Author: Pat D

As amazing as the wildlife was in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, the scenery rivaled for breathtaking beauty. The foliage was mostly at or near peak, a bonus I was not expecting. Rivers, waterfalls, large fields with towering mountains all made for stunning landscapes. It’s quintessentially American.

You may know I have just returned from a photography tour to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. I’ve barely had a chance to really go through my photos but here is a sampling of some of the wildlife we saw along the way. The words that best describes the experience are amazing and humbling. The land is vast, much of the wildlife is enormous, the sky is as big as they say it is. I felt small amongst it as well as humbled. At the same time, there are also huge crowds full of such a variety of groups and cultures. Most were polite and engaging so I also felt part of something much bigger than any of us.

These are just a small sampling of the wildlife we were able to observe. If you ever consider a photography tour, I highly recommend Slonina Photography. The groups are small and the guides well versed and prepared for the location. I have gone on a number of tours with him and will be going again! More photos to come. Stay tuned to Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook for additional photos and stories.

The Gloucester Elks on Atlantic Rd will be holding their Fall Craft Show Saturday Oct 5 from 10 am – 3pm. Pat D’s Photos will be there along with many other fine local vendors. It’s always a great show! Save the date.

As their season begins to wind down, we returned to the Atlantis Oceanfront Inn on Atlantic Road for breakfast at their lovely cafe. It’s a beautiful setting for a relaxing breakfast. The menu offers a great variety of your breakfast/brinch favorites. I was intrigued by the cheddar biscuits that same with the Country Breakfast, so I ordered that. The biscuits did not disappoint! GMG Jim got the famous pumpkin pancakes. We enjoyed our late breakfast very much and regret not visiting more often over the summer months, but you still have through October to make your visit.

Christmas is in only 3 months! Some of our other winter holidays are even sooner so maybe it’s time to start planning so you aren’t facing a last minute panic (remember you promised yourself that wouldn’t happen again?) Here are some examples of the ways that Pat D’s Photos is trying to help. We have a variety of holiday cards available now and the inventory is healthy. Get your cards early!

As you know, I’ve been away on a photography trip but will plan to be back in the shop Sunday from 11-3 as well as Thursday-Saturday next week (Gloucester Elks Fall Show Sunday Oct 5) so stop by and see what’s new with Gloucester Apparel and Pat D’s Photos at 44 Main Street.

I recently picked up my newest notecards from Cape Ann Giclee (recently moved operations to 127 Eastern Ave Suite A in the Cape Ann Marketplace) and I am thrilled to share them with you. I always trust my paper printing to James at Cape Ann Giclee! If you’ve gone to the drugstore to buy your cards recently, you know Pat D’s Photos notecards offer a great value at $3.50 each or $3 each for 4 or more. I’ll plan to be back in the shop Sunday Sept 28 from 11-3 and will be excited to share my photography trip stories with you.

I took a little stroll around Rocky Neck on a recent fall afternoon. There’s ALWAYS something cool going on down there!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned here that the Little Library at the Welcome Center at Stage Fort Park could use some donations. It appears you all have stepped up to the task! The shelves now appear to be comfortingly re-filled. Thank you all! I love where we live.

I noticed this news from 525 on Lexington Ave in Magnolia! What a great deal especially during Sunday afternoon football!

Once again, there will be a classic car show behind 525 in Magnolia off Lexington Ave from 10-2 in conjunction with Magtoberfest Sun Oct 12. No pre registration is needed and the event is free to all. Contact GMG Jim with questions GMGJim55@gmail.com

My sister Judy saw mirror lens attachments for cell phones advertised and thought I might be interested, so I ordered one. I thought you might be interested in the initial test results. Of course, our beautiful dahlias made perfect subjects for this test run. It’s fairly easy to use though I need some practice in positioning it to the best advantage. So far, I’d give this model a B rating (and the photographer gets a C) but I think it might get better with practice. There are several models available at very reasonable prices and this is a link to the one I choose: mirror lens.

We decided to go to Lobsta Land on Causeway St. for dinner once we thought some of the summer traffic would have died down. When we entered, it was fairly quiet with plenty of deck and inside seating remaining. By the time we left, the parking lot was jammed! It’s a very popular spot for visitors and locals! As usual, we enjoyed our meal. Jim loves the chowder and he had a fried seafood plate. I got the NY strip steak that was on the specials menu. We ate inside by the window so got the benefit of the nice view and the sunshine. It’s always a great experience.

Thanks to the generosity of friends and neighbors, we went to The Burn on Main St recently to use our gift card. We were seated quickly and it was busy in there! All staff were friendly and helpful. Jim got the half and half chowder and a chicken pesto sandwich that was on special. I ordered the rice bowl with carne asada (and I LOVED it!). It was all tasty fresh and served in a timely manner. Jim just loves the chowder there. For the sake of the blog, Jim also ordered cheesecake (The Burn has desserts now!) while I sipped a perfectly made Irish coffee. We enjoyed the vibe and look forward to returning soon.

As you are probably aware, there are 3 candidates running for Gloucester Mayor. As a result, a preliminary election is scheduled for today to narrow that down to 2 candidates so go to your polling place from 7 AM – 8 PM today to vote for your choice. Here’s link for more election info if needed. (PS that’s why no school today). I’ll be manning a table at Ward 1! (*totally stole this meme so kudos to creator**)

If you have any interest in the Civil War or Gloucester history, I recommend you go downstairs at City Hall the next time you stop by. There’s a small but powerful exhibit demonstrating some of Gloucester’s role in Civil Ware history mounted along the hallways you will find fascinating. Thank you Archives Committee!

I visited the Gloucester Marine Railways on Rocky Neck to see what’s new. As always, they are very busy down there repairing, refurbishing and spiffing up vessels from all over!

In case you are one of those residents wondering why you haven’t heard any trash/recycling updates, I urge you to sign up for the City of Gloucester Alert messaging system by clicking this link: https://bit.ly/Emergency-Alerting

Here’s the latest update FYI

Based on how many people walk up to Caffe Sicilia every day I am at the shop, I thought these are important dates to note. I hope the staff has a restful break!

I noticed activity at Sailor Stan’s a couple of days ago. It appears it’s being prepared to be sold. Good luck to all!

The Sept 11 attack was 24 years ago. For many of us, myself included, it’s a day etched in memory. That day and the days and weeks that followed seemed to stack up horror upon horror in unimaginable ways. I will never forget, but there’s an entire generation for whom the day does not live in memory. That day changed our nation and the world in ways evident even today in the safety measures, airline precautions and more. Please take a moment today to pause, reflect and remember.

This is a blog post I wrote in 2009 that expresses some of the thoughts 16 years ago when I was still teaching and my children were young adults. It still feels relevant.

https://dalpiazryan.blogspot.com/2009/09/september-11.html