The diet of the gray squirrel isĀ comprised principallyĀ of seeds and nuts, with acorns, beechnuts, butternuts, and hickory the mainstay during the winter months. In autumn, gray squirrels clip nuts from the tree canopy and bury themĀ in the ground, relying on their sense of smell to retrieve during the winter–even digging through several feet of snow. I often observe them stashing theĀ birdĀ seed in the crevices of our old pear trees and find whole chestnuts buried in our garden. During periods of severe winter weather, gray squirrels may stay in their dens or nest for several days, eventually visiting their stores of nuts, as well asĀ bird feeders, during the warmest hours of the day.
When alarmed gray squirrels freeze, thenĀ flatten themselves to a trunk or limb and inch around to the other side to stay hidden.
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The Cape Ann Winter Birding Weekend has been postponed to February 27 ā March 1.
The workshop āDrawing Wildlife from Natureā is consequently postponed to Friday, February 27.
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Who wouldĀ purposefully subject theirĀ child to this?
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virusĀ spread through coughing and sneezing. AĀ parent’s choice not to vaccinate Ā is understandable if for a medical reason, such as their child has leukemia and its immune system is so horribly weakened he or she cannotĀ tolerate the vaccine. Frankly, though all other reasons, religious or political,Ā seem utterly ridiculous.
Did you know that Russia, China, Libya, Iran, and Zimbabwe have a higher measles immunization coverage for one year olds than does the United States?Ā
Children younger than one year old cannot be vaccinated against the measles. They benefit from the herd immunityĀ theory, which is the idea that ifĀ all other age groupsĀ have received the vaccine, the very youngest will not come in contactĀ withĀ the disease.
The terrific graphic shown belowĀ (wiki)Ā illustrates the herd immunity theory, also called community immunity.
Herd immunity or herd effect, also called community immunity, describes a form of immunity that occurs when the vaccination of a significant portion of a population provides a measure of protection for individuals who have not developed immunity. Herd immunity theory proposes that, in contagious diseases that are transmitted from individual to individual, chains of infection are likely to be disrupted when large numbers of a population are immune or less susceptible to the disease. The greater the proportion of individuals who are resistant, the smaller the probability that a susceptible individual will come into contact with an infectious individual.
Vaccination acts as a sort of firebreak or firewall in the spread of the disease, slowing or preventing further transmission of the disease to others. Unvaccinated individuals are indirectly protected by vaccinated individuals, as the latter are less likely to contract and transmit the disease between infected and susceptible individuals. Hence, a public health policy of herd immunity may be used to reduce spread of an illness and provide a level of protection to a vulnerable, unvaccinated subgroup. Since only a small fraction of the population (or herd) can be left unvaccinated for this method to be effective, it is considered best left for those who cannot safely receive vaccines because of a medical condition such as an immune disorder, organ transplant recipients, or people with egg allergies.
At the State Pier on Saturday, saw this little guy diving and swimming.Ā Some visitors from the Audubon Society told meĀ this was aĀ diving Grebe.Ā Ā Does anyone know if that is correct?Ā
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Sarah Seminski & Eric Reardon in the Grand Salon @ the Larcom Theatre
All of you who know us also know that we LOVE to find young, talented, rising stars and put them on stage with music legends. Ā But that process isn’t as easyĀ as you might think. Ā We’re blessed to live in an area teeming with young talent. Ā The trick is to match them with the appropriate national recording star to produce a show that works musically and, at the same time, introduces the young musicians to fans who will appreciate their talent.
I truly believe we’ve done thisĀ with our next show on Saturday, February 21, down the road at Downtown Beverly’s Larcom Theatre, where Sarah Seminski &Ā Eric Reardon open for Stax Recording artist and Memphis Soul Legend Booker T. Jones (of Booker T. and the M.G.’s). Ā The thing is: Booker T. is still winning Grammys with his hot new band full of extremely talented young players, which makes this concert even moreĀ exciting.
