Lewes Historical Society 50th Champagne Toasts and Beerfest Dancing.

   Find me another town that in one evening offers these public free events of Champagne Toasts and Beerfest Dancing and I'll buy the next Happy Hour round!
  The Lewes Historical Society (LHS) waited 50 years to do a Lewes Historical Society Complex  tented catered and champagne toasted celebration.  Lifetime service awards were the excuse...... and even those had not been awarded in five years!  Awards that mean something.......... not an annual feel-good award to almost all present.
  Even better were the shared LHS stories of beach life 50 years ago.   We knowingly laughed until we almost cried.
  Even better was marking the celebration with not just Champagne of OK quality....... this was lovely, beautiful Champagne accompanied by a gorgeous meal of Crab Dip with homemade Old Bay Seasoned crackers and more.
  Oh, yes, the Mayor did start off the celebration just after the LHS Director was prompted to yield the floor for a just a minute or two.  We love our Mayor..... he is Our Mayor.......... but it is the Lewes Citizens that do the creation and work of such an important organization.  Ok, we will let the Mayor be our figure-head.
  Champagne drained it was time to find the Beer Fest just two blocks away!
 I loved walking towards the Ompah-pah band sounds....... then entering  the cul-de-sac to find the Bavarian Dancers.
 Hmmn, Beer Fest without the beer? Yes, town regs at play.  Yet, the party worked.  The dancers..... a professional team re-created authentic dances from the 1700's and the early 1900's.  Towards the end of the evening the Dancers opened the floor to the public and choose attendees to join in.
  The City of Lewes can party. 
  Yet, it is in the most precise-classiest-mode I've ever witnessed.

Beach Blessing,

Lewes and Time Traveling

Did you ever want to Time Travel? The City of Lewes is a time travel venue.  I do not want to say "time machine"; as that does not describe the process.
  Just walk the streets and explore the graveyards: One minute you are having a Victorian Tea on a porch; and the next you are attending a 1700's St. Pete's Church funeral.
  Attend the Lewes Historic Farmers Market, winding thru the Complex and now you are in an 1800's market-day.  Don't forget a carrot-treat to feed your patiently waiting horse!
  Attend the Lewes Historic Society's Strawberry Festival, under the shade trees sipping Champagne and devouring a classic Strawberry Shortcake.... you are now in the 1920's.  I wore my big hat but forgot to wear the white kidskin gloves!
  Attend Cape Henlopen's Fort Miles Day...... and you are whistling WW11 tunes!
 When fog curls up against the Cannonball House; hear the War of 1812?
I do.

Beach Blessings,

  

Chautauqua Tent and Blue Hydrangeas

  Lewes-living is the grown-up version of Summer Arts Camp. Chautauqua Tent 1812 re-enactments?
       Sunday I entered the tent for the musical offering: hammer dulcimer, guitar, and the musicians unexpectedly hilarious take on their musical career.  Sitting down I wondered why I felt so happy, so comfortable, and crazy nostalgic.
     Ah, it was Interlochen Arts Camp "deja-vu all over again".  A beautiful outdoor venue, tented, talented musicians, and a wildly enthusiastic audience.  An audience just willing to be: happy!
    Not only did we clap, we danced, we played whatever found instrument we could.  I clacked the freebie fan-handles! One dog was clever enough to bark on the beat!
  At the break I wandered the venue's park garden now in it's Summer phase:  "irrational exuberance".  Impossible electric blue hydrangeas that fade to purple?  A fountain to celebrate it all.
 As I poked my way into the park's neighbor's yard; an invite was called out: come and join me!
Ok, I was convinced to return for the evening's performance.
Cramming in as many performances in the day as possible;  that was Interlochen's key enjoyment now to be found again in Lewes.

Beach Blessings,

Small Kitchen Stories: Rice Pot Pad Thai

Another Sunday found me happy, very hungry and way too tired to cook.  I had a package of stir-fry beef. My kitchen stove elements wobble making stir-fries a not-fun project.  Would the rice pot handle this?  A very delicious "gardener's dinner" ensued!  That is what we do in Lewes: garden!


Rice Pot Pad Thai

Stir Fry Beef Strips
Onion, Green Pepper, Mushrooms, or whatever: all sliced.
Annie Chung's Pad Thai Sauce
Annie Chung's Korean Barbeque Sauce
Peanut Butter, chunky
Toasted Sesame Oil
Mixed Spring Greens

    In the Rice Pot turn the heat to "cook" and add in a big dollop of the sesame oil.  Heat until smoking.  Add in the veggys, stir, put on the top.  You are looking for a soft saute.  There will be too much moisture for a crisp saute; which is OK.
    Stir in the beef strips, add in a bit more oil, and stir.  Put on the top.
    Add in a good dollop of both sauces and the peanut butter.
    Heat until boiling.
    Serve over a plate of mixed Spring Greens.

I followed this with a dessert of rice pudding dolloped on top of sliced peaches with blueberries!

Beach Blessings,

The Lewes Library: Please Stay!

I was reading the weekly edition of the Coast Press and I was already in tears taking in the news of the close of the Milton Theater. Then I turned the page and read that "my" beloved Lewes Library was considering moving out of The City of Lewes. Over a year later, I'm still not over the news.

I adore the Lewes Library. I arrive fresh off the beach. I shake off what I can! I take in the Stango Park views from outside then enter the Library and see the park again thru the picture windows. The varnished woods glisten and glow. A secret locked room awaits exploration! It is a pie-shaped glassed-in room for Lewes' history. A "parlor periodical room" invites you to sit, chat even...... and read news off of paper!

I adore the Rehoboth Library too with it's beachy painted mural. Yet the Lewes Library is out of my youth spent Summers in Bethany Beach. Was there a library in Berlin? Is that where it was?

Childhood Summers were marked by the weekly arrival of the Book Mobile! By the end of the Summer, I had read most of the offering for my age group. I loved the hot steamy book mobile with the scent of moldering, salty books!

Lewes Library, please stay.

A Lewes Yard Sale

Having sold my beloved Dewey Beach Cottage; I'm to be found these days in The City of Lewes! Not to worry.

****You can take the Girl Out of Dewey Beach but you Can't take the Dewey Beach out of the Girl! ****

;-)

Yet, I am having my moments of acclimation and culture adjustment.

Driving down Pilottown Road, I noticed a small homeowner's "yard sale" situated Canal-side. As I passed by, I slowed my vehicle even slower than the 25 mph speed. I looked at the articles; a wooden carved piece and an oriental rug....... and drove on. The owner was lovingly arranging the pieces.

Later I thought: drive by again! You need rugs! I drove by, slowed again and had sticker-shock. $300 to $400/each signs...... just made me laugh out loud, thinking: I'm in Lewes!

Yet, I mused: the Canal is a marvelous backdrop for a "town yard sale" and what fun it would be to bargain that $400 rug down to $75!

Beach Blessings,