Oak Bluffs – Martha’s Vineyard

I know. It’s been awhile since I got back from my trip to Martha’s Vineyard.  It has been a crazy couple of weeks with the 4th of July, the launch of the Milly & Grace online store and spending time with our visitors!  However, I couldn’t resist sharing more of our adventures OTV.

I mentioned in my Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard post that Martha’s Vineyard has 6 towns and one of them is named Oak Bluffs.  What sets Oak Bluffs apart from the other MV towns is the Camp Meeting Grounds.  The center of town is made up of over 300 little “gingerbread cottages” – tiny, gothic/victorian style homes that were built in 1866 as a part of a Methodist summer retreat.  Nowadays, camp activities have calmed but the community still maintains some services and traditions.

I spent an afternoon wandering and weaving through the campground and what I noticed the most besides the architecture and brightly painted houses is the sense of community and pride among the home owners.  I later learned that a lot of these houses have been passed down four or five generations from the original camp owners.  There was a constant buzz – porches were full of people, there were picnics on the greens and people out enjoying their gardens.  And everyone was especially excited when you wanted to take a picture of their house.

I snapped a few pictures of some of my favorites!

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gingerbread houses 1

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gingerbread houses 2

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AND THEN…I stopped dead in my tracks when I came across a Pink & Grey cottage named Nana’s Dream.  Personally, I think it should be renamed the Milly & Grace house!

Milly & Grace House

Vineyard Vines – Oak Bluffs Style.

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Oak Bluffs is also home to The Flying Horses –  the oldest operating carousel in the US !

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Oak Bluffs is a must see if you are ever OTV!

Working Girls

Caroline

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The Milly & Grace Team has been working hard this summer!  The other day I cooked a yummy dinner for the girls after a long day of work.  I stopped by my favorite market to pick up everything I needed for dinner.  I love Bartlett’s Farm.

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These gorgeous red plums were the inspiration for my dinner!

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I had cocktails (and of course a Shirley Temple for Caroline) ready when they walked in the door!  I grilled steak, plums and made a salad with spinach, arugula, toasted pecans, red onion, dried cranberries, golden raisins, avocado and gorgonzola. I have to say… it was so easy AND yummy!  Perfect for a summer night!

The Westmoor Club Dog Show

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT?!? Last weekend was the Second Annual Westmoor Club Dog Show! Patty, Head of the Westmoor Entertainment Committee, planned the event and was selected as one of the judges!  I tagged along to watch the fun!

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This event is for all the furry members of the Westmoor and their owners!

Here are some of the contestants!

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Cute girls and their dogs!

Girls and their dogs

Cato, a Golden Labrador Retriever, had the cutest little handlers. Cato got so excited to compete that he took off down the “woofway”!  This brother and sister team tried so hard to hold on but Cato ended up taking them on a little ride!  This team won the Mirror Image Award… Dog that most looks like their owners!

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And here are some of the winners!

Winners

It was such a fun event!  All the doggies did such an amazing job and they were all so cute!  Patty had the hardest time judging because she wanted all the handlers (and their dogs) to win an award!  Last year a little boy came up to her afterwards asking why his dog didn’t win!  It broke her heart. She had to go straight to the bar afterwards!  We just got iced coffees ;)

IMG_1339Can’t wait for next year!