Thursday, December 27, 2007

Local Food on the Shore and where to find it!

I just finished reading Animal, Vegetable, and Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and found it to be a thought provoking, easy to read book about eating local foods. I have been trying to do at least a few of the things Barbara's family tried in the book, and was thrilled to see an article in the Eastern Shore News about a local food group that is forming on the Shore! If you'd like to discover the pure joy of eating fresh, local food, made by real people you can actually talk to, then go to the Eastern Shore Local Food Project. Their website contains links to some of my favorite places to shop on the shore (a must shop stop is Herbal Instincts in Onancock--I'll have to do an entire blog entry on this lovely shop) as well as links to some of the local wineries! If you'd like to try a bottle of locally produced wine, then you must go to Chatham Vineyards, and try their wines. I'm no wine expert, but I do know a great tasting wine when I sip one, and their wines are a delight. Chatham Vineyards is only 10 minutes away from our Smith Beach cottages, and the ride there takes you off the main drag, and onto one of the prettiest drives up the shore! The vineyard and the grounds of the estate are breathtaking!

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Even the dogs enjoy Smith Beach!


I thought I'd post this really cute picture of our Lab, Trigger, in our Smith Beach cottage! Smith Beach is a perfect beach to walk your dog for miles--and our neighbors are very dog friendly. Renters of our cottages are welcome to bring their family pets with them for the week--we do ask that the dogs be house-trained, have current vaccinations, be on a flea control program, and that they be walked on a leash while walking them around the neighborhood. We understand that it is difficult for some folks to vacation without their pets-so our renters are welcome to bring a dog. Remember you are responsible to repair damage caused by your pet.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Daddy's Money at Smith Beach near Eastville, Virginia

We have two cottages we are renting at Smith Beach, near Eastville, Virginia. How we ended up with two cottages is a long story--Daddy's Money was our first cottage. Then we built a cottage down the beach on The Gulf--and fell in love with it. So now we have two, and we will be renting Daddy's Money on a weekly basis (and nightly if it is available). Our other cottage, School's Out, will be available on a limited basis--it is the cottage we stay in now when we are over, and we are only renting it out enough to pay the bills!

My husband came to Smith Beach with his family in the late 1960s. They started renting a cottage, but soon bought one on the bayside that they named The Doctor's Office. This is a really quaint cottage right on the bay, and it is now available for weekly rental. My sister-in-law also bought a cottage on Smith Beach--so all in all, our family has 4 cottages on Smith Beach--a testament to our love of the beach.

Smith Beach has the widest, most amazing beach on the Eastern Shore. This beach is available to residents and Smith Beach cottage guests only. Smith Beach also has a private boat ramp for guests and residents only. Smith Beach is THE place to go for a quiet, family oriented vacation. My children have grown up swimming in the bay and playing on the beach. We also love to kayak the Gulf, and fish in the bay.

To see more about our cottages go to : http://esva47.googlepages.com/