Photo Gallery

A gallery of Lou Ann's & my photos from our trip to the Czech Republic, Hungary, & England, winter 2012-2013:

Village Street in Nepomuk, Czech Republic

Our Cottage in Nepomuk

Lou Ann on Charles Bridge, Prague

Charles Bridge at Night

Astronomical Clock at Old Town Hall, Prague

Live Fish for Sale on the Street in Prague

One of Many Food Vendors, Prague

Bone Church Chandelier, Kutna Hora

Bone Church Decoration

Bone Coat of Arms

The Danube, Budapest

Gellert Hill, Budapest

Monument on Gellert Hill

Dinner at the Black Raven, Budapest

Street Scene in Mor, Hungary

Woman in Budapest

Budapest Market

Matyas Church, Budapest

Cousin Ildiko, Pal, & Philip, Pusztavam, Hungary

Lou Ann on the Fisherman's Bastion

Matyas Church

English Countryside

Happy Wedding Couple, Dick & Phyllis (Lou Ann's "Mum")

Bolsover Castle

Philip at Castle Howard

Temple of the Four Winds at Castle Howard

Philip & Lou Ann at Castle Howard

Europe

As I mentioned yesterday, Lou Ann and I spent three weeks in Europe over the holidays. I did not take any photos, but I am happy to report that Lou Ann did. And she has posted some of them, along with a few short videos, on her blog. Her first holiday post was on Tuesday, December 18. You can go to it here: http://louannhoman.blogspot.com/2012/12/our-prague-reunion-and-first-travel-days.html, or just click on the photo below.

Street Scene in the Village of Nepomuk, Czech Republic

On December 28 Lou Ann posted a few more photos, some of Prague and others of Budapest. Click here to see that post: http://louannhoman.blogspot.com/2012/12/photos-from-prague-and-budapest.html, or click on the photos below.

Lou Ann on Charles Bridge, Prague

St. Matyas Church in Budapest

On January 3 we were in England, and Lou Ann posted a video of one of our drives through the countryside. Click here (http://louannhoman.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-birds-eye-view-of-england.html) to read that blog, or click on the photo below.



Lou Ann has posted more articles and photos than I have shared today, and she plans to post more in the coming days. To read them all, and see her photos, you can go directly to her blog here: http://louannhoman.blogspot.com/

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

The Old Homeplace

As most of our readers understand, this blog is a daily journal of Ocracoke Island life and history. In most years I suspend publication during the Christmas holidays. This gives me an opportunity to relax a bit more, and to enjoy my own family and community without the pressure of writing a daily column.

This past holiday season I had another incentive to suspend publication. I wasn't on the island. Lou Ann and I enjoyed three weeks in Europe. We left December 15 and flew to Prague. From there we drove to the small village of Nepomuk where we had a cottage for a week. We returned to Prague for a few days to attend symphonies, explore the old town, amble through the Krist Kindl Markt, gape at the Astronomical Clock, stroll across Charles Bridge, listen to gypsy music while enjoying a traditional Czech dinner, and even travel to the town of Kutna Hora to visit the remarkable "Bone Church."

When the week was over we boarded the train to Budapest where we had rented a small flat for a second week. It was Christmastime, and  we still had a chance to visit the Christmas Markets, climb Gellert Hill, walk across the Chain Bridge, gawk at the plethora of produce, sausage, fresh meats, and paprika in the open air markets, and tour the Hungarian National Museum. We rented a car once more and drove to the small village of Pusztavam where my mother's father was born. My cousins greeted us, fed us, showed us around the village, and made us feel welcome. 

From Budapest we flew to London where Lou Ann's mother Phyllis, and soon-to-be-husband Dick, picked us up and whisked us away to Dick's village of Tupton by Chesterfield, in Derbyshire. We attended their wedding on New Year's Eve, and celebrated in an historic English inn and restaurant. Dick and Phyllis were gracious hosts, and the next few days they spirited us away, down narrow, winding lanes lined with rock walls, past hundreds of grazing sheep, and into old villages with historic churches (one dating from 1160) and picturesque cottages. We even had a chance to peer into the window of Thimble Hall (at 11' 10" X 10' 3" and 12' 2" high it is considered the smallest detached house in the world...and once housed a family with 8 children!).

