Steadfast Ahoy

Pigeon Pie

2012-02-13T06:00:00.009-05:00

Dinner with friends means sharing stories and tales from days gone by. One thing led to another, and before you know it, we were talking pigeons, again.

Buddy sheepishly told us the story of his job as a teenager, way back in the day. Between the ages of 17 and 19, he proudly wielded a broom in the grain mills of Port Dover. The opportunities for unskilled labour in that booming metropolis were few and far between in the 50’s and 60’s and having to compete with grown men supporting families, Buddy had to take what he could get. The long chain of command from Farmer, to Harvester, to Trainmen, to Longshoremen, to Crane Operator, to Grain Sweeper--Buddy celebrated the day he landed his vital role in the procession of men and women feeding the world.

On any given day during shipping season, cargo ships maneuvered into Port Dover’s docks to off-load the precious wheat from the Prairie Provinces, ready for milling into cereals and flour. Vacuums sucked the grain out of the ships’ holds and sent it on its way via conveyor belts to the mills. It was not always a direct route. Often, one conveyor belt met another on a different trajectory transporting the grain to its destination. Not every grain made the transfer successfully. In fact, so much grain was scattered by jumping from one conveyor belt to another, sweepers were needed to gather up the excess loss and shovel it back into the stream.

Buddy worked his four-hour shifts within the confines of a low ceilinged, 15 foot roundhouse. He wasn’t alone. He shared his working space with three other sweeper/shovelers and 30 to 40 wild pigeons on the take. The whir of flapping wings, the purring coo-coo-coo, the feathers in his face, all led Buddy into the dark side of man-against-beast. Coffee break complaining of pigeon-related work hazards led to strategies for revenge. Out of sheer desperation, Buddy began swinging his broom like a baseball bat at the birds flying up in his face. The birds were everywhere underfoot and when they startled upwards in close quarters, the low ceilings kept them within arms’ and brooms’ reach.

SWAT.

CRACK.

THUD.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!!

Nobody remembers how they came to learn of the elderly, Italian lady who lived along the route Buddy took to home after work each day. Like an old-time milkman delivering three bottles of milk in each hand, Buddy laced the heads of dead birds thru his fingers. He shakes his head, turning a definite shade of pink, as he recounts the sparkling-eyed greed of the Senora when she scooped up his proffered birds.

BENISSIMO!

FANTASTICO!

TORTA di PICCIONE!!!

Squab Pie, Pigeon Pie, a delicacy of southern Italy, her native land. Five dollars for three birds once a week or two kept Buddy and his pals in smokes all thru high school.

Today as he recounts his story, Buddy fears being labeled “Pigeon Killer” or “Profiteer”.

IT WAS A DIFFERENT TIME THEN., he avers. NOBODY THOUGHT ANYTHING OF IT, AND THE OLD LADY LOVED US.

This photo of a Fountain outside "The Reef" Atlantis Resort.

Don't you just love that time around the table when things get relaxed and the stories begin to unfold?

Down A Lazy River

2012-02-09T14:39:00.001-05:00

I met Joe as our innertubes ricocheted off the canyon walls and smashed into each other.

-I pulled both calf muscles yesterday at the beach. I can hardly walk, so I thought I’d give myself a break and take this “Lazy River Ride”. What a joke!

Flipped ass-over-tea-kettle by a wave of tsunamic proportions, I had to dive for my sunglasses that had washed off my face by the force of the water. At least I still had my underwater camera in hand.

-Are you okay, The Captain, Sonny-boy, Joe and numerous strangers asked with concerned looks?

Another wave smacked me in the face and sent my tube hurtling down the rapids chute. I caught a quick glimpse of Joe turning pale under his sunburn.

-Oh Brother! Who named this ride “Lazy River”? This is more like a scene out of “Deliverance”!!!!! Rosemary, it’s been nice knowing you. If we don’t make it out of this alive, maybe they’ll bury us together.

My favourite son-in-law (I only have one) couldn’t wait to get his thrills on the Power Tower Waterslides. The Lazy River took a turn towards death, with an option for near-death. Joe and I were making our way thru near-death, while The Captain and In-Law climbed the Tower. The whole park reverberated with the echoing wails of woe as The Cap’s tube took the first plunge down the tower’s face.

-Ayeeeeeee…eeee...eee...eee

Son-in-law climbed to the topmost landing, his eyes gleaming. Our hero’s history includes champion titles as ski jumper, slalom racer, long board racer and all-round speed demon. He never missed a beat. Running up the tower stairway, he chose one tunnel after the other until he had done them all…repeatedly. He claims his favourite was “The Abyss”.

Without a tube, bare-backed, his body flew off the top of the slide at lightning speed, dropping, then dropping again, spinning into darkness, whirling in spirals that seemed to have no end. How he reveled in becoming completely disoriented before being spit out into the blazing sunshine of the pools at the bottom. He didn’t scream. He didn’t cry. He didn’t even throw up. He did it again and again and again--for two hours.

Joe and I just shook our heads in disbelief. We were happy to be alive after the rapid runs. I am sending up a prayer that my two-year old grandson hasn’t inherited his Papa’s penchant for death-defying dare-devilishness. My heart couldn’t stand it.

Out For Dinner in Atlantis

2012-02-08T06:00:00.004-05:00

So there we were in our "Resort Upscale" get-ups, ready to pay the inflated prices for a late night supper in Atlantis at Seafire Steakhouse. I had forgotten my camera and had to walk back to the other end of the marina to get it. Of course I had to stop along the way to watch the little kiddos play with the steel drums, to peak in the windows of the Dooney and Bourke Handbags store, and to chat up some friendly tourists walking in my direction. Meanwhile, the guys were in line at the bar waiting for a table. By the time I got back to the restaurant, they were seated and just beginning to scan menus. Great timing. Not so great news about the camera though: the battery was kaput. Oh well, exercise helps burn calories and I could have dessert, yes?

I went back next day for even better shots while the restaurant was empty. Got some good ones before being politely asked to leave. "Come back when the manager is here to give permission, Madam."

Now, being it is Black and White Wednesday over at Like Christmas Everyday, here are my B&W offerings to play along.

Happy mid-week Wednesday, Everyone. We only have one life to live--make it count.

Atlantis Marina Boat Show

2012-02-05T10:03:00.002-05:00

Nassau is a working harbour in the capital city of the Bahamas. When we came here on our honeymoon, 37 years ago, we were land-based...no boats for us then. This was a charming, colonial place with so much to offer. Things have changed over the years, and not necessarily for the better. Unemployment leaves young people at loose ends. Crime is rampant. The city has become noisy, dirty and unsafe after dark.

For the past 11 years, Steadfast has come and gone as quickly as possible from here. We stop for provisions and to wait out rough weather on our way south. Our marina of choice has been Nassau Yacht Haven...a humble spot with a big-sounding name. It is close to the shops (until the City Market grocery store closed down this year.) There is a Starbucks within walking distance which is always a welcomed sight after three weeks away from home. This year, things are different.

This year, Captain is entertaining his business partners onboard. We are staying in the Atlantis Marina. Wowzers! What a different world we have been immersed in here. Not only do we get to buddy up with the big boats, we get to play in all the pools, slides, gardens, restaurants and fun stuff in the resort.

Paradise Island. What a name! What a place!! It's over-the-top opulence in every way. It takes the breath right out of your mouth and leaves you gasping. So I thought my blogging buddies should have a walk around the marina and take in the boats. Wanna come along????

The two channel markers on the left show the entrance to the marina from the inner harbour.

You'd never guess that a road travels right under this waterway, linking one side of the resort with the rest of the island.

Here is "Trade Wind", a 62 foot vintage 1938 Alden Sailboat with its two wooden tenders...a white hull rowing skiff and a small skiff. They sailed here from Rockport, Maine. On display, in bristol fashion.

M/V Laurel...241 ft./73 meter luxury yacht. With a crew of 19 and accommodations for 14 guests, you can tell people are pampered in grand style once on board. Commissioned in 2006, she was the largest yacht constructed in America since 1921.

Heads definitely turned when "Plan B" pulled in. Check her out!!! Four decks, 161 feet long, helicopter tender. riiiiiight! She has a 10 ft. draft and a 33ft. beam. She cruises at 12 knots and has a range of 5000 nautical miles in fair conditions.

Even the copter has its own custom designed canvas cover.

Here she sits in the rain. Another angle to appreciate her lovely lines. The colour scheme here is black and grey. Even the deck hands wear black pants and grey tee shirts. This boat is unique in that she is completely "understated", if you can call 161 feet of millions "understated".

Satellite, radar, antennae, undercover security. Who's on board anyway????? Flagged in the Cayman Islands, she is currently based out of New Zealand. The crew all speak "Ausie".

This is a 75 foot Vicem. A luxury yacht built in Turkey. Nice one....

This boat is registered as home port Chicago. Her name is "Sovereign" and she is my fav in all the marina. A 1950's Burger, she was totally refurbished out of Fort Lauderdale last year. What a honey of a boat. Their miniature schnauzer has a thing for Nelson. We are planning play dates.

Check out the toys on the lower deck: two jet skis and a go-fast. There are two cranes hidden in the ceiling that make deploying these guys an easy task. There is a SWIMMING POOL on the upper deck!!

Blind Date is a 161 ft. Trinity yacht, built and commissioned for the owner in 2009. She is offered for charter at a mere $235,000/week for 10 - 12 guests with a crew of 10. Any takers out there? Oh, and by the way, charter guests pay for fuel, for dockage, for food, for drink AND are expected to tip $2500 to each crew member at the end of the week. Just saying.

We've made it to the Marina Village walk-way. Here we often see people getting their pictures taken by a buddy, pretending they own the big boats.

-Have you see my boat? I'm lost!

-I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

Here is a sign you see a lot around here.

We used to see Ronny Howard's 80 footer "Imagine" around Rhode Island. Now he's moved up.

High Class.

The tender is called "Imaginary". Cute.

Yup, Rain in Paradise.

AND THERE SHE IS, FOLKS,

the humble

Steadfast.

47 ft. Sabreline Express Cruiser.

The smallest boat in the marina.

Atlantis Aquarium

2012-02-03T06:00:00.005-05:00

This is a case of the video says it all!

Look-Down-Jacks and a baby Tiger Shark, behind 6" plastic windows, in sea-water aquarium at Atlantis.

Bankrupt!

2012-02-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

The beach and pool were deserted again today. Good news for those of us liking the privacy and freedom to go bikini-clad in all our flabbiness. Bad news for the marina owner/operators languishing in the doldrums of receivership.

Through the 1950's to 70's, this Island Paradise was home to the Crown Colony Club, where Hemingway and his ilk plied their fishing boats across the waves by day. They quaffed hors d'heuves (spelled "appetizers") and cocktails, dancing in the club bar at sundown and dined in style at 8 aboard their sport-fish vessels. It was the perfect get-away-from-it-all destination for the rich and famous, home to fishing tournaments and boating rendez-vous.

