The Vineyard and the Obamas

The Obamas arrived on the Vineyard during our vacation. So the Obama watch was on!

The media was out in force.



We caught this reporter filing a story from Oak Bluffs, our home base.



Of course, NECN was there.



The Coast Guard patrolled the waters looking for any threats. We were there just to look for a pretty sunset.

We were not present when the cars along the shore were checked for car bombs.
Robots acted as mini all terrain vehicles. They slid under each car checking for
explosives. One of the guests at our inn showed us a photo of the robot. She'd had a conversation with a Secret Service agent and he had told her a bit about them.



Sharky's Cantina served up Obamarita's.



And this inn proclaimed support of the President.




The owner of a T Shirt shop played it smart and carried shirts for both political parties.




And he was interviewed by the media.



Last year the ladies of the Laughing Bear put some clothes aside for Michelle Obama. They picked out some things they thought she would like and they placed a hold for Michelle sign on them. Cute idea!



The cameraman took a shot of the Hold for Michelle sign.




I took a shot of it too. We thought it should have been on an actual dress in the window to create more of a buzz.

Last year, Michelle did not shop at the Laughing Bear. She should have. They have fabulous clothes!



Here's the Laughing Bear's welcome sign for the Obamas.




And this is the Sweet Life Restaurant in Oak Bluffs. It is directly across from the Oak Bluffs Inn which was where we were staying. The Obama's ate at Sweet Life last year and again this year. We had already left the Vineyard by the time the Obama's had made their way to our neck of the woods in Oak Bluffs.

We weren't sure exactly when they would arrive. We heard it was going to be between one and five o'clock on Thursday. Sure enough, when we were in Zephrus, a restaurant in Vineyard Haven, we spied some men we suspected were Secret Service. Their cell phones were beeping and buzzing and my sister heard one say Marine One has arrived. Later on the news I heard that the President had arrived by Marine One which is helicopter.

The Presidential visit made for some good stories. Our innkeeper had some Secret Service agents staying at the inn and he had some tales to tell.

And of course it made for an interesting blogpost!

Vineyard Summer through my lens

When I go on vacation I always take the same kinds of photos. The ocean, boats, doorways, pretty houses. It gets kind of boring.

While we were on the Vineyard, my sister was looking for photos of what she calls doers. She wanted to photograph people doing things. These photos would serve as references for her live event painting business.

I thought this was a great idea. I almost never have people in my photographs and it might prove to interesting. So here are my photos of doers.

This child was just too cute. He was trying to fly a kite and I loved the joyful look on his face.





And this is the rest of the family. That's quite the camera that budding photographer has.



I took this shot of a woman and her dog in Oak Bluffs. This was one of a series of shots.



I thought the splash of pink made this photo more interesting.



Is he a doer? I don't know but he sure was cute.



This girl was very good at her job at a cupcake shop in Vineyard Haven.



Don't worry, these people were not crushed by that oncoming ship in the left of the photo.



Diners at the Black Dog Tavern.




We spied this grandfather and son from the window at the Black Dog Tavern. The child had amazing hair and they were having such fun I just had to take some photos.



The man was teaching the child how to skip stones on the water. It was fun to watch the interaction between the two.



I was searching for some sunset shots and took notice of these girls walking on the rocks.



One of them had cool sandals!





The girls were having a great time. Why not they were by the ocean on the Vineyard!




When I spied these dogs I just had to take the shot. The driver saw me and actually pulled out of traffic so I could take another one! Too funny!

I think this year's vacation shots are definitely more interesting than last year's. And I can thank my Sister for that. What a novel idea, having people in my photos!

Illumination Night on Martha's Vineyard

Half the fun of attending the Grand Illumination on the Vineyard is to go to the campground in the afternoon and see the preparations. So much work goes into the decorating of each cottage.



If you only attend the nighttime event, you don't get to see the true colors of the cottages and the lanterns.



I love to see parasols added to the decoration of a cottage.



They vary in shape and design.



You know I had to photograph a cottage named Two Bad Cats.




I am sure I have a photo of this cottage from my last Illumination Night.



Wow, fans, lanterns, parasols, this took a lot of time.



This one had some very interesting lanterns. I love the ones with the tassels.



Pretty pastels on some of the cottages.




Lovely gardens too!



Some cottages had vibrant colors.



Poor puppy! He wanted to go out and play but he was safer on the porch.



The party has already started. Many cottage owners and guests enjoy food and drink on their porches.




Look at the lacy scrollwork, just beautiful!



A pretty combination of colors.



All ready for the festivities.




I need to look up Klonschnack.




I had just enough time to take a few shots in the dim light. Nighttime photography is not my forte.



Before the lights were illuminated there was a community singalong at the tabernacle. A musical journey through American History and lots of patriotic songs.




Ok, are you ready for some lanterns?




Some were made of silk and actually illuminated by real candles.




Some had very interesting shapes and fringe on the bottom.



Some were very old and some were not.



We missed seeing those in costume strolling the area but we caught them on their porch.



They added to the festivities.



Mesmerized by the beauty of the lanterns, I hardly noticed it had started to rain.
During the concert, we were standing under a tree and couldn't feel the raindrops.



We strolled around the main area near the tabernacle and then walked down the small streets of the campground.



I tried to take as many shots as possible of the beauty all around me. It was so magical.




But then the skies opened up and there was no denying it, we were getting soaked and the paper lanterns would not survive the downpour. Luckily, the bad weather held off just long enough to see most of Illumination Night.

And it was worth getting soaked to the skin!