Posts Tagged ‘Virginia beachfront property’

Located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore Near Cape Charles, VA This Contemporary Style Home Offers Beachfront Par Excellence!

Thursday, April 5th, 2018

45201_74

A lovely maritime forest shades this spacious 3 story, 4 bedroom and 4 bath beach cottage of about 3800 sq. ft. sited on over 2 acres with 200 feet frontage on one of the most beautiful soft sand beaches on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Priced at $999,000, this home features newly refinished oak hardwood floors, granite & ceramic tile treatments thru-out, elegant eat-in kitchen, living room with fireplace, huge master suite with elegant bath & walk-in closet, huge recreation room, formal dining room – all overlooking the spectacular sunsets on the horizon of the Chesapeake Bay. Beachcomber’s delight and a great home for entertaining! Also, 3 car garage, third floor loft, entry level guest suite & bath, grand waterviews from nearly every window in the house, beachfront patio & decks. The impressive beach neighborhood offers private walkways to the beach, community pool and tennis club, dock access to private fresh water lake for canoe/kayaks. A fantastic house on the beach of your dreams! Close to the historic little town of Cape Charles, VA with lots of amenities including golf, marinas, restaurants, shopping and galleries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

45201_52

 

 

 

 

 

 

45201_46 45201_44

 

 

 

 

 

 

45201_54 45201_55

 

 

 

 

 

 

45201_41 45201_66

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in At the Beach, Birding | No Comments »

Three Exciting Beachfront Listings In Cape Charles, VA, Ready For Summer Fun 2016

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2016

Long walks on a soft sand beach, picking up treasures deposited by the last incoming tide.  Picnic lunch on the screened porch under azure skies and golden sunshine. Languid  summer’s eves on the deck, cool breezes wafting,  moonlight casting sparkling white nets against dark waters, falling asleep to the music of waves gently lapping against the shoreline.  These are but a few of the many pleasures of owning a beachfront home on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  And just in time for  summer fun 2016,  Blue Heron Realty Co. has  3 remarkable beachfront homes listed in Cape Charles, VA  on Virginia’s Eastern Shore’s  beautiful Southern Tip.  Very special yet completely different, each home is a place where you can kick off your shoes and revel in the bliss of beachfront living !  To make an appointment to see any of these gorgeous beach  homes, just call Blue Heron Realty Co. at 800-258-3437.

ON A MOUNTAIN AT THE SEASHORE— Well, to call it a mountain is a wee bit of an embellishment but definitely atop 2.7 acres of the highest sand dune formation on the entire Eastern Shore of Virginia  stands this spectacular 4 bedroom, 3 full and 1 half  bath, custom Lindal cedar home offering breathtaking views of  the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. This is truly a home that must be seen to properly appreciate its magnificence  inside and out.  Built from the finest Western red cedar and natural stone by one of the Shore’s best custom builders, this home features top of the line materials throughout. Even the laundry room features granite counters !  The focal point of this spectacular home is  the spacious great room, which, because of the post and beam construction, features a huge open span capped by the warmth of a cedar cathedral ceiling and anchored by a dramatic floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace.  The chef’s kitchen, open to the great room,  stands ready for the preparation of everything from whipping up simple midnight omelet to  creating elegant cuisine for a dinner party for 20— and everything in between.   The first floor master  suite features a “sky window” , perfect for laying in bed and gazing up at the Milky Way as one falls asleep.  On the second floor a second master suite plus 2 guest bedrooms fan out from large guest living room, giving visitors a large private space to just relax and enjoy the views tucked away from the activities in the rest of the house. Outside, a full house length deck with its own stone fireplace offers a relaxing space to breathe in the tangy Bay breezes.  Steps with gentle risers and several landings lead gently down to the one of the widest sparkling sand beaches on the Eastern Shore, really comparable to the most beautiful private sand beaches almost anywhere on the East Coast,  part of a mile and a half of private beach shared by very few homes.  Call  757-678-5200 for an appointment to see this extraordinary beachfront home listed at $1,750,00.

