2013 - January Blues

Snow-o'clock on the sun dial

Observations on the season:

Did you notice how desperately fast your email spam folder fills up around the holidays?  As if any of those items would make an appropriate gift for anyone...And, did you also spot how quickly the Christmas decorations got dumped onto the reduced aisle to make way for Valentine's Day?  There hasn't been a "Grace Period" between holidays for quite some time.  It leads me to think that the advertising industry has gotten too lazy to promote business without a hackneyed holiday theme.  Perhaps I've been watching too many episodes of Mad Men, but I'm craving just a little more creativity than that.  And since much of the money spent on advertising goes into Superbowl commercials, it's not likely that they'll get my attention there either since our Patriots blew their chances for that last week.  As our defensive linebacker Vince Wilfork humbly stated, "The best team won tonight."   Simple as that.            

Frosty Fort Hill approach

O.K., so why would a self-confessed winter-lover entitle the first entry of the year January Blues?  I'm referring, not to the mood, but to the gorgeous, deep colors of the ocean and varied palate of the winter skies.  Though nature has seemed confused about the seasons, winter weather finally arrived barely in time for the solstice.  So much for the roses still blooming and the hummingbirds looking for their feeders (honestly!), it's time for sub-freezing temperatures, icy ponds and snow.  A two-inch white blanket tucked in the old year and the winds sang 2012 out.  The ever-ready snow plowers left abstract frozen sculptures in the parking lots and icy patches made walking less of an involuntary action than usual.  

 Final performance

We usually go into hibernation on New Year's Eve, eschewing loud parties and sharing the road with drunken revelers, but we had an incentive to get out this year to see our son perform with his dance group, The Tides, at Chatham's First Night celebration.  Despite coming down with a wicked cold, he put on a big smile and his dancin' feet and treated us all to a fun performance.  We could have stayed for fireworks and many more performances at different venues in town, but the lure of p.j.'s by the fire was too great for us and we rang in the new year in our favorite place with our cats cuddled close and another couple of episodes of a new favorite t.v. series.  

Smilin' Sean in the middle

The B&B hosted couples from Massachusetts and Connecticut over the holidays, and January brought us a Harvard professor who needed some quiet time to finish a book.    We also have a new "frequent flyer" by the name of Bob White, who has taken over the job of cleaning up under the bird feeders.  He's a handsome guy who struts like Mick Jagger and peeps like R2-D2.  Our Sibley Bird Book describes him as a member of the quail family who is often heard, but seldom seen.  Lucky us!

Mr. White

Last Spring, I excitedly reported that our town of Eastham had hired four Alpine goats from a local farm for a pilot program to manage unwanted vegetation without chemicals.  Although the goats performed their job to perfection, munching away locust trees, brambles and poison ivy, the Department of Public Works came to the conclusion that a team of only four goats to manage the whole town is akin to trying to plow the streets with snow blowers instead of plows.  For now, the town has decided that in order for such a program to be a success, the goats would need to be handled by full-time professional farmers rather than the DPW employees.  So, we sadly say goodbye and a heartfelt thank you to Alan, Butt Head, Tag and Momma and hope to see them again someday.

Frozen Mary Chase Salt Marsh

January is also the time when the Development Committee of the Lower Cape Outreach Council starts a new year of fundraising, attempting to work smarter, not harder.  The good news is that we raised a record amount last year, but unfortunately the community need is still so much greater than that.  Having completed a full year as a volunteer, I have a newfound respect for the volunteers who have done this tirelessly for years without letting discouragement get in the way.  Onward.  

Ice on the Cove

I don't know why I was worried about having a real winter.  Our Canadian neighbors have generously shared the jet stream with us this month with three very modest, but gorgeous snowfalls and occasional wind chills in the negative numbers.    

lazy kitchen window snow pictures

Strangely, January has turned out to be a prime wildlife viewing month.  Six deer surprised me at the mailbox last week, flipping their white tails as a comment on my rude intrusion.  Maybe that's who that extra mailbox is for...But, the truly exceptional sighting was the pair of bluebirds who stopped in for a suet break on their travels.  It's the first time I've ever seen a bluebird, and the timing took me quite by surprise.  I do hope that if they can't stick around for awhile, they'll at least make us a regular stop.

