SPRING AT THE MARY PRENTISS INN GARDENS!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Poppies Mary Prentiss inn Cambridge MA copyright Kim Smith

Poppies popping, tulips resplendent, and flower pots poised to bedazzle, The Mary Prentiss Inn, conveniently located nearĀ Harvard University, is an utterly charming bed and breakfast, outfitted with all modern amenitiesĀ (and a secret garden around back). Homemade breakfast is served daily, along with freshly baked treats for afternoon tea. Jennifer, the proprietor, and Lisa, who runs the front desk, could not be more welcoming. ForĀ graduation, business, or simply a romantic get away in the heart of Cambridge, The Mary Prentiss Inn is tops!!

Tulips Mary Prentiss inn Cambridge MA copyright Kim SmithThe Mary Prentiss Inn front dooryard gardenTulips Garden Mary Prentiss inn Cambridge MA copyright Kim Smith

Tulips in the city were hard hit by a cycle of freezing and thawing, after they had started to emerge. Nonetheless the tulips at the Inn are still blooming great guns!

Planters Mary Prentiss inn Cambridge MA copyright Kim Smith
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWifCwDyms/

Fish Tales – All Women

Posted on by gregbover

Capture

Last Friday evening at the Rocky Neck Cultural Center the most recent episode of Fish Tales, a live story-telling event from the Gloucester Writers Center, was presented to a full house of listeners. Each story, lasting about five minutes, was a true story from the lives of the women pictured above. Although I have been attending these events that occur every month or so for more than three years, I don’t think there has ever been a more powerful line-up than these women represented. From left to right: Virginia McKinnon (Storyteller in Residence), Grace Schrafft, Natalie Simon, Kim Lord, Maureen Aylward (Show-runner and MC), Karen Ristuben, Kathy Lordan, Barbara Boudreau. Audio of this show is available at the GWC website. http://gloucesterwriters.org/archives/. Give a listen, you’ll be glad you did.

And stay tuned for the next Fish Tales, Friday,Ā  July 8, on the theme Play Ball!

Just another motif Monday: sun kissed windows

Posted on by Catherine

and the windows’ sun glare

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Sox are on fire!

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Are you getting the most out of life – or the most out of your phone’s data plan?

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

More Cape Ann Health, Fitness and Wellness News-
http://www.capeannwellness.com

Cape Ann Power Yoga's avatarCape Ann Wellness

dhw

ā€œBeing more peaceful and passive is not what will help us overcome the obstacles of modern life. We need a raging dharma to help us face the raging challenges that we face as modern people making money, raising families, and living our vision in the world.ā€

Cape Ann Power Yoga isĀ thrilled to announce that weā€™re hosting meditation and provocative discussion with David H. WagnerĀ this Thursday, May 19 from 6-7:30.

This isĀ a discussion and meditation practice so we encourage you to bring a bolster or comfortable seat. If you want to practice before hand we will have our regularly scheduled 4:30-5:45 all levels power yoga class.

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GHS SOFTBALL vs Salem

Posted on by David B. Cox

GHS girls win easily in game with Salem. One of the highlights was rare triple play by the Fishermen.

SHADBLOW, SHADBUSH, CHUCKLEBERRY TREE, SERVICEBERRY, JUNEBERRY…

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Shadblow Red-winged Blackbird Atlantic Coastal Plain copyright Kim Smith

Shadblow blooming with Red-winged Blackbird coming in for a landingYellow Warbler Shadblow Amelanchier copyright Kim Smith

Male Yellow Warbler hopping through the Shadblow branches eating small insects

Shadbow, Shadbush, Chuckleberry Tree, Serviceberry, and Juneberry are just a few of the descriptive names givenĀ the beautiful Shadblow tree lighting up ourĀ marsh and woodland edges. With lacey white flowers, Shadblow (Amelanchier canadensis) is one of the first of the natives to bloom in spring, growing all along the Atlantic coastal plains.

AĀ fantastic tree for the wildĀ garden, over 26 species of songbirds and mammals, large and small, are documented dining on theĀ fruits of Shadblow (including bears). The small blue fruits are delicious, though rarely consumed by people because wildlife are usually first at the table. The foliage of Shadblow is a caterpillar food plant for the Red Admiral Butterfly. Look for her eggs on theĀ upper surface at the tip of the leaf.

Dew drops and Shadblow -2 c Kim Smith

Shadblow in bud Ā at the water’s edge with dewdrop necklace

Fruiting in JuneĀ at the same time of year as the annualĀ spawning migration ofĀ shad, is how the names Shadblow and Juneberry came about. The common name Serviceberry is derived from the flowerĀ clusters gathered for use in church services.

Shadblow reeds Atlantic coastal plain copyright Kim SmithShadblow in bloom Loblolly Cove

The Shadblow and reeds create aĀ beautiful symbiotic habitat for the blackbirds, Grackles and Red-wings, especially. Reeds of cattails and phragmites make ideal nesting material and sites, and come June, above the nesting area, a songbird feast of Shadblow berries ripens.

Common Grackle males copyright Kim SmithCommon Grackle nesting copyright Kim SmithMale Common Grackles nest building in reeds

Female Red-winged Blackbird copyright Kim SmitrhFemale Red-winged Blackbird perched on cattailĀ whileĀ collecting fluff for her nest and calling to her mate.

