Kitchen dining area

Here's another area that could use some work. A rug, perhaps? A valance? But it's bright and sunny, and the drop-leaf table gives it some versatility.

Back bedroom

My favorite bedroom is this back bedroom downstairs, probably because it went together so easily with readymade quilts and valances. Also, it gets much more winter sunlight now that the huge Norway maples are gone from the back yard.

Downstairs living area

Two futons on the porch plus a sleep sofa in the sitting room provide extra space for relaxing.

The upstairs living area

The wood-burning stove was wonderful on some of the colder nights. The central heat works fine, to be sure, but when it was just two of us and no need to heat the lower floor, the stove warmed up the living area wonderfully for the evening with just three logs.

We're ready!

Slipcovers are ordered and window treatments will be considered, but as far as I'm concerned, the house is just about ready for prime time! A group will be renting the house the first weekend in November.

I need to perfect this picture. Note how the view appears as a reflection in the framed photos above the sofa.

Bittersweet in the house

Here's how I wanted to use the bittersweet found in the conservation land next door.

The double nor'easter

The second nor'easter lasted all weekend. From the house, I watched the barrier beach at high tide but wasn't able to tell through the rainy windows whether waves were washing over into the inlet. This is the way our walking path looked at high tide yesterday.

Today was the first nice day after the nasty weather, and after a full day of working on the house, David and I took the canoe over to the barrier beach - about a 15-minute paddle - and discovered that there had been washovers, but no apparent damage to the dunes.

Wild and woolly!

The nor'easter started around 3 pm yesterday. Heavy winds last night and today. Boston woke up to snow, and PA had several inches, but just rain here. High tide plus heavy northeast winds means we can easily see and hear the surf.

David heard something bumping around in the night, and in the morning we discovered the grill had been walking around on the deck.

Just returning from an errand today, I saw a coyote trotting out from the empty lot next door and crossing the street as if he owned the place.

Expanded view

The tree to the right was trimmed back right after this photo was taken. The view left has been expanded appreciably.

Tree work

Dave of the Tree Company took down a honey locust in the back yard gingerly because it was rotten all the way up. The two Norway maples came down as well and really changed the feel of the back yard. Sunlight pours into the house now.

About 10 trees in all came down - three in the back, the rest in the front. The view from the deck has improved almost 100%.

I bought this cranberry scoop thirty years ago on the Cape and brought it to Atlanta. My favorite thing to do with it is fill it with hydrangeas. Now it has returned to the Cape where the hydrangeas have been spectacular this year.