Introducing: @homeCAPECOD
/Welcome to @homeCAPECOD, our occasional newsletter for clients of @designREMODEL and @homeWATCH.
We want to keep in touch and share stories about the places we love on Cape Cod. We'll also share a tip or two to keep your home happy and say “welcome!” to new clients.
New Clients!
Welcome, Ms. Joyce Bourgeois, Dr. Ruth Holland, and Dr. Patricia Hammel. We are delighted to be invited to work our remodeling magic on your homes!
This issue features the first two installments of John's article series about life and adventures on Cape Cod.
Read on to share in the experiences.
Cape Wanderings by John Clark
I am blessed to be able to live, work, and play on Cape Cod. My family and I enjoy Staycations down Cape, and we can often be found wandering around the Cape, enjoying the beaches, walking trails, and other amenities of this beautiful place we call home. In each issue of our newsletter, I will share with you these places that surprise and delight, so you can visit and enjoy them as much as we do.
Sparrow Run
Every once in a while, my wife Tara or I will suggest we do a "Sparrow Run" by jumping in the car and taking a trip down to Orleans to satisfy our craving for chocolate! Why Orleans, of all places, you may ask? That is where you will find the Hot Chocolate Sparrow: a family-run cafe with one of the best selections of freshly made to-die-for chocolate! They also offer a wide selection of coffee and comfortable seating to enjoy your tasty treats. Did I mention that the chocolate is just divine and well worth the drive? If you enjoy riding a bike, you can hop on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and make your destination the Hot Chocolate Sparrow as a reward for riding the trail, as the bike trail runs right next to the Sparrow. Absolute Genius!
Sometimes when we do the Sparrow Run, we will enjoy dinner at the Rock Harbor Grill, which is in our top five places to eat and located just down the street from the Sparrow. Take a Saturday afternoon to enjoy your own Sparrow Run soon!
Coonamesset River Trails
One afternoon late last summer, I took a rarely traveled route down John Parker Rd in East Falmouth on my way to a project when I spotted what looked like a bridge over a marsh. (I find bridges and how they are built fascinating. And with the new Bourne and Sagamore bridges soon to be built in the near future ... But I digress.)
This half-moon bridge is called “The Gateway to the Coonamessett Greenway Heritage Trail”. Quite a mouthful! The bridge is a massive steel and wooden structure that is very cool to look at in its own right.
Walking out over the bridge, you can see across the former cranberry bogs that make up a large part of the Greenway, along with fairly narrow sections of the Coonnamessett River running down the middle of the Greenway. Full of flora and fauna and with over three miles of trails and ten information stations about the history of the Greenway, there is much to see and enjoy.
'Coonamessett' means "long-fishing, white-pine place."
For walking/hiking enthusiasts, the Greenway is a must to visit regardless of where you live on Cape Cod.
I put visiting this bridge on my must-do list, and I returned in the late fall with Tara and our dog Sheba, and it was a treat!
@homeHAPPY Tips
Air Filters
If you have a heating or cooling system that uses forced air to maintain temperature, it's best practice to change your filters at least twice a year to maintain indoor air quality. I purchase air filters online in bulk, ensuring I always have one on hand when needed.
Water Filter
Do you know when you last changed the under-sink water filter? Is there a setting on the control panel of your fridge indicating it's time to replace the water filter?
Stove Vent Filter
If you have a large vent hood with removable metal grills, you can usually pop those in the dishwasher and run them on a heavy cycle. Some stove vents have charcoal filters that should be changed at least once a year. Check your vent manufacturer's instructions on how to care/change your vent filters.