Well! We made it Kingston!
I'm learning a whole new lifestyle that includes a whole new way of cooking, let alone floating around on the water! I am also leaning to organize my internet time and access methods for blogging, as a result I have very little battery power and time left in the local library...hooray for libraries! MOre later!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Smiths Falls
Well! It's day four and we're feeling great! We've been positively roaring along, darlings, at four knots/hour, minus lock time, averaging four nautical miles a day at 2 knots/hr! Ah, life in the slow lane! I have been running into many familiar faces along the way, enjoyed much hosptality, Thank You Catherine & Doug for the use of your shower!, and have had enjoyable company en route. If you ever have the opportunity to host a bunch of Boesvelds, Do! Th e camera battery is just getting recharged at the lockmaster's house, so I have no pikkies for you right now, but in a few days. Ta-rah for now!
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Saying Goodbye to Jim's Family
What a nice night we had at Monica's place, Beaconsfield, MTL., the weekend of Aug.4 . Monica and her sister-in-law Donna were a little miffed one Christmas when we were telling people that we couldn't bring too many personal effects aboard with us simply because of space issues. Well, they since got together to help alleviate our space problem...they found teeny tiny little itty bitty things that would be sure to fit. There was a four centimeter boom-box, a single shot of Crown Royal and other single dose toiletry items, but my favorite was a wee cookie jar with .5cm cookies. Jim is pictured below trying to dip in...he later had to sprinkle them out!
We will certainly miss our get-togethers at Christmas and Easter! But you know what we won't miss? All the snow at Christmas (although it is pretty), and Easter (which is supplied to keep Canadians humble at Easter).
Friday, August 3, 2007
Saying Goodbye to the Yellow Canoe
I have been at the Yellow Canoe Cafe for close to nine years. Wow! I managed there for six years and had owned it for the last three and a half. I have many fond memories of the staff and patrons and former owner Sam Jakes' Inn. I have learned much about business, relationships and a whole lot about cooking. I learned a lot about my self, about what I could do if I set my mind to it. I learned to hire, fire, and today...re-e-eetire! Tuesday July 31, 2007 saw my farewell party to The Canoe and the inroduction of new owner (Fantastic!) Susan Moizer, Merrickville veteran. Below are some shots of some of attendees, but certainly not all of The Beloved. Please enjoy!
Above, some of the good (I mean GREAT!) folks at the Blockhouse Museum.
To the left, Pat Stroulger with Phyllis Walker. Phyllis in particular was very supportive, hoping I could make the Yellow Canoe a success in tandem with raising my two little girls.
The only person to inhabit Merrick's Landing Mews
longer than anyone is Pat Brown. She is shown
below with her daughter & new owner, both doing
what they truly love...*hic*! (OK, I'm just
kidding...not really!)
Perhaps the best thing about owning your own business is selecting the people you want to have around you. The surrounding pictures are of staff and patrons who have been cheerful, electrifying, helpful to the nth degree and very hungry!
Below are the Laberge and Atkinson families, between the two have produced at least three great employees...who knows what more offspring could turn up down the road!
Speaking of prolific!!! To the left are three members of the Boesveld Clan and home of the almost-world-famous...Bernie's Burger Balls! But that is a story for another time...
Above, some of the good (I mean GREAT!) folks at the Blockhouse Museum.
To the left, Pat Stroulger with Phyllis Walker. Phyllis in particular was very supportive, hoping I could make the Yellow Canoe a success in tandem with raising my two little girls.
Here's the proud new Proprietress, boog-a-looing to the popular 1981 hit "I Want Money"
So it has been fun, challenging, rewarding, all that clichee stuff. I loved working with my daughter. I loved having my husband/bookkeeper around, (who tends to much more than just books!) encourging me and fixing everything that broke. Between my mom and sisters, I'd say we did our share to support Merrickville economy. I enjoyed most of my customers and all of my regular patrons.
It's been a slice!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
What are we up to, anyhow?
