An Historical Note

I let yesterday pass without mention of it's local significance. On July 30, two hundred and forty nine years ago, William Howard purchased Ocracoke Island. He was the last person to own the entire island, and the first of the colonial owners to make his home on Ocracoke. In 1759 there was only a handful of people (a few maritime pilots and their families) living here in "Pilot Town" (several acres of public land set aside for their use). Today, of course, Ocracoke is a small, but thriving, coastal community with a rich history and a strong connection to the pilots, seafarers, fishermen, and others who shaped and defined our heritage.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

An Early Morning Walk & Swim

Every day, it seems, the beach is different. Sometimes the sea is angry and wild. On other days the ocean is flat and glassy, with gently rolling waves lapping at the island's edge. Today was different again. Just past the first row of breakers the sea floor dropped a bit; a few steps later it dropped again. Not dramatically, but enough to notice. Shallow holes were scattered here and there, and medium-sized waves rolled over them, lifting us up or washing over us. There were no monster, crashing waves where we were, but there was no doubt that this was no swimming pool.

We didn't stay in long, just enough to relax and feel good about the morning. After a half hour walk we were back home ready to start our day.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

What a Photo

On our field trip to Chicamacomico (that's pronounced chick-a-ma-COM-i-co, not chick-a-mock-a-MEE-co as I once heard it) Lou Ann took this sweet picture as we were standing behind the Life Saving Station watching the historic drill.



Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Sitting on the Porch

We were out of milk this morning so I rode my bike down to the Community Store before breakfast. Cousin Ed was relaxing on the bench and I sat down in one of the rockers to visit before going inside. In short order Captain Rob walked up and took a seat beside Ed. We chatted for a while about the latest island news, told a joke or two, and watched folks amble by. A visitor walked up on the porch, smiled, and stopped to greet us. I felt compelled to explain. "It used to be," I informed her, "that the old men would sit here on the porch and swap stories. Now they're mostly gone, and it's just us younger folks sitting here in the mornings."

She laughed before walking to the door, leaving us to sit there pondering our growing island role.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Chicamacomico

Lou Ann, Lachlan, and I went on an adventure yesterday. We left home under gloomy skies, headed for the 10:30 Hatteras Inlet ferry. We were on our way to the Chicamacomico Life Saving Station in Rodanthe, hoping to see the weekly demonstration of the 19th century life saving drill.

We stopped in Buxton Woods and enjoyed a picnic lunch under the trees with a view of the Hatteras lighthouse in the distance (by then the threat of rain had passed). After a walk on the trail through the maritime forest we made our way to the lighthouse. I am always impressed with it's height (at 208 feet, so much taller than our Ocracoke lighthouse). Lou Ann wondered what it would have been like to be the keeper, climbing all of those steps several times every day. I marveled at the skill it took to move the tower in 1999. And we both stood in awe of those who built it more than 100 years ago.

Up the beach a half hour north, at the life saving station, we watched as Coast Guard crew members re-enacted the beach apparatus drill, complete with Lyle gun, hawser, & breeches buoy. I brought along my great-grandfather's original shipwreck reports (he was keeper of the Ocracoke station from 1883-1903) to share with the staff, but by then Lachlan needed to be moving, so we made arrangements to stop back in the fall.

After a stop for ice cream we drove back to the ferry, and were home by 6 o'clock (Lachlan slept most of the way back). It was a fun adventure.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Happy Birthday!

Today is Lou Ann's birthday. We'll be working this afternoon (accompanying an Our State photographer for a local shoot) and this evening (Ghost & History Tours), but we're hoping we can spend an hour or so at the beach this morning, then enjoy a relaxed lunch together. July is birthday month for a number of islanders, and we joined several of them last night for a "July Birthdays Pot Luck Dinner" at Ed & Sue Norvell's. As always the food was terrific, and the conversation stimulating.

Happy Birthday to all of our readers who have July birthdays!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Monday Morning

Ocracokers are looking forward to a sunny day today. Cristobal is heading farther out to sea as I write, having had little impact on Ocracoke. We didn't even get enough rain to water our plants. Last night a few bands of dark clouds circled overhead as bats chased insects through the darkening sky and a moderate breeze wafted across the porch. Other than that, we wouldn't have even known there was a storm passing by.

As usual, all is well out here on the Outer Banks.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Hardly a Drop...

