tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73242092305505238462024-03-17T03:20:10.546-04:00Blue Heron Vacations BlogBlue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-8267282254902274992013-09-20T00:18:00.000-04:002013-09-20T00:18:56.845-04:00Yo, Jennifer!<br />
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This Wendell Berry poem made me think of you, all the sides of you. I know, it's a little gloomy. But pretty and true. I couldn't resist posting it for you here. <br />
<br /><br />When despair for the world grows in me<br />and I wake in the night at the least sound<br />in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,<br />I go and lie down where the wood drake<br />rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.<br />I come into the peace of wild things<br />who do not tax their lives with forethought<br />of grief. I come into the presence of still water.<br />And I feel above me the day-blind stars<br />waiting with their light. For a time<br />I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-12269212675810582822012-05-22T11:34:00.000-04:002012-05-22T11:34:17.078-04:00It finally feels as if summer is kicking in. The sun is shiny and warm, there are clusters of people at the beach tossing frisbees and kicking around soccer balls, and traffic occasionally grinds to a halt in the village.<br />
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The annual Firemen's Ball is this weekend, and next weekend the Ocrafolk Festival fills the village with music, art and craft. Why not come for both? Call Blue Heron to book your Ocracoke vacation home!<br />
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<br />Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-9573868560828932982012-05-04T08:47:00.000-04:002012-05-04T08:47:21.691-04:00Fish and Nacho ChipsThe 500 plus anglers in the Ocracoke Island Surf Fishing Tournament couldn't ask for more perfect weather. Some big bluefish were caught yesterday afternoon. Last night was quiet in the village--everyone is saving up for the celebratory pig pickin' at the Community Center tonight.<br />
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And Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. Margaritas for everyone! <br />
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<br />Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-74937259605162074912012-04-12T01:11:00.000-04:002012-04-12T01:11:58.485-04:00Car Wash DiscoOcracoke is a great place to live. It is also a challenging place to earn a living. <br />
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A frequent dinner party topic is viable enterprises that appeal to visitors and don't take a bite out of another pie. My sister and brother in law came back from a vacation in the Dominican Republic enthusiastic about the many, many car wash discos.<br />
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During the day, you hang out, clean and polish the body, engine, tires and interior, and as the sunlight fades, the music gets turned up and the community dance party begins.<br />
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We all agreed that while this is not a good business plan for Ocracoke, we should certainly make time to maintain our vehicles, and to dance and party. It's the wisdom of the islands.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-19963064939853536642012-04-05T12:07:00.000-04:002012-04-05T12:07:12.797-04:00the gift of givingOcracoke shops have dusted off their shelves, swept the floors, and opened the doors to the Holy Week and Easter visitors. My sister has been in her shop, Over the Moon, re-arranging displays. It's a remarkably effective trick shopkeepers use to make customers think they have new products. <br />
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I ran around the shops yesterday looking for belated birthday gifts for both my brother and law and friend Sarah. I saw many items that would enhance my enjoyment of my Ocracoke Island house, but I wasn't shopping for me!<br />
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In the end, I went with gift certificates for both, so that they too can have the pleasure of shopping (men like picking out lures, right?).Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-13056833553232465942012-03-29T09:55:00.000-04:002012-03-29T09:55:46.530-04:00Back to WorkThis afternoon my season officially starts! Today we'll finish setting up the Cafe Atlantic and taste some wines; tomorrow we welcome the first customers of 2012.<br />
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Last week my fearless nephews went swimming in the Atlantic, and I followed suit a few days later. Spring is in full swing here on Ocracoke, and there is no reason not to visit, take advantage of off season rates on rental homes, and enjoy the warm welcome that invariably comes at the beginning of the season.<br />
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A new banker pony --a stallion from Corolla -- was added to the herd over the winter. Stop by and say hello to Alonso during your visit.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-51931592732478442552012-03-12T15:10:00.001-04:002012-03-12T15:11:48.247-04:00daffodils and bright facesSpring break means the first small crowds of the season on Ocracoke Island. Everywhere you go, there are out of state license plates in restaurant parking lots, and strolling tourists.<br />
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Ocracokers have a tradition of greeting people they pass in the street. It's been nice to say hello to a few unfamiliar faces.<br />
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Island homeowners are outside working in their yards and gardens. Yesterday I took a walk to Springer's Point, where half a dozen Ocracoke teenagers were lounging in the sunshine. What a fine idea.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-39924972834332982072012-03-07T18:41:00.000-05:002012-03-07T18:41:52.234-05:00Don't forget about me!Sorry, dedicated readers. There is a blog that features apologetic posts from neglectful bloggers. I'm trying not to be featured there. (I have been writing about Ocracoke Island, just on OcracokeCurrent.com).<br />
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Blue Herons Vacation site is a better place to tell you that Ocracoke is gearing up for the summer. Dajio Restaurant opened last week, and already has good crowds in the dining room and a lively group at the patio bar most nights.<br />
