Dress up in vintage kimonos
Meadow, Esme, and Frieda
Emma and Rosie
Atticus and Elijah
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."
Reflections from the Pacific Crest Trail at the Sawyer Free Library
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Pajama Storytime at the Sawyer Free Tonight
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Snowy Owl ~ Ghost of the Arctic
Snowy Owls have captured our imaginations partly because Harry Potter’s faithful companion Hedwig is a Snowy Owl, but also because unlike most owls, Snowy Owls hunt during the day, allowing us to observe their movements and struggle for survival more easily than their nocturnal cousins. Like all owls, the Snowy possesses a superb sense of hearing, binocular vision, and the ability to turn its head 270 degrees. A Snowy Owl’s hearing is so astute, it can capture prey under snow, without ever seeing the intended prey!
The Snowy Owl that was spotted in East Gloucester several days ago displayed this very behavior. Perched on a rock wall with a panoramic view of the surrounding fields, it held its body stone still all the while rotating its head around and around, up and down, and side to side. At one point, its head seemed to rotate in its socket nearly 360 degrees. In the two photos you can see the head turned seemingly backward from its front facing body, the second photo to an even greater degree than the first. By comparison, a human’s neck bones would snap if rotated to that measure and the blood vessels would close down. Owls not only have 14 very flexible neck bones, they have specialized blood vessels. When the circulation is cut off, others open to allow blood to flow.
Snowy Owl Irruption Update
Are Snowy Owls having a second irruption, two years in a row? It’s too early to tell. Just as with last year’s histoic incursion, they are again showing up all over eastern Massachusetts. My brief encounter with the Snowy Owl only left me wanting more!
You can learn much about the Snowy Owl from the tremendous film, The Magic of the Snowy Owl, linked here from a GMG post during last year’s widespread irruption. GMG FOB Mary McCloud shared this article from an Annapolis magazine, published last January, 2014.
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Mini Mini Short Clip: American Robin Nestlings
During this past summer while filming B-roll for the monarch film I shot some wonderful little scenes, the baby robins for example. Oftentimes I just happen upon some stunningly beautiful event unfolding and because too many beauty scenes got away from me in the past, I have gotten really smart about nearly always traveling with camera bag in tow.
The four baby robins were in a nest that had been constructed at slightly higher than waist height, in a tree that was for sale at Wolf Hill. My friends at both Wolf Hill and Goose Cove Gardens are always so kind to point out these exciting happenstances, whether robin nestlings or Black Swallowtail caterpillars and eggs, and they are always tremendously accommodating, never minding when I run back to the car to grab my cameras! I only needed approximately fifteen seconds of robin footage, and here you have it! Thank you so much Kate for steering me to the robins!
In my monarch film there is a sequence about the different types of migrations that happen through our region. American Robins are especially interesting as the species has evolved a multi-fold strategy for surviving winter; in the fall, some robins leave Cape Ann for regions further south, some stay throughout the winter, and some arrive in great flocks in January and February from parts further north; for the Canada to Gloucester winter robins, Cape Ann is like their Bermuda!
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BYOB Fundraiser Buoy Painting for Adults at the Hive ~ Paint and Sip!
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Sunday Afternoon Chocolate Party
Our hot cocoa party quickly became a chocolate party when Nicole Duckworth arrived with a platter of chocolate-dipped-and-delicious strawberries, pineapples, and bananas (and I had as usual doubled the amount of chips in the chocolate chip cookies). I so hope the kids fall asleep tonight!
See Happy Hot Chocolate Snow Days
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Focusing on the Future of the Fishing Industry
Message from City Council President Paul McGeary:
“The City Council and the city’s Fisheries Commission are holding a joint meeting on the current state and future of the fishing industry. The meeting will be held on Friday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. in the Kyrouz Auditorium at City Hall.
Mark Ring, the chair of the Fisheries Commission, and I decided to hold the meeting to provide an opportunity for city, state and federal officials to meet with representatives of the fishing industry–both those who work on the sea and those who work ashore–and the public to assess the current state of the industry and to help identify what steps can be taken to preserve and help prosper this industry that is so important to Gloucester.
The forum will have two focuses:
- Short-term needs of the industry: How do we preserve the infrastructure and help those hurt by recent cutbacks in allowable catch survive the next few years, which are likely to be difficult ones for the industry?
- Long-term future of the industry: What are the options for our fleet and those businesses that depend on it in the long term?
Representatives of government, industry and advocates will be present to share their ideas. It’s a chance for all of us who have busy lives and don’t always have the time to closely follow the events that impact our fishermen and shoreside businesses to hear firsthand from those most affected by the current situation. As well, it’s a forum for people with ideas on how to protect and help grow the fishing industry to air them.
The agenda for the joint meeting can be found here:
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/f5312d0fdb052f7acb9347e08/files/Agenda_for_fisheries_forum.pdf
I hope you will avail yourselves of this opportunity to hear what is happening in this industry that is so much a part of who we are.”
Paul McGeary Photo
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Gallery 19 Artisans Sponsoring Save the Children Fundraiser
Hi Joey.
Gallery 19 Artisans, in Rockport, MA, is sponsoring a Save the Children Fundraising event on Saturday, January 10 from 6pm – 9pm.
Live jazz by the Eric Van Dam Trio, food/drink, silent auction and more….plus free admission!
I sure could use some help getting the word out and I’m told you’re the go to guy…:)
Thanks a million,
Cynthia Belchou
G19
19 Broadway
Rockport, MA 01966
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Cape Ann Museum is Free to All Cape Ann Residents During the Month of January!
Cape Ann Museum Director Rhonda Faloon shares the following message:
Joey,
Happy New Year! I’m hoping you will share this with our Cape Ann
community. We want to be sure folks know that admission is free to all Cape
Ann residents this month and we don’t want anyone to miss the “Portraits of
a Working Waterfront” exhibition which closes on February 1. Please let me
know if you need more info.
All the best, Ronda
MUSEUM FREE FOR ALL CAPE ANN RESIDENTS DURING THE MONTH OF JANUARY
Final chance to see “Portraits of a Working Waterfront”
The Cape Ann Museum is pleased to announce free admission for all Cape Ann
residents during the month of January. This is a wonderful opportunity to
visit (or revisit) the timely exhibition “Portraits of a Working
Waterfront,” which closes on February 1. The exhibition features 71
portraits by photographer Jim Hooper. The large-scale photos – ranging from
single subjects, to groups of two, three, four and more – are of men and
women involved in the shore-side and off-shore groundfish fisheries at the
present time in Gloucester, Mass. Presented in partnership with the
Northeast Seafood Coalition, the photographs offer a look at a wide range of
individuals – your family, friends and neighbors. In conjunction with the
Working Waterfront exhibition, the Museum will be hosting a number of
interesting programs in January:
Gallery Talk – January 10 at 2:00 p.m.
Artist talk with photographer Jim Hooper. Reservations required; call
978-283-0455 x10 or email info@capeannmuseum.org.
Family Fun Day: Fishing Families of Gloucester January 10, 10am to 3pm.
A program offering school-age children a chance to explore the bygone world
of the Gloucester dory fisherman and to welcome the new 10’7″ dory to the
CAM Activity Center. Children will have an opportunity to look at the
portraits in the Working Waterfront exhibition and to create their own
family portraits in the Activity Center.
Writing Workshop – January 17 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
This writing workshop is hosted by the Museum in collaboration with the
Gloucester Writers Center. Led by Amanda Cook, the workshop will use
portraits in the special exhibition as well as objects in the Fisheries and
Maritime Galleries to inspire participants to write their stories and
experiences about the working waterfront. For reservations email
gloucesterwriters@gmail.com.
Panel Discussion – January 24 at 2:00 p.m.
A discussion focusing on the realities and issues surrounding Gloucester’s
working waterfront today. Moderated by Sean Horgan of the Gloucester Daily
Times, with Al Cottone (trawl fisherman), Viking Gustafson (manager,
Gloucester Marine Railways), Bob Koeller (owner, Seatronics), Ann Malloy
(sales and marketing director, Neptune’s Harvest) and Ed Smith (gillnet,
lobster and trawl fisherman).
Sounds of the Working Waterfront
January 31 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Composer Robert Bradshaw debuts his original composition inspired by the
sounds of Cape Ann’s waterfront. Reservations required; please call
978-283-0455 x10 or email info@capeannmuseum.org.
Photos from the exhibition “A Portrait of a Working Waterfront.” Jim Hooper.
Digital inkjet prints, 2013. Collection of the Cape Ann Museum. Gift of the
photographer, 2014.
