My View of Life on the Dock
The intros from the 2009 Challenge-
A little preview smack talk from round 1 with Jalepeno Timmy back November 11th 2009-
Round Six From the 2009 Farm Bar and Grille Good Morning Gloucester Hot Wing Challenge-
If you think you have what it takes call 978-768-0000
Josh Serrin writes-
So I’ve been getting a lot of flak lately about the number of art rocks that I have. To this date I have six: Good Harbor Beach, State Fish Pier, Niles Beach, Fishermens Wives Statue, Boulevard and Jacobs Landing. My wife has dubbed me “Rock Hog” and whenever I tell Joey that I found another one I always get the response, “ Again?” So here’s the story of each and everyone one of them.
Ah, my first! At this point of the story I had never found one. I always saw them on GMG and thought how great it would be to have one of my own. This one, I believe, was sitting there for about an hour or two when I saw the post. I thought for sure it was already taken but it’s a minute bike ride down from my house so I figured why not try. I spotted it from the road and was so happy. I’m sure all the people walking around thought I was a quack when I jumped for joy and had a huge smile on my face. My son Jack thought it was great too (as you can see from his face).
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/art-rocks-state-fish-pier-10162010/
This one was really fun. I was outside doing some yard work, checked the blog from my phone, jumped on my bike and hauled ass down to the state fish pier. I had to ride around for a bit looking for this white painted rock. I knew from the post that the rock was next to it but I wasn’t familiar with the area so I had to really look. Not only did I find an Art Rock, I figured out just how out of shape I was biking back home.
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2011/02/13/art-rocks-02132011/
I remember farting around the house on this cold day, checking the blog and then jumping in my car to see if it was still there. Low and behold it was.
https://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2011/05/21/art-rocks-may-21-2001/
I did not end up getting this rock but it was really fun to watch someone snatch it. My mother-in-law was in town and we were all out. We live right down the street from Cripple Cove and were forewarned about a pending art rock coming up around 7:30. We got back to the house at about 7:31 (yes, precise time is relevant), checked the blog while we were all still in the car and headed down. We got there, say, at 7:33 but we saw a person walking the buoy around so I figured it was gone. I decided to not get out and look. We sat in the parking lot for about 5 minutes. Someone showed up talking on their phone with a big huge GMG sticker on the back of there car, walked over to the buoy and jumped for joy when they found it. I think I remember her saying, “I found it” to the person on the phone. All along while, we were sitting in the parking lot the rock was right there! It was really great seeing someone else get one… I already have 3 by that time so I wasn’t too disappointed. I only wish I was able to get it to give to my mother-in-law though. We sat for a little while longer and people kept streaming in! In a matter of probably 5 minutes we saw about 5 cars pull up, people get out, walk over to the buoy to look for the rock and then just back into their car and leave. Joey took this to a whole new level a couple days later and videotaped people walking around his shop looking for one. I would have been there but I was in the hospital and came upon this little surprise… our daughter Katie!
This is by far my favorite rock. Not only did Paul find the PERFECT hiding place but it also looks incredible. Again, checked my phone, jumped in the car and headed to the scene. I walked around for about 10 minutes. I looked in the flowers, all along the stones, under the benches, everywhere! Art Rocks are usually at least the size of your fist so they can be spotted from afar. This art rock, though, was incredibly small and in a little crevice under the statue. You could be standing 5 feet from the statue and still wouldn’t be able to see it. I ended up walking right up to the statue, peeked on top and saw the rock.
