Hello.  I am a visitor from Atlanta GA.  I understand there is a person in Gloucester who picks up shells, paints them, and puts them back out for us to find and cherish.

By any chance do you know who that is and how I can contact?  I recently found a bag of shells (s)he might be able to use in my sister’s basement.

I can be reached by phone/text at 404-909-2701 or via email at chrisco1000@yahoo.com.

I will be here through 1/10/2023.

Thank you.

What trash. I mean I’ve suffered through some terrible coffee before but not this garbage.

Two sips and dumped out. whole Foods coffee is horrrrible.

🤮

I somehow let my Cape Ann Museum membership lapse so we went down to rectify that situation and took some extra time to check out the new exhibits and re-visit old favorites. It is unfailingly relaxing and enlightening to visit the Cape Ann Museum. If you haven’t been there in a while, take the time to check it out. The Sawyer Free Library offers free museum passes to this and other fine establishments. There are also times of the year when admission is free (Cape Ann residents free admission second Saturday of the month year round for example).

Please note this update from the Cape Ann Museum website: The museum will be closed to the public for renovations Tuesday January 24th 2023 – Sunday February 5th 2023 and will reopen and resume normal hours Tuesday February 7th 2023

Regardless, Jim and I each strongly recommend a visit and support with membership if you are able. Until you get there yourself though, here are some recent images:

Things were about normal for the end of the year.

Project Elm

Making Cape Ann GREEN again, one tree at a time.

Reserve Your Trees Now At This Link

Our 2022 plantings are complete—an additional 75 trees are in the ground all over Cape Ann! Thank you planting volunteers, donors and elm tree stewards! And a tremendous thank you to the Rockport Garden Club for their $2,000, 2022 Community Project Grant!

We are now taking orders for 2023 as we aim for 1000 Elm trees planted in 10 years—only 825 to go! Buy one or two for yourself, gift a tree or trees for someone else, or pay it forward and fund any number of trees to be planted across Cape Ann in 2023.

Thank you!

About the Project

Rockport and Gloucester, Massachusetts, like so many US communities, were once blessed by the presence of glorious, vase-like American Elm trees along most of their streets, lanes and avenues. The 80-100+ foot trees were planted on Cape Ann in the mid-1800s to grace our communities for future generations.  Rockport’s Dock Square had an elm planted by Ebenezer Pool in 1859 alongside the town pump, and the top of Pigeon Hill had two side by side named Loring and Rebecca that could be seen for miles from sea and helped guide local fishermen home from their journeys for over a century.  Just about every street had a dozen or more elms to shade the landscape and create a cathedral-like setting that now lingers only in the memories of older generations. 

Tragically, in the mid-1930s, with the onset of Dutch Elm Disease, every elm tree was endangered, and millions were lost. By 1980, Cape Ann streets were nearly empty of these once towering, verdant icons.

In 2021, Project Elm was launched out of a desire to repopulate Cape Ann’s streets and byways with disease-resistant American Elm cultivars that, when planted street, road and laneside, would not only beautify our landscape but have a positive, local impact to help our world when climate change threatens so much. 

With generous funding from Awesome Rockport and Awesome Gloucester, in just three weeks in 2021, 100 American Elms were planted all over Rockport and Gloucester by a dozen dedicated volunteers in a 100% grass roots effort to make a difference for our residents, visitors, and our earth. 

Join us in this effort by planting an elm streetside on your property, or join the campaign to fund those who do.  Thank you!

Watch This Project Elm Documentary

Beached…

Carl Gustin Photo

Yummm!

We stopped by the Magnolia Cafe on Lexington Ave recently for a little lunch. The menu is varied, counter service is friendly and the setting is cozy. Jim tried an arancini and grilled cheese. I had a burger. We shared a salad. Quick, easy and there are tempting pastry offerings. Open on Mondays too!

Hi Joey,

I was aware that GMG has been around for approximately 15 years, but couldn’t remember the exact date of your initial “offering.”

My husband and I had visited Gloucester every chance we got beginning in 1996 and when we retired in 2005 we just knew we wanted to begin living our golden years here in Gloucester.

Unfortunately in November 2006 we had to move back to NY state and it broke my heart. But I discovered that you had begun GMG and I immediately subscribed. It was a way to feel like we still lived here. I’ve been following you and all your contributors evah since! Luckily we were able to move back here permanently at the end of 2007. What you wrote yesterday about everything that Gloucester and Cape Ann have to offer is what drew me and my husband here. We have never regretted the move.

Over the years your contributors have changed and your focus has broadened; i.e., your use of all the technology tools such as the podcast, “iron plover” etc. That is a good thing. Your contributors have focused on their special interests and that has added to the multi-layers that are Gloucester. It has also shown a spotlight on all the talented people who call this piece of heaven home.

I hope you continue showcasing this wonderful place for many years to come.

Hope you and your families (both GMG one and personal one) have a happy and healthy 2023.

Fondly, Karen (aka churchmouse)