Mad about Chatham

Hello dear friends.  I hope that you enjoyed your week.  I had a great one - I got a lot done and had a lovely lunch at the beach with my new bff, Anne, and Susie, a great lady who reads my blog and also happens to be in the needlepoint group.  We all adore blogs and I received many suggestions to add to my arsenal of 

blog favorites.

A couple of weekends ago, the Mister and I spent the day in the picturesque town of Chatham.  

Now for the geography lesson. 

Chatham is located in the "elbow" of Cape Cod.

That's all I got.  Geography has never been my strong suit.

The last time I was in Chatham was when I was 7 years old.  My parents took me to the Chatham Bars Inn for a week. Can't remember too much.  I do, however, remember relishing in the idea of being an only child again. 

We had to leave Sista at home with a wicked witch of a babysitter.  She was going through the terrible twos stage.  Lucky for us, it only lasted 15 years.

Chatham is the quintessential New England town packed with charm and beauty.  Main Street is the place to go if you want to go to a house of worship or shop 'til you drop.  Guess which one I chose.

  

Gorgeous churches.

The Public Library.

Our first stop was this darling shop.

I took home this little sexy number.  I hate when a headless dummy looks better in a dress than I do.

The Mister joked with the owner that he wanted to order a case of this stuff.  I threw him an eye roll and proceeded to ignore him. 

Now we're getting into the Mister's area...

Awe-inspiring window boxes added the finishing touches to the quaint shops.

Isn't this fence adorable?

Jack better get with the program and put some flowers in those sad looking pots.

This entire shop is swimming in rubber ducky paraphernalia.

I like to shop and the Mister likes to memorize menus.

Shark park!

Where the Sidewalk Ends Bookstore has a wonderful selection of books for adults and children.  The store also sponsors literary luncheons featuring popular authors during the summer.

We enjoyed a great lunch at this restaurant.  The food and service were outstanding.  The ambiance is a little dated, but then again, I think they call that "charm."

Of all the towns that I have visited in the Cape, I have to say that Chatham is my favorite so far.  It offers great shops, a graceful Main Street, and hospitable shop people. 

After some serious shopping, menu memorizing, and a great lunch, we packed up our rubber duckies and hit the road.

Until next time...

A Well Packed Hodgepodge

Good morning, dear friends.  I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  I'm not going mention the weather because my heart goes out to my friends and family experiencing the rain and flooding in Texas.  There are such sad stories on the News.

Our weekend was filled with fun with family and friends.  Sista and BIL came for one night and my new bff, Anne and her Mister met us  for an art show and dinner back at our house.  No pictures to show because I had so much fun, I forgot to use my camera.

Sunday evening, the former owners of our house came over for 'tails and d'oeuvres and a tour of our renovations.  They brought their friends, who coincidentally sold their house to the former owners.  

1.  Did you do anything 'memorable' this past weekend?

Sista and BIL came for a visit this weekend.  Any time Sista visits, it is always memorable.

2.  Ronald Reagan is quoted as saying-

"Freedom s never more than one generation away from extinction.  We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream.  It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same."

Your thoughts?  Do you somehow acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms you enjoy?  Did your upbringing contribute to that sense of appreciation?  If you're a parent, are there specific things you do to your own children in regard to the freedoms they enjoy?

I acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms that we enjoy every day.  I went to a beautiful ceremony on Memorial Day recognizing the Military through the generations.

3.  Loudest noise you've ever heard?

Years ago, when we lived in The Woodlands, Texas, we were experiencing one of many lightning storms that are customary in that part of the country.  A loud crack woke us up in the middle of the night.  We thought the house was hit.  We found out days later that one of the few trees in our back yard was struck and it travelled under the ground and hit another one.  It was a very expensive volt of lightning.