On January 3 we drove to York for a visit to the home of the Honorable Simon & Rebecca Howard. Although we didn't meet Mr. and Mrs. Howard we did tour their grounds and gardens. It is a property I have long wanted to visit...a place I refer to as "the old homeplace." Lou Ann took several photos, and even made a video. I hope you enjoy them. (By the way, I may look a tad dour in the video. I wasn't. I think I was just in awe of the building and the surroundings.)

Pointing the Way

The Estate's Pond

Philip at the Old Homeplace

Philip & Lou Ann

Castle Howard's Temple of the Four Winds

Click on Photo to View Lou Ann's Castle Howard Video

We had a wonderful time! Look for a few more photos and links to Lou Ann's posts about our trip in the next few days.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Odd Finds

Walking along the shoreline in December I noticed, as I have a number of times in past years, numerous oblong clumps of seaweed. For some reason, I had never made an effort to investigate. This winter I did. I picked up one of these objects and carried it home. It was as light as a feather.

Expecting an egg case or some living creature within, I carefully snipped it in half with scissors. To my surprise I found that it was not hollow, and consisted of nothing but hundreds of short pieces of dried seaweed thoroughly intertwined. So I suppose these objects are simply that -- tumbled aggregates of seaweed, and nothing more. If I am mistaken, please let me know.

On another walk I stumbled across something I had never seen before, what appeared to be some sort of a sea cucumber. I scooped it up and carried it home, only to discover that it was still alive. It stretched and contracted as if by peristaltic motion. After taking the following photos I returned it to the sea.

Any insight as to this creature's identity would be appreciated. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Good Deed

I recently discovered the following tidbit of island news from The Dare County Times, Friday, October 1, 1943, page 1:

"Thomas W. Howard, the beloved and genial retired Ocracoke postmaster, after 35 years of service to his people, decided upon a Labor Day holiday and went to Baltimore to visit his nephew, Stanley Wahab, the Ocracoke boy who has gone up in the world in the furniture business.  Before he saw Stanley, he stopped at a lunch counter and when he reached for his pocketbook to pay his bill, he discovered it gone through a razor slit in his hip pocket.  There was missing $65.  He reported his troubles to a nearby policeman who loaned him $3.  Mr. Howard was amazed to find a manifestation of such trust on the part of a stranger.  The next day Stanley sent the policeman a check and a note of thanks for the courtesy to his uncle."

Thomas Wallace Howard (Mr. Tommy, to most) was the grandfather of Betty Helen Howard Chamberlin, owner of Ocracoke's Captain's Landing Motel.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Happy New Year!

Well, we're back for 2013. I've been off the island for a while, and am just getting settled down on Ocracoke again. I'll post some news shortly. In the meanwhile, I hope all of our readers had a Very Merry Christmas, and we at Village Craftsmen wish you all peace and goodwill for the New Year!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Hiatus

As we have done the last several years, we will again be suspending our Ocracoke Journal for several weeks in order to more fully enjoy the holidays with our family and friends. This will be our last post until January 6, 2013.

In the meanwhile, we wish all of our readers a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah (I know it's almost over), a Delightful Winter Solstice, a Wonderful Kwanzaa, and a Joyous New Year filled with peace and love.

We will be back here January 6. Be sure to join us in 2013.

Another Poem

Today I share one more poem written by Vernon Ward. It is not exactly about Ocracoke, but it does have a nautical theme.

