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The answer to the previous posts question is: tulip bulbs.
Knowing how much I enjoyed the blooming tulips in February, my daughter Patty and family sent this the other day.
Inside the box was a picket fence container and inside the fence was:
After removing its packing material there was this pot that had little bulps peeking out:
The instructions said to let it sit in a sink of water for about half an hour… it was tricky since the only thing handy I had to plug up the drain with was bubble wrap.. which, by the way was not a tight fit.
After its initial bath I then watered it, put it back in its picket fence container (which I think is adorable) and will keep a watchful camera eye on.
That’s it for my Spring gardening so far. I can’t wait to see what color(s) these tulips are going to be. Any guesses ! I’ll say yellow.
- by Joan -
… or, no inn at the room !!!
In 1993 we decided to visit MV in the middle of March. We knew the Island would be quiet in March but didn’t realize just how quiet it would be !!
We chose to stay at the Harborside Inn in Edgartown. The Harborside is a complex of several buildings, in the winter they would keep only one building open. The building we were in is the middle of the three pictured. We were in the middle room of the top floor.
Edgartown in the winter is quiet and solitary… ok, it’s pretty much deserted. A few restaurants were open, one or two B&B’s, a few stores and not much else. Some of the shops still had displays in their darkened windows, an unfair look at their tempting wares.
We checked in and were told that after 5pm no one would be at the desk. That we could make outgoing calls but incoming calls would go to their answering machine and those messages would be delivered in the morning. Remember, this was before cell phones…the dark ages, pre-personal electronic communications devices. And we were also warned that if we lost our room keys we’d literally be out in the cold.
Settled in for our first night of quiet and solitude. It eventually occurred to me that there was just a little too much quiet. There were no other human noises in the building, no lights on but ours… there was only the creaking of the floors and the eerie screams of the wind against the windows. Were we the only ones at the inn, the only ones in the entire complex? Yes we were, and suddenly the quiet was deafening and the solitude was ominous. Daylight couldn’t come soon enough.
The first full day on MV I enjoyed exploring the beauty of the Island in winter with my camera. After dinner we headed back to the inn for the night.
The weather forecast was for a winter storm with wind gusts over 60mph.
I hoped that the power wouldn’t go out. .
And then I heard voices… muffled at first and then clearer. A creak. A door being closed. Water running. A laugh. Could it be, were there other people in the building ! I felt relief. That night despite the howling winds I slept well knowing that we were not alone. I almost felt a bond to these other guests. But in the morning there was no sign of them… no noises from their room next to ours, no creaks or voices, no nothing. Did I dream them, were they real or perhaps visitors from across time and space that previously inhabited this former whaling captain’s home ! The mind runs wild sometimes on a blustery and stormy winter night especially on an Island with a history of hauntings… especially to a person with a vivid imagination.
(All photos are from 1993).
- by Joan -
I’m not feeling great so I decided to send you my daughter Deb’s blogs to visit… enjoy.
Knitting Scholar (click here) is primarily devoted to the review of knitting books, knitting magazines and info about spinning.
Punctuality Rules (click here) is an interesting and fun site about the use and mis-use of grammar.
So go on, scurry over…
… knock on her cyber door and go on in for …
something warm to drink and enjoy browsing Deb’s places.
I will be back soon.
Below are my favorite posts from each month.
Click on posts to read them.
January - Mom’s and Mine
February - Forks and Friendship
March - Top of New Jersey
April - Vineyard Fences and Walls
May - The House
June - Horses Through The Window
July - It’s Chappy
August - Flying Horses
September - Martha’s Vineyard Map
October - Vineyard, Oct 2012
November - Giving Thanks
December - My Girls and My Grands
Tiffany and Tyler 1989 ~ 1998
Tiffany and Tyler 2012
Patty and Debbie 1964 ~ 1975
Patty and Debbie 2012
T’was Christmas morning and all through the house,
Everyone was stirring, even the mouse,
Lots of smiles, joy and merriment,
And of course a new ornament.
Patty opened her box and Deb’s turn was next,
The look on her face was very perplexed !
The box was empty, no ornament inside…
I felt terrible and almost cried.
Deb rose to her feet and headed to the tree,
And hung the empty box where the ornament should be.
The following year I searched all around,
A perfect ornament for Deb must be found,
It was, it was just meant to be,
A box ornament for our Christmas tree.
We hang them each year and remember with glee,
How an empty box (filled with love) came to decorate our tree.
When I think of getting ready for Christmas there are a few favorite and special things that come to mind.
First thing out is our ‘family’ Santa. CLICK HERE to find out why he reminds me so much of my dad !!
Christmas music is always a good way to get into the spirit and one of my favorite CD’s was put together just for me two years ago by my daughter Deb. CLICK HEREto find out more about this special collection.
Memories of my one and only childhood Christmas spent on the Vineyard with my godparents can be found by CLICKING HERE.
Now it’s off to deck the halls and tra-la-la-la-la.
With Thanksgiving coming up I want to thank my mother (she’s on the right) for bringing Martha’s Vineyard into my life and the lives of my family. Little did she know when she set me down on this beach in Oak Bluffs for the first time what an important and life defining occasion it was. CLICK HERE for more about my mom.
Same beach Oct 2010.
My entire family has been to MV with me at one time or another but never all of us at the same time. That’s okay though as the Vineyard is a different experience depending on who I’m there with. Or if I’m with no one at all… and that’s nice too.
Passing the Vineyard to new generations is a tradition for lots of families and mine is no different. Here at State Beach in Oak Bluffs in the early evening one May is my daughter Deb and her dog Chappy.
My daughter Patty and son-in-law Mike at Aquinnah… actually on a beach in the summer.
In 1996 the next generation appears. My grandchildren Tiffany and Tyler at Edgartown lighthouse during their first trip to the Vineyard. It was the month of May, not swimming weather but good for collecting shells and rocks and seeing the ocean for the first time.
Thank you Mom.
Lucky, lucky me, two trips to MV this year, May and October, both beautiful months to be on the Vineyard. Come along and join me, my daughter Deb, her dog Chappy and my granddaughter Tiffany on our adventure.
Welcome to Cape Cod… getting closer to Woods Hole and the ferry by the minute.
Arrived late afternoon on Saturday and mostly walked, browsed, stretched our legs and paws, enjoyed a good meal and then settled in for the night.
Sunday morning was stunning. After breakfast in the garden at Espresso Love we drove out to W Tisbury to the Artisan Fair at the Grange Hall.
We browsed, bought a few trinkets and then headed down the road to the whimsical and delightful Field Gallery. You can’t visit here and not smile.
A moment of relaxation and contemplation before moving on.
The afternoon culminated with a ride on the Flying Horses. You can never be too young or too old to not enjoy a spin and a chance to catch the brass ring.
After breakfast Monday morning at the Black Dog Cafe…
…we headed to pumpkin heaven at Morning Glory Farm.
Part of the afternoon was spent walking through the Campground.
This is the first cottage in the Campground…1864.
Tuesday’s breakfast was at Among The Flowers in Edgartown.
Then a drive Up-Island to the Beetlebung Cafe and to spend the day with a good friend.
The nexy day our time on the Vineyard came too quickly to an end.
Here comes the Martha’s Vineyard to take us back to America.
One final picture.
PS… Chappy waiting patiently as always.