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Howard's Pub and Creekside Cafe both open this weekend, and within the month other island restaurants and shops will be ready to do business, including some new ones! <br />
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Even though the weather's gotten cool for the first time all winter, the first tourists are arriving, rental homes and vacation cottages are being spring cleaned and readied for the season, and it is clear our long winter after Irene is coming to an end. <br />
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The Ocracoke Dolphins won their second baseball game of the season, and their first ever victory for the program, which is new this year. Josie Winstead is a female player on the team. Today she got on base and scored! Way to be an inspiration, Josie!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-32365255577033658242012-02-22T12:20:00.001-05:002012-02-22T12:21:16.227-05:00Flip Flops in FebruaryThe sun is warm, birds are singing, and it is the first day of Lent! <br />
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My day started with a wine tasting, of all things, and now I'm idling on my porch, reveling in the spring-like weather. Ocracoke is a mighty fine place to be right now. All of my windows are open, my feet are propped up, and I have a stack of magazines at hand. <br />
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It feels like being on vacation, which is exactly how a bright, comfy day on Ocracoke should feel.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-68160838906627348552012-02-13T18:30:00.003-05:002012-02-14T14:26:43.439-05:00Games!Tonight I play bridge. Tuesday often we'll gather at my sister's home for Settlers of Catan, and on Wednesday I head up to Gaffer's Sports Pub for Trivia night. Two weeks ago there was a section devoted to Ocracoke history. I am proud to say our team got all of the questions right, though we missed the bonus question about the name of Captain William's boat that he sank on the Pamlico River to avoid its conscription in the Civil War. <br />
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Ocracoke Island in the off season. More fun than you could possibly imagine!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-49092675845330373472012-02-06T02:10:00.000-05:002012-02-06T02:10:55.522-05:00Maybe it's a little unfair that we weren't properly beachcombing, on foot. I'll admit that.<br />
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We spotted and then snatched the perfect sand-dollars (aka key hole urchins) from our vantage point in the truck. I have no regrets. <br />
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The new regulations suggest 5 mph on the beach. Who doesn't drive that slowly?Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-53104461437603189552012-01-28T16:17:00.000-05:002012-01-28T16:17:54.942-05:00wade in the waterThursday was sunny and still. Oystering! I called Jennifer at Blue Heron Realty's office, and she met me at her house so I could borrow her waders. The oystering was an amateur operation, but we gathered enough to feed ourselves. there was cold beer, a gorgeous sky, and plenty of laughter. We slurped down a few while culling and headed back into the village to steam the rest on Kimberly's big deck.<br />
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Yesterday I forgot to return the waders. That was a good thing, because it allowed me to accept an invitation to ride along with some hunters for the last day of the season. Another beautiful day on the expanse of Pamlico Sound. I am now going to Cabelas to order my own set. Thanks for the loaner, Jennifer!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-50775794225897833732012-01-23T11:34:00.000-05:002012-01-23T11:34:42.198-05:00Island onlineOcracoke 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."<br />
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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. <br />
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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 <a href="http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/">Ocracoke Current.</a> The good on Ocracoke far exceeds the bad, so you'll find lots of fun stuff and features there as well as news. <br />
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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!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-82934562059596424812012-01-18T00:31:00.002-05:002012-01-18T01:03:43.914-05:00Game NightOcracoke 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.<br />
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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? <br />
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<script type='text/javascript' src='http://ww2.WITNtv.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=911173;hostDomain=ww2.WITNtv.com;playerWidth=400;playerHeight=300;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6648255;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=Sport;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=fixed'></script>Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-34495521991164992062012-01-09T22:42:00.001-05:002012-01-09T22:42:52.879-05:00friendship and fitnessWintertime 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! Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-72291976129452979252012-01-04T19:52:00.003-05:002012-01-04T19:54:34.339-05:00Men in GreenHunting 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.<br />
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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.<br />
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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!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-79769186465310006922011-10-26T03:41:00.000-04:002011-10-26T03:41:18.355-04:00Carnivals and costumesI'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.<br />
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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.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-12417655682856423862011-10-20T13:45:00.001-04:002011-10-20T13:47:12.568-04:00Good eatsStealing this from a friend, who recently visited beautiful Ocracoke Island!<br />
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Here's what J had to say:<br />
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"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."<br />
