Stopping by Beach on Snowy Morning

John's tribute to Robert Frost and Cape Cod in winter.

Stopping by Beach on Snowy Morning

Whose beach these are I think I know.
The houses of the Village show;
Who will see me stopping here
To watch the beach fill up with snow?

Desolate, isolated, bone chilling: Cape Cod in winter doesn’t have to be viewed through a pessimistic lens. Change your perspective and engage the beauty of our natural surroundings especially at dawn.

Short winter days make the beauty of the morning sun more accessible. The golden morning light of a clear sunny day shines with a brilliance triggering thoughts of Pony Boy. “Everything's new… there’s still lots of good in the world.”

Winter tides cover the marsh. Long shadows across the boardwalk flex with the gentle waves of the marsh tide. Walk on water over the boardwalk to the beach. The cold winter water of the bay is a deeper blue then the summer water. Is it possible for water to look cold?

The waters are lovely, dark and raw.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before spring thaw,
And miles to go before spring thaw.

Winter on Cape Cod

Okay, the holidays are over, and the long, cold winter is looming ahead with no end in sight. Now what? Plenty, that's what! There's plenty to do on the Cape in the winter, if you know where to look.

For those of us with children and young families, a visit to your local library is all you need to find fun and entertainment this time of year. While most places close down during the winter months, the library is always open and ready to fill your mind and spirit. Most local libraries offer puppet shows, story hours, craft workshops, yoga sessions for all ages, and even movie nights! Here are some libraries that offer many family-friendly activities throughout the winter:

• Sandwich Public Libary: 142 Main St., Sandwich, MA http://www.sandwichpubliclibrary.com/


• Jonathan Bourne Public Library: 19 Sandwich Rd., Bourne, MA http://www.bournelibrary.com/


• Falmouth Public Library: 300 Main St., Falmouth, MA http://www.falmouthpubliclibrary.com/


• Eldredge Public Library: 564 Main St., Chatham, MA http://www.eldredgelibrary.com/

Another fun thing to do this time of year is to plan your own "Staycation". Book a room for your family at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa, 1225 Iyannough Rd., Hyannis, MA (508) 771-3000 http://www.capecodderresort.com/. This hotel offers an Indoor Wave Pool. It's housed in a 8.200 square foot indoor pool, complete with 2-foot waves, and 80-foot water slide, as well as a 50-foot water slide, waterfalls, whirlpool, dancing water fountains and two saunas. During this year's February school vacation week, they are offering their popular "Fun Zone" package, featuring Wii games, Ping Pong, Board Games, Moon Walk, Magnetic Darts, as well as younger children's activities such as Crafts & Face Painting and much, much more, all free of charge to registered hotel guests. Check their website to see the full schedule of vacation week activities.

For a more cost-effective family activity, check out the Gallo Arena Ice Skating Rink, 231 Sandwich Rd., Bourne, MA (508) 759-8904 http://www.galloarena.com/ . They offer public skating weekdays from 12:oopm - 2:00pm and Sundays from 4:00pm - 5:30pm. Public skating is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 18 years or younger. You can bring your own skates, or rent them for $3 per pair. This is a fun and energetic way to spend a mid-winter afternoon!

If you're ready for a date-night, or looking to get out with a group of friends one evening, here are a few restaurants I particularly enjoy during these cold winter months. The first is Tokyo Restaurant, 143 Fairhaven Rd., Mattapoisett, MA. Yes, over the bridge!! You know it has to be good if I'm willing to cross the bridge for it. It's a short 15 minute drive over the Bourne Bridge, but well worth the trip. This Japanese, sushi & hibachi restaurant is a true experience. The excitement and showmanship of having a chef prepare an exotic Japanese meal right at your table, while giving a dazzling performance, is sure to excite you and tempt your taste buds. My personal favorites are the Chef Egg trick, the Volcano Onion trick and of course watching the master Chefs chop and cut your food at dizzying speeds! The tables are set for up to 15 people, so bring as many friends as you can - the more the merrier! This is especially fun if you go for a girls-night-out, or with a few other couples.

