Today turned out to be a very rainy, drizzly end of summer day.  I was looking forward to an ‘indoor’ day so that I could start planning our Winter Trip in January to Texas.  It’s always easier to be inside on a day like this rather that one that is sunny and warm.

I wasn’t prepared for an extra bonus though.  Tom took advantage of the dreary weather to do some ‘honey-do’ chores – all to my benefit.  We found the perfect quilt hanger for my seasons quilt – a drapery rod with decorative  ‘leaves’ (what else!) on the ends.  I’ve been waiting for him to hang it – today was the day.

Seasons Wall Hanging

In addition he bought me a task light to go above my design wall some time ago. My studio is in our basement so there’s not much natural light that  I can count on.  I’m always struggling whenever I have to choose fabrics.

Last night I decided to work on one of my UFO’s.  (They do seem to multiply in my storeroom.)

I’ve put the blocks into rows.  Now just have t sew the rows together and add the borders.  I want to make this twin pattern into a full size bed quilt so I’ll have to add extra borders.  I was auditioning fabrics from my stash last nigt to see if I had anything I could use – and was really struggling to find the right match.  Guess that’s all it took  because now I have my task lighting installed.

Design Wall before Task Lighting

What a difference a day makes!

Design Wall with Task Lighting

Well our last full day on the Cape was Tuesday- and didn’t it have to rain!.  As a matter of fact we had quite a thunder and lightning storm during the night.  So we spent a quiet day getting the camper ready for the trip home on Wednesday.

We decided to treat ourselves to one more dinner out at a restaurant in town, Winslow’s Tavern.  We enjoyed dining outside on the terrace  (thankfully the weather cleared up after 4pm).  Our  delicious meal began with appetizers of Gorgonzola stuffed figs for me and Wellfleet oysters for Tom.  We don’t normally have an appetizer, but this just seemed the thing to do to end our vacation.  For our entrees I had baked cod and Tom had lobster.  To end the meal,  we shared an apple tart with vanilla ice cream.

On the way home we stopped by Sturbridge Village and toured the houses in the center of the complex that we hadn’t seen on our first visit the week before.   We saw some more handiwork.

Whole Cloth Quilt

Needlework Sampler

In addition, I was able to finish my  Tumbling Leaves quilt top.  This is  the third in the series of Fat Quarter Quilts that we’re working on as a guild project.  Luckily I’m able to needleturn applique while riding in the car.  It certainly makes the drive  seem to go a lot faster.

Now I’m trying to decide just how to quilt it.

It’s common knowledge that what you are looking for is probably in your own backyard.  We’ve been disappointed on this trip that we hadn’t seen the ‘quaint little villages’ that Cape Cod is noted for.

But today that changed.  The weather was very cloudy and the threat of rain showers persisted all day so we didn’t want to plan any all-day outside activities.  Instead we decided to walk around the town of Wellfleet.  We are camping just outside of town.

The town has an “abundance of quaint rural seaside character and charm.”  Just what we had in mind with the beautiful landscaped homes that line the narrow streets.

Wellfleet Homes

Beautiful Landscape

Another Beautiful View

Many of the houses have been converted into art galleries showing upscale artwork from pottery to original paintings.

The first gallery we came upon was Glenns Gallery.  It houses a unique display of oil paintings along with handmade lace.  I couldn’t believe it – something for both Tom and I in the same place.  We enjoyed talking with the artist, Maria Lopata who shared her appreciation and love of nature with us.

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of her paintings and the original lace she had on display

Art and Lace

Well the song is partially correct.  We have seen many, many and dunes and have plenty of salty air – but ‘..quaint little villages… – I think not.

We spent the past two days traveling scenic route 6A in Cape Cod.  While you can appreciate that at one time the villages of Chatham, Hyannis, Orleans, Provincetown were small fishing villages with narrow streets and  charming homes belonging to sea captains, they have unfortunately fallen into tourist traps.  In many cases the unique homes remain, but they have been commercialized.  Too bad!

Luckily President Kennedy did preserve much of the shoreline as a National Sea Shore.  The vista’s are beautiful.  We’ve spent a lot of our time hiking the trails and walking on the beaches. The salt air is so pure and clean!  What a treasure we have here.

I was able to visit a quilt store in Hyannis, Heartbeat Quilts.  It’s called a ‘quilter’s candy store” – and that certainly fits.  I spent more than an hour just meandering through the rooms and admiring the quilts – and yes – touching the fabrics.   I was lucky to have my friend, Mae, give me a gift certificate to the shop for my birthday.  She was visiting the area earlier the year and knew that we had plans to come here this month.  I think I made good use of the certificate.  I purchased the book Accidental Landscapes by Karen Eckmeier along with some fabric that reminded me of the sea.

What a perfect way to interpret  the landscapes of Cape Cod.  I took some pictures today with that is mind. 

This may very well be my next quilting challenge!

We’re finally here!  Cape Cod that is.  We’ll be celebrating our 45th Anniversary this Saturday and this is a trip long over due.  We were headed to the Cape for our honeymoon, but had to cancel when Tom lost his wallet two days into the trip.  Wanting to make this milestone anniversary special, we decided that we should finally get to the Cape.

Pastoral Scene at Sturbridge Village

On our way to the campground at the Upper Cape, we stopped at Old Sturbridge Village. It’s a recreation of a 1790-1840 New England village.  I was surprised that not only quilts but woven blankets normally covered the beds. We’ll probably stop again on the way back home as we only got to see about half of the 59 buildings.  We crossed the Cape Cod Canal on the Bourne Bridge.

Bourne Bridge

The width of the canal in 616 feet where the bridge crosses over it.  That’s a canal?
Of course I brought along some quilting projects.

Sunflower positioned on Falling Leaves background

The third in the series of fat quarter quilts is supposed to be finished in September.  I pieced the background before we left and am now working on the applique pieces.  The sunflower will be appliqued first.

To end the day we went to the ocean side of the island to get a view the night sky.

Night Sky at Marconi Beach