The Castle on Silver Lake, Ocracoke, North Carolina

Holiday Lights on Ocracoke Island

2011-12-19T09:53:00.003-05:00

Holiday Lights

Well Ocracoke has wasted no time in dressing up for the holidays. I have a feeling per capita – there are more lights per resident than any town in America. They are lights, and decorations everywhere. The town has these really pretty light figures and shapes that hang throughout the village on various power poles. There are angles, snowflakes, candy canes lining the streets wherever you go. Businesses are lit up – even places that are closed get into the season and dress themselves up right. The Ocracoke Preservation Society Christmas tree at the museum is quite spectacular, But the best to me are the houses. Yes, like all holidays – Ocracokers take pride in dressing for the Occasion. There are sleighs, reindeer, and Santas aglow. Each street seems to try and out do the next. I took a scud about the other night and was quite happy to see the sights. I wouldn’t want to judge any contests – but I will say the boat pulled by snow geese in flight on Lighthouse Rd. is one of my favorites.

Of course the Castle is decked to the nines. I don’t know how they do it, but each year it just looks better and better. I don’t think there is a spot not decorated in my old home, I actually never lived there, but considered it my home anyway. I have never seen such a collection of Christmas cheer. There are five beautiful hand made wreaths that hang out front that are made by local island artists. These ladies have been doing these for years with greenery they collect here on Ocracoke. The whole town is sporting them and looking very festive.

The Castle is hosting the employee Christmas Party for OIR and Castle employees. Sherry from Gaffers is doing food and of course Ronnie has been baking up a storm so the food looks well covered. Jose is DJing and promises to get folks up dancing. Now for some of those ladies – it doesn’t take much. Course I’m hoping they will remember to do my favorite – the Hokey Pokey. I’ll let you know if they do – and if anyone gets a little too festive. You know how those staff parties can be! You should see the wish list the Castle folks pinned on Santa. I swear those folks are sometimes just too funny.

If you are wanting to come down and enjoy the island this winter – you can stay in one of the Villas. They are open all year and provide a homey warm spot to return after a day of Ocracoke adventure. The Castle is closed until Valentines Day when they open for a Valentines special - I’ll let you know more about that soon. The Castle reopens February 17th. So start making your plans. I’ll be happy to have more folks visiting – gets a little quiet even for an old spirit like myself in the off season.

I hope it is festive where you are. Here’s wishing you and yours a Happy Holiday.

Spirit of Sam Jones

It Just Can't Get Much Better

2011-11-14T16:38:00.001-05:00

It just can’t get much better...

I know I always say how wonderful it is here on Ocracoke Island – but it really can’t get much better. It is mid November - sunny, warm (70ish), not windy, the fish are biting, the ocean is gorgeous, the beach isn’t crowded, town is quiet, still many resteraunts and stores open, good music a couple nights a week…. not sure one can rightfully ask for much more. The town has quieted down from the Halloween marathon. Someone called this the town that likes to dress up and I second that thought. For days and nights and even into the next week folks were strutting their stuff in various costumes. It was spectacular, ending in a great spook walk sponsored by the Beta Club at Ocracoke School to raise money for the PTA. It is an annual event that is always so creative, spooky, clever, and just darn good fun.

Thanksgiving is coming up and folks are preparing. Overheard someone at the Coffee Shop talking about cooking for 44 – now that is some turkey and dressing. Lots of folks come to the island for the holiday and it is really a good time. If it is as nice as this weather-wise – we will really be in for a treat. Nothing like a nice walk on the beach or bike ride around town after that T’day dinner has settled a bit. There is a great concert on Friday, November 25th, featuring Ocracoke’s own famous band, Molasses Creek. This fundraiser for the Ocrafolk Festival is at the Deepwater Theater on School House Rd. and starts at 7 pm. Although you won’t see me (due to me in the spirithood phase of my life) I’ll be there, taping my foot with a big smile on my face as it is always a mighty fine concert.

I am trying to get more of a grip on this internet thing and some of it is amazing. Try this link to see some great pictures of Ocracoke in 1930, 1940 and 1950. http://www.flickr.com/photos/obhc/4032890544/in/set-72157622634247818/

There are even a couple pictures of me. Yes the one of me and my horse Ikey D in the Castle parlor is there. I loved that horse and I did let him in the Castle – still would if he was around. He was well behaved and loved to hear the piano as much as I did. Sure glad they named a room in the Castle after us. Sam and Ikey D’s – a fine room it is and even has a great view of Silver Lake Harbor across the street.
Speaking of the Castle, they are having a Veterans Special for the whole month of November. Military Appreciation Month is offering a few specials to choose from and the chance to win a free stay for two at the Castle. All active duty and or Veterans are eligible to participate. Stay for three nights and the fourth night is free, 15% off two or three night stays (10% off one nighters), and all military guests who stay during November are entered into a drawing at the end of the month for a free three night stay at the Castle. I may even see someone I know! Of course that delicious breakfast they cook everyday is included. I hope anyone who has ever served our great country gives us a call and arranges a visit. I’ll be here, quiet as a mouse, enjoying the fun, good smells and all the laughs.

Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

Spooks and Spirits

2011-10-14T15:56:00.004-04:00

The season is upon us. Ocracoke celebrates Halloween like no where else – anywhere, ever. The pumpkins are starting to sprout about the village, a few yards are filling with decorations, and the events are being announced. Seems like Ocracoke has had a long time love affair with Halloween. It is probably one of the few communities that still host a school carnival and most folks come out for the fun and to support the school. This year will be no exception. Friday, October 28 the festivities begin with the costume parade around the school flag pool at 3:30. This is always a fun time as the students show off their costumes which are not the usual Halloween garb mostly seen across the country. Ocracoke doesn’t have any big box stores that sell “ready made outfits”. Instead folks make their costumes. Moms and Dads dress the small ones, with much pride. The costumes range from a sheet made into a cute little ghost, an elaborate creative affair, to a hand me down from an older sibling. Pets are often accessories – dogs become cows or ponies. Prizes that are donated by local businesses are awarded by age group. Ask any student, an ice cream cone never tasted as good as a one that is won.

After the parade the school opens the doors to step back in time. A school carnival that could be seen on an old Andy Griffith show becomes alive. The old gymnasium is full of booths that challenge your skills. A favorite is pitching the fish (pillows) into laundry baskets – just like the fisherman men still do (well maybe they don’t toss from 10 feet or so, but the same idea of fish in baskets). There is a spot to pound the nail in the hard hard wood, a quarter toss, a go fish booth, a basketball toss, and even tattoos and fortune telling. The games charge a ticket or two, equaling a quarter to fifty cents. And of course my all time favorite is the bake sale. These Ocracokers take their bake sales serious – so many mighty fine sweets are to be found here. Some years folks are recruited to raise money – as in a few years ago – folks were sat in a wheel chair and given a bed pan to wheel around begging for donations to “release them” from their capture. Of course the pie throw is always a favorite, and then to really sweeten the evening, a cake walk follows the carnival. I’m not talking Pillsbury out of the box (although nothing wrong with that…) but I’m talking homemade delicious gourmet delights. Mmmmmm good.
This year, Saturday night, October 29 the Pub and Gaffers are both hosting a Halloween Party. Now talk about some fun outrageous costumes. I think some folks start planning and working on their costumes in July. And as I said before – these are homemade creative fun statements. I can’t wait.

Amongst all this fun, the youngsters also trick or treat on Halloween evening around the lighthouse area of the village. The Castle is a highlight for treats – and tricks. The place is decorated to the hilt and some fine sweets are in abundance. The kids seem to enjoy this almost as much as the staff enjoys doing it. I’ve heard those fun ladies that work at the Castle discussing different plans – so can’t wait to see what all occurs.

Make sure you make your plans to come join us at the Castle. If you live near by, stop by for some fun or if you live off island – plan to come spend a night or two. A spirit like me won’t scare you – I promise. You won’t even know I’m around – but I’ll miss you if you aren’t here. Just watch out for the spooks!

Spirit of Sam Jones

Blown but Not Battered

2011-09-30T10:14:00.002-04:00

Blown but Not Battered

Sorry it has been awhile since I wrote, but time has just slipped away. Hurricane Irene is old news now, but we are definitely still feeling the aftermath.

Ocracoke fared well with little damage (mainly trees down and some roofs damaged) but somehow we dodged the big bullet of flooding. The Castle held tight – just as I hoped when I built her. Of course there are always a couple of little leaks here and there – almost 60 yrs. old – what do you expect? The wind gusted at 100 mph and probably 70 – 90 mph for the rest of the 24 hour period. Gosh, this one seemed like it lasted forever. I do have to say that it was quiet as could be inside the Castle. Didn’t really hear the wind blowing until you tried opening the porch doors. I was very proud of the old homestead! Wondered if Irene was here to stay. Ready to book her a reservation! But luckily Sunday morning it quieted down – no rain, no wind, just quit! Ocracoke looked pretty good considering what she had been through.

After a week or so of sawing down broken limbs, hauling debris to the dump, repairing roofs, and a good general clean-up the electricity was restored to the Island and guests were welcomed back. It is still a little slow, as folks can only arrive from the south and the west on as we say the “big ferries”. Unfortunately Hwy 12 took a big hit with four breaks north of us, so travel from that direction is suspended for a couple of more weeks. A temporary bridge is being built so traffic should start to flow again soon, we hope!

And what does this mean for you? Of course it means that it’s a great time of year to come for a visit. The temperatures are quite pleasant, quiet days, beautiful ocean, and business folks are extra happy to see you!!! Of course there is still the music to enjoy. In fact, I went over to an art opening of Ms Kitty who is a very talented lady. With both art and music. Down Creek Gallery always has this kind of thing going! As an extra treat her daughter Katy sang and played some music and was enjoyed by all. She sings a song called “Clam Bake” that always makes me smile. Ms Kitty’s art will be displayed for a while if you want to take a gander. Deep Water Theater also is holding shows that continue to the end of the month with locals getting in free. We call that fine hospitality!

So, we were blown but not broken. Our hearts go out to our northern neighbors in the Outer Banks – some who lost everything. As usual, Ocracokers, and others have been very generous in sending some needed supplies.

The Castle is spiffed up and I’ll be waiting for your visit, while I smell those cookies coming out of the oven. Hope to see you soon!

School is starting for Ocracoke! Wish I was going!

2011-08-22T10:50:00.000-04:00

August 25 is the first day of classes for students on Ocracoke Island. Even though most of the students will tell you they love summer, I think many are also ready for school to start. As most things on this island, at least to me, Ocracoke School is an incredible place. Most of the students really like school. I know this is a surprise but Ocracoke has an amazing group of teachers, administrators, assistants, personnel and volunteers that work very hard to make school a fun learning experience. The school includes grades K – 12 and last year was the largest student population ever; with an enrollment of about 150. Yes, that’s only150 in K – 12! Last years graduation class had nine students, which you may think is small but the year before there were 4. Now percentage wise, that is over a 50% increase. (See I paid attention most of the time at school way back when.) The classes are still small – I think we have about 7 seniors this year. Most of these kids have gone to school together since pre-school, so they know each other very well. Many of the teachers are called by their first names, preceded by Mr. or Ms – such as Mr. Howard and Ms Rita.

Ocracoke School is one school, if not the only school in NC without a cafeteria. The students either pack a lunch or go home. A couple of microwaves were added in the last few years so grades alternate what days they can bring something to heat, as opposed to days they bring something to eat cold. The school doesn’t have school busses that transport students between school and home. They are either dropped off, or they ride bikes or walk. It is quite a site to watch the goings and comings when school starts, during lunch break, or at the end of the day. There is an activity bus that takes students “off island” for field trips and athletic events.

The island is a buzz about the new school gym – almost completed. This building was made possible by some special funding and was it ever needed! School basketball is really a big deal on Ocracoke. We have boys and girls varsity, and younger boys and girls teams. When there is one game, there are usually four, since it is a feat to get a team here: Or to transport our teams to a competitor. The closest team we play is from Hatteras which is a good hour and half away including the 40 minute ferry ride. The old gym was so small there was never enough room for all the spectators to sit and those who had a seat on the sideline were on constant watch – their toes almost touching the line. The Dolphins team mascot is always fun to watch at the games. If not always winners they are great sportsmen as the games are always exciting and entertaining.

There is also a new running club, this being the second year. And of course they are stars – taking quite a few trophies last year – in their first year of competition. Practice started a few days ago and while I was taking an early morning scud about the island at 6 am, the runners were meeting to start practice: Which is so important to do it early morning, especially with the heat we’ve been having. That shows dedication.

So when you are visiting, come check out a school sporting event or attend a school fund raiser. Talk about some fine eating! A BBQ was held just last weekend and other such fun events occur on a fairly regular basis. They also have great hats and shirts to buy and support the school events. I was a financial supporter of the school during my life and still support and enjoy them in my spirithood.

Since I have to rest once in a while, I’m headed back to the Castle! The cookies are due out of the oven and there is no better smell on the island. I wonder what will be cooking tomorrow for breakfast! Come see us and “Go Dolphins”!

Sizzling On the East Coast…but usually a breeze on Ocracoke

2011-08-08T15:05:00.003-04:00

Well it seems to be one of the hottest summers on record – and yes even on Ocracoke, it has been a bit warm. But, one of the many wonderful things about living on a true island surrounded by water is the temperatures are usually about 5-10 degrees cooler in the summer and 5-10 degrees warmer in the winter. And when the nation is having extreme record breaking temperatures, that 5-10 degrees is quite significant. Plus since we are this tiny “spit of sand out in the ocean” as some call it, we usually have a breeze and the last few days have felt really good. Of course there is that big old beautiful ocean to jump into that is a perfect temperature to cool off: And if you are staying at the Castle or Villas, there is a beautiful swimming pool that is quite pleasant.

The island has been busy and I guess will be, though most of August. Then things start to slow down some, as the youngsters start back to school. This week things seem to be hopping, but I understand a few nights are still available at the Castle or in the Villas, so you might want to make your plans for a visit soon. I know I keep talking about the music here and that is because it just doesn’t get any better. You can hear good foot tapping tunes every night in about three different spots. One fellow named Lou plays in almost every group and plays about every instrument. I have seen him play at one place early in the evening only to find him in another group later that same night. As far as I am concerned that is a wonderful love of making music. I keep hoping he will do the Hokey Pokey (my personal favorite) for me one night – but no luck so far. He has played about everything else though!

Another fun thing I did this week was join a group that went for a sunset sail on a sweet boat called the Windfall II. Captain Rob sure knows his stuff on the water and is quite a storyteller. He is full of pirate tales and just plain interesting. I’ve always respected a man who knows his way about the water and can tell a good tale. The folks on the trip raved about how much fun they had and were sporting some nice looking Windfall II tee shirts at breakfast the next morning. We all had a fine time and then I was really happy to get back to the Castle and listen to some of the guests visiting and having a glass of wine up on the widows walk. This is one of the best views on the island – a fine fine place to watch the harbor settle into the night. During the day you can not only see the best view of Silver Lake, but also the ocean, the sound, the lighthouse, the village…. It is incredible. So come on by for visit. Make sure you bring you appetite if you stay at the Castle. Breakfast is still quite the buzz.

SOSJ (Spirit of Sam Jones)

Figs and Fun

2011-07-25T11:37:00.000-04:00

Well the island is buzzing with figs and fun. Ocracoke has fig trees everywhere and many are just starting to get ripe. I’ve heard there are five different varieties on the island – the brown fig being the most abundant. It seems like these are the ones that are starting to ripen now with the others soon to follow. Now I am no fig expert – but I used to be a fig jam and fig cake aficionado and still would be if I wasn’t in the spirit time of my life. Ocracoke is one of the best places to be if you like figs. Some of the residents have been making fig delights for years – some for over half a century and they know their way around a fig tree – so to speak.

