KateThoughts

Cape Cod ~ The Fashion Show

Monday night, the 23rd; the day we applied for The License! 
So what were we looking for...? 
And were we sipping wine? Why yes! We were!
But I've got to tell you, dropping about 45 lbs makes a BIG difference in how I look in a mirror. I mean, how I 'see' in a mirror...  

 

I DID say we were drinking wine, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bearly sleeping on the clothes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love this Asian look - mandarin collars, or can you tell?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun!     And I got to bring this sweater home!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, finally...the one we chose for The Wedding:

Ok it's not the best picture, but shows the detail best.

And yes, Joel tried on several things, too. Kicking and screaming some of the time, and trying to avoid buttons and photos. But we had a blast and ended up with great costumes for the ceremony that followed on Thursday.

Cape Cod Catch-up #5

Sunday Morning Showers - of the BEST kind. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a GREAT place for rinsing off beach sand or enjoying a wonderful Sunday Morning. In the second shot, you can see the bench seat and a part of the sliding door. Third is the view from inside looking up. I couldn't get low enough to capture the real height of the trees. The last shot is what you see from inside if you don't close the doors... 

This is one of Bearly's favorite hang-outs. The full-size screen door lets him keep an eye out for Dave coming home. He lines up toys there, too. Too Cute!

 

 

 

 

 

Just one of several garden areas around a nice little shopping area. There are fountains and benches and gardens everywhere. Beautiful. AND there was The Cook's Store (among others)! Fun!
Don't want to shop, or get tired while..? ...enjoy a latte or lunch at a little sidewalk shop. I'm sorry I didn't take more photos... Next Time! :)

I love these little guys. If I get a chance, I'll go back and take shots of one of them in place in the garden.

And the next time we come up here it will be with our own wheels...tons of stuff I'd like to bring home.

 

Well, we'll be off for our morning walk in a few minutes. Bearly's ready for his first time out at about 5:30 here...hope that doesn't translate to 3:30 when we get back home!! The mid-morning walk will be around the neighborhood - don't know how long in miles - can make it anything you want in time 15 minutes - 2 hours... Bearly's getting stronger and his socialization skills, while always good, have skyrocketed.Such a charmer. And yes, I'm biased; sure me! hahahaha

If you've never been to this part of the world, you really must plan a trip. It is unlike anything I have seen.

So, TTFN; check back tomorrow.

Cape Cod Catch-up #4 Bearly on the Beach

This is another multi-day catch-up...it's not that we're doing all that much; it's just that the computer loses out to so many more pleasant things. :)

 

This is about 2 minutes of Bearly's first day of real exploring on the beach here in Sandwich.
Yeah, I know...some things only really interest a mom. :)
It was cloudy and a little windy - all that we got of the storms that hit Boston and that area. Video was taken on Friday, the 20th. I only know that because the computer knows.

We stayed out a couple of hours or more and walked maybe a mile or more eastward down the beach. He seemed fascinated with all the smells; LOVED seaweed; and was not interested in getting wet. So much for the Life Jacket we brought.

Then, yesterday, Joel and I loaded up the golf cart, motored about 2 blocks out to the beach and spent the day. Even Bearly went for part of it. This was a sit still, enjoy the sun, an just veg out day. Wonderful.

Our home away from the home away from home! Yes, it's a bit like George Carlin's take on "my stuff".

Bearly soaking up rays!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was just a wonderful day. When we got there we were 3 among a few; when we left about 4:00 the beach was loaded with teens, 20 somethings, families and some of the cutest kids you ever saw.

Here is just one.  That was on Friday the 20th... who really knows if I have the dates right. I do have one more thing to tell you about though: the after-dinner-hour that night... But you'll just have to wait for it. We're off on a drive to see more sights.

Cape Cod Catch-up #3

No more waiting for a week; there is just too much going on.

Yesterday Joel and Bearly and I took a ride around a part of the Cape from Sandwich to Chatham and a few points in between.

We stopped for ice cream, but my clever attempt at an 'arty' photo failed miserably, to you get this chopped up version. I went for Lobster Tracks, of course. My honey had just plain ol' Black Raspberry. We were both Happy!

 

The very nice man at the counter offered Bearly a tiny bit of vanilla soft-serve. And yes, I know he's not supposed to have it, but really, it was just a teaspoon.. and he was Happy!

 

 

I loved this concrete foot print set among the bricks on the patio.