This is the only one that I didn’t get a picture of. I remember this being a pretty cold day and I was grocery shopping with my son Jack. While in the parking lot I check my phone and saw that there was an Art Rock down at the Boulevard. I wanted to get home though. Jack was being a little fussy and needed a nap. My normal routine when I’m heading home from Stop and Shop is to head over to the bridge at GHB and then a short trip to the Back Shore and then up through Bass Rocks Golf course. We live right past the golf course so I get a nice scenic route on my way home. Well… Jack fell asleep before we hit the Back Shore so I figured why not keep going to the Boulevard. I pulled up to the tennis courts and saw Ed Collard walking around. Now, it was pretty cold outside with maybe one or two brave souls walking around so I knew right away that he got it. Ed was looking around a lot over his shoulder and doing quick loops around that area like he was waiting for someone. I just helped Ed take down the Lobster Pot tree so I figure I’d say hi and ask him if he found it (which I knew he did). With a big huge smile he said yes and that he was going to give it to the first person that showed up. Well, that was me! I said he didn’t have to but he was pretty persistent. (I think he was freezing his butt off and didn’t want to wait around for another person.) Ed has the picture of this one laying around somewhere.
Jack found the last rock. On this Sunday morning, I had to go to the Building Center. It was about 8:50 when Jack and I drove into Harbor Loop only to find out that the BC wasn’t open. Instead of leaving through the TDBank parking lot, I drove down the loop. I rarely do this but we were in no rush to go anywhere. The Art Rock was posted the previous night and I didn’t know where Solomon Jacobs Landing was. Well, if you didn’t know it was on Harbor Loop, then now you do and so do I! At this point, the rock was sitting around for over 14 hours so there is no WAY that thing is still lying around… but I figure we’d get out and walk down anyway. I wanted to show Jack the Coast Guard boats. I parked and let him out and we walked down to the benches. I spotted the rock at a good distance… and so did Jack. He was the one that actually went over and picked it up. I was planning on leaving it where it was but he didn’t. He was really excited to find a rock, let alone an Art Rock. And like all rocks that we find near the water they go back into the water and make a big splash! I couldn’t let that happen though. As soon as he made a b-line to the water I had to stop him.
So, now you might be asking yourself what I do with all of these rocks… I have them on display around my house. There are two in our entry way, my favorite sits alongside family pictures on a shelf in our living room and three are downstairs on my office desk which I look at every day.
So that’s the story of the Rock Hog by the Rock Hog, I guess. I can’t say I’ll never find another one but I do know that I’ll never take from the same place twice. I really value each and every rock that I find (if you haven’t noticed yet). I feel so lucky to have one, let alone six. Paul, you should know that every time you leave one of these rocks that you are not only making someone’s day but giving that person a memory that will last a lifetime. Thank you for everything that you’ve done.
This plant sale is the no-brainer of all no-brainers for a multitude of reasons. Check out the video to find out how many ways this provides a win.
From the brilliant mind of Susan Kelly check out www.generousgardeners.com
When I took this photo I figured the boat in the background would be the focal point but then when I was looking at it in my photo editor the grain in the wood decking in the foreground really stood out to me.
Click on it for the full sized version and tell me what you see.
Photos of the Search for the missing 3year old.
Shot from Good Harbor Beach.
Photo of the young girl here at the Gloucester Daily Times Website
If anyone has seen this child please contact the local authorities.
Here is a resurrection of one of my favorite posts from the early days of the blog for the new folks (I post this once a year because I dig it so much and there are so many that join the ranks of GMG followers each year I’think this one is worth reposting for them-
I grew up one street from the Back Shore.
Although my mother might disagree, I’d say I was a bratty teen who didn’t appreciate the natural beauty that was steps from my doorfront. Part of that beauty was driving every single day along the Back Shore to get wherever we were going. If we left the house it was inevitable that we would be driving along the beautiful coastline that is the Back Shore.
It wasn’t until I went to college that I began to understand how blessed I was and how beautiful a place Gloucester is. Sure it is flawed in many ways but there is no place I’d rather be in the late spring, summer and early fall. Looking back it seems so crazy that I could have taken it all for granted but once you move away for a little stint and come home then you understand how lucky you were to call Gloucester your home.
Getting back to the Tribute To Rosa Rugosa-
First read this plant profile from Hort.net–
“There is nothing more beautiful than the perfection of a rose in mid-summer. The glorious fragrance wafting up from perfectly formed petals make it clear why this is the flower of choice for many people. Unfortunately, to obtain the perfect rose one must often have the perfect soil, a perfect watering regimen, and a lot of time. To those of you who don’t fall into this category, I offer you Rosa rugosa.
