 Wintertime on Fort Hill |
January has had weather for everyone, starting the month with a day of delightful "ocean smoke", the flurries that come off of the water regardless of whether it's overcast or sunny. As delicate snowflakes tickled my face and colored the day with peaceful beauty, I was reminded of the effect that the mention of one snowflake in the media had on my old hometown. Though it was popular to voice suspicion that grocers and forecasters conspired, the store shelves never failed to empty of bread, milk, water, batteries, salt and shovels each time. The meteorologists aren't any better with predictions here than anywhere else, a case in point being the mid-month ten inch white-out that put their 1-3" guess to shame. It was good validation for having invested in the snow blower our first year here, although if we'd waited a couple of days, a drastic warmup would have taken care of it all. Off came the coats, to the delight of the grumbling winter-haters and it was Spring again. I've even noticed buds on the lilac tree. For an easy, no-mess snow experience from the warmth of your home, please click on the following link:
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Tom & Bob, our feline boys, have reached a comfortable level of acceptance and routine. Tommy, the new guy, is feeling quite at home, claiming the top of the sofa as his territorial perch and has at least doubled his weight. Bobby spends a little more time downstairs on the futon than in his pre-Tom days, but he's usually up for a little "smack and tumble", a stare down, or "let's see what's under the rug". There's still a little lap competition, but with two cats and two laps, it's usually resolved by distraction.
The consignment stores are reopening after a month off and accepting items for sale again. The Orleans Community Exchange's goal for this year is 20 scholarships and my staging services are still in demand. I can't say that the urge to collect and sell things has decreased much in my third year, but I'm still honing the art of pickiness. Winter's not the best time to find things, but around here it's not the worst, either. I'm continuing to update our wardrobes with free designer clothes, keep the bookshelves stocked with best sellers and find all sorts of useful items I never knew I needed. Some of my recent bounty for resale: a child's wooden rocker, a covered, painted ceramic pie plate still in the box, twin dolls in a wicker carrying basket, a new kayak cockpit cover and a birdhouse lamp. The treasures are unpredictable, never-ending and exciting, and the thank you notes from kids we've helped with college expenses are rewarding.
Yes, we even get B&B guests in the middle of a snowstorm in January! Of course, people from Vermont laugh at our winter, so it didn't stop this woman from booking a six night get-away and showing up prepared to do some hiking. Bookings are beginning to come in for March through June.
After settling in to our new home and business the first year, I began to look for volunteer opportunities that would help to immerse me in the community. The Lower Cape Outreach Council seemed to offer a variety of options since with no government funding, they manage to stock nine food pantries, operate a free used clothing 'store', provide financial assistance and counseling, and help to make holidays happen for those who qualify for assistance. In short order, after submitting a volunteer application online during the holidays, I was recruited for the Development Committee to assist the Executive Director, who had taken on more than was comfortably possible. It wasn't the zen-like grunt work for a good cause that I'd envisioned, but I'm finding it another rich source of education about my neighbors and neighborhoods. It's also what keeps a lot of people busy during the winter, planning the fundraisers that make it possible to serve eight towns on the Outer Cape. There's definitely more going on here in the winter than meets the eye!
The consignment stores are reopening after a month off and accepting items for sale again. The Orleans Community Exchange's goal for this year is 20 scholarships and my staging services are still in demand. I can't say that the urge to collect and sell things has decreased much in my third year, but I'm still honing the art of pickiness. Winter's not the best time to find things, but around here it's not the worst, either. I'm continuing to update our wardrobes with free designer clothes, keep the bookshelves stocked with best sellers and find all sorts of useful items I never knew I needed. Some of my recent bounty for resale: a child's wooden rocker, a covered, painted ceramic pie plate still in the box, twin dolls in a wicker carrying basket, a new kayak cockpit cover and a birdhouse lamp. The treasures are unpredictable, never-ending and exciting, and the thank you notes from kids we've helped with college expenses are rewarding.
Yes, we even get B&B guests in the middle of a snowstorm in January! Of course, people from Vermont laugh at our winter, so it didn't stop this woman from booking a six night get-away and showing up prepared to do some hiking. Bookings are beginning to come in for March through June.
After settling in to our new home and business the first year, I began to look for volunteer opportunities that would help to immerse me in the community. The Lower Cape Outreach Council seemed to offer a variety of options since with no government funding, they manage to stock nine food pantries, operate a free used clothing 'store', provide financial assistance and counseling, and help to make holidays happen for those who qualify for assistance. In short order, after submitting a volunteer application online during the holidays, I was recruited for the Development Committee to assist the Executive Director, who had taken on more than was comfortably possible. It wasn't the zen-like grunt work for a good cause that I'd envisioned, but I'm finding it another rich source of education about my neighbors and neighborhoods. It's also what keeps a lot of people busy during the winter, planning the fundraisers that make it possible to serve eight towns on the Outer Cape. There's definitely more going on here in the winter than meets the eye!
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| Some favorite Eastham neighbors |
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