
Lunch time

My View of Life on the Dock



photo: Catherine Ryan
“Solomon Jacobs Landing & Park were named for Captain Solomon Jacobs, who fished in the early 1900s.
A native of Newfoundland, he was known as the “King of the Mackerel Killers” for his ability to land huge catches of mackerel.
Years ago, this area was filled with dozens of sail lofts, warehouses, fish plants and multi-family houses.
Most of those buildings were demolished in the name of “progress” during Urban Renewal projects of the 1960s and 1970s, and replaced with “modern” structures.
The park was created in 1975 as part of that renewal process.
Today, this is one of the best places to watch the ever-changing boat traffic in the harbor.
New Public Landing
In 1999, the City’s Waterways Board established Solomon Jacobs Landing, the first new public landing in decades.
The Landing includes the pier at the end of the Park and new floats and gangways for public access to the water.
Public landings are to provide places where residents and visitors alike can tie up boats for short periods of time while they buy supplies, eat, or otherwise spend time ashore.
This Landing is also the base tor Gloucester’s Harbormaster.
Plans for additional public restrooms, showers and other improvements are under consideration.” see Historical Market Project

Based on the success of the July Mini-Tour, the Cape Ann Artisans look forward to a second one-day event on August 15th. To beat the heat, the hours have been moved earlier. Six of the studios will open at 8AM; Plum Cove Studios will open at 9AM and all will close at 4PM.
The participating artists include David Archibald, Cynthia Curtis, and Erin O’Sullivan & Scott Place (Twin Lights Studios) representing the ceramic arts. They are joined by painter Jillian Demeri, sea glass jeweler Jacqueline Ganim-DeFalco, glass artist Beth Williams, and Pamela Stratton Mosaics. The group has self-selected based on their ability to use outdoor spaces and welcome visitors safely.
Once again, the Artisans will take full advantage of their outdoor spaces to offer “safe” visiting and shopping. The feedback from July was extremely encouraging with all artisans enjoying art sales, new regional visitors, former patrons, and people strolling the neighborhood and responding to the signature pink signage. A Salem visitor shared her experience enthusiastically.
Our visit to the mini-tour of the Cape Ann Artisans could not have been more delightful. Under the restrictions of the Covid protocols, the artists were welcoming, informative and glad to have visitors. Their welcome was gracious and their art was impressive. We did buy ceramic lamp bases from David Archibald, and are thrilled with our purchase. We are very much looking forward to the next tour. And of course, Cape Ann is a work of art in itself.
Visitors can easily group the tour into geographic proximity by visiting the Gloucester artists and Rockport artists in sequence by neighborhood from East Gloucester, to downtown, to Riverdale, Lanesville, and Rockport (or reverse). The full Cape Ann Artisan Tour map can be downloaded at CapeAnnArtisans.com.
Artists are all taking appointment by phone, email, and/or Square for visitors that would like to reserve a specific time. Appointments will be given first priority if the studio is at Covid-compliant capacity. Look for our pink flags to way-find to the open studios!
The Artisans have also confirmed the Fall Tour for Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11. Details for the Fall Tour are forthcoming. All the Cape Ann Artisans welcome appointments throughout the season and hope to hear directly from visitors.


Thatcher and I pulled over quickly to enjoy the sunset at Plum Cove Beach. With no legitimate parking spots available we decided to move along, but I snapped four quick photos first. This surfer walked across the shot as I did so. A happy photobomb ….as I think he kind of completes the picture.

We are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today and it also marks a more momentous occasion; that of GMG Jimmy’s first trip to Gloucester! We first visited Gloucester together in 1985 on our honeymoon and it was Jim’s first taste of Cape Ann’s glory. We have been returning ever since and, as you know, have now retired here to fulfill the dreams of our working life.
I wanted to mark the day in a special way so I stuffed myself into my wedding dress so that 2020 could be memorable in some way (haha). There are still sparks going in our marriage, as you can see here. Happy anniversary Jim!

Here are some pictures taken from our 1st anniversary trip to Gloucester in 1986: street fair, cut bridge with Yankee Freedom and Rockport. I thought you might like a little trip down memory land also.

Join us for a new routine, Deep Dive. This is a routine from Nia NQ that allows the body to move and stretch with calming
I’m hoping to turn this into a Gershwin routine eventually so come experience it in it’s original form and then see how it all changes with different music!
If you are new to Nia with Linda, these streaming classes are free. Share with anyone who you feel needs a little movement and fun in their lives during this period of social isolation.
So here is how it works. It will be easier for you if you download the Zoom client for meetings for a desktop or laptop, or the app for phones and tablets.
Click here for the link to download the client or the app
Then click on this link to bring to my website and the list of streaming classes
At my website…
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The clouds this summer have been beautiful it definitely has been a ten of a summer.

Not so hot, nice walking on the boulevard, and great shady spots for lunch. And two new favorite dahlias.





