Life and Real Estate on the Eastern Shore of Virginia

Contemporary Eastern Shore Virginia Waterfront Home On Dramatic Point For Sale

June 22nd, 2013 by Marlene email

Aerial view of contemporary Eastern Shore VA waterfront home near Jamesville VA

Aerial view of this lovely waterfront home on the Virginia Eastern Shore

The very first thing you notice coming up the driveway of this like-new contemporary-feel Chesapeake Bay area waterfront home for sale near Jamesville, VA on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, is the water itself. Located on the very high banks of a dramatic waterfront point and boasting water on three sides, it offers the great beauty of having blue saltwater all around you. Three bedroom, three bath, this lovely home was custom- designed for this unique property and nestles contentedly into the woods, blending seamlessly into its surroundings, looking for all the world as though it just grew naturally up from the land instead of being the result of meticulous planing and construction.

Jamesville VA contemporary Eastern Shore home for sale great room views

Light filled great room with walls of windows and dramatic stone fireplace

Once inside, you are immediately struck by how all the glass just brings the outdoors right on in. The spacious 2 story foyer offers immediate views through the hallway and the great room right out to the waters beyond, azure points and silver sparkles dancing in the sun, peeking through the trees. This truly is a lovely home, filled with natural light, with an open, airy floor plan, the kind of home that just feels relaxing and natural, comfortable in its own skin so to speak, where it would be easy to be inspired every day by the beauty of the landscape. Because creating a casual and comfortable coastal lifestyle were key requirements when designing this home, instead of a traditional formal living room and dining room configuration, a great room as created, with walls of windows and sliding doors out to the wraparound deck organized into two distinct conversation areas. The first overlooks the eastern side of the deck and offers glimpses of the inlet as it curves around as well as the backyard boat dock. Oriented towards the full-wall length hearth and fireplace, the second conversation area is oriented towards the point itself and the gorgeous long views of the broad blue waters that lead out to the Chesapeake Bay.

The kitchen, well-equipped and sporting white counters and cupboards which contrast nicely with the earth-tone terra cotta floor tiles, offers a great work triangle for whipping up a favorite meal. A little breakfast nook nestles into one corner of the kitchen, offering views of shimmering water through the trees. ( If you love birds, this home is truly a birdwatcher’s delight– in summer you’ll see lots of herons,egrets and other wading birds, ducks, geese and loons in the winter and dozens of varieties of tiny songbirds warbling cheerfully from spring to fall, especially during migration seasons.) Lots of kitchen storage space for dishes, cookware, etc. plus a large pantry for spices and food items as well as a little wet bar area all make entertaining in this home an absolute snap. The window package in the kitchen is as well thought-out as those in the rest of the home, a full wall of windows fills the kitchen with soft natural light throughout the day, opening easily to be able to take advantage of cool breezes off the water all season long.

View of dock at Jamesville VA waterfront boating home

The sturdy backyard dock offers plenty of room for your boat and all your other water toys

A large workshop area adjacent to the 2 car garage has plenty of room for all your special projects plus extra storage space as well. And if a boat and kayaks are your main water toys, you’ll be well prepared to enjoy them. A large, sturdy backyard dock provides ample room for a good-sized power boat and kayaks too. It’s just a short cruise down the inlet to access the Chesapeake Bay and some of its prime fishing and crabbing grounds are nearby. This time of year, as the waters in the Bay have warmed, the fish are running, the big fish chasing the little fish and the whole cycle begins once more, fertile grounds for this season’s myriad fishing yarns about ” the big one that got away.” So, all in all, this home is great opportunity to own a home where everyday you can soak in that coastal feeling of leisurely living, in your very own castle, right at the water’s edge, on Virginia’s truly gorgeous Eastern Shore.

