2013 - Just July

Supermoon 2013 over Fort Hill

Technically, there were two potential July 4th long weekends this year since it fell mid-week.  Travelers needed to pack their rose colored glasses for the first one which was tepid and foggy most of the time and raining for much of the rest.  There were a few intrepid bikers braving the damp, but most of the action was rolling fog banks and slow moving caravans of travelers looking for something dry and entertaining to do.  Our B&B rooms are always at the ready with brochures of places to go and premium movie channels, so everyone can find something they like to ride out a rainy day.  The second weekend had sunshine in spades, but with unrelenting humidity that either delighted beach-goers or wilted the rest of us.  And, as quickly as the rains passed, the sprinklers came out to save the gardens from the overbearing heat and we spent much of the day relocating them to give all the gardens a chance.  It was our first real test of the new mini-splits and they're passing with flying colors.  Most of the time, the dehumidifier feature cools the house down nicely without having to use the cool mode.  Meanwhile, for every day of summer cabin fever I think about our hard-working solar panels and it's a good trade-off.  

MERCOW? in Orleans

July is the first full month of family vacations and along with the hot beach weather comes droves of vehicles packed with surfboards, kayaks, bicycles, and sand castle building equipment; also, a lot of cranky, hot tourists and traffic jams.  So far, this season, our police department says Eastham is averaging about three accidents per day, which is quite a lot for a town this size.  And with every summer comes more insight about why the rules of traffic seem to fail so miserably.  It's a hot topic around the consignment shop air conditioner.  (We don't have a water cooler.)  I suggested that many of our guests are from countries that drive on the left side.  Or, perhaps Sand-in-the-Bathing-Suit Syndrome.  Another consignor pointed out that some come from large cities, take public transportation and only drive rental cars to go out of town.  There is definitely some rotary intimidation going on with folks who aren't used to them.  My pet peeve is bicyclers who brave the side of the main road instead of taking the bike trail and I was glad to see our Chamber of Commerce publish Eastham's bike safety rules discouraging this highly dangerous situation.  I'm sure we'll come up with more insightful reasons with a good eight more weeks of air conditioner conferences, but with any luck, the demolition derby will ease and we can all rejoice and discuss the reason for that, too.  Last thought on this subject:  "turn signals, they're a good thing!"     

Fred & Ethel Finch enjoying the day lillies

After three summers of cruising Agway's half-price plant tables, I suddenly find that my new flower gardens are reaching critical mass.  Who knew that the little pots of daisies and gaillardias that I rescued would engulf an area the size of Rhode Island and my baby hydrangeas would reach the fence tops by now?  Just as I've had to become more discriminating about bringing home free treasures from the transfer stations, the time has come all too quickly to have to discipline myself at the garden stores.  Lucky for me that the front bank that I started to cover with roses last year still has plenty of room for transplants.  Things happen a little later in the garden here than in the mid-Atlantic, and I was thrilled to harvest my first cucumber this month from the new raised bed gardens.  We immediately split it 3 ways and no cuke ever tasted sweeter.  The tomatoes are finally beginning to turn and I've now found out how to have the sunflowers I've always wanted.  It's simple - forget about buying and planting seeds in a particular spot.  Just let the birds take care of it and you'll have a lovely garden under the bird feeders.  It may not be where you would have planned it, but it makes a great place to hide the chipmunk traps and literally couldn't take any less work.

Step 1 - fill bird feeder.
Step 2 - sunflower garden

Due to a relentless relocation program, we had a peaceful respite from chipmunks for a couple of years.  Little did we know that they were just laying low while they planned a Wildlife Alliance convention at our B&B.  Initially, we decided that the squirrels had to go because they ravaged all the birdseed.  Then, we realized that the chipmunks had to go because they tripped the squirrel traps and were small enough to slide out of them so we caught neither one.  Now, raccoons have joined the wildlife alliance offering opposable digits that can pluck the doors off of the smaller chippy traps for them.  We think the deer may be getting into the act, too.  Fun convention events were Bird Feeder Raiding, Trip the Traps, Kamikaze Boardwalk Streaking and Birdbath Skinny-dipping.  There were prizes for chipmunks who could make the humans flap their arms.  They are clever little critters, but so far we've managed to relocate thirteen (one more than last year) to new homes where they may even be reunited with some of their great-great-grandmunks.  Now, if only we could interest them in devouring the biting greenhead and black deer flies that visit every July for one full moon cycle.             

Chippy McMunk caught in the act

Ron has rightly earned the new title of Small Engine Maestro for himself after having to become much more acquainted with the insides of our lawn tractor and Mosquito machine than he ever wished.  After two weeks of tinkering and replacing parts, he threw in the towel and ordered a new John Deere with a sun cover and snow plow.  It literally took about five minutes to find the owner of a small motor repair shop on craigslist to happily pay us $100 for the chance to rehab it for himself, and we hope for the same luck when we put the pristine, mighty snowblower on craigslist in the Fall.  As for the Skeeter Vac, it was close enough to the end of the warranty for them to agree to send a new motor, which makes it safe once again to work in the garden.  Workin' smarter, not harder, yes indeed.      

Buh-bye, old boy.

My June photo exhibit was a smashing success.  Nine framed photos found new homes and I earned the coveted month of July, 2014 for my next show there.    

Long overdue weeding on a rare cool day - AND, I found a $20 bill on the front bank for my efforts!

We just enjoyed our first lobster of the summer, courtesy of our friend, Ray, who plucks them right out of the ocean and delivers them to us.  It doesn't get any fresher than that.  I'm finally getting the hang of how to eat them, which is mainly coming to the realization that the biggest part of the lobster (the body) is inedible and the good meat is in the tail and claws.  The body is good for making broth, which can be used in bisque, chowder, or any other recipe calling for seafood broth, and my freezer is now stocked with the luscious liquor for cooler weather cooking.  I still find it impossible to eat one without needing to take a shower afterwards.   

Heavenly Hydrangeas 

Guests traveled here this month from the countries of Germany, Austria, Canada and Wales.  U.S. visitors included vacationers from Georgia, D.C., Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts, an artist from Tucson, Arizona here for an art gallery opening and guests from Washington State and Minnesota for conferences.  There's something for everyone and most guests who only budget a couple of days write that they wished they had allowed more time.  With seventeen towns on this side of the Canal to visit, each with their own unique personality and attractions, well, you do the math.