2015 March - The Big Melt

Hi, NASA!  That's us, about an inch north of the frozen elbow, Atlantic side.

An early March visit from THOR - another 8-12" blanket.

Let there be light!  

The spring forward to Daylight Savings Time on March 8th came to the rescue of sun-deprived winter warriors and provided a welcome relief to those looking for a reason, any reason at all, to think that winter will actually come to end.  We were already noting the increase in light at the end of day, but an extra hour all at once is something to get excited about.       

And, that's why they call them Snow Drops.

Here's another sure sign of Spring!

With the Sox clinching that last place spot last year, there's nowhere to go, but UP!  Accordingly, there are lots of new faces hard at work in Spring Training in Florida, looking to clinch their spot on the team.  We even have our first Cuban player.  Hopefully, Fenway will have melted by opening day.

Play ball!

Long before the first hopeful day of March, there is a sub-group of zombie-like people, stuffed into their winter gear, dreaming of warm sun and ice-free beaches [with the exception of their Duncan Donut frozen frappucino].  Advertisers know this and Agway, my favorite garden store, offered this email message of hope:  

Note the tiny disclaimer on item #4.  

Here's something else that just popped up.  If you were a reader last year, you might remember that Ron participated in the Provincetown 24-hour Play event, which later led to the play being filmed.  The writer's goal was to enter it in various film festivals.  The preview last winter in Provincetown was premature, but with the completion of the editing, it appears to be on its way, including Ron's infamous sprint down snowy Commercial Street in boxers and cowboy boots.  Not many lines, but great ACTING!  And, please note the credit for the photograph.     

Arthur Egeli

I am proud to announce that our film, "Misconception", shot here in Provincetown last March, will debut at the Arizona International Film Festival running April 9th to the 26th. The film stars Heather Hayes, Kate Wallace Rogers, Cindy Harrington, and Ron Daniels. It was co-written by myself and Heather, co-produced by Judith Richland and originally directed for the stage by Alison Hyder at the Provincetown Provincetown Theater (photo by Andrea Daniels) and edited by John Randle— with Heather Hayes.

 A pair of European Starlings

Last month, I mentioned a few reasons why I enjoy the winter so much.  I neglected to speak about the wildlife we get to enjoy that we wouldn't see otherwise.  The first time I ever saw a European Starling was on a trip to Copenhagen a few years ago, and I was fascinated with the unusual markings.  I took a picture to identify the breed when I got home since it wasn't a bird I'd seen here before.  This month, I learned from our Orleans bird expert, Mike O'Connor, that the Cape has many of these birds, but the reason we'd never seen them before is that they prefer feeding on "buggy and wormy things" in the salt marshes.  When the marshes are frozen, as they have been most of this winter, they seek dinner elsewhere, and suet is their second favorite entree.  I'm glad to say that word has spread about the fine dining options here and they've been constant visitors all winter.  Another benefit to a snowy landscape, at least for us, is that the deer sightings are more plentiful, simply because they show up better against the snow.  Not to mention, if you ever wonder who parties in your yard nocturnally, the fox, raccoon, deer, skunk, coyote, squirrel and bird prints are all there in the morning.  

Hi, Neighbor!

The town of Wellfleet, just north of us, made the national news this month when ice floes began making what looked like icebergs on the beach.  I don't know if any of them would have sunk a ship, but they made for an unusual landscape.  About a week later, on my way back from Provincetown, I stopped to see what might be left after our big melt began, and I wasn't disappointed.  

Wellfleet Harbor - crunchy style

BOSTON, STILL STRONG! 

As of 7 p.m. on  March 15th, The National Weather Service in Boston announced that Boston Logan Airport had officially received a record breaking amount of snow for the 2015 season.  For perspective, the average seasonal snowfall at the airport is 43.5 inches.  I've been unable to locate our total snowfall for this winter here in Eastham, but we don't really need the numbers.  Codders will be using the winter of 2015 as a comparison for years to come, as the one that didn't get a chance to melt before the next, and the next, and the next.  In fact, we had another 2" on our first day of Spring.  To give another perspective of what that has looked like, Arnold's restaurant summer devotees may recognize this ice cream sign in the parking lot.
  

Where do you think all that ice cream comes from?  Just kidding, of course.

