Author: Nichole S.

Because when you live in Gloucester, and you’re 11 years-old, and you go fishing down by the Annisquam River, you should expect to find a petrified tuna head, right?

These two deer were out for a nice Sunday stroll in a quiet neighborhood in Rockport. After walking down the street a bit they stopped by a friend’s yard for a snack. I watched them for almost 10 minutes.

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NOTES FROM THE FIREHOUSE: THE ANNISQUAM HISTORICAL SOCIETY

I hope that you enjoy the second post in this series from the Annisqum Historical Society’s Notes and Findings.

See Post #1, The Lobsterman Cometh and the Bugs Goeth, here

This is such a wonderful glimpse into the Annisquam Historical Society’s extensive collection of photographs dating back to the days of glass plate negatives.

Take some time and view their impressive collection here: annisquamhistoricalsociety.org

I am very grateful to David W. Teele & Betsey B. Horovitz for sharing this information with us. I am hopeful that they may continue to share some of their findings and extensive research.  What a joy it is to see these images and take this trip back in time.

What is a cunner net, and why do you need one?

We hold many images of men lobstering from dories; virtually every image shows a metal hoop net with a bail. Even the image below, in which somebody is posing for aspiring artists, shows the net (as well as, apparently, a diving board on the nearby float). The model sports a handsome moustache plus a white shirt, collar, necktie, and vest, uncommon apparel for a working lobsterman. He may well have been a fellow artist…. Read more in the PDF screen grabs below

NOTES from the Firehouse: The Annisquam Historical Society

I hope that you enjoy the second post in this series from the Annisqum Historical Society’s Notes and Findings.

See Post #1, The Lobsterman Cometh and the Bugs Goeth, here

This is such a wonderful glimpse into the Annisquam Historical Society’s extensive collection of photographs dating back to the days of glass plate negatives.

Take some time and view their impressive collection here: annisquamhistoricalsociety.org

I am very grateful to David W. Teele & Betsey B. Horovitz for sharing this information with us. I am hopeful that they may continue to share some of their findings and extensive research.  What a joy it is to see these images and take this trip back in time.

What is a cunner net, and why do you need one?

We hold many images of men lobstering from dories; virtually every image shows a metal hoop net with a bail. Even the image below, in which somebody is posing for aspiring artists, shows the net (as well as, apparently, a diving board on the nearby float). The model sports a handsome moustache plus a white shirt, collar, necktie, and vest, uncommon apparel for a working lobsterman. He may well have been a fellow artist…. Read more in the PDF screen grabs below

I was down in Hyannis with Finn and my mom and we saw the beautiful blue-hulled Silver Shalis. A few days later I was on Nantucket with some friends and I saw her again. A week later I happened to be on Martha’s Vineyard and saw a beautiful yacht of the same color leaving the island as I sat on Owen Park Beach waiting to board my ferry…. I’m pretty certain it was the Silver Shalis again. So, the way I figure it….we’re practically family.

I’m in love with this wooden sign that I saw outside of a store on Martha’s Vineyard. I asked the girl working in store if she knew who painted it, but she didn’t.

I love this painting on the side of one of the artist booths in Hyannis. The waterfront along their inner harbor is a really lovely place to walk and explore.

Here’s a beautiful shot to help your day start off right.  Thank you to Paul Horovitz for this photo of Annisquam Light at sunrise.

The 146th running of the Kentucky Derby should have taken place back on May 2nd, 2020….as the attached Woodford Reserve logo suggests.  It will, instead, take place this coming Saturday, September 5th and, as with many sporting events, it will take place without fans.

As we countdown to the main event you can watch LIVE as the horses complete their morning workouts each day from 7:00-8:00 am.

Please click HERE to learn more: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/

Here are this year’s horses as they currently rank:

Leaving Hyannis Harbor for a quick trip to Nantucket for some hijinks with friends.

Last week we booked a private fishing charter on the Lady D. with Coastal Fishing Charters leaving right from Rose’s Wharf in Gloucester (same dock as Cape Ann Whale Watch).  It was a tough choice to decide whether to do a striped bass trip or head off-shore for haddock fishing.  Ultimately we took Captain Nick’s advice and went out in search of haddock.  Once off-shore we immediately started to catch.  The boys didn’t have to wait long in between bites and two of the times that we made a move to another spot we actually encountered dolphins! We are obviously aware that dolphin encounters aren’t guaranteed, but we were really happy to see them!

Our mate, Dylan, was extremely attentive and alternated between preparing bait, helping the boys with their gear, and cleaning fish.  He was extremely careful to measure each haddock very accurately if there was any doubt that it was a keeper and he taught the boys how to do so as well.  I lost track of how many fish we caught….I’m going to guess about 30…of six different species.  The boys caught LOTS of haddock, some cod, some red fish, mud hake, cunner, and something else that I can’t remember.  As it got close to time to head back to shore, Dylan started to clean our many keepers…..not an easy job…and bagged up the fish that we wanted to take home.