Rosen Aerial from West blue water2 Rosen greatroom 7-28-14  Rosen dining area 7-28-14 Adkins beach 6

Perry frontview 10-24-14BIG, BOLD, BEAUTIFUL &  READY FOR THE SWEET,  SWEET  BEACH LIFE !   Open the front door and the eye is drawn through the foyer, through the dramatic great room with its amazing soaring ceilings and out to the sparkling sand beach and shining blue waters beyond, revealing unrivaled views out to the far horizons of the Chesapeake Bay.  Fine craftsmanship and luxurious details have created a stunning beach home with waterfront vistas from virtually every room. The heart of this 4 bedroom, 4 full and 2 half bath  home is its expansive great room with amazing tall elegant columns, dramatic windows and three separate conversation areas, perfect for entertaining either large or intimate groups. Fine finishing details abound including mosaic floor inserts, deep crown moldings and triple tray ceilings. The gourmet kitchen is open to the great room, offering a free flow of  conversation and interaction between the two.  Plenty of  kitchen space, custom cherry cabinets, beautiful granite counters and  high-end appliances are sure to please.   Spacious master bedroom suites on both the first and second floor offer premier views, luxurious baths and plenty of closet space. Two large  guest bedrooms make having stay-over visitors a breeze. A huge media room complete with full room length bar with sink and wine cooler overlooking the water also boasts a large veranda, perfect for enjoying those tangy salt breezes all summer long.  Located in Bay Creek Golf Resort offering such amenities as Palmer and Nicklaus waterfront golf courses, 2 beach areas, tennis courts and pool. Offered at $1,595,000. Call Blue Heron Realty Co. at 800-258-3437 for your appointment to see this very elegant and special beachfront home.

Perry aerial view arrow Perry livingroom bayviews Perry view from pool table bayviews Beach sunset with houses resizedjpg

adkins front bestTHE “BRIDGE HOUSE ”  OVERLOOKING THE WIDE BLUE WATERS AND SOFT SAND BEACHES OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY — The “Bridge House” offers a truly unique access since the front entryway to  this distinctive beachfront home is across a  dramatic  little bridge which beckons you to leave the all-too- busy-busy world behind and enter this realm of serene waterfront beauty.  Sited high on a unique 3 acre +/-  wooded sand dune which rolls gently down to a gorgeous soft sand  beach and the gentle waves of the Chesapeake Bay,  this 4400  sq. ft. contemporary 4 bedroom, 4 full bath home beach home offers a truly secluded feel.  Once inside, the eye is immediately drawn to the dramatic views of the Chesapeake Bay sparkling below viewed through a full wall of windows and sliding glass doors.  The first floor offers a huge open great room with breakfast, dining and conversation areas presenting opportunities to both socialize or relax in a little intimate corner to catch up on news one-on-one.   Walk out and enjoy nearly the 2000 sq.ft. of decking, a perfect place for a glass of  cold iced tea on a summer’s  afternoon or wowing a crowd with casual outdoor entertaining at sunset !  When you catch a cool summer breeze flowing off the Bay,  you’ll begin to realize what being  “relaxed” really means.  Time to  pour a little mint julep and get started on the new issue of “Southern Living” magazine, just chilling out to your heart’s content !  Not to mention savoring nightly the glorious sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay .  Was life ever better ? ?   But wait till you catch the elevator up to the huge third floor master suite which includes spacious sleeping area, delightful master bath, large library area with built-in floor- to- ceiling bookshelves, a huge sitting area with gas log fireplace and a full-length deck overlooking the broad deep blue waters of the Chesapeake Bay and beach.   WOW !!!  does not even begin to suffice.  Must see to really appreciate !  This spectacular home offers the essence of Virginia coastal living.  Offered at $1,499,000.  Call us today at 757-678-5200 to see this unique and inspiring beachfront home.

Backview with beach cropped Adkins kitchen great room toward dining room Adkins master bedroom

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in At the Beach, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | 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 ?

