Author: Kimsmithdesigns

Documentary filmmaker, photographer, landscape designer, author, and illustrator. "Beauty on the Wing: Life Story of the Monarch Butterfly" currently airing on PBS. Current film projects include Piping Plovers, Gloucester's Feast of St. Joseph, and Saint Peter's Fiesta. Visit my websites for more information about film and design projects at kimsmithdesigns.com, monarchbutterflyfilm.com, and pipingploverproject.org. Author/illustrator "Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden."

SAINT JOSEPH PASTA MAKING WITH THE GROPPO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

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The Best Day!

Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo Kim Smith Designs 2016Nina and daughter Enza

From beginning to end, the pasta-making team is well cared for. When you arrive, Nina and friends have fresh bread baking in the oven and large vats of homemade ricotta steaming on the stove top. The friendships, the fun and conversation, and especially enjoyable is observing how greatly the children love to participate. From the oldest grannies to the teens, tweens, toddlers, and everyone in-between, making pasta with friends and family makes for a simply wonderful day!

Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo Kim Smith Designs -6 2016Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo Kim Smith Designs -5 2016DSCF8091Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo 17 Kim Smith Designs 2016Tower of Pasta Power!

Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo -28 Kim Smith Designs 2016Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo -19 Kim Smith Designs 2016Feast of Saint Joseph Gloucester Groppo -20Kim Smith Designs 2016Resident Photo Bomber Leo

If you would like to learn more about Gloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film and the accurate account of how the project evolved, please go to the film’s website and click on the About the Film link and the Director’s Statement link. For periodic updates about the film, you can keep in touch on the blog page of the film’s website or friend me on Facebook.

SEE LOTS MORE PHOTOS HERE

Continue reading “SAINT JOSEPH PASTA MAKING WITH THE GROPPO FAMILY AND FRIENDS” →

UPDATE: GLOUCESTER’S FEAST OF SAINT JOSEPH COMMUNITY FILM PROJECT

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 copy-st-joe-header-final-saturatedGloucester’s Feast of Saint Joseph Community Film Project

Filming continues, with great joy, appreciation, and thanks to all the families for their continued help. Dislocating my elbow this past winter set me back a bit in the editing department, however, every cloud has a silver lining. We have filmed additional scenes and are adding more daily. I recently invested in a second hard drive for the film and now all the footage from the past several years is thankfully backed up and in one safe place.

First and foremost, my deepest gratitude and most heartfelt thanks goes to the Groppo Family and Friends, who for the past several years have included me and my camera in every aspect of their Feast of Saint Joseph Novena and preparations.

Tremendous thanks goes to Maria Cracchiolo and Joe Virgilio for allowing filming of their Saint Joseph bread and pastry making. Thank you to Mayor Romeo Theken for her suggestion to get in touch with both Joe and Maria.

Again, I would like to thank all the families who granted interviews and took the time to share their beautiful stories and traditions. Special thanks to Felicia Ciaramitaro and Mayor Theken for their introductions and help organizing the interviews during the project’s earliest beginnings.

I think an additional thanks is owed Sefatia for her wisdom in organizing the trolley tour of Gloucester’s Family altars, which allowed for a window into this world of deep devotion and community spirit.

If you would like to learn more about the film and how the project evolved, please go to the film’s website and click on the About the Film link and the Director’s Statement link. For periodic updates about the film, you can keep in touch on the blog page of the film’s website or friend me on Facebook.

Mourning Dove Story from Jacqueline Bennet

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Good morning Kim,

I saw your post on Good Morning Gloucester today and thought you might enjoy these shots.
Last spring, late March into April, I was lucky enough to have a pair of mourning doves nest in a shrub about two feet from my front door. Each day I was able to watch on my way out and into the house. i called them my “grandbirds”. Some of my coworkers thought I was a bit crazy. I wondered how this bird could stay so long, but after some research and observation, I saw that that male and female took turns on the nest. Two eggs hatched, but I think only one survived to leave the nest. On the first day I realized the bird was gone I missed it, and wondered how it was then, when I arrived from work that evening, I spotted it in a ground cover next to my house. I was able to follow it’s growth to “teenage” size with its parent. I am hearing the doves again this spring. I can’t help but wonder if they are the same birds I watched last year. It would be wonderful to see such a thing again this year. I don’t know if they ever nest in the same place again.fledgling 2 babies (1) mom and teen agerThanks so much Jackie for sharing this story!