Silver Night

A silver ship in a silver sea,
And hardly a stir at all,
A drooping sail and an idle wheel
And a lazy lift and fall,
The hot air of a heavy night
And a song for you and me:
No silver night is idle, Lad,
When we are off at sea.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed at Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Beyond This Present

Several weeks ago a neighbor discovered a sheaf of poems by Vernon Albert Ward, Jr. (1913-2000) who procured a summer job on Ocracoke in 1938, and helped establish an "Artists Colony" on the island in 1940 & 1941 (http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112908.htm). The 48 pages of poems are yellow and brittle, but they reveal an idealistic young man struggling with life, beauty, love, sex, politics, war, and peace.

Most of the poems do not refer to Ocracoke, but one political poem does. "Beyond This Present" references "The meeting of four great men in Europe this week, The dismemberment of Czechoslovakia" (almost certainly the 1938 "Munich Agreement" by which Nazi Germany annexed portions of Czechoslovakia, which was signed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Italy).

The poet writes:

"Here on this island
All outwardly is quiet.
The sun warms the sand,
The sea runs gently,
And the forests are still.
Fisherman steer their boats
Into the sound
And fish their nets.
Housewives milk in the morning
And quilt in the evening.
Young people dance
At the Village."

He goes on to say:

"But underneath the calm
A strong tide is running.
The people are restless,
Disturbed inwardly."


He ends his poem this way:

"For I am not one
Of this mad generation.
Mine is the land of universal love.

"Rather,
I look beyond the war that is coming
To the time of peace and rebuilding,
To the time when all men of all nations
Will join hands in brotherhood,
When every man will work for the good of all
And the earth will be returned to man.

"I, for one,
Look beyond this present
To the time of peace.
For beyond this present
A new light is shining."

Let us join with Vernon Ward, and again hope that this coming Christmas season will bring us closer to a "time of peace" with a "new light shining."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the time Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Charles Temple

Mark your calendar for this Thursday December 13 at 7:00 p.m., and meet at the Ocracoke Library.

In May of 2011, Charles Temple, Ocracoke School’s high school English teacher was the winner of Jeopardy’s first Teachers Tournament. He will share his experiences and more in his talk entitled: "Alex, I’ll Take Lifelong Learning for One Hundred Thousand Dollars! An Insider’s View"

Reception to follow.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm. 

Aunt Thelma

My Aunt Thelma Howard Babb (born December 23, 1912 on Ocracoke Island) died on Tuesday, November 27, 2012. As her daughter Becky put it, she was 99.92 years old!

Aunt Thelma moved away from Ocracoke when she was a teenager, and lived in Norfolk for a number of years. She did return to live on the island for a while when she was young, and throughout her life she loved to come back to visit family and friends. In recent years she lived near her daughter in Texas. Becky remarked that "Ocracoke was one of the last things she remembered. She loved the island immensely."

Aunt Thelma was my father's sister. She was only fourteen months younger than my dad, and they remained close friends throughout their lives. A number of older island residents remember Aunt Thelma well. "She would always keep you laughing," is a frequent comment made by people who knew her. Aunt Thelma had an infectious smile, a twinkle in her eye, and a knack for telling entertaining stories that are told and retold (some of them best saved for family get togethers over a glass of wine!).

Aunt Thelma leaves behind three granddaughters, six great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many other dear family and friends.

After her mama died Becky discovered the following hand-written passage that Aunt Thelma read at her own mother's funeral in 1950. Becky read it at Aunt Thelma's funeral last week. 
  

In Memory of Mother

The Midnight Stars are shining above her silent grave,

Beneath it sleeps the one we love and the one we could not save.

What would we give to hold her hand, her dear face just to touch,

 Her loving smile, her welcome voice, that meant so much to us.

Just when life was not quite the best....

The gates of heaven opened and God took her home to rest...

The hills were hard to climb...

He gently closed your eyes and whispered, Please be mine.

Gone but not forgotten...

Coral

One day last week, as I was walking along the high tide line, I spotted a thin pink object protruding from under a pile of seaweed. Thinking it was a plastic streamer or a deflated section of a balloon, I reached down to rid the beach of it. To my surprise, I discovered that it was a piece of hard coral in the shape of delicate and graceful tentacles. Within a half a mile I found another specimen. I can't remember ever before finding such a coral on Ocracoke's beach.

