Happy Holidays from Vérité

As the year winds down those who row  board the Vérité wish for the Merriest of Seasons. When January rolls around you will find the crew at the Petrich building scrapping and sanding, painting and polishing on our beloved wooden boat.  Till then we feast and toast to good health, good times ahead, and to lasting friendships.

The rain doth fall

An unusual thing happened this Monday... it rained during our rowing time. That happens so rarely. Sometimes we ignore it and go out anyway. This time the wind picked up and the rain wasn't to our liking so we stayed inside. We tied knots, discussed the winter maintenance schedule and had our normal laughs between sips of tea and delightful snacks. Voski's cookies were too yummy to just have one.

Under threatening skies

Oh, joy to see so many gathered together in spite of threatening skies. Many who have been away returned for the day. The luck of the Verite stayed with us for the entire row. Not a drop on our heads. The water was gentle and the wind waited until we turned toward home to make itself known.  The clouds really wanted to rain. Father wind, brother sky were getting very blue in the face. True to form not long after we got in our cars and headed home the rains started.

It's the luck of a Bantry Bay Gig!

Nancy tells the story of traveling to Norway to view the play that was made as a result of her video about Thea Foss. Our very own filmmaker!

Plans are for a special viewing this winter. We just can't wait!

 

 

It was a good day on the water.

 

Sometimes

Sometimes there's great activity in the bay. It is a real treat to watch as the tugs move the grain ships into position - like a week ago.

 

Why not get right out there to see what is going on, right?

 

Well, the next thing we knew the tugs gave a blast on the horn to warn us they were bringing another ship in to the grainery.  Talk about quick work!

However, not too much gets in the way of tea time.

 

Diane tried her hand at coxing.

I think she liked it.

 

Sometime - like this past Monday the weather was grey and it was threatening to rain. 99% of the time it doesn't rain on us. We are just lucky I guess. On days like this we have the waterway all to ourselves.

 

 

There's time and space to read from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Some contemplate the albatross.

Some do not.

 

Compare and Contrast

The difference between this week's row and last week's was markedly different. Last week we stayed in the Thea Waterway due to the winds. The seasoned crew considered the risk but felt up to the challenge. The 6-10 mph gusts seemed to come from every direction. It took a great deal of effort to reach the head of the waterway and not one break to rest either. The ride back - duty free yet humbling under the power of wind and wave. A good reminder to be aware at all times when on the water. Tea was at dockside. It was either there or at the Victoria Hotel on Vancouver Island at the rate we were going.  As you can see, in spite of the grey skies, blustery weather and hard work you can see the crew and guest are as happy as can be.

 

 

This week (Labor Day) by contract was sunny and surprisingly warm. The wind was blowing but not with the ferocity of last week. Fishermen lined the shores and the boaters were out in force. Many boaters enjoyed racing across the bay. With a rush they put on the breaks right before they entered the Thea Foss Waterway. It gave us a rush too.

 

And then... Jan B read from:

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

A poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is the longest major poem by the English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, written in 1797–98 and published in 1798 in the first edition of Lyrical Ballads.

 

The wind stopped blowing, the traffic subsided, as we sat in the slanting afternoon sun. We sat still as she read of this other time and place. Dingle, the harbor seal slipped in and around the Verite listening too. One time closer than she has ever been!  A treat for all to see. 

 

 

The Crowley's came in as we went out.

 

Cauliflower pizza, fresh and dried fruits, brownies (already consumed), nut bread and cookies and nuts, tea and.... more.

 

Dingle in the distance.

 

 

 

Pinch me - this is real, right? The contrast of our days may be great and yet there is this harmony that flows in and around, embracing each of us where we sit. The magic formula is quite basic - be on the water, share food, listen to each other and send out compassionate thoughts to those who are not able to be with us this day. Oh, and row a bit too.

 

 

High Tide and Tea

This past Monday was a lovely day. The temperature was just right, the tide was high and the boat was full. It was a perfect day for a tea party for our special guests. Several of the regulars were back after being absent for a while. There were many reasons to celebrate. The tea treats were creative as well as delicious. Some one asked for the dried fruit and nut loaf recipe... so here it is.

Jan's Dried Fruit and Nut Loaf
3/4 cup all purpose white flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
3/4 cup brown sugar (I have been known to use coconut sugar for 1/4 of this measurement)
Mix dry ingredients together.
Add:
1 cup dried apricots - halved
1 cup dried cherries (those tart ones from Costco work great)
1 cup dried figs - halved
3 cups walnuts
Toss the fruit with the flour mixture until all the fruit is covered with flour.

In a bowl - beat 3 eggs with 1 tsp vanilla
Add the wet ingredients to the flour/fruit/nut mixture.
Stir well until all the flour has been mixed with the eggs. (Gooey)
Bake in a 300 degree oven for 50-55 minutes.
This recipe makes 3 mini loaves. The best size for tea bread.

You might say we are the Tea Party Boat... but don't think any of us have leanings toward the Tea Party! If anything our leanings are more toward the Boston Tea Party. I will warn you - this boat load is full of straight talking , clear thinking, determined women. They are a force to be reckoned with!

 

 

This time of year you can clearly see the influence of the Puyallup River.

Pineapple coleslaw with tomatoes, coconut balls,

fruit nut bread with lemon curd on the half shell, there were several kinds of cookies,

watermelon and much, much, more!

We quietly munched during the reading of

The Mermaid - a  poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

 

 

When asked if she had tried it - she hadn't even seen it. So nothing must do but stop rowing and pull out the toasted bread, add the tomato and herb spread and taste it for herself.

She said, "You are right - it is delicious!"

The wind came up just at the end of our tour. It was a little work to get Verite home.

It was good - it helped to work off all those extra calories.

It is good to be balanced in all things... or so they say.