Posts filed under 'Onancock'
Here are some better close-up photos of Christmas decorations at my house. Onancock Christmas Homes Tour today, 2-6.
Christmas wreath on my front door. Very nice wreath sold by the OBCA this year.
Second wreath on the wall of the porch.
Partridge in a pear tree ornament holder.
The famous gumdrop tree, fruitcake from our town’s Corner Bakery, and Peppermint Bark Shortbread balls (”bite size hand cut pieces of shortbread drenched in dark chocolate then again in peppermint bark coating speckled with red candy pieces”) purchased at the North Street Gourmet Market downtown.
My “craft project” - a branch cut from a tree in my yard, stuck into a flowerpot full of sand, with 3 dove ornaments clipped to the branches. Instant modern Christmas decoration. Peace!
December 8th, 2007
Our town’s volunteer fire department used to put on a big (really) fireworks display, but that tradition ended two years ago. People really miss it, but we have other nice small-town ways to celebrate … and something totally unexpected last night.
On Tuesday evening, the ice cream social (free ice cream!) and community band concert at the town square drew a couple hundred happy folks. Wednesday morning there was the traditional non-motorized 4th of July parade (featuring decorated bikes, etc.) in nearby Accomac. After the parade everyone gathered on the historic town green for a reading of the Declaration of Independence, popsicles and another community concert. The county library in Accomac also held a book sale.
We had a cookout at my mother’s house in Onancock, and when it got dark my sister set-off some fireworks on the front lawn.
That’s when the unexpected fireworks started. A block away, down by the creek, a group gathered and set off some nice ground fireworks and some good aerial ones too. Over by the school, somebody shot off quite a few large professional-type aerial rocket fireworks. A restaurant at the wharf put on an impressive display. And when I got home, a few people were shooting good-sized aerial fireworks from the empty carnival grounds parking lot next door. Cool.
Fireworks everywhere in a town that wasn’t supposed to have any! Kudos to everyone who celebrated Independence Day by making a little noise.
July 5th, 2007
I put up my flag just in time. Our town’s “ice cream social” (featuring a concert by the community band) is tonight on the town green. I hope you enjoy the celebrations wherever you are.
July 3rd, 2007
Everyone else is doing it … so here’s my house covered in snow. Yes, snow in coastal Virginia in April. About 3 inches, which is a lot for us.
These pics are from a week ago. The current northeaster storm is just bringing us rain and wind. Lots and lots of wind.
Okay, you’ve seen lots of photos of houses and snow over the last two weeks. But have you seen a photo of the carnival-next-door in snow? No. No, you have not. So there.
April 16th, 2007
The annual Onancock Christmas Homes Tour is this Saturday, the 9th, 2:00 to 6:00 pm. 8 homes in town are on the tour, including historic Kerr Place, built in 1800. Most of the other homes are Victorians from the turn of the century, but one is (maybe) the oldest house in town. Tickets are $15 per person, with all proceeds going to charity. You can buy tickets the day of the event at Kerr Place (Google map).
On Saturday there will also be a free concert of Christmas music at historic Cokesbury Church in Onancock, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. The roof of this church blew off earlier this year, but it’s now better than ever. The metal roof has been replaced with a historically accurate cedar roof that looks great.
If you’re within driving distance of Onancock, Virginia you should consider taking advantage of these holiday events. Great for anyone who likes to look at houses.
Onancock is a “quaint” tiny waterfront town on the rural Eastern Shore of Virginia. Make a day of it by eating at one of our restaurants (we’ve got 7) and doing some Christmas shopping at the unique shops in town. Stay overnight at one of the bed & breakfasts or the Charlotte Hotel.
My unfinished house obviously isn’t on the tour — but it probably will be next year.
December 5th, 2006
The local newspaper reports that the Onancock Carnival’s rides and buildings will be sold and moved very soon. It’s too bad … I was looking forward to looking out over the peaceful carnival grounds from my new home. (The carnival grounds are my next-door neighbor — and it only operates for a few weeks a year).
I took advantage of a sunny day to get a few final photos.
PS - a crew insulated my house Friday. It was a very interesting process and I’ll post a description and photos soon.
October 1st, 2006
Well, the weather forecasters got that one wrong. They predicted we’d get a lot of rain but little wind from Ernesto here on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Instead we got gusts of up to 60 mph, along with 7 inches of rain. Count ‘em 7.
The wind blew the metal roof off the historic Cokesbury Church in Onancock, but the tar-paper on my roof stayed put. Go figure.
A tiny bit of rain blew in the cracks of my unfinished house. But the plumbers let more water in. They actually tried to work on Friday during the storm, and dragged my tub into the house. Naturally some water was dragged in too. They also opened the upstairs patio door (for ventilation?) and some rain blew in there too.
I hate sub-contractors.
September 3rd, 2006
I got to the house early this morning. The sun was already bright and turning the water from last night’s thunderstorm into steam. Here’s the view of the house from the east — looks like it’s out in the middle of nowhere, but it’s actually close to the center of town –
The Onancock Carnival (my next door neighbor) should be open this time of year, but it’s not and it never will be again. Soon to be just another subdivision.
We finished framing the gable end walls today and began on the bathroom/kitchen wing roof. That will be the last of the framing (yeah!) and sometime in the next few days we hope to gather a few people for a “sheathing party” to get this thing covered in plywood (hint hint).
June 21st, 2006
Spring is beautiful in Onancock … colorful plants are blooming everywhere. Bright yellow forsythia are putting on a show right now. I’ll have at least one forsythia in my new yard. It will add early spring color and fit right in with the Japanese garden theme I have planned.
March 31st, 2006
Welcome to my home building diary. Follow along as we progress from a vacant lot to a finished small house.
My property is a quarter-acre in the tiny town of Onancock on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It was unique in that the carnival grounds are my next door neighbor … but the carnival is going to be sold to make room for more homes. It will still be a nice neighorhood.
We staked out the lot and put up batter boards on March 16. Groundbreaking was March 20. No, there was not a ceremony. We finished digging most of the footers (by hand) on March 23.
March 24th, 2006