KEN DUCKWORTH’S FABULOUS SAVOURY AND DELICIOUS SPREAD FOR EASTERN POINT LIT HOUSE BOOK CLUB EVENTS

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FullSizeRender (36)Ken’s golden polenta, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside

There are still a few seats available for the next Duckworth’s Eastern Point Lit House Book Club event (Sunday evening, March 20th). Ken, Chris, Jenn, Michelle, and Colleen do a beautiful job welcoming guests, and if you haven’t been, they provide wonderful evenings of, quite possibly, the best book club fare ever, freely flowing wine, and great discussions.

IMG_6480Last month’s discussion was led by Eastern Point Lit House co-founders Jenn Monroe and Chris Anderson.

Don’t be intimidated if you haven’t read the book in time for the event (which is oftentimes the case with me). I’m usually so inspired after the discussion, I find the time.

FullSizeRender (37)So deliciooooooous, that’s all I can say about Ken’s meatloaf and potatoes

Lit House book Club Duckworth's ©Kim Smith 2015An array of salads, vegetable dishes, and soup accompanies every dinner.

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Come, I promise you won’t be disappointed!!

 

 

VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE

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A home full of friends and family at the always welcoming Groppo Saint Joseph Novena. 

Groppo Novena 2016 Gloucester Saint Joseph - Kim Smith

Groppo Novena Saint joseph altar 2016 Gloucester Saint Joseph - Kim SmithThe exquisite and elegant hand embroidery cutwork tablecloth was made especially for Nina’s altar. The flowers each year are organized and arranged by Jane Harper Beddus.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOANIE ON THE PONY CREATOR

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From Cape Ann Museum ~
Happy Birthday to CAM artist Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973)! The incredibly successful sculptor had a specialty in portraying animals, partially due to the influence of her eminent paleontologist father, Alpheus Hyatt. Her most well-known work on Cape Ann is the 3,500 lb bronze statue of Joan of Arc in front of Gloucester’s American Legion Post. The monument sits atop historic stones from France as a memorial to the Gloucester men who fought and died among French allies in World War I. Her model for Joan’s noble steed was a local horse named Frank that once pulled a fire wagon.
12814804_1089749337744461_3195385424672608358_n PHOTO COURTESY CAPE ANN MUSEUM

LOVE BIRDS!

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I’ve been keeping my eye on this pair of Mourning Doves and early this morning I found their nest! They saw me filming and photographing them and flew away. I hope they don’t abandon the nest as it would be wonderful to film the babies (squabs).

Mourning Dove Pair Cape Ann Kim Smith Designs.comThe male approaches the female with bobbing head and puffed chest, inviting her to a nesting site.

Mourning Dove Female Cape Ann Kim Smith Designs.comFemale Mourning Doves build the nest.

Mourning Dove Building nest -2 Cape Ann kim smith designs.comThe male dove carries the nest building material to the female. 

Mourning Dove Female Building nest Cape Ann Kim Smith Designs.comA loose collection of twigs, pine cone needles, and grass, the nest is usually sited in a tree.

DSCF2662I hope I can find the nest again! Keeping my fingers crossed the pair will still be there when the rain lets up.

Mourning Dove Cape Ann Kim Smith Designs.comMourning Dove morning songMourning Dove Female CLOSE UP Cape Ann Kim Smith Designs.com jpg

I love that you can see a nearby tree reflected in the dove’s eye. This is the above photo of the female Mourning Dove, super cropped.

CELEBRATING SAINT JOSEPH NOVENA WITH THE GROPPO FAMILY

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Nina and Frank Groppo Saint Joseph Feast ©Kim Smith 2014 -2This year the Groppo’s are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Saint Joseph honoring Nina’ s mother, Di Gaetano Vincenza. Tomorrow night, Thursday, the nine day novena begins and all are most sincerely welcome at the home of Nina and Frank Groppo.

