Doug brendel Represents! in Vashkovo

Faithfully wearing my GMG hat in Vashkovo village, Ushachi district, Vitebsk region, Republic of Belarus! (That’s a “sanatorium” in the background.) Helping needy people and having a blast! See you at NewThing.net!

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Fudge Brownie Bars with Salted Caramel Pretzel Crust And Chocolate Ganache Frosting

 

 

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Fudge Brownie Bars with Salted Caramel Pretzel Crust And Chocolate Ganache Frosting

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My mother and daughter Amanda are currently obsessed with all things Salted Caramel.  When I spotted this bag of Salted Caramel Pretzels in snack aisle at Market Basket I immediately thought of them, and tossed a bag into my grocery cart. On my drive home from the store I began creating this recipe in my head… and as soon as the groceries were put away, I began baking.  Latter that night I served my mother and family with these heavenly Fudge Brownie Bars for dessert….they were a big hit that night, and an even bigger hit this past weekend at a friends BBQ.

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A Selfie of Friendship and of Hope

My friend Al Bezanson visited me at Rehab, where I made my first "selfie." Between us, on his cell phone, is Al's bride Phyllis in her 20's. Al was in Gloucester to work on his schooner Green Dragon for spring launching. It's always a pleasure to see Al and Phyllis in the gallery, and at their summer digs on Rocky Neck over a bottle of rum. I made a promise to myself to sail the Green Dragon this summer, and take another selfie of us at the wheel.
My friend Al Bezanson visited me at Rehab, where I made my first “selfie.” Between us, on his cell phone, is Al’s bride Phyllis in her 20’s. Al was in Gloucester to work on his schooner Green Dragon for spring launching. It’s always a pleasure to see Al and Phyllis in the gallery, and at their summer digs on Rocky Neck over a bottle of rum. I made a promise to myself to sail the Green Dragon this summer, and take another selfie of us at the wheel.

Scenes From The Dock- While You Were Sleeping Part I

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4:45AM- Boats Need Tending To and Trucks Need To Be Unloaded

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Tuesday May 27th , 2014 Cape Ann Weather…

Marine Forecast …
Tue NE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas 2 to 4 ft. A chance of showers.
Tue Night NE winds 10 to 15 kt with gusts up to 20 kt. Seas 3 to 5 ft. Patchy fog. A chance of showers. Vsby 1 to 3 nm.

Cool / Raw low clouds and Fog with a gusty NE Wind 15-25mph! Highs in the Lower 50’s to Upper 40’s… Few showers possible with Back Door Cold Front first thing in the morning …Tuesday Night cool / fog / drizzle and gusty NE winds 15-25mph .. Lows in the upper 40’s!

Hourly Forecast ….

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Extended Forecast…

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Exciting New Film Assignment for the Berkshire Museum and Milkweed Seed Mailing Update

Dear Friends,

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I hope today finds you with friends and family and enjoying beautiful weather!

I have wonderful news to share about an upcoming exhibit at the Berkshire Museum in which I have been hired to create a film about butterflies in flight. The title of the exhibit is, what else—Butterflies! They have also purchased 26 of my butterfly photographs. Additionally, during the exhibit, my interview film with Tom Emmel will be running on a continuous loop, as will the new short film about butterflies in flight. And best of all, screenings of my full-length Black Swallowtail film and Monarch film will be shown during meet the filmmaker events. This is a fantastic educational project, with a 5,000 square foot exhibit space, which will also house live butterflies. It’s a truly hands-on exhibit, designed with children and adults in mind!

“Butterflies” is scheduled to run through August and will most probably be extended though September. I am attending the opening this coming Friday, May 30th and will take photos and bring you more information about the Berkshire Museum and the exhibit.

Our Cape Ann Milkweed Project went without a hitch and was lots of fun. Most picked up their seeds and if you sent a self-addressed stamped envelope, your package is ready to mail Tuesday morning. So many thanks to Joey for sponsoring the Cape Ann Milkweed Project at Captain Joe and Sons. Thank you so much to everyone that participated, and most importantly, the Monarchs (and myriad other species of pollinators) thank you!!!

Happy Spring Planting!

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Flags waving on the Blvd. and the Memorial Day Cermony

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Memorial Day is not just the start of summer, cookouts and a day off it is much more than that.
May 21, 2014 flags waving on the blvd.

Lookie Lookie – It’s a Dance Party

Lookie Lookie Dance Party 2014

Time to get out those dancin’ shoes and move those feet.  Lookie Lookie is a great, fun dance band.  http://www.icontact-archive.com/DTmkMRmUrHlK4ixaVzOIm7SMqXHLLxo_

Live Blogging from Cape Hedge Beach

The sun is out, the wind is starting to subside, the beach is scattered with about 6 families, and we can back to school/work in the morning with one beach day under our belts and sand in our flip flops 🙂

Getting My Happy on at The Studio

Ok, friends, summer can start.  We’ve finally hit the deck at the Studio.  And…it did not disappoint.

I went to one of the “soft openings” at the Studio back in the fall and have been eagerly anticipating clocking some hours there ever since.  Being the long weekend…and Thatcher’s birthday to boot…Saturday was the day.

We went by boat.  Out of Rockport Harbor, around Halibut Point, down the Annisquam River, under the A. Piatt Andrew, and on into Gloucester Harbor….where we were greeted by the Thomas E. Lannon (a sight that never gets old).

We ate some manchego cheese in olive oil (which I could eat every day for the rest of my life), tuna maki rolls, the red dragon roll (maybe one of my favorite sushi rolls of all time), fish and chips, and some pork ribs.  Everything was delicious….as was my cocktail (a muddled grapefruit something or other) and the decadent dessert that was brought over by our waiter (equally as decadent…kidding..kind of) for Thatcher’s birthday.

We went inside briefly to visit with some friends and it was hopping!  It was crowded in that “everyone is giddy that summer is here and they’re enjoying awesome food and cocktails with friends” kind of jovial way.  My favorite kind of way.

I can’t get back there soon enough and highly recommend that you do the same!