Three Day Weekend

     In a year of firsts, I was able to take off all three days of Memorial Day weekend for the first time in sixteen years. Our go-to getaway is Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, and it was nice to see it in late spring, a time of year I am not normally there. The weekend was somewhat low key, as the very windy weather hindered some of our on-the-water plans, but it did not prevent me from taking a daily sunrise walk with the dogs along the shores of Metompkin Bay.





     On Saturday my mother and I ventured to the town of Onancock, and I was able to get a few pictures, including some at Ker Place, one of the older, more historic homes in the small bayside town.  You can click here to go back in time for another Onancock visit.

Ker Place Gate

     There was a beautiful Cornus kousa in full bloom next to Ker Place.

     At the opposite end of the house were two pomegranates (Punica granatum), and I am a sucker for orange in the garden.

     Near the pomegranate and overlooking the herb garden was a row of large Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra), blown sideways by a chilly north wind.

     The herb garden had a few unidentified roses and peonies.  I may have not known their names, but the fragrances were unmistakable.

     Right behind the brick mansion was a more modest home, but I loved the garden that went with it.  As they would say on HGTV it has great curb appeal, which, from watching that network, is apparently the only reason to garden anymore.

     On Sunday I was able to get some kayaking in, but due to the wind I avoided open water and stuck to the upper reaches of Parker's Creek. This waterway figures large in my family history, and because of that I have been wanting to see it from the seat of my kayak.

     The most famous house on Parker's Creek is Mount Custis, which sits on a small rise overlooking the water and within sight of the Atlantic.  Part of it dates back to the early 1700's, with additions made several times over the centuries. Surrounding the house are some lovely old trees, established shrubs, an orchard and a meticulously maintained vegetable garden. To get to the house you have to drive down a long road, white from crushed oyster shells. My father, his parents and his three sisters lived here for many years - but not in the big house. My grandfather was the caretaker and would also take visitors hunting and fishing. All six of them lived in a small converted schoolhouse on the property, and much of what they ate was grown in the garden, or pulled from the sea.

     I found a few pictures of Mount Custis taken decades ago on the Library of Congress web site, a great resource, by the way.  It gave me my only glimpse of what the interior looks like.

Also on Parker's Creek, one of the last vestiges of the Confederate Navy.

     On Monday, Memorial Day, the winds were finally low enough to take the boat to Metompkin Island.  The fish were not biting and the the water was cold enough for birth control, but as always treasures were found on the beach.

Equal Time at Gargathy Inlet

Back in July on the morning we were to head home from our mini-vacation, I was able to squeeze in one more kayak adventure.  My destination for this trip was Gargathy Inlet on the Atlantic side of the Eastern Shore, which locals refer to as the Seaside.  Historically Shore folk would also refer to themselves as either Baysiders or Seasiders depending on which side of the peninsula they were from.  My mom's family were Baysiders and my dad's were Seasiders, so I am the product of a mixed marriage (issues with which I am still trying to resolve). Since my last post took place on the Bayside, and since I want to maintain family harmony, this will be my equal time post.

The Seaside of Virginia's Eastern Shore is sheltered by a string of uninhabited (but not always so) barrier islands, most of which are protected in one way or another, primarily through the Nature Conservancy, NASA and the National Park Service.  This area is one of the largest uninterrupted and undeveloped stretches of coastline on the East Coast, and in my mind a national treasure.  Behind the marshes are miles and miles of salt marsh interspersed with lagoons, creeks and small bays generally teeming with life.  Separating the barrier islands are inlets that allow the vast marshes and the Atlantic ocean to exchange water and organisms several times daily.  Gargathy Inlet seperates Metompkin and Assawoman Islands, and the tides and currents here can run strong.  Not being familiar with how all the waterways worked with each other, I was a little unsure as to how I would proceed.  Thank ye gods of the internets for Google Satellite View, it was a big help.

One of the main reasons that the Nature Conservancy is so active here is due to the birds. This area is an important breeding and feeding grounds for many species, including the Black Skimmer.

Despite the wonders of nature all around, I was most intrigued with some of the works of man, and woman. There were several vacation homes, more like fishing and hunting shacks, rising on stilts above the marsh. They contrasted with some of the Florida images still rolling around in my brain from a few days earlier.

The creatures atop this house were two Bald Eagles acting as gargoyles. They flew off before I could get close enough for a good shot.

This house's roof ridge had a row of metal spikes running the length of it to deter birds, the Boat-Tailed Grackles were not.

Please bear with me while I end this post politically.  There is considerable interest from one side of the aisle in opening the area just off-shore from here to oil and gas exploration.  This area is a critical link in a very fragile chain, and I have said before just how damned special this part of the planet is to me.  If anything were ever to happen to it because of our seemingly unquenchable thirst for non-renewable energy, I am not sure how I would react, but it won't be pretty.  Just sayin'.

The Prodigal Church-goer

I work just about every Sunday and miss out on my favorite day of the week.  Even today in the age of 24 hour everything, it still feels like the least stressful day of the week.  Growing up, my family usually slept in later on Sundays, without a list of chores awaiting us like Saturday.  My father would take us to church around 10 for Sunday school, and mom would follow later, as she was always on the choir's schedule.  After Sunday school everyone would go to the sanctuary for singing and preachin',  which was normally over around noon (always an eternity for me). We would then head home, shed stiff clothing and eat Sunday dinner, usually the best meal of the week.  For most of those years Virginia still had Blue Laws, and the only businesses that could open on Sundays were restaurants and convenience stores.  I am not an especially religious person, but I fondly remember this quiet, family-centric day.  These days working Sundays means missing some great brunches and discounted Bloody Marys (one of my favorite beverages and a legitimate excuse to drink before noon) at local restaurants.

So on the last day of my mini-vacation earlier in the month, I found my self with the rare Sunday off, my first of the year.  I did not wake up intent on attending church, but on my morning walk, church found me as I walked along the shore of Metompkin Bay.



















If you would like to see all of my recent Eastern Shore pictures just click here.  I have also added a new label to this blog called "Making Time for Church" which will take you to other places or times where the spirit moved me.

The Virginia Shore

Like rubber necking past a multiple car pile-up, it is not out of character for me to be occasionally distracted by trashy television. One of the more remarkable accidents of recent programming is MTV's The Jersey Shore.  Watching all the drinking, stretched garments, bad grammar and bed hopping gives me a sense of complete despair for the future of the nation, but it does make for compelling TV.  Even though it is just a few hours south of Jersey's, activities on Virginia's Eastern Shore are a little more sedate.  This past week we were able to spend several days there at my parent's house. It was a relaxing time filled with low key activities that included reading, trips to the beach, fishing, some time in the kayak, a little gardening and some good eating. 

While I can't offer you any video footage, and no one is calling me for endorsements, I can share some of what I saw.

Parker's Creek at Sunset

Mt. Custis


Lang Farm Rd.


Burtons Shore in Black and White


Just Needs a Little TLC


Folly Creek


Pelicans Over Metompkin Inlet


Pelicans Over Metompkin Island


Gulls


Gulls, Black Skimmer and Pelicans


There is no shortage of shells on Metompkin


This picture shows part of my mom's haul form our second trip. She got these for a friend who wants to plant them with succulents to give as gifts. Both of the hairy creatures in the photo belong to me.


There will be a couple more posts upcoming from Virginia's beautiful Eastern Shore, including a bending of the rules Bloom Day, but I doubt you will see anything like Snookie or The Situation.