Pink Coral Found at Ocracoke, Dec. 2012

An Internet search yielded only the following Wikipedia photo of a similar, but differently colored coral:

Corail_à_Myrtle..._le_retour.jpg by Maniacduhockey

Perhaps one of our readers can identify the coral I found on the beach. Please leave a comment if you can.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Still More Christmas Traditions

On Friday & Saturday I shared some Ocracoke Island Christmas traditions, and promised a few more for today.

Many years ago (at the turn of the twentieth century) some island children kept an old custom of visiting family and friends at Christmastime, and holding out their hands, palm up. "Christmas treats," they would say, and be rewarded with a few pennies or a nickle or a dime.

 I'm sure this practice hearkens back to the tradition alluded to in the seasonal song "We Wish You a Merry Christmas":

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding;

Oh, bring us a figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer

We won't go until we get some;

We won't go until we get some;

We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here

For a number of years Ocracoke had two Methodist churches. The Southern church was located on Howard Street (where Dicie's Cottage is today); the Northern church was located on the Back Road (where Zillie's is today).

One year two local carpenters built a large faux fireplace and chimney for the Christmas celebration at the Northern Methodist church. After the children's program of scripture reading, carols, and a pageant, Ben Gaskill (1871-1953), dressed as Santa and hidden in the chimney, was to descend from the fireplace to distribute bags of fruit, nuts, and candy. Unfortunately, his pack was too large, and he got stuck in the chimney, and had to be rescued. Still today, a few older residents get a chuckle thinking of the time Santa Claus got stuck in the chimney!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

More Christmas Traditions

Yesterday I shared a few island Christmas traditions. Today I share a few more. (Also be sure to read the two messages I posted earlier this morning.)

Amasa Fulcher opened the Community Store in 1918. By then Christmas gift giving had become more common on Ocracoke. At Christmastime Mace would rearrange the center shelf of his store, and pile it high with toys, gifts, and other enticements for the holiday season. Blanche remembers books (Bible stories and fairy tales), dolls and other toys, games (dominoes and checkers), and clothing.

Of course, Sears & Roebuck and other mail order stores provided Christmas presents as well.

In many communities turkey or ham provided the main Christmas dinner. On Ocracoke goose was the preferred dish. Smothered in giblet gravy, and served with collards, sweet potatoes, and pone bread, it was a true southern holiday meal. Popular desserts were sweet potato pie and pineapple layer cake.

Although several Ocracoke families continued to celebrate "Old Christmas" even after the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, it is only at Rodanthe on Hatteras Island that the tradition continues.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII proclaimed a new calendar to replace the old Julian calendar which had miscalculated the length of the year. In order to bring the calendar back into sync with the seasons he eliminated 10 days.

Protestant Europe initially would have none of this foolishness. But they would eventually capitulate.

By the time England adopted the new calendar, Christmas (on the Julian Calendar) now corresponded with January 5 (on the Gregorian Calendar). The town of Rodanthe still celebrates "Old Christmas" with an oyster roast, revelry, and the appearance of "Old Buck." Do an Internet search for "Rodanthe Old Christmas" for more information.

Look for still more Christmas traditions tomorrow.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Birthday!

Today (December 8) is Blanche's birthday. If you see her be sure to wish her a Very Happy Birthday! Blanche is an island treasure.

Today's Island Christmas Events

• Library Cookie Swap at 11 a.m. at the library. More details and photos here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/50298

• Ocracoke Community Christmas Concert7pm at the Community Center
  More information here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/50778

Christmas Traditions

Several days ago a reader asked about Ocracoke Island Christmas traditions. As in many rural areas, Christmas on Ocracoke was a much more modest holiday in the nineteenth century. Although a detailed history of Christmas celebrations is too long for this blog, keep in mind that Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a novel that greatly influenced our perceptions of Christmas and the way we celebrate the holiday today, was written only in 1843.

