Miss Molly's Inn Bed and Breakfast

Love this ❤️

Stunning!

Welcome to the herd ❤️Great job Steve and Darcy of DSC Photography and their Buyback Friends group for raising the money for her ❤️❤️❤️!

Chincoteague pony history was made this morning!

The auction record for highest-selling foal was broken! This little filly has quite the pedigree—her dam, WH Wildfire, was a descendant of Misty herself, and her sire is the island’s most popular pony, Surfer’s Riptide.

Earlier this year, saltwater cowboys discovered the filly’s mother gravely ill, and the mare tragically died despite all attempts to save her. The orphaned foal was brought to the Leonard family’s farm and was nursed by one of their mares.

The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (who owns and manages the wild ponies) decided to keep her as a buyback, a foal who stays wild on the island. Buybacks are auctioned off, but instead of buying the pony, the winning bidder wins the rights to name the pony. “Buying” a buyback is basically making a big donation to the fire company.

There are now several groups of pony fanatics who pool their money to “buy” buybacks every year, and one such group won the auction with a hefty $50,500 donation to the fire company. They named the pony Wildfire's Phoenix.

Phoenix makes a lovely addition to the wild herd!

Awesome pictures of Pony Swim from DSC Photography! Thanks for sharing Steve & Darcy!

Great pics from the swim!

If you’ve thought to yourself, “I’d love to see the Chincoteague Pony Swim someday,” make plans and DO IT! The sunrise on Assateague is magnificent!

For anybody who purchased the 2024 Foals of the Wild Chincoteague Pony Herds, here is a link to download the addendum for foals born since the book went to the printer!

Thank you so very much to everybody who supported this effort!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1nN5Db8Dvmij7fss7V0ipX9utcCjaIng9?usp=sharing

See Marguerite Henry’s note regarding Miss Molly's Inn Bed and Breakfast in her letter. This exhibit should be fun to check out ❤️

Bright and early from the north herd roundup!

Thinking of buying a foal on Thursday? You need to come to the Chincoteague Pony Drill Team open house tomorrow, Tuesday July 23, and see how wonderful, athletic, and just plain wonderful these ponies can be. Watch them perform. Meet them up close. See their talents. Talk to us about training foals. Let the kids take a pony ride, do the craft, run the obstacle course. Bid on great gift certificates and items in the silent auction. Eat at our food stand. Come spend a couple of hours just living the dream with Chincoteague ponies. (Note, photo is one of the drill team ponies and her rider competing in eventing)

Fun Eastern Shore Happenings coming Up!!!

GET OUT & GO!
A few summer wandering options in the upcoming days ...

BRIDAL STROLL! Running shoes, wedding gowns, and Julie Roberts hairdos should be the fashion order of the day on Sat., July 27 Berlin, Md. during a fun run/walk event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the filmed-in-Berlin Hollywood hit, "Runaway Bride." There will be a "reception" too, at Burnish Beer Co. Details:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1506955199895022

JUS PEACHY! Enjoy Peaches by the Beaches on Sat., July 27 at Hudson Fields near Lewes, Del. Desserts, peach lemonade, peach milkshakes, petting zoo, 80-plus craftsy vendors, more. Details:
https://www.rehoboth.com/event-details.html?view=detail&eventID=6181

ON THE MIDWAY! The Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Del. is both big-ticket extravaganza and small-town joy. Demolition derby on Friday, Turnpike Troubadours (pictured) on Saturday. Details:
https://www.delawarestatefair.com/

FAIR PLAY! The Cecil County Fair at the Fair Hill Fairgrounds in Elkton, Md. runs through Sat., July 27. Chainsaw carving, cowboy circus, demolition derby, much more. Details:
https://www.cecilcountyfair.org/

GET IN TUNE!
• Get folksy fun at Furnace Town Historic Site near Snow Hill, Md. with the String Buzzards on Sat., July 27. Details:
https://www.furnacetown.org/calendar
• The Record Company will be rocking out at Hudson Fields near Lewes, Del. on Fri., July 26. Details:
https://www.rehoboth.com/event-details.html?view=detail&eventID=6123
• WHCP community radio on Maryland's mid-Eastern Shore is throwing a Music Festival in Oxford, Md. on Sat., July 27 with Black Dog Alley, Daphne Eckman, and others. Details:
https://tourtalbot.org/event/whcp-music-festival/

POKER RUN (OR DRIVE)! The 18th annual Bayside Poker Run is Sat., July 27 out of the Eastern Shore Yacht & Country Club in Melfa, Va. New this year: An on-the-road option by auto in addition to the traditional waterborne adventure. Details:
https://shoredailynews.com/events/18th-annual-bayside-poker-run/