DSC_0128

Jarvis dock at sunsetGolf cart with flowers 2011

 

 

 

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: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in At the Beach, Business, Historic Homes, Just Having Fun, Our Little Towns, Vacation rental homes | No Comments »

Unwind In This Romantic Lindal Style Cedar Beach Home For Sale On The Eastern Shore of Virginia

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012

What could be more relaxing than unwinding at sunset on the deck of your Chesapeake Bay beachfront home,  surrounded by rolling dunes and serenaded by the soothing sounds of waves lapping against the shoreline  and seabirds calling overhead ?   On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, a beach home is all about a sense of fun, of embracing a new way of life,  of  kicking back, breathing in the tangy salt air, listening to the seabirds call,   focusing on the spectacular views donated by Mother Nature !    Especially so in this Lindal  style cedar beachfront home offering the casual elegance and  real livability that  turns a mere house  into a  longed for retreat, one’s very own sand castle.   Nestled on about four acres of  sparkling sand dunes  dotted with sea oats waving in the breezes,  gnarled maritime pines and  striking  yucca plants,  this custom 5 bedroom, 4 1/2 bath  beachfront beauty is all about immersing in a nature-inspired lifestyle.  With over 2200 sq.ft. of balcony and multi-level open decking dedicated to outdoor living,  perfect for fresh air entertaining or just basking in the sun,  and a huge hot tub beckoning  star gazers or moon watchers at night,  folks  may never want to come inside !

But when they do finally decide come inside,  what dramatic beauty awaits.   Soaring cathedral ceilings, walls of windows,  an open and flowing floorplan.  With  the home’s  east-west orientation,  it’s easy to follow the sun all day.  From the soft light in the  breakfast room  at sunrise to mint juleps in the great room at sunset glow, this home is  light filled and airy.  The large great room focal point is a  towering two story floor- to- ceiling  fireplace and massive  hearth constructed of custom selected stone in  eye-pleasing  rose and grey hues.  The architectural design on the waterside consists of three “prows” , each of which creates a feel of a particular living space yet essentially  it is one large light-filled open living space,  a  “great room”  in every sense of the word, with a sitting- conversation area at one end and a dining area at the other.   An abundance of windows on each wall of  the prows and sliding glass doors leading to the decks bring the outdoors inside, the golden sunshine,  the dazzling views of  blue Chesapeake Bay waters,  the sparkling sand beach and the glorious skies at sunset,  sun slipping below the horizon,  painting the water in vibrant hues of reds and golds.

A  large master suite carries on the theme of high ceilings and  beautiful windows and also includes doors to the deck . Guest bedrooms are upstairs, with a central guest sitting area, individual balconies and great waterviews as well.  Beautiful library/music room/den off the great room, a  cozy space  for curling up with a good book, soft music in the background.   Downstairs,  a  full walk-out basement with it’s own patio and outdoor shower, a library area, media room &  pool room,  extra storage for bikes, kayaks, fishing gear and other essential toys, etc., etc.    Truly, this  is a beach home that doesn’t just look like a beachfront home,  it’s a beach home where you really feel the sense of  sand and  blue waters  everywhere,  an inspiration inside as well as outside !   Located in a tiny beach neighborhood offering private pool and tennis club for residents.    Only 10 minutes from the historic little waterfront town of Cape Charles, VA offering a wide variety of amenites including shops, restaurants, art galleries, theatre, cultural events,  Palmer and Nicklaus signature  golf courses  and two deep water marinas.   Atttractively priced at $1,595,000.  For more information and photos on this property, visit  www.blueheronva.com  and click on beachfront  under the “listings” menu on the top navigation bar.

                       

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in At the Beach, Entertainment, Golf, Just Having Fun, Odds and Ends, Our Little Towns | No Comments »

If You Want To Purchase A Boating Property But Love Horses, On The Eastern Shore Of Virginia You Can Have Both !

Friday, December 3rd, 2010

It seems like more and more,  we are getting  calls from people who are looking for boating real estate on Virginia’s Eastern Shore but who want a property where they can have both a boat dock  in their backyard and horses on the property  as well.   Now in most areas this simply is not possible.  But  on the Eastern Shore of Virginia,  we have a number of opportunities  to buy properties where you can do just that.  I think one of the unique aspects of purchasing property here is that,  unlike so many other waterfront areas where the land has been chopped up into quarter acre lots, or even smaller in many cases,  on Virginia’s Eastern Shore,  many of the available waterfront parcels range from three to six acres in size,  and some are even larger.   These properties with acreage present the perfect scenario for having both a boat pier and a horse on the same property.

