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Archive for March, 2009
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 »
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
 State Beach, Martha's Vineyard Friends we left behind in the city are always asking, “Don’t you miss it here?” “Isn’t it so quiet and slow way out in the middle of no-where?” “What do you do there all winter?” Here’s the truth: I do not miss the city. It’s a nice place to visit but ….
We made the big move to Martha’s Vineyard for so many reasons but the over-reaching ‘why’ is simply: we wanted to raise our children in a small community. We can’t hop in our time machine and hit the 1950’s button so we find ourselves here where the children can ride their bikes up and down our dirt road and climb trees, throw rocks into the water and actually play.
There is so much to do yet so little to schedule, if that’s the way you like it. The youth sports are actually organized, the parents stick around and participate rather than drop-&-go and the children are included in community building. Any given evening or weekend there are activities for the whole family from fun runs and fund-raising for our neighbors to planting sea grass on the beach dunes, picking up rubbish and slow-food potluck dinners.
“What about culture?” they ask. The Island is a haven for the arts and accessible?! We have the YARD, Feathertstone Center for the Arts, IMP All Things Theatre and Rise Performing Arts. The Capawok brings the Metropolitan Opera to us regularly and check out Shakespeare for the Masses at the Vineyard Playhouse (and this is just the tip of the iceberg). The galleries, the craftsmanship you virtually stumble upon here. Just last weekend we spent a couple hours watching the glass-blowers at MVGlassworks (they are fascinating!).
So here we find ourselves, raising our children without the noise and the light and the hurried complicated busy-ness of the city and loving it out here in the middle of no-where enjoying the simplicity of ‘nothing to do’.
Tags: Add new tag, Capawok Theatre, Family on Martha's Vineyard, Featherstone Center for the Arts, fun runs, IMP, Martha's Vineyard, Metropolitan Opera on MV, mvquest, Rise Performing Arts, slow food, the simple life, the Yard, Vineyard Glassworks, Vineyard Playhouse, winter on MV
Posted in Family Life on The Vineyard, Martha's Vineyard Life | No Comments »
Friday, March 20th, 2009
You know how when you’re on vacation (ok, anytime, really) and you don’t want to cook? Or how you want to bring a little something to a neighbor or friend but don’t have time to make/bake it? I have the answer to your dilemma. Little Rock Farm has some of the best assortments of take away edibles that you will find on Martha’s Vineyard.
 Little Rock Farm Granola...Take it anywhere Little Rock Farm is a baked goods paradise of muffins, breads, cupcakes, pies, cookies and brownies. I bring a Little Rock Farm pie to every dinner party I attend. I’m beginning to wonder if I’m being invited for my charming personality or because of the pies? While we’re chatting about sweets, the pumpkin apple bread is the first thing that goes in my bag when I’m at the Farmers Market in West Tisbury. It has yet to make it all the way home and the crumbs in my car are the proof.
Little Rock also offers homemade soups with fresh ingredients from local farms. And the soups are amazing, my favorite is the tomato bisque. Creamy, sweet and tasting of sun kissed fresh from the vine plump tomatoes. Vegetable beef barley, lentil and other easy to heat soups that are the perfect starter to any meal.
If you’re heading off for an island adventure and want to pack a lunch that will fill you up and make the scenery even more enjoyable, be sure to grab a stromboli, or baked macaroni and cheese. Portioned into individual servings and ready to go, lunch couldn’t be easier. Make sure to grab a brownie or cookie for desert. The chocolate chip cookies are a perfect blend of sugar, chocolate and love.
The heart of the farm is their granola and you will find that you need a container for every room in the house. My office alone goes through three or four containers a week. Alone or with yogurt and ice-cream it’s the topping that keeps on giving.
You’re probably wondering where you can find these farm favorites and the answer, thankfully, is practically everywhere - online orders are delivered to if you are away from our ‘little rock’ here in the Atlantic. Of course, you can find a number of products at Cronigs, Waterside Market, Reliable, The Net Result, and Stop-n-Shop. Once summer arrives you’ll find the Little Rock folks and their yummy treats at the West Tisbury Farmers Market every Saturday - stop by early to avoid disappointed taste buds.
Tags: Add new tag, baked goods, fresh soups, granola, Little Rock Farm, local food, Martha's Vineyard, mvol.com, take out foods
Posted in Eating on MV, Martha's Vineyard Life | No Comments »
Monday, March 9th, 2009
Oh, how I love this time of year! I love all the changes, in the air, the light, in the weather. There’s nothing I like more than a surprise and ‘mud season’ is a daily surprise party!
I know most visitors think Martha’s Vineyard has just one season - THE Season, Beach Season - but we have SO much more! We DO have snow days with bright blue skies and winds that bite. We also have rainy days that turn into glorious, fresh-washed spring afternoons. We have mud as well as sand and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
We’ve put away our snowboots and pulled out the Wellies. The giant winter coats are being cleaned and ready for storage. We’re spending so much more time outdoors - readying the garden, hiking and exploring conservation areas , getting ready for the St. Patrick’s Day 5K to benefit the MV Boys & Girls Club and even riding bikes!
To all those who only know Martha’s Vineyard during THE Season I recommend you plan a little trip out to the Island during the spring ‘mud season’. You’ll fall deeper in love with the Island and the season which brings so much surprise.  Nothing better than Martha's Vineyard in the Spring.
Tags: Add new tag, conservation land, Family Life on MV, Island Living, Martha's Vineyard, MV Boys & Girls Club, Springtime, St. Patrick's Day 5K
Posted in Family Life on The Vineyard | No Comments »
Friday, March 6th, 2009
One of our main pursuits here on Martha’s Vineyard is the search for the Deal of the Day. Let me tell you an Island secret: the Scottish Bakehouse on State Road in West Tisbury has a breakfast sandwich that will fit anyone’s budget.
I love a good croissant and I especially love a croissant that’s toasted and covered in egg, cheese and sausage. The Scottish Bakehouse knows how to make such a thing and, oooh they make it so well. I’m having to send friends in for my morning ‘fix’ because I feel as though I’m becoming a sandwich stalker.
Everyone knows I am a proud carnivore who has to be tricked into eating vegetables. Here’s another secret: I hear word the veggie breakfast sandwich is a garden dream.
If by chance you happen to not be in the mood for a breakfast sandwich, (which, really, would only be under a dire medical condition for me) have no fear! The baked goods are here! (Cue the superhero music) Let’s begin with the Irish soda bread. It makes me want to kiss the blarney stone in appreciation of the sweet raisins and perfect rationing of flour, baking soda and buttermilk.
Onward to the muffins, scones and, hey since you’re already here, why not a cookie or two? Everything that comes out of the oven at the Scottish Bakehouse is delightful, delicious and divine. I recently bought a loaf of Portugese Sweet Bread and I now wake up before the alarm in anticipation of a piece of this bread toasted and smothered in butter.
The kind folks at the Bakehouse have thought of everything including picnic tables outside the door. This makes it extremely easy to slip in for a second sweet treat with (almost) noone noticing.
Breakfast and baked goods at the Bakehouse are a must for anyone visiting or living on the island. Stop in for the Portugese Sweet Bread to take home for tomorrow’s breakfast and indulge yourself today.
Get your plaid, pick up your pipes and head to the Scottish Bakehouse.
977 State Road, West Tisbury. 508-693-6633.
Tags: Add new tag, breakfast, Deal of the Day, Martha's Vineyard, mvol.com, Scottish Bakehouse, West Tisbury
Posted in Eating on MV, Martha's Vineyard Life | 1 Comment »
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