It has occured to me that I haven't really told you all what the h*!! we're up to, how we're preparing and what we're expecting from it.
Well, we're moving on board our ocean-going boat near Sept.1, o7, and will be doing some travelling. We don't have plans to take up residence in Ontario again, but will certainly be touring back through the years. We will be going mostly from port to port, visiting towns and villiages for as long as we like it there (it'll depend on whether they have free showers), then sail on to to the next. There will be the odd multi-day passage, but really not that many. The first big one will take around six days of fair winds to get us to the Bahamas. But if it turns out that we like cruising down the Intra-Coastal Waterway, maybe we'll motor inland a bit farther down the coast, then take a shorter passage to the Bahamas. One way or another, we're intending on being in the Bahamas for Christmas.
Imagine! Me! A full time tourist. Taking my revenge on all the tourists who have had their fun with me!
Our boat, Chelonidae, is 36 feet on deck, 10 1/2 feet across (beam), has 39 feet of mast, is sloop-rigged, has a centre cockpit and is constructed of wood. As you can see from the pictures, she has high sides (freeboard) so the decks are mostly dry when sailing. Even when Jim has too much sail up and is trying to bury the side decks under water (to look cool, I suppose), ...hasn't really happened. She was built in 1952 in Littlehampton, UK at the Hillyard Yacht Company. She is a North Sea design, therefore is quite heavily built. Her history includes at least one passage across the Atlantic Ocean, more likely four or five according to the record of owners and known ports. We found some Australian currency in the bilge...could it be?
Among Chelonidae's comforts is a lovely galley. I have a three burner stove top, an oven with a salamander broiler, double sinks with a foot-pump for fresh water, solid teak counter tops and a built in knife holder. The cupboards are made of cherry and white oak, likewise the drawers. The floor (sole) is white oak, finished with a light rub of oil, no varnish down there, that stuff'll kill ya!
The settee area has two comfy "couches", a gorgeous solid teak drop-leaf table, white oak sole, nice propane heater, brass clock and barometer, bookshelves and wine cellar. O.K., the wine cellar is what I call the bilge, but so what?
We have a solar-panel system and a rather large alternator to generate electricity for our cooling system (three 12-V fans), running lights and electric bilge pump. "Mr. Perkins", or "Perky" as Jim calls it, is our Perkins 4-108 deisel. I must tell you about the manual bilge pump, "The Gusher". What fun! We could call it the mini-shower, gull-wetter or guest-prohibitor. It sends gallon after gallon of whatever water collects in the bilge right onto the dock and anything on it! Including tools, groceries waiting to be loaded, friends...you know.
Our guidance-system includes electronic charts, paper charts, home-printed charts and more charts acquired from sailors going the other way who want to get rid of old charts. We have two GPS's, one hand-held and another bad boy I have since learned it is called a chart plotter)that just sits there and tells you all kinds of stuff: lat & long of where you are, coastline, lights, beacons and buoys, time and where the mermaids are.
We each have a life vest/safety harness, a Mustang suit (for cold weather & flotation...not that the two should ever mix). We have a VHF radio and a depth sounder. If we really need anything else, we'll pick it up cheap from other sailors too frustrated with keeping the *&%# thing running...Jim is very handy with repairs and knowing quality when he sees it!
I'll be posting more photos of the interior when we do move aboard and the boat looks more lived-in.
Anyhow, to keep the cruising kitty topped-up, Jim is intending on picking up the odd bit of work doing small boat repairs for others. He can do sail repair, basic deisel maintenance & repair, and anything having to do with wood. I will be thinking about writing some articles for news papers & magazines, who knows? So we won't be completely retired. Just very choosey!
