Gloucester At Dusk- The USCG Grand Isle 1/28/11

I wonder if the Coasties ever get to practice firing those guns that are all covered up  in black sheathing.

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Did You Know (Sunset)

Paintings of three sunsets and unique atmospheric conditions they create
Paintings by E.J. Lefavour

That Sunset or sundown is the daily disappearance of the Sun below the horizon as a result of Earth’s rotation.

The time of sunset is defined in astronomy as the moment the trailing edge of the Sun’s disk disappears below the horizon in the west. The ray path of light from the setting Sun is highly distorted near the horizon because of atmospheric refraction, making astronomical sunset occur when the Sun’s disk is already about one diameter below the horizon. Sunset is distinct from dusk, which is the moment at which darkness falls, which occurs when the Sun is approximately eighteen degrees below the horizon. The period between the astronomical sunset and dusk is called twilight.

Sunset creates unique atmospheric conditions such as the often intense orange and red colors of the Sun and the surrounding sky. (From Wikipedia). 

These are a few captures of disappearances of the sun below the horizon, and the resulting unique atmospheric conditions, as viewed from Annisquam.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Did You Know (Blue Porch Ceilings)

porches on home in Annisquam with porch ceilings painted sky blue
Photo by E.J. Lefavour

why pale blue paint is used on the porch ceilings of many older homes in New England?  There are actually a number of possible reasons.  The blue paint is said to reflect light.  To anyone standing inside the house, the day would seem brighter, even if it were overcast.  Some say it keeps the porch cooler in summer.  Still others believe that blue chases away evil spirits.  In the South, especially in South Carolina, the ceiling porch blue is called haint blue (haint being a spirit or ghost) and is used to ward off evil spirits.  Some people also believe that the color discourages insects that mistake it for the open sky and avoid it for fear of being caught in the open and eaten by flying predators.  Some just do it because it is pretty.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Goose Cove

I was so taken with E.J.’s magnificent painting of Goose Cove [Did You Know (Goose Cove)]with it’s vivid greens, striking blues and marvelous contrast, I decided to drop everything, run out there and capture it on film.

All I got was white. What’s wrong with my camera?

 

Some Annisquam Winter Wonderland Photos

I know most everyone is sick and tired of all this snow, but we couldn’t experience these magical winter scenes without it.  Just think how much more we will appreciate spring when it arrives this year.

photo collage of winter snow scenes around Annisquam
Photos by E.J. Lefavour

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

Cape Ann Healing Center Winter Workshops Sunday 01/30/2011

Cape Ann Healing Center Winter Workshops

Presents 

Enlightenment Through Reincarnation
Discussions & Reflective yoga poses
w/Osha Rose
Sunday 1/30 2-4pm

 

Cape Ann Healing Center Winter Workshops
TreeTop Yoga Studio
85 Eastern Avenue
Gloucester, Mass 01930

Enlightenment Through Reincarnation
Discussions & Reflective yoga poses
w/Osha Rose
Sunday 1/30 2-4pm
$35.00 Drop In

Please call (978) 283-1191 x1 for detail or check out our website at capeannhealingcenter.com

Thank you

Libby Lynch WEO
Cape Ann Healing Center

January in Rockport

Don’t be deterred by the sight of Rockport’s Christmas tree being hacked into bits…downtown Rockport is still happening, with lots of shops still open along with TWO coffee shops and a couple of restaurants! Besides, it’s cathartic to see the giant tree taken down in late January, even if it is in such a gruesome manner. You know that the time for excess partying is past and we have settled into one of our classic, cold and beautiful New England winters.

Did You Know (Goose Cove)

painting of egret feeding at Goose Cove in the low tide shallows
Painting by E.J. Lefavour

That Goose Cove Reservation was conserved by a group of concerned Gloucester residents who cherished the natural scenic beauty of this woodland as seen from Route 127?  The property features wooded upland, rocky shoreline, and tidal mudflats.  The scenery is some of the most beautiful and tranquil of all Greenbelt properties, and provides an opportunity to study varied plant and animal life.  A variety of estuarine and marine plants and algae exist in unusual proximity along the shoreline, and there is an abundance of shorebirds.  Geologic features include Cape Ann granite, horenblended granite, glacial erratics, glacial outwash, and moraine.  Great spot for Hiking, birding and nature study, cross country skiing & snow shoeing, fishing, and canoeing.

