My favorite holiday decorations this year were on the Beauport Ambulance at Addison Gilbert Hospital’s “Lights of Love” cancer care fundraiser. Beauport was the major sponsor of the event. In the past ten months, I’ve been transported by ambulance maybe 50 times to medical appointments from hospitals and nursing/rehab homes, because I was incapable of sitting on a bus seat. This doesn’t include emergency rides, two of which were under life threatening circumstances. Ambulances, which I always thought of as an inconvenience while driving, are now my flashing “Lights of Love.” They may be saving someone’s life, and I say a prayer as I pull over to the side of the road to let them pass.
Gloucester Stage Company Holiday Delights Dec 19-21
Purchase Tickets
A must-see holiday tradition
for the whole family!
GSC’s Youth Acting Workshop’s Holiday Delights is a year-end showcase of student talent from YAW’s winter, summer, and fall workshops.
The 2014 edition of Holiday Delights is the all-new journey of a young girl who discovers the spirit and the joys of the holiday season.
Conceived and Directed by Heidi Dallin
Musical Direction Helen Greene
Choreography Carol Burnham
Stage Manager Annika Rosenvinge
Costume Design Lara Jardullo
Purchase tickets online or call the Box Office 978-281-4433
Adult: $15 Senior: $12
Student: $8 Child under 6: $6
SPONSORS
Barry and Susan Weiner CTI Cabling Technologies Cape Ann Savings Bank
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Friday December 12th , 2014 Cape Ann Weather..
Marine Forecast :
Today W winds 10 to 15 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. Isolated rain and snow showers.
Tonight NW winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft.
Pod Cast Weather :
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/5342044
Hourly Forecast :
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Essex Holiday Farmer’s Market at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Community Stuff 12/12/14
The days continue to get shorter and shorter and for many of us, this is only part of what makes the winter holidays a challenge. Some of us will be spending the holidays without loved ones, perhaps for the first time. Some struggle with mental illnesses including depression and seasonal affective disorder. Others are alone either because they live far from their family or because they have no family left. And some are beset by more than one of these circumstances. These reasons don’t matter. The fact is that not everyone is joyful at this time of year. Christmas carols sound hollow, Hanukah lights don’t seem to dispel the darkness, and the rampant commercialism combined with financial insecurities make it difficult to be “merry,” as so many others seem to expect of us. But there is a place for you to come and dwell for a brief time in a meditative atmosphere that will also give you the opportunity to pay tribute to your grief and sorrow.
On Thursday evening, December 18 at 7pm, the First Baptist Church in Gloucester invites you to attend The Longest Night Service. Named for the winter solstice, the longest night of the year after which the days grow longer and the light returns, The Longest Night is a service of quiet music and candlelight designed for those who need a peaceful place to be, if only for a short time, in the midst of the noise and bustle that the holidays bring. The service is Christian in nature, but all are invited to join us and to participate at a level that is comfortable for you. There will be a time to light candles in memory of loved ones now gone, in hope for our community and our world, and in the promised joy of burdens to be lifted. You may light one candle or many, or none at all if you prefer to just sit and enjoy the soft light that expels the darkness one candle at a time. You will also be able to receive private prayer if you so wish. After this brief service, light refreshments will be served.
If you need some time apart, if you are seeking a reason to sit in stillness, if you need a safe place to cry, please come and join us. No expectations, no jingling bells or blaring carols. Just you, the candlelight, gentle music, and other people who understand the need to be quiet for a while. You are welcome here, whatever you might be facing right now.
The First Baptist Church in Gloucester is an American Baptist congregation located at 38 Gloucester Avenue. For more information please call the church office at 978-283-4808.
May the light of the season illuminate your dark places,
Pastor Cindy Antonuk
Thursday, December 18
7:00 PM
The First Baptist Church in Gloucester
The Longest Night
Sometimes called a Blue Christmas service, this is a time of reflection and light, music and prayer, designed for those who struggle to find happiness during the December holidays. You will have the opportunity to light candles, receive private prayer, listen to contemplative music, and share light refreshments.
Please join us for this peaceful evening in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season. All are welcome.
“Blue Christmas” at St. John’s
Dear Joey,
This might be helpful to some of your readers.
For many people, Christmas and the days around it are more about pain than joy. Saint John’s Episcopal Church is offering a service Sunday at 4 pm that will give voice to those feelings and respond to them with prayers and a ritual of spiritual healing. All are welcome.
Peace,
Bret+
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Electricity Savings Alternative Home Energy and Comfort Update #7- Cape Ann Chimney and Hearth
If you’ve been following the Electricity Savings and Home Heating and Comfort Series I’ve been doing then here you go with part 7. We started in Parts 1 and Part 2 with Next Step Home Energy Assesments in which my mom got over 30 new lightbulbs, electronic thermostats, energy efficient showerheads and powerstrips all for free. In Part 3 Art Bevilacqua Educates Us about how energy prices are established and how we are paying for Home energy audits and free energy efficient equipment even if we don’t take advantage of the program. Part 6 gave us energy efficiency tips for your washing machine and for snowbirds who leave their homes for sunny climes during the winter.
