Wild and Crazy Weather!

We awoke this morning to torrential rains beating down but it is so lovely and warm. Now as I sit in my office I can hear the winds swirling outside, whipping the trees into the building. I just checked the weather report and we have a tornado watch til 6PM, a High Wind Advisory til 4PM tomorrow and a severe thunderstorm warning til late this evening. Weather is such an important part of our lives on this little spit of sand. Anyone who says living here is dull just isn't telling the truth. I'd better go check on Dale and Leon and make sure they haven't "blowed" away!

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke Street Names (Part I), published November 19, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news111905.htm.

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Fall Break

We've just published another one of our Ocracoke Newsletters. This month you can read how several of our streets acquired their names (and learn a bit of Ocracoke history in the process). Just click here to read our current newsletter: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news111905.htm. (Look for Part II next month.)

In anticipation of the upcoming holidays we have been adding new items to our web site (e.g. a 2006 Ocracoke calendar, blown glass, pottery, "Ocracoke Album" [a photographic history of the island], & Aladdin lamps). You can see links to these items here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/whatsnew.htm. Of course we always maintain an extensive selection of quality American handcrafts. To peruse our catalog just click here, or on any of the photos in the blue panel on the left.

In other news, the off-season is our opportunity to catch up on long neglected chores and projects. So I will be taking a break from our Ocracoke Journal. Don't go away, though. Jude assures me that she will be keeping you up to date on island events (Monday - Friday). Back in September and early October, when I was off-island, Jude had family visiting and didn't get to post very often.

This month will be different. I am not leaving the island -- just spending time making repairs on my out buildings and rental property (and maybe catching up on compiling my Ocracoke stories). I might even post a journal entry now and then myself. If not, I'll be back at the computer sometime in mid-December. In the meanwhile enjoy a few other perspectives on island life.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Ocracoke Street Names (Part I), published November 19, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news111905.htm.

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Cooler Weather

Fall finally seems to be settling in. The temperature dropped 15-20 degrees early yesterday morning and the sky was gray and overcast (although it's sunny this morning). It was cold again last night (in the low 40s) and we're expecting it to be even cooler tonight.. I'm not expecting to see many bikinis at the beach nowadays. There's no doubt we've had a warm fall up til now, but there's nothing wrong with more seasonal temperatures. We are partial to island life no matter what the temperature.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Natural Wonders

As many readers of this journal know, Ocracoke has a sense of community not found everywhere. Of course, the modern world has had an impact on the island, but we do know our neighbors, care about them, and look after them when we need to. It's one of the main reasons we love this place so much.

The other reason is the outstanding natural environment. So much of the island is National Seashore, with pristine beaches, undeveloped sandy dunes, and abundant wildlife. Sometimes nature just jumps out at us....nature that manifests everywhere, but just seems particularly spectacular here on this tiny spit of sand twenty-five miles out in the Atlantic Ocean.

Some nights the starry sky is simply luxuriously opulent. Sunsets over Pamlico Sound can be spectacular. Two nights ago the full moon seemed to shine down on the village with extraordinary brilliance. Yesterday afternoon one of the brightest, richest, and largest rainbows appeared in the sky, stretching from the horizon on my left, across the village, all the way down to the horizon on my right.

It seemed for all the world like a gift. Who needs a pot of gold?

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Babysitting

It's great being a grandparent. David has been off-island (playing his fiddle with Molasses Creek, but I can't remember where), and Amy was working yesterday afternoon at Ocracoke Restoration. So I was babysitting. We walked down to the bank with a deposit, then went to the post office to pick up the mail. On the way back we stopped at the Variety Store and Books to be Red (to purchase a couple of holiday gifts). Of course we had to stop and chat everywhere we went.