Mo' Blues

As January comes to a close, I've already had time to sort through free-shop treasures in the basement, filling the car with things that seemed like a good idea at the time, but couldn't pass the second-look test.  The space regained allowed me to restore my work area to a usable condition, where actual framing projects are getting completed.  I've also been able to dust off the higher level of discipline required to tackle our tax preparation.  A lot of cold, gray days helped with that effort, not that there weren't many distractions that suddenly took precedence, like filling up bird feeders, restocking the porch with kindling and paging through the new bulb catalogs that came in the mail.  I reasoned that since our postman, Ken, was nice enough to come out in the cold to deliver them, I should at least take a few minutes to look through.  With two-thirds of the winter left, I look forward to more winter projects like continuing to transfer old 1970's negatives to computer, printing and framing new photos for the next showing, mulching more of the gardens before shoots pop up and dazzling my willing guinea pig boys with new recipes.  And, even as winter sports enthusiasts don wetsuits and hit Nauset Light Beach with their surfboards, my favorite way to start and end a winter's day is on the couch with Ron, two cats, a steaming latte and the view out of our windows.   

Good night, Eastham

2012 - December - All Mused Out for 2012

Even Jaws gets into the holiday celebrations. 

December has brought occasional frost and some early morning ice in the bird baths, but mostly very Spring-like weather. The feeders are stocked with suet for the winter we keep expecting to come.  Most of the leaves are down and many have simply blown away with the Nor'easter, but they always seem to be replaced by more blowing in from somewhere else.  The winds are back making the new window screens sing eerie tunes.  Buildings sport a variety of fancy decorations.   Benefits for the needy abound with every possible incentive to attend and spend.  Take your choice of music, food, dance, raffles, silent auctions, or just put food or clothing in boxes which are everywhere.  We chose to attend the annual Christmas Cavalcade, organized by our friend, Chandler, who brings together many other talented Cape musicians for a very enjoyable holiday show.  This year, Siobhan Magnus of American Idol fame joined the lineup.  We also spent an evening volunteering at the St. Wenceslas Faire which benefits the Lower Cape Outreach Center.  Either way, working or being entertained, it's all good stuff.

Salt Pond floating Xmas Tree

But, December's greatest significance to us is that it marks our 3rd anniversary of moving here and opening the B&B.  As I think back to that experience, I hope I never have to face a challenge that immense again, even though it was totally worth it.  I used to work with a teacher, who with her husband bicycled from Oregon to Virginia over her summer break.  Once home, whenever times would get tough her mantra was "if I can bike through Kansas, where you pedal all day and the scenery never changes, I can do anything!"  Moving here was our 'Kansas' and we'd do it all over again if we had to.  
[Newer readers can read about that trip at the following links:  North to Eastham and North to Eastham - Part 2.]  As I drive through our little towns, I still remember the feeling of hardly knowing anyone, or knowing where anything was, or how to get anywhere.  I now take pleasure in navigating the scenic shortcuts I've learned and having surprise encounters with new friends as I go about my errands.  It's a wonderful gift to truly feel that you're finally home. The B&B has become an established landmark and welcomes people from all over the globe.  Just as I looked forward to my summer break from my public school job, I now welcome the winter break from summer tourism to kick back to a slower pace, although we're never closed.  This month's guests are traveling from CT, MA & VT.   

Lights on the Eastham Green

Every December, my town of Eastham's Chamber of Commerce puts on an annual Holiday Festival & Toy Drive.  There's always a visit from Santa and goodies to eat, face painting, raffles and trolley rides, balloon twisting, glitter tattoos, pony rides, a craft table, a kids gymnastics demo, pizza and it's ALL FREE, courtesy of donations that make it happen.  This year we had 300 happy kids attending.

The town of Provincetown at the tip of the Cape kicked off the holiday season with an annual event called Lighting the Lobster Pot Tree, sponsored by the family who owns the Lobster Pot Restaurant.  This year the project has grown to cover an entire square and is assembled from 112 lobster pots, 120 giant red bows, 58 buoys and 46 plastic lobsters.  3400 lights and a crane that lowered the top "crown" completed the project.   They really do know how to do festive in P'town!  

