Author: Nichole S.

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.

Thatcher, Finn, and I went on a Whale Watch with Cape Ann Whale Watch a few days ago. It has been a few years since I have been on an official whale watch out of Cape Ann….as opposed to chancing upon them on our own boat or with friends or their boat….and I was so excited to go.  With lots of health and safety Covid protocol in place, we felt like we had the necessary elbow room and were very comfortable and ready for a day on the water.  Cape Ann Whale Watch has lessened the number of passengers they take on each trip, they remind guests frequently that masks must be worn while walking around the boat and while viewing the whales, and they were constantly cleaning and sanitizing during our trip.  We saw six or seven individual humpbacks and were pleasantly surprised that a couple were comfortable enough to come very close to the Hurricane as we sat in neutral being sure to respect the boundaries that are heavily enforced while in the whales’ grounds.   If you have yet to go on a whale watch….and have never been in the company of whales…you are truly missing out.

Summer is not over…..the whales are not gone….be sure to reach out to Cape Ann Whale Watch and book you trip now!

Finn and I explored some coast line along Magnolia the past few days.  It was fun to see what had washed up and discover nooks and crannies along the way.  We are, as we all already know, blessed to live in such a beautiful place….where even ocean debris can be pretty.

Right as Isiasi passed quickly with some very heavy rains, we were waiting for some take-out dinner to be ready.  We drove through Gloucester during the worst of it….as it came on kind of quickly.  By the time we got to Niles Beach, the rain had stopped and the sky was so bright.    We stopped to snap a couple of photos and then saw a very dull rainbow off the back shore and in the distance.

Glass Tech Boat Service is Offering a Boat Cleaning Special! Don’t Miss Out!

What a summer so far – such incredible boating and fishing for sure. Now would be a great time to treat your boat to a thorough on-site cleaning! 
Take advantage of Glass Tech Boat Service’s mid-summer COVID CLEANING SPECIAL!
Take 20% off their on-site cleaning and detailing services.
Proper PPE and disinfecting supplies will be plentiful.
Call to schedule at 978-281-2608

Visit them on Facebook & see some of their latest projects

Learn all about Glass Tech HERE

Glass Tech specializes in the following:

Cosmetic Boat Restoration Experts

Let these before and after pictures speak for their team’s talent when it comes to vessel restoration.

Indoor & Outdoor Boat Storage

GlassTech Boat Specialists has become one of the most trusted boat storage and winterizing facilities on Cape Ann. They offer a full range of storage solutions for your boat including indoor heated winter storage.

Check their boat storage and winterizing pages for more information including packages, rates and policies.

Superior Fiberglass & Gelcoat Repair

GlassTech is highly specialized in the areas of fiberglass and gelcoat boat repair. Everything from small chips and scratches to major structural repairs; they can offer solutions to every situation.

Glass Tech’s services are based on the premise that there are no problems, only solutions.

We had dinner with my dad at Lobsta Land on Sunday after a long day of baseball.  We chose to sit inside because we had been outside all day long….but, the seating under the tent by the water’s edge looked pretty inviting and I look forward to sitting out there soon.  Four-top tables have been situated along the bar to make use of that space and to allow diners to feel comfortable and adequately distant from other patrons.  A service window allows for restaurant staff to pass food and beverages from the inside to their nice outdoor seating efficiently.

We ordered mussels, coconut shrimp, a lobster dinner, calamari, onion rings, and two Sole Meunieres.  Everything truly was delicious.   And….as if an excellent meal with family wasn’t good enough… we had a chance to chat with Corey Grammas and discover that the one and only Jamie Verga is now working at Lobsta Land.

Learn more and check out Lobsta Land’s menu here

Thatcher and I pulled over quickly to enjoy the sunset at Plum Cove Beach.  With no legitimate parking spots available we decided to move along, but I snapped four quick photos first.  This surfer walked across the shot as I did so.  A happy photobomb ….as I think he kind of completes the picture.