My View of Life on the Dock
What a wonderful treat these two families give to the community by putting so much time and energy into decorating their homes for the enjoyment of so many.
If you haven’t taken a spin by this wonderful display on Arthur Street in Danvers you really should.
While out with three amazing friends the other night, the conversation of future “girls’ trips” arose. That conversation spun into, “If everyone would stop having new babies, maybe we could get away some time soon.”
As one of the ones who has been done “having babies” for 6.5 years and who never had desire to try for a 3rd….I’ve been ready for some girls’ weekends away for quite some time now.
That conversation led to this awesome wine glass.
Amen.
So proud of my students last week! They decided that it would be better to give than receive. They opted to skip the annual gingerbread house making for themselves and instead baked like crazy in class and at home. We then made a list of recipients and delivered holiday treats from Beverly to Ipswich to people whom our school is thankful for. We wish we could have made 100 more stops.
If any of the young skaters who grace the ice at The Dorothy M. Talbot Rink have any Olympic ambitions, it is pretty cool to have Ben (Punky) Smith watching from the stands!
Thatcher and Finn, knowing he is my husband’s Godfather, have read the plaques that pay tribute to his pretty fantastic Olympic Coaching career many times and were pretty smitten to see him at last week’s Gloucester High School game.
Thatcher was beyond happy to hear him say, “Your son looked pretty good out there” after his team skated at intermission.
Benjamin A. Smith, III was able to lead the United States Women’s Hockey team to a Gold Medal in 1998, a Medal in 2002, and a Bronze Medal in 2006. His 1998 Olympic Team went on to be inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.
There’s still time to get your holiday on!
I’ve always thought that spending a few evenings in the city during the holiday season is totally special. Grabbing a nice dinner, maybe getting a bit dressed up, and seeing the holiday lights is a wonderful tradition. By now, you all probably know about BLINK! at Faneuil Hall, but there is also the Mayor’s Celebration!
Running December 17-20, 2015, The Mayor’s Celebration of Lights, Lights of Boston presented by luminARTZ will transform the Dartmouth Street side of the Boston Public Library with 3D projections sharing the message of peace, hope and unity each evening from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m., looping every 10 minutes. The light installation is the first of its time in the United States, and is produced by artist Anthony Bastic of AGB Events best known for the Vivid SydneyView more
Read HERE for MORE INFORMATION
Strawbery Banke Museum celebrates the theme of “Winter Pastimes” during the 36th annual Candlelight Stroll, December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, 2015. The event takes place from 5 to 9 pm on Saturdays and 4 to 8 pm on Sundays.
Stroll through life in a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations unfolds around you in New Hampshire’s oldest waterfront neighborhood.
- Historic houses from four centuries with decorations hand-crafted from natural materials
- Hundreds of wood and glass candle boxes lighting the lanes and landscape
- Live music and holiday entertainment for all ages
- Horse-drawn carriage rides
- Holiday decoration demonstrations
- Traditional barrel making demonstrations
- 18th century holiday hearth cooking
- Tinsmith demonstrations
- Ice skating at Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond, daily December-February.
CLICK HERE FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION! (and to save time and purchase advanced tickets)
CLICK HERE FOR THIS WEEKEND’S SCHEDULE
ZooLights promises to dazzle visitors of all ages this holiday season. Enter a winter wonderland of tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Stroll through festively decorated Yukon Creek, home to bald eagles, Canada lynx, reindeer and arctic foxes.
- Meet Stone Zoo’s reindeer up close during nightly photo opportunities.
- Enjoy holiday hot chocolate with the reindeer (see registration and full details below).
- Have your photo taken with Santa (see video below).
- Lights, Camel, Action!
Known as “ships of the desert,” dromedary camels are incredibly adapted to harsh, arid environments. Learn more about these animals and enjoy a camel’s-eye view of ZooLights!
Camel Rides: $10 per person- Gift Shop Discount on Member Mondays: Members receive an additional 10% discount on all gift shop purchases on Mondays. That’s a 20% savings! Learn more about becoming a member.
– See more at: http://www.zoonewengland.org/engage/zoolights#sthash.QoK7UH5b.dpuf
HEAD HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO BUY TICKETS
For a more comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
Yesterday I wrote about the importance that I place on holiday traditions.
