Author: Nichole S.

If You Build It…Well, You Know the Rest.

Posted on by Nichole S.

There’s a lot of construction going on along Nugent Stretch from Gloucester along into Rockport these days.

 

 

 

 

Kickin’ It in Rockport!

Posted on by Nichole S.

What a ball!   On Saturday morning men and women from the United States Navy joined forces with some young and eager kickball stars from Rockport.  The results were a mad game of Kickball!  The Midshipmen (trust me when I say I did some research to figure out the correct terms to use for these awesome men and women…but, since they were out of uniform, I’m at a loss) were unbelievable with the kids and, while the game was competitive, it was also hysterical to watch.  Children 6 years old and older were welcome to register in advance for the opportunity to play with and against the Navy.  At the end of the game they game some younger children (including the Finnster) a chance to kick and run the bases as well.

Thanks to all of those involved!  Lasting memories for these young kids for sure.

Looking For A New Place to Visit?

Posted on by Nichole S.

If you’re like me, and you have young children or grandchildren, you’ve probably exhausted most short day trip venues.  Don’t get me wrong, there are so many tremendous places to visit around this area and I feel incredibly fortunate to have such fun, educational, and diverse opportunities for summer fun at our doorstep! We certainly have our favorite stomping grounds that never get old, and that we’ll visit time and time again, but every once in a while, we plain ole want something new.  I feel compelled to add that the boys have also had plenty of down-time by just hitting the beach, riding bikes, and playing in the yard….but, we like to throw a day trip into the mix once a week.

With a seek and conquer attitude, we hit the road on Monday morning, determined to visit someplace we’ve never been.

Destination:  Kimball Farm, Westford.

Just a mere few minutes over an hour away….and loads of fun.  Oh, and clean! Our choice was a big success!

Kimball Farm has a bit of everything.  Bumper Boats, mini golf, a driving range, Pitch and Putt golf, an indoor arcade, batting cages, a small animal experience highlighting some rescued and orphaned animals, a seafood shack, and, of course, ice cream!

I chose Monday because I had to head “up the line” to Danvers for an errand anyway…so, it was really only a 40 minute drive.  Once there, we spent about 3 hours having outdoor fun.  We could have easily stayed longer, but we love the driving range and batting cages at Richardson’s Dairy so we skipped those options and focused our fun elsewhere…promising them another trip to Richardson’s soon.

The Bumper Boats were the obvious winner for the boys.  I gave the win to the fact that the place was well-cared for, clean, and nicely landscaped and decorated.  A big family win all around!  Check it out for sure if you don’t mind a short drive!

Kimball Farm

 

As if Rockport Isn’t Gorgeous Enough!

Posted on by Nichole S.

Add some beautiful sailboats with nautical flags a flappin’ and some pretty easy on the eyes cadets all dressed in navy and khaki and Rockport just got even prettier!

Welcome back to town to the United States Navy!

See the full schedule of events for Rockport’s Navy Weekend here.

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Live Blogging From the Hubby’s Birthday

Posted on by Nichole S.

Nothing like a trip around the Cape on a flat ass calm evening with friends. Happy Birthday to my husband and to the new drink we just created, The Rockport Harbor. Triple 8 Blueberry, lemonade, and a splash of soda. Ahhhh….The Studio. Bring on the sushi!

What the Fluke

Posted on by Nichole S.

I will swim with a humpback whale some day.

It’s at the top of my bucket list for sure.

I actually planned a vacation to Costa Rica several years ago for the opportunity to swim with the whales in Drake Bay, but sadly, no whales were in the area during my stay.

I have, however, had the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins, sea turtles, sea lions, rays, black tip reef sharks, and manatees.  Each of those experiences are kind of sacred to me.  All are moments that I will never forget.

While swimming with wild marine life may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you haven’t been on at least one amazing whale watch, you are missing out.  We are incredibly fortunate to have whales not far off our coast for a good part of the year.  I, all kidding aside, sometimes find myself laying awake at night thinking, “I wonder what the whales are doing right now?” Freak meter rating high, I realize, but true nonetheless.

So, today, knowing that the whales have been plentiful for the past several days, we went for a trip with Cape Ann Whale Watch.  How do I know they’ve been plentiful you may ask?  I follow their blog.

I had the opportunity to speak with both long time owners, Nick Danikas and Jim Douglass, in the parking lot prior to the trip.  Both are great guys who are pretty passionate about offering trips that leave guests with memories to last a lifetime.

Likewise, the crew and the naturalists are phenomenal and beyond highly educated on the matter of whales and sea life indigenous to our waters. Their enthusiasm was contagious.  Even the captain, John Karvelas, was excitedly pointing out bubble clouds as they formed on the surface of the water.  Bubble clouds are a method that whales use to trap krill and sand eels in a tight school so that they can emerge, mouths open, and swallow up a giant meal.

Today’s trip was nothing short of amazing.  To begin, we only had to head 11 miles off the Dog Bar Breakwater, which was a treat in itself.  After a short steam, we were literally surrounded by humpback whales.  I’ve been on many whale watches.  Both on local whale watching boats and on smaller private boats. Today’s trip was one for the record books.

