Odds and Ends « Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Archive for the ‘Odds and Ends’ Category

DRUM ROLL PLEASE ! CAPE CHARLES FARMER’S MARKET SEASON 4 NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN

Friday, May 24th, 2019

How delightful it was to once again be able to look forward to Tuesday afternoons from 3-6 pm, May to October, as that special time each week to be able slip into the Cape Charles Farmer’s Market and stock up on super-fresh goodies. Rain or shine, hot or cold, our favorite vendors will be there with our old favorites plus new offerings, always something special to try.

On Tuesday, for those looking for veggies, Copper Cricket and Perennial Roots had plenty of just-picked selections on hand. Into our basket went some sweet May peas, peppery white radishes, lovely fresh scallions plus a tray of beautiful brown eggs. Fresher-than-fresh, tender asparagus was on offer from Pickett’s Harbor Farm, definitely couldn’t resist that, so great in an omelette or quiche. Further down the line, the Honey Guy from Eastville was ready for his customers, offering a sweet smile and even sweeter local honey from his busy, buzzy bees.

On the flip side of sweetness was the Horseradish Lady, whose creamed horseradish stood ready to make the ideal spicy cocktail sauce, perfect for the crab cakes and clams being sold at the Edward’s Seafood tent. Further down the line, Kitchen Sync was ready with freshly prepared ready-to-eat-good-food which can also be ordered for pickup at a later date at the Eastville Inn. So into our basket popped some chicken salad – – it was delish on toast for lunch on Wednesday.

Beauty got double billing in flowers with gorgeous offerings from the ever-popular Chatham Flower Farm ( keep an eye on their Facebook page for ticket availability to their amazing “Farm to Table” benefit dinner) as well as a colorful display from the Blooming Farmer. Nothing like a lovely bouquet to cheer up any room in the house ! Snagged a jar of bath salts with dried flowers for a friend, both beautiful and aromatic, a nice little gift. So many interesting items on offer from other local vendors including handmade cutting boards, intricately woven macrame, artful hand towels from She Seeks Wool and much more.

So don’t forget to mark your calendar. When the clock strikes 3pm on Tuesdays, it’s time to grab your basket and head over to the Cape Charles Farmer’s Market located on the grounds of the Museum on Stone Road. What a fantastic opportunity each week from now until October to buy fresh, buy local, buy delicious and nutritious ! LOVE it !

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles VA, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in Crafts, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, farming, Gardening, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

THE 1st ANNUAL CAPE CHARLES LOVE RUN WAS A HUGE SUCCESS !

Thursday, May 2nd, 2019

Even 25 MPH winds couldn’t blow away the festive spirits of the 100 or so competitors in the inaugural LOVE Run held in Cape Charles this morning ! Everyone was in great spirits, further buoyed at the early start hour by hot coffee and some luscious fresh pastries from Coastal Bakery. The very enthusiastic crowd was comprised of folks of all ages, young, seniors, kids, teenagers, parents pushing toddlers in strollers & buggies plus tots on scooters ! It was great ! ( We were delighted to have a son-in-law and 3 grandkids participating in the Run shown in the photo by our literature table.) Ready, set, then GO ! And then they were off, pacing briskly for a 5k Run, starting down Mason Avenue, continuing through town, out to the Oyster Farm, continuing down Washington Avenue, heading to the finish line back at the LOVE sign. 1st place was claimed by Matt Boynton, 2nd place went to Alan Killebrew and the 3rd place winner was Christina Corollo of the newly opened Ambrosia Cafe.

Half the fun for runners was traversing through 4 Color Stations sited along the course, manned by the sponsors of the Run. Blue Heron Realty’s station color was purple and runners dipped, swirled and twirled in the bright lavender mists. ( Completely washable, of course). In fact, getting one’s hair sprayed seemed pretty popular, especially with the kids. Blue Heron Realty Co. was proud to be a Premier Sponsor for the Run. And as part of the celebration for the Run, we included prize drawings for a lovely heron carving by well-known local artist, John Harlow and another drawing for a $100 gift certificate to the Oyster Farm Eatery. (The Winner of each will be announced in a subsequent Facebook post. ) So, a great day for the LOVE sign, made even better by being the opening day of the season for Brown Dog Ice Cream, the perfect spot to revive energies expended in the Run with a yummy dose of chocolate or coffee ice cream.
PS- Giant kudos due to all the volunteers who made this event come off so beautifully ! They did such a terrific job !

