Cross off my Bucket List: My first BBQ
22 May 2012 8 Comments
in Fun Stuff to Do, My Adventures, On Cape Ann, On Cape Ann, Uncategorized Tags: barbecue, BBQ, food, friends, grill, Life
For about twenty years I’ve been saying I would like to host a BBQ. That’s about how long things tend to stay on my “To Do” list before I get around to them. My To Do list is slowing turning into a Bucket List however…but that’s another story for another time. I decided last weekend was a great time for an experimental or trial BBQ because the weather perfect and I also was finishing writing a Guide to Grilling for a client, and figured it might help my writing if I actually grilled something. Many thanks to my grilling partner, Rocky, who help me prep and essentially manned the grill. Here are some shots of things on the menu…
Scallops over Linguine…technically not grilled, but no one seemed to care…
Smoked Garlic and Herb Sausages in the Mist…
And sausages in the clear…
Refreshments…
Lots of toppings for the hamburgers and hot dogs…
A hot dog teepee…activities for when you are bored waiting for the grill to heat up…
What started out to be an experimental BBQ for a few turned into a small gathering of neighbors and friends. Good thing, because we had enough food to feed an army and it was a sunny and beautiful day in Magnolia.
The chair of the year
I don’t know why i bought a Weber grill when I could have done this… 
A Walk in the Woods
02 Apr 2012 4 Comments
in Fun Stuff to Do, My Adventures, On Cape Ann, On Cape Ann, Photograpy Only, Uncategorized Tags: fernwood lake, four year old mountain biker, garter snake, nature, photography, ravenswood
One of my favorite places to walk and hike is Ravenswood Park in Gloucester, MA. There’s natural beauty of course, and an intriguing story about a hermit named Mason Walton. In the late 1800′s, he spent about 18 years in Ravenswood, pretty much by himself. While there he studied and wrote about wildlife. Below is a picture of Mason and his cabin. The cabin has long since burned down. Click on the picture to make it larger.
You can read more about Mason Walton and his experience in the woods online at www.openlibrary.org. Just put the words Mason Walton or the title of his book “A Hermit’s Wild Friends” into the search box. Also, on April 20, the park will host a Mason Walton Nature Walk. Learn more about it here http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/northeast-ma/hermits-tales.html.
Here are just a few photos of Ravenswood today…..
Fernwood Lake, look how blue!
Can you find the snake in this picture? Look carefully...
There she is, or he is!
Eli from Manchester, who can't be more than 4 years old, learning to mountainbike!
Round the World in 80 Days, Part 1
27 Mar 2012 15 Comments
in Beyond Cape Ann, Fun Stuff to Do, Homeless Posts, Uncategorized Tags: adventure, around, jules verne, Life, midlife, round the world in 80 days, travel
Dream or Reality?
In 1873, French writer Jules Verne published Around the World in 80 Days. The main character Phileas Fogg and his traveling companion attempt to circle the world in 80 days motivated by a $$$ bet. At the time, they could not hop on a plane and had to travel by railroad, boat (steamer), horseback or other animal, or by foot.
Now I have not read the book since middle school but I do remember the feeling of adventure as Fogg encountered brushes with the law, saved an Indian woman from death, rode an elephant, and survived attacks by natives.
With the book in mind, I started thinking where I might visit if I were lucky enough to travel round the world. The start of my list is below.
Of course, if I had an unlimited budget and lots of time, I would go everywhere. So to make this exercise more manageable, I set some simple parameters.
- I must pick the top 10-15 destinations to set my trip framework; this allows for 5-8 days in each spot
- I must start the trip in Boston and head east
- I must never be on a plane for more than 6 hours at a time. That is my limit.
- I must strive to see each continent
- I must complete the trip in 80 days
- (I won’t worry about cost at this stage)
Phileas Fogg’s Itinerary in Round the World in 80 Days
Bear in mind, Fogg’s goal was to get around the world, quickly and efficiently in somewhat of a “straight” line. His goal was not necessarily to enjoy himself!
