My favorite interior architectural details were the two identical fireplace mantels in the parlor and the dining room. I’ve not seen any quite like them, multiple layers of thin carved wood in descending size, sort of like thin steps in descending order, apparently created from a single solid piece of wood, creating a remarkable effect, especially given the tools of that day. As part of the Garden theme, each room in a Garden Tour Home has a floral arrangement custom created to compliment the colors and feel of the particular room in which it will be placed. Lots of lovely floral pieces throughout this home, clearly a great deal of thought and effort went into these arrangements. Interesting collections abounded, especially Kate Hubbard’s amazing collection of salt cellars — an entire room is devoted to display shelves featuring nothing but salt cellars. All shapes and all kinds, crystal, silver, porcelain, from countries all over the world– who knew that the Chinese even used salt cellars or that German salt cellers were generally so ornate ? But the real showplace was the backyard where Mother Nature took over the limelight, including one of the most beautiful crape myrtle trees I’ve ever seen as a focal point. Fronting on the Cherrystone Creek inlet, Old Castle’s fabulous views spread right out to the Chesapeake Bay, totally awe-inspiring, I’m sure that sunsets are absolutely spectacular.

Pleasant Prospect Farm Front View of House

Pleasant Prospect Farm on Cherrystone Creek Inlet

Off next to nearby Pleasant Prospect Farm, a 170 acre working farm, home to retired 4 star Admiral William J. Flannagan, Jr., whose distinguished naval career included the very serious responsibility of being the Norfolk, VA based Commandant of the entire US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet. True to its name, Pleasant Prospect Farm is indeed quite pleasant, with a quiet approach through fertile waterfront farm fields , sun glinting off the glistening blue waters all the way down the driveway. Passing several outbuildings, including a two story garage with a castle-like appendage, we arrived at the main house, a very attractive Dutch colonial style with two huge pin oaks heralding the front entrance. The original section of the home can be dated back to the 1750’s. During restoration, support beams were found in their original, unfinished state, revealing a numbering system directing the order in which they were to be installed, a rare historic construction detail. The original wainscoting is also still in place which I believe is fairly unusual. A new kitchen has been added, large, luminous, with a lightly stained hardwood ceiling adding warmth and texture, a dream kitchen really,with every detail and convenience one could wish for right there, ready to take on anything from a simple omelet to a large dinner party. My favorite floral arrangement of the day was here, the long dining room table the display surface for a striking composition consisting of 5 small, dark green watermelons (or maybe they were citrons ), about 6 inches in diameter, handsomely striped, arranged in a zigzag pattern among fancy curled Lucky Bamboo stalks which had been arranged in delicate vases of a variety of sizes and shapes, but all in various hues of pale green, a pleasing contrast to the deep green of the melons. Absolutely stunning, kudos to the ladies who created it. Once outside in the backyard, we took a few minutes to peek into several of the numerous outbuildings, my favorite being an elegant little building, light-filled, housing a built-in marble jacuzzi, waters steaming and swirling, neck muscles could unwind just by looking at it. From there, Mother Nature took over the limelight again. If possible, even broader views of Cherrystone inlet and the Chesapeake Bay were on display here, simply inspiring, no other words for it.

Simple Yet Elegant Describes This Pickett’s Harbor Beachfront Home

Then, as they would say on Monty Python, now for something completely different. Leaving the Eastville area, we headed to the Eastern Shore’s very southern tip, past Cape Charles, nearly to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, to the Pickett’s Harbor area and a new beach house nestled into the rolling sand dunes of this unique topography. Unlike most homes on the Eastern Shore, this home is very contemporary, a single story home, almost a Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie style home, appearing as if it had just grown out of the ground, looking as natural here as any of the numerous trees and shrubs which surround it. Cedar sided, it blends quietly into the wooded setting right at the edge of the dune line. Yet immediately as you enter the house you realize that instead of just simply being in a beautiful woods you are actually on the edge of an amazing beach, that although the house is nestled into woods on the front side, the rear of the home is balanced on sparkling, rolling dunes, nothing but sand and swaying sea grasses for hundreds of feet, ending only at water’s edge, where a view of infinite blues takes over the eye’s focus. The house itself, designed by its architect owner, Tom Goffigan, an Eastern Shore native, now transplanted to the bright lights of L.A., is long and narrow, basically one room deep in many places, but each of these bright and airy rooms enjoy fabulous views of sparkling waters, glistening sands and golden sunshine. What more could be asked of such a pristine setting ? My favorite room was the screened porch, full house wide, built- in window seats spanning one entire end, framed with wide cedar cross posts forming a soothing pattern, breezes flowing through, laden with the tangy sea aromas. Outside, a long, low slung boardwalk zigzags unobtrusively from the house to the end of the dune line, providing an easy path to the beach and protecting the fragile dune vegetation from being trampled. This is a very handsome home, decorated with all sorts of Eastern Shore memorabilia, old maps, photos, antique fishing reels, a very restful space indeed, a great home to end our tour with. From there, after making a quick stop at nearby Nottingham Farm Market to pick up some tender, picked-that-morning-fresh local asparagus for dinner, ever so yummy grilled with lemon butter, we set out for home, a delicious spring treat in hand, the end of an interesting day. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr.,Machipongo VA)

Tags: 80th Annual Historic Garden Week in Virginia, Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Garden Club of the Eastern Shore, Garden Week in Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia historic homes
Posted in Entertainment, Gardening, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

May Is Barbeque Month On Eastern Shore Virginia – Make Way For Savory & Delicious

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

Actually, May is BBQ Month nationally but I like to think we really do it up brown ( pun intended ) here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. For such a slender little peninsula as ours, I think we’re lucky to have several luscious BBQ places here on the Shore, ( a special shout-out here to StingRays ), plus easy access to several more in nearby Virginia Beach, Whitner’s BBQ being my personal favorite in Tidewater. And a really well-known place, Pierce’s BBQ near Williamsburg, try to stop there to bring some carryout whenever we visit the historic area, at least 2 or 3 times a year. But some of the most delicious BBQ might be the homemade stuff, slathered with the family ” secret sauce”, ( the South being legendary for its love of BBQ and just about everyone has their special sauces and methods of cooking ), and served with time-honored favorite side dishes.