( 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 Virginia real estate, Fishing, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Real Estate, Virginia waterfront home for sale
Posted in Birding, Boating, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

A Fitting Memorial Ceremony At The Eastern Shore Of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, Previously Fort John Custis, Near Cape Charles, VA

June 13th, 2013 by Marlene email

Susan Rice and Dignataries on the Dais At Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Refuge

Susan Rice & Visiting Dignataries At Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At Eastern Shore Wildlife Refuge

On Saturday, May 25th, along with hundreds of others, including scores of local veterans, we attended a very moving ribbon cutting ceremony at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge as part of the placement of a very special gun. A great deal of time and effort was expended, most particularly by Alan Stanz, a US Navy veteran from the Eastern Shore, as well as by Terry McGovern, author of a very fine pictorial history on coastal defense systems entitled “The Chesapeake Bay At War“, to make possible the transfer of this historic gun from the US Navy to the Refuge. Present on the dais were Ms. Susan Rice, Manager of the Refuge, Col. Paul Olsen representing the US Army, Barry White, USN retired, who had actually served aboard the Missouri, representing the US Navy, Vincent Rojas representing the Pearl Harbor Battleship Missouri Memorial in Hawaii, as well as representatives of Senator Mark Warner and Governor McDonald.

Mighty Mo underway at sea

Photo of Bunker # 2 at The Eastern Shore Virginia Wildlife Refuge

Gun Barrel #393 Standing In The Remains Of Bunker # 2 At The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony At The Eastern Shore Of Virginia Wildlife Refuge

This is the story of the voyage of that gun, a single 168 foot long Mark 7, Barrel # 393, from her initial deployment to her final resting place here at the National Wildlife Refuge at the southern tip of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She proudly sailed on one of the most consequential battleships of WW II, USS Missouri, the “Mighty Mo“, christened in January, 1944 by then Senator Harry Truman’s daughter, Margaret. Fittingly, the “Mighty Mo” was initially stationed in nearby Norfolk, VA , swiftly cutting through the waters of the Chesapeake Bay during her shakedown and battle practice before setting sail for Pearl Harbor in December of that year. The gun of our story was one of only nine aboard in her class, a 16″ 50 Caliber Mark 7, constituting part of the main battery on the Missouri. But she was destined to play an important place in history, firing her heart out as the “Might Mo” participated in the invasion of Iwo Jima, then in the invasion of Okinawa as the Third Fleet flagship of the great Admiral Halsey and in the final assault on Japan in her home waters. This particular gun was a silent witness on V-J Day to the momentous surrender of the Empire of Japan on Sept. 2, 1945 as the world heaved a great sigh of relief when Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur came aboard the USS Missouri shortly before 9 am to sign the Surrender Documents on behalf of the United States of America. And this gun, # 393, with the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge over the Memorial Day 2013 week-end, has now become ” Our Gun”. At 168 feet long, firing a 16″ shell weighing 2100 pounds, capable of hitting a target at a distance of 23 miles, she is at last peacefully quiet, resting in her final emplacement, in Bunker # 2, which once wielded an identical 168 foot long Mark 7 gun during deployment at Fort John Custis from 1942 to 1945 as a part of its gun battery for the critical coastal defense system.

A bit more history…. During WWII, the defense of the 15 mile wide mouth of the Chesapeake Bay against possible attack by enemy warships was of the highest priority to the US military, particularly in consideration of the strategic importance of protecting the US’s largest Navel Station in Norfolk only a few miles away, the very important shipyard in the Hampton area as well as the necessity of keeping ports and the critical shipping channels between Norfolk and Baltimore secure and open. The upshot of this concern was that in September, 1941 a fort was established by the US Army at the very southern tip of the Eastern Shore. It’s mission was to work together with Fort Story on the Virginia Beach side of the Bay and Fort Monroe in Hampton to create a series of coastal fortifications of the highest level at the mouth of the Chesapeake. Originally designated Fort Winslow, re-named Fort John Custis in honor of a local Eastern Shore hero in 1942, at peak staffing over 1000 troops were stationed there, manning a variety of gun batteries, state of the art radars, controlled mines, searchlights and tall fire control towers, 24/7.