Direction from Route 128, at Grant Circle in Gloucester:
Drive north on Washington Street, Route 127, toward Lanesville for 1.9 miles. Landmarks you will pass are: the hospital on your left, the Ralph O’Malley Middle School on your right, you will drive over a causeway, and pass The Grange on your right, and a sign for the Beeman School.  The Goose Cove parking area is on the right.  This is a blind right turn that could be easy to miss.  If you pass a small municipal building on the right, you have gone to far.  Visit http://www.ecga.org/properties/goosecove.html for more info.

This painting is of an egret feeding in the shallows at low tide in Goose Cove.

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

St Ann’s Open House and Reception Sunday January 31st

Hi Joey – Felicia recommended that I attach the following flyer to you for one of the "goings on" happening at St. Ann School next week in honor of Catholic Schools Week!  This particular event with a local artist is open to the public and is occurring on Thursday at 12:30pm.  It is enrichment for both adults and children.  The flyer explains it all and we would appreciate it if you would post it on GMG.

St. Ann’s School is having an open house and reception for all parents interested in touring the school and finding out more about its curriculum and program on Sunday, January 31st at 11:00 (immediately following Mass). 
Thank you very much for your help!  Just to warn you – I will be sending you another flyer for  a St. Ann’s School Valentine’s Comedy Night fundraiser coming up at the Cruiseport on Friday February 11th.  Three headliner comedians, chocolate Valentine theme candy bar, 50/50, doors open at 7:30…  as soon as I get the flyer emailed to me. Would it be possible for you to post the above information as a teaser until I get you the flyer? 
Thanks again!
By the way – I am a huge fan of gmg, drive around with your car sticker (which I get compliments on), and my son Danny was on your Horribles Parade float!  Dan is in school with Amanda…
Joey – fyi as you already know St. Ann’s is a great Cape Ann Catholic school that has a long tradition in the city but is in serious financial danger due to the Archdiocese of Boston’s financial troubles and its inability to continue to help the school.  St.  Ann’s needs community help to stay open and we are trying to reach out to the community, whom I think would be very sad (whether they believe in Catholic education or not), to see the school, with so much history and tradition in Gloucester, shut its doors.  We can use all the help we can get to get the word out!  Thank you!

Marnie Powers
VP of St. Ann PTO
close friend of the famous Felicia!

‘Sometimes Wheels Spit and Sputter,’ from WHAT DO WHEELS DO ALL DAY?, 2006

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Below: ‘Chapel on Naxos,’ from SACRED PLACES, 2000

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ART FOR KIDS, AND BEYOND

Giles Laroche has been drawing for as long as he can remember. "I especially enjoyed sketching the mountains, old farmhouses, and mill buildings which surrounded Berlin, New Hampshire, the town I grew up in." Giles fell in love with books at a young age.
Little did Giles know that when he grew up, other people would gaze at his books about faraway lands and that he would also travel to many of the places he would come to illustrate in such books as Bridges Are To Cross, Sacred Places and What’s Inside? Fascinating Structures Around the World. Whether Giles is exploring in Europe or hiking in New England, he always has a sketchbook in hand.
Sketches are only Giles’ first step in creating the elaborate collages that Kirkus Reviews called "truly awe-inspiring." Every illustration involves many stages of drawing, cutting, painting, and gluing. Often, a piece has seven or eight layers before Giles is through with it!  Giles places spacers between each layer to give the final artwork added depth and dimension. He calls his technique "paper relief" because of its three-dimensional effect when photographed for inclusion in his books.
Giles lives and works in his house in Salem, Massachusetts, and in a 230-year-old barn in southwestern New Hampshire.  He writes, "As a child I enjoyed poring over maps, and reading and gazing at books about faraway lands – these are the books I enjoy creating for children."


This school visit will provide students, families and teachers with knowledge of a fine-art form and inspiration for hands-on activities. Above right, Giles Laroche explains his art using the original cover art for DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS.
Copies of Mr. Laroche’s favorite books will be available for purchase by St. Ann Families.  Join us for this exclusive event and you can bring home a signed copy of this acclaimed author/illustrator’s work! 

