Category Archives: Family

The Halls of Gloucester High School Are Alive with The Sound of Music!!

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Gloucester High School Drama Club Presents the Timeless Classic

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Music and Lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II

Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse

on November 20, November 21 and November 22

At Gloucester High School

The Gloucester High School Drama Club proudly presents one of the most famous musicals of all time: The Sound of Music  Youth Edition on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00pm;  Friday, November 21 at 7:00pm;  and Saturday, November 22 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm at Gloucester High School on 32 Leslie O’Johnson Rd, Gloucester, MA.  Advance tickets are discounted. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for Students and Senior Citizens. Tickets purchased in advance are discounted. To purchase tickets go to http://gloucesterhighdrama.ludus.com  Show Sponsorships, Program ad space  and Messages to the Cast in the Program are available for purchase. Contact Heidi Dallin, GHS Director and interim Drama Teacher at hdallin@gloucesterschools.com

Directed by GHS and Harvard University magna cum laude graduate professional actress Heidi Dallin with Music Direction by Cape Ann Symphony’s Wendy Betts, the production features GHS students  playing some of the most beloved characters in theatre history. The Sound of Music was the final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein and features many cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music.  The book of the musical was written by the Pulitzer Prize winning writing duo of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. A Broadway legend, Crouse spent his summers living in the Annisquam neighborhood of Gloucester. The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. 2025 marks the 60th anniversary of the 1965 film adaptation of The Sound of Music. The film won 4 Academy Awards including  Best Picture, Best Director,  Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Scoring of Music

Set in 1938 Austria, before the Nazi occupation, this inspirational story based on the memoir of Maria Augusta von Trapp, follows Maria Reiner, an ebullient postulate who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. Director Dallin who appeared in the show as Sister Sophia while a GHS freshman is eager to revisit the show,” Sound of Music is a classic!   I am so excited to share it with a new generation of theatre artists at GHS. It is especially thrilling to perform the show here in Gloucester knowing the special relationship The Crouse family has with Cape Ann. Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Sound of Music Russel Crouse and his family spent summers in Annisquam. His daughter Lindsay Ann Crouse rode Rolf’s bicycle from the Broadway production of Sound of Music through the streets  of Annisquam! It seems fitting to pay tribute to this beautiful  and uplifting story during this anniversary year.”

GHS Seniors Niava Friday and Sean Buckley playing Maria Reiner and Captain von Trapp lead the cast of GHS  actors. Director Heidi Dallin is joined by Cape Ann Symphony’s Wendy Betts as Music Director.  The Student Production Staff includes Choreography: Anaya Briguglio; Scenic Design : Amos Telep; Costume Design: Annette Lane;  Prop Design:Nathan Gorman-Melo and Kathyrn Wall; Stage Manager: Kassidy Klopotoski.

The Gloucester High  School  production of The Sound of Music Youth Edition will be presented at Gloucester High School on 32 Leslie O’Johnson Road, in Gloucester, MA on on Thursday, November 20 at 7:00pm;  Friday, November 21 at 7:00pm;  and Saturday, November 22 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm.  Tickets can be purchased by using the qr code below or by visiting https://gloucesterhighdrama.ludus.com/200502487

Beetlejuice! Beetlejuice! Beetle…

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Come see Beetlejuice at the Cape Ann Y! Tonight is the last night to see this phenomenal show, performed by the Cape Ann Y summer theatre team and directed by Heidi Dallin. I promise you won’t be disappointed. Tickets on sale at the door. Show begins at 5:00pm.

You can see from the photos how much fun the kids are having! Beetlejuice Junior is a fantastic show for kids, so much humor and action. The team worked so hard and put this show together in less than four weeks. Despite the fact that they had to move the entire stage and staging out of the rain yesterday afternoon, and performed in an entirely different location than from where they had practiced, all did an absolutely amazing job. Lead performers Molly, as Beetlejuice, and Aubrey as Lydia Deetz are so talented  and not to be missed. Hats off to Director Heidi Dallin, Julia, Leia, Wren, Seania McCarthy, Mr. Presti, all the teens that are helping, all the parents and grandparents lending a hand (and I am so sorry I know I am forgetting to mention a few names). Our family loved every minute and you will, too!

