Brrrr.... December chills

December is here once again, and the winds off the Atlantic are chilling. Yesterday, the wind along the beach was so cold it made my teeth ache to smile.

But the views were beautiful, with the sun sparkling off the water.

Happy Holiday Season to All...

Blatant Self-Promotion: My New Book is Available!

My latest romantic suspense is now available from the publisher and from Amazon.com!

Set against the backdrop of Chatham in late winter, PERFECT STRANGERS is a perfect blend of romance and suspense. The back cover reads:

Dumped by her boyfriend in a made-for-the-tabloids bar scene, reporter Jane Peterson decides her life needs a total change. A new town, a new career path… and a new attitude toward men when she accepts her best friend’s dare to kiss a perfect stranger.

Because of his famous father, Keefe Walker is no stranger to the tabloid press. He’s kept a low profile for years, painting houses and drifting through life without much thought to career or future. Until he meets Jane. She’s everything that scares him. And everything he desires.

Sometimes it takes a perfect stranger to make you realize what you truly want.

Order it for your Kindle or buy it in paperback now - Click here to go to my page at AMAZON.COM

... And thanks for your support!

Sunshine on Nantucket Sound

October Chills

It's bright and chilly this week on Cape Cod, the waves pounding along the shore in anticipation of this weekend's full moon. The tides have been high, and a little sand has washed out to sea... (note the bottoms of the Connelly's new dune fence) but hopefully the next change of wind will bring the sand back onto this stretch.

But generally the beaches are looking great - very little seaweed washing ashore with the prevailing winds, leaving clear clean beaches to walk on in the October sunshine.

October Nor'easter

The seagulls are all onshore for the storm, but the sun is breaking though the clouds. Not sure if this nor-easter is still going to drench us or not, but the surf is certainly pounding our coastline.

There's already some sand erosion taking place with the waves, but luckily the jetty work was completed earlier in the week so we shouldn't have any repeats of last winter, when the waves shifted the boulders around atop the jetty.

Generally, the weather's been beautiful this fall. Yesterday was a perfect Fall Day, sunshine and homecoming soccer games. I'm looking forward to more of those next week.

October Dawns on the Cape

It's officially October, and the weather has taken a turn for the chilly here on Cape Cod. October 1st brought with it a brush with the heavy winds and rains that swept up the Atlantic seaboard last week.

Saturday morning, however, dawned clear and bright, albeit chilly. Beautiful day. By Sunday the skies had clouded over once again and today feels like November come early. But days like Saturday make us happy to be here in the fall.

Fall on Cape Cod

It may be fall and the kids are back in school, but there are still plenty of fun activities going on around Cape Cod. We've had some great weather, and October should be just as nice.

Last weekend, my family went down to Truro for the annual "Truro Treasures Grape Stomp." There were jazz bands playing, wine and local foods to sample, and yes - grapes to stomp on!

There is also the "Fall for Harwich" festival going on here in town, a month-long celebration of all things Harwich. Last weekend there was a parade through the middle of town (just a little bigger than our annual OMP 4th of July parade, but not much), a music festival (the first annual, they say) and a craft festival at Brooks Park. The Seaside Clowns performed yesterday.

More events are scheduled - a pdf of the full brochure can be found here: http://www.harwichcc.com/pdf/2010%20Fall%20for%20Harwich,WEBSITE.8.2.10.pdf


The flea markets in Dennis and Wellfleet are still open, and shopping is much more relaxed when you aren't melting from the summer heat. Cape weekends are also filled with Yard Sales, Antique Sales, Craft Shows... you name it.

For Art Lovers, the annual "Fall for the Arts" is coming right up as well - October 1-3 at more than 430 venues across Cape Cod. A full listing of events can be found at www.artsfoundation.org

And don't forget the Annual North American Sea Glass Festival - October 9 &10 - held for the first time ever in Hyannis at the Cape Cod Resort and Conference Center. Celia Pearson's fabulous sea glass photographs are currently on display at the Cape Cod Museum of Art if you can't wait until October (read an article about the exhibit at www.CapeWomenOnline.com.)

Lots to do - Lots to see - Lots of fun to be had on Cape Cod this fall...

Earl was a Dud, Thank Goodness

The skies were grey all day. The seas were a bit choppy on our shores, tossing up lots of seaweed, but not even as bad as a "regular" winter storm. I haven't been on the beach today to assess any erosion... but from what I can see along Strandway, Earl was something of a dud.

One hurricane down, several more potentially on their way this season. This was a good exercise in preparedness, if nothing else.

Now let the Labor Day Weekend begin in earnest. Happy End-of-Summer Weekend!

Earl is on His Way...

They're flying the hurricane flags at Chatham Lighthouse.

Earl is expected to start causing a ruckus around noon today, heaviest between 8pm-2am, and cleared out by 10 am tomorrow. Saturday through Monday are supposed to be beautiful and sunny.

Batten down the hatches now - got your supplies on hand?

Happy Labor Day weekend!

Hurricane Earl - Media Hype or Reality?

It's always hard to tell whether a hurricane poses a real threat to our coastline or if the media just needs something to worry about.

Hurricane Earl's currently projected path leads him right through Cape Cod. Whether or not we get a "hurricane" or just a big rainstorm, there is likely to be a lot of wind and strong surf. Make sure your outdoor furniture and small boats are all secure prior to Friday.

Those boats on the racks down by the dock? Tie 'em down or bring them home to the garage.

Last Week of Summer...

Enjoy the warmth and sunshine of these last August days...
Labor Day is right around the corner!

Sunshine Returns to Cape Cod!

See the Sunshine sparkling on the water?
The clouds are gone. The Sun has returned.
Life is Good.

Cormorants on the Point

While many beaches along the Cape have sandpipers of varying sizes, our Old Mill Point groins have been a popular summer hangout for cormorants for several years now...

This year's group of visitors seems smaller than previous summers, but their numbers may continue to grow as the migratory birds drift down from other summer hot spots further north in Maine and Canada. They'll hang out along our coast until October, when they'll take off en masse for the warmer Atlantic waters along the Carolinas and Georgia.

Until then, we can enjoy watching these funny birds as they dive for fish and sit in the sun to dry their feathers.

Stranded Sea Turtle on Seaway

For anyone that may have missed it, a giant dead leatherback turtle washed upon our Strandway beach last night around 5 p.m. It came in with the tide, and was pushed far enough up to stay overnight and through the day.
Tom Leach, the Harwich Harbormaster, arrived before noon to video the poor giant (which you can view at his new website at www.threeharbors.com) and came back shortly after lunch with ropes on land and a Harbormaster boat in the water to tow the creature back to Saquatucket Harbor. There, the people from IFAW will come to autopsy the body an determine the cause of death.
If anyone heard about the turtle but maybe doubted the veracity of the story, here's a photo with my friend Dan standing next to the turtle. Dan is a pretty tall guy, about 5'10". The turtle was massive.
According to Tom Leach, there are lots of these leatherbacks out in the middle of Nantucket Sound this time of year. He told us that last year they tagged a few and were able to see how far they swim over the course of the year - some going all the way down to South Africa.
Rest in peace, big guy.

More Photos from the OMP Fourth of July Parade

The Doyle family sent in a few photos from the Fourth of July Parade to share with everyone. As they host the annual parade, they have a unique perspective on the festivities... mainly, from inside the truck, looking back at the marchers and participants of all ages...


Events like these make for wonderful memories for children, grandchildren and adults alike. This reminds us all why we choose to summer in a place like Old Mill Point, on an island called Cape Cod.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summers!

Farewell to July

The early morning sun on Seaway Beach has been a treat this month.

July has seen more than its share of blue sky days and warm beach weather, as well as its share of humidity...

As we say farewell to July 2010, here's hoping for another month of fine Cape Cod weather.

Jetty Discussions

There has been some discussion about the Old Mill Point jetty, which is slated for some maintenance work in the coming fall.