Check out some of the smaller stores owned by some of the older folks and you will find some fine homemade fig treats. The Fish house has some good looking fig cake that gets great reviews. As more come to season, the restaurants will be featuring fig desserts. I’ve even noticed some fig trees for sale at the OPS museum and other shops – so if you live in a southern climate you can take a tree home and start your own fig traditions.

You just can’t find much more fun that there is on this island. It is fun for me just to listen to the folks talk about what a great time they are having on vacation. Kayaking, parasailing, surfing, bike riding, strolling around the village, shelling after a rain storm, going to Portsmouth Island (a close by deserted island – more on that another time), paddle boarding, swimming, boating, or just relaxing and reading a good book. There are wonderful shops – locally owned with all kind of treasures. When I lived here, there were only a couple restaurants so we mainly ate at home – but now Ocracoke has some of the finest restaurants in NC. They always serve fresh fish – and I mean caught that day by local fishermen. We are talking some fine, fine eating.

And music everywhere. My hardest decision some days is which place am I gonna go by to hear a few tunes. The ladies that work the desk at the Castle keep a list of whose playing where so they can always help you if you have questions. I’ve enjoyed The Fish House Five this week and looking forward to a young lady named Katy Mitchell also from here. Ocracoke even has a small theater with music a few nights a week and yoga classes in the mornings. There are horse carriage rides, ghost walks, story telling, and porch talks. Well, I’ve about wore myself out just thinking of all the possibilities for today – so I’m going to start with checking out the beach, taking a scud around town (for those who aren’t familiar with Ocracokese …. that means cruising round seeing what is happening) and back to smell the fresh baked cookies at the Castle in the afternoon. At least a spirit can smell and remember ….

So hope you are planning your visit. It is always a fun time at the Castle with lots of great folks. Lots of new friendships are formed, many laughs are had, and some great breakfasts are enjoyed. Come visit and join the fun and the figs.

SOSJ (Spirit of Sam Jones)

Twas a Happy Independence Day on Ocracoke Island

2011-07-07T15:59:00.000-04:00

Twas a Happy Independence Day on Ocracoke Island

OK, I’ve been quiet for too long and I’m just about to bust with happiness and pride! What a wonderful July 4th on Ocracoke Island. I love Island tradition!

To get the down side out of the way, of course it was hot and crowded – it is July on Paradise, also known as Ocracoke Island. There were a couple of accidents and a small brush fire… But, on the up side – there is no-where that celebrates July 4th quite like Ocracoke.

The day started with a sand sculpture contest on the beach. Talk about some fine artistic talent and creativity by both the locals here and the visitors. Just love to see what folks come up with. The day begins with a flag raising and continues with sky divers, lemonade sales and probably the Best parade in America. (Then again I am prejudiced) Now I don’t mean the fanciest parade, there weren’t many bells and whistles - in fact there was somewhat of a lack of music this year during the parade – but the fun floats – the clever costumes – it just doesn’t get any better. I’m sure there will be photos posted on some of the island blogs and that face book “thingy”.

Everything about the parade screams – small town USA. Folks don’t go to the big stores and buy supplies – they use what they have and what they can find. And they are creative – amazingly creative! In the late afternoon, a very clever and talented fellow that lives here, Donald Davis, read from his new book at Books to Be Red. His stories just crack me up and he seems to have so much fun telling them. The night went on with a dance at the Community Square. Another really fun time. In fact wherever you went in the evening there was music which always is a major part of Island livin’! They didn’t do the Hokey Pokey, my favorite, but they do some kinda fun dance with a caller and of course fine local musicians. I was plum worn out when I got back to the Castle, where the house was full of some fine fun folks. I’m so happy to be able to be on Ocracoke again and let you hear some of my stories. Hope you are making your plans to come visit. It is mighty fine here! Come join us!

SOSJ (Spirit of Sam Jones)

An Incredible Day on the Island

2011-06-17T15:23:00.001-04:00

6/16/11

Yesterday was an incredible day. Sure, Ocracoke has plenty of sunny, blue-skied days, but I’m pretty sure yesterday topped them all. There was a nice easterly breeze that lowered the temperature easily by five degrees anywhere it came in contact with. I had the afternoon off, and had been dying to do some kind of outdoor activity that involved the water. Kayaking was my first idea, as it’s one of my favorite pastimes, and something I rarely get to do lately. The word “sailing”, however, was offered as an option, and it was quickly decided that the day was perfect for a sail.

We slipped along in the sound for a good two hours, riding the near-perfect winds that seemed to be drummed up just for us. With the rhythmic slapping of the waves and crackle of the sails, it’s easy to fall into a kind of trance. It wasn’t long before I found myself in such a state, and, as I stared out at the endless water and sky, I thought about how much we take for granted. I know, I know – it’s an age-old lesson. We’ve all heard it or felt it from time to time. Yet, still, it bears thinking upon.

Don’t get me wrong – I love living on Ocracoke. But I realized in the day-to-day toil and grind, I’ve come to neglect key parts of the island and have overlooked that which I do love so much, like being on the water. I think the closest I ever came to seeing Ocracoke from a tourist’s perspective was when I was in college. A twelve-hour trip meant home visits were rare, and, so, when I was able to come home for a bit I relished every second of it. I walked on the beach everyday, I found excuses to get in the water probably every couple hours, and I relaxed.

It’s this appreciation that makes tourists very lucky. They get to see treasures for the first time that we locals see everyday. In our daily errands or rides to work, everything begins to blur together. Of course, I’m not saying we’re blind to what we have; you won’t find a local who wouldn’t say they’re blessed to live here. Sometimes, though, maybe we don’t lend enough mental awareness and time to the enjoyment of island pursuits. So I decided to make a list, for locals and visitors alike, of things we should make time for, or, in the visitors’ case, be aware of as possibilities. There’s a cornucopia of outdoor Ocracoke activities alone, so I’ll narrow the list down for now.

Kayaking – In my opinion, this is one of the best ways to see Ocracoke intimately. You can paddle out to little sandbar islands and have a picnic, or just drift along the contours of the island, spotting all manner of wildlife that doesn’t necessarily venture into the village. Don’t have a kayak? There are plenty places to rent one on the island, and even pick up a guided tour.

Sailing – Of course not everyone owns a sailboat, and for those who aren’t fortunate to have friends who do, there’s always a sunset cruise to be had on the Windfall II. There’s just something so special and ageless to the feel of sailing. Trust me on this one, you won’t regret it.
Fishing – Whether in the surf, the sound or the Gulf, fishing is a very exciting way to experience Ocracoke. From the beginning, fishing was the primary way to make a living before the island became accessible. It’s not only a way of life, but an integral part of Ocracoke’s history. Plus, there isn’t much that can compare to the initial thrill of a tug on your line and the adrenaline rush of fighting to reel in your catch. You just can’t beat it. For visitors, there are multiple charter boats that can take you out for a day of fishing.
Clamming – One of the biggest things I love about summer is clamming. I’m a big proponent for providing for oneself, and clamming is such a nice, relaxing way to bring home some dinner. Don’t get me wrong - there’s work involved, and your arms will get sore, but you get to spend all day in the water and taking your time observing aquatic habitats while hauling in potential clam casinos, fritters and chowder.

Visit Portsmouth – Ocracoke’s “sister” island, Portsmouth is located a hop, skip and a jump just southwest of us. You can take a charter boat over for the day and visit the historic village. Or you can spend the entire day on Portsmouth’s beach, and there’s a good chance you may never see a single person there, giving you the impression that the island was reserved just for you. Portsmouth reminds a lot of the older Ocracoke natives what it was like growing up here. It’s rife with nostalgia, which can even be picked up on by tourists.

And, of course, even just beach bumming is more than a sufficient way to attain appreciation for sun, sand and water. So if you’re a visitor, get out there and really experience some of the best Ocracoke has to offer. If you’re a local, sure, we’ve all got to make a living, but we all need a break once in awhile just for mental health’s sake. Go out and rediscover the things you love best about Ocracoke.
“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

Your Ocracoke Island Blogger
Chrisi

http://www.thecastlebb.xom/

http://www.ocracokeislandrealty.com/

Former Representative Bob Etheridge Visits Ocracoke School

2011-05-31T10:50:00.000-04:00

Former Representative Bob Etheridge Visits Ocracoke School

Bob Etheridge, former US Representative for North Carolina’s second congressional district, paid Ocracoke School a visit Monday, May 23. Etheridge had come to see how the school’s new gym construction was coming along. Why? In 2009, as part of an economic stimulus package in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Congress approved the Qualified School Construction Bonds and Qualified Zone Academy Bond program – specifically used for school construction, renovation, repair and site acquisition. Etheridge was one of the key advocates for the school construction bonds, which are supported by President Obama.

As soon as the program was established, Hyde County was ready and quickly acquired the bonds needed for school projects – like Ocracoke School’s new gym. Etheridge takes great pride in visiting these sites, positive evidence of the program he helped introduce. “This is a win-win for both the school and the community,” Etheridge commented, “as the gym will act as both a school building and a community facility.” He also pointed out not only does Hyde County save money on the construction as building costs are currently down, but this project also provides employment for local contractors who may have been out of work, further assisting the local economy. “This is a great visionary step on part of the County Commissioner and School Superintendent,” stated Etheridge. “This doesn’t happen in many communities.”

Ocracoke School’s new gym is projected for completion in August 2011.

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

The Castle Blogger

Crisi
www.TheCastleBB.com

Sand

2011-05-13T13:04:00.002-04:00

An excerpt from a poem by Phyllis McGinley, appropriately called:

SAND

Sand in the closets
Sand on the stair,
Desert deposits
In the parlor chair!
Sand in the halls like the halls of ocean;
Sand in the soap and the suntan lotion;
Stirred in the porridge, tossed in the greens;
Poured from the bottoms of rolled up jeans;
In the elmy street,
On the lawny acre;
Glued to the seat
Of the Studebaker:
Wrapped in the folds of the Wall Street Journal;
Damp sand, dry sand
Sand eternal.
When I shake my garments at the Lord’s command.
What will they brush from the Promised Land?

SAND

Ocracoke Jeopardy

2011-05-09T13:28:00.000-04:00

Saturday, May 7

The past couple days have been very exciting for Ocracoke. And, ok, for me personally as well. On Thursday, local high school English teacher Charles Temple made his debut on Jeopardy’s first ever Teachers’ Tournament. Gaffer’s Sports Pub held a celebration for Charles, displaying Jeopardy on all 18 of its TVs. Though some stayed at home or went to friends’ homes to watch, a huge chunk of the island turned out for the event, and Gaffer’s was packed. Local news station WITN and even Kelly from Jeopardy’s Clue Crew were also there.

Charles and I had ventured to LA during the last week of March for the Jeopardy taping. He had already been cautioned on the need for discretion – how would Jeopardy maximize its viewing audience if everyone knew the results a month in advance? And, sure enough, when the tournament was over, a slough of paperwork and contracts had to be signed. I remember thinking at the time, “It’s hard enough for most of the contestants to keep this a secret, but they’re not going home to a tiny island where everyone knows everyone and information spreads like a napalm firestorm!”

The next month was spent holding each other in check, maintaining poker faces, and keeping a sharp eye out for any verbal traps set by a multitude of persistent friends. When Thursday was suddenly only a week away, I felt a rush of relief and excitement. Even with a month to process our secret information, Charles’ Jeopardy appearance suddenly felt new.
Back to opening night at Gaffer’s - as I said, the bar was overflowing with family, friends and out-of-town well-wishers, all eager to finally know, and all profusely proud of Charles just for being on the show. When he appeared on the TV screen, the applause was wild, and continued every time he answered correctly. Each time an opponent beat him to the punch, however, there were plenty of “boo”s, at which point Charles and I exchange sympathetic glances – we had the pleasure of getting to know most of the other contestants, and really liked and respected them. But tell that to a frenzied force of fans.

The first half of Jeopardy was a nail-biter for all. Not many realize that the biggest obstacle in Jeopardy isn’t the trivia – all of the contestants know probably 80% of the answers – but it’s the timing that’s trickier. There’s a specific moment that marks when it’s ok to buzz in, noted by either a flash of lights not visible to the viewer at home or by Trebek’s voice when he finishes reading. If you’re too early with the trigger, you get locked out for a full second. Some completely brilliant contestants have been unmanned by that timing. While Charles had done well with ringing in in practice, he had some difficulty in the beginning. Combined that with a couple wrong answers and he began the game in the negative.

But, oh, it was a thing of beauty to watch his comeback. The moment he had the hang of timing, the other contestants didn’t stand a chance. Sally, one of Charles’ opponents, had said after the taping, “Yeah, I was doing fine until I got cut by the buzzsaw that was Charles.” He ate up the board and landed on two Daily Doubles. By final Jeopardy, with over $20,000, there was no chance of catching him. The overwhelming response of applause and yells of triumph broke over Charles like a tsunami, catching up all in its path. It was amazing to feel that infectious outpouring of excitement, pride and love, bearing any and all upon it.
And so it was Charles Temple moved into the semi-finals! Tune in Wednesday, May 11 to find out how he does next!

Terrible way to end it, isn’t it? I know, but again, I’m not allowed to talk until the general public has seen it. I will say, as I was regaling surrounding friends with what it was like to watch Thursday’s episode from the studio audience, I stopped mid-story and suddenly said, “It feels so good to finally be able to talk about it!” As much as a lot of people are dying to know what happens, I’m dying for them to know, too!

As if this wasn’t an exciting enough week with Jeopardy, the Ocracoke fishing tournament was taking place at the same time. My roommate Vera Attaway had been recruited to fish on the Misfit Mermaids team, and, despite her limited fishing experience, she was only too happy to give it a try. Thursday only saw her and other members of her team catching a nasty sunburn, but Friday was another day altogether. The Mermaids hadn’t been fishing for more than an hour that morning when Vera called me. Her gush of words flooded the receiver and at first I was only able to make out, “…caught…33…big blue…I…first place…!” When she repeated herself for me, I learned Vera had landed a 33 ½ inch bluefish, putting her team in first place for the women’s category with 49 points!

I waited all day to hear more, but it wasn’t until she came home around 4:30 that she finally finished the story for me. Later that day, another women’s team caught a bluefish measuring 33 ¼ inches; they, too, received 49 points, and suddenly there was a tie. As no one else scored higher, the tiebreaker was held later in the form of a coin toss, placing the Misfit Mermaids in second place. I personally think the Mermaids won first with the bigger fish, but I am biased. The only thing that could have made Vera’s victory sweeter was if she had been permitted to keep that bluefish. A winning fish tastes so good, but, sadly, fish get tossed back in the tournament. Vera did come away with a trophy that she’s immensely proud of (and for good reason!), and a pile of incredibly nice fishing gear. Vera already has plans to place her trophy next to boss Scott McNally’s fantasy football draft trophy at Gaffer’s.
That’s all I have for this week! I hope that’s enough excitement for you, dear reader. If not, have you heard of sky diving? Adrenaline-junkies, the lot of you.

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”
Chrisi

How did Ocracoke get to Jeopardy?

2011-05-01T13:18:00.000-04:00

I am not real familiar with TV programs, as I find I don’t have much time to spend in front of a TV screen. Life is so full of things to do, things to see…. Even as a spirit, there are not enough hours in the day to do what I want on this small island. But I will definitely be somewhere near a TV on May 5 at 7 pm.

Charles Temple, the English teacher at Ocracoke Island, a scholar and very funny and talented fellow is going to be on a show call Jeopardy. This is a show that folks compete by answering questions with the answer being in form of a question. Charles was lucky and talented enough to get to go to LA and compete. Now he is sworn to secrecy as to the outcome so the island is a buzz about the show and all the possibilities. Ocracoke, as many small villages is a very hard place to keep a secret, but so far this one seems to be mum is the word.