My father was born on Ocracoke in 1911. Blanche's father, Stacey Howard, was born on the island in 1885. We both remember our fathers remarking that Christmas presents were rare and modest when they were children. Some years there were no presents at all; other years children might receive an apple or an orange. One Christmas my father had a single orange in his stocking. He remembered rolling it back and forth across the floor with his sister for several days before finally eating it.

Although Blanche says she remembers always having a Christmas tree (a native cedar) in her house (she was born in 1919), earlier generations cut cedar branches and yaupon sprigs (with red berries) to decorate their homes. In later years paper streamers and "fold-out" paper bells festooned living rooms.

For a century and a quarter the Ocracoke Methodist Church has provided a large tree as the centerpiece for the community's Christmas Eve celebration. In earlier days parents would bring presents for their children and place them under the tree, or hang them from the branches. Inevitably some gifts were larger or more expensive than others which led to the abandonment of the practice. Instead, the church began providing "Christmas bags" filled with apples, oranges, peanuts, and candy for everyone in the community.

Santa Claus has long been an attendant at the Ocracoke Methodist Church's Christmas Eve service. He makes his entrance after the benediction, visits with children, and distributes the bags of goodies. Of course, the church's Christmas bags are no longer the primary holiday present for island children. The church still provides the bags of goodies as a unique island tradition, but nowadays only for those who request them.

Look for more Ocracoke holiday traditions in tomorrow's blog.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Holiday Cookie Swap

This Saturday, December 8, at 11 a.m., the Ocracoke Community Library will host their annual tradition of The Holiday Cookie Swap

It's simple. Bring some cookies to the library, and bring some home. There will be a poetry reading by the 3rd grade students of Ocracoke School and this year Jocelyn and Jessica will be hosting a special Christmas Trivia Contest just for the library!

Everyone is welcome! This is how the Cookie Swap works: 
Bring a dozen or more homemade cookies to share.
Take home an equal amount of assorted cookies made by other island bakers. 

Yum!

Please bring an extra container to collect your cookies.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Christmas Tree

I suppose this might become an annual Ocracoke holiday tradition. It seems as if every fall a storm washes a dead tree up on the beach. Last year someone planted a  driftwood tree in the sand near the lifeguard beach, and hung a few flotsam & jetsam "ornaments" on it. Others added their own findings.

I was thinking about last year's tree when I noticed another dead tree lying on the beach a week or so ago, but I never propped it up. Then a few days ago I was walking near the Pony Pen beach when I saw this year's tree. It was already planted in the sand, festooned with seashells, a flipflop, a Milk Dud box, and assorted other items.

The tree is a visual testament to islanders' creativity and quirkiness. Take a beach walk down by the Pony Pen and add a seashell, some seaweed, or another treasure.

Beach Christmas Tree

 Don't worry, we'll undecorate the tree after Christmas.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Wassail Party

"Waes hael," ("Good Health!" or "Be Ye Healthy") is how English revelers many years ago greeted friends and neighbors as they held up a mug of spiced cider during the winter holidays.

Eventually, the expression came to mean the drink as well as the greeting. Later, the toast that was traditionally floated atop the wassail drink became our "toast." When you hold up your glass and announce, "I'll toast to that," you are acknowledging this very old ritual of floating a bit of toast in a mug of spiced cider.

Join the members and staff of Ocracoke Preservation Society this afternoon from 5 - 7  for the island's traditional Wassail Party and lighting of the OPS Christmas Tree.

Good Health to You All!

Wassail, first started as a greeting or as a toast. Waes hael, revelers might say holding up a mug of spiced cider. Eventually, as things go, wassail referred less often to the greeting and more often to the drink. Similarly, the toast that was traditionally floated atop the wassail eventually became our toast; that is, when you hold up your glass and announce, “Let’s have a toast,” or ”I’ll toast to that,” you’re paying homage to this very old ritual of floating a bit of toast in a spiced ...

