366!

Well, I "cheated" a few times by posting more than one blog on a day, and sometimes posts didn't get published for a few days, but still...

this is my 366th blog in 2008! Since it was a leap year, that means that I managed to make the blog truly island DAILY. (Well, sorta.)

I do not think that this feat will be repeated in 2009, but we shall see.

Happy New Year to you and yours, wherever you are!

Ways to celebrate New Year's Eve on Ocracoke

In case you are here, or planning to be, I thought I would pass on that there are a couple of options for celebrating New Year's Eve on the island. There's the annual dance at the Community Center, which is a fundraiser for the Fire Department. I can't remember the name of the band which will be playing for that party (I do know that it is not the Ocracoke Rockers this year).

Or you can head out to Howard's Pub for live music there, which I think will be provided by Frozen Head and the Squirrels, a group which has performed there before (I haven't heard them and therefore cannot provide a review or opinion).

Or you could always stay home and watch the ball drop on TV. Or go to bed early and miss the darn ball. That's probably what I'll do, since I have to get up early to feed the baby every day, holiday or not. :)

Have fun, whatever you do to celebrate the new year!

A sad day

I learned today of the death of a friend. He was 86 years old and had been ill, so it wasn't a shock, but it's always sad to lose someone nonetheless. I have no idea what (if anything) is going on around the island today, as I've been inside most of the day hanging out with friends who are visiting (it rained all day, so it was a good one to stay inside). Rain or not, any day is a good one to spend with friends, something I was definitely reminded of with the loss of my friend today. Hope you have time to spend with the people who are important to you, wherever you are...

A farewell potluck

We went to a potluck at the Community Center tonight. The food was terrific (of course!), but the reason for the dinner was a bit sad. Matt, the PA at the Health Center, is leaving to take a job on the mainland. He will certainly be missed.

At the moment, for healthcare on the island, we have Dr. Moore on duty one week, then Matt the next week, then back to Dr. Moore, and so on and so forth. Once Matt leaves, we'll have Dr. Moore one week, and then...well, it's TBD. This is one of the unique things about living on Ocracoke - you simply have to accept that some of your options are limited (unless you go off-island). There's one location for health care, one day care center, one school, one place you can get your hair cut. There are no medical specialists or dentists. I don't mind (in many ways, it makes life simpler), but I certainly can understand that it would make some people nervous about living (or even visiting) here.

We have visitors at the moment, and I don't think they are nervous. On the contrary, they greatly enjoyed the potluck (everyone is invited to an Ocracoke potluck, as long as you bring some form of food!) They commented about how great it must be to go to events like this, where you know everyone's name, and even what they will probably cook to bring and share! Things like that make the little inconveniences seem inconsequential. I would much rather live somewhere with the potlucks and sense of community we have here than in a place with multiple options for services which - while important - don't provide the same sense of belonging.

Hope you have both the services you need to care for your body, and community and friends to care for your spirit, wherever you are...

Oysters galore!

The third annual Ocracoke Working Watermen's Association Oyster Roast was held today at the Fish House. It was good eatin' as usual. And the weather was highly cooperative, as usual. It was sunny and warm, although the fog probably prevented some people from attending, as there were very few ferries running all day (even from Hatteras). But the people who did attend had a good time. John ate many, many oysters (also as usual...this is his favorite annual event).

Boxing day treats

We went to Rob and Sundae's house early this evening to enjoy eggnog and treats in celebration of the holidays. There were some seriously delicious snacks there, including fantastic chocolate and lemon dips we spread on pretzels - the combination of tart, sweet, and salty was scrumptious.

If you don't know about the tradition of Boxing Day, you can read about it here.

Merry Christmas!

Here's wishing you a day (and days to come) filled with peace, joy, and the blessing of hope.

Last minute

I did a bit of last minute shopping today, although most of what I purchased was food for Christmas lunch. (I did buy one present as well.) I went into the Variety Store three times and the Community Store twice! Just goes to show that last minute shopping can be done anywhere, even on a tiny island without a mall. Hope all your Christmas planning is coming to fruition, wherever you are...