Then we strolled down Lighthouse Road to take a look at "Annie Moore's" house. Ann Ehringhaus recently bought the house from Annie Moore's heirs and just had it raised several days ago. On the way we stopped to look at the lighthouse (Lachlan loves the lighthouse). The weather was so very wonderful that I sat down against a tree and Lachlan spent the better part of an hour just wandering around barefooted, picking up sticks and acorns, and showing them to me.

Back down Lighthouse Road we stopped to visit with Blanche Styron. She doesn't get out too much any more. Across the street we spied Isabel Morris feeding her cats so we stepped over there for a few minutes also. She no longer drives so she was happy to see us, if only for a few minutes.

By the time we arrived back home to sit on the front porch the sun was setting and it was almost time to carry the little one back to his mama. We had a great afternoon together. After supper I went back to my office to catch up on a few details. Then back home to curl up with my latest book, _The Fabric of the Cosmos_ by Brian Greene. Seems to me this is what life is all about -- spending time with grandyounguns, visiting friends and neighbors, enjoying a fascinating book, and even working now and then..

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Ocracoke & the New York Times

Just in case some of our readers may not have seen this, Ocracoke was featured in the "New York Times" on Friday, November 11. Cindy Price's article, "Ocracoke in Fall: Gloriously Empty," appeared in the Travel Section. You can read it here: New York Times Article on Ocracoke. (I'm not sure how long this link will be active, so it may or may not work by the time you read this.) You will need to register for free access to the article if you haven't already done so.

Thanks to Lucy who reminded me that the article is on-line. Ms. Price came to my open house at the end of October and even met Lachlan. I think he got his name in the paper because he was flirting with her.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Bikinis in November

When Amy, Lachlan, & I walked over to the beach yesterday afternoon we passed a young lady walking back to her car in a bikini. There were only a few folks down by the water, but they were lounging in beach chairs reading novels, tossing sticks to dogs, sunning themselves in bathing suits, and swimming in the surf.

We waded in the shallows, picked up shells (Amy found a beautiful Scotch Bonnet), played in the sand, and enjoyed the warm sun on our backs. All in all it could hardly have been a better day at the beach -- and it's the middle of November!

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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A Lazy Sunday Morning

Although this is a holiday weekend (and there are a few visitors on the island) this is still the off-season. This time of year Village Craftsmen is closed on Sundays, and I am looking forward to just sitting in front of the fire and reading a good book. However, the temperature is expected to reach into the low 70s later on today so I'm planning to walk on the beach sometime in the early afternoon. I hope your day is at least as relaxing.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Hot Dogs & English

On Thursday morning Charles Temple, Ocracoke School's high school English teacher, called and asked me to help out with a hot dog sale that evening during Ocracoke's first basketball games of the season.

When I arrived at the school at 4 pm I met Chad, an 11th grader who had recently moved to the island from the Washington, D.C. area. Chad was ineligible to play ball because he'd been living on Ocracoke for less than 6 months, so he was helping with the hot dog sale. Gary was there too, but Charles had gone to the local store for supplies. None of us had ever participated in a hot dog sale before so we had no clue about what needed to be done. As we learned when Charles returned, he hardly knew any more than we did.

We didn't have matches to light the cooker (but we did locate a striker from the welding supplies in the shop room). The bun warmer was missing the tray and lid (but we improvised with aluminum foil). We found a heavy duty extension cord in the shop room. The hot dog buns we located were stale (but we eventually found others). There was no can opener for the chili (so I rode my bike home and brought mine). We ran out of quarters for change (so I ran over to the Village Craftsmen).

Tom arrived in the middle of preparations. He at least had had experience in food service! We put him in charge of boiling the hot dogs. Gary put frozen buns in the microwave oven (which we discovered in the storage closet). Luckily for us Karen showed up just in time (she had organized a hot dog sale twelve years ago). In no time at all we had bowls filled with cole slaw, onions, and chili. Ketchup, mustard, foil, paper hot dog holders....we were almost ready.