 

This is the place, but we can't remember the name of exactly where we were! Funky little hippy-type joint we'd go back to in a minute. If we figure it out, we'll tell...

 

 

This is in Chatham - amazing little town just crawling with tourists - The green building is the Cape Abilities Farm to Table shop. It's an organization where Jane volunteers and which is also partnered with the Centerville Pie Company. We also stopped for corn at the Farm in Dennis, but I forgot to take a photo...

This is the Chatham Lighthouse, a place with a rich history, as the whole Cape does.

 

 

 

 

 

Yep; we were there!

Behind me, the Beach!

 

 

 

 

Then we headed back west and our temporary home, the Dave & Jane 5 Star Resort! :)

Where they served up the freshest Lobsters I have ever had the pleasure to eat. You can imagine, this desert dweller doesn't even see whole lobsters, really. These were in the water yesterday morning, and in my belly last night!

Here is Dave showing us how to get into the critters. Ah...sweet and succulent and served with the sweep Cape Abilitles corn. Ambrosia!

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the next adventures. ; )

Cape Cod Catch-up #2

What a week we've had! The #1 Catch-up was written just two days after we arrived; now we've been here a week and 2 days. There have been two major highlights in this week and tons of delightful times.

Last Wednesday as we were sightseeing/shopping with our cousins, we went to the Centerville Pie Company, first made famous by Oprah on one of her "My Favorite Things" episodes - in 2009, I think. She fell in love with their Chicken Pie and so did we. It's not typical, being 100% chicken in a two-crust pie served by the slice with extra gravy on top, some cranberry sauce, and some wonderfully seasoned mashed buttternut squash. (I'll have to show you the pics later; they are on Jane's camera. But you can see the pies on the web site, and if you look at some of their latest photos, you will see us in a few. Here is their blog post about it.)
It was great fun; we loved the food and the folks, especially Kristin and Polly.

They told us the Travel Channel was going to be there the next day filming a "Food Paradise" episode and invited us back. That's all it took for Joel! We HAD to go...and so we did. Dave loaned us his car (with Garmin aboard), Jane programmed our destination and off we went. We arrived a little before noon, signed waivers and permissions in order to get in the door, and joined the other diners/shoppers. The crews were there: local videographers and some members of the LA Food Paradise production staff. We waited around for a bit, but it seemed that it would be quite some time before they got around to the actual interviews, so we ordered our lunch and ate. We went as slowly as we could, expecting them to want us to be eating...but they started elsewhere and we finished our meal. They did come to us though, and DID want us to eat, so they ordered a dessert pie for us. Then, even knowing we'd eaten, they asked if we would/could have some of the Chicken Pie, too. Oh, my goodness! Thankfully, the restaurant staff just gave us beautiful plates of the pie and cranberry sauce and left off the squash!

It was fun to be involved. They were gentle directors, though they asked me twice to use my right hand for particular shots. They seemed to enjoy Joel's energy a lot and we think we (or she) will end up in the actual episode. It was huge fun. They even filmed me in the retail side of the store when I ordered some macaroons to take back to the troops at Jane's house. And just so you know, they were the BEST macaroons, too: big and fluffy with the perfect amount of crunch on the outside. Yum!

Then there were beach days:

Joel with Leah and a friend

 

Rilee, Joel and the kids

 

Beautiful rocky, sandy beach

 

R & J

 

 

 

and Yours Truly

 

 

 

 

 

You've got to have beach shoes, though..or this girl does, anyway. These shores are rocky!

I tried some tai chi out here, but it was pretty funny. Fun, and funny. It was hard to forget about the people out there. (this long-shot photo is from a different day) And the rocks and sand keep moving under my feet. But I did it - have done so a few times...

A day or two later, we had a picnic with some of Dave's family and walked to another harbor beach. This one was sandy, quite windy that evening, but just gorgeous. Once again, I'll have to borrow the photos from Jane; mine are in the phone, but I forgot the adaptor card thingee...
Joel

 

harbor

 

Can't keep 'em out of the water

 

duh - s'mores!

 

 

And yours truly - again.

 

 

 

Dave has proven to be a VERY good griller. He was in charge of all things fire this night and the food was scrumptous. Sue and Daphne had made wonderful salads and sides and served sweet sweet watermelon. And kids of all ages enjoyed the s'mores.

On another night - Saturday, I think - Dave made some of the best ribs with multiple cooking methods and Jane's special rub.