A show and a party

John and I attended the Christmas show at the Assembly of God Church on Sunday evening. There was some lovely music, followed by a cute show with the kids about the true gift of Christmas.

Here are a couple of pictures of the tree and the nativity scene at the church.





After the show, John and I went home and I picked up my sister Jocelyn so that the two of us could go to a party. (John wasn't invited to this one...it was a "girl's night" thing at Amy's house.) We had a good time, and I enjoyed seeing so many of my girl-friends in the same place at the same time. That's a great thing about the holidays - being with the people we love.

Smart and funny

I'm watching the movie "Get Smart" right now. I have to say, this is not my usual kind of movie, but it is making me laugh. I didn't expect hilarious dialogue from an "action" flick, but it's hard to deny the funniness of lines like these:

"For you, I have a rhinoceros."

"Doesn't he know bones are crunchy? Who wants crunchy pudding?"

"Do you have another one of these?"

"I don't know. Were you thinking 'holy sh*t, holy sh*t, a swordfish nearly went through my head'?"

"Unusual but effective."

and

"I like that tackling part."

Okay, so you need to see the movie for some of those to be really funny. It's all about context.

Sometimes doing something out of your normal pattern can be highly entertaining.

Windy and cold

Brrr. It as been really cold and windy here for the past couple of days. I heard that warmer weather is coming soon, and I'm ready for some! Sorry for the short blog...I think my brain is frozen! :)

Luminaries and lights

We drove past the Methodist Church this evening, after dark. We did it multiple times, very slowly. So did a bunch of other people. The road was lined with luminaries to show the way, so we turned off the car lights. Why did we do this? To see the live nativity, which was lovely. I adore this particular Christmas event, because it's a bit of quiet and peace in the midst of the frenzy of holiday planning and parties. (Sorry, I didn't take any pictures...)

After driving past the nativity, we stayed in the car, wandering around the village to check out the Christmas lights on the houses and businesses. We saw several good ones (including all the award winners), but in general it seems that there are fewer decorated places this year than during previous Christmas seasons. Maybe a result of the general downturn in the economy, which of course affects people on Ocracoke just as it does folks everywhere else (perhaps more, since most island residents are dependent on tourism for their incomes; and discretionary spending - including travel - may be one of the first areas that people cut back when times are tight). I don't know if this is the reason for the fewer lighted homes or not, but it makes sense to me that it might be.

Hope Christmas will be full of light for you, wherever you are, and whatever the economy does...

Full day of Christmas fun

There's a lot going on around here these days, and today was an especially full day. I'm tired, but it's a good kind of tired...the kind that comes after fun!

The activity that started everything off this morning was the third annual Polar Express party for the first grade class. This is always one of my favorite events with the first graders, and this year was no exception. The kids wore their pjs, John dressed as the conductor to punch their tickets, and then we listened to the story. The moms who volunteered to plan the party went all out, providing delicious hot chocolate (with candy canes to stir it, of course) and some fantastic snacks, including a make-your-own popcorn treat. Yum!

Ethan gets his ticket punched, so he can board the Polar Express.

The chairs were in rows as usual (like they would be on a train). They listened very attentively to the story.

The kids enjoyed making their popcorn treats. Of course, with popcorn covered with chocolate, and sprinkles, marshmallows, chopped candy bars, and nuts to add to it, what was not to like?

Hot chocolate just tastes better when stirred with a candy cane!

The afternoon event was the Christmas party at Ocracoke Child Care. Connor had fun, even though his mommy and I made (and then ate) all of the treats on his behalf!

Caroling was the evening activity. A large group of enthusiastic singers set out from the Methodist Church shortly after 5 PM and walked all over the village, singing to island elders, disabled residents, and others who are unable to attend the concerts, church services, and other activities which abound during the Christmas season. It was an incredible blessing to see the smiles on the faces of our numerous small but appreciative audiences. After the caroling, we returned to the church and were treated to a wonderful chili supper.

Pastor Joyce, Dave Frum and Deanna Locke sing enthusiastically.

One of the things I enjoyed about caroling was walking all over the village and seeing the festively decorated houses, lit up in celebration of the season. Here's a particularly "Ocracoke-y" example.

