Author: Pat D

Spotted these hardworking crews out on the water one recent afternoon.

The dog is wondering where the “Dog Bar” is that he’s heard so much about. He’s ready for his “Barkardi” and Coke.

I am contemplating how roads signs can teach life lessons.

Here’s an opportunity to recycle those electronics and bikes you have cluttering up the garage or basement. Sat Sept 28 Our Lady of Good Voyage church.

Trials and Sails is a 10 day event held across Essex County and includes a wide range of activities designed to highlight the variety of indoor and outdoor experiences available to the public. This year’s event runs from Friday Sept 20 to Sunday Sept 29 but you can get a headstart tonight in Ipswich at the Ipswich Visitor Center Gallery at the Hall Haskell House 36 South Main Street.  A reception will be held there 6-8 PM to “Meet the Woman Business Owners” along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway (our own Pauline Bresnahan of Pauline’s Gifts is among these women). Art and artisan pieces from these businesses will be shown and offered for sale in the Gallery at the Ipswich Visitor Center until Sunday Sept 22 from 10 AM to 5 PM. It’s a great take. I stopped by yesterday and visited with Anne from Lost Treasures in Rowley. Additional Trails and Sails info available here.

You’ll be hearing more about these events in the upcoming days. My calendar is pretty full of plans to attend a number of them.

On the water, in the trees, on firm ground….Glosta folks hard at work.

I stopped at the Blue Marlin Grille in Essex recently. I ordered a Reuben Sandwich and it was the best I’ve had lately! The corned beef was piled high and there was plenty of sauerkraut and dressing (sometimes these sandwiches can be kind of dry….not my preference). The cider margarita on the fall drink menu was a nice treat also. The restaurant was busy on this weekday afternoon and the atmosphere was pleasant. A nice little Byway stop.

A colorful reflection on the water as if reflecting the glory of the schooners on the adjacent dock. So pretty year round,

It was time for another cemetery stroll; this time at the Magnolia Point Cemetery on Magnolia Avenue. A Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts indicates this is a city owned cemetery tended to by the Gloucester DPW. It further says that individual burials are not recorded, but that there may be a list of some deed holders with the DPW.

It’s well taken care of (thanks, DPW!), small and nicely laid out. I didn’t notice many religious icons but there are several well known family names. I was looking for one grave for the FindAGrave project but did not locate it; honestly, I was rather grateful since it was for a young child and hose always make me a little sad.

It’s great this information is shared on the sign. That’s pretty rare in cemeteries.

I especially love these stone markers:

My crystal ball (known as CB) also enjoyed recent schooner sails. These are from the Ardelle. Sometimes it’s a good exercise to look at the world with a different perspective.

Lovely gardens on the boulevard are still looking great! Thank you Generous Gardeners! You can support their efforts if you need some daylilies for a $10 donation by emailing susan@generousgarders.org with the desired variety (take a picture of the flower or the tag). Seems like a wonderful way to spread the beauty across Cape Ann!

September 11 seems like an appropriate day to highlight our boulevard flags and the corresponding military members honored there including Richard Montenero, Capt. Antonino Romeo, SN David G. Ouellet, Capt. Joe and Jennie Auditore, Murph Tarr, Chad Johnson and Jane M. Booth.

Last week I stopped by Trio and lucky for me it was Parm Night. I had the Chicken Parmesan as well as a $6.99 adult beverage. You do the math. Dinner, complete with leftovers, for just a little over $20. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner! It’s Tuesday!

I was delighted to find a 1948 Polk’s City Directory for Gloucester at Dogtown Books with the area map intact! I thought you might like a little taste of 1948  Gloucester:

I just love the maps.

City Officers 1948. What names do you recognize? Anyone as curious about the Superintendent Brown Tail and Gypsy Moth , City Forester, Forest Warden’s duties? I’m also wondering about the Fence Viewers (?)

And here’s a fun tidbit from the Gloucester Daily Times June 7 1948. “See history being made before your very eyes.” This post is in memory of my mom, who’s birthday it is today. She would have been 14 and likely been glued to the new phenomenon television.

The back shore was a popular fishing spot one day last week.

Those rock piles you are seeing everywhere are commonly referred to as cairns, though technically they are not since they are usually not landmarks or memorials. I have mentioned before that I am ambivalent about them, although recently I’ve become less enamored every time I see one.

Anyhow, I was driving along the back shore recently and noticed a scene I thought might be “blog worthy”. A pair of rock piles, a pair of fishermen and a pair of lighthouses.

I was experimenting with getting the right angle when two boys wandered into view.

I am working out how I can make this work when one of the kids gives one of the rock piles a good kick. The artistic value of the scene went down faster than those rocks. I didn’t know whether to be disappointed or give the kid a pat on the back.

experimenting with getting the right angle

As our friend Kim Smith told us recently, sunflower fields are in full bloom and ready for visitors. I visited the Colby Farm Sunflower Field in Newbury recently and it was delightful. So, even though sunflowers have recently been featured here, they are so cheerful I thought everyone might enjoy another dose! There is a $10 cash only parking fee but sunflowers aren’t the only attraction. There’s a small enclosure with farm animals for children to enjoy, a farmstand, and antique tractors for photos.

There’s always that one……

I ran into Martha and Casey at the Enterprise rental agency this week. Her GMG shirt caught my eye and we had a nice chat. I guess you never know where you might see GMG represented! Great to meet you Martha!

It was a pretty quiet day at Good Harbor Beach on Labor Day at high tide. The key word here is that is was pretty, as always.

Here’s an update on the Daventry Lane units at Niles Beach: Beachcroft Residences at Niles Beach.