Good Morning, Dear

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.

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Capturing the Flag…and Bloopers and Close Calls

While we all know by now that Randy Sweet captured both Friday and Saturday’s Greasy Pole flags and that Jake Wagner is Sunday’s Champion, it is worth mentioning that there were several other, less glorified, close calls on the pole.  There were also pretty epic falls.

Here’s just a bit of Sunday’s action in video and photos

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Things are Looking Up for the Greasy Pole Champ, Jake Wagner

Or at least I was looking up at Sunday’s Greasy Pole Champion, Jake Wagner.  I learned quickly from my vantage point just under the pole that that grease is no joke.  Thatch, Finn, and I came home covered in it.

Congratulations to all of the walkers!  There were several very close calls this afternoon! Good showing by all!

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Gloucester Police Seine Boat Champs

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.

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Cygnets are Getting Bigger

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!

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Tuesday with Tall Ships

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.

 

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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.

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It’s in the Genes

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?

 

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

Nichole’s Picks 6/17 + 6/18

Pick #1: Sail Boston!

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For information about our local boats that are available for ticket purchase at Sail Boston, read Joey’s post from earlier this week below

https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2017/06/13/charters-for-sail-boston-tall-ships-event/

READ ALL ABOUT SAIL BOSTON HERE

 

Boston is an official port of the Rendez-Vous 2017 Tall Ships Regatta. The trans-Atlantic regatta will start in Royal Greenwich, UK. From there the fleet will race to Sines, Portugal, followed by Bermuda. The fleet will then race to Boston, for Sail Boston 2017®. From Boston, the fleet will cruise in company north to Quebec City, Canada.

Sail Boston® will entertain its younger audience with educational programs focusing on US and international maritime history. Cadets and crewmembers will be available to educate children of all ages of their personal experiences at sea, home countries and more.

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Pick #2: Hampton Sand Sculpture Event

June 15th – 17th

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17th Annual Hampton Beach Master Sand Sculpting Classic
June 15-17, 2017

The fun starts Wednesday, June 14th, 2017 when 200 tons of imported sand is dropped on Hampton Beach and the “Grady Bunch” starts pounding up the sponsor site. The entire area is illuminated for night viewing through June 28th.

Watch Greg Grady and “The Grady Bunch” build a mammoth Sand Demo Site. View all entries on line at this website.  The competition is by invitation only.  The event is funded by the Hampton Beach Village District and Sponsors, in cooperation with The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce and The NH Division of Parks.

Schedule for 2017 Master Sand Sculpting Competition:

Mon. – Wed. – June 12 – 14 Massive 100 Ton Sponsor Site Created
Wed., June 14 – Sponsors Grand Finale with a Master Group Carve.
Thurs., Fri., & Sat., June 15-16-17 – Solo Competition $15,000 purse and entry awards.
Sat., June 17 – 1:00 – 3:00 PM Voting for People’s Choice Award.
Sat., June 17 at 8:00 PM Awards Ceremony on Sea Shell Stage. Special Fireworks Display at 9:30.
The event is lighted for nightly viewing thru June 28th.

Last Year’s Winner

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Pick #3: 

Strawberry Festival at Marini Farm

June 17th 10:00-5:00

Find Marini Farm information HERE

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As always for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid. 

Tailgating on the Boulevard

My dad will be out of town for the day on Father’s Day and we wanted to be sure to gather together to celebrate him before the day came and went.  With the three grandsons all incredibly busy and the grown-ups in the family having the nerve to occasionally have plans on their own, the best we could all pull off was two hours on Saturday morning.  Knowing full well that if we met for breakfast, he’d just end up picking up the tab, we decided to meet on the boulevard for breakfast and bocce ball.

So fun.  We had a little breakfast tailgate and the boys teamed up with “Grampy” to show off their mad bocce skills (kind of).  Later they did some beach combing and threw the football around….all while we ate granola, drank coffee, and enjoyed the breeze.

Good stuff.  Happy Father’s Day, Dad! xoxo

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Nichole’s Picks 6/10 + 6/11

Pick #1:  Dragon Boat Race and Festival, Boston

June 10th and 11th along the Charles River

http://www.bostondragonboat.org/

The 38th Annual Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival will be held the weekend of June 10-11, 2017.  Be sure to save the date!  Races and cultural performances. Admission is free.

69 teams raced in the 2016 Boston Dragon Boat Festival, once again breaking a Festival record for the number of teams competing.  See the list of teams that participated.

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Pick #2: Millbrook Meadow and Pond Annual Rubber Duck Race

Saturday, June 10th at 11:00 am

Be sure to buy plenty of raffle tickets for the big Rubber Duck Race, 11 a.m. June 10, 2017. Event is sponsored by the Friends of the Council on Aging, and if your duck comes through among the first, you can be a winner! — in Millbrook Meadow and Pond.

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READ MORE HERE

Pick #3:  Cape Ann Museum’s Second Saturdays

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The second Saturday of every month is free from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for families with school-aged children. Families are invited to the Activity Center to participate in hands-on activities that delve into the art, history and culture of the region. Each Second Saturday focuses on a specific theme based on the Museum’s collection and/or special exhibitions.

READ MORE HERE

As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid