Island online

Ocracoke is a magical place to be. The Ocrafolk Festival T-shirts have this quote from island resident Ruth Fordon: "On Ocracoke it is a small step from the routine to the extraordinary."

Well put, Ruth! Walking to pick up a dozen eggs I can have my breath stopped by a sunset over Pamlico Sound. What started as small talk at a party I went to Saturday (thanks, JB & John!) left me energized and inspired to be more open to new friendships and ways of seeing the world.

Ocracoke has unique challenges, and my friend Sundae Horn and I think it deserves an active media to help us understand the issues facing our community. So we founded Ocracoke Current. The good on Ocracoke far exceeds the bad, so you'll find lots of fun stuff and features there as well as news.

Don't worry, Blue Heron Vacations blog and I will continue to reflect and share here as well. Thanks to Jennifer for inviting me to blog and starting me on this path of writing online about Ocracoke!

Game Night

Ocracoke School's basketball teams are making their presence known.  This is their first year playing in their new, regulation size gym, and third (or fourth?) year being part of a conference, for the first time in Ocracoke School history.  The high school has fewer than 50 students.  It's a wonder they can compete at all.

They are not just competing, they're winning!  The girls' team is undefeated, and looking fairly undefeat-able.  Echo Bennink, who scored her 1000th career point in December, is the marquee player, and more importantly, a fine student and extraordinary young woman who is groovy to know.   She was featured tonight on local news out of Greenville, NC, as the 'Player of the Week.'  How cool is that? 

friendship and fitness

Wintertime means walking.  Islanders make exercise dates, head out to the beach or make long circuits through Ocracoke village during these quiet, off-season months.  You walk with your best friends, and make new friends while meandering and talking.  I love taking routes that cut through seldom used paths, skirting yards, and tramping along the marsh.  I enjoy seeing who else walks together, and wonder what I could learn from the conversations they're having! 

Men in Green

Hunting season is here again.  The few out of town cars on the island invariably are trucks full of men wearing camoflauge.  I assume the ducks are loving this cold snap, although it may be too sunny for them.  I've been appreciating the amazing winter sunsets, with their deep hues and richly reflected clouds.  My guess is the hunters are similarly enjoying the sunrises from their blinds and sinkboxes, but I can't personally report on those.  Sunrise happens kinda early in the morning.

Ocracoke Island had spectacular weather during the recent holiday season.  Balmy, even.  People were wearing T-shirts and shorts, comfortably.  The many people who come to ring in the New Year must have been as delighted as the rest of us. Shopkeepers were happy to open and have some business; Jason's, Gaffer's and the Pony Island Restaurants were bustling, and rental homes welcomed guests.  I know everyone is grateful for the economic support after an abbreviated fall season due to Hurricane Irene.

I found out too late about Ocracoke's New Year's Day Polar Bear Club.  Bummer.  I'll participate in 2013.  But no matter:  I went swimming a few days after returning home on December 19.  The water was warmer, by a degree or two, than the Mediterranean Sea when I swam in early December.  Or maybe I'm just glad to be home!

Carnivals and costumes

I'm outta here. Sofia is a lovely and hospitable city, but I'm hitting the beach before all the sunshine is gone. My flip flops are feeling neglected. My bus leaves this evening and drives through the night.

I'll have the next 20 hours to dream of the ocean, and brainstorm Halloween costumes, even though I'll miss the island wide celebrations this year. Ocracoke is serious about Halloween. Some people dress up all week long. Some adults. The annual fall carnival brings everyone together at Ocracoke school, and the spook walk somehow manages to get craftier and scarier every year.

Good eats

Stealing this from a friend, who recently visited beautiful Ocracoke Island!

Here's what J had to say:

"This is fall on Ocracoke: spicy beer steamed Pamlico littleneck clams and shrimp, seared scallops, panko-encrusted red drum, asparagus and coarse ground grits with bacon."

Is anybody else hungry?

Live and learn

The annual Ocrafolk school is getting ready to kick off next week. There are heritage craft workshops, boat rides, meanderings through the marsh, beach walks, contemplation, celebration with song and dance, a great community of learners, and of course, cuisine!

Check out www.ocracokealive.org, get a last minute deal on Ocracoke accommodation through Blue Heron Realty, and join in the fun.