Shadblow moonlight copyright Kim SmithAmelanchier in the moonlight

NEW VIDEO: COME SAIL IN THE 4th ANNUAL SCHOONER CHALLENGE!

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

“What happens in this race anyhow?” Racing, of course, with some cheating too (as revealed in the video), along with photo competitions, songwriting contest, creative knot tying, and much more! Everyone is welcome to participate, but hurry and sign up today becauseĀ tickets are going fast.

Check out this superĀ fun video from Barry O’Brien, featuring our Gloucester Captains Tom and Heath Ellis of the Schooner Thomas E. Lannon, Captain Stefan Edick of the Schooner Adventure, and Captain HaroldĀ Burnham of the Schooner Ardelle.

JOIN THE 4th ANNUAL SCHOONER CHALLENGE! Monday, June 6th, 6 to 8 pm. The Schooners Adventure, Lannon, and Adelle join forces to help us to protect and preserve the Schooner Evelina M. Goulart here at the shipbuilding museum. Schooners sail from The Maritime Gloucester dock on Harbor Loop. More fun than you can imagine. Sign up atĀ www.essexshipbuildingmuseum.org, or call Marcia atĀ (978) 375-3337Ā today! Tickets will sell fast!

Video by Barry O’Brien, with footage lent by Marty Luster

Gloucester Schooner Challenge

Lilacs

Posted on by Marty Luster

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When Lilacs Last Ā in the Door-Yard Bloom’dĀ by Walt Whitman, is, in my very humble opinion, one of the greatest works ever produced by an American poet. At first reading, it is an exquisite elegy for Abraham Lincoln who was loved by Whitman and whose assassination shattered the poet. Slowly and carefully reading (preferably aloud) the poem’s 200-plus lines reveals a greater and deeper treasury of meaning through a rich orchestration of poetic devices.

I first encountered Lilacs in about 1960 while attending Long Island University in Whitman’s hometown of Brooklyn,Ā NY. Ā My teacher was Professor Scott (I don’t remember his first name) who, like the Robin Williams character in Dead Poets Society, brought Whitman alive for me and made him my life-long companion.

If you’ve never read Lilacs, or if you’ve not read it sinceĀ college, give it a go.

Here it is:

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/45480

 

Don’t miss out on the best brunch…

Posted on by Alicia Unleashed

If you haven’t been to Foreign Ā Affairs in Manchester Ā you don’t know what you’re missing ESPCIALLY for Brunch!

The infamous Ā Bloody Mary bar!

IMG_20160515_110144Tyler was feeling southern with some chicken n’ waffles

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I couldn’t resist the Fried Oyster Ā Benedict

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Seriously get there ASAP! You won’t Ā be disappointed! Chef Ryan and team are Unbelievable!

Sliders at Willow Rest OMG OMG

Posted on by paultmorrison
These are Sliders in name only. Brioche toasted nicely , some sweet onion and a cheese that makes the whole thing so gooey. Try it with the potato onion soup.
These are Sliders in name only. Brioche toasted nicely , some sweet onion and a cheese that makes the whole thing so gooey. Try it with the potato onion soup.

There is a three day science meeting I go to in a secret location on Cape Ann. I go to all three days because Willow Rest caters it. Rubber Duck gains three pounds.

Willow Rest

Ed Touchette in group show Rocky Neck Cultural Center

Posted on by Catherine

 

Ed writes:Ā “The comments included below reflect understandings of my recent work that I’d like to share.”

Ed

Day Sailors, 2016, acrylic/ canvas, 24 ” x 30 ”

“Why Abstract: The Art of Imagination” –Ā “The show is generally strong, and several works, especially those from Maria Malatesta and Ed Touchette, are unforgettable. Malatestaā€™s two ā€œFieldā€ series paintings (#26, #27), acrylic on paper, are full of air and atmosphere. The canvases donā€™t ā€œabstractā€ the image of a field of flowers, but capture a field as if it were made of the stuff we breathe. We recognize that itā€™s a field, but we could also inhale it, almost hear it.Ā Touchetteā€™s two acrylics, ā€œPhototaxisā€ and ā€œDay Sailors,ā€ invite interpretation. Bold lines describe something ā€” something elusive. A bright color highlights. The titles intrigue. There is meaning, or suggestions, and we are invited to offer our ideas.” – Keith Powers, reviewing 3 abstract group exhibits for Cape Ann BeaconĀ on view atĀ the Rocky Neck Cultural Center, Trident Gallery and Flat Rocks Gallery.Ā 

“Why Abstract: The Art of Imagination” was reviewed by Keith Powers in today’s Cape Ann Beacon. I particularly was drawn over to Ed Touchette‘s piece almost expecting to find my secret location on land pushed against the sea currents navigating the shoreline. Maps of our existence of place or a dance with the China trade? I may have flown over and sailed through this place at one time. The piece has certainly pulled on my imagination. Look deeper and there is more.” – Jo Ann Castano

“Why Abstract: The Art of Imagination” continues through the end of May at the cultural center on Rocky Neck.

why abstract