She lives

What a restorative sight it is to see Vérité being carefully and lovingly restored to her previous beauty.  Just look at the carefully placed tape so that the painting can be done precisely. Look at Vérité's sleek lines and structure. One day her form will once again meet the water because great care and effort went into attending to her underside. Even in it's unfinished state, there is beauty in her hull. A representation of the sea itself written on her normally unseen parts.

How does a wooden boat breathe?  Through the hands of those who touch her. How does a gig move - through the hands that row her. How does a boat's spirit live on - through the efforts of those who believe and love that she can create a community, ever restoring itself a new. 

Thank you George and your team of Boat Builder staff and volunteers. Thank you Sally, Terese, and Leslie for last week's red paint work. 

The realm of possibilities is opening up. 

Once again - she lives

 

New Moon Walk

 The clouds parted, the winds stopped and the sun came out for a New Moon Walk on Dumas Bay on June 5th. There is nothing quite like seeing what has been hidden, out of sight when there's a -3 low tide. Tip toeing through the eel grass down to the water's edge brings delight over and over again even though we have seen it before. It is always fun to bring someone new to experience it with fresh eyes and new observations. It reminds us how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place, a beautiful country in spite of the news about the elections. 

For the first time we saw 6 eagles to match the 6 WOWer's walking. Juveniles and parents flew over head, talking and squawking like most families do. We felt their joy as they danced through the sky. You will just have to imagine because the photos didn't capture theirs and our joy, said the dizzy blonde. The shell hear our ohs and words of delight and reflected it back to us which brought more joy. 

Today's new moon was given form on the sand amidst the eel grass beds along Commencement Bay on this day, as if reflecting back to the sky. New moons are a time for new beginnings, a time to think about goals and commitments. Like the moon snail filled with eggs, so quickly washed away. No one is quite sure what will stick and stay. 

Like broken pots with the contents spilled.

We open up ourselves for new surprises. 

Today it was seeing another type of moon, a moon snail in action. 

The moon snail was found upside down, it's underside all exposed. 

The full story of how, no one knows, but we watched for a while, till curiosity took hold 

to flip her over to see what she'd do. 

With downward pressure her foot pushed the sand and she made her way down again. 

Hearing us wondering where her driller was,  she delightfully exposed it to us.

 She wiggled a little tiny purple thing like a sassy tongue?

Truly, she was one of us, if we were in the same upended position.

We were in awe as she collected herself.

 Without any grunting we watched her bare down as she slipped beneath the sand.

WE SHOULD HAVE MADE A MOVIE!

From beginning to end it was a grand sort of day. 

Sharing the beach with our guest, Nives was fun.

In the end, shoes or no shoes matters little, 

just get outside with friends (new or old) and enjoy all of nature. 

It is after all, our National Treasure. 

Not surprising at all, even rusty old pipes, 

covered up by nature's crusty bits can 

be considered to be treasure for many of us when they take on a new life. 

As usual, the crow above has a question or two.

What are your new intentions?

First intention on MY list this New Moon Day,

is to do this again sooner rather than later. 

For those who would like to know more about moon snails - here's a great link 

to the Dept of Ecology for WA State

https://ecology.wa.gov/blog/april-2017/eyes-under-puget-sound-critter-of-the-month-the

Moving Day

Moving Day for Vérité

Feb 9, 2024

Personal note:

February 9, 2024 is a day I hope to remember for a long time. It was the day when our waiting came to an end. It was with smiles and cheers and bag pipes too, we placed our beloved Vérité, into the hands of a highly committed group willing to give Vérité a fresh start. We, the WOWers, know the challenges of keeping and maintaining a wooden boat, nourishing a collective spirit of enthusiasm and hard work, and the financial support needed to reach the said goals, but we also know the joy.  It is our great hope that those who climb aboard Vérité to test their seamanship skills, or those who sand and paint her wooden form, that they too will come to know Verité's ability to change their lives. As we release the bow line and hand it over to the Tacoma Boat Builders we say, may your thwart seats be filled with willing hands; may there be new adventures near and far.  However, remember, there is no place like home along the Thea Foss Waterway. Know that a hot cup of strong Life Boat Tea is simply a bonus.

JW/WOW

The following story will be shared in segments, from various perspectives and a multiplicity of sound bites. It can be challenging to be present and participating as well as documenting at the same time. Hopefully in amongst the stops and starts you can feel the specialness of this grand day.  

Verite Moving Day - Chapter One

Paul’s message

Clare’s message

Boat Moving

Maria’s video walking with the boat 

In front of the TBB

Let there be celebration, cookies, music, and Lifeboat Tea!

Thank you all!