Coolers were filled with drinks and ice. Parents and students showed up with cookies, cakes, brownies, and cup cakes. Charles found paper and markers. Hot dogs, $1.00; no, make them $1.50. Soft drinks, 50 cents; no, make them 75 cents. Desserts (is that with one "s" or two? This was for textbooks for Charles' English classes. We had to spell it right!) were 50 cents.

We were just in time. A line started forming before 5 pm. By the time the games were over we had sold over $450.00 worth of hot dogs, drinks, and desserts. (I think, in the off-season, we're going to be selling hot dogs at the Village Craftsmen.)

When it was all over I commented to Chad that he probably found Ocracoke a tad different from Washington. He just smiled, and then allowed as how he had learned to adjust to the island's more informal, laid-back, way of doing things. Welcome, Chad!

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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John Lovick

Perhaps it doesn't happen often, but now and then you might hear John Lovick's name come up in a conversation in the lobby of the Ocracoke Post Office or on the porch of the Community Store. Lovick was one of the first colonial owners of Ocracoke Island. He never lived here, but he apparently used the island for grazing livestock (he didn't need fences to keep his property from wandering too far away).

As early as 1578 Queen Elizabeth I had granted the area which has become North Carolina to Sir Humphrey Gilbert. In 1584 the grant was renewed to Gilbert's half brother, Walter Raleigh, and a charter was granted to the "Virginia Company of London" in 1606. That charter was revoked in 1624 and the colony became the property of the crown. Five years later King Charles I conveyed "Carolana" to Sir Robert Heath.

After the re-establishment of the monarchy Charles II, to reward faithful supporters, revoked the grant to Robert Heath and in 1663 granted the territory to eight "Lords Proprieters." It was they, who on November 11, 1719, granted Ocracoke Island to John Lovick, Secretary of the Colony of North Carolina and a Deputy of the Lords Proprieters. The land was described as "Beginning at Hatteras Inlet and running to Occacok Inlet," about 2,110 acres.

Lovick was born in England and came to these shores in January of 1712/13 (depending on whether one reckons the date by the [old] Julian or [new]) Gregorian calendar), and was a prominent citizen in the colony, and friend of Governor Charles Eden. Eden, you may remember, was allied with Edward Teach (most frequently known as "Blackbeard" the pirate).

It is a testimony to islanders' sense of our history and heritage that John Lovick is still remembered (at least by some) 286 years to the day after his first official connection to Ocracoke Island.

In recognition of more contemporary history, Ocracokers, along with the rest of our country, celebrate Veterans' Day today, in honor of native islanders and other Americans who have served in our armed forces.

Also, remember to take a look at our On-line Catalog. Village Craftsmen keeps a large inventory of quality American made crafts in stock year 'round -- perfect for holiday gift giving, birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions. We've recently added the new photographic history of the island, Ocracoke Album to our web site as well.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Ocracoke Album

The village has been abuzz these last few days. Here & there native O'cockers have been seen huddled over Jack Dudley's newest book, Ocracoke Album, intently examining the vintage photographs. The 191 page book is loaded with pictures from the 1890s through the 1960s. It is truly a photographic history of Ocracoke Island & Ocracoke Village.

Jack's fourteen chapters include: A Gull's Eye View, The Creek, Mail Call, In the Village, Meeting Houses, School Days, Oldest Light, Lifeaboat Stations, Ships of Doom, Scales & Tails, Fallen Feathers, Roamin' Free, Skyway to Ocracoke, and Ocracoke by Ferry.

The books have been flying off shelves, snatached up by natives, locals, & long-time visitors. We have just put Ocracoke Album on our web site. Right now we have a number of books in stock and all are autographed. We think this book will be the perfect holiday gift for all lovers of Ocracoke Island. Take a look at it here.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Ocracoke Preservation

The Community Center was full of neighbors and great food last night for the annual membership meeting of the Ocracoke Preservation Society. It was no doubt one of the best pot luck dinners I've been too. I piled my plate high -- and left not a scrap.

