Author: Pat D

Some of the activity in the area of St. Peter’s Square in preparation for the festivities this weekend. Looking good! So glad to see this back again.

Check your tickets if you bought lottery tickets at Richdale in Gloucester. Link and screenshot from Mass Live:

https://www.masslive.com/entertainment/2022/06/massachusetts-state-lottery-winner-a-ticket-bought-in-gloucester-made-someone-a-millionaire-over-the-weekend.html

When you are a caretaker for things that require tender care like children or camera lens, you aren’t supposed to have a “favorite”. Will you judge me too harshly if I say I have a favorite in my wide angle lens? It’s not the one I use the most but it is the one that most often seems to produce images that make me go “wow”. But it’s one that requires extra attention as it seems to be reckless in constantly escaping my camera bag and rolling off to find adventure and danger. Not long after I first got it, it jumped out of the car and rolled down the embankment by our driveway. It survived.

Recently I was on a photo tour and opened the cover to find shattered glass and my heart broke. But then I remembered the lens had extra protection in the form of a filter for just this kind of occasion. Whew, there was hope. Off to my favorite camera store Hunt’s in Melrose for some emergency care. They removed the shattered filter and replaced it. The lens is back in the rotation!! It has now survived 2 near-death experiences. How often is it that your “favorite” is the one that seems to require the most attention?!?!?

In this lens line up, Wide Angle seems to be standing proud along side the others despite being shattered. There’s a life lesson in there somewhere.

It was a GORGEOUS way to say farewell to the day at Lanes Cove recently.

I recently took a photo tour specifically to see nesting puffins at Machias Seal Island in Maine last week. It’s been on my bucket list and the trip was made with our puffin sightings along with many other interesting birds. It was a trip that included 3 lighthouses, 3 boat to tender transfers without getting wet, several dozen puffins and hundreds of other nesting birds. I was very worried about all the transferring between boats but I made it with all my equipment intact and mostly dry! It was a 2 hour ride to the boat launch, an hour out to the island with very restricted access and tightly held rules. Only half our group could go onto the island at a time to spend an hour in teeny tiny blinds. The other half waited on the moored boat. The nesting terns were brutal and required sticks for protection. But it was all worth it! Here are just a few of the photos. I highly recommend giving it a try even if you think you don’t especially like birds (Joey and Chris I am talking to you). Many additional details and photos can be found at Pat D’s Photos and Adventures on Facebook. This was definitely in the “adventure” category.

Father’s Day offers an opportunity for some reflection on the Gloucestermen who brought me back to the home of my ancestors. The Immigrant Timothy Ryan was the first Irishman who made his way to the shores of Gloucester to begin this story. His son, William is shown here in the black and white photo presumably taken in Gloucester with his wife Catherine (whose family was no slouch in the fishing story of Gloucester either). It was probably taken in the early 1930s. The other photo of a man holding a baby was probably also taken around 1930 is of my dad (the baby) and William’s son, his father. Also likely taken in Gloucester. The final picture is also my dad with his dad: Paul M. Ryan Sr. and Jr. taken in 1972 (not in Gloucester). These men led me directly here, to this blog, to this Father’s Day podcast, to this Gloucester life. And I could not be happier. I hope your story leads you to similar happiness.

I’m not sure annual flowers look any prettier than they do in the early summer days. This is certainly true at the Lanes Cove gardens. I was struck by how pretty they looked and was taking photos when I fortuitously came upon the person who maintains these gardens as memorials. I had no idea it was the work of one person; it is obvious that a great deal of care, planning and some expense has gone into making this area look extra pretty. Thank you for brightening our world in this way!

As much as things change, they tend to stay the same. Mid June is prime time for Father’s Day, graduations and other celebrations. Beaches begin to get crowded and traffic increases. It was the same in 1956 according to this article from the Gloucester Daily Times June 18 1956. Here are some Father’s Day ads for very stylish dads out there.

The Jackson Twins comic strip debuted also and Good Harbor Beach was featured in the first one that appeared in the Daily Times in June 1956. The creator Dick Brooks was a Gloucester/Rockport resident for a time and this strip ran nationally from 1950-1979. His daughter Virginia was also an artist in her own right and she stated: “My father was the creator of The Jackson Twins comic strip. It was based on twin teenage girls and everything I ever did that was bad, yet printable, ended up in that comic strip!” (www.viriginabrooks.com). It’s a small world. June in Gloucester is and always has been a wonder.