By the early 1990's, investors with visions of mega-wealth flocked to the Bahamas with their eyes on white sand beaches and azure water resort possibilities. They began buying up what the Bahamian Government would allow them to take. Family Islands were out-of-bounds, but Cays close to, or with pre-existing air strips were up for grabs. Promises of water makers and sewage systems large enough to service indigenous populations as well as proposed resort facilities, and the tantalizing prospect of jobs in an environment of huge unemployment, led officials and bureaucrats to turn a blind eye to golf course pollution run-offs killing ocean reefs and commercialization of Paradise. Glossy brochures, boating and travel magazine articles and high-tech on-line videos extolled the virtues of living the good life in Old Bahama Bay, Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Bimini Bay Resort, Royal Island, Emerald Bay, Chubb Cay and Fowl Cay...this is a partial list.

Then came THE CRASH. 1998 left people in real estate and money management "underwater" and reeling. Investors were not just worried, they were devastated. Those with bigger backing tried to hold on and keep building, while those with smaller holdings just vanished into the night, walking out on payrolls owing and out-standing bills. The allegations of loss are mind-numbing: $40 million on Chubb Cay, $250 - $280 million on Emerald Bay, for two. We spoke with a gentleman on the beach recently who claimed to have lost $20 million all by himself. Even the lowly Bahamian contractors that laid out to cover building materials, cement making equipment and the like, were left holding the bag. Generators and materials still sit on dock sidings--delivered, unclaimed and unpaid-for.

So here we sit in Chubb Cay, the place to ourselves. The only people and a dog on the beach, the only couple in the restaurant and bar. As with most anywhere, a photo taken from one vantage point can make a place look fabulous. Check out these picture post cards I made with My Memories Suites-3 and tell me this doesn't look like heaven on earth.

Now look at photos from a slightly different angle showing the damage, neglect or squalor that would rather be ignored.

Buildings are left unfinished, crumbling and rotting before they've even been completely built. This "club house" has a rotting foundation, an open roof and rusted out I Beams in the internal structure. It needs to be torn down, but as with all things Bahamian, it will probably stand like this, unfinished and slowing decomposing, until the earth reclaims the foot print.

Someone put a down-payment on this house. When the whole project went belly-up, the buyer just walked away. No more money, no more work. The neighbours are crying in their beer.

This incredible infinity pool and bar was filled and set to go before the mortar was even set, resulting in tiles falling off and hunks of cement moldings falling away. Note the one working fan...and four others all broken.

Together with shattered hopes and dreams, the grandure that was promised is fading away. In this third world country, the indigenous population is saddened to live with these derelict reminders of failure and loss of promise once again. They go back to the sea. They bring home fish for supper and shells to make souvenirs for tourists in Nassau.

ps. A reminder to cast a vote in my direction on Canadian Family Magazine on line. You can't imagine my joy at being chosen as one of the contestants...I'm in great company!

MayDay! MayDay!

2012-01-30T06:00:00.017-05:00

Chop and Styx went fishing. They reeled in two half-drown men. There is a story here somewhere.

The skies were clear, the seas were calm and the wind was less than 15 knots. The down riggers were deployed, five lines off the stern were loaded “way out there”. It was looking good for a day of fishing The Pocket off Chubb Cay. The drop-off from 150 to 5000 feet makes for great fishing opportunities as big fish chase smaller fish to shallow waters at the change of tide.

Guests and crew of the 70’ Viking were hoping for Blue Marlin, a 100-pound Wahoo or two and maybe a Tuna. Sunscreen, hats and visors emblazoned with the boat name, polarized RayBans, long-sleeved Columbia SPF 50 shirts and Sperry Deck Shoes completed the prerequisite fishing attire. Styx cracked open his first brewski of the day and Chop settled in with her current good read. Fishing is all about being ready for the action, waiting for the action, and not dying of boredom until the action begins. Leaving boat handling to the captain, Chop and Styx were free to entertain themselves while the boat trolled up and down the edge-of-the-ledge waiting for a strike.

-Wait a minute, what’s that off portside? Get the binoculars!

Cutting the engines to idle speed, the captain sounded the alert:

-Men in the water! All hands to!

The action had begun. Every available hand was put to reeling in lines. Seven individual reels had to be cranked to bring in the tackle before a rescue could be attempted. While guests did the reeling, captain and crew deployed the AR15, just on the off chance…, radioed position and circumstance to alert the coast guard and cautioned those aboard:

-We don’t know who these men are or why they are in the water. Be prepared for trouble—it could be anything.

The decks now cleared of obstacles and fishing gear, the Viking cautiously approached the men overboard. They were clinging to plastic-wrapped floating bundles of “something”. Their go-fast vessel was capsized and partially sunk, drifting with the current, most likely loaded with LOTS MORE of what was keeping them afloat.

Chop and Styx had fleeting thoughts of pirates, drug-lords, mafia revenge. Was this a ploy to grab their vessel? Could they end up in the water as these two (and who knew who else?) traded places with them? Did they have guns???

Terror filled the eyes of two men in the water, surrounded by certain death.

-SHARKS! SHARKS! GET US OUT, MON!!! HURRY YOU UP NOW.

Letting go of their bundles, the near-drowned men reached for the life rings thrown towards them. One after the other, they were dragged up the swim platform and aboard the Viking thru the “tuna door” in the transom. One grizzled and grey, the other middle-aged, they were both hypothermic, shaking and barely able to stand on their own. They said they’d been in the water all night.

-Chop, go below and lock the door, the captain ordered. She didn’t wait for an engraved invitation.

It took 20 minutes to effect the rescue. All thoughts of their fishing expedition gone, the Viking headed for port, post haste. She didn’t even take the time to raise her down riggers. Calling ahead to the marina, captain asked to have the Constable on hand as they made dock. Now a whole new set of “action” came into play. A Coast Guard helicopter was sent to locate the abandoned smuggling vessel. It was found, already being looted by two other Bahamian vessels. Narcotic Agents from Nassau had set out at the first MayDay call and they arrived as the Constable was taking the rescued smugglers into custody.

That night at SunDowners, one fishing captain was recounting the fight of the big Blue Marlin his vessel had hooked into that afternoon, while the captain and crew of our Viking had more exciting tales to share.

Lesson of the day: Be prepared for anything, take what comes and share the stories.

ps. Happy news to tell: My story "How I Found My Bliss" is one of 12 up for votes at Canadian Family Magazine on-line. Click the link and cast a vote in my direction if you think it's any good. Thanks for the consideration.

Boat Chores

2012-01-27T06:00:00.004-05:00

Lest you think living on a boat in the Bahamas is all fun and games, this post is published to educate you on the finer points of life at sea.

Here is the before and after shot of the brass clock and barometer.

After much elbow grease and hard rubbing....

ta da!

Several coats of clear paste wax and a daily polish should help them stay bright for the season ahead.

These pictures of the "herb garden" are for K, who specifically asked to see them. We aim to please aboard Steadfast.

We have Rosemary, Lemon Balm, Mint, Basil, Parsley, Chives and in the little box,

Flowers: forget-me-nots, johnny jump ups, and pansies.

Farmer on a Boat.

Today is Monday Wash Day. It could be any day that we are in a marina with a Laundry Facility or when we decide things are ripe and we wash by hand or with our own tiny machine on board.

I rig a temporary clothes line between the stanchions on the fly bridge. Things dry in about 20 minutes here.

When we were commissioning this vessel, Captain wanted a washing machine and I wanted a vacuum cleaner. Instead of one or the other, we ended up getting both. I am so glad we did because we use them both, but especially the vacuum.

Today, we pulled out the vent screens for the air conditioners, vacuumed and washed everything and put it all back together. It was like cleaning dryer lint traps clogged with cotton batten. Maybe I will stop sneezing now. :)

Then of course, there's always the decks to swab, the windows to wash and ..... well the list is endless. We usually work as little as possible, play as much as we can and always leave time for the art of leisure.

Nelson keeps lookout on the forward deck, or lazes in the shade, while we work. He is a much happier dog now that we have access to a delightful beach for running, swimming and chasing balls and sticks. They say a tired dog is a good dog. Y E S !!!

Black and White Wednesday

2012-01-25T06:04:00.003-05:00

Made in the shade.

85 degrees in the sun and time for siesta.

(This collage was made and titled using My Memories Suites - 3.)

You guys up North can have the snow.

We have become quintessential snowbirds!

Black and White Wednesdays come to you compliments of

Like Christmas Every Day.

Grab the link and join the fun!

Retail Therapy

2012-01-23T11:28:00.000-05:00

-Would you like to join the ladies when we go shopping tomorrow?

-WOULD I??????

Living on a boat with a tiny galley means I take any and every opportunity to hit the grocery stores. Here was a chance to reprovision at a big-box store, two grocers, the marine shop for specialty light bulbs a la Steadfast, and a video store.

Marty is from Northern Ontario. We met at happy hour by the pool at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club. She winters in an apartment condo on the island and drives a rusted-out nissan. The car's original paint burned off by the tropic sun several seasons ago, leaving blisters and bald patches across the surface. A pie bald pony for sure. A gaping hole in the dashboard where the radio used to be attests to the selectivity of robbers. Still, it gets a body from point A to point B without having to bake in the sun walking there.

Marty recounted her tale of falling unconscious into her dinner plate three weeks ago, making her over a month late in getting here this year. Doctors couldn't find out why she was blacking out: TIA, Stroke, Low Blood Pressure?

-Lots of tests and no answers.

Next, she advised us to sing out if she should fail to remain on the proper side of the road while driving. It's like England here--they drive on the left, not right side of the roads.

-It's my first time behind the wheel this season.

Lastly, I swung the car door shut as I got in and could not believe how flimsy it felt. Was this a Toy Car--small, light and totally unsafe??? It dawned on me that I should put on my seat belt and perhaps sit in the middle of the back seat. Things could get interesting.

My "few things" together with Marty's beach chair filled the trunk of the little toy car. The rest had their few things, combined, on the vacant back seat beside mine. The groceries and ship's store behind us, we headed for the video store.

-Wait a minute. Isn't this illegal? Can we get arrested for this????

This was a video store like none I'd ever frequented back home. ARE there stores like this at home? I think the RCMP keep these kinds of operations on the hush-hush, down-low, as my daughter says. A tiny hole in the wall, barricaded with metal screening, there was enough room for four of us in the store at once: three of us and the sales girl. White boards announced the three for $5.00 options, New Releases, Favourites and specials. As I walked out with 6 New Releases for $20.00, I couldn't stop myself from looking over my shoulder for the Mounties. Duty free shopping?

There is no way to rationalize what we did. It appears to be legal in the Bahamas, in China and who knows where else? Is it only in non-third world countries where copy right laws apply?

We have moved "down island" as they say here, to Chubb Cay, in the Berry Island group. Rather green around the gills for most of the six hour crossing, I failed to reel in anything more than two barracudas--those wily bandits that steal my bait and sometimes my tackle, leaving nothing but the trouble of restocking and resetting the lines. These bruisers carry ciguatera, a neurotoxin that only the locals are brave/foolish enough to risk ingesting. Frozen pizza and a movie, compliments of the recent shopping extravaganza and off to bed. Rest easy my fellow bloggers. We'll hit the beach tomorrow.

Gender Imbalance...It's a Boy!

