Author: Pat D

I recently participated in a photo walk at Appleton Farms sponsored by the Trustees. I had never been there and I was seeking a little boost in my creativity by challenging myself a little bit in a new location. Nick, the photo instructor, did a marvelous job walking us through some of the trails pointing out possible shots and offering advice on settings.  Nick was great…he treated our photography choices with respect and understanding. Sometimes instructors kind of force their methods on their students, whether they are ready or not. I appreciated that Nick met us where we were in our spectrum of photography capabilities and interests. The farm at sunset, in golden hour, was a spectacular choice! Thank you Nick! I learned several tips and am pleased with the results of the evening.

Little River view under a lovely sky. Stopping to soak in the view one day recently. Just watch out for the large hornet nest in the tree over the picnic table…….I mistook the wasp busy-ness for a pleasant summer afternoon buzzing noise……

I have been experimenting with light painting, which is basically long exposure photography. I thought you might like some of the images I’ve gotten so far, including GMG Jim on his trumpet and a special Weber grill treatment for our grilling friends.

Progress is being made at the new Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce building on Harbor Loop.

The hummingbirds in our back yard have been VERY active recently. They have been flitting, flying, dashing and chasing each wildly other like a bunch of toddlers let loose on a playground. I was even able to capture two together in the image below.

Apparently this behavior is not unusual at this time of year when the young hummingbirds have fledged, so it really is like backyard full of wild toddlers. See this link: http://www.wildbirdsunlimited.typepad.com from Nancy Castillo.

I am sorry Joey, I am not trying to rub your face in it. Just sharing what I think our readers and followers might be interested in. 😆

Also sharing a different clip (taken prior to water restrictions) showing a hummingbird bathing happily. Similar to one I shared previously and still delightful.

Sharing information from the Mayor’s office today (August 11 2020): 

I’ve been awaiting the Colby Farm Sunflower patch to reopen, but was pretty sure I wasn’t going to feel able to distance myself adequately while there. I’d kind of accepted I wasn’t going to find myself awash in sunflowers this year and have something else to blame COVID for.

BUT Jim took me to a small field on Linebrook Road in Ipswich today (thanks neighbor Richard!) and I recalled Glen Campbell’s

Sunflower
Good mornin’.
You sure do make it like a sunny day.
Sunflower
Fair warnin’.
I’m gonna love you if you come my way.

For added value bonus points, a doe and two fawns joined me enjoying the sunflower field yesterday morning. Another day in paradise. Maybe this will brighten your day too.

 

Breakwater Roasters has recently opened on Duncan Street and offers a wide variety of cold brews, coffees, teas, and baked goods. There was a steady flow of customers, safely distanced and enough seating to maintain safety protocols. We experienced friendly and efficient service, including a hello from Eoin himself!

We had the pleasure of watching the Tigers play the White Sox  at Boudreau field this weekend. Our own Little Leagues days are far behind us, but it was nice to watch kids playing baseball again. It looks a little different in some ways….coaches reminding players to use the sanitizer is a new one for us…..players delayed getting on to field for mask retrieval…..but it’s still kids playing baseball!

We stopped by the Tigers vs. White Sox game at Boudreau field yesterday morning. A post featuring the players will follow, but I couldn’t help but notice how many adults gave up their Saturday morning to help these kids play ball…….And I am very well aware game time is not the only time you all give up for the benefit of the team and the players. Thank you all very much for your time and efforts to help Gloucester’s children get a little bit of normalcy back into their lives. Shout out to you all…..I don’t know any of your names but I am very appreciative of your efforts.

Beautiful Stage Fort Park hosts Half Moon Beach, one of my favorite stops because it’s kind of a hidden gem. It was late morning on a weekday recently and the weather was pleasant, but not blistering or humid. The beach and the park were very manageable. My favorite thing to watch at the beach are children exploring and experiencing and there were plenty on this day.  Families, friends, groups were safely distanced and seemed cognizant to take care about how close they got. It’s a refreshing stop on a summer day.

The 3 chicks in the Osprey nest near Lobsta Land continue to grow and apparently thrive. I have been watching the Essex County Greenbelt Osprey cam carefully ( some might say obsessively) hoping to see one fledge. There is plenty of wing stretching on the edge of the nest as well as alone time without adults. You can clearly see how big the chicks have become! I have not seen it yet but here’s a screenshot of a parent bringing a fish to the nest this morning. No feasting, however as the adult flew off again taking the fish along. Web cam at http://www.ecga.org

We happened to catch an Osprey in flight with a fish yesterday near a little River. I did not have my telephoto lens on at the time, but it’s pretty clear this Osprey is taking dinner back to a nearby nest.