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Thank You Window from Present Gloucester
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East Gloucester Dog Walkers Come In From the Cold for Hot Cocoa and Cookies
Pilar, Emma, Atticus, and Ben
Selfies and Photos by Emma, Pilar,and Kim
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Breaking News: Backyard Growers Setting Up New Digs on Main Street!
Executive Director Lara Lepionka
Backyard Growers is moving to their new home at the former site of Present Gloucester, 269 Main Street. They could use help moving furniture from storage in Rockport, unpacking, organizing, and setting up.
Volunteers are needed today, tomorrow, and Sunday, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, with volunteer lunch provided.
FoodCorps Service Member Meghan Stratton
Volunteer Andrew Brousseau from Black Earth Compost
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Exciting Immature Snowy Owl Sighting In East Gloucester Today!
Immature Snowy Owl East Gloucester
Budding Ornithologists Meadow, Atticus, Frieda, Esme, and Pilar
Thanks so much to my sweet friends Dawn and Michelle for thinking to call me to come see!
See previous GMG Snowy Owl post: Birds of Cape Ann and the Magic of the Snowy Owl
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Lego Movie at the Sawyer Free Children’s Library Saturday Morning
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Jerry Ackerman’s Photos from New Year’s Day 6th Annual Freshwater Cove Polar Bear Plunge
Jerry Ackerman writes: “Denizens of the Freshwater Cove neighborhood marked the turn of the year with their 6th consecutive Polar Bear Plunge…rescheduled, slightly, when the Cove unexpectedly iced up more than usual, with a few folks still coming out of the water with superficial cuts on their legs. Yet again, Alicia Terenzi pulled it altogether (that’s her calling out the countdown and pausing for a portrait).”
THANKS FROM YOUR NEIGHBORS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HARBOR!
Jerry Ackerman Photos
See More Photos Here Continue reading “Jerry Ackerman’s Photos from New Year’s Day 6th Annual Freshwater Cove Polar Bear Plunge”
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2015 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge
Sarah Grow for the Open Door Food Pantry
With below average temperature and wicked wind, the 2015 Rocky Neck Polar Plunge Open Door Food Pantry Fundraiser was a plunge to remember. Dru, pictured above and below, reports that it wasn’t too bad running towards, or even diving in. The worst was running back to the beach against the bitter biting blast that had picked up during the event, and the fact that he couldn’t feel his feet!
Hats Off and Congratulations to All You Brave Polar-Plunging Souls!
Dru and Anne Malvaux
Emma Duckworth
Michelle and Meadow Getting Ready to Plunge
Emma, Nicole, and Jude
Michelle, Chris, Atticus, and Meadow
Donna and Pete
Emma, Nicole, Ben, Jude, and David Calvo
Nicole and Jude
Karen Ristuben and Catherine and Paul McGeary back at the Cultural Center for hot cocoa and cookies.
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Panetonne French Toast For A New Year’s Day Brunch Treat
Reposted from 2013 ~
Did you know that panettone makes wonderful French toast?
We make French toast with panetonne during the holidays and it is always a much appreciated hit. Give it a try—your family will love you for it!
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Happy New Year’s Eve!
Wishing Everyone Peace and Joy in 2015!
My husband and I are also celebrating our anniversary. Here we are in Bermuda at the Coral Beach Club where we married and had our honeymoon.
Can you believe Tom still has that same leather jacket. It was lent to dozens of school and community plays–think West Side Story!
And that’s Tom’s selfie–he’s the original selfie-maker–or at least I had never seen anyone do that before. It’s not very easy with a film camera. He did it so effortlessly, but then again, he can also draw upside down! 
We’re so very touched by the beautiful anniversary arrangement sent by our daughter Liv and her fiance, Matt O’Rourke.
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Amaryllis Lemon Lime
Amaryllis Lemon Lime
I’ve never met an amaryllis I didn’t love and ‘Lemon Lime’ is no exception. The flowers are slightly smaller than many cultivars, compared to that of ‘Orange Sovereign’ for example, however, the plant often sends up two and three stalks at the same time. The exquisite pale chartreuse complements nearly every color scheme imaginable and is wonderfully fresh and spring-like to help stave away those dreary drab winter-hued blues.
Three lush stalks simultaneously!
See ‘Orange Sovereign’ in a previous GMG post: Orange, Brought To You By Amaryllis
Read More On How to Grow Amaryllis: Continue reading “Amaryllis Lemon Lime”
Good Morning Gloucester 