The Cape Ann YMCA is located at 7 Gloucester Crossing in Gloucester.

My favorite photo of the evening is this one, photobombed by a little demon <3

Leads Molly and Aubrey as Beetlejuice and Lydia

Our Charlotte plays Juno, Beetljuice’s Mom

Happy Father’s Day to All the Great Men in Our Lives!

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Happy Father’s Day to all the kind, funny, hard working, thoughtful, and loving Husbands, Dads, Sons, Grandpas, Uncles, Brothers, Father Figures, and Friends. Rock on! <3 <3 <3

 

We are so very blessed – my father-in-law turned 100 years old on May 5th this year – <3

LEGO PLAY in Honor of World Play Day!

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Wednesday through Sunday, Boston is celebrating International World Play Day with a free magical LEGO interactive event taking place at the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Our daughter Liv is  producing the event for the company she works for, Amplify. She and her co-workers have transformed the Greenway into a vibrant playground where kids can play and create with hands-on LEGO activities. We took Charlotte this afternoon to visit her Auntie and experience this unique interactive activation.

She especially loved the beats box and the Sea Monster, inspired by Gloucester’s own Nessie!

Brandon McCadney and Cedric Mitchell created an interactive beat box

When:
Wednesday, Jun 11, 2025 11:00a –
Sunday, Jun 15, 2025 6:00p

Where:
Rose Kennedy Greenway
191 Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02109

Admission:
FREE

There are free interactive play events scheduled throughout the summer. To read more about the LEGO Group’s mission to bring more play to Boston and other major cities go here: The LEGO Group celebrates World Play Day in London, Boston and beyond

Happy Mom’s Day!

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms, Aunties, Grandmoms, Sisters, Friends, and Dads who are Mom’s, too. Thank you for being you <3 Wishing you joy and happiness on this sunniest of Mother’s Day. xoKim

Our Good Harbor Beach footless Super Mom

One of ten clutches of eggs that Super Mom has laid at GHB since she and her mate first arrived in 2016.

In 2021, Super Mom’s right foot became very tightly wound with seaweed and fishing line. The following year, she returned to Good Harbor Beach footless. Yet despite that, her handicap does not prevent her from doing all the usual things Plovers do daily.

Piping Plovers, and many species of shorebirds, have a foot tamping technique, where they rapidly shake their feet in the sand to stir up invertebrates. Also called foot trembling, the action brings invertebrates to the surface where the Plover sees and catches the prey. Watch how Super Mom expertly forages for tiny mollusks and in this case, appears not hindered by her missing foot. Not all is great for our footless Mom, though. Occasionally I see her legs become very tired and she does a series of spazzy movements across the sand, as though she is having some sort of leg cramping going on.

The first clip is in slow motion so that you can see the technique; the second clip is in real time.

 

Happy 100th Birthday Grandpa!

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The number 100 is not often seen on birthday cakes but this past week we were so very blessed to celebrate our patriarch of the family, my husband’s father, Cornelius Hauck.

Surrounded by loved ones and friends from near and far, Grandpa turned 100 years old on May 5th. My sister-in-law Amy organized a gala event and it was a joy for him to see so many at the party there to celebrate this momentous achievement.

Imagine the extraordinary changes he has seen over the past 100 years.  He served in the Army during WWII, was married for 70 years, raised three beautiful children, and co-founded the Colorado Railroad Museum, amongst many other accomplishments.

We treasure his kindness and intelligence, and thoughtful, guiding presence in our lives. He has been an inspiration to us all; to my husband and his siblings and cousins for their entire lives, to me when I married my husband, to our children Liv and Alex, and now to our granddaughter, his great-granddaughter, Charlotte. He is as vital as ever and we enjoy immensely his funny stories and great wit.

