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Thursday, October 1st, 2009
I’ve got my pajamas on
Before I go to bed I’m going to run around.
I’m standing on my head
And the world is upside down.
-“Pajamas” song from Livingston Taylor
Fall on Martha’s Vineyard means many good things. The days are sunny and still fairly warm, meaning my “to do” list contains plenty of long walks on deserted beaches and wooded trails. Potluck dinners with friends I haven’t seen all summer are also a high priority. The never-ending schedule of summer activities – and in my case – hours of dog biscuit baking (Vin-Yips!) for the Farmers’ Markets is just a blur. My laugh journal is crammed with entries from summer craziness and the cool evenings are now perfect for sleeping – and PAJAMAS! In my opinion, after the last ferry boat has left the dock in Vineyard Haven on Labor Day, every islander should don their most comfortable pajamas until Memorial Day weekend. Vineyard fashion is already known for its casual and quirky style, so how much of a leap would it be to take dressing down one step further. Apple crisp in the oven. Pajamas and fleece boots 24/7. Works for me. Have a cozy & relaxing Fall!
Tags: Fall on Martha's Vineyard, Family Life on MV, Island Living, Martha's Vineyard, things to do on Martha's Vineyard
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Monday, July 27th, 2009
Martha’s Vineyard is a big island. If you’ve been here for any amount of time you will eventually run out of gas. It’s just a fact of island living. There are only 9 gas stations spread out around the island and only a few of them are open late. Sometimes life is just so fast-paced on the Vineyard that it’s difficult to go out of your way and take the 5 minutes to fill up. You’re anxious to get a parking spot at the beach …you’re late for something… 5 Corners is gridlock …you need to make the ferry. So you just keep driving and putting off the fuel stop, and the little blinking EMPTY indicator mocks you UNTIL…until that sputtering sound forces you to pull over to the side of the road and wait for a helpful friend who can relate. One time is all it takes and then you become an expert on island gas station locations and operating hours. And while we’re on the subject of cars on Martha’s Vineyard… here are some unofficial island driving rules:
- No honking!
- Let people in or out with a smile and a wave. Pass it forward.
- Wave at your friends’ cars.
- If you’re coming towards another car on a narrow dirt road, pull over to the side first! No games of chicken. Be the better person. If they pull over first, acknowledge their kindness with a slight upward hand motion.
- Stop for turkeys, guinea hens, tourists in Black Dog t-shirts & miscellaneous woodland creatures crossing the road.
- At the blinker light intersection, take turns. (no cheating)
- Use turn signals. And commit to the direction you’re signaling.
- No honking! Worth repeating.
Happy island motoring!
Tags: Island Living, Martha's Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard gas stations, Martha's Vineyard Life, mvol.com, Rules of the Road on Martha's Vineyard
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Monday, June 15th, 2009
I shall title this blog “Eating a piece of Dairy Queen ice cream cake on the deck at 2:30 on a sunny yes sunny Sunday afternoon after it’s been raining for 2 weeks.” Need I say more? Yes I will.
The sun has suffered a bad rap in the years since that silly SPF scare. In the future I think we will once again slather ourselves with a mixture of Johnson’s Baby Oil and iodine and frolic carefree from South Beach to Lobsterville after a scientific discovery funded by the Cape Cod & Islands Chambers of Commerce reveals that raw sun rays are beneficial after all. But I digress.
It’s been raining and chilly-damp for the last few weeks on Martha’s Vineyard. Our food and timeclocks are confused. People are eating chili again and are grumpily wearing socks. Summerinteruptus.
But today the sun is out! All is warm and well on Martha’s Vineyard. The High School graduating class of 2009 is celebrating today at the historic Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs admidst all the sunny glory of a perfect June day. Roses are blooming, strawberries are ripening and my deck is a sunbathing oasis. The only sounds I hear at this very moment are birds chirping, trees rustling and the caucophony of crows divebombing a stray hawk who oh so stupidly invaded their airspace. In the iconic words of Van Morrison’s “So Quiet Here”…”This must be what paradise is like…so quiet in here, so peaceful in here…”
Have a peaceful sunny happy summer.
Tags: Dairy Queen, Island Living, Martha's Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard Life, mvol.com, outdoors
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Monday, May 18th, 2009
Sitting in my kitchen at the edge of the state forest in West Tisbury, I can hear the late afternoon fog horns in Vineyard Sound….one of my favorite magical reminders that I live on an island. There’s so much beauty on Martha’s Vineyard, it might be easy to start taking it all for granted. But no, I’ve never met so many people who are so eager to share their stories and appreciation of this special place.