Snow's Department Store's annual Train Town display

The hardiest residents in the town of Brewster are planning a Polar Plunge to raise money for needy Cape families during the holiday.  Gee, too bad we don't live in that town...

Main Street, Orleans

The town of Chatham, celebrating its 300th birthday this year has an annual Christmas Stroll with a parade, tree lighting and horse and carriage rides with costumed characters.

Cap'n Ron & Crosswinds

I don't know about you, but when Daylight Savings Time ends, I look for any way to illuminate all that darkness.  Out come the single window candles.  I've become a convert to the cordless ones that turn themselves on and off.  Then the seashell light strands drape the back fence where we park.  Not long after that, back by popular demand, lights go up on the sailboat in the front yard, to the delight of passersby.  It's also time for the little tree that serves as a beacon to mark our front entrance all year to have its tiny white lights refreshed.  One tree leads to another and before you know it, we have many new reasons to be grateful for our new solar panels.  As a winter season lover, light is my celebration.  All that's missing now is snow. 

with assistance from Sean

While musing about the holidays, I always have a little touch of guilt.  (No, not gilt, nor gelt.)  This year I'm coming clean and confessing my past bad karma.  You see, I grew up in a Chanukah home amidst a mostly Santa town who took Jesus's birthday very seriously.  That was in the 50's-60's when it was perfectly correct and expected to celebrate Christmas in school.  Most people had barely heard of Chanukah, much less knew how to pronounce it without spitting.  I was always looked at in disbelief and pity when I had to admit that I never had a Christmas tree nor sat on Santa's lap.  I really didn't understand why Santa couldn't stop at our house, but one year I became determined to at least see him and the reindeer go by.  If he was as jolly as was reported, maybe I could tell my friends that he waved to me on the way to their houses.  On Christmas Eve I was beside myself with excitement about my plan and stayed alert for the sound of jingle bells and kept hopping out of bed to peek out the window long after I'd been tucked in.  My mother, noting that I was still awake longer than usual came in to see what was wrong.  I blurted out the hope that had me quivering with excitement and a troubled look came over her face.  She sat down, drew me onto her lap and encased me in one of those hugs that ended with a big sigh, the one when you knew you weren't going to like what came next.  Then she said in her most conspiratorial tone, "if I tell you a secret, will you promise me that you won't tell any of your friends?"  Now, it's really not so fair to ask that of a six year old who doesn't even know what the secret she's agreeing to is, but not having the opportunity to hear secrets very often, of course I said yes.  It was then that I was crushed to learn that Santa was (shhhh...) only every child's Mom and Dad.  O-M-G, say it isn't so!!  I held out as long as I could, probably less than 24 hours, but in the end spilled the beans.  Martha-Jane was convinced I was wrong because she knew her single mother couldn't possibly afford to buy her any toys.  But, Betty-Lou, after an indignant "Nuh-UHHH!" was pretty miffed at me.  It all blew over and I know they would have found out eventually, but I've always regretted that indiscretion.  You can bet that when Spring came around and I was resentfully eating my matzoh meal birthday cake, there was absolutely no mention of the Easter Bunny to my friends.  

1989-Doug & Dad's tree

And, Chanukah with Cousins

When my son, who celebrated both Dad's Christmas and Mom's Chanukah brought up the subject, I thought about that incident and told him that Santa was magic and you only needed to believe in his spirit to make him real in your heart.  Analytical even at that early age, I knew he wasn't buying that logic, but that he still wanted to believe in something special.  That was the best I could do.  Now, as a self-admitted holiday-curmudgeon, I'm finally at peace adopting the Winter Solstice as my official holiday with lights, a gift or two, warm, crackly fires, delicious foods and an always open door for friends and family.  If that sounds similar at all to your chosen holiday, too, it's because it's reminiscent of the pre-Christian Roman Saturnalia from which so many of holiday traditions were adopted.  The important thing is to create a holiday that has meaning for you and not to be a slave to traditions that don't.  Be open to embracing something new and allow your own magic to happen!                                                                     

Equal Opportunity Lights

Thanks to my sister, nieces and "that guy" for sharing Chanukah with us this year and giving me a good excuse to dig out our Mom's menorah, serve latkes (potato pancakes), buy funny animal hats for everyone and get Ron to recite the Chanukah blessing in Hebrew, or whatever that language was that he was trying to repeat as I whispered in his ear.  To his credit, he didn't spit once.

