My View of Life on the Dock
Announcing the First Storewide Holiday Sale at our New Gloucester Location!
161 Main Street and everything is on sale, even the brand new pieces! And there are some extraordinary pieces!!!
Dates:
Saturday November 12th – Sunday, November 27th (closed 11/24)
Hours:
Tuesdays – Thursdays: 10:30am – 5:30pm
Fridays and Saturdays: 10:30am – 6:30pm
Sundays: 11:00am – 5:00pm
CLOSED Mondays but appointments are also available.
Those were my initial thoughts upon catching a glimpse of a large black-feathered and white-breasted mystery creature from across the pond. I entered the narrow opening through the shrubby growth that surrounds Niles Pond and inched my way closer to the sleeping bird, when up popped its head. Naturally not a penguin, it looked like some sort of cormorant, just not the ones we see on a daily basis on the shores of Cape Ann.
I later learned it was a Great Cormorant. As you can see from the photo below, in the early morning light and from a distance, its not hard to imagine a penguin.
I wrote the title of the post thinking that possibly we could all use a beautiful creature to learn a bit about and a touch of humor, too. It has been a very difficult and divisive election and a very tough day for slightly more than half of the American electorate. Let’s keep our chins up, and realize going forward that it is preferable to build bridges together than to construct walls that divide.
Back to Great Cormorants. With its white-feathered breast, this one is a juvenile. Great Cormorants, although widespread in much of the Old World, are generally only found in North America along the Atlantic Coast. Great Cormorants are described as heavy-bodied seabirds and larger than the usually seen Double-crested Cormorant. I watched him depart, his take-off was heavy and clumsy, but perhaps that was because he had awoken only moments earlier.
Compare the Double-crested Cormorant (above photo). Massing in great numbers as they fly along the Annisquam and Essex Rivers at this time of year, the Double-crested Cormorants are ubiquitous. They are a true North American species and breed, winter over, and migrate along the shores of Cape Ann. 
Great Cormorant — notice the white throat pouch of the Great Cormorant, versus the orange pouch of the Double-crested Cormorant.
Range Map Great Cormorant in North America
Range Map Double-crested Cormorant
What do you see?
The first photo is cropped and rotated from the second photo
Reflections at Beaver Pond
Contrast in blue – photo one was taken Saturday morning, the second photo on Sunday morning.
Brace Cove Gloucester
Love this beautiful photo by Stevens Brosnihan. Stevens is also making walnut ink, from local walnut trees!
The light oftentimes glows warm golden pink over the Harbor late in the day, at sunset. On my way to photograph Niles Pond Saturday morning, it was surprisingly beautiful to see overhanging the Harbor wispy vertical pink clouds.
I love the time change with the sun rising an hour earlier because I can get out and film before the work day begins. Lately we have been treated to extra amazingly gorgeous and sumptuous sunrises and sunsets!
Same morning, the view looking towards Smith’s Cove
Wonderful post by Gordon Harris about the grand hotels of Gloucester and Cape Ann cica 1905. He has posted pages from an early 20th century guidebook, The Summer Hotel Guide, which illustrates and describes the grandest hotels of the day. Of the hotels Gordon has featured in his post, it appears the only hotel still standing is the Brynmere in Annisquam. Read his post here on Stories from Ipswich and the North Shore.
Does anyone know the name and/or have recollections of the hotel that was on Witham Street, adjacent to the Good Harbor Beach Inn?
During Sunday’s podcast we talked about Harold Burnham’s book The Shipwright and the Schooner and mentioned the book signing at Strawberry Banke on November 12th. On Thursday evening, November 17th, Harold will be giving a talk and book signing at Maritime Gloucester (with spirits tasting provided by Ryan & Wood).
From the publisher:
Building a Windjammer in the New England Tradition
By DAN TOBYNE – HAROLD BURNHAM
Beginning in 2010, Essex, Massachusetts shipbuilder Harold Burnham took on the challenge of constructing a wooden sailing vessel using traditional techniques. He cut the trees himself from his woodlot, and milled them himself at his boatyard. Using volunteer labor from hundreds of friends, acquaintances, and community members, and recycled and repurposed materials he constructed, in just under a year, the schooner Ardelle at a cost of less than $20,000.
The Shipwriight and the Schooner is an exploration into traditional New England shipbuilding, and it is a journey of discovery for both the author, who has spent his life building wooden boats, and the photographer, who had his first experiences in the boatyard. The book chronicles in words and stunning color photographs the construction, launch, and subsequent season of sailing aboard the Ardelle. The vessel is a testament to community involvement and a badge of honor in the age of mass production. It is a reminder of simpler times, when things were meticulously crafted by hand, and of a lifeway that has mostly vanished.
The Shipwright and the Schooner is published by Rowman and Littlefield and is available to purchase at Maritme Gloucester.
Basking Harbor Seals dotting the rocks all around Brace Cove during sunrises this past week. The funny thing is watching them battle for top dog spot. When standing on the Niles Pond/Brace Cove causeway you are close enough to hear their quite audible grunting and snorting. Click photos to enlarge to get a closer look.
The water is crystal clear at Beaver Pond. Can you guess which photo is right side up?
No. 1
No. 2
Kathleen’s sister Lisa Valentine Bretz writes, “It has been brought to our family’s attention that many of Kathleen’s friends have been asking where they could make memorial contributions in her name. We would like to suggest the North Shore Art Association, 11 Pirates Lane, Gloucester, MA 01930 or The Saint Marys Public Library, 127 Center Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.
Thank you all for the outpouring of love and support.”
Mary Kathleen Valentine (Kathy), 67, of Gloucester, Massachusetts, formerly of Houston, Texas and St. Marys, died unexpectedly of natural causes on Oct. 29, 2016 in her home.