Aerial View of Fisherman's Island and the Eastern Shore VA National Wildlife Refuge

Aerial View of Fisherman’s Island & Eastern Shore VA National Wildlife Refuge Where Fort Custis & The Cape Charles Air Force Station Once Stood

And just a teeny bit more history…. After the War, the Army closed the Fort Custis but in 1950 it got a new lease on life when purchased by the US Air Force, re-named the Cape Charles Air Force Station, home station of the 77 1st Squadron. Here about 500 airmen during the 1950’s & 60’s were stationed, manning very specialized equipment as part of the military’s new national air defense radar network . In 1963 it became a joint use facility with the FAA but in 1981 all these missions were moved to the Navel Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach, and the Cape Charles Air Force Station faded into the sunset. Enter the US Fish and Wildlife Service which in 1984 purchased part of the property to establish the now totally awesome Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge. This pretty much brings us to the present except to say that currently the Refuge owns 1340 acres at the Shore’s very beautiful southern tip, including all of what was once Fort Custis. And to quote from the program handed out at the ribbon cutting: “The Refuge staff continues history’s theme of protection– not one of protecting the Chesapeake Bay as Fort John Custis, nor protecting the skies as Cape Charles Air Force Station, but one of protecting the waters, the land and skies for wildlife and their habitates for the continuing benefit of the American people.”

Rosie the Riviter WW II Poster saying "We Can Do It "

WE DID DO IT — Thanks To The Efforts Of Millions Like My Father & Mother

So the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony wasn’t just about this impressive and historic gun, it was about remembering the sacrifices of those who fought and those who died to protect us and to keep this nation free. As Col. Paul Olsen, representing the US Army at the Ceremony, said so eloquently, not every warrior returns from war. And Memorial Day is the time for we the living to contemplate the abstract idea of freedom and to remember those who paid for it with their last full measure of devotion. And not just those who fought in battle or those who died, but also those who sacrificed in so many other ways. I’m sure that almost everyone in my generation has a relative who was touched by WWII in a very personal way. For myself, I would like to pay tribute to my father, now passed on, captured by the Germans, managed to escape, awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, who struggled the rest of his life with medical issues from his war wounds. And to my mother, who after graduation from college went to work, not in her chosen profession, but in an aircraft assembly plant, noisy, dirty, difficult but like so many other women across this country, worked her heart out for her country. And so on Memorial Day I always think of them, of their sacrifices, as well as of our debt to those who died. It’s because of my parents and the millions of men and women just like them all over this nation, the Greatest Generation, we are all still free, still speaking English– not German, not Japanese. Thanks, Dad. Thanks, Mom. We can never repay our debt to you.

Tags: Cape Charles Air Force Station, Cape Charles Virginia, Coastal Defense System during WWII, Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, Fort John Custis, Memorial Day on the Eastern Shore, USS Missouri Battleship
Posted in Events In Cape Charles, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Some Serious Thoughts, Virginia History | No Comments »

The First Annual Great Bay Run in Cape Charles, VA

June 7th, 2013 by Eva email

The Great Bay Run

This summer an exciting new event is coming to the Eastern Shore of Virginia ! On Saturday, June 15, 2013, in conjunction with the Tall Ships at Cape Charles Festival, the town will be the site of the First Annual Great Bay Run.

Organized by race directors Eric Hack, a teacher and coach at the Eastern Shore’s Broadwater Academy and Eva Noonan, an agent at our own Blue Heron Realty Co., this is a first for both of them. Eva also works with Eric as volunteer assistant cross country and track coach at Broadwater. This is expected to be a premier event, kicking off the debut of what they hope will be an exciting annual runner’s challenge.