Groppo Family Feast of Saint Joseph -7 © Kim Smith 2014JPG

Saturday is Saint Joseph pasta-making day at the Groppo’s and it is the most fun, with everyone lending a hand, from the oldest granny to the youngest child.

Gloucester's Feast of Saint Joseph pasta making -2 kim smith designs.com 2016

Gloucester's Feast of Saint Joseph pasta making kim smith designs.com 2016saint-joseph-bread-caffe-sicilia-c2a9-kim-smith-2014- (1)Caffe Sicilia’s Maria Cracchiolo is returning from vacation on Saturday and special orders for her beautiful bread can be placed then. You can see a demonstration of how she expertly shapes the Saint Joseph altar bread here.Flowers feast of saint Joseph altar kim smith designs.com

Jane Harper Beddus Feast of Saint Joseph kim smith designs.com 2016Jane Harper Beddus, the ‘flower lady’ arranging this year’s altar flowers

ANOTHER ROCKIN SPLENDID SUNSET

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Last night’s Cape Ann sunset (these snapshots from Loblolly Cove and Pebble Beach), was yet another splendid beauty treat. How fortunate are we who live here!

Thacher Island North Light sunset www.kim smith designs.comNorth Light, Thacher Island

Cape Ann sunset -2 www.kimsmithdesigns.com

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCvBp0UDyuT/

 

IN THE SHADOW OF LIGHT

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Recently, I was contacted by the writer Claire Alemian as she was hoping to license one of my Brace Cove sunrise photos for the cover of her forthcoming novel. Claire grew up in Gloucester, her Dad worked at Cape Pond Ice, and her story is set in Gloucester.

Here is the cover!

Screen Shot 2016-02-25 at 3.06.49 PM

I’ve never met Claire but she and her husband Bruce are taking me out for lunch this week. I am looking forward to meeting she and Bruce and wish Claire the greatest success with her novel. The following is the synopsis submitted by Claire ~

Claire (Tebo) Alemian, author of the novel “In the Shadow of Light, grew up in Gloucester during the sixties and knows well the many cultures that live there, including the waterfront where her father worked all of his life at the Cape Pond Ice Company. Before leaving at the age of eighteen, Claire worked in the fish factories one summer, an experience that gave her a first-hand view of the tough work and even tougher people that get up every day and make it happen.

Although her novel is a fictional story of survival and the search for truth, most of it occurs on Cape Ann and draws on her familiarity with it’s unique settings, colorful characters and diverse cultures that live side by side.

The story is told in the voice of Ramona Newton as she looks back on her earlier life. By the time she is fifteen, her mother has walked out, her father soon to follow, and she ends up at a place called the Far East, tending bar for Charlie Big and hustling pool in order to survive.

The story captures the turbulence of the 1960s and reveals the clash of generations and class divides, the turmoil created by the Vietnam War and racial injustice, and ultimately, a remarkable journey of finding oneself.

Anticipated release: June 27, 2016. Claire can be contacted at: claire@clairealemian.com

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY ~ CELEBRATING THE NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GLOUCESTER SEAFOOD PROCESSING AND FISHERMEN’S WHARF WITH 99 RESTAURANTS

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Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -11 kimsmithdesigns.comMayor Romeo Theken and Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub President Charlie Noyes signing the declaration.

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -13 kimsmithdesigns.comMoving Gloucester Forward!

Today before an international delegation from the Seafood Expo North America held at the Gloucester House Restaurant luncheon, Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken announced a brand new partnership between Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub, Gloucester Seafood Processing, and Fishermen’s Wharf.  Ninety Nine will source local seafood from Gloucester to all of its 105 New England restaurants.

