Day: January 25, 2014

Birds of Cape Ann: Great Egret vs. Great Egret

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Great Egret Gloucester - ©Kim Smith 2013Great Egret (Ardea alba)

On a gorgeous dawn this past season I filmed an epic battle between two, possibly three, Great Egrets at the Good Harbor Beach marsh. The battle lasted nearly ten minutes with the defending egret aggressively flying lower and beneath the intruder, preventing it from landing anywhere on the marsh.

Great Egret Gloucester ©Kim Smith 2013

Great Egrets have interesting breeding behavior in that the male selects the nesting site and builds a platform nest of sticks and twigs in a tree, shrub, or on the ground near a marsh,  prior to selecting a mate. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks, and both male and female vigorously defend the nesting territory. Perhaps that is what I had observed, a male and/or female defending their nesting site.

Great Egret Gloucester Massachusetts ©Kim Smith 2013

The Good Harbor Beach victor first surveyed the marsh from his perch on the adjacent cottage and, after determining his foe was defeated, swooped to the tide pool below to feed peaceably alonsgide the Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron Great Egret Gloucester ©Kim Smith 2013Great Blue Heron and Great Egret

Read More Here: Continue reading “Birds of Cape Ann: Great Egret vs. Great Egret” →

“A huge duck would f*** you up” — Bruce Springsteen

Posted on by Vickie & Peter

On Jan 14 — for the benefit of Joey, Paul M. & RD — Bruce Springsteen settled the matter on Jimmy Fallon.  Here’s what he said in response to a question posted on Twitter:

This was, of course, the same night as the “Gov. Christie Traffic Jam” bit which is at least as funny:

Bruce couldn’t make it to the Rhumbline tonight, but Dan King is filling in for him with special guests Charlee Bianchini & Bill Gleason at 6pm — and that will be an excellent show.  Check out the full weekend live music schedule here.

Jersey Boy’s

Posted on by capeannpainter

Never knew how many songs the “Four Seasons” made famous . Cathy and I went to see the Jersey Boys Tuesday night at the Hampton theater in Worcester. The theater was awesome. great seats,  great sound. We stayed at the same hotel as the crew and hung out with them. If you get a chance to see the show go for it! And a lot of “F” Words. My kind of show. Check them out on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM4fMmMq1S0

jerseyboys

Sista’s Helpful Tips…Learn How To Hand Paint Sugar Cookies

Posted on by Sista Felicia

Print

My friends at Audrey’s Flower Shop asked if I could lend a helping hand by making 100 flower themed sugar cookies for their table at tomorrow’s Bridal Show scheduled to take place at Cruiseport Gloucester.   I didn’t bat an eye at the 100 cookie request but the “flower” theme had me a little worried.  I can bake all day and shape and frost cookies all night but give me a pastry bag and ask me to get fancy with it, and I’m instantly out of my comfort zone.  I turned to YouTube for a crash course in piping frosting using pastry tips and came across a video tutorial that changed my world!  After viewing the Wilton company’s  brush stroke  embroidery technique using royal icing 15 times, I decided to give it a try.  I sketched a design template and began  the process. I was instantly WOW”d! The results were amazing and I quickly learned that their ridiculously forgiving technique  was  perfect for someone like me who lacks the artistic skills needed to produce professional results when using a pastry bag.

IMG_1639

To learn how to hand paint beautiful flowers onto sugar cookies using royal icing. 

…Click link below for Step-by Step  video …You will be amazed at how easy they are to create!

The Flake Yard, Rocky Neck

Posted on by Fredrik Bodin
These fish fillets are drying in the open air on Rocky Neck. They don't rot because they've been salted. People have asked me why the seagulls aren't feasting on this buffet, and I've heard two answers: The fish are too salty for the gulls, and maybe it's the guys standing around with shotguns. I believe the first theory. Please inform us if you know!
These fish fillets are drying in the open air on Rocky Neck. They don’t rot because they’ve been salted. People have asked me why the seagulls aren’t feasting on this buffet, and I’ve heard two answers: The fish are too salty for the gulls, and maybe it’s the guys standing around with shotguns. I believe the first theory. Please inform us if you know!

Community Stuff 1/25/14

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Gloucester Stroke Club, meeting Thursday, February 6th at 2 pm, 

Addison Gilbert Hospital, 298 Washington St., Healy Room (Front Entrance

Room on Left). Please note change in time and location. Dr. Jonathan Inz will be 

speaking on Dealing with Grief. Dr. Inz is a Licensed Psychologist with 25 years of 

clinical experience working in the area of behavioral medicine and medical psychology. 

He had been an instructor in Psychology with Harvard Medical School at the Beth Israel 

Deaconess Medical Center. He is founder and director of the Medical Psychology Center 

in Beverly,Mass. Dr. Inz previously directed the Outpatient Psychiatry of Beverly Hospital. 

There is no fee and pre-registration is not required Everyone is welcome. Refreshments.

For more information about the Gloucester Stroke Club, a Very Welcoming Support Group,

call Virginia McKinnon, LSW  978-283-3968

Submitted by Virginia McKinnon, 2 Stanwood Terrace, Gloucester, MA

COLD WEATHER REQUEST TO RESIDENTS

THE ROCKPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ROCKPORT COUNCIL ON AGING ARE ASKING RESIDENTS TO REGULARLY CHECK IN WITH THEIR ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

THE WINTER MONTHS BRING ADDITIONAL HAZARDS TO SENIOR CITIZENS , WHICH INCLUDE SNOW AND ICE, HYPOTHERMIA, AND POWER OUTAGES.

CONTACT THE ROCKPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT ( 978-546-1212), EMERGENCIES 911, AND THE COUNCIL ON AGING (978-546-2573) FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO THER AGENCIES.

Saturday Forecast ..

Posted on by Peter J Lovasco

Sun / Clouds temps 28-36 degrees .. Watching late day Arctic cold front that will produce snow showers or periods of light snow late day / night . Accumulations will be rather light dusting – inch or two .. Temps dropping into single digits to 13 above at the shore … Winds southerly 20-30mph with higher gusts .. Continued breezy over night Saturday ..

GALE WARNING!!!
Marine Forecast
.SAT…S WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 40 KT. SEAS 4 TO
6 FT. SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
.SAT NIGHT…SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT…BECOMING W 20 TO 25 KT AFTER
MIDNIGHT. GUSTS UP TO 30 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. A CHANCE OF SNOW
SHOWERS. VSBY 1 TO 3 NM.
.SUN…W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 KT. SEAS 2 TO
4 FT.
.SUN NIGHT…SW WINDS 10 TO 15 KT WITH GUSTS UP TO 20 KT. SEAS
2 TO 4 FT. A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS..

20140124-122324.jpg

Extended Forecast through Wednesday Frigid temps teens and low 20’s . Lows single digits below to single above zero .. Snow threat Monday night through Wednesday time frame , but still to early to nail which day … Stay tuned.. Have a Wonderful Weekend stay warm Gloucester ! 🙂