Author: Pat D

A pretty scene to contemplate as you decide how to cast your vote today 7 am to 8 pm. First sunset over Eastern Point after the time change.

Looks like the repairs and updates to the Welcome Center at Stage Fort Park are imminent. We missed having porch access this past summer so this is a welcome sight.

Plan accordingly for Blynman Bridge closures November 4 through November 8 from 11 pm to 4 am. There are flashing warning signs on both sides of the area to notify motorists.

We happened upon the Town of Ipswich Pavilion Beach recently. Our attention was drawn to it largely due to a group of young adults (I expect they were students) performing some kind of experiments or testing on the beach. They all drove vehicles to the beach, there was no bus nearby and they were gone before I could ask what they were doing. Then I noticed it was called Pavilion Beach. Did not realize there was another so close to our own Pavilion Beach. I like ours better, but you be your own judge.

Crane Beach is wondrous at any time of year, but it’s especially so when the horses come out for their beach walks. On this particular morning, there were at least a half dozen horse trailers in the lot!

Things that scare me include snakes. I am not alone in this, so when I saw one recently on my regular morning walk, I knew I had to change up my walk routine a little. Luckily it was the only kind of “good” snake……..dead. Stand down, you naturalists out there….I hear you….snakes serve a purpose….blah, blah, blah. Regardless, changing up my routine even a little put the view in a new light. I thought you might enjoy a virtual snake-free stroll. I understand it’s supposed to be kind of lousy weather so maybe this will brighten your day a bit as it did mine recently.

It was a lovely day recently so we ventured to Halibut Point State Park in search of fall colors and perhaps some wave action. Naturally, we weren’t the only ones with the same idea……but we didn’t expect to run into GMG contributor Manny Simoes and his visiting family!  Made the day’s venture even sweeter!

PS and BTW Happy Birthday to our son Ryan who was born in the middle of the infamous Perfect Storm!

We hadn’t been by Lily Pond in a while. It certainly shows fall colors well!

The costumes were scarily wonderful! Thanks to the Elks 892 for hosting this party for the children of the area. It was well organized, great entertainment and snacks were also provided for all participants. Thank you!

Susan Casey Lipsett representing at Leaning Tower of Pisa!

I happened to find myself at last Thursday’s Gloucester varsity field hockey game vs Marblehead with my camera in hand. And I couldn’t help but take some pictures of a well played game…..hats off to David Cox who usually provides the high school sports pictures (and much better than this effort). Home team (Gloucester) wins 3-0!

GMG received an email from Juni VanDyke, Art Program Director at the Rose Baker Senior Center which stated:

There’s a lot going on with our neighbors in Essex. The 37th annual clamfest will be held this Saturday Oct 26 11am to 4 pm at Shepard Memorial Park in Essex. This is always a great event. Raindate Sunday Oct 27.

We also noticed good news from Woodman’s!

The Great Marsh Brew Company is seeking employees:

The former White Elephant shop is now showing antiques by appointment with David Neligan, who also has another storefront nearby.

More good news here for antiquers: half price at Main Street Antiques:

The Drunken Pumpkin flower arranging event hosted by Audrey’s Flower Shop was a big success last night at the Mile Marker. Nearly 100 women ( apologies if there were any men in attendance… saw none) were presented with a bundle of flowers and a pumpkin base.

Heather gave instructions and advice before we dive in to create our own pumpkin floral displays.

Mike Marker staff did their best to provide food and drink. Thanks Kyle, well done! At my table, Jean ordered buffalo shrimp and a chowder/chip plate. We were joined by Melissa and Amber-Rose.

It was great fun . Thanks Heather and staff! Looking forward to the Boxwood Tree Design event at the Beaufort December 5.

We have heard how great breakfast is at the Atlantis Oceanfront Cafe so off we went. They were not wrong, it was wonderful. I had the frittata which featured asparagus, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Jim had the Country Breakfast. Cafe closes for the season this Sunday October 27, so get yourself over there this week if you want to try it for yourself.

The first picture was taken October 7 and the second on the 20th, about two weeks apart. I love watching the colors develop on Buswell Pond as it prepares for winter.

Bonus content from this past weekend:

I stopped by O’Maley School on Sunday to take in some flag football. Boy, did that bring back memories from our own experiences several years ago! Four games means at least 8 teams along with the accompanying parents, coaches, officials and fans. It’s clear football is very popular around here. Special thanks and shout out to the coaches and officials for taking their valuable weekend time to work with these athletes.

Fall color and light add great beauty and dignity to the barns along the byway. (PS I think this one is for sale if you are interested!)

I took a long weekend in Bar Harbor for a foliage photography workshop in the Acadia National Park. As we were ferried around the area, I couldn’t help but notice how many similarities there seemed to be between Cape Ann and the Bar Harbor area. I think you will see that in the pictures that follow.

Each area is popular with visitors; each features fishing/lobstering; each is surrounded on all sides by water. Nearly immediately, however, I could see that their personalities are very different even as they hold their own unique charms. The “working waterfront” that the instructor thought was picturesque enough for its own photo shoot didn’t hold a candle to the rugged Glosta docks. (One bonus was the distinct lack of fish smell at this particular working dock, although I confess to kind of missing it.) The ocean was slamming against the giant rocks, giving the other participants (land-bound in their hometowns) quite a thrill. I was thinking how I’d just had my own storm wave photo shoot which included Good Harbor…….eh, Maine…I’ve seen better.

BUT the foliage was just glorious: rich reds, blazing oranges, glowing yellow at every turn. What a visual treat! I would return. But I’m not eating their lobster…..