The flavor of the very first BBQ sandwich I ever had in Virginia surprised me completely, being used to what I now think of as typical Kansas City type tomato based sauces. Anyway, shortly after we moved to Virginia I was at a business meeting in Richmond where many of the other attendees were locals. When lunch break rolled around, they suggested what was described as a ” great BBQ place” nearby, which sounded good to me. At first bite I was surprised, not because it was so tasty, because I’d had many tasty BBQ sandwiches, but because it appeared to have no sauce, a “special sauce” being the holy grail of good BBQ. But , as promised by the group, it was really delicious, chopped pork, tender, moist, very flavorful. I told our server that I really liked it but wondered why it didn’t have any sauce. Honey, you aren’t from Richmond are you, said she, well, not only was I not from Richmond, I was brand-new to Virginia. Which is no doubt why I failed to recognize the premier BBQ sauce of Richmond, VA, boiled vinegar Sooey Sauce. Consisting of just vinegar, salt, a smidgen of sugar, black pepper and red pepper flakes gently simmered together for about 15 minutes and left to rest for at least 5-6 hours before tossing into fork tender pork which has been slow cooked in a smoker or covered grill and then coarsely chopped. As one can likely guess, this is now one of my very favorite BBQ sauces for chopped pork. Ribs, of course, are a different matter entirely and we’ll deal with ribs shortly.

So to make sure we are observing BBQ Month properly, very important indeed, we are going to turn a combo Mother’s Day/Dad’s B-Day party into a little cook off/pot luck, complete with whipping up several new and different sauces to evaluate. I am planning to try two great sounding sauces from amazingribs.com, the Chris Lilly Spiced Apricot Sauce and the Tennessee Holler Whiskey Sauce, both rib sauces. The plan is to grill the ribs, mopping them with the vinegar sauce to keep them moist on the grill, then glazing each rack of ribs with a different finishing sauce. Of course, a great BBQ isn’t just about the ribs, it’s about the accompanying side dishes. In fact, as I’m writing this little post, I have one ear tuned to NPR’s Sunday afternoon show, America ‘s Test Kitchen, and Chris Kimball is discussing the history of cornbread and the differences between Southern and Northern styles of cornbread. No question in my mind which is better, Southern style wins hands down. Made with almost no sugar and very little flour, just good ole yellow stone-ground cornmeal, eggs and buttermilk, it’s something you can sink your teeth into. Topped with a smear of butter and an ample drizzle of honey, now that’s a cornbread so delicious I don’t even feel guilty about abandoning my Northern roots to declare it the winner. And you must have cornbread at a BBQ, wouldn’t seem right without it, plus crunchy coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad with plenty of celery seed, fried apples and, of course, creamy, gooey mac and cheese. And at our house, either green beans or collards to help balance out all that starch ! So, we’re planning to do our part to celebrate BBQ Month 2013, hope everyone else is ready to enjoy this savory and delicious outdoor food. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed agent with Blue Heron Realty Co, 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, National BBQ Month, Souther style cornbread, StingRay's Restaurant, Whitner's BBQ
Posted in Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun, Regional Foods & Wine | No Comments »

Attending Cherry Blossom Festival 2013- In Virginia Beach VA

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

View of the two spans of the 17 mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel connecting the Virginia Eastern SDhore to the Virginia mainland.

The Beautiful Chesapeake Bay Bridge Seen From Fisherman’s Island area

Early April is the time of year when we usually look forward to going to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC. Unfortunately, this year we were not able to go. About three weeks ago, when I was bemoaning to a friend that scheduling conflicts were going to prevent us from going to DC, she mentioned that nearby Virginia Beach, VA also has a Cherry Blossom Festival, why not check it out ? There won’t be the fabulous blooms along the Tidal Basin, the National Mall or Parkway Drive said she, but it might still be interesting and fun. I took her advice and after some research found to my surprise that 2013 marked the Virginia Beach 9th Annual Cherry Blossom Festival. Who knew ? Anyway, that Saturday dawned bright and sunny, most welcome after all the spring rain we’ve had this year, a little breezy but expected to be near 60 degrees, a very pleasant day. So after lunch we decided to go for it, jumped in the car, zipped over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, waves sparkling in the afternoon sun, making a bee line for Redwing Park , about an hour’s drive from our house, planning to get there in time for most of the program, including the Taiko ensemble’s performance. (Another little plug for life on the Eastern Shore of Virginia is how close we are to the Hampton Roads area which is the 32nd largest metro area in the US. It’s like having your cake and eating it too– enjoy a low-key, relaxed rural feel here on the Shore but be able to access virtually every known metropolitan amenity in less than an hour in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, etc. Love it, love it, love it ! )