There were the usual reports -- from the president, secretary, treasure, executive director, and museum manager. A visitor, Alicia Esposito, from Columbia North Carolina gave a presentation on attracting purple martins to Ocracoke. Did you know that these birds are 100% dependent on human-built housing for nesting cavities? Afterwards Ann Ehringhaus showed slides of this year's Ocrafolk festival and the July 4th sand sculpture contest & parade.

A personal highlight was receiving the annual "Save an Old House" award for my rehabilitation of my grandparents' home.

If you'd like to be part of Ocracoke Preservation and help preserve island culture and heritage take a look at their web site : http://www.ocracokepreservation.org/

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Night Sky Over Ocracoke

Last night, after I turned off my cell phone (I had been sharing the day's news with Lou Ann), I walked outside for a few moments. The air was fresh and clean, the temperature mild. All was quiet -- no roar of automobiles, no hum of air conditioners, no voices from nearby homes, not even the croak of a tree frog or the song of a cicada.

I peered into the night sky. It was spectacular...as if the world's richest gemstone merchant had opened a black velvet pouch and spread a vast array of sparkling diamonds upon the fabric. There they were -- Orion, the Seven Sisters, Venus, the Milky Way, and so many more -- winking at me standing quietly and alone on Lawton Lane. And then, as if to say, "Look here, the mystery never ends," a shooting star raced across the heavens.

I went back inside, awed and content. I fell asleep in moments.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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A Dip in the Ocean

Oh, it's November, alright. The calendar tells us that. And I've noticed that the poison ivy leaves are starting to turn yellow (most island trees -- cedars, live oaks, yaupons -- remain green year 'round). And Thanksgiving is just around the corner. But, my, has it been warm & sunny this fall.

Amy, David, Lachlan, and I spent an hour at the beach yesterday afternoon. We walked, played in the sand, picked up shells, and watched brightly colored kites floating effortlessly against the bluest sky. We even waded and splashed in the tidal pools.

A couple of days ago I decided that the days were just too wonderful not to take at least one more plunge into the surf. The water was cool, but it didn't take my breath away. I've decided that to count as ocean swimming one must dive completely under the waves at least three times. I must admit that I didn't stay in the water for a long time (after all Lou Ann is in Indiana and I was swimming alone), but it was definitely refreshing.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Simple Pleasures

The squeak of a clothespin fastening a damp (or givey*) shirt to a line is something not much contemplated nowadays. But somehow it always makes me pause and think. Mind you, I'm not talking about the "modern" clamp type clothespin with the metal spring. There's little magic in that contraption. It's the one-piece pin with ready-made "legs" that children use (or used) to paint faces on and dress up with homemade doll clothes. When you push this type of clothespin down over a t-shirt it just gives off a satisfying little squeak that reminds you that you are outside in the sun repeating a quotidian ritual that, in a supremely unpretentious manner, helps keep you connected to the cycles of earth, sun, and, if I may be so bold, the universe itself.

* givey = a traditional Ocracoke word meaning damp.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Guy Hall

Today is Guy Fawkes Day. In 1605 thirteen young men conspired to blow up Britain's House of Parliament. Among them was Guy Fawkes, a catholic who protested the Protestant government of his day. The "Gunpowder Plot," as it was called, was thwarted, and the leader, Guy Fawkes was caught, tortured, and executed.

Since that time Britons commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning an effigy of Guy, or sometimes of the Pope.

Interestingly, the memory of Guy Fawkes continues 400 years later on Ocracoke Island (albeit in a diminished and corrupted fashion) in a now rare saying. If an islander is thought to be up to no good, hiding his malicious intentions, someone else might comment, "He's sneakier than old Guy Hall."

