My View of Life on the Dock
It’s hard to believe Christmas is only twelve days away. One of my favorite lines in the Tom Petty song “It’s Christmas All over Again” is “I hope Mama gets her shopping done.” Me, too, I hope I get all my shopping, and cooking, and making done, and I hope you do, too!
Taking requests for our Christmas Carol Countdown. Leave your suggestion in the comments or email me at kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.com. Thank you!
Super Christmas gift idea for your Tom Petty fan or guitar playing honey–
Lobster Trap Tree lighting photo from Chris Spittle. Thanks to Chris for sharing!
Send your Lobster Trap Tree photos to kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.com and we will post them on The Lobster Trap Tree Facebook page and here on GMG. Thank you!
Ainsley Smith writes,
What happens when the Plastic Bag Ordinance goes into effect?
Starting January 1st, 2019 retail stores will no longer distribute single use plastic bags at checkout. Thin plastic bags will still be available in the produce, deli, meat/seafood, and bulk sections of grocery stores.
What will retailers use?
Stores may provide you with any of the following:
▪ Compostable bags made of organic materials
▪ Paper bags
▪ Cardboard boxes
▪ Stores may sell reusable bags made from cloth, canvas, or thick plastic materials for a fee
What can you bring to a retailer in order to accommodate your shopping needs?
You can bring your own reusable bags or boxes, or you can bring your own plastic bags that you’ve saved from other shopping trips. You can also use the paper bags or boxes provided at the store.
How do you manage pet waste or personal items?
You can use produce bags, newspaper bags, or any bags you saved from your recent purchases. If you don’t need these bags, you can share with a neighbor who may want to use them. You can also purchase pet waste and garbage bags, such as the 13 gallon waste bags that will fit small waste barrels. You can buy plastic waste bags of any size at your local grocer.
How do you keep reusable bags clean?
Designate one set of reusable bags for groceries – do not use them for gym clothes or other errands. Reusable bags made of fabric should be safe for machine washing with a mild detergent.
Reusable bags made of plastics should be rinsed or wiped clean with a damp cloth and general kitchen cleaner. Cleaning is recommended monthly or whenever bags contact raw meat or fish.
For additional questions, contact the Gloucester Clean City Commission at GloucesterMACleanCommission@gmail.com or your City Councilor.
Emma, Ben, and Lily – note that the snow is nearly as high as is the Duckworth’s sign – Snowmageddon 2015
On Sunday’s podcast we asked our guest, Chris Spittle, the Cape Ann weatherman to predict whether 2018-2019 would be a snowy winter, or not. Judging by the snowstorms of the past that have brought the greatest amounts of snowfall, it is likely that we may very well have a snowy winter and here’s why Chris suggests yes.
Historically, the greatest amounts of snowfall occur when North America’s trade winds are transitioning (Neutral state) from La Niña to El Niño. During the transition, and at the beginning (weakest) state of the transition to El Niño we are most likely to experience the greatest amounts of snowfall. Currently, La Niña (east to west trade winds) is oscillating to El Niño (west to east).
Chris shared the graphic below classifying the ten worst snowstorms of the past two centuries.
On the plus side, El Niño summers are generally warmer 🙂
El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of a natural climate pattern across the tropical Pacific Ocean that swings back and forth every 3-7 years on average. Together, they are called ENSO (pronounced “en-so”), which is short for El Niño-Southern Oscillation.
The ENSO pattern in the tropical Pacific can be in one of three states: El Niño, Neutral, or La Niña. El Niño (the warm phase) and La Niña (the cool phase) lead to significant differences from the average ocean temperatures, winds, surface pressure, and rainfall across parts of the tropical Pacific. Neutral indicates that conditions are near their long-term average.
Our front dooryard, in 2015, between blizzards.
Pirate’s Lane East Gloucester 2015
Plum Street 2015
We even had visit from a Snow Goose during the winter of 2015! He mixed with a flock of Canada Geese, staying for about a week, foraging on sea grass at Good Harbor Beach.
