Sweet ending to the Cape Cod adventure

We're at the end of the Cape Cod posts. We ended our day in Orleans. Lori Lee had the Hot Chocolate Sparrow on her to do list so we decided to check it out. It's a coffee house/dessert place. My sister and I actually think the name is kind of creepy. To me, it conjures up images of the gulf spill pelicans only this time they're sparrows covered in chocolate. But anyway, the place itself was really cute and we didn't see one hot chocolate covered sparrow!



If we had needed a snack, we would have taken a seat and I would have tried the frozen hot chocolate. It was almost dinner time so Lori Lee bought some desserts for her cooler and we asked an employee to recommend a spot for dinner preferably on the water and specializing in seafood. She recommended the Orleans Inn.



A few right and left turns and we were pulling into the Inn's parking lot.



After spying the view, we decided to eat out on the covered deck. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining.



I opted for the clam roll and fries and ice coffee black of course!




Will you look at those fries? Just how I like them. Crispy on the outside
and soft on the inside. Such potatoey goodness!




This idyllic spot was beside the Inn. To the right, picnic tables were set up and we saw a young family enjoying their dinner there.



The hydrangeas were in full bloom and gorgeous!



Next door to the Inn was this windmill.



Lori Lee was fascinated. She loves windmills.



Aw, do we have to go home? None of us wanted to leave but it was getting late and we had a two hour drive ahead of us. Actually we're driving through Boston at this point.



Once I see the Zakim Bridge I know I'm home. A beautiful sight. And believe it or not, I actually knew the man this bridge was named for. His name was Leonard Zakim and he died too young. And that story is for another post.

If you haven't read the whole Cape Cod series, you can check out my other posts by clicking on the side bar.

Marion's Pie Shop of Chatham

After the Lavender Farm, we headed to Chatham. Lori Lee wanted to visit Marion's Pie Shop. She had brought a cooler with her and she wanted to buy some sweet and savory pies to be enjoyed later.



The shop was small and charming inside and out. I opted for a frosted hermit cookie which was delicious.



If it were dinnertime I would have purchased a seafood pie. I love seafood pie and I am sure it doesn't get fresher than on the Cape.



Lori Lee is comtenplating her selections.



We parked next to this house in the lot for Marion's. I spied a german shepherd in the window and it's bark was none to welcoming. Poor baby, maybe it wanted some pie?




Park? We say "pahk" around these parts.




I just had to take a photo of this sign. Obviously, Marion has a sense of humor.

Can you believe one daytrip requires multiple posts? Next stop, Orleans.

Cape Cod Lavender Farm

Last week, I made a daytrip to Cape Cod. I already posted about Sandwich, Massachusetts in a previous post.

I had read about the Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Victoria Magazine and I decided since I was not going to be in Provence any time soon I might take a daytrip to the Cape to see the lavender there. My friend Lori Lee and my sister joined me. Lori Lee had been diligently calling the farm every week so we would know when the lavender was in full bloom.



There was a cute shop on the premises. We bought some lavender products.



If I had a garden, I would have bought a lavender plant.



Here's a view of the inside of the shop.



Aw,the fresh scent of just picked lavender.



Such pretty colors all around us.



There was even a fairy garden on the grounds.



Love the dark blue lavender.




All of the lavender at this farm must be hardy enough to survive the Cape Cod Winters.



We had a wonderful time at the Cape Cod Lavender Farm. Afterwards, we headed out to Chatham and Orleans. Read all about it in my next post!

Breakfast at Wimbledon

I held my annual Wimbledon Breakfast party on Sunday, July 4th. I had hoped the Gentleman's Final would not fall on the fourth of July but it did. So we celebrated the fourth of July with a British theme.



We had assorted crackers and cheese to start. Then some fruit salad served in a bluebird bowl I picked up on the Cape on Wednesday. (see prior post)



I went with a white theme with purple and green accents. Purple and green are the colors of Wimbledon. The teapot napkin rings were a gift.



My sister made panko crusted goat cheese for the event.



Here's the goat cheese atop mesculun greens with red grapes and pecans. We served it with a raspberry cabernet vinaigrette dressing.



My friend Mary made the bacon and onion frittata and I made baked french toast.



Even my teacups had the purple and green theme. I served a loose tea (Harrod's No 42) and Twinings Earl Grey and Harney's strawberry kiwi in tea sachets.



Mary also made scones for the occasion and we had lemon curd and strawberry preserves along with mock devonshire cream from my sister.



I had favors for those in attendance. Little note pads with big ben and a double decker bus on the cover.

We had a great time eating and watching Rafael Nadal win the Championship. The match was shorter than usual this year only three sets. Plenty of time to go for a second round of everything!

Cape Cod Adventure

Wednesday was a picture perfect day. It really was one of the best days weatherwise in the year.

I had planned to have a play date with my friend Lori Lee and when my sister found out about it she wanted in too.

Lori Lee and I wanted to visit the Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Harwich and visit Horsefeather Antiques and the Dunbar Tea Shop in Sandwich. My sister loved the idea.

First we went to Horsefeathers. Lori Lee said we should call first to make sure Jean, the owner, was in the shop when we arrived. So when we were about an hour away, Sheila gave the shop a call. She called the number and said, "Hello, Horsefeathers?". The person said no. Evidently I had written down the wrong number. Luckily, Lori Lee had printed the number from online and Sheila called it and made contact. They were open all day. We laughed every time we thought of Sheila calling a person "Horsefeathers".

After two hours on the road, we arrived in Sandwich and then headed to Horsefeathers. The photo of the birdbath with roses was taken in the garden at Horsefeathers. Jean, the owner, had gorgeous electric blue hydrangeas. My photo of the flower is so embarrassingly bad I can not even post it! But believe me those hydrangeas were electric blue or as Sheila said, neon!



The sun was so bright it washed out most of my photos of the day. This photo does not do the beautiful garden justice.

Lori Lee and I both made purchases at Horsefeathers Antiques. I will post later about my goodies. Of course, it involved some lovely china. Jean had an amazing inventory of fabulous items. I wanted to take photos of the shop but Jean had a bad experience with someone who had taken photos and then came back with friends to shoplift. I respected her wishes and only took the photos outside.

Jean had the shop decorated with lanterns from her personal collection. They were all very old and there was one with a Japanese looking ship printed on it. It was spectacular. I wish it had been for sale. She also had a tablecloth which was embroidered with lanterns. I wanted to take it home but I already committed to the dishes. So I resisted. Now I am kicking myself!



Next stop, the Dunbar Tea Shop in Sandwich Center.I'd been there before but not since they renovated. We sat in a breezy, sun drenched room, a perfect setting for a cuppa.



I had the Earl Grey in a pot all to myself!



We all got the afternoon tea. Yum!



Now take a closeup look of the sandwiches.



And the desserts! Decadent.



Do I spy buttercream frosting?




We waddled out of the tea room and into the gift shop. I am kidding, we actually had leftovers. Lori Lee smartly brought a big cooler packed with ice.

Where was this teapot last week when I joined the Mad Hatter Tea party? It would have been perfect!




Here's the outside of the gift shop. Quintessential Cape Cod!



A copper teapot weathervane.



A dreamy hammock.




Oops, it's private behind there.




Entrance to the tea shop parking lot.




Across the street from the tearoom. A pretty scene.

We also visited Chatham and Orleans on Wednesday. I will post more photos in a few days.

Happy Fourth!