Take for example a ten acre parcel we have listed not far from Nassawadox, Virginia.  A  beautiful property,  it features wide water views and easy boating access to the Chesapeake Bay within 10-15 minutes of the property.  The best place to site  a custom home would be at the top of the knoll,  looking down towards the water.  This would offer terrific views and the access to a boat dock would be down a gently sloping path to the shoreline.   A pristine property,  this waterfront acreage is a perfect purchase for a boat lover .   And for a horse lover too  !

Partially wooded and partially open,  this parcel offers  easy conversion of the open area to  good horse pasture.  Fortunately, on this parcel,  as on most of the land in Northampton County,  the soils are excellent sandy loam soils which offer top notch  drainage — nobody wants their horse to have wet feet !   The property also has good depth which keeps the horses  away from the house and away from the water.  ( An important factor in helping maintain clean water would be  keeping  the nutrients from the horse patties from entering the water. )   Attractively priced at $399,000,   this property is ready for a beautiful custom home,  a backyard boat dock  and ,  if desired, offers room for a horse barn and pasture.  So if you want to purchase a boating property but you love horses too,  on Virginia’s Eastern Shore,  you won’t have to choose– you can have them both !   ( Take a peek at the  Farms and Farmettes   listing section on our web page,  www.blueheronva.com ,  to see other  real estate opportunities including beachfront properties where you can also have a horse. )

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Boating, Just Having Fun, Pets | No Comments »

Looking To Buy Beachfront Property In Virginia ? The Eastern Shore of Virginia Has Some Great Beach Real Estate Deals !

Monday, September 13th, 2010

Who doesn’t love the beach ?   Duh, everyone  loves  the beach !   ( Well, everyone I know loves the beach and I know a fair number of people,  so let’s just extrapolate from there…..)   And the only thing better than sitting out on the sand,  under a huge beach umbrella,  reading the latest  Sara Gruen novel or maybe re-reading a Tony Hillerman mystery ( I so love Joe Leaphorn )  is sitting in your beach house in a chaise lounge,  out on your own deck,  overlooking the beach,  inhaling soft briny breezes,  maybe smiling through  “Sweetness At The Bottom Of  The Pie”  or  trying to unravel the latest Pynchon literary offering.   But the frosty iced tea pitcher,  the pantry and the CD changer are  sooo  much closer,  just reach out and touch someone.  Well,  what might be just as good,  or maybe even better,  is sitting on your beachfront deck,  wine glass in hand,  as the sun slips below the horizon and paints the sand and the water  in brilliant sunset colors.  Which, of course,  is why so many of  our real estate customers  contact  Blue Heron Realty Co.  with a request to help them find a great buy on a  beach lot or home. ( www.blueheronva.com )

Great news !    If you’re looking to purchase  beach real estate in Virginia,  the  Eastern Shore is the very best location in Virginia to find both beachfront and beach access property at affordable prices,  great prices that make the heart beat a little faster and fingers itch to grab a pen and sign some papers.  Sure they have beautiful beach property in Virginia Beach,  less than an hour away.   But who wants to pay about a million dollars for a 40 x  175  lot  and share with about a billion tourists ?   Fine  if your job places you there and you love the beach.   But if you’re looking for a leisure home,  a retirement home or just plain relaxed,  low key year-round living  and would prefer private and pristine  low density neighborhood beaches at  an actually affordable price,  then Virginia’s Eastern Shore  could be  the place for you !

