Hope & Glory

An ultra-charming place to linger on the Chesapeake Bay, in the summer, is the Hope and Glory Inn. Built in the 1880's, this three-story house has seen much and offers a glimpse back into the complex history of the American South. Historic and venerable, it's first incarnation was as a co-ed boarding school and it now boasts seven, elegantly restored rooms in the main house, 13 cottages and, according to Coastal Living Magazine, is one of the top-ten boutique hotels in the country.

The rooms are cozy and quaint, with big comfy beds and Victorian-styled furnishings.

The cottages, which can be reached by skipping down a bricked lane past the dancing ballerina statue, are recent additions, though with equal grace to the rest of the property.

Their proximity to the wondrous outdoor bath, makes the cottages a delightful place to spend a night, or two.

The highlight of the stay is definitely bathing alfresco. There is nothing like soaking in a steamy claw-foot bathtub with the dreamy sky overhead.

And a little mint and lemon water for after a hot bath...

The food in the on-site restaurant is as charming as the surroundings. Menu's are creatively developed to suit guest(s) tastes. We had the lightly fried oysters on the half shell as our appetizer, an innovative ceasar salad and the local crab cakes with cucumber slaw for the main meal.

 
Though a small town, there is much to see in tiny Irvington, VA.

 Luckily, the Inn has beach cruisers which you can take for a spin around the few blocks.

There are many cute, little shops to browse and pick up souvenirs.

And The Local is a great cafe to stop, park your bike and dine.

The pool isn't located on the main property, but an easy bike ride over to the vineyard.

 The riding is smooth and scenic and with not many cars on the road, very safe for children.

 A glimpse into the past...

I imagine that the Inn got it's name from the hopes the South had for the Civil War and the glory it fought for. If the outcome wasn't exactly what the Confederates had in mind, in the end the name still represents an even higher hope and glory for both the South and the North, Blacks and Whites and our great earth as a whole.

Full Sail

Sailing is a spectacular way to enjoy the sun, the water and the open blue sky - three of my favorite things! During lessons last week, I learned that sailing is not difficult, though it takes some skill and attention. The best part about it is you have the wind to guide you and if you take your cues from it, you'll be good to go.The boat we took out was a 40 ft sailing yacht with a galley and salon that sleeps 4. You could, presumably, live on this beauty for a month or two.

 

The basics of sailing are knowing the fancy names for the different parts of the boat. The front is called the bow, the back is the stern, the right side is starboard, while the left is port. Once you get this down, when the captain calls out an order, you'll know exactly what he's referring too. For instance, "tighten the line at the bow!"

I love everything about sailing, though make sure to bring some ginger root chews along to stave off sea-sickness. The water can get a little choppy at times.

Once you get a good rhythm going, though, it's smooth sailing from there on out.

Apres-sail, a nice meal at the local cafe is always a welcome treat. In this case, the local joint is actually called, The Local!

Grab a mixed-green salad with tuna, potato, grilled portobello mushrooms, roasted artichoke hearts and balsamic vinaigrette.

And/or a grilled shrimp panini.

Then perhaps, head for a wine tasting at the Dog and Oyster Winery.

Sit in one of these pretty pastel chairs and reflect on the sailboat you're set on buying.

Then again, you might consider this piece of wisdom, before making the jump.

Good Food

 
I love food and I love to eat well. After all, you are what you eat. Good food is paramount to a good life and here I will share with you some of my most memorable meals of late. For me, good  food is delicious, wholesome, chemical-free and made with love. If you can get it from a garden, your own or that of a friend, you are truly blessed. The next best thing is food grown locally and picked up from your town's farmer's market. Further down the line would be the local co-op or independently owned health food store. And if it becomes necessary, Whole Foods will always do in a pinch. As a last resort, the organic aisle of your neighborhood Safeway or Publix may have to suffice.

Fresh organic fruit can't be beat as a meal fit for your sweet body and soul. You can't lose with a simple meal made up of a single fruit just picked, like these organic strawberries.

Or a fruit salad made with these, some plums and sliced bananas.

Then come green salads, of course. There is nothing like chlorophyll to invigorate the body and mind. Have you ever tried fresh pea shoots with avocados, vine-ripened tomatoes and just-picked lettuce? Supreme eating, for sure.

My favorite way to make a salad into a meal is to add a grain. Taboulleh is number one in my book for this. I love it with nettle as the green and couscous as the grain.

Also, with the traditional parsley, bulgur wheat and a side of hummous, you just can't go wrong!

But when you have greens just picked from your own garden, it is always best to keep it simple.

To these gems, I added smoked salmon, herbed goat cheese, artichoke pesto and raw sauerkraut, to accent their natural goodness.

Occasionally, I like to indulge in eggs and fish and always prepare these animal-based foods with gratitude in mind for the sentient beings. Free-range organic eggs and fresh cilantro makes the tastiest frittata!

Though, when time is of the essence, a quick scramble will do.

I love to eat greens with every meal now and have come to revere these chlorophyll-rich leaves in all their variety and splendor. Ahhh, the simple pleasure of raw kale, olive oil, lemon juice and salt.

And a bowl of greens tends to put me in the mind of southern cooking. So, when I am in the mood for soul food, but with a healthy twist, grilled salmon is my go to.

The requisite black-eyed peas and rice come along as well. In this case, coconut brown rice with some raw cilantro on the side.

For an Asian-inspired twist, however, you can do rice noodles and steamed broccoli instead. Tasty indeed!

I am truly filled with gratitude for all this good food and send out my blessings far and wide. Thank you.