Last Saturday night, a fine dusting of snow fell from the sky. It looked magical outside when the sun rose in the morning. The houses, trees and bushes appeared as if they were covered with artificial snow, like in a model train winter scene.
These houses surround the village green in Falmouth. Many of them are B&B’s, right in a row, in one of the town’s historical districts.
This one looks like it’s sprinkled with powdered sugar.
A family I know from Woods Hole went on a trip to Turkey this summer. Deb sent me this series of photos of a doll shop in Istanbul. Here is her daughter Celeste standing alongside the amazing display of felt dolls. Among the conservatively dressed female figures, I can see some whirling dervish dancers in white as well as some pretty wild-looking felt caps.
Please Note: Mara from Ankara, Turkey just wrote a comment and said, “These are actually made in Central Asia — in Uzbekhistan, if I remember correctly — but they are sold quite widely in Turkey”.
There are dressed up rabbits, mothers with babies hanging on, and moustached short squat men. Thanks for sharing these, Deb!
My husband and I took a day trip down to the Penikese Island School a few weeks ago. The school’s boat was out of service, so we volunteered to ferry some of the school’s teachers and visitors from the Mass. Dept. of Education in our boat. From Woods Hole, it took about 45 minutes to motor down Buzzard’s Bay along the chain of Elizabeth Islands to the very end, where the private island of Penikese lies.
Penikese Island School is a therapeutic boarding school for struggling teenage boys, located on this tiny island that also serves as a bird sanctuary.
The school is modeled after 19th century family farm living and the main house has no electricity and a large supply of kerosene lamps…
a vegetable garden…
and chickens.
Their environment is simple and natural, without the distractions of modern society and media.
We headed back that afternoon full of admiration for the dedicated and visionary staff at the school. It’s a truly remarkable place.
Sunday was another beautiful morning on the bike path to Woods Hole. All around me there were people setting up traffic cones and water stations for the triathlon. I managed to take a few pictures before the race started at 7:30. I’ve just been informed by a reader that the invasive knapweed below is a neuro-toxin and should not be handled!
Young Queen Anne’s Lace looks like an umbrella forced inside out by the wind.
And then later, the flower forms into a properly domed umbrella.
My husband and I went 50 miles down Cape to the National Seashore and visited a cedar swamp. The outer part of Cape Cod has low growing pines, which are stunted from the wind and salt spray coming from the Atlantic Ocean. It’s also much more sandy and open to the elements compared to the forested, sheltered and harbor filled southwestern part where we live.
The Cedar swamp is a short hike inland and downhill to a protected, peat-filled wetland. A board walk circles through the forest, so you can really see inside. This light and decay resistant wood was prized by the early European settlers and quickly cleared out of the Cape’s swamps.
The resilient cedars have returned, but the trees are no where near the 3′ in diameter that the settlers cut. The green moss-covered ground contrasted with the red tinted swamp water. A biologist friend told me that the orangey red color appears when the iron in the decaying material is oxidized.
It’s a magical place, with so many perfect areas for fairy houses. I wish that I’d brought some dolls along, to take their picture, but the park service wouldn’t have liked me dancing across the moss!
West Falmouth salt marsh
To counteract my sedentary activity of sewing, I ride my bike along the Shining Sea bike path everyday. Early morning is best, when the air is cool, the path is less crowded, and the light is good for photography.
West Falmouth brackish stream
I live near an entrance to the path, in the middle of its 12 mile length from Woods Hole to North Falmouth. Some mornings I go south, along Vineyard Sound (see this post) and other days I head north through West Falmouth on the Buzzard’s Bay side of town.
West Falmouth
Going north is a different experience, with salt marshes and brackish ponds and streams. Just out of sight are beaches along the coast of Buzzard’s Bay.
West Falmouth pond
The landscape changes rapidly from open marshes to woods with tall trees. Here’s the back of Bourne Farm, looking toward the barn. I find this biking ritual good for my body, mind and spirit.
Bourne Farm, W. Falmouth
view of Great Harbor from Woods Hole Yacht Club
This weekend, we went out in our motor boat and took an early evening tour of the local area. We left Great Harbor in Woods Hole and cruised through Woods Hole Passage to Hadley’s Harbor on Naushon Island.
Bull Island, Naushon Is.
Boat House on Hadley's Harbor, Naushon Is.
Some summer people are starting to arrive, but it’s still quiet. It’s still too cold to go swimming! We cruised along the shore of Buzzard’s Bay.
Penzance Point, Woods Hole from Buzzard's Bay
We came back to the Woods Hole Yacht Club. In a month, the dinghy lines will all be full.
Woods Hole Yacht Club
Across the street from the yacht club are some great houses on Bar Neck Rd.
house on Bar Neck Rd., Woods Hole
My family rented this house with the red door, when I was about 6 years old.
Bar Neck Rd., Woods Hole
The Woods Hole May Festival, which my mother started about 40 years ago, was on Saturday at the ball park. It’s a chance for the year ’rounders to come out of hibernation and socialize. Here’s my cousin showing his ’38 John Deere tractor, which he and his father put together from old parts.
'38 John Deere
And there’s always a May Pole dance with live music. Summer has almost begun!
May Pole at Woods Hole May Festival
7:00 am on the bike path looking toward Martha's Vineyard Island
I went for an early morning ride on the bike path Friday morning. Honeysuckle perfumed the air as I rode towards Woods Hole. Everything was still, without the usual strong off-shore breeze and I could tell that this was going to be the most beautiful day.
Looking across Vineyard Sound
The Rosa Rugosa are just starting to bloom along the bike path, which travels along the shore on the old train track right of way. Trains used to go from New York and Boston to the dock in Woods Hole, where people could board the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard.
Woods Hole's tricentennial t-shirt design, 1979
Here’s a drawing I made for Woods Hole’s tricentennial t-shirt in 1979, which shows the train on the ferry pier. It’s based on a map from the 1800’s.
detail of Woods Hole Train Station
Rosa Rugosa growing on the edge of the beach
Rosa Rugosa
Across Vineyard Sound there was a clear view of Martha’s Vineyard Island, which is 3 miles away. After the morning excercise, I felt I could go inside and sit and stitch for a few hours.
View of Nobska Point, Woods Hole
Lucinda Hooper sent me these photos of some Ltd. edition dolls which I sent to her in Australia. It’s fun to see Dahlia and Bud & Ivy settled in their new home on the other side of the world.
Dahlia, Bud & Ivy with Mimi Kirchner’s tiny world pin cushion
The dolls feel at home with Mimi Kirchner’s tiny world pin cushion, which also found its way from Massachusetts to Australia. See more of her pin cushions in an earlier post here. Thank you for sharing these pictures, Lucinda!
Dahlia sitting by a river in Australia
Bud & Ivy with a “river stone” cottage made by Lucinda’s Mum
On my recent trip to California, we went to the Farmer’s Market in Santa Monica. The bounty of beautiful vegetables and fruit was a visual treat.
SALLEY MAVOR 