You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2009.
Vineyard Haven is one of three towns located “down-Island”, it was settled in 1674 and was known as Holmes Hole. The reason for the Vineyard Haven/Tisbury confusion is, as I understand it, that after the name change to Vineyard Haven in 1871 the town was later legally named Tisbury and thus the use of both names !! It is not as lively and artistic as Oak Bluffs or as picturesque and architecturally beautiful as Edgartown… it is the port of entry for most visitors and the center of commerce for Islanders.
On August 11, 1883 a fire in Vineyard Haven ravaged almost all of Main Street.
Below is Vineyard Haven harbor which is protected by two promontories of land known as East Chop and West Chop.
Vineyard Haven is the year round port of entry for the Steamship Authority, although ferries do land in Oak Bluffs also during the busy months.
It is home to the famous Black Dog restaurant and bakery.
Vineyard Haven is also home to the Vineyard Playhouse which is open year round. There are many interesting stores such as the eclectic Midnight Farm co-owned by Carly Simon. The Bunch of Grapes bookstore, clothing stores, restaurants, home furnishings, movie theatre… stroll the streets of Vineyard Haven and enjoy this bustling and charming town.
Here are four links to click on:
Hear ye, hear ye… the Martha’s Vineyard/Hudson Valley Fiber Farms have a brand spankin new beautiful website. Check it out by clicking here.
Browse around and check out Susan’s blog, shop, photos, yarn csa and the lamb cam.
The flock is waiting for your visit… 
…muffins. In honor of the inauguration of our new president, Barack Obama, I would like to introduce you to….tah dah… the Presidential Muffins (patriotic – but non partisan) created by Carol McManus of Espresso Love. She created these lucious, delicious, blueberry and strawberry muffins when President Clinton was visiting Martha’s Vineyard. You can find the recipe in her book “Table Talk.“
My daughter Deb made a batch of Presidential Muffins the other day… they’re long gone but definitely not forgotten.
This sign in Oak Bluffs shows the miles between MV and Helsinki (3957 miles), Waterville, ME (248 miles), London (3283 miles), NYC (179 miles), and San Francisco (2730 miles) just to name a few places. These are the actual miles but I like to think that my blog can take you to MV in a matter of minutes… no traveling required, just click and enjoy and then actually visit MV. Each mile traveled is a step closer to the Vineyard experience.
Apparently I like the above picture because I used it a year ago in a post with information for getting to MV- click here to read that post.
Ice on Sengekontacket Pond
Snow on dunes at State Beach
Then (he’s the little guy)
Now
Happy birthday to my husband, I love you.
The Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs is my favorite place on the Vineyard. One of my first posts was about it titled “Heart and Soul” (click here to read it). I feel though that it’s time to do another post about the Tabernacle, to update and add more pictures. I’ve spent many hours visiting the Tabernacle, sometimes at events, sometimes alone with my thoughts. One particular funny childhood adventure I wrote about in a post called “Bells Are Ringing” (click here to read it).
Welcome to the Tabernacle…walk inside and behold her beauty and know that this is a special place.
Stained glass windows are simple and beautiful in their design.
They create rainbows on the floors and chairs.
In 1999 a major renovation began that is still going on.
The old cross, pictured here, atop the cupola was replaced with a new one that is illuminated.
I even have my own version of the Tabernacle …
This beautiful counted cross stitch designed for me by my daughter Deb. Yes, of course there’s a post about it 
click here to read it. You might notice that the picture is the same as the first picture of the Tabernacle at the beginning of this post.
I tell everyone who is going to be on the Vineyard to be sure and visit the Campground and see the Tabernacle. I don’t know if there’s another one like it in the world, certainly not one in quite this same special setting. I don’t know how to end this post about a place that means so much to me… so I’ll just say… amen.
It’s natural in January to look back on the past year. (Don’t you love my model!!!) I still find it hard to believe that I’ve been blogging about Martha’s Vineyard for almost 15 months. Some posts have come easily and others I’ve had to research and work harder at. But all of them have been fun for me because I’m sharing my love and exuberance of the Vineyard with others…and along the way I’ve learned new things about MV myself. For instance there once was a railroad from Oak Bluffs to Katama. Click here to read post.
I’ve written 181 posts counting this one.
July 5, 2007 was my busiest day, unfortunately it was due to the sad and tragic posts about the Bunch of Grapes/Cafe Moxie fire. That post got 546 views. I’m glad to say that Bunch of Grapes has re-opened in a temporary spot. Click here to read post.
Illumination Night is second with a total of 472 views. I love telling people about my favorite Martha’s Vineyard event. There’s nothing like it anywhere that I know of. Click here to read post.
My third busiest post is Carly and Harry, as in Carly Simon and Harry Connick, Jr… that post had 257 views. It’s about their concert at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs.. certainly an afternoon I’ll never forget. Click here to read post.
The Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm comes in fourth with a total of 199 views. I love blogging about Susan and Peter and their fiber farms… yes, plural because there’s a second one in Hopewell Junction, NY – the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm. I have come to love goats and sheep after meeting theirs… I had no idea these creatures could be so loving and adorable. I am a little partial to the goats though… must be because I’m married to a Capricorn Click here to read post.
Some of the most fun and creative posts were photos of the Vineyard where her beauty speaks for itself..here’s a sampling: Wisteria in The Campground
Here’s to 2009.
(PS – don’t forget to check out my photography blog:
www.throughjerseyeyes.wordpress.com )