Posted in Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

ENTER BLUE HERON’S FREE DRAWING FOR A GORGEOUS CARVING BY JOHN HARLOW PLUS A 2nd PRIZE DRAWING FOR A $100. GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE OYSTER FARM EATERY AS PART OF THE LOVE RUN CELEBRATION !!

Friday, April 26th, 2019

Blue Heron Realty Co is proud to be a Premier Sponsor of the inaugural Annual LOVE Run. And in celebration of the Run, we are holding Drawings for 2 great prizes. You may enter for the Drawings beginning on Friday, April 26th, by filling out an entry form at our office at 113 Mason Avenue between the hours of 11am and 5:30 pm. Then on Saturday, April 27th, at the LOVE RUN, entry forms will be available at Blue Heron’s table near the Start/Finish Line at the LOVE sign at the beach or fill out your entry form at our 113 Mason Avenue office. The deadline for entry for the Drawings is 4:15 pm on April 27th. You must be 18 or older to enter and only one entry per person please. Both winners will be chosen by a random drawing to be held Saturday, April 27th at our Cape Charles office at 4:30 pm. ( You need not be present to win. Blue Heron crew and families are not eligible to win. )

First prize is a beautiful signed custom carving of a miniature blue heron by well-known local carver, John Harlow. John’s work is prized for its artistry and craftsmanship, he has won 1st place in countless competitions for his amazing bird carvings. This Harlow heron is truly special, with intricate feather work and a true-to-life appearance. Certainly it would be a beautiful addition to any decor ! ( John had wanted to be here to conduct the drawing but he will be at the World Competition at the Ward Museum where he has 2 carvings entered in the competition. Excited for him ! )

The second prize is a $100. Gift Certificate to the Oyster Farm Eatery, home to delicious meals and spectacular sunsets viewed through the restaurant’s dramatic windows while enjoying a fine dinner there.

Posted in At the Beach, Birding, Climate and Weather, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO PLAN YOUR SUMMER VACATION IN CAPE CHARLES, VIRGINIA

Friday, February 22nd, 2019

As I write this post, cold rain is sloshing down here on Virginia’s Eastern Shore but almost everywhere else on the East Coast, folks are digging out from under another miserable storm, with yet another avalanche of snow and ice. Brrrr… So what that says to me is that it’s time to turn to more pleasant thoughts …. like planning a beach vacation ! Nothing like dreams of summer fun, of toes wiggling in the sand and sea breezes cooling the brow to push away the reality of winter blues. ( Did the groundhog see his shadow? How many more weeks to go ? )

And if you’re looking for a weekly vacation rental which offers both a relaxed and quiet atmosphere paired with lots to do, might I suggest Cape Charles, VA as a great destination. Coastal traditions, historic towns and tiny villages to explore, soft sandy beaches to relax on, off-shore Barrier Islands to visit, broad saltwater inlets to boat and kayak, fabulous fishing and crabbing, artist’s studios and antique shops to visit, seafood restaurants to sample, Palmer and Nicklaus golf to take a swing at– from A for Art Galleries to Z for Zesty clam dip, there is so much to do. Or… just laz around on the deck, book in hand, a iced tea or cold glass of Chardonnay waiting close by, letting the tension just slip away like an outgoing tide. That is the promise of a Simply Relaxing Vacation on Virginia’s Eastern Shore because Virginia’s Eastern Shore is not just a place, it’s a relaxed coastal state of mind !

Which brings us to the list of the 9 terrific vacation homes offered this year for weekly vacation rental through Blue Heron Vacation Rentals ( Use this link to email them your desired dates and the house you are most interested in at easternshorevacationtime@gmail.com . Or call them at 757-678-5277 ) Though the homes vary by size and price, each has a distinctive personality– historic, waterfront, beachfront, in-town, in the country. From a ” 1 bedroom cozy nest for two” through ” 5 bedrooms, sleeps 14″, there is something for everybody. ( And a couple are even for sale, so if you fall in love with it, it could be yours for life !! How cool is that ?

