Ten Reasons Why We Love Christmas on the Island

Like David Letterman (who also owns a house here, btw), I, too, have a Top Ten List.

Since I've been busy with holiday preparations, I haven't had time to post regularly.
But.
That doesn't mean I'm not scouting the Best and Brightest of Christmas on the Island for your viewing pleasure. :)

So.
Here goes:
Drum Roll Please!
Top Ten Reasons Why We Love Christmas on the Island

10. Skating on Old Seth's Pond.


9. Driving to the top of Peaked Hill at night, the highest spot on the Vineyard, on an especially cold night to see the stars displayed overhead - it really is like diamonds in the sky. :) No light pollution.

8. Seeing the Christmas Parade in Edgartown, during the Christmas in Edgartown week-end.
Have Hot Cider or Hard Cider, lol, afterward at The Newes Pub, Edgartown. Explore all the open houses and the retail shops open when you've warmed up. Head over to the Harbor View Hotel to see the Teddy Bear Room and watch with glee when they flip the switch to light up the Edgartown Lighthouse holiday lights. OOOO! Ahhhh.

7. Making a Christmas Wreath at Donorama Garden and Landscaping. Think Martha Stewart Meets New England Country. (So cool, but kinda pricey, so we only do it every so often)

6. Seeing the many ways Santa arrives on-island - on the boat, in a fire engine, on a float, in his sleigh. He's a busy guy here. :)

Tim Johnson for MVTimes

Tim Johnson for MVTimes

5. On three separate nights, grabbing a quick bite to eat in a different village town here, and driving down Main Street to see the lights. It's amazing what you can do with Twinkle!

Gatchells

4. Driving over to see niece Julie Megan's Christmas Lights display in her front yard! Honestly! It's really cool! (Winyah Lane - Vineyard Haven) And with music! 

Then going to see her competitor, The Gatchell House, in Oak Bluffs, depositing cans of food for charity in the barrel at the end of the circular drive.

3.Attending Christmas Eve Candlelight Service in the massive old Whaling Church in Edgartown, then hope you see carolers along the way home. They're there; you just have to look for them. Really!








2. Drive down Edgartown's Main Street late at night, in the snow - it's a virtual snowglobe!

1. And the #1 Reason Why We Love Christmas on the Island? Noo, it's not cookies!
It's a time when we gather family and friends near to celebration the most wonderful time of the year!

Happy Christmas from Lucy and Meatball, niece Stephanie's dogs

And from Rescue Pup Neela, too!

Have a Merry and Bright One. :)

Finished Object (FO) Friday: For Your Christmas Shopping Pleasure - Shop Local

Tada.
All done.
My hats and wrist warmers are all done, and ready for sale at the Artisan's Show - Chappy Room, The Newes Pub.

If anyone else is interested, I will be starting up an online store soon for my knitted goods on Etsy.com. But in the meantime, these sets are available - in 9 colors - for $38 + shipping. Sold separately, $20 each + shipping.

Colors available:
Goldfinch - antiqued yellow
Mushroom - heathered brown
Winesap - muted red
Rosa Rugosa - muted fuchsia/lipstick pink
Pomegranate - muted rosy pink
Clay - muted salmon/pink
Lichen - mossy green
Cypress - deep forest green
Peacock - deep teal blue

You can email me at: inky077mvy@gmail.com for further information.

I used a wonderful yarn to create these handmade items from a regional source - New England-based yarn company in Portland, Maine: Quince & Co. Quince is a company I would like to work for! Pam Allen, CEO, answers the phone, packs the goods and even helps out a little old knitter like me when she orders a whole box of the wrong weight yarn. This is a small, creative company, regionally located to serve the needs of fiber artists who want a quality product at a fair price with beautiful colors, all within their geographical region. Their patterns are inventive, and their customer service outstanding. Look them up: Quince & Co.


Have a warm and cheery one. :)

Locally Grown and Proud of It: Yeehaw!

Ahem.
We have a big announcement to make.
Actually two.

1.  Andy (our son) and Jenna, eloped to Vermont in June! Those crazy kids just couldn't wait to get married and start a life together. :) (mum was the word till we figured out insurance coverage, sheesh!)

2. Andy and Jenna have recently announced they have started another collaboration of sorts, lol - something locally grown... they are expecting! Splash down? July 1st -ish.

3. Neela, the Rescue Pup is going to be a big Sister lol!

No more wash-ashores for us.
There's a new fish on the hook, and we are reeling it in. :)

So, this is actually a good time to also tell you about the original Island Grown Initiative here.
This non-profit "grows community through sustainable agriculture, local food advocacy and education."

We like this: trying to increase the supply and demand of local grown food for community health and the environment (like it says in the literature!). Read more about it here.

What does this mean for us?

It means we can get organic milk in old-school glass bottles from Gray Barn Farm.
It means I buy wool yarn spun from Liz Packer's sheep on Spring Moon Farm.
It means buying freshly-made gluten-free bread from the Scottish Bakehouse, or getting smoothies from Tisberry Yogurt with Mermaid Farm yogurt.

And it sometimes means spending a little bit more for a product that is in many ways healthier for us and our environment.

Each community could take a lesson from this inventive island program. Why not get behind the small, local business owners and support your community?

Why not use local resources to get what you want and know where it's coming from?
Why not teach the kids in your community how to eat right and even try their hands at growing food for themselves and their families?

What's not to like about that?

Being a member of an Island Grown food resource (Andy is fishing commercially), we want more than anything to be part of a growing concern that gives back to the community and to have fun in the process.

So when our little fish arrives, we will be happy to proclaim on many fronts, "Island Grown and Proud of It!"

I'm sure this will be just the first of many mayhem-filled posts from Grammy, so stay tuned!

Kiss your kids, eat good, locally grown food and have a good one. :)