Had two incredible sensory experiences on the island this week. The first involved a beachwalk in the fog with a friend who had never seen Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark. Wha? It was foggy and drizzling slightly but the air was warm and it was about an hour before sunset as we headed up-island. There was no one in the parking lot when we arrived at Lucy Vincent and the sound of the crashing waves was eerie and mystical as we stepped out of the car. Making our way down the sandy path, we both stopped short in amazement when the ocean came into view. It was high tide and all along the rock strewn beach were huge, quivering mountains of gelatinous foam. It was like a surreal scene from a science fiction movie. The wind was picking up and streaks of pink were breaking through the grey clouds. Every once in a while a chunk of foam would escape and skitter down the beach like an alien tumbleweed. We each stood alone silently facing the waves, lost in our own thoughts. Sometimes you just need to see the ocean. And beach therapy is not just for sunny days.
A few days later I stopped by to visit a friend who was fixing up her rental cottage situated on a small pond with a view of Vineyard Haven harbor. A sweet spot for sure. She was busy in her tiny kitchen preparing dinner, so I relaxed on the sunny deck with a glass of wine. The ferry was making its way into the harbor and it was so peaceful and quiet. I closed my eyes and tuned in to the sound of hundreds of chirping birds and the summer’s first lawnmower sputtering in the distance. Just then the intoxicating smell of roast chicken came wafting though the open window. Another lucky moment to appreciate. And I live on Martha’s Vineyard. And Summer’s comin’ around again.
Tags: Martha's Vineyard Life, Springtime
Posted in Family Life on The Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard Life, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 1st, 2009
As the Island greens up, it’s pretty obvious what else is happening outside on our roads, beaches and ancient paths: People are getting in shape for summer. Running. Walking, Biking, Rollerblading. And of course tons of other outdoor activities.
Personally, I prefer solo late night bathroom dancing as my exercise of choice - but that’s another blog. Islanders have cast off their well-worn fleece outer garments and are actively trying to recover from winter potlucks. And a quick walk on the beach just might be enough to counteract a slice of Murdick’s Fudge or hot apple fritter from MV Gourmet Bakery. Mmmmm, donuts.
At least that’s what we’d like to think. It’s hard to switch gears from winter survival eating to beachbody basics like salad and fruit smoothies. But the warmer weather is beckoning us onward like lemmings to the sea. Each spring I try to discover a new walk - and there are plenty to choose from here. The MV Conservation Society publishes a great reference guide called ‘Walking Trails of Martha’s Vineyard’ which you can pick up at Bunch of Grapes.
If you need peer motivation to get outside, no problem. There are tons of organized events on the Island to get the blood pumping.
This week a Facebook invitation went out for the first-of-the-season sunset beach potluck. OK, that may be pushing the season - but yay! - you can smell the excitement (balanced with fear of bared pasty legs).
Parting thought: Get out there. Just do it. Question authority… is there anyone else wondering why the MV Times’ weekly senior activities supplement is titled “55 Plus”? Attitude is everything. Woo-Hoo!
Tags: Add new tag, Bunch of Grapes bookstore, Fountain of Youth, getting fit on MV, Martha's Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard events, Murdick's Fudge, MV Gourmet Bakery, outdoor activities
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Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
What could be more charming and New England-y than the annual town meeting? The purest form of democracy in action. Martha’s Vineyard politics can be very serious and heated – but there are lots of lighthearted & fun moments too. Island characters pitted against washashore newbies can put on quite a show. But getting people off their comfortable sofas and out to town meeting is always a challenge.
Sometimes a good “bad dog” issue is all it takes. But I’ve come up with a solution to filling the empty seats while fulfilling a need for socializing after a long, frigid winter. Let’s combine town meeting with some old fashioned gossip, scandal and flirting. It simply requires a new seating plan. All you happily married people sit on the left. All the single, newly separated, divorced and unhappily married people on the right. At a glance, you can then see what’s happened over the winter and catch up with all your neighbors before the gavel even hits the podium. Could be quite the conversation starter.
Anyone second the motion?
Tags: Add new tag, Martha's Vineyard Life, matchmaking, mvol.com, romance on the Vineyard, Town Meeting
Posted in Martha's Vineyard Life | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
For most islanders, spring means gardening, income taxes, freaking out about wearing a bathing suit in 2 months, marshmallow peeps, ticks, cleaning out closets for summer rentals and repairing potholes in your driveway. OK, maybe not in that order. Spring also means Easter but you may also notice a small section in the markets set aside with special foods for the Jewish celebration of Passover. On the first two night of Passover, a special family meal called the seder is held. During the week of Passover, only unleavened bread - matzo - may be eaten. Matzo symbolized both the suffering of the Hebrews in slavery in Egypt, as well as the haste with which they left Egypt during the Exodus. But what happens to all the leftover matzo after Passover, you may ask with alarm! Well, when life gives you matzo, you make matzo-brei for breakfast.
