Author: Nichole S.

What an exciting few days!  Beginning Friday afternoon we were blessed to be surrounded by some of our very favorite friends and family members.  From impromptu gatherings that lasted well into the night, to the perfect quintessential small town parade parade, to an exquisite event that we had to leave far too soon…but were thrilled to be able to attend….we have laughed and counted our lucky American stars.

One birthday party, three parade parties in 3 different towns, two epic beach days with such great friends, fireworks, and a bonfire…..  The Schraffts are tired, but so happy.

Just think of all of the fantastic bags Regina is going to be able to make with that giant pile of sail!

I drove by Again and Again in East Gloucester Square the other day and had to turn around and park to snap a photo after that massive pile caught my eye.

Visit Again and Again HERE or stop by the shop and check out their inventory!

Rockport’s Congregational Church is having a pretty significant remodel. It has been interesting to walk by and see the progress.  This week it was literally in pieces.  Not an easy job so kudos to those making it happen.

Studio Crepe is announcing some delicious new flavors and some new extended hours of operation! To do so, they are handing out some pretty great free samples on the side of the street on Railroad Avenue. Get down there while they’re still available.    If you haven’t been the Stdio Crepe before, put it on your to do list for sure!

Or…in this case…Good Morning, Deer!

My friend and I were out for an early morning walk/run and encountered this little deer crossing the quiet street down on Eastern Point.  It seemed completely unfazed by us and actually followed us for a few steps as we began to walk away.  Nice way to start a day for sure!

Photo credit to my friend, Diane Linn for snapping and sharing this photo since I didn’t have my phone.

The Annisquam Yacht Club Float on Saturday at noon.  Thanks to Paul and Betsey Horovitz for sharing this beautiful photo!

Congratulations!!

From first-time walker to two time winner! Congratulations, Randy Sweet! 

The Gloucester Police Department won this morning’s rainy seine boat races aboard the Nina!

Second place went to the Fire Department on the Pinta. The Coast Guard hit the Beach third on the Santa Maria.

Snotty, cold conditions….good job done by all.

We stopped by the pond for a quick visit the other day to check on the cygnets.  All six are growing steadily and are beyond cute!  Nice work, Mom and Dad Swan!

We drove into Charlestown early Tuesday afternoon and checked aboard our boat for the evening.  We were staying on the Green Turtle III at the Green Turtle Floating Bed and Breakfast on Pier 13.  After being greeted by our hosts, unpacking, and watching Finn open his birthday gifts, we walked over to the Navy Yard and enjoyed a wonderful tour of the United Coast Guard’s Eagle.  We also took a quick tour on the USS Cassin Young before hopping on the water shuttle over to Rowe’s Wharf. We saw a few other ships on our way over to the Aquarium as well. With dinner waiting and the boys also wanting to hit the splash pad on the Rose Kennedy Greenway we didn’t make it over to the Moakley Courthouse or Fan Pier.  We did, however, hear some live music, walk around Faneuil Hall, and pick up some birthday cake for Finn before catching the last shuttle back to Charlestown.

We were lucky enough to sleep on a boat in Charlestown last night for Finn’s birthday.  While there we walked over to the Navy Yard and had a tour of The Eagle.  Many more photos to come when I get home and I am able to sort through them, but for now, this is possibly one of the most beautiful American flags I have ever seen.

It wasn’t looking much like a beach day early this morning, but hang in there, the weather forecast looks promising.

Genes kind of crack me up a little bit.  While I’m (painfully) aware of how similar Finn and my husband are I find myself stopping to consider it more on Father’s Day.  Finn and Freddy look a ton alike…as I hear at least once per week while out and about with Finn.  I’m not lying when I say that complete strangers come up to Finn in public places and say, “You must be Freddy Schrafft’s son.”   I think that, in the photos below, Finn also looks like Freddy’s father, Fred.  My older son, Thatcher, looks nothing like Freddy or more….but shares most of my personality traits.  He does, however, look a lot like my husband’s sister’s son.  Strange.

What do you think?

Thatcher and Finn

Freddy and his dad, Fred

Finn

Freddy

Finn is on the left….Freddy, at about the same age, is on the right.

We were late getting home for dinner and bed, but how do you not stop and snap some photos of this…