Let there be lights!

Coincidentally, the Winter Solstice this year falls on the same day the Mayans predicted would be the end of the world, so, Friday the 21st will be a big day for us one way or another.  

Happy holidays to all.

  

2012 - November Thankful Musings

Post-Sandy calm in Chatham

Although the roses are still blooming, the walk to the mailbox is ankle-deep in crunchy leaves and the air finally has a chill.   Snow's department store has the first of the model trains set up and running for the upcoming holidays.  The rules for the Turnip Festival Cook-off have been posted.  Turkeys are a prominent decorating theme.  It's November on Cape Cod.  

Brewster color

As many communities begin the long process of trying to restore order after Superstorm Sandy, I was recently reminded of how critical one's attitude is towards dealing with adversity.  I don't often share guest's details, but I think Claire's point of view is worth relating.  The weekend prior to Superstorm Sandy, she had a prior reservation with us to celebrate her birthday on the Cape.  Though the storm wasn't due for a couple more days, broad bands of gloom and doom were already overspreading the area.  No sooner than our guests had checked in and driven into town to explore and stock up on weekend supplies, they dislodged their muffler on a curb and had to be towed back to the B&B.    We told them about the local bus system and how to walk up the street to the start of the national seashore at Fort Hill, and were even able to hook them up with our fisherman friend to get some luscious, large lobsters for their dinner.  While "the boys" went to get the lobsters, it quickly became apparent from chatting with Claire that it takes more than a little change of plans to rattle her.  I learned that as a journalist, she had previously worked in Asia, and most recently lived in Syria before the country's unrest became too dangerous to continue there.  So, being stuck on Cape Cod with a broken car in the path of a hurricane, in her mind translated to being nestled in a cozy cottage eating lobster within walking distance of the seashore.  Or, in short, as my grandfather used to say, "it could always be worse."  My heart goes out to all the people displaced by Sandy and I wish them all, at the very least, the ability to feel that sentiment deeply because I know Claire and my grandfather were right about that one.

Eastham's fancy decoration

With the elections finally over, I find myself musing about something and it's nothing as mundane as the electoral college or whether the Obama girls should get a second dog.  I've always found the ability to laugh at oneself a helpful quality, and going one step further, to share in the humor about my candidate(s) of choice.  With all the vitriol that campaigning has become, I welcome whatever levity comes my way.  The media has been rich with political humor, some of which I forwarded to friends if it tickled my funnybone.  It occurs to me that I didn't see any cleverly amusing emails about any Democrats.  John Stewart, one of the biggest liberals on t.v. took plenty of pokes at Obama when the opportunity presented itself.  So why, I wonder, did I not receive any humorous emails poking fun at the Democrats?  Perhaps the take-away from my musings could be that humor has the potential to be more effective than malicious mudslinging. Regardless, the high point of the election for us, other than the outcome, was meeting our Democratic candidate for Senate at a campaign rally we attended on a whim.  In fact, we were standing next to and met her entire family.  It was a real Tip O'Neal moment.  (For those not familiar:  "Politics begins at home".)  

The incredible Elizabeth Warren

Speaking of humor, Eastham-sters have it when it comes to our claim to fame, the best turnips ever.  This year's theme for the annual Turnip Festival is "Turnips, Eastham's Buried Treasure".  This year's contests include turnip shucking, a Mr. Turnip Head decorating station and a trivia contest called "Are you Smarter than an Eastham Turnip?"  The cooking contest will be judged by a state senator, the director of the Chamber of Commerce and a local restaurant owner.  The festival wouldn't be complete without an elementary school turnip art exhibit, some turnip history and folktales, a juggler (probably turnips) and the "Blessing of the Turnips".    