Earlier this month I wrote about Santa coming to Rockport and the tree lighting. I got a lovely response from a Facebook reader that shared her own Rockport holiday memory.
When we were little Children we lived in Gloucester…we would come in the bus to Rockport …we would get off the bus at Dock Square and join the other lined up kids..watching for Santa… to come down the hill in his sleigh…it was loaded down with …nuts candy and fruit..in a big stocking…for every child ….then we would run ahead of mother and dad to get to our Grandfather’s house on Summit Ave?..he was a night watch man at the railroad round house….he would always give us a report on what Santa had to say to him as he dropped off our presents…he told us how each of the rain deer were ..and …would be happy to get back to their nice warm house back at the North Pole…we believed every word he said ..my sister and I
Her response made me start to think….. What about the rest of you?
Anyone else up for sharing their favorite holiday memories in a comment below? Please do….I’d love to hear them!
I hope that when my boys look back on the holiday season, or really their childhoods in general, that they remember fondly and treasure the traditions that we’ve created for them.
While there is something to be said for being spontaneous and trying new things, there are definitely some steadfast traditions that we like to hold true each year….especially this time of year.
The boys know that on Thanksgiving night we make popcorn and hot chocolate, spread out sleeping bags, and watch The Polar Express. They know that within the next two days we’ll head to the Beverly Tree Farm and cut down our tree. They also know that we won’t leave there until they’ve tolerated a mini photo shoot. They know that one day in very early December, if not earlier, a white star will suddenly be lit near the train bridge and they’ll get the warm fuzzies when it is first spied each year! They know that we’ll be watching Santa arrive on the Freemantle Doctor from right under the hoist on T-Wharf and they walk to that spot automatically the first Saturday of December each year. They know that later on that evening will be the tree lighting at Dock Square, there will be a trip to Tuck’s to buy one treat, and then we’ll head home to decorate our own tree. The boys know that there will be fried dough on Christmas morning and that my mom will arrive later with a coffee cake that is always still warm….just like the one that she made each year when I was little (Tradition). They know that after opening presents we go downtown to the tree and say “thank you” to Santa for the gifts he left for us. They know also to thank the police officers on detail Christmas Day and to always shake their hands.
They know the Santa mugs will come out to drink from for the month of December and that one will get filled with milk to sit alongside some cookies and carrots. They know in the morning they’ll find little pieces of carrot left on the side deck from those messy reindeer. There will also be a sleigh bell in their stockings.
Sprinkled into the “givens” are the less consistent holiday activities. Usually a trip to Boston, but always for different reasons. There will be at least one night of driving around with cocoa to see holiday light displays near and far. Some years we’ve trekked to Santa’s Village….other years to Edaville Railroad. Other years neither…especially with hockey in full-swing.
And then….then, there’s the Curtis Family Countdown. We’ve looked forward to watching the days tick down from their front yard display on Main Street each December day for the last few years. It is a true sign that Christmas is on it’s way. I blogged about it last year so that you could all make a point to drive by and see how wonderful it is.
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/commencing-countdown-major-sean/
If I remember correctly, it usually begins right after Thanksgiving. So…you can imagine how off-kilter we felt when December began and there was no countdown. December 1st…nothing. Wait. What?Then December 2nd. Nothing. And even, the horror, December 3rd. It was time we take matters into our own hands. You can’t mess with tradition after all.
So, we did this.
Dear Sean,
While we could probably just do the math, it is truly much more entertaining to drive by your house each morning and night to see the Countdown to Christmas. I know that you are really busy…so this is what we’ve decided to do. If it isn’t up by Sunday morning, I will leave Thatcher and Finn with you aaaaaaall day long to help you out. (How’s THAT for motivation)
Just kidding. Kind of.
Sincerely,
The Schrafft Family
In return, later on the same day, we got this….
Send your kids over, Nichole, they can do the lights on the rest of the house.
He decided to do the lights himself when I readily agreed to drop the boys off to do the rest of the lights while I took his wife out for some drinks.
Thanks again to the Curtis Family for helping to create lasting traditions. Thank you for making time to set up that display so that undoubtedly many children can drive by each day and see how many days are left until Christmas! It means a lot to us…and I’m sure we’re not alone in that.
