My View of Life on the Dock
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Kenny MacCarthy / Bob and Sue McDermott / Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty
Photo: Homes on Lincoln Way, Turner Hill Golf Club, Ipswich MA
My daughter has a new friend named Archie…cute as can be.
Walking along the edge of the pond I heard a new-to-my-ears sound, an odd sort of mewing, repeated over and over again. What could that be? I snuck along as quiet as could be following the sound. To my amazement, it was a pair of Muskrats cavorting in the reeds, and they were courting and mating!!! You can just barely make out two together in the photo with the dense reeds, too dense to get a good photo, but not too dense to see what they were up to.
A female Muskrat is ready to breed at only one year of age. The breeding season lasts from March through August. A pair will mate while partially submerged, or on water-logged debris above the surface (where our little pair was mating). She may have 2-3 litters per year, with an average of 6 to 8 kits per litter.
Lest folks worry the pond will become overrun with Muskrats, they are a relatively short-lived mammal and have many, many predators including Snapping Turtles, large fish, Eastern Coyotes, Red and Gray Foxes, Weasels, River Otters, Bobcats, Great Horned Owls, and Northern Harriers. But their chief enemy are Minks and Raccoons.
For our reader’s general information, Muskrats are easy to distinguish from Beavers. They are about a tenth the size; Muskrats weigh 1 to 4 pounds whereas Beavers weighs 30 pounds or more. The muskrat’s tail is not large large and flat, but slender and elongated.
Muskrat
Big fat Beaver Tail
Slender Muskrat tail – above Muskrat image courtesy wiki commons media
On a beautiful Wednesday took a walk to to the beach. There were many people out walking with proper distance. The Pier looks great, Shore Road is so pretty and love the fact there was a paddle boarder off Kettle Island. It does not take us hardy New England citizens to adapt as soon as the sun is out. Beautiful day.
Stop by Brother’s Brew for their fabulous homemade world famous donuts, fresh coffee, and various other wonderful baked goods and sandwiches.
Brother’s Brew is located 27 Main Street
Rockport
978-546-3775
One of the easier things to cook.
recipe on my BBQ blog- www.northeastbbq.com
NOTICE FROM THE ANNISQUAM EXCHANGE
In light of the National State of Emergency, and the uncertain, evolving situation, consignor packet mailings, confirmation of an opening date and other seasonal activities are now on hold until further notice. Thank you for your understanding. Well wishes for health and safety to everyone over these trying times.
For updates visit: www.annisquamexchange.com or email: info.annisquamexchange@gmail.com
Sandra Williams
So very much missing Saint Joseph Day friends. I think it’s especially difficult for senior friends who look forward each year to ten days with loved ones. I sure missed seeing my “granny” that I’ve come to love while celebrating and honoring St. Joesph at the Groppo home.
Here’s a happy St. Joe story for you – When my husband and I were looking for a home to purchase in Gloucester we were in a terrible bind. We had to be out of a rental home suddenly and unexpectedly. I found what seemed like our dream home but then learned It had sold only days earlier. We heard the woman had perhaps purchased the house without the intention to live in it. We approached her and she said yes she would consider selling it to us, but then over the course of the next month, she raised the price three times. The house was wreck, a true fixer-upper, but still it had great bones and I was in love with it.
My friend Claudia gave me a Saint Joseph necklace with the instructions to pray to Saint Joseph and to bury the necklace in the ground of our dream house. Patron Saint of homes and carpenters and all workers, she said it would bring us luck.
All that time ago, and this beautiful old house has provided us with 24 years of joyous memories, and a place to call home. Happy Saint Joseph Day friends ❤
The photos are in random order and also include a few snapshots from Ann Margaret Ferrante and Maria Cannova’s beautiful Saint Joseph altars. Click on the first photo to view slide show.
The Gillnetter staff is working to bring students the latest news and information. They have published 9 stories this week. More coming later today. Check them out here. Like our facebook page for updates. www.thegillnetter.com
It’s a bleak Thursday morning. Can we fast forward to Fiesta?
I hope all who pray to St. Joseph are blessed today. Here’s a little acknowledgement that appeared in the Mar 18 1924 edition of the Gloucester Daily Times regarding St. Joseph’s Day. I do not know why it was celebrated on March 18 that year, perhaps someone has a thought? Thinking of all the novena ladies today! Also, happy first day of spring to all!
Information, from Dr. Safier, Regarding Internet Access
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Staff,
Comcast has announced that it will be offering its Internet Essentials program for free to new low-income customers for two months, amid the coronavirus outbreak. This offer is for low-income families who do not have internet service during this uncertain time and is intended to help them stay connected to families, school, workplaces, etc.
New customers will get complimentary internet essentials service for 60 days, which is normally available to qualified low-income households for $9.95 per month.
All new customers will receive a free self-install kit that includes a cable modem and WiFi router. There is no term contract.
To sign up, applicants can simply visit www.internetessentials.com. The accessible website also includes the option to video chat with customer service agents in American Sign Language. There are also two dedicated phone numbers 1-855-846-8376 for English and 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish.
If you need any assistance, please contact me at rsafier@gloucesterschools.com and I will connect you with our Information Technology Dept. I am hoping that students who do not have Internet access at home have mobile phones and can receive this message. But, if you know someone who could use this offer, please let them know it is available.
Richard Safier, Superintendent
Note: Comcast has also announced: Xfinity WiFi Free For Everyone: Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi. Once at a hotspot, consumers should select the “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots and then launch a browser.
Yesterday afternoon at the Fish Pier this unusually nearly all white gull was foraging about. It was so pretty and didn’t seem to mind too much my inching closer to take a photo. I at first thought perhaps it was a leucistic Herring Gull but now think it is a first year Glaucus Gull.
A friend shared the following on fb today. I thought it so true and beautiful-
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
-Wendell Berry
Good Morning Gloucester 