Maybe it's time to add a celebration of "Guy Hall" to our annual Village Days. A bonfire on the beach sounds like fun to me. I'm sure creative islanders could come up with a list of contemporary politicians (both local & national; and from every political party) that they'd like to burn in effigy.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Village Days Schedule

This weekend, Nov 4-6, is our 2nd annual Village Days. We hope you can be here to experience the fun & beauty of island people and island culture. This is the schedule of events:

Friday Night (Nov 4):

• Quizo (otherwise known as Bingo) -- 6:30 at the Community Center (Benefit Fire Dept)
• Ghost & History Walk -- 7:30 Sign up at Village Craftsmen, space is limited ($12.00 adults, $6.00 children, 6 years to 12 years)

Saturday Day (Nov 5):

• Lighthouse open, 12 noon-2 pm
• Book signing at Books to be Red, 12 noon - 1:30 pm
• Quilt Display at Preservation Museum, 11 - 4 pm
• Island Stories at Village Craftsmen, 1:30 - 2 pm
• Artists Tour 9:30 - 12 noon & 2 - 4:30 pm

Saturday Evening (Nov 5):

• Flat Cat Cafe, 6 - 8 pm (Ocracoke's Young Musicians)
• Ocracoke Square Dance, 8:30 pm - ?

Sunday (Nov 6):

• Flea Market, 8 am - 12 noon (on the Island Inn lawn)

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Mary Nolan

Mary Nolan died a couple of years ago. Last night her partner, Annie, invited a number of Mary's friends to the Flying Melon Restaurant for a "memorial dinner." Mary was anything but conventional, so it was no surprise that dinner was no maudlin affair. Mary loved Ocracoke and lived here for many years. She had an impish grin and would often remark that it was time to let her seven-year-old self out to play.

Even in later years Mary was frequently to be found at the beach, either fishing or swimming. Too often, to the dismay of friends and park rangers, she would float at length beyond the breakers with little or no fear.

After dinner we settled back to share tales about Mary. Some were stories recounting her wisdom, or her adventures in Central America; others were about her sometimes off-beat sense of humor. Sherrill Senseney told about a rather unconventional study group that met in the Methodist Church recreation hall some years ago. Scott Peck's book "The Road Less Traveled" was the focus of the conversation. Mary joined with enthusiasm. Several weeks into the study Sherrill mentioned something about the "Sunday School Class." With a feigned look of shock and horror in her eyes, Mary grabbed the edge of the table and blurted out, "Oh my gosh....you mean to tell me I've been in a Sunday School class all this time!!"

Mary was without a doubt one of Ocracoke's many interesting and beloved "characters." We still miss her.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Sunny & Warm

That's the forecast for the rest of the week, although there are some clouds in the sky today, and it's a few degrees cooler than yesterday. There's also a steady breeze blowing. Temperatures should be in the low 70's again by the weekend. And that's good news for our second annual Village Days. Come join us if you can. There will be live music, flea markets, a traditional island square dance, walking tours of village artisans, porch talks, and much more. The dates are November 4-6.

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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Costumes

The days are gorgeous -- sunny and warm with temperatures hovering around 70 degrees. Nights are cooler -- perfect for great sleeping. Everyone is delighted with the weather. Halloween night saw hundreds of trick-or-treaters taking advantage of the summer-like conditions.

Children and adults stopped by decked out as witches, Star War characters, gangsters, fairies, cowgirls, and all manner of ghosts, ghouls, & goblins. After the last of the costumed visitors knocked on the door we sat around reminiscing about some of Ocracoke's most memorable adult Halloween revelers from years past. Most of them were too risque or otherwise inappropriate to describe here, but one of my all-time favorites was G-rated, funny, and oh-so-clever.

Some years ago Woody Billings showed up at one of the island's annual Halloween parties in vintage plaid pants. A leather golf bag was slung over his shoulder, a 1958 California license tag dangled around his neck, and he wore enormous rubber swim fins on his feet.

I must admit I had to ask him, "What, exactly, are you supposed to be?" If you can't figure it out, just click here for the answer: What was Woody dressed as?

Our current monthly Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of George & Jule, published October 29, 2005. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102905.htm.

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