"I'm actually doing a show. from my shed. on the internet...."

Welcome to our shed!  We are so excited to finally have a place to store garden supplies- and isn't it adorable? It's shaped just like a small outhouse, with a tin roof and a crescent moon cut into the door. I got this kit online about a month ago for such a tiny price. Now, this shed isn't really sturdy or very big, or even weatherproof(how am I going to do that?)- but it was very inexpensive and also too cute to pass up.
The large and heavy box arrived via UPS a few weeks ago and we let it lay in the yard, sunning itself, taking in the rain, waiting to be opened and put together. I haven't been feeling tip top, so things have moving slowly here at the Coop- and this was one more slow thing!

Then, this week, our friend Dallas came to our rescue- he came over in the late afternoon and had the shed put together in a half hour- this piece goes here, this screw goes there- and before I knew it, TA-DA- Cape Coop's first shed was assembled and standing in the rear of the side yard, ready to be weatherized and filled with, well, whatever we acquire for the yard from now on! 

 The little shed, open to the possibilities!

Here's A Hug For You & Me!

I am SO happy to share this:  I have received a radiation schedule AND a
prescription for adjunct chemotherapy- today was my first radiation treatment. I am so THRILLED!

I am hopeful that in a month or so I will be improved enough to be a little more active again- and Cape Coop will once again be a topic to share here!

Jackets and Marathons

Hello, how are y'all doing? We're having a bit of a challenging time at the Coop, but I assure you that things will get better soon, and once my energy is back I will be blogging again!
This upcoming Monday we are going on an adventure and I intend to post about it, after all, adventures in this part of the universe are made possible by our lovely Cape Coop- it seems apropos.
Today, however, I am here to nudge you each a bit. And to beg for your assistance.
You're probably wondering about the photo I've chosen today, what could it mean? Well, that is a photo of my dear old 1960's Christian Dior jacket. Ah, my darling double breasted sweet, my luscious whipped butter colored lovely, with the diamante buttons and matching sheath dress(which I had a tailor eventually cut into the tightest and shortest mini skirt EVER). I ADORED this jacket, I had it for 25 years. My wonderful jacket got me through many a society luncheon, birthday dinner and concert- it could make a black Herve Leger bandage dress look lady-who-lunches appropriate- it could liven up a suddenly dull red silk Bill Blass dress, it could feminize a pair of  leather leggings- and it did all of those things! I treasured that jacket, and when we came to a time when we needed funds, and I was selling anything not nailed down, and, OK, yes, even some things that WERE nailed down, well, I JUST couldn't SELL certain of my special clothes, including dear old Dior Jacket. Why, I had kissed XXX XXXXXX of  XXX XXXXXX in it(and I didn't turn Japanese)! So, I brought it with me to the hospital one day and gave it to a girl who worked in my main oncologist's office- a girl who was always lively, upbeat, overtly friendly, in other words, someone who reminded me of ME! That girl is Abby- and lo, 3 years later, we are still in touch, and she is still a light to know.
My dear friend Abby is running in one of those ubiquitous fundraising marathons. Yes, I KNOW, they're EVERYWHERE and almost EVERYDAY- but this one is special. Abby is special, but that's not the reason this marathon is-this marathon is to help fund the research to CURE Crohn's Disease. Crohn's is a horrid, too awful and painful, chronic and(for now) incurable autoimmune disease that affects the digestive tract, making the life of it's patients VERY difficult, all of the time. Now, autoimmune diseases are getting much more attention than ever before, because they are becoming more common- the time to cure ALL diseases of the autoimmune system is NOW! Research into HIV, lymphomas, MS, MD, Lupus and myriad other chronic and deadly diseases, which are connected in various ways to the autoimmune system, are all intertwined- if we cure one we will have more tools to fight, and eventually cure, all of them!
Abby is running in the  Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon on December 5th in Las Vegas and here is her fundraising page! Abby has made a very modest goal of US$4,000 as her target, but I KNOW that this should be easy to surpass. Our finances at Cape Coop are quite limited, but we give every month, and this month we have chosen to give to Abby's cause- a worthy cause and one that will enhance disease research for MANY other diseases as well as it's intended foe. Please, will you go over to Abby's fundraising page and make a donation, as well? I know that we can cure these diseases if we can just spend the money, so that the scientific community can spend the time. Here is a link to Abby's Blog!
She is fun, witty and a real gift to the world- I know that you'll adore her.

