The Bay

It is the bay that gives the island it's special character - makes it a different sort of sea coast. We have water on all sides, not just the to the east. And I have to admit that when all is said and done I am a bay person. I love the ocean views, the dunes, the waves, the sun rises - but it is the bay view that truly nourishes my spirit. As I come through these grasslands, arriving at or leaving the island, I find myself smiling and relaxing no matter what I had in my head or heart a few minutes ago. And so my farewell views of the island will be these of the winter grasses against the bay. I find it impossible to faithfully capture them either on film or in paint - and they have completely escaped any expression in glass. The light, the shades of grasses, water and sky need to be seen and breathed in without any translation. I wish that we may all have that opportunity in the near future.

The Docks

No good-bye tour would be complete without a stop at the docks. Boats - pleasure, fishing, scallopers... are such a part of Barnegat Light that sometimes you forget how wonderful they are.

The longer you are here the more the marinas and docks become just normal surroundings.
But as we prepare to leave they recover their specialness - sights I know I won't see exactly in the same way anywhere else.

The Nature Trail -

We took a solitary walk along the nature trail in the park. The views out over the beach heather towards the ocean were icy and windy, but the part of the trail that dips down into the forest was protected - although I wouldn't go as far as to call it warm. It seemed as if we were miles from anywhere, and then we could look up and see the parking lot or other parts of the park through the bare winter trees. And of course, there was the lighthouse high above us.

A Day for Good-byes

The morning of my birthday was sunny and COLD. But it was a perfect day for revisiting favorite sites and taking a few last pictures. First we went to the Lighthouse - so different now than in the summer, and different yet from the crowded scene when we were last here for the relighting. Today there was no one here but us. The parking lot was empty. Ceci did a quick tour and then retired to the warmth of the car, but Luis and I walked the whole park. The lighthouse never changes, but yet always seems new. No matter how many pictures you have of it, every time you come you take another. And I enjoy looking at them all.

It's Snowing -

It's not like it never snows here - it does. It just doesn't tend to stick around for very long in our salty humid air, warmed by that same ocean that cools us in the summer. So views of the house and neighborhood dressed in white are a treat.

Under a New Light -

On the afternoon of January 1st everyone in Barnegat Light - and most of the surrounding county with their children and pets - seemed to be heading for the lighthouse. After years of darkness, Barnegat Lighthouse was refitted with a new (smaller, but adequate) Fresnel lens. We're back on the nautical charts!!

We walked up to the lighthouse in the freezing air, leaving the car at Kubel's because we couldn't find a spot any closer. The media was there along with everyone else, waiting for the beacon to appear. As it turned out we ended up walking back and watching the first light from Kubel's parking lot as we weren't able to get close enough to the base of the lighthouse to enjoy the ceremony - and because we could then jump right into the warmth (and craziness) as soon as the act was accomplished. And it was crazy. We decided to go back to the house for a while and come in for dinner when things calmed down.

As all the cars started to head back out we were part of the first traffic jam I've ever seen in Barnegat Light. I can happily go another 50 years without seeing another.

Congratulations to Old Barney! May you continue to watch over generations to come and be part of their memories as you will always be part of ours.

Happy New Year!!

New Year's Eve at Kubel's has become a family tradition over the past few years. Changing circumstances may make this the last for a while, but that only made it dearer. We rang in 2009 with old friends and new, locals and guests, in the familiar warmth and welcome - and with the traditional headgear - that has become so familiar to us all. We wish a Happy 2009 to one and all wherever it may find us.

An Island Christmas

We return to the island in winter. We've spent many a Christmas here before, and this time we come with a group of friends, 11 in all, to help warm the holidays. The scenery is quite different from the summer months I've posted here before, both outside and indoors. The bay is not quite as inviting, but the holly trees have donned their festive wardrobe to welcome us.

Our anticipation of the addition of a new family member this coming year makes the celebrations all that brighter. This is her (his?) first Christmas on the island! We can't wait to share all the pictures of "Mom" and family in this same setting over the years and tell stories of Christmases past as we add new pages to our albums for the next generation.

Ceci's Garden

Ceci (the same one who has let my violet's dry up each time I return to Maracaibo) greeted me this year with the idea of a flower garden on her deck. We put together a mix of flowers and herbs to please us both - she has a pretty flower garden and I get to potter around and cook with my fresh herbs.

I insisted on a geranium. They are so dependable and forgiving. My grandfather used to keep geranium "trees" in his green house all winter. When I first went away to college he gave my my own geranium tree for my dorm room. Ours was a bit sparse when we bought it, but has adapted well to potted bliss.

We also have a begonia, which is bursting out of its container, some struggling snap dragons, and other decorative species.

But my babies are the herbs. The basil, lemon basil and rosemary I rooted from cuttings given to me (Thanks Toni!). We bought the parsley and chive plants. The chives are now occupying my abandoned violet pot. They give me something to nurture and harvest for soups and sauces, and since I am deep into Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, it also makes me feel a bit closer to local sustinance. The Jersey tomatoes (Diane has gifted us several delicious heirlooms), corn and peaches, combined with the local seafood make me feel somewhat satisfied with my localized eating. And I'm sure my balcony herbs are properly stressed, growing over a busy (relatively speaking - we are on an Island after all) traffic light without any pesticides.

Storm Rising

The collision of hot and cold air masses gave rise to one of the most spectacular storm fronts that I have seen. The ultimate result was heavy rain, hail and wind, but the coming attractions were exciting. The sky between the dark clouds was often almost turquoise, and the effects in the clouds resembled sand paintings. In short it was close to undescribable and the pictures don't quite catch to total splendor.
We had thought to have lunch at a bayside restaurant, but our plans were abbreviated by the impending storm. We sat and had a beer as we watched it arrived, then dashed back to the dock and shelter.