“SEA GATE”-Ca. 1912 Charm. 1 Block to Beach. Sleeps 14. Equipped Rec. Room.

“BayPlace”-Exquisite Historic Home, 7 Bdrms, Sleeps 18 ,Comfy Furnishings, Fully Equipped Kitchen.

Historic “Peach Retreat” Sparkles Like New! Great Location. Pets Considered.

“SEASHELL COTTAGE” -Enjoy Your Vacation With Only Steps To The Soft Sand Cape Charles Beach.

“BayView Cottage”- West Indies Style Home; Community Beach & Pool; Waterfront Dining Nearby.

“SEAHORSE RETREAT”, Only 1 Block From The Beach, A Sweet Beachy Vacation Nest For 2 Or 4 In Quaint Cape Charles.

“Dolphins’ Doorway” 3 Bedrooms, 3 1/2 Bath With A Backyard Beach!

“Bayfront Breezes”- Charming Bayfront Home, Spectacular Sunsets Over the Water, Beach Access.

“SANDY HARBOR COTTAGE” A Waterfront Vacation Home With Beach Access On Virginia’s Eastern Shore Offering Both Beach and Boat Dock.

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Birding, Entertainment, Fishing, Golf, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Nature, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Cloudy Then Rainy. Yet the 2018 Artisan’s Guild Holiday Tour Was Still Great

Tuesday, November 27th, 2018

From Cape Charles to Onancock, 43 talented Eastern Shore Virginia artists and artisans threw open their studio doors, welcoming the world to enter and discover the unique items on offer during the 16th Annual Artisan Holiday Tour this past Friday and Saturday. It may have been cloudy and then rainy outside but inside the many stops on the 14 studio plus Chatham Vineyard self-driving Tour, it was cozy, friendly and warm. Unfortunately, because of a late start we didn’t make it to every location….. but there’s always next year !

We kicked off at the Milby Barn Studio at Chatham Flower Farm located in Painter where we were greeted by Kate Meyer, likely humorously known as the Painter of Painter. ( Also the hostess of the recent and hugely successful Farm-to-Table dinner which we unfortunately missed.) From there forward to Maurice Spector’s studio featuring unique wood and stone sculptures. Mo hosted 4 other artists at his waterfront home including David Crane, Miriam Riggs, Marty Burgess and Guy Shover. Oysters were on the grill, smoke drifting, aromas tempting, totally relaxing.

Onward to By The Bay Alpaca Farm, one of my perennial favorites. Their alpacas are so cute- – when you pet them they are delightfully warm and luxuriously soft and silky ! Definitely the place to stock up on alpaca sox, perfect stocking stuffers for anyone on your List who fights cold feet all winter ! From there we were off to the tiny town of Harborton where Windhorse Barn and Studio overlooks Pungoteague Creek. Painted a whimsical shade of fuchsia , the Barn hosted multiple artists and offered a blazing fire pit surrounded by plenty of chairs to enjoy it.

After a lunch break at Janet’s Cafe in Onancock, (home to one of the best roast beef sandwiches on the entire Shore), we stopped in at Danny Doughty’s studio. ( Danny and his work were honored earlier this year at the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Pubic Policy. ). Located above the Red Queen Gallery, Danny’s was not on the official Tour but we are huge fans of his work and wanted to see what new pieces were hanging on the walls of his large and light-filled gallery. Plus he always has a spectacularly decorated Christmas tree ! Well, this year the tree was “Under Construction” but Danny’s fabulous new art work definitely did not disappoint, including a large Ballard Fish company commissioned painting on which he is currently putting the finishing touches.

Just a few blocks over, the Vesna Zedovic studio. Vesna’s mirrors, framed with a surround of hand-cast pottery tiles of sea creatures or butterflies or flowers are really amazing. We’re lucky to have a small collection of beautiful her red clay tiles stretching back many years to when we first saw her pottery at the former Old Thyme Garden and Gifts in Weirwood. Vesna is still going strong nearly 30 years later although working primarily in white clay now.