On the subject of our Thanksgiving on the Cape, I know that Norman Rockwell-like pictures of groaning tables and bowed heads come to mind, but the reality is quite different with us.  The B&B is open for business for other non-traditionalists who wish to design their own holidays.  This year's holiday escapees are from Boston.  The closest thing to a turkey dinner we'll see are the ones we helped to give out for the Lower Cape Outreach Council.  This year, we're in the mood for either Thai food or the new Mexican restaurant that just opened, with a homemade pumpkin pie for dessert.  As for a real Thanksgiving, we really do celebrate that every day just by acknowledging how extremely grateful we are to be here.  Wishing all my readers a holiday that tickles your heart and makes you glad to be alive. 

A Pleasant Bay day

2012 - Special Sandy Edition

We've received a number of phone calls and emails checking to see if Hurricane Sandy blew our little town off the map or floated us out to sea.  Just a quick note to report that the Cape is tougher than it looks, but also very lucky.  Although the Upper Cape lost power briefly in some places and the ocean frontage took a beating, Eastham had what amounted to just another good Nor'easter as the winds reached 80 mph and the rain sprinkled.  We wisely took proper precautions, but other than peace of mind, they proved unnecessary.  We were definitely aware of her force though and on the morning after could hear the ocean roaring from our yard, a half mile away.  Many of the leaves, which had been so reluctant to turn colors before the storm, now found themselves on the ground and ready for raking.  

A few before and after pictures of Fort Hill, Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach:

 http://youtu.be/sRGg4La8nSo

2012 - October Musings

This way to Fort Hill in living color

After an intense season of withering heat, frenetic traffic and new guests every few days, October is the gift of the season.  Cape Cod businesses have reported that in the last few years, business continues to increase and October now represents approximately 30% of annual sales.  We don't have to do the math to know that while the middle of some weeks have quieted, guests are still taking advantage of the mild weather and weekend fall activities, like Wellfleet's annual Oysterfest, and have continued to flock here from the UK, Belgium, Germany, British Columbia, Massachusetts, New York, Michigan, Texas, Vermont and Connecticut.

Chatham colors

Autumn hues seemed to be slower making their debut this year and almost reluctantly bowed to the calendar to sprinkle Fall colors around before all the leaves fall.  There's persistent talk of a cold winter coming our way, not to mention Hurricane Sandy, but so far both remain to be seen.

Brewster spirit

Our sad news is that the Red Sox finished dead last this season.  Of course, that means there's nowhere to go next year but up.  The good news is that October 18th has become our "Green Independence Day".  Crosswinds B&B is now solar-powered and connected to the national grid.  There's even a website provided to monitor how much power we're producing at any given time and the related statistics.  We are disproving Kermit the Frog's lament that "it's not easy to be green", but hope that Mitt Romney doesn't get the chance to add him to the unemployment list by doing away with PBS.  Please vote Obama and save Kermit & Big Bird's jobs!  (I bet you thought that our good news was going to be that the Patriot's are currently in first place standing in our division.)

Knowledge AND sun is power!

Since sharks are becoming more a part of our reputation, the general consensus is that you might as well have a sense of humor and make a buck off of the unwelcome intruders.  The latest evidence of this was a bumper sticker I saw this month, which used to read:  "Chatham: a quaint drinking village with a fishing problem."  The newer version reads:  "Chatham:  a quaint shark village with a seal problem."  I also heard one of our local WCAI announcers call in to the local fishing show to relate his valiant struggle to reel in the big one, only to end up with just a fish head after a sand shark hijacked his catch.  Meanwhile, sharks continue to be tagged and studied and are becoming just another Cape Cod icon.

Eastham domestic couch sharks

With our son trading life in Kabul with taking up temporary residence with us, we're benefitting from the entertainment value of the strange, nocturnal habits of the single, 20-something male.  For instance, we were invited to our first fire spinning demonstration by him and some friends.  The beach is the perfect place for this activity and was another opportunity to photograph something one doesn't see very often.  It was also interesting meeting his friends for the first time on a pitch black night having only voices to distinguish one from another.  And, have I mentioned that a pinball machine now resides in the basement?  Whoever said that getting old is not fun is perhaps not doing it right.

Boys playing with fire

Remember to VOTE, no matter who your preference is!

The merchants of Chatham provide the big finish with their month-long competition for the best pumpkin display.

  

Click to see slideshow:  http://youtu.be/sTmWGeGtRP8

2012 - September Musings

Together, again!

