June 25, 2006

Dear Friends and Family,
Let's start off first with the technical difficulties. The mistakes and odd markings are simply a result of an old laptop (mine to be exact) not being able to hook up to the system here on the island. I was very disappointed after the passage was sent out, but there is just nothing that can be done about it short of buying a new laptop! I can check and write single emails on Philip’s computer, but not these long narratives sent from somewhere in the Atlantic. Please send all notes to my original Locketoftime@aol.com. Thank you for your patience! You can also check out my blog site on my websiteâ€|I am trying to keep it up dailyâ€|well, almost! You can also check Philip’s blog site, www.Villagecraftsmen.com and go to the daily journal. That one seems to be a more reliable source of our summer!!

For this week I have decided to share with you a glimpse into the cottageâ€|a snapshot picture for you, in words, or course.

My Summer Home
Quaint. Small. Charming. Beautiful.

Come with me on the Ferry for the ride either across the Pamlico Sound from the coast of North Carolina or down the Outer Banks across the Hatteras Inlet. Bring your car along, if you like, but please don’t stay in your car, the beauty is stunning.

The Ferry Ride
Take Photos. Feed the Seagulls. Breathe.

The sea will glisten like diamonds or take on the color of gun metal grey depending on the weather and approaching storms. If it is foggy or windy or Hurricane like, be prepared to sleep in your vehicle as the Ferries won’t run. Always carry pillows, blankets, and snacks. (M and M’s are good.)

Once approaching the island, your will immediately be drawn into it’s beauty. Of course, depending on which Ferry you take, it will determine how to get to Philip’s. Let’s say you have come from the North Carolina shoreâ€|just get off the Ferry and follow the road, somehow you will find us. A bit vague? We don’t really have an address so I can’t help you out there!
The cottage is surrounded by a hand-crafted picket fence (by Philip, of course!)â€|it is not painted white yet, but it will be. (Hmmmmmâ€|another summer job?) Come on in the gate, pause, look straight ahead at the past, the present and the future. Feel the sand and clam shells under your foot (Yes, please remove your shoes for the full effect!)

The cottage was built in 1865 by Thomas Bragg who had high hopes of getting married and bringing a bride homeâ€|alas, alasâ€|for whatever reasons, he did not marry, moved back in with his parents. The house was sold to James and Zilphia Howard and they gave it to their son, Homer and his bride, Miss Aliph as their wedding gift. (Just a bit of history!)

The Pizer
Porch. Deck. Patio. Stoop. Piazza

Step up onto the pizer, swing on your right, two rocking chairs and a small wooded table with a kerosene lamp on your left. Come on inside, the door isn’t locked.

Welcome.
It’s lovely, isn’t it? Notice all the walls are white bead boardâ€|the windows are all original two over two. Most of the floors are original wood as well. Yes, I know, it is shady and cool and the shadows of the yaupons and live oaks dance upon the old floors.

To your right is a small bedroom and bath (Yes, we have modern conveniences, plumbingâ€|isn’t life great?) The only closet in the entire house (1100 square feet) is in that bedroomâ€|it is large enough for the vacuum cleaner and Philip’s long sleeved shirts. The other ‘hang up’ clothes are in a small chiffarobe upstairs. (Luckily we don’t have many clothes!!)
The kitchen in my favorite..two lovely tables..one for dining with company (we will do that when you visit)â€|and the other for our every day useâ€|writing, cooking, dining. All the utensils we need are hung (limited cupboard space here as well!) Notice there is no dishwasher or garbage disposal or any of those itemsâ€|but again, there is plumbing, and I often think of Miss Aliph and how she would have loved this hot and cold phenomenon.

A narrow enclosed staircase takes you upstairs to our bedroom and bath. Again, all beadboard and wooden floors. Two tiny windows are on the floor level. Philip remembers as a child sprawling on the floor listening to the adult conversation on the pizer.

Also notice at this point lack of television or electronic equipmentâ€|but did you see our cribbage board and stacks of books?

Evenings
Sunsets on the Pizer. Cribbage at the Kitchen Table. Dancing.

Come on out through the back doorâ€|a wonderful, huge screened in porch. We spend lots of time here. The hammock is Philip’sâ€|he takes his daily nap there falling asleep with a book in his hand. The perimeter is strung with colorful twinkle lightsâ€|we share our meals when the weather isn’t too hot or too cold at the small table with chairs and another kerosene lantern.
We aren’t quite finished, out the back door is the wash house (still is, only we are automatic appliances out there)â€|and the outdoor shower to the right. It is probably the most dramatic on the island, or anywhere? It is adorned with a stained glass window that opens onto the yaupon grove. There are wooden shelves for shampoo and island crafted soap, hooks for towels and the sky as the canopy.

Next week I will take you to meet some of our colorful friends.
As with each weekâ€|.we workâ€|we tell storiesâ€|we walk the beach..we are glad it is today.
In other news, all three of my sons left for Honduras yesterday for a brother’s retreat. I love knowing my sons have each other and have such a deep love for one another. Thanks to the wonderful wives who also understand this and keep the home fires burning!

And now the evening calls us out for music and soft breezes at the Jolly Rogerâ€|
Love to all,
Lou Ann

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