Tuesday’s sunset caught be by surprise.. after the clouds rolled in , I didn’t think we would have any color. After dinner I looked out the back window and saw the colors so I grabbed my gear and off I went not knowing where I’d set up to shoot. As I was driving the light was disappearing quick so I turned down the closest street and set up for this shot. Was happy to Atleast find something close enough to set up and capture.
Gloucester Smiles-867
Nichole’s Picks 3/24 + 3/25
Pick #1: Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt @ Faneuil Hall
Make a little day of it in the city.

Pick #2: Too Cute to Toss
Saturday, 10:00-4:00 and Sunday, 9:00-2:00 (most items 50%off on Sunday)
The DoubleTree by Hilton
50 Ferncroft Rd Danvers, MA 01923

We are two North Shore moms who were looking for an easier way to consign our gently used children’s items and make a little extra spending money . We also love a good deal on pre-loved items for our kids.We want to help other families save money, earn money, recycle and donate to the community. So out of our playdate conversations, Too Cute to Toss was born. We make it easy, we make it fun and we make it profitable. Our events are fun, and easy on the wallet. You can get great deals on baby gear, clothes and toys while also checking out some great local vendors. So you not only get great hassle-free consigning, but great events with gently used items at outstanding prices for your little ones!
Pick #3: K1 Speed in Wilmington

If you’re looking for the best karting in New England, look no further! At K1 Speed Boston, our indoor go-kart racing is wheel-to-wheel and head-to-head! Whether racing against the clock, competing with friends and family, or battling complete strangers, you’re in for adventure! Our high-performance go-karts will quickly recalibrate your expectations of what a go-kart can and should be, and our indoor karting center – which is open year-round – will surely impress you from the moment you walk in the door.
To experience indoor go-kart racing for yourself, visit K1 Speed Boston Today! Located in nearby Wilmington, MA, our track is a short drive for anyone living in the greater Boston metropolitan area.
As always, for a comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid
THERESA COEN MISSING WOMAN RECOVERY MISSION #ROCKPORTMA
The search for Theresa Coen, who was last seen on Saturday, is now a recovery operation. “Information obtained throughout the course of investigation has lead Rockport police to determine that it’s unlikely the individual will be found alive,” Rockport police spokesman John Guilfoil said Wednesday night.
Please contact the Rockport Police Department at 978-546-1212 if you have any information about Theresa.
Read more here in the Gloucester Times.
Read more here in The Boston Globe.
Sista Felicia’s Kitchen Easter Cookies On Sale Now!

Taking orders now – March 26th or while supplies last!
“Carrot Patch” Cookie Arrangements, “3D Edible Easter Bunny Basket” Cookie Arrangements, 3D Bunny & 3D Chick Cookie Sets, “Paint Your Own” Easter Egg”,Traditional Sicilian “Cannateddi” Easter Egg Cookies, and “Sugar Cookie Platter Decorating Kits”
To order please Private Message Only through Facebook, and Instagram or Email Sistafeliciaskitchen@gmail.com
Sista Felicia’s vanilla based Sugar Cookies are prepared using the very finest ingredients including; fresh eggs, butter and vanilla beans. Each cookie is individually hand rolled for a thick 1/4″ cookie, hand cut, and baked to perfection… in a licensed/certified Home Based Kitchen.
** ***Please note that everything is produced in a facility possibly containing known food allergens, including, but not limited to: eggs, wheat, soy, milk, peanuts and tree nuts, shellfish…
Corn Fish
This ad from the Gloucester Daily Times 100 years ago (March 21 1918) caught my eye recently. Pardon the poor quality.

Mostly I thought it was an interesting comparison of prices but then I noticed “Corned Fish” and started a little research. There is at least one site that claims no one that knew what they were doing would call it “corned fish” — instead it should be called “corn fish”. I’ll leave that debate to greater minds.
Put simply, corning fish is a preservation method similar to salting meats such as pork and doesn’t require refrigeration. According to Jamie Oliver, “The product is covered with large kernels of rock-salt, which is preferred to as “corns of salt”, hence corned fish.” BAM! Learned something new today….maybe you did too.
Another item about this ad that caught my attention was the note at the bottom that seems to say “we have other, more expensive, items for you, but this is what’s on sale today”. Available only from 7-9 AM one particular morning. Now, there’s a deal for you.
This may look like an awesome lobster roll but it misses on just a couple key points.
A) If the bun was the simple pull apart New England style bun it would have all that white bread exposed on the sides of the bun to butter and when you grilled it it would be golden brown instead of the whole exterior of the bun being the brown that doesn’t absorb the butter.

B) They left the stringy spongy tip of the claw meat in which should have been taken off.