Knowing the time would come to move my humble home to fit the space requirements of a boat, I have purposely gotten rid of a lot of "stuff", not aquired new "stuff", have been allowing old stuff to break/rip/wear out and not replace it. Some things have been replaced with stuff that will be used for the boat. Like my manual coffee grinder and mortar & pestle. I'll find out if I can make peanut butter in the latter. I have already made jam in very small jars so it won't go mouldy too quickly after opening. It kinda feels good to get rid of so much stuff! As we travel, I'm sure we'll pick up souveneir stuff, local crafts and clothing, goodness knows...food glorious food!
I will be posting recipes, news of the weird and wonderful, gobs of pikkies and generally telling you about our reality: two old retired farts having some fun!
Well, we're moving on board our ocean-going boat near Sept.1, o7, and will be doing some travelling. We don't have plans to take up residence in Ontario again, but will certainly be touring back through the years. We will be going mostly from port to port, visiting towns and villiages for as long as we like it there (it'll depend on whether they have free showers), then sail on to to the next. There will be the odd multi-day passage, but really not that many. The first big one will take around six days of fair winds to get us to the Bahamas. But if it turns out that we like cruising down the Intra-Coastal Waterway, maybe we'll motor inland a bit farther down the coast, then take a shorter passage to the Bahamas. One way or another, we're intending on being in the Bahamas for Christmas.
Imagine! Me! A full time tourist. Taking my revenge on all the tourists who have had their fun with me!
Our boat, Chelonidae, is 36 feet on deck, 10 1/2 feet across (beam), has 39 feet of mast, is sloop-rigged, has a centre cockpit and is constructed of wood. As you can see from the pictures, she has high sides (freeboard) so the decks are mostly dry when sailing. Even when Jim has too much sail up and is trying to bury the side decks under water (to look cool, I suppose), ...hasn't really happened. She was built in 1952 in Littlehampton, UK at the Hillyard Yacht Company. She is a North Sea design, therefore is quite heavily built. Her history includes at least one passage across the Atlantic Ocean, more likely four or five according to the record of owners and known ports. We found some Australian currency in the bilge...could it be?
Among Chelonidae's comforts is a lovely galley. I have a three burner stove top, an oven with a salamander broiler, double sinks with a foot-pump for fresh water, solid teak counter tops and a built in knife holder. The cupboards are made of cherry and white oak, likewise the drawers. The floor (sole) is white oak, finished with a light rub of oil, no varnish down there, that stuff'll kill ya!
The settee area has two comfy "couches", a gorgeous solid teak drop-leaf table, white oak sole, nice propane heater, brass clock and barometer, bookshelves and wine cellar. O.K., the wine cellar is what I call the bilge, but so what?
We have a solar-panel system and a rather large alternator to generate electricity for our cooling system (three 12-V fans), running lights and electric bilge pump. "Mr. Perkins", or "Perky" as Jim calls it, is our Perkins 4-108 deisel. I must tell you about the manual bilge pump, "The Gusher". What fun! We could call it the mini-shower, gull-wetter or guest-prohibitor. It sends gallon after gallon of whatever water collects in the bilge right onto the dock and anything on it! Including tools, groceries waiting to be loaded, friends...you know.
Our guidance-system includes electronic charts, paper charts, home-printed charts and more charts acquired from sailors going the other way who want to get rid of old charts. We have two GPS's, one hand-held and another bad boy I have since learned it is called a chart plotter)that just sits there and tells you all kinds of stuff: lat & long of where you are, coastline, lights, beacons and buoys, time and where the mermaids are.
We each have a life vest/safety harness, a Mustang suit (for cold weather & flotation...not that the two should ever mix). We have a VHF radio and a depth sounder. If we really need anything else, we'll pick it up cheap from other sailors too frustrated with keeping the *&%# thing running...Jim is very handy with repairs and knowing quality when he sees it!
I'll be posting more photos of the interior when we do move aboard and the boat looks more lived-in.
Anyhow, to keep the cruising kitty topped-up, Jim is intending on picking up the odd bit of work doing small boat repairs for others. He can do sail repair, basic deisel maintenance & repair, and anything having to do with wood. I will be thinking about writing some articles for news papers & magazines, who knows? So we won't be completely retired. Just very choosey!