By then the rain was really doing its thing but nobody seemed deterred as we rolled up to the Ker Place Museum where Gertraud Fendler’s sea glass jewelry, David Farlow decoys and Diana Davis watercolors were being shown as part of the Tour. In addition, the Museum itself had a featured exhibit of Shore WW I memorabilia, pretty interesting. And then to our last stop of the day, the historic Onancock School with its numerous exhibitors. We took a moment to watch carver Brad Bradach work on one of his miniature decoys before slipping over to see what Bobby Bridges, Billy Crocket, Elizabeth Hunt and Laura McGowan were showing. Everybody had beautiful things on offer, unique, one-of-a-kind art, perfect for a distinctive holiday gift for a Special Someone or possibly, dare we say it….. a holiday gift for oneself ! And then, all over, time to go home after a long but delightful day ! But definitely ready to do it all again next Thanksgiving !

Tags: 2018 Thanksgiving Artisan Tour, Artisan's Guild of the Eastern Shore, Events in Cape Charles, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in Crafts, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, The Arts, Virginia History | No Comments »

THE CREPE MYRTLES OF CAPE CHARLES

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

A thousand sprays of blossoming color, fluttering in the wind. That’s the essence of the amazing crape myrtle tree, Eastern Shore Virginia’s gorgeous summer jewel, blooming brightly along highways, down country lanes, in yards large and small, lining driveways, gracing avenues, the focal point in many a landscaping plan. But I think nowhere on the Shore does it make its presence felt more beautifully than in the historic town of Cape Charles, where street signs proclaim the names of famous men and herald summer fruits and the soft sand beach beckons. But from July through September, for those heeding the call of their inner arborist, the crape myrtle becomes a center of attention. Their lacy blossoms dance enthusiastically in the breeze, flaunting deep magenta, brilliant shades of lilac and crimson, counterpoint to lively Natchez whites, together a symphony of spectacular color radiating out from Bay Avenue to Fig Street, from King’s Creek to Plantation Creek, literally along all points of the compass. Once again, in Summer 2018, the crepe myrtle reigned supreme

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Virginia Eastern Shore
Posted in Gardening, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Real Estate | No Comments »

WINDOW SHOPPING ON A SERENE CAPE CHARLES SUMMER EVE

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

I long for more calm summer nights, more peaceful and quiet moments, more serene memories. Does anything feel more gentle or tranquil than a balmy summer’s evening outdoors, touched by soft salty breezes carrying sounds of murmured conversation and light laughter ? On an evening like that I love to window shop in Cape Charles. Everything closed, including late lingerers at the Brown Dog Ice Cream Shop shop, lights already dimmed, just a few folks out on Mason Avenue, strolling leisurely, holding hands, walking dogs or shepherding children. A couple cars driving to Kelly’s Pub, a few heading back to the hotels from The Shanty, a golf cart headed for the beach loop around Bay Avenue, one or two people at the LOVE sign, taking photos in the fading twilight, a murmuring couple sitting side by side in the sand, savoring the last moments of sunset. Otherwise, all quiet on the Western front. And in that peaceful instant, in that tiny sliver of time between the end of a busy day and the hush of nightfall, you’ll find the perfect time to window shop in Cape Charles.

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in At the Beach, Business, Entertainment, Fine and Casual Dining, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

The 1st Annual Honey Fest At Quail Cove Farms

Monday, July 16th, 2018

Lots of rhythm-keeping, toe-tapping and goody-munching happening over at Quail Cove Farms in Machipongo last Saturday at its 1st Annual Honey Fest. As the talented Side Porch Pickers picked away, wowing the crowd with bluegrass favorites, folks circulated up and down Quail Cove’s attractive new porch, checking out all the goings-on. Plenty of goodies were on offer including lovely little tea & honey flavored Parisian-style macaroons, honey butter, honey flan cakes, honey peanut butter, tasty honey mini-donuts and more. Plus some unique bars of honey and milk soap, very soothing ! And of course, jars and jars and jars of sunshine in a jar, pure golden honey in all sizes. The “Honey Guy” we see at the Cape Charles Farmer’s Market was even there with a little sampling jar of his delectable local Eastville honey. Yum !

