Author: Pat D

We are in the San Juan Islands specifically to see orcas and eagles. BINGO on both counts, but for this post I will focus on the orca adventure. Whale watching in this part of the world is similar to ours in many ways but different in others. One reason is that orcas can be seen here and they have some habits that are a bit varied from our own humpbacks. We took a ride out in a small boat (I’m told it’s a Nyack and there are only 3 in the US) with about a dozen other people and sought the whales nearly to Whidbey Island. Here we found a group of 5 Biggs Killer Whales along with another pair. They seemed very active and playful. We followed them along for a while and they even swam under our boat and a pair surfaced right next to us. Thrilling. The day prior produced zero whale sightings for that trip. We were very fortunate! Thanks to our friend Nichole Schrafft for giving us some tips for this trip which is panning out to be more than memorable.

For additional pictures and story details, please visit Pat D’s Photos on Facebook. If you have never seen an orca penis, you might want to check out more photos there! That should push the views up…….

Some of you may know we are vacationing in the Seattle/San Juan Islands. Much of coastal Friday Harbor is similar to our own island: fishing industry, whale watching, and stunning views. But here was a sobering reminder that we are most certainly no longer on the east coast. More travelogue to come!

Some views from St. Peter’s Landing on a beautiful summer morning several days ago. If you are not “home” (where you belong), maybe you need to see this…….

There’s never a shortage of dogs and their humans enjoying the boulevard. Perhaps you recognize some of these canines on a Saturday stroll?

The Barn Hairdressing Lounge is easily visible from the scenic byway route through Essex at 1 Main Street. More modern than most of the barns I am drawn to take photos of, it’s quite regal and handsome and has an impressive footprint. They do not appear to have a website, but their phone number is easily available using Google.

I love seeing our fishing boats returning to harbor when I am out on the water. Welcome back Opportunaty, Foxy Lady, Nicole Jean, Black Pearl, Jennie-n-Rose, and Carol Ann. Fare thee well to those going out.

We decided to go back to Rosettis on Brimbal Ave in Beverly for dinner last week. It had been recommended by our friends Chris and Charleen and we have been once but hadn’t been back in quite a while. There are so many fine restaurants right here in Gloucester, it’s hard to leave town for another but it was a special occasion and we have been wanting to return here for this Italian themed dining experience. We were not disappointed.

We had the half antipasti board as an appetizer and it was plenty for the two of us. I tried a pomegranate martini (very tasty) and Jim had a pinot grigio. There was a surf and turf special which I ordered and Jim got the Chicken Braciolettini with red sauce. My filet was done to perfection and I appreciated that our server Dan explained that the kitchen prefers to prepare the meat medium rare, which is my preference as well. After we enjoyed our entrees, I had an Irish coffee (not bad for an Italian joint) and Jim ordered the sorbet. In the end, the trip “off island” for this meal was well worth it.

It was busy even for a weeknight, so I would recommend reservations. There are a variety of seating options: bar, table booth, round, patio etc. There was plenty of staff which is tricky for establishments these days. The servings were nicely paced; I did not feel rushed at all. Servers were attentive and helpful. I was happy we made the choice to go to Rosettis.

I hope you can stop by Castaways Vintage Cafe on Rogers St tomorrow Saturday Aug 11 and say hello at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures for our very last summer show. We will be offering a couple of specials including a show special: pick your own magnet and 4 notecards as a package for only $15. Also glass ornaments will be available for $20….at the end of the month I will reluctantly be forced to raise the price. These are some of the images available on Cape Ann Giclee printed notecards and prints. There are also placemats, coasters, magnets, puzzles, ornaments and much more! Other vendors are scheduled to be there as well and there will be live music so stop by! Our next scheduled show won’t be until October, but some of my items are available at Maritime Gloucester too.

I have a touch lamp that turns itself on randomly and I have taken to calling it Emmanuel when I walk in the room and it has turned itself on again. This is after the up-and-coming media star Emmanuel the Emu: “Emmanuel, don’t do it!” I very rarely recommend social media sights to you all (excepting present company of course) but if you need a little humor and levity in your feed, I strongly recommend check out Knuckebump Farms and @hiitaylorblake on Tik Tok, Instagram and Twitter. You may find smiling. Here’s a compilation from Knucklebump Farms and Taylor Blake in Florida as posted to YouTube. You are welcome. Don’t be surprised to hear me say it on the podcast one day…..”Emmanuel, don’t do it!” To whom do you suppose I will be referring? Do YOU have an Emmanuel in your life?

The final Moonrise Market will be held Thursday Aug 11 at the Emerson Inn on Cathedral Ave in Rockport from 6-9 PM and we hope to see you there. The vendors will be on the lawn while fine food and drink will be offered inside (reservations recommended). The Cape Ann Makers Market runs a fine show and Pat D’s Photos will be there along with several other wonderful local artisans.

