Mathews Market Days

Mathews Market Days has been a big deal around here 

since I was knee-high to a grasshopper for many years now. 

It's an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to get out 

and actually experience "downtown" Mathews.

This year it was hotter than HELL blue blazes.

Emphasis on blue and blazes.

The Kona Ice truck definitely caught my attention.

Regardless of the sweltering heat, 

Middle Sister and I managed to hit all the high spots 

and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

The End.

In spite of my best efforts, I've not been tending to this blog, and lots has happened that's report-worthy.  No matter what it looks like, this blog isn't yet dead, and I intend to get back here more regularly.  

-CBW

Market Days

To be filed under the category of Better Late Than Never, here are a few scenes from Mathews Market Days, which took place a couple of weeks ago.

Although the humidity on Saturday was so bad I felt like I could have used a flotation device just to take a few steps, the overall atmosphere was festive and fun.

I do not know this woman but feel certain she's wondering, "What is wrong with this crazy lady with frizzy hair drenched in sweat, and furthermore why is she taking my picture?"   Actually I didn't even know she was in the picture until I loaded it here.  I was looking more at the stuff in the background, especially the BBQ booth.

As usual, there were lots of booths filled with unique arts and crafts.  

In hindsight, I wish I'd purchased this.  I think the lips and teeth are my favorite part.  And the eyes. And the color, although I'm not typically a pink fan.  It's just a fun, happy fish.  

Since Market Days, I've been on the go.  Last weekend I traveled to Dewey Beach, DE, for a reunion with my college friends Iris and Lenja. The highlight was a live band that performed directly on the beach.  As a public service announcement, I'd like to share that dancing in sand is not the same as dancing not in sand, and it's possible to do what feels like permanent damage to knees and other joints when gyrating aggressively to live music.

For example.

Next Friday I travel to Charlottesville for Chesapeake Bay Daughter's 18th birthday.  Then on Saturday Baby Sis and her boyfriend will join me at the Yorktown Wine Festival, which promises to be loads of fun.

In short, life here in Mathews has been pretty darn great, all things considered, and I am enjoying my foray into Empty Nestville.

So far, so good.

A Market Days Tale

Once upon a time, Chesapeake Bay Woman rode to Mathews Market Days in a beautiful red chariot that was entered in the car show.

The beautiful chariot and she were born the exact same year:  1965.

Chesapeake Bay Woman's Middle Sister, who insisted on wearing a full-length black dress to what was otherwise a hot, sweltering, humid event, arrived at the car show most eager to have her photo taken.

Chesapeake Bay Woman obliged.

The car show was great.

There were many beautiful cars.

And some characters.

Speaking of characters...

Anyone else see anyone else wearing a full-length black dress? No. You don't.

Middle Sister purchased one of these carvings for her house which is down Redart.

An older sister's primary role is to torture younger siblings introduce new experiences to the younger siblings,  to encourage them to do things that may be outside their current comfort zone.

Everybody wins.

The End.

Waterman

I've been taking pictures since 2008 and somehow always manage a shot like this, where the water seems to be pouring out of the lower left corner.  Don't worry, I'll clean up the mess.

These shots of a local waterman fishing nets were taken off Aarons Beach this week.  They are timely because Mathews recently lost a legendary waterman who died doing what he loved best.  (Click here for more on that.)

In brighter news, Daughter successfully started her last year of high school this week.  And I'm very excited that Market Days is upon us once again.  I plan to enjoy every single moment of this annual event, including the Party at the Wharf Friday night, the car show on Saturday (where a certain 1965--what a fantastic year--Mustang belonging to my friend will be on display), and the street dance Saturday night.

Click here for more info on the Market Day festivities.

If I can remember to buy batteries for my camera (I give it a 50-50 shot on remembering to buy batteries and a 40-60 shot that I'll then remember to bring the camera), I'll post pictures here next week.

Market Days

This busy weekend was mostly spent with Middle Sister (visiting from Georgia) 

at Mathews Market Days.

It was so hot, I likely would have gone inside for some of this free water had I been able to move beyond the apostrophe in that third word. Alas, I was unable to and didn't even know what the rest of the sign said until posting this picture. 

As usual, there was plenty of arts and crafts and food for sale. 

That's Middle Sis on the right.  I think her eyes were closed in practically every
picture I took of her this weekend. (My apologies, Middle Sis.)

(Is there any other kind?)

Daughter and I sampled both the sweets and the eats offered at this Greek food truck.
The loukoumades were out of this world.  Also, loukoumades might be my new favorite word.
It's fun to say.  Try it sometime.

I really wanted some of this ice cream, but Daughter wasn't in the mood--probably
because we had just devoured so many loukoumades.
I can't eat ice cream by myself, it just isn't right.

This is Josh, one of my favorite teenagers, and his adorable girlfriend.

Look who we ran in to, Chesapeake Bay Mother.

And Father.  He was a little disgruntled because Mother had walked way ahead and left him behind. In fact, if she hadn't stopped to talk to us, he might never have caught up.

Saturday night after a family dinner, Baby Sis arrived, and we all went to the street dance that marks the conclusion of Market Days.  Although it was somewhat exhausting for an almost-50-year-old, it was a good time.

And now I'm ready for a really long nap.