Blizzard, take two

Our second winter storm of the year has passed, and we were able to enjoy some lovely mornings out in the snow. The Cape has slightly milder weather than the rest of the surrounding area, and as far as the northeast goes, this winter has been quite tolerable with temperatures are generally five degrees warmer than in Boston.

Ten degrees feels like summer with calm air and sunny skies. We set out one morning to try to retrieve a certain giant horseshoe crab shell that the puppy dug up the previous day during our snow romp. With me on skis, I wasn't able to easily transport it back, but the following day I had two partners in adventure.

 There was one to transport the horseshoe crab molt...

And another who wanted to toss it about...

Along a different trail, there was a new discovery! Another huge molt.

     We ended up taking only the original find back with us, and it is now drying out in front of the window.

There may not be a whole "going on" on the Cape during the winter, but the simpler life is enjoyable for the time being.

cabin fever

The weather lately up here in the Northeast has been alternating between frigid/snowy and moderate/rainy, and the puppy and I have been enjoying our morning runs-- either on cross-country skis or on foot. We are lucky that there are so few people out right now because that means the pup can get her sillies out off-leash. Her favorite activity is reaching the beach, where she darts back and forth across the sand, as fast and as happy as can be. I'm not sure what it is about the beach, but that's where she really gets excited!

After all that energy exertion, back in we go where that tired puppy sleeps for most of the rest of the day. That leaves the rest of the day free for me. There are not as many work hours at the stores now that the holidays are over, so I've been doing a lot of at-home projects and activities. However, a few days ago it hit me that I wanted to go out and do something. (I can state with confidence that there is really not much in the way of open businesses on Cape Cod in the winter, at least if you prefer something other than Starbucks or Wal-Mart.)

So, my friend and I grabbed a discount pass from the library and headed to the New Bedford Whaling Museum where we learned all about the history of whaling in the area. Who knew there was so much trade between New Bedford and places like the Azores, Cape Verde, and the northern Pacific? Of course it makes sense for island and coastal communities to form trade alliances leading to the exchange and movement of people. That always fascinates me, so in the spirit of these cross-cultural exchanges, we ended up eating at a Portuguese cafe for a late lunch. I chose a not-quite-American burger that included linguiça, a fried egg, sliced potatoes and some incredibly spicy chilies, which after one burning bite I promptly removed.

 Lots of scrimshaw...

 I recognized this from my graduate studies as a Loango carved whale tooth

 The largest model ship ever built

 grey day

 I spy... lots of fishing boats

think two-year-old

"Think two-year-old"

That was the advice given to my upon the departure of this puppy's humans, on their way to spend the winter in Florida. Shahna the dog...puppy... is a one-year-old Boxer, left in my care for the next few months, and so has our bonding begun! Luckily, we are both active (a BIG plus, and convenience), though Shahna being the young'n is constantly on the go. I can't keep up. She is still learning, and although a little stubbornness comes through periodically, she is generally very easygoing.

Born in Florida herself last year, Shahna had never seen snow until this winter. We had a standard winter blizzard going on the past 24 hours, which left a beautiful blanket of snow on Cape Cod about a foot deep. Puppy seemed slightly disoriented at first, but quickly realized how NEW everything was! And of course that set her off. We went down her favorite trail to the water, me on my cross-country skis, and Shahna with a friend on foot (read: runner who could keep up with her).

It was gorgeous out by the time we reached the water! The entire morning it had been flurrying, and by the time I scraped and defrosted the car and plowed the drive later in the afternoon, the sun was peeking through. It was about an hour before sunset when we reached the water. It was my first cross country ski of the season, and a beautiful one at that!