My View of Life on the Dock
Evocative views looking through sea smoke along the shoreline this morning, from Ten Pound Island to Twin Lights, and at every vantage point along the way. On my very last stop photographing a buoy in the sea smoke, I spied a mystery bird far off shore. Bobbing in the water and with a bill not at all shaped liked a seagulls, it was a SNOW GOOSE! He was too far away to get a great photo, but wonderful to see nonetheless!
The downed trees were cleared from the road and driveways although it looks as though it may be a few more days before power is restored and cars are allowed to park at the Lighthouse lot.
The GREAT news is that the four trees that the Monarchs consistently roost in overnight, year after year after year, were spared, and came through with flying colors!
There were lots of folks out on the Dogbar enjoying the delightfully balmy weather and sunset spectacle Saturday evening.
Dogbar Breakwater Panorama
Eastern Point Lighthouse and Mother Ann
Old Lighthouse Bell and Chokecherry Tree
The sunset hues grew richer as night fell.
With a house full of family from Ohio here to meet baby Charlotte, our daughter Liv visiting, too, and loving every minute, there’s not much time to post. Liv took this snapshot of Eastern Point Lighthouse just now with a seagull perched on the Lighhouse, a schooner (I think it’s the Lannon), a teeny Boston in the background, and the sun going down. Joyous Times!
Liv Hauck Photo
Additional snapshots from Gloucester’s snowy day winter wonderland event.
Beacon Marine Basin Dusk
Rocky Neck Smith’s Cove Twilight
This morning’s snow and ice lingered all day, shrouding the city in such a hauntingly beautiful manner that I couldn’t help but take the late afternoon off and went looking and taking as many photos as possible before the sun set. 
From Shore Road
Exciting news–the Schooner Lynx will be returning to Gloucester next year for the Schooner fest! The captain of the Lynx, Donald Peacock, wrote the following, “Thank you for noticing Lynx in your harbor. Gloucester Marine Railways have been most hospitable and we look forward to returning for Lynx 2017 yard period and the 2017 Gloucester Schooner Race and Festival.”
A magnificent ship under sail, she was a joy to watch and to photograph as she moved through the Harbor, setting course for Saint Petersburg, Florida, via Portland, Maine. You can see in the last photo that by the time she was passing Brace Cove she was under full sail with her square sail hoisted too. Safe travels Schooner Lynx and crew!
At the Railways this morning with crew members Casey and Hunter
Passing Ten Pound Island -note how much taller the Schooner is to the Lighthouse
Along the backshore with Boston in the distance
Brace Cove
Walking behind The Hammond Castle is so peaceful. Always carry your camera with you.
Record warm temperatures all along the East Coast allowed for luxuriously warm Christmas Day beach fun. Matt, Liv, and Tom took a hike to the the Lighthouse and back and here are some pics. If you spent Christmas Day at a Cape Ann beach, send us your photos and we would love to post! Email image to kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.com
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mother Ann is a rock formation located near the Eastern Point Lighthouse in Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States. When viewed at the correct angle, the formation appears to be the silhouette of a reclining Puritan woman. It is also believed locally that the formation represents the royal mother of King Charles I, Anne of Denmark, after whom Cape Ann is named.
The formation may have been named by Captain William Thompson of Salem in 1891, and has since been compared to New Hampshire’s Old Man in the Mountain.[3] A nearby whistling buoy is known as “Mother Ann’s Cow”.
Dog Bar Breakwater panorama, from end to end!
Click panorama to view larger
Built to protect ships from the Dog Bar Reef, the Dog Bar breakwater was built on top of the ledge. The half mile long breakwater is seven and a half feet above mean high water and ten feet wide, constructed of 231,756 tons of Cape Ann granite over a substructure of rubble. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers between 1894 and 1905 at a cost of only $300,000.00, I wonder what it would cost to build a granite breakwater such as Gloucester’s in today’s economy?
For more interesting history about the Dog Bar Breakwater visit Lighthouse Friends and Terry Weber’s fun facts about the Breakwater.
Is there a more lopsided lighthouse configuration than ours?
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This morning while filming B-roll and “Bee”-roll for my nature documentaries I came upon the German National television channel’s ZDF cast and crew getting organized for a day of filming at the Eastern Point Lighthouse. They are shooting films based on the Katie Fforde romance novels. Not considered a mini-series, four separate films are being shot all around the North Shore and filming will continue to take place in Gloucester this week.
“All of Fforde’s stories-into-movies focus on the lead character (usually a woman) overcoming obstacles to achieve a dream. Each film runs for 90 commercial-free minutes.”
For the past several seasons the show has been filmed in and around Poughkeepsie, New York. This year, the producers wanted to change it up and film north of Boston. I hope they decide to come back next year!
Stills from last night and this morning ~
“Bee”-roll ~ Native Wildflower Gaura lindheimeri — Its Common Name is ‘Whirling Butterflies’
Henry Eiler’s Sweet Coneflower ~ Note the Unique Quilled Petals
Helianthus annuus ~ Sunflower
Good Harbor Beach Sunrise Today
Good Morning Gloucester 