I must have once said that I like surprises because our boys, Doug and Sean take great pleasure in producing them for me whenever they can.  As if Sean's surprise appearance after three years in Afghanistan wasn't exciting enough, he somehow talked Doug into coming back from Virginia for another visit and offered him up like a prize after dinner one night.  Once again I stood staring, mouth open, speechless and totally delighted with their delicious deception and their pride in pulling it off.  Labor Day weekend suddenly became much more than just the last hurrah of summer and the house resonated with happy noises.

Just act naturally, boys...

Our Red Sox have had a pretty tough year and considering their pitiful showing this summer, it's not as difficult to switch gears to football and dig out our Patriots apparel.  I even hear there are seats available at Fenway for a change.  But now that the seasoned officials are out of the act and everyone is groaning about the unprofessional calls of the substitutes, I must say football is off to an odd start.  I heard last night's game described on the radio today as "the perfect storm of utter incompetence."   I'm still trying to learn the rules and this isn't helping.   

Who said there's no kids in Eastham?

For 35 years, Eastham has held its annual 3-day Windmill Weekend festivities and we chose to volunteer again at the raffle booth while enjoying some of the activities.  Despite some rough surf from Hurricane Leslie, Saturday morning was sunny and gorgeous for the sand castle competition and we stayed as long as we could before hurrying back to greet a B&B guest.  We were rooting for the all-kids group who paid tribute to the now infamous Cape Cod Bear who visited earlier this year.  After fashioning a very fat bear lying on its tummy with time to spare, they decided to add a mermaid lying underneath the bear.  Their cooperative enthusiasm and creativity got my vote, but the woman with the terrapin race and big starfish took 1st.  Oh well, kids, just like the Red Sox there's always next year. 

Sand Competition at First Encounter Beach

In the afternoon we claimed a spot on the town green to listen to our friends in the Chandler Travis Three-O on the bandstand while watching Leslie's cloud show above and enjoying the pungent smells of grilled meat, onions and pickle relish.  

Ever wonder what the inside of a windmill looks like?

By Sunday, drizzle had overtaken the area, but it wasn't enough to discourage either the volunteers or the participants and the parade and games went on.  Unlike many fundraising events that are held on the Cape, these festivities have no agenda other than to bring the community together for a small town good time and many people put a lot of effort and planning into this joyful event.

Chandler Travis & musicians du jour

Part of being a landmark location in a small town is occasionally becoming the topic of discussion, especially when people are giving directions.  So far, we are known as "the B&B at Fort Hill", the place with the blue sailboat in the yard, and now the house with the new solar roof panels.  By next summer, I also hope to be known as the place with the front bank full of roses, which we've been working on diligently this summer.  But until then, the shiny new panels, which can be seen for quite a distance will no doubt raise many questions and comments all winter.  

New roses & new solar panels

For the most part, Cape Cod looks like a snail trail on the northeast side of the United States.  Not much to compare to say, California or Florida, but yet we're totally self-contained with everything we could possible need.  It's not unusual to hear someone base a decision on whether something is across the Cape Cod Canal, or not.  It's not usually crossed without really good incentive, i.e. "are you kidding, that's over the bridge!"  There's something very comforting about that small separation between land masses, like a moat around a castle. 

Patience rewarded-last year's half price find (hibiscus).

One of our favorite parts of refreshing the B&B rooms for the next guests is to read the comments written in the Guest Books.  There are messages in French, German, Korean and mostly English.  Some are humorous and others are beautiful prose.  Here are some of our favorite abridged ones:

A guest from Australia wrote:  "We stayed at Crosswinds for several days in late October and it was a joyous experience.  We traveled by car some of the time, by bike (on loan from our hosts), and on foot (we brought our own).  The Studio is a delightful place to stay.  It comprises a spacious bed/living/dining/kitchen area and a bathroom which you can get really clean in. When we arrived and often when returning home, we'd find that the muffin fairy had visited.  But, despite how good the accommodation was, it was eclipsed by the hosts.  Ron & Andrea were (and probably still are) utterly delightful.  It's a sad thing about traveling like this that you meet people whom you'd want to be your best friends..."