4.  What was the last thing you ate that might be considered 'junk food'?  Did you enjoy it?

The Mister and I don't eat a lot of red meat.  Last weekend, we went to a waterfront restaurant and enjoyed our lunch on the most gorgeous day on the patio.  I decided to order a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries.  Talk about a perfect lunch.  Worth every calorie! 

5.  When was the last time you were somewhere the crowd felt 'packed in like sardines'?

The last time that I was travelling and battling my way through the security line.

6.  Are you organized when it comes to packing for a trip?  Do you make a list weeks in advance or toss items in last minute?  Are you a carry-on only sort of packer or do you need an entire suitcase for your shoes?

No matter how short the trip, I always check my bag and use a big suitcase.  I don't need the extra space for shoes - I could wear the same pair of stilettos for a week.  I need the extra space for my make up and miracle creams.  It ain't easy being a trophy wife.

I don't usually make lists for packing, but rather save the lists for what needs to be covered while we are gone.  I start to pack about a month ahead of time and lay out my clothes in one of the girl's rooms.  We're not going anywhere until next month but I already have a head start.  Seasickness doesn't have a chance with my arsenal of supplies.

7.  What was the last sporting event you attended in person?  Did your team win?  Did you care?

The last sporting event that I attended was a high school tennis match in which my girls were participating.  They were doubles partners that year.  Forget about winning - I was more concerned with them killing each other on the court.

They did agree on one thing, though.  If they lost, it was the other one's fault.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I am listening to The Book of Joan on my walks.  It is read by her daughter and author, Melissa.  It's very entertaining and there are some great stories.  There's only one problem, though.  I don't believe Melissa wrote it.  I think Joan wrote it before she died.  Just my opinion.  

Until next time...

Beautiful Beacon Hill - Take 1

Hello dear friends.  I hope that you enjoyed your long weekend.  My holiday began a little early this year.  My new bff, Anne and I headed to one of the prettiest parts of Boston, Beacon Hill, for the Garden Tour.  We met one of the Sudbury Sweethearts, Kathy there.  

We lucked out with a beautiful day.  It was a not too day - not too sunny, not too warm, and not too cold.  The perfect day to take in some beautiful gardens.   

We walked through Boston Commons, the oldest park in the country.   Not only is the oldest, it is definitely one of the prettiest.  We were there early - with the Swan Boats resting before the crowd arrives in a couple of hours.

This sculpture is called Make Way for Ducklings based on the beloved children's classic.  Anne told me that the ducklings are known to dress for the occasion.  That day the feathered flock were featuring red noses for what else?  Red Nose Day.  

The flower boxes on our way were stunning.

I spy Angelina Jolie or a very hot, trophy wife...

We saw quite a few furry friends on our way.  These two were much better behaved than someone else I know...

Some lines were longer than others but they moved very quickly.

One hostess gardener had a couple of these darling Quimper planters hanging.  I wanted to grab one so badly, my hands itched.  But I had to be well behaved in front of my ladylike friends.

Note to self:  next time, don't try to be fancy.  Wear tennis shoes.  Btw... I never saw so many Tory flats in one place in my whole life.  It must be required wear for the Beacon Hill Garden ladies. 

This is a photo of what the enclosed garden looked like last winter.  Thanks for throwing my post traumatic stress disorder into full throttle! 

I had been searching nurseries near and far for blue hydrangeas and now I know where they all went.

This garden featured 10 "Chanticleer" pear trees pruned up to 7 feet.  Can you imagine being the gardener here?

One nice garden hostess set a pretty table which added grace to the luscious space.  The chairs looked pretty inviting as well.

I can never resist a basket of flowers on the front of a bike.

If I lived in the city, I would like to live across the street from this darling shop.  

Amazon


We met the lovely Dolley Carlson who was autographing her latest novel.  Think Downton Abbey in the heart of Boston. It sounds right up my alley.

We had a fabulous lunch at this tres chic eatery.

We clocked over five miles that day.  I feel thinner already.  It was a classic day with wonderful friends.


Until next time...