The March blog wouldn't be complete without a wildlife report.  Just because we're still huddled in front of the fireplace doesn't mean Spring's not here.  So, if you've had Robins all winter, how can you really tell?  The Ocearch Shark Tracker, for one, is showing Katherine, one of our frequent Great White visitors, moving up the Atlantic coast.  The first Ospreys have been officially sited in the towns of Orleans and Eastham.  We heard the squawk of the first Red Wing Blackbirds a couple of days before we spotted the first one on our feeders on the first day of Spring.  And the grackles, also known as "suet-piggies", with their gorgeous, iridescent blue heads, have also returned.  With the grass once again peeping out, I have much less tolerance for watching the squirrels draining our bird feeders.  With three feet of snow on the ground, I could afford to be generous, but it was time for those pesky Reds to move on, learn how to feed themselves and start their family elsewhere.  It took a couple of weeks to entice them, but patience was rewarded with two at once.  

See:  Red Goes to Orleans

This month's B&B visitors from Medford, MA, wisely brought their snowshoes with them and trekked Fort Hill without benefit of the usual neat pathways.  I could still see their tracks when I went for a walk a few days later.

We know where you've been!

We also hosted people from Springfield, MA, who braved the weather.  They had been to the Cape before, but never this far down, and were elated to discover the distinctive beauty of the Outer Cape and Fort Hill.  It really is a different world north of the rotary.  We were also happy to get a last minute booking from last year's winter guests, who decided to leave Boston for an evening in the Cottage.  Being good Wisconsin-Cheeseheads, they agree with us that winter is the best time on the Cape.  Following them were a couple coming to supervise the placement of their new house, which will transition them from summer residents to year-rounders.  Finally, a couple from Germany braved the rains (but, at least not snow!) to get away for a couple of days.  This winter's snow brought a blissful rest from the attention to detail necessary to tending to guests, but it's back to work now, with its own rewards.      

And now, it really is time to give John Deere, Jr. some much deserved R&R.  The plow will soon be disconnected and he'll be returned to the lighter duty of mowing.  What a trooper he's been!  

March decorations were courtesy of Thor

With Spring having sprung, I was thinking about all the projects I was going to get done over the winter. and I commented, "Once again, winter has just flown by!"  Ron gave me his "you're crazy, but you're mine" look and replied, "You know you're the only one on this planet who has uttered those words."  So, for all of the rest of you,

Happy Spring, and let the daffodils bloom!  

Click here to:  Meet & Hear the Redwing Blackbird  [scroll down to click on the audio/video]

February, 2015 - The White Month

The mighty Snow Wolf...

After about the fifth blizzard update to concerned friends and family in the first week of the month, I decided they'd probably had enough.  Some were no doubt even thinking, you said you loved snow, well, you got it.  And, yes I do, and yes we did, and then some more.  It does tend to wear me out, but I'm still captivated by watching it come down and hearing it crunch under my boots.  I've graduated from athletic fun, like sledding, to more gentle snowflake catching, and photographing whatever the drifts allow me to reach.  The toboggan has become more functional than recreational, using it with a step stool as a bridge over snowdrifts to get to the bird feeders, or as a rescue vehicle.
      

...and, the not-so-mighty Snow Squirrel

Sadly [and, what I really mean is, catastrophically], my camera started malfunctioning after our first big storm.  It's always been the best diversion to keep me from picking up a snow shovel.  I actually love tunneling my way through snow, but it's #1 on my doctor's list of NO-NO's for me.  My attempts to use Ron's iPhone camera were less than stellar, but I got some dandy pictures of my fingertips.  One day, trying to stay out of shovel-trouble, I devised some Rube Goldberg-like contraptions using extra gutters to divert melting icicles from the steps.  It seemed like a good idea at the time, but, I really needed my camera.  

  February's timeline started out like this:

Thank you, Ponderosa Landscaping

We started the month having cried uncle, and had both front and back driveways professionally plowed, leaving impressive snow mountains and glistening, black asphalt pathways for the cars.  The John Deere plow wasn't going to cut it, and it was our only chance of ever seeing our driveway again this winter with more storms on the way.  

The Before Picture.  We had to show them where the driveway should be.