Another evening was my first-ever shell fish meal: not paella (no rice or saffron) but terrific steamers, little neck clams, mussels, shrimp, and kielbasa in a rich broth that we soaked up with delicious bread. I confess I worried about that meal a little. What if they were as nasty as I imagined!? Much to my delight, it was all VERY good. None of it was chewy like my years-ago experience with escargot. All of it was tender and delicious. Jane is a great cook who takes care with a meal and serves it beautifully. And I never have to be scared of shellfish again!

And there was Hoxie Pond:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And dinner out by the water, of course:

A restaurant called HemiSphere

 

We even saw a FOX on the beach!!

 

where else would the kids be?

 

 

Jane and the kids at home

 

 

 

And Then...and Then... And Then...there were Whales!!! Oh, my goodness.

if you still have a Facebook acct., check here:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4406519725109.2182305.1352153322&type=1&l=2c3a3a9c87

If you don't here are a few highlights of the excursion into Stellwagen Bank:

Flukes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And on the way back in, good shots of Sandy Neck:

 

 

 

This lighthouse used to be powered by whale oil; now solar.

 

 

 

 

 

These homes belong to individuals and are passed down thru the families, but are part of an historic area that can not be built upon or otherwise improved. The homes have no electric power and no running water. They CAN be repaired after storms. Very interesting, but I must learn more before I could comment further.

We've seen so many wonderful places and met so many warm people. I just don't know what folks mean when they talk about 'cold' New Englanders. It has not been our experience. We are finding such great generosity of spirit here. It's true that Bearly is a great ice-breaker, but it feels like more than that. What a special vacation, and still almost two weeks to go!

Cape Cod Catch-up #1

Bearly traveled beautifully throughout the whole New Mexico to Massachusetts experience. He only used a tiny bit of the calming drug the vet recommended and managed the plane changes and altitude changes, etc. beautifully. He met our host family as if he were ambassador for the whole canine kingdom. I'm one proud Mama, you betcha! He's definitely aware he's not home, but he's taking things in stride very well.

Yesterday afternoon we were included in a block party to celebrate the Grand Centennial for Janet, a neighbor. I have never lived in a place where this sort of event could/would take place. Very impressive!

There was a great little band playing smooth jazz and old standards. Wonderful!

I may have to get a tattoo! the bass player was sporting a bass clef symbol in his picking arm...and playing like I want to. Guess I'm gonna have to get back there! Practice, practice, practice.

What a treat, and what a gorgeous setting!

 

 

 

We arrived in Providence about 5 ish and drove less than an hour to E. Sandwich. After dinner, we made a quick run to the beach (2 blocks away) to catch the first sunset of our trip. We've been to a marina for a great seafood lunch yesterday, and will probably do a whale-watching day cruise from here. Can't wait for that! I've never seen a whale in real life!

The household is awake and moving now. Kids will be off to camp in less than an hour. Time to put the computer away and begin to think of breakfast. yum.

later

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are three great quotes in honor of this holiday.

"The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything." 
Albert Schweitzer

"Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what's going on outside, there's always something we can be grateful for." 
Barry Neil Kaufman

 

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven." 
Johannes A. Gaertner

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are home, at last. And I'm out on my last pet-job. yea!
I promised a few more pictures of the trip, and I want to share a link to some pics of a great party!

First, more Florida. We spent one night in Ft. Walton Beach, but the weather (for the first time) cooperated with some wind-sailors rather than with us. The water and winds were wild, too cold for sitting around outside. But, we found a very cool group enjoying all this wildness to go kite-boarding and wind-surfing.
And they didn't mind talking to me and answering a few questions.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click on these to see them larger (maybe too large).
There are two kinds of activities going on and the names for them are flexible, according to one of the riders: Kite surfing or Kite boarding are fairly obvious. The rider is harnessed to a huge kite whose front edge is inflated with air to help keep it open during maneuvers. It is easy to get 'air' as you can see in the last shot; the board is similar to a snowboard. The other is Wind surfing or Wind boarding, mostly. That's the one with a mast and sail attached to a board similar to a surfboard. At the rider's chest height is a rigid curved bar that allows the rider to 'walk' around the sail to change sides/directions.

The distance shots will give you an idea (I hope) of just how many riders were out in those winds.
It was really something to see.