The boys and I took the two dogs for a walk down the street, along the Old Garden Foot Path, and on to Marmion Way to visit a friend. Along the way I took this quick photo of Rockport’s outer harbor. The photo somewhat mimics the very same view that our friends have from their upstairs window. When I showed it to our friend he said, “Sometimes we get numb to the fact that we live here.”
So, for all of you who may have become numb to the fact that we live in such an unbelievably beautiful place…. Here’s a reminder.
Nice walk on Cape Hedge Beach right now. Not a lot of beach right now, but always lots of treasures to discover along the way.
The Gloucester High School Fishermen take on the Danvers Falcons. More importantly, check out the Cape Ann Youth Hockey Mites skating during the intermission for the big crowd.
Good job, boys!
How is this for Holiday kindness! JM Walsh Oil Company is helping to make the winter more bearable and easier for 5 struggling families. Such a great act of generosity.
We are giving away 100 gallons of heating oil to 6 struggling families this winter. Nominate a family in writing by December 31st!
Please include your name and phone number. Serving families in Gloucester, Rockport, Mancester, and Essex. Selected families will be kept confidential and will be notified in writing with a letter and gift certificate after January 4, 2016.
Send nominations to 6 Cleveland Place, Gloucester or email to jmwalshoil@msn.com
If this act inspires you….and you are fortunate enough to be able to do so…feel free to donate funds to help sponsor even more families!
Great job, JM Walsh Oil! Please check out their website below
A great hometown weekend.
The Middle Street Walk is such a great way to experience community, celebrate the holiday season, and spend time with family.
As always, the program for this year is packed with some pretty special events such as choir concerts, buoy painting, a gingerbread house contest, story telling, a puppet show, holiday treats, guided walking tours, music, and of course…the lobster trap tree lighting ceremony at 4:30 at the Police Station.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS!
We saw this holiday show last year and loved it! A great opportunity to see a seasonal and funny show without spending tons of money or traveling too far.
Gallows Hill Theatre presents:
A very Grinchy Holiday Special!Join us at Gallows Hill Theatre for a fun re-telling of the classic tale with music, audience interaction, Max the dog,The Who family and Thing One and Thing Two!
A great holiday show for all ages, featuring Erik Rodenhiser as The Grinch.
After the show, kids can meet The Grinch, and take picture with the cast!
As always to see a more comprehensive list of family activities, please see our friends at North Shore Kid
So, this guy joined our family over the weekend. He couldn’t be sweeter and we are all in love.
I was trolling for a puppy for a couple of weeks as a surprise for the boys and checked the Salem Shelter and our own Cape Ann Animal Aid daily.
As a matter of timing, Minnow came from The Northeast Animal Shelter.
The first night that we had him we took a late night trip to Petco and were happy to bump into an adorable pup that had just been adopted from the Cape Ann Shelter! They shared a quick meeting of the minds before we headed for home.
Please, please visit and support our local shelters.
We have several holiday traditions. Some are silly and some are really, really special.
One of the sillier ones started last night….the 3rd season of The Great Christmas Light Fight.
The boys LOVE to hunker down with some cocoa and popcorn and watch the 4 families compete with pretty fantastic holiday light displays. The boys continued to love it even after they realized it wasn’t going to be a show with families chucking holiday lights at each other….as the title evidently led them to believe.
We love “getting to know” the four families, seeing where they live, and hearing their stories. We love seeing them come together and work so hard to make their magic happen. We love guessing Who Will Win.
While it’s no, It’s a Wonderful Life, it works for us.
Check it out if you have some time to kill….if nothing else, it’ll help bring the holiday season to your living room.
CHECK OUT “THE GREAT CHRISTMAS LIGHT FIGHT” HERE
These seemed extra pretty while out for a pretty chilly walk this weekend.
If possible, Rockport is even a bit more beautiful this evening.
I posted a few “live blog” photos of Santa’ much awaited arrival, but here are several more.
Such a fun tradition. It is so fun to watch the boys, and all of Rockport’s children, get older each year as they stand on T-Wharf and await Santa’s arrival.
This was our 9th “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and the novelty has certainly not worn off.