Superbowl Sunday was a gorgeous, sunny day, perfect for getting out beyond our own mailbox for a change, so I decided to check on the damage to Coast Guard and Nauset Light beaches.  If I thought hiking through sand dunes was getting to be difficult, I found that it's a lot more of a challenge doing it through snow drifts with icy, imbedded footsteps.  For my efforts, I found a gnarly, driftwood walking stick, and made friends with a lady I recognized who works at the Stop & Shop.  As for the beach, the cliffs looked like a giant earthmoving machine had a ravenous gobble-fest for miles, and part of the buried cedar bogs that appeared after last year's big Nor'easter, reappeared.  It's all part of coastal life, like losing the stairs to Nauset Light beach again, for the third time in five years.  We adjust and go on.

That's where they used to be, so watch that first step!

On the way home, I decided to drive up the one plowed lane to the top of Fort Hill at the end of our road.  On the way, I passed a couple, happily show-shoeing by rows of mailboxes, which peeked hopefully above snowbanks.  People were skiing down one side of the hill, and sledding down the other.  The ocean was calm and the salt marshes frosty.  But, as I said, it was Superbowl Sunday, and Patriots fever was on the rise.  Returning to my excavated spot in the driveway between snow mountains, I put on a big pot of Portuguese Kale soup and spent the evening as most Codders did, glued to the most stunning New England win, ever.  I was promised some pictures from a friend who says he made good on his pledge to dive into the snow in his underwear if the Patriots won, but I haven't seen proof, yet. 

First Encounter Beach sand dunes a la mode

The evening not only brought New England another Superbowl trophy, it also delivered more snow, which became the every-other-day pattern for most of the month.  Our days have been filled with rediscovering the walkways, wet clothes, filling bird feeders outside and humidifiers inside.  But, the weather didn't deter me from making a trip to The Orleans Camera Store for a consultation with the owner, Dick Mack.  Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about his field, it's clear that he's as fascinated with it as his customers, and shares his time and knowledge generously.  A quick examination of my camera yielded the bad news that it needed to go to the Nikon dealer for what could be a pricey repair.  The good news came in the form of technology advances since purchasing mine almost eight years ago.  It didn't take long to decide that the money would be better spent on something new, rather than repairing something old.  [Remember when less than a decade wasn't considered old?]  So, I now have an amazing new camera and a learning curve as steep as the snowdrifts. 

The second week:  Progress!

It took a pickax, but Ron cut a path through the snow mountains in the front driveway
so our little plow can get through from the lot next door to maintain it.

But, it's not only about snow, this month.  At the Lower Cape Outreach Council, my fellow members of the Development Committee are planning the upcoming 2015 fundraisers that support our neighbors in need.   Our February "Dinner with the Presidents," the "Annual Super Restaurant Raffle", the "Spring Week of Hope", the Fall Gala and many other efforts don't just happen spontaneously.  New ideas and the volunteers to implement them are a year-round quest.  LCOC is quiet, but we're definitely not hibernating.

There isn't enough money in the town budget to plow the bike paths, too, 
so diehard winter cyclists have had to hit the main roads.

And, the doors reopened at the Orleans Community Exchange, the oldest Thrift Shop on the Cape, after the annual break to clean and begin a new membership period.  It's an out-with-the-old event, followed by the inevitable in-with-the-new.  Nature abhors a vacuum, and our avid year-round consignors returned with new treasures to offer eager shoppers.  "Thrifting" remains one of the more popular pastimes for locals and visitors, alike.  Sweaters were a popular purchase this month, but between storm closings and a furnace malfunction in the building, February turned out to be just a teaser.  We hope to reopen in March with a new furnace.        

The third week:  Neptune - another 14"

You know when you see the words 'frigid' and 'howling' in the same forecast, it's going to be another heck of a Nor'easter.  

Not to let Boston outdo us with their highest total snowfall, ever, Neptune graced the Cape with another foot [or, so] of snow.  It didn't seem to be as cataclysmic an event as Juno, or perhaps, with mountains of Juno still on the ground, what's a little wind and another foot of snow?  Plowing began early this time, on the roads and on our driveway, before the snow could exceed the capacities of our little engine that could.  

The engineer, at least, was determined.  