...and only a slight breeze. As of now, at least, we've had no more than a few sprinkles, hazy skies, and a little wind. Nothing to get worked up about. I guess we'll just wait and see what the evening brings.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

A quiet Morning

Woke up this morning to blue skies, scattered clouds, and a light breeze. We apparently had a little rain during the night, but not much. Forecasters are still calling for more wind and rain later today. I'm not expecting much, but this should be a good day to stay home and read, do a crossword puzzle, or play scrabble. We'll see.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Cristobal

I woke up this morning totally unaware that a tropical depression was building off the coast of South Carolina, and that we were under a tropical storm warning. It has been beautiful (but hot) all day, and the sky is just now starting to show signs of the oncoming storm. Forecasters are calling for winds of only about 35 or 40 mph sometime late tonight or tomorrow. No one that I have talked with is much concerned (we've all been through much more severe storms), though mariners are taking extra precautions by tying their boats a bit more securely.

Lou Ann and I just finished a delicious meal of bourbon pecan chicken, I am shutting down the computers, and now we're planning to sit on the pizer, chat, share a bottle of wine, and watch the clouds roll in. Later on we'll settle in for the evening and listen to the wind and rain. Be assured that all is well here on the Outer Banks.

Just another summer day on Ocracoke.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Dinner with Friends

Living on Ocracoke is often not as isolated as folks might think. At 6 o'clock last night we joined friends (both old and new) at Zillies for wine tasting. I think it's fair to say that everyone had a wonderful time. By 7 o'clock (after the fifth bottle was opened) the room was filled with congenial chatter and good cheer.

Because the island is such a popular vacation destination it is not unusual for long-time friends to stop by. After wine tasting Lou Ann and I & Amy and Lachlan (David had a Molasses Creek performance) were invited to the rental cottage of college friends for dinner. There we enjoyed shrimp and freshly caught fish...and more congenial conversation. We even caught up on a bit of national news (sometimes we do feel isolated, as we go for weeks without hearing what is going on in the outside world!).

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

A Busy Morning

Visitors often think that there is nothing to do here on quiet Ocracoke Island. Well we've had a busy morning. Of course, I slept later than usual, then enjoyed a relaxing breakfast with Lou Ann. After throwing some clothes in the washer (and hanging them up on our clothesline) we wandered over to the Village Craftsmen where Allison is demonstrating her stained glass art (Lou Ann commissioned a suncatcher made with glass and shells she'd found on the beach). While there we ran into friends who shared stories and much laughter. They had off-island visitors with them, so we offered them a tour of the graveyards, then walked around the corner to see the new pitcher pump and the rest of the house. From there we made an excursion to Books to be Red to pick up a few birthday gifts. Of course, Leslie was there and we chatted about island gossip for a while.

Back home we got left over fish and salad out of the fridge, then feasted on cold watermelon from David's garden. Now I'm writing this blog. I'm hoping to do a bit more writing this afternoon, then I'll catch up on some reading. Maybe I'll even take a short nap before heading to Zillie's for wine tasting at 6, and then to friends' rental cottage for dinner.

Whew! Life can be so busy. Didn't even get to the beach today.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Ocean Water

Just in case you've forgotten, the Ocracoke beach in July is super. Yesterday the water was so clear you could stand up to your neck and see your toes. It looked like the Caribbean...bright, blue-green, and sparkling. And the waves were wonderful -- large but gentle, just right for swimming and floating and bobbing about.

Today the waves were larger and a tad rougher, and a stronger littoral current tried to carry us south, and it wasn't as clear, but it was just as warm and fun. Lou Ann likes to squeal and laugh as big waves crash over us. We knew we could come back again soon, so we didn't stay in quite as long today.

Now it's time to do a little work.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Outing

Lou Ann and I joined a few friends yesterday for a "field trip" to the mainland. Our destination was the museum at Belhaven (a must stop for anyone who has never seen this dusty collection, which includes a two-headed fetal pig, an aluminum electric drill that was in use when the workman was electrocuted, two dressed fleas (with magnifying glass), a ten pound preserved-in-fluid tumor, and much more).

We made a day of it and also visited Bath (a sleepy little village with the oldest church in NC, and famous around these parts as the home of Blackbeard), Sladesville (which also has a charming old Episcopal church, and great acoustics), and Germantown (I think we counted four houses there). Among other activities, we stopped at The Store (it had no other name) for gas and snacks, sat by the water and enjoyed several minutes of peace and quiet, and bought a crab pot.

The view from the ferry on the ride back home was spectacular as we neared the island. Cottonball clouds, penetrating sunbeams, and sparkling water combined to turn the scene into a picture-perfect opportunity for everyone on board. It was a good day, and we were happy to be coming home to Ocracoke.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

A Morning in the Sound

I don't know where the time goes. I guess it just flies by when you live on Ocracoke Island and there is so much to do. This morning Al called and asked if we wanted to go clamming. On the way to my pickup truck (I couldn't manage the clam rakes, clam basket, and other supplies on my bike) I passed by David and Lachlan on their porch. A quick call to Al confirmed that his extended family (including Gavin and Max, who is Lachlan's playmate) would also be going, and, of course, there was room for two more in the boat.

