Author: Nichole S.

Even without the iconic red paint visible, Motif No. 1 is still pretty.  Goodnight, Rockport.

A few turkeys were walking around the side yard of campus yesterday so I walked outside to take some photos of them.  Imagine my horror when I realized that one had a long arrow straight through its body!  While it seemed to walking fine and keeping up with its friends, it was totally heartbreaking to see.  I can only imagine the pain and discomfort the arrow must be causing.

I made a phone call to Beverly Animal Control who told me to call Fish and Wildlife who told me to call Boston Wildlife Rescue.  They asked for photos and asked for us to keep an eye out to see if the turkey is able to roost at night and whether or not it looks like it is eating, etc.  Hopefully they will come find it this week to see if there is anything they can do.

Mother’s Day morning I slept until almost 9:00 and woke up to find my boys dressed in button-down shirts and ready to go.  Turns out we had 10:30 reservations over at the Sea Glass restaurant at the Castle Manor Inn.

While the weather wasn’t perfect….brunch was.  When asked, we were fine sitting outside on the tented and enclosed deck.  I’m all in for eating with a view whenever possible and the heaters made it warm enough for us.  The Mother’s Day Buffet was loaded with with a variety of dishes and was really delicious. There were several traditional breakfast choices alongside dishes such as chowder, chicken parm, stuffed eggplant, steak tips, and more.  While eating, the staff also walked around with platters of stuffed clams, shrimp cocktail, and stuffed mushrooms.

To sweeten the deal, the dessert table included chocolate mousse cake and creme brulee!

Much thanks to the staff for helping to make Mother’s Day pretty lovely….even in the torrential rain.  I look forward to going back in the warmth of the summer for a less windy meal.

Learn more about THE CASTLE MANOR INN and SEA GLASS RESTAURANT HERE

I wish I had taken more photos to share in this post, but I was happy to be enjoying the time with the family.

I stopped by Learning Express in Beverly yesterday afternoon…as I often do because it is so close to work….and discovered a sign on the door that says, “We’re Moving.”

Luckily, they’re not moving far…just down the road in fact, but you still might want to make a mental note so you’re not surprised when you go to visit them.

Pick #1:  Gloucester Public School Arts Festival

GMG’s own James Eve did a wonderful post about this earlier this week….with all of the information you could need.  Please read his full post here! 

The festival is Saturday from 11:00-4:00

In his post, amongst other information, James included this schedule….

2017 Gloucester Public Schools Arts Festival Schedule of Events

Saturday, May 13, 2016

11 am to 12 pm            GHS Culinary Arts Reception – Sawyer Free Library
11 am to 11:30              Mad Hot Ball Demonstration – City Hall
11:30 to 12 pm            Recorder Performance – Elementary School Students – City Hall
12 to 12:340 pm            Ukulele Performance – Elementary School Students – City Hall
1 to 1:30 pm                        GHS Interactive Engineering Demonstration – City Hall
1 to 1:30 pm                        Dancing Through the Decades Workshop – City Hall
1 to 3 pm                        Collaborative Art Project – Sculpture Park – Museum
1:30 to 2:00 pm            GHS Theater Performance – City Hall
2 to 2:30 pm                        GHS Chorus Performance – City Hall
2:30 to 3:00 pm            O’Maley Chorus Performance – City Hall
3 to 3:30 pm                        O’Maley Jazz Band Performance – City Hall
3:30 to 4 pm                        GHS Docksiders Performance – City Hall

All Day Visual Art Displays

Elementary Schools – City Hall
O’Maley Innovation- Sawyer Free Library
High School – Sawyer Free Library
Industrial Arts, Engineering, Woodworking – Cape Ann Museum and City Hall

Pick #2:  Bunny Tales: Mother’s Day at Appleton Farms

Sunday, May 14
10-12PM

Member Adults: $24 (Moms are FREE). Member Children: $12. Nonmember Adults:$30. (Moms are FREE). Nonmember Children: $15

READ ALL ABOUT THIS EVENT AND PRE-REGISTER HERE

Join us this Mother’s Day for an adventure with the classic characters from Beatrix Potter! Bring the whole family to enjoy a morning with the mischievous Peter Rabbit and his friends!