“The City of Gloucester would like to thank the Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub for this new business opportunity for the Gloucester seafood industry. The relationship between our city and the Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub would not have happened if it were not for the strength of Gloucester seafood and its world-renowned products, ” said Mayor Theken

“The Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub is based here in Massachusetts and as part of our culture, we strive to build local partnerships with communities across the region. We see today’s announcement, and our decisions to contract Gloucester Seafood as a smart way to support our efforts to offer healthy, fresh, local options to our guests,” said President Charlie Noyes. “We are proud to support the local economy and offer Gloucester seafood to our guests given its strong reputation in the marketplace.”Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -9 kimsmithdesigns.com

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester kimsmithdesigns.comGloucester Fishermen’s Wives President Angela San Filippo, Maria and Sal Di Stefano

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -8 kimsmithdesigns.comChamber President Ken Riehl and Community Development’s Carol Thistle

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -12 kimsmithdesigns.comMayor Sefatia thanking Lenny LinquataGloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -3 kimsmithdesigns.com

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -2 kimsmithdesigns.comGloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -4 kimsmithdesigns.comCity Councilors Scott Memhard and Jamie O’Hara

See More Photos Here Continue reading “CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY ~ CELEBRATING THE NEW PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GLOUCESTER SEAFOOD PROCESSING AND FISHERMEN’S WHARF WITH 99 RESTAURANTS” →

GLOUCESTER SEAFOOD IS SO FRESH, IT’S ALIVE! #GLOUCESTERFRESH #SENA16

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqNqPjjyou/

Gloucester House SENA2016 Innovate Gloucester -10 kimsmithdesigns.comJoey Ciaramitaro, Angela San Filippo, Mayor Sefatia, and Mark Ring

WELCOME SWEET HARBINGERS OF SPRING

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WELCOME SWEET HARBINGERS OF SPRING

A sure sign spring is on the way with these three singing their way onto the scene! 

While the trees have yet to leaf out, late winter is a terrific time of year to observe songbirds. Singing their love songs and courting, establishing and defending territories, and nest building endeavors are more easily seen in the leafless trees.

Mourning Dove kismithdesigns.comMourning Dove with air-puffed feathers to keep warm.

American Robin kimsmithdesigns.comAmerican Robin cocking his head while looking for worms.
Red-winged Blackbird Male kimsmithdesigns.comMale Red-winged Blackbird perched on a cattail. Red-winged Blackbirds use the fluff of cattails as nesting material.

https://instagram.com/p/1p4QoDjyg-/

Male Red-winged Blackbird Love Song (turn up your volume)

REMINDER DOWNTON ABBEY SERIES AND SEASON FINALE TONIGHT AND CHECK OUT SARAH KELLY’S VERY FUNNY RECAP OF LAST WEEK’S EPISODE 7

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downton6spoil-mary-wed2Downton Abbey, Season 6, Episode 8: Mary Has it Coming

It’s been a rough week here at my house, with bouts of flu for all five members of the family leading to pneumonia, ear infections and assorted other maladies. All of which adds up to the fact that I’ve been preoccupied and am only able to turn in a short(ish) late recap of the penultimate episode. But if any episode deserves a short and sweet recap, it is this one.

Season 6, Episode 8 was so generally awesome there is not much to say, except that it was almost (almost) like Season 1 all over again. Solid writing, substantive dialogue, more or less believable action, characters that you care about, scenes that make you cry — at least if you’re like me. Yes, indeed. I wept like a fool this week, pretty much from the middle of the episode until it ended. I even clapped a few times. And laughed. So basically, between the laughing, clapping and crying I looked like a lunatic.

So Much Awesomeness

I loved this episode for so many reasons, not the least of which was an appearance by Sgt. Willis, who has been sorely missed around Downton. Surely by now it is high time for someone to testify in the busy courts of Yorkshire, and viewers are not disappointed. Sargent W. conducts his criminal investigation outside this time, at a table placed in the courtyard for unknown purposes. As far as I can tell the table has been placed there for Sargent W.’s serial criminal inquiries, as the Sarge is no longer allowed to come inside the house. This is a good idea, as who knows who he will encounter in there and drag off to court to testify? At the very least he will interrupt Baxter in her sewing (so much sewing!) and that would probably turn out disastrously, with her agreeing to admit to a crime she didn’t commit for somebody else’s sake.

READ MORE HERE

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Local Artist Bobbi Gibb Featured in Art New England

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Cap39-Woman-Runner2Leslie Heffron submits ~

Her passion may be running yet contemporary artist and sculptor Bobbi Gibb has never run from anything in her life. In fact, her existence is a series of running toward, well, everything, as fast as humanly possible. She began running at age four “and never stopped.” Running wild through the woods as a child to explore nature; running to help spark the women’s movement in 1966 by crashing the Boston Marathon disguised as a man and finishing it (“unofficially” winning it three times before women were permitted to race); running toward a career in medicine and neuroscience research; running to paint, sculpt and study the human body and its limitless capabilities; and running toward a law degree to provide for her son. Bobbi Gibb never ceases running forward and that, one can argue, is how Gibb pursues her art. Hers is a life spent in pursuit of itself, its fullest potential. For Gibb, this drive has manifested itself in an extraordinary academic career in law and medicine; in sculpture, paintings and books; and in that brazen, historic 1966 Boston Marathon run which celebrates its 50th anniversary this spring. All elements of Gibb’s existence deliver the same message: Do. Reach. Live.

Read the full article here

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Bobbi Gibb in 1966. Courtesy of Yarrow Kraner.

SEAFOOD EXPO REDFISH SOUP PREPARATIONS PHOTOS #teamgloucester #GloucesterFresh #SENA16

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Last year, 5,000 samples were served from 62 gallons of Fishermen’s Wive’s redfish soup. Unbelievably, this year’s batch of soup looks like an even greater amount. A tremendous effort on behalf of our community has been extended by Angela Sanfilippo, Sal Di Stefano, Cara Ring, Mark Ring, Natalie Ring, Tom Ring, Mariella Cannavo, Margherida Bellicia, Todd Snopkowski from Snap Chef, Misslewood Executive Chef Sean McCarthy, Jason Hakes, Abde Lhamid Yacine, Ethan Piper, Madi Woods, Patrick Finocchiaro, and everyone involved in the food preparations. Three cheers and a thundering shout out to Mayor Sefatia Romeo Thekan for her vision in bringing Gloucester for the second year in a row to the Seafood Expo North America, and a huge thank you to everyone working so hard to make SENA16 a great success.

1. Mark Ring Sal Di Stefano, Tom Ring Seafood North America Expo kimsmithdesigns.com 2016

Mark Ring, Sal Di Stefano, and Tom Ring
2. maria cannaova Seafood North America Expo kimsmithdesigns.com 2016

Mariella Cannova, Misslewood Chef Sean McCarthy, and Ethan Piper3 ANGELA SAN FILIPPO kimsmithdesigns.com

Angela Sanfilippo, President Fishermen’s Wives Association4 Cara Ring Seafood North America Expo kimsmithdesigns.com 2016

Happy Birthday Cara Ring!

SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE Continue reading “SEAFOOD EXPO REDFISH SOUP PREPARATIONS PHOTOS #teamgloucester #GloucesterFresh #SENA16” →

IN WHICH DIRECTION DO YOU STIR THE POT?

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BClJU3_jyuP/

ANGELA SAN FILIPPO kimsmithdesigns.comAngela Sanfilippo, President of the Fishermen’s Wives Association

LIVE FROM SEAFOOD EXPO PREPARATIONS AT ENDICOTT’S MISSLEWOOD! #teamgloucester #GloucesterFresh #SENA16

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Preparations are well underway for tomorrow’s big opening day of the Seafood Expo North America, with fantastic teamwork from Angela Sanfilippo, Sal Di Stefano, Cara Ring, Mark Ring, Natalie Ring, Tom Ring, Mariella Cannavo, Margherida Bellicia, Todd Snopkowski from Snap Chef, Misslewood Executive Chef Sean McCarthy, Jason Hakes, Abde Lhamid Yacine, Ethan Piper, Madi Woods, and Patrick Finocchiaro.

Last year, Gloucester’s booth was quite possibly the most popular in the show as guests enjoyed samples of the fresh homemade Fishermen’s Wives redfish soup prepared and served by Mayor Sefatia, Angela Sanfilippo, and their amazing team. Mark Ring explains the fish is ocean perch, or redfish, which is a deep water species, caught at hundreds of fathoms beneath the sea.

Photos and more info to come.