GILES LAROCHE      41 DEARBORN STREET, SALEM MA 01970      giles@gileslaroche.com

Congratulations To the Farm Bar and Grille Darts Team- State Champs

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Travis James, Dave Tilley, Jim Stavis, Dave Roberts, Dan Comeau, Peter deJager, Ed Akerley and Kevin Johnson. Kneeling: Minuteman Rep and Team Cpt Brad Atkinson

An Open Apology To My Neighbors

Dear Neighbors,

I am sorry for “being that GUY” who leaves up his Christmas lights way too long. Especially, incredibly cheesy candy cane lights on a tree that was barely alive before the 25 snowstorms. I was always the guy who said it’s February dang it – get your bleeping lights off your house! In my only defense, I have tried to pull them off but there is 7 feet of snow there. Its been snowing right before Christmas and has it stopped? Our Cape Ann Weather guy (Twitter @capeannguy) reports we have had 63 inches this year – Do You think I get a pass this year or am I the neighbor you don’t want to live next to?

Sincerely – Patrick

 

Right to Photograph Federal Buildings Upheld

Because photography is such a big part of GMG, I thought readers might be interested in this.

Since 9/11 many street photographers have been stopped from photographing federal buildings from public property by law enforcement or security personnel. These photographers, both amateur and professional, have been told that such activity is illegal and, in some cases, they have been ordered to destroy any images that have been taken or have been threatened with arrest.

It has never been illegal to photograph public buildings from public spaces and a court decision in October 2010 made that clear. Now the Department of Homeland Security has codified that decision by issuing an information bulletin upholding the rights of photographers in these cases.

The full DHS bulletin is here.

Do You Know

painting of great house at Good Harbor Beach / Bass Rocks
Painting by E.J. Lefavour

Do you know what this house is called, or any of its history?  I have loved this house and its beautiful setting since the first time I saw it many years ago.  I would love to know its story, but don’t know how to identify it.  Can anyone out there help?

E.J. Lefavour

www.khanstudiointernational.com

The Bandit Kings ~ Dog Bar ~ Friday Night

Guaranteed good time.

The time frame has changed to  8:30 to 11:30 Please call ahead if you have questions.

Live Music 6 Nights a week – No Cover Ever

65 Main St
Gloucester, MA
978-281-6565

CLICK for a calendar of upcoming shows

Comments about a Kingfisher

Just a GMG notification: If you do not read the comments at GMG you are really missing out. The photo of a bird needing identification received twelve comments below. Some of them more than just a little amusing. When you read a post here at GMG make sure to click the comments and say a few words. Or just click it to read the comments. You won’t be disappointed.

[edit] I just added some more new comments. Besides these comments Joey has received 15 emails. Those are people who are obviously oblivious of the ability to comment or are too shy. Don’t be shy, spread the info, make a joke. Is my post about comments dumb? Make a comment in the comments.

  1. That is a great looking bird, not sure what it is…

  2. John R Reilly says:

    It is a Belted Kingfisher !

  3. It’s either a ruby throated, split tail, double breasted mattress thrasher or one of the Belted Kingfishers.

  4. Patty Ball says:

    Yup, a Kingfisher it is!

  5. Nice shot Joe. It’s a Kingfisher, they like to look down on their prey from up high, like at the top of pilings and flagpoles.

  6. Hey Joe..it is a female Belted Kingfisher. Unlike most species of birds, the female is more brightly colored, with the rufous color on her flanks and belly. Males completely lack rufous feathers. Great capture!

  7. Jenna says:

    Yep, Kingfisher. There was a post on GMG just the other day about them! They hang out here on the Annisquam off Wheeler Point a lot, too.

  8. David Teele says:

    it is a belted kingfisher who is either: very cold or having a bad hair day or just lost an argument with a Van de Graaff generator

  9. whaletale says:

    It is indeed a Kingfisher. reat photo but be careful, the NOAA will want him removed from the area without a proper catch share permit…………………

  10. Kristen Callahan says:

    It’s a female belted kingfisher. She is one of the few females to have the extra stripe on the abdomen. A super photo. They are quick of wing and seldom shot at this quality of photo. Thanks for making a great morning!

  11. Feather’d Friend says:

    It’s a DON Kingfisher!

  12. Becky Bernie says:

    definitely a belted kingfisher

    1. People who don’t read the comments in GMG sure are missing out.

      • Joey C says:

        PAUL, there has been about 15 emails to the GMG email address about the bird. I wonder if those people realize that there is a comment link below the post or if there is some other reason they email me directly instead of leaving a comment.

    2. Kim H-P says:

      Belted Kingfisher for sure. Looks like an immature male according to the Cornell folks-see website-great shot!