Read More at nourishedkitchen.com/traditional-wassail-recipe/ © Nourished Kitchen

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Whale

Whale sightings are most common from Ocracoke in November and December, so it wasn't too surprising when Amy called me two days ago from the beach to say that she and Laura had just seen a whale off shore. I am almost always ready to take a walk on the beach, especially this time of year, so I drove out to the "Lifeguard Beach" to take a look.

By the time I arrived the whale had apparently swum away, so we walked and chatted for a half hour. When we returned to the walk-over ramp we stood for a while, gazing out to sea, hoping we would get one final glimpse of this majestic creature.

Sure enough, we were quickly rewarded with a spout of water and air far beyond the breakers. Immediately afterwards the great dark form of the whale rolled up, out, and then back down. This was repeated a number of times. It was impossible to tell if we were seeing one whale, or several. And the display was too far out to get a decent photo.

If you are walking along the beach this time of year, be sure to pay attention to what's going on off shore. There are almost always plenty of dolphins to entertain...and occasionally leviathan pays us a visit also.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Whelk Egg Case

Back in March I posted a few paragraphs about whelk egg cases (http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2012/03/egg-cases.html). But the specimen I had was just eight capsules long. A few days ago I found a long, fresh serpentine string of egg cases. Sometimes they are called Mermaids necklaces.

Whelk Egg Case

The whelk shells inside each capsule are so tiny (about 4mm) that I could not get a decent photo. I had to use a magnifying lens even to see them clearly.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

"Calling the Mail Over"

Many of our readers have heard the expression "calling the mail over." Back in the days before ferries and paved roads, mail was delivered to the island by mail boat. When the boat pulled up to the dock every afternoon at 4:30 almost the entire village was there waiting.

Canvas mailbags were carried to the post office and sorted. Then the postmaster stepped outside and "called the mail over." Names were called out, and letters and packages passed around.

Since the recent damage to NC Hwy 12 on Pea Island, mail and package delivery some days reverts to the old ways. If the driver doesn't have time to deliver his packages before the next Swan Quarter ferry leaves, we all just gather in one place as boxes and parcels are "called over" and passed out.

A Full Parking Lot, Waiting for Package Delivery

Islanders Waiting at the PO for the Mail to be "Called Over"

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Deer Tracks

For many years Ocracoke was home to very few mammals. The most noticeable, of course, were human beings. We did have wild horses, quite a few feral cats, nutria, rats & mice, some minks, eventually squirrels, now raccoons, and an occasional bear that would swim over from the mainland.

About 15 or so years ago islanders began reporting deer on the island. I occasionally noticed deer tracks in the National Park, and on one early morning drive to the Hatteras ferry a doe and her fawn bounded across the road in front of my car.

I hadn't noticed evidence of deer, or heard about any sightings, for quite a while. I thought they had vanished. So, on a recent walk in the Park I was intrigued to see numerous deer tracks "down below" (this is anywhere from the edge of the village to Hatteras Inlet). I was not too far from the Pony Pen when I spotted the tracks.

Deer Track

Let me know if any of you have seen deer on the island recently.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Christmas Market

Mark your calendars for this Saturday December 1st. The Ocracoke United Methodist Women will be holding a Christmas Market at the Methodist Church Rec Hall. Silent auction and craft sale start at 10 a.m.

A special treat this year will be a delicious lunch of shrimp burgers and clam chowder starting at 11 a.m. Hot dogs & baked goods will also be offered.  

10% of the Market's proceeds will be donated to UMCOR (The United Methodist Committee on Relief) for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.

You can stop by the Church Rec Hall Friday evening between 4 and 6 p.m. to preview auction items. A list of auction items can be found here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/50049.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Olives

The winter beach is more likely to yield seashells than the summer beach. Late summer and fall hurricanes and storms stir up the sea floor, and fewer people are walking on the beach, especially on cold and blustery days.

