Author: Pat D

We were blessed with yet another spectacular sunset this week! I cannot get enough of these and I hope you agree.

I saw this medallion in a local sidewalk for the first time and thought it was very interesting. Do you know where it is and why it is significant? Answers to follow…….

We did a little steel wool light painting on Good Harbor Beach recently. It attracted some spectators along with the bugs that come out at sunset. When we do this, we are very careful to take precautions against accidental flare-ups and the shore provides this safety measure for us. In addition, the beach at sunset is a win-win anyhow. Anyhow, this is Jim along with our visitors Aiden and Jake plus a total stranger celebrating his birthday.

Kudos to these good Samaritans at the cut bridge last night who came to the aid of a kayaker stuck in the pilings. They took the time to turn around, return to the aid of the kayaker and pull her away so she could continue her journey. I am sorry I did not catch the name of the boat but thanks guys!

Another favorite activity for land-locked visitors is to view our sunrises and sunsets across the water. Here are some from East Gloucester as we watched the sun set over the harbor.

As I have mentioned, we have family in town and a whale watch is very often at the top of the list of requested activities. Gloucester whale trips cannot be beaten and our favorite is Cape Ann Whale Watch where we had yet another successful trip to the delight of our family members. The whales weren’t overly active but still a real treat to watch. There was also a pod of very active dolphins which was very entertaining. Capt. John and the crew did an outstanding job, as usual. Naturalist Jamie is a real expert and our friend Keirsten is a top notch educator offering all kinds of information and tips for the passengers.

You can see a few additional pictures on Pat D’s Photos and Adventures Facebook page, but the most exciting news is that some of the whale photos I have gotten previously on these trips will be available as prints and notecards at next week’s Cape Ann Makers Market Aug 19 at the Paint Factory 4-8 PM! I will be joining a number of other outstanding vendors offering their local products and hope to see you there.

Following are examples of the images that will be available Thursday Aug 19 at the Cape Ann Makers Market:

CODA, a movie filmed in Gloucester about a fishing family’s trials and tribulations, is scheduled to open tomorrow at Gloucester Cinema. I highly recommend you make time to see it! You will see people and places you know well, you will laugh and you may cry a bit. You’ll be proud.

We are blessed with a group of family members for company this week so we are trying to hit some highlights. Despite the “Closed Monday/Tuesday” restrictions around town, there are still many good choices for dinner that are family friendly for a good sized group. We found the Blue Marlin Grille in Essex able to fill the bill! Our server, Jackie, gave us friendly attention and efficient service despite being very busy for a Tuesday night. We had a range of ages to please and the varied menu at Blue Marlin was perfect.

Warm bread starts the meal off, fresh and delightful. Among the entrees were Haddock Mornay, Fried Clam Plate, Shrimp and Chicken Louisiana, Stir Fry, a burger (giant!) and Steak Tips with Chicken Grill Combo and Spicy Shrimp. Something for everyone and everyone left happy. Thanks Blue Marlin Grille for making us look good as hosts.

There’s a blue heron hanging around Buswell Pond so I stopped to see if I could maybe get some photos. Missed the heron but it’s quite pretty there especially right at dusk.

The original musical Nothing to Hyde will be presented Aug 11-14 by the Annisquam Village Players. Here’s preview with Peter Nelson as Mr. Edward Hyde”

And a brief interview with Terry Sands:

Nothing to Hyde will be presented by the Annisquam Village Players this week August 11-14 outside between the town hall and the Annisquam Exchange on Leonard Street. We talked with director Terry Sands about this original musical written by Mary Curtis and Tony Hutchins. Tomorrow’s tickets have already sold out so get yours online as soon as possible ($35). Loosely based on The Strange Tale of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, this production features Peter Nelson as Edward Hyde. He presented a number for our entertainment which I encourage you to review below! Very entertaining.

Get your tickets online for this outdoor event (spaced seating so limited tickets available)! You won’t want to miss this original production.

I have video to share but am currently unable to upload it. Please stay tuned!

Last week, we decided on George’s on Washington Street for our margarita Monday. Great choice on our part, I have to say. David was our bartender and server and he made up a great strawberry basil margarita for me. And, because it was the 2nd of August, I chose to have a second margarita featuring blackberry (YUM). We also had the Fiesta Wrap and Steak Bomb stuffed into a baked potato (genius). They are doing some nice work here with the food and bar menu.The experience was relaxed and a perfect start to our week!

We have been enchanted by the variety of Little Free Libraries that are blooming around town so we went to find some for a blog post. There are so many that they provide enough material for a “Part 2” post. You can find the locations of registered Little Free Libraries here. Not all are necessarily registered, but it happens that each of these treasures is. My favorite among these is the Girl Scout Book Bench on the porch of the Welcome Center at Stage Fort Park because of the color and the thoughtful seating. I don’t know about you, but I always peek inside when I see one of these around! And it’s a great way to recycle my books so that others may enjoy. Well done, all!