Attendees will explore the farm and meet some of the classic characters such as; Peter Rabbit, Squirrel Nutkin, Johnny Town Mouse, Tom Kitten and more!  Visit Mr. McGregor’s garden, Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s kitchen, Jemima Puddle Duck’s nest and Hunca Munca’s doll house.  After your adventure, join us in the Carriage Barn for light refreshments and meet our farm animals in the barnyard.  Kids will also make a beautiful potted lettuce garden inspired by Peter Rabbit as a gift for mom!
FREE for moms! Please register all other adults and children. (Example: If Dad is registering for the family of five -Mom, Dad, and three kids- add 1 adult and three child tickets to your cart.)

This event runs rain or shine. Please pre-register so we have enough refreshments for all. Children under 1 are free.

Pick #3:  Lilac Sunday (now Saturday!) at Arnold Arboretum

PLEASE NOTE: 

“Events on Sunday, May 14 have been cancelled due to severe weather. We regret any inconvenience. A modified slate of tours and activities will be offered on Saturday, May 13. See details below.”

READ MORE HERE

Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a daylong celebration. Mainly located on the edge of Bussey Hill Road in the heart of the landscape, the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum is among the premier collections of these plants in North America.

Tours of the lilacs and family activities are available from 10:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, May 13

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

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week occurred a couple of weeks ago and my co-workers and I were b.e.y.o.n.d spoiled by our fabulous parent community.  Amongst so many other generous and amazing surprises (goodie bags, gift certificates, massages, raffle items, etc) were some delicious faculty luncheons.

One day lunch was delivered by b.good in Beverly.  While I find myself at the Dodge Street Plaza kind of often when running to the Paper Store, Modells, Staples, etc. I actually hadn’t tried b.good yet…but I’ll be going in the near future for sure.

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE HERE

The food was really terrific…and pretty to look at.  As if lunch on Monday wasn’t enough…Tuesday morning brought a Smoothie bar…also from b.good!

Watching Thatch play baseball through the spider web….

Pick #1: Boston Children’s Chorus at the Shalin Liu

Saturday, May 6 at 3:00.  Tickets $15, general admission

Learn more or purchase tickets HERE .

The Boston Children’s Chorus unites children ages 7-18 from diverse backgrounds to discover the power of singing and transcend social barriers in a celebration of shared humanity and love of music. The Chorus bridges Greater Boston’s many diverse groups and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion among its members. Through intensive choral training and once-in-a-lifetime performing experiences locally, nationally and around the world, BCC enhances the education and social development of youth as future leaders and global citizens in the 21st century. Since the BCC’s inception, its programs have grown rapidly. Twenty children were accepted into an initial pilot program, and in the current season, the BCC have almost 500 singers representing over 50 of Boston’s urban and suburban neighborhoods participating in twelve different choirs in five Boston locations: the South End, Allston-Brighton, South Boston and Dorchester.

Pick #2: Vintage Baseball Home Opener at Spencer-Peirce Little Farm

I did this a few years ago with the boys and it was so much fun.  I keep meaning to go back!

Saturday, May 6, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

5 Little’s Lane, Newbury, Mass.

READ ALL ABOUT IT AND PURCHASE YOUR $5 TICKETS HERE

Take a step back in time and enjoy a springtime day on the farm. Enjoy traditional New England music, sheep-shearing, and wagon rides and cheer on your favorite teams of the Essex Base Ball Association as they play baseball using 1860s rules. At these fun, historically accurate games, players pitch underhand, a ball bounced once and caught is an out, and no gloves are allowed. Snacks, baseballs, and cards are available for purchase.

Grass field seating: bring blankets and lawn chairs. No reserved seating. In partnership with the Essex Base Ball Association and Ipswich Ale Brewery.

Free to Historic New England members
$5 nonmembers

 

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

We found ourselves down at Pebble Beach last night. It was chillier than expected, but still a pretty night down there….before taking off for a 7:30 baseball game.

Bearskin Neck is coming to life.  Some old favorites are thankfully back for another season, some new places are popping up, and…in this case….some surprises are coming. All are reasons to make your way to Rockport to spend the day soon!

Pick #1: Town Green Sustainability Fair

READ ALL ABOUT IT HERE

ENERGY CONSERVATION. GREEN ENERGY SOLUTIONS, SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS. RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION. THE CAPE ANN FARMERS’ MARKET.
AND…MUSIC, FOOD, FUN, EDUCATION, AND MORE!

