Author: Nichole S.

Rockport’s HarvestFest was the place to be on Saturday.  Kudos to all who helped organize and execute the event.  When looking around at the faces in the crowd it was easy to see that memories were being made amongst families and friends.  And, what is better than that? Well, other than a beer truck parked on T Wharf.

Another fantastic option for this wonderful fall weekend is the 50th Head of the Charles Regatta!  Other than the obvious farm tour and apple picking, I’m not sure if there is another annual tradition that screams “Fall in Massachusetts” as loudly as the Head of the Charles.  If you’ve never been, you really should go.

Read all about the event, the schedule, the participants, and more by following this link

http://www.hocr.org/the-regatta/

For even more information read the following article on Boston.com

An Insiders Guide to Head of the Charles, the essential-autumn-in-New-England

After riding our bikes through town on Monday the boys decided that it’d be fun to sport the GoPro and video the same route for some of our friends who are missing home. So, we hopped in the Jeep and the boys took turns strapping on the GoPro.  Clearly not the best footage ever, but if you love living in Rockport, if you are missing Rockport, if you hope to visit Rockport, or if you want friends to come visit you in Rockport….this little child’s eye tour might be the medicine the doctor ordered.

From our driveway on Smith Road, past Old Garden Beach, down Atlantic Avenue, onto T Wharf, through town, down Bearskin Neck, past the new and improved breakwater, back down the Neck, up Main Street, by Front Beach, and landing at Back Beach we present “Rockport: Our Little Town.”

Guest Appearances by Kenny Porter and the Crew at Roy Moore Lobster Co….and one lobster.

So, I suppose there is a chance that these “flashes” are simply sunlight reflecting off of boats waaaay far out, but I don’t think so.

When driving home from Cape Hedge Beach, past Pebble Beach, by Lands End, and down Eden Road along the ocean near Thacher’s Island, my own Thatcher noticed “lights” flashing off that little sailboat.  After pulling over, and upon closer inspection, the lights were obviously well beyond the sailboat and more to the right.  He was concerned the boat was in trouble and was shooting off flares.  Too much Discovery Channel or National Geographic at home? Maybe.

So, we watched for a while and they continued….a good distance a part, dotting the horizon.

Forgive the surly tone coming from one of my boys ….and the dog barking in the background.  Such is my life.

Watch closely, to the right of the boats, and as far over as the edge of the screen.  You’ll see 7 or so flashes.  Just sunlight?  I don’t know…maybe.

While watching the Patriots yesterday….and while sadly NOT watching the Red Sox play postseason ball, I started to wonder…..

How are we divided?

If you had to pick one of the major team sports to call a favorite which one would it be? I am well aware that golf, tennis, polo, race car driving, archery, boxing, wrestling, etc. are absolutely sports…but, for these purposes, let’s stick with Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Soccer.  

For the record, I’m talking as a spectator.  What is your favorite team sport to watch and cheer for?

Please take the survey below, but also feel free to comment if your answer needs explanation.

CAYH is sponsoring is a new program, Challenger Hockey, to introduce boys and girls with developmental disabilities to adaptive ice hockey.

This developmental program is FREE and designed for children between the ages of 6-16. Skates and equipment will be provided.

The program will run on Saturdays @ 2pm starting October 10, 2015 and running till November 21, 2015. (No session held on November 14th).

1st week: Introductory program to initiate and confirm child’s interest.

2nd – 5th weeks: Instructional development based on USA Hockey Development Program.

Instructions and coaching will be done primarily by High School-age mentors under the supervision of adult coaches. The focus will be on customized training to the individual participant.

http://capeannyouthhockey.com/#434905

Have you seen me?

I’ve heard of the “elusive bluefin” but this is a first.

Mile Marker One at Cape Ann’s Marina Resort would love to get their friend, the bluefin tuna, back.  Evidently, he went missing at some point on Sunday.

They have stated that “there will be no questions asked” upon his safe return.

