Author: Nichole S.

Until someone can tell me how to effectively squeeze 30 hours of accomplishment into a 24 hour day, I am routing big time for this fantastic new business.

Whether you simply don’t have time to get everything done or you have certain things on your To-Do list that are out of your particular skill set, Cape Ann Concierge is a brilliant solution.

“PERSONAL ASSISTANT, ORGANIZATION & EVENT PLANNING SERVICES

LET US HELP YOU GET ALL OF YOUR BOATS IN A ROW!”

Have you ever wished you had a Personal Assistant for just an hour or a few hours per week or month?

At Cape Ann Concierge we offer several services to assist you in making your life run smoothly.  We will get you organized in no time – or if you prefer, keep you organized on an ongoing basis.

Offering personal assistance and organization, book keeping, office needs, event planning, vacation home management, and so much more, Cape Ann Concierge seems to be the ticket to remove the weight of the daunting or the undone To-Do off of your shoulders. I can’t think of a better time to enlist the help of some professionals to free your schedule for some R&R than summertime on Cape Ann.  Well, other than maybe during the Holidays!

Check out their website HERE and see the long list of services they offer…and then maybe pack for a day at the beach!

Cape Ann Concierge    www.capeannconcierge.com

It is during treasured minutes just like these that I would like to stop the clock so that my children may continue to relish in the sweetest of moments, of a blessed childhood, enjoying this heaven we are incredibly fortunate to call “home.”  May this sweet summer, and evenings with friends, never, ever, end.

We are absolutely loving the new breakwater in Rockport!  A part of my affection probably stems from having watched it being constructed slowly, day by day and massive stone by massive stone, all winter long.  Maybe even more so because of the fact that it was one of the worst winters in our history.

Finn and I walk to its end once each week or so to watch as Thatcher sails past in his Opti during lessons from the Sandy Bay Yacht Club.

We have been enjoying how each and every stone has a different pattern, shape, color, and “personality.”  Not surprisingly, Finn has named a few of them. Oreo, zebra, camo (as in camouflage), whale, fishy, etc.

It is really, truly a piece of art and I look forward to watching the boys grow as they continue to navigate its surface over the next several years.  I see lots of photos in its future.

We spied this graffiti on a rock on Straitsmouth Island while hauling lobster traps the other day.

I’m feeling kind of torn about it.  While the sentiment is sweet (right?)….it’s still legitimate vandalism isn’t it…kind of sour?  Or is it just innocent fun?  Maybe it will wash away soon? Or is it there forever…or at least a really, really long time?

I remember judging how far we were in our weekly trips to my grandparents’ house when I was little and living “up the line” by the familiar graffiti on the rocks along Route 128.  Certainly graffiti has its place in our culture, but is a beautiful island sanctuary the right place?

I don’t know.  Thoughts?

I am admittedly not a cake fan, but I’ll take one of these little pieces of heaven from Rockin’ Cupcakes any day!

It has become our tradition to get 6 for each of our birthdays.  At any given time they probably 15 varieties of scrumptious cupcakes!

Make a point to stop in next time you’re walking around Bearskin Neck in Rockport….or, for the record, they are worth a special trip! Located conveniently near Top Dog, Roy Moore Lobster Co., The Blue Lobster Grille and many more awesome eateries, you really can’t go wrong.

have you seen this little number out in Gloucester Harbor right now?

Private, not chartered.  A quick google search just told me that the yacht belongs to Mark Cuban.  As in the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank fame. I love that he has a basketball hoop on board!

Check it out HERE.  Top 100 Yachts by Forbes Magazine

I was fortunate to be able to witness the retirement of Pedro Martinez’s #45 last night at Fenway Park.

My Modus Operandi when photographing big events at Fenway is to try to get decent photos while living in the moment, breathing in the awesomeness that is the iconic ballpark, and (importantly) staying out of the way.

Special events at Fenway are no joke.  It takes a massive team of headset wearing personnel to execute events such as ring ceremonies, Opening Days, and, yesterday, the retiring of a number.  The staff operate like little parts of an incredibly well-oiled machine and getting in the way of a seamless execution is simply not an option.  So, I hang back, I enjoy, I relish a bit, and then I hope that I was able to capture some of the magic.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…if those walls could talk.  There is always a tangible history living and breathing inside that park. But, last night, you could almost see the green walls buckling as excellence blanketed the infield.

As if having Pedro back in the house and mere inches away from his mound wasn’t special enough, the list of legends that came to help him celebrate formed a little field of dreams.

Ben Cherington, Larry and Stacey Lucchino, John Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti, and Tom Werner sat in attendance along with Pedro’s family. Joe Castiglione emceed the ceremony and the first to join Pedro on the field was Ralph Avila, the scout who first discovered him. Then came his manager from his time with the Expos, Felipe Alou and his brother, Jesus Alou, who runs the Red Sox Dominican Academy. Former teammates Jim Corsi and Lou Merloni delivered a blue grandstand seat, #45 of course, and Tim Wakefield delivered a check for, of course, $45,000 to be given to one of the charities that Pedro supports. Trot Nixon, Orlando Cabrera and Curt Schilling carried a large wrapped gift that contained a laptop fully loaded with video and highlights from Pedro’s time with the Sox.  Red Sox Hall of Famers, Tommy Harper, Dwight Evans, and Luis Tiant gifted a tile from the Green Monster scoreboard, that’s right #45. They were followed by Dennis Eckersley, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski who unveiled a gilded impression of Pedro’s “remarkable hands and unusually long fingers” bronzed and covered in gold. Nomar Garciaparra filmed a video message that was played during the ceremony.  David Ortiz rightfully was a big part of the ceremony and then Jason Varitek, “The Captain”, made an albeit early, appearance to catch Pedro’s first pitch.  When Pedro realized that he had invited Varitek onto the field too early he said, “Hey, this is Pedro.  This is my parade.”

