After almost 6 years of traveling, we sailed into Woods Hole on Cape Cod. We continued living aboard for the next five years and I wrote about that, adding ‘and Beyond’ to the title of the blog. Then shortly before Mark’s death in 2016, we sold our beloved Windbird and my travel logs became land logs. At this point, I had written a daily account for each and every day for 11 years. I fully intended to end the blog at that point, but when I wrote that news in a log, I got many responses saying that I really needed to keep posting. At the same time, I realized that I couldn’t stop writing. Summarizing each day had become a permanent part of my life and I will probably continue writing until I can no longer. These postings reflect the ordinary, and sometimes the extraordinary, days in my life and I would like to invite you to join me on my journey.
2019 Life Logs, Day 303: Day Down Under
2019 Life Logs, Day 303: Day Down Under
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Weather: Mostly Cloudy with Some Drizzle; High 68, Low 59 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
No. I didn’t travel to Australia today. But I did spend my day Down Under. The morning was spent in my basement doing a little organizing and the afternoon was spent in Heather’s basement doing the same. And the benefit for me was that while working in Heather and Jed’s basement, I did my laundry. So, it was a win for all. On Wednesdays, I pick Ollie up from school and deliver him to his violin lesson where Heather meets us and takes over. But I really enjoy the car ride into town with Ollie. Today he went on a field trip to the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. This is only about 2 miles from here, but I have never explored there. Ollie gave me a very detailed and enthusiastic description. He obviously had a wonderful time and convinced me that I need to go there soon. This morning Jonah headed to the National Seashore with his class for a couple of days, so I didn’t get to see him this afternoon. But I did get to see Sam and we found that we were both dressed in burgundy long sleeve shirts with a dark-blue collared shirt underneath. I learned that Sam is running for Student Council and I love his platform. He wants to get healthier food served in the school cafeteria. Go, Sam!
2019 Life Logs, Day 302: New Bedford Historical Tour
2019 Life Logs, Day 302: New Bedford Historical Tour
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Weather: Overcast with Some Drizzle; High 61, Low 47 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
The historical tour of New Bedford, Massachusetts, today was so very interesting. Every summer many tourists who drive from New York, Connecticut, or Rhode Island to Cape Cod, pass by New Bedford on the highway, but most don’t stop. I have driven to New Bedford to take the Goldpebbles to the Whaling Museum a few times and I have gone to Zeiterion Theater, but I have never driven through the historic streets. I had no idea they were there. I knew that New Bedford was the whaling capitol of the world in the mid-1800’s, but I knew little else. So today was a true eye opener for me.
We started our day with an hour and half tour of the historic neighborhoods led by Preservation Society guide, Bruce Barnes.
He was a wealth of information on types of architecture, on the role of the Quakers in establishing the whaling industry while also offering a safe haven for runaway slaves through the Underground Railroad, and the barons of the textile industry. 
We saw the home that is now the New Bedford Historical Society. It is an unremarkable structure with a remarkable history. It was once the home of Nathan and Mary “Polly” Johnson, African-American entrepreneurs, who allowed their home to be used as an important stop on the Underground Railroad. Frederick Douglas and his wife Anna lived in the Johnson home at 21 Seventh Street. Abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, also lived in this house for a period of time.
Stops were made at the Quaker Friends Meeting House, at the home where “the richest woman in the world” lived in the Gilded Age in the late 1800’s. Henrietta Howland Greene was a shrewd businesswoman and also known as the “witch of Wall Street.” 
We saw the home of William Rotch Rodman that was known as the grandest home in New England and visited the the home and gardens of William Rotch, Jr. There were many other stops, but one of our last was at William J. Rotch Gothic Cottage. It is a National Historic Landmark as it was seen as one of the most outstanding examples of American Gothic Revival architecture when it was built. 
The Quaker Rotch family came to New Bedford from Nantucket and were instrumental in establishing the New Bedford whaling industry.
After our walking tour through the historic district, we walked downtown to the National Park Visitor Center. There we watched the film, The City That Lit the World, learning about the whaling industry. “In January of 1841, a young Herman Melville boarded the whaleship Acushnet, and left the port of New Bedford bound for the distant Pacific Ocean. At 21, Melville was beginning a voyage that he would later drawn on for several novels of seafaring life, including the American classic, Moby-Dick.” Melville spent 18 months on the Acushnet, learning to be a whaler. In Moby-Dick, he wrote of his character Ishmael, “ . . . a whale ship was my Yale College and my Harvard.” 
