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."

ROCKY NECK POLAR PLUNGE UPDATE: THE PLUNGE IS A GO!

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Checking on conditions at Oakes Cove Beach, I met Jeff Surette. He assures the community that the Rocky Neck Polar Plunge is ON as scheduled at 1pm today.

It was minus two degrees when I left to photograph this morning but the temperature is expected to rise to twelve degrees. Be safe Hearty Souls!

Please don’t forget to bring your donations for the Cape Ann Food Pantry.

Oakes Cove Beach January 1, 2018

THANK YOU! AND BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY AND JOYOUS NEW YEAR

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Thank you community for your tremendous support with our online fundraising campaign for my documentary Beauty on the Wing. Your help has meant the world and because of you I will be able to create the final cut in 2018. We will continue fundraising efforts while editing and I will keep you updated on our progress. And if you couldn’t contribute for whatever reason, I thank you for your good words of support.

2017 has been the best year, not only because of your contributions to my film but because our first granddaughter Charlotte was born on July 10. My family has been blessed many times over this year, most especially because this beautiful little person and her mom Jessica became a part of our family.The photo was taken in late summer when Charlotte was only two months old and I smile every time I look at it, her expression is so thoughtful. There is no age limit and no age of entry–every person has the innate capacity to become captivated by nature!

With thanks and gratitude for the generous spirit of these kind people and foundations: LAUREN MERCADANTE (PRODUCER), SUSAN FREY (PRODUCER), NEW ENGLAND BIOLABS FOUNDATION, JOHN HAUCK FOUNDATION, BOB AND JAN CRANDALL, MARY WEISSBLUM, SHERMAN MORSS, PETE AND BOBBI KOVNER (ANNISQUAM AND LEXINGTON), ALICE GARDNER (BEVERLY), CLAUDIA BERMUDEZ (LEXINGTON), JAY FEATHERSTONE, MIA NEHME (BEVERLY), CHICKI HOLLET, JUNI VANDYKE, ERIC HUTCHINSE, KAREN MASLOW, MARION F. (IPSWICH), ELAINE M., KIMBERLY MCGOVERN, MEGAN HOUSER (PRIDES CROSSING), JIM VANBUSKIRK (PITTSBURGH) NANCY MATTERN (ALBUQUERQUE), DONNA STOMAN, PEGGY O’MALLEY, JOEY CIARAMITARO, CATHERINE RYAN, JOEANN HART, JANE PAZNIK BONDARIN (NEW YORK), ROBERT REDIS (NEW YORK), NUBAR ALEXANIAN, HILDA SANTOS (SAUGUS), PETER VAN DEMARK, PATRICIA VAN DERPOOL, FRED FREDERICKS (CHELMSFORD), LESLIE HEFFRON, JIM MASCIARELLI, DAVE MOORE (KOREA), LILIAN AND CRAIG OLMSTEAD, JOHN STEIGER, PAT DALPIAZ, AMY KERR, BARBARA T. (JEWETT, NY), ROBERTA C. ((NY), MARIANNE G. (WINDHAM, NY), PAULA RYAN O’BRIEN (WALTON, NY), MARTHA SWANSON, KIM TEIGER, JUDITH FOLEY (WOBURN), PATTI SULLIVAN, RONN FARREN, SUSAN NADWORNY (MELROSE), DIANE LINDQUIST (MANCHESTER), HEIDI SHRIVER (PENNSYLVANIA), JENNIFER CULLEN, HOLLY NIPPERUS (BROOKLYN), TOM HAUCK, AND ANONYMOUS PERSONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS HELP.

THE BRUTALITY OF FISHING IN WINTER

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Not a job for the faint of heart. 

Watching Joey and Captain Russell with his crew of the FV Lady Jane offload at Captain Joes on this last morning of 2017 you couldn’t help but be struck by the deadly dangerous conditions of working in frigid Arctic temperatures and blistering winds. Nearly every surface of the boat was covered in a thick layer of solid ice.
Prayers and best wishes to all our Gloucester fishermen for a safe and prosperous 2018.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdYI7D-FRNA/

SEVERAL SPOTS HAVE OPENED FOR DUCKWORTH’S NEW YEARS EVE FABULOUS FINE DINING!!!

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Unbelievably, several folks have cancelled their reservations for tonight’s beautiful New Year’s Eve dinner. There are openings at both the 5:30 and 9:00 times. Chef Ken Duckworth and staff have prepared a most elegant and delicious menu for your New Year’s celebration. Call Duckworths asap if you would like to make a reservation at 978-282-4426.

THANK YOU MONIQUE JEAN AT COVETED YARN!!

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The last time I made a Christmas stocking was when Alex was a baby. I miss knitting and was determined to at least get one started for Charlotte. It’s been a long time since I turned a heel on stocking or sock, but thanks to Monique Jean at Coveted Yarn, she showed me just how to do it (Monique made nine Christmas stocking this year for her family). While she was helping decipher the directions, I couldn’t help but think how fortunate are we in Gloucester to have such a fantastic yarn shop, which is not only always stocked with gorgeous yarns, but staffed with a super knowledgeable person such as Monique. Many thanks to Monique for her gracious help!

Coveted Yarn is located at 127 Eastern Avenue, just behind Shaws. Their hours are as follows:

Monday and Thursday 10 AM to 9:00 PM

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 AM to 6 PM

Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM

Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM

LEN BURGESS SHARES MORE ICE CRYSTAL PHOTOS

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Len writes, “Here’s some more ice crystal photos. A lot of action on my many windows with this frigid weather.”

 

RARE BIRD ALERT: SNOW GOOSE ON CAPE ANN!

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Snow Goose in the Sea Smoke

Early this morning while out filming Cape Ann Lighthouses in the sea smoke, far off shore there was a Snow Goose bobbing about in the frigid waters.

