9/27/10

Picking chestnuts in the fall at Solomons Island, Maryland

Updated: 10/10/2023

We got 50 lbs of chestnuts from our gracious neighbors! Brought back memories of this post ... and yes, it's time to make some glazed chestnuts again. Here's the original post:

When we bought our boat in Fort Lauderdale, we chose Newport, Rhode Island as our hailing port, thinking we will spend our summers in the sailing capital. 

Little did we know. 

Twice we cruised north from Florida, and both times got only as far as the Chesapeake Bay. There was so much to explore along the Eastern Seaboard that by the time we got to the Chesapeake Bay, summer would be almost over. Although fall is gorgeous up here, the cooler temperatures is a signal that it's time to head south to warmer climes.

One September found Mai Thai docked at Solomons Island, Maryland. Located on the Patuxent River, this neat little place is a cruiser’s haven, abound with restaurants, marinas, boatyards, and marine stores. We were walking the marina neighborhood one morning when my visiting sister-in-law spied something spiky lying around two mighty tall trees. Her curiosity piqued, she inspected one and guessed it to be a chestnut. This was before Google, but a search on the internet confirmed she was right. SIL dedicated the next few mornings to picking those chestnuts, returning with paper bags full of them goodies. We dubbed her the bag lady and joked that she was taking food away from the squirrels :-)

What were we going to do with all these chestnuts?
Chestnuts, in and out of their burs
Glazed chestnuts danced in our minds. 

Every time our cousins visit from Paris, they always bring us gifts of dark chocolate and marrons glacé (candied chestnut confection, usually available around the Christmas holidays). We got a production line going in Mai Thai's tiny little galley. We donned gloves to remove the chestnuts from their prickly husks or burs.
Washed, ready to be peeled
Next, we boiled and peeled them, then glazed them with sugar, and spiked some with a hint of Cognac. Voilà, we got marrons glacé! Not bad for our first try at making a candied confection. We were quite pleased with the results.
Glazing the chestnuts
Ta da! Les marron glacé, our candied chestnut confection
Crabbing is a popular activity
Blue crabs. Yum!
A pair of swans visited Mai Thai daily
lovely sunsets viewed from aboard Mai Thai
Solomons Island is a quick getaway from Washington, D.C. and Annapolis; both are 1.5 hours away. We are so glad we took the time to "smell the roses" and got the opportunity to discover so many lovely small towns along the East coast. We learned a lot about the Chesapeake Bay heritage and culture. The yummy blue crabs, the amazing sunrises and sunsets, and the abundance of wildlife beckoned us to return a couple years later.

This post is shared on Skywatch FridayImage-in-ingLittle Things Thursday and Altered Book Lover.

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9/19/10

The most beautiful college campus in the South

Updated: 11/3/23
I used to work a couple of blocks from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in Cambridge, and love the campus vibe and vibrant atmosphere. There is a university near us in southeastern Tennessee, and we often hike around there. Having recently read "Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power," I'm happy to say that the author Jon Meacham is an alum of the university. This post is updated with more recent pictures of the lovely campus.

Here's the original post:

Can you think of a top liberal arts college in the South?
Welcome to the University of the South! I first heard about the university from our boater friends (looking at you Czeckered Frog). Later, I saw it in the U.S. News and World Report liberal arts college ranking, and again  in surveys and reports (Princeton Review, Sherman Travel) that listed University of the South as one of the top 10 most beautiful campus. I could not wait to check it out.

The University of the South was built in 1857 by the bishops of the Episcopal Church. A stunning stained-glass Chapel with a 5,000-pipe organ and a majestic bell tower are among its unique buildings. 
All Saints' Chapel
Sitting on 13,000 acres, atop the Cumberland Plateau between Chattanooga and Nashville, the University of the South has plenty of outdoor activities to offer its students, from biking, hiking, rock climbing to horseback riding. Walking around the campus, you may see professors and honor students wearing academic robes, a tradition that still continues today.
Linking with Skywatch Friday
Do you agree with the accolade? Do you have a favorite college or university campus?

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9/12/10

Anchoring on the Tennessee River: Little Cedar Mountain on Lake Nickajack

The captain had such a good time swimming in the river last weekend he wanted to do it again. And why not? It's still hot during the day, with temperatures in the 90s, so we thought we'd get some swimming in before the summer’s over.

Less than five miles away from our marina is a little cove at the base of Little Cedar Mountain (green daymarker 426.9), where we often anchor on weekends. This lovely cove is sheltered, with wind protection from every direction except the south. Water depth decreases to 16 feet, 12 if you venture in a little more. This anchorage is big enough to hold several boats. A mid-size powerboat was already at anchor when we pulled in around 7 Friday evening. After we set our anchor, we hung out on the flybridge to enjoy the scenery and the tranquility of the evening. 
Anchored at Little Cedar Mountain
Embayment at the base of Little Cedar Mountain
Glenda and Steve joined us on their houseboat The Awfiss later that night. These are gung-ho boaters, known to boat even in the winter! Tonight they got off to a late start. We called and warned them about a gigantic log that we almost hit on our way here. Out in the channel, they reported winds kicking up a 2-foot wake. Our anchorage was blissfully calm. We helped them tie up to our portside. The water that night was so still we thought we never left the marina.

A blue heron broke the silence when it let out a hoarse cry as it flew inches above the river across the anchorage. I am reminded of the time I first fell in love with boating – waking up in the morning to complete solitude, surrounded by nature.
Morning scenery
Minutes later, it started to rain. A good thing because Chattanooga needed the rain bad. So does our bimini top (we are in a covered slip, and spiders thrive on the river). Later that afternoon the sun came out and we enjoyed a refreshing swim on the river. 

9/8/10

Exploring Chattanooga, Tennessee

It was unbearably hot all summer. Our boat A/C has been running non-stop since July. Coming into September, it finally cooled off. Some mornings and evenings were even a tad chilly. The afternoons still find temperatures in the high 80s. Such was the weather this past Labor Day weekend when a couple of friends came to visit. We showed them some of our Top 5 things to do in Chattanooga.

The Battle for Chattoonoga during the Civil War on Lookout Mountain
Chattanooga waterfront at dusk
Coolidge Park at night
The Tennessee River Gorge from Raccoon Mountain
Cruising on the Tennessee River

Frolicking on the Tennessee River
How was your Labor Day weekend?

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