Happy Birthday Grandpa. We are looking forward to next year’s 101 celebration.

Listen, Earth Sings!

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Dear PiPl Friends,

I wanted to share with you two things of beauty for Easter Sunday –

This image of three Piping Plovers eggs in the sand is one of my forever favorite PLover nests. The nest was located in the most impossibly dangerous area, dangerous because it was on a highly crowded beach several feet from a City sidewalk. Not only that, as you can see from the photo, it was fully out in the open; not near a patch of beach grass or piece of driftwood, stone, or shell. The new, inexperienced PLover parents had not added a single bit of broken shell or pebble to line the nest either. Like all Plover parents though, they did sit on the eggs night and day. Unlike many PiPl parents, when danger arose, they did not leap up and try to distract the predator, but sat very, very still, camouflaged in the naked sand by their sheer stillness.

We who were aware of the nest had serious doubts as to whether or not the eggs would survive the plethora of crows and dogs off leash that frequent this beach. Miracle of miracles, all three chicks hatched. And all three grew to fly and to migrate.

Our Charlotte is seven and like all grandparents the world over, we think she is tops. She writes and illustrates these sort of sing-songy poems and for Easter she wrote one each for myself, her Grandfather, and her Dad. Here is mine –

the trees told the bushes and
the bushes told the flowers
and the flowers told the rain
and the rain told the sun
and the sun told the clouds
Happy Easter! Spring is Here!

Time to add Emily Dickinson to our nightly bedtime reading I think.

Easter greetings of joy to you.
xxKim

Keeping Your Youngster Engaged During the Strike

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Although Charlotte deeply misses her classmates and wonderful teachers, we’re all juggling our schedules like crazy to keep it positive and enjoying the extra family time. We’re so grateful for swimming at the Cape Ann Y and Heidi Dallin’s Holiday Delights rehearsals. Two of the local and very affordable activities we have loved doing this past week are a trip to the Peabody Essex Museum and Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Narwal Exhibit, often described as ‘Unicorns of the Sea,’ was Charlotte’s favorite at the PEM, along with the The Dotty Brown Art and Nature Center. The cost of admission at the Peabody Essex Museum is $25 for adults, while kids through age 16 are free! Parking at the garage adjacent to the Museum was only $3. and there are no crowds in Salem at this time of year.

The Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary is free if an Audubon member, if not, the fees are $7 for adults, and $4 for kids and seniors. We loved the walk through the north field, where we met a Red-tailed Hawk perched on a branch overhanging the trail. He/she appeared tame and was oblivious to humans, even a very large group of noisy kids. So fun for Charlotte to get a super up-close look. Walking around the pond, we were greeted by Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmice that eat directly from an outstretched hand. Be sure to bring your own supply of bird food and warn your youngster of the songbird’s sharp little clawed toes that can be very prickly to a child. We were astonished to see a Beaver lodge built right up and over the boards of the wooden walkway. You have to tip toe around the edge so as not to fall into the pond or damage the lodge. Truly amazing to see!

The Cape Ann YMCA Presents The Little Mermaid!

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The Cape Ann YMCA Summer Theatre group is getting ready to perform the Little Mermaid next week. Heidi Dallin and her team of councilors are utterly fantastic with kids and Charlotte is having a wonderful experience. We can’t wait to see the show!!

CONGRATUALATIONS TO ATTICUS!!

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Our neighborhood families celebrated the high school graduation of Atticus Anderson, Michelle Barton and Chris Anderson’s oldest son. Atticus is headed to the business school at UMass, Amherst! We are overjoyed for the Anderson/Barton family. Congratulations to Atticus!

So grown-up where does the time go <3

THINKING ABOUT MY MOM

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My sweet Mom passed away very recently. She is finally at rest after a very long struggle.

