Williams Sonoma

I had a great  visit Williams Sonoma last week and discovered the Paderno Spiralizer.  I went back this week before our epic snow storm and purchased one for myself.  The spiralizer has two blades which  cut both thin and thick spirals that look like curly fries from Arby's and a third blade which makes ribbon type strands  The Spiralizer can be used on carrots, beets, potatoes, apples, zucchini and more. 

For my first experience, I chose zucchini. 

All of the recipes I found recommended using the spaghetti shaped zucchini like spaghetti noodles and pour sauce atop.  I resorted to my usual way to cook zucchini--stir fried with garlic and olive oil.  It was delicious with a little Parmesan sprinkled on top.  

I am taking the spiralizer with me to the boat--get ready for more recipes!!!

Cedar Island Ferry to Ocracoke and Coinjock

After our visit to New Bern, we drove to Beaufort (pronounced BO-fort).  Beaufort is the third oldest town in NC.  We visited the NC Maritime Museum here before heading on to Cedar Island.   Little did we know that in a few short weeks we would be stuck in Morehead Ctiy just over the bridge from Beaufort due to foul weather. 

Cedar Island is a small fishing village on  eastern North Carolina. It is known for its seafood, wild horses and unique way of life. This beautiful little village is also the home of the Cedar Island to Ocracoke Ferry a 22 mile  route  that takes  two hours and fifteen minutes. Ocracoke is another tiny island community with one of the state’s oldest lighthouses.  

First on board

After our trip across the outer banks of NC, we headed toward Maryland for TrawlerFest.  We made a stop in Coinjock for lunch--Another place we would visit by boat later in the year.

New Bern

In 2012 before we found Meandering Joy we traveled North Caroline from the far west side town of Mars Hill to the coast where we were scheduled for a ride on the Cedar Island to Ocracoke Ferry.  We were headed to TrawlerFest in Baltimore, Maryland.  We were going to take the scenic route to Maryland. 

We learned that North Carolina is a very, very, very wide state.  One of our stops along the way was in New Bern. New Bern sits alongside the Neuse River which we crossed while moving Meandering Joy from Maryland on our first voyage south.  

New Bern is scattered with historic districts and is the home of Pepsi Cola. In 1893 the famous soda made from a secret combination of carbonated water, sugar, pepsin, kola nut extract, vanilla and rare oils was originally called "Brads Drink"  after David Caleb Bradham the inventor.   Founded 1710 by Christophe de Graffenried who named the city New Bern in honor of his hometown Bern, Switzerland.  Bern in Swiss means bear.  We discovered multiple bears in New Bern. 

We hope to visit New Bern by boat one day!

A funny stroll down memory lane

Back in 2012 after we took Lainey to college as a freshman, we met our long time friends outside of Asheville, NC.  Dave and Charlene, Charles and Robin , Glenn and Nancy  and Steve and I rented a house for the weekend. 

We all met at church many many years ago.  The commonality between the families--boating of course.  As the friendships grew--many trips ensued