Cancellation!

With April, estate sales start blossoming all over Cape Cod. This morning I went to Chatham, Harwichport, and Yarmouth in search of bargains. Anyone who enjoys antiquing will find the shops in Brewster full of treasures and open for business. Spring is a great time for a visit! This weekend we had a cancellation for Seagull Cottage. Although I posted a discounted rate, no one has contacted me. Cancellations do happen, and, for innkeepers who do not have credit card machines, the inconvenience is monumental. What a shame to have the cottage go empty for Easter! It is booked every weekend until June. People should know that Wellfleet is beautiful, even when the weather is cool. Today, for instance. Sven and I walked over to Dyer Pond. The surface was shimmering in the sun (see above). We continued on to Great Pond. Lo and behold, there, out on the water, lay a man in a wet suit, paddling along on a boogie board. I must say this is the first time I have seen anyone swimming this early. Perhaps he had already gone to the ocean and decided the surf was too rough?

Mist and Rain

Mist and rain in Wellfleet today to greet the beginning of April. Daffodils are pushing their way into the garden here at Chez Sven. Not much going on downtown. Wellfleet Marketplace offers discounted tulips on their display rack outside. AIM is open again. But the action is further up Main Street. Cars jam the Wicked Oyster parking lot, reputed to have one of the most wicked breakfast omelets on Cape Cod. Out on Route 6, work continues at the building site for our exciting new theatre. WHAT has posted its program for the summer. Chez Sven guests will be receiving a 15% discount on tickets, which is great news! The theatre season begins May 23 and runs through November 25. In the photo to the left, it is possible to see the walkway from the WHAT offices to the new theatre. Further down the road, Shepley’s Lumber has taken over the Consider the Lilies lot. Kudos on the building design!

Back at Lecount Beach ...

Sven and I took a brisk walk this afternoon. Not everyone can drop everything, drive two miles, and enjoy such splendor. The light blues and beige calm the spirit. When the beach is deserted, it can be very exciting to come upon a collection of flotsam, lovingly established in some kind of pattern by other beachcombers. We walked further than usual in order to be able to share this photo. A castle? A pirate ship? It can be whatever your imagination wants it to be.

Cape & Islands Wellness Expo Comes to Eastham!

This weekend marked the first Cape & Islands Wellness Expo to take place at this end of the Cape, ever. Several dozen health providers of everything from massage and yoga to health food and shoes that are good for your feet were on display at stands set up in the lobby of Willy’s Gym in Eastham. The mood was euphoric as practitioners shared tips and schedules with would-be clients. Workshops were held. Here was the opportunity to learn about how to avoid back pain or spend time with a Reiki master. There were lots of brochures to pick up, and even some free vegie cookies. I chatted with Dr. Lori Deveuve of Nauset Chiropractic, below left, who said 2000 to 5000 people are expected over the two days. The Cape & Islands Wellness Expo is a great place to learn new ways to stay healthy and increase vitality while having fun. Judging from turn-out this morning, the initiative will probably be renewed next year.

A March Day in the Life ...

We have lovely people from England this week, so we chatted while I was hanging laundry. Sheet inventory was front and center today. I unfolded and refolded sheets, discarded some, gazed longingly at displays of organic bedding in catalogues, dreamed of the organic bed we will provide to guests next year and even talked with the owner of European Sleepworks in California. Finally I ordered a bunch of new linens. (The photo to the right gets taken later at Great Pond.) Once my order with Coyuchi was complete, I tried the new online system offered by Johnny’s Seeds. More dreaming went into this order: cosmos, calendula, Milk Maid nasturiums, sunflowers …. plus a few vegies. I do not think our vegetable planting will be as extensive this year. The garden will be more flowery, if I have my way. I did order five pounds of potatoes for Sven, however. How easy it is to order online! Next on my list was Dancing Deer, a Boston company, which makes the most succulent brownies I have ever tasted and that includes my own. Through the Internet, I received wholesale pricing and the offer to try samples. Can’t wait for them to arrive. Then it was time for exercise. Sven and I powerwalked over to the far side of Great pond where it is possible to view two ponds at once, and back past Long Pond. I took some photos of pine roots, exposed by last winter’s storm at one of the confiscated houses. Back at Chez Sven, I prepared Liberty Coin Suite for our guests who arrive this evening. Then it was time to bake granola and make some organic yogurt. It has been a busy day!

