| Hopper Real Estate

Apr 18 2014

To Spring or Not to Spring (Clean)

springbanner

To Spring or Not to Spring, that is the question.

The Ides of March have passed, taking along with it the chill of winter’s touch. The sun’s shining, the birds are signing, even the crickets are chirping in the early evenings now. It’s about time that Spring finally came, it seems that it took forever to get here. As we begin to open our homes to the warmer air draw back the heavy curtains to let in the light the dust from the long and brutal winter stir, sparkling in the rays of sunlight. Wait, dust?! Company’s coming to the Cape! Alas it’s time again, the time of the Spring Cleaning. Not sure where to start? Here’s a Spring Check List that you can use to help with that. Click Here to Download.

Happy Spring Cape Cod!

Mar 14 2014

We Wish You a Happy St. Patrick’s

Feb 28 2014

When Robins Roost

Have you noticed them lately? They’re in packs of 20+ and roaming the Cape in flurries of chirping feathers. The ever lovely North American Robin, harbinger of Spring! At the offices of Hopper Real Estate ~ Outer Cape Rentals, the yard has been full of them. Their avid attention spent looking for things to eat as they hop a few times, cock their heads quickly and stare at the ground. What are they looking for? Worms! At first thought one would think of getting a bag of wild bird seed to feed them. However, after looking on the net and reading up on their habits, it seems that these lovely bearers of Spring would enjoy fruit, both fresh and frozen, to eat.

What kinds of fruit? Here’s a quick list of fruits and other things they would love:

Fruits

Worms and Meals

apple slices
raisins
blueberries
raspberries
strawberries
cherries
currants

meal worms*
earth worms*
red worms*

* If you choose any of these a heated dog dish is a good suggestion to make sure that they don’t freeze.

WATER

Robins are very thirsty birds. Small shallow baths or pools with mud to make their nests is perfect. Also, a warm bird is a clean bird.

Warning – Bird Puns: One thing is for sure. With the Robins returning, Spring is still coming! We just have to duck a few more storms that fowl winds blow our way before it can perch on the Cape to nest.

Feb 20 2014

Top 10 Items to Take on Summer Vacation

With the Polar Vortex, snow and cold, why not take a moment to look ahead to something that is worth looking forward to. Your summer vacation on Cape Cod! The warm sun, late night ice cream runs and the sound of the ocean’s crisp waves running up on the soft sandy beaches. Anytime is a good time to start planning. Are you ready? If not here is a list of things that you may want to bring with you.

10. Activities and snacks for the trip. Even if it’s just a quick jaunt from Boston down to the Cape, the traffic can be wide range of paces from a fast run over the bridges to a seemingly endless backup. It pays to plan ahead with some extra drinks, water and snacks to appease your fellow travelers.

9. Reservation directions and instructions. You know what house you are renting for your Cape Cod Summer Rental. You’ve looked them all over and found the Perfect one just right for the summer vacation. Did you remember the directions to the Hopper Real Estate ~ Outer Cape Rental? How about instructions with your Reservation Confirmation? Put those in a safe place, they’re like Printed Gold!

8. Linens and bed things. Most of the homes do not have linens for you to use. You can rent them from a trusted service nearby or you can bring your own. These plans should be set before you start out. If you have any questions on this, please call us! We’ll be happy to answer any of your questions.

7. Sunscreen and insect repellent. Lets nip those two fun spoilers in the bud. Sunscreen is a must have. You love your skin but so does the sun. If you go without the sunscreen, you might not love your skin very much. To top that off, mosquitoes and other bugs love you. As nice a sentiment that is, it’s not normally a returned feeling. Make sure to keep the insect repellent handy for those times.

6. Camera / Video Camera with charger and batteries. Get ready to have a great time! Part of that is saving the memories for looking back at, like times like this when the snow has piled up and the wind is bone chilling cold. How much fun is it to look back at those great photos and videos, just the memory is enough to warm you from the inside out. That’s something we all need right now.

5. Cell Phone and charger. Beaches do not have phones. The Cape Cod Bike Trail does not have a phone. Not all the homes have phones, so make sure to bring your own.

4. Individual Toiletries Kits. What you might need, may not be what another needs. Make it a personal touch and pack a toiletry bag for each person.

3. Cool, comfortable clothing and foot wear. It’s time to relax, save the suits and business clothes for home. It’s time for the “how to keep” cool and “what ever I feel most comfortable” in wear. Flip-flops are not just a fashion statement, they are the “I’m on vacation!” statement. However, please remember that time honored tradition : “No shirt, No Shoes, No Service.”

