Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, Old Mill Point!

All is calm and quiet around here ~ a lot of flakes flying through the morning, but even that has calmed down. More snow expected in a few days... but that's not until next year! Until then...

Happy New Year!

Happy December to All...

Hope your December has been filled with family and friends, 

and that the coming year brings good things to all.

Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

An article about the Seaweed Problem in West Harwich

I'd like to share a link with you all, to an article I wrote about the Codium problem facing our beaches. Codium is the green seaweedy stuff that washes up in clumps on our beaches here in OMP. It's really an invasive algae rather than a true seaweed, and it's a growing problem.

I did some research and wrote an article on the problem for CapeWomenOnline.com magazine. You can find the article by clicking this link:

http://www.capewomenonline.com/2013_Issues/Holiday_2013/Holiday_Articles/SeaweedEqual.html

There are no easy answers.

Fall on Cape Cod

Fall has reached us here on Cape Cod. Most of the leaves are history, with bare limbs reaching to the skies. Yesterday those skies were blue, today they were a sodden and soggy grey. Such is fall.

Fall also means the docks have been removed for the winter. All boats were removed from the racks just in time for the float and walkway to come out and be stored until next spring. Thanks to Carol and Jane for their work in alerting boat owners - and thanks to the owners for taking action in a timely manner. All to bed for another year.

There is still Cape foliage of sorts to be seen - the swaying of the dune grasses and the ornamental fronds that poke up from neighbor gardens. We've had several days of very cold weather already, but then we get a sunny one like yesterday... and it seems like summer wasn't all that long ago...

The last roses are on the vines now. When these petals finally fall, I think the vines will decide it's time to sleep through the dark winter months... but even as winter looms, spring never seems too far away here on the Cape.

October Sunrises and Harvest-time Fun

October has had some beautiful sunrises ~ all the better to enjoy since they don't start until after 6 a.m.

There have also been some fun fall festivals - Columbus Day weekend was the Yarmouth Seaside Festival, this coming weekend is the Wellfleet Oyster Festival, Oct. 19 and 20!

There's also a new Harwichport Marketplace/Festival scheduled for this Saturday, October 19 in the field next to White Flowers gift shop on Route 28 - local vendors, shops, crafts, hot cider, face painting... sounds like fun that's close to home.

The following weekend is the Dennisport Halloween Block Party, Saturday October 26 from noon until 4 p.m., including a Howl-o-ween Dog Parade and trick-or-treating for the kids at all the local shops, with live music and sidewalk sales galore.

I'll be at the Dennisport General Store for the block party, signing copies of SON OF A MERMAID, hosting some mermaid crafts and handing out special treats. If you're on the Cape and haven't purchased a copy for that special 9-14 year old in your life... come on down! If you're not on the Cape, you can order your copy on Amazon or Barnes and Noble ~ and if you let me know, I'd be happy to send a signed bookplate to personalize it as a gift.*

*  If you haven't heard about my latest young adult book, it's the tale of a 15-year-old boy who moves to Harwich to live with his grandmother in "Windmill Point"... and finds out his mother is really a mermaid who lives in Nantucket Sound... Read some of the reviews on Amazon, if you want more info. And thanks!

Welcome, October!

October is here! Mother Nature has been slightly confused lately, gracing us with many days that are sunny and 70, even one close to 80 degrees, but the signs of fall are all around.

An email reminder went out this week about removing boats from the racks by the dock. If you plan to visit for the long weekend, be sure to add that to your to-do list!

Wherever you are, hope you are enjoying this wonderful weather!

September Blowing Through...

September breezes are blowing through Old Mill Point, and it's been sweatshirt weather for the last week or so. The roads and beaches are quiet as everyone has headed back to school. Yesterday and today are seeing the temperatures spike back up - maybe in anticipation of the Cranberry Craft and Music Festival in Harwich this weekend?

If you're on Cape, there's a great lineup of musicians scheduled to play at Brooks Park, including The Incredible Casuals who go onstage at 7 p.m. Saturday night.

And if you're not headed down this weekend, don't forget to put it on your calendar for one of these next few weeks, in time to enjoy the fall breezes and peaceful ocean views... and to get the boats off the racks, and put away the lawn furniture, and all those other things we don't want to think about at the end of the season!

Whatever you do and where ever you are this weekend, hope you're having fun.