There is talk of a gathering at Gafters with Charles in attendance. I plan to be there and watch the events. Hope you join in on the fun, wherever you are. Pretty exciting that a small school with less than a dozen teachers lands a spot on such a popular and sought after show.
The word on the island is “Go Charles”. No matter what the outcome of the game, the island is proud of this young man and look forward to a fun evening.

Let the Blooms Begin

2011-04-17T08:44:00.002-04:00

Let the blooms begin

This may be a bit of old news here on Ocracoke but it says it all for a loving community.

Ocracoke School had their annual plant sale the other day. This is one of the many fund raisers the school holds and it looked like it was quite a success. Folks were provided a list and could pre-order. There were also many “extras” that were available for same day purchase. There was quite a selection of vegetables, flowers, and herbs. And, the plants looked really healthy; always a plus.

The day of the sale was a teacher workday so the school kids had the day off. But there were so many volunteering at the sale that no one had to worry about carrying anything. Another fine example of what a great community Ocracoke is. Where else would you find kids of all ages helping at a fundraiser on a school holiday? And, just as I’ve always seen, the kids were so polite. They thanked everyone as they loaded up the cars and trucks. What a treat to hear.

Soon the island will be busting with blooms, veggies and herbs. Can’t wait. Come on over and enjoy.

Ocracoke Island Live Theater

2011-04-15T13:16:00.001-04:00

A night at the Theater, Black tie not required.

Live theater returns to Ocracoke this week. We Must Kill Toni will be performed at the Community Center on April 14 -17 - Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 pm, and on Sunday at 1 pm. The play is a dark comedy that is rather obscure. Not many folks have heard of it or know much about the story line. Best I have been able to gather is the story line deals with two brothers and a female cousin which involves love, money, greed…. all the usual components of a great show.

Four Ocracoke all high schoolers, Joe Chestnut, Maddie Payne, Virginia Downes, Emmet Temple and Andrew Tillett star in the show . The play is directed by Charles Temple, the English teacher and veteran play director of the island. Jennifer Kidwell is busy helping with the sets and costumes, so you can bet they themselves will be worth the price of the tickets. Which by the way are only $6 and are on sale at the school or at the door.

Last year’s performance of Mid Summer Nights Dream was a true delight. It was a sellout and talk of the island. So, make sure you mark your calendar and get yourself out to see this show.
If you are coming from out of town, the Castle B & B or one of the Villas would be a fine choice for accommodations. I think there are a few rooms open at the Castle and some Villas available also. Bet some lively reviews will be held at the breakfast table at the Castle. Hope you come join the fun.

Scotch Bonnet on the windowsill

2011-04-14T10:44:00.000-04:00

Scotch Bonnet on the windowsill

A very nice couple stayed a few days last week at the Castle. One morning at breakfast I overheard them talking to Jude who was cooking breakfast that morning. She is the weekend cook who joined the staff last fall. The couple was going shelling that morning and they were discussing good places to find shells. Jude also enjoys finding sea treasures and she mentioned a place she had been lucky in finding scotch bonnets, especially after a storm. The couple wasn’t familiar with this particular shell, so they looked it up on the Castle computer provided for guests in the parlor. Jude explained that this is the NC state shell and they are hard to find – unbroken. But as luck might have it, Ocracoke is one of the few places you can find them.

The next day the couple gave Jude two beautiful scotch bonnets – to keep at the Castle. What a sweet surprise. They had been lucky and wanted to share their “booty”. So now the Castle has two more treasures sitting on the windowsill in the kitchen.

When you come for a visit, make sure you check them out.

Spirit of Sam Jones

Ferry Talk

2011-03-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

The buzz around the island is that North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is discussing adding a toll to the Hatteras Ferry. This was presented at the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association meeting last week and it certainly has folks talking. The fees discussed are $10 each way and residents would have an option of purchasing a pass for $100 a month. The Hatteras ferry has always been free and since Ocracoke, can only be reached by ferry, residents use it for medical and dental appointments, shopping - all sorts of things. The fee for the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries may also increase with talk of doubling the current price or even more.

There is a NC law that that has always been interpreted that there must be free access for folks to reach their residence. Seems like the state is considering changing this law.

The ferries have been running at a loss and changes are probably inevitable. The total annual operations costs are $40.8 million. Current revenues from ferry riders total $2.2 million. Some money is also generated from the NCDOT but seems the legislature wants to generate at least 25% or $10.4 million from tolls. Having run a large business while I was living, I know about balancing budgets and how difficult it can be. I also understand how difficult this may be for Ocracoke residents, businesses and tourists.

A bookstore in the village, Books To Be Read, has some information on its Facebook page that you may want to check out. Certainly hope something can be worked out to be agreeable to all concerned.

Spirit of Sam Jones

A House Tale

2011-03-25T08:28:00.001-04:00

There was a large three day yard sale at a former resident’s home recently. The owners of the house died a few years ago and the family is clearing the house to put on the market to sell. Being a spirit, I don’t need anything from a yard sale – but that doesn’t keep me from enjoying them. This was a quite a happening. I think everyone on the island stopped by at least once.

The house was rather interesting. It rambled from room to room. I overheard one of the sons explaining that the house was built from parts of a former army building that was left empty after the war. Ocracokers have always been very ingenious and thrift worthy – reusing any and everything they can. He also mentioned that the house was built in its present location, next to the firehouse, moved out near the sound and then moved back again. Another popular Ocracoke activity – moving houses. Since it was difficult and expensive to build a house, if the location wasn’t right – you just moved what you could to make it work. One of the more unusual parts of the house was the garage. It had a small wall preventing a car from entering it. Someone asked about this and was told the lady of the house did not want the car parked in the garage – so it was only used for storage. Always have been a lot of strong women on this island. Another one of the attractions!

Spirit of Sam Jones

Time Change at The Castle on Ocracoke Island

2011-03-23T10:28:00.002-04:00

Daylight savings time caused the clocks to be turned forward one hour last weekend. Sure caused some guests at the Castle a bit of confusion.
Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 9:30 every morning. Being on vacation, some folks forgot all about the time change and got down to breakfast a little late. They sure were happy to see that it wasn’t a problem. The full wonderful breakfast was waiting for them as usual.

The nice part of the time change is now we have an extra hour of daylight to enjoy the island. I came back to the Castle and watched a beautiful sunset. Silver Lake has never looked better. The widows walk on the top of the Castle is a great place to forgot all your troubles and relax. Hope to see you soon up there – and don’t worry, you won’t even know I’m around.
SOSJ

It must be grits ...

2011-03-17T09:01:00.001-04:00

A fellow came to breakfast yesterday and was talking about waking up to the smell of coffee and bacon. He was a happy fellow, and rather observant also – said he said he heard a spoon tap on the side of a pan and thought – that has to be grits. He was right. The Castle serves some tasty grits.

Another fellow told a funny story about being in Maine at a B & B. The cook asked if anyone had any request for breakfast. He replied he sure would like some grits. The cook said, “I’ve heard of grits, but I never had one.” Well, the folks at the Castle know grits are always plural – and they know how to cook ‘em.

A young lady came to breakfast the same day – sporting a beautiful diamond ring. Lots of folks pop the question and tie the knot at the Castle. Doesn’t matter what your mission – the Castle is a great place to visit. - even if you are just looking for good grits.

House full of laughter

2011-03-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Gosh only March and the Castle had a full house. A group came down from up the beach as we call it on Ocracoke – Nags Head and Kitty Hawk. They came to see a concert featuring Mandolin Orange. They had a great time and really enjoyed the concert. And, they loved the Castle. First time at the Castle for most, but won’t be the last. A few already booked a room for June during the Ocrafolk Festival.

They were a really fun group and it was great to hear all the laughter at breakfast time. The kitchen and the dining room were full of good times, good stories, and of course great food.

Did you happen to see the article about the Castle breakfast in the January issue of Our State Magazine? Gladys, one of the cooks, was featured in the article – she and her fine biscuits. Check it out if you get a chance. We have a copy beautifully framed in the lobby, in case you missed it.

So, yes – the Castle is open and the fun is happening. Check your schedule and book your room. We look forward to having you as our guest.

Pedro to the Rescue

2011-03-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

Pedro to the rescue
The word around the village today is of a young man being flown off the island for a medical emergency – at 2 am. First of all the young man is fine. Turned out not as bad as feared and he is home doing fine. His parents are trying to catch up on lost sleep – and are very thankful for the Ocracoke Emergency folks and for the medical helicopter.

Ocracoke has had a small airport for a long time. Not too long ago a helicopter pad was added to help with just such events that happened to this young man. Used to be an ambulance would take folks on the Hatteras ferry for medical care – which could take many hours. If conditions were favorable, a helicopter might be able to fly someone out, but it wasn’t always possible. East Care, and Nightingale has saved many an islander as well as a tourist in the past.

If they are not available there is nothing like calling in the Marines! Marine Helicopter Pedro and of course our US Coast Guard are always there in case of an emergency if other services are not available. A huge hoorah for our military!

Hope you never have to use the emergency services on Ocracoke, but it is also reassuring to know that there is a fine team ready and available living here on the Island. The Ocracoke EMS, Ocracoke Health Center and the Volunteer Fire Department all do a fantastic, above and beyond the call of duty. A huge thank you to all of you and if any are forgotten, let’s excuse it with the fact I’m up in my spirit years!

Spirit of Sam returns

2011-03-10T14:12:00.000-05:00

Hello all. Sam here. Yes I know it has been awhile. I got a wild hair and went off island for a bit, which turned out longer than I meant. So I am back and happy to be here. March is a wonderful time on Ocracoke. The island is waking up from its winter slow time. However, wasn’t so slow this year. It snowed, whales sited from the beach, lots of good music, a fine valentines party here at the Castle, a sock hop at the Community Center…..lots happening. But seems like everyone is happy spring is coming.

March winds are blowin’ today. Few days before, calm as could be. The winds were forecast to be 13-20 mph – but there were some strong gust. Had a nice time on the beach – but almost was blown away. The water is choppy. Felt great and was wonderful as always to see and smell the beach. But felt even better to return to the Castle where it is nice and warm and the afternoon coffee was brewing.

The Castle is open for the season. Check your calendar and book your room. You’ll be happy you did.

New Years Eve Fun

2010-12-28T08:51:00.000-05:00

Looks like lots is going to be happening on New Years Eve on this small island – doesn’t surprise me one bit, knowing how much these folks like to celebrate. There is a party and dance to raise money for the Volunteer Fire Department being held at the Community Center. I heard any help will be gladly accepted. In fact, they just had a house fire last week. No one was hurt as the house was empty, but looks like the building is a total loss. The firefighters did an excellent job as usual, in containing and putting the fire out. It was in a crowded area and pretty scary. Please come help support them…or send a donation to them. They well deserve it.

A couple of local bars are having some local music also. The Ocracoke Rockers are playing at the Creekside and the Aaron Caswell Band at Gaffers. And the best thing is I think they both start about 8 or 8:30. I know some of us older folks like to get out and it is hard when the music starts so late. If we make it to midnight it’ll be great….. On the bright side at least we can hear some fine tunes before we have to call it a night.

Whatever you do, I hope you get out and have some fun. That is what New Years is all about. Looks like some guests will be at the Villas with plenty room for more. If you haven’t made your plans – make them now. I’ll have the Castle to myself until they reopen in February; but I won’t bother you – I promise!

Spirit of Sam Jones

Christmas Music

2010-12-20T09:20:00.001-05:00

Christmas Music

Went by the Community Center Christmas Concert the other night. It was organized by a community member, Sundae Horn, who did a fine job. Anyone who played an instrument or sang was invited to be part of the program. The Day Care children sang a few songs which was a big hit and very cute. There were lots of good music and some fine readings. It was a fun time with goodies sold to raise money for the Day Care Center. Volunteers decorated the place which made it look really festive.

Speaking of festive, the island is full of lights, wreaths, ribbons making it look quite…. holidayish! (Yes I know that isn’t a word but it should be!). The town has angels and snow flakes done in white lights, on the power poles, which dress up the village. Many of the houses and businesses have their lights strung which add such spark and twinkle. And remember those beautiful wreaths I mentioned some island women making? Well, they are also hung all around the Island’s businesses and homes and look wonderful. I even saw a golf cart and a truck with a wreath tied on the front grill – now that is feeling the holiday spirit!

Returning to the Castle with all the lights on the tree and Christmas cheer is always a treat. It looks great and makes you feel all fuzzy inside. Hope you join us soon.

SOSJ

Fish House Delights

2010-12-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Ok, I got the scoop. The 5th annual Oyster Roast and Shrimp Steam that raises money for the Ocracoke Fish House is Thursday December 30, 2-5pm. It is also featuring Van O’Neal’s famous Fish Stew. It’s being held at the Fish House, right on the harbor and the word around town is that is something not to be missed.

The Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association is the organization behind this affair and they are a fine group of folks. I say folks, because there are actually a few women in the organization also. Ocracoke used to have lots of commercial fishermen; but now not so many. A few still work very hard to keep the tradition going, as well as trying to make a living. It is a tough way of life and makes for tough folks. The weather can be your friend or your enemy, and can change before you know it. One moment calm beautiful, the next a Nor’easter blows up and hold on - all heck can break loose. It has been really cold here for a few weeks and I still see those boats go out and come back in. That’s some dedicated folks. They do it the same as when I stayed here, over fifty years ago – no mechanical processing – all done by hand. It is really something to watch. And now they have the nicest museum right on the harbor at one of the docks….right down from the fish house. It has some really great exhibits. Quite educational! The museum also has an exhibit about pound netting…..the old timey way of hauling in some fine fish, usually flounder. During your visit to the island, stop by the fish house and buy some delicious fresh fish. Also a stop at the museum can teach you a lot about the history of fishing here on Ocracoke. Even an old spirit like me enjoys learning a thing or two about what I’ve missed.

So hope you can make it to the Oyster Roast on the 30th. Understand they will even have desserts, and I bet that means some island fig cake, which is another tradition. Sure looking forward to watching the fun and enjoying another community get together. Afterwards of course I’ll return to the castle. They will be closed for a bit, but check out the Villas. Heard there are still a few for rent for the New Year’s weekend.

Spirit of Sam Jones

Cookie Swap – Sweet Time for all

2010-12-18T09:19:00.001-05:00

Cookie Swap – Sweet Time for all

Today I went by the cookie swap at the library. What a good time! This has been an annual event for many years. The deal is you bake cookies, bring them and swap the number of cookies you bring, with the same number that you take. What fun. I have never seen so many kinds of cookies. One of my favorites was a cookie that looked like a cute mouse. It was a chocolate covered cherry as the body, a chocolate kiss as the face with almond slivers as ears. Where do folks get these ideas? Anyway I got to enjoy many great smells. Also the fifth grade read a wonderful story about Hanukkah and then the youngsters from one of the churches played musical instruments. It was so nice to hear.

Some local women made three gingerbread houses and the children all got to drop their names in the hat for a raffle. Three lucky children got to go home with a beautiful ginger bread house. How much fun is that? They even had a kid’s cookie table to make sure all the young ones got some of the extra special cookies!

Once again, it warmed my heart to see this wonderful community together enjoying each other. And returning to the Castle, what was I met with? The smell, again, of some fresh baked cookies and fresh brewed coffee. I still love this time of year. Come and enjoy it also!

SOSJ

Come Quick

2010-12-16T09:19:00.002-05:00

Come Quick

What?? Only a few more days to book your stay at the Castle before they close for the season? I overheard that on December 20 the Castle closes for maintenance, until re- opening for their wonderful Valentine’s Day event. (more on that later). It will be extra quiet without the guests; but I sure think it is nice that the Castle employees get some time off and they will be able to spend the holidays with their loved ones.