Thank you kind friends that were aware that she was ill, for your thoughtful words and generous kind offers. The last several years were difficult for her but thanks to my amazing sister Kipley, who lives nearby to her in Gainseville, and has been her constant care giver all this time, she was able to find some comfort. Kippi and Mom both contracted Covid last month. Although my Mom was asymptomatic, my sister was extremely sick and they were unable to see each other. Feeling so isolated, she took a turn for the worse. This terrible disease has impacted so very many lives.

My Mom was six months shy of 90 years old. We were so very blessed to have her for as long as we did. I have been looking through boxes and old photo albums. Here are some snapshots from when we were growing up in New York, visits to relatives in Florida, and the last is of my Mom and me on the evening before Alex was born. I remember it very well because I was nine months plus two weeks pregnant and Alex was born the next morning, during a blizzard. Mom had come up from Florida to help with Olivia while we were in the hospital. She hadn’t seen snow in a decade and was delighted!

While we were there in Florida, we visited my Aunt Joy in Venice, who is 94 and was too frail to travel to Gainesville to be with my Mom. We went for a walk on Venice Beach and for the brief half hour there, we were delighted to see Brown Pelicans diving off shore and a mixed flock of Sandwich Terns, Royal Terns, Laughing Gulls, and Sanderlings. Seeing this beautiful collection of wild creatures was somehow reassuring and lifted our spirits.

The holidays can be difficult and I hope challenges you may be facing don’t prevent you from having a blessed day. Thinking of you and wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving.

Elegant Royal Tern

 

GREAT EVENT FOR THE ATLANTICS AND ALL THE NEW ENGLAND MUSIC HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES!

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Last night’s induction ceremony into the New England Music Hall of Fame was a tremendous honor for Tom and his Atlantic’s bandmates. Held at the Regent Theatre in Arlington, Boston rockers and rock industry media greats were honored, including Lizzie Borden and the Axes, Human Sexual Response, Robin Lane, Donna Summer, Steve Morse, Carter Allen, and Carmelita. I filmed a bit of Lizzie Borden and the Axes set and will post that asap.

DJ Dee Tension introduced the Atlantics. Tom’s song writing partner, bass player, and co-founder of The Atlantics, Bruce Wilkinson, passed away at a young age. Accepting the award in his place was his sister Bev and his nephew. Paul Caruso, the drummer, also passed away at a relatively young age, when he was only 50 years old. Accepting the award in his honor was his wife Susan and sons Christian and Zachary.Fred Pineau, Jeff Hartford, Billy McCarthy, Bev Wilkinson, Reese, Jeff Lock, Susan Caruso, Zachary Caruso, Christian Caruso, Tom Hauck, and Ray Fernandes at the mic.

Digging around online, I was happy to find another video of the Atlantics from back in the day – 

MY HUSBAND TOM HAUCK AND THE ATLANTICS INDUCTEES AT THE NEW ENGLAND MUSIC HALL OF FAME AWARDS!

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My husband, Tom, is being inducted into the New England Music Hall of Fame tomorrow evening. Tom is one of the co-founders, along with Bruce Wilkinson, of the Atlantics, a 70’s/early 80s power pop punk band. He’s so low key about it. Tom had this band before I met him but still I am super proud of him.

The sold-out awards ceremony is taking place at the beautiful Regent Theatre in Arlington and we’re planning to make a night of it. Photos from back in the day and today. He’s still the same brilliant, funny, kind hearted man I met all those years ago, just wiser, and even smarter.

For Atlantics fans, read more here

OUR CAPE ANN VACATION 2023

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A wonderful houseful in August, with our daughter Liv home from LA, our sweet cousin Hannah, and my dear in-laws, Tom’s sister Auntie Amy and Uncle Arnold from Ohio. Already I am missing everyone so much. Whale watch, picnics, shopping, dozens of beach outings, seafood dinners (thank you Cape Ann Lobstermen for the best oysters, lobsters, and swordfish!) and the Barbie movie at the local Gloucester Cinema – everyone had the best time.