When the jetty, or "groin", was rebuilt in the 1990s, there was much controversy over the cost of the repairs and whether it would actually stave off erosion or create more erosion.

The majority of residents voted to move forward with repairs, and as a result, Old Mill Point Associates was granted a perpetual maintenance permit, making the Association solely responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the jetty, in perpetuity.

The original jetty was first proposed and permitted in documents dating from October 1922. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, under the direction of the War Department, determined that the construction of a stone jetty in this location would help to slow and/or prevent coastal erosion.

In the "History and Purposes of Old Mill Point" written in 1963 and distributed in the annual directories, the author claims that William Henry Doble first sought to build the jetty at his own expense. This history has been transcribed on this blog and can be accessed by clicking the link to the right. Some of the "facts" are in dispute, and I'm looking into the discrepencies.

A Department of Public Works document from 1922 describes...

"Further consideration was given during the year to the petiton of J. Arthur Jacobs and others, heard during 1921, for protective work east of Herring River entrance at West Harwich. Inspections and examinations showed a rapid cutting back of the bank at this locality, constituting an increasing menace to property.

"On Nov 8 1922, a contract was made with George T. Randle for furnishing and placing about 3,500 tons of stone riprap and chips in a stone jetty east of the river entrance at West Harwich. The contract price for this work is: for furnishing and placing stone riprap in the jetty and as bank protection, $5.19 per ton. Toward the cost of this work individuals interested made a contribution of $3,000. This work is now in progress."

Regardless of who originally built the jetty, and who originally paid for the work... after the more recent upgrades the jetty is the responsiblity of Old Mill Point Associates.

Agenda for Tonight's Annual Meeting

Old Mill Point Annual Meeting

July 16, 2010 7 p.m.

AGENDA

1. Acceptance of minutes from 2009 Annual Meeting.

2. Financial Report

3. Nomination of Board Members, Clerk and Treasurer to re-fill expiring terms.

4. Beach Report and New Massachusetts Water Sampling Program Regulations

5. Dock Maintenance Report

6. Jetty Maintenance Report

7. Social Events - in need of venue for end-of-season party

8. New Business: Rules Review; Speed Bump Installation

All residents are invited and urged to attend. If you cannot attend and have not yet submitted your proxy vote, please feel free to email it to Carol or Katie as there

will be several spending votes tonight.

See you there.

Annual Meeting This Friday

Everyone should have received their proxies and meeting reminders by now - both by email and through the good ol' U.S. Postal Service. If you can't attend the meeting, please make sure to send in your proxy, or drop it by my house as a few neighbors have already done.

Annual meeting is
THIS FRIDAY NIGHT
at the COMMUNITY CENTER
starting at 7 PM.

Lots to talk about, although the agenda isn't set in stone (or on paper) yet.

Fireworks Over Old Mill Point

4th of July Parade, Part Two

Patriotic Doyle Clan

Patriotic Puppy Dog

The motorcycle leading the way was new this year - - and he promised that next year he'd find himself some flashing lights and even a helmet...

By the time the parade had reached the last downhill portion of the neighborhood, the marchers stopped to sing Happy Birthday to America, and the Star Spangled Banner, before continuing on their journey back to Pine Lane.

Happy Fourth of July!

4th of July Parade, Part One

Old Mill Point has its very own 4th of July parade each year, thanks to the Doyle Family Minutemen (and women!) The neighborhood turns out to both watch and participate...


Eager marchers get their "floats" together, don their red white and blue gear, and head down Pine Lane to line up with the rest of the decorated bikes, scooters, strollers, dogs...

Neighbors have started to bring out the lawn chairs early, making it more and more "official" as the years go by. It isn't as bad as jockeying for chair space at the Chatham parade (where I need to get in my car at 4:30 a.m. to drive over with our parade chairs!) The OMP parade route is a lot more relaxed.
Even the neighborhood dogs get front-row seats to watch the parade march on by.

Check for more parade photos in Part Two!