A Cape August 2014

Summer colors at the shore

Some of our guests have entertained the idea of owning a B&B and are eager to ask us questions about what it’s like.  We tell them it’s wonderful for so many reasons.  We get to live in and share our favorite place with others, meet interesting people from all over the world and yes, be our own bosses.  But, we are quick to point out that our B&B is a hybrid, in that the rooms are adjacent to our home, but not part of our living space.  And, because each room has its own private entrance, bathroom and kitchen space, we are able to stock the kitchen with breakfast choices in lieu of cooking and serving breakfast at our table.  It’s a much more private and convenient experience for both hosts and guests.  There are days when all we really need to do is remove the trash and do a quick check for food and towels that need replenishing.  The rest of the day is our own. 

But then, there are days, like July 27^th when hosting is an all day affair.

A Day in the Life of a B&B in High Season

Our morning dawned with guests due to depart from both the Studio and Cottage and new guests to arrive later in the day for both.  While Ron made our breakfast, I gathered sheets and towels and trash from the Studio and got the first load of laundry going.  The many empty bird feeders got attended to next.  Over Ron's lattes, fresh, juiced carrots and homemade toast and jam, we took some quiet moments to watch the birds at the window feeders, let our cats, Bob & Tom, update us about their latest nocturnal adventures and prioritize our day.

 

Another trip to the basement got the first load into the dryer and the second one started, then back to the Studio to clear the kitchen and bathroom of used items and restock with fresh.  This includes a quick check for food allergy information supplied by guests because it’s not at all uncommon to host people who can’t eat bread, dairy, or certain fruits.  I’d done my shopping the day before since I knew the timing would be tight so I was ready to sort out who needed what.  This week, both guests were traveling with a child, so in addition to putting fresh sheets on the bed, the futons needed to be opened and made. 

Now that everything was restocked and there were fresh sheets and towels, Ron was ready to do the vacuuming and heavy cleaning.  While he was doing his part in the Studio, I repeated the process in the Cottage and kept the laundry rhythm going in the basement. 

By this time, the trash and recycling bags were stacking up so we took a break to get to the transfer station (our fancy name for the dump) before it closed, then finished the restocking and cleaning in the Cottage.  Luckily, our guests that day were expected at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but sometimes they are both here as early as 2 p.m. and it’s a race to the finish to be ready.

After the Cottage is shipshape there was an October reservation request waiting on the computer, as well as, a reminder to review the last Airbnb guests.  

 

Now it was time to meet and greet our first guests, explaining how to adjust the room temperature and operate the cable TV remote, what’s for breakfast, where the beaches and stores are, answering questions and making suggestions. 

After a last trip to the basement for laundry, we took advantage of the next couple of hours to leave the car at the Honda dealer for an early morning appointment and have some dinner.  And then we got lucky.  Our expected 9 p.m. guests called to say they'd be here by 8:30.  [It’s not unusual for a 9 p.m. ETA to turn into midnight, so this was good.] 

At 8:30 they called again to announce their arrival.  We looked in the back driveway, but no one was there.  It’s also not unusual for guests to end up on the wrong side of the house, so we checked the front driveway.  Still no one.  We called back and found they were at the wrong address a few miles north, so Ron guided them back in and we repeated the meet and greet. 

There was just enough time for a fro-yo cone and a quick show on t.v. with the cats and we were ready to read ourselves to sleep. 

The next morning, our friend, Ray, found us on the couch with the cats and our tray of carrot juice, lattes and homemade toast and said, “You guys really got the life.  Look at-cha, you never do nuthin’.”  We just smiled and asked if he wanted his latte hot or cold.
  

Step this way to the beginning of the National Seashore

July tourists rush in like a stampede of buffalos, anxious to reach their favorite beach and clam shack before anyone else.  August has a more settled-in feel to it.  By then, we've all resigned ourselves and adjusted to the erratic driving, relaxing as much as possible into the kamikaze car ballet.  We pause tolerantly for families on bikes crossing the road like ducklings.  We're pleased for another good year of tourism, but count the days until Labor Day restores us to a more peaceful state, one without sirens and flashing lights that result from rogue driving misjudgements.  I even dodged an ambulance and a team of EMT's toting medical kits and a stretcher as I exited the Stop and Shop this month.  I was listening to a local radio commentator on the way home that day who was lamenting that with the new airline restrictions on the size and number of bags one could take, it was a shame that there didn't seem to be room enought to pack ones manners anymore.  He also quoted a poll that cited Americans as the #1 rudest tourists in the world.  Well, that's embarrassing.  

