Author: Pat D

It might have been miserable during the recent snow, but the following day was nothing but beautiful and calm. It was especially quiet on Harbor Loop in the post storm peace.

Sharing information.

We went to Crane Beach just before one of the recent storms to watch the clouds tell the story. Always a spectacular sight.

We stopped at Oliver’s Harbor on Main Street recently for dinner. Virus restrictions are being followed so tables are spaced apart and staff are wearing masks while serving a limited capacity. I tried the apple martini as prepared by Scott (complete with cherry of course). It was nicely served and very tasty. Jim ordered the pork chop which was one of the specials and he thought it was GREAT. I was celebrating a small victory, so I ordered the filet mignon and it was PERFECTLY done. I couldn’t have asked for it to be better. The brussel sprouts were served chopped which I appreciated. Oliver’s is a secret gem on Main Street! Thank you Scott for the wonderful service.

I realize they are considered pests by some, but I was very happy to see swans recently. It was a welcome sight as I’d been seeing nothing but geese……. the sunshine and blue waters really helped!

I was fascinated by the color and shapes the ice and frost took at Niles Pond during the recent cold snap. The ice looks a little bit like frosting on a cupcake on that stone!

Minglewood Harborside is our go-to “Let’s have dinner and a drink” and be comfortable choice especially on weeknights. Jim really wanted to try the new Twin Lights beer and I had a craving for buffalo tenders. You can’t see it in the picture as well as I hoped, but these tenders were steaming when they got to the table. They were done to perfection: nice and tender with just the right amount of sauce! Jim enjoyed his fish sandwich which is another favorite for both of us. Sarah was a great server. When I opened the Serenitee app, there was an unexpected bonus of $10 off waiting for us!! Win, win.

For those wondering, seating is appropriately spaced for virus restrictions, staff are masked up, contact info is taken, limited capacity is strictly adhered to. It feels quite safe. Hope to see you there soon!

We watched an interesting story from our back deck recently as a hawk flew with great determination to a spot in the marsh. It was low tide, so the area was frozen over and some snow covered the area. After it landed, it looked around the ground for a bit and then began to claw and stamp at the frozen grasses, presumably seeking lunch. It stomped around, digging up the grass but coming up empty of prey. It was intriguing to watch deliberate moves I’ve never seen from a hawk before. He then flew off to rest in a branch to think about Plan B. We’ve been seeing hawks a little more often recently and are wondering if they will be returning to their nest in a nearby tree this year.

Of course, sweet treats play a pretty big role on Valentine’s Day so we are lucky to have Turtle Alley right on Rogers Street waiting for us. Hallie showed me the newly made chocolate bombs on my way out the door…..all kinds of treats sweet, dietetic and paper are available when you stop there. So lucky to have them here for us! Local curbside pickup is available and I saw several bags awaiting pickup when we visited this week.

We have been informed that Atlantic Road will be temporarily shut down at 2:30 pm today in anticipation of a very high tide compromising the roadway. stay safe and away from flood prone areas.

I realize coyote sightings are not uncommon, but this was our first close coyote encounter. We watched this coyote for several minutes navigate the ice, have a rest and a drink then move on its way. We were in the vicinity of the Klondike water treatment facility. The coyote seemed relaxed, though I was a little nervous.

A variety of views of our beloved Paint Manufactory taken over the years. Some older (probably 2004), some newer, some at sunset, some from across the harbor………always stunning. I just love this gem.

The sky and the sea offered up some stunning views today. I was struck by the combination of snow caps, whitecaps and clouds today. fitting end to January. Rejuvenating and reaffirming.

And a short video from Magnolia:

Rocky Neck and the Paint Factory are always classic scenes of Gloucester and today I present boat traffic including Amber & John, Forbidden Zone, Arron & Alex, Indian Outlaw and Emily Teresa among others. Some coming in, some going out, one sitting still for the moment.

For my second Valentine’s Day suggestion post: Cake Ann is offering these wonderful heart cake pops which will help Show the Love in a very yummy way! Bonus: the wrapping is compostable!! And I am here to tell you they are rich and chocolaty and DELICIOUS. I ate it right in the car before I even got out of the driveway. Heading over for more in the next day or two…..

The drama “CODA” debuting today Jan 28 at Sundance, was shot entriely in Gloucester in 2019. The storyline is intriguing, CODA standing for “child of deaf adults” and revolves around a high school senior coming of age in a fishing family. We wish the film well in the competition and when released!

Images courtesy of WBUR at this story link. Thanks for the heads-up Scott Memhard!

Construction is coming right along on the corner of Fuller St and Norman Ave in Magnolia, home of the former Tony’s Magnolia House of Pizza. Tony’s suffered a devastating fire in October 2014 and the space has been empty until this construction began recently under a permit issued to Beauport Shores LLC for multi family or apartment dwelling last year.

Yesterday was a little dreary but brightened up considerably for me when I spotted an eagle on Rocky Neck! Sitting high in a tree, the crows were raising a ruckus which drew my attention. As I was repositioning for a better shot, the eagle took off over the harbor only to be harassed by seagulls in flight. As I waited and hoped for a repeat performance, a woman came out of the Paint Factory to let me know there was a large bird she thought might be an eagle resting out on Ten Pound Island. Sure enough, there was an eagle out there again accompanied by crows. They are majestic but seem to draw a lot of pesky attention! I checked a little while later from Oakes Cove Beach and there was still an eagle resting there; having some alone time finally.

Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! This is the first in a limited series of posts I plan between now and Valentine’s Day (Feb 14 by the way) to share some ideas to celebrate the day. This first one came from a Gloucester Elks Facebook post as you see here. Senior Care Inc is offering you an opportunity to Show the Love by donating a meal to a homebound senior in honor of Valentine’s Day. They cannot hold their annual fundraiser this year, but the need for funds is not diminished so this is a great opportunity to help fellow residents feel the love.

Here’s the link for the Senior Care Inc Valentine’s Day Meal on Wheel Un-Fundraiser: https://seniorcareinc.org/2021unbreakfast/ Easy to do online especially if you enjoyed the breakfast fundraiser in years past.

I recently saw that the Boston Globe in undertaking an initiative they are calling “Fresh Start” which is intended to allow people named in stories to “appeal their presence in older stories published on our websites.” The Boston Globe states that they are “looking inward at our own practices that have disproportionately affected communities of color.”

I find this to be very interesting and worth consideration for those affected. As many of you know, I consider myself a family historian and therefore rely heavily on newspapers to further that research. The idea that some stories might get a re-work initially caused me to think to myself “Hey, wait a minute….”. But, as I considered the stories of a number of friends and acquaintances whose lives were severely and adversely affected by news coverage, I sat back and thought about it again. When the news is sensationalistic, the stories often appear front and center especially in local newspapers. When people are found to be innocent or wrongly accused, that news often does not appear as prominently. The initial story often changes as it develops but isn’t always covered in the same manner.

So I applaud the efforts of the Boston Globe and others undertaking similar efforts to right past wrongs. If you feel you might qualify here’s a link for you to check out. If you do not live in the Boston Globe coverage area, a newspaper or media outlet in your area might be ‘revisiting the past for a better future.” I hear it’s all the rage…….