Valentine's weekend, or not, we encouraged cancellation for both expected guests at the B&B.  Safe travel always trumps all.  But, that didn't stop us from making a run between storms to Plymouth [about an hour's drive] to leave Ron's Boxter to have the back windshield replaced.  Yes, Plymouth with the rock, "America's Hometown", but the rock was nestled under a couple feet of snow.  It took a lot of windshield wiper fluid and Polarized sunglasses to cut the glare, but it was kind of nice to see what other people who were snowed in looked like for a change of pace.  I noticed a number of icicle-laden roofs that had definitely been relieved of some of the snow burden.  Roof collapses have been the bane of this winter's frozen bounty, mostly large commercial structures, but many people aren't taking chances.     
  

And, Octavia - another  6"

With more to come.  Now, we're starting to be accused of hijacking other regions' winter weather and they actually seem to want it back.  As much as some people hate snow, their water supply depends on it.  Meanwhile, our fences and gates seem to be getting lower and landmarks are disappearing.  The walkways are definitely growing smaller.  The most common question heard these days is, "Has Andrea had enough snow, yet?"   

Redundancy in Art

So, here's the way I can answer that question.  Nobody would have even thought to ask my mother, "Have you had enough chocolate, yet, Lorraine?"  Or, my dad, "Have you caught enough fish, Sam?"  How would I possibly get too much snow in only three out of twelve probable months?  That's one season out of four.  I've only lived in New England [where there's a much better chance of snow than Virginia] for eight out of fifty+ years.  That means I've spent more than half a century hoping for snow days that never came.  Now, I don't like math very much, but I think that, in this case, the numbers say it all.  I have a lot of time to make up for, enjoying peaceful, lacy curtains of snow and gentle, snowflake eyelash-kisses.  It brightens the otherwise bleak landscape for awhile, and I get to wear sweaters that feel like warm hugs.  Didn't you love finding out for the first time that you could blow 'smoke' with cold air?  And, who else couldn't resist making cracks in icy puddles on the way to school?  As an adult, I also appreciate that the passing snow plows represent paychecks that feed and warm families in the off-season.  So, to answer the question, has Andrea had enough snow, yet, in MY winter wonderland, we've maybe had more than our fair share, BUT it's not too much for me.  Disclaimer:  as always, please bear in mind that I have no connections with any higher power to cause snow, I just appreciate it.    

This is what Cape Cod Bay looks like at First Encounter Beach. 
If you look closely, you can see where the ice meets the horizon.

Pandora graced us with flurries and sleet, while the South got deadly ice, snow and cold in places that never see it.

I overheard two old women talking about the weather the other day.  One exclaimed that she'd been living in Eastham for 64 years and she'd never seen anything like this winter.  "Oh, sure, we got snow," she said, "but, it usually melted before we got the next storm!  My yard has disappeared!"  With March rapidly approaching, I wonder what people will find to talk about next month?  If you can't find anything else useful about snow, it at least unites and engages people in a common state of affairs.  February has proven most of us to be a resilient, if not weary bunch.  There are the usual achy snow-shoveling muscles, and the constant interruption of routines that confuse otherwise clear thinking.  A case in point: when our friend said he uses sand for the snow in his driveway instead of salt and I asked him where he buys it.  DUH...we live at the beach.  Our regulars, Dave & Ray don't let the snow stop them from coming over for lattes and snow stories the morning after a storm.  Neighbors help out neighbors wherever it's needed.  And, since I'm banned from shoveling, I made a big lasagna to feed our determined volunteer shovelers.  Some days, when the sun comes out, the glare from the white drifts are so bright, we actually lower the blinds.  Snow or shine, I manage to keep our birds happy and even get a little exercise high-stepping through the drifts to get to all the feeders.  

The Latte Regulars - Show & Tell Time

Quantum - the big February finish? - another 5" predicted. 

The Winter 'Howdy' Tree

Only one out of three scheduled guests actually got to stay this month because of the weather.  They flew in from Virginia, luckily squeezing in between storms for their grandmother's birthday party.  As for the rest, it just wasn't wise to mess with Mother Nature, but our summer bookings have been brisk.     

Yes, it's really a Robin, but don't let it fool you.  We have them all winter, here.