2012-01-20T14:33:00.000-05:00

The Captain and I are proud Grandparents of three adorables, 5 1/2 to 2 years old. It was with baited breath that we awaited the outcome of yesterday's "definitive" ultrasound of Grand #4, back home in Canada. Our daughter gave us the news over Skype today that she is officially 26 weeks pregnant (there had been some debate about the date), carrying a healthy looking, MALE fetus. The boys are really outnumbering the girls in our family, but it's not because we are doing anything to make that happen.

At Christmas, this Crafty Granny Good Witch came up with two pairs of the cutest booties ever. One pair for a boy and one pair for a girl. Everybody got presents this year, even "New Baby" :)

Maybe Mummy knew ahead of time. Some women just know, or so they say.

This week, the Globe and Mail published articles about the Canadian Medical Association Journal calling for a ban on revealing the sex of a fetus by ultrasound until 30 weeks gestation, or later. It seems that some immigrant groups in Canada are aborting unwanted female babies. Even some second-generation Canadian couples are doing what their forefathers have done for a long time overseas. We are not talking about China, India or Africa...it's happening on our own home turf, IN CANADA!

As a result, studies are showing a gender imbalance in many areas of our country. Words and phrases like "eugenics", "violence against women", "sexual discrimination" and "barbaric practices" are flying hot and heavy as the debate about abortion in general continues.

Last week, Steadfast met a lovely family from Australia who is expecting their third child. They already have two sweet boys, 4 and 2, and have been trying every-which-way to conceive a girl, even consulting a Chinese herbalist. What an ironic but refreshing change! They are still a few weeks away from their 20 week ultrasound, still waiting to see what the luck of the draw has for them this time. I expect there will be great hoopla and happy goings-on at the MyLittleDeers blog site when they get the news.

This "unbalanced" family, has four more months to wait to meet our new grandson. Here too, you will read the celebratory recitals of the new arrival. Every child is a wanted, loved, accepted and rejoiced-over child in our Canadian neighbourhood.

Any thoughts out there about this? Reactions?

Black and White Wednesday

2012-01-18T06:30:00.002-05:00

Bahamian

Palm Trees with Ripe Coconuts

January 2012.

Today's B&W's are up for Judging. It's a photo contest.

Hop on over to LikeChristmasEveryDay and see who wins.

People Watching

2012-01-16T17:13:00.001-05:00

A fun daily visit over to "Pearl, Why You Little..." got me thinking about people watching. Pearl has the best stories of her encounters on the bus commute to work.

It's really too bad it's not acceptable to photograph strangers just because we find their faces fascinating. I'd have a huge portfolio of mugshots worthy of Coffee Table Status by now if I could. Like Pearl, I love watching people, listening to people and making new friends. Travel makes it even more likely I will add new faces to my collection, because there are always new ones just around the corner. I met four very interesting people today that I want to introduce you to.

This morning, The Captain and I had errands all over town in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Coming by boat means we have to rent a ride for town excursions. Our delightful taxi driver, Lakecia, had plenty of opportunity to share her life story with me as we sat in the van for over two hours, waiting outside the telephone company, the lumber and hardware shop, the office supply store and the electronics gizmos place while the man did his thing and us women had a good chin wag.

34 years old, Lakecia has been driving cab for 6 years. She is a single parent of two and cares for her little 9 yr. old sister. When she's not working, or at church, she is on the hunt for a husband. The current matrimonial candidates are a 45 yr. old taxi driver she met at the taxi dispatch center, a two-timing brick layer who left her for another woman three months ago, and one of the "brothers" from her prayer group. Her kids and her mother adore the 45 yr. old taxi driver with the big gut, but the church leaders do not approve of him. I'd love to be around long enough to hear the outcome of this complex relational puzzle.

On the rounds, we stopped at a roadside stand, where Lakecia purchased two bags of peanuts. She hadn't had breakfast yet and lunch hour was fast approaching.

-Hey, Johnny. Git me some white nuts, two bags. None of dem brown ones likes you gat me yes'day. I no like dem brown ones, no way.

Yes, the official language in the Bahamas is English. I often wonder what language people are REALLY speaking when the lingo gets fast and furious, slurring into a patois that leaves me in the dust. What I miss in translation, I often pick up thru volume, gestures and facial expressions. He shot her a big smile and handed over two bulging brown bags one usually associates with penny candy.

Johnny sports a full head of Rasta braids, twisted into a knot in the back of his head, and spilling over the collar of his leather jacket. A colourful bandanna completes the do. His face can't handle any more hair, as his beard is a designer special, dangling down to the middle of his chest. Now Captain wears a neatly trimmed, all-white beard to rival Santa Claus. I have nothing against a nice beard. Johnny's though, was a one-of-a-kind--never seen anything like it, ever! A series of ponytail elastics was evenly spaced out, bunching up round balls of beard in ever smaller circles of tight curls, ending in a curlycue. Truly unique. I wonder if his coif helps attract business, or does it warn off the competition?

While searching out a replacement charger for our Bahamian cell phone, I spotted an old lady. She was hard to miss. It's a cool winter day in the Islands and she was dressed for the weather. Under her navy blue, felt slouch hat, her purple wig shot out from her bespecaled-face in scary angles. A tiny, stooped woman, she was almost swallowed up in a baggy jacket that hung to her knees. Her ankle length skirt high-lighted the stockings pooling around her ankles and her ballerina flats with plastic bows on the toes. Her wooden cane in one hand and a heavy bag in the other, she navigated thru the heavy front doors of the establishment. I know it's impolite to stare and the Captain always pulls me away when I wander off following rabbit trails, so I had no chance to figure this lady out. Is she a regular visitor to that shop? Do people know her there? Is she as crazy in her speech and thought process as she is in her personal attire? She is one lady just WAITING to be interviewed and written up!

On to the BaTelCo office--the only one on the island--and a 40 minute wait in line to be served. At last we were ushered into the cubicle of a very beautiful young lady. There was one chair by her desk for customers. I sat down with a plop. (Cappy TOLD me not to wear those platform heels.) The Captain GOT DOWN ON ONE KNEE to be on the same level as her desk and proceeded to give her the litany of our non-working cell phone.

-Looks like you are proposing to the lovely lady, I said.

-Proposing to get his phone working, for sure, she responded.

Even a stranger to the culture can pick out the educated, hard-working women who hold down good jobs here. This beauty had her own hair (no wig for her) pulled back into a neat coil on the top of her head. Her impeccably penciled eyebrows and colour-shaded eyelids spotlighted her oval face. Her trim figure filled out a fitted two-piece suit. The skirt's little pleats along the hemline flared as she walked sedately across the office in her four inch heels. The jewelry at her throat was complimented by matching ear rings. In her quiet, efficient manner, she worked her way thru the convoluted bureaucracy of the national phone company to make things work for us. Captain was very impressed:

-She really stuck with it and worked hard to make it happen!

-I guess it was because you went down on one knee to beg for help!!!

The one thing I most enjoy about travel, is meeting new people and learning about the culture I am visiting. There are so many people out there just waiting to make friends and share their stories. Yes, Pearl, every day is a good day when we exchange smiles with the world.

The Wind Turned Out of the NW and So Did We

2012-01-14T11:33:00.001-05:00

Steadfast heading into the 4-6 foot waves leaving Old Bahama Bay Marina began her rocking horse imitations, but at the first waypoint, she turned to port taking the waves broadside. Pitch turned to yaw—gulp. Breath deep and hold on. Suddenly she picked up her skirts and began dancing on her tail—not good. Three minutes to the next way point.

Made it! Course correction to port again and the seas were on our aft quarter. Some better.

-Now hear this, now hear this: This is your Captain speaking. I am not looking forward to chicken meat balls for supper tonight. Catch me some fish!

-Aye, aye, Captain. The lines are rigged and ready to be deployed, answered the First Mate.

At the next waypoint, our new course put the seas to aft, the waves were a gentler 2-4 feet. We slowed to 6.5 knots and began trolling for the pelagics. Now that's more like it.

-Arn? (Newfie for: are there any fish?)

-Narn. (Nope.)

Back at Old Bahama Bay, the locals do their own kind of fishing, looking for spiny lobsters, conch and stone crabs. I bought a 10 pound bag of the most succulent stone crab and split it with the Aussies we met at the marina. 5 pounds of heaven-sent manna all for me. Yummmmmy!! Cappie isn’t inclined to partake.

The weather outside is delightful—a balmy 75 degrees. The flowers are in bloom making one believe it’s not winter at all. Herons and egrets hang out around the boats in the marina, birds we seldom see at home.

-A strike!

-Get the net, I don’t want to loose it!!

We reeled in a small King Mackerel. Just right to feed Cappie’s supper requests. Any fish is a success and we are smiling.

This morning, we woke up to the boat rubbing the dock fenders in Port Lucaya Marina. We had a free night’s stay left over from last spring and so decided to use it. The two pictures below show bivalves attached to the under-docks at low water. At low tide, the docks look like they are wearing frilly petticoats.

This is a noisy place, part of the tourist-trap Lucayan Village. Reggae is pumping 24/7 and weekends are party central. Most importantly, the internet is not good!!! We will be moving across the water to Grand Bahama Yacht Club for the next two nights. Number one on the chores list today is hitching a ride/taxi into Freeport to get our Bahamian Cell Phone sorted out. Three months roaming fees on our Canadian Cell is just NOT going to happen.

Put on your hat and sunscreen. Let’s go sight seeing.

Old Bahama Bay

2012-01-09T16:52:00.001-05:00

Lunch was the remains of the TooJays Gourmet Deli takeaway. Soooo yummy.

We settled up with the marina manager from River Forest Yacht Center,

AND WE'RE OFF.

Down the St. Lucie River and through the locks, along with two of the biggest Manatees I've ever seen. White Egrets and Blue Herons watched our locking techniques as we were the last to enter to Portside after three sail boats and the first to leave after the Manatees had a head start.

Sorry, no pics of the Manatees--I was too busy holding lines and fending off the lock walls.

ooo...ahhhh...seeing how the other half lives....

Across the InterCoastalWaterway...

and out to sea.

The initial plan was to make the three mile limit, test the macerators, check all running gear and then head west to a Palm Beach marina until the next good weather window for crossing the Gulf Stream should present itself.

Two o'clock, calm seas, clear skies, light wind out of the East, and Captain says,

-Let's do it.

-What? Right now????

-Why not? If we don't go now, it will be several more days here.

-Do we have enough fuel to make it? Isn't it too late in the day to start across?

And so, on to plan B.

A four - five hour crossing.

As the sun was setting in the west at 5:30pm, the full moon emerged from the sea on the East.

Full dark by 6 pm.

Green

Red

Green/Red

-long pause-

Red.

We homed in on the flashing markers to Old Bahama Bay Marina at West End. A helpful dockhand stayed late to welcomed us, catch our lines and receive a hefty tip. We made it in time for a late supper of fresh fish and good white wine in the marina restaurant. I think we may be eating too well so far. Things tend to change as the larder gets bare over the weeks away from grocery stores, delis and restaurants. We'll be down to beans on toast in no time. (Don't believe it!)