Thanks to Liv for many of the photos and video. Liv posts beautiful stories and photos on her Instagram account @livaroundtown, from both Gloucester and LA, and where ever her travels take her.

Think Pink for the Barbie movie

Cape Ann Whale Watch

Name of most favored special bunny – BunBun Chocolate Hauck

Three schooner capture by Liv – is it 2023 or 1923? The Schooners Ardelle and Adventure are in the foreground and I believe the schooner in the background is the Lannon.

 

 

The $13.99 Coronation Illustration

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My husband asked Charlotte, “Did you see the Coronation on TV?” “No, Bops, what is a coronation,” she responded. He explained briefly, she went to her art table and proceeded to draw this wonderful illustration of the Coronation featuring Queen Camilla, adding many imagined details including a castle with a moat.

Usually she gifts us her drawings but this time she asked, “Would you like my drawing?” I said. “Yes of course.”  She said “It’s $13.99.” I said really?? My five-year-old granddaughter said, “Mimi, I drive a hard bargain.”  

Thinking of the stuffed animal she had seen at Russel Orchards earlier that afternoon that cost $13.99, which I told her “not today,” I said okay to the $13.99 illustration. After all, she had figured out a way to earn the kitten stuffie.

RECIPE – CAPE ANN LOBSTERMEN PAN SEARED SCALLOPS AND SPRING RISOTTO!

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While the scallop boats are still here delivering fresh plump scallops daily to Gloucester, we are making the most of the fabulous quality and terrific prices. At Cape Ann Lobstermen, a two pound tub is only $32.00!!

Several weeks ago I mentioned a scallop and spring risotto yummy dinner that was a big hit with the Family. Friends have asked for the recipe but I don’t usually use a recipe when making risotto. Last night I tried to think about amounts.

I love making risotto and find it utterly relaxing to just stand at the stove and stir, as long as you have all the ingredients chopped, grated, and lined-up ready to go. I am writing this hurriedly so if anything is left out or you have a question, please write and let me know, happy to answer <3

Ingredients –

Do this first – For the vegetable stock, cover with about 8 cups of water – 1 onion quartered, I carrot cut in half, several stalks of celery. Do not add salt. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down, and allow to gently simmer while cooking the risotto

1/4 lb. chopped pancetta or bacon

Olive Oil

I medium onion loosely chopped

About 1 3/4 Cup Arborio rice

Prosecco

Veggies – whatever you like. Last night’s dinner we had fresh fiddleheads from the garden!, also 1/2 zucchini chopped, handful of snowpeas, 2 ears of fresh corn (kernels removed from the cob), and about six stalks of asparagus chopped in 1 inch pieces.

Butter to taste – 2 TBs or more

Romano or parmesan to taste (about 1/2 to 3/4 C.), grated

Render the fat from the pancetta. Remove pancetta from pan and set aside. Leave the fat in the pan.

Add a few  tablespoons of olive oil. Sautee onions until translucent.

Add arborio rice. Turn heat down. Toast rice for a minute or two with the onions, until you hear a crackly sound. Cover rice with Prosecco.

Stir continually throughout. Allow rice to absorb most of the Prosecco. Add about two ladle-fulls of the simmering stock. Allow rice to absorb the stock before adding more.

Continue adding stock and stirring until the rice is almost done, still a tiny bit al dente. Add the veggies and more stock if needed. Add back the pancetta. Cook for a few more minutes until veggies are done, bright green but cooked through.

Take off the heat. Add butter and cheese to taste. While the risotto is resting, pan sear the scallops. Our whiz in the kitchen Alex cooks the scallops 🙂

 

Serve with extra cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

Cape Ann Lobstermen is located at 111 Main Street in Gloucester

978-559-7988

 

 

 

 

 

EASTER CASCARONES

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Charlotte and I made cascarones this year; we are starting a new tradition!

