Miss Molly's Inn on Chincoteague Island, VA

Estyn and I stayed at a very cute B&B while in Chincoteague called Miss Molly's Inn. Located only a block or two from the bridge to the island, it was right in the middle of town and about 10 minutes from the beach.
The hosts, Sam & Lin, received us with so much warmth to the inn where Marguerite Henry wrote her famous story, Misty of Chincoteague.
Each morning Lin made an absolutely delicious two course gourmet breakfast. The first course was usually a fruit/dairy course followed by the main course which was either savory(cheese souffle, quiche, etc.) or sweet(belgian waffles, stuffed french bread, etc). She also had fresh baked goods in a basket and orange juice was served each morning of our stay. Sam stayed busy serving breakfast and keeping our coffee cups filled with excellent coffee.
In addition to his coffee duties, Sam was a great conversation starter at breakfast and the perfect island activities guide. He let us know all the best places to eat, things to do, and places to shop and he never steered us wrong.

The front garden and porch.

The dining room awaits our hungry bellies each morning.

We arrived late and Lin left us this nice note to direct us to our room.

We chose the Bay Room for our stay which was plenty spacious and had lots of light due to the bay window.

Miss Molly's Inn cont.

The nice note on our bed welcoming us to the Inn.

The side garden viewed from our room. The screened area on the right was where we ate lunch most afternoons.

The second floor deck viewed from our room.

The parlor downstairs, off the dining room.

Miss Molly's Inn cont.

Miss Molly's portrait in the parlor.

The fireplace in the parlor.

Lilly aka the "Icing on the Cake" for Estyn. She was totally adorable. Once while we were having breakfast, she came through the dining room and into the parlor, went up the front stairs, ran through the second floor hall, and then came down the back stairs on the opposite side of the dining room. Jingling all the way thanks to the little bell on her collar. It was so funny!

Philadelphia Freedom

There will be a brief hiatus for the next few days as I'll be in Philadelphia for a work thing. I'm attending a software conference at the National Constitution Center.

Upon my return, I'll be posting more Chincoteague pics and I'm also taking my camera to Philly so hopefully I'll get some blog-worthy shots there. Bye.

Curiosities I Witnessed in Central Park This Morning

1. A man casually reading Playboy on a park bench. At least I hope he was reading, I just caught a glimpse and looked away.
2. A couple with one of those little white fluffy dogs had laid out a wee wee pad for the dog on the sidewalk.

WTF?

Sometimes You Just Gotta Go.....

.....and always at the most inopportune times.

I mentioned in my previous post that Estyn and I walked the Lighthouse Trail and then climbed to the top of the lighthouse. What I failed to mention is that nature began gently knocking at my front door about the time we got to the lighthouse.

If you'd think they'd have a restroom at the base of the lighthouse as I did, you'd be wrong. Figures, right? Where does the lighthouse keeper do his/her business? Anyway, I soldier on and we climb to the top of the lighthouse where Estyn proves to be very helpful.

"Look honey."

Objects shot on zoom may appear closer than they really are.

Time to hightail it outta here.

Estyn tries to get a better bead on the object of my search.

Still so far away. :(

This looks promising.

To make a ridiculous story short, we hustled back down the Lighthouse Trail to the car and stopped at the Visitor Center for a much needed "rest" at one of those rooms they have for such needs.

The Assateague Lighthouse

Estyn and I walked the Lighthouse Trail on Saturday at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge which takes you to the Assateague Lighthouse(pdf warning). The fee for entry to the lighthouse was $4 a person which seemed a little steep to me but hopefully the money goes to restoring and preserving the lighthouse. The unique experience of climbing a working lighthouse and the views from the top more than made up for the cost.

The original lighthouse was built in 1833 but was replaced by the current one in 1867. The tower stands 142 ft. tall and sits on a bluff approximately 31 ft. above mean low tide.


The view of the lighthouse as you approach on the trail.

Time for a paint job.

A memorial stone outside the lighthouse for loved ones lost at sea. Pretty impressive poem for a 14 yr. old.

At each window on the tower is a landing on the staircase.

The lighthouse has a double wall construction. The outer wall narrows as it rises but the inner wall containing the staircase goes straight up. On each landing in the window nook are these vents that go to the airspace between the walls. The airspace goes all the way to the top culminating in the brass vent shown below.

Staircase cross section.

Staircase looking up.

The lens on one of the 1000 watt lights. There are two lights total, one on top of the other set at an angle so the lighthouse gives a double flash of light every five seconds. You can see a photo of both lights here.

One of the the lights in the foreground with the view behind. It was well worth the climb.

A brass vent at the top of the airspace between the inner and outer walls of the lighthouse. There were several of these located in the control room just beneath the room containing the lights. There was a very nice volunteer in there who gave us some facts about the lighthouse and our little reward stickers shown below.

The motors that drive the lights.

The amazing view.

What $4 and some stair climbing gets you.

Farewell.

Chincoteague Wildlife

Estyn and I were amazed at the varied and plentiful wildlife in and around Chincoteague on our trip. It seemed like every time we turned around there was something new to photograph. Most of these photos were taken in the refuge but a few were taken in town.

This little toad was very jumpy and didn't like having his picture taken.

Mr. Turtle was not ready for his closeup.

Sandpipers looking for dinner. These guys were very common on the beach.

A ghost crab.

Beachcombing proved to be a very satisfying way to explore the beaches.

A pony.