Last night will go down as one of “the nights” that I am glad I didn’t miss and certainly helped remind me just how much, and why, I love this team.

If you missed the ceremony,

You can see it in its entirety HERE

The Red Sox have a great video clip to view HERE

Live blogging from Fenway and the retirement of the one and only #45!

Soon to be 9 retired numbers posted high above Right Field!

Can you name who they all belong to?

The boys and I, along with some friends, have attended the HarborWalk Outdoor Cinema Series the past two Wednesdays.  The boys have had a great time and I’m sure we’ll continue to go as the summer continues.

There is nothing better than free community events and kudos to the organizers and sponsors for making it all happen.

That having been said, I have been horrified by the amount of trash that has been scattered and left behind by those in attendance.  I assure you that my photo doesn’t do justice to the enormous amount of debris, wrappers, and yuckiness that has littered the outdoor movie lot as families have packed up and headed for home.

Last week I asked my boys to each grab a few pieces of trash and we deposited it in trash cans on our way out.  There are, by the way, several trash cans available on location. On the way home, I was mad at myself for not staying and doing more to help return the lot to its tidy condition. I was more angered, however, by the fact that people could simply leave their crap behind in the first place.  Gosh knows I do PLENTY wrong, but I can’t help but think about what kind of message it gives children when they are allowed to walk away and leave their rubbish behind.

For the record, I am well aware that many families obviously took the time to pick up their items…but it was evident, that just as many, if not more, did not.

On a happier note, please look here to see the movie line-up for the rest of the summer, HarborWalk Cinema Series

Sometimes there are things that I mean to squeeze into our weekend, but then simply don’t because we are busy at BBQs, or at the beach, or on the boat.  This weekend, in particular, was really busy between covering the Bluefin Blowout and entertaining the boys.

That having been said, I am SO happy that we made time for the Misselwood Concours D’Elegance.  Thatcher and Finn are obsessed with cars.  Some of you may remember the Car Show Adventure we had this winter.  So, for them, yesterday’s little field trip was Heaven!

Even if you are not a car enthusiast, you’d have to appreciate the beautiful display on the incredibly breathtaking Misselwood Property.

Here are some of our photographs.  I say “ours” because the boys kept on stealing my camera and taking photos of their favorite cars.

Live Blogging from the car show.  Look for more pics tomorrow morning.

Yummy beer, fancy cars, fantastic music, a phenomenal view, awesome people, the Bruins’ Bob Sweeney, the Mayor….and, well, me.  Just saying. Be forewarned that the beer vendors are packing up…but, the bar is still open for service.

Rumor has it, and it is still unconfirmed, that there may also be a fish coming in……

Mayor Sefatia Romeo  Theken is at the Bluefin Blowout and you should be too.

Mile Marker 1 is hopping and the Bluefin Blowout is in full swing!

Welcome Aboard the Lady Sea for an Afternoon of fun, friends, and dancing!

We set sail at promptly 1:00 PM and will sail about the shores of Cape Ann for some fun, music, and dancing to the mixes of DJ Scottie Mac. Upon return to the docks of the Cape Ann Marina and Resort be prepared to partake in a fun filled Brewfest, complete with Silent Auction, and the hopeful arrival of GIANT bluefin tuna from the tournament.

See more information HERE

If you haven’t been down to see the action at the Cape Ann’s Marina Resort, today is a great day for it!

To recap, Thursday night kicked off the event with a delicious Captain’s dinner thanks to Prezza and Ipswich Clambake.  Check here to see all of the other tremendous sponsors, such as the Platinum Presenting Sponsor Lyon-Waugh Auto Group, that helped make this year’s bluefin blowout possible… Bluefinblowout.com

Bob Sweeney and the Bruins Foundation, along with none other than Rene Rancourt and the Bruins’ Ice Girls, were present to help signify the opening of competition. Tournament founders, Drew Hale and Rob Bouley, discussed rules and regulations, gave thanks, and wished everyone good luck.

See Rene’s singing of our National Anthem Thursday evening HERE

More than 40 boats took to the water in search of the somewhat illusive bluefin tuna and Friday afternoon came with the impressive Duck Soup from Pt. Judith, Rhode Island pulling into weigh-in with a beautiful 324-pounder.

See the video of Duck Soup’s fish HERE

Barefoot Wine and the Naked Grape helped make WINEFEST a great success and the Michael Troy band took the stage for live music into the evening.

Today brings BREWFEST thanks to Seaboard Products, more silent auction, hopefully some weighing of more bluefin tuna, the awards banquet, and live music with the Herland Brothers Band!

Congratulations to Duck Soup from Pt. Judith, Rhode Island for landing the 1st tuna in the 2015 Bluefin Blowout.  Watch video of the weigh-in here.

Duck Soup and Captain Alex get the glory of landing the first bluefin at this year’s bluefin blowout! Official weight and more to come.