Good seats are still available (get them here). Ā So get ready for a hot night of rockin’ blues & soul with the greatest Hammond B3 groove-master of all time and a stage full of bright, young talent destined for stardom!
Here are Sarah & Eric performing one of my favorite of their new originals:
And here’s Booker T. at the White House leading a star-studded version of “In theĀ Midnight Hour”:
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I took the CATA bus to work this morning, and my driver was Gloucester’s Eddie Salah. Knowing that he owned George’s Coffee Shop on Washington Street at one time, I asked him if he was a good cook. “Hell no, I can’t even scramble an egg! Gloucester attorney Mike Faherty ordered a scrambled egg breakfast, and I had Ā folded it over like an omlette. Mike showed me how to cook it right, and I’m sure he remembers that hilarious event. That was about 40 years ago, when I was a 17 year old trainee.” Eddie is one of the most colorful and entertaining people I’ve met, and a good driver too! Today, Georges is one of the best breakfast joints around, and is still owned and operated by a Salah. https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=george’s+coffee+shop+gloucester+ma&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gws_rd=ssl
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Today!Ā Cape Ann Auction Saturday, Feb. 7 -2015 at 6pm. It takes place in our location at 6 Lexington Ave in (Magnolia Village) Gloucester. MA.
Preview is from 1-6pm on the day of the sale. And this is one of our CASH ONLY auctions for dealers & re-sellers.
Auction Schedule:
The first Saturday of each month at our Lexington Ave. location.Ā
Auction dates at other venues added when necessary.
If youāve been to any of our auctions at this location, you know that itās a small venue, (about 40 seats) packed with a ton of stuff! Usually our inventory is more than what our crowd can absorb. Because of this, these auctions have been gaining in popularity, so if you plan on coming get there early to reserve a seat!
In this auction will be be: A large antique postcard collection, lots of art incl: oil paintings, watercolors and more, lots of costume and sterling silver jewelry, antique photographs including Gloucester & Cape Ann scenes, a collection of glass paperweights, antique dolls and much more.
Things to note about this auction:
There is NO BUYERāS PREMIUM at this auction.
Itās a CASH ONLY auction, there is an ATM less than 50 yards from the auction house.
Although we donāt have a snack bar, there is a very good Restuarant next door to us. We hope to partner with the 525Ā Ā for āAuction Specialsā The food is excellent!
Bring your own boxes and packing.Cash Only – Dealers – Re-sellers
THE AUCTION IS ON!We’ve had people ask if the sale is canceled due to weather and the answer is NO! We are running.Saturday – February 7th6pm (inspection 1-6pm)Cape Ann Auction – 6 Lexington aveMagnolia Village (Gloucester, MA)~Cash Only ~Dealers – Re-sellers – Wholesalers Welcome NO BUYERāS PREMIUM!
I spent the paste few days gathering ingredients and supplies to make some Valentine goodies for familyĀ and friends.Ā First on my treat listĀ to make is last years’ “Kiss My Butt Valentine Cookies.” If your lookingĀ for something to do to pass the time during this weekendsĀ snow storm, I highly recommendĀ scanning your pantry, forĀ needed supplies, and get yourself to the store beforeĀ the snow starts falling!
Learn how to easily create my āKiss My Butt Valentine Cookiesā by following Step-By-Step decorating tips, click Read More
So you said you were looking for a sweet, soft and gentle lady to brighten your days? Well then, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Rhonda. I am a fan of soft napping spots and lazy afternoons.Ā Looking for someone to curl up with during the next storm?Ā How about you and I watch the snowflakes fall outside the window while we are safe and warm together indoors?Ā For more information on adoptable pets and upcoming events visit www.capeannanimalaid.org
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The other day I was complaining about group text. Ā The thing is that one of the people in the conversation heard me wrong.
If you know what I mean.