For anyone who has been struggling to remain upright on the ice and snow with just a little dignity, I leave you with this short video, which will make you count your blessings:     

Click here for:  A Winter Walk

2015 Mid-February - Mid-Thigh Snow

This is what you do when you promised not to shovel snow anymore:

David 'Papi' Snow-tiz

John Snowball-ushi

If John Lennon was a Snowman - "Give Snow a Chance"

Kenny McSnowmick

Where's Waldo-Man?

Nom, Nom-Man - "One less squirrel for mankind."

SPECIAL EDITION: 2015 JUNO, the Blizzard

View Juno the Blizzard slide show here:

http://youtu.be/x94hXD8UADg

Juno, the Back Story

What is it about being in the middle of a howling blizzard and turning on the television to watch the news about the howling blizzard?  I guess we just wanted to see what other people were seeing about us.  We were receiving emails and calls from Western Massachusetts to as far away as France, including California, Maryland, Virginia and Oregon.  It turned into a pretty busy 24 hours, but I did my best to reassure folks that we were not underwater, and were safe.  I doubt we beat a record, but I'm sure we were right up there with, not only the snowfall, an average of 2-3 feet with mega-drifts, but the winds that sculpted those drifts.  

It all started out very gently Monday afternoon with delicate, blowing flurries, which had only laid down a light coating of white before dark.  We had B&B guests from New Hampshire arrive at noon to help their daughter in Wellfleet, who was moving away.  By 4:00 p.m., they were back to apologize about needing to turn around and go home.  The moving truck had been postponed due to the storm, and the NH department of transportation had called him back to work.  

By dinnertime, the winds had picked up and reached roaring crescendos by bedtime.  We tucked in snugly and let them sing us to sleep.  By morning, we were in a whiteout and I heard a breaker blow seconds before the power went out and the generator chugged itself on.  With well water that needs electricity to work, this is exactly the situation that prompted us to invest in this luxurious convenience.   Dutifully reporting our outage, we began receiving messages that the power company's main equipment that services Boston's South Shore and Cape Cod had been damaged by wind, and outages could last multiple days.  

At that point, I knew we had to check on our elderly neighbor across the street, and Ron confirmed my suspicion that he had not gotten his generator set up outside beforehand and it wasn't going to happen during the blizzard, either.  He and his friend were discussing how they could possible get to the shelter at the high school when we insisted that they sleep in the B&B Studio, which was now available.  The problem was that all the cars were snowed in and the drifts in the street would have made them useless, anyway. So, short of carrying him, how was he going to get here?  The toboggan in our garage, and a lot of muscle, was what ultimately got him to safe haven.  Of course, by then it was dinnertime and we knew they hadn't been able to eat, so out came the wok and I basically stir-fried everything in the refrigerator and filled all the tummies.  I dug out a couple pairs of flannel pants for them and encouraged them to make themselves at home in the Studio.  

But, just as Ron was getting ready to relax from the toboggan adventure, we got a call from our neighbor who lives at the end of our road next to Fort Hill.  She was snowed-in near Boston, and was concerned about her sister, who was not answering her phone at the house in Eastham.  Now, most people know Ron as a laid-back Southern California dude, but what they may not know is that when there's a damsel in distress [or even a 'dude-sel'], he runs on pure adrenaline.  So, he suited up again and made the .4 mile trek through the unplowed drifts in hurricane-force winds to check out the situation.  She was more than a little surprised to have Yeti bang on the door, gasping that he had to drain the water pipes, blow out the candles and take her with him.  Did I mention, they hadn't met before this?  A quick call to her sister explained his appearance a little better, but she chose to rough out the storm there without power, and that just left the trek back home to negotiate.  

Now, we were ready for some serious rest and relaxation.  By morning, all our good karma was returned in the form of an NSTAR power truck restoring electricity to our neighborhood.  But, we still had to engineer a better way to get our neighbor back to his home.  Ron found that the John Deere tractor plow, which has been mounted up and ready since November, was outmatched.  Plan B failed when we were unable to find anyone with a plow who wasn't already up to their wheel wells and tired of digging out.  So, Plan C became people power.  Can't say enough about the tenacity and good will of both our year-round tenants, who grabbed shovels and joined Ron clearing a path from our back door, down the driveway, across the street and to our neighbor's front door.  I could almost hear the inspiring sound track to the movie that would chronicle our big adventure.  The neighbors made it home.  Cars were dug out.  To quote a friend of ours, it was a real "walkin'. talk'in miracle".  Giddy with the accomplishments, we set out for an exploratory journey to Stop and Shop, where we found a celebratory steak to grill.  That's right, I said snow-grilling.  