Did your roommate bring home some living room decor?  Did you walk outside and discover a fish out of water on your front lawn?  Maybe you saw a vehicle on the boulevard with a giant fish head sticking out the window?

Let’s hope he finds his way home.

At least someone is happy that summer is over and the beaches are empty.

Pick #1  Aeolus Quartet at the Cape Ann Museum

A Family Free Concert

http://www.capeannmuseum.org/events/aeolus-quartet-family-concert/

A live performance at the Cape Ann Museum featuring the exciting, young Aeolus String Quartet. Winners of multiple awards and the Graduate Resident String Quartet at the Juilliard School, this group promises an engaging 1-hour program with excerpts of Haydn, Dvorák, and Ervin Schulhoff appropriate for all ages.  The Quartet will introduce their instruments, the different roles they play, the different tools used by composers to make their quartet repertoire distinctive—all presented in a program that will cultivate a greater love for music and a deeper understanding of how a team can become greater than the sum of its parts.

This program is presented as part of a residency through Rockport Music’s Education and Outreach program with programs in both Rockport and Gloucester Public Schools.

Free, no tickets required

Pick #2   The Topsfield Fair (again)

It is still going on and if you haven’t gone yet, you should.  The rides kind of drive me crazy, but there are really so many great learning opportunities at the fair.  It is kind of a shame to miss it.

Home

Pick #3         A Day in the City

Head to Boston while the weather is still nice!  While there are clearly SO many places to visit, a lot of great walking and exploring to do, and a massive amount of restaurants to fill your bellies at, I’d put these two things on the list for Saturday…

Janet Echelman’s Aerial Sculpture over the Rose Kennedy Greenway

Get there while you still can, because it will be gone soon….and it is pretty cool to see!

Amazing art installation aside, I’ve told you all before that I really can’t get enough of the gorgeous Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway!

Read all about it HERE:   http://www.rosekennedygreenway.org/visit/public-art/janet-echelman/

And then, get your pumpkin on at the

2nd Annual Punkin’ Fest on the Lawn at the D

Click below to read all about it because it sounds like there is some fun to be had!

http://lawnond.com/calendar_events/punkin-fest/

As always, head to North Shore Kid for a more comprehensive list of family activities!

Frankenstein.  Just walking down the street.  On a Sunday afternoon. Because, you know, it’s October and I was in Salem.

I try each year to make our appointments early enough that the boys may be lucky enough to get the nose spray, but they were out of luck this year.  A round of shots for us all!

I went first and, even though I thought it was wicked funny to shriek and yell “OUCH”, (That’s right, Mother-of-the-Year) the boys stepped up no problem and each took one in the arm.

So, if you catch the flu this year (and I really hope that you don’t!), chances are it isn’t from us.

While I’m sad that the sun is setting early…I could get used to it if it always looks like this.  Good evening, friends.

Forgive me if it is common knowledge that somehow I am not privy to, but humor me nonetheless.

Can someone tell me what is happening in this newly cleared space at the end of Whittemore Street in Gloucester?

My grandmother lived on Riverside Avenue for years and I can remember scurrying around that neck of the woods when I was little….nice memories.

Anyway, I noticed this while heading under the train bridge a couple of weekends ago and meant to ask.

Needed this little laugh today….  Happy October.

October, for reals.

Time to get your Autumn on, my friends.

Pick #1   Harvest Fest at Mile Marker One

Always a great event…be sure to stop by!  Thanks to Cape Ann’s Marina Resort and Mile Marker One for hosting this morsel of perfect fall family fun.

http://www.milemarkerone.com/entertainment.htm

Pick #2  Topsfield Fair

While I know that there exist families who do not enjoy the Topsfield Fair for reasons of their own, we have always loved the fair!

Find the calendar of events within this link and see all that the fair really has to offer!!

http://www.topsfieldfair.org/

Pick #3  Family Day at the Bird Banding Station

Like many other local Audubon locations, Joppa Flats offers so many wonderful opportunities for families with young children.  This Sunday is no different.

http://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/program-catalog#program:program_code=40911

Registration is required in advance.