Taiko Drums At The Virginia Beach Cherry Blossom Festival

I was especially looking forward to the Japanese drums, called Taiko, which are really amazing, nothing like what we are used to as drums in a regular band. A Taiko drumming performance is something really special. Construction of these drums dates back to feudal times, many are very large, made from beautifully grained wood, highly polished, often about the size of barrels, most actually sit horizontally and can be played simultaneously by two drummers, one on each end. The rhythms are hypnotic, with point and counterpoint, played in long mesmerizing “songs” Historically, these drums were often used on the battlefield because their loud “voices” could communicate over long distances. Taiko were also frequently used in religious ceremonies in Buddhist and Shinto temples which had really fabulous drums, usually fashioned from trees with huge diameters, resulting in amazing drums with faces 10 to 12 feet across. Drums like this could not be easily moved and were played only by men who received special permission from the monks. The first time I ever saw a Taiko performance was about a hundred years ago, in the Japanese Pavillion at EPCOT. I was just transfixed by the “song” of the drums and their mesmerizing beat– in fact, I went around for days with the beat from one particular “song” replaying over and over in my head. Taiko drumming is quite demanding, not only because of the physical strength needed to control the depth of sound and the tempo changes, but also for the sheer physical endurance required. Certainly I wasn’t expecting professional quality taiko from the Virginia Beach group, called Soka Tiako, but they sounded great and looked quite colorful in their costumes, garnering lots of applause when their number was completed.

Dancing the flower dance at the Festival

Flower Dance At Cherry Blossom Festival

Lots of other terrific performances of traditional Japanese music and dance in addition to the Taiko were offered all afternoon. Among the most interesting was a group from Old Dominion University who played the koto, a zither type instrument about six feet long, with 13 strings, which creates the high pitched sound I most associate with Japanese music. The koto looks incredibly difficult to master and in speaking to one of the performers just before the show, I was assured that it is indeed difficult to master, even more so outdoors which involves a knack for playing while breezes ruffle one’s music sheets. The performers all wore traditional garb, kimono with obi, gorgeous and colorful. In fact, quite a few folks in the audience, both men and women, wore traditional garb which gave the whole event a very authentic feel. One of my other favorite performances was by the Virginia Beach Okinawa Sanshin-Kai band which played traditional three string lutes and featured a very sweet, almost ballet-like dance by a mother and her young daughter, both wearing beautiful kimono and elaborate “flower” hats symbolizing the first blooms of Spring.

For martial arts fans, various groups from around the city offered martial arts demonstrations throughout the afternoon including karate, judo and some a very proficient kobudo with impressive moves with the traditional swords. I personally am not into any of that but a lot of applause went their way from folks who are. Shopping is more my style and I enjoyed seeing some of the little gift items for sale in the tent area. The most popular item seemed to be a selection of colorful parasols, attracting gals and girls alike. In addition, the origami and calligraphy demonstrations were fun, lots of folks crowding around to get their names written in Japanese by some volunteers who were amused as they tried to write names like Henrietta and Martha in characters. A local rescue group for Akita’s was on hand with two of their charges, a handsome grey and a placid sand colored dog–I had just recently seen the Richard Gere film “ Akita” ( based on a true story) and we all agreed that it was a real tear jerker of a movie. Who can even imagine a depth of loyalty that would compel a dog to wait outside a train station each night for 9 years, waiting for his owner who was long dead ? Wow !

Tori gate at RedWing Park in Virginia Beach

Tori Gate in Miyazaki Garden at Redwing Park

Reflecting Pool At Miyazaki Garden

Apparently part of the impetus for the planting of the lovely cherry trees at Redwing Park, as well as for the creation of the Festival itself, was that about 14 years ago Virginia Beach established a “Sister City” relationship with the city of Miyazaki , Japan. This special relationship resulted in many cross-cultural exchanges and eventually in the city’s construction of Miyazaki Garden, a lovely traditional Japanese strolling garden, as well as the planting of hundreds of ornamental Japanese cherry trees in the Park. The trees were only in about 25% bloom that Saturday due to the cooler than normal Spring this year, but that was enough to see how gorgeous they were going to be this year. Miyazaki Garden was beautiful though, an early blooming tree leaning over a reflecting pond was the site of much photo taking, prompting me to take pics of people taking pics. All in all, as my friend forecast, it wasn’t the National Mall and it wasn’t the Tidal Basin, but the Virginia Beach, VA 2013 Cherry Blossom Festival was definitely quite nice and we’re glad we went.

( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA. )

Tags: Cherry Blossom Festival, Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Climate and Weather, Crafts, Entertainment, Gardening, Just Having Fun | No Comments »

A New Cape Charles Vacation Rental Home, Introducing “Beach Villa”

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Sand beach at "Beach Villa", a Cape Charles VA vacation rental home

Relax on the soft sand beach at “Beach Villa” on Eastern Shore Virginia

We get a lot of calls here at Blue Heron Realty Co. for a vacation rental home with lots of seclusion but with lots of amenities too and that’s usually a hard order to fill. However, we have just acquired “Beach Villa” as a Cape Charles VA area vacation rental. This exquisite villa style home, sleeping 10, offers water views galore plus old world charm and the use of its 37 acres with beautiful Virginia Eastern Shore Chesapeake Bay waterfront. Best of all, Beach Villa offers a gorgeous sand beach, private to the owners and their rental guests, offering wide soft, soft sands, glittering in the golden sun, perfect for relaxing under a beach umbrella, book in hand, some sweet Southern-style ice cold tea in the cooler. And as you wade from the beach into the Bay, the salty Chesapeake waters start out quite shallow but gradually reach swimming depth so bring your mask and snorkel to check everything out. Surrounded on two sides by a pristine little freshwater lake, imagine waking up in the serene environment of this home to the calls of seabirds overhead and waterfowl out on the lake. Love jogging ? Imagine the pleasure of making lazy circuits around 37 acres surrounded by such natural beauty. Surely this is a vacation opportunity extraordinaire.

Aerial view of "Beach Villa", a beachfront home near Cape Charles VA

“Beach Villa” offers old world charm on 37 acres near Cape Charles VA

With 3 bedrooms and 3 and a half baths plus a day bed in the sunroom, there is plenty of room to catch up on some sleep in this nearly 4000 sq. ft. home. Large great room with living and dining room groupings plus a gourmet kitchen make conversation with your group a breeze. The gas log fireplace in the living area is perfect for cool fall evenings. Sliding glass doors lead from the great room to the spacious fieldstone patio overlooking beautiful flower beds, the lake and the Bay, the perfect spot for a steaming cup of morning coffee. Paneled den and enclosed sunroom provide additional space for just relaxing, letting the mind and body unwind in this gorgeous setting. First floor master suite, so convenient, with a master bath which includes jacuzzi tub with marble surround. Everything about this home is top of the line, you will not be disappointed by selecting this home for your vacation.

Aqua Restaurant at Cape Charles offers fine and casual dining on the Chesapeake Bay

Be Sure To Try The Delicious Seafood At Aqua Restaurant During Your Stay

Nearby amenities include Kiptopeake State Park, Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge and the Rails to Trails jogging/biking trail. The historic little Victorian town of Cape Charles is less than 10 minutes away and offers restaurants, shops, art galleries, marinas,boat ramps, train rides, special events, holiday parades, etc., as well as Palmer and Nicklaus Signature 18 hole golf courses. The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a terrific spot for a relaxing, low-key vacation, for what we like to call ” Simply Relaxing The Shore Way“. From A for Artist Galleries to Z for Zesty clam dip, there is nearly an endless list of things to do and see here on the Eastern Shore. Savour sunset strolls on the beach, kayak to our unique off-shore Barrier Islands, charter a deep sea fishing trip, treasure hunt in our antique shops, attend a live performance at the Palace Theatre, ride horseback along waterfront trails, explore our little coastal towns, visit a local winery, get wet clamming, enjoy a superb seafood meal at Aqua Restaurant, see the artifacts of yesteryear at the Barrier Island Museum. ( By the way, the Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival will be held this year the weekend of June 14-16, an exciting event for adults and kids alike. Three tall sailing ships will be in port offering open deck tours and day sails, the Navy’s USS Tornado will also offer tours, individual owners will be there with their sailboats, skipjacks and antique “buy boats”, the harbor will be bursting with great stuff. Plus loads of other activities are part of this Festival, it’s a really fun-filled event. ) But whatever you do, memories of your Simply Relaxing Eastern Shore Vacation will stay with you forever. To reserve your week at Beach Villa, email us at easternshorevacations@blueheronva.com or call 757-678-5277. (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA)

Tags: "Beach Villa" vacation rental, Aqua restaurant Cape Charles Virginia, Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Cape Charles vacation rental homes, Cape Charles Vacation Rentals, Chesapeake Bay waterfront home, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Kayaking, Nature, Palace Theatre Cape Charles Virginia, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival, Vacation Rentals on Eastern Shore Virginia
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Golf, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Third Time Is A Charm For The Wallop’s Island VA Launch Of The Antares Test Rocket

Monday, April 22nd, 2013

A quick up date to my recent post on the scrubbing of the test launch of Orbital Science’s Antares rocket from the NASA Wallop’s Island Flight Facility on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. The purpose of this test launch was to demonstrate the commercial viability of this rocket as part of a NASA program to move a good deal of the space program into private enterprise. In fact, the success of this launch will secure for Orbital contracts for 8 resupply missions to the International Space Station, missions I believe are now being flown by Russia, which is being well compensated for same I’m sure, so it will be nice to see that money stay right here in the good ole US of A. But the part that still amazes me, astounds me actually, is that this entire effort is taking place on the northern border of the Eastern Shore, surrounded by the bucolic bays and salt meadows of the Assateague Wildlife Refuge, being as closely observed by the herd of Chincoteague wild ponies as by the throng of national media reporters staged here for this launch. Because as unlikely as it seems, something about the exact physical location of Wallops Island makes it one of the few places in the US which is perfectly positioned to most easily thrust a payload into orbit. Who would have thunk it ?

Dinner at Wrights Seafood Dinner At Wright's Seafood Restaurant Near Wallop's Island VA

Seafood Dinner With Hubby & Grandson At Wright’s Waterfront Restaurant Near Chincoteague VA

On Wednesday, after having rushed up to Wallops to see the first lift-off attempt which was unfortunately scrubbed at T minus 12 ( space jargon for cancelling the whole darn thing 12 minutes before the witching hour) because of an umbilical problem (more space lingo meaning the thingamajigg connecting to the back end might fall off too early ), we spent the rest of the evening having fun with our grandson, visiting the Refuge and having a seafood dinner at Wright’s. The flight was rescheduled for Saturday so once again, zip-zip, a one hour drive up to Wallops only to discover once we got there that it was cancelled again, this time because of excessive upper level winds ( space-speak for it’s too darn windy out there). Why on earth they couldn’t decide that an hour earlier rather than a half hour earlier is a mystery to me, but there we were again, launchless in Chincoteague.