Trash irony on the front bank

We all have our favorite post-season stories to share, such as one of our guests who turned the heat on to 75 while the air conditioner fought to cool the room down as she spent the day at the beach.  Or, the day I stopped at CVS to pick up a prescription, but realized I'd left my wallet in the car.  As I retraced my steps  by an open van door, a little boy with pants down sent a stream in front of my feet, just like the little cherub garden fountains, only this was not water and we weren't in a garden.  His mother just shrugged as I changed my route to avoid the yellow fountain splatting on the hot asphalt.  But, I think my winner is the day I had almost finished my long shopping list, but couldn't get my cart down the gridlocked produce aisle, so I parked it at the front of the store.  After navigating to the carrots and back, I began unloading my basket at the checkout.  Mid-way through, I noticed things that were definitely not my choices on top of ones that were.  Then, I noticed that many of my items had been removed.  Much to the displeasure of the cashier, the people behind me and myself, the order had to be voided, the groceries removed from the bags, and I had to start shopping all over again.  Reviews have been all over the place, stating that the same rooms were either super clean and quiet or, too noisy and dirty.  In another month or two, we will laugh about these things.

Thanks for the litter?  I was hoping for a check from Publishers Clearing House.

By August, the brilliance of July gardens are starting to wane and some deadheading is in order to coax the last bit of color.  By this time, the hibiscus and false sunflowers are taller than me and getting ready for their big finish.  I'm certainly noticing that the sunsets are coming earlier.  Our summers may be shorter here, but that only makes our gardeners more serious and creative.

My friend, Laurie makes beautiful rock gardens in North Eastham

This is "Pot Man", made by my friend, Anna. 

Best plant I ever found on the off-season dollar table!

Artists have flocked to the Cape for centuries to capture natural beauty in many different mediums, but one I've come to enjoy is the variety of humans in beachwear.  As Paul McCartney referred to the aging body in his song "Vintage Clothes", we get to see it all in the summertime.  For people like myself with curly hair, ocean breezes give us that finger in the socket look.  Neon colored spandex fairly shouts to look at endless varieties of shapes.  Wrinkled legs like the sand-ridged beaches at low-tide and a kaleidoscope of veins like July 4th fireworks shuffle happily along in flip flops, vanity be damned.  Even shiny, stainless steel legs feel free to take their place in shorts since the wars in the Middle East have caused so many of them.  I love the freedom we all feel to let it all hang out at the beach. 

Our other August entertainment was provided by our town's free Monday concerts.  This month we enjoyed performances by some of our favorite local musicians.  First came Sarah Swain and the Oh-Boys! for a beautiful, crisp evening under blue skies.  

    Sarah:  http://capecodwave.com/sarah-swain-and-the-oh-boys-in-hyannis-video/

Another Monday, we filled a picnic basket and relaxed to the Kami Lyle Trio with my visiting sisters and nieces.  

     Kami:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcJBG4WaUqA

As was the case last year, the big finish for the Summer of 2014 was provided by our Eastham friend and neighbor,  Chandler Travis and his wicked-talented Philharmonic band.  I've already given you many clips of the versatile and insanely talented (take that as you will) Chan, as he plays everywhere, all the time and he's a Cape favorite.  One couldn't help noticing that it was dark by the last song at 8 p.m. 

We were also included in our friend, Ray's family cookout, getting to enjoy one of Anna's sumptuous dinners while catching up with their children visiting from Germany and Hawaii.  Since Ron fondly calls Ray his "brother from another mother", his kids good-naturedly call him Uncle Ronnie and play along.

Not in the least was the second Supermoon of the summer, and attendance at the top of Fort Hill was no less than last month's.  There won't be another for quite a long time.  

And, squeezing in at the last of the month was another "Pay What You Want" night at the W.H.A.T. featuring the Tennessee Williams play, Period of Adjustment.  Although it was extremely well done, I think last month's Fabulous Lipitones was such a hard act to follow that it should have been held for the last.  

August 14, 2014 Supermoon

 We always try to make our guests feel like they're at their home away from home, but we actually did host a couple from England this month who were in between homes, having already sold theirs, and were in the process of bidding on a new one.  Our Cottage literally became their temporary home as we shared their progress each day in acquiring a new nest transcontinentally, depending on our computer and phone.  It was our very good fortune that this necessity provided the opportunity to enjoy the company of some very kindred spirits, with whom we hope to keep in touch.  They were the perfect antidote for some less than wonderful experiences this summer.  And, thank you, Hamish, for my favorite new word, "tiggity-boo", as could be used as follows:  Autumn is just around the corner and everything will be just tiggity-boo.

Hamish enjoying Ron's Harley, and his wife, the lovely Corinne

And, in a summer of "firsts", our last guests of the month, after waiting all year to return to the Cottage, and then until the very end of the summer season, were apparently so excited about their trip, they arrived a day earlier than they had booked.  I knew it was pointless to try to find them other accommodations for the night since I had been turning away desperate people all week for Labor Day weekend.  There was nothing else to do but welcome them to the basement family-only futon and suggest they pretend they were in college again.  They were actually quite grateful and most likely even more grateful when the Cottage was all ready for them the next day.  Our other guests this month visited from Germany, Vermont, California, New York and Massachusetts.  We hope everyone took back fond memories of the summer of 2014.