Live from rockport! SANTA!
Clearly the holidays are about 90% about the boys, but I can’t lie, one of my favorite holiday traditions has become Ladies’ Night at Savour Wine and Cheese. This is the 3rd year in a row that I have gone, with the same friends, and I am already looking forward to next year.
First of all the wine selection is extensive and wonderful. In addition, the cheeses that are available are incredible. It is also a perfect destination for a gift for a friend, guest, or dinner host. Each holiday season I have shopped for at least two people on my list at Savour.
Beach Gourmet also operates their primary kitchen out of Savour. It is so fun to chat with them, watch them prepare amazing dishes in their open, exhibition style kitchen, and obviously taste what they serve. They are beyond amazing.
Ladies’ Night brought a wonderful crowd of wine sipping, holiday strolling women who clearly enjoyed sampling the wine, but also continuously expressed how fantastic Savour’s inventory is…and how yummy the food was.
We stayed from 5:30-6:15, shared some laughs, bought some gifts, drank some wine, and then moved on.
Thanks so much to the staff for creating such a lovely evening!
Please read more about Savour Wine and Cheese HERE
and read more about Beach Gourmet HERE
Tree lighting in Gloucester last weekend….tree lighting in Rockport this weekend.
1:00 Saturday, December 5th
It is only fitting that in the incredibly quaint, picturesque, and perfect town of Rockport, Santa should arrive by lobster boat. This has been a tradition for as long as I can remember, but please note, that this year’s schedule will be a little bit different.
Santa has decided that he would like more time to linger, shop, and visit with the townsfolk so he has cleared his afternoon schedule to arrive in Rockport earlier than normal.
Santa’s boat should be arriving at T-Wharf at 1:00 in the afternoon on Saturday, December 5th. The tree lighting ceremony will begin at 4:00. That leaves a nice amount of time to shop, explore, walk our new breakwater, grab a snack or some cocoa, and maybe get some one on one time with Santa himself.
What a great way to get in some family time while also hand-making holiday gifts for those special people on your list.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2015, 10:00 AM TO 12:00 PM
REGISTRATION : $5.00 PER CHILD (MEMBERS), $8.00 PER CHILD (NON-MEMBERS)
AUDIENCE: FAMILIES
Come spend the morning at Maritime Gloucester making nautical inspired crafts..the perfect handmade holiday presents. Ages 5 to 12 years. Cost is $5 per child members, $8 per child non-members. Parents/Guardians are required to attend. The workshop will take place in the Sarah Fraser Robbins Classroom accessed from the walkway to the pier.
Surely this event will be gorgeous and should get even the biggest curmudgeon into the holiday spirit….
Kick off your holiday season with us. Tour the Great House beautifully decorated for Christmas. With a nod to the great polar expeditions of the 1920s, you’ll see outdoor adventure paraphernalia, polar-inspired decorations, and a magnificent ice sculpture. Enjoy live music and dance, interactive activities, and warm cookies and cider. On Sunday afternoon, 2 pm-4pm, visit with the North Pole’s greatest celebrity Santa Claus.
Find that perfect holiday gift at the Castle Hill gift shop or the Harbor Sweets pop-up store. Please consider bringing a pair of warm new socks to benefit needy children through Ipswich Caring.
Christmas at Castle Hill Schedule of Events
Friday, December 4, 5-9PM
Acapella singers from The Essex Harmony
Cash bar with beer, wine, and our own polar punch
Special exhibition on Admiral Byrd’s 1928 polar expeditionSaturday, December 5, 10AM-4PM
Fitzy the Snowman carves an ice sculpture
Family explorer activities
Special exhibition on Admiral Byrd’s 1928 polar expedition
11AM String Quartet Music featuring Michael Hamill, Carlos Heymann, Alice Newell, and Ann Ward
3PM Ipswich Moving Company’s Youth Dance EnsembleSunday, December 6, 12Noon-4PM
Family explorer activities
Special exhibition on Admiral Byrd’s 1928 polar expedition
12Noon-2PM Sled dog meet-and-greet
2-4PM Visit with Santa
3PM North Shore Bell Ringers
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
As always, for a more comprehensive list of family activities please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
Good Morning Gloucester 