Antares rocket contrail as seen from our Eastern Shore VA backyard

The Antares Rocket Contrail Photographed From Our Eastern Shore VA Back Yard

NASA’s mission update website showed Sunday as the new reschedule date, with 5 pm designated as zero hour. So about 2 pm on Sunday we started trying to decide whether to make that whole two hour round trip for yet a third time. But since it just seemed so windy, leaves were rustling in the trees, the wind chime on the back deck was singing its little heart out, even our Soleri wind bell was clanging away, Hubby and I both agreed that no way are they doing to launch this thing today. Ha, talk about famous last words ! We flipped on NASA TV, channel 184 courtesy of Dish, about 4:30 just to double check. Voila’ , the countdown was pressing on ! I just couldn’t believe it, the mission had not been scrubbed because of the wind. And so after two false alarm trips to see the real thing, we were now going to have to watch it on TV instead of getting to see, hear and feel the entire experience parked just across Watt’s Bay from the actual launch pad. Anyway, I got my camera ready because we were pretty sure that if we rushed outside right after liftoff we would be able to see it by looking northeast across the lawn. And sure enough, there it was , streaking across the sky at a fair clip, 7900 mph according to the NASA commentator. Got a pretty good picture of the puffy white contrail, would much rather have had one of the lift-off, but it was exciting nevertheless. Congrats to all involved, a new day has dawned for Wallop’s Island, or I should say, for the the Eastern Shore’s new Mid-Atlantic Spaceport ! (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo VA )

Tags: Antares rocket launch, Assateague Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Island VA, Eastern Shore of Virginia, NASA Flight Facility at Wallop's Island, Orbital Sciences Corporation, Virginia Eastern Shore
Posted in Business, Climate and Weather, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Tech | No Comments »

Antares Rocket Launch On Wallops Island VA Scrubbed But We Had A Great Time Anyway

Thursday, April 18th, 2013

NASA photo of aerial view wallops island va launch pad

NASA Photo of Rocket Launch Pad At Wallops Island VA

It’s still hard for me to believe that the Eastern Shore of Virginia has entered the Space Age in an important way at Wallops Island, located at the extreme northern portion of the Virginia Eastern Shore just a few miles from the Maryland state line, nearly an hour and a half from our stomping grounds in Cape Charles VA. Wallops Island has long been home to what I have generally thought of as a rather remote NASA outpost for launching weather satellites, etc., but no longer, its entered the big time. Now named the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport and an important part of a NASA program to commercialize space efforts, Wallops is about to begin a whole new life as the re-supply location for the USA team’s efforts on the International Space Station. For reasons which I don’t entirely understand – it is rocket science after all – the physical aspects of Wallops, latitude, longitude, something, make it one of the few places in the US perfect for launching satelites and launching rockets with payloads into orbit destined for the Space Station. So now a company by the name of Orbital Sciences Corporation has a contract with NASA to fly 8 resupply missions to the Space Station from little ole Wallops Island and is in the process of test flights of its Antares rocket and its companion Cygnus cargo spacecraft there. ( The Orbital Sciences story is pretty interesting in and of itself because it was the brainchild of the folks behind Pay Pal. Who could have guessed that all those little Pay Pal fees would be enough to launch a brand new space enterprise ? )

People leaving after Antares rocket launch scrubbed at Wallops Island June 17, 2013

Leaving after Antares rocket launch at Wallops Island scrubbed 4/17/13

Which brings us to yesterday. My husband, who loves the concept of flying in outer space, thought it would be interesting for us to go watch the launch of the Antares rocket and educational for the young grandkids to see it too. Unfortunately, one was out of town, one was home with a fever, which left just one able to go with us. So off we went, Hubby, 11 year old grandson who is in the Rocket Club at school, and moi, a little bit on the late side, surprise, surprise, but we made good time, remembered to slow down at Temperanceville so as not to get caught in their 45 mph speed trap, ( still looking for temperance in Temperanceville, which by the way is only a short distance from Modest town) . We took a back road to a little neighborhood which we knew overlooked one of the small bays between the mainland and Wallops which we thought would offer a great view and not be too crowded, arriving a mere 10 minutes before launch time. No sooner had we pulled into the only parking spot left on the whole road and begun walking across the grass to where about 50 other folks had lined up folding chairs to watch the event, when somebody shouted out, Mission Scrubbed and everyone began to leave. We waited around a bit, from our vantage point we could see everything perfectly, the rocket standing tall on the launch pad and then puff, a huge cloud of smoke, apparently from oxygen being released because of mission cancellation, still exciting to witness even without the liftoff.

Chincoteague Ponies Have Distinctive Markings

With a couple of hours of daylight left, we decided to drive to the nearby Assateague Wildlife Refuge, home of the well-known Chincoteague wild ponies. The ponies, made famous by the book Misty of Chincoteague, are part of the annual Chincoteague Pony Swim conducted in July each year by the volunteers of the Chincoteague Fire Dept. who care for this little herd of distinctively marked wild horses, compact in size, who live in the marshes, eating primarily salt marsh grass and sweet hay that the firemen put out for them in the winter. After swimming across the channel from Assateague to Chincoteague during the Roundup each year, the young ponies are auctioned off, the proceeds supporting the costs of maintaining the herd . Pony Roundup Day is a huge tourist day, with literally hundreds of thousands of folks visiting Chincoteague for the Swim, which is the reason why I’ve never attended. I just can’t imagine swiveling my neck 180 degrees around for a glimpse of a horse with 200, 000 other folks crowded round trying to see the same thing. But during the rest of the year it is not unusual to spot a pony or two when driving through the Wildlife Refuge. Didn’t see any ponies yesterday but we did decide to stop along the oceanfront beach and watch the waves rolling in for a bit. But even more fun was watching a fellow who was getting into surf casting big time, three extra fishing poles stuck in the sand and making some hefty casts into the rolling surf with the fourth. Didn’t catch anything while we were there but he seemed to be having a mighty fine time anyway.