It's quiet here, a gentle, peaceful beginning to our winter adventure. Nelson has found the beach and is one very happy dog. I have already found two new items for my annual shells collection. Captain has begun his routine of boat chores.

Everyone is happy.

Delis and Spontaneous Hair Cuts

2012-01-07T18:44:00.000-05:00

Hurray! We're on the boat!!!!!

That means many things to each of us:

Captain has spent the past three days in the engine room (a small space where even I can not stand up) either lying on his side or resting on his knees, plying heavy tools, relocating various and sundry mechanisms that mystify me and therefore I can not name, to make room for a new array of house batteries and a new isolation transformer (don't even ask!)

I have spent the same period of time seeking out the perfect set of deck chairs, buying, trying and returning ones that didn't fit. New cushions from Home Depot will have to do on the same old chairs we've been nursing along for the past five years. Then there were the four different trips to Whole Foods and Publix, the wine store, West Marine, and the very best Bait store. My name is "Provisioner".

BIG NEWS!

We have installed a five cubic foot deep freezer on the fly bridge.

(Arnold, can you say, "Papa Buz loves ice cream"? )

Those who seem to know, assure us that once it's up to temperature (or should that be down to frozen) it won't be too much of a draw on the inverter. The reason this is super BIG news is because until now we have been making due with a small, under-the-counter freezer for all our meat and bait for fishing, for three months at a time.

I have planted my herb garden.

I got a new waterproof, windproof, gorgeous West Marine jacket.

I sourced out the world's best Chopped Liver at TooJays Deli and didn't buy nearly enough.

I just happened to come across a "Hair Cutters" salon and got spontaneous. (My hair grows so fast!)

We think we're ready.

Ready to face the marina manager and his long list of bills for services rendered.

Ready to slip the ties to dock and civilization as we know it.

Ready to stage for the next Gulf Stream Crossing.

Ready to fish, snorkel, beach and boat the Bahamas for the next three months.

Are you ready to come along?

ps. After this post, nobody knows from one day to the next when or where I will find internet connection. Welcome to Third World Blogging.

Be assured, I will be thinking of you and reading your posts as it is possible for me to do so.

Post Holiday Blues/Chocolate Withdrawal

2012-01-02T19:59:00.000-05:00

The tinsel and twinkle lights are packed away 'til next Christmas.

The cards, letters and photos have been sorted and cut up for crafts down the road.

The kitchen has been purged of holiday left-overs and...

New Year's Resolutions have been drafted.

The party's over--

Let the diet begin!

Hips and thighs have taken on a new, padded roundness, making jeans work extra hard at keeping the seam lines from letting go. Muffin tops ooze over the belt line.

Worse yet...

drools drip off the chinny-chin-chin while visions of mouth-watering truffles drop anchor in the forefront of conscious awareness, blocking out every vestige of self-control and abstinence.

Hanging on by my toenails, I resolve to whittle off 7 pounds of flab before....

Who cares when?

Just that it gets gone good!

The time has come, AT LAST, for Hubby and I to head south to our beloved "Steadfast".

She's out of storage and waiting for our imminent arrival forth with.

Three or four more days of driving will have us there, ready to dive into full-time boat cleaning, maintenance and provisioning.

EXERCISE.

Burn those calories.

Good moves.

Sailing away from temptation will surely do the trick. No stow-away truffles allowed.

I am visualizing a svelt swimsuit silhouette in my not too distant future.

How are you all doing in the Resolutions department?

Did you make any?

Will you keep any?

Highlights Of 2011

2011-12-31T05:30:00.006-05:00

My Dad used to tell me that the older he got, the faster time went by. I am old enough to completely relate to that statement.

The past year has almost been a blur. So much happened, good and bad, I have to quietly sit back and contemplate all that was of import, to relish the high points...they were so fleeting, and yet so worthy of mulling over and enjoying again.

I wonder what the New Year will hold? Probably a good thing we don't know in advance. There are some things to look forward to--a new Grandchild due in later April, birthdays and anniversaries, trips, sunsets, fishing for the Big One, and so much more.

Best Wishes to all my Blogging Buddies.

See you in 2012.

Happy New Year!

The Many Faces of Christmas

2011-12-27T18:21:00.000-05:00

Outside, the world was white and silent.

Inside was another story!

As the extended family gathered for Grandma's 90th Birthday,

reunion and celebration revelry abounded.

Xman got right into the spirit of the day

and his impish grin let's you know

that he knows

he's over-the-top cute!

Med is officially documenting the event.

Men in the kitchen.

Supper for 17 meant there was enough work for everybody to have a job.

Champagne for breakfast,

Baileys with coffee,

Screech while we opened presents.....

"Just what I wanted!!!!!"

Queen of the Day, Grandma wasn't the least bothered by the paparazzi.

and the group shots begin...

This was an amazing feat of genius.

Even though we

FINALLY

got everyone looking in the same direction at the same time,

got the camera to delay long enough for the camera man to

crawl under the table and make it into the picture,

one person got left out as she was still in the shower.

You can see her spirit over there in the top left corner.

Party hats.

The feasting begins.

Waiting our turn at the buffet...

Some of us were more interested in the prizes from the Crackers than in the food.

Making a demarkation between Christmas and Birthday has always been of primary importance.

Grandma raked in the loot!

As the evening unfolded, the Three Musketeers,

or the ZZ Top guys got into full swing.

Then, there was Rip Van Winkle.

(no beard)

Moving on to "Second Christmas" in a second location....

Santa gets to EVERYONE, eventually.

Even if they are puking their guts out,

with fevers and new molars trying to make it thru swollen gums...

Poor sickies.

Something for everyone....even those not quite here yet.

Well, due to the Plague, not everyone showed up for Second Christmas.

Looks like there will be a Third Christmas later in the week.

Here's hoping all my blogging buddies had a

Mary and Joseph Christmas,

with lots of love and laughter.

Happy New Year comes next.

Best wishes to you all.

Five More Sleeps!

2011-12-20T17:06:00.002-05:00

The tree is decorated,

Nelson is getting into the spirit of things...sort of...

Special florals are arriving by delivery vans,

I think I'm all ready.

As a matter of fact, I am getting really excited!

As Christmas is "under control" here, I have focused my attentions elsewhere this week. It's been an entire year, and the curtain issue in the living room has still not been addressed. While I sat writing a cheque to the designer and co., to remunerate them for thinking about us at all, I decided to take the bull by the horns and do something with it myself.

Over twenty years ago, I made the curtains that still hang here. Mr. Designer said half of them should go, as they were "too much" and that they "caused the eye to stop inside and not venture out to the view". Taking his advice to heart, I pulled down one panel per window and waited for what was to come next. Turns out, nothing at all came for the past twelve months. hmmmmmmm.......

This is how things looked until today.

This is how things look now. I prefer the one Roman Shade that hangs longer, but as the men of this household are giants, they want to be able to see out without having to bend over. Hence, the two shades pulled up to their maximum retraction. Three windows done, three to go. At least this project didn't cost anything as the fabric and lining were already here. :)

Are you ready? If so, what are you working on in the meantime?

This present is for you, my Blogging Buddies. Merry Christmas and have a safe and happy New Year too. My the joy of God's Incredible Gift to us all fill your hearts with peace and love.

Crowd Sourcing

2011-12-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

Have you heard of the new way of doing business in the world today? It's called Crowd Sourcing. Skills traditionally used by individuals, specifically trained to perform them are now being sourced through groups, communities or crowds. "Open Calls" for help from the community usually results in those best able to help in coming forward.

Extreme, Radical Collaboration

Groups have greater pools of talent to tackle big challenges and to solve complex problems. Crowds approach their task from outside the "box" of traditional thinking and established ideas, using remarkably new and fresh innovations. Tapping into collective intelligence of the public at large to complete business-related tasks is becoming the first line of approach in the world of commerce these days.

As with most things, there are pros and cons to the concept. Pros are the enlarged talent pool, the free labour, the innovation and new thinking that crowd sourcing offers. Cons would be the blurred lines between producers and consumers, the loss of control of those in the driver's seat and the demand for satisfaction of the crowd.

Here is a wonderful example of Crowd Sourcing at it's finest:

Where do you see this concept at work in your world?

Have you been part of the crowd?

(hint: think blogs, wikipedia, MySpace, YouTube)

Black and White Wednesday

2011-12-14T11:36:00.001-05:00

This photo has so many different patterns and designs in it. The little guy was huddled under his blankie on a rainy afternoon, while I snapped him from the other side of the window. See the reflections in the glass? The arm of the Adirondack Chair on the deck looks like a plate on the little guy's head!

Visit "Like Christmas Every Day" to play along.

And Now...For Something Completely Different...

2011-12-08T16:32:00.000-05:00

I found this compliments of Alfi. Thanks for the breath of fresh air. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!

JP Auclair Street Segment (from All.I.Can.) from Sherpas Cinema on Vimeo

Make a Smile

2011-12-05T15:20:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again. Everybody and his dog has his hand out, looking for a little something extra to make ends meet: Mortgage-Reduction-Weekend at church, Balance-the-Budget-End-of-Year-Drive at the club, Put-something-in-the-pot Sally Ann bell ringers on every corner.

And now, there's me.

I want to offer you a wonderful opportunity to DOUBLE YOUR MONEY, making a small donation go twice as far. We have until this Wednesday (only two more days) to share a smile with someone who doesn't have one.
For only $250.00 a child living with no hope can be given a new face, a smile, a chance at a full and productive life. All doctors, nurses, and anaesthesiologist fees are waived. Hospital fees are donated. Smile Train has the very highest donation-to-end-result ratio of any charity, bar none!

"Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly, aren't allowed to attend school or hold a job and face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are poor – too poor to pay for a simple surgery that has been around for decades."

Smile Train STOP CLEFTS Burundi Initiative 2011 from Smile Train on Vimeo.

Our family was one that experienced having a baby born with a cleft lip and palate. I grew up being told, "Be thankful you were born normal." My early memories are of doing tongue and mouth exercises with my siblings, learning how to roll our tongues, suck and blow by pursing our lips and make long vowel sounds clearly.

Repeated surgeries, clinic visits, orthodentia, self-esteem issues were things we took for granted in our family.

Today, 60 years later, things haven't changed much for people dealing with this congenital anomally, but there has been a dramatic development in sharing the technology for surgical repair.

Smile Train

is a not-for-profit charitable organization that has to date given over 700,000 children in third world countries a new face.

Will you consider making even a very small donation today? Whatever you give, will be doubled for the next two days.

Don't wait. Do it now.

Share a smile.

Make a smile.
You'll be so glad you did and so will I.

Some Things Are Too Good Not To Share

2011-12-03T10:53:00.000-05:00

The older we get, the more important safety becomes, and so it is with a sigh of relief, we welcome the Ontario Government's Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) program, rolling into full swing at the start of the holiday season.

Experiences with drinking and driving can get you in hot water faster than you can say, "But, Osscifffffer, I only had one!" As we well know, brushes with the authorities on our way home from the odd social session over the years is never pretty.

Well, I actually did something about it:

A couple of nights ago, I was out for a few drinks with some Palm Springs friends and had a few too many whiskeys as well as champagne. Knowing full-well I may have ben "slightly" over the limit, I did something I've never done before--I took a bus home.

