Rubber Duck’s Christmas Card
Month: December 2013
Coconuts Favorite Italian Dog Cookies
I hope you didn’t think I was leaving out our beloved family dogs this seasons. Coconut AKA our family dog, loves a good cookie! A few years ago I searched for a dog cookies recipe that would please Coconuts Palate. After trying several online recipes, that she turned her nose up to, I decided to create my own, and included some of Coconut’s most favorite foods and flavors, Cheese, Chicken, and Italian seasonings. She absolutely loves them and I have to quickly slip them into her airtight cookie jar to stop her from begging for more….I swear she is human…like us one cookie at a time is never enough! If you have a beloved pet in your home or family I highly recommend this recipe.
Italian Dog Cookies
Ingredients
2 cups flour
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup brewers yeast or natural yeast ( can be purchased at Common Crow in Gloucester)
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon garlic finely minced (****optional, can be omitted from recipe)
1 cup store-bought chicken broth plus 1/4 cup for basting
step-by-step
1 combine oil, chicken broth and garlic in mixing bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment; mix on low speed 30 seconds
2 sift flour into large mixing bowl; add wheat germ brewers yeast, kosher salt, Italian seasoning and freshly grated Parmesan cheese; mix my hand
3 working in small batches add dry ingredients to oil mixture; mix on medium/low speed until dough ball forms
4 cut dough ball in half; roll one half ¼ inch thick on lightly floured work surface
5 using dog bone shaped cookie cutters cut several cookies; transfer cut treats onto parchment lined cookie sheet; repeat with remaining dough
6 bake 10 minutes in preheated 400 degree oven; brush each cookie with chicken broth
7 return cookie sheet to oven; bake 10 additional minutes until golden; cool 1 hour before serving
Stack and wrap 3-4 cookies using decorative ribbon
To make Dog Cookie Ornaments~ make a small opening at one end of cookie before baking ( I use a metal pastry tip)
Coconut and I made a special Boxwood Tree adorned with her favorite Italian Dog Cookies for her Groomer Julie at K-9Cuts.
Coconut Woof’s You all A very Happy Holiday!
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Only a few hours left to get discounted tickets to Cape Ann Solstice
Advanced tickets are $20 General Admission ($15 under 12 or over 65). Pews are still available (online only) $195 side pew seats 10 adults, $225 center pew seats 12 adults.
You can get advanced tickets online here, or the Winter Solstice Farmers Market at the UU Church (10 Church Street) from 9AM – Noon, or at Liquor Locker 287 Main St.
After the Farmers Market closes tomorrow at noon, all tickets are $25 for all ages. We’ll open up the box office at 4pm at the UU Church (cash only please). Doors open at 7pm.
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The best radio Christmas shows you’ll hear this year ~ SUN 12/22 @9AM & 7PM on 104.9
We’ve pointed out before that North Shore 104.9 host Aurelia Nelson frequently features local talent on her show, “Curtain Up” (see examples here). This Sunday 12/22 she pulls out all the stops with her hyper-local Christmas show featuring some of Cape Ann’s top talent performing a Christmas repertoire that rivals what you’d hear on a big city radio show!
You’ll hear Dan King’s wonderful new Christmas song “Handmade With Love (Present)” featuring Charlee Bianchini, “I wish I Could Fly” written by Allen Estes & Fly Amero, new songs by Bryan Alex, John Stevens and Angie Miller (Beverly’s own Idol finalist) and selections by the Beantown Swing Orchestra.
We know you’ll be at Gloucester’s UU Church on Saturday night, where you can see many of these stars LIVE — and we promise the show will be over in plenty of time for you to get a good night’s sleep and get up by 9am for Curtain Up on North Shore 104.9.
Then on Sunday night at 7pm, you can hear a real radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This is a rare experience you simply can’t get any other way. Build a fire, sit together as a family in the living room, tune the radio to 104.9, chill in a comfy chair, close your eyes and lose yourself in this classic story. When’s the last time you heard a radio play?
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Men’s Night 2013
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The Best Christmas Decoration EVER! (Not to Overstate it)
This year I was lucky enough to acquire one of the limited-run wall hangings created in printer Julia Garrison’s studio & shop, The Sarah Elizabeth Shop, in Rockport. The piece hangs near our dinner table and I stare at it during every meal, surprised every time by the beauty and the level of detail in the design.
The wall hanging was printed from a block carved in 1950 by local artist Delores Rapp, who was trained by Virginia Lee Burton, the founding member of the Folly Cove Designers, so it is only fitting that over six decades later, prints are being made from the block using the same Acorn Press that was used by the Folly Cove Design Collective, which Julia uses in printing both archival and her own original designs.
This year, the current owner of the vintage block (Delores Rapp passed away a few years ago) came to Julia and they worked out an arrangement that allows Julia to print a limited run of wall hangings from the block. All the wall hangings are hand-printed and sewn locally, using archival ink on linen, which lasts forever, so your descendents will still be enjoying this pieces many Christmas moons from now.
You can purchase the hanging (and see other options for ink/background colors) directly from Julia online HERE. Or better yet, go see her in her studio/shop this weekend at 5 Whistlestop Mall in Rockport to see the wall hangings — and her other wares — in person.
This piece is bound to be an heirloom in our own family — I am already attached to it more than pretty much any other holiday item I have — and will no doubt be equally as meaningful in the homes of every one else who gets their hands on one. It is beautiful both for the amazing design (when you consider that every detail was hand carved!) and for its connection to our local and current artistic heritage.
I’m sorry my photos don’t do it justice. Check it out at Julia’s online shop or in person to get the full effect of these limited-run pieces.
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Community Photos 12/20/13
I think Rosie is dreaming of what she has on her Christmas list!
Hi Joey,
I took this out the window last night – snow on the evergreens and flakes coming down – magical!
