Making Friends

My friend and I took her dog, Maddie, to the Fourth of July parade in Rockport. Our choice of spots to sit turned out to be a bust for viewing the parade - too many people standing up in front of us. Maddie didn't notice. She was busy charming her adoring fans.

Floating in the Sun

This is another image from my series of shots at Long Hill with my own camera. The sun hit the lily pond perfectly when I was ready to take the shot. Long Hill is an old estate with gardens where one should be sitting in the shade on the lawn reading during the the summer heat. Time would stand still here.

The Beauty of Age

I went back to Long Hill yesterday with my own camera. I just had to see the difference in what I took with the Nikon lens and with my own camera. This picture is of one of the entrancing fallen flowers. The colors and shapes intrigued me. It had rained between the two days so the dead blossoms were even more inviting and tender. I hope the colors of my own old age are as intense and delicate.

Photo Safari

I participated in a Photo Safari at Long Hill in Beverly yesterday. We had 5 hours to play with Nikon equipment in the gardens and the house. I found the Nikon equipment too complicated and way beyond my capabilities. When I got home I found a 235 page manual for the camera on line with 8 pages just devoted to focusing. That explained why my experiments were not in focus! Still, I was happy to have the experience and equally happy to return to my lovely little Panasonic without interchangeable lens. If I want to upgrade, I better read Photography for Dummies first! Enjoy one of my pictures from the garden.

Uncharted Waters

I don't usually go swimming in the ocean here. It's ankle numbingly cold, normally. This year has been hot and the ocean warmer. Our heat wave has driven me to the sea. This is Plum Cove and I have wanted to go swimming there for years. You have to have beach stickers to get into the public beaches. Yesterday, at 100 degrees, I slipped into the beach at 7pm. After the first icy shock I could have stayed in the water forever and what a peaceful, pleasant beach. Today I went to City Hall and bought a beach sticker. Anyone want to come swimming with me?

Picnic at Beauport

My new life as an independent museum professional has put me in closer contact with the wonderful people who run historic houses. I don't really know why I enjoy all these houses so much. I do see them as great potential for connecting to the communities in which they reside. Aside from that, I just like stories of the past.

Beauport-McCann-Sleeper House is a Historic New England property here in Gloucester. Last night they opened the grounds for picnics and the most stunning view of fireworks over the harbor. They also had evening tours of the house which is very special at night with the original lighting. Henry Sleeper was an interior designer who built the house. He used a lot of found objects to create his designs. Last night I learned he also "discovered" paint colors like sage green and robin's egg blue!

The schooner you see under sale is the Thomas E. Lannon out of Gloucester. The harbor was filled with boats on tour to watch the fireworks which were lovely. After they ended all the boats blew their horns and whistles adding to the holiday spirit.

Starting the Weekend

My weekend celebration started last night with a spontaneous boat cruise on the harbor and beyond. The North of Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau had a fundraiser. Since my generous friend is their Executive Director she invited me along. The three and a half hour trip started as the sun was going down. This picture is of the Gloucester icon, The Paint Factory. It's is a much contested site. Obviously vacant now, someone bought it to turn into condos. After much up roar, he sold to a whale research non-profit that is now stuck with this mini toxic chemical site to clean up. I think part of the building should become a natural history museum and endeavor to jump in once the clean-up is done.

The cruise was very fun with dancing to a live band and good networking!