Another mid-winter treat is the Brazilian Grill, 680 Main St., Hyannis, MA (508) 771-0109 http://www.braziliangrill-capecod.com/ . If you've never been here before, you are missing a truly gluttonous experience. It is all about meat, meat and more meat. "Dr. Atkins" approved, this restaurant offers a traditional Brazilian style barbecue (called Rodizio) with a wide variety of different cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and seafood. It is all you can eat, ad nauseum (but in a good way!) When you are seated, you will find a 2-sided card on your table. One side is green, the other, red. Simply signal the "Gauchos" that you are ready to begin the Rodizio by turning the card on your table to the green side. After you have enough, simply turn the card to the red side. The Rodizio also includes unlimited visits to the buffet which offers salads, vegetables, cheeses, pasta, as well as other Brazilian hot dishes. (Vegetarians can opt for the buffet only.) You definitely need to pace yourself at this place. There are many meat varieties offered, and you may request as many servings of any kind you'd like. So sample them all, but choose your favorites carefully - then have at it!!

The old adage "The best things in life are free" is never more appropriate than at this time of year. Simply bundle up and take a hike through the Cape's many nature conservatories and parks, or along our beautiful shoreline. Sometimes it's just what you need to get back to nature and stretch those sorely negleted muscles. Otherwise, there are times when nothing beats curling up with a good book, a hot cup of tea (or glass of wine!) and relaxing in front of a cozy fire.

No matter what you do to pass the time before the first peaks of Crocus appear, I hope this Blog entry helps you think of new and creative thing to do this winter. Before you know it, it will be Memorial Day!

Summertime... and the living is BUSY!

Long time, no Blog – huh?? It’s been a long, hot summer on the Cape. Between the kids being home 24/7 and taking a two week trip to Maine in August, there was scarcely time to catch up on the laundry, let alone try to find an hour or so to be creative, witty and inspiring. But now, the air is finally cooler, the kids are (nearly) back to school and I’m feeling the urge to get back to the Big, Bad World of Blogging.

There’s just something about this time of year; the end of summer - beginning of fall. The crowds disperse, the kids go back to school, and everything starts to quiet down. Everyone seems to take a collective breath of relief (or exhaustion). Don’t get me wrong, I love summer on the Cape as much as anyone, and this was as great a season as ever, albeit a bit rainy. But once it’s over and the weather turns cooler, it feels like you get a fresh start, a clean slate, a Mulligan! No matter what you call it, I love this feeling.

It was a fun summer though. Despite all the record rain-fall, we were blessed with a gorgeous Memorial Day, a picture-perfect Fourth of July, a fun-filled and fabulous first-ever "SandwichFest" street fair, and a glorious, nearly rain-free August (although a couple weeks could have been a bit less humid!) Typical New Englander – I have to find some weather to complain about!

This summer found us visiting parks and public gardens, attending town band concerts and local town street fairs, strolling through the weekly farmer’s market, and doing our best to boost our local economy by shopping at area boutiques and restaurants. We even splurged and took the whole family to the Circus! By any measure it was a busy summer.

We had a few out-of-town guests visit us over the course of the season as well. (They helped our local economy too!) One of them asked me if I noticed fewer crowds this summer due to the economic slow-down. I can honestly say I didn’t. The grocery stores were busy as ever and the traffic on Rte. 6 showed no improvement, regardless of the "fly-over " completion. But mainly I think business was booming on the Cape because as vacations go, the Cape is one of the most reasonable and affordable ways to go. It can be as expensive or as frugal as you want to make it.

Most of the activities we enjoyed this summer were free. For those that did cost some money, they were relatively affordable. The majority of people I know who visited the Cape this summer stayed with family or friends who either live here or rented a place. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

As we look ahead to all the beauty and promise a new season on Cape Cod has to offer, let us never forget what draws people to our Region in the first place: Summer. May Her spirit warm us all through the winter.

Strike Up The Band!