It may sprawl a little more than the hybrid teas that we see nowadays, and the flower petals tend to flop this way and that. All in all, it often has a kind of shaggy, unkempt air about it 
but that’s what gives this plant its character. Named for the wrinkled (rugose) surface of its glossy green leaves, this rose is a charmer that can soften and naturalize any area.
It’s a carefree rose, picky only about drainage. It will grow in salty conditions, shade, full sun, and poor soil, so long as it’s well-drained. Along the East Coast it even grows right in the sandy beaches!
There’s other reasons to grow this beauty besides the low maintenance. Large blooms cover this plant in early summer, giving way to sporadic blossoms up to the first frost. And Oh! The fragrance is sweet and pleasant, carrying for yards at a time. The blooms later give way to lucious brick-red rose hips so large that they look like cherry tomatoes. And if that weren’t enough, sometimes the yellow to orange to red fall color can be excellent!
If you have the space, this is the rose for you. There are many select cultivars available that will heighten the plant’s natural beauty. Choose one and you will never regret it.”
Can there be any debate about how poetic it is that we have Rosa Rugosa all along our shorelines and around town? This beautiful plant gives us so much beauty and fragrance amid the worst possible conditions. It thrives despite the cold winters, hot summers and even grows in the sand.
This line from the Hort.net’s profile really drives it home-
“All in all, it often has a kind of shaggy, unkempt air about it but that’s what gives this plant its character. “
Isn’t that just perfectly fitting for Gloucester?
Click the Image Below For A project I did back in ‘08 chronicling the Rosa Rugosa Life Cycle throughout the year in a slideshow
Check out Their Website Here and Alicia Pensarosa’s previous coverage of Compass Rose Here
Compass Rose Custom Tattoo Is located at 35 Main Street Gloucester.
Below is a screen shot of what you will see if you click on the title of any GMG post.
I changed the text from “Leave a comment” to “Leaving a comment rewards the author of this post- add to the discussion here”
It may be a little wordy but I think it helps remind folks to become part of the GMG community instead of just sitting on the sidelines.
I know that the GMG contributors appreciate your positive feedback and to know that you enjoy the hard work they put in to bring you the best of our community.
Thanks
Check out Their Website Here and Alicia Pensarosa’s previous coverage of Compass Rose Here
Compass Rose Custom Tattoo Is located at 35 Main Street Gloucester. Look for part I of our video tomorrow!
Check out Zoe’s blog here-
http://themisszoe.wordpress.com/
Behind Birdseye Building today.. so cute, waiting for the mom to come back
Click here for the hi def slide show from the Rabbit
I heard Abbey Lincoln singing “Up Jumped Spring” on the radio while driving to Passports this morning to meet my friends for brunch–the lyrics couldn’t have been more perfect! Up jumped spring time – so Hello my friends!
Joey and Susan -Fujifilm x100 photo
Susan and Paul -Fujifilm x100 photo
Ed and Rick -iPhone 4S photo
Donna and Greg -iPhone 4S photo
Greg and Joey -iPhone 4S photo
It’s On Baby!!!
and yes, it’s Gonna Be THAT kind of Party!
Spring Fling!
A Good Morning Gloucester and Bodin Historic Photo gallery spring party for FOBs, FOGs, contributors, and open to the general public.
82 Main Street, in downtown Gloucester
BYOB and appetizers/dishes are welcome.
Bodin Historic Photo 82 Main Street 978-283-2524
If you missed our winter bash you didn’t know how much fun we had. the joint was packed! Bring some booze, and come meet up with your favorite contributors! If you’re lucky Paulie Walnuts will strip down and shake his ass for you.
Thank you for keeping up the tradition and inviting us in your home
Video and Slide Show Below
Video and slide show below
Thank you so much for inviting us into your home and keeping the tradition alive.
Good Morning Gloucester 