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Full size snippet pictures ~ part 3.
Espresso Love – Edgartown
Midnight Farm – Vineyard Haven
Union Chapel – Oak Bluffs
Island Home ferry
Black Dog Bakery – Vineyard Haven
Old Sculpin Gallery – Edgartown
Memorial Wharf – Edgartown
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
In my post of Feb 24th…’Painting Party’… I said I had one more birthday gift to collect. I did that recently with my daughter Deb. There are actually two gifts to tell about. One I knew about, one I didn’t.
Dylan’s Candy Bar I knew about… but before we went there we walked a little further down E 60th St to.
Serendipity 3 for lunch. Why there? Well, because of their famous, delicious, heavenly chocolate dessert….. Frozen Hot Chocolate, which I adore.
I would have gone straight for the frozen hot chocolate but Deb said we should at least have a sandwich or something first. They were okay. I only ate half of the chicken salad and Deb’s prosciutto sandwich turned out to be less than fresh… I’m pleased to say that the management generously rectified that situation.
And then…. tah dah… THE frozen hot chocolate.
This is me today.
This is me in 1994 the first time I had frozen hot chocolate.
Good to the last lick.. and as sinfully delicious as I remembered it… and yes, I drank it all by myself.
You might think we had no desire to even look at anymore sweets. Nope. Still had Dylan’s Candy Bar to visit and use my gift card from Deb.
So down the block we waddled to…
We were literally like kids in a candy store.
So much to look at, so much candy it boggled my mind. And there were other interesting things like this illuminated staircase.
Miscellaneous this and that… a birthday hat, and yes, apparently chocolate does aid in healing.
Um… hmmm…
Our loot.
Starting at bottom left going clockwise: chocolate/raspberry bar – chocolate covered pretzel balls – a box of chocolate covered pretzels – chocolate covered krispies and chocolate covered sandwich cookies.
There was one other stop, the New York Public Library, but you’ll have to wait a bit for that post as I’m coming down off my sugar high and think I need to rest a bit 
(CLICK HERE for a sneak peek at the library lions at ‘Through Jersey Eyes’)
Today was ‘Shop Small Business Saturday’ and so my daughter Deb and I went into the center of Denville to do just that.
We made purchases in these stores.
And then we saw the float for tomorrow’s parade. It is titled
‘Denville’s Back…What A Gift’
and it certainly is considering the flooding and devastation Hurricane Irene caused a few months ago. CLICK HERE to read that post.
It was fun walking around town, visiting stores we haven’t been to for awhile, and seeing so many stores reopened and ready for the holidays. Yay for Denville and small businesses everywhere.
In my post of Oct 18th I eluded to a mystery birthday gift… CLICK HERE to read it.
This was the clue.
And for those who wondered what it was… voila…
A gorgeous one of a kind 100% felted llama hat. It’s as beautiful as Deb who might not have been very surprised after all since she wore it around Rhinebeck all day. Once we got home though the hat mysteriously disappeared for a few weeks and Deb developed some sort of amnesia concerning the whole thing.
Sometimes part of the birthday fun is knowing what you’re getting, but pretending you don’t, and then acting all surprised when you get it. That reminds me of another gift story…but I’ll save that for another time.
I know it’s a surprise that I, MV Obsession, would have a collection of MV bags 
OK, let’s see what we have here. In the picture on the top left – The Midnight Farm bag in the middle is straw and is surrounded by assorted paper bags. The requisite Black Dog bag. My favorite scone dealer in Edgartown, Espresso Love. One of the best books stores on MV, Bunch of Grapes. Our dog Chappy’s favorite store, Good Dog Goods in Oak Bluffs. And Sanctuarywhich is a wonderful spiritual store in Oak Bluffs.
The picture on the top right isof three sturdy cloth tote bags. The Secret Garden in Oak Bluffs is very large and holds all my MV counted cross stitch charts which I bought at the Heath Hen. The other great MV book store, Edgartown Books is the pretty blue bag and the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm (now known as Juniper Moon Farm) bag is in the right corner.
In the bottom picture is a nice big burlap bag from Katama General Store and a bag made by my daughter Patty with Susan Branch’s fabric.
Please click on store names to visit their websites.
Not quite as many bags as T-shirts (CLICK HERE) but I’m working on it.
There are lots of inspirational posts in blogger-land this month so I’ve been inspired to do one too.
These are good words to start 2011 with. Enjoy the journey -take each day as it comes and try to enjoy at least one little thing each day. Face problems and situations by taking one step at a time. Breathe -take a deep breath before you act, gives your head and heart a chance to get in sync with each other. Faith -have faith in yourself and in the world, know that a higher power is there to guide us if we have faith in it, and in ourselves. Imagine - let your mind wander, let your inner child back out, imagine yourself doing what makes your heart sing and what makes you content.
Right now I’m imagining myself on the Vineyard… breathing in the clean, crisp air… I have faith I’ll be there again enjoying the journey and adventures that wait for me.
This picture was taken a few years ago of one of my favorite stores… Sanctuary on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs.
Martha’s Vineyard is a great place for a family vacation.
Unlike big crowded theme parks, a trip to the Vineyard is a more laid back kind of vacation.
Being an Island the main attraction is the beach. The best kid friendly one is State Beach on the eastern side of MV between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. The water is mostly shallow and very calm. The beach is great for finding shells and stones and sometimes an elusive piece of sea glass.
Here at Aquinnah, (Gay Head cliffs) on the western side of MV lying beneath the colorful clay cliffs, the beach is rougher and dotted with large and interesting rocks.