I arrived back safely and without incident, which was a real surprise because I had never driven a bus before.

Beaudacious Botanicals

2011-12-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

On a recent weekend anniversary celebration, Hubby took me and my niece on a whirlwind tour of the Niagara Tourist Route.

First stop was the HarleyDavidson Flagship Store of Niagara.

Rhonda loved the red one. The Street Glide. Who wouldn't????

I liked the shiny wheels all lined up in a row.

Hubby got chatted up by the super salesman, telling him that This Was The Model I needed as a beginner biker.

Lunch time took us to the PellarEstateWinery for a luncheon extravaganza.

Rhonda and Tod have been best buddies for ages and are now celebrating one year as a couple.

After we were gourmeted-to-death, we headed to the BotanicalGardens in Niagara Falls.

The Atrium...

Yellows....

White and purples....

The Tropicals.....

Peek-a-boo....

Ouch...

Sometimes, something special is even better when it is shared with others.

Life, Death and Somewhere In-Between

2011-11-29T10:28:00.000-05:00

The delirious joy of seeing babies in my babies' arms,

the puzzlement and loss when a parent passes--

These are weightless trifles compared to the cataclysm of a spouse suddenly camping at heaven's gates.

Events over the past two weeks have carried us to the clouds with happiness and

plunged us into the frigid waters of poisonous fear.

Anniversary parties with extended family one weekend,

death of a Father the next.

A close friend hospitalized with stroke, juxtaposed with Thanksgiving Celebrations,

and now...

a brain injury fells one of our strongest and most stalwart members!

The family is reeling. There seems to be no rhyme nor reason in all this, no choreographed plan. Chaos is bouncing us like ping pong balls in dizzying directions, careening us off cement walls, dropping us off precipitous cliffs.

What's next?

Life carries noisily on, filling up the spaces, while what's important distills on the inside:

Loving,

Belonging,

Knowing,

Hoping,

Praying,

Believing.

It's All Willy Nilly In My House

2011-11-25T16:01:00.000-05:00

Did I tell you about Papa Buz buying a Beta Fish for Grand #3 during the last weekend visit here? Well, the Grand went home, and I still have a FISH ON MY KITCHEN COUNTER!!!!! Somehow, this fish invasion speaks about the state of my life these days; no control, clutter, added responsibility--mayhem.

Every morning, Hubby and I rehearse the responsibilities of the day. I take notes. Is my list longer than his, or do I just write in a larger hand?

Sonny Boy suggested I decorate the blue spruce in the front yard to look like a real Christmas tree and somehow it really came off splendiferously cool. Canadian Tire has the tools of the designer trade a la "Yule Tide Bright" at a good price, but the bill came in a little higher than I am willing to admit. Hubby doesn't know...does he really read my blogs? We'll hear about this if he does. Now all I think I need is a half dozen poinsettias and I'm done in the decor department. Live music for the company Christmas party is next on my list.

Doors are closing out listening ears, as various Santas in the house consult with far-off family members on the phone. Secrets are thick in the air here. It's getting hard to breath, or is that my broken ribs reminding me they're still not whole? Does your Santa have a handle on all the sizes and colour preferences on her list? Why are people so hard to choose for this year?

I have already worn my fox fur hat this week as the temperatures dipped to freezing and the ice rain began to pummel the sky lights. Nelson has begun wearing his high-fashion doggy coat--red with a reflective stripes down the sides. Today the temperature soared to 16.5 C and we were peeling off layers faster than Santa slips down chimneys. Here come more sneezes and sniffles. Let's make up our minds, shall we, Mother Natrure? Is it winter or is it not winter yet?

I am going to tell you a little secret: one of my most fav parts of the Christmas season is the small box of Lindor Truffles for dessert at Swiss Chalet. The only trouble is that once I get even a whiff of that to-die-for chocolate, I can not stop eating them and go on a wild rampage looking for more, more and MORE.

Have a wonderful time enjoying this busy, exciting time of year, she says as she waddles off into the distance, sniffing around for the last bits of hidden addictions.

Black and White Wednesday

2011-11-23T21:34:00.000-05:00

This photo was taken in August when the weather was warm and water play was fun. I love the stop-action in the water fall and the sheer joy in Grand #3.

Come play along with Mrs. Claus in the Black and White Game.

We're All Winners

2011-11-19T04:41:00.000-05:00

Well....here are some more of my new header ideas.

What do you like or not like?

I'm thinking something like the last one for when I'm ashore, and the others for when I'm at sea.

Each of these headers was created with the My Memories Suite templates. Notice that the last one has a "custom" background, using one of my own photos. I really like this option now and again. I also love the "embellishment" on number two and number five. I will have to be careful not to go overboard with those.

#1.

#2.

#3.

#6.

I simply can not tell you all the other My Memories Suites projects I have been working on, because, well....

Members of my family read this blog from time to time and I don't want to give away any Christmas surprises. :)

This has been one fun product to play with and review. I hope our winner will enjoy it as much as I am. For the rest of you who made so many lovely comments, but alas, did not win, check out the cupon code on the side bar. There is a combined $20.00 discount if you purchase a digital programme thru this blog using these codes--that's half-price! No pressure: the icon and code will stay in the side bar for a LONG time.

And now, without further ado, here is the name of our winner and a link to their blog. Let's check 'em out and see what they do with the programme.

Teena in Toronto!

____________________________________

Thanks so much for playing along. Now that you are in the habit of making comments, keep up the good work. Love hearing from you all.

Wine Tasting

2011-11-16T05:00:00.009-05:00

Way back in the day, Dad used to grow his own grapes and make his own wine. I grew up dreading the annual uncorking, the day I'd have to taste it...yuck. It smelled like dirty socks. As soon as the glass came under my nose, I'd know I couldn't do it. I just could not bring that vile concoction to my lips.

And then, there were the eruptions, explosions, and run-for-the-hills-the-sky-is-falling episodes that are worthy of a book in and of themselves. Three months after my Dad passed away and my sister and I reaped his bumper crop of grapes, crushed them, got them into the glass carboy, put in the bubbler and left them to perculate, one would have thought it was the Day of Judgment! I'll have to tell that story another time. Enough said.

And so, it's been thirteen years. You have already read how I came to be making wine for myself this year. Who knew it would come to this????

October 21st was the day I bottled 31 bottles of Australian Shiraz from the Wine Kitz shop. At $3.50 per bottle, how bad could it be? Not wanting to rush the process, even though Gail told me it would be drinkable immediately, I had decided to let it mature for a month. This weekend made it three weeks exactly! We had a quorum. Why wait?

Well, we all thought it was certainly drinkable. In the heat of the moment, I didn't look for leggs, I don't remember the bouquet, and did overlook the jammy bouche. I was just glad I could swallow it without gagging! The remaining 30 bottles are now sleeping in the wine cellar for at least another month. They need more time. Yes, I did okay with this. I did not waste my investment, and I have hope that it will smooth out over time. Did Day say things like this????

Post Script:

Here is the last plea for votes. The polls close on November the 17th. So far, I am standing at #36 of 160-some Top Canadian Blogs. Click on the pink circle on the right sidebar and please vote for me.

This will also be your last chance to comment and qualify for a digital copy of the My Memorie Suites Scrap Booking program.

Thank you one and all for playing along.

Fall On Fire

2011-11-14T05:00:00.002-05:00

Yes! I love autumn in Southern Ontario. The colours are picture perfect and this year, we have been blessed with two whole months of beauty that has lasted well-past the usual short season.

This week has been a gift. After almost three weeks of continuous rain, we have been out hiking in sweaters, enjoying balmy breezes and non-stop sunshine.

Nelson and his buddy play ball at the dog park on Henley Island. They don't care what it looks like there, as long as there is an open field to run.

The beauty fades, the leaves fall, and the work begins.

The weather man is forecasting the white stuff in the coming days.

Groan.

What is autumn like in your neck of the woods? Or are you into winter already?

While you prepare to hunker down for the cold weather, think about all the fun you could have with your very own digital scrap booking programme. Every comment from now 'til Nov. 18th at 9 pm will give you a chance to win a downloadable My Memories Suite.

Let me hear from you, and good luck!

Lest We Forget

2011-11-11T05:30:00.006-05:00

Veterans' Day...

How will you remember?

ps. You can still vote for the top 25 Canadian blogs....me, me, me!!!

Also, the more comments you leave between now and Nov. 18th, the more chances you will have to win the My Memories Suite digital scrap-booking program giveaway. Good luck.

Quotable Quotes From Blissdom

2011-11-09T06:00:00.010-05:00

It's been three weeks since BlisdomCanada 2011 in Toronto. I am almost finished chewing on all I came away with from that amazing social media conference. There was so much to learn. Blogging, Twitter, Tribes, RSS, SEO, html...and things I had never even heard of. I have decided I will not attempt to learn anything else until I have mastered these. Enough already!

As I read thru my copious notes (yes, I am one of those who scribbles down everything in class) lots of golden nuggets dropped into my lap. Maybe you will remember a few of these if you were there, and maybe if you weren't able to attend, you will find these quotes have some stand-alone value.

"Rule #1: Turn your cell phone ON!"

"They were serenely intense, shmoozing while texting and tweeting."

"Keep calm and Tweet on."

"Tweet about us to win."

"Is your knowledge partial and contingent, or truly factual?"

"Know thyself and strive to know others."

"Interogate your own opinions."

"Make friends, build community, negotiate with enemies."

"Trolls are assholes."

"We all use creative license while blogging."

"Looking for inspiration? What were your goals to start with?"

"Don't let your stats become how you look at yourself."

"Be an agent for change."

"The Revolution Will Be Tweeted!"

"Think, read, research before you re-tweet."

"Write stories with hearbeats where borders have no relevance."

"Own it! Be prepared to defend it."

"Are there any words left?"

"Follow the goosebumps."

"I don't care what you think about me. I never think about you."

*******

Then there was this scenario that kept the entire room screaming with laughter:

(for this one, I think you really had to be there.)

Dee: You're all about poop.

Gail: You're all about sex.

Dee: Gail, you have a REALLY big box.

Me: Does that count as her next swear word?

Shmutzie: No--it's only 3 letters.

CBC rep: We request that Debbie move down the table away from Gail and Dee.

Julie: Panel Moderator's job up for grabs. Right now! Anyone? Anyone at all???

Post Script:

#1 don't forget to click the icon on the sidebar to vote for the Top 25 Canadian Blogs

#2 Remember...every comment is a chance to win a My Memories Suite digital scrapbooking program

The Eyes Have It!

2011-11-07T05:30:00.006-05:00

If you had to choose, which would you let go:
your sight,
your hearing,
or your ability to walk?

I am a mover. Being forced to sit still, in one place, like on an airplane, is almost more than I can bear. I'm a mover and squirmer and hop-along-energizer bunny.

Still, I wouldn't choose to keep my legs.

I am currently loosing my hearing, a little bit at a time. It's very frustrating to repeatedly ask people to say again or to speak up, or to have to confess that I haven't heard anything at all.

That being said, I wouldn't choose to have my sense of hearing.