By consensus, Wright’s Seafood Restaurant just a few miles away was selected as our dinner destination. Wright’s is located right on Watt’s Bay and I do mean right on— the front pilings of its foundation are actually right in the water. So if you want to enjoy waterviews during dinner, Wrights is a great option if you’re near Assateague. In business since 1971, Wright’s is famous for it’s Flounder Imperial, a fillet of juicy flounder layered with crab imperial and gently browned under the broiler. The sun was low in the sky as we pulled into Wright’s , the views were lovely, the three of us had a great time discussing the rockets our grandson is helping build in his school’s Rocket Club and looking at some images from the the NASA app on the iPad while waiting for dinner to arrive. A fine time was had by all even though the mission was scrubbed — and we still have hopes of trying again when the launch is rescheduled. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Antares rocket launch, Assateague Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Pony Swim, Chincoteague VA, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, wallops island va
Posted in At the Beach, Climate and Weather, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Tech | No Comments »

5 Tips For Investing In A Second Home On Eastern Shore VA & Considering Doing Vacation Rentals To Help Defray Carry Costs

Monday, April 15th, 2013

Aerial view of southern tip of Eastern Shore VA showing Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean

Eastern Shore Virginia Beautiful Southern Tip

For those considering investing in a leisure home, the beautiful southern tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia offers buyers an amazing variety of lifestyle choices as well as some opportunities to offset mortgage payments with income from weekly vacation rentals. And especially with the great deals and the low interest rates currently available, now is a great time to consider the purchase of a leisure home with a lifestyle that can make you feel like it’s vacation time all year long ! For those seeking to discover their inner mermaid , consider a beach home offering soft sands and pristine swimming waters. For boaters, how about a beautiful waterfront home with a backyard boat dock ? Virginia’s Eastern Shore offers mile upon mile of saltwater shoreline to cruise by power boat, sailboat or kayak. For golfers, what better home course than the Arnold Palmer Signature course and the companion Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Bay Creek ? For those who love small towns and historic homes, consider the fact that settlement of the area which is now Northampton County VA begin before the Mayflower ever hit Cape Cod Bay ! I’m guessing that nearly a thousand historic homes still exist on the Shore, some of which are for sale. Dreaming about a place in the country , on a spacious land parcel ? Got it in spades ! And since the main economic engine for Northampton County is still agriculture, if owning a farm with all the possibilities – from growing crops to raising alpacas or horses- that owning a farm offers, well, we have a few farms for sale too. Soooo……. how to get started ?

Tip # 1. It’ s really important to decide on the lifestyle you want to pursue. I know that this seems like it should be easy and possibly self-evident but it’s not. In fact, in my experience working with our real estate customers, there is usually a lot of soul searching that goes into that decision since so many folks have multiple interests and settling on the main one is not necessarily simply. Especially if the likes and dislikes of multiple people need to be factored into the equation. Nowhere is that more evident than in the choice between a beach home or a boating home. You might wonder why that is– usually it’s because one party prefers beach but the other loves boating and wants a backyard dock, leaving the conumdrum of which person will have to drive to get to the marina and/ or the beach.

Tip # 2. Decide on your purchase price budget. This is a bit easier than it seems because as realtors we can help you with this. Once you decide on the monthly payment amount you don’t want to exceed, we can work forward to give you a general home price range this monthly payment will handle. Given today’s historic low interest rates, I think you will be exceedingly pleased at the price range home that your stipulated payment will control in the current market.

Tip #3. Start previewing homes on- line to get a feel for the homes available in your price range with the lifestyle amenity you selected in step # 1. Blue Heron’s main website, www.blueheronva.com , is organized by lifestyle, we’ve tried to make it easy to locate the type of property you want without searching a hundred other things first. ( In fact, we have gotten a lot of complements on how user- friendly our website actually is.) Each property has an individual data sheet that can be printed or bookmarked, making it easy to keep track of any particular property. And don’t forget to order our free prime property catalogue, on-line from our home page or call 800-258-3437.

Tip#4. Make an appointment to come visit the Eastern Shore and see our beautiful properties for yourself. The Shore is a relaxed, low-key area with wide open green spaces and a comfortable rural feel, interspersed by small coastal towns and historic villages. And for icing on the cake, Northampton County is less than an hour’s drive from the Hampton Roads area ( Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake), the 32nd largest metro area in the US. We’re not for everyone of course, plenty of day-to- day shopping but no huge malls, not much for bright lights and loud music . But if Capt. John Smith’s 1609 comment about the Shore appeals to you: ” Heaven and Earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitation” then you might be a great candidate for the Shore. Life on the Eastern Shore is like having your cake and eating it too, a relaxed lifestyle here but access major shopping, cultural and culinary amenities ( plus an international airport) within 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the neighborhood you select. Many of the folks purchasing a leisure home on the Shore are intending to live here full-time in the future, possibly for retirement or relocation, so then having metro type amenities within easy driving distance becomes more inportant in the overall equation.

Tip#5. Decide if you want to defray some of your carry costs by doing weekly vacation rentals. Blue Heron offers a vacation rental department which can handle rental and most of the management of your vacation home. When you visit the Shore to look at properties we can introduce you to our Vacation Rental Manager who can discuss the program with you. We work with owners to set up a schedule of the weeks during summer that they want personal use of their home and the weeks they want to rent it. May to September is the main vacation season here which leaves plenty of time during the rest of the year for lots of additional personal use. Since Virginia’s Eastern Shore has a terrific climate, with long pleasant Springs and Falls, you can get a lots of use and pleasure out of your vacation home while still defraying some carry costs by doing vacation rentals.