Not long ago I stumbled upon two nice olive shells while walking along the beach. I wasn't even looking for them...just out taking a brisk walk. But of course I stopped to pick them up.

Lettered Olive Shells

If you are on the island this time of year, keep your eyes open for treasures from the sea.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Ocracoke Cutie

I've located another vintage Ocracoke video. I was chatting with Melissa Garrish Sharber at the post office a few days ago and she alerted me to a YouTube video of the 1990 July 4th entertainment at the Ocracoke Preservation Museum. The "sailors" from the local musical "A Tale of Blackbeard" were performing one of their favorite numbers, "Ocracoke Cutie."

Danny Garrish, Melissa's daddy, and one of the funniest and most delightful people I've ever known, has the lead (he played the ship's cook). My son Stefen played the lead romantic role and sings the duet with Danny.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_OJKwfUGK8.

If you remember "A Tale of Blackbeard," Danny, Stefen, or any of the other actors, leave a comment with your recollections. I hope you enjoy the video.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Winter Roses

A few days before Thanksgiving I noticed these lovely winter roses blooming in my front yard. Maybe they are a sign that winter won't be too severe.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Gift Giving

I was volunteering at the Community Square Market two days ago..."Black Friday." My grandson, Eakin, was visiting from his home in the mountains of North Carolina. About an hour after we opened the market we had five people quietly looking at merchandise. Eakin leaned over and whispered to me, "It's the Black Friday rush!"

Business picked up as the day progressed, and we at Village Craftsmen had a burst of business in spite of recent problems with NC Highway 12. Of course, everything will slow down again now that the Thanksgiving holidays are over.

But don't forget that Village Craftsmen has a large selection of hand made American crafts that are just perfect for holiday gift giving. Visit our on-line catalog (http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/catalog.htm) to see a selection of our pottery, glassware, jewelry, musical instruments, and much more.

Our quality American handcrafts are bound to please almost anyone on your Christmas gift list.

Concert

I was wrong. I thought there would be a smaller crowd for this year's Festival Fundraising Concert. After all, the road on Hatteras Island is still closed periodically, even for four-wheel-drive vehicles. And yesterday morning, because of fog, none of the ferries were running.

But last night the Community Center was packed with enthusiastic Ocracoke residents and visitors. And no one was disappointed. As usual, talented island musicians entertained the crowd with rousing jazz numbers, thoughtful original tunes, and traditional local ballads. There were even two popular sing-alongs -- "Avast" from the musical A Tale of Blackbeard, and "You Are My Sunshine." In addition, Captain Rob Temple told a new Thanksgiving poem he wrote recently, Donald Davis shared a new story, and I told the story of the 1889 wreck of the steamboat Pioneer.

As they say, a fun night was had by all!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Tell A Story, Listen to A Story

As I mentioned two days ago, today is "National Day of Listening."

This is a great opportunity to sit down with a family member or friend and listen to their stories. This year StoryCorps, promoter of this recognition, is encouraging us to listen to stories of veterans, active duty military, and their families. You can read more here: (http://nationaldayoflistening.org/):

"The National Day of Listening is a day to honor a loved one through listening. It's the least expensive but most meaningful gift you can give this holiday season. You can choose to record a story with anyone you know.  Learn more here."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing all of you a wonderful day of offering thanks for our many blessings.

And a special, hearty "Thank You" to all of our faithful readers. We hope you enjoy the fruits of this bounteous land, share a portion with others, and celebrate this day with family and friends. 

National Day of Listening

Friday, November 23, 2012 (the day after Thanksgiving) has been designated this year's "National Day of Listening" by StoryCorps. This is how they put it on their web site (http://nationaldayoflistening.org/):

"The National Day of Listening is a day to honor a loved one through listening. It's the least expensive but most meaningful gift you can give this holiday season. You can choose to record a story with anyone you know. This year, StoryCorps has chosen to feature the stories of veterans, active duty military, and their families. Learn more."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Charles Lindbergh

We have just published our latest Ocracoke Newsletter, the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke Island. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.