After the film, Park Ranger Rufai Shardow, originally from Ghana, gave us a wonderful overview of the role of slavery, the abolitionists and whaling in New Bedford’s history.
We ended our tour by walking across a cobblestone street from the Visitor Center to Freestones City Grill for lunch.Freestones was once one of the 19 banks it took to handle all of the money made in New Bedford from the whaling industry at its peak. Wonderful day. And I will definitely return to New Bedford to learn more.
2019 Life Logs, Day 301: 64 Days Left in 2019
2019 Life Logs, Day 301: 64 Days Left in 2019
Date: Monday, October 28, 2019
Weather: Overcast with Some Drizzle; High 61, Low 47 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Just now when I typed ‘Life Log, Day 301’, I was reminded that we have only 64 days left in 2019. It is definitely time to check on your New Year’s Resolution for this year to see if you have made progress toward your goal. Or if you are like me, you don’t remember what your resolution was, so you can just make up something and call it a win. But back to today, it was overcast like yesterday, just without the rain. I am hoping for a bit of sunshine tomorrow for the Newcomers field trip to New Bedford since we are doing an outside walking tour. I spent a lot of today reading about architecture . . . the architecture of the homes and buildings in New Bedford and the architectural styles in New England over nearly 400 years. I didn’t need to do this to prepare for the field, I just had the time and wanted some background information. When I was in college, I took an architecture class as an art credit, but unfortunately I think I must have slept through that class. I do remember learning about a ‘5-window I’ design, but when I Google that, I come up with nothing. Maybe I made it up. My reading today did remind me of some of the things I learned, and now when I hear Colonial, Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival, or Victorian, I get a refreshed picture in my mind. Life-long learning and re-learning is a good thing.
2019 Life Logs, Day 300: In the Spirit of Halloween
2019 Life Logs, Day 300: In the Spirit of Halloween
Date: Sunday, October 27, 2019
Weather: Overcast with Rain and Wind; High 66, Low 52 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
It was a dark and dreary stormy day with rain and leaves blown here and yon . . . and tonight is very much in the spirit of a spooky Halloween evening. Getting into the spirit, the Goldpebbles carved their pumpkins late this afternoon and I was invited to come join in the fun. The youngest had the biggest pumpkin and the oldest, the smallest. Ollie carved a traditional jack o’lantern while Sam carved what Jonah called a ‘modern’ one. While Jonah, with the middle-sized pumpkin did a cross between the two. ‘Traditional’ to the Goldpebbles means you cut out the eyes, nose, and mouth, while ‘modern’ means you engrave the design on the pumpkin, but you don’t cut the pieces out.
Jonah leaves on Wednesday morning for a two-day school trip to the National Seashore with his 5th grade class, so he won’t be home for Halloween evening. And Sam has decided he is too old to go Trick or Treating, so he will be staying home to give out the tricks and treats. Ollie will be the only one going door to door Trick or Treating this year. My, how fast these little ones grow up. Hard to believe.
Another thing that is hard for me to believe is that forty-five years ago today, Mark and I were married at sunrise in Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. If you know me well, you know I don’t do mornings. I was truly in love to get up to get married at that time of day! When I look at the photographs that Mark’s brother Steve took that day, we could have been the poster children for a ‘70’s ‘not so traditional’ wedding . . . me with my long hair wearing a GunneSax dress by Jessica McClintock and Mark with his longish hair and beard wearing his baby blue bell bottoms and ‘hippy’ shirt. Wonderful, precious memories.
2019 Life Logs, Day 299: Back Home from New Hampshire Visit
2019 Life Logs, Day 299: Back Home from New Hampshire Visit
Date: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 65, Low 40 degrees F
Location: Back Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I am back home tonight after a wonderful trip to New Hampshire. On Thursday I drove to Rye, New Hampshire, which is next door to Portsmouth, to spend time with my friend Leslie Kole. I stopped at the Wrentham Outlet on my way north to exchange some items and to buy a couple of specific items I decided I needed for Christmas gifts. When I arrived at Leslie’s, we went for a four-mile walk. Leslie walks fast and far and it is all I can do to keep up, but keep up I did. On Friday morning I went to Cardio Dancing with Leslie and survived that as well. But it became very obvious to me that I need to up my game to be as fit as Leslie. Then in the afternoon we drove to Manchester, met our friend Detta Porat, and then the three of us drove on to Concord to attend the retirement celebration of our friend Cheryl Dolin. It was a fun affair and I got to see so many teaching colleagues that I haven’t seen since I retired 14 years ago. Mostly important, however, I think Cheryl really enjoyed it. This morning I survived another Cardio Dance class with Leslie and then headed to Kittery, Maine, just across the river from Portsmouth. I went to the Kittery Outlets to buy some new sneakers and a pair of winter boots. I can report that it was a successful ‘hunt and kill’ shopping expedition.