Captain Nick humored the boys who had many questions.  Always curious, they wanted to know all about the fish he has caught, the depth of the water, and what the ocean floor looked like in each spot.  He made sure that the boys had a great trip and was excited to put them on some good fish.

It was such a great day on the water and one the boys won’t soon forget.  I am so happy that we booked the trip and are already talking about booking again early next summer to catch some big stripers.

If you want a day on the water and the opportunity to catch some nice fish, consider booking your private trip as well.  You can learn more at their website here:

https://www.coastalfishingcharters.net/

or call Capt Nick at 508-284-2909

Gloucester Fishing charters! Fishing for striped bass, tuna, and deep sea fishing for haddock are all available at Coastal Fishing Charters. We are one of the best deep sea fishing charters in Massachusetts at an affordable rate. For over 35 years, Coastal Fishing Charters has specialized in Trips for Striped Bass Fishing, Cod and Haddock, tuna and giant shark Fishing in Gloucester MA.
All tackle is included or you can bring your own if you prefer.

We also do an ultimate private whale watch on our 35ft T Jason.
We have heat aboard the Lady D for those cool rides to the fishing grounds!!!

I am blessed to have a good friend who is a tremendous artist.  I’m blessed because she’s amazing in many ways….but, that could be a post for another day.  For this post’s purposes, I’m blessed because she agreed to paint a very special piece for me.  I had seen that she was working on a new technique.  She had painted a piece of her son swimming under water…and it was gorgeous.  I immediately knew that I wanted to ask her a favor.

Last April we traveled to Mexico and spent a wonderful day out sport fishing in Puerto Adventuras.  At one point the captain pulled up to a small island and let us snorkel off its coast.  While snorkeling, I captured an underwater photo of my boys swimming with a turtle.  It was such a special little moment and a photo that I’ve treasured ever since.  I sent it to Paula and asked if she’d be willing to paint it.

The end result took my breath away.  It actually takes my breath away each time I look at it. It encapsulates a moment of my boys’ childhoods that I’d like to freeze forever.  It is vibrant…and it is beautiful.  It is absolutely perfect…exquisite really, in my opinion.  I find myself staring at it every single day.   I can not thank Paula Morgan enough.  Take a moment and browse some of Paula’s work by clicking on the links below.

Check out Paula Morgan Fine Art by clicking HERE

Some of Paula Morgan’s work can be purchased here on Etsy 

Paula’s new Instagram page, Paula Morgan Art, can be found here:  https://www.instagram.com/paulamorgan_art/

We’re getting ready to head out on the Lady D for some offshore fishing.  Looking forward to a great morning on the water!

Finn had a doubleheader out on the Boylston/Worcester line on Sunday so after his games we took a little trip to do a drive by of the soon-to-be-moved Pawtucket Red Sox’s new home…Polar Park.   This soon-to-be home of the now WooSox is still well underway and has been delayed like everything else due to COVID-19, but…from what I’ve read…it should be a pretty impressive stadium.  Larry Lucchino knows a thing or two about building…and in Fenway’s case…renovating ballparks.  We can’t wait to take in a game out there and to add it to the list of other Red Sox franchise parks that we’ve enjoyed!

The beautiful oranges, greens, blues, and the shiny black shells of the mussels and barnacles on the rocks made for some pretty photos.

I mean, really.  The sunsets that happen over our Cape are breathtaking.  I love to drive from the rotary towards the Annisquam, past Plum Cove Beach, Lanes Cove, the Lobster Pool, Halibut Point, Pigeon Cove, Granite Pier, Back Beach, Cape Hedge Beach, Good Harbor Beach, and Niles.  It is impossible, I think, to do them all in one trip…but I like to see several each evening….or sit and savor just one.

We had a really delicious and relaxing dinner on the deck of the Great Marsh Brewing Company in Essex on Tuesday night.  The food was delicious…..I forgot to snap a photo of the brussels sprouts before we teared into them…and they were spectacular.  Our party ordered burgers, cobb salads, pork tacos, Essex fried clams, fish and chips, and more.  While I’ve enjoyed their beer before, we opted for one cold cocktail instead…a blackberry margarita…since it had been in the 90s all day.  The view is wonderful too.   While we sat on the deck, others were sitting off to the side at tables under their tent where you can order from the take-out window as well.   It’s a great place to sit with friends or family.

The Bruins play Game 1 of Round One of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes this morning at 11:00 am!   11:00 am??  NESN let everyone know on Instagram last night, “For everyone worried about tomorrow’s game time…..we got you” along with an excused tardy slip for employers.   Tune into NESN for pregame beginning at 10:00 and for puck drop at 11:00.

Start Your Engines.  Or, maybe not.   I can’t help but think there must be a story behind this washed ashore small engine.  I hope that it isn’t a sign of some trouble on the water.  Finn and I saw it while fishing off the rocks in Magnolia.