If you want to take advantage of awesome programs available to you right now for zero out of pocket like my mom did and we spoke about in the first parts of the series then sign up for your own energy efficiency assessment and get a ton of free lightbulbs, power strips, electronic thermostats that will turn down the heat at night or while you’re at work automatically, and efficient showerheads.
SIGN UP HERE-
For those of you who signed up for the Free Home Energy Audit and Free Energy Efficient Lightbulbs and Other Equipment , please leave me a comment on how well it went for you.
Next we go into alternative fuels in a three part sub series filmed at Cape Ann Chimney and Hearth:
Cape Ann Chimney and Hearth is Located at 7 Pond Road Gloucester MA. Phone # 978-283-1119
Part I of the sub series talks about the different types of products available to heat your home
Updates 1,2 and 3-
Update 3: Electricity Prices
Electricity Update #4: Free Home Energy Assesment With Kevin From Next Step Living
Electricity Update #5: Video Walkthrough- Energy Efficiency Assesment and Free Stuff At Mom’s House
Electricity Update #6 Energy Saving Ideas
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Urchin Exchange
Great new consignment store located at 214 Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, MA
978-283-3300
The urchinexchange@gmail.com
To see Melody please click on link below
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
All Things Victorian Steampunk w/Bruce Rosenbaum
Published on Dec 10, 2014
Show #11 of All Things Victorian w/Victoriana Lady Lisa. This episode covers the World of Steampunk through the talents of artist/designer Bruce Rosenbaum of Modvic. Enjoy everyone.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
How to Make a Simple Snood Pattern
Snoods are all in vogue at the moment. The silly sound of the word makes me want to smile; they are actually wonderfully fun to wear and will keep you cozy warm when knitted in a natural fiber such as merino wool, cashmere, or alpaca.
What is a snood you may be wondering?
Fun Project for Holiday Gift Giving
A snood is a softly draped scarf that can be pulled up and over to also serve as a hood. Snoods today are very different than what was typically worn through the ages and into the 1940’s. Earlier snoods were mostly knitted or crocheted net headwear designed to keep hair in place. During the 1950’s snoods began to evolve with the characteristics that we see today, that of a loosely draped tubular scarf worn around the neck and head, designed both for warmth and luxury. Because the ends are sewn together, unlike a conventional scarf, they are much less fussy and less like to fall out of place.
With 3-4 balls of leftover yarn, and a pair of large needles, you can whip up a snood in few nights. For this sample, I used baby alpaca because it is so soft and not in the least bit itchy (purchased at Coveted Yarn). The snood would be beautiful worked in a ribbed stitch or seed stitch. I wasn’t sure how much mileage I would get out of my leftover skeins, so making the mockup in a simple garter stitch, which requires less yarn than a rib stitch for example, insured there would be enough to complete the project.
Directions:
Using whatever needles and yarn you have on hand, knit a rectangle to equal approximately 28-30 inches in length by 15 inches wide.
Loosely bind off.
Stitch ends together width-wise to form one continuous loop.
Knit a narrow band approxzimately 2 inches wide by 8 inches in length
The snood pictured is shown with a narrow band, to a create slightly more structured shape however, the band is optional. With needles several sizes smaller, knit a band approximately 2 inches wide by 8 inches long. To keep the edges of the band neat and clean, slip the first stitch of every row.
Bind off loosely.
Turn snood inside out. Over the seamline, center one short end of the band to the snood and stitch. Pull the opposite end around to create a bow-like affect and join securely. Weave in all loose ends.
There you go, an easy fun project for the holidays, to give to a loved one, or to keep for yourself!
Please forgive the iphone selfies–no models (daughter) readily available and I wanted to post this in time for holiday gift-giving.
Perhaps a yarn with a lurex or sequin sparkle woven through and in a deep midnight blue would give this snood less of a babushka-effect.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
You were made for loving Me……. :)
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Check Out GMG FOB Len Burgess Photo Show at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum (last weekend)!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Marty and Barbara Luster Represent on Easter Island
Marty and Barbara Luster Represent on Easter Island
This is the most remote inhabited island on the world. The nearest inhabited land is 1200 miles away, Pitcairn Island.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Shop Local
Went into Tooledoos, Island Hobby and Premier Imprints this week for gifts. I love these stores. There are great stores right here in Gloucester/Cape Ann to finish your shopping.
Plan to visit other stores in the coming days.
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Text Me Merry Christmas!
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
High Tea Party – Come all ye Mad Hatters and March Hares
Sunday, 12/14 from 2-4:00 pm come all ye Mad Hatters and March Hares to the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Crafts Showl High Tea Party at the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street. There will be tea (and some harder stuff), finger sandwiches (bring your upturned pinkies), cookies, cakes and more. There is no high tea like a High Tea Party on Rocky Neck, except maybe in Alice’s Wonderland.
Artists’ inventories have been replenished, so there are lots of new items for your holiday shopping perusal.
Festival Hours: Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 4:00PM through December 28.
I wonder if anyone out there can identify the four characters at the tea table.