Our anniversary dinner (36 years!) was celebrated at the Antique Table in Manchester this week. We had not been there since the winter months and we have been wanting to return. Outdoor seating is available but I prefer to sit inside. Indoor seating is set up in separate rooms and we were in the bigger room toward the back. Easy listening music relaxes you as you look around at the interesting wall hangings. Jose was our server with prompt delivery of drinks, appetizers and entrees. We had the prosciutto rollatini; Chicken Francese and Antique Table Haddock and they were each delicious. For dessert, Jim ordered a cannoli. It was a wonderfully relaxed experience and we are glad we got back there again. I think we’ll try to make it a more regular stop.

There are a variety of displays of Gloucester history all around town but one of the most interesting appears in the Crow’s Nest. Probably not your first stop when seeking history, but the walls are rich in Gloucester heritage displays. This Norman Rockwell print is one such example at the Crow’s Nest.

“Lucky Catch” (sometime referred to also as “Mermaid”) by Norman Rockwell appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post Aug 20 1955 and created quite a stir. The story can be found here, but the significant piece of the story for Gloucester is the 81 year old lobsterman tapped to be the model: Walter E. Marchant. Walter was born in 1873, lived and lobstered in Gloucester all his life. He died just a few years after the cover appeared.

In my search for his identity, I sought assistance from Lois at the City Archives (thanks so much Lois!). I also went over the the library as well as to Cape Ann Museum; by the time I got home an email from Lois was waiting for me. This was a link to a Boston Globe article Sept 18 1955 verifying the identity of the pictured lobsterman. The article is very interesting and I encourage you to read it through. He describes Norman Rockwell as a “nice sort of duck”. Walter travelled to Stockbridge to sit for the artist which I imagine was no small undertaking for him.

As I sought out further information about Walter, I found a very intriguing story including his redesign of the lobster pot which was apparently successful in luring the lobsters. As a young man, he participated in a rescue off the breakwater of the Schooner Nautilus in 1905 out of the life saving station at Dolliver’s Neck. This article from the Boston Herald Sept 4 1955 shows a picture and we understand why this man was chosen as a model.

It’s a classic Gloucester story commemorated in true Norman Rockwell fashion for “Lucky Catch”.

I took a ride to Appleton Farms in Ipswich (I guess the official address is South Hamilton but it’s a short ride) to challenge myself by using only a particular rarely-used lens I have in my camera bag. The weather was OK but not especially pretty. The property, however, is picturesque and busy with activity. There was apparently a camp with young children having an activity in the barnyard; there were several young children there with parents hanging out watching the farm life; there was also regular farm work taking place. It made for some good practice with the lens. AND there’s a store! Our own local Pigeon Cove Ferments has kombucha and sauerkraut available there. It’s a Trustee property well worth a short drive for something a little different.

I took a little walk around some parts of Lane’s Cove that I don’t normally explore on a very pretty day. Sure is picturesque down there! In case you haven’t been able to see if for yourself lately, here you go.

Thanks to Joey taking us for a ride near dusk aboard Tide Together, we were able to see some of our favorite sights from the water. It was a beautiful night, perfect for a ride. Anytime you get a chance to take a ride in the harbor is an opportunity to give your eyes and spirit a real treat. Have we mentioned lately how happy we are to be here? Happy Anniversary of our honeymoon in Gloucester 1985, GMG Jim!

As you may know, I like to celebrate Mondays with a margarita but last week we found ourselves at Seaport Grille on Rogers Street on Monday. There was a special cocktail available: Strawberry Coconut Mojito. And, just like that, we were celebrating Mojito Monday instead of Margarita Monday! It was a fair trade off! Jim had the eggplant panini and I had my favorite there: filet with béarnaise sauce. My steak was done to perfection and Jim cleaned his plate. I finished the meal with another favorite: Seaport Coffee. We very much enjoyed our new Mojito Monday.

The Harvey Reservation trail in Lanesville MIGHT possibly be the shortest trail in the Essex Greenbelt collection of trails but it rivals them all the for views out onto the ocean. At one end is the Lanes Cove or Cove Hill Cemetery and at the other end is Lane’s Cove. It’s a very short and easy walk and along the way you will see granite encased in the pathway. The Cove end has a bench for contemplation or perhaps lunch as you look out over the vast waters. I suggest you check the website for additional interesting background on this area. We’d been intending to get there for a while and this summer has certainly allowed us the opportunity to check it out. Maybe you will too.