Author: Pat D

The late afternoon sun made for an interesting scene along the Boulevard yesterday afternoon as the high tide began to recede.

The picturesque Annisquam was showing off fall colors recently and I couldn’t resist documenting it. Thank you to the very nice woman along Woodward Ave in Gloucester who permitted me to take my camera in for a closer shot!

Pat D’s Photos is excited to present a new item available just in time for the holidays. These night lights are a little different from my previous ones (which are no longer available) and I hope you will like them. They have a sensor so they light up when darkness is sensed. They are about 3″ in diameter, flat plastic images ready to use. I am offering them at a discounted price until our fall shows begin on Nov 11 at the Gloucester Fraternity Club to support Cape Ann Timebank and Special Needs Dances (at which time the price will be $25). Hope to see you then. Message me or comment here with questions. As always, free local delivery to Cape Ann area. Great gift idea and remember we also have 2024 calendars, holiday card packs and ornaments!

Work has been progressing at Our Lady of Good Voyage in the tower restoration project for several weeks now. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and this major project has been eagerly anticipated. If going according to plan, it should be completed soon.

From Cat Cavallini:

Frank and Garfield, staff at the Grace Center, getting in the Halloween spirit today. BOO!

I spotted these guys doing their own version of a cemetery stroll in Washington Cemetery on Western Ave in Gloucester. They seemed to be doing a close inspection while on their turkey trot. Happy Halloween!

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the eagle overlooking Stage Fort Park. I was a little surprised since it was very active down there with a cross country meet, and the eagle did not stay long but it was a sight for sore eyes! Nice to see you again buddy!

Happy birthday Joey! Thanks for creating, building and nurturing GMG all these years. Good man, great friend.

We stopped down to see Joey at Capt Joe’s on East Main St and he helpfully pointed out his morning visitor: handsome kingfisher! Always happy to see these guys!

It was kind of like having our very own Golden Pond in the pretty fall light at Buswell Pond recently. Wowza.

This hawk posed by nicely for us recently at the peak of the pink house on Plum Island in Newbury. A couple people stopped to ask me if this was an owl. Nope. Red Tail. Pink House. Grey Day.

I took advantage of the beautiful weather this week to do another one of those things I’m trying to jam in before the season ends. The Essex River Cruise is a great take especially on a gorgeous fall afternoon but you need to hurry as their season ends Sunday Oct 29. You can book online at this link. It’s an easy ride down to Dodge St Essex, parking is plentiful, the narration is great (thanks Alex and Powers). Take a friend for a leisurely afternoon trip and get caught up (thanks Susan).

Submitted by FOB Mary Jane S: “So nice. Yesterday we did a Brain Cancer walk in Southie. This is Team Jeanne!” Photo cred Jeanne’s sister (that’s all I know about her sorry) Jeanne Sullivan 1948-2022.

Our friends the seals were hanging out at Brace Cove recently. I met a very nice woman artist on her bike there (Elizabeth–hello!) as she was also watching the seals. Another couple came up and offered some additional insight which we appreciated. The seals really brought the visitors together that day!

Maybe you drive right by this every day, but do you look and see what’s there? Luckily for me, Jim is usually driving so I can gander out the window all I like and still be safe so I ALWAYS take an extra look when we go by here just in case it’s extra-special pretty like this.

This is one of my favorites places to stop and take a look near Farnhams on Eastern Ave in Essex. In fact, my CB (crystal ball) image took second place recently in the most recent Essex in Bloom photo contest and is one of my all time favorite images. The skies have been amazing recently. Every night we remind ourselves what a blessing it is to be on Cape Ann.

Fall is maybe the best time to take a cemetery stroll with the falling leaves and long shadows. The Old Graveyard or Old Burial Ground in Essex behind the Essex Shipbuilding Museum Archives on Rt 133 is a perfect example for a fall cemetery stroll. As described in my handy “Guide to Cemeteries in Essex County, Massachusetts”: Small cemetery well maintained. Some stones seem to be missing and a few broken. Contains graves of the first 3 ministers of Chebacco Parish (Ipswich). My stroll seemed to validate those conclusions. It’s an easy walk and feels VERY historic due to the layout and the older tombstones. There’s more information and even a map available at this link.

Whatever you might have planned to do outside today, you should probably double check with the organization since so many of them have been re-scheduled to a rain date. The Oak Grove Cemetery event from Gloucester 400+ is a good example. Changed to tomorrow Sunday Oct 22 at 3:30 as per their Facebook post.

On a tip from GMG friend Liza R regarding a schooner hauled out at the Railways on Rocky Neck, I headed over there to see what was going on. What a busy morning! Schooner Adventure is indeed being worked on and there was a large vessel being moved around the lot. Codzilla and Polaris are also at the Railways. There’s ALWAYS something cool going on over there! Thanks Liza!

I was recently invited to attend the dedication of the Essex Shipbuilding Museum Schoolhouse Archives in honor of Jim Witham and took the opportunity to take a look around the Schoolhouse Archives at 28 Main St in Essex. If you love schooners, you really need to check it out. It’s small but packed with TONS of interesting artifacts and information about Essex Shipbuilding. I had not been there in quite a while and much has changed. I recommend you check it out when you can.

I was included in the event as a member of the organization, which has several fun events coming up including a Speakeasy fundraiser! See the image here for info.