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Is anybody else hungry?Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-21159211056218228682011-10-17T09:17:00.001-04:002011-10-17T09:18:17.806-04:00Live and learnThe 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! <br />
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Check out www.ocracokealive.org, get a last minute deal on Ocracoke accommodation through Blue Heron Realty, and join in the fun.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-62971323860862631712011-10-10T04:09:00.000-04:002011-10-10T04:09:54.535-04:00sand sun and sea, still!Friends are enjoying the fall, gorgeous as always, on Ocracoke. Catching fish, catching some rays. Sunbathing in the dunes, out of the chilling breeze, is so nice at this time of year. It feels so secluded and luxurious, even a little naughty, to be comfortably underdressed when it's sweater and jeans weather. <br />
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It can feel even better to pull on those jeans after the muggy summer season, head to the beach in the evening, and stretch out (or snuggle up!) next to a little fire. Below the tide line, of course.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-87439237294515523742011-10-05T04:09:00.000-04:002011-10-05T04:09:54.655-04:00consumer reportBeach chairs: an important aspect of your Ocracoke Island vacation. Beware frugality when making this purchase. the cheap steel ones with plasticky fabric end up rusted, collapsed and useless after one summer's use. Invest the extra $20 or $30 for an adjustable aluminum chair that you can comfortably lounge in year after year. I recommend the Rio brand. That's all.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-84386529640542965162011-10-03T06:01:00.000-04:002011-10-03T06:01:52.528-04:00Welcome!I've discovered the next Ocracoke! Inadvertently, in the way many good things happen when traveling. We walked across the border between Turkey and Bulgaria, a major border between the EU and land routes to Asia. There were dozens of tractor trailers lined up, but we were waved right through with barely a glance. The only possible contraband in my backpack was a kilo of salty sheeps milk cheese.<br />
All along the highway into the border town where we planned to catch a bus, blackberries were ripening. In the 1980s, Mary Fulcher and I spent happy days harvesting blackberries from the brambles on vacant lots around Ocracoke. Then we'd sell our harvest to the restaurant John and Debbie Wells ran, where Dajio is now. <br />
We were stopped at the edge of town by a bored border guard, who sees little foot traffic. He spoke good English, and asked where we were planning to visit. Well, we said, quiet villages and places to do some hiking. Petr recommended Mezek, which fits the bill perfectly. Bus service is infrequent, so he called a friend, who picked us up (for free!). Our rented house is snug and sunny, fantastically clean, and has great views over the valley. <br />
All I can hear is birdsong and the occasional tractor passing. All I see are the red tiled roofs and gardens of village houses. Yesterday afternoon the restaurant next to the cottages filled up with Greek families taking a drive across the border through the Rhodope mountains, a jolly band of motorcyclists, and dressed up Bulgarian couples enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon. It was quite lively, and convivial. <br />
Everyone in the village of 300 people seems to know there are Americans in town. It makes me think of what Ocracoke must have been like years ago. In the evenings we go to the only grocery store, one small room with basic provisions, and join the locals sitting at cafe tables outside. We've been given fruit and vegetables from local gardens, and a jar of honey harvested from a backyard hive. <br />
This afternoon I may walk down to the Thracian tombs on the outskirts, or I may continue to sit here in the sunshine, a relaxed, warmly wleomed, and happy vacationer.Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-63548051488414311102011-09-24T12:12:00.000-04:002011-09-24T12:12:36.706-04:00The high seasTomorrow will be my third ferry ride in as many days, heading to an island in the Aegean for a few days of beach camping, and hopefully, sunshine. Turkish ferries are privatized, and I spent a chunk of my daily budget to cross the sea of Marmara on a fast boat rather than riding around it on a slow bus ($25 to walk on, $100 per vehicle). Let's all take a moment to silently thank the NCDOT for affordable access to Ocracoke Island. <br />
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I found myself wondering it's always this windy in Turkey, before I remembered that, yes, it's windy by the sea, and no, it's not always <i>this</i> windy. I love being a tourist!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-23433112609410254052011-09-21T04:00:00.000-04:002011-09-21T04:00:47.352-04:00Kebabs and kittensOcracoke has feral cats; Istanbul has more. They're kind of like the monkeys in SE Asia, clamoring over rooftops and scampering along the streets. Cats, of course, are elegant rather than impish. I haven't yet learned what Turkish cats say, but they don't respond to "kitty kitty kitty.". <br />
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We found a lovely guesthouse in the heart of the tourist district, between the Blue Mosque and the Bosphorus. I appreciate the balmy nights and great hospitality and eating olives for breakfast. <br />
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If anyone has news from Ocracoke, please share!Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7324209230550523846.post-69521902780289878662011-09-09T18:53:00.000-04:002011-09-09T18:53:07.982-04:00late summer eveningsMusic is drifting in from Dajio's, and the weather is wonderful here on Ocracoke. Come take advantage of having this quiet time. Rental cottages are ready to be booked!<br />
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Locals are working together to donate goods to people who suffered flooding in Hurricane Irene. Leslie offered a discount at Books to be Red when a donation was made for relief. Daphne is using the loading deck at the Back Porch Restaurant to amass sheets, cleaning supplies, toiletries and clothes in good shape to assist those in need. <br />
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There have been some early lay offs at island restaurants, and tonight I will attend my second going away party. Blue Heron Vacationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01556349750321366534noreply@blogger.com1