Cape Charles beach with Victorian homes in background

5k Run will pass along Bay Ave.in Cape Charles, VA

The Great Bay Run in Cape Charles will offer both a 5k race and a 1.25 mile fun run/walk. Both events start at 8:30 AM on Saturday, June 15th, near the Blue Heron Realty office at 113 Mason Avenue. The route will take runners along Bay Avenue, with its grand dame’ Victorian- era homes overlooking beautiful views of the Chesapeake Bay and the sparkling sand dunes along the Town’s soft sand beach, weave through the Historic District, then out past the Coast Guard Station and finally into the Cape Charles Harbor of Refuge. By concluding at the Cape Charles Harbor, participants will be able to enjoy all the events at this state of the art marina which will be be filled for the Festival with sailboats of all sizes and descriptions, including three Tall Sailing Ships and a US Navy patrol ship, all of which will be visiting for the entire week-end. The three Tall Ships berthed there will also be offering deck tours and 2 hour day sails all weekend long so it’s a great opportunity to experience maritime history. Additionally, the winners will be presented with their trophies down at the Harbor right after the race.

Eric and Eva look forward to putting on a competitive and fun race experience that the hundreds of athletes of all abilities already signed up will enjoy. Eva has recently started a local women’s running group which has inspired many locals to join the June 15th race as well. And it’s really exciting that runners have signed up to participate from as far away as Ohio and Pennsylvania. For additional information about the race, visit its Facebook site at: https://www.facebook.com/greatbayruncapecharles. Anyone interested in registering for the race can still sign up, registration will be active until 7:30 am on the morning of the race.

Online registration is available on Active.com at this link: http://www.active.com/5k-race/cape-charles-va/the-great-bay-run-in-cape-charles-2013. So, whether you’re interested in being a spectator or a participant, come on down, we think it’s going to be lots of fun.

The Great Bay Run would like to thank it’s sponsors: Blue Heron Realty Co., QS LLC, Eastern Shore Custom Carts, Eastern Shore Signs, Hook U Up Gourmet, Rayfield’s Pharmacy, and Kelly’s Gingernut Pub. The proceeds of the race will be split equally and donated to benefit two causes: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as well as the Broadwater Academy cross country and track & field teams.

Tags: Cape Charles Harbor, Cape Charles Tall Ships Festival, Cape Charles Virginia, Eastern Shore of Virginia, Great Bay Run, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tall Ships Cape Charles Festival
Posted in At the Beach, Boating, Entertainment, Events In Cape Charles, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns, Sailing | No Comments »

Living Life On The Water On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia

June 4th, 2013 by Marlene email

In my efforts to let folks who are considering buying property on the Eastern Shore of Virginia know what living here would be like, I sometimes think I write too much about the many “Happenings” and the wide variety in the myriad of things to do here and not enough about the simple pleasures of daily life at home here on the Shore. We are very lucky to live on a beautiful waterfront parcel near the town of Nassawadox, VA, named for one of the Shore’s Native American tribes, long since vanished. And one of my cherished treats on beautiful days when I won’t be going into the office is to have my morning coffee out on our screened porch or the adjacent back deck, both overlooking the clear blue waters of a wide, pristine saltwater inlet from the Chesapeake Bay. ( On days when I’m going into the office I don’t even try to relax outside, instead I start getting geared up for another long day of everything but the kitchen sink.)

Our Bird Sheltering, Shade Producing Bradford Pear Tree Standing Proudly Between The House And The Woods

This morning, sitting on the porch very early, coffee mug in hand, the sun coming up over the tops of the trees in the orchard and just beginning to illuminate the now huge Bradford Pears in the backyard, the thought occurred to me that it probably is hard to truly understand how relaxing and peaceful it really is to live on the water, to be able to just sit and gaze at the ripples along the channel, listening to the sounds of Nature, watching the birds get a start on the day. ( We have a number of bird feeders in both the back yard where we can enjoy them from the porch and also in the front yard, hanging from a magnolia tree, easily viewed from what I lovingly call ” the library” but which is a very large south-facing room with an entire wall of windows overlooking the expanse of front yard lawn and flower beds. Over-stuffed with not only two walls of book shelves, crammed with a lifetime collection of books, but also two desks with adjustable office chairs, two comfy Lazy Boy loungers, a stereo system plus a billion and counting compilation of cd’s & dvd’s. It’s a veritable paradise for two, filled with things we love.) As I look out now into the backyard, a pair of cardinals and a couple of fat doves are pecking at seeds on the ground which have dropped out of the feeder, two tiny yellow finches are flitting between the feeder and the pear tree, trying to eat and keep safe too, and a pesky squirrel is trying to decide what to do, munch off what’s fallen on the ground from the feeder or attempt to shinny up the pole to get to the serious goodies ! Out on the inlet, an early morning waterman checking his crab pots has startled a large blue heron which gives a loud squawk-squawk-squawk as it skims over the water, searching for a more promising breakfast venue further down the shoreline.