Bicycling is a terrific way to explore the Island. One of the prettiest bicycle paths is right along State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown… the Atlantic Ocean is on one side and Sengekontacket Pond on the other.
Along the way look for an Osprey’s nest.
Try miniature golf at Island Cove Mini Golf on State Rd just outside of Vineyard Haven, and also try their rock climbing wall.
Some other things to do on MV are. Nature walks and children’s programs at Felix Neck. Watch glass being blown at the Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks. Go ice skating at the MV Arena. Try horseback riding. Spend a few hours at Beadniks in Vineyard Haven creating a one of a kind piece of jewelry.
No matter what your age you’ll want to ride on the Flying Horses.
The Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs are America’s oldest platform carousel dating back to 1884. They are listed on the National Register of Historical Places and belong to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. Take a ride on one of these beautifully restored horses rain or shine.
And rain does happen, so what do you do withkids to keep them happy.
Bookstores. Edgartown Books (pictured here) and The Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven.
There are several theatres on MV.. the one pictured here is in Vineyard Haven… Oak Bluffs has two theatres and Edgartown does also.
Shopping is always fun for a little while. Try out Riley’s Reads and the Toy Box both here in Vineyard Haven.
If you take a jaunt over to the smaller island of Chappaquiddick, which is a three minute ferry ride from Edgartown, take time to stroll through Mytoi, the beautiful and peaceful Japanese garden. Also take a guided tour out to Cape Poge lighthouse.
If you’re on MV in the middle of August you can visit the Agricultural Fair It’s amazing to see what the Vineyarders have created… from quilts and homemade jams and jellies to raising livestock. There’s something for everyone, lots of good food, rides to go on, sheep shearing and interesting contests like skillet tossing… something I’ve been tempted to do in my kitchen at times.
So run, play, shop, go swimming and biking, ride on a flying horse or a real one, visit a farm or spend a week as a deck hand on a kids cruise on the Shenandoah or Alabama tall ships. Enjoy all that Martha’s Vineyard has to offer.
CLICK HERE for all kinds of great information from the MV Chamber of Commerce.
If you haven’t it’s not because of a lack of authors who live on the Vineyard year round or call it their summer home. Maybe it’s something in the drinking water or the inspirational atmosphere that surrounds the Vineyard but whatever it is there’s definitely creative forces there.
Perhaps one of the most well known authors who lives and writes there is David McCullough, among his mega hits are ”John Adams” “1776″ and “Truman”. William Styron author of “Sophie’s Choice” and “Confessions of Nat Turner” made his summer home on MV. As did his life long friend the late columnist and humorist Art Buchwald.
The late mystery writer Philip Craig wrote many novels about Martha’s Vineyard. Cookbook and decorating author Susan Branch also lived there, she now splits her time between the Vineyard and CA. Cynthia Riggs is another well known Vineyard author.
Singer/songwriter and children’s book author Carly Simon lives on MV. She is also a partner is a popular store in Vineyard Haven called Midnight Farm, which is the title of one of her books.
You’ll enjoy browsing for these and many other books in any of the Island bookstores.
Riley’s Read in Vineyard Haven is a great book store for kids.
Edgartown Books which is pictured above is staffed by friendly and informative book lovers. I love sitting in a rocking chair on their porch and browsing through my purchases.
Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven is the biggest of the book stores and is also staffed by friendly and well informed book lovers. Their special ‘Vineyard table’ is chock full MV books and calendars.
The Vineyard is a perfect place to pull out a good book and lose yourself between its covers.
I have a bunch of bags from MV. I know it’s a surprise that I, MV Obsession, would have a collection of MV bags
Ok, let’s see what we have here. In the picture on the left – The Midnight Farm bag in the middle is straw and is surrounded by assorted paper bags. The requisite Black Dog bag. My favorite scone dealer in Edgartown, Espresso Love. One of the best books stores on MV, Bunch of Grapes. Our dog Chappy’s favorite store, Good Dog Goods in Oak Bluffs. And Sanctuary which is a wonderful spiritual store in Oak Bluffs.
The picture on the right is three sturdy cloth tote bags. The Secret Garden in Oak Bluffs is very large and holds all my MV counted cross stitch charts which I bought at the Heath Hen. The other great MV book store, Edgartown Books is the pretty blue bag and the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm bag is in the right corner. Please click on store names to visit their websites.
Not quite as many bags as T-shirts (CLICK HERE) but I’m working on it.
According to the Summer issue of Vineyard Style Magazine in their What’s Hot section… this is the hottest T-shirt on MV.
Trendy I’m usually not… but I’m proud to say I have this t-shirt because it’s from the MV Fiber Farm and I got it at their first fiber festival in April of this year.
I got to thinking about my other MV t-shirts of which I have a few… ok, more then a few.
These three are from events that I went to. Illumination Night in Oak Bluffs which takes place this year on Wed, Aug 20th. The Harry Connick Jr/Carly Simon concert at the Tabernacle on Sep 16, 1990. And also at the Tabernacle, the Boston Pops on Aug 4, 2001.
This grouping is of places on MV. The Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs. Espresso Love in Edgartown. Midnight Farm store in Vineyard Haven. The old Tivoli building in Oak Bluffs.
The Black Dog is one of the most famous t-shirts. The red shirt however is from 1987, which is before the well known image of the black dog appeared.
Miscellaneous shirts including the Vineyardosaurus designed by Ronni Simon. A Chappy shirt because our dog is named Chappy. The “It’s A Vineyard Thing” shirt because well, with me everything becomes a Vineyard thing.