Click Here for more information about Cape Ann Whale Watch

Hear are some of my favorite photos from today’s trip.

 

Slip Sliding Away

Posted on by Nichole S.

The “lighthouse” at the end of the harbor breakwater on Bearskin Neck in Rockport has precariously tumbled away from its perch.  Even though I live right down the street and go by this often by boat, I’m not sure exactly when this happened.  Anyone?

I've fallen and can't get up
I’ve fallen and can’t get up

Young and Salty

Posted on by Nichole S.

We were on our good friends’ boat the other day with their 3 children, our two boys, and two additional cousins.  As we watched all of the children laugh and chill on the bow while we made our way around the back shore of Gloucester, he said, “I love that these kids are all growing up so salty.”

Well, me too.

Today the boys asked if I would do a post in which they could talk about how they haul lobster traps.  How do you say “no” to that!  So, as they hauled some gear, I took a bunch of photos and they taught me what was up along the way.

This is what they had to say….

 

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Four-Legged Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Posted on by Nichole S.

Thanks to Jen Helzberg who submitted this excellent photo of her Bernese Mountain Dog pup, Juno, taking the paddle board out for a spin last week in Oak Cove on Rocky Neck in response to my It’s a Dog’s Life post from yesterday.

Great Job, Juno! Looking good out there.
Great Job, Juno! Looking good out there.

 

 

It’s a Dog’s Life

Posted on by Nichole S.

The funniest part of the Horrible’s Parade the other day, you may ask?   Well, for me, it was watching one of the floats hand out dog treats while parading some furry friends along the route.  That in itself wouldn’t have been funny, but hearing one of the women tell our very own Joey to, “Give the dog treat to his favorite pooch” while getting dangerously close to him with one of her canine friends was priceless.  His grimace could have moved mountains….involuntary or not.  If you’ve been a FOB for anytime….you know that Joey is not necessarily a Fan of Dogs.

I think you’re either a dog person or not…

I am absolutely a dog person…as are my boys.   We have two German Shorthaired Pointers…Moby and Marlin.  Finn, in particular, cannot pass by a dog while walking through downtown Rockport (or anywhere else) without patting it and asking 20 questions about its name, breed, age, hobbies, etc.  So stay clear if you’re walking a dog and in a rush.

Consider this a call to dog lovers to submit your photos of dogs doing funny dog things.

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Sitting proud at the helm while watching the Greasy Pole
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Keeping Nantucket Safe and Clean
Our very own Marlin hoping to score some dinner from Finn
Our very own Marlin hoping to score some dinner from Finn

Mother Nature Keeps an Eye out over Wingaersheek Beach

Posted on by Nichole S.

Or at least that is what I saw in the clouds Sunday evening while exiting the Annisquam River to head home to Rockport.

Sun sets on Fiesta and Mother Nature looks over those on the sandbar at Wingaersheek Beach
Sun sets on Fiesta and Mother Nature looks over those on the sandbar at Wingaersheek Beach

Fiesta Through the Eyes of the Little Guys

Posted on by Nichole S.

For anyone who has grown up in or around Gloucester, the St. Peter’s Fiesta has clearly served as the true kick-off to summer. But, it is much more than that. The funny thing is that the importance and significance of Fiesta has probably also changed throughout each individual’s life time depending on their age.  At times the religious celebrations have been of upmost importance… and later the rides. At times maybe the five day celebration was all about family… and later it was all about hanging out with friends.  At times it was about hoping to get a glimpse of that certain “crush” under the ferris wheel and years later it was all about air guitar at Old Timers or trying to cut in line at The Gloucester House. Still later, possibly you’ve come full circle, and celebrating with loved ones makes the Fiesta a time to truly be treasured.  At times the parade reigned supreme….and later, maybe the fireworks.  For many years playing on the beach during the seine boat races was more fun than actually watching them….and later cheering for a certain crew was equivalent to the Kentucky Derby.  The Greasy Pole has always been….well, the Greasy Pole.  Whether you love it for the tradition or the insanity, the sport or the absurdity….whether you watch it from Pavilion Beach or by boat in the harbor…there is nothing quite like it.

I’ve been there for all of them.  I have fond memories of the Fiesta that range from being a very young child, to a preteen, to a teenager, to a college student, to a bar-crawling 20 something year-old, to a “grown-up”, and now as a parent….who feels blessed to be sharing the experience with my own children. I have Fiesta memories that involve holding my grandfather’s hand as he guided me through the crowd and later memories of holding his hand as I supported him. I have Fiesta memories of holding the hand of long ago boyfriends and later Fiesta memories of holding the hand of my now husband.  Maybe the best memories are the newest….as just today, I held the hands of both of my sons while jumping from ride to ride.

So, as the mother of a 5 and 7 year-old, St. Peter’s Fiesta to me so far this year has been all about the rides, the games, and the food.  It is all about the color, the sounds, the smells…and the way they all seem to blur together.  While I may have desired to capture other aspects of this year’s Fiesta and I would love to get that “perfect shot”…..I have found myself enjoying it through my children’s eyes.

And this is how they see it.

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