Life affirming

I went to the school holiday concert tonight. When the pre-K and Kindergarten kids started singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", I nearly burst into tears. No, Rudolph doesn't make me sad. It was just so sweet and life-affirming. I love watching children grow up and learn, something I have a wonderful opportunity to do because I live in such a small town. As Ms. Kitty (the school art teacher, and music club leader, who acted as the master of ceremonies for the show) said, "it really does take a village...and this is is a really great village".

Here are a few pictures, starting with the cute "Rudolph"-singing pre-K and Kindergarten kids.

The first graders showed us how to do the "merry hula".

There were several duet performances by talented young musicians.

The third through fifth graders wished the audience a Merry Christmas, Ocracoke style.

My favorite part is always the finale, when the entire school population (students, teachers, and staff) piles onto the stage to sing "Merry Christmas".

Hope this season is life affirming for you, wherever you are...

Stockin' up

We went to New Bern yesterday to pick up my sister at the airport. After eating some lunch, we hit WalMart. We hit it hard. Especially the baby food aisle. We got so many jars of food that the employee who was stocking took pity on us and gave us boxes to put them in to take home! And we still only got about 3 weeks worth.

You really can get most of what you need right here on the island at either the Community Store or the Variety Store, but there aren't always quite as many options as you find at other places. Many times - like in the often-overwhelming cereal aisle - that's a GOOD thing. Anyway, when we leave the island for any reason, shopping is usually part of the excursion. The challenge for us becomes how to get all the goodies into our car (a Sebring convertible), along with the three adults and one baby already in there! John is really good at packing things into every available space, though, so we got it all in there. The funny thing was we didn't do that much Christmas shopping; instead, we stocked up on neccessities like food, cleaning supplies, etc. But there's only so much space, so something had to give. I think this is one of the reasons that so many of the people who live on the island have large vehicles - trucks and SUVs, mostly.

Tired and stressed

I love Christmas. I enjoy almost everything about it - the carols, the trees, the lights, the food. (Especially the food!) I even love the endless activities, especially because here on the island I see some people more often through the few weeks of the holiday season than I see them the entire rest of the year! It's nice getting caught back up with folks who are enjoying some down time after a long tourist season.

But all that activity often leaves me tired, and the desire to do lots of things to get ready for Christmas (decorating, shopping, planning for family visits, etc.) takes a toll as well. So if I seem a bit stressed (and even possibly grouchy), that's why.

Hope the holidays are not stressing you out, or wearing you out...wherever you are.

Running

I saw multiple people running today:
- One guy was completely bundled up - of course, he's completely covered (head to toe, including hooded sweatshirt) every day when he runs, even in July.
- One was not very covered up at all, especially considering it was a bit chilly.
- One was wearing medium-coverage clothing.

I admire them for running in cold weather. Heck, I admire them for getting some exercise in any weather. I seem to lack the discipline or focus or something.

I believe there are only three reasons that adults should run:
- exercise
- emergency/danger
- the ferry is about to leave; your car is on the ferry, but your body is not. I have run for the third reason, luckily haven't had too many times I needed to run for the second reason. And the first reason? Well, I do believe in exercise. I just choose to walk. I can look much more coordinated and graceful while walking.

Indulging my inner child

Today, I had a ball acting like a child at the 10th annual Books to be Red children's Christmas party. Connor is too young to decorate a goodie bag, make reindeer food, draw on a t-shirt, create a pipe-cleaner candy cane, or glue ornaments on a foam tree. So someone had to do all of the above for him, and I was just the person. I had a blast! Connor seemed to enjoy seeing all the kids, and sitting on Santa's lap (again), too.

For pictures, check out
this entry on Connor's blog.

Christmas is a great time to act childlike. I recommend it!

Cookies and 'cue

There were two holiday events today, both of which were well attended and quite tasty. (Of course, that's one wonderful thing about holiday events...there is usually good food involved.)

The first event was the annual Friends of the Library cookie exchange. Talk about delicious! This was a feast for all the senses, though, not just the taste buds. Before the cookie exchange part started, several Ocracoke School students performed stories and musical pieces.