2. Beach wear, swimsuit and hat. You have your clothes to wear while not on the beach, but do you really need them? It’s Summer! Grab a hat and sunglasses to keep the sun out of your eyes, some beach towels and your swim suit.

1. Sense of Humor. Not all things go as planned. Remember to make the most of your time, breathe, relax, you’re on vacation! You’re at your Cape Cod Home.

Summer Vacation is calling, start planning yours!

Feb 04 2014

Top 5 Eastham Spring Things

5. Warmer weather.

4. No snow.

3. Trees and plants turning green again.

2. Putting the snow shovel away!

1. Summer vacations on the beach are coming!

Jan 18 2014

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight…

The sun’s rays break though the dense air as it dips below the horizon. In it’s wake the brilliant reds splash against the azure of the Cape Cod sky. There are times when you have to stop and just look at the sky’s paintings.

Photos taken by Sarah Sherman, just outside the Hopper Real Estate ~ Outer Cape Rentals office 1/15/2014

Jan 13 2014

Top 5 Places to Visit in Eastham (Ones that you always meant to, but haven’t)

#5. Cove Burying Ground. This is the site of the original Congregational Church in Nauset(later named Eastham). Buried there are several of the Mayflower passengers; Lt. Joesph Rogers, Constance Hopkins and Giles Hopkins. How times have changed!

#4. Sunrise/Sunset at Fort Hill Rural Historical District. Riddled with walking paths that take you through some of the loveliest marshes before taking you to the shore, Fort Hill is a quiet out of the way area that is not to be missed.

#3. The 1869 Schoolhouse Museum. A one room schoolhouse that was in service until 1936 now a museum with “hands on” desk and books of the era to look over the Schoolhouse hosts many facets of the daily town life.

#2. Eastham Windmill. The oldest and last working grismill on Cape Cod, the Eastham Windmill was built Plymouth in 1680. It was moved to Truro. Lovely restored and maintained it’s only open from July – August.

Salt Pond Vistor Center

#1. Salt Pond Visitor Center.

Museum, movies, hiking trails, biking trails, spectacular sights, great parking! The list goes on and on. There is so much to do and see! Make sure that you stop by and visit this great center of information about Cape Cod and it’s natural beauty.

Dec 21 2013

Coast Guard Beach: Then and Now

Coast Guard Beach - When? — An aerial shot of Coast Guard Beach – Circa _____?

Eastham, MA has some of the best beaches in the country. The sand is soft and clean, and the water a stunning azure blue under a brilliant sky. Gulls call to each other overhead while kids laughingly run into and out of the white crested rolling surf. Over time the beaches of Cape Cod, especially on the ocean side, has been eroded by the storms and tide. While going through the archives here at Hopper Real Estate and Outer Cape Rentals, this photo was found. It does not have a date on it, so knowing exactly when it was taken is hard to say. However, it does show the road and parking area that used to be at Coast Guard Beach many years ago. The gallery of photos below are from this past summer. If you happen to know about when the aerial shot of Coast Guard beach was taken, please let us know. As it is, just looking at the piece of history from then and what the beach looks like now shows this ever evolving but very lovely place on Cape Cod.

Dec 17 2013

White Christmas?

White Christmas : noun, often attributive \ˈhwīt, ˈwīt \ˈkris-məs\

(Film) White Christmas is a 1954 American musical film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Vera-Ellen, and Rosemary Clooney.
Prediction for White Christmas: ABC Family has played the movie at least twice so far this Holiday season. The odds for it being played again, or that you have time to put the DVD of the film in to play, 5/10.

(Song) “White Christmas” is a Irving Berlin song reminiscing about an old-fashioned Christmas setting. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the version sung by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single of all time.
Prediction for “White Christmas” : Odds are favorable that anyone that you turn on the radio you will hear this song at least once per hour, 9/10.

(Weather) A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas; either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day depending on local tradition.
Prediction for ‘white Christmas’ : What are the chance for a White Christmas this year? The Farmer Almanac is predicting that “the opening days of winter will be dry and tranquil, with wintry precipitation in time for Christmas. Look for clear, cold weather in the closing days of 2013.”, 8/10.

Whether you wish for a white Christmas, “White Christmas” or the White Christmas, this year you just may get all at once this season.