Author: Nichole S.

Our dog, Minnow, was happy to supervise Thatcher as he planted window boxes yesterday.

The view from the pool deck on top of the Beauport is so pretty.

I joined Joey and Jim for breakfast the other day at Castle Manor Inn and it was tremendous!

Home

Seeing red. These are the first red lobster traps I have ever seen. I wonder, do lobstermen have a preference?

I’m so thankful for the fact that there are eyes everywhere “on the island.” Finn is nearly 14 and is more often off fishing than not. This morning he woke up at 5:00 a.m. and took off on his bike to make a few casts before school. As is often the case, it wasn’t too long before someone sent a photo of him in search of fish. I love how much he loves to fish. And, I love that people are always looking out for him and keeping eyes on him. “Finn sightings” set my mind at ease.

Here are your horses for the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby. Who do you like?

https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

Last month I did a different post of a cool light fixture entitled “Head to the Light.” It was of one of the very nautical lights at Mile Marker. So, here’s a different light fixture. Does anyone know where this hangs? Do you ever look up?

All was quiet as dusk approached the other night during a drive down the State Fish Pier

Here is a great opportunity to advertise your business, maybe play some golf, and give back to a very worthy cause. A friend’s family is hosting the HSAN IV FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT (read about this rare childhood disease below) on Monday, May 8th at the Rockport Golf Club. Click link to learn more. They still have sponsorship/advertising opportunities available as well as some room for new foursomes to play. Please consider making a donation …be it monetary, a gift card, or a gift basket. The foundation supports research for the rare condition of HSAN IV.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT HERE: https://app.eventcaddy.com/events/hsav-iv-inaugural-golf-tournament

LEARN MORE ABOUT HSAN IV HERE: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/hereditary-sensory-and-autonomic-neuropathy-type-iv/

Disease Overview

Summary

Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV (HSAN4 or HSAN IV) is a rare genetic disorder that usually begins in infancy and is characterized by an inability to feel pain and an inability to sweat (anhidrosis). Affected individuals also cannot feel temperature and cannot distinguish between hot and cold. The sensory loss in individuals with HSAN IV is due to abnormal functioning of the sensory nerves that control responses to pain and temperature. Anhidrosis can cause recurrent episodes of fever and high body temperature. An inability to feel pain can lead to unintentional self-mutation, repeated fractures, and joint damage. Affected individuals and especially children or infants may be unaware of injury delaying treatment. HSAN IV is caused by changes (mutations) in the NTRK1 gene. The disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Traps for days. Blue, yellow, green, and even red (which I’ve never seen before)….square, rectangle, old, and new. Truest signs of a working waterfront.

Here is this week’s music line up for the Rhumb Line at 40 Railroad Ave, Gloucester. Don’t forget that in addition to this schedule there are also early shows on Friday and Saturday at 5:00. Live music 7 nights per week!

Always watching.

With a little bit of free time after dropping Finn off at a fishing hole, I drove through Essex on a foggy Saturday.

Where am I? I love these light fixtures.

We booked The Whalemobile to come to Harborlight Montessori the other day and it was fantastic. Thank you to Cynde for all of the hard work and passion you put into educating children about humpback whales, conservation, and the waters off of our coast. Seeing Nile, the life-sized inflatable humpback that was designed to look exactly like the real Nile who makes appearances on Stellwagen Bank and Jeffreys Ledge, is pretty tremendous. Learn more here: https://thewhalemobile.com/

Hello, old friend. This red cardinal greeted us Easter morning. I wish I had my camera to enjoy him up close but we stopped and listened to him as he called to a friend for a bit.

Kentucky Derby. With the Masters Tournament behind us, it is time to start thinking about the Kentucky Derby. At the time of this posting there will be 26 days, 9 hours, and 45 minutes until go time! Start thinking about your favorites! Check out the horses here: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

The year I killed the Easter Bunny….. With Easter this weekend, I thought I’d re-share a post I wrote just a couple of years ago when I “killed off” the Easter bunny from our holiday celebrations.

I killed the Easter Bunny. Well, I mean not literally….because well, he doesn’t really exist, but also because I would never hurt anything that way. But, that having been said, I killed him off….like, in a TV series.

You see, Finn, my soon-to-be 12 year-old has always been a strong believer. Some kids are like so-so believers…but, not Finn. He’s been hardcore since Day #1. Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy mascots…oh, the mascots…. but, Mascots are a post for another day. I digress.

I thought for sure, that at the fine age of 11, Finn might question the whole Santa thing back in December. But, he didn’t. Each time I thought he was just playing along, he’d say something that make it perfectly clear that he still believed. While it was cute and all, I’d be lying if I wasn’t kind of like, what the heck?

So, Christmas…and Santa…came and went and we wrote the list, put out the milk, left carrots for reindeer, decorated the cookie plate, and wrapped some gifts in Santa’s paper ….and some in ours. Holidays done. Check.

Then, before we knew it, came Easter. Last Easter Eve I kind of thought we were done. I mean we were hardcore in the throws of COVID with tons of unknowns. Easter and its gifts and traditions were kind of an after thought if I’m being honest. Then, at bedtime, the little bugger goes into the kitchen and gets all busy. I hear him, but don’t think much of it. All of a sudden he comes out ….with a plate of carrots…..

Finn (matter of factly): “I put out carrots for the Easter Bunny.”

Me: (shit) “Great, good job.” ….and by “Great, good job” …. I really meant, “Oh crap, we’re still doing that”  And, geez, thank goodness we had carrots. As I stuffed the Easter baskets and hid the eggs later that night, I did so while keeping Easter traditions alive.

So, 12 months later, I had a decision to make. The way I saw it, I had some choices.

A. Carry on with the bunny traditions under the assumption that Finn still, STILL, believes

B. Enlist Thatcher to get the deets as to whether Finn still believes… and go from there

C. Shop and plan for Easter….but, leave out the actual Easter Bunny character….hence, in doing so, eliminating him.

So, I went with “C.” Don’t judge.

Rather than the traditional Easter baskets, I bought new suitcases for an upcoming trip. I bought bathing suits, flip flops, a couple of t-shirts, a Dunks’ gift card, some baseball stuff, and the littlest bit of candy. I wrapped their gifts in tissue paper and stuffed the little pieces of luggage. I didn’t mention putting out carrots the night before….and neither did Finn.

After Easter breakfast and the opening of their gifts (with the absence of bunny footprint signatures and carrot peels from the gnawed-on carrots left behind from the Main Bunny’s visit in the middle of the night), we went mini golfing and out for ice cream… as has become a fairly new tradition for the past 3 years. We skipped an egg hunt. But, Finn was psyched to go fishing. Win.

At the end of the day, I plopped on the couch happy. But, then, kind of sad. So, that was it. The Easter Bunny had been eliminated…killed off from our story, if you will. He’d still hold a special place in our memories of course….but, would no longer play a role. Not until the day there are grandchildren running under foot at least….and that won’t be for a long time. Would Finn ask…or care? Finn…made no mention. Not that night. Not the next day. Not any day since. It was big brother Thatcher who ultimately said, “So, like, there’s no more bunny?” To which I answered, “I guess not.”

Congratulations to Caitlin Pszenny and Loran Caputo for the release of their delicious Queenpin IPA last night in support of the Pink Boots Society! The duo, one the outgoing Greater Cape Ann Chamber President and one the newest/current President, blended flavors and made their own beer at the Laneside Pub and Brewery at Cape Ann Lanes (which Caitlin and her husband, Nick, happen to own).

https://www.capeannlanes.com/ https://www.capeannlanes.com/food-beverage

Pink Boots Society: Boston Chapter