Travel on NC 12

For the latest official information about the NC Highway 12 recovery effort, please visit the NCDOT website: http://www.ncdot.gov/travel/nc12recovery/.

Click here for the latest information about extra runs from Swan Quarter during the Thanksgiving period: https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=7361

Tourism

Yesterday, in response to the 1965 home movie of a trip to Ocracoke, a reader asked, "Is there one key moment that catapulted OI into a mecca for tourists...?"

Perhaps we should begin with this statement about Ocracoke Island: "[T]his healthy spot is in autumn the resort of many of the inhabitants of the main[land]." This "Description of Occacock Inlet," accompanied Jonathan Price's map of 1795!

Next we should mention the old Ponzer Hotel which was built in 1885, and was located where the US Coast Guard Station/NCCAT campus is today. The hotel, which catered to wealthy North Carolinians who traveled to the island by steamship, burned down in 1900. The following photo, taken in 1898 speaks for itself.

Ponzer Hotel

Of course, modern-era tourism received a major boost in the late 1950s from the building of roads and the beginning of ferry service to Ocracoke Island. To be sure, various islanders (Stanley Wahab comes to mind) and others saw the continued economic potential of Ocracoke as a tourist destination. The rest, as they say, is history.

Another question was, "is there a higher percentage of rental income properties owned by non residents vs local resident population landlords?" I don't have any official figures but I am certain the answer is yes.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke and the War of 1812. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102112.htm.

1965

A few days ago Leroy O'Neal's daughter Kathi sent me a link to a six minute Ocracoke video that her cousin recently uploaded to YouTube. Leroy made the video in 1965 while on a fishing trip to the island (although born on Ocracoke, Leroy moved away when he was a young boy).

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukxHq2MnpoA.

Several minutes of the video are simply Leroy's friends fishing and carrying on with a shark they caught, but there are a few noteworthy segments. Pay attention to scenes of Silver Lake harbor and note all of the traditional wooden skiffs tied to stakes (not at docks). Also notice just a few vehicle tracks on the beach, and no other trucks in sight! Native islander, Murray Spencer (father of William Nathan who works at the "dump"), is the man with gray hair, sunglasses, and a small mustache. You will also see the Pony Island Restaurant and Motel...and enjoy the music of two O'cockers, Jule Garrish & Martin Garrish.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke and the War of 1812. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102112.htm.

Wallace Spencer

Wallace Spencer (1912-2001) was a wonderful old-time Ocracoke character. One Sunday morning I heard him say, "I've got a mind to go to church today."

Then on reflection he added, "but I've two minds to go fishin'."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke and the War of 1812. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102112.htm.

Maritime Salvage

Yesterday a reader asked, "would you venture to put into words an Ocracoke perspective on the matter [of maritime salvage]?"

 In 1750 colonial Governor Johnson described Outer Bankers as "a set of indigent desperate outlaws and vagabonds." It has been said that an Ocracoker would drop a corpse on the way to the graveyard if someone yelled "Ship Ashore!"

That about sums it up.

 Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke and the War of 1812. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102112.htm.

Beach Finds

Recently a reader asked this question: "To the point of beachcombing, metal detectors are not permitted anywhere on the ocean beaches of Ocracoke, are they?"

The answer is no. Metal detectors are prohibited in all US National Parks.

A related question was: "Separately, aside from the stories of salvaged cargo from wrecks over the years, any anecdotes you have to share (yours or from others) re. particularly noteworthy beach finds?"

I have heard or seen evidence of the following being found on the beach within the last 100 or so years: hundreds of bunches of bananas, top hats, gold coins, Indian arrowheads, dozens of shoes (originally destined for Jim Jones' People's Temple in Guyana), fruits and vegetables (apples, onions, and oranges), and thousands of bags of Doritos in 2006 (http://hamptonroads.com/node/189201).

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke and the War of 1812. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102112.htm.