Kathleen was born July 17, 1949 in St. Marys. She graduated from Elk County Christian High School and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Arts from Penn State University. After college, Kathleen worked as a graphic artist and typographer in ad agencies, energy companies and high tech companies from Houston, Texas to Camden, Maine, finally settling down in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1995. In 2003, she started her own design business, creating websites, advertising and promotional material for clients. She also began to write and when the digital book revolution arrived she was ready. She was the award-winning author of novels, novellas, and short story collections, as well as books of knitting patterns and a cookbook/memoir about growing up Pennsylvania Dutch. Kathleen has been listed as an “Amazon Top Selling Author” in horror, mystery/suspense, cooking and knitting.
In her own words, “”from the Allegheny Mountains where she grew up, to the Gloucester seaport where she wrote, Kathleen loved nothing more than listening to the stories that people tell while sitting on front porches, gathered around kitchen tables, or swapped in coffee shops and taverns. Her collection of legends, folklore and tall tales are woven into her fiction. As a writer her primary interest was delving into the psychology of her characters. Her stories are sometimes mysterious, sometimes funny, usually romantic and frequently frightening. Her characters range from lost children and grumpy old folks, to mysterious men and women who are not to be trifled with. She achieved her success as a writer in Gloucester, Massachusetts, America’s oldest seaport.””
Kathleen is survived by Wayne Valentine of St. Marys, Anne Valentine (Andrew) Neubert of St. Marys, Lisa Valentine Bretz of Coudersport, Christine Valentine (Will) Denayer of Coudersport, Matthew (Linda) Valentine of Pittsburgh, Beth Valentine (Casimir) Pellegrini of Pittsburgh and Donna Valentine; as well as 17 nieces and nephews; and seven great-nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, John Joseph and Mary Ann (Werner) Valentine, and brother, John Keith Valentine.
Published in The Daily Press on Nov. 4, 2016
Here is the link to the feature length film: Before the Flood. It is my understanding that after this weekend, the film will not be available to view for free. How will we use our vote to tell our leaders what we know about climate change?
Official Trailer
Present Gloucester is working like mad to pull their holiday pop-up shop together for the grand opening on Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. This is simply one of the best holiday shopping experiences around, with gorgeous, and all handmade items by some of our most talented local Cape Ann artisans. Alexandra’s Bread, Backyard Growers, and Present make a wonderful trifecta of three in a row fun shopping. Don’t miss this!
Thank you Sharon Lowe for sharing your photos.
Join us for the opening of Backyard Growers’ Holiday Pop-Up Shop! ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT BACKYARD GROWERS’ SCHOOL, COMMUNITY, AND BACKYARD GARDEN PROGRAMS.
We’ve filled our office with garden-themed goodies including funky veggie socks, brand new garden books, children’s gardening tools, hipster veggie tattoos, and more! Come shop our new and vintage fashions, Backyard Growers swag including new embroidered aprons, gardening tools, cooking supplies, High Mowing seeds and sprouts, Neptune’s Harvest, and more!
Following our opening day on November 6, we will be open every Monday-Friday 9 – 5 from November 7 – December 21.
Also, shop late from 5-10 PM on Ladies Night Dec 1, Employee Night on Dec 8, and Men’s Night on Dec 15! We are located at 271 Main Street across the street from Animal Krackers.
Present Gloucester and Alexandra’s Bread will be open also be open on Sunday from 2 to 6pm. Plan to shop at all three, you won’t be disappointed!
Hairy Woodpecker
Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat resonating through the trees tops. The little wild wood encircling Beaver Pond was alive with a veritable rhythm band. I must have arrived on the ideal day, for there were seemingly dozens of woodpecker excavations taking place. Not one, not two, but three different species of woodpeckers were drumming the forest canopy!
It is no mystery as to why the pond shore is a sanctuary for woodpeckers, surrounded as it is with trees in a wonder of varying stages of decay. Woodpeckers excavate dead and dying trees and limbs not only to create nest cavities and to forage for insect prey, but to also enlarge cavities used for winter shelter. During the fall, a woodpecker will spend about a week excavating winter roosting holes.
Winter roosts created by woodpeckers may later provide shelter or nest sites for many other species of animals including owls, flying squirrels, bluebirds, nuthatches, and chickadees.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Woodpeckers mostly eat insects, in all stages, from egg to larvae to pupae to adult. During the winter their diet is comprised of seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries. The woodpecker’s tongue is quite extraordinary, being long and extendable, and also coated with bristly hairs. Woodpeckers use their tongues to spear and extract wood-boring insects, as a sticky trap for catching ants, and as a brush for licking up sap.
Downy Woodpecker
Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers look similar. Hairy Woodpeckers are about the size of an American Robin. Downies are smaller and their bills are more delicate in appearance. The outer edge of their tail feathers are white, barred with black, lending a spotted appearance. The outer edge of the tail feathers of Hairy Woodpeckers is pure white (see top photo above to compare).
I’ve returned to Beaver Pond several time since the day the bonanza of woodpeckers was photographed but haven’t been treated to the rhythm band since. A few woodpeckers have been sighted, their calls noted, and only an occasional distant drumming heard. Perhaps they are tending other tasks in preparation for winter, collecting and caching food in their newly excavated holes.
There are a few moments after sunset when the light is still bright enough to photograph and to film. The Beaver Family makes their appearance just about then but none have ventured to the side of the pond where I am stationed since that one evening when a solitary beaver swam within arm’s reach. But I am patient!
As my Rosie and I were leaving Good Harbor Beach the other day we turned to see our friends the Sappia’s taking a selfie–even their sweet pup seems to be striking a pose 🙂
Good Morning Gloucester 