For a good old fashion slice of “Americana” you won't want to miss the Cape Cod Town Band Concerts. Many towns across the Cape host these concerts during various nights of the week. They’re usually filled with local, talented men and women, and maybe just a few semi-famous musicians and conductors. The music ranges from Broadway tunes, jazz, big band, classical and more. Regardless of the size of the band or the level of talent of the musicians, these concerts are just plain fun for all ages.

We recently went to the Brewster Town Band’s first concert of the season. Brewster holds their concerts on Sunday evenings at the Drummer Boy Park on Rte. 6A. The band plays in a gorgeous wooden gazebo nestled at the base of the rolling fields. The fields overlook Quivett Creek which leads to the sparkling, white-capped Cape Cod Bay. In full disclosure, my father is one of the members of the band. So of course, we had to let the Grandchildren see their “Papa” play on stage. My father learned to play the trombone from his 4th grade music teacher, Ms. Zipse of Homer Street School in Springfield, MA. He’s been playing off and on throughout the years, including a spot in the Young People’s Symphony of Springfield when he was in high school. He also played in the Charlotte County Concert Band while he was in Florida this past winter. A few email exchanges with the conductor from Brewster and he secured his spot with their band this summer.


These local town band concerts are free to the public and are a perfect venue to sit back, relax and let the sound of the music wash over you in a beautiful, traditional “Small Town” setting. It’s the perfect way to transition from a long hot day at the beach to dinner out or any other evening activities you may have planned. Many people bring their young children to frolic in the open fields and march around the bandstands waving flags and singing along to the Mickey Mouse March, Grand Old Flag or even the Bunny Hop!

On the evening we went, people were spread out on blankets or sitting on lawn chairs eating snacks and sipping drinks. It can be as casual as a bag of popcorn and a can of soda, or as elaborate as a ”Tanglewood-style” picnic of wine, cheese and pate. We opted for something somewhere in the middle! There’s also a nice playground about 50 yards away, so if the children get restless, you can let them burn off their energy while still enjoying the music.

Here is the Summer Town Concert schedule at a glance. If you haven’t been before, be sure to check out at least one this summer. It’s a refreshing change of pace that brings you back in time to a simpler life; One that makes you slow down and catch your breath. It’s also nice to know your children (and you) are outside, getting fresh air and living life, instead of sitting inside watching another rerun of Seinfeld or America’s Funniest Home Videos. Summer is fleeting in New England. Maybe even more so on the Cape where we’re usually the last to warm up for the season and the first to turn cool by mid-August. We have to savor every magical moment summer has to offer!

SUNDAYS:
Brewster - 6pm Drummer Boy Field, Rte. 6A, Brewster
MONDAYS:
Dennis - 7:30pm Dennis Village Green Gazebo, Rte. 6A, Dennis
Orleans - 7:00pm Nauset Beach, Beach Road, Orleans
Yarmouth - 7:30pm Mattacheese Middle School, Higgins Crowell Road, West Yarmouth
TUESDAYS:
Dennisport - 7:00pm Dennis Village Green, Dennisport
Harwich - 7:00pm Band Shell at Brooks Park, Oak Street, Harwich
WEDNESDAYS:
Hyannis - 7:30pm Hyannis Village Green, Main Street, Hyannis
THURSDAYS:
Bourne - 7:00pm Buzzards Bay Park, Main Street, Bourne
Falmouth - 8:00pm Marina Park, Scranton Avenue, Falmouth
Sandwich - 7:30pm Gazebo behind the Henry T. Wing School, Rte. 130, Sandwich
FRIDAYS:
Chatham - 7:00pm Margaret Noon Park, Main Street, Chatham
and - 8:00pm Whit Tileston Bandstand, Kate Gould Park, Main Street
SATURDAYS:Hyannis - 6:00pm Hyannis Village Green, Main Street, Hyannis

Cape Cod Screwballs Return to Eden

Hidden on a back road just off Rte 6A in Dennis, MA, you will find Eden.