Then I headed to Westport, Massachusetts, to go to Jonah’s last soccer game of the regular season. One side of the soccer field was lined with an old stone wall backed with trees still showing their fall colors. It was a beautiful afternoon for watching a soccer game on a uniquely beautiful soccer field. Jonah’s team won and I think this means they will play in the finals next weekend. Jonah made a couple of goals and assisted in another couple. It is obvious that he loves to play soccer and watching him play is always so much fun. He did have his foot stepped on in this game and had to be taken off the field which gave us a fright, but he was fine after a bit of a rest and got to go back in at the end of the game. And we even had a rainbow over the field near the end of the game. Perfect.
Once home, I got ready to go to a Newcomers Mix and Mingle. Everyone brings an appetizer and their own drinks to the hosting home. Tonight’s affair was at the home of Denise DeCoste and Sam Gutter at the Cape Codder Condominiums overlooking Buzzards Bay. What a beautifully furnished condo with a gorgeous water view. It was a lovely evening and it is always fun to meet new people.
2019 Life Logs, Day 298: Cheryl Dolin’s Retirement Party
2019 Life Logs, Day 298: Cheryl Dolin’s Retirement Party
Date: Friday, October 25, 2019
Weather: Overcast; High 56, Low 46 degrees F
Location: At Home with Leslie Kole, Rye, NH
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Leslie and I traveled to Concord, New Hampshire, this afternoon for the retirement party of a dear friend and teaching colleague, Cheryl Dolin. We taught together at Beaver Meadow School in Concord for many years. There were so many friends that I haven’t seen for 14 years and others that I have seen since then, but not often. It was a wonderful celebration for Cheryl at the home of Lucy Gentilhomme who was the Guidance Councilor at Beaver Meadow for many years. Our principal from the years I was at Beaver Meadow, Roger Brooks, was there, as well as so many other colleagues . . . some long since retired, and others still teaching. What a wonderful tribute to Cheryl.
2019 Life Logs, Day 297: Falmouth, MA to Rye, NH
2019 Life Logs, Day 297: Falmouth, MA to Rye, NH
Date: Thursday, October 24, 2019
Weather: Blue Sky, Sunny Day; High 66, Low 48 degrees F
Location: At Home with Leslie Kole, Rye, NH
Today was a traveling day. I drove from home on Cape Cod to Rye, New Hampshire to visit with my friend Leslie Kole. It was a glorious day for a drive. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sunshine glistened through the still somewhat colorful trees lining the highway. Peak season for colorful fall leaves has passed, but there is still plenty of color to. I arrived at Leslies mid-afternoon and we took a long walk. We walked past the historic Wentworth By The Sea Hotel and the Wentworth Marina where Mark and I once kept Skybreaker, our sailboat previous to Windbird. From the Marina you can look out into the Atlantic to the Isles of Shoals, a group of small islands and tidal ledges that used to be a favorite sailing destination. We were now on New Castle Island and walked on to the Great Island Common overlooking the Piscataqua River as it runs into the Atlantic Ocean. Breathtakingly beautiful. We then walked the 1.6 miles back home and just sat and visited for a bit over a glass of wine. We decided to go out to a Japanese restaurant for dinner. I had sushi and Leslie had tempura. It was a lovely afternoon and evening.
Tomorrow morning I am going to cardio dance class with Leslie. I can remember when I went to my first Zumba class and how foolish I felt. I had no idea what the dance steps were all about. I have a feeling I am going to feel foolish again in the morning, but I’m game to give it a try. In the afternoon we drive to Concord to attend the retirement celebration of friend Cheryl Dolin. There will be many of our teaching colleagues there from our days in the Concord, NH, school district. It was deliciously warm today, but tomorrow is supposed to be cloudy and much cooler. Seeing good friends should help us make our own sunshine.
2019 Life Logs, Day 296: Apple Butter and More
2019 Life Logs, Day 296: Apple Butter and More
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Weather: Mostly Sunny and Warm; High 71, Low 45 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
The weather was glorious today after a rainy start. The temperature was in the low 70’s and the sun was shining. Felt like summer. Unfortunately, I spent my day inside doing the final cooking of the apple butter and then canning it. Job done.
