New Guide to Cape Artists Goes On Sale

The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has come up with a great promotional idea. Announcing the first edition of Arts & Artisans Trails, a guide on how to locate and enjoy local art. The editors propose seven trails across Cape Cod and the islands. Now tourists can set out, guide in hand, to visit real artists who live from their art, not an easy undertaking in today’s corporate world, and watch them create on the premises. The book features potters, painters, sculptors, jewelers, woodworkers, and much more, 200 in all. I cannot wait to have the time to discover their studios, tucked away along the byways of towns I do not usually visit, like Dennis, which has an astounding number of working artists – 12!

The Cape Cod Chamber has given each trail a name. Wellfleet is part of the Great Dunes Trail. Our town offers a glassworks, five art galleries, and two potteries, with details on hours of operation. Narrow Land Pottery on Route 6, already open on weekends, is the closest entry to Chez Sven. Potter Joe McCaffery was wrapping up bowls someone had just purchased when I went in to say hello. In a back room, pots stood waiting to be glazed.

For a truly unusual experience, discover the art of Cape Cod this spring, summer, or fall. Purchase your own guide so that you will know where you want to go once you get here. It contains so much information that everyone should read through prior to arrival. Arts & Artisans is available from the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce. To reserve your copy, call 888-33-CAPECOD.

Cape Cod Times Reports on Eco-Tourism

It was a wonderful day for a walk at the beach. Unfortunately, I injured my knee and cannot beachwalk for two weeks, so Sven and I stayed home. I am sure lots of people were out however, like this loving couple whom I photographed before the injury.

Last week a reporter from the Cape Cod Times called and wanted to dispatch a photographer to capture me baking organic granola. I do not usually turn down such opportunities, but did, for once. The request was so sudden, and we had other activities going on. The reporter was good enough to feature Chez Sven in her article anyway. Today I subscribed to a new Verdant green magazine so guests can check it out. It is so exciting for the world that green is becoming more mainstream! When people ask why I feel so strongly about the environment, I tell them this little lady is one of the main reasons. Once a person has grandkids, he/she relates to the future of the world in a new way. I heard Tom Friedman say it, as well as several politicians. No two ways about it. I agree.

Happy Earth Day!

Erosion Update

The storm did create damage on Cape Cod, in Chatham for instance, and P-town where Fanizzi's restaurant was flooded. The Banner has photos which show its facade pounded by the surf. Sven and I went to Newcolm Hollow Beach today to check erosion here in Wellfleet. The ocean seems closer to the parking lot now. The large clay deposit on the beach was eroded. A fierce wind was blowing foam around, not a day to be out on the water, so we beat a quick retreat.

Views of the Ocean off Wellfleet Today

As the Nor’Easter churned up the Atlantic coast, Wellfleet fans surely wondered how their favorite beaches were faring. So, Sven and I ventured out to reconnoiter. We are happy to report back minimal erosion so far. At Cahoon Hollow Beach, the surf raced right up to the dune. Check out this photo of the angry waves. The wind had blown sand off the beach. In fact, sand coated large stretches of Ocean View Drive, near White Crest Beach. There were large puddles everywhere. A steady stream of SUVs visited the LeCount Hollow parking lot as locals also sought to check out the damage. Below, a couple climbed the Cahoon Hollow dunes for a better view.

Thomas Friedman Expresses Conviction that the World's Future Must Be Green

In a cover article in today’s New York Times Magazine, Thomas Friedman states we are in the “pre-climate war era” and pleads eloquently for a more carbon-free world. I recommend reading the whole article. Here are a few meaningful excerpts:

“I think that living, working, designing, manufacturing and projecting America in a green way can be the basis of a new unifying political movement for the 21st century. “

“Because a new green ideology, properly defined, has the power to mobilize liberals and conservatives, evangelicals and atheists, big business and environmentalists around an agenda that can both pull us together and propel us forward. That’s why I say: We don’t just need the first black president. We need the first green president. We don’t just need the first woman president. We need the first environmental president. We don’t just need a president who had been toughened by years as a prisoner of war but a president who is tough enough to level with the American people about the profound economic, geopolitical and climate threats posted by our addiction to oil – and to offer a real plan to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.”

“Am I optimistic? I want to be. But I am also old-fashioned. I don’t believe the world will effectively address the climate-energy challenge without America, its president, its government, its industry, its markets and its people all leading the parade. Green has to become part of America’s DNA.”

Go Friedman!

Message in a Bottle

This afternoon we walked at LeCount Hollow Beach. There were bikers out on Long Pond Road and Ocean View Drive. Surfers played in the waves, despite low tide. We saw people hiking and several families enjoying the beach, illuminated by the amazingly bright sunlight. A light breeze was blowing, perfect weather for flying a kite. Indeed someone had brought one, a lovely multi-colored kite like my kids always wanted me to buy. As soon as the young man got the kite going, a little girl, wearing pink boots, ran over from the edge of the water to hold the string. But, Sven and I were there for exercise, not people-watching. Off we went down the beach. We hiked to Marconi where we came upon a bottle that the tide had carried in. I reached down to pick it up. “Wait!” Sven said. “There’s a message inside!” Indeed, it was a special bottle, containing a letter. With trepidation we tried to remove the paper. Could it be from somewhere down the coast? Orleans? Montauk Point? Cape May? I must say we were a bit disappointed to realize the bottle originated right here in Wellfleet and was thrown into the water this morning! The letter was actually a long personal ad. To our surprise we realized the author had been married to a woman we know in town. With regret, we tossed the bottle back into the surf, hoping it will travel further away this time and connect its writer to some other lonely heart …

An April Day in the Life

Rush, rush, rush. Tourist season has not even started and things are hopping. I was awakened this morning by a phone call from England, a booking for Wednesday and Thursday of next week. Off I went to Orleans to shop for Seagull Cottage guests who arrive this afternoon. Back in Wellfleet, I found an email from the Provincetown Chamber of Commerce about a journalist in the UK who needs tips on the season’s hot spots pronto. I dashed off an email about the new Julie Harris Stage, then helped Sven clean the cottage. Our guests will be the first to enjoy coffee cake from Dancing Deer! Yesterday shipments from Emz Blendz and Purple Haze Lavender arrived. Also pictured on our windowsill, a java-log. Someone ingenious thought of making logs out of used coffee grains. I cannot wait to have our guests burn it. Rumor is java-logs make everything smell sweet. Rodney, at Strawberry Creek Inn, emailed me about them. Three cheers for green innkeepers! They are so friendly and eager to share good ideas. The day continued with work, work, work. I revised a proposal I am writing, which does not have anything to do with the bed & breakfast, but does take time and energy. Finally I stopped by the Wellfleet Chamber where the secretary had saved me the April issue of Cottage Style Magazine. Indeed, I was able to admire this photo of Seagull Cottage.

Happy Easter!

Searching in our archives will produce a photo of the Easter egg tree out on Route 6, posted last year. Easter did not bring out hordes of people to Lecount Hollow Beach, and yet it was beautiful. Sven and I saw one hopeful couple sunbathing, and several dog lovers out walking their pets. There were even folks up on the dunes, also accompanied by a dog. This morning we had a 10-night reservation starting the second week of May. By then the tulips will all be out. The trees will be in leaf. The weather will be warm, but not too hot, ideal for long walks through the National Seashore and along the beach. Our future guest, from Germany, is seeking to get away from hectic city life. Chez Sven is perfect for that.

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!