Hurray for the Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce!

When Sven and I started Chez Sven, we joined the Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce which produces one of the best little guidebooks on Cape Cod. Inside there is a list of Chamber members. Their businesses can also be found on the Internet. The Chamber Web site recently received a complete makeover and went back online. Gone is the quaint village street, the small photo of two children frolicking on a beach, the old-fashioned sepia tones. Now, when visitors Google Wellfleet Chamber of Commerce and double-click, the photo of a summer day at one of Wellfleet's magnificent beaches greets their eyes.

The Chamber of Commerce is a “year-round organization whose mission is to represent the business community, assist visitors, and promote communication between residents, guests and town agencies.” Friendly volunteers man the information booth in South Wellfleet, open weekends in spring and fall, as well as 9 to 6 daily in the summer.

The Chamber organizes several after-hours gatherings during Quiet Season. One was held recently at the Bookstore Restaurant. Members congregated to reflect on the past season, share insight on trends, compare notes, or just shoot the breeze. Selectman Dale Donovan was a guest. Also at my table, Gail Ferguson of 130 West Main, to the left, who reported reservations are progressing at a satisfactory rate, except for June. That made me feel better. We don’t have many June reservations yet either! Together we drank to the coming season. Here, here!

VIPs for a Day!

Yesterday Sven and I traveled to Newport, RI, where
GoNewport had invited me to participate at their March event, “It is Easy Being Green,” a panel on Eco-Tourism. Hibernian Hall rapidly filled with business owners, eager for tips and advice, who began munching organic pastries. Other panelists were Rob Cardeiro of the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Champe Speidel of Persimmon Restaurant in Bristol. Kara DiCamillo of Treehugger.com served as moderator.

After a quick introduction by Kathryn Farrington, GoNewport V.P. of Marketing, and short speeches by two local personalities, I explained why Chez Sven is green, and what the challenges and advantages are. All members of the panel agreed that the single most important thing one can do is set a good example and spread the word.

Sven cheered me on and claims I was the most articulate of all the speakers, enthusiasm which does not surprise me, under the circumstances. I found the discussion of biodiesel particularly fascinating. Champe Speidel, to my right, immediately signed up. (A fledgling biodiesel company will travel to restaurants to collect cooking oil. Wellfleet could do with a similar service. To the left, Dyer Pond in March, looking very green.)

Afterwards, Sven & I were given a VIP pass. We stayed at lovely Ivy Lodge, close by the mansions of Newport, and toured the Breakers with a guide who kept mentioning Anderson Cooper’s connection to the Vanderbilt family.

It was encouraging to see a County Convention & Visitors Bureau take such an initiative. I felt pleased to have been able to share our experience at Chez Sven and only wish the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce would organize a similar event.

Wellfleet Preservation Hall

Today Sven and I took a brisk walk at the beach where surfers were enjoying the waves. Then we went downtown to Wellfleet Marketplace where a neat little flyer caught my eye. The front says, “We’re Opening the Doors.” When you open the flyer, you find an image of the marvelous front doors to the old Catholic Church on Main Street. Unfold some more and there is information about the Wellfleet Preservation Hall: “The Vision for Wellfleet Preservation Hall is to restore the former Catholic church, built in 1909, and turn this beloved historic icon into a year-round, vibrant, community-based, non-profit cultural focus. The Goal is to preserve the original sanctuary building for the community, leaving the rectory footprint alongside for the town to use as it sees fit. By Creating Wellfleet Preservation Hall we will accomplish something more significant than rescuing a single structure. Preservation Hall will become the heart of downtown Wellfleet – engaged, supportive, and relevant to the spirit of this unique small town.”

Then there is an invitation: “Watch the doors open at www.WellfleetPreservationHall.org.” The Website gives information on how you can make a donation. What a great idea!

10 Things to Do on the Beach in March

Today Sven and I took a walk at Lecount Hollow. There was a light breeze. It occurred to me how lucky we are to live in Wellfleet, only two miles from the Atlantic Ocean. I remembered the first time I put my ear to a conch shell, at my mother’s urging, and was amazed by the roar. The sea is magic. Here are 10 fun things to do at the beach in March:
1.) Walk.
2.) Jog.
3.) Look for sea glass amidst the shells.
4.) Build a sand castle.
5.) Watch surfers.
6.) Surf.
7.) Fish.
8.) Search for seals.
9.) Explore sandbars.
10.) Feel happy to be alive!

Feel Like a Guinea Pig?

Genetically engineered materials are slipping into the foods we eat here in the United States. I have had guests from Europe ask if the foods I serve are genetically modified, and I cannot always answer. Although I shop for cereals at the health food store, not everything is labeled. I myself am worried about this new development. At the very least, genetically altered foods should be labeled, so the public can make informed decisions on what to buy. If you feel the same way, go to this Web site and speak up in favor of the “Genetically Altered Foods Right to Know Act” sponsored by Barbara Boxer (D-CA). At the very least, foods should have labels. The Campaign Web site contains a good summary of the situation. Manufacturers of soybeans and corn are among the worst offenders, so always check those labels before you buy. I researched some cereals at the health food store on Main Street in Orleans (where, by the way, any health food practioners will want to shop before proceeding on to Wellfleet). Nature’s Path was one of the only companies that cared enough to be up front with information.

The purity of organic foods is at risk. The Campaign also has a page where you can take action with regard to organic foods, under attack by cross-pollination from biotech crops.

European Union nations, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China require labeling of genetically engineered foods. We should, too. Please tell friends about The Campaign. Thanks!

An Early Spring Walk to Five Ponds

Spring was in the air this morning. Since the tide was high at noon, Sven and I decided to walk in the woods instead of by the ocean. We parked the car over by the multiple-pond trail and hiked through the National Seashore. Some of the ponds were still frozen. Others were not. We saw a knotted old tree and another great blue door. We admired summer houses, built in the forties, and not heated. All that beauty and no one there to enjoy it. The only people we saw were lost. They had embarked on a journey through the woods without realizing there would be large puddles and no place to turn around. What's more, their car would not work in reverse. It was broken. So, they drove on and on, feeling more and more worried. That is,until they saw us coming in the opposite direction on foot! Luckily we were able to tell them how to drive out of the woods. Let's hope they made it home safe and sound. Thoreau visited the woods of Wellfleet more than a century ago. He describes meeting an oysterman in tales of his travels past these same ponds. The oysterman's name was John Young Newcomb. The nearest beach is called, of course, Newcomb's Hollow.

On our way back home, as we drove through a relatively new Wellfleet neighborhood with its enormous houses, for the most part empty, I thought, what a waste! These modern homes are twice as big as the old summer homes by the ponds. Why do humans think they need so much space? Not to mention needless energy consumption. I tried to imagine what the woods looked like before development, a rolling landscape of pines and oak. Thank goodness 61% of Wellfleet is National Seashore, even if new homeowners do not obey the rules and increase the footprint. At least they are few and far between. The pond homes get passed down in families, so nothing changes, except the taxes.

We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place!

Mayo Beach Sited In Top 10 Family-Friendly Beaches in the USA!

The online travel service Trip Advisor has selected Mayo Beach as one of the top ten Family-Friendly Beaches in the USA. Mayo Beach, across from the Bookstore Restaurant, and close by both Mac's Seafood and the original Wellfleet Harbor Actors' Theatre, is indeed a great place to take toddlers. I do not recommend it, however, because of the muck underfoot. Also, older kids, quickly get bored, if my experience is any indication. When I would suggest Mayo, my children would clamor for the Atlantic. So, under five, maybe. Over five, no. At low tide, it is possible to glimpse shellfishermen out on the flats, as in the above photo. Should you be coming to Wellfleet this March, Mayo Beach is a fabulous place to view sunsets in winter. Sven is always urging me to go down and check out the spectacle. Just take a look:

A February Day in the Life

I didn’t do much today for the bed & breakfast because it’s February and I have been busy on another project, revising a manuscript. I did go to Stop & Shop, pleased at the success of my effort to reduce our carbon footprint, since it was the only trip of the week. I prepared the cottage for our weekend guests. Made the beds, cleaned, answered reservation requests by email. What I didn’t do is take a walk or review our sheet selection to winnow out those with stains or tears. Sheet inventory is quite important to an innkeeper. I do not like to give guests sheets, which are not impeccable. Since sheets wear out – even organic sheets – that means updating the inventory every year. It is almost eight o’clock and our guests still have not arrived. They had planned to be here at 5, but they are doctors, with shifting schedules. Sven made a fire, but the delay means no one is there to enjoy it. We talked the situation over and decided to implement a new policy for Seagull Cottage. Since everyone has a cell phone these days, in the future, I will request that guests call when they cross the bridge to Cape Cod if they want us to light the fire. That way, we will know when to strike the match. Here is a view of the interior of Seagull Cottage. Doesn’t it look cozy?

One Pond, One Walk, One Hour

Another day, another walk. The colors are supreme. The benefit of storing images in one's mind occurs to me, as we ride the ridge at the eastern edge of Long Pond. A tourist could walk past here in the summer, admire the pond, and pull out an image of its beauty during the long dark winter. Many probably do...

Here is what Sven was thinking as we walked along: “This is our first spring walk. The ice is melting. You can feel spring is in the air.”

We walked over one hour. I do not know whether spring is really around the corner, but I did see a chipmunk yesterday, near the bird feeder. Not only did we walk today. This morning we drove. And I took a photo for all Cahoon Hollow Beach readers out there. Look what has just replaced the dune shacks across the road from the Beachcomber!

Note: Photos taken with Canon Power Shot A 510; Top photo taken at Great Pond, not Long Pond, so theoretically we visited two ponds today, but walked around one!

Dyer Pond, Frozen, in Winter

Best Kept Secret ...

The Best Kept Secret around town is how breathtaking Wellfleet can be in winter. Crisp air, bright colors. Here is the first view we had of the ocean. Wow! Our Seagull Cottage guests set off for civilization this morning, pronouncing themselves utterly delighted with their romantic getaway, a break from their usual harried life: “We saw chunks of ice on the bay. It was so beautiful at Duck Harbor!” It was beautiful at the ocean and the ponds, too. Several dozen people were skating on Long Pond. We saw a hockey game, a barbecue, even a little girl pushing a doll carriage over the ice.

“The sea is extraordinarily beautiful!” Sven exclaims as we pass the spot on Oceanview Drive where the Atlantic fills up the horizon like a cup. The frigid weather had made walks impossible recently. Now as we hurry down the dune, the brilliance of the light and the invigorating air greet the senses in a rush. Other Wellfleetians are out to enjoy the beach, too. We greet these strangers, also happy to be alive today. Gentle waves lap at the shore. There are patches of snow and ice. Wellfleet is amazing in winter. It is hard to imagine living anywhere else.

New Wallpaper!

Finding period wallpaper for a house built in the 18th century was more difficult that we expected. I looked online to no avail. Then Sven and I made three trips to the wallpaper shop in Orleans. We borrowed several wallpaper books before making our choice. We finally settled on an old-fashioned pattern from the Salt Box book by Greeff, the only selection, which seemed appropriate to our old house: Providence Resist, in Cranberry.

Before application of the wallpaper, our carpenter friend, Rick Buckley, boxed in the beams. There had been powder-post beetle damage, which we fixed five or six years ago with salvaged beams from the Cataumet Sawmill. Sven oiled the beams, now that the room is empty. Then he repainted the woodwork and wainscoting. Finally, Audrey Danforth, who did such a great job five years ago with the smaller bedroom of our Liberty Coin Suite, did paperhanging, an art, at which she excels. Sven and I are very pleased with the result and cannot wait to show off the room to returning guests.
In 2007, the room will function as a bedroom, with a queen-sized bed. Next year it will become a proper salon. (Renovation of the north side of the building is slated to begin next November.)

Great Green News!

The cold continues. Here is a rare photo of Chez Sven, with icicles hanging from the roof.

I went through the day with a big smile on my face. This morning I listened to NPR. Major corporations are at last acknowledging global warming and gearing up to take on the challenge. A rep from Green Peace even expressed hope, as well as wonder and a bit of skepticism. Once one has grandchildren, the issue takes on new urgency. So said Jim Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy. I agree.

Today we received a great energy-efficient torchiere from RE Williams. I applaud their efforts to promote energy efficiency but regret the large amount of Styrofoam peanuts, which protected the lamp from bumps and scratches en route. I promptly sent the company an email to point this out. Let’s hope they switch to packaging that is less detrimental to the environment!

Winter Changes ...

Yesterday a weather phenomenon known as the Norlun Trough produced four inches of fresh snow, creating a winter wonderland outside.
Here is Seagull Cottage in the snow. I snapped this photo as soon as I heard about a photo-op for Cottage Style Magazine. Let’s hope they include Chez Sven in their feature on the cottages of Wellfleet and Chatham!

Winter is building season here in Wellfleet. Last spring our garden center closed. The Consider the Lilies structure is now being converted to a lumberyard. In the future Mid Cape Home Center will have stiff competition from Shepley, established for years further down Cape. Over at WHAT, the new Julie Harris stage is slowly rising. Here two men labor on the steel skeleton. Down Old King’s Highway, the Stivers’ house was purchased by the owner of the Box Lunch. Our new neighbor immediately headed to town hall for a building permit. Barn? Studio? Cottage? Lodging for employees? Not clear what the use of this structure will be. It may stand out against the snow, but by summer, I’m sure guests will not even notice as they drive past, heading up Old King’s Highway towards Chez Sven Bed & Breakfast.

A January Day in the Life

The day began with a visit from the folks at Bayberry. With the help of a mini-excavator, they removed five stumps from the edge of the forest, on the far side of Seagull Cottage. This procedure took several hours. There will be more sun now. I plan to plant the bank with cosmos, a flower which lingers well into the fall, a less expensive option to intensive landscaping with broom and roses, a project for an upcoming winter. As everyone knows, January is the month for White Sales. I perused a couple catalogues, then placed an order with old favorite Cuddledown. Their down pillows cannot be beat. Right after I hung up the phone, our friend Nate called to discuss preliminaries for the all-green room we will create next November. (Yes, we think ahead here at Chez Sven!) After lunch, Sven and I drove to Orleans to view wallpaper for my mom’s old room. We lugged four big wallpaper books back home, prior to making a decision. Once I had lined up our wallpaper expert, Audrey Danforth, who will stop by as soon as we choose our wallpaper, Sven and I finally took a quick walk on the beach. There is nothing like the beauty of the wild ocean …

Warm in Winter ...

Wellfleet had one of the warmest Decembers on record. It’s cold in winter, at least it is supposed to be. Everyone knows that. What people do not realize is that heating an independent building like Seagull Cottage costs money. Our last guests stayed for six days and turned the cottage into a cozy nest. The heating bill for that week was four times what we pay when the cottage is empty. They also availed themselves of firewood, as I had suggested, only a bit too assiduously. Sven and I stood in front of the depleted wood pile and talked this situation over upon our return from vacation. With regret, we have decided to initiate a firewood policy. (The first fire will be on us. For subsequent fires, guests will have to purchase firewood.) I will also write a page of heat-conservaton suggestions for the Seagull Cottage information booklet.

I just spent a week in Los Angeles, getting to know my new granddaughter. The temperature reached 70 degrees, unusual even in La-La land. Oh, yes! I forgot. Global warming is just a figment of our imagination .... Wellfleet looked so beautiful to me upon my return. We are lucky to live so close to nature. It is always nice to get back to one’s plants, displayed here on the windowsill in Seagull Cottage. I was sorry to miss the visit of a New York Times photojournalist, who called while I was away. We hope he will come stay on a future trip to Cape Cod.