Author: Pat D

The Triton statue and the Elizabeth Smith garden shrouded in fog but it did not reduce their beauty or peaceful ambiance. I feel like this little oasis is often overlooked but the Generous Gardeners certainly have been paying attention!

The fog created quite a mood at Good Harbor Beach earlier this week. Watching the surfers come forward out of the fog atop the waves was pretty surreal.

Sunday’s Craft Fair at the Gloucester Elks on Atlantic Ave has been moved indoors due to expected winds. This should alleviate any parking concerns you might have about stopping by from 10-3 on Sunday! Hope to see you!!

We chased the Thomas E. Lannon and the Ardelle around the harbor in the fog a couple of days ago. They seemed to be on a play date as they sailed more or less in tandem while we watched. I found them rafted up together for a short time which was a delightful sight. There’s a lot of sailing left in the season so check your calendars today for an open spot! There’s really nothing that compares to being out on the water on one of our magnificent vessels.

Hoping to see many of you at the Gloucester Elks for the Craft Fair Sunday Sept 22 from 10-3. Scheduled to be held in the parking lot and moved indoors if necessary so stop in! Pat D’s Photos will be there along with Ardizzoni Photography and many of your favorite vendors.

As you know, fog descended along the landscape a couple of days ago so I took myself down to the boulevard to check out the dahlias from our very own Generous Gardeners. Did you know you could “sponsor a dahlia”? I noticed several other people with the very same idea to check out the dahlias in the fog. There was a definite camaraderie amongst those strolling. And you can’t tell from these photos, but the fragrance added just the right note to the stroll. Support Generous Gardeners in any way you can. Fellowship and fragrance in the fog along the boulevard:

The O’Maley field hockey team is off to a strong start this season after Tuesday’s win over Marblehead. Their record is now 3-0 with a great deal of season left to go. This group of players has come together as a team and indicate high hopes for the future of GHS field hockey! Congratulations team and Coach Jim Dalpiaz. Here’s a photo dump from Tuesday’s game:

Thank you Awesome Gloucester for the support in this effort. I stopped by and spoke with artist Josh and Dana (who was in the bucket working on the sky) and to see how it was coming along. It’s GORGEOUS already and projected to be finished by the end of the week. Here’s a screen shot of the Awesome Gloucester Facebook post and the link for further info here. Stop down to the Harbor Loop and check it out yourself!

We haven’t been out to dinner too much recently for a variety of reasons. As you well know, that’s not because there’s a lack of options in our area! We are so blessed with so many fine choices for eating out no matter your mood. We returned to Magnolia 525 on Lexington Ave for Saturday dinner a few days ago. It’s like “coming home” when you go to 525. Friends and neighbors greet each other, the staff is welcoming and the food delicious. It’s very comfortable and the food variety hits the spot. Alex was our server and he did a great job getting us our orders and answering questions in a prompt and friendly manner. The owner stopped by to chat. The other staff greeted us as well. I had the prime rib and Jim ordered the seafood marinara. Of course, the carrot cake (Jim’s favorite) for dessert while I had Spanish coffee. It was another lovely, relaxed evening with yummy food and friendly service. Thanks 525!

When the afternoon light filters through the trees and arches at Hammond Castle on Hesperus Ave, you are transported back in time. You really can’t help it. I took a little stroll around the grounds recently and it is a treat for the eyes. Visitors can purchase tickets for access to the inside and for the tours but the grounds are open for strolling as well during business hours with some restrictions you can find at this link. It’s always beautiful there and it’s in our very own backyard!

I had an afternoon to myself so I took a ride through the Crane Estate in Ipswich recently. I walked the gardens and took a stroll through the Great House on a gorgeous late summer afternoon. (*Free for Trustees members*) It’s a popular place for photo shoots as I watched two separate shoots in action. I don’t blame them for seeking the beautiful backdrops. It’s an inspirational place to wander about.

Pat D’s Photos will be at 95 East Main St today from 10:30-2 for a surprise Pop Up event in conjunction with Thirsty Seagull Gloucester Apparel. Pat D’s Photos will feature its 2025 Cape Ann Favorites calendar. Available now in limited quantities for $25. If purchased at Pop Up, you will also get a free reusable bag ($5 value). Swing in and say hello and check out the merch.

If the mums and the pumpkins don’t give you the fall feeling, then the apple picking surely will. Russell Orchards in Ipswich is all decked out and ready to go. I got a few apples from the orchard and a few cider donuts to seal the deal. I am ready for fall! How about you? If not and you’d like to be, take the short ride to Russell Orchards for a walk-around.

We took a drive toward Rockport yesterday and wandered down by Pebble Beach. Sometimes there’s not much going on at Chamborne Pond across the road, but yesterday was quite active there with ducks, a Little egret and a hawk. Normally I do not give a fig about ducks (I would have made rhyme there but you get enough of that on the podcast….) but these were ducks I didn’t recognize. I believe them to be American Black Ducks, which are relatively common but the spectacular blue coloring is very distinctive. Please correct me if my ID is incorrect. Maybe I do give a fig after all!

David Calvo’s Fall Carving Workshops are getting underway:

Set aside a moment to remember and reflect upon September 11 2001 and what it has come to mean for all of us. Never forgotten .

The Gloucester Elks on Atlantic Ave. are hosting an outdoor craft show Saturday Sept 22. Many of your favorite local vendors will be on hand (including myself and Donna Ardizzoni!) so you may want to save a little time for some advance holiday shopping next Saturday Sept 22. Event will be moved inside in case of weather, so come on down!

The Friends of Plum Island Lighthouse offered tours of the small lighthouse on Northern Boulevard in Newburyport a few days ago. What a great opportunity to get inside the well-kept lighthouse and interact with the volunteers. They offer occasional tours and host a limited number of events. The scheduled tour time was only 15 minutes which was both adequate and worth the ride up there. Perhaps you’ve seen this lighthouse and wondered about it……..for more info click here.

Jim and I had a chance to tour the newly renovated Gloucester Police Station a coule of days ago. Our host was Chief Ed Conley and he gave us an informative and thorough guided tour. Though we had never seen the previous state of the inner workings at the police station (including the infamous pink cells), Chief Conley explained to us some facts about the renovation, the improvements and the long process to get to the current stage.

The renovations keep public and employee safety at the top of the considerations. All the wiring and technology has been updated; the offices and lobby got a facelift; and extra safety measures have been put in place to all concerned. AND the women have their own locker room now! The Chief arrived in 2019 and then the pandemic hit slowing the entire process down considerably. But the GPD have been in the new digs for about 2 months now and everyone we ran into seemed pleased.

Renovations continue in the court on the floor above and are hoped to be completed by the end of the calendar year. A new training facility will also be added on the 3rd floor.

Residents should be pleased with the project and the state of the art safety facility built with the community in mind. Thank you Chief Conley for your time! We look forward to a tour at the end of the next phase.

Every summer, the crew at Felix’s Farm on Lowes Lane (next to Dairy Queen) in Ipswich plants a big and beautiful sunflower field with paths and animals for people to enjoy. And every year, Paul comes up with a new theme for your walkaround. This year’s theme is GRATEFUL. Sage reminders along the path include quotes about gratefulness and it’s a good reminder.

We purchased online tickets (very reasonable) and visited one afternoon this week. We were greeted by Paul’s dad who gave us the intro spiel and then welcomed by Paul. There were other families, couples, and seniors like ourselves in attendance so it’s appropriate for any age range. There are farm animals, camping and yoga activities also available there. It’s a short ride, the tickets are VERY reasonable and there’s more to do than you might expect. But the season is short so make your plans soon!