Back in the car again today. We said goodbye to our new, four-legged friends (after a nice, long walk), and then loaded up the car.

Then we drove to the Steamship Authority to catch the ferry home.

I told you about this ferry the other day. I mentioned that it was big, right?

Really big.

We didn’t get out of the car this time. (It was tight quarters anyway, and I’d already gotten my car’s paint scratched when the woman in the next car opened her door. And no, she didn’t apologize.)

We stopped for lunch at the Cape Cod Bagel shop in Falmouth (and saw Sally Taylor stop to pick up bagels–I swear, it feels like we saw most of Carly Simon’s family–or ex-in-law family this trip). Then, we got in the car, stopped briefly to top off the gas tank and then drove straight home without a stop. From the bagel shop to home took us just about 4.25 hours, and we’re wondering if we passed Julie’s car on the other side of I-95 while they were on their way home from Maryland. I hope her two dogs aren’t alone for much longer!

Meanwhile, Mom, Chappy, and I are glad to be home and just wiped out … but Dad is so happy to see us–especially my little boy–that there was a “Welcome Home Chappy” sign next to his water dish when he got home. He was so touched!

Tags: Martha's Vineyard by --Deb
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So, Chappy closed his eyes and wished very, very hard…

And got some sunshine. And a chance to see Chappaquiddick (from a distance, at least). Though, it WAS rather windy. I mean, really, look at the direction his fur is pointing. (Some of my pictures have some interesting, um, dark spots, from my hair blowing in front of the lens.)

Still, that wind did a fine job of kicking the clouds away. (Who else remembers that song?)

I was the only one brave enough to venture up to the top of the wharf in Edgartown to take some pictures–something I don’t do every trip, but …

Well, I didn’t have this camera last time I was on the island, and naturally, I needed a better picture of the whale’s tail. (grin)

Mom’s wish came true, too, because she had Espresso Love blueberry scones THREE days in a row.

It practically felt like walking back in time.

The dogs were pretty happy, too.

So, it was chilly today, but I DID switch to my Spring coat rather than the hooded winter one I was wearing the last few days. It was just so nice to see the sun shine.

I think Silas and Balou are missing their family, though. They keep coming over for pets and love, and giving us these mournful looks, as if they’re asking when they’re coming back. Because, you know, it doesn’t matter how much you like the people, or how much care and attention they give you, there’s nothing like your own family.

Speaking of which, my Dad is very, very glad we’re coming home tomorrow. He says he misses Mom and me, but we know the truth–it’s really Chappy that he misses.

And, really, who can blame him?

Tags: Martha's Vineyard by --Deb
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This is what our view looked like while eating breakfast this morning. We went to Espresso Love (to get Mom some of those blueberry scones she loves so much) and then parked the car by the harbor to eat. And, well … it was a little wet.

It’s been raining on and off all day, but we did get the woofies out for a walk. We timed it just right, in fact. We got back to the house about 11:30 at a pause between showers, and immediately grabbed leashes for those who need leashes, and went out to the trails behind the community for a walk. It wasn’t a really LONG walk, mind you, but it was something! We turned back at just the right time, though, because we hadn’t been back in the house for 10 minutes when it started to rain pretty steadily. So, phew! (Thanks to Mom for this picture because, obviously, I didn’t take this one myself.)

We went out at 1:30 (leaving Chappy home with Silas and Balou) and met up for coffee with two of my Twitter friends, Liz (@filmtruth) and Kate (@katetaylor333). (Liz’s husband, Ken, too, who doesn’t Twitter … yet … but who nicely bought us coffee. Thank you!)  The interesting twist is that Mom met Kate through some of her Carly Simon fan friends who are good friends with Kate, while Liz and I met through Twitter and it turns out that they’re mother/daughter. More of that “small world” action. I love it when events juxtapose in just that way!

I’m sorry I don’t have more MV photos for you to look at, but, well, it’s been too wet to take my good camera out and about. Not only that, but since it’s really pre-tourist season, most of the people on the island are the people who actually live and work here, and carrying around my Nikon makes me FEEL like a tourist. (Which is strange when you consider this is the first time I’ve been here that I haven’t actually stayed at a hotel or inn, but in a real house, but, whatever.) And yes, I know, carrying around my Nikon when I’m wandering around in NJ doesn’t make make feel like a tourist because I LIVE there, but then, we don’t get as many tourists in my home town as they get here, and, well, anyway … it’s wet.

Incidentally, did you see these adorable sheep cake pops at Bakerella?