Not in the Biblical sense of course; but rather that of a local jewelry maker. Eden’s Hand Arts, maker of the “Cape Cod Screwball” bracelet, to be exact. Almost everyone I know on the Cape (and beyond) has one of these instantly recognizable silver bangles (the one with the small gold ball) on their wrist. Everyone that is, except me.

Having lived on the Cape for over 10 years now, my Mother decided it was high time I have one too. I just celebrated a “big” birthday, so my Mother and Sister took me to Edens to get me my very own bracelet as a birthday gift. Both my Mother and Sister each have one of these bracelets, and have visited the small, almost shed-size shop several times. Now it was my turn to experience shopping at Eden’s. And what an experience it was.

To give you a little history on the bracelet, local legend has it that Eden’s designer, John Carey, was the first to create this simple, yet highly sought-after bracelet. Unfortunately, he failed to secure a patent on the design, so just about every jewelry store and gift shop on the Cape offers their version of it. Eden’s even has a disclaimer on their brochure and website: www.vst.cape.com-rch/eden.html that states “No other website or store is authorized to sell our Eden Cape Cod Screwball jewelry.” That being said, if you have an authentic Eden bracelet, it makes you feel like you are part of a very small and highly guarded secret society.

It feels like a secret society for many reasons. First of all, it was a good thing my Mother had been to Eden’s several times before, otherwise I don’t think I would have found it on my own. In fact, if it weren’t for the unexpected rush of cars turning, backing up and frantically vying for the 6 parking spaces in front of the shop, I would have driven right past it. Second, there seems to be some unwritten rules (among the many posted rules) for shopping at Edens.

Here are just a few of them, with a word to the wise:
1. Hit the bank machine before you go – they only accept cash or checks (no credit cards).
2. You cannot park on the street (or even up on the grassy shoulder). If all 6 parking spaces are taken, you either need to circle the block a couple times and hope that one opens up, or you’ll need to park in the gas station parking lot down the street and walk over. (They even have a rule against turning around in the neighboring driveways.) They are VERY strict about parking, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on your shopping experience before you’ve even gotten out of your car.
3. The line forms out the door, so be prepared to wait. Maybe bring a paperback book or an ipod... The wait can be anywhere from a couple of minutes to over an hour. We had a good day; we only had to wait 15 minutes.
4. Once you finally get to the front of the line (at the doorway) don’t let your excitement and anticipation get the best of you. They will scold you if you stand too close to the door. I recommend not stepping up on the first step until the person in charge motions for you to do so. Trust me – you’ve come this far and waited too long; you wouldn’t want to be sent packing at this point!
5. They only let 2 groups of customers in the shop at a time. As with most things, safety in numbers: Go with a couple of friends. It will make the time pass and will add to the overall shopping experience.
6. Know what you want before you go in. The more you look like you know what you’re doing, the nicer the salesperson will be.
7. Appreciate this unique and truly New England-style shopping experience. All kidding aside, Eden is a very special artisan jeweler and it is evident they are very proud of their product. If you have any questions or need an adjustment made to one of their pieces, they will treat you with much respect and gratitude for your patronage.

So, if in doubt, make sure your bracelet has the tell-tale small silver Eden tag, which indicates you have an authentic “Screwball” bracelet, and not a knock-off copy. This tells the World you shopped at Eden’s and lived to tell about it! Happy shopping, and Good Luck!

Summer Dinner Guests

"Mary, Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?"


I don't know about Mary, but mine grows with Radishes, Radishes and more Radishes. We, like so many Americas (thanks Obama White House!) started a vegetable garden this year. The difference with us is that we have never attempted to grow so much as a tomato plant in a pot, much less an actual vegetable garden. Ours was an ambitious attempt too: Four 5' by 10' plots, containing over a dozen varieties of herbs and vegetables. It's enough to make the Victory Garden look like a window box.

We planted vegetables our kids were most excited about; cucumbers, broccoli, watermelon and corn. We also chose a few for Mommy and Daddy; tomatoes, basil, cabbage and yes, radishes - for my husband. I have never eaten a radish in my life. That is until 3 weeks ago, when the most gorgeous, perfectly round, ripe, red bulbs started to appear. If I've worked this hard to plant it, water it, weed it and nurture it, by God I'm going to eat it! As it turns out, radishes are one of the most foolproof plants to grow. They are quick to sprout and reach full maturity in less than 30 days. This is ideal for impatient children, by the way. But a fresh radish straight from the garden has a light, peppery taste - almost refreshing.