OMP End-of-Season Beach Party!

This year's End-of-Season party was a fun-filled evening, complete with entertainment from David McCoy's one-man band, dancing on the sand, singing along to "Sweet Caroline" and enjoying s'mores cooked over a fire.

Beach living at its finest.

Big thanks go out to the Party Committee, and especially to Marie-Louise and Nancy for being so organized (and staying to clean up at the end!)

It was great to see so many friends and neighbors gather for one last drink...

 ...and then it's time to pack up the beach chairs, dust the sand off our feet and put shoes back on to head home... already looking forward to next year's beach parties!

OMP Annual Sandcastle Contest!

 The (now) annual Sandcastle contest was held yesterday at Sea Way Beach, and was once again a huge success, drawing kids of all ages to compete for fame and fortune... or at least for prizes!

We may have to rename the contest a Sand Sculpture contest, because there were some wonderful entries that looked nothing like castles! Many thanks to Carol Volpe for taking the photos before the tide started to wash away these works of art...

If you have more photos of the contest that you'd like to share, send them in and we'll get them posted on the blog! What a wonderful way to get the whole neighborhood together and having fun!

OMP Kids Day 2013!

The annual Kids Day party at the Windmill House was once again a big success!

The kids and grandkids of Old Mill Point gathered at the Windmill House on the first Saturday of August to celebrate summer and play all the traditional games. And of course, participate in the oh-so-important Candy Hunt!

 

The kids had fun playing "old-fashioned" games, like egg races and 3-legged races... and it looks like the "big kids" had a blast helping run the fun - I'll bet they remember back when Kids Day was one of the highlights of their summers, too!

 Three-legged racers... on your mark... get set...

...And of course, the ever-popular OMP Visit From The Ice Cream Man!

Many, Many Thanks to Jane for hosting this annual event, and to Fiona, Ralph, Brian and Kate for setting it up, and to the big kids who helped run all the games!

And a special thanks to Carol for sending in the photos for the blog! It looks like a Good Time was had by All!

Hello, August!

Beautiful weather to welcome August...

And don't forget the Annual Kids' Party this Saturday up at the Windmill House! The ice cream man will be making his yearly trek into the neighborhood with free icecream for all!

Finally Rain and a Break in the Heat

Although Cape Cod escaped the severe thunderstorms they had in Rhode Island, it looks like we're in for a rainy day today... although there were breaks in the clouds this morning (in between raindrops.)

At least there's finally a break in the heat wave.

Thanks to all who made it to the annual association meeting on Friday night. A quorum was reached, and although no momentous decisions were discussed or voted on, it's a requirement in our bylaws that we gather all together once a year to discuss what's going on in the neighborhood, how our dues are being spent, and bring any issues up for debate.

It was good to see everyone. The next official neighborhood party is the annual Kids Party, held the first weekend in August. More details soon.

In the meantime, stay cool!

Along the Herring River

 Old Mill Point is situated along the Herring River, a vista we often ignore in favor of Nantucket Sound. But the river offers its own beauty and grace.

The Herring River winds its way through salt marsh swamps north of Route 28, then widens as it approaches the ocean, allowing for boat moorings, docks, swimming, fishing, and quiet beauty, especially in the early morning.

When it finally races out along the jetty to greet the ocean, it's become a wide path, almost an extension of Nantucket Sound separated by a few granite boulders... bearing little resemblance to the quiet waters wending their way through tall sea grass just a few miles upriver.

This week will be sunny, hot and humid. Here's hoping you're somewhere you can enjoy the water and the ocean breezes... like here, on Cape Cod.

And the fog rolls in...

The weather for the next few days doesn't look too promising.... good weather to read, shop, play cards... at least it won't be ninety degrees!

Fourth of July Parade, Old Mill Point style!

It was a beautiful day for a parade.

The annual Fourth of July neighborhood parade kicked off promptly at 6 p.m., starting at Sam and Jenn Massoni's home on Pine Way, led by a decorated white SUV blasting music.

The number of parade marchers seemed markedly increased - much to the delight of spectators! Lots of decorated bikes, trikes and scooters, as well a a few wagons and strollers made their way through The Point - around Strandway, down Riverway and back to the starting point for popsicles and awards - but from where I was standing, every one of these kids was a winner!

 

Happy Fourth of July 2013!