Hopefully these 5 tips were helpful. We would love to hear from you and show you some of the great deals out there right now. With the deals available and the current amazingly low interest rates, we think it’s a great time to consider investing in one of our beautiful Eastern Shore homes regardless of whether or not you are thinking of becoming a part of a vacation rental program. So give us a call at 800-258-3437 to make an appointment or to order your copy of our free prime property catalogue. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo VA )

Tags: Bay Creek Golf Resort real estate, Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Cape Charles Virginia, Cape Charles Virginia historic home for sale, Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, Virginia beachfront property, waterfront home for sale
Posted in At the Beach, Business, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Aqua Restaurant- Still Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely

Thursday, April 4th, 2013

Aqua Restaurant Easter Brunch

Having scheduled the family Easter dinner for Saturday, which came off quite well, including trying a new ( new to me anyway) version of ham from costco which everyone loved, an excellent Applewood smoked full length de-boned ham which had been cut in half vertically rather than horizontally, we had decided that brunch at the “new” Aqua would be just the ticket for Sunday. After a winter’s hiatus, which included a change in ownership, a bit of re-decorating and some staff changes, I was curious to see if the beautiful Aqua Restaurant, which overlooks the Chesapeake Bay in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia just re-opened on Friday, had retained its old charm. And more importantly, its fine flair for preparing regional cuisine. I hoped for the best but feared for the worst as we walked through the door on Sunday but, happily, my fears were for naught as the answer to my first question was a resounding “Yes, Shelly Cusmina is still the head chef.” So, off to a good start in its new iteration, still, as Cole Porter would say, ” Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely.”

Aqua is well known for its tradition of delectable Southern-style cuisine for holiday brunches and Sunday’s food definitely did that tradition proud. If Paula Deen had been there she would have said that they had outdone themselves with this luscious meal, nary a foot put wrong. Although Aqua’s regular lunch and dinner menus are geared towards fine dining, emphasizing the fresh seafood from our Chesapeake Bay region, its brunches often feature some classic Southern dishes that don’t appear on the set menu, including some of the best mac and cheese I have ever tasted, smooth, really creamy. And an ode should have been written to the fried chicken, that’s how good it was, crisp flakes of crunchy coating, mouthwatering tender chicken , accompanied by plenty of spicy Crystal hot sauce. ( You might be a Southerner if you can’t really enjoy fried chicken without an ample sprinkling of pungent hot sauce, preferably Crystal or Texas Pete brand. ) And rounding out the “must-have” trifecta of mac and cheese and fried chicken is, of course, a mess of collard greens. Now the important thing about collards (besides needing to be cooked until very tender ) is that they must be “well seasoned” which is a catch-all description for the rich peppery ham flavor that proper collards are supposed to have. Adding little chunks of smoked country ham or smoked side meat is the best cooking method to give collards the sort of sweet-salty tangy flavor that no holiday table in Virginia is truly complete without. And speaking of not complete, light as air biscuits are also a must serve, in Aqua’s case, feather-light sweet potato biscuits.

There was, of course, a separate omelet station stocked with choices of just about every ingredient one could wish to be added to a fluffy omelet. I’m not really a breakfast person so brunch for me might as well just be called lunch but Hubby is just about the opposite and prefers the breakfast side of a brunch. In addition to the omelet station, a huge poached salmon cleverly decorated with cucumber slice “scales” accompanied by a mellow dill sauce, pan-fried Yukon potatoes, mini- sausage links, fluffy blueberry pancakes, bagels and rich flaky pastries were available for the breakfast foodies. Plus gorgeous fruit trays filled one end of a table, offering a wide selection of fruit including some very tempting strawberries, gorgeous, vivid red with an amazing bouquet and ambrosial Hawaiian pineapple slices, literally dripping with juice, a whole array of delights. It was a lovely event, enjoyed in good company, proving once again that a meal at Aqua’s is still “Delightful, Delicious, De-lovely ” ! (Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7135 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA. )

Tags: Aqua restaurant Cape Charles Virginia, Cape Charles Virginia, Chef Shelly Cusmina, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Southern style food, Virginia Eastern Shore
Posted in Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Regional Foods & Wine | No Comments »

Gorgeous 90 Acre Farm Near The Water For Sale On The Eastern Shore of Virginia– Perfect For Hobby Or Commercial Farming

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

Aerial view of 90 acres farm near Nassawadox VA

Aerial view of 90 acre farm near Nassawadox VA

For anyone thinking of buying a farm or little farmette here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and getting “back to the land” so to speak, you’ll be in good company. For literally hundreds of years, the traditional economic engines of the Eastern Shore have been seafood harvesting, commercial farming and small family truck farming. In fact, Northampton County, Virginia still has some of the most productive farms in the entire state. But like everything else, things change and some of the smaller farms are being purchased by folks who aren’t planning to make a full-time living in farming but who are interested in getting involved in doing something on the land, even if it doesn’t provide their full-time living. Blue Heron Realty Co. has just listed a beautiful 90 +/- acre farm near the water with exceptional soils and a great location, a property which would be absolutely perfect for starting a small farm operation. From raising horses to planting a boutique vineyard to setting out a few acres of organic tomates to a raising a small herd of alpacas to becoming a serious beekeeper, there is a lot of fun and satisfaction that comes with getting back to a simpler life with hobby type farming and this particular farm could help in getting started on that path. ( For more information on this property, go to www.blueheronva.com/farm_for_sale/ ) Obviously a back to the land life is not for everyone but, as a Realtor, over the years I’ve had a lot of fun and satisfaction helping some very interesting folks, from all sorts of professions, find just the right little farm or farmette here on the Eastern Shore from which to create a new lifestyle and move in new directions with their life.

Raising alpacas can be lots of fun

For example, we recently represented a client who bought a 20 acre parcel from a seller who whose company was promoting and transfering him to the West Coast. The seller, an executive with the Virginia Beach branch of a large firm who commuted for 5 years from the Shore to Virginia Beach daily, had acquired, a couple at a time, a little herd of cute, cute, cute alpacas. He said that when he first moved to the Eastern Shore he had absolutely no idea that he would get interested in farming and now, just a few years into it, the hardest thing for him about the entire move was having to leave his alpacas. He and his wife had totally fallen in love with being out and about on their farmette, raising these gentle, fleecy beauties had become a life-changing experience !