To our intrepid keepers of rituals, hopes, and party planning - Clare, Sally, Shannon 

Big Thanks to Tacoma Boat Builders - Chuck, George, TBB volunteers and staff

Thank you to James for Bagpiping 

Thank you to the Three Spirited Musicians

Thank you WOWers and past Verite A.C. Crew 

and to those who couldn't be there - we missed you

Thank you to those who shared videos and photos - Sally, Maria, Terese

Thank you Universe for sending the sunshine during the move

There may be more photos and videos coming - if technology doesn't hinder us.

Within the happy circle let no evil come but love and happiness be our daily sum. 

Blessings Everyone!

She said pie!

 The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

                                                    Robert Frost

The Danish say: the road to a friend's house is never long. 

Especially if she says, "I have pies!"
Unfortunately there are no pictures to show off Muriel's beautiful pies. 
There was a crowd around the table, and then the empty plates.

We miss our weekly rows on the Verite but make do by gathering every so often. We just can't let go, so we reminisce and talk about the future of the boat. Two paths forward were discussed, but so much is out of our hands. How to honor the boat, how to prolong her life, how to find her a home, a home where she will be cared for as we might do ourselves. These concerns are very much like one's everyday life. The future of our world, America  is so uncertain. It is hard to plan or move forward. It has been said by the wise, that when you arrive in this sort of state being or mind the best solution is to relax and play. Solutions will come in their own time. 

So, we relaxed, ate piece of pie or two, drank tea and of course talked and talked. It is important to find out what's been happening with each of us - good or bad. Jennifer surprised us with handmade cloth angels and Rosemary brought some of her jewelry to share.  We ended our pleasant afternoon by looking at our 2019 handsewn book called Women on the Water. It stirred such good memories. There are plans for this book and this year's book called Water Has Memory. So stay tuned. 

As for play - our last thing was to play was "can find their way home". While the road to our friend's Muriel's house is not all that far away, there are many paths on which to depart. This can be challenging in the mossy dark parts. 

For those of you WOWers who are scattered like summer seeds - we missed you!

For two of you who reside in our hearts,

 know we were thinking of you.

We are grateful for our memories of the good times together. 

For those of you who found your way home - let's do this again real soon. 

What shall we eat?

Super Blue Moon Beach Walk

 Within minutes of our shoes touching the beach the rain sprinkles and clouds dispersed. Perfect timing -the tide was out as far as it was going to go as we made our way to the waters edge. A cool breeze ruffled our hair. We breathed in the fresh Super Blue Moon energy with great big sighs.  

Come walk with us as on our Going out and Coming Back. There's a treat at the end. Sally has made Life Boat tea, gathered her cloth napkins, pretty plates and Muriel has made a pie. Muriel says it has a Gravenstein apple and all manner of berries. Who will get the last piece?

Missing you already

 

It is with great sadness to say one  of our dear WOWers has passed away. 

Kathleen, we will never forget your big smile and happy nature.

May your spirit be carried on a bed of flowers to the great beyond

where High Tea is the highlight of the day. 

Kathleen Geller

June 29, 2023

 

Making Our Way Together

Slowly, slowly, we are coming out of the pandemic, world turmoil and our mutual disappointment over the loss of our access to Verite, our beloved gig. We are steadfast in our desire to keep our sisterhood of shared memories consecrated by the sun, rain, snow and sweat together and intact. 

 

August 9, 2022

Still grieving - missing our weekly rows on our beloved Verite boat, especially now that it is summer. Instead, we gather at Terese’s house to commiserate and think about what to do about the situation. When in doubt gather for tea (and food). That has been our motto from the beginning - some 20 years or more. Anybody who has ever boated up alongside the Verite when crewed by the ladies knew the circle would opened and cookies or whatever the fare would be shared. Every time out on the water together was worthy of celebration. 

Terese provide a great space for us to gather. She provided imaginative entertainment too.  Her resident deer laid on the lawn listening to every word we said. I think she quite agreed with all that was said. Imagine it , there were at least 12 or 13 of  us talking and laughing and whoopin' it up and she wasn't bothered in the least. She was a kindred spirit from another mother, Mother Earth. 

Sept 13, 2022

We had a wonderful end of summer gathering at Joan’s house. It was like an upscale version of girl scout camp. No hot dogs or s’more’s fell into the fire because apparently we not only can handle 18 ' oars and we can also handle sharp forked instruments over leaping flames! So beware! 

Delightfully, the marshmallows were homemade and the biscuits - delicately thin and the chocolate was labeled 'intense'. How perfect is that! I don’t know any camp which gives campers a warmed washcloth at the end of a s'more event for wiping the chocolate/marshmallow ooze from one’s hands and lips.  It was really special - so spa-like! Joan could start a business venture and offer that experience. Think how she could improve the state of the nation's mood.  Thank you Joan!

Our last order of business - Should we consider another sewing project?

 The last one was so much fun it sounds like its a go!

English Paper Piecing or Embroidered Photos or...

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Regardless of what we do - we will be having fun.

Behind the camera and keyboard

Posted by Jan