where the heron (blue heron)

in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake

rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. "The Peace of Wild Things," Wendell Berry (thanks to poet and writer Sherri)

file Folders of many decades

Gwynn	Island 2015
2016 Gwynn plumber
2015 Gwynn
2015 h Gwynn All Risks
2014 Gwynn
2012 Gwynn Housing
2012 h Gwynn
2011 Gwynn Housing
2010 Gwynn Housing
2009 Gwynn insurance TBR
2009 June 3 Nichols jetty
2008 Gwynn Housing
2008 Gwynn Housing
2008 Gwynn Insurance
2007 Summer cottage schedule
2007 Steve Pugh		$26,400		rip-rap
2007 Steve Pugh August 1		$625		Permit fee
2007 construct flyover	SBH Construction	$1,375	Ph 804 725-5262
2007 March 12 adjacent property Baker
2006 Gwynn Housing
2006 Caretaking and cottage Schedule
2006 Gwynn Verizon
2006 Jetty	R&W Marine	$7,995	Ph 804 725-7516
2005 Gwynn Housing
2005 Gwynn Insurance
2004 Gwynn Housing
2004 cottage Finance Receipts begin '08
2003 Gwynn Housing
2003 October Isabel after hurricane
2001 Chevy Chase Gwynn
2000 housing Gwynn's Island
2000 Insurance for Cottage
2000 March 6 Revocable Trust
2000 March 6 Buying Gwynn purchase
1999 Gwynn Beth's letter to 4
1999 Chevy Chase Gwynn's Island account
1998 Gwynn's Island Finances spreadsheets
1998 Prof Conferences Gwynn
1998 Gwynn Virginia Power
1998 December 12 reassessment		$101,900
1998 December Estate refund	Carl Pirkle
1998 September maintenance To Do
1998 August 18 Nichols Wetlands Board
1998 July 5 Internment Service Chee-Chee
1997 November 2 Memorial Service
1997 June value of Assets
1997 Chesapeake Bay Foundation
1996 Birthday 23 April wish	Promoting Enduring Peace
1994 Pirkle Family reunion 90th Chee-Chee
1992 Gwynn's Island Porch building 21' x 14'
1992 Gwynn's Island Information photos '98
1991 Will & Durable Power of Attorney	for Health Care
1986 February 5 Gwynn SURVEY survey	Dawson, Phillips, Dischinger			green
1963 Gwynn records Historical				yellow

can you canoe

We do. Tuesday the surface of the water on the Bay was smooth. We headed out in the canoe toward Cherry Point, then after that turn, we kept on going. Eventually we reached near where the automobile traffic from the draw bridge is approaching the first hard right turn / curve close to the Callis Wharf road. We turned the canoe and paddled back. The return trip seemed much shorter time that the way out from Mad Calf Lane. We were at the cottage only about 24 hours. Bob cut some white pieces of "trim" to make temporary "sills" atop the backsplash of the new base cabinet, countertop and sink. Del the plumber who had a massive stroke has died, we learned.

One (or two) cannot serve two places

This place is a tradition of perhaps sixty-five years (and more). There is a new one in 2015, called "the Gathering Place" - and in honor of that, a Place for writing - after finishing fourth year in retirement: http://gatheringplaceseasonfour.blogspot.com/

Gwynn's Island photographs for Ideas

What a search today can bring: https://www.google.com/search?q=images+Gwynn%27s+Island+23066&es_sm=93&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCkQ7AlqFQoTCN6u9Yf308cCFQV5Pgodd50LPg

plumb unfinished

Some work got done. Debris has been removed and hauled away. Pots and Pans are all over the nearby bed(room). Electric kitchen stove should be moved back in place and plugged in again. Owner plans to make a solo trip Monday and Tuesday to try to make sure the work all gets wrapped up (connecting the kitchen sink and the cold and hot water feeds and the kitchen sink drain).

all over the place

Elvis: All over the place. Do anything that you want to do. But uh-uh, honey. Lay off of my shoes. Don't you step on my blue suede shoes.
The cottage kitchen is apart, debris removed and hauled away.
Del was doing the work but now has a massive stroke. Del, Jr., may be coming to the rescue, according to Martha "Cricket."

drip expansion

The "P" trap beneath kitchen sink developed a drip
to replace the plumbing pipes
replace the sink (like kind) in the kichen
replace the "base" cabinet - wall to wall - the kitchen.

a child times three 1943 1971 2007 (and 2011) generations

family vacation in the same place every year? 
Annual rituals bond us together, and give (grand-)children a backdrop to grow against.

Gwynn's Island

Gywnn's Island is a part of Mathews County and is located at the mouth of the Piankatank River where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

Gwynn's Island is a popular weekend destination for many in Virginia's inland areas, relatively well accessible to most of I95 corridor and almost immediate access to the Bay.

Gwynn's Island offers some sandy beaches along its eastern border with the Bay.  Southern and western sides border the more protected Milford Haven and Hills Bay and are natural.

Water Depth around Gwynn's Island is shallow near shore (less than 3'), dropping to no more than 20' in most nearby areas including bordering sections of the Chesapeake Bay.