Now, coming from New Orleans where we saw Joel's brother, Curt, we took I-20 to Lubbock. This would be our last night on the road - just 250 miles from HOME.
We didn't know that we were arriving just in time for my Aunt Ann's 75th birthday bash! Our invitation was in our mailbox back home, having arrived after we started this little trip. And we even had dress-up clothes with us!

Ann's b-day is the 6th, but the party was on Friday, the 5th - JOEL'S BIRTHDAY!!  I call that extreme serendipity and great blessings. The party was wonderful and was in an terrifically interesting venue, that even show-cased our family.  The American Wind Power Center & Museum.
Just way too cool.

I've posted pictures of that event on Facebook. You can see them thru this public link; no need to sign up for FB. : )

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098813&id=1352153322&l=ee4b4d4bee

It is GREAT to be home. We learned how much we really love it.
We also learned that miles of soft sand can wreak havoc on one's knees and achilles tendons.

And we learned - again - just how blessed our lives really are. May we never forget.

From the road...

As you might guess, I'm having too much fun to spend a great deal of time on the computer!

We're still in Florida, USA and enjoying lovely weather. The native Floridians think it is cold here - nights have been into the 50 degree (F) range from time to time. Makes me laugh, really. Back home in the mountains of New Mexico our friends are REALLY cold. Nights there have been into the 30 degree range and the heaters are on. Poor babies.

Yesterday, we spent a few hours on Manasota Beach. I had hoped to insert a picture or two, but I am on a friend's computer and ...well... it's just this way. This link will show you a few lovely things even though they are not my own pictures.

Also, due to technical difficulties with the internet connection here at my friend's house, I'm also not able to check up on my Google Reader links and so haven't found most of you. I'm woefully behind on checking up on what you are up to these days. I confess, I really only miss you while I'm having my morning coffee; otherwise, I'm just having way too much fun.

We'll settle in by a good WiFi connection one of these days and I'll check in. Meanwhile, may all be well with you.

ttfn

Our Florida Vacation ~ 10 days in July 08

As usual with airlines, we went to Florida from New Mexico by way of Denver. Considering the 3hr drive to the airport from home, you'll realize that Tuesday was devoted to traveling...ALL of Tuesday.
We arrived in Orlando about 10:30 and by the time we got the shuttle to the hotel, we were pooped.

Dad picked us up the next morning and took us back to his home in Rockledge about 40 minutes east.
We spent that day and one night there, then repacked for Clearwater - our favorite beach and our chosen fireworks location. We had such a good time there! As you can see, the 3rd & 4th were as different as two days could be.

Clearwater Beach ~ July 3rd

What a day this was. We were able to find parking close to the beach. No crowds. We found a little restaurant with great grouper sandwiches. While I waited to take them back to the beach, I indulged in a shot (tequila, Laura) and a beer. We're old pros at keeping our picnic out of the hands of marauding sea gulls. The weather was cool & overcast, but that was fine with us; we'd forgotten how HOT Florida is!

Clearwater Beach ~ July 4th

   

Clearwater on the 4th was another matter entirely.
We thought we were there early, arriving about 9:30, but no. Parking was already non-existent, so I let Joel out with 90% of our stuff and headed off on a parking search. I'm not even going to tell you what I paid to park that car, but it was covered and walkable. By the time I schlepped back, Joel had us set up in a great spot. The photo with the two umbrellas is our little piece of beachfront property. It was great fun.

I think we enjoyed watching the little kids more than anything. Some were clearly first-timers and there seemed to be no half measures: either parents couldn't keep them OUT of the water, or the couldn't get them IN. Just way too cute & funny. We had a great day, used tons of sunscreen and got burned anyway, and watched the crowds ebb & flow. By sunset it was beginning to clear out and the crowd was changing to teen couples.
We moved our stuff up to the walkway and picked out a spot for watching fireworks. FUN! We both love fireworks and enjoyed both the planned display and the impromptu exhibits from the beach visitors.

We didn't really know how everything was planned though. We didn't know that the fireworks had been set off from the causeway, or that the causeway was closed to traffic after it was filled up with cars. We didn't know that there was no other way off the island. So...
I didn't know that my 10 minute walk back to the car would then leave me with a 80 minute 'drive' back to Joel and the beach. And then another who-knows-how-long drive back to our motel. Everyone was in a good mood, though, and all in the same boat. There may have been trouble somewhere, but we only had fun!

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Sebastian Inlet is near Barefoot Bay where we lived for about a year in 2004. This map is a good place to look if you want to take a bird's eye view of the coastline.