Knowing the time would come to move my humble home to fit the space requirements of a boat, I have purposely gotten rid of a lot of "stuff", not aquired new "stuff", have been allowing old stuff to break/rip/wear out and not replace it. Some things have been replaced with stuff that will be used for the boat. Like my manual coffee grinder and mortar & pestle. I'll find out if I can make peanut butter in the latter. I have already made jam in very small jars so it won't go mouldy too quickly after opening. It kinda feels good to get rid of so much stuff! As we travel, I'm sure we'll pick up souveneir stuff, local crafts and clothing, goodness knows...food glorious food!
I will be posting recipes, news of the weird and wonderful, gobs of pikkies and generally telling you about our reality: two old retired farts having some fun!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
My Daughter Danielle Pelletier
I am extremely proud of my daughter Danielle. She has worked very hard these past few years to really do well in high school so she could learn to do well in university. And bag a sweet cholarship from the University of Ottawa, where she'll begin classes in September. Her grade 12 graduation ceremony was just the other night . She scooped a number of awards, including Ontario Scholar, no small feat! She is shown here in a designer gown just before a limo whisked her away to her prom. If you click on this (or most any) picture, you'll be glad you did!
It will be very hard to embark on our voyage and leave her in Ottawa. We have a close relationship.Yet her emerging Adult-ness is urging her on to do what she must do. Like me.
So she has found a great apartment in Ottawa, a fifteen minute walk from Ottawa U. Two room mates: her boyfriend Kinsey, shown below, and their friend Shannon, also studying at U of O.
My thoughts and prayers go with them. Not only are Kinsey & Danielle starting an education, but also a new relationship. Sounds busy. But they love Ottawa, have been partying and having fun in this city for a few years now. Kinsey hopes to become a music producer ( I hope I have that right, if not I'll update this post later) and Danielle is looking forward to being produced! I will leave it to them to dicover the joy in getting to know another human being on this level, yeah, to learn to love each other.
Until then, I wish them all the best as Danielle enters her first year in the Social Sciences program. Fly, my younger flegling! Your landings will always be happy if you are happy with the choices you make. Remember to smile when you are happy and when you're sad. Or scared. Or perhaps lonely for the carefree life you left in kemptville. Giving a smile will remind you that you are living your own life. You are free to be yourself, free to change your mind, free to cry. And believe me, I'll be deciding to smile through some tears too!
Cheers! Good luck and God Bless You! Mama.
It will be very hard to embark on our voyage and leave her in Ottawa. We have a close relationship.Yet her emerging Adult-ness is urging her on to do what she must do. Like me.
So she has found a great apartment in Ottawa, a fifteen minute walk from Ottawa U. Two room mates: her boyfriend Kinsey, shown below, and their friend Shannon, also studying at U of O.
My thoughts and prayers go with them. Not only are Kinsey & Danielle starting an education, but also a new relationship. Sounds busy. But they love Ottawa, have been partying and having fun in this city for a few years now. Kinsey hopes to become a music producer ( I hope I have that right, if not I'll update this post later) and Danielle is looking forward to being produced! I will leave it to them to dicover the joy in getting to know another human being on this level, yeah, to learn to love each other.
Until then, I wish them all the best as Danielle enters her first year in the Social Sciences program. Fly, my younger flegling! Your landings will always be happy if you are happy with the choices you make. Remember to smile when you are happy and when you're sad. Or scared. Or perhaps lonely for the carefree life you left in kemptville. Giving a smile will remind you that you are living your own life. You are free to be yourself, free to change your mind, free to cry. And believe me, I'll be deciding to smile through some tears too!
Cheers! Good luck and God Bless You! Mama.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Google Maps
To see a map of where we are heading, please click on Google Maps, then click on a tab on the left-ish called My Maps, click on "Route to Bahamas". Use "back" button to get back to my blog.
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