- London to Suez, Egypt: rail & steamer
- Suez to Bombay, India: steamer
- Bombay to Calcutta, India: rail & elephant
- Calcutta to Hong Kong: steamer
- Hong Kong to Yokohama, Japan: steamer
- Yokohama to San Francisco: steamer
- San Francisco to New York City: rail
- New York to London: steamer & rail
Below is the start of my itinerary, just my initial thoughts. You could start your own list, but I would love to hear your recommendations for the most awe-inspiring places you’ve ever been OR, the more ‘simple’ locations that give a traveler a peek into someone else’s culture.
My Starter Itinerary (See my Round the World Project page for an updated map which plots my route).
- Boston to Ireland
- Ireland to Rome
- Rome to Greece
- Greece to Jerusalem
- Jerusalem to Africa for a safari (don’t know where yet)
- Africa to Antarctica?
- Antarctica to New Zealand
- New Zealand to Thailand
- Thailand to Hong Kong
- Hong Kong to South Korea
- South Korea to Japan
- Japan to Tahiti
- Tahiti to West Coast, U.S.
- West Coast to Colorado
- Colorado to Boston
You might notice that for now, I left out Australia and South America. I have nothing against those continents! I also left out northern Alaska and the Northern territories of Canada that I’ve always wanted to see, only because I couldn’t fit them easily into my parameters. Because this trip has a worldwide focus, I feel I can pretty easily get to see Canada and Alaska on another trip.
Is this a dream or potential reality? Send me your thoughts and your must see places. I will be updating my itinerary, adding more details including costs. We’ll see if if this trip is possible, or just a fun fantasy!
See my Round the World Project page for more updates.
Adele Tiny Desk Concert
05 Feb 2012 4 Comments
in Homeless Posts, Uncategorized Tags: adele, breaking up, concert, Life, music, someone like you
This may be the closest I get to attending an Adele concert. Click HERE for her performance in the NPR offices. (NPR hosts Tiny Desk Concerts which I just learned about.) I just love Adele’s refreshing talent and passion.
Or, watch the video “Someone Like You” below…the way she looks at the camera looks like she is talking to someone specific. As you can see from her NPR performance and this video, her voice can carry itself without a lot of help. You can actually hear music coming from her soul, instead of the manufactured ‘noise’ that is too common on the radio.
To best view this video, click on the Full Screen icon on the bottom right corner of video and just close out those annoying ads.
Pregnant at 53, naturally!
31 Jan 2012 8 Comments
in Homeless Posts, Mid-life News from Anywhere, Uncategorized Tags: abortion, debbie hughes, fertility, grandma's pregnant, pregnancy, pregnancy after 35, pregnant, pregnant at 53
I have another friend who is turning 50 soon so I started looking online for articles about this landmark birthday. One of the first articles I came across was about a woman from England who is 53 and last year she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Here is a pic of the new parents…
According to the story, she did not use any fertility drugs. These days, that is big news. Remember when John Travolta’s wife got pregnant at 47? And it was headline news?
What’s strange is, before the days of birth control and accessible abortions, more women did have children in their 40′s and early 50′s, but no one made such a big deal out of it. It may not have been commonplace, but it certainly wasn’t considered to be headline news. Now we are programmed to think that having a baby after 35 is dangerous, and in the 40′s, a potential disaster. The woman in the story has been called “selfish” and been told to “get an abortion” by perfect strangers.
My opinion, not that anyone asked, is “God bless that cute little baby and both his parents.” Both parents seem to be happy with their new arrival, have jobs, and seem intelligent enough to have a back up plan for their baby should something happen to them.
What is YOUR opinion?
Read the Full Story:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2091336/Debbie-Hughes-Grandmother-whos-mum-53.html
You can comment directly on this blog, by hitting the comment button at the top left of this story, or if you have no time, take this poll
Happy New Year!
05 Jan 2012 2 Comments
in Photograpy Only, Random, Uncategorized Tags: Life, new year's greeting, sunrise
Happy 2012. I hope this year finds you happier and healthier than last. Below are some photos of the sunrise–not on New Year’s morning, but a couple of days ago. My camera cannot really capture these kinds of images accurately, however, I kind of like the blurry softness of it, kind of like a painting. Notice the ‘smoke” on the water. (there are three pics below, and if they are not one right after the other, just scroll down…there may be some kind of flub in the system!)
