The Calm Before The Storm, And The Storm Itself

As was the case with Thanksgiving, life has become busier in our neighborhood since last weekend, as people have filled their vacation homes in anticipation and celebration of a weekend Christmas this coming Sunday. Folks have been walking along the beach, as well as the street. 

This morning, I awoke to the most beautiful sunrise. The sky was a magnificent combination of cotton candy pink, Creamsicle orange, and robin's egg blue. Yet, as is the case with cloud formations, unless the camera is at the ready, by the time one goes to the other room to get it and then returns, the beauty disappears. That is what happened to me. So, in addition to the shark fin and the marionette-esque seagulls, I now have the beautiful sunrise to add to the missed photo collection.

On another note, with the exception of those folks living under rocks, "everybody knows" that the "Bomb Cyclone" is coming. It's supposed to reach Cape Cod tonight, bringing lots of rain, very high winds -- close to 65 mph -- and some coastal flooding through tomorrow. Linemen for the local electric companies have had their vacations canceled so that they will be available to deal with all the power outages that are expected. TSO and I will be sure to have our cell phones powered up, and we're certainly glad that we have a gas oven, as we have lots of Christmas cookies to bake and Jiffy Pop popcorn to pop. Surprisingly, little to no snow is expected inland. How can this be New England? New England = snow. Doesn't it?

As I posted the other day, the sea has been very angry of late. Well, not today. This morning, it was as calm as it's been in a very long time. Indeed, a paddle boarder couldn't resist the pardoxical call of the quiet water.  

The Sea Is Calm, My Friends

Jim captured some evidence suggesting that even Fatty Wampus seemed to be enjoying the morning.

Fatty Wampus Was Here

That is, perhaps, until he either became confused or encountered another bird of some sort....

Ruh Roh

Although the rain and wind comes tonight, it seems that this morning was icy on the main thoroughfare across the Cape: Route 6. There were at least three roll overs, as people encountered black ice on the road. It even made the Boston news reports. After I was sure that the ice had melted, I decided to venture out and enjoy the weather in my own way, by checking out another thrift shop. This time it was the Cape Cancer Thrift Shop, which is right down the road from us on Route 6A in West Barnstable. It's an adorable little place, with good stuff, including furniture, but not clothes. I bought a holiday cookie jar, a picture frame, and a ring holder dish. All proceeds go to Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

Cape Cancer Thrift Shop

We had planned to have most of our grandchildren spend the night here last night, but, as far back as the Sunday before Thanksgiving, they have been passing various upper respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders back and forth to each other. Poor Christina has had no break, although, miraculously, she has remained well through all of the grossness.

One of the things we planned to do with them was to make chocolate-covered pretzel rods with sprinkles. It's very simple. Melt milk chocolate chips in a double boiler.

Dip the pretzel rod into the chocolate and spread the chocolate thin with a spoon.

Roll the pretzel with the melted chocolate into sprinkles. 

Place the rod on wax paper and allow the chocolate to dry. 

Voila!

That's it. We made about 50 of them. Oh, so yummy.

It's about 8 p.m., and, so far, not much is happening....