Family Day at the Bird Banding Station

Sponsored by Joppa Flats Education Center

Sun, Oct 04, 2015 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Location:

Bird Banding Station, Plum Island

Audience:

All (suitable for children 6 – 18 years)

Members:

Adult $8.00, Child $5.00

Nonmembers:

Adult $10.00, Child $6.00

Nonmembers can join today during checkout and take immediate advantage of member prices.

Come for an exciting visit to the Joppa Flats Bird Banding Station on the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. See Mass Audubon scientists capture, measure, weigh, examine, and release migrant songbirds. Learn about migration, habitat use, and scientific research at a real field station. The station operates only during the height of migration in spring (April and May) and fall (September and October). Children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more family friendly activities, please see our friends at North Shore Kid

Do we really get to live here?

I’ve been seeing deer everywhere (well, maybe not everywhere, but often) the past several days.  Drive carefully, for your sake and theirs.

We met the nicest lady while riding the T from the TD Garden to Fenway Park yesterday. I can’t stop thinking about her.  I wish I had a photo.

She climbed on the T when it still wasn’t quite so full and took a seat kind of far away from us.  She caught my eye immediately.  She was a tiny little thing.  Maybe 5 feet tall…but I’m guessing still in the 4s.  She was dressed like Richard Simmons meets Punky Brewster and made me smile instantly.  There wasn’t a shade or hue of any color that she was wearing somewhere. She was rocking head phones and a fanny pack.  She had to be in her 70s.

The car got really full….and then started to empty out again.  As it did, she changed seats, and landed right next to one of my boys.  She immediately started to chat them up.  Not super familiar with riding the T and maybe a bit overwhelmed by it all, they were hesitant to offer more than one word answers at first.  But soon, even they, were under her spell.  She was equal parts quirky and charming.  A total breath of fresh air….and on a crowded T…that is a pretty big compliment.

Talking with the boys seemed to remind her of her own….and she was quickly telling us about them.  The youngest of which is now 43.  Exactly my age.  In the 10 minutes tops that we sat with her, we learned more than I know about some people who I have known for years.  I regret, that due to the noise on the subway, I missed key bits and pieces of what she said and found myself merely nodding and smiling. There were times when I could tell that she wanted more of a response, and I was sad that I couldn’t offer one.

What I could gather and hear was completely heartwarming…and a little bit “Cat’s in the Cradle”.  It made me smile and be sad all at the same time.

Grown children, birthday yesterday, one son can’t get time off, her husband used to know his boss years ago so she was able to arrange for him to not work yesterday, a special day together, something about Kentucky Fried Chicken, went to a place full of long ago Mother’s Day memories, should they invite the other children?, “no” someone will have complications, someone will have to be late, let’s just spend it together, a quick trip to Nantasket Beach, before they knew it 9 hours had gone by, his girlfriend had called several times, played games they used to play in the sand (I have to admit that image made me chuckle), how did it go by so fast, she feels like she woke up one morning and was old, there are years she is happy to not remember, yesterday was a great, great day.

It was time for us to get off and she smiled and said, “Boys, you be good to your mother.  Even when you think she is wrong, tell her she is right.  Mom, you try to be good too.  There’ll be times you know they’re wrong, but they need you to believe in them anyway.”

After we got off and were in the daylight of Kenmore Square, Thatcher said, “That lady was nice.  But, was she happy or sad?”   I told him I figured she was a little bit of both. I can’t stop thinking about her.

I love it when local businesses and business people are commended for a job well done! We all know that many Gloucester businesses offer service that is second to none, but it makes me, for one, feel proud when such people, companies, etc are recognized by those from outside our community as well.

And that is exactly what has just happened to Paul Genovese, Jr. from Palazzola Insurance Company.  Congratulations, Paul!  Keep up the great work.

Paul R. Genovese, Jr. of Palazzola Insurance Agency Earns Safeco Insurance® Award of Excellence for Superior Underwriting Skills