Tags: Friends, General, Martha's Vineyard by --Deb
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Tags: Eye-Candy Friday by --Deb
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As you can see, the five of us are not getting along at ALL … it’s pure chaos and all the dogs are absolutely miserable …

(I just hope Balou forgives me for that belly picture.)

Seriously, Silas and Balou are sweethearts, as advertised, and they’re all getting along so well. The only real drawback is the weather. It was misty/rainy all morning, but it cleared up enough that we got out for a good walk, which was fun.

Tomorrow, though? They’re forecasting steady showers. Ugh. That means there really won’t be any long walks tomorrow … none of these dogs needs exercise THAT badly (grin).

Tags: General by --Deb
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We came over to the island on the newest ferry, the Island Home. Which is HUGE.

Here’s just a part of its freight deck (you know, where the cars and trucks go). Please note the extra row of available parking suspended from the ceiling.

(Not that it was needed today.)

They have handy maps posted around, so you don’t get lost. Which is convenient because, did I mention that this ferry is really, really big?

There certainly are plenty of seats.

Lots, and lots of seats.

It’s been kind of a gray day, but no complaints. We’re HERE, after all, and Chappy did NOT get sick in the car. The dogs we’re dog-sitting are charming and friendly, as are Patti, Julie, and their kids. They’re leaving early in the morning, but we’re so glad we got to see them first!

Okay … tired now …

Tags: Martha's Vineyard by --Deb
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Here’s my reading list from the month of March.

1. Simple Style by Ann Budd (135 p.) A knitting book of simple patterns, very nice. (Full review here.)

2. Niccolo Rising by Dorothy Dunnett (470 p.) First book in the House of Niccolo series, where Nicholas gets his start.

3. Hood by Stephen Lawhead (479 p.) Story of Robin Hood, part one, except he’s now living centuries earlier and in Wales …

4. Avalon by Stephen Lawhead (484 p.) You know how the legend of King Arthur says that he’ll return when England needs him? Well … now’s the time. Or, at least, that’s the premise of this book which takes place in an England which is phasing out the monarchy and needs a hero… Remarkably good, and it nicely parallells his series of more traditional King Arthur stories.

5. Saint by Mark Bailey (406 p.) What if a scientist found a way to recreate someone’s memories and personality from a piece of their DNA? And what if he were given an opportunity to test one of Christianity’s oldest relics … the bones of Saint Peter? Hmmm…

6. Spring of the Ram by Dorothy Dunnett (469 p.) Second Niccolo book, where Nicholas leads a group of men to Trebizond to make a fortune.

7. FDR by Jean Edward Smith (636 p.) Bio of the president. Good, thorough.

8. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling (309 p.) Harry Potter book 1. (Do I really need to be more specific?)

9. Casting Spells by Barbara Bretton (308 p.) A bit more “urban fantasy” than I usually read, but here we have Chloe, who runs a highly successful yarn shop in a tiny New Hampshire town which hasn’t had any crime in hundreds of years … until now.

10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling (341 p.) Harry Potter book 2.

11. Fiber Gathering by Joanne Seiff (164 p.) A look at fiber festivals–the fun, the socializing, the stuff to buy, the animals … (Full review here.)

12. Sock Innovation by Cookie A. (143 p.) Great book about sock knitting–thorough instructions on how to design your own as well as some really beautiful patterns.

13. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling (435 p.) Book 3.

14. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (734 p.) Book 4.

15. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling (870 p.) Book 5.

16. Japanese Inspired Knits by Marianne Isager (142 p.) Knitting patterns.

17. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling (652 p.)

18. Extraordinary Knowing: Science, Skepticism, and the Inexplicable Powers of the Human Mind by Elizabeth Lloyd Mayer PhD (272 p.) I heard about this book via this review and thought it sounded fascinating. The author starts telling the storyof how her daughter’s harp was stolen and, out of desperation, she called a dowser, who promptly located it for her–from a thousand miles away. Which immediately made her, the professional psychiatrist and scientific skeptic curious, and launched an exploration into what she calls “Extraordinary Knowing.” Fascinating.

19. The Candy Bombers by Andrei Cherny (550 p.) Having heard about the Berlin Airlift, but coming along almost two decades afterward, it wasn’t something I really knew much about. Well, now I do, and it’s amazing. Flying in the supplies for an entire city that’s been blockaded? While the USSR tries to intimidate you into leaving? Who knew that giving away a little candy (to start with) would make such a huge difference. Great story, and even better because it’s TRUE.

Tags: Monthly Reading List, Reading by --Deb
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