I "Googled" radish recipes and found this wonderful website: http://www.allrecipes.com/. On it, I found a recipe for Radish-top Soup. The tops of radishes are so green and lush, it seemed a shame to let them go to waste - I can be such a Yankee sometimes. I also found a recipe for Radish Dip. Anyone who knows me, knows I am the self-described "Queen of Dips". I love a good dip; hot or cold, but this one really was surprisingly good.

This led me to a fabulous summer meal.

No matter where you live most people like to entertain, especially during the summer months. But when you live on the Cape that seems to happen more often than not, and usually includes out-of-town guests. Problem: What to feed these wonderful people? Solution: A quick, easy (and in this economy) surprisingly affordable meal that is sure to please just about everyone - whether they think they like radishes or not.

Here's the menu (enough for 4 adults) followed by my version of the recipes. Happy cooking, Happy entertaining, Happy eating, and most importantly, Happy Summer!

Appetizer: Radish Dip
Soup: Radish-top Soup
Main course: London-broil Bruschetta with Asparagus
Dessert: Strawberry-Rhubarb pie

Appetizer - Radish Dip

Ingredients:
4 cloves garlic, peeled
6 radishes, quartered
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese softened, and cut into chunks
2-3 radishes, thinly sliced for garnish (optional)

Instructions:
Place garlic in the container of a food processor, and pulse until finely minced. Add radishes, mince. Add cream cheese chunks, and mix until well blended. Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with sliced radishes, and chill until serving. Serve with crisp crackers or small tortilla chips.

Soup - Radish-top Soup

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, diced

2 medium potatoes, sliced

4 cups raw radish greens

4 cups chicken broth

1/3 cup heavy cream (or whole milk)

5 radishes, sliced for garnish

Instructions:
1. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and saute until tender. Mix in the potatoes and radish greens, coating them with the butter. Pour in chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes.
2. Allow the soup mixture to cool slightly, and transfer to a blender (or use hand blender). Blend until smooth.
3. Return the mixture to the saucepan. Mix in the heavy cream/milk. Soup will have the consistency between pea soup and cream of spinach soup.
Cook and stir until well blended. Serve with radish slices, good crunchy bread and a crisp white wine.

Main Course - London-Broil Bruchetta and Asparagus

Ingredients:
One whole head of garlic
1.5 to 2 lb. London Broil
1 small red onion (or appx. ½ cup), chopped fine
2 medium tomatoes
1 cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
2-3 thinly sliced radishes
fresh baguette loaf (or other good French bread)
Horseradish
2 lbs. fresh asparagus, steamed or grilled

Instructions:
Prepare garlic for roasting by rubbing off outer paper, keeping cloves intact. Trim appx. ¼ - ½ inch off the top of the head of garlic. Place garlic on a square of aluminum foil. Lightly drizzle olive oil on top of garlic. Wrap foil up around the garlic, sealing lightly. Place in a 350 degree oven for 45 – 60 mins. Marinate London Broil in Ken’s Italian Salad Dressing for one hour (can be done up to 3 hours before, but no less than 30 minutes). When garlic is finished roasting, squeeze each clove into a small bowl; mix thoroughly to make a paste. Drizzle a few drops of olive oil and mix until well combine. Set aside.

Grill London Broil to rare/medium rare doneness. While steak is grilling, chop red onion and tomato. Mix together in a medium size bowl, set aside.

Trim and prepare asparagus. Steam or grill asparagus to just crisp-tender. Slice loaf bread into ½ - ¾ inch thickness. Bread can be served as is, or very lightly toasted. Serve on wooden cutting board. Serve Gorgonzola crumbles, sliced radishes, horseradish, and garlic paste in small individual serving bowls. When steak is done, slice VERY thin on the diagonal to form long, thin strips. Have guests assemble bruschetta as they like. I suggest spreading a thin layer of garlic paste or horseradish on the bread, top with steak, add a spoonful of tomato/onion mixture, then gorgonzola crumbles, finally top with sliced radish. Serve with asparagus. Enjoy!