Above all, I am a visually stimulated person. I learn visually. I notice things others don't or can't see.

I would forever choose my sight over any other of my senses.

Recently, Hubby informed me that he absolutely couldn't stand my sunglasses. He really HATES them. He begged me to go get new ones. Okay, why not? Being that I hadn't had my eyes checked in the past five years, I opted for a trip to the optometrist first, to check out my prescription before committing to expensive new lenses.

Did I mention I am particularly squeamish when it comes to people poking their fingers in any of my body parts...dentists, doctors, eye examiners...? You know how it goes.

-Look straight ahead at the light. Do not move! I'm just going to put these drops in your eyes.

-Don't blink. I'm just going to puff some air on your cornea.

-Hold still. I'm just going to .... I hear: rip your eyeballs right out of your head and eat them in front of you.

I have wonderful news to relate.

All the past tortures of the traditional eye exam have been replaced by fabulous, new technology that didn't hurt or frighten me at all. I was particularly fascinated by the computerized scan of the retina. No more do we have to re-breath the exhalations of the optomotrist as he gets up-close and personal with his little round light thingy, peering into, and through our pupils, to see a small slice of the back of our eyes.

On my recent visit to the modern world of the eye exam, I got to see all of the retina and the all-important macula. The macula is so important, because it is where the majority of the cones in the nerve layer of the eye are concentrated. It is responsible for central and high resolution vision. Without it, there is no watching TV, no reading, no recognizing faces. I was told that early detection is the key to treating diseases of the eye. By the time a person is aware of problems, it's too late to prevent loss of vision.

-Do you wear sun glasses?

-Always!

-Very important that you do, Madam. With the thinning of the ozone layer, our eyes are being subjected to unheard of levels of ultra-violet light, burning out maculae at an alarming rate.

Doctor DoLittle told me:

-Thirty years ago, I NEVER had a patient younger than 80 with macular degeneration. Nowadays, I have several patients as young as 30 with this terrible affliction.

Thankfully, my eyes passed with flying colours.

And so, here I am, in the interest of my readers, my children and my grandchildren, relaying the doctor's good advice:
(warning: public announcement imminent.)

-Always wear UV-protecting sunglasses, summer and winter.

Rosemary

Post Script:

Have you voted for Top 25 Canadian Blog today? :)

Leave a comment and chance a win a My Memories Suite

The Wedding Album

2011-11-04T09:11:00.001-04:00

Well, the unveiling has arrived. I have been playing with My Memories Suites for a week now--playing and having fun. I thought that I would show you part of the albumn I made of our daughter's wedding in July. You saw the posts, you saw my photos and now you can see how easily and beautifully I have made a keepsake albumn of that happy day.

And that's just the beginning......

The hardest part of this project was sorting thru the zillions of photos and putting the appropriate ones together and in order.

I really like that I can do all sort of things with it now.

I could publish it as a beautiful, hard-cover book.
I could print it off in any size and make my own embellished pages for an albumn of my choosing.

I can email them, post them, print and mail them.

Wouldn't you like to have this easy-to-use program on your computer?

Today begins the two week chance to win a downloadable copy for yourself.

The Rules:

-every comment in the next 2 weeks is valid for one chance to win (from now until Nov. 18th at 7pm)

-several comments, several chances, on any post from now til the 18th

-one number from the total number of comments will be drawn at random to select the lucky winner

-the winner will be given a secret code, by personal email, to download their personal copy of the My Memories Suites programme.

I know you will love this programme as much as I do.

This was an easy and enjoyable project, learning and using the My Memories Suites. Liz was easy to work with on this assignment. All opinions written here are my own, given without reservation.

one more thing....there's two more weeks to vote daily for the top 25 Canadian bloggers.

click the link and vote for MEEEEEE :)

A New Layout

2011-10-31T15:54:00.001-04:00

Well now....what do you think?

Recently I was given a sample copy of "My Memories Suites" to play with and to consider blogging about. Today was the first time I sat down and tried it out and now I have a new header. You guys all know what a techno-challenged booby I am. You MUST be impressed that I did this all by myself!!!!

Over the next two weeks, I will give my readers the opportunity to be interactive and vote for the header they like best, but first I have to figure out how to make a voting thingy. Also, I have to figure out how to do a give-away, as Lovely Liz at My Memories Suites wants you to have a copy too. Any help in this department will be greatly appreciated.

Once again, I'm asking you to stay tuned for more fun and adventure.

ps... another reminder to click the link and vote...for a top Canadian Blog

Sunday in my City

2011-10-30T17:25:00.001-04:00

One can hardly believe it's not raining today!

The sun actually came out.

It has been raining almost non-stop since Thanksgiving, so this really is a red letter day.

While the grown kids went scouting for pumpkins and then demolished my kitchen scooping and carving them, Papa Buz and I took Grand #3 out in his Tiger costume to trick or treat the neighbours. He and his Mummy are visiting just for the weekend, leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow. One takes advantage of these special times whenever the chance comes along.

Are you ready for the gouls and gobblins tomorrow? I hope they come in droves so there's no chocolate temptations left over here.

ps. Don't forget to vote on the side bar...top 25 Canadian Bloggers

Men Are From Mars

2011-10-28T05:30:00.002-04:00

In the vein of "Men Are From Mars", I suggest Old Men are from the Outer Moons of Jupiter, and Crazy Old Men are from the Dark Side of Pluto. (Before we go any further, my readers should be advisesd this post paints with a wide brush and makes sweeping generalities. Some women and many men my take exception. Proceed with caution.)

It must be a genetic trait that makes pre-verbal little boys able to mimic the sound of cars and trucks with no prior instruction. They seem born with this amazing capability. As they grow to teenage years, boys become totally fascinated with anything that moves on wheels. By the time they've reached 30, they spot and identify any vehicle at a three block distance, naming: make, model and year. Most of them can also automatically tell you the engine size, horsepower, torque and velocity-to-second ration. They can not imagine life without cars.

Most women, on the other hand, view cars as a necessary conveyance to get one from point A to point B. They like the colours red, blue and silver. They appreciate a radio that actually works, air conditioning and seat heaters. End of story.

There you have it:

the blue brain that loves cars for car's sake and

the pink brain that goes for fashion colours and amenities.

Old men move further out into space when it comes to cars. (Consider the Lunar Rover.) Men will drive anything, anywhere, and enjoy it for the sheer thrill of it all. Mr. Outer Moon of Jupiter, an unlit cigar clamped between his gritted teeth is seen peeling down Easy Street in My Town, on his electric scooter at the blazing speed of a brisk walk. Cars lined up behind him in steaming agonies of frustration are held hostage. He owns the road. It seems anything with a motor and wheels will suffice as stand-in to feed the car and driving fixation. This is a common occurance and an often recognized scenario.

I humbly put it out there, that one NEVER sees women on scooters on ANY road. They stick to the sidewalks, making their way from point A to point B, in a lady-like fashion as always.

When considering Crazy Old Men, I must truthfully say that I have only once witnessed this phenomena. Once was enough.

Leaving Starbucks and making my way towards a busy intersection, I came upon Mr. Dark Side of Pluto on his scooter. He was (choose one):

-delerious with the joy of driving

-drunk with the power of mobilization

-asleep at the switch

-all of the above.

His scooter meandered across the road from side to side. He sped up and slowed down for mysterious reasons known only to him. Things looked dangerously unpredictable. When he pulled over to the far right, I thought he was letting me pass...but no. He veered left at speed, then sharply right, then left, then.... I was getting ready to watch him do spinning circles of wheelies, right there in the middle of the road.

Traffic ground to a halt in all directions. And so did Mr. Pluto.

After a beat or two, I crept passed him on the right. He was sitting quietly, mining boogers from his left nostril. Right there in the middle of the road. The motor of his scooter purred quietly at rest, no doubt bringing fond memories of Mr. Pluto's first convertable many, many years ago.

When it comes to cars, men are from outer space. Women come from the mall.

ps. don't forget to click the link on the side bar and vote today.

Black and White Wednesday

2011-10-26T10:39:00.001-04:00

On safari in Amboseli, Kenya. I could have spent all day everyday of our trip taking pictures of the zebra.

Funny that only the background got converted to B&W as the animals already were that way :)

Hop on over to "Like Christmas Every Day" to play along in B & W.

I love zebras.

What's your favourite animal to photograph or play with?

Red, Red Wine

2011-10-22T11:18:00.000-04:00

It's funny how a story can begin, springing up from something totally unrelated to what you want to say.... Grand #1 recently told Grand#2 to "showandtell" me about his latest artistic creation from preschool. In Kindergarten, her participation in this exercise holds all the allure of being STAR FOR A DAY. I think my blog may have evolved into an exercise in "Show-and-Tell". I get to show photos and tell a story. You get to stop, look and listen. We all get to play.

So this story begins as I prepared to decant 18 litres of Organic Olive Oil, direct from the orchards of Greece. I knew the perfect place to resource my need for bottles and corks. Wine Kitz. I got the bottles, I got the corks AND I got sold a do-it-yourself red wine kit. Not really what I had in mind when I started out there, but maybe on some subliminal level....

On that first day, all I had to do was pour a little packet of yeast into a bucket of concentrated grape juice and walk away. That is all that is required by provincial and federal regulations to say that I am making my very own wine. The lovely people in the shop did all the rest. I watched as oak chips and pre-measured water were stirred in and my little demi-john of wine got put on a rack to rest for about five weeks.

Today was the day the wine was ready for the next steps of the process. Gail met me at the door when I arrived for our appointment and she put me right to work.

Meet Gail:

First, we washed the new bottles in a super-quick, high temp bottle washing machine.

Then we built a Christmas Tree of drying bottles...drip dry...

Gail got to do the fun, bottle-filling part of the job...

...while I worked the "corker". One bottle at a time was secured in a little glass house and the corks were rammed into place under heavy-duty pressure.

Next came shrink wrapping the necks of the bottles. I got to choose from a wide selection of coloured and patterned wraps.

Put the bottle into the heat zone, count to three, and remove. Presto. Chango.

The very last step was applying labels to the bottles. Again, I had a choice of a ready-made or ones I designed myself. I think the dark bottles, together with a fully black wrap and a black and white label are aesthetically pleasing, don't you?

In under 30 minutes, I was in and out of the shop. My 30 bottles of Australian Shiraz, at a cost of $3.90 a bottle, are now resting in the wine cellar for a month.

All my lucky readers are invited to the taste testing in late November. Stay tuned.

Golfing Hazards

2011-10-20T09:54:00.000-04:00

The rain began speckling my sunglasses. Good. This Duffer could call it a day. Enough of the Bingo Bango Bongo Mulligans, right? WRONG. Another nine holes. Another hour and 45 minutes to go. There was just enough time to grab a hot chocolate, sweetened by an obliging bar tender, and a small bag of white cheddar popcorn. My saliva glands are juicing at the memory.

Whoops! The powder-blue designer golf shirt Sis had leant me was now sporting several chocolaty splashes. She was not amused. As the golfer of the family headed off for another nine humiliations, I retired to the ladies room to repair the damages. Stripped to the waist, slurping alcoholic chocolate milk and scarfing down crunchies, I never noticed that a major portion, over half of my upper left molar, had somehow broken off and been summarily swallowed. Did this come under the heading of "loose impediments" or "moveable obstructions"? It was definitely over-par in my book.