Under the Rainbow Umbrella

Cawman's Mall Antiques & Things Folks, if you click on the link right before this sentence, you will be taken to the Google map of this Antique Mall's address- and if you go there today, you will be able to meet up with La Principessa and me!
She has packed up the car and we plan to spend our day outside at a table, under our rainbow umbrella, having a garage sale without a garage!
We're taking just a few things- this is our first foray into the world of NJ flea marketing as vendors, you know.
We're selling old cookbooks, lovely knitting pattern books from the 30's through the '70's, 78 records, vintage paintings and needlework pieces, deco glass ware and vintage china,and a box full of old Modern Library books...a set of silver plate flatware in it's original chest, baseball cards in lots and whatever else I can grab on my way out the door in the AM.
We hear that this is a big day, the mall itself is large and houses over 75 vendors, and the outside lot was overbooked- our neighbors Scott and Dallas from Broadway Joe's had to rent space outside of the outside lot! Well, dear friends, near and far, that is the news today- I'll take my camera and ask La Principessa to snap some photos for you... reporting from Cape Coop, this is Madame Big Hen! ;)

Nice

Broadway Joe's Cafe
I'd upload some more photos but our internet connection is in dismal condition right now(Send comments to Comcast!), but, trust me here, Broadway Joe's is a sweet oasis in our town. The cafe is located right in the middle of Broadway(our "Main Street")- a half block from the post office, City Hall AND the library, and across from some really wonderful shops. Broadway Joe's is just lovely, and unique enough to be worth a weekday veer from the beaten path, if you're somewhere near- to have a visit, have some refreshment, a snack or a meal.
This little place is an eclectic mix of cafe, lunch place, coffeehouse, vintage shop and gallery- you can choose to sit on a sofa, to sip tea and play a game of backgammon with someone, you could choose to sit at a table in the rear and have a meal,  to curl up in a big chair with a book and a glass of iced coffee or you could meet with a client at one of the lovely tables in the front- to discuss business in a quiet yet friendly atmosphere. You can even  do some shopping, they've got furniture, art, books, candles and soaps, even the glass work of a local artist Deb DiMarco- and she IS talented: Deb DiMarco on June16th! Or you can just breeze in and walk to the back of the building and visit with Titan, the world's most tender hearted and well behaved dog- he isn't allowed to roam the cafe, and he doesn't- just patiently lays on the carpet out back, waiting for hugs and pats from his friends. I believe he is a magical blond retriever, but don't hold me to it, I am not much good with breeds, I only know GOOD, and he is.
On some nights Broadway Joe's will remain open and offer karaoke, a live show or  a poetry reading, who knows what will be offered- it's always a surprise.
The only "Joe" there is the java kind- lovely mixes of different coffees- always a decaf available too- and so many teas! Scott and Dallas will feed you, too- they cook whatever looks good at the market every day, so the menu changes often, but there is always a cheese and tomato panini on offer- and oh,no, it is nothing as you would imagine- for instance today's was offered on Scott's freshly baked Jalapeno Cheddar bread, just spicy enough, crispy AND toothsome enough, tomato-y enough to satisfy. The boys make some wonderful baked things every morning, as well- very home style- I'm partial to the scones, always with different fruits thrown in, and perhaps that is the quirk that I love best- the natural exuberance and the joy of just throwing something in because it appeals for the moment- I love that Scott and Dallas embrace that eclectic view .
But, what I love best is that Scott, Dallas and Titan are those rare folks who embrace everyone, they are just true NICE in a world that often isn't- and I KNOW true nice when I meet it.
They have been borrowing my lovely Principessa a bit as of late- ostensibly they need her internet savvy, but really, they are being themselves, just nice, sharing the nice with other nice folk in this tumultuous world.
So, we want to plant in our yard(lovely blueberry plants, rosemary and blackberry, too!) and share it with you, but these things come in their own time at the Coop, and now is the time for nice daily walks together to Broadway Joe's, and that is just right for now.