Cape Journal: Looking for Fun in All the Right Places

The faux leopard collar I bagged is cuter than this, but you get the idea.

Hurricane Earl swept by and left stunning weather on the Cape by the time we arrived Saturday night. Since we were there til about 1:15 today--and I didn't get to blog there, b/c no laptop, internet access or open library--here's today's Cape report. [Not post-Cape report, involving dishes, a washing machine full of an 87-year-old's khaki pants and aqua jacket and a teen's plaid shirts and body-hugging plum birthday dress, and two 25-minute round trips to Montclair, one to visit Dad and one to drive Figgy's friend home. It's OK, it's all good.]

We rose at 8:15ish and:

1. Cleaned the house at 165 Wonderstrand Way. Much easier with four sets of hands. Elly, Anne and N. were extremely productive, sweeping, shaking out sand, spraying, cleaning, vacuuming, washing dishes. They are amazing.
2. After locking the windows, turning off the water, unplugging the fridge and putting the plain white shades at half mast [and a green broomstick against the sliding glass door, to keep burglars out, a trick learned from Mom], our first stop was Dot's house right around the corner. We didn't want to waste two quarts of local Cape Cod Creamery ice cream from the Village Green General Store--Chatham Chocolate and Cotuit Coffee. We had barely spooned into them, so we dropped those and the rest of our milk off to Dot; check http://www.capecodcreamery.com/ for great flavors with colorful Cape names. 
3. Headed out Route 6 West toward Orleans, with a lot of the Cape to ourselves. The kids up there went back to school today, but our kids don't start this year until Monday, Sept. 13 [because of the Jewish holidays]. It was almost strangely empty. I usually mourn going home but I didn't feel that way today, because everyone with kids in MA had already headed back. Many restaurants had closed for the season, and the lifeguards at Nauset Light Beach had written Have a great year!! on the board where they post tide and temperature daily all summer--and warnings about not digging deep sand holes.
4. Laughs and laughs in the car [when we weren't texting or calling our husbands or kids, or Sis, or Dad's doctor, or the hospital social worker]. So much fun. I love those girls, and Sugar, too, who was happy to attend. We zipped by the ponds, the clam shacks, the mini golf course, the windmills, the corn stands, the surf shops, the ice cream and donut places. The road lifted and dipped gently as we left charming old houses behind in the rear view mirror.
5. Anne and Elly are thrift-shop, yard-sale and auction fanatics--no, I'm serious, they really are--and their trip wasn't complete until we went to the St. Joan of Arc Church Thrift Shop in Orleans. Culture shock for me, who loves the Lilly Pulitzer In the Pink store in well-heeled Chatham! [Anne pulled up to the shop in her silver Yaris last night and made Elly check the hours, b/c it was closed for the holiday weekend--for fear they might miss their day in the sun.] Anne has dragged me there before, but today, I really liked it. The managers have edited the offerings and put the higher-end clothes, shoes and accessories in a little separate boutique. I found an Oscar de la Renta for Accessory Street silk scarf [long and narrow, perfect for hair, and made in Japan] for $4, and a vintage leopard collar with black grosgrain ribbon closure and gold circle pin for $3. Elly unearthed a great long Tory-style chain [$2] and a dress [$8] for me and Anne found me a black cardigan sweater with shortish sleeves [$4]. It looked so ordinary that I didn't want to try it on, but I did, and I loved it. Looks classic and can wear with leopard collar or long chains. They found tons of amazing stuff for themselves and N., too. [N. is very stylish at age 8.] And while Elly and Anne hunted overtime, N. and I occupied ourselves outside, squishing tar bubbles in the parking lot, giving Sug some shade and a drink [in her turquoise travel bowl], and admiring the fragrant, old-fashioned rambling roses growing over the fence--the kind pictured on Cape Cod postcards showing rose-covered cottages.  See http://www.joanarc.org/thriftshop.htm.
6. Chocolate Sparrow. There's a sign on the door seeking a full-time employee and Anne and I joked that we were applying. We had warm panini and cold Mocha Sparrows, and I got Figgy five of the little foil-wrapped chocolate hearts she likes. Also got Sis some dark-chocolate-cloaked almonds and Dad a box of four chocolate truffles.  

What a wonderful break. I feel refreshed and grateful for all that Cape time, from the Audubon to the wine and deli sandwiches by the ocean at sunset. For the omelet and tea [and T-shirt buying] at the Wicked Oyster in Wellfleet, and the bike ride to Great Pond and the time in the water. For the swan and the duck to the ugly possum who crossed my path one dark night. For a young girl named N. and her love of the Cape and a fat dog named Sug and her love for it, too. For reading and napping and truffle sampling and hat buying and the painting Elly did with N. For cell phones to connect us and for dinners out and cocktails with names like Dark and Stormy, Pomatini and Raspberry Mojito. For friends and joy and the lightness of laughter. For fashion hunting and fashion sharing and honest answers to Does this dress make me look fat?

Thank you, goddess or god in the sky.
.

Photo note: From dargate.com [Dargate Auction Galleries]. I think that one is real leopard fur.