Say hello to Mr. Toad. He was a good subject and didn't mind me getting in his face with the camera.

Momma pony with baby. Chincoteague and Assateague Island National Seashore are famous for their ponies.

Canadian goose with goslings. We saw many goose families around the island and the babies were unbelievably cute. Like little puff balls.

A bunny rabbit.

An egret on the prowl for fish.

These two gulls were playing king of the pier. I think the one on the right eventually won.

A rooster Estyn and I came across while biking around Chincoteague.

A common gull. Their call sounded like laughing.

Sea skate egg sac. These were creepy looking and I initially thought they were some sort of seed pod.

A shy ghost crab.

Chincoteague, VA

Estyn and I just got back from a long weekend in Chincoteague, VA. The weather was picture perfect(see below) and the beach was flipping gorgeous. I took over 500 pix so it'll take a day or so to get them sorted but in the meantime enjoy this sample.

The Lighter Side of NYC

The NYT Metropolitan Diary has little snapshots of life in the city sent in by readers. It's a bit cutesy sometimes and seems to be edited for readers of a certain age but I always read it nonetheless.

New York City is a city full and I mean FULL of people and as people are wont to do, they talk. Usually this talking occurs in the presence of other people. Sometimes those other people send those conversations(usually unintentionally funny) to Overheard in New York.

The post below, A Peek into the Madness, started out as this one but somehow took a different turn.

A Peek into the Madness

Living in New York City is HARD, there's no two ways about it. It takes a mental, physical and emotional effort just to go about your daily life that is unlike anywhere else. Once you've lived here a while you adjust and it somewhat becomes second nature but the extra effort is always there just below the surface.

The best remedy for the toll all that extra work takes is to get out of the city as often as possible. It's like taking a cool shower on a hot summer day. The city begins to wash off you as soon as you cross one of the bridges or the landing gear on your plane is retracted. Your whole being starts a long slow exhale.

You begin to feel the full effects of the respite when you wake up the next morning in a different place. The most obvious benefit is the adjustment your brain makes to the slower pace of life. It's a cliche that NYC is all rush rush rush but behind every cliche is a kernel of truth. Life in NYC is on GO from the minute you wake up until your head hits that pillow. Sometimes it even interrupts your sleep. It's the mental equivalent of losing ten pounds when you get a break from that.

However, I wouldn't trade the experience of living here for anything in spite of the difficulties. NYC may be hard but it's also a city of great rewards and constant surprises. It's forced me to grow as a person in ways I never would have in my home state of Texas. Most of it for the better, although I'm still trying to improve on my walking version of road rage. "It's a sideWALK not a sideSTAND people!!" Who said that?

As much as I appreciate the break I get from a trip outside the city, I enjoy returning even more. One of my all time favorite NYC experiences is the cab ride home from the airport after being away. The view of the city from the BQE always moves me. It's the feeling of coming home and I love it.



Ps. I'll be here for the next few days. Pics when I get back.

Like the Red Cross but for Lamps

It sat ignored on a pile of trash waiting for the garbage truck to come by and carry it off to the landfill.

At least that was its fate until I came along. For you see, I have a special fondness for lamps. I hope to have a lamp shop of my own someday when I retire. It'll have new lamps for sure but the real pleasure will come from the small repair counter in the back. I get such an immediate sense of gratification to take a lamp that's been ignored and with a little work, give it a new life.

Such was the case with this character. As I found it, the cord had been clipped off at the base and the bulbs were missing. $10 in parts and some simple electrical work performed on a Saturday afternoon and it's good as new.

The lamp, a Flexarm by the Art Specialty Company from Chicago, boasts all metal construction with a flexible gooseneck and twin flourescent tubes. It sells new for $129.95. Not bad huh, $10 for a $130 lamp? The only problem now is where to put it.


The new plug and cord installed by yours truly.

Front view.

The view from above, notice the red and black on/off buttons.

Po' but Proud

The grandchildren circa 1970 something. That's me in the glasses on the left.

Single of the Week

The Raconteurs*
"Broken Boy Soldier" from Broken Boy Soldier(releases May 16th)

Brendan Benson(indie posterboy) teams up with Jack White(Billy Corgan Jr.) to create the perfect validation of "the sum is greater than the parts". Those of you disappointed, as I was, with the latest White Stripes album will find that Jack has redeemed himself with this collaboration and album.

"Steady as She Goes" is the first single from the album. It's a fine sounding indie pop effort but a little on the bubblegummy side for me. I much prefer the darker sounding title track "Broken Boy Soldier". The rolling ominous beat overlaid with Jack White's strained vocals creates a sense of dread that you can bob your head to.


*The band's website has creative navigation but is kinda annoying.

Why I Love the New York Times

This article on David Blaine's recent stunt is priceless.

Favorite Quotes:

"Mr. Blaine, the obscurity-averse practitioner of spectacle, ended a weeklong submersion in 2,000 gallons of 96-degree saltwater, providing as the finale an attempt to break through chains while holding his breath for nine minutes."

"In dreamy montages last night, Mr. Blaine explained that these exercises are all part of his "journey," that they "make people think." Magic, he said, "brings people together who might not come together." Well, so does the airport."


Laugh out loud funny.

Guerilla Marketing: Greenpoint Style

Spotted on Manhattan Avenue today.

Did Someone Say Nap Time?

Estyn's cats, Annabelle and Wolfie, snuggling up for a little sleepytime.

Jiffy Pop Tree

The cherry tree in the backyard in full bloom.