Pat D’s Photos will be featuring some new products such as Motif themed refrigerator magnets and glass ornaments such as these. ***Heads up advance notice* The prices of the glass ornaments will be raised at the end of August so this is a great opportunity to save yourself some money by thinking ahead a bit!***

There is a selection of magnets available at Pauline’s Gifts on Essex Ave along with so many other wonderful gift ideas! Thanks Pauline!

Sharing Facebook screenshot from Jason Grow for anyone interested.

It’s always fun at Maritime Gloucester on the Harbor Loop but Food Truck Tuesdays are even MORE fun. Last week, The Lobster Roller and Blue Bird Dessert Bar were there and today is will be Butter UR Biscuit with Latin Soul Cuisine starting at 4 PM. Hurry down, these food trucks sell out! We almost always discover something new: did you know about the Little Library down there? We have had a great time just hanging out down there. You never know who you will run into……..

We celebrated Margarita Monday at Tonno on Main St in Gloucester last week and think you might want to consider the same for tonight. It’s always a pleasure to go to Tonno for the delicious food, excellent service and friendly atmosphere. We had made a reservation but decided to go early and sit at the bar so we could have something from the Bar Bite menu. We were accommodated with an easy smile and enjoyed our time at the bar among old friends and new.

I tried a pineapple margarita (yum). Jim had a Veal Milanese Bar Bite along with his Chicken Parmesan entree. I had my new Tonno favorite Chicken Milanese. Our meals were satisfying and tasty. Our friend Joey recently reminded us that summer is going quickly so we need to take advantage while we can and Margarita Monday is one way we celebrate summer. Thanks Tonno for the assist in celebrating summer!

We took advantage of the Tuesday special ticket pricing for an afternoon sail on the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon. It’s buy one, get second at half price on Tuesday in July and August and I highly recommend considering this treat for yourself or perhaps for visitors. There are other opportunities to save money on ticket prices as well, so check them out.

The 90 minute sail around the harbor is relaxing and low key: just right for hazy lazy summer afternoons. Captain Heath and his staff make the experience fun and informative. We had a birthday celebration, visitors from Maine and the other cape along for our ride recently. And it’s so darn gorgeous out there, it’s hard to resist. Thanks Captain and crew for an awesome sail!

Perhaps you, like me, have noticed the monarchs have arrived. The monarch news has been pretty grim recently but it feels as though we are blessed with a fair number. This is in part due to efforts to lure them with milkweed and other butterfly attractors by several Cape Ann residents. Thank you to all of you for your efforts on their behalf. It is very nice to see them about and enjoying plentiful loosestrife in our backyard. Several species were taking advantage of the plentiful blooms in addition to the monarch though I cannot identify them all. Monarchs are ceaselessly photogenic. For additional photos and story details, please visit Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook.

Progress is being made at the relocated Vietnam Memorial at Stage Fort Park. I do not know an anticipated completion date, but I think it’s coming along very nicely!

I recently saw a headline that there may not be adequate chocolate to meet Halloween needs, so I jumped into action to prevent this approaching urgent situation. I went to Nichols Candy on Crafts Road off 128 to stock up a bit. I also have a family event coming up for which I needed a few treats…..regardless, it’s always fun to go to Nichols Candy. Friendly assistance combined with a wide selection of fresh locally produced candy is a win-win. I left with some chocolate for my stockpile as well as party favors.

For those of you who follow Keith the Wreath (KeithIsAWreath on Instagram), he tagged along so he could also get a sweet treat for Aretha……

One of the 3 sunflower fields from School Street Sunflowers has opened in Ipswich at 18 School St right behind the high school. This field does not require tickets but does offer cut-your-own sunflowers for $2 each. The other 2 fields will require admission when they open later in the summer, so stay tuned. Their Facebook page adds that Goat Yoga is also available every Sunday and those tickets are available here. It’s hard not to smile and feel peaceful when you are facing a field of sunflowers, so maybe stop by when you can. Yes, I took Keith and Aretha……..

Black Earth Compost is putting together a pilot Electronic Recyling Collection Route in August throughout Cape Ann and surrounding areas. You can send unused electronics off for recycling such as laptops, monitors, tables, cables and more. Go check your garages and closets and sign up by August 10 for pickup by visiting their webpage: https://blackearthcompost.com/

Screenshot from Black Earth Recycling Facebook page:

Saturday was the perfect day to stop at the Cupboard at Stage Fort Park and pick up a picnic lunch. We each got the specials: Cape Ann Reuben and Cuban sandwiches. Ordering is simple (cash only) and the sandwiches were quickly wrapped and ready to go. While we were waiting, we tried to assist some visitors with the new parking app. There were some language barriers between us and we weren’t able to help as much as we would have liked.

We took our sandwiches down to the boulevard, set up our chairs, ate our lunch and enjoyed the view and the activity. Lo and behold, the guy with app problems showed up having been unsuccessful with the app so he found other parking. We chatted for a bit and hope his afternoon turned out as pleasant as ours did.

**I do not mean to be negative about the parking app for beach parking. Though it could use some improvements, I think it’s been an overall success even in its first season.**