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Union Chapel
Old Whaling Church
Vineyard Haven
Campground
Tabernacle
Oak Bluffs harbor
Oak Bluffs wharf
Edgartown harbor
There’s something about the play of light and dark that catches my eye. I love black & white photography, angles and shadows and the way the sun reflects on objects.
Menemsha is a fishing village located within the town of Chilmark on the western side of Martha’s Vineyard. In 1905 Menemsha Creek was dredged to form the working fishing basin of today.
According to Wikipedia:
…The village’s historic harbor serves as the point of departure for local fishermen, some from multi-generational fishing families, as well as charter boats to the Elizabeth Islands and elsewhere. Besides charter fishing and cruises, other possibilities for recreation are the public beach adjacent to the harbor and the bicycle ferry across Menemsha Pond to Aquinnah. Menemsha is the location of a United States Coast Guard station and was once known as Menemsha Creek.
This sculpture commemorates the sizeable fleet of swordfishermen who at one time called Menemsha home.
The beach at Menemsha is small and quiet with calm waters. Great beach for finding stones and shells.
Menemsha harbor was used for location shots for the movie “Jaws” and was also where Vineyard resident, singer Carly Simon did her 1987 HBO special ‘Coming Around Again’.
Menemsha is the best place on the Vineyard to enjoy the sunset. And to catch a bite at the Bite.
ferry seats (Islander)
under a tree
chaises await
Restaurant chairs
serene and tranquil
night light
Tabernacle benches
Tabernacle chairs
shopping and rocking
benches in the park
Edgartown was the Island’s first settlement in 1642. Originally called Great Harbour it was a world center for the whaling trade.
Many whaling captains built their homes in Edgartown, many of them today are private homes or beautiful bed and breakfasts.
One of the most beautiful is the Capt Daniel Fisher house, built in 1840, now the home of the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust.
The Old Whaling Church, called that because it was built with whaling money in 1843, is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture.
It is used as a performing arts center and one of the highlights of the year is the Christmas Minnesingers concert during the Christmas in Edgartown weekend.
The Federated Church is the Island’s oldest congregation, it was established in 1642. This structure was built in 1828.
The oldest known house on Martha’s Vineyard is the Vincent House now located behind the Whaling Church. It was moved there from its original site The Great Plain area outside Edgartown on the South Shore.
Memorial Wharf with observation deck on the top allows a stunning view of Chappaquiddick and the Edgartown harbor.
Old Sculpin Gallery and hand sculpted Whale’s Tail are across from Memorial Wharf.
Edgartown is charming and elegant.
Walk down the street early on a quiet morning or pull up a chair by the harbor. Edgartown has it all… beautiful places to stay, top notch restaurants, charming shops and art galleries to delight your senses.
Espresso Love in Edgartown is my favorite breakfast place.
I love their blueberry scones so much that I bring them back home to NJ and freeze them. The scone pictured above in all its delicious glory I saved for breakfast on my birthday. The stash is now gone but definitely will be replaced. Often we have Espresso Love coffee beans, that wasn’t the case this year but we do have EL mugs to complete the experience. A few years ago for my birthday my daughter Deb contacted Espresso Love and ordered a dozen blueberry scones, coffee beans and the above mugs to be sent to me. Imagine my surprise and delight when I opened the box and there was my favorite breakfast from my favorite breakfast place on my favorite Island.
Espresso Love isn’t just coffee and scones they serve lunch and in the summer casual evening dining in the garden. If you’re on MV check it out for yourself… you’ll be glad you did. Can’t you just smell the coffee now……………… ahhhhhhhhhhhh.
Birthday Girl
Susan Branch’s first cook book was “Heart of the Home” and once I bought it I was hooked. Not only are there interesting recipes and stories in her books but the illustrations, done by Susan herself are charming and beautiful… they almost make me want to get out my colored pencils… almost.
Here are a few of the 13 books she’s written and illustrated. But that’s not all Susan Branch has to offer.
I enjoy her stickers and stamps so I can be artistic and clever too (these are only a miniscule sampling). Her blank calendar books make great journals.
I can’t begin to list all the merchandise Susan Branch has to offer so go check out her website and see for yourself how talented she is and how inspiring her things are.
Susan Branch used to live year round on Martha’s Vineyard. Now she lives most of the year in California where she has opened a store in Arroyo Grande which is just south of San Luis Obispo… I wonder if she’d ever have a branch (groan) on MV some day !
Birthday gifts are fun especially when they’re for me… especially when they’re a few days early… and especially when they’re Vineyard related. The above poster was put together by my daughter Patty and family. All but three of the pictures are of Oak Bluffs which is my favorite town on MV… not that I don’t love the others too but Oak Bluffs holds a special place in my heart for many reasons.
Thank you to my family for these one of a kind special gifts.
Patty also made this beautiful tote for me using material she purchased from Susan Branch.
Susan Branch started out writing cook books and has branched out (excuse the pun) to so many more things. Check out Susan’s website, you’ll be glad you did.
Baby lamb #1 has arrived at the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm. Her mom’s name is Mary Poppins but she’s unnamed as yet.
She’s the first of the lambs and kids and isn’t she a cutie.
Illumination Night is held every year in the middle of August… this year it’s Wed Aug 18, 2010. If you are on MV you should not miss it, it’s an evening you won’t soon forget.
(2010 date for Illumination Night is Wed, Aug 18)
It all begins here at the Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs.
The gingerbread cottages are decked out in Japanese lanterns, many have been passed down from generation to generation, many are even still lit with candles.
The evening begins with music by the Vineyard Haven Band accompanying a lively community sing. After the community sing is over all the lights in the Campground are turned off… a special person who has been already chosen lights the first lantern 
which is then walked up the aisle to the entrance to the Tabernacle and suddenly all the lanterns in the Campground come to life. The Campground is transformed into a magical fairyland delighting…
… kids of all ages. It has always been my favorite event of the summer and it never fails to transform me into a kid again.