Other than that, the technique was spot on. With just a couple of modifications it could have been perfect.
I guess if you wanted to get technical, leaving the whole tail intact instead of chopping it up is going to make it tougher to eat without pulling out the whole section of tail meat. It would be difficult to bite all the way through.
Backyard Growers 2018 Annual Free Seed Swap!
It’s officially spring and that means time to start a garden! There might be snow on the ground, but it’s the perfect time to make a garden plan and start seeds indoors.
Stop by the Backyard Growers office anytime between 12-3pm this Saturday to swap seeds, connect with gardeners, learn about home composting and indoor seed starting, and more!

The Andy Statman Trio Concert
Wednesday night, May 2nd at 7:30 pm at Temple Ahavat Achim
Performing traditional Jewish music, bluegrass, and Americana on both mandolin and clarinet, Andy Statman is a master of respecting and innovating musical traditions. In 2012, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded Andy with a National Heritage Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in the folk and traditional arts. He has performed and recorded with an incredible range of artists including Itzhak Perlman, David Grisman, Ricky Scaggs, and David Bromberg. Andy will be performing with his trio, Jim Whitney, bass, and Larry Eagle, drums.
Tickets: $18 – General Admission, $36 – Preferred Seating
Tonno Offstreet Parking? You betcha.
Parking ban gotcha nervous? We got you covered. Pull into our lot just before the building after the Fishermens outfitter. It was the best kept secret before this post.

Airfryer stuffed avocados
Avocado stuffed with tuna, shredded cheddar, pico design gallo and bbq rub cooked in the airfryer 8 minutes at 360 degrees. Total prep time 3 minutes cook time 8 minutes. Yummmmmm
Here’s the link to read reviews and purchase the airfryer on Amazon – http://amzn.to/2ooH80D
VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE! WITH LOVE FROM THE GROPPO FAMILY AND FREINDS
So many joy-filled faces filling their plates with Saint Joseph Day feast fare, prepared by Nina, Franco, and a tremendous circle of family and friends. The special meatless feast dishes are prepared during the weeks prior to Saint Joseph Day and everyone lends a hand, from the very youngest to the very oldest.
To name just some of the wonderfully delicious and much anticipated traditional foods– bowls of handmade tender pasta, fish and shrimp baked with bread crumbs (the breadcrumbs symbolize sawdust), batter-dipped and fried artichokes and cauliflower, Saint Joseph bread, panellle, platters of smoked and freshly caught cod, octopus salad, minestrone with fava beans, fresh fruit, sfinci, cassata cake, and zeppole.
In honor of the spirit of Saint Joseph and the values of compassion and kindness that He represents, the Groppo Family opens their home to all who wish to celebrate at the table of San Giuseppe. ❤
Click any photo to view slide show and view the images larger.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BghKMz0HQzp/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BghLi2qnW2M/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BghL8zkHFE_/
St Joseph Smiles
Jodrey State Pier
Went to the State Pier yesterday to check it out. Saw this duck catching a ride on a piece of wood and this cute Merganser playing.

Missing #RockportMA Woman Theresa Coen
BREAKING: (UPDATED) ACTIVE POLICE AND FIRE RESCUE SEARCH UNDERWAY IN #ROCKPORTMA -POSSIBLY MISSING WOMAN THERESA COHEN
Police, fire, and rescue vehicles are stationed around the Pebble Beach-Cape Hedge-Penzance Road area, with rescuers combing the beach.
Reader Rick shares the following from the Gloucester Daily Times online edition this morning; “Theresa A. Coen, 52, of Penzance Road in Rockport and also of Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood, was last heard from on Saturday evening” Is there a connection here?”
Thank you Rick for letting us know, her name is Theresa Coen.
Gloucester Smiles-861
Kindness is still Rockin on!
A couple years ago I wrote about the Kindness Rocks project and I love that this is still alive and going strong in our community! I found this little fella at the Post Office. I did not take it because it had made me smile, so it’s job was done and I thought maybe someone else could use it. This also made me think about what an awesome EASTER activity this would be for the young ones after the easter egg hunt was done. It seems we have a whole lot of rocks to get rid of from the storms so why not grab a few and sit the young ones down for a little project then go for a ride and “plant” their kindness somewhere in the city! There is a facebook page “Glosta Rocks” you can check out and share your Kindness Rocks photos. Keep Rockin on!!

What a View
Is there an Elks Club anywhere in the world with a better view? I find it hard to imagine so.

Perfect Morn
Rough start to the morning made much easier to manage with a new bag of coffee! So grateful for local products on Cape Ann. How lucky are we?























































































































































