It was the peculiar look I got when I said, “Sometimes I just don’t care about the needs and wants of every single person in the group. Ā And, they’re relentless. All night the texts keeps up. Ā Over and over and over again” that made me think possibly we were having different conversations.
Bygones.
The dreaded group text. Ā Absolutely the worst thing going.
So this is totally, totally me. Ā Without a doubt this is how I feel when a group text comes across my phone.
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By Terry Weber
capeann@wickedlocal.com
Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 9:02 AM
GLOUCESTER
The good news is that you can complete your shopping for Valentineās Day right here on Cape Ann. The bad news? You only have eight more days to shop! Yes, you can make dinner reservations, send flowers, and buy chocolates, as most people do. But this year, why not think outside the candy box?
Thanks so much Doug for sending the photo of your 2 1/2 gallon capacity bird feeders! See yesterday’s post “Everyday Birds of Essex County.” I took several squirrel photos this weekĀ for a little post I am planning.Ā And thank you Jacqueline for submittingĀ your crow and sanderlings photos, too.
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āWhen your work speaks for itself, donāt interrupt.ā
Henry J. Kaiser (1882-1967)
The son of a New York shoemaker, Kaiser started a construction company on the west coast which quickly became among the largest through his innovative use of heavy machinery, and participated in the building of the Hoover and Grand Coulee dams. At the outbreak of World War II, Kaiser established ship yards to build hundreds of Liberty ships in record breaking time, switching from riveting to welding, introducing mass production techniques, and earning himself the title āThe Father of American Ship Building.ā An classic industrialist of the first water, Kaiser also founded an aluminum company, a steel company, and a car company and was among the first to offer his workforce health care and credit unions (Kaiser Permanente). A large part of the fortune he amassed is now administered by the non-profit, non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation which supports health care research.
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When I was fourteen my friend Lee attempted to take her own life. In the middle of the night, she came to my bedroom window with slashed wrists. My Mom and I drove her to the hospital and she survived. This was the first of many attempts over the next several decades when, in her early forties, she succeeded. This, despite the love and support of her tremendous family. The following story is aboutĀ Nan Cavanaugh, who was a friend of our daughter andĀ friend of ourĀ family. Only 24 years oldĀ when sheĀ took her own life, NanĀ was a beautiful young woman–beautiful in her gifts of intelligence, compassion, and sweet spiritedness.Ā I never spoke withĀ Liv about my friend Lee until after Nan’s death. A discussionĀ withĀ your child about a friend in distress,Ā especially when that friend isĀ suicidal, is a conversation to haveĀ sooner, rather than later.
From WBUR: āShe Was Able To Put On A Happy Face’: Big Personality Masked Pain That Led To Suicide
āNan was a spitfire. She was just a little towhead who made everybody laugh,ā says Nanās mother, Ellen Dalton.
Dalton filled albums with pictures of her middle daughter dressed up in costumes and goofing around.
āShe loved to perform. She had this big booming voice. And she would get on the table and sing āOh Shenandoahā and get us all kind of going,ā Dalton recalls. āShe was a great friend. She had such passion.ā
In high school, she was the loudest at pep rallies and won spirit awards, her family says.
But maybe that was a way for her to mask her pain. From the time she was young, Nan showed signs of obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety and depression. Her mother says doctors minimized her ritualistic behaviors and anxieties when she was young, and she only started getting counseling in high school.
āBut she was never really willing. She would do it because we kind of insisted for a while,ā her motherĀ says. āShe was on medication, and I think that helped smooth things out a little bit. But she had said on a few occasions, āIām always going to have to be taking this. And I canāt. I donāt want to do this.ā ā
Cavanaugh would stop taking her meds, but then her mood would change drastically and that would scare her, her family says.
Eastern Gray Squirrel
When alarmed gray squirrels freeze, thenĀ flatten themselves to a trunk or limb and inch around to the other side to stay hidden.
Good Morning Gloucester 