Crazy sky today/ fog, sun, fog, clouds, fog/ sun tries to sink into the bay…
Here are a few close-ups in my house from the tour this past weekend. The “pumpkin book” is my favorite. Since this was a tour to benefit the library, the talented Rita Pacheco crafted a pumpkin from an old book, and it became a charming and relevant focus upon entering the house. Who would think?! Only Rita.
The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the annual pumpkin day sale at Bourne Farm. Folks got there early to snag the best ones. Here are some pictures and videos from this morning:
If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you’ll know that I volunteer as a docent each December for the West Falmouth Library House Tour, and you’ve seen my photos and descriptions of some of the homes. This year, as most of you already know, my own home is on tour. The time has been changed to this coming Sunday, so visitors will be able to see gardens, and homeowners can avoid what can be bad weather in December. I’m primping and polishing, pruning and pinching, so that the house will be nothing less than stunning. (And asking myself why I agreed to do this!)
Please come by! Tickets are for sale this week at the library, and at various other locations around town – Eight Cousins Bookstore, Woods Hole Market, Uncle Bill’s Country Store, West Falmouth Market, New Wave Printing and Design, and Village Trading Company.
On Sunday, tickets will be on sale at the library, along with the brochure showing the homes and addresses, and describing the unique features of each property. Tour hours are 11:00am – 4:00pm.
This is a significant fundraiser for the library, which was independent until a few years ago when it became part of the Falmouth Public Library system, and CLAMS, the Cape inter-library system. The West Falmouth Library still retains some independence, though, with robust programming, and even a beautiful new addition they raised funds for and built last year. So this is a win-win event – you get to see the homes that are among the loveliest in North and West Falmouth, and the library raises funds to maintain itself as a vibrant community center.
Here’s a preview of some of the homes on the tour:
28 Nemasket Rd
This compound of three buildings was on the market a couple of years ago. I’m interested in seeing how the new owners have updated this lovely property, which abuts the marsh and a gorgeous, sandy private beach just for Nemasket homeowners.
597 West Falmouth Highway #5
Village living on the Cape! This small condo association resembles an English mews, clustered around a circle of shells, and steps from the beloved West Falmouth Market, Library, bike path, cafe, ice cream shop.
145 Old Dock Rd
Charming home, can’t wait to see the views of West Falmouth Harbor, literally in the back yard.
15 Quanon Way
A new, custom-built house, this one has distant views of Buzzards Bay. The lot presented some challenges. I’m curious to see how these homeowners met those.
24 Blue Shutters Lane
And this is my own sweet abode. From the front gardens, which are a destination for butterflies and hummingbirds, to the stunning space inside, this home is a visual feast. Don’t miss my photos, the hidden retreat below the deck, the sprawling grounds, and the garden shed, the epitome of “she-shedness”!
Gather your friends, hop in the car, and come to the West Falmouth Library House Tour Sunday, 11:00am -4:00pm. You’ll have a great day and support one of our most cherished community places at the same time.
I read about this book somewhere, but when I heard about it, I thought it would be only an ok book written by the person who, with her husband, spent 15 years building a replica of an amazing house. I was sure passion would be there, but I didn’t expect that the author would be a talented writer who could recreate a long-ago world with such interest and clarity. Jane Goodrich has done it.
The story behind the story is that Ms. Goodrich saw a photo of this house in a book when she was 12 years old. She came across it again when she was in college, and she and her then-fiance, who became her husband, set out to find it. When they got to Manchester-by-the-Sea, they found out that the house had been demolished in 1929, but the plans were still at the Boston Public Library. That led to a professor of architectural history at Northeastern, who had the blueprints, and gave them to the young couple. So began a 15 year journey.