As I have mentioned, the whole island is buttoning up pretty tight. But that also means the locals get to slow down and enjoy this beautiful island. During the season, especially in the summer, mostly everyone seems to work so hard they don’t get to visit with each other….much less get to the beach. There are some enjoyable events coming up for the holidays. There is a Community Caroling organized by one of the churches on Friday December 17th, which starts at 5 pm. A Live Nativity is scheduled for Saturday, December 18th, in the early evening. Both churches have Christmas services the next few Sundays. And my favorite is an Oyster Roast that benefits the Fish House…..The Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Association, is scheduled for December 30th. I’m snooping around for more details, and will definitely let you more about it.

So – what are you waiting on? Make your plans to come visit. Even if you decide to come while the Castle is closed, there are some beautiful Villas on the property. I heard you can view them by visiting this here website for the Castle. If you visit, I promise to be quiet and not bother you…..part of the charm of being a spirit is you won’t even know I’m around.

Spirit of Same Jones

A bit nippy on Ocracoke Island

2010-12-15T13:35:00.002-05:00

Yes, looks like winter is arriving. The temperatures are a bit nippy. Course since Ocracoke is a true island and surrounded by water, it is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than the mainland. Usually about ten degrees difference between here and the mainland. There’s even talk of snow flurries just across the sound.

Was out checking out the village earlier and came back around 3 pm to be greeted with the smell of fresh coffee and fresh baked cookies. Mmmmmm Mmmmmm. What a treat. Talking about warming the soul – or spirit in my case. Settled down enjoying the smells and listening to folks drop by.

Five beautiful wreaths were just delivered to the Castle. They are handmade by a group of island women. They gather the greenery here on the island and assemble them with what you can tell is both loving care and artistic style. The different shades of green are astounding. Reminds you of what a natural paradise this is. Can’t wait to see where they hang them. The Castle is looking very festive with a beautiful tree, lights and decorations. Real pretty and inviting, if I may say so!

If you get a chance – come see us. I know Ocracoke is a good distance for most to come; but seems like everyone always agrees it is worth every minute spent to get here. And who doesn’t love a great breakfast. Of course many miles of national seashore and a wonderful community are two others. Whatever brings you here…. Just come. I’ll be watching out for you.

Spirit of Sam Jones

The Castle that Sam Built

2010-12-13T09:33:00.000-05:00

Kind of quiet at the Castle the last few days. The folks there are having a great time, but just less folks here. I hear some people don’t know who I am. I thought everyone did! I’ve enjoyed the quiet afternoons as it has given me time to look at some of the old pictures of when I lived on Ocracoke and enjoyed entertaining at the Castle.

Oh what a wonderful time. I don’t remember all the dates, as should be expected by an old spirit like me, but I know I came to Ocracoke in 1939 with my first wife. I just couldn’t get enough of this island. I was a North Carolinian by birth, being born and raised in Swan Quarter; a small town on the mainland and what is now the county seat of Hyde Co, the same county as Ocracoke……Two places that couldn’t be more different from each other. The mainland part of Hyde Co. is almost all farmland. Then in the same county is this island called Ocracoke….13 miles long and only a few miles wide….. Most of which is owned by the National Park Service. It’s always been only accessible by ferry or boat from the mainland. Ocracoke is a strange name, but that’s another story.

Back to me! I lived in the Norfolk, Virginia area for many years, working at and then owning the Berkley Machine Works and Foundry Co. I was able to bring many of my work associates and employees to enjoy this wonderful island also. We hunted, fished, told a few stories – just basically really enjoyed ourselves. But there wasn’t lodging then like there is now – so I started building places that could accommodate my guests. Started with the completion of this beautiful Castle in the early 1950’s as well as the Berkley Manor; or so it has become called. At that time the Castle was far from the B & B it is now. Only a few baths, but plenty of sleeping space and just as important – plenty of entertaining space. And we had some parties – let me tell you.

One of the fine things about the Castle is it was built almost completely by local Ocracoke folks. I had carpenters, boat builders, decoy carvers, fisherman, you name it! Seemed like most of the local men worked on this building doing something. Did a good job too! Now I admit, the new folks really did some nice upgrades, but they also were smart enough to leave many features such as my beautiful oak floors and the asymmetrical angle on the right wing of the house that I designed. In fact I was pleased as punch to see the original cypress inside. Not really sure why I designed that angle on the roof line but I just liked it. Some folks called me quirky – but guess that is one reason I like this island so much. It is full of quirky folks – back then and now. As far as I’m concerned quirky is much of the charm here.

It is always wonderful to return to the Castle as I get to do each night now. Think I’ll stay tonight in one of the front rooms with a harbor view. The harbor, or Silver Lake as it is also called, is a wonderful place to look out at. It is nice and quiet this time of the year. The ferry horns’ blowing is music to my ears. The ferries bring the guests that now enjoy the Castle. They come from a much broader distance than years and years ago. In fact a couple from Germany is here for their honeymoon. They love what they see here, and enjoy what I built. They even spoke about all the nice folks they met here during their short stay. Makes a spirit proud.

Spirit of Sam Jones

Foot Tapping Music on Ocracoke Island

2010-12-11T08:32:00.001-05:00

Went by a concert at the Deep Water Theater the other evening. A few concerts are scheduled throughout the winter as fund raisers for the Ocrafolk Festival that occurs each summer. A group called “Ronstadt Generations” performed and they were great! I remember hearing of Linda Ronstadt in my very late years and this was her brother Michael, his two sons and a friend. She might have gotten the break and became more famous, but I’ll vote that these fellows are just as talented. They sounded great and had that wonderful quality of making the audience feel like they were enjoying performing as much as the audience was enjoying the show.

The Ronstadt family came from Mexico and has been making music for many generations. There was a nice blend of south of the border music, some great accapellos and some fine instrumentations. I really like the cello, and have never seen one played quite as versatile or expertly as the young fellow did. The crowd loved the show – and appreciated the musicians coming so far and performing so well.

I returned to the castle, feeling great. Wished I had some feet to tap - this was some good foot tapping music. Also wished my horse, Ikey Dee had been there. He sure was a music lover. Guess that is one reason he loved this island bout as much as I did and still do!

Spirit of Same Jones

Ocracoke Community Shines in Time of Need

2010-12-09T13:32:00.000-05:00

The other day an 81 year old male “Ococker”, (someone who was born and raised here) wandered off from his house in the early afternoon and was still missing many hours later. The people turned out in droves to help search for Maurice Balance, a much loved and admired member of our little community. By dark, the larger community responded with helicopters and dogs to assist in the search. What a wonderful sight to see, even though it was brought on by a possible tragedy. It had been warm in the afternoon but temperatures were falling which added to many reasons for concern. Folks were not to be discouraged. About 10pm, Maurice was found by his grandchildren. He was “just lost”, one source said, but the main relief – he was OK.

Once again the island pulls together and helps each other. I don’t mean just showing concern….I mean searching though brambles and marsh, looking for Maurice. It was cold, dark, and folks had other things going on, but they were there with flashlights – in groups and solo – out looking for a member of their community. The community also seems to be taking pride in that they found Maurice. As I overheard from a few folks, “That fancy helicopter nor special trained dogs could find him, but we did. Don’t get us wrong, we appreciate the helicopter and search dogs, but we needed all the help we could get.” It is good to report, the fellow is safe, seems to be fine, but I think he will stick a little closer to home these days. Even if it isn’t his idea, I think family and friends will be reminding him of this event for quite a while.

I was glad to retire back to the Castle and once again I was reminded, I love this island called Ocracoke. If you haven’t visited, please plan to do so. It is really something to experience.

Spirit of Same Jones

Love on Ocracoke

2010-12-03T08:30:00.001-05:00

Again, LOVE is in the air here on Ocracoke.

Getting a little quieter around the island…..course at the end of November that is to be expected. The weather has been beautiful. Had a couple staying at the Castle that is expecting twins. Said they knew after the babies arrived, they wouldn’t get a chance to get away for a while. A trip for two just wasn’t in the near future. They found the Castle on this internet thingy and were more pleased than they expected to be. They loved the quaintness of the Inn, and of course the large delicious breakfast. Another couple just got engaged at the Castle. They were so cute! Ahh! Young and in love. Promised to come back soon – maybe even for their wedding.

It is so much fun to listen and observe the guests. They always seem to be having a good time and really seem to love the place. Some have never been to Ocracoke before; others have been coming for years. Breakfast is the time they visit and get to know each other. Either around the table in the kitchen, or the formal dinning room. It seems conversation is always part of the experience. I just loved one couple that played king and queen, sitting at each end of the large dinning table.

Another great place to hang out here is the widows walk – so they call it. It is a beautiful area on top with the most incredible view. The harbor or Silver Lake as it is now called is beautiful, especially this time of year. You can also see the lighthouse, the ocean and the sound. I perch up there often and just enjoy. Come join me sometime.

Spirit of Same Jones

Thanksgiving on the island

2010-11-30T08:51:00.001-05:00

Spirit of Sam Jones

Ahhh…the smells of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day on the island was really fun. Lots of folks around and the weather was great. Warm but a nice breeze. Crisp and crystal clear. Folks were out walking, biking, working up an appetite, I guess. The Variety store was hopping – good thing they were open for part of the day, as there were many folks buying. Fun to see all the action on such a small island.

Then the best – the island was full of wonderful smells. As usual, folks all around were cooking, eating, laughing and having a large time. The smells of turkey, cornbread dressing (one of my favorites), collards, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pies….. almost too much for this old spirit – but I rose to the occasion and observed each and everyone having a mighty fine time!

Once again, this island likes to eat and have fun. Two of the many reasons I love being here. Went back to the Castle in the evening and enjoyed watching the harbor lights.

SOSJ

Black Friday” or a warm balmy day on Ocracoke Island….take your pick

2010-11-29T10:49:00.002-05:00

Black Friday” or a warm balmy day….take your pick

Seems like the day after T’day is called “Black Friday” and stores have large sales and throughout the US. Shopping malls are jammed, people fighting over stuff, and traffic jams galore. Well here on Ocracoke it was a beautiful morning – balmy is the word that comes to mind. Started off in the 60’s and got up to 70, I think. There were sales and folks out shopping – but no traffic jams, no fighting for parking places or merchandise. Instead Ocracoke is full of fun little shops, run by locals, who are friendly and happy to see folks out and about. I even check out a few yard sales. I do enjoy a good yard sale! One had an old piece of furniture from the Castle. One of my old favorites, a beautiful hat and umbrella rack that is six feet high and about four feet wide. I loved hanging my hats on it after coming in for the evening. Seems like there was a sale many years ago at the Castle of some of my furniture. Just hope someone buys this hat rack that enjoys it as much as I did. If not, maybe it will find its way back to the Castle. Even if I don’t have hats to hang, I still can admire it.

Again it’s good to settle down for the night at the Castle, after a fun day of cruising around Ocracoke.

SOSJ

Fall beach walk on Ocracoke Island

2010-11-26T11:30:00.000-05:00

Spirit of Sam Jones

Supposed to rain this afternoon, so I went for a nice stroll on the beach. Ocracoke has one of the loveliest beaches in the world. Went to what is called the public beach, where there is a nice ramp, lots of parking and now a bath house. Only a few folks there. It was cloudy, but warm (high 60s) and not breezy. The ocean was roaring, birds everywhere and dolphins playing in the water. What a beautiful sight.

Funny many of the islanders get so caught-up with working so much, family life and just daily chores they hardly make it to the beach. They go more as the season closes and enjoy the late fall, winter and early spring – the quiet time. The best time.

Makes me want to remind folks – don’t let time slip away. Grab life every chance you get. It is so easy to get caught up in the small things – even on laid back Ocracoke.
Another Ocracoke resident died last week. Nice notice on PO bulletin board about her. Capt. Jette Carr – quite a character. I heard that Jette recently said, “I’ve lived a full life and did all I wanted to do.” Not many folks can say that. Remember: Go for that beach walk today. Take extra time to spend with loved ones. And treat yourself to a night or two at a special place like the Castle.

SOSJ

Mid November and still Rocking!

2010-11-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

Spirit of Sam Jones

Mid November and still Rocking!

During the month of October and now into mid November, the Castle enjoyed the repeat groups of North Carolina neighbors that rent the Castle rooms and the Villas each year for an annual get together. As I gather from their conversations, they have been doing this for years….getting away for a few days of fishing, relaxing and just enjoying being away from everyday schedules. It makes me proud that I had this old house built and still maintains the tradition of welcoming visitors and making new friends. I tried to get in on the conversations but oh well……………

It is now mid November and much of the island is closing down. Things have been quiet during the week but come the weekends and folks are still taking advantage of the nice weather. A few of the restaurants are putting out the closed sign – that is closed for the season. Went by to visit the “Flying Mellon Café” for one of last nights of the season and the place was packed with mostly locals. Islanders don’t have much time during the busy summer months, so they make that extra effort to get to the stores and restaurants before they close for the season. Everyone was smiling and having a great time – table hoping, catching up with folks and enjoying some delicious food. This town loves to eat.

Meanwhile back at the Castle, I have to tell you about two young ladies who came for a visit from Norway. They were on extended vacations driving cross country. Started in LA, came across country and headed south along the east coast. They noticed a nice looking out of the way road – Hwy 12 and decided to drive down. Ended up taking the ferry over to Ocracoke and looked for a place to stay the night. They picked the Castle, thought it looked charming. They obviously have good taste. Breakfast was especially fun that day hearing tales of their journeys and learning more about Norway. They get a mandatory 5 weeks paid vacation a year. Now that is something! Just so much fun how folks find Ocracoke. Their only sorrow was they could only stay one night, but promised to return for a longer visit.

SOSJ

Ocracoke Island Halloween

2010-11-21T08:30:00.001-05:00

Spirit of Sam Jones

Just realized I missed talking about Halloween, always an Ocracoke special.

Ocracoke really enjoys this time of year. I think it’s one of the most enjoyable events on the Island……Well maybe that’s going a bit overboard! The kids have all kinds of activities, beginning with the annual ghost walk taking place a week before Halloween which seems to be in my honor. Howard’s Pub and Gaffer’s have parties and contests where the adults can step out in costumes that are unbelievable! Grown-ups don’t do store bought but let their creative juices flow, becoming kids all over again!

Of course the Castle also enjoys Halloween and love to do it up in style. The front room, parlor, and dining room are full of spiders in their webs, skeletons, pumpkins, candy and so forth. The kids trick or treat around the neighborhood which includes a stop at the Castle. Homemade cupcakes, that are almost to pretty to eat, apple juice and of course the candy for the sacks are all part of the festivities. A great time for all, including the guests who love to see the little ones in their costumes.

I myself went to the parties as a ghost (what else), and no one recognized me! I didn’t win any prizes either! Sometimes it really is tough being a real spirit!!!!!

SOSJ

Communication on the island

2010-11-18T13:21:00.002-05:00

Spirit of Sam Jones

This blog thing is a bit much for a guy spirit like me. Sorry, time has slipped by and now I need to catch up. When I was alive things went much slower. It might be a couple weeks before you received a letter, and phone calls were a rarity. Now, communication has a whole new level. Anyway, let’s see what is going on in Ocracoke.

They seem to have been working on a new cell phone tower or at least expanding the old one. I kinda think that is a good thing, although I don’t quite understand the need to always be in constant contact. I’ve been observing this thing people do called “texting” and I am quite fascinated; but as I look around it must be new since most of the ones doing it are young. In fact one of the many reasons I love Ocracoke is that it is off the beaten path of reality. But now seems like folks are really into phones, computers, ….. Wonder when the last time anyone wrote a letter? I still like it when I see someone reading a newspaper or a hard cover book. Call me old fashioned but I love the fact that the Castle still has a daily newspaper delivered in the morning and the guests here seem to enjoy it. Anyway looks like communication on the island will once again be updated and improved.

The road from Hatteras was washed out a few days ago. Seems like a big blow came through – not much rain, but wind. The road is now open and folks can come and go from the northern route. Interesting how much weather affects the island. Heavy wind or rain can shut those northern roads down pretty fast. Most of the folks that live here are used to it, and once they are here on the Island, the tourists seem to enjoy and make the most of the experience. It sure makes for some interesting times. The last day or two have been about as pretty as pretty can be. Carolina blue skies, a crisp feel in the air and hardly any mosquitoes. That is always a good thing. The mosquitoes used to be a lot worse in my day but one thing they still love is new arrivals.

Think I’ll take a scud around and let you know what I else I see going on.

SOSJ

Busy

2010-11-11T14:41:00.000-05:00

Been incommunicado for awhile, but with all this excitement round the Castle I’m just busting at the seams…

Busy, busy, busy….Almost all 11 rooms in the Bed and Breakfast are full, the Villas that were built since I owned the place are often full. And, it is the end of September - one of my favorite times of the year. It usually slows down this time of year, but the village is buzzing and the Castle is one of the many happening spots. It is so wonderful to hear all the laughter. The house is full of happy folks, relaxing and enjoying themselves, and being spoiled, just like my guest were. Oh and the wonderful aromas are killing me. Starting at 6 am, I smell the coffee, the sausage, the bacon, French toast, pancakes, biscuits…..and that’s only naming a few. Fresh baked cookies in the afternoon and a fresh pot of coffee…. That’s living! Course life would be better if Ikey D, my horse was still around. He would love to be hanging with me in the parlor. I miss the piano and know he would also. Who knows, he might start shooting pool at that fancy new table. I always thought he had a great aim.
Well someone is trying to use this laptop provided for folks in the front room. I must say the place has never looked or felt better. This bloging is something that I’m fascinated with. Not sure exactly how it works, but gonna try. Tell you more later.
Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

More from Sam

2010-11-06T09:40:00.000-04:00

Hey ya’ll!

Whew what an amazing time I’ve had since I returned to the Castle. Some things remind me of the old days like the rain and wind blowin’ as hard as it can and the tides high as could be. I know I said I would see you tomorrow but it has been so busy here that my friend couldn’t pay much attention to me. Just told me to kind of stay out of the way!

Well first of all, for a few days, due to the weather the ferries weren’t running like they normally do, and on one of those stormy days no one could leave the Island or even get on the Island. I do have to say that there are worse places to be stranded. Like in the old days, visitors seem to go with the flow and make the best of a bad situation.

Electricity was off for a while and even though folks couldn’t get their early morning coffee no one seemed to let it bother them. When the power came back on at 9AM there sure was a rush for the coffee pots. Guests that couldn’t leave gathered in the kitchen sharing food, telling tales and having a grand time. Friendships were made and plans to meet again in the future were discussed. It makes my heart and body, (if I still had one), warm and fuzzy to think about it.

Another amazing thing that happened is that there was a guest here by the name of David whose dad worked for me at the Berkeley Machine Works and Foundry, in Norfolk VA.

Well he decided to take a trip to Ocracoke and surprise his dad with pictures of the old place I built and of all the changes. He didn’t think I would remember his dad but anyone that worked for me for 62 years… I sure do. His name was Harvey Jr. to be exact. His dad; Harvey Sr. also worked for me, but not as long. Harvey Jr. specialized in brass and was quite the master at the craft. In fact the plaque in the hallway of the Castle was mounted by him. A very talented man, I may say! In fact this man David worked at the Foundry during High School and College summers. It was great listening to the old stories.

I have so much more to tell you but my friend can’t pay attention to me any more today. I am so lucky to be roaming around here again. I just wish I could take a swim in that pool in back of what they call the Courtyard Villas. Just lovely!

SOSJ

Day Trip

2010-11-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

I took a trip with some islanders up to Hatteras the other day. Of course they didn’t realize I was there since they couldn’t see me. It was a beautiful day and just felt like going for a spin. Luckily if you live on the island you can get a ferry pass, so we didn’t have to wait – and there was a long line of cars. Some had to wait for the next ferry. Coming back the line was really long so it was really nice to just get in the priority line and be loaded first. Course the islanders pay a lot of taxes and have to go off the island to reach a dentist, pharmacy, any large stores – so they certainly deserve to not have to wait to get going or get home.

There is lots of noise on the island about the ferry system these days. Seems the big ferries can’t run until they dredge out the channel more. We got stuck on the small ferry, but just for a few minutes and we got going again. Most didn’t realize – but I notice such things. Anyway, sure beats the old ferries we just to have to take.

It wasn’t until 1950 that a car ferry ran between Hatteras and Ocracoke. It made three scheduled departures a day and for an extra fee would make an extra trip – bringing four cars for a fee of five dollars a car. In1957 the state took over the Hatteras ferry route and made four daily runs. A private ferry started going between Ocracoke and Cedar Island in early spring of 1960, but couldn’t make ends meet. Finally the state took over the Cedar Island ferry in December 1960. It wasn’t until 1977 that the state started the Swansboro to Ocracoke ferry. So, all in all things have certainly improved. With all the growth of tourism, more improvement is needed, so I hope that happens.

It was a great trip – couldn’t have asked for a prettier day. Was fun go leave the island but glad to return in just a few hours.
Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

Gladys

2010-10-26T10:03:00.002-04:00

Gladys woke me this morning with that sausage and bacon – she even made gravy today. On top of those delicious biscuits, knew I was in heaven or at least my heaven. Luckily she makes plenty of food so they don’t notice my indulging, especially since they can’t see me. In case you didn’t know, I left this world in 1977, but couldn’t stand to be away from the castle – a place I starting building in the fifties at my favorite place, Ocracoke Island, NC. So, I returned here instead of going through the pearly gates. My spirit roams throughout this wonderful island and stays at the Castle each night. I sometimes I spend all day here, but I love getting into town and seeing all the happenings. It is so much easier now no one can see me. I was always a social fellow, but really enjoy the aluftness. I hear great music, eat well, go to the beach, out into the sound. Now I do miss hunting and fishing. Think it is best to leave those things to the younger fellows. And I will say there is some fine fishing on this island. That new fish house in the village is jumping. Couldn’t get any fresher. Enjoy going down to the docks and seeing what the charters are bringing in. The blues have been running. Some nice tile fish, mackerels, tuna – you name it they are catching it.
Shrimp is just coming into season – some mighty fine eating on this spit of sand. Think I’ll go see what’s cooking.
Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

Potluck

2010-10-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

Stopped by the potluck the other day. A community potluck was held at the school gym to welcome the new principal, new Methodist minister, new doctor. and new nurse. A very nice gathering. And talk about food. Two long tables piled high and two separate tables with desserts. These folks know how to eat. What a variety of things. Pulled and slice pork, pasta salads and bean salads galore, devilled eggs – many kinds, and homemade pimento cheese. That is some fine eating! Also, just a wonderful community gathering. That doesn’t happen many places, but it sure does here.
Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

Food

2010-10-11T09:34:00.000-04:00

Speaking of cooking, there is food just everywhere on this island. Think the village motto is you feed them, they will come. I went to an art opening at one of the galleries for Mary Bassell the other evening. Mary has worked here at the Castle for quite awhile. She does a fine job here, but she is an incredible artist. Pastels are her specialty. Some beautiful pictures – hard to pick a favorite for me.
Anyway, wine, beer and food were served. And I don’t mean peanuts and chips. There was guacamole, humus, wonderful cheeses, and terrific olives. As I say – wherever you go on this island someone is feeding someone. This town is one of a kind.
Spirit of Sam Jones (SOSJ)

The Spirit of Sam Jones again

2010-10-08T09:18:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

I’m back to tell you about my latest excursion. I did take a scud around the Village and I can only say I enjoyed it immensely. Some of the storms have kicked up the waves lately and deposited some wonderful shells on the beaches. I overheard some folks talking about what they found, although I myself haven’t been out on the beach yet.

The Village has changed since my time. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but it does take some getting used to. Tourists are wearing much more comfortable clothes now. I myself can’t go out without my watch chain and of course my hat. I forgot! I can’t wear a hat now, but I can pretend. I always wore long pants but I like the idea of cutting them off at the knees, which seems to be a favorite nowadays. Wow! I was quite overwhelmed at the variety of restaurants and stores here on this small island. Couldn’t quite decide where I wanted to eat, but then I remembered I don’t have to fill my tummy anymore. I’ll just have to watch others enjoy the food.

Came back to the Castle this afternoon and sat on the screened porch enjoying the conversations of people on vacation. Most are falling in love with Ocracoke as I did. A lot of them have come back time and again and that makes me happy to know they chose the Castle to stay for the time they’re here. Just warms my heart! I went upstairs to the “Widow’s Walk”, and just as in my day, the view is fantastic. What a great place to let’s say, ask a gal to marry you!

It should be a clear night tonight, and being I don’t have to do much sleeping, I think I will just enjoy the brilliant sunset and the stars, which never ceased to amaze me. I also may float around the rooms for a while checking to see if I know anyone who is staying here tonight.

See you all soon!

SOSJ

The Spirit of Sam Jones

2010-10-06T09:58:00.003-04:00

For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sam Jones. Although it was not my choice, my body left this world in 1977. I’ve been spiriting around the globe visiting places I didn’t have the chance to go to in my lifetime, but I just couldn’t stand to be away from Ocracoke and the Castle on Silver Lake any longer.

You see, I always loved this special Island of Ocracoke even back in the 1930’s when I first came to visit. That was long before many of you, who are reading this, were born. I knew right from the start I wanted to share this special place with others and I did, by inviting whoever I knew back then to come on down and be my guest. The only problem was where would my guests stay? I would just have to build something! Simple, huh?
Not so, at that time. To make a very long story short that is why I decided to build this fine old house here on the harbor. The view was mighty different back then, but just as pleasing to the eyes. When my friends came to visit I made sure that that they were comfy and got the chance to enjoy Ocracoke as much as I did. I wanted a place where my family, friends, islanders and of course my horse, Ikey D could take part in the festivities I planned. And what a good time was had by all!

Right now it is September, a favorite time of year and as I can tell, the Castle is still delightfully busy. The Castle rooms are filled with guests and the Villas, built since I owned this establishment are just as occupied. It’s so great to hear the laughter coming from the kitchen in the Bed and Breakfast with all these folks relaxing and enjoying themselves. I can smell the coffee brewing, as well as the aroma of bacon and sausage, French toast and the like. It is quite a fantastic way to wake up in the morning. Don’t you think?

While on my travels, I heard about this blogging thing people are doing, and wanted to take a shot at it on my own. Well, whoops, I forgot I only knew how to type the old fashioned way and I can’t even do that anymore. What I needed was a friend I could get to help me out. It seems I can choose one person to communicate with and even though I can’t tell you who that is; we are all ready to set this in motion. I hope you all will enjoy my return to the Castle. I’ll try not to make too much noise.

Right now I think I want to take a scud around town and see what’s happening.

SOSJ

'Tis The Season ?

2009-11-21T12:22:00.004-05:00

I often ponder at what point it becomes obvious that it truly 'tis the season. It would seem that it (the season) always slips up on me before I realize it and gets away from me just as fast.

When I used to live elsewhere it was easier to tell when it was 'tis the season, as the big guys like Wal Mart and the like would start playing Christmas music while they were clearing the leftover halloween candy off the shelves, followed by the brief appearance a few thanksgiving trinkets to distract you from the real mission of loading the shelves with Christmas items.

Now, it's a fact that a bragging right of Ocracoke Island is that there is no Wal Mart and the like, so just how is a person supposed to tell when it 'tis the season if they don't have all these signs?

Looking around Ocracoke, things are little more subtle as you might expect. My first indication was Miss Dee, one of the local wreath makers patrolling the island in search of greenery for this years wreaths. The local ladies will soon be busy making and distributing these beautiful decorations. You can read all about their mission here:
Island Free Press.

Tommy at the Variety Store announced that this years shipment of live Christmas trees will be arriving next Tuesday. Everyone all over the island is getting out word of upcoming festivities and events. There is a good list posted on the Ocracoke Blog, and a good review of post Nor' Ida conditions on the Island.

As time goes on, other indications that 'tis the season is approaching on Ocracoke will gently appear and will be upon us before we know it, leaving little time to take it in stride.

Ocracoke is nice this time of year. The nights get a little chilly, there's fewer mosquitoes and fewer people for them to feed on.

So why not come on over and stay at the Castle for a night or two? Enjoy some quiet time before you have to dive into "the season". Sit by the fireplace or shoot some pool. Take in one of the great community activities or programs the island has to offer. There's some of the best talent in North Carolina here.

We'll be closing in January for while so don't wait too long.

Recently I was up on the top of the Castle working on the webcam and happened to have my camera. The view was spectacular and I grabbed this panoramic shot. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Click here for a really large view.

Come enjoy the view in person.

Island Life

2009-07-28T13:54:00.008-04:00

It is hot today and as usual the weather is great on Ocracoke. I say as usual because any day here is a good one no matter what else is going on.

I highly recommend you visit the DeepWater Theater and Music Hall. Molasses Creek is our home grown band and provides great family fun. I guarantee you will enjoy it.

All tickets sold at door. No reservations are accepted so get there early. Cash/MC/Visa. Door opens 30 minutes before shows.

The kids will also enjoy the Rumgagger Pirate Show, also at the DeepWater Theater.
From the website:

"Rumgagger ~(noun) An archaic nautical term referring to a teller of tall tales

Welcome to a fun-filled seaworthy show brimming with salty tales, even saltier characters, pirates, Blackbeard, and plenty of maritime hisotry and songs.

Join Captian Rob Temple (of the schooner WINDFALL), along with Fiddler Dave and Gary of Molasses Creek for a family show that you can really sink your hook into!"

This show is on Thursdays at 1:00 pm.

So while Ocracoke is a quiet, laid back island there is still lots to do when you are in the mood.

The Ocracoke Lighthouse

2009-07-22T13:03:00.004-04:00

One of the most popular attractions on the island is the Ocracoke Lighthouse. I thought you might be intereseted in some facts and history about it.

In 1822 the federal government purchased two acres of land at the south end of the island. This was to be the site for the new lighthouse.

It cost $11,359.35 to build in 1823

It stands approx. 75 feet tall and is the shortest lighthouse on the NC coast. The walls are solid brick; five feet thick at the bootom and tapering to two feet at the top.

The beam can be seen for fourteen miles.

This is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the United States and the oldest in North Carolina.

The exterior’s solid white color served as its identifying mark to sailors and mariners by day. The original whitewash “recipe” called for a mixture of lime, salt, spanish whiting, rice, glue, and boiling water and this was applied to the lighthouse while the mixture was hot.

The lighthouse has been through many hurricanes. During the storm of 1944 water lapped against the doorstep and was seven inches deep in the keeper's quarters.

During the summer months there is a US Park Ranger on duty and visitors may enter the base of the lighthouse but climbing is not permitted.

Popcorn and a (short) Movie

2009-07-21T16:12:00.002-04:00

If you have not had the pleasure of staying at The Castle on Silver Lake on Ocracoke Island, you need to remedy that. It is one of the most tranquil, beautiful places on earth.

Make sure you get up in time to sample one of Miss Gladys's home made breakfasts... that alone is worth the trip.

Visit the lighthouse, do some shopping--no chain stores or malls here--and then pick a place to have lunch and dinner. Our favorites? Jasons and Cafe Atlantic are great and The Back Porch is always good.

Once here on the island you will see why Dr. Beach named it his #1 choice for best beach in 2007.

Photo Contest Pictures

2009-06-30T14:45:00.007-04:00

photo by Pat Bleich

Season is here ... really busy ...only have time to add some great photos sent in to the 2009 Photo Contest sponsored by Ocraocke Island Realty. Anyone can enter--no strings attached. Nothing to buy, nothing to sign up for. Read More.

photo by Judi Dudley

photo by Pat Bleich

Happy

2009-06-22T15:53:00.002-04:00

I love this place. My husband gave me a card with a three night stay here anytime this year. I chose Fathers Day week and brought him along.