I didn't notice the loss until my inquisitive tongue probed the hole, until my gasp let in a rush of cold air, and until the nerve in the dark recesses of my mouth woke up. Then I noticed.

Talk about a Handicap--on the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, across the continent from home, I would be hard-pressed to find a dentist. It went like this, cell phone to cell phone across the golf course:

Sis: Hello?

Me: Three things:
I don't know where you are,
I don't know where I am,
I just lost a tooth and I need a dentist right now!

Sis: I'll call you back. I'm next in the tee box.
Sis is ever about moving briskly along the course, never to be accused of holding people back as she masters her picture-perfect swing.

Me: No, no, don't hang up. I need a dentist!

Wandering from green to green, dodging bogeys, I stopped a group of strangers. "What hole is this?" The look I received back spoke, "Run! She's totally mad and foaming at the mouth!!"

Five days later, a temporary filling was expertly deployed, to the end that I can wait while my dentist travels leisurely around France and I abstain from popcorn and golfing.

Does your favourite or least favourite sport include hazards to your health and well-being?

(A very small disclaimer: Sis may not totally agree with how she has been portrayed here and may launch legal action. Claim no knowledge of this post.)

It's Wednesday A G A I N

2011-10-18T21:14:00.000-04:00

Autumn in Southern Ontario. The leaves are into the changing/falling routine and the clocks will be "falling back" in the next week for Daylight Savings Time. Am I the only one feeling the frosty hint of winter coming on????

Black and White Wednesday is here again.

Blissdom

2011-10-16T11:10:00.002-04:00

If Bliss is considered perfect happiness or great joy, I would offer that Bissdom would be

The Land of Bliss.

I'm so blissed out, I'm on overload.

Blissdom Canada 2011 is a Writing/Business Conference/Social Media Event.

AKA:

* 3 days

* 350 women glued to smart phones, Ipads and laptops

* Fantastic food in un-ending supply

* Marvellous mentors

* Articulate, popular presenters

* Cool, swag-giving sponsors

A N D under the heading of Spa treatments:

* Manicures

* Facials

* Hair coifs

* Make-up artistry

* Wardrobe consultations

Together with:

* Techno Babble that actually taught me tons of new skills and led me down new pathways of learning

* New opportunities to grow and learn tons more

* Virtual Overload needing major debriefing

* Sleep deprivation due to time zone changes, late nights and early mornings.

Last night's Costume Party was the icing on the cake. Now I can go home, catch up on my beauty sleep, detox and diet off the five pounds of "Blissdom Bunting" around my middle.

Here's CocktailDeeva doing her impersonation of Slash from Gun's and Roses. Only Dee could so totally pull this off. She represents Tag Vodka everywhere she goes and in what she writes. The conference gave a lot of attention to working with Brands and Dee was the most flamboyant example of how it works when it works well.

Look at Jordan Knight from New Kids on the Block

singing Karaoke with the crowd! People were beside themselves with glee.

Thank you CBC for sending some extra love our way!

(Check the links to get a glimpse of me on my knees in gold spangles during the video.)

Last, but not least, here's a shout out to my FUNtastic Daughter-in-Law, Mixtress Sami Joe, who invited me to attend this conference. Now that you've seen the fun part, is it any wonder tickets sold out last February in just under one hour?

Goodbye Toronto.

Thank you Blissdom Canada for introducing me to new friends and a whole new world of opportunity.
I just love out-of-town-conventions? Don't you?

2011-10-12T13:02:00.000-04:00

In the spirit of Black and White Wednesday....

I'm going to Blissdom 2011!!
A Writing and Business Conference/Social.

Looking forward to meeting some faces to go with some names. Besides a cousin-in-law and my daughter-in-law (the instigator of this family adventure), I don't think I know anyone else who will be attending. The speakers and presenters all sound fabulous, knowledgable and passionate relating to their areas of expertise and I know I will come away having learned a ton. Hopefully, inspiration will abound along with the gala atmosphere over the three days of the the event.

Packing requires some thought...cocktail party, costume party, dressy dinners....I love to dress up. Pictures will follow.

In the mean time, the window man is coming to fix a broken upstairs double pane, the weed man is here to whack the super tall weeds on the bank down to the lake and the oven repair man is expected shortly to make his fourth visit. For an oven less than one year old, this one is getting a lot of attention.

Okay.

The question of the day:

Can ladies of a certain age wear leggings and tall boots????

Feedback please.

Over the Hills and Far Away

2011-10-04T21:29:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow I leave on a quick trip out west to visit family and celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving. The weekend starts early for me this week. I'll be up before dawn and away to the land of "out west". Only nine days left before I then get to experience Blissdom in Toronto, Ontario. You won't be hearing much from me for the next while, but I'll still be around, dropping in for a peek here and there. Be good (as Hubby says) and Play safe (as my daughter always tells me). Happy Thanksgiving. Rejoice, and again I say, Rejoice. Give thanks in all things.

Texting Scams

2011-09-29T16:35:00.000-04:00

I have never claimed to be the sharpest pencil in the box when it comes to the techno department. As a matter of fact, if it weren't for friends and family giving me a leg up every other day, this blog wouldn't even exist. It's been a huge learning curve and the bad news is, there's no end in sight. People like Mark Zuckerberg (of Facebook Fame) lay awake nights thinking up ways to confound the few computer skills I have so far mastered. They keep changing the rules!

When everyone and his dog, all my kids and extended family, finally shamed me into getting my own cell phone to become accessible 24/7, I thought I was pretty hot stuff. Two years down the road, here I am complaining to the Rogers Rep that my phone charges are escallating out of control.

Hello! Those silly, little, unsolicited PREMIUM TEXT MESSAGES, telling me to eat healthy breakfasts, avoid potato chips and to snack on fruits have been charging me $5.00 a pop. Over the past three months alone, I have been indebted a whopping $95.00!!!

The good news is, I have now mastered the vital skill of "stop all". I have also learned that when you sweetly and firmly refuse to accept, "I'm sorry, I am not authorized to reverse those charges," and that if you patiently persist, the stranger representing the devious scam artists at the end of the line will eventually cave. I got back 75 of my precious $95.00, or at least the disembodied voice over the phone line assured me a cheque for that amount will arrive in 10 to 14 business days.

Didn't the world used to be a simpler, kinder place back in the day?

Black and White Wednesday

2011-09-28T10:09:00.000-04:00

Bleeding Hearts!

Mrs. Claus at http://likechristmaseveryday.com/ has this cool meme going. It's fun to see things purely from the point of form and light, not getting distracted by colours.

Are you into photography? Want to play?

Don't Send the Fire Trucks

2011-09-26T15:37:00.001-04:00

-So what was all that noise on the phone on Saturday, she asked?

-Noise?

-Yeah, you were shouting at me not to send the fire trucks. I was hearing all kinds of noise, alarms, shouting...then you hung up on me.

Ah...now it's all coming together.

Saturday.

The day of the big dinner party, without a working oven (another story for another day).

Making gourmet nut brittle on the stove top without a candy thermometer.

The gooey mess is boiling almost over the top of the pan and the smoke alarm goes off.

Time to turn on the exhaust fan.

More noise.

The alarm continues unabated.

Open a window, but keep stirring the pot.

The phone.

More noise.

And then the dog set up a blood-chilling howl!

Did I mention I don't hear very well?

I was pretty sure I'd heard the phone.

-Hello? I'm alright. Don't send fire trucks. There is no fire. I'm just making candy. Hello? Is there anybody there? I'm alright. Don't worry about the alarm. No trucks, okay? Hello?

Dinner went well. Delicious in fact.

I was the only one who ate any nut brittle and I hadn't even told anyone about almost burning the house down making it.

Black and White Wednesday

2011-09-21T13:13:00.000-04:00

Man! a week has gone by already.

Here I am having fun with Black and Whites. Don't you just feel like Ansel Adams?

This photo of rigging was taken aboard a Star Clipper Ship, boasting a full compliment of 44 sails.

Come on and join the fun.

War of the Worlds, or How the Vacuum Ate My Dog.

2011-09-19T15:07:00.001-04:00

Just a typical day in la-la-land.

One of us cleaning the power head of the vacuum with a seam-ripper, tackling a tangled web of ribbons, threads and string (don't even ask), one of us working the steam iron, both of us distractedly oblivious to Nelson, the wee dog.

As in any hysteria, there was noise--lots and lots of noise: screaming females, yelping dog, and growling, protesting machinery. Was there smoke? Oh yeah, that came later.

The tail was still all there. Nothing appeared broken. Quiver, tremble, sigh, breath. Breath again and keep on breathing, shushing, crying, and patting backs of humans and canine alike. It was over....

Wait, what's smoking?

THE IRON!!!!

My New Toy

2011-09-15T18:17:00.001-04:00

Last winter, when we invited Dennis and Gale for dinner aboard Steadfast, they offered to bring homemade pasta.

-Where did you get homemade pasta here in the Exumas, aka: the land of no grocery stores, gourmet or otherwise?

-I make it myself aboard GadAbout, he boasted.

I've been thinking about that night ever since.

When I was a hippie, mother-of-the-earth, back in the day, I have wanted my very own pasta roller. I borrowed on once for a week. I made every conceivable type of coloured pasta over three days: carrot, spinach, beet, you name it. Those machines were expensive and I was inpecunious in those days. I seem to recall the number 250..... The years have passed, I have saved my shekles and prices have come down to completely reasonable.

Hurrah, I got one!

The first time I got ready to make pasta for supper with my new toy, Hubby gave up waiting and made the ready-made store-bought kind instead. I used the gourmet, authentic recipe from the expensive book I bought with the machine. D R Y doesn't come close to describing the dough and the exhaustive labour involved in working this stuff. Another learning curve ball came when I used the super-small cutting rollers. Boy! was that stuff skinny, breakable, weird.

Today, I used the easy, Non-Italian, easy, softer, super-easy recipe with half soft flour and half duram semolina and eggs. A much more pliable dough and lots of fun to roll out and cut.

Did I mention one needs super long arms and several extra hands to position, gather, hold and spread out the pasta as it rolls out longer and longer and L O N G E R?????

No, not meatballs, not pesto, not Alfredo. Tonight we are using up last night's leftover steak in a veggie stir fry. Pasta goes with anything, right?

Black and White Wednesday

2011-09-14T18:22:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Claus at "Like Christmas Every Day" has started a new meme that appeals to me.

title="B&W Wednesdays" href="http://likechristmaseveryday.com/search/label/black%20and%20white%20wednesday" target="_blank">

Are you interested in joining the fun?

Meatless Mondays

2011-09-13T13:03:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for new cookbooks with colour pictures--I get right into it (until the novelty wears off). This week, the Autumn edition of "Food and Drink--The Art of Entertaining" was put out by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario.

Evidently, during the first and second World Wars, people on both sides of the Pond got in the habit of not eating meat on Mondays to conserve meat rations. These days, people are coming around to the idea that less red meat makes us and our planet healthier. To that end, they gave us several meatless recipes that caught my attention.