E.J. Lefavour
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Cape Ann Farmers Market Winter Solstice Market December 20th!
Hi Joey-
Hope all is well with you-Here is the flier for our last market of 2014-hoping you can post it.
Most of our farmers and food vendors will be there, a great chance to stock up for the long winter!!!
Take care and thank you
Niki
Nicole Bogin
Market Manager
Cape Ann Farmers Market
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Middle Street Walk At The Sargent House Museum Dec 13,2014 11-3PM
This Saturday!
From 11A-3P, see historic Sargent House finely decorated for the holidays as you shop for gifts, greens and more! Snack on holiday treats and enjoy our family-friendly programming:
- Listen to music provided by Rockport High School musicians, led by director Nathan Cohen.
- Happening at 1:00PM at the UU Church (see map & inset below): Dramatic reading of “Mingling of Souls from Sorrow to Joy.” A one-act play by Jay DiPrima about the lives and writings of Reverend John Murray and Judith Sargent Murray. (Suggested donation $5.) Afterwards, walk with the actors to Sargent House.
For more information, visit our website: www.sargenthouse.org/events
Sargent House Museum is #11 on the map.
UU Church is #12.
(Click on map for full Middle St. Walk program.)
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Nichole’s Family Picks of the Weekend 12/13 and 12/14
You might have to act quick for a couple of these so don’t delay!
Pick #1
Debbie and Friends at The Cabot in Beverly. Saturday, December 13th at 10:30
A live Debbie and Friends show is fun for the whole family. The boston-based band plays a varierty of pop/rock styles, and the songs are interactive and engaging. Puppets and cartoons are part of every show.
Winner of more than 20 National Awards, including CBS Boston’s “Best Local Children’s Musician”, and a “Nickelodeon Parents Pick Award”, Debbie and Friends also performed on the 2011 Grammy Winner for “Best Children’s Album”.
Debbie and Friends are wonderful with children as well as being accomplished musicians. All work on the staff or faculty of Berklee College of Music.
This fun concert at The Cabot will be perfect for children ages 1-9 and their parents and grandparents, and will feature some seasonal tunes to help everyone celebrate the holidays.
You can hurry up and purchase tickets here
Picke #2
The 35th Annual Candlelight Stroll at Strawberry Banke in Portsmouth
How Norman Rockwell does this sound? The Schraffts will be there this weekend or next for sure! Just saying.
35th Annual Candlelight Stroll in the “Holiday Capital of North America”
For December 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2014
Stroll through life in a simpler time as 350 years of American history, winter traditions, and holiday celebrations unfolds around you in New Hampshire’s oldest waterfront neighborhood.
- Historic houses from four centuries with decorations hand-crafted from natural materials
- Hundreds of wood and glass candle boxes lighting the lanes and landscape
- Live music and holiday entertainment for all ages
- Horse-drawn carriage rides
- Holiday decoration demonstrations
- Traditional barrel making demonstrations
- 18th century holiday hearth cooking
- Tinsmith demonstrations
- NEW! Ice skating on Puddle Dock Pond opening Dec 12.
You can get tickets at the door, but it is wise to book in advance. There was a Living Social coupon for admission, but it just expired. Keep an eye out for a new one though!!
Pick #3
Free!!
Assembly Row in Somerville is pretty fantastic, but maybe shopping in the midst of holiday mayhem isn’t for you. Who could fault you for that? How does a free movie in their rather plush theater sound though?
This Saturday, AND NEXT, they are offering free holiday movies on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE basis. This week is Home Alone and next week is Elf!
Tickets are available in the lobby beginning at 9:00 a.m. for the movies that begin at 9:30.
And, while there, you could also bop over to the Legoland Discovery Center…which also happens to be at Assembly Row. My boys both LOVED it there and can’t wait to go back. Might I add, that they’re really not Lego Fanatics, but they had a blast there nonetheless. Advanced ticket purchases are recommended there too!
Free Holiday Movies
12/6, 12/13, 12/20 9:30am AMC Assembly Row 12Join Assembly Row as we treat you and your family to a free big screen showing of The Polar Express this Saturday at AMC Assembly Row 12.
Tickets will be distributed in the lobby of AMC on the first floor starting at 9AM. The show will begin at 9:30AM. Space is limited to one theater and tickets will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis. One ticket per person.Movies Coming Up!
Saturday December 13th: Home Alone
Saturday December 20: Elf
Learn more about Assembly Row here
Check out LegoLand Discovery Center here
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
Thursday December 11th , 2014 Cape Ann Weather..
Marine Forecast :
Today SW winds 15 to 20 kt. Seas 4 to 6 ft. A chance of snow showers. Showers likely this morning…then a chance of showers this afternoon.
Tonight SW winds 15 to 20 kt…becoming W 10 to 15 kt after midnight. Seas 3 to 5 ft.
Pod Cast Weather :
http://www.spreaker.com:80/episode/5337052
Hourly Forecast :
Spread The GMG Love By Sharing With These Buttons:
What Time is it Mr. Fox Concert at the Sawyer Free Library Saturday
Good Morning Gloucester 