Views Of The Water From Our Deck

When we first bought this house, there were two small Bradford Pear trees that the original owner had planted about 150 feet apart in the middle of the large expanse of lawn between the house and the woodline along the water. It seemed to me that the trees marred the view of the water from the porch and deck and I wanted to have them cut down but my husband loved them and convinced me to wait a year to see if I still wanted to have them removed. Well, that was quite a few years ago and the Bradfords are still there, bigger and taller now than most Bradfords ever normally grow. But what I came to realize over the course of that very first year was that those trees don’t interfer with the view, they are a part of the view. Miss Charlotte, our first Newfie, loved to sit under the one to the left of the porch, relaxing in the shade of its branches, scanning the woods along the water for signs of rabbits or squirrels, maybe even a deer, ready to instantly jump up and futilely chase. Now she is resting forever in the shade of that tree, her big floppy stuffed bunny buried with her for company. Songbirds adore that tree because the large bird feeder hanging from a metal staff just outside the dripline is so easy to reach from the safety of its leafy branches, they establish a sort of rhythm, eat for a few seconds, fly into the tree and look around, then back to the feeder, a careful ritual, repeated over and over by all sorts of sweet, tiny birds, singing songs we love. And although I know hawks have to eat too, when I see a soaring redtail land in a high branch of a big oak or a tall pine in the woods, I love knowing that the sweet little birds who come to our feeders are safely hidden among those Bradford leaves, the trees being too close to the house for hawks to comfortably venture near. I often think how much we would have missed had those trees been removed. Thanks Hubby, you were so absolutely right.

Cozy & Comfy– From A Cup Of Early Morning Coffee To A Glass Of Wine At Sunset, Our Screened Porch Is About My Favorite Place To Be

As I finish this post, after a coffee refill, the breeze is picking up, gently moving the kitetails of the two wind chimes positioned on opposite ends of the deck, creating gentle music. I love wind chimes and since being on the water offers breezes all season long, our deck is ideal chime territory. It’s also home to a myriad of flower pots filled with bloomers of all kinds, this year mostly in shades of lavender and pinks, including a gorgeous deep pink mandevilla, although the big pot of red geraniums may be the most eye-catching. Since we’ll be here all day today, I’ll serve lunch out on the screened porch, on our little glass-topped rattan table for four. I’m thinking cold roast chicken from last night, sliced thinly for sandwiches, bread and butter pickles, maybe a glass of well chilled Riesling, a tiny piece of Kate’s Kupboard coconut pound cake, just a sliver to satisfy the sweet tooth. After lunch, maybe an hour or two with Dan Brown’s new book, Inferno, read stretched out in a big, comfy porch chair, totally relaxed, totally into Home Sweet Home on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, the house, the water, the birds, the butterflies, the Newfies and squirrels still carefully eyeing each other, for today life is good.

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

Tags: Chesapeake Bay real estate, Eastern Shore of Virginia, gardening on the Eastern Shore, life on Virginia's Eastern Shore, Nature, Real Estate, waterfront homes on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, waterfront living on the Eastern Shore
Posted in Birding, Climate and Weather, Entertainment, Gardening, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends | No Comments »

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

May 20th, 2013 by Marlene email

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

May 8th, 2013 by Marlene email

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
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Attending Cherry Blossom Festival 2013- In Virginia Beach VA

May 2nd, 2013 by Marlene email

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

April 25th, 2013 by Marlene email

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

April 22nd, 2013 by Marlene email

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

April 18th, 2013 by Marlene email

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
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