Casarones are are empty eggshells that have been colored and typically filled with confetti. You smash them over your friend/loved ones head. They are used around festive occasions in Mexico and increasingly, the US southwest border states.

I thought the idea of it sounded super fun but didn’t like the thought of questionably biodegradable confetti all over the yard. So we filled ours with bird seed! Will let you know how the smashing part goes 🙂

World’s Best Dad!

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Playing dolls with your daughter after a super long day at work takes a lot of love. Son Alex (and husband Tom, too) both get my votes for World’s Best Dads <3

 

HAPPIEST OF DAYS

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Thank you to my darling daughter Liv for capturing ‘that feeling when you like your Mimi’s tiramisu.’  Turn on the sound 🙂

HOLIDAY HYGGE TO BE HAD AT MAIN STREET ART AND ANTIQUES!

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Late Friday afternoon I dashed into Main Street Art and Antiques to look for teeny tiny treasures to fill Charlotte’s Advent calendar’s teeny tiny boxes with. While there, a lovely red, green, and cream antique applique quilt caught my eye. The red tulips with green stems, leaves, and flower pots is similar to quilts from the 1930s I think. The stitching is exquisite and there were no tears or holes as far as I could see. Unfortunately, the whole quilt was very badly yellowed. After talking to proprietor Kimberly Cox (David Cox’s daughter), who offered the quilt for a very fair and reasonable price, I decided to take a chance and see if the yellowing and stains could be removed.

It had been a while since I had purchased vintage textiles. On my way home I stopped at Stop and Shop and was in luck with a small box of Oxiclean. The directions are vague but after reading a bunch online and taking advice from the lovely sales girl at Main Street Art and Antiques, I first wet tested a corner of the quilt to make sure the red wasn’t going to bleed everywhere. After half an hour, all clear, with no bleeding! Then filled a large plastic tub with icy cold water and two scoops of Oxiclean. For the next several hours, I stirred the quilt very gently every twenty minutes or so. After three hours, the tub was filled with a deep orangey yellowish water. Drained all, rinsed repeatedly, refilled the tub with cold water and one more scoop of Oxiclean. The water stayed fairly clear and the quilt was beginning to look amazing. I drained the tub again, and being very careful not to let the weight of the quilt pull on its self, to avoid damaging the fabric, I put the quilt in the washing machine. The settings were on delicate cycle, extra rinse, and cold water but with no additional soap added.

The quilt washed and dried beautifully. The applique and quilt stitches are phenomenally tiny. I am so glad I took a chance with this exquisite quilt from Main Street Art and Antiques!

Thank you to my darling daughter Liv who took the snapshots and video with her new iPhone14 camera. See more from Liv on Instagram here.

This is our first Christmas with a white cotton duck slipcover and I am having so much fun changing it up for different seasonal looks. Our former sofa upholstery I absolutely loved but was 20 plus years old and somewhat limiting in choice of coordinating fabrics. The quilt goes beautifully with the red, green, and cream Colefax and Fowler block print fabrics that I made new pillows from (thank you Zimmans!) and our new winter red and white striped cotton rug from Annie Selke. The rug is wonderfully textured and cozy on the feet! Last night I made some new Christmas stockings to hang around the house with remnants from the pillows. A sort of French-Indian-American blend of fabrics and I think our little music/living room is feeling very hygge 🙂

Main Street Art and Antiques is located at 124 Main Street, Gloucester.

Hours:

Friday 11am – 5:00pm

Saturday 9am – 5pm

Sunday 11am – 4pm

Kimberly Cox shares that her Dad, David, is often in the shop on Wednesdays if you want to pop in and say hello <3

There are holiday and home treasures to be had at all our local Cape Ann shops. I’ve only touched on a very few here and with Christmas just around the corner and our daughter home from LA, I don’t think I’ll have time to write more. Enjoy the lights, the coziness, the friendly proprietors and staff and have fun shopping local!