We happened to go there on a day they were having a regional surfing contest and watched this young man teaching his two boys about the glories of surfing. too cute.

Lone Cabbage ~ Restaurant & Airboats ~ on the St. John's River

This ride was a ton o fun! Even though the river was low and our ride was only 30 minutes, we saw 3-4 times the number of gators as we did on a longer ride 4 years ago. And beautiful skies, lots of birds. The 3rd picture shows a decent shot of a Great Blue Herring as our guide consistently called the heron.
So, he's cute & funny; he doesn't have to be smart, too.

Sebastian, Fl.

For much of the time, we explored places where we had lived. We saw a lot of the wildfire damage from this summer south of Melbourne. And there was still damage visible from the hurricanes of 04. I'm happy to say that Barefoot Bay looked pretty good. It was hit hard just a few months after we left. It is clear that a few just cleared off, left the foundation and moved on. But most were repaired or replaced and were again homey & welcoming.

Our favorite marina was partly still there. Boats are moored and a new building is under construction, but our favorite seafood restaurant was gone with the wind...

Dad & Frankie in Rockledge ~ and Birthday Girl, Alison with hubby Bob and the travelers in Vero Beach

Birthday Bonanza!

You might not know this about me: I can stretch a birthday out for days, sometimes even weeks. It's working that way this year, too! Friends have taken me to meals: New Mexican food for lunch on Thursday, regular and tasty American bacon & eggs for breakfast on Saturday, wonderful roast duck w/dark cherry sauce for dinner on Saturday, a terrific chicken Marsala on Sunday evening, and Joel has promised me lunch out today - the real birthday. Yum! Along with those I've enjoyed great wine, a Dirty Martini, imported beer, and a couple of tasty desserts. And time on my own back patio with friends.

In case you haven't noticed, I really appreciate dining out. From eggs to exotics, I just love to share food & fellowship. Such a great time. I'm the chief cook & bottle washer around home, so it's a double treat when someone else is doing all the work.

Dad sent some cash, as always. This time it will go with us on our trip to Florida tomorrow morning. That will buy some lovely grouper or stone crab while we're there. ...savoring the anticipation already.

Today is the actual official birthday. I got up early, made some coffee and was sitting in a corner with a ton of windows, reading a book, when the movement of this beauty caught my eye.

                                                                                        

 

He's just across the street from me; in this shot maybe 40 ft. away. He lives near here somewhere, and is the same elk we saw last Christmas morning. What a treat to see him today.

Elk is a power animal for me. I don't really understand that, but my heart beats quicker whenever I see one. To have one so close is wonderful. And to have him appear at sunrise on my natal day is just the grandest thing.

Thanks, Universe.

This one isn't a great picture, but I shows his rack. BIG!

During this I'm wandering around outside with my camera and my sleep shirt, probably scaring the neighbors, but not really caring. what fun!

The cats were with me, as they usually are. Here's one right behind the elk. They stayed fairly near me, then walked me home.

Such a wonderful morning.

I've received many great cards, including one with a 'scratcher' that won me $20. Every single block on the card was a winner!

I just realized, as I linked this post to the one from last Christmas, how much the woods have changed. The land & cabin was purchased (nice couple) and the woods have been cleared for fire control and view stuff... It's not really woods anymore, but a nice tree-studded yard.

The elk looks really different, too, without his winter coat, but I'm confident he's the same one.

Here's a shot of our Big Boy taken on the 26th and a little later in the day.

One of the greatest things for this birthday came to me from my sister, Susan, by way of my Aunt Conny. It's a cool necklace of pewter and bone and shells and beads that my Mom made for her sister, my aunt, back in 1981. Such a special thing to have it come back around to me.  Thanks Susan & Conny.

So, bright & early tomorrow morning we begin the trip to Florida. Since we live in the back of beyond, that starts with a 3 hr. drive to the airport in Albuquerque, from which we head to Denver in order to get to Orlando. (Only the airlines...) We'll be spending time with my Dad, and a friend we met a few years ago when we were living in FL. We'll also share an airboat ride with my Dad and stepmom, Frankie.

On the 3rd & 4th, for the fireworks, we'll be in Clearwater Beach. Joel and I just love fireworks! and Joel will never get enough of beaches and big water. On this trip, we'll get to spend time on both coasts: the Gulf side and the Atlantic. Just so excited - more birthday, as far as I'm concerned!

So, miss me while I'm gone. I'll share photos when we get back.