Eggplant Tortino!

Hmmm....sounds nutritious. Eggplant and Swiss Chard--extremely nutritious. Then we get to the three kinds of cheese, whipped cream and eggs. Now it's starting to sound too good. Sonny Boy wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole. He said-

"heart attack on a plate"

but I'm thinking the no-meat part and the "nutritious" part were what gave him pause.

I'll show you the pictures and you can judge for yourselves. Let me know: do you really think this meal was healthier than meat and potatoes? Don't forget that with meat, I would have been serving red, not white wine. (Red wine is really good for you, or so they say.)

First I baked the eggplant to softened.

Then, I steamed the Swiss Chard with spices, added cream and first cheese.

The next step was layering eggplant, swiss chard/cheese and second cheese for three layers in a spring-form pan. Finally, the whole pie got drenched in egg mixture and topped with grated parmesan.

Into a hot oven for half an hour,

and voila!

Yes, I confess...I got sidetracked reading your lovely blog posts and left it too long in that very hot oven. Not burned, just more flavour!

Hurricanes

2011-09-04T18:01:00.000-04:00

Okay, so we put up with the detours around flooding, rattling, flexing windows and bouncing chairs compliments of Irene. Granted, we were in a poorly constructed tower with a rotten wood exterior, and the monster had been down-graded to Tropical Storm by the time it got to us in Maine, but still. Now we are watching Lee and next-in-line, Katia.

It's time for some perspective, a long view, a reminder that Mother Nature doesn't necessarily have it in for you and I specifically. Here are some storm facts, fresh from the Mariner's Book of Days, by Peter H. Spectre.

* On average, five hurricanes, two in the major category, hit the United States every three years.

* The busiest hurricane season so far, was 1995, with 11 in the Atlantic Ocean and 7 making landfall in the US.

* During the 1900's, 158 hurricanes (64 major) hit the US.

* Typically, the month of the most hurricanes is September, with August a close second.

* 40% of all US hurricanes hit Florida.

* 83% of category 4 or 5 US hurricanes have hit either Florida or Texas.

* The deadliest US hurricane hit Galveston, Texas in 1900 with 140mph winds. 8000 lives were lost.

* The one that rang up the biggest dollar value was Andrew, a category 5 hurricane, which hit Florida in 1992, with 156mph wind. Estimated damage costs were more than $26 BILLION.

* The all-time most intense US hurricane struck the Florida Keys in 1935, with winds of over 190mph.

I experienced scary 60-70 mph wind gusts in tropical storm Irene. That was nice. When/if I hear of a TRUE HURRICANE coming my way, all you'll see of me is the dust off my heels as I rush madly for high, in-land ground, in a storm cellar!

What are you facing right now?

What did Irene do to you and yours last week?

Do you have emergency plans in place for when/if?????

Home Sweet Home

2011-09-01T11:59:00.000-04:00

I have noticed that life on boats is similar to life at the cottage in at least five main ways:

water, toilets, showers, beds and food.

On the boat, we make our own water and have limited storage for what we make. Therefore, conservation is a significantly big deal. At the cottage, we bring in bottled water, making us ever aware of it's precious supply. The limited source of water on the boat and at the cottage has direct relation to the use of showers and toilets. In each case, water pressure is affected as well as the amount available for use. Sailor showers use one cup of water and/or last one minute. How delightful it is to come home to stand under the Niagara Falls of an urban shower every morning!

The septic tank at the cottage and the macerator unit on the boat both have an aversion to toilet paper. The old adage, "If you haven't eaten it first, don't put it in the toilet", gives people pause. The very first thing I relish on coming home from the land of water-soluble, see-thru toilet paper, is the luxury of thick, absorbent, soft, toilet tissue.

There are no king-size beds with pillow-top mattresses when I leave home. There is no escape from the bounce of Hubby's flip-flop restlessness, no respite from an elbow in the eye or battery from flailing limbs when we are confined to a double mattress butted against a wall. Returning home means

S L E E P.

Grocery stores are so far away as to be considered non-existent when we anchor at sea or get to the ends of the earth in Down East Maine. Food is simpler and usually garnered fresh from the water or fields where we find ourselves. What a treat to hop in the car and carry home gourmet yummies at any time of any day at home.

Funny how the simple things we take for granted at home can actually be luxuries to treasure in other circumstances.

I love being away.

I LOVE COMING HOME!

Blackberries for Arnold

2011-08-28T11:54:00.000-04:00

Isn’t it fab fun when you see your kids and Grandkids carrying on family traditions? Walking to the beach and stopping every few feet to scarf down the wild berries along the way has been this family’s way for generations. Making dedicated trips to search out blueberry barrens and blackberry patches. Bringing home the treasure—blue/black gold!

Making pancakes, muffins, pies, jams and more. Yummy fun every time.

This week, Grand #3 and his Mummy took me to the blackberry patch in Bucks Harbor.

As I kept a keen eye out for poison ivy, picking my way gingerly thru the tall grasses and brambles, Mummy and Arnold roamed at leisure picking and eating to their hearts’ content.

In hardly any time at all, we had a soggy bag full. The hardest part of the whole endeavor was keeping ahead of the taste tester!

Sort, mash, boil, stir in pectin and sugar and

Voila!

Blackberry Jam

Voila again

Blueberry Jam!

Some people love canning, preserving, jamming and baking. I just love eating fresh, local produce any way I can. Now the trick will be hiding it away from Hubby, who would devour it all before Thanksgiving in early October (for Canadians). Somehow, it will magically appear, one precious jar at a time, until next harvest.

The Wedding At Last

2011-08-21T13:19:00.000-04:00

Well, I think I have the gist of how this new system works. I have amassed a gazillion photos of the Big Day and am ready to try not to bore you to death with all of them. I know in my heart that they are all beautiful to me, that you will smile and be gracious, but that in the end, one set of wedding pics is as good as the next.

The Bride

Aren't We Pretty?

Ready to Go!

Drive, Park, Hike

Rehearsing His Homily

The Hike

The Ceremony

The Flower Girls

The Alpenhorn Player

So Far , So Good

The Reception

You will get the general impression of the day from these few and know we had a truly wonderful wedding. The weather, the people, the ceremony, the food, the dancing and the fun, fun, fun!

Join me in a toast to the Happy Couple: May they live long together, in love and happiness.

Wedding Cake

2011-08-20T15:13:00.000-04:00

The tradition of the wedding cake began way, way back in the time of the Romans. The "cake" was a loaf of bread which the groom broke over the bride's head (did he whack her with it?) to symbolize his dominance in the marriage. Later, during the 1700's in France, the "cake" became a stack of sweet rolls piled high between the bride and groom who tried to kiss each other over the top without knocking any of them down. Later still in England, the cake served either after the wedding feast, or for the wedding breakfast, became a dense fruit cake. By the early 1900's, brides were keeping the top layer of their wedding cakes to celebrate at the birth of their first child. They say the "cutting of the cake ceremony" where the bride and groom hold the knife together to make the first cut, is symbolic of their first joint task in marriage.

This blogger's family tradition goes back five generations. It is fruit cake, made by mother, stirred by friends and family, dowsed with rum repeatedly for months before the date of the wedding, decorated with marzipan and royal fondant icing just days before the Big Day, topped with something of the bride's choice and savoured by any lucky enough to get a taste!

To see the post when we made the cake, go here.

Here are a couple of shots of the cake at the wedding and at the wedding breakfast for your viewing pleasure. You will just have to take my word for it that it was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and that even non-fruit-cake-lovers smacked their lips in delight as they down dainty morsels.

We asked guests to autograph the table cloth instead of writing in a book at the reception. A keepsake/momento for the bride.

This is the cake at the wedding breakfast...what was left after the reception. Still beautiful and still delicious. The top is securely stored away, air tight, for next year's anniversary.

Some people believe that if a "sweet-young-thing" sleeps with a wrapped-up slice of wedding cake under her pillow, she will dream of the man she will marry. What are your family traditions regarding wedding cakes?

PS. Just to remind you that if you haven’t signed up for Carol’s on-line launch party at www.facing50withhumour.blogspot.com on the 16^th September then do so straight away. She’ll be hosting giveaways and prizes all day. There will even be the chance to win a Kindle. It should be a lot of fun with competitions, laughs, extracts from her hilarious novel, guests to check out, new people to meet and I even heard on the grape vine that she will actually be appearing on a video link!

Cockles and Mussles, Alive, Alive O

2011-08-16T15:30:00.000-04:00

While Grands #1 and #2 inspected the tidal pools at "Sand Beach", Sami Joe and I picked mussels. Some of us used sticks and others used our bare hands to lift up curtains of seaweed, uncovering the blue beauties in their hiding spots.

We wrestled them free from their tenacious moorings and carted them home.

One never knows for sure if these things are truly safe to eat and so I called the wife of the fisherman down the road.

-Marie, is there Red Tide here this year? Is it safe to eat the mussels we picked today at Sand Beach?

-Go ahead, Dear. You'll be fine. No Red Tide here!

Scrubbed under running water, spiced up with sliced onions and garlic, they were semi-submerged in plain water and set to steam til cooked.

Next came the melted butter and white wine bath......and to the table.

Are you drooling yet?

You will remember from previous posts that Hubby is less than adventurous at meal time. Likewise our grown son. Grand #1 takes on enough adventure for all concerned and gallantly downed a plateful of yummy.

I am LOVING the fresh-from-the-ocean meals we are having here---too delicious! How about you...do you like seafood, or are you a surf and turf type? Maybe, like my daughter, you tend towards the vegetarian diet and avoid fishie dishes at all costs. This post is making me hungry. Is it almost dinner time?

Randomly Itchy In All the Wrong Places

2011-08-11T13:35:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am at The Ends of the Earth (read: Down East Maine), without internet access, learning the intricacies of a brand new laptop (Mac, not Del), and just dying to post pictures of the wedding (they're sooooo good)! We'll just have to wait on that one until help arrives. I can't figure out how to down-size the photos in this new operating system.

Random Complaints:
* Poison Ivy--it's spreading, it's itchy and it's driving me mad!
* Bumps and bruises from falling completely on my face in the middle of the night--ouch.
* Hot blueberry juice that squished out of my pancake hit me ifn the face--at least it missed my eye.
* Allergy to my new sunscreen--more red, itchy ugliness.
* Grandchildren falling down stairs, getting stomach aches and dying of boredom with the wet weather--how many videos do we have and can we get more in a hurry?

Random Projects On The Go:
* The guys are getting long distance coaching from the marine mechanic, trying to repair the outboard engine for our little boat.
* I am ripping out inches and inches of knitted sweater pattern that refuses to cooperate with me, re-knitting and re-ripping with willy-nilly randomness.
* Grand#1is on a mission to find Fairy nests, Edible crab apples and Pirate treasure.
* Grand#2 is hot on the heels of the men, making them dodge around his smallness. He is working his way into the Guiness Book of World Records for longest-in-pajamas every day and eating the most blueberries.

Read a good book, finish the jigsaw puzzle, look for beach glass, go fishing, have fun. What are your fav things to do on vacation? Ah...the joys of summer!