Tin Can Alley dispute 14A in Gloucester-Mathews newspaper

Tin Can Alley is still in dispute. The Gloucester-Mathews newspaper has a front-page article.
There is 45-foot wide public access. As far as "private property" on Gwynn's Island, I believe
any beach front deed specifies "mean high tide" and therefore when the tide is "out"
where the water was is also public, thus the long tradition of
walking to either "end of the Island" either hole in the wall or Cherry Point.
I have done that many times beginning in 1960's and continue to do so.
Spouse is age 71 and has been doing this since about age 5
when the family (Pirkle) lived in Petersburg (close to Fort Lee).

by any other name

My parents had three boys in rapid succession: 1944 Bobby, 1945 Buddy, 1947 Buster. I was the Bobby - through graduation from high school in 1962. That August / September I arrived at Wake Forest University and a senior opined: you should be called "Bob." I graduated from college in 1966, attended graduate school, worked 1974-1985 at a large insurance company in New Jersey. The next job was as computer consultant for a contractor supporting Pentagon (U.S. Navy) and because of my good work, the manager who worked for the government called me "Dr. Bob" (I have a desk name plate to that effect). After the birth of our first grandchild in 2007, when the grandson learned to speak the language, he named my spouse "Grandma Bee" so I became "Grandpa 'B'" and carry that name still and into our future.

Reminders to family members who go to the Perch / cottage

1) plug in the power for the water softener - unplugged while painting / power washing

2) water heater circuit breaker FROM "save energy" to the ON position - double size breaker

When leaving, make sure the cold water cut off outdoors is in the OFF position 

(across the line, not lined up with the water pipe).

3) take a look at the "stink pipe" which stands outside the kitchen window. 

It should be upright, not lying down. Bob could try to work that when down there all together.

life is good - siblings and reunion

Life is good. family "Pirkle" began coming to Gwynn's Island at least about 65 years ago.
In a few days the four will be meeting in Mathews County for sibling reunion.
Years of birth 1927, 1929, 1942, 1943. First two are males
and graduated from William and Mary. In preparation, we have had the cottage exterior painted
(Mad Calf Lane). Hope the new look does not drive "our" eagle away.
It has been up on the limb of the pine - but I personally have missed seeing it - as I also miss Whip-O- Will that used to frequent (in the 1960's).

a testament to Mama Rachel - Grandma to Rachel

Funeral is Saturday at Moore's Chapel Baptist Church, Saxapahaw, NC. Rachel (grand-daughter to Rachel Ione Thompson Braxton) wrote: all the trips we took, all the long talks we had, the laughs, sharing a bed with her at Gwynn's Island, the chores I helped with (snapping beans, shucking corn), and the things she taught me. I miss you so much ...

paying remainder for exterior painting

The painter called. Payment will be going out on "Bill Pay."

Remlick, Virginia

Josephine married Irvy "Mike" Hudgins and they reared their son and two daughters on N. Bayhaven (headed toward Mad Calf Lane). He always had a wonderful garden of vegetables over the decade. One by one his parents died, also her (mother?). Joesphine was from Redart. Raise your hand because I probably already told that the name is a backwards spelling ("Trader") just as "Remlick" is backwards spelling of "Kilmer" - I think that I shall never see a poem lovely as a tree. Something about foreign invasion fear(s) in one of the world wars.

powerwash start

Originally scheduled to begin Monday, this is Tuesday and the painter (contractor) is supposed to begin today doing the powerwashing and other preparation (prime?) for the "sea glass" green two coats with all the trip two coats in white. The other time this cottage was painted, the house painter was Grandma Chee-Chee.

exterior encapsulation (paint and trim)

I believe the last time the entire exterior was painted (a light green) was between the time of swapping cottages (and purchase of the strip of land we call "bird sanctuary") and the last time Chee-Chee was at the cottage in 1997 (around June). Now is time to get two coats of new paint (Valspar) after power washing - also all the white trim two coats - professional painter Steve.

long forgotten cottenwood massive tree

Gwynn is an Island right on the Chesapeake. The first time for me was 1966 and there was a majestic cottonwood standing not even 200 feet from the shore. The tree is no longer. I do miss it, even though it was solitary. There is a much shorter live oak which hangs on and is the shape of the winds coming off the Bay. Hummingbirds even built a nest in the live oak.

hurricane proof and foundation elevation

Hurricane-proof construction supposedly: http://baysidejoinery.com/hurricane-proof-homes/

raptor tale

2015.03.16 Mon twi-lit

‘hawk red-tale’

long time big bird

up on the limb 

gathering gloom

‘Broadwing white breast’

It was there

suddenly

it was not

© 2015 RobertJulianBraxton

not quite IronHeart wood-burning warmth generation

The Pirkles' Perch wood burning at this seasonal tiny vacation cottage where we had thought we must replace the 1976 (50th Anniversary gift to Doc and Chee-Chee) but instead we wound up reconstructing the floor (bottom) of the burn chamber. This wood burner is a Jotul - and is not actually a stove but more like an open "fireplace" with screen. The cottage is small and neither air-tight nor insulated (from cold or from heat).

new tradition Pirkle potluck Saturday

We know that this is last minute, but it would be great to see everyone and catch up now that we are back.  We were thinking that for a change of pace how about everyone coming over to MD for a potluck tomorrow, Saturday, around 3 or 4 pm.  We will have some bean soup, salad, a pie, and some other random food to share with everyone.  We understand if you can't make it at this late of notice; just please let us know what you are thinking.