It's likely to be awhile before we see the ground again, especially with more snow predicted over the following week.  I won't try to convince anyone who thinks snow is evil that they're not appreciating the beauty and excitement of a big storm.  No, I wouldn't do that...but, I really think we've got enough good karma banked to get us through another, if need be.  

Hope everyone's safe and comfortable.  Now, on to February. 

  

     

           

             

January 2015 - Winter Begins

H A P P Y    N E W    Y E A R ! 

Double rainbow over Orleans Town Cove

And, what better way to start than with a double rainbow.  Another reminder to always carry my camera whether it looks nice out, or not.    

December was SO gray for SO long that whenever the sun peeked out of the clouds it was a 'come-see' event.  After three straight weeks of constant clouds and drizzle, two straight days of sunshine was a cosmic holiday gift, but it came with temperatures more suited to Spring than holiday decorations.  Instead of wooly sweaters, T-shirts became our holiday attire and the Yule logs in the fireplace had to wait.  But, not for too long.  With the last of the travelers back home, January's jet stream dipped with a vengeance and we finally began something that felt, looked and sounded a lot like winter.  

Provincetown New Year's sunset - a painter's dream

When most of our family and friends come to visit, they're interested in seeing the sights that make living here unique.  They get the quick block-long tour of Eastham's tiny town center, consisting of a town green with the oldest windmill on Cape Cod, our town hall where lively, local meetings still decide town issues, the side-by-side fire and police departments and the 60+ year old Superette, where aside from groceries, spirits and souvenirs, one can get scrumptious, made-to-order sandwiches from the deli.  They get trips to Coast Guard Beach for a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean, probably with surfers no matter what time of the year and then a short hop to the west to First Encounter Beach on Cape Cod Bay for amazing sunsets.  Of course, a walk through Fort Hill's nature trails with dazzling water views are a must and we haven't even left Eastham, yet.  But, when my son visits, he's less enamored with the idea of Cape Cod, the resort, than with something more unusual.  Much to our surprise, a visit to a friend with chickens became one of his favorite stops, but sadly, the chickens have all succumbed to hungry hawks.  So this year, we visited another friend with goats and geese to take a bag of compost goodies.  And, score!  I'm happy to report that farm animals still compete with electronics for a good time.   

Doug with Goatie and Baby

This little guy's called a Silkie

While we're on the subject of animals, here's the latest Crosswinds wildlife report:

The bluebirds are back! 

First 2015 feeder siting - January 2nd, but only for a couple of days this time.

AND, our first red fox siting in the yard, ever, but sadly, no pictures, yet.  

With New England's football team on the way to the Superbowl this year, January has been rife with Patriots fever.  On weekends especially, Patriots fever is evident everywhere one goes; bank tellers in drive-through windows sport their favorite player's jerseys, electronic bus messages endlessly cycle GO PATS! and Stop & Shop check-out lines look like an ad for lucky Patriots shirts, hats and hoodies as fans gather their favorite game snacks.  Game details are rehashed on sidewalks, at the dump and in store aisles, and anyone who has missed it can get play-by-play details from friends or even total strangers.  Even people who aren't big football fans say they've been tuning in to the play-off games to see what all the fuss is about.  Like the weather, it's a topic that connects people whether it pleases them or not.

  GO PATS!   

Ron's 2014 valentine

Cape Cod teems with artists of every kind, including many photographers.  While I consider myself more of a hobbyist, The Sparrow Gift Shop in Orleans calls me one of their local artisans.  It's a flattering title that carries more prestige than 'hobbyist', but I still shy away from entering juried exhibits.  A friend has been after me for years to apply for an exhibit at his friend's local gallery in Orleans, but after viewing a few of their featured photographers, their techniques seem a lot more high-tech and expensive than I care to compete with.  Last month, I noticed Orlean's Camera's invitation to ALL photographers to participate in a month-long exhibit called, Your Favorite Photo of 2014, stressing that this was to be a celebration of the joy and magic of photography and the stories that go with the photos.  No fee; no judging; just FUN.  I can certainly do fun, so I chose my Valentine snow hearts because they represent to me the serendipity of a fresh snowfall on Valentine's Day and the whimsical idea that came to me just before my shovel cleared the palette away.  The exhibit proved to be a rich mixture of styles and skill and choosing a favorite was definitely fun. 