FARM FARE! Take a guided stroll through Oksana's Produce Farm near Chestertown, Md. and then enjoy a five-course "Farm Dinner" on the evening of Thu., July 25. Details:
https://oksanasproduce.com/products/on-farm-dinner-july-25th

NUN SENSE! This year's Chrome City Ride to benefit the nonprofit Benedictine programs for developmentally and intellectually challenged kids and adults is Sat., July 27 in Ridgely, Md. Classic motorcycles, cars, more. Details:
https://benschool.org/chrome-city-fundraiser/

MEADOW LARK! Take a Summer Meadow Blooms tour of the magnificent Delaware Botanic Gardens near Dagsboro, DeL. with Stephen Pryce Lea, the deputy executive director of the place, on Fri., July 26. He does one of these most every month. Whole schedule here:
https://visitsoutherndelaware.com/event/delaware-botanic-gardens-deputy-executive-director-gardentours/2024-07-26
•Want to know the back story on these magnificent gardens? Short book excerpt here.
https://www.secretsoftheeasternshore.com/destination-delaware-botanic-gardens/

• Don't forget! Right around the beginning of every month I send out an email newsletter connecting you with four weeks of fun events and cool happenings. You can see what that newsletter looks like here:
https://www.secretsoftheeasternshore.com/events/

We would like to encourage our friends to go to the Island Theater on Tuesday night for the 6pm showing of Misty of Chincoteague. It’s a free showing- what a special place for the perfect movie during Pony Penning 🐴🐴🐴🐴

Ponies ❤️❤️❤️!

productions.superiorlivestock.com

This view is not to be missed

Views from the top of the Assateague Lighthouse 😍🌊

That Eastern Shore magic. ✨

There's just something about Cape Charles that keeps us all coming back for more! Thanks for sharing this beautiful shot, Teresa Puryear!

PONY SWIM INFO!
Have you crossed the famed Pony Swim on Chincoteague Island, Va. off your bucket list? This year's swim is Wed., July 24. Plus, a whole week of related events, July 20-26.

Here is one place to go for info:
https://www.chincoteaguechamber.com/pony-event-schedule/

And here is another:
https://www.chincoteague.com/pony_swim_guide.html

Highlights:
• The Chincoteague (Va.) Chamber of Commerce is throwing "Misty's Birthday Party" on Fri., July 19 Pony show and tricks, plus crafts, games, and more. Details.
https://www.facebook.com/events/chincoteague-chamber-of-commerce-and-certified-visitor-center/mistys-birthday-party/1419243822120171/
• Eight times between now and Labor Day, the historic Island Theatre in Chincoteague, Va. is showing the 1960s movie version of "Misty," that island's most famous pony. One cool thing about the movie is how many locals have bit parts. Watch especially for scenes with famed decoy carver Miles Hancock. Details:
https://www.chincoteaguechamber.com/events/misty-the-movie
• The Museum of Chincoteague Island is going to celebrate Pony Penning Week by holding an online auction (artwork, rare books, more) to raise funds to support its work to bring Misty's old home, the Beebe Barn, back to life as a tourism/educational attraction. Bidding runs through July 27.
Some info on the museum page:
https://www.facebook.com/chincoteaguemuseum
More info here:
https://betterunite.com/MuseumofChincoteagueIsland-ponypenningauctionfundraiserforthebeeberanchbarnrebuild-1?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3N7g_1n58LYgPjM_cUZgCZYErl4IAJrI2WGwvvCUZNsM_J3l769QTZt3M_aem_IowhGg_WZ2VGQxyak2E48g

If you want some background on this extravaganza--its history goes back decades--here you go:
https://www.secretsoftheeasternshore.com/tracing-the-history-of-the-famous-pony-penning-party-in-chincoteague/

Only one week till southern herd roundup! Due to the heat the times may be moved earlier in the morning, please watch this page for updates on times and other important announcements!

Are you coming to the Blueberry Festival?

Please be sure to stop by and see us!

This is the first year we’ll be doing it!

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 18, 19 and 20!

9am-4:30pm at the Chincoteague Center, 6155 Community Drive, Chincoteague, VA!

You are definitely the BEST ❤️❤️😂

When you get an email from the Eastern Shore of Virginia Tourism Commission and it starts out like this “I am so excited to tell you that you have won the Best Specialty Gourmet Shop category in our Local’s Choice Competition!” - we are once again so very grateful for all you!

Our second year receiving this honor because you all voted for us is such an honor. We are so thrilled to join the other great local business that are also being recognized.

The small business path isn’t always the easiest and some days are tougher then others but we wouldn’t trade it for anything. We are so very proud of what this little store has grown into. We love our little Whiteraven’s Nest store and always strive to make it better. Without all of you, this wouldn’t have been possible. We will continue to work hard and offer only the best for you and your family. Again, Thank you so very, very much , our awesome customers!!!