Get in touch with your inner cowboy

That really isn’t really unusual on the Eastern Shore– I know so many folks who have some acreage who are doing all kinds of ” back to the land ” things with their property. The important thing is to have a parcel of land with rich, well-drained soils because whether its growing a crop or doing animal husbandry, soil structure and drainage is critical for both crops and pasture lands. A lot of folks here have horses, some for show, others for breeding. I even know one couple who has built an amazing dressage show ring on their waterfront acreage, complete with bringing a special trainer in from the West Coast to work with their very talented horses. Lots of other folks here have just a couple horses and love to participate in the formal Trail Rides sponsored bythe Eastern Shore Trail Ride Association.

Another client who recently purchased about 10 acres of beautiful waterfront is looking forward to managing a small herd of milk goats when they build on their property. Their hobby is making goat cheese and cheese making is a real passion for them. Not only do they make the soft, creamy goat cheese that has the lush tang and is so nice when mixed with herbs but they also make a rich form of feta cheese, one of my husband’s favorites– give him a little feta, crispy crackers, some salty Greek olives and a glass of Cabernet , he’s set. Dealing with goats and making goat cheese would not be my thing but these folks absolutely are looking forward to it as their retirement activity, something with a challenge to keep them active and something to bring them in closer touch with the land. And I am looking forward to easy access to a steady supply of their flavorful homemade goat cheese !

Open land for cultivating near Nassawadox VA

Rich sandy loam soils perfect for cultivation, pasture, horticulture and much more

Which brings me back to the excellent 90 acre farm for sale near Nassawadox. Tremendous possibilities abound for uses for this property. The soils are BOJAC, the best soil type on the Eastern Shore, rich, sandy, well-drained, perfect for any use whether cultivation, vineyard, orchard, horses, alpacas, honey bees, etc. You name it, this is a great piece of property for all sorts of land -based activities. About half of the property is in woodlands, the balance is in open fields. Location is great, within 15 minutes of shopping , boat ramps, beaches, premier golf, medical, restaurants, etc. yet far enough away that you feel that you are out in the country, possibly a twenty first century pioneer, a rare opportunity indeed. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed Virginia agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Blue Heron Realty Co. Machipongo and Cape Charles, Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Eastern Shore Virginia real estate, farming, Farming in Northampton Co. VA, Farms for sale on Eastern Shore VA, Nature, Raise horses on Eastern Shore, Real Estate, Virginia Eastern Shore
Posted in Business, Climate and Weather, Gardening, Horse Properties, Just Having Fun | No Comments »

A Wee Bit O’ The Irish On Virginia’s Eastern Shore

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

It’s getting to be that time of year again, the time when we enjoy a wee bit o’ the Irish here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Neither Hubby nor I have any Irish roots nor have we ever been to the Emerald Isle but we love all things Irish. Well, maybe not all— can’t stand smoky pubs, bitter Guinness stout, carrageen moss in food, potatoes mashed with kale or cabbage, called colcannon, etc. But I do love the color green— shamrock green, apple green, sea green, olive green, forest green, all great. The concept of leprechauns and pots of gold at ends of rainbows is truly delightful. And we both really enjoy Irish hardshoe dancing, the amazing sounds of the bodhran, the Irish frame drum, and of course, the favorite drink of the Irish …… tea ! ( Did you think it was beer ? Somewhere I read that the Irish are the world’s biggest tea drinkers, with a per person average of 6 cups a day and that, by law, all restaurants and pubs must serve tea during all open hours. Little trivia, just sayin.)

So, March 17th is fast approaching, the day when I always like to indulge my taste buds with a little Irish cuisine and atmosphere. Haven’t decided yet whether to do Shepherd’s Pie at home or to go out to one of our two Eastern Shore authentic Irish Pubs, Kelly’s Gingernut Pub or The Blarney Stone, both of which serve mouthwatering food accompanied by live traditional music on St. Paddy’s Day.

Kelly’s, located 3 blocks from the beach on Mason Avenue in the historic district in Cape Charles, VA is always a great choice, with some of the Shore’s best fish and chips served daily. On St. Paddy’s Day they go all out with traditional favorites– Corned Beef and Cabbage, a savory Irish Stew served with soda bread, Cottage Pie, a salmon dish, mussels, etc. , all well prepared and scrumptious. And of course, a pint or two of the good stuff with which to wash it all down would be in order, all the while toe tapping to some real Irish jigs.

In Onancock, on North Street, just 3 blocks from the Town Wharf, the Blarney Stone also offers up some great choices. The Pub Steak is great, served with a medley of pan fried potatoes (which I like even better than chips ). Bangers and Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, Fish and Chips are served everyday. But on St Paddy’s Day, other traditional dishes are added to the menu– obviously Irish Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Salmon with Champ, Coddle maybe even Skirts and Kidneys or Bubble and Squeak ( despite the weird name, Bubble and Squeak is really quite tasty ). Plus The Blarney Stone boasts that it has 17 authentic brews on tap, something for every thirsty someone.

So, choices, choices. Good to have, not so easy to make. Home, Kelly’s, Blarney Stone ? ? But nearly a week till The Day, so plenty of time to decide where to go, what to do. As they say, hard choices but someone has to make them. ( Posted by Marlene Cree, licensed agent with Blue Heron Realty Co., 7134 Wilsonia Neck Dr., Machipongo, VA )

Tags: Blarney Stone Irish Pub Onancock VA, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Irish food on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Kelly's Pub Cape Charles VA, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, restaurants of the Eastern Shore
Posted in Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun | No Comments »

Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia