by Judy Handley | Apr 6, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 96—Shellfish Presentation and Evening in Woods Hole
Date: Friday, April 6, 2018
Weather: Rain, Snow, and Wind; High Temp 46, Low 37 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
This was a day of learning. In the morning I attended a two-and-a-half hour long presentation about recreational shellfishing in Falmouth. Shellfishing includes digging for clams, harvesting oysters, and catching scallops and the presentation included how to do this as well as size and catch limits, storage and safe handling of the shellfish, and regulations. It was organized by friend, Peter Baranowski,
and presenters included Chuck Martinsen and Christina Lovely of the Falmouth Marine and Environmental Services, and John from The Clam Man showing us how to properly get open the shells. It was really informative. Now I just have to go to the Town Hall and get my permit for this year.
My afternoon was spent driving around town in the rain and spitting snow driving by more houses. Today I focused on homes in a slightly higher cost bracket and the places were much more appealing than the homes I drove by on Tuesday. The next step in my decision making process is to visit inside some of these homes and then I will make a decision about whether I am going to rent the cottage I have been considering.
My evening started early when Peter and Karen Baranowski picked me up at 5 pm. We then drove to pick-up Terry and Olivia White and all of us went out to dinner Woods Hole at Quick’s Tavern.
This little restaurant overlooks the ferry terminal in Woods Hole and I realized that I haven’t driven through Woods Hole for weeks. The ferry headquarters has been torn down and will reopen in downtown Falmouth. And the docks for the three ferries that plow the waters from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard are a mess. Sure hope things are cleaned up before the tourist season begins. Dinner was delicious and then we attended a presentation on climate change, specifically the connection between changes in the ice in Antarctica and sea rise. The presentation was very informative, although a bit disturbing.
by Judy Handley | Apr 5, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 95—Meeting Two Phenomenal Ladies
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2018
Weather: Sunny, Windy, Cold; High Temp 44, Low 27 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
I have mentioned in recent logs that I am considering a move to a small cottage owned by a friend’s aunt. The friend is Karen Baranowski and her aunt is a 93 year-old woman named Shirley. Shirley and her 99 year-old sister, Doris, live part of the time in Doris’ home in Scituate, about an hour north of here, and part of the time in Shirley’s home here in Falmouth. Shirley owns her home and the adjoining lot with the cottage. That cottage has not been lived in since Shirley bought it about 20 years ago. Over the years, family members sometimes came to stay in it during the summer, but otherwise it has just been sitting there. Karen introduced the idea of selling or renting the cottage to her aunt after she heard me say I would like to a place with lower rent than I now pay, but that I would still like to be near the water. That sounded like the cottage to Karen, so she approached her Aunt Shirley. Before Shirley was willing to make a decision, she wanted to meet me and today was that day. It was the first time I have ever driven along the coast on the way to Boston to where Scituate is located. It is a lovely area.
And when we got to a place where the North River runs out to sea, Karen pointed out Doris’ home on a hill overlooking the entire flats of the river. What a great location! Once I met Shirley and Doris I decided that living in homes with beautiful views must help one to stay young. Both women need walkers to get around, but their minds are still young and we had a delightful few hours together. Shirley is ready to rent to me, so now I just need to make that decision. I am going to spend the weekend looking at other possibilities and then make up my mind. But whether I move there or not, I hope to visit with Shirley and Doris from time to time. I shared much about my life with them today, but I would love to learn more about their lives. Together they have 192 years of experience to share. What a treasure.
by Judy Handley | Apr 4, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 94—Happy Anniversary to Justin and Jo
Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Weather: Overcast, Foggy with Rain, Super Windy; High Temp 55, Low 31 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
Happy 11th anniversary to Justin and Jo. The traditional gift for the 11th anniversary is steel, I suppose because it is virtually resistant to corrosion and damage. If you have made it through 11 years of marriage, you are probably in it for the long run, thus resistant to damage just like steel. This past year has certainly shown that Justin and Jo are both resistant and resilient. May their relationship stay as strong for all the years to come.
I have to comment on the weather. Today was really depressing. Our April weather feels more like March weather. We certainly had March winds today and it was overcast, foggy, and rainy the entire day. Yuck! Jane Woodin stopped by just to say hello this morning which was a pleasant part of an otherwise depressing day. After she left, I drove around town looking at homes in my price range. That was really depressing, and sometimes so absurd it was funny. Near the end of my little tour, I drove by a house on the edge of a golf course. There were no other homes around, except for one right next to the one I was looking at. It was very tiny and right next to it was this two-story behemoth of a home, and then just manicured golf course all around. Really funny looking. I found neighborhoods in Falmouth I never knew existed. One home had burned down, some had neighbors with huge work trucks in the drive-ways, and others had neighbors with so many cars and so much junk scattered about that I was sure I wouldn’t want to live there, no matter how nice the house. Then there was the one that was hidden behind other homes and was surrounded on all four sides with 6-foot wooden fence. I thought I was in a fort. The bottom line is that there is nothing desirable in a price range comparable to the little home I have been considering. Tomorrow I drive off-Cape to meet the woman who owns that little house. Because I am a friend of her niece, she had agreed to think about selling to me, dependent on how our meeting goes. What I hope to find out is whether or not she might rent, rather than sell. She is 93 and no longer sails, but she did sail for much of her life. So, we have that in common. Hopefully the meeting will go well. On Friday, I will drive around and look at few homes that are in the next financial bracket and if there are any that I want to look at, I have a realtor lined up for Saturday morning. Hopefully by the end of the weekend I will have a better idea of my options. And if there are no options, I will stay here for another year and continue looking for the ‘just right’, affordable place to live.
by Judy Handley | Apr 3, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 93—Rainy Day
Date: Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Weather: Overcast with Rain; High Temp 40, Low 39 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
So we had a few days near the end of March with temps nearing 50 degrees, but the rest of March was cold and miserable and April is continuing that trend. This morning was overcasee that in the immediate future. In fact, I see snow again on Saturday. But the osprey have returned, so evidently they think it is spring. Good for them!
I went to Tai Ji this morning and this afternoon I finally finished Ziggy’s book about Finca Maravilla. I spent some time looking online at possible homes to buy and made another visit to the home that friends are offering. Heather went with me this afternoon to see that home and she feels that the kitchen is a deal breaker–just too small. Somehow, I think I could adjust, but maybe not. I’ll keep looking, but the search is so frustrating because places look good online, but then when you do a drive-by, you can immediately see the problems. Often it is undesirable neighbors that are just too close. I’ll continue this search for the next few days and see what I come up with.
by Judy Handley | Apr 2, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 92—Snow
Date: Monday, April 2, 2018
Weather: Overcast, with Snow in the AM; High Temp 39, Low 32 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
I felt like it was an April Fool’s joke this morning when I looked out the window and saw everything covered in white snow. But it wasn’t a joke. It was real.
It continued to snow during the morning, but only the ground was white. It was just above freezing so the roadways were clear. I went to an early morning class at the gym and then went to H&R Block to get my taxes filed. I am fighting a cold, so I took time to rest this afternoon—a most uncharacteristic move on my part. I made it through the entire winter without getting sick, and my body is really working hard to resist this cold, so I am doing what I can to help-out. We shall see who wins.
by Judy Handley | Apr 1, 2018 | 2018 Life Logs |
2018 Life Logs, Day 91—Happy Easter
Date: Sunday, April 1, 2018
Weather: Overcast and Windy, A Little Sun Late Day; High Temp 51, Low 33 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
My memories of Easter are of warm weather, spring dresses, and even wearing white shoes. That was in West Virginia in the 1950’s, but I checked the weather there today and it is as cool there as it is here. This makes me think my memory is faulty, but I just found a photo of me on Easter Sunday 1957 that confirms my memory.
But whatever, it did not feel like spring here today. It felt cold and was windy and dreary until late afternoon. I did get rays of sunshine from Puerto Rico in the afternoon when Jo sent photos of a Happy Easter there.
That brightened my day and then the Goldstones arrived here in the late afternoon bringing more sunshine. The Easter Bunny had hidden eggs, so we had an egg hunt.
Each boy found eight eggs, one of which included a ‘trade in coupon’ for a magic trick and that led to lots of fun as each magician presented their trick. Then during dinner, the Goldstones each shared their favorite activity from their outing to the outer Cape yesterday and today.
I’ve left out lots of detail, including the frustrations when some magicians wanted to share their tricks and others did not and when Ollie never found one of his eggs, I have to talk to the Easter Bunny about that one. But despite a few frustrations, it was a good day.
