Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011 - Afternoon on the Beach

October 2011

Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011 - Parnassus Book Seller

So many magical things about this place ... and we didn't even go inside!

Why didn't we go inside? If I went inside, I probably wouldn't come out! If I went in, I'd need endless funds, endless space, and no time limit. This was not that trip.

I'm Auntie Nettie, and I'm a biblioholic.

Parnassus Book Sellers
On the Old Kings Highway
220 Route 6A, Yarmouthport, MA
http://www.parnassusbooks.com/

Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011 - Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory

A good friendship can like a diamond - you are made more special by having a good friend, your value as a person can be enhanced, and if you are lucky, everyday can reveal exciting new facets.

Take my friend Christine: When planning last year's Girls Weekend on Cape Cod she mentioned that she LOVED Cape Cod potato chips and was excited to learn about the possibility of a tour of the factory. Unfortunately, we weren't able to go last year because the plant was closed due to repairs.

There was a scare when looking at the dates for this year's trip. If we hadn't gone up to the Cape a day earlier that the rest of our friends, the plant would have been closed for inventory, and that would have been a shame. Also a shame, that a) this blog is not aroma equipped, because the smells ... Let's just say I was craving fish-n-chips in the parking lot, and b) that no photos are allowed in the factory and gift shop.

Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory:

Car in the lot and well-marked directions

Christine: in raptures that we were actually there, and with all of her loot!

We didn't even make it out of the parking lot before she ripped into every single one of those bags, plus the free samples. I have to say that my favorite were the Sweet & Spicy Jalapeno, but couldn't only eat a few of them because I knew they were going to cause me problems. Christine kept eating away ... much to her unhappiness later that night. When the girls finally arrived, we greeted them with chips and champagne!

I can't believe that the ratio of chip bags to girls was about 1:1. And they say girls are dainty eaters! HA!

Cape Cod Girls Weekend 2011 - Scenes from a Weekend

When you are graced with a double rainbow on your way to a weekend on the Cape, you know you are in for a good time. We also discovered that the end of the rainbow ... is the tollbooths on the Mass Pike. Which explains a lot about Massachusetts.

After an early morning wake-up call by a murder of crows, some swearing and slurs on suburbia, it looked like the day was going to get off on the wrong foot. Luckily, the sun had come out, the scenery was lovely, and a walk on the beach relieved all our stresses.

The weekend was filled with fun and games, way too much food, an impossible number of shoes, and lots of smiles. Here are the girls.

Even though Tucker was "tuckered" out and didn't want to leave, alas into the cars we went-- back down the Cape Cod highway, with farewell banners in place, over the Canal and off the Cape. On the train home, I looked at my baggage; 1 girl. 3 day weekend. 4 bags.

When can I go back?

Recipes from Ollie J -- Banana Nut Bread

I have said how much I loathe bananas, no? Grandma's box did have a banana recipe yet to try, so the I.T. boys will benefit yet again. The things I do to insure love, er.... prompt attention to my e-mail and technical emergencies.

Banana Nut Bread
(ingredients rearranged for ease of recipe assembling)

1 3/4 cup flour shifted
2 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup sugar (white)
1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs beaten
1/4 cup oil (canola)
1/4 cup milk
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (chopped)(I added about another 1/2 cup)

Mix dry ingredients together well and add the wet ingredients and nuts.
Put into a 9x5x3 inch greased loaf pan at 350 degrees for 1 hour.