Thanks,
Gail Byrnes
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Community Stuff 12/20/13
Dear Chief Smith, FF’s Dean, Josh, Wellington and Nick,
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!! You all are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so sorry to have missed the toy delivery on Friday but Mary Z kindly stepped in to take photos of the delivery via the ladder truck!! The Landmark students help us out each year and there wasn’t a better crew to assist you then these young people!
As Dean said, all of you see the hardships that many Gloucester families are facing on a daily basis. With your help this year there will be over 530 smiling children opening gifts on Christmas morning all over Cape Ann.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Mary Hardwick
Joey,
The North Shore United Way has a new resource for residents and an event to promote it. We want to invite you to share this great new site, write about it, link to it….. While the Open Houses are currently scheduled for Beverly, the site exists to connect people from across the North Shore and Cape Ann with local opportunities, including many in Gloucester. I am available to provide more information. See attached and a summarized version is below.
More than a quarter of all Americans Volunteer. Whether you want to meet new people, bulk up your resume, or simply give back to your community, volunteering is as rewarding as it is important. Local organizations need your help to mentor youth, stock food pantries, collect books, design websites, and many other kinds of activities. To help more people get involved, the North Shore United Way has launched the North Shore Volunteer Hub, a new website that helps you find and easily connect with local organizations and meaningful volunteer opportunities.
You can find it at nsuw.org or by attending an Open House for this exciting new resource.
Resolved to Care! Open House Series for the North Shore Volunteer Hub
EVERY Friday afternoon in January from 12:00 to 5:00
North Shore United Way office, 248 Cabot Street in Beverly
Short demonstrations of the website will be done on the half hour; guests can meet the people behind the site and get some help connecting with meaningful local opportunities to volunteer.
A Christmas Celebration in Song North Shore Christian Men’s Choir
A Christmas Celebration in Song featuring the North Shore Christian Men’s Choir, a bell choir, trombone, and special guests will take place on Saturday, December 21st at 2:30 p.m. The free concert will take place at First Baptist Church, (Harvey Park)
Four High Street, Rockport, MA. A reception and refreshments will follow the concert. All are welcome and invited to attend.
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pics from tonight
Sent from Xfinity Mobile App
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live from pop gallery: free proctology exams
Gretchen just redefining the Proctology Game here going “All In” in the name of a thorough examination.
See Gretchen at http://saltwatermassage.com/
161 MAIN ST. 2ND FLOORGLOUCESTER, MA
(978)390-7600
Face Down-Ass Up
#Kablammie!
Craig holding onto that beer for dear life.
Needless to say Craig booked monthly exams through 2015
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Live from Sista Felicia’s Kitchen
Were well on our way…
Sent from Xfinity Mobile App
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Community Photos 12/19/13
Polar Bear On Bearskin Neck, photo from Anthony Marks
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Shopping Local ~ Again and Again
Looking for a last minute gift idea? Again and Again, located in East Gloucester Square at 195 East Main Street, has a fantastic selection of bags in every size and shape, including totes, messenger bags, and handbags. My daughter Liv can attest to the fact that Again and Again bags never die. She has used her tote countless times in her travels and whenever I see it in use, hers is stuffed to the gills. Stop in and say hello to Frieda, Beth, and Regina and do some local, and locally-made, Christmas shopping!
Frieda Grotjahn
Beth Chiancola
Regina Loiacano
Previous GMG posts about Again and Again:
Again and Again GMG Messenger Bag Slide Show
Again and Again 2010 Sailbag Auction To Benefit GHS Sailing Pics
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6 Days til Christmas Song ~ “All I Want for Christmas is You”
Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon, and the awesome Roots
Mariah Carey’s 19-year old holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas” (released in 1994) is at the top of Billboard’s chart!
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Christmas Toys at Ristorante La Trattoria and Pizzeria
Bruce Tarr and Sefatia Romeo Theken collect Toys for needy children at Ristorante La Trattoria and Pizzeria in Gloucester. Restaurant owner and staff, and all contributors make many children smile this Christmas.
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Baking Night With The Family
Ready and waiting for the family to arrive for our annual evening of Pinulata and Cucciatta Cookie making for the holiday!
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Beach Shadow
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Cold December morning Magnolia Harbor
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Artist Spotlight Series – Marty Swanson
Spotlight on Marty Swanson
Martha Swanson is an award winning artist who works in watercolor, color pencil, acrylics, oils and mixed media. Before moving to Santa Fe in the late 80’s she enjoyed working in her studio at the Fenway Studios and was Board president of the Cambridge Art Association. She has exhibited in the Boston area and Santa Fe, NM with several one person and small group shows and was chosen for a “New Mexico ‘ 93” a juried exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe. Her work is in many private collections nationwide.
Marty has extensive experience in non-profit management, exhibition installations and has designed many books and publications including Art New England, and the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Now living in Rockport and soaking up inspiration while wandering the woods and beaches of Cape Ann with her canine friend, she works out of her Rockport studio and with the folks at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck where she was recently elected Artistic Director of the Art Colony.
You can see her work at the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival, which we co-coordinated. I have really enjoyed working with and getting to know Marty.
Stop by this weekend for our Solstice Party and Season’s Best Cookie Competition, and check out Marty’s work. It is exceptional, and very reasonably priced.
E.J. Lefavour
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Emmanuel Church Open Christmas Eve
The Episcopal Emmanuel Church in Manchester will be offering two services on Christmas Eve. The Family Service at 4:00PM and the Communion Service at 6:00 PM. This is a small (small!) but beautiful church usually open in summertime and sometimes for special occasions. Services are held in the summer every Sunday from June through September at 10:00 AM. The Church is located on Masconomo Street in Manchester.
Good Morning Gloucester 