Pony rides, a little petting zoo with curious, friendly sheep and a goat plus a bucket of corn to hand-feed them, a Bouncy House plus an Activities Tent all kept kids involved in the fun. For those who got the serious munchies, Gordo’s Taqueria Truck could definitely satisfy cravings for spicy and delicious. And of course, Quail Cove was doing a brisk business at the inside store featuring the organic and natural foods and produce its famous for, especially their Amish Country cheeses, etc. Thanks Quail Cove Farms, a great idea, a very pleasant afternoon, looking forward to a 2nd Annual Honey Fest next year.

Tags: Eastern Shore of Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Machipongo VA
Posted in Crafts, Entertainment, farming, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends | No Comments »

ONCE AGAIN, THE CAPE CHARLES 4th OF JULY PARADE WAS A REALLY HUGE SUCCESS !

Monday, July 16th, 2018

The Cape Charles Independence Day Parade is always a marvelous combination of local pageantry, creative floats, colorful banners, fire company trucks with air horns blasting a loud ” howdy”, antique tractors, vintage cars, high stepping horses, kids on bikes, motor scooters, skateboards, resplendently decorated golf carts and energetic marchers representing local organizations, clubs and individuals. And this year was no exception ! Led by the Color Guard from the VFW, marchers enthusiastically paraded down Bay Avenue and over to Mason Avenue, tossing candy, colorful strands of beads and even a few yellow rubber duckies to all the kids and appreciative spectators lining the streets cheering them on !

And the Parade within the Parade, the Golf Cart Parade, was truly amazing this year, with the most participants I’ve ever seen ! Golf carts, dozens, dozens and dozens more, were dressed to the nines, red, whites and blues galore, flags of all sizes, balloons, Pom-poms, streamers, banners, signs, Uncle Sam top hats. Creativity shone everywhere. With golf carts being street-legal in Cape Charles, lots of Town residents have their very own electric golf carts and a little friendly competition among neighbors has resulted in some fancy and fantastic cart entries, all the better to enjoy this annual Parade ! Can hardly wait till July 4th, 2019 !

Tags: Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Events in Cape Charles VA, Holiday events in Cape Charles Virginia, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Posted in Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

Bravo To All Those Who Made The Palace Theatre’s Recent Dance Production of “The Legend of A Tree” Possible !

Friday, June 15th, 2018

I’m not sure why I was surprised. But I was expecting just your standard dance recital, nothing special, the “clap for everyone’s child and go mad for one’s own” version. Sunday matinee at the Palace Theatre in Cape Charles, there to cheer on my youngest granddaughter, Jessica, who we knew was going to be a “bluebell”, whatever that entailed, knowing that she had been working really hard on her performance. Running late, we slid into our seats just as the house lights faded and the stage set was revealed. A simple set but striking, a painted backdrop of an enormous tree at the edge of a beautiful park. And the audience mood came alive as the music cued, the narration began and the lead dancer appeared on stage in lovely costume. From there the audience was pulled headlong into a spirited performance by the Mara Ifju Dance Company of Shelia Cardano’s “The Legend of A Tree”, gliding gently into its fantasy world of peaceful meadow, pirouetting tulip, daisy and rose, dancing bluebells, cyclamen, honeysuckle, twirling sunflowers and, of course, the “nolia” tree.

Rarely have I initially expected so little of a performance and been surprised by enjoying it so much as with this program. From beginning to end, we loved it ! Music was key and the selections were perfect, familiar classical passages from Chopin, Beethoven, Bizet and Vivaldi, a little modern touch of Michael Jackson, but my personal favorites were pieces featuring the unique and haunting flutes from the Andes region of South America, a captivating sound. The choreography was well suited to the music selections and to individual dance talent. All the costumes were beautifully designed and so evocative of each flower. We especially loved the tap number, glitzy with bright green bowler hats contrasting with dark wardrobe, danced to the signature tune from A Chorus Line, “One”. And who wouldn’t have been captivated by the tiny Sunflowers, twirling in golden petals, and the teeny Fox and Rabbit, so cute !

So bravo, bravo to the Mara Ifju Dance Company and all its dancers ! You were great ! And hats off and thank-you to all the support staff, volunteers and donors who make a program like this possible. From countless hours spent on choreography and costume design to music recording, live piano accompaniment, scenery, make-up, lighting, sound, stage manager and crew, box office and more, It Takes A Town to create a production like this ! And isn’t the Shore fortunate to have this amazing Theatre and so much local talent to perform there, lucky, lucky us !