We have been very relaxed and are going to stay one more day. Miss Gladys has fixed us a wonderful breakfast every morning and we walk it off each day and do some sightseeing.

I have done some Christmas shopping and some birthday shopping too. Yesterday we went to the beach and worked on our tans for a few hours and then went to Cafe Atlantic for dinner. Fantastic.

The people at the Castle have been so kind to us and we are already planning on coming back this fall. When Jack asked me to write a short post for the blog I was happy to.

This island is a magical place.

Thank you

Happy Hannah

Spring is in full bloom...

2009-04-29T13:36:00.002-04:00

Spring is in Full Bloom all over Ocracoke Island but it is especially beautiful here on the Castle Grounds. After a long, chilly winter, the various shades of green that comes with the season of spring are symbolic of life and optimistic hope. This annual event occurs in cooperation with Mother Nature and our gardener, Jose.

Mother Nature provides the surging life force energies that are visible through the sudden growth and flowering of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. It is Jose’s steady attention to the details of the planting that contributes to the lush landscape here at the Castle. You can find Jose pruning the trees; dividing the plants; trimming and mulching the garden beds; and of course always making sure they all get some water.

We also have a resident gardener, Jen, who has her eye on filling up the empty, overlooked spaces with greenery and color. She has been busy planting vegetables and herbs along the fence line; hollyhocks and gladiolas along the back fence and tucking new plants in among the old. Jen’s energy and aesthetic eye for color and texture have already graced the established flower beds. While the daffodils she planted in the fall have come and gone, we look forward to watching and sampling her new contributions to the Castle landscape.

So, how was your visit?

2008-12-22T14:53:00.002-05:00

How was your visit? The answer to that question can make or break an Innkeepers day. Taking care of the Inn can sometimes be challenging, on second thought, I won't say sometimes, I'll say that it can often be challenging.

No matter how many times we walk around to check and double check things, the unexpected can always happen. The heat or air conditioning goes out or something like: it's 7:00 o'clock in the morning and someone forgot to stock the fridge for breakfast.

I think my favorite and always expected line when it rains is: "did you know there's a leak ______________ " (you can fill in the blank as to location in that phrase). It's pretty much guaranteed that when the wind is howling 35 knots and it's raining, we're going to have a leak somewhere. I should have a prize for the first person that walks up and says that to me.

I know it sounds like I'm some kind of nut when I go take a look and mumble "yes, that's a leak all right, haven't had one there before" as I wander off to look for something to catch the raindrops as they slowly fall from the ceiling. Fortunately folks understand. How could you not get a leak with a roof line that looks like this:

So, how was your visit? I've heard enough lawyers on Law and Order say "never ask a question you don't know the answer to". Or was that Perry Mason? I forget. But one thing's for sure, everyone has a different opinion of the Castle and we want to hear them all. It's not a standard phrase we just say. Good, bad or just plain ordinary, we really want to know.

We have a few of those guest books floating around the Inn. Occasionally guests will take the time to leave a note for the next guest. I enjoy reading them myself.

I've scanned a few of the notes in to share with fellow bloggers. A couple of the folks that wrote the ones below had some pretty interesting visits from what I observed while they were here. No, everything did not go smooth on all of their visits, but we took every measure to address their concerns during their stay. Seems like they had a good time despite the malfunctions we had along the way. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I do.

Happy Holidays
The "Inn" Crowd

Celebrity Visits The Castle

2008-12-16T20:08:00.000-05:00

Well I hope the subject got your attention. I know you were all set to read another post about my roaming about the castle and grounds but this is much more exciting.

I often wonder why some people come here this time of year. It could be 70 degrees one day and 35 the next and vice verse. Yesterday I was out working on the grounds in a tee shirt, and today it's raining, cold and the wind is howling about 30 knots. There's hardly any shops or restaurants open at this time of year. All that aside, the phone always rings with people that are happy to hear that we are open and "have room at the inn".

It's always intriguing to hear about what brings guests here this time of year. A couple of the guests this past weekend specifically came because they like to make their own fun. They relayed to me that they love the solitude that the island brings this time of year. They told me of their walks along the beach and Springer's Point. I truly felt envious. But then again, I enjoy the walk to the Community Store with my wife and the early morning rides on the beach in the jeep. So, I know just how they felt.

Anyway, there I go rambling again and I'm sure by now you want to know about this celebrity. Last Friday night I knew there was supposed to be some guests arriving from Englehard. I usually look to see where folks are coming from so I can guess their arrival time based on the ferry schedule. If I think it's going to be late I want to make their check-in as simple as possible. When they did not check in after the last ferry from Swan Quarter I became a little concerned.

We had an event going on at the Castle that night and we happened to be there late. I expressed to some co-workers that I was concerned that the guests had not showed up. I was happy to see my guests arrive at 11:00 pm. They explained that one of them had to work late and they had to drive around to the Hatteras Ferry to come to Ocracoke as they could not make the Swan Quarter. I was just glad to see that they made it OK.

It was late and they looked tired so I just showed them to their room and wished them a good night.

The next morning I had the pleasure of engaging in conversation with JD (He said his friends called him that so I guess it made it OK for me). He told me that his wife had drug him there because she thought he worked too hard and he needed to relax a little. Now I'm no expert but JD looked like a guy who was dedicated to his job. Then when I found out what his job was I thought, "WOW, that's about the most important job on the Outer Banks". Now JD seemed like a modest kind of fellow when I thanked him for doing such a good job and battling what seemed like impossible odds. He just smiled and gave me the impression of "that's just what I do".

In some ways I could look at JD and see that he was not sure how to relax, and this whole bed and breakfast thing, well the things you do for love, and I could tell that his wife was determined that he was going to relax in spite of himself.

I'll also have to point out that it was JD's birthday and this is why his wife chose to "drag" him to Ocracoke.

A group of guest's were sitting around on the front sun porch and JD and his wife walked by. For some reason I could not help myself, but I beckoned to this modest man to come back into the room so I could introduce him to the others. When I did, a round of applause and lots of verbal "thank yous" were given and I'm sure I embarrassed him but I just felt that his celebrity status should be recognized.

That morning JD and his wife were departing the Inn early and I invited them to stay longer, perhaps another night. They explained that they had to go because Mrs JD had to get back because she had work to do with Toys for Tots.

Their stay at the inn was because they had won a gift certificate from the Castle for their participation in the Relay for Life. Oh, I guess I have not told you what JD's occupation is yet. He works for the NC Department of Transportation, and he supervises the crew that keeps NC 12 open at Mirlo Beach (when they can), thus my opinion that he is one of the most important people on the Outer Banks. There are many of us who depend on that small passage.

I'm happy to have had Mr and Mrs JD as guests at the Castle and I hope they come back to see us again. I know that the "Castle Mug" I gave him for his birthday cannot repay the dedication that JD and his wife have made to the community, but I do hope that when they look at it, they remember the gratitude and respect that the small group of folks they met had for them. And the gratitude of the many folks that depend on them and others like them that often goes unspoken.

Thanks again Mr and Mrs JD, for all you do.

Happy Holidays

"The Inn Crowd"

The Landlord's Invitation

2008-12-14T14:05:00.003-05:00

I'm sure a lot of you think I spend all of my time wandering around the Inn and you may be right. Now's the time to get the things done that we may have slid to the "back burner" when we were real busy or venture off into some area to see if you really did take care of something or had a dream about doing it.

I think part of my problem is that the Castle is rather distracting. Every hallway you go down has something on the wall that can stop you so that you can get another look at it. Even if you've looked at it a bunch of times.

Below is a photo of a plaque that hangs on the wall at the bottom of the stairs just outside the kitchen. For those of you that have visited us, you may have seen it. Then again, it's easy to walk by and not see it as the aroma of breakfast that Ms Gladys is cooking up in the kitchen is all you can focus on when you walk by.

I've often thought that the words on this plaque were some kind of "down home Ocracoke hoi toide" language or that perhaps ET had visited the castle and presented Sam Jones with the plaque. One thing for sure was that I had no idea what it said. Even going back for "one more look" never helped.

This past weekend I turned the corner and there stood two young ladies staring at the sign. "Ha" says I, "if you figure out what that thing says come and tell me because I can't". They let out a chuckle and I could see the determination in their eyes and never gave it another thought.

The next day, these two girls came into the den and made an announcement. "We've figured it out"! Forgetting about my conversation on the previous day, I thought that maybe they had figured out what Ms Gladys puts in her omelets that makes them so good. Then they lead all of us to the sign and commenced to reading it to us. It all made sense the way they said it. I can say that it did not feel good to be outsmarted by a couple of 13 year olds, but I sure was glad that the riddle for me was finally solved. The next time I see them I should make them a pie or something.

So take a look and see if you can read it. At least you'll see why it intrigues me.

Happy Holidays from "The Inn Crowd"

If These Walls Could Talk...

2008-11-23T15:15:00.003-05:00

I'm sure there's a movie or a book out there somewhere with that title, but often it's the thought that goes through my mind as I walk about the Inn. It doesn't happen very often that the opportunity to walk about the building when there is no one else here becomes available.

This solitude brings out the "sounds of silence" so to speak. During this time of year it can get so quiet in the building that all you can hear is the ticking of the second hand on the clock and the light humming of the computer fan. I usually take advantage of this rare occasion to go "exploring" around the Castle and the grounds.

Actually, I'm just making sure that things are in order for the next guests checking in, but hey, it sounds more exciting to use the word "exploring". I enjoy opening up all of the room doors and roaming from room to room trying to imagine what it was like "back in the day".

A visitor to Ocracoke stopped by this fall and told me that his last visit to the Island was back around 1954 and he remembered seeing the Castle as it was undergoing construction and thinking at that time that it was going to be some incredible building for Ocracoke. He asked if he could look around so I gave him a tour and he told me about the way the island was the last time he visited so long ago, peaking my imagination even further.

There are newspaper articles and photos of Sam Jones and his friends hanging on some of the walls. Even though I've read the stories many times and stared at the photos, I always stop as I pass by them to look one more time in fascination. This architectural marvel never ceases to amaze me and the thought of how it came to be from the imagination of Mr. Jones.

Every photo I see is of smiling faces. There is one photo of a group of people around a piano and right in the middle staring at the sheet music is Ikey D, Sam's horse. In my mind they are singing the theme song to Mr. Ed, but in reality I'm sure it was something like "Get Along Little Dogies" or some other western classic.

My wife says if I did not talk so much, I would get home an hour earlier every day. She's probably right but once you get me talking about the history of this place, well they say time flys when you're having fun. So stop on by some time and let me talk your ear off.

It's time for me to go "exploring" or make my rounds as they say. If you want to come along and see the Castle through my eyes, just click on the video link below for a virtual tour. Today I'm just going check out the first floor which will include Mary's Room, Billy's Room, Patti's Room and of course Sam and Ikey D's Room in that order.

Until next time,
The "Inn" Crowd

Thanks to my good friend Rob Alderman for his talent with the camera and filming.

Click Here For The Video Tour

"Inn" and Around the Lake..

2008-10-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

"Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land"

A borrowed title and lyrics from the famous "Yes" song. Only thing is, you'll have to take out the Eagle and maybe stick in Pelican. I have not seen any eagles here yet but I thought everyone should have that song stuck in your head for a few hours.

I often think of the title as I walk around the Castle grounds and enjoy the beauty of the Lake View across the street. You can see boats coming and going, people riding bicycles or sitting on a deck overlooking the lake and just enjoying the view. I like it so much that I often come to work early just to spend some quiet time up on the widow's walk before starting my shift. Truly a benefit of working at the Castle.

The story is told that Sam Jones designed the Castle and is said to have drawn sketches in the sand for his carpenters at the beginning of each day. The Castle was built exclusively by local craftsmen who worked for Jones when the weather was too bad for fishing or crabbing. As I stare down at the roof line from the top, I wonder what is more incredible, the fact that he could have sketched it in the sand, or that the carpenters could have built it from that sketch. Look at the photo below and see what you think.

A view of the roof looking down from the Widow's Walk.

This view is looking at the Castle Villas roof line from the

Widow's Walk. The Villa's were constructed later by

Steve and Mary Wright

Outside Looking In. The walk leading to the Back Porch just off the Kitchen

Now for the "around the lake" part. It's one thing to walk or bike around but another to see it from the water. The Castle amenities include a floating dock. We have many guests that arrive by boat, find it useful to launch a kayak or just sit on the dock and stick their feet in the water. Recently I had the opportunity to go on a boat ride and look at the Lake from the water.

A frequent guest washes down his boat after arriving at the Castle.

Cleaning fish and telling tales. A scene from the docks near Down Creek Gallery

Leaving the ditch headed into the sound.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but don't take my word for it. Beauty like this should be seen in person. Come see us and experience your own "Inn and Around the Lake"

The "Inn" Crowd

Ocracoke.. make your own fun!

2008-10-12T19:45:00.007-04:00

I'll have to admit that the weather on Saturday was not the best if you planned to do anything except play pool, watch football or cook some hush puppies. Every room in the Inn was booked and we were filled to capacity with lots of guests that thought they were going to spend the day riding bikes, walking around the island or lounging by the heated pool out back.

I ran different scenarios through my head as to how to entertain the many folks hanging around the den waiting for the rain to quit as I assured them it would at some point. It became obvious real quick that no one was interested in playing "Simon Says" or musical chairs. I wished that I had a Bingo Game. I'm sure they would love that. Hmm .. What would Julie do if this was the Love Boat?

Truthfully, we had a great group of people staying with us. Folks were watching football, telling stories, sharing some wine and enjoying the custom made pool table in the den. To my disappointment, no one was making hush puppies.

It appeared that the only person really bothered about the weather was me. Everyone was having a great time and making the best of the rainy day. I heard that one of the guests was giving lessons on how to properly throw a casting net to catch bait for fishing out on the front lawn. There was no disappointment in "castleville" this day.

Some of our guests rarely left the Inn and before they checked out, they reserved their rooms for next year. Thus the title of this blog, "Make Your Own Fun".

For most of the people staying with us it was their first visit to The Castle and since the rain did not stop as soon as "the weatherman" and I said it would, I took a few photos today and posted them below to show "what could have been".

Next time you're down around Ocracoke way, stop on in and say hello. We'll take you on a tour and make you feel at home even if you're not staying with us. We know that once you visit, you'll come back. Not really sure what it is, but there's something about The Castle that makes a person just want to join in the experience.

So, when the next weather forecast calls for rain, come see us, we've got plenty of chalk for those cue sticks, big screen TV in the den, and if Mary's around, she might even make some of her Castle famous banana bread (or perhaps some hush puppies).

Scroll down and enjoy the photos of Castle Scenes taken today.. after the storm.

(Did I mention that Miss Gladys puts cream cheese in the grits?)

The "Inn" Crowd

View from "The Widow's Walk

Ocracoke Lighthouse View from the Widow's Walk

Trick or Treat

Rose blooming out by the fence.

It is October isn't it?

Castle Innkeeper

2008-10-09T10:34:00.001-04:00

Thanks to all the wonderful guests, innkeeper staff, maintenance, house keeping staff, and all at Village Realty, The castle on Silver Lake has had an outstanding summer season. I want to share with you some of the special things we do. Gladys, our cook, goes out of her way to meet the needs of the guest. If they need to eat early or have special diet requirements, she treats them as she was their personal cook. Jose is available day and night to fix any problems guest may have with their stay.

Our grounds receive compliments every week due to Jose's dedication and high standards. We receive many compliments on our 24 hour refreshment area which includes bottled soft drinks, water, snacks, and fresh fruit. We supply wine and champagne glasses, directory with phone listing and menu's for every room. Each room is supplied with extra pillows and blanket. Our parlor has all channel satellite TV, with plenty of seating for large groups who like to get together for the evening.

