Centerville, Massachusetts (Cape Cod)

Sunday -- Centerville, MA (Cape Cod)

While sleeping, heard STS plug in heater next to my side bed so I’d be warm, how sweet is that?!

9:15 STS asked if (if??) I was getting up; ate slice of pumpkin crème cheese loaf cake and had coffee (Dominatto Coffee, Caffe du Brasil, Extra Strong – so glad we got this from Indian liquor/convenience store; turned out to be good as Starbuck’s French Roast); got ready to go

10:45a Leave for Highfield Hall; an even better day than yesterday, sunny, warm; thots on New England:  Dunkin’ Donuts everywhere, lush green trees, tiny wood houses and no big box retail, YAY! Was immediately comfortable outside with short sleeved shirt, not cold at all, car window all the way down; took lots of photos of charming houses on route

11:30a Arr Highfield Hall, beautiful four story building among woods; friendly welcome from host; fee-free (STS left donation); signed guest book, “Lauren/Tien Sng, San Diego, CA” and viewed 51 artworks by textile artist Sally Mavor; stitchwork is perfection! Some chain stitch embroidery appears machine, every stitch identical, hand-dyed felt, three-dimensional, blanket stitches exactly even, wonderful color sense, felt clothing on dolls had embroidered patterning, incorporates driftwood, seashells, buttons, beads, bark, acorn caps, hand dyed embr flosses; work is so tiny, she MUST use a magnifying glass; husband makes the cherry frames for each piece; $2500 to $6000 each; WELL worth the trip to visit the exhibit; Highfield Hall first stop for nationwide exhibit showing all 51 pieces; other exhibits not complete 51 pieces; another woman visiting exhibit, I asked if she was stitcher (no), bought other Mavor’s childrens’ books for grandchild and sewing kit for daughter, told me about shop Handworks in Woods Hole, gallery/co-op

11:50a History of Highfield Hall exhibit, tour house, large rooms, high ceilings, Beebe was extremely rich family, but not like Vanderbilts’ The Breakers; as we left, host asked if I had indeed come all the way from SD, his daughter lives in SD on 54^th St in restored house

12:30p Lunch at Seafood Sam’s (where locals eat); STS cod and rice (“so Chinese” he said) and slaw; LCS fried oysters, fries, slaw – HEAVENLY and SATISFYING! Was served a large pile of small fried oysters; didn’t have to savor each one like when eating Japanese kaki-fry; got to eat like a pig; really indulgent; ate these oysters until I was satisfied, rather than eat until all gone (all gone anyway, haha)

1:30p Arr Woods Hole; parked next to draw bridge; Handworks gallery right across street; all handmade items, pottery, weaving, jewelry, watercolors, great stuff; Sarah Morse (at cashier) makes jewelry from sea glass; heard her tell a man buying for his wife:  old glass better, new glass doesn’t become matte like old glass; friends comb beaches for her; old church blew down in hurricane and colored glass still washing up on shore; best to comb after storms; nothing after tourist season; chatted with Sarah, son lives in SD, she’s doing show in La Jolla in October; fun to meet yet another artist

So nice, Tien sees artwork he likes, examines for ease and tells me to copy

In another Woods Hole store, “jelly fish” made from circles of clear plastic with colorful beads hanging down; tiny art show in a two car garage: landscape painter, weaver, bead weaver, jewelers; at least I got to see! Solar powered trash compactor – need more of these in SD

2p Arr Falmouth, visit Eight Cousins bookstore (children’s books) and bought Sally Mavor’s new book and three older books; Mavor lives nearby; shopkeeper/store owner on way to Mavor’s house!  Saw a funny new game, candlepin bowling – skinny pins and small ball, but looks like any other bowling alley

3:30p Graigsville Beach; collect shells; so many of one kind right where we laid our towel; lots of bright green seaweed like skinny fingers; beachcomb while STS read book; shells only one type is all there is

5p Stop to buy food for home eating:   fish cake (like croquette), mild crab cake, spicy crab cake, shrimp/crab cake, lobster/crab chowder, bottle of wine; decadent!  Back to cottage…

Sat outside w/wine and book/computer; chatted with host Dee about her going back to Broadway to work (acting/singing)

~6p Heat dinner and eat; read book, journal; YAY not cold tonight!