We needed a few fresh vegetables and stopped by Lattof Farmhouse Kitchen on Main St. in Rockport since we were out on a drive. I was impressed with the variety and freshness of the fruits, veggies and baked goods at the farmstand. On a previous trip, we were delighted by the Kitchen so a stop at the farmstand was inevitable. The pricing is reasonable, the staff friendly and helpful. Another great option for Cape Ann!

We stopped to try out the new lunch menu at Oliver’s Harbor on Main Street. As always, we were greeted in a friendly manner and we seated and served quickly. I had the BLT, which was substantial. Sometimes a BLT can be kind of skimpy but this one was a monster in comparison to most. It was also delicious. Jim had the steak bomb which is also a winner. Hope to see you at Oliver’s sometime soon!

Take a moment today to reflect on our flag and its meaning to you. The Elks on Atlantic Road will be holding a ceremony today at 6 PM that you are welcome to attend.

It was so pretty, yet a little lonely for the lifeguard chairs, at Good Harbor Beach recently. I thought you might enjoy the view.

As many of you know, Joey and I have a good-natured battle each year over hummingbirds attracted to our respective homes. Each year I win, but that’s beside the point this time. This is our second year using a long red plastic bar with bird-sized holes for feeding filled with nectar to further attract the hummingbirds. It works! It has worked so well that the hummingbirds seem to prefer it to the traditional hanging red glass feeder. As a bonus, it also is convenient for the orioles. The orioles are at a disadvantage in our yard due to a ravenous raccoon stealing the oranges and jelly we put out for them so I guess the Long Bar Saloon makes for their own style of happy hour.

The Gloucester Harbormaster recently posted on Facebook that the public landing at Lanes Cove had been refurbished (see screenshot) so I went down to check it out. It was already being put to good use by a couple of kayakers. Great job by all including City of Gloucester Public Works, Department of Fish and Game, Fishing and Boating Access Bret Sherry along with the Gloucester Harbormaster.

Castaways Vintage Cafe on Main St continues its series of summer weekend markets and fun tomorrow Saturday June 11 and Sunday June 12 from 9-4. Pat D’s Photos will be there featuring some new gift packs and glass prints along with notecards, magnets, coasters and prints. Stop by and say hello! We’d all love to see you. Stop by and get your GMG sticker! If you can’t get there and are interested in any items, message me on Facebook or email GMGPatD at gmail.com

In case you haven’t stopped by 7 Seas Wharf Market Place on Rogers St (at the former sight of the Gloucester House restaurant), let me tell you that you are missing out on a little treat. The wonderful Cake Ann bakery is located there along with the Gloucester House Gift Shop. Cape Ann Auction has a little corner in the gift shop as well, so it’s quite a treat. There’s a warm and welcoming area inside to enjoy your snacks as well as outdoor seating overlooking the working wharf.

We picked up some Goose-Gronk cookies which were perfect and a savory scone from Cake Ann (always delicious). They are also offering homemade dog treats which we got as a surprise for a dog we know……shhh….. Stop down! I think you’ll be glad you did.

Just as Dave Rimmer predicted, the osprey chicks are beginning to hatch at the Lobsta Land nest. As of this morning (Wed June 8), there appear to be at least two hatched and active in the nest with Annie and Squam. It’s very exciting and somewhat addicting to watch the Essex Greenbelt Osprey Cam. One more chick is expected to hatch very soon.

The boulevard was lively with people and dogs for Memorial Day weekend. Here are a few we saw as we took in some people/dog watching time a few days ago.

A screenshot from The Boston Globe. Golden State Warriors tackle Gloucester pronunciation. Maybe it will wear them out before Game 3.

On a bit of a whim, we stopped by Second Glance on Pond Road in Gloucester as we like to pick around and see what might need to come home with us. It’s totally fun to look around and let your imagination run wild. I almost never leave there without SOMETHING useful or decorative. True to form, I found a perfect solution to a little issue we’d been having with kitchenware.

It’s an easy was to support the Open Door’s local hunger relief efforts. It’s a thrift store packed (but not claustrophobically so) with kitchen items, furniture, art, books, clothing and children’s items. It’s easy to donate if you are doing spring cleaning. Stop by and browse!