A Friend Turns 50…and Elvis helps him celebrate!
03 Dec 2011 8 Comments
in On Cape Ann, Uncategorized Tags: 50th birthday, elvis, Life, mid-life, ronnie, ronnie rodgers, surprise, the patio
On Thursday evening my friend Ronnie Rodgers turned 50 years old. About 60 of his closest friends and family came together and surprised him with a party at the Patio Restaurant in Magnolia. We all ‘hid’ in the Patio’s function room, and this is him walking in!
Surprise!
Ronnie is the heart of Magnolia, he knows everyone, and everyone knows him to be warm, sweet and occasionally funny. He would give you the shirt off his back, he’s a good friend to all, and I hear he’s not a bad brother either!
So, everyone was eating, drinking and chatting, when suddenly, Elvis popped up from out of nowhere! I think he’s been living in the basement of the Patio Restaurant, and he occasionally comes up when he smells a good meatloaf cooking, to sing a song, or flirt with women…
From left, JoAnn, me, Cathy, Linda and Elvis!
The King never stops flirting. Here he is with Debbie and family!
Carolyn and Mike have a few laughs, I think Mike might be attempting to dance...
When Elvis left the building, we turned our full attention to Ronnie celebrating his milestone birthday. Here he is with his brothers and sisters…
Sometime soon I will post something about people turning 50. If you want to contribute any thoughts or short stories on the topic, feel free.
Click on the pictures below to make them larger…more pics of Ronnie’s birthday bash!
Fantasy Art
28 Nov 2011 6 Comments
in Homeless Posts, Uncategorized Tags: deviant, fantasy art, Life, personal
I think my blog break is over. Feel like writing again. I will get right to it–I love fantasy art! As I have gotten older, I have more of an appreciation for the arts, even when generated on the computer. Please share your thoughts on any of the images below (note that on most of them you can double-click on them to make them larger), or send me you art. Because fantasy art is difficult to define , I will show and tell you that it…
…can capture beauty, of the more exotic, earthy, and natural kind…
…often has a dream-like quality which expands our minds…
…can lift our spirits and make us feel anything is possible…
…or evokes emotion including fear…
…can give us a moment of peace…
…or can make us willingly get lost, in a universe turned sideways. 
Perfect Storm 20th Anniversary…what really happened to the Andrea Gail
30 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
in Contributors' Adventures, Random, Uncategorized Tags: andrea gail, fishing disaster, gloucester, mystery, perfect storm, what really happened to the andrea gail
Here is a link to a story I wrote about the Perfect Storm Anniversary and theories as to what really happened to the Andrea Gail…the official anniversary date is October 28 (1991). Please note that the email address they put for me in the article in incorrect. My email address is bartlett103@yahoo.com, should anyone want to email me about the Andrea Gail. http://www.gloucestertimes.com/topstories/x717138803/What-really-happened-to-the-Andrea-Gail
and here is a lovely picture of my friend Cathy, sister of one of the crew who was lost at sea.
Striper Fishing in Maine
13 Sep 2011 7 Comments
in Beyond Cape Ann, Beyond Cape Ann, Uncategorized Tags: fishing, jacob, kennebunkport, maine, noah, striper
Jacob and one of his Striper catches. He also caught the most amount of bait (mackerels?) for the day.
The boat fit 4 passengers and Captain Steve. He let Jacob steer us back to the harbor, and Jacob was a natural captain. The boat was meant for fishing but for me, it was a speedboat, because I don’t think I have ever moved so fast on the water in a boat that size. At points when we hit waves it was like being on a roller coaster–fun!
Noah, after he reeled in a Striper, all by himself
I did catch a few, and Noah reeled most of mine in.
To learn more about taking a private fishing trip in Maine with Captain Steve, click here. http://stevebrettell.com/index.html
For more pics and videos, click on the “More” button just below this…
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