I used a recipe with no added sugar, but I found that I had to add a little sugar to make it really taste like apple butter. I used Muscavado brown sugar and adding a very little went a long way to making the apple butter taste just right. I made it for Heather and hopefully she will like it.
At 3:30 pm on Wednesdays, I pick Ollie up from school and deliver him to his violin lesson. I have to drive about a half mile through my neighborhood to get to the main road. When I got there today, the sun was shining on the field of pink and raspberry colored wild flowers (Cosmos) planted next to the new brewery, Bad Martha’s, that opened in September.
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I love that they planted a field of wild flowers. Such a lovely view every time I drive out of the neighborhood.
Tomorrow I head to New Hampshire for a couple of days to visit with friend Leslie Kole. Fall in New England is so beautiful, so I look forward to the drive and the time with friends. Lastly, I want to wish my wonderful friend Lynne Kirwin, a very happy belated birthday. Her birthday was yesterday and I totally missed it. So happy, happy to Lynne.
2019 Life Logs, Day 295: Another Busy Day
2019 Life Logs, Day 295: Another Busy Day
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High 67, Low 56 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Chiropractor appointment, water-bath canning of green tomato salsa, laundry, slow cooking the final batch of apples for apple sauce, fun activities with Ollie and Jonah on an early release day from school, annual mammogram, informational email to participants in next week’s New Bedford field trip . . . busy day. Earlier this week my oldest grandson Sam asked me what I do all day every day since I am retired. I laughed and just said that I keep busy! I started my morning with a chiropractor appointment just to keep things aligned, came home and canned the green tomato salsa I made earlier in the week, got the last batch of apples in the slow cooker, and then headed to Heather and Jed’s to be with Ollie and Jonah for part of the afternoon. One Tuesday each month Falmouth students are released from school while the teachers are engaged in professional development or teacher conferences. Today Jonah, Ollie, and neighbor Joey made edible acorns out of Hershey Kisses and Mini-Nilla Wafers.
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I had to leave early to go for my annual mammogram, so Heather and Jed had to rush home after their parent conference about Jonah’s progress at Morse Pond School so Jonah and Ollie wouldn’t be at home alone. Sam went to Woods Hole after school for an early afternoon drum lesson, so he wasn’t at home with Jonah and Ollie. The parent teacher conference was a happy affair–good to know that Jonah is doing great and that his teachers love his enthusiasm. I returned to Heather and Jed’s after my appointment to discuss plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We’re not sure what we are doing yet as we need to further check out the possibilities. We’d love to go to Puerto Rico for Thanksgiving, but just not sure we can afford it. I will spend a good deal of tomorrow searching through flight possibilities, but at this point it is not looking encouraging. When it was time for H & J to get dinner ready, we wrapped up our conversations and I headed home. I spent a good deal of the evening doing the final organization of a Newcomers field trip I am leading next week. Tomorrow I get ready for my three-day trip to New Hampshire to visit with my friend Leslie Kole and to go to the retirement party of our mutual friend Cheryl Dolin. I’ll also get to see Detta Porat, so it should be a fun trip. I leave on Thursday morning and return on Saturday. Onward!
2019 Life Logs, Day 294: Dining-in with Friends
2019 Life Logs, Day 294: Dining-in with Friends
Date: Monday, October 21, 2019
Weather: Partly Cloudy; High 64, Low 49 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
This evening was the monthly meeting of my Newcomers Dining-in group. This evening we gathered at Peter and Karen Baranowski’s for a Mexican feast. Karen made chicken enchiladas with a homemade red sauce and all the trimmings. I brought fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, the Woodins brought a salad, the Frieswyks contributed apple pie and ice cream, and the Whites were given a pass tonight due to Olivia’s recent knee surgery. As always, the food was delicious and the company delightful.
First thing this morning, I learned that Heather was home with a sick Sam today. Heather is also fighting a cold that just won’t let go, so she decided to stay with Sam and work at home. I went over early to pick up the apples that we cooked in the slow cooker yesterday to make apple butter and I brought the rest of the apples home with me, along with the slow cooker, to finish the process here. Tomorrow is an early release day and I will spend part of the afternoon with the boys. On Wednesday, I’ll finish up the apple butter making and get it canned before I head to New Hampshire on Thursday. Another busy week.