Author: Pat D

From the Mile Marker One Facebook page: (their image and info)

Painkillers, Bloodys, Mai Tai’s and more available for take out and Delivery

Book your table and additional info at their website here.

Coming home through the fog. The lighthouse is doing its job.

Big and small, hawks and hummingbirds in the backyard before the storm.

Thanks to Capt. Joe and Sons for the yummy lobster! (Video sound probably not suitable for children)

As much as I enjoy watching the water that surrounds us, I have come to appreciate the artistry that the sky and clouds add to the beauty we are blessed with.

Couldn’t help but notice this beauty docked at the Paint Factory.

Beach parking this weekend in Gloucester will be open to the public at Stage Fort Park and residents plus a limited number of non residents at Good Harbor Beach and Wingaersheek.  Parking rates and sticker policies remain in effect, though 2019 Gloucester beach stickers will be honored only through the end of July.

Parking restrictions for the upcoming weekends will be announced on the prior Wednesday. Updates will also be posted on Gloucester Beaches. 

Quiet fog at Good Harbor recently:

Another encouraging sign is that the Gloucester Visitors Center at Stage Fort Park is set to reopen this week. This follows reconstruction of the porch/deck that was recently completed. Boy, it’s gorgeous! Wonderful job. Take a walk up there just to admire the view! Center open Thursday through Monday 9-3. Stop by and say hi to the volunteers. Safety protocols in place right alongside local information. Special shout out to Carol Mondello for her efforts to get the place ready and safe for use!!

An update from the City of Gloucester website:

CITY HALL REOPENING TUESDAY JULY 21:  Gloucester City Hall and the City Hall Annex will reopen to the public on Tuesday, July 21, after closing to the public in March due to COVID-19. Residents are encouraged to continue to conduct city business online where possible or to call ahead for an appointment. Due to staggered staff schedules and limited office occupancy, wait times may be significantly increased for in-person services. Depending on volume, socially distanced queuing may be required outside of the building. Walk-ins are welcome, but those with appointments will be given priority. All visitors will need to check in upon arrival and provide their name, phone number and the department they are visiting. If needed, this information will be used for contact tracing efforts. Visitors will also be asked to use hand sanitizer before proceeding to a department for service.

Additional notifications regarding 2020 beach stickers and Vote by Mail also listed there, so check them out.  Small steps moving forward. Keep up the good work with masks and distancing.

CB (crystal ball) enjoys the summer as much as we all do and is happy to get back to some of her favorite spots: Eastern Point, the dock and the back shore.

They are getting big and seem pretty active. This is a screenshot from the webcam and you can see Annie, Squam and the 3 chicks. 

There was a pretty spectacular sunset at Lane’s Cove recently. Even CB enjoyed it.

Thanks to Mary Goldberg, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Hammond Castle Museum for sharing her pictures of the ribbon cutting held Friday morning to celebrate the reopening of the museum. I was unable to attend myself, but plan to get my tickets online here soon and make my visit.

She sent along the following: I’m sending you the most fun ones we have from today’s ribbon cutting. This is what I wrote on facebook when I posted a different picture:  This morning we celebrated our opening with special guests Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce CEO Ken Riehl, Discover Gloucester‘s Executive Director Elizabeth Carey and our own Executive Director Linda Harvey, Museum Shop Manager Maureen McLeghorn and Emilie Orlando. 

My sister came for a visit and we decided to return to Lobsta Land 84 Causeway St. because she had been dreaming about their Buffalo Scallops all winter.

We knew some work had been done inside and we were curious so we requested indoor seating. The layout has been a little bit rearranged and seems to flow better. Distanced tables for seating, masks on staff, hand sanitizer and disposable menus were some of the precautions we noticed.

Paula got her scallops, which did not disappoint. Jim got a lobster roll and bowl of chowder, which he enjoyed very much. I am a big fan of their blackened haddock, another winner! It was fairly busy even midweek, so plan accordingly if you need some Lobsta Land in your life.

For the sake of the blog, we made a trip out to Parker River recently and suffered the bites of the greenheads so you readers don’t have to…….the birds were pretty accommodating considering the pesky flies. If you are a cedar waxwing fan, you might want to consider a trip as they are very plentiful right now sitting prettily in the trees and bushes. We saw my personal favorite killdeer; heron, egret, osprey and others.

A new venture from James and Anna Eves recently opened to the public: Cape Ann Sea Salt!, which they describe as “artisinal finishing salt crafted with care”.  It can be ordered online here and picked up at Cape Ann Giclee 20 Maplewood Ave or shipped.  Flavors available include Pure Sea Salt, Lemon, Herbs D’Provence, Lavender, Black Pepper and Rosemary, and Rose  Wine and Hibiscus. Price varies with size.

We ordered online, finding it very simple to navigate. We picked our order up the next day (based on our schedule).  Lovely packaging. Anna recommended trying the lemon salt on a lobster roll, so we did!!! Amazing! Thanks Anna and James! Good luck on your new venture. It’s an incredible product.

Our whale watch aboard the Hurricane II recently gave me a chance to photograph some vessels from a different angle. Here’s the Stanley Thomas, Miss Carla, Cabaret V, Dunlin, Sea Ramble, Bounty Hunter and Tioga.  Spectacular from every angle.

The Gloucester Beaches Facebook page announces “ Saturday July 18 & Sunday July 19 Wingaersheek, Good Harbor and Stage Fort Park lots will be RESIDENTS ONLY “

As you may have heard me mention on the podcast, the Massachusetts Department of Health lifted some of the restrictions placed on grocery stores which were previously in place to help alleviate the spread of the coronavirus.  Stores may now allow reusable bags and may increase capacity to 50% of permitted occupancy. It’s important to remember individual stores may chose to put some of their own guidelines in place which should be respected when you plan to shop. It will be a relief to be able to use the reusable bags again (if I can find them in the way back of the trunk of the car where they have been hibernating for all these months).

Some guidelines remain, including morning shopping hours set aside for seniors, which will be a relief for many. Masks, of course, are still required. More information can be found here:  https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/massachusetts-rescinds-coronavirus-grocery-store-restrictions-what-you-need-to-know/2158724/

In addition, information can be found on the state website.

Including a random picture of the Allison Carol just because I do not have artful photos of reusable grocery bags……..

I have begun to experiment with light painting. These are examples of early attempts. I have quite a way to go, but what do you think of the GMG logo idea?