Last Tuesday I took three of our guests surf fishing, which we all enjoyed. One of the guests stayed an extra two days just to go fishing.

We are looking forward to a Great fall season as the word spreads that The Castle on Silver Lake is by far the best lodging on Ocracoke Island.

Randy

Guest Blogger

2008-08-14T09:28:00.000-04:00

Posted by Guest Blogger BK from Corolla, NC:

I made a trip down to Ocracoke last weekend and had a great time. I want to thank Jack for the hospitality and the guided tour. I met the staff at Ocracoke Island Realty, and enjoyed an evening with Jack and his wife, their two kids and a few others, and heard one of the most fascinating stories.

A good trip to Ocracoke always includes some biking around town and a trip to the beach plus a new find, Springer’s Point. I ran around town to work up an appetite as the sun was rising and saw some of the boaters start to move as I enjoyed Silver Lake before any of the normal hustle and bustle.

I stayed at The Castle B & B on Silver Lake, in Jeff’s room, and it was wonderful. I even ate breakfast with the Inn keepers Mary and Jeff. I greeted most of the guests while I hung out by the breakfast bar as I grazed for about an hour. I couldn’t have started the day any better.

My favorite part of the trip was meeting Mark and hearing one of his stories. Mark and his wife had just sailed up from the Bahama’s and were spending a few days anchored in Silver Lake. What became the topic of conversation soon after Mark arrived was the story of his shark bites. About 3 weeks ago he was spear fishing a few hundred yards off shore in The Bahamas
when he speared a nice big fish. Apparently a shark near by got excited after smelling blood, and ended up taking a few bites of Mark’s leg instead. He was already tired of talking about it, but those of us who hadn’t heard the story yet asked him questions like highly paid reporters. Grilling him, then what, what next, did you do this, did you do that?

I’d never met someone who was actually bitten before, and it’s always nice to get a few real life hints or suggestions, just incase. The good news is he’s fine, only one small wound is not yet completely healed, but it’s almost there. He’s certainly going to have the one of the best ‘fish stories’ in any room his in , with scars to prove it.

Thanks again Jack, I had a wonderful weekend. I hope Mark and Jacqueline sailed off safely.

: )

2008-07-30T13:20:00.000-04:00

1st of August is coming up and we have had an amazing summer. There has been only one storm that threatened the island this year and it really didn’t amount to much. We have been lucky so far. ‘Knock, knock’ It’s been sunny and warm, and the beach has never been more inviting. After and right before Christobal the waves where up and the surfing was at its peak. Now for the past week we have Lake Atlantic to our east, perfect for swimming or just floating.

tecnograss

2008-07-15T10:08:00.001-04:00

The Castle has just got in an order of Bermuda grass seeds for our front lawn. The Lawn is rather spotty right now so this seeding should be a nice improvement to the Castle frontage. We are planning to scatter the seeds some time this week. Now if we could only get the stray cats to stop sleeping on the flowers.
There is a new addition to our lobby. We now have a shiny new dell computer with an internet connection waiting for the guest to hop right on. There is a plush leather chair parked right in front ready to support who so ever chooses to take the helm. There is a large state of the art 15” flat screen monitor on the desk. Perfect for viewing any web based e-mail programs.
We are all excited about the new additions here and hope the guest enjoy them as well.

I was just there

2008-06-18T17:02:00.000-04:00

I got to spend time on Ocracoke last week. It is the first time I have been there since "the season" started and it was fun to see all the bikers, joggers, walkers and shoppers out and about.

Had some good food and did some shopping.......and a lot of people watching too. Everyone seems to be a little more relaxed once they realize they are truly "here".

The ferry ride over is a good way to start unwinding since you really cannot do too much for the 40 minutes it takes to get here.

Anyway, we had a nice and relaxing stay and I am already looking forward to going back in the Fall. Now I just have to decide which room I want to stay in next time.........and I definitely want to make sure that I eat breakfast at the Castle each morning. That is some of the best home cooking I have ever had.

Take care and we hope you can make it down to our part of the world soon.
Your Ocracoke Blogger

Memorial Day Weekend

2008-05-27T11:27:00.002-04:00

The last of our guests are checking out from the long holiday weekend. Memorial Day weekend was a huge success. We had every room in The Castle Bed and Breakfast filled and the Villas were also occupied. We did have a few cancellations but within the hour we had booked the room again.
The harbor got a little crowed this weekend. There were about 25 to 30 boats anchored in the middle of Silver Lake. At night you could see all of the lights from the boats illuminating the harbor. We have 60 feet of floating dock available for guest at the Castle. There are a number of slips at the fixed dock that have private owners. One of the boats at the fixed dock is a 60 odd foot, Sloop rigged, sailing vessel, owned by Bob Oakes, the owner of the Castle. My sloop is anchored 30 yards away from the Castle’s dock.
Everything has slowed back down, the streets and sidewalks are less crowded. Oh well, back to the quiet island life.

windy

2008-05-13T10:27:00.002-04:00

A low pressure system passed over the island yesterday. It brought winds up to 40 mph. The Northern ferries were only able to make a few runs throughout the day. The last one ran at 6:00, because the ferry operators that were on the Hatteras side live here on Ocracoke and had to get home. The Southern ferries (the ones that run to the mainland) stopped running around midday. The Pamlico Sound must have been pretty rough. Looking out the front windows of the Castle you can see the sound across the harbor. The foam and the breaking waves had turned the sound white. When a boat that is 220 feet long does not want to travel in the sound, you can imagine how unpleasant the conditions are.
Today the wind has quieted down and all of the ferries are running on schedule. One good thing about yesterdays wind was the mosquitoes were blown away and we will not be bothered for the next couple of days.

Childhood memories

2008-05-08T15:39:00.002-04:00

Things are starting to get a little busier here at the Castle. You can tell the season is starting. The reservations screen on my computer is full of tiny colorful blocks. It reminds me of my childhood playing with Lego blocks. I would pretend that I was an Innkeeper at some fancy B&B and I would lay the Lego's out on the floor pretending that the brightly colored blocks was a room assignments spreadsheet. Oh, how my brother and I would play for hours checking each other in and out of different rooms in the house. We would tell each other about the heated pool and sauna located at the back of the property. How there was a fleet of bicycles that any of the guests could borrow at anytime. We would speak of the delicious breakfast that will be served in the morning from 8:30 till 9:30. The pool table that was in our fictional lobby was always open until 9:00 every evening. Yes, we were some rowdy kids, my brother and I.

It is rather funny, and strangely coincidental that I now work at the Castle on Silver Lake Bed and Breakfast. The Castle has the exact same amenities that I would offer my dear brother so many years ago.

But seriously, the Castle is a beautiful building with a lot to offer to our guests and I am proud to work here

Till Next Time

Your B&B Blogger

Nicholas

Lunch

2008-05-05T13:49:00.001-04:00

Whenever I come to Ocracoke I always try to eat at Jason's. Today Jenny and I are visiting our co-workers at the Castle, and we got to take Nicholas with us to lunch. Jason's is located on Hwy 12, and it has some of the best food and a funky atmosphere that I love. We all had the red drum sandwich special and it was as good as I expected.
While I was eating I shared a story with Nicholas and Jenny about how my husband came home from the grocery store the other day with frozen fish sticks. As I was unpacking the bag I pulled the fish sticks out and looked at him and said "What the heck where you thinking? We live on an island with fresh seafood and you bring home frozen fish sticks!" He said he wanted fish but didn't want the house to smell and proceeded to put some in the oven. Being a good Outer Banker I refused to eat them.
Although I don't fish I know that the Outer Banks is one of the most favored fishing destinations on the East Coast and I also know that I can buy fresh, delicious, local seafood at the grocery store anytime. That is one of the perks of living here.
Right now I'm sitting at Castle Bed and Breakfast watching the ferry leave the harbor and thinking how lucky I am to have a job that lets me do this. Ocracoke is a magical place and unlike any other spot on the Outer Banks. The Castle looks like a actual castle and Jenny and I were both looking forward to coming down to stay a night or two.
OK... back to work, Nicholas is one of the new innkeepers and will be posting many of the blogs from here on. Nicholas lives on his boat anchored out in front of the Castle and I'm sure will have some interesting things to write about.
Till Next Time
Your Ocracoke Guest Blogger

2008 Ferry Schedules

2008-03-27T11:19:00.003-04:00

Note that the summer Cedar Island/Ocracoke ferry route has changed from previous years.
See the full schedule at the NCDOT website.

March 18 - Nov. 10, 2008
Leaving Cedar Island
7.00 a.m.
10.30
12.00 p.m.
2.00
5.00
7.30

Leaving Ocracoke
7.00 a.m.
10.30
2.00 p.m.
3.30
5.00
10.00

Spring Restaurant Guide

2008-03-12T11:13:00.003-04:00

Back Porch Restaurant, 928-6401. Will open April 17, serving dinner daily from 5-9 pm.
Cafe Atlantic, 928-4861, will Open March 14 for dinner 5 – 9pm. Closed Tuesdays. No Sunday brunch.
Capt. Ben's Restaurant, 928-4741, will open Easter weekend. Open 11:30 am – 9 pm.
Creekside Cafe, 928-3606, opening March 21.
Fig Tree Bakery & Deli, 928-3481, Will Open mid-April.
Flying Melon Cafe, 928-2533, Will open March 19. Dinner served Wednesday through Saturday. Brunch served Friday – Sunday.
Howard's Pub/Raw Bar Restaurant, 928-4441, Will open March 13th, serving 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Jason's Restaurant, 928-3434, Open now serving lunch and dinner. Closed March 24 – April 23.
Jolly Roger Pub & Marina, 928-3703, will open April 17.
Mango Loco, 928-2874, will open on April 18, serving dinner daily at 6 pm. Closed Mondays.
Ocracoke Coffee Co. & Island Smoothie, 928-7473. Open daily at 7 am. (around Easter weekend) Ocracoke Station Deli, 928-2639. Open daily.
Pony Island Restaurant, 928-5701, Open daily. Serving breakfast 7 – 11 am and lunch 11 am – 2 pm.
SmacNally's, 928-9999. TBA SOON!
Sweet Tooth, 928-3481, Opening around Easter weekend until March 29, Will reopen second week of April with Fig Tree Deli.
Thai Moon, 928-5100. TBA SOON!

Hwy 12 to Open on Wednesday, March 5

2008-03-04T11:58:00.005-05:00

Hwy 12 will open this Wednesday, March 5 at 5 PM. See latest at www.ocracokebridges.com.

Please call the ferry office you plan to use to check on the correct schedules.

Hatteras office - 252-986-2353
Ocracoke office - 252-928-3841
Swan Quarter office - 252-926-1111
Cedar Island office - 252-225-3551

Thanks and see you soon!

Ocracoke Handles Bridge Replacement Project With Ease

2008-01-29T09:34:00.000-05:00

So far, the bridge replacement on the north end of Ocracoke is on track. I have been writing weekly articles for the Island Free Press, an online publication out of Hatteras, on the progress and the unique situation of driving on the beach for the 3.3 miles along Highway 12.

Check out articles here: http://www.islandfreepress.org/CatLocalNews-Ocracoke.html

and the progress of the project, straight from the NCDOT's mouth, here: www.ocracokebridges.com.

Looking forward to warmer weather and see you then!!
Jamie

A Unique Opportunity

2008-01-02T11:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

I have vacationed on Ocracoke every summer for all my years and my family always had the privilege of our family-owned house on the island. I can't imagine the money saved over the years without the expense of accommodations, but when my brother and I were little we begged to be able to stay in a hotel, just one night, so we could swim in the swimming pool and have something different. Looking back, it's a silly notion, but we didn't know how good we had it.

I finally had the opportunity to spend the night in a hotel on Ocracoke on New Year's Eve. No, it's not what you're thinking -one of my girl friends came down and instead of 'imposing' on me at my house, she created a mini-vacation for me and rented a room for the night at an island hotel. I won't disclose names of either, but the experience enlightened me as an innkeeper as to what our guests expect from their accommodations.

We had a second room floor in one of the older accommodations on the island with the basics: queen bed, television, bathroom with tub, heat, etc. It was a spacious room with lots of light and no view, which is pretty hard to come by here anyway. It was perfectly fine to meet our needs, especially on a New Year's Eve.

But I now realize what people pay for when they stay at The Castle. We are a unique property on the island because we have a bed & breakfast in the main house and we manage a condominium association in the back of the property with 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos. I have seen many an odd look when inquiring about winter rates. Yes, you could stay somewhere on the island for half-price, but you would also get half-charm, half-amenities, half-cleanliness, half-quality. You can rent a basic room or you rent something "a little more".

It was a positive experience and I would love to stay at other places on the island. That might be added to my long list of winter projects!

As for this winter, though, accommodations on Ocracoke are pretty limited. Our condos are open, but our BB closed yesterday for January and February. The Island Inn, Bluff Shoal, The Beach House, The Cove BB (closed January), Pelican Lodge, Pony Island Motel, and Ocracoke Island Realty are all reported to be open. I may have to start that research in the spring.

Stay warm -
Jamie

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2007-12-30T15:57:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all our guests (return visitors and you first-timers that promised you'd be back next year), vendors, friends, and family for making 2007 a great year at The Castle.

The BB will be closed in January and February as we spring clean and prepare for another year of hospitality - This year, The Castle on Silver Lake celebrates its tenth year operating as a BB!

Lookin' forward to 2008! Call now to make your reservations at 2007 prices!

Ginny Foss and Jamie Tunnell, innkeepers
www.thecastlebb.com
innkeeper@thecastlebb.com

NCDOT Press Release:

2007-11-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

NCDOT GEARING UP FOR REPLACEMENT OF N.C. 12 BRIDGES ON OCRACOKE ISLAND
Lane closures beginning as early as next week

RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Transportation will begin moving construction materials and equipment onto Ocracoke Island this month in preparation for the N.C. 12 bridge replacements scheduled to start in January 2008.

To prepare for this project, signalized lane closures along N.C. 12 on Ocracoke Island are scheduled to occur as follows:

One of two lanes will be closed in the construction zone beginning as early as Monday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 16;
All lanes will remain open from Friday, Nov. 16, through Monday, Nov. 26, to accommodate motorists traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday;
One of two lanes will be closed in construction zone from Monday, Nov. 26, to Friday, Dec. 21; and
All lanes will remain open from Friday, Dec. 21 through Tuesday, Jan. 1, to accommodate motorists traveling for the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

Beginning on Wednesday, Jan. 2, through Friday, March 15, crews will close access to N.C. 12 on Ocracoke Island to replace seven bridges on the island. Work includes removing the current wooden bridges and replacing them with wider concrete structures. During this time, only four-wheel-drive vehicles will be able to use the established beach detour between the National Park Service campground and the Pony Pens to access the village of Ocracoke. All other vehicles must use the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries to access Ocracoke.

More traveler information as well as ferry schedule changes will be available next month.

NCDOT reminds motorists to stay alert, travel at non-peak times and use alternate routes, when possible. Plan ahead before driving by visiting the NCDOT Traveler Information Management System Web site at www.ncdot.org/traffictravel/ or call 511, the state’s toll-free travel information line for current travel conditions.

For more information on this project, please contact Division 1Maintenance Engineer Sterling Baker at (252) 482-7977.
***NCDOT***

New Winter Ferry Schedule during NC 12 Bridge Replacement

2007-11-06T10:17:00.000-05:00

Ferry Schedules Altered during Ocracoke Beach Detour Project
October 14, 2007

To help accommodate traffic to and from Ocracoke during the bridge replacement project this winter, the NC Ferry Division has approved a schedule affecting Cedar Island, Swan Quarter, and Hatteras routes to Ocracoke.