Here’s my favorite recipe:
Crumble about 6-8 matzos into bite size pieces in a colander and pour boiling water over them to soften, then squeeze out the water. Break 6 eggs into a bowl, whisk lightly with a fork and add the softened matzo. Add some salt and pepper. Heat some butter in a large frying pan and sauté some chopped onions (or not). Add the egg-coated matzo pieces, stirring to break it up during frying. (Don’t cook too dry - best when moist!) Serve with sprinkled cinnamon sugar (my preference), maple syrup, or with more salt & pepper.
Matzo is sold year-round, so enjoy anytime of year. My friend Herb Foster is hosting a Passover Matzo Brei lunch at The Anchors in Edgartown this Thursday, April 9 at 12 noon. Register in advance at 508-627-4368. All are welcome!
Tags: Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Matzo recipes, Mo-Nisms, mvol.com/blog, Passover, Seder, The Anchors
Posted in Eating on MV, Family Life on The Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard Life | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
 It’s spring on Martha’s Vineyard, but is it really? A week away from April and hardly a green leaf in sight. There’s still a skim of ice coating my fish pond but I can see the goldfish darting around. Driving down State Road, there are new lambs snoozing in a sunny field. And rushing out of the house this morning grabbing my winter jacket, shivering in the cold, the sight of purple crocuses breaking through the tangle of unraked leaves made me smile. Spring on Martha’s Vineyard is a cruel tease. Sure looks like winter right now. But Dairy Queen is open! And more telling than live music on Circuit Avenue, the stupefying cinnamon fragrance of hot, just-out-of-the-oven apple fritters from Back Door Donuts is once again about to transform the night in Oak Bluffs. Economic woes aside, it’s time for gratitude. We islanders live in an incredible paradise. A physically beautiful place with people who care for each other and laugh easily. A wave from a friend in a passing car is more than a greeting. A walk on the beach this time of year is more than just exercise. Hearing the distant foghorn on a cold March morning is more than a warning. Spring is coming – summer not far behind. The other day, while driving on Beach Road amidst floating seagulls and the rays of an orangy-pink sunset piercing the harbor, the Los Lonely Boys song “Heaven” played on MVYradio. Word.
Tags: Add new tag, Beach Road, Martha's Vineyard Life, MV Island, mvol.com, MVY radio, Spring on Martha's Vineyard, State Beach
Posted in Family Life on The Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard Life | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 12th, 2009
 Steve "before" photo _Today I spent a fun day with our MVOL “Make Over Your Man” contest winner Steve Yeomans and his adorable girlfriend Lauri Bradway, who admitted she basically had to drag him kicking and screaming to today’s hair appointment. Maggie’s Salon In Vineyard Haven was our first stop and Steve proved what a great sport he was in the salon hotseat. Hint – there was definitely a lot of hair left on the floor. After many oohs and ahs from the salon staff and clients who witnessed the transformation, we sprinted off to The Green Room on Main Street where Steve had fun shopping for his new shirt. We had to pull him away from the Patagonia fleece, but he finally managed to pick out a beautiful sweater for his romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at Zephrus on Saturday night.
Click here to view Steve’s transformation!
Tags: Maggie's Salon, Make Over your Man Contest, mvol.com, The Green Room, Zephrus Restaurant
Posted in Martha's Vineyard Life | 2 Comments »
Monday, February 9th, 2009
When you live on Martha’s Vineyard, getting a new car can be a blessing and a curse. We tend to keep our cars much longer than necessary here. Sometimes they just break down and morph into a rusting hulk in your yard until you realize you’re not ever going to do the repairs and finally call the tow truck. An old car is a respected friend that fellow islanders recognize and wave to. It takes months of association before the waving resumes. And let’s not forget the personality defining decals and bumper stickers. The years of beach stickers plastered to the windows are the status symbols of the island. But repairs are expensive here. Gas is expensive here. Eventually you start visualizing your new car and the freedom from worrying about the failed inspection sticker or breaking down on a dark wooded road. A new gas efficient model would be so nice. YES! It’s time.
Taking your old car off the island on that final ferry ride is like the Eskimos pushing their aging parents out to sea on an ice flow. Sad but necessary. Driving the new car onto island soil for the first time is exhilarating, if not somewhat of a letdown. You are anonymous. No one waves. Who are you? You want to shout – IT’S ME! LOOK I HAVE A NEW CAR! Maybe the MV TIMES or GAZETTE should devote a weekly section with photos of new island cars and their owners. Until then I will dutifully sweep out the excess sand from my seat and look forward to my first beach sticker this summer. Hope I don’t back into a tree.
Tags: Martha's Vineyard, MVFamily Life, mvol.com, outdoors, Vineyard Life
Posted in Martha's Vineyard Life | 1 Comment »
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