"Beautiful area out here.  Very relaxing (especially coming out of Boston traffic-those drivers are INSANE!"

"The weather, eh, but loved the cottage and gardens.  Felt like home or better than our small, messy NYC apartments."

"Better than any crappy hotel/motel!  We will be back next year. Thanx for everything!"  

"Ron & Andrea are the perfect hosts.  They let us know they were around if we need anything, stocked the fridge with goodies and left us to do our thing.  They have the place set up with everything you need.  Literally, everything you need.  I really dig this place and would go back in a hot second.  Five stars!!

September brought guests from the UK, India, Germany, Boston & western MA, Brooklyn, NY, VT and very special family guests from Charlottesville, VA.   

Thanks for the visit! - Dale & Gene in P'town

  

2012 - August Musings

last summer's half-priced sunflower and guest 

When I start booking rooms in January, Labor Day seems like half a lifetime away, but here we almost are.  August tourists seem to be a little more frantic than July's, almost as if they've waited longer for their vacation so they're in a hurry to cram in as much of it as possible.  Driving anywhere has become a real-life computer game challenge of ever-increasing hazard levels, and trips to the dump in the August heat have become an endurance test from ripe combinations of cat poop and yesterday's lobster shells.  New faces are constantly checking in and out and the pace is unrelenting like the last leg of a marathon that will soon be over, but not just yet.  There are scads of fun things to do and no time to do most of them.    Guests checked in this month from the UK, Ontario, Ottawa, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas, California, New York and Illinois.  People have even ignored the No Vacancy signs to knock on the door, just in case.  Labor Day looms on the calendar like an oasis and the first chrysanthemums have arrived at the market, which means that Autumn and relief is on the way. 

view from Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA

The most noteworthy event by far this month was the surprise return of our son, Sean, from three years working as a contractor in Afghanistan.  Watching BBC nightly news has become much less stressful as a result.  The basement is morphing once again into a hangout for him and invited friends while he explores employment options in a safer part of the world. 

Provincetown life imitates art

Great Whites are in the news again after a Colorado man was bitten while swimming in Truro, the first actual shark attack off Cape Cod since 1936.  It didn't take more than a couple of days to start seeing new shark T-shirts and I overheard in a local shop, "that ol' Great White wouldn't have been able to catch Michael Phelps last night."  Now, there's a new idea for Olympic trainers...

Life continues to serve up surprises and one presented itself this month in the form of an invitation by our friend, Dan, the Artistic Director of W.H.A.T. to be part of a comedy show called "Trials of Love".  The comedian, Mike Dorval, with the help of the audience sets out to resolve a disagreement presented by the invited couple.  Being the center of attention onstate has never been my idea of a relaxing evening, but I decided to be a good sport and try something new and I was glad I took the stretch.  It turned into a very fun evening and we even scored some gift certificates for participating.  The disagreement we came up with to be solved was that Ron wants the cats to be able to sleep with us, but being wedged between two cats ranging from 16 to 18 pounds is not conducive to a good night's sleep for me, especially when they decide to crawl on top of my chest.  When time was up and our cases were made, Ron received one tentative clap from a self-proclaimed cat lover, but the rest of the audience sided with me.

(That's 34 pounds of cat--I rest my case.)

I had another surprise this month, but more in the life-is-strange category than the pleasant kind.  When I returned to my car in a crowded parking lot, I found myself rear bumper to rear bumper with another car, making it impossible for me to leave.  After failing to locate the owner in a nearby shop, it dawned on me that the intruder must have rolled backwards into mine from the empty parking space directly opposite.  I finally located the chagrinned owner in another store, exchanged insurance information to get my cracked bumper fixed and decided that if I was going to be in an accident, this was an easy one to deal with.   

vintage Orleans police car

Although I don't get as much time as I'd like to take my camera exploring in the summer, I received a request to take cast pictures for a performance at Provincetown Theatre and I took the opportunity for a stroll to capture some images of what may be the most unique town on Cape Cod.  The people-watching is as rich as the seaside scenery itself and just in time for my next photo exhibit in the Orleans Cape Cod Five Bank.  Just as living anywhere else, we sometimes need reminders to stop and smell some hollyhocks.  

more Commercial Street views, Provincetown, MA