TownGreen2025 presents the 2017 Cape Ann Sustainability Fair, Gloucester’s third sustainability fair with added focus on other elements of sustainable living on Cape Ann. This day of teaching, learning, and collaborating will include:

INFORMATIVE TALKS

Speakers addressing clean energy technology, carbon neutrality, locally relevant impacts of climate change, and personal carbon footprint reduction.

OVER 20 EXHIBITS

Exhibits from local and regional leaders from both the nonprofit and the for profit sectors.

DEMONSTRATIONS

Demonstrations on clean energy, home energy efficiency, and personal carbon footprint reduction.

FOOTPRINT ANALYSIS

Stations for personal carbon footprint calculation

A FREE EVENT

Free admission and parking.

DOOR PRIZES

Raffles and items from local businesses.

RECYCLING

Opportunities to recycle scrap metal, batteries, used clothing, and books.

FUN FOR EVERYONE

Food, drink, activities, music, and more!

 

Pick #2: Crane Beach Color Blast

Crane Beach Color Blast will become part of “Local Color” a Weekend full of Festivities in Celebration of Local Flavor, Color & Culture!

Saturday April 29th Downtown Ipswich & Riverwalk
Sunday, April 30th on Crane Beach, 1-3pm Om Drum & Beach BonFire, ColorBlast 2pm precisely!

Part of our Celestial Happenings Series the Ipswich Spring Equinox Extravaganza is inspired by “Holi Festivals” celebrations of Spring, from India. (Inspiration images here)
If you love our Winter & Summer Solstice Labyrinths and Ipswich Illumination then you will want to be a part of making this event an Ipswich tradition, our Celebration of Spring
Om Drum & Beach Bonfire 1-3pm
ColorBlast 2pm (sharp!)
Event is free ~ Parking fees apply
Photo-Op
Pigments will be tossed. (dress accordingly)
Color will be celebrated!
Kites, flags, ribbons, pompoms all welcome!
Event of Free. Parking rates apply.
TTOR Crane Beach Fees: http://www.thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/north-shore/crane-beach-admission-prices.html

Pick #3: Swan Boats

READ ALL ABOUT THE SWAN BOATS HERE

2017 Season
Saturday, April 15 to Sunday, September 17, 2017

Spring (April to June 20)
10am to 4 pm

Summer (June 21 to Labor Day)
10am to 5 pm

After Labor Day

Weekdays 12 noon to 4pm  Weekends 10am to 4pm

 

The Swan Boats are open every day, weather permitting. We cannot operate in rain, high winds or extreme heat.

Tickets

The Swan Boat ride lasts about 12-15 minutes while the driver pedals you around the Public Garden lagoon. Tickets are purchased at the Swan Boat dock prior to boarding the boat. The wait for a ride is typically no more than 5-10 minutes.

Adults $3.50

Children $2.00 (age 2 to 15 years)
Under 2 yrs. Free
Seniors $3.00

 

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

Things colorful kayaks are all lined up waiting for someone to take them for a spin.

For the record, I highly recommend the Sunrise Saison…. an “Ale brewed with Strawberries and Rhubarb.”

Only turtles permitted beyond this point.

The boys found this rock the other day in front of our terrace in the Bahamas.  Turns out that it was painted and hidden in Ohio by a member of the Northeast Ohio Rocks! group.  I snapped a couple of photos and shared our find on their Facebook page.  In no time the “owner” of the rock wrote back saying,

We just painted that rock a few weeks ago (last week of March over our Spring Break) and hid in our tiny little hometown at a gas station. We knew it had been found as it was gone not long after we placed it there, but never dreamed it would make it out of the country! I painted that rock because my 7 year old son is obsessed with the Goodyear Blimp and was able to take a ride in it two years ago! I can’t wait to see where it will end up!

Kind of cool.  So, now it is our turn to hide the rock.  Hmmm.  After the Bahamas we were off to the Islamorada and Key Largo in the Florida Keys for a couple of nights, now we’re in Hilton Head for two more days, and then we’ll drive through a whole bunch of states before landing home in Rockport.

I wonder where the rock will end up next.  Great fun!  Thanks, Northeast Ohio Rocks!