Here are a few pictures.

The cookie table before...

Musical and story performances:

...and the cookie table after! I took two dozen cookies to exchange, so I got to take two dozen assorted cookies home with me. Aaaah, I feel the sugar rush coming on already...

The second event was also an annual one, and this one was (and always is) EXTREMELY well attended. Literally hundreds of people come to this, the largest potluck on the island each year. I'm talking about Jimmy's Garage Party. Each year, the Jackson family provides the barbecue, and the island brings the side items and desserts. It's seriously good eating! Last year, I overindulged so much I had a stomachache. So this year, I came prepared. I skipped lunch!

I always enjoy seeing the holiday decorations amidst the garage items.

Yum!

Hope you are enjoying delicious holiday celebrations, too!

Concert

The Ocrafolk Christmas concert last night was well attended and enjoyed by an appreciative crowd of mostly local folks. There was excellent music, some hilarious storytelling, and delicious bake sale items and drinks for sale to raise funds for several local organizations. I unfortunately forgot to take my camera, but there are videos of most of the performances available on youtube (link below). If you missed the concert, you may enjoy watching them. And even if you did see the show, you might enjoy it again!

Ocrafolk Christmas 2008

Zicam and chicken soup friends

I have a nasty head cold. I am so congested, I literally cannot get air through my nose at all. This is not good timing, as I'm supposed to sing tonight at the Christmas concert. (So I'm sincerely hoping this illness goes away as suddenly as it arrived...preferably by 3 PM this afternoon!)

A couple of days ago, when I started to feel this cold coming on, I was talking about it to my friend Jamie. She suggested I try Zicam, and I lamented the fact that I would have done just that, if I hadn't discovered that my Zicam sprayer was completely clogged and non-functional.

Yesterday morning, I went to the Health Center (with John, for a previously-scheduled appointment, not for my cold) and saw Jamie there (she works as the receptionist). She told me she was hoping that the Zicam she ordered for me online would arrive today, so I could use it to stop the cold before it got much worse (and hopefully be able to sing with her at the concert). Warm fuzzy moment. I was so touched by the fact that she ordered it for me.

Last night, the cold was unfortunately worse (the Zicam didn't make it), so I called Jamie to let her know I would not be coming to the Madri-Gals rehearsal, partially because I couldn't sing worth a hoot, but mostly because I didn't want to get all the other "Gals" sick. (Madri-Gals is what we call our group. We sing...you guessed it...madrigals.)

Today, Linda (one of the Madri-Gals) brought me some homemade chicken soup, a holiday candle, and her wishes that I get well in time for the concert. The soup was delicious, and wonderfully soothing to my sore throat. I haven't lit the candle yet, because I couldn't smell it right now anyway!

Have I mentioned recently how blessed I feel to have friends like these? Probably not recently enough. So here it is: I feel incredibly, wonderfully, remarkably, ocmpletely blessed to have friends like these. Hope you have fantastic friends too, wherever you are...

Warm

I went to the Community Store this morning and at first I thought that the person who went in before I did forgot to close the door. Then I realized that both doors were open and the ceiling fans were running. It was around 70 degrees, so it was a great day for open windows to let out the winter air and blow away that cooped up, cabin fever feeling.

Later in the day, and on into the evening, it rained for several hours. The temperature was still warm, though. I have heard that the warm weather is supposed to stick around through the weekend, which would be lovely. We just bought a four wheel drive vehicle (finally!) and I want to take it for another drive on the beach!

I love warm weather in winter. It's like an unexpected surprise gift, and I'm much more likely to take advantage of it by doing something outdoors than I am during the warmer months, when I tend to take it for granted and think "I'll do that tomorrow".

Hope you're enjoying the weather (and doing the things you enjoy), wherever you are...

A wassailing

I attended the annual OPS wassail party and community Christmas tree lighting this evening. I am starting to get a sore throat, so the hot wassail felt wonderful. The party was very well attended, so it got quite warm inside the museum with all of those people. It was a relief to step outside onto the porch into the cool night air. That was also a great spot from which to watch the lighting of the tree. I especially enjoyed watching the exuberant children running around the tree.



After the tree lighting, DeAnna led the crowd in singing a few Christmas carols, which got me into the holiday mood. I love singing Christmas carols, and often do so in March and July and...well whenever one comes to mind.

But the best part about the wassail party is always the cookies! There were some seriously delicious goodies this year: Jamie's wonderful haystacks, delectable mint chocolate bars, yummy peanut butter cookies with chocolate kisses on top, and fantastic cheese cookies (think cheese straws, but in a cookie shape). Rosemary made those and they were terrific - it was nice to have something to munch on with a savory flavor, in addition to all the sweetness.

My friend Ruth suggested that the recipes for the goodies should be put with the plates, so people could take home the ones they loved the best. I took a plate of petit fours to the museum for the party, and if recipe cards were required, mine would have the URL of the website from which I ordered them on it. Yes, really, that's what I did. I love to bake, but I'm much better with cake than with cookies. And this time of year, with so much going on, sometimes I just have to take the simple road.

Hope your life is full of sweetness (store bought or homemade), wherever you are...

And even more...

...upcoming holiday events:

- Caroling - Friday Dec. 19, 5 PM, meet at Methodist Church
- Assembly of God Church Christmas program - Sunday Dec. 21, 7 PM

Enjoy!

Holiday lights

This morning at church, Joyce asked the kids what was missing on the Christmas tree. They immediately said that it was the lights. So Joyce asked one of the older kids to plug in the cord. The tree sparkled to life and was instantly more lovely than it had been seconds before. The funny thing was that the lights had been there before they were plugged in - but the magic wasn't there until they were lit.

Later in the day, I took a short drive around the village and could see the decorations which had been added over the weekend. It was interesting to see them, but they weren't particularly beautiful. It was daylight. They will be gorgeous after dark, and I will definitely drive around again one night to experience and enjoy them.

I think the fact that it is so dark so early this time of year is the reason that Christmas lights are so magical. It's probably also the reason that many of the seasonal celebrations - regardless of culture - involve a celebration of light in some form. Jews observing Hanukkah light candles to remember a miracle of oil which lasted longer than expected, providing light for eight nights. Children wear candles on their heads during the Swedish celebration of Saint Lucia each year on December 13th. Seven candles are lit during Kwanzaa to commemorate principles of African American culture. Those are just the examples which come quickly to mind.

Hope there's plenty of light in your winter darkness, wherever you are...

Christmas shopping

John, Connor and I enjoyed shopping at several stores during today's holiday open house event. We especially enjoyed the delicious snacks provided at each store! I managed to find something I wanted in every store, and even purchased a couple of gifts as well. Oops. Guess I still need to do my Christmas shopping. (Although I am done with the shopping for myself...)

In case you're wondering where Santa does his Christmas shopping...it's apparently the Variety Store!

Island greenery

As I drove around the village today running errands, I noticed several locations are sporting their holiday best. Here are a few examples for your enjoyment.

Upcoming holiday events...

In case you are planning to be on the island in the next few weeks, here's a list of upcoming holiday events and festivities for your potential attendance and enjoyment. (There may be more added later...but these are the ones I know about now.)

- Photos with Santa - Saturday Dec. 6, 10 AM - 12 noon, Variety Store
- Holiday Open Houses - Saturday Dec. 6, 1 - 4 PM, School Road shops
- OPS Wassail Party and Community Tree Lighting - Tuesday Dec. 9, 5 - 7 PM, OPS Museum
- Ocrafolk Christmas Concert - Thursday Dec. 11, 7 PM, Community Center
- Cookie Exchange - Saturday Dec. 13, 11 AM, Library
- Jimmy's Garage Party - Saturday Dec. 13, 5 PM until..., Jimmy's Garage of course!
- Books to be Red Children's Christmas Party - Sunday Dec. 14, 3 - 4:30 PM, Community Center
- School Christmas Concert - Thursday Dec 18, 7 PM, School Gym
- Live Nativity - Saturday Dec. 20, Ocracoke United Methodist Church (I'm not sure of the time for this at the moment but will update this post once I have that info.)
- Christmas Eve Service - Wednesday Dec. 24 (of course!), 7 PM, United Methodist Church

Have fun if you go to any of these events. (Or, even if you don't...have fun wherever you are!)

