Author: Pat D

It was a beautiful afternoon and the back shore waves shone especially bright in the low sun. No matter if you are near or far, I hope you had a wonderful weekend and take some time to reflect on all the beauty around you.

Keith the Wreath is coming to the end of his “season” so we just wanted to share one last post to say Merry Christmas to you all and to thank you for the comments, the follows and the support. I hope your day is filled with hope and joy.

The winter solstice was very kind, allowing us to find our fist TWO snowy owls of the season. One at Parker River Wildlife Refuge and one a little further north (thanks to a tip from a fellow photographer). We also got to see a juvenile eagle and a peregrine falcon at Parker River (IDs by an actual birder so……) Thrilling as always and a great early Christmas gift! I hope all your wishes come true this holiday season. For additional pictures and details, be sure to check out Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.

It appears the new beds have been placed on the boulevard near the Fishermen’s Memorial! They look a little lonely without soil but I look forward to seeing them in the spring full of color! Thanks to all involved!!!

We were visiting the Paint Factory this week and noticed the famous Deborah Redmond sculpture of a whale tail experienced some damage. I am assuming the recent storms and fierce winds played havoc with this piece which has been standing tall for at least 3 years now. Here’s a “before” along with “current” pictures. It’s a little sad but it still seems tall and proud to me.

If you are still looking for a little gift, consider these items now available from Pat D’s Photos for local delivery. If shipped, we cannot guarantee delivery before the weekend but we will ship for an added charge. These square glass owl ornaments are really lovely especially when lit from behind (3″ x 3″ $25 each). The coasters are 2/$12 and made of sturdy cork. Coasters are available for Resting Dories, High Tide Lighthouse, Crystal Ball on shell, Peeking Owl and Sandy Point Snowy, and Red Chair on Good Harbor Beach. Contact me by commenting here or messaging me through Facebook Pat D’s Photos and Adventures. We will deliver locally. Thanks to all for your continued support!

Coasters 2/$12:

We took a ride up to Salisbury State Reservation recently in search of raptors, and despite looking for them we were still a little surprised to find this Northern Harrier hawk persistently hunting right in our immediate range. He did not seem to catch anything but the wind was carrying him around so fast I would have been surprised to see him successfully capture prey. It’s a nice treat to ride up there. Parking is free now and there’s always something to watch.

It appears FreshPrep360 is preparing to open up on Duncan Street in Gloucester. It will be nice to have the space formerly occupied by Breakwater Roasters up and running again. This food prep and delivery service might appeal to some of you so stay tuned! Also take note they are hiring if you are interested.

We were able to photograph a few of the seals resting and relaxing at Brace Cove this week. It was a gorgeous day, mild and sunny for mid December, and the light was hitting them just right. There was another couple nearby commenting on how beautiful it was to see them with the sun spotlight shining brightly. Another passer-by suggested the seal who made its way up onto the rock was a baby but I do not know. There were a few out there swimming around just as the tide started to come in. It’s so relaxing watching them!

It was an unusually beautiful day recently and this little dory sitting quietly at dock drew my attention. What a wonderful place we live where there are beautiful sights everywhere you turn. I hope you take a moment to look at these peaceful photos and reflect on the season and the beauty all around us.

We found ourselves on Plum Island in the pretty light of a late December afternoon recently and I just had to take some extra photos to show it off. A nice surprise was finding the Plum Island Light! And it was all decked out for the holidays as well as basking in the sun. It’s worth a little ride if you love approaching sunset.

We attended the Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony for Bravo by the Sea Two on Main St at the former Larsen’s location yesterday. It was festive and there were still customers picking up orders throughout. We wish them well. Stop by to check it out. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Men’s Night in Gloucester tonight! Keith the Wreath stopped by some downtown (and other) spots in advance of tonight’s fun. He hopes to see you there!

We had a lovely dinner at Oliver’s Harbor on Main Street recently following an afternoon of shopping and errands. It was a welcome respite. Always friendly (thank you Jeovanna), always delicious! We tried the turkey meatball appetizer, the squash ravioli and the burger! I find the fries especially good. It had been a while between visits, but we’ll be back sooner next time.

Best wishes to Beth and Nick in the opening of Bravo By The Sea Two on Main Street at 4 pm today Dec 14. Great pizza, salads and wings! Order online at BravoByTheSea.com or stop in. Keith the Wreath stopped by to take a look at the wood fire stove. Hot, hot, hot.

This eagle appears to be wintering in Gloucester as we have seen it several times in the area of Stage Fort Park, often flying over the harbor and swooping down for food. I am assuming it is the same eagle though it easily could be a pair following similar patterns. Thanks to FOB Susan LaRosa for giving me the heads up yesterday that it was hanging out for me to find.

Here’s the progress along the back shore for the Trident townhomes as part of Aquarius on the Back Shore. Honestly it looks a little different than I was expecting.

I recently paid way too much money for this beautiful wreath, but it made me smile and happy inside, so I brought it home. I can’t help but carry it around on my daily travels to see how it looks at some of our favorite local stops along the way. I call it Keith. Yes, Keith the Wreath. You may see him again before the holiday!

I hope you will stop by the Pat D’s Photos table tomorrow at the Elks Holiday Fair to say hello! Discounted price offered to GMG fans ($10 for a pack of 4 notecards). New images and products will be available as you see below. Notepads, puzzles, notecards, mugs, placemats and more with these images and others. Stop by to visit our wonderful local vendors tomorrow Sunday Dec 21 10-3 at the Elks on Atlantic Road.

The Unitarian Universalist Church Bell Tower work made me take a closer look recently and I thought you might be interested also.