Dessert - Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

Either make your own from scratch, or give yourself a break and buy one at the bakery. You've done enough work. Sit back, pour another glass of wine and enjoy your guests!

Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich, MA

It was the quintessential beautiful Cape Cod day. The air was clear, dry and warm. The shade of blue in the sky was the type of color that can only be described as “sky blue”. Wisps of white clouds filtered the sun, while mountains of pink, red, and lavender dotted the lush green backdrop of the flowering shrubs. Kinda makes you want to break into song…

“Rhododendron
Is a nice flower,
Evergreenin’
It lasts forever.”

- “Do The Strand” by Roxy Music.


You can’t talk about “Rhodies” without thinking about Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, MA. Heritage is the closest thing Sandwich has to a park, albeit a huge and amazingly beautiful one! We made our first trip of the season to Heritage this past weekend. We renew our family membership each year, and honestly, it is worth every penny. From touring the museums and riding on the antique carousel, to simply strolling through the amazing gardens, Heritage has something for everyone. Some of the attractions and exhibits are well known like the J.K. Lilly II Automobile Museum, the American History Museum and the Carousel. But we’ve found that our favorites are some of the lesser-known sites. Here are our “must see” recommendations:

Just before the Old East Windmill and C.B. Caldera Hosta Gardens, is a small driveway that leads to the Fringe Tree and Herb Garden. The Fringe Tree is one of the most spectacular trees you’ll ever see. The silky blossoms of this rare and beautiful tree are reminiscent of the fringe on a Victorian shawl. The blossoms are so soft to the touch they feel like pure silk. The Herb Garden, which is next to the Administration building, is where you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a Beatrix Potter story. Maybe you’ll find Peter Rabbit eating a bit of parsley, a little chive or maybe some coriander. Letting your kids “scratch and sniff” their way through this little garden is part of the fun (tasting a leaf off the spearmint plant is even better - shhh!)

The “Lake Walk” is a lovely and peaceful walking trail that winds around Shawme Lake. You’ll often find a couple sitting quietly on the handful of benches that over look the Lake. Follow the railroad-tie steps that lead to Parade Field near the American History Museum. This is a perfect spot to spread a quilt on the lush, almost golf course perfect lawn and enjoy a picnic lunch. Packing a picnic makes the day much more economical for those watching a budget. With the money you save, splurge on an ice cream treat at Blossoms Café! Many people bring a Frisbee or a ball and glove to play catch. The grounds are perfectly manicured and Heritage encourages you to play to your hearts content on their nearly 5 acres of open lawn.

Labyrinth? This classic 7-circuit labyrinth is a landscape wonder located under an awning of black locust trees. Dappled sunlight flickers on the granite cobblestone and crushed shell path. Just entering this space, you feel almost transported to ancient Egypt. The quiet and serine surroundings invite visitors to lose themselves in contemplation and reflection. As you wind your way back and forth along the path, leading eventually to the large tree in the center, you enter into a pleasurable state of timelessness. Some people feel a spiritual connection and Zen-like calm in surrendering to the flow of the path.

The Hart Family Maze Garden is a little off the beaten path, but well worth the search. Unlike the Labyrinth, this is a true maze containing cul-de-sacs and dead ends. Young and old alike will delight in the over 30 varieties of annuals and perennial vines, including trumpet vine, climbing hydrangea and wisteria. There are also some whimsical topiaries peeking around nearly every corner, so look close!

On any give day from mid-May to late September, the variety of activities and flora make Heritage Museums & Gardens a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. In fact, we plan to go back this Sunday, June 14th to attend the European Union Auto Show and the Outdoor Music Concert. For more information check out their website: http://www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/

Chances are pretty good that you’ll run into us during your next trip to Heritage - Happy exploring!