Fantastic Photographs of Absurdly Beautiful and Romantic Cape Ann (subtitled)

 Saturday, Day 1

Moss patiently awaits his flight out of JAX to BOS. He's holding the Little Island by Margaret Wise Brown.  Sure, it's blasphemous, but the midsection with the leaping talking cat and it's commentary on the nature of reality annoys me.  

Sunday, Day 2

On Day 2 of our Cape Ann vacation we visited Todd Farm with Jenn.  An old friend once told me that Todd Farm was like church for people that don't really believe in going to church: a bunch of mostly-like-minded people get together and ritualistically walk the rows of antiques/junk for an hour or two every Sunday.  Cymande scored this underwear sign; Giles, a slightly used school bus; Moss, a rubber bat; I abstained because I'm a non-believer.  

I’ve been visiting Russell/Gooddale Orchards for over 20 years (back when Inga the pig ruled the barn).  The boys first visited when they were 4 months old. It’s ridiculously idyllic: an apple orchard perched on the edge of a salt marsh on Ipswich Bay.  C’mon.

Vacationing with 3-year-old twins has its moments of joy and desperation.  There is eating apple cider donuts and playing with your mother's hat at Russell Orchards (Day 2) and then there is hysterically pulling your mother's clothes off in the security line at Logan Airport (Day 9).

During nap time I snuck out for a quick solo walk around town in the 93 degree mid-day heat.  I ran into the Toad Hall Book Store to cool off and bought a copy of Cloud Atlas.  Then, I took this photo of White Wharf.  The boys woke up and we headed back to Ipswich for dinner with Ross, Sarka, Sam, Olie and Jenn.  Sam and Olie might be the nicest kids I’ve ever met and Moss and Giles are always excited to play with them. Ross, Sarka and Jenn are pretty nice adults too.    

Monday, Day 3

Day 3 is not well documented.  It started with Tropical Storm Andrea drenching Cape Ann.  I was reminded to never commute into Boston. It took over 3 hours to reach Bridgewater.  We drove through my old neighborhood and marveled at how the current occupants of my childhood home turned it into an army barrack and cleared the yard of any vegetation.  We then visited my Aunt Evelyn in Attleboro where the boys played and we all ate pizza. We left for the New England Aquarium.  Early into the trip we witnessed a spectacular car crash right in front of us on 95 North.  Cymande called 911 and the operator asked which direction we were headed and after a non-committal answer the operator said “North”.  I stopped to help and when I approached the demolished car the driver (who was fine) asked me, “Which direction am I headed?” I said “North.” The aquarium was enjoyable and on the way home we made a mandatory stop at Fortune Palace in Essex for peanut noodles.

Tuesday, Day 4

On day 4 we were all a bit underdressed.  

We found Front Beach to be the perfect (if occasionally dangerous) babysitter. Moss overcame his fear of the ocean while Giles continued his practice of staring, hypnotized, into the waves.  We found ourselves at Front Beach almost everyday, rain or shine. Rock throwing was satisfying, gulls predictably flew away when chased and periwinkles were rocks that Daddy did not allow you to throw.   

Ross, Sam and Olie came for a visit. We had ice cream for dinner. 

Wednesday, Day 5

  

Appleton Farms was established in 1636, but it took me until 1998 to discover this place (I think the Trustees acquired it that year). I was aspiring to through hike the Appalachian Trail and this was a good place to be alone in the woods. This prepared me for nothing and I never ended up doing the hike.  In August, 1999 I brought Cymande here with a baguette, camembert and bottle of Russell orchards raspberry wine.  The woods, the fields, the ocean air.  It is a perfect place.      

Strangely, I took the boys to a place that I formerly referred to as the moldy muffin for obvious reasons.  They feasted on peanuts, pretzels, and chicken salad.  No muffin.

Thursday, Day 6

'Make Way For Ducklings' has been in heavy rotation for some time.  We put aside a day to attempt a risky maneuver with the boys: Train ride into Boston, subway ride to the Boston Public Gardens, swan boats and then back again before 3pm.  There was some lunchtime decompensation, but it was a grand success.  They totally got that they were riding the swan boats from the book.  We even saw Mr. and Mrs. Mallard who are apparently immortal. 

Friday, Day 7

Giles requested that he stay at Front Beach in the rain until he was blue and shivering.  Being the parent that I am: request granted.

Giles, who inherited the sauntering gene from his grandfather found this snail on the sidewalk. 

Saturday, Day 8

Stage Fort Park for lunch.  I've been reading two books recently: The Serpent That Came to Gloucester and The Island Woods.  I'm starting to believe that serpent story about Gloucester and I'm starting to believe that Leif Erikson's brother, Thorwald, died on Cape Ann and is buried there.  I have no proof to present to you.  

Another nap ride, this time to Land's End. 

The Maritime Gloucester touch tanks were great fun. The boys got to touch lobsters and crabs and even eels. Then we wandered down to the harbor to admire the waterfront and throw shells off the dock.  We met up with my Cousin Debi, Renee and her friends for a walk around town. 

Shalin Liu Performance Center.  On our last night the Yorks babysat and Cymande and I went to My Place By the Sea for an amazing dinner and then to see the Jupiter String Quartet.  

Sunday, Day 9

On our last day we took the long haul up Castle Hill. 

Nice lawn. 

Like any good amount of fun, it must end in tears.  This time it was Giles demanding opposites simultaneously.  Shortly after this photo was taken Giles commandeered the wagon, promptly abandoned it, Moss ran down the Grand Allee and disappeared over one of rolling hills.  (Note Indian wedding party in background)    

I have an alternate version of this with Giles crying in the alcove.  I placed him up there while he was crying because all he was doing was crying and I thought a sad statue might be appealing.  The Indian wedding party watched this episode curiously.  From here we stopped to play with Sam and Olie for the last time on this trip and headed to Logan Airport. As aforementioned, Logan did not go so well...