Look for Snow Geese on the shore and in the water. Their feathers are white, tipped black at the outer edges, with a gray band above the black tips. Both their bills and feet are pink. There is also a dark morph, commonly referred to as the ‘Blue Goose.’

Thanks to Lyn Fonzo who last week sent a snapshot of a white goose feeding amongst the Canada Geese. She was wondering what bird. I thought it was a juvenile Snow Goose and the sighting today confirms that yes, we have (at least) one Snow Goose on our shores!

CAPE ANN LIGHTHOUSES SHROUDED IN SEA SMOKE

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Evocative views looking through sea smoke along the shoreline this morning, from Ten Pound Island to Twin Lights, and at every vantage point along the way. On my very last stop photographing a buoy in the sea smoke, I spied a mystery bird far off shore. Bobbing in the water and with a bill not at all shaped liked a seagulls, it was a SNOW GOOSE! He was too far away to get a great photo, but wonderful to see nonetheless!

SCOTT MEMHARD SHARES: RARE GINORMOUS BLUE LOBSTER LANDED AT NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM!

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Shared by our City Councilman Scott Memhard, “Rare gigantic Blue Lobster landed at Boston’s NE Aquarium, with ice sculptor extraordinaire Donald Chapelle, Gloucester’s own Lars Eric Miller (who wished it was a Blue Fin Tuna), Brilliant Ice Sculptures, and Cape Pond Ice, of course….!”

FANCIFUL CLOWN

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I am so love with the blossoms of our fanciful Amaryllis ‘Clown.’ She opened the first of three bodacious blooms on Christmas Day–three blossoms on one stalk, that is–with the flowers of two more stalks yet to emerge! She’s a treasured bulb, and so easy to force indoors. The following is excerpted from a book that I wrote and illustrated between 2003-2006 titled Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! Notes from a Gloucester Garden, which was published by David Godine in 2008.

How to Grow Amaryllis ~ Excerpt from Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! 

Living in New England the year round, with our tiresomely long winter stretching miles before us, and then a typically late and fugitive, fleeting spring, we can become easily wrapped in those winter-blues. Fortunately for garden-makers, our thoughts give way to winter scapes of bare limbs and berries, Gold Finches and Cardinals, and plant catalogues to peruse. If you love to paint and write about flowers as do I, winter is a splendid time of year for both, as there is hardly any time devoted to the garden during colder months. I believe if we cared for a garden very much larger than ours, I would accomplish little of either writing or painting, for maintaining it would require just that much more time and energy.

Coaxing winter blooms is yet another way to circumvent those late winter doldrums. Most of us are familiar with the ease in which amaryllis (Hippeastrum) bulbs will bloom indoors. Placed in a pot with enough soil to come to the halfway point of the bulb, and set on a warm radiator, in several week’s time one will be cheered by the sight of a spring-green, pointed-tipped flower stalk poking through the inner layers of the plump brown bulbs. The emerging scapes provide a welcome promise with their warm-hued blossoms, a striking contrast against the cool light of winter. Perhaps the popularity of the amaryllis is due both to their ease in cultivation and also for their ability to dazzle with colors of sizzling orange, clear reds and apple blossom pink.

Click here to read more about Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities.

 

“HOLIDAY DELIGHTS” FULL LENGTH VIDEO FROM HEIDI DALLIN’S YOUTH ACTING WORKSHOP – VIDEO BY LISA SMITH

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With tremendous thanks to Heidi Dallin, creator, producer, and director of the fabulous “Holiday Delights.” Every year “Holiday Delights” charms the community with the talented cast of actors from Heidi’s Gloucester Stage Youth Acting Workshop. Thank you to Lisa Smith for sharing the video with the community. Special shout out given by Heidi to the show’s sponsors: Cape Ann Savings Bank, Bank Gloucester, New England BioLabs, David Robinson, Daniel Lee, and Anonymous donors. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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Wishing all our Good Morning Gloucester friends and family a joyous Christmas ❤

Northern Cardinal eating native sumac fruits

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVE FROM THE EAST GLOUCESTER CAROLERS!

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WONDERFUL SURPRISE CHRISTMAS EVE VISIT FROM THESE SWEETHEARTS ❤

https://www.instagram.com/p/BdGj8A7lEh6/

OUR HAPPY SWAN SWIMMING!

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Lyn set up a tub in the Young Swan’s winter home. It’s quite nice, and she loves it. Her first order of business was to wash her neck, and then she jumped in!

If you would like to help with the expense of taking care of the Young Swan this winter, please send a check (tax deductible) to:

Cape Ann Wildlife

P.O Box 405

Essex, Massachusetts 01929

Or you can donate online at: http://www.caw2.org/

Be sure to include in the memo that your donation is for the Young Swan.

Thank you!

Lyn Fonzo Photo

NICOLE DUCKWORTH’S FABULOUS Bûche de Noël!!

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Duckworth’s was hopping this morning as customers were picking up their beautiful Christmas cakes, all handmade by Nicole. This year, instead of little meringue mice scampering around the yule log, are chubby carmel nut turtles basking!

Nicole Duckworth Bûche de Noël

GOOD MORNING GLOUCESTER, BROUGHT TO YOU BY GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS EVE GOOD HARBOR BEACH SUNRISE

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Daybreak Christmas Eve Good Harbor Beach

THE YOUNG SWAN LOVES HER COLLARD GREENS!

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Not only collards, but kale, spinach and, Lyn reports, she is extra bananas for romaine lettuce, even trying to take them from Lyn’s hand! Lyn has added a fantastic improvement to the swan’s winter sanctuary and will update tomorrow when not so tied up with Christmas-making 🙂

Lyn Fonzo Photo