Almost as good as a blizzard - The Chandler Travis Three-O

Just when it became apparent that a predicted Nor'easter was going to be just another dreary rain event while the rest of New England got all our snow, our Eastham neighbor, Chandler Travis saved the day with a concert at the Truro Library.  Score 1-we'd never been there before.  Score 2-we needed to go to the Atlantic Spice store in Truro to restock on nutmeg for lattes, anyway.  Score 3-it would be difficult to find a more fun and talented group of musicians anywhere, and I seriously mean ANYWHERE.  So, we thumbed our noses at the weather, asked Siri how to get to the Truro Library [she told us that "reading was good"] and spent a wonderful hour, or so, hearing old favorites made new again.  Thanks, guys!  

Chatham Cloud Show

Just before the holidays, I arrived earlier than I'd meant to at an appointment in Chatham and rather than sit in a parking lot for twenty minutes, I decided to drive down the street to the Coast Guard Station to park overlooking the beach for awhile.  I was so glad I did.  In the span of about five minutes in a dramatic weather display, a menacing black cloud approached and overtook the brilliant sunny sky, releasing slanted sheets of steely-gray rain across the water.  Within a few minutes, the quick squall disappeared into the horizon and the sun transformed the wet town into shimmering crystal.  Checking the time, I was just getting ready to return to my appointment when a good friend pulled into the space right next to mine.  We rolled down windows to chat and he told me that any time he was close to a scenic area, he made himself stop for a few moments to appreciate why he loved living here.  It was a good reminder, and while I don't do new year resolutions anymore, I vowed to myself that I would do better about stopping to smell the roses and the ocean this year.   

A favorite Truro vantage point

And, then along came "Juno"

From the kitchen window because it's still too windy and deep to go out!

Did I say winter was slow to come this year?  Well, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that it arrived for sure on January 26th in the form of a super-storm named Juno.  That would be Juno, the Roman goddess, wife of Jupiter, daughter of Saturn and mother of Mars and Vulcan, that is, not the internet service.  She apparently makes a pretty good Nor'easter, too.  This being only my sixth winter here on the Cape, I can't say this with a real old-timer's status, but in my own experience [and many will agree], this is definitely the most enormous, fiercest and most enduring blizzard we've seen, yet.  As I write, it's been snowing and blowing for about 24 hours and the forecast expects it to continue through part of tomorrow.  There is a one day break and then more snow predicted.  The power went out this morning, prompting another round of self-congratulatory praise for investing in an automatic generator.  According to NSTAR's overly-polite robot caller, their equipment that services Cape Cod and the South Shore of Boston has been wind-damaged and power is not likely to be restored for days.  I wished she had not sounded quite so happy about it, but we not only get to enjoy this frozen tempest from the comfort of our warm, bright home, we also get to extend a safe haven to our neighbor, who wasn't quite prepared for the intensity of Juno.  Thanks to this wonderful convenience, our storm preparation is mostly about making sure the bird feeders are full and keeping the water in the birdbaths unfrozen.  Without having to worry about the freezer defrosting, there's usually plenty of sustenance to keep us well-fed for an extended period of time.  Worth every penny, that generator!   

The top of the fence is over my head, so...

What possesses people to visit Cape Cod during the winter?  Mostly, a desire to get away from whatever "it all" is for them and a quiet place to decompress.  A recent guest told us that they googled "fireplaces" and that's how they chose our Cottage for their respite this month.  Whatever the reason, there are still breathtaking views, delicious year-round restaurants, a live music scene, no crowds, and yes, a warm gas fireplace waiting to melt the chill.  Meanwhile, guests this month came from Milwaukee, WI, Austin, TX, Pittsfield, New Hampshire, and Boston and Medford, MA.