According to a memorandum from Charlie Fearing, NC Ferry Division I, the Hatteras runs will be as follows:

A vessel will leave each side at 5 am and run every other hour from each side until 9 pm. The last vessel will leave Hatteras and tie up at Ocracoke and be in place for an emergency over night.

Example:
Leave Ocracoke-----Leave Hatteras
5 am-- --------------5 am
6 am----------------7 am
8 am (etc…)---------9 am (etc…)
8 pm – last run-----9 pm – last run

The Ocracoke/Swan Quarter run will be the same as the summer schedule:
--Leaving Ocracoke: 6:30 am, 10 am, 12:30 pm, and 4 pm
--Leaving Swan Quarter: 7 am, 9:30 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm.

The Ocracoke/Cedar Island run will follow the newly adopted winter schedule:
--Leaving Ocracoke: 7 am, 10:30 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm.
--Leaving Cedar Island: 7 am, 10:30 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm.

The Tuesday 7 am ferry from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke will be designated for LP Gas and gasoline trucks. The Tuesday and Wednesday 4 pm ferries from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter will be designated for their return. This will limit the passengers allowed on the vessel as per USCG. Please plan accordingly.

This schedule will be in place from January 2 to March 15, 2008 unless otherwise notified.

Grand Opening of NCCAT's Ocracoke Campus This Weekend

2007-10-16T15:23:00.000-04:00

photo from www.nccat.org

reprinted from the Ocracoke Observer, October 2007 issue

On Saturday, October 20, the grand opening ceremonies for the NCCAT eastern campus will open the doors of the old Coast Guard station to the public for tours of the site and a reception. There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. to officially open the campus that has taken over a decade to complete.

Groundbreaking ceremonies took place at the Ocracoke Campus in 2004. Since that time, we’ve watched the old station come back to life as an educational complex where North Carolina teachers become the students and Ocracoke becomes the classroom.

According to NCCAT, “the goal of NCCAT is to attract and retain the caring, highly qualified and skilled teachers necessary to positively impact the quality of public education in North Carolina. The center’s main focus is a year-round series of residential seminars in the arts, humanities, sciences, technology, communication, and health and fitness for pre-kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers. Support for initially licensed teachers, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards candidates, and teachers conducting classroom research is also available.”

Teachers that are selected to attend a NCCAT seminar spend a five-day week on either the Cullowhee main campus, the Ocracoke campus, or at various locations in the US including Chattanooga, TN, and Washington, DC. At no cost to them, teachers get their lodging, meals, classes, transportation, and a special experience to enrich their teaching methods. Teachers must have completed three years of full-time teaching in the classroom of a NC public school. NCCAT alums can reapply to attend after three years.

On September 24, 2007, twenty-two teachers became the first class of the Ocracoke campus. Although classes have been happening on the island since April, this was the first class to use the lodging at that site. They were attending one of NCCAT’s most popular classes, “Salty Dogs and the Lore of the Sea”. Seminar faculty and staff significant to this field included Jess Hawkins, retired director of the NC Division of Marine Fisheries, Pam Morris, Education Coordinator for the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, Susan West and Barbara Garrity-Blake, co-authors of “Fish House Opera”, and of course local fishermen Rex O’Neal and Farris O’Neal.

“It’s unreal,” said Alton Ballance, Center Fellow for the NCCAT campus on Ocracoke. “When I come down these steps, I see an active Coast Guard station again.” Ballance has seen the building transition from an active station when he was Hyde County Commissioner to the demo phase and now its resurrection.

In one of their first sessions, the class learned about commercial fishing gear and techniques on the outside deck of the station overlooking the Pamlico Sound. Alton slips back into his role of teacher easily as he shares his early memories of fishing with cotton gill nets. As he shows off a net, still caked with the lime residue used to preserve the nets, he explains that the one he is holding was probably hand tied by his grandmother. Alton made nets as a preteen and showed the class that he could still do it, a lost art on this island. Alton explained clamming techniques and scallop dredging gear as the attentive class looked on. Gene Ballance, local fisherman, explained the pound net and its role in the local fishing industry.

“Fishermen are gamblers,” said Alton. The men and women that choose this lifestyle and profession are up against the eastern NC weather, pricing of catch and their market, and the rising costs of equipment needed to catch them and property to keep their families here.
Gene wowed the class with some of his mathematical figures and formulas that allow the tracking and size statistics to be collected more easily. The end of the class was completed by pelicans diving for fish just off shore of their ‘classroom’.

“That’s one of our benefits right there,” said Alton.

Laurin Baker, Assistant Director of Auxiliary Services, shared some of the qualities of the campus that make it ‘green’.

“There are even more qualities than we initially thought after talking with the contractor,” said Baker. “We have a geothermal heating and cooling system. 90% of the gutters flow into our cistern for washing vehicles, watering plants, etc. The condensation lines from our AC system also run into the cistern. We have mostly fluorescent lighting and the outside lighting is done with photo cells so that they turn off during the day and on at night automatically. The bathrooms all have 1.5 gallon toilet tanks and the shower/tubs don’t have stoppers to encourage showers instead of baths. We are one of the largest water users on the island and we want to make sure we are good neighbors.”

When teachers walk into the new buildings of the NCCAT campus on Ocracoke, they are welcomed by seminar rooms, conference rooms, sitting areas, housing, food services, a full staff of grounds keeping, maintenance, and administrators that are making history. There is no inch of space unused.

Two of the teachers that were NCCAT alums said that that class has been first on their list for years. One teacher called it a ‘shot in the arm’ for teachers – a boost to take back to the classroom and pass on their enthusiasm for learning to the children.

The “Salty Dogs” class is one of the most popular seminars that NCCAT offers. Teachers get the firsthand look at this industry and get to spend a week living in the curriculum. One student put it best when she said that fishermen and teachers are both in the trenches everyday and are being told what to fish and how to teach by people that have never seen a crab pot or stepped inside a working classroom.

Don’t miss the grand opening ceremonies on October 20 at 1 PM. There will be a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony followed at a concert by the US Coast Guard Brass Quintet. After the concert, NCCAT staff will give tours of the facilities and host a reception for the public.

Also, on Sunday, October 21, NCCAT will host a community cookout on site from 2 – 5 PM. Come and see what is happening in our own front yard.

New Ownership for The Castle BB

2007-09-22T12:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Guests and Friends,

On August 10, The Castle on Silver Lake began a new phase of its life under the ownership of Bob Oakes and Sophia Sharp, Brant and Bobbie Murray, and Webb and Dorie Fuller.
The previous owner, Steve Wright, began his work on The Castle in 1994 when he bought the Castle property and nearby Whittler’s Club with long-time friend and local, David Esham. Until that time, The Castle sat empty and ignored for 20 years since the death of Sam Jones who built the property in the early 1950s. After extensive landscaping, remodeling, and the addition of the Courtyard Villas on site, the Castle has accommodated thousands of guests and developed a following of return guests that come year after year. Wright says it’s someone else’s turn.
“Mary and I brought the Castle back to life,” said Wright. “Now, it’s time to see what else it’s capable of.”
The new owners all reside in Nags Head and are partners in Village Realty. “We’ve invested in Ocracoke with Ocracoke Island Realty, and The Castle is such a landmark property, we felt we couldn’t go wrong,” said Bob Oakes. “As with the realty, we look forward to maintaining the quality of the property, and offering additional resources to the staff.”
“Steve and Mary Wright preserved a unique part of Ocracoke history. We’ll try to live up to their standard of excellence, and retain the “family” touch to the bed and breakfast,” says Oakes. He can be seen drifting in for coffee at The Castle and around the island at community events. He serves as a Nags Head commissioner and is a past president of the Outer Banks Community Foundation. His wife, Sophia Sharp, has been teaching dance at Island Dance Studio in Nags Head for over twenty years.
Dorie Fuller, Vice-President of Village Realty, has spent 25 years on the Outer Banks in real estate sales and property management. She and her husband, Webb, former Nags Head Town Manager, are looking for a seamless transition and the continuation of the Castle’s reputation for quality accommodations and personal service to its guests.
Like the other two families, Brant and Bobbie Murray have lived in Nags Head for more than 25 years, and have some experience with vacation rentals as well. They have been the proprietors of the Pelican Cottages at MP12 in Nags Head for over 15 years.
The staff of The Castle B&B and Courtyard Villas invites you back to experience Ocracoke from the best location on the island. We thank you all for your patronage and hope to see you soon.

Gabrielle - 4 p.m.

2007-09-09T15:25:00.000-04:00

There’s nothing worse than inaccurate news --- even more important when you’re talking about weather. So, it’s better as the innkeeper to defer questions about ferry service to the ferry terminals, electricity to Tideland Electric, expected storm surge to Hyde County’s Emergency Management, and so forth. I’ve been fielding calls this morning as Gabrielle makes its way to the Outer Banks.

Being the innkeeper during tropical storms and hurricanes is a unique experience. In addition to putting out snack at 4 and setting up the kitchen, we’re gathering flashlights, checking the weather report, putting away deck furniture, and keeping the guests ‘calm’. And don’t forget our personal affects – I ran home to put in some plants and gather up my outdoor shed belongings on my ‘lunch break’ today.

Gabrielle is bringing about 45-55 mph winds right now. All of the ferries from Cedar Island, Swan Quarter, and Hatteras have been suspended. I’ve talked with two of my check-ins for the day. They made it to Hatteras about 30 minutes after the last ferry came over and are hanging out in Hatteras or making their way back to Nags Head to spend the day. I haven’t talked with the other check-in, but hope they make smart decisions with driving.

There’s a special gleam in the residents’ eyes when you talk about a little storm. I love watching the black clouds roll over the harbor, the ocean at its most furious state, the boats tied up tied on docks, the rain pouring down (well, not today!).

Several guests have already asked the way to Howard’s Pub – home of the usual hurricane party. Since they are open 365 days a year and have a generator – it can become a sanctuary for the lost in high winds and rain.

So, the sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and the island is just waiting for the storm to pass.

A few of my favorite things about Ocracoke and The Castle –

2007-09-01T16:27:00.000-04:00

These came to me this morning between cooking the carefully timed bacon and stirring the grits (no lumps!)—

Ironic meetings of guests at the breakfast table (“I’m your Uncle Ted’s barber!”, “We were in high school together and haven’t seen each other since!”, “I used to go there as a child!”)
Perfect hash browns days (Not too greasy, just the right seasoning. It’s not as sentimental but just as important.)
Return guests from WAY BACK (We had a lady that stayed here a few nights ago that visited The Castle in its original glory. She had dinner in the dining room and was actually served by Sam Jones himself!)
Guests that offer to clean the dishes. Now, that’s some good raisin’! Your momma taught you right.
This is just an Ocracoke favorite – Seeing the Cedar Island and Swan Quarter ferries docked in the Silver Lake at night with all their lights on.
September and October on the island – you have to experience a few fall days here to know that the fall is the icing on the summer cake.
Directing guests to our favorite restaurant, hideaway island spot, best ice cream place, and hidden gems of the island.
View from the widow’s walk at the top of the Castle – check out the webcam sometime!
Conversation with guests about what’s it like to live on Ocracoke – sometimes, we really reel ‘em in.
And finally – there’s the view from my desk – the harbor, the sailboats, the Harbor Inn across the way, the local traffic on bike, foot, and car, and a sunset just over the trees every evening.

Come see us!

The House That Sam Built

2007-08-28T16:23:00.000-04:00

The unique architecture of The Castle is often complimented by our guests, but we have to refer back to ol’ Sam for that one. The Castle is one of four buildings on Ocracoke that was built by Mr. Sam G. Jones of Norfolk, a wealthy entrepreneur that loved the island and its people. Sam developed his fortune from the Berkley Machine Works and Foundry which he founded and presided over until his death.
Jones first visited the island in 1939 when he came here with his first wife, a local lady from the Howard family. From that point on, he gave generously to the island, donating money to the Island’s churches and mounted Boy Scout troop. He entertained friends and businessmen with hunting and fishing trips, and had lavish parties for island guests in the ballroom of the Castle with local musicians.
Jones designed his island homes with distinct shingled towers and basics of Colonial Revival-style architecture. The craftsmanship of each building and its detailing is exquisite, a testimony to the local craftsmen that Jones employed.
Sam Jones is buried with his Ocracoke pony, Ikey D, at Springer’s Point, a property Jones owned from 1941 until his death in 1977.

5 Signs of a Good Innkeeper

2007-08-17T16:55:00.000-04:00

1. They eat their own breakfast!
2. Their apron (which may still be on at check-in) is smudged with grits and grease.
3. Multi-tasking mania! Housekeeper, cook, reservationist, tour guide, gardener, towel folder, information booth, front desk clerk, remote control programmer, computer guru, webmaster, conversationalist, dishwasher, mail gatherer, and more!
4. They can laugh at their own mistakes – not the big ones like a good old-fashioned doublebooking (gasp!), but saying good afternoon at 10 am and putting cinnamon in the scrambled eggs instead of pepper. (It wasn't that bad...)
5. Service with a smile!

It's hot some -

2007-08-08T14:55:00.000-04:00

88 degrees sounds pleasant until you factor in the heat index and humidity. It 'feels like' 104, according to the weather channel and the 80%+ humidity is literally making my hair curl .

Tips for Preventing Heat-Related Illness from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
The best defense is prevention. Here are some prevention tips:
• Drink more fluids (nonalcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask him how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain caffeine, alcohol, or large amounts of sugar–these actually cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if at all possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Although any one at any time can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on:
o Infants and young children
o People aged 65 or older
o People who have a mental illness
o Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure
• Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.
If you must be out in the heat:
• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours.
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two to four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first "tip" (above), too.
• Try to rest often in shady areas.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels).

Inquiring minds want to know...

2007-08-06T17:47:00.000-04:00

The number one rule of innkeeping is that you make time to answer guests questions about island life and"what it's like" to live here. There are questions I can answer easily:
*How many people live here? About 800 year-round residents
*What do you do in the winter? You can be as busy as you want to be, or you can hermit for a few months. I fill my calendar with potlucks, movies with friends, basketball, community meetings, school functions, church, and a little vacation.
*Where did Ocracoke get its name? The legend version is that Blackbeard said that in the morning, waiting for a battle to begin that day. The more practical is the evolution of names from the Indian origin Wokokon over the last four hundred years, including Okok, Ocacock, Ocracok and finally Ocracoke.

And then there's some questions that I know where to send them for the right answer:
*How's the fishing? Tradewinds Tackle
*How do I get to Portsmouth on my boat? Rudy Austin
*Why isn't the horse poop being picked up? County Manager and Health Department
* Is The Castle haunted? Philip Howard's Ghost Walk on Tuesday and Friday

Either way, I pride myself on my resourceful use of the Internet and the 4-page island phone 'book'.

Top Ten Reasons (Not) to Vacation on Ocracoke!!

2007-07-30T14:54:00.001-04:00

1. No golf courses - At one time, there was a three hole course of putt-putt, but that didn't last too long.
2. No fast food - Eat the real thing while you're on vacation: fresh seafood, real burgers, home made desserts, etc.
3. No water slides and amusement parks - There's plenty of amusement, though.
4. No "Golden Arches" - There are no chains or franchises here - part of the charm.
5. No Bridge to get here - We rely on the state of North Carolina for three ferry routes to the island. (www.ncferry.org)
6. No stoplights - There are no stoplights in the whole county. (Hyde)
7. No car wash or laundry - You might as well wait until after the ferry ride off the island to wash that salt and sand off.
8. No taxi service - Everything is within walking and biking distance.
9. No Wal-Mart - There's even a song about it.
10. No longer a hidden treasure!

First Blog of The Castle innkeeper

2007-07-29T20:14:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the Castle's first blog - a big step to make sure that our past and future guests stay up-to-date with island information. There will be opportunity for you to leave messages, ask questions, and read about island life.