The morning was perfect; clear blue sky and warm water. We found a good spot where the water was shallow, and the bottom sandy. Overboard we went, pushing our rakes in front of us. We were surprised to find live cockles (large bivalves that are uncommon in the Sound, but whose individual shells are frequently found on the ocean beach) and live sand dollars (gray-green and covered with "hairs," not the dead, bleached white ones sometimes seen washed up along the ocean's edge). We could have probably harvested hundreds of the sand dollars, but we left them where we found them.

Once we had gathered as many clams as we wanted (actually fewer than the allowed limit) we met back at the boat and played in the water. Max's parents had brought along three hand-pumped water cannons. In no time at all we were engaged in all-out battle, with squeals, laughter, and drama. I think it fair to say that the adults enjoyed themselves at least as much as the three year olds.

We did see one very unusual thing on our outing, but you'll have to stop me when you see me if you want to know what it was. I'm not going to put it on the journal, so don't even ask!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

A Pluvial Week

OK, I just learned a new word -- pluvial. For our most literary readers I won't need to offer a definition, but for the rest of us...it means having to do with rain. And this week has been pluvial. Not torrential downpours. Just overcast days with sprinkles, or occasional heavier rainfall. We got more than an inch of rain during the night a couple of days ago, though. And the forecast is calling for a chance of thunderstorms through Saturday, and maybe beyond.

It means lots of people strolling through the village, since these haven't been the best beach days lately. (And it means plenty of clear ground water from my newly installed hand pump...but no need to pump water since our plants have been getting more than enough rain.)

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Emma

A heartfelt "Welcome Home!" to islander, Emma Lovejoy. Emma spent the last year as an exchange student in Denmark, and returned home on Thursday, just in time for the July 4th celebrations. We are all excited to hear about her host family, travels, and adventures in Europe.



Amy & David invite everyone to their yard this coming Saturday at 5 pm for a pot luck supper to welcome Emma home.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

Sand Sculptures, Cookouts...

...Parade, Friends, & Fireworks.

July 4 on Ocracoke was so much fun. My brother was here, as was our friend Jim from Manteo. We sat on the pizer and told stories, and laughed and shared good food. We also walked on the beach and frolicked in the waves. We were so busy having fun on the 4th (witnessing the flag raising ceremony, admiring classic cars, holding our breath as the sky divers made harder than average landings only yards from where we were standing, chatting with Dale & Chester at the lighthouse, and patting the ponies) that we never even made it to the sand sculpture contest. By noon we realized we only had time to get a quick bite to eat, and then put the final touches on our parade float.

We had created a spoof on Grant Wood's American Gothic, with clam rake instead of pitchfork, and it was a hoot to stare straight ahead with deadpan looks, and then to give stiff, formal waves to the crowds lining the parade route. And we won 3rd place for floats! Here's a photo:



Of course, the day would not have been complete without fireworks. We joined other friends on the schooner Windfall as rockets and flares lit up the sky behind the old Coast Guard station. Afterwards we joined in one voice to sing the Star Spangled Banner, then enjoyed sheet cake baked like a flag (with white icing, blueberries, & strawberries).

Back home we closed out the day with more stories and laughter on the pizer.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

July 4

Happy Independence Day from all of us at Village Craftsmen!

Celebration

For those of our readers who will be on the island Friday I post Ocracoke's 4th of July Celebration schedule:

9 am -- Flag Raising (at School Circle)
9:30 - Noon -- 32nd Annual Sand Sculpture Contest (at Life Guard Beach)
10 am - 2 pm -- Classic Cars on Display (at Pony Island Motel)
10 am - 2 pm -- Ocracoke Lighthouse Open
10 am - 10:30 am -- The Herd Sky Diving Team (Pony Island Motel Lawn)
3 pm -- Old Time Ocracoke Parade (Judging at the Island Inn Balcony)
9 pm -- Fireworks (at NCCAT campus...visible from many areas of the village)

All events are sponsored by the Ocracoke Preservation Society and the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.

What's New

For the last several months Jaren Mutro has been working on the Village Craftsmen web site. She has been doing a fantastic job editing text, updating existing pages, taking quality photos, and adding new craft items. Just in the last three months she has made more than three dozen new entries on our "What's New" page.

Please take a moment and click on this link (http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/whatsnew.htm) to see the many new items that Jaren has added to our web site. And remember, we ship Monday through Friday anywhere in the U.S.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is Lou Ann's account of installing an old-fashioned pitcher pump. You can read it here.