Tangier Island......

About 12 miles from the shore of Reedville, VA, lies the little Island called Tangier, in the Chesapeake Bay.

Approaching Tangier Island

A visit to Tangier is like taking a step back in time, such is the feel of the island. There is no place else quite like it and we treasure our visits there. To do so, you must drive to Reedville, Va at the very end of Route 360 and take the Chesapeake Breeze (a large ferry boat) over to the Island.
The ferry boat, Chesapeake Breeze

A restored "Buy Boat" in the harbor at Tangier

Recently, it was decided to visit Tangier, along with Norah and Howie and our friends here on Pearson's Island, Pauline, Neal, Jeff and Cameron . So we reserved our golf carts and headed to Reedville! Transportation there is either by foot, bike or golfcart...no cars except for a few older service pickups etc. The streets are really more like tiny lanes, and two golf carts cannot easily pass each other!

We are blessed to have a dear friend who grew up on Tangier Island.... Corey Crockett. His lovely mom, Yvonne met us at the dock!! Grabbing our golf carts she took everyone on the "Tangier Tour" of the tiny Island which is about 1 mile wide and almost 7 miles long, if you include the marshes...without the marsh, I would guess that it is no more that about 2 miles long of "high ground"! Yvonne has lived all of her life on Tangier, but takes the boat every Thursday to Crisfield, Maryland to work until Monday, when she returns by boat to Tangier. Corey grew up there, but left after high school, as most of the youth do, unless they choose to be a waterman, which these days has become most difficult for anyone on the Chespeake.

Scenes of Tangier

Yvonne, Norah, Howie and Molly waiting for our crabs!

On Tangier, a sweet, sort of Cockney English is still spoken and it is easily recognizible to our ears, but often "strangers" cannot understand it. When Corey goes back to Tangier, he lapses into this lovely speech and we struggle to keep up, as he talks with his buddies and the local watermen.

Of course, the main food on Tangier is seafood, and most especially Blue Crabs, so of course we had to eat.......


YUM... Fried Soft Shell Crabs!!

On the Chesapeake Breeze

Yvonne, Corey and Aunt Peg are such wonderful folks! Peg is staying with her son in South Carolina, as she has had some health issues, and we sorely missed seeing her on our visit. We had a great day with Yvonne and soaked up the sweet Tangier spirit that is so soul soothing! It is hard to explain, but you just know the world is good, as you smell the salt air, and watch the children on bikes, buy the recipes clipped to the fences by the Island folks, and just in general, enjoy a slow and calming pace on this little jewel in the Chesapeake Bay.

The way of life here is quite different....there are only about 500 people living on the Island today, and most of them support their families from the water, or by being "watermen".... working crabpots, dredging for oysters, fishing and such. Others leave the Island to work in nearby Crisfield, Maryland, taking a boat daily or weekly and returning to the Island accordingly. It is a good life, but not one for the faint of heart....there are many challenges to living on a tiny island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay! Others work in the tourist trade, catering to the "strangers" who visit the Island, coming over from Reedville or Crisfield by ferry boat each day to sample the best crabcakes in the world and wonderful homemade corn pudding, Spoon bread and pound cake.

If you travel to Eastern Virginia, give us a call and let's go to Tangier....but we'll pack a bag and stay a few days at the Sunset Inn Bed and Breakfast...this is where Grace first served us those wonderful breakfast treats I call "Tangier Muffins". Little sausages wrapped in a biscuit or croissant pastry, dipped in cinnamon and sugar then baked! Yum....I make these so often and always think about those days on Tangier!

On Sunday, Yvonne came over on the boat to stay with Corey for a few days, so they came by for an evening supper with us.....it's always good to see them and spend a little time just chatting and letting the tide rise or fall!

It's been nice to remember the "Tangier" ways and to re-visit this place we love so much!

"Blue jobs" and sick guys....

For the most part, we follow the usual "pink jobs" for me and "Blue jobs" for Bob routine, however, I've tried to learn most of the "Blue jobs" in case I ever needed to do them. Soooooo.....I have been practicing those "Blue jobs" for the last two weeks as Bob has been pretty sick with one of the worst Upper Respiratory "things" we've ever seen. Yes, indeed I've sure had more practice this week! He's been to the MD twice and they finally decided that he needed an antibiotic, but by then he was really sick. He has been sick since the 4th of July! Gee, I'll be glad when he gets back to his normal self! Nurse Jane Fuzzy Wuzzy likes our normal routine so much better than our "sick" one!

Norah and Howie departed right after the 4th and the kids went back to Maryland....we enjoyed our time with them tremendously! I drove up to Maryland and spent several fun days with Tiff while Scott was away with his Scout troop at camp (he's a Boy Scout leader).

I've also been playing farmer on the Island here.....several neighbors have tiny gardens with flowers, tomatoes and peppers etc, and while they are away during the week, the plants get quite dry if it doesn't rain. So, I try to keep both the vegetables and the flowers watered a little during the week. This usually requires the filling of my watering can, then a ride on the golf cart, to visit the plots, several times. It is a routine I enjoy, and I have almost abandoned my FarmTown farm while I'm watching all the things growing around us.

Wednesday was spent with Kristy's kids...we went to Panera Bread for lunch and then did some shopping and spent the afternoon together. It was good to see them. Friday, I drove Eric and Trey up to Maryland so that they could spend the weekend with Scott and Tiff. I had planned to stay the weekend also, but Bob was still very sick and I began to have a mild version of his "stuff" so I opted to come back to the river. Scott and Tiff had planned lots of "boy" activities for them....hope they're having fun!

We also had a small tornado come quite close to the Island last Sunday in the midst of the worst thunderstorm we've seen here......lots of trees damaged or downed and trash cans and patio furniture blown everywhere. It was an amazing storm....one which I hope we do not see ever again! We were pretty lucky here on the Island and received no major damage, but there was much damage across the creek at Moraticco and up the river also. Lightning hit two pines trees on our lot...sure hope we don't loose them!

So the days are busy just being here....and trying to get Bob recuperated from his awful bout with this illness. I think he's on the way to recovery, but it has sure been a rough couple of weeks for him.

Hope every one is well and enjoying their summer days!

The Best Little Parade in Virginia.....now on video!

A picture is worth a thousand words....and a video is priceless......

You can enjoy our little bit of precious Americana thru the video above that Tiffany created of the Golf Cart parade at Pearson's Island, Simonson, Virginia, along the shores of the Rappahannock River, where Moraticco and Lancaster Creeks come together.

Every year we gather for a Fourth of July feast...this year Sandy and Dean hosted every one at lovely and historic Indian Banks (think Captain John Smith and those Indians...yes, it's pretty old!) and after a smashing feast, the decorated carts, tractors, trucks and trailers took to the roads to celebrate this country's Independence, for which we are very grateful.

As you watch, you'll see the backdrop for the little parade...cornfields, creeks and marshes, roaming dogs and great blue herons....I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do!

Thank you Tiff, for creating this for us!

And a huge Happy Birthday to Bob today!

It's a grand old parade.....

Everyone loves a parade....... here's a peek at our little golf cart parade at Simonson's.......

Ed and Meaker on Bob's cart with Betty in the front

Martin on the John Deere with Old Glory flying from the outriggers.....

Sue driving the Crab cart pulling The Train that Martin built for the kids......

Howie and Norah's Big Truck......

There we go....down the road.......

Hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day!