I gave GMG Jim a choice between goulash or Passports for dinner last night. After carefully weighing the options, he made the right choice: Passports. We sat inside, tables distanced appropriately. Our popovers were delivered safely whole still warm….I had forgotten how wonderful they are! Jim ordered a Meatloaf Tower (!?!?!) and I had one of the specials: Haddock Piccata. Boy, was that yummy!

There was a wedding party gathered in the other room, bringing to mind family celebrations we have had here in Gloucester over the years. As Jim said, we didn’t know at the time that we were creating stories for the future. We wish the bride and groom happiness and stories to tell.

We recently received our very first resident beach sticker, so naturally we headed straight to the beach. Good Harbor Beach was just glorious in all its natural beauty. Many others were also there, distancing appropriately in our area making me feel quite comfortable. By the time we left, parking was restricted to residents only. Staff seemed to be doing an outstanding job maintaining the parking lot. See you at the beach again soon!

I expected to see a rainbow after yesterday’s storm passed, but it was still pretty awesome out here on Old House Cove.  Very windy!

The Boston Globe Sunday insert of the Parade magazine featured a cover story called “The Songs of 1970: What We Were Listening To 50 Years Ago Today” by Jim Farber that I found intriguing.  Then, as I read and remembered those years for myself, I realized how these tunes might help some of us over some “Troubled Waters” today.

Om 1970, I was just entering high school. I was very naive and somewhat sheltered living in rural western New York. The nation (and the world) were coming off a couple of very difficult and divisive years 1968 and 1969. Even I knew change was in the air.  It did not sit well with my Gloucester raised father.

Of course, as a teenager, my lifeline was music. It meant EVERYTHING. I was tied to a transistor radio, which probably looked something like this one I found on ebay:

Top single of the year was Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” themed with hope and faith. Other popular songs of support and peace 50 years ago included “O-O-h Child” and “Let It Be” (a personal favorite). Are you humming  yet? Other popular groups included the Jackson 5 with a young Michael Jackson, James Taylor, and Elton John. I know you are humming now, especially if you are of a certain age………

It seems these songs should be making a comeback to offer support, guidance and peace of mind in this turbulent time. COVID notwithstanding other disruptions (hurricanes and protest movements) deserves to be addressed with soothing 1970s style music. Who’s with me?

The link to the Parade story is here and includes a playlist! A screenshot from that website to inspire you:

 

 

From Facebook. Thanks for the heads up Mayor!

We totally indulged to celebrate our anniversary by staying at the beautiful Beauport Hotel for a short staycation. The room faced the harbor for a relaxing and spectacular view. The restaurant was booked ( great news for them on a Monday night I think!) so we ordered room service….a first for us….as I noted, indulgence Dalpiaz style. We’d come in from a long drive and it was the best way to end the day in celebration. Thanks Beauport staff!

We are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today and it also marks a more momentous occasion; that of GMG Jimmy’s first trip to Gloucester! We first visited Gloucester together in 1985 on our honeymoon and it was Jim’s first taste of Cape Ann’s glory. We have been returning ever since and, as you know, have now retired here to fulfill the dreams of our working life.

I wanted to mark the day in a special way so I stuffed myself into my wedding dress so that 2020 could be memorable in some way (haha).  There are still sparks going in our marriage, as you can see here.  Happy anniversary Jim!

 

Here are some pictures taken from our 1st anniversary trip to Gloucester in 1986: street fair, cut bridge with Yankee Freedom and Rockport. I thought you might like a little trip down memory land also.

 

 

The Oak Grove Cemetery on Washington Street has always intrigued me. Despite (so far) no ancestors being buried within, I’ve always thought it looked very peaceful and historic. It’s a large cemetery (10 or 11 acres depending on your source of information) featuring varied styles and materials for markers, headstones and monuments. The paths meander and it’s easy to lose your bearings momentarily.

The Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts (Essex Society of Genealogists, 1991) states it is a private cemetery: ” Romantic cemetery with ornate statues” …who wouldn’t want to see a cemetery described in such a manner? It also states “Gothic Chapel with bell tower seats 50 adults but is no longer used.” I believe that is the stone building easily seen from Washington Street, which known as the Bradford Chapel in honor of businessman George Bradford. It was built shortly after his death in 1902.

There is a small guide published near this chapel describing some additional details as you can see if you look at the photo included here. There is a “reverent” vibe as you walk the paths. Contrary to most of the cemeteries in Gloucester that I have visited, this one seems to support a great deal of foot traffic. I noticed several people strolling, walking dogs or determinedly shortcutting to their destinations in the short time I was there recently.

Unfortunately, I was unable to fulfill any of the 30 or so Find-a-Grave requests for photos mostly because I got distracted by such things as the 4 iron stakes marking a sight that appeared to be designed to look like branches. As I was trying to study these more carefully, a dragonfly stopped by to observe. Anyone who might know more about these is welcome to share information regarding them!