Eastern Point Lighthouse Snowy Day
Walking with Charlotte and out from the trees there suddenly appeared a shadowy bird, swooping very low and closely over our heads. A Red-tailed Hawk!
He perched for a moment on a nearby limb, turning his head in all directions, hungrily triangulating the landscape for a tasty meal. Next he flew to a nearby telephone pole, and then over the houses towards the Harbor.
A few minutes later the Red-tailed reappeared, followed by several crows noisily haranguing and giving him the business, in no uncertain terms!
Just kidding, but really, don’t you think Ace should enlsit Mr. Swan for an ad campaign?
Joel and Skip Munroe ensure Mr. Swan is well-fed during the winter months.
Let Lyricora put some extra mirth into your holiday season with their festive concert series, Joys Seven.
Tickets are available at the door and to purchase HERE
Friday, December 14 at 7:30 pm
Thank you Jessica for sharing -Love the the portrait of Finny ❤
THANKS SO MUCH KEN!
Reader gcmeninsr shared the following story about a Barred Owl eating a rat in an urban neighborhood, illustrating why rat poison is completely antithetical to controlling unwanted rodents. Rat poison kills raptors.
BARRED OWL EATING A RAT IN DOWNTOWN PROVIDENCEBy Peter Green
Barred Owls are usually found in woodlands and suburbs, but have been moving into cities now too. Why hunt a songbird through the dense trees when there are hundreds of pigeons and rats to eat in the city? (Barred owl makes successful kill in downtown Vancouver). But intruders do have to watch out for the resident Peregrine Falcons. I did once find the entire tail section of a Barred Owl below the nest box of the falcons.
Please never use rat poison – Raptors Are The Solution (RATS). If a raptor eats a poisoned rat, the bird will die too. Here are some alternatives to poison:
https://www.raptorsarethesolution.org/preferred-pest-control-products/
FANTASTIC PETER GREEN PHOTOS AND READ MORE HERE
ABOUT PROVIDENCE RAPTORS
Peter Green is a photographer and graphic designer living and working in downtown Providence. He walks the city, documenting Peregrine Falcons and more urban wildlife from Red-Tailed Hawks nesting on rooftops to American Kestrels hunting in graffiti-covered alleys. These regal, powerful raptors seem perfectly at home among the landscape of bricks and concrete.
David Brooks giving the tree’s star final adjustments
Gloucester Fire Department installing the star tree topper
Kim and Ralph DiGiorgio
The Dubinskis and fellow Dolliver’s Neck neighbors
On my way to Ace hardware in Rockport this morning, I passed Rusty and Ingrid’s beautiful print shop and noticed a very cool Rusty and Ingrid graphic in their front window–about a new holiday festival called the Rockport Makers’ Market. I just had to stop in and find out more.
Rusty took a few moments from his super busy morning to explain. “This is the first event of its kind in Rockport. We are creating an on-trend holiday market (like the one’s we sell at in Boston), and we are combining it with a town-wide festival in Rockport. Ingrid and I designed the concept of the event and we are doing most of the production. We are even hand printing much of the event decor in our shop.
Rusty Kinnunen
Phone: (978) 491- 9632
Email: info@rustyandingrid.com
Event Website: www.rockportmakers.com
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2143538435913075/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockportmakers/
Free carriage rides
Book signing with author Mary Faino 
Print your own screenprint
Free screening of A Christmas Carol at the Shalin Liu
Snowy Owl tracks in the sand
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrJOW4EH6ku/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BrJLsx2nJRe/
Shop local – Gloucester Christmas on Commercial Street – Fort Wharf / Cape Pond Ice Gift Shop – good time for replacing worn out, out-grown, or stolen (by your brother) Cape Pond Ice gear for the holidays – or for that “Cool” friend or family member who just never got one, now’s the time… good inventory & choices in stock.
Open Saturday 9 – 1, weekdays 9-5, or on-line: www.capepondice.com
Good Morning Gloucester 