In this blog post  I’m featuring  a beachfront home,  a waterfront cottage with deeded beach access  and  a beachfront  lot for sale.    All of these properties are great deals !    The beachfront home at $995,000 is a truly wonderful purchase opportunity.  It’s a lovely 3 bedroom home on nearly two acres, wooded, with  almost 200 feet of  magnificant beach shoreline in a small, very upscale beach neighborhood. ( Plenty of room to  add- on if more bedrooms are desirable. )  This intimate little  neighborhood offers  a swim &  tennis facility and access to a private freshwater lake,  nice  for those who like to canoe or kayak. 

The cozy 3 bedroom waterfront cottage with deeded beach access  for sale for $359,000 is located in a tiny  waterfront neighborhood of  only 50 homes.  The cottage is sited on a one acre waterfront lot on a small inlet from the Chesapeake Bay,  only a couple miles from Cape Charles and the Palmer and Nicklaus signature golf courses.   It’s less than a five minute walk to the neighborhood’s 10 acre private sand beach— the perfect place to build sand castles or do some surf fishing at sunset. Or enjoy catching some of our famous Chesapeake Bay blue crabs from the backyard dock.  If you are thinking of  buying a leisure home and would like to get some rental income to help off-set mortgage payments,  this could be a good property for doing some weekly summer rentals.  ( Blue Heron Realty Co.  has a vacation rental department and we can handle all the details for you.  Just call us at 757-678-5200 )

Last,  but not least,  is a one acre plus beachfront homesite located on a bluff overlooking 500 miles of sparking blue waters  at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay,  one of Mother Nature’s very best addresses !   Here is an opportunity  to purchase a sizable beachfront lot for just $429,000.   Pick custom home plans perfect for your particular needs,  get rolling with construction  and  be living in your dream beachfront home by Spring.  ( Blue Heron can help you find a contractor.)   So relaxing,  just sitting out on your deck,  golden sunshine,  listening to waves  lapping and seabirds calling,  feeling the soft salty breezes,  neck muscles totally loose,  some Dave Brubeck  playing in the background,  happily reading the National Electrical Code 2011 Handbook due out this winter.   No, no, sorry,  just a  bad  joke !   I meant reading Pat Conroy’s new book   “My Reading Life” ,  also due out this winter.   Anyway,  the point is that if you are looking to buy beachfront property in Virginia,  come take a look at the fabulous beach real estate for sale here on the Eastern Shore.  You’ll be amazed and delighted at what you’ll find,  I guarantee it  !!   ( Call us at 800-258-3437 for more particulars on these properties and don’t forget to check out our website for some other great buys– www.blueheronva.com  )

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in At the Beach, Just Having Fun | No Comments »

My Customer, My Hero!

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Wednesday night, September 9, 2010, in the fabulous AQUA restaurant perched on the Chesapeake Bay shoreline in the historic Town of Cape Charles, Virginia I was  enjoying a wonderful, relaxing  dinner with my customers to celebrate a full day of touring the most incredibly beautiful waterfront properties on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  Little did I know that my last bite of rice might be truly my last bite,  ever !   We three had been completely engrossed in happy conversation about the events and places of the day, and especially the sunset walk along the beautiful beach in the little neighborhood of  Bay Ridge.  I swallowed a small spoonful of rice and tried to wash it down with a sip of water only to find that it lodged in my trachea!  Suddenly,  without warning,  my world turned upside down when I gasped for breath and not a molecule of air could pass into my straining lungs!   Richard and Eileen knew immediately that I was in trouble.   Unable to talk,  I could only signal my crisis by grabbing my throat,  bulging my eyes  and pounding my chest.  Eileen asked me if I could talk and I desparately shook my head while Richard quickly grasped the nature of my emergency, wrapped his strong arms around my chest from behind and administered five quick hugs of the Heimlich maneuver.  Finally, on the fifth hug I expelled the blockage and sank back into my chair,  taking my first breath in what felt like an hour but only proved to be about a minute or so.  Granted a new lease on life,  I have determined here to share this experience in the hope that all who read this blog will learn how to perform the Heimlich hug.  Check out instructions on the Heimlich  webpage at  www.heimlichinstitute.org/page.php?id=34  .  Take it from me,  you’ll never know when you might use it  and believe me when I say that it is truly a lifesaver !

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Fine and Casual Dining, Odds and Ends | No Comments »