Box of Moonlight

Many of the houses on the island have names. Almost all of the rentals do, I suppose as a convenient way to refer to them during the process; but many of the permanent residents have also named their homes. I have an idea for a name for my house, but haven't actually had a sign made to hang on it yet.

I find the house names interesting. They make me wonder about the people who named them, and what the story is which was the inspiration for the name. Some of them are easy to figure out: they feature the names of the owners of the house (Arabella's Summer House, Chris and Mabels, and Gregory, for example). Others are named for island areas or things found here (Blue Crab, Ariosto (a shipwreck), Carolina Winds, and Far Away Oaks are some of these). Some are funny or play on words (A Shore Thing, Art-Sea, Dare to Hyde, Waterfront.calm, and House with No Name are a few of my favorites). There's one near my house named for a feature of a TV show (Bikini Bottom), and another whose name reminds me of a Jimmy Buffet song (Changes in Attitude). Several have "deep thoughts" sort of names (Contentment, Carpe Diem, Serendipity, Serenity, Tranquility).

And there are many which don't lend themselves to an obvious explanation. Why would someone name a house Blind Mullet? Or Court Jester? Fresh Fruit? Nutter Tree?

I had often wondered about the derivation of the name of a house called Box of Moonlight, but I don't need to wonder any more. Philip told me that the owner named it after a movie of the same name. Philip also recommended the movie, so I watched it tonight. It's a quirky independent flick, and I liked it. I wouldn't name my house after it, but I did like it.

Traditions

Tonight, I went to Jamie's house to rehearse with the Madri-Gals for the Ocrafolk Christmas concert. We're planning to sing two songs, one of which we have sung every year for the concert. It has become our tradition. This tradition hasn't become stale, though: we add new ladies to the group each year. The first year, there were four of us, then the next year there were five, and the following year we increased to six. This year, there will be seven.

I love holiday traditions. We already have several in my family, including what we put on the tree, when we open presents (one each on Christmas Eve, everything else the next morning), which of us hands out the presents to everyone else (and the hat she wears!), and the fact that one present will be a puzzle which we'll do later in the day.

Because I love traditions so much, there can never be too many! So I have started a few additional ones in the past few years. This year, I started two more: The Elf on the Shelf and a "countdown to advent" activity. (I can't help it...it's the kid in me who just wants to play this time of year!) I heard a sweet story last night at the Women's dinner, which gave me an idea for yet another tradition. I'll have to start that one next year!

'Tis the season!

We got home tonight at 6:45, having taken the ferry from Swan Quarter at 4:00. It was already dark, of course, so one of the first things I noticed as we pulled into the harbor (after the Lighthouse) was the fact that the snowflakes and angels are up on the light poles. Tideland Electric Cooperative puts these lighted seasonal images up each year, and I always start to get into the Christmas spirit when I see them. As we drove around the harbor, I noticed that the Community Square buildings had lights on them as well. I love the fact that the lights on the Community Store are the old fashioned ones, with the big bulbs.

I hurried home from the ferry, changed my clothes, wrapped a gift, and headed right back out to the annual Ocracoke United Methodist Women's Christmas dinner and gift exchange. I always enjoy this evening of terrific food, singing carols, and giving (and receiving) the first presents of the season, so I wouldn't have missed it for the world even though I had to sneak in the back since I got there late!

After dinner, I updated the calendar on my refrigerator with some of the upcoming holiday events: the OPS Wassail Party and Community Tree Lighting, the Ocrafolk Christmas concert, the Cookie Exchange at the Library, Jimmy's Garage Party, pictures with Santa for the kids, the Books to Be Red children's Christmas party, caroling, the Live Nativity...and I'm sure there will be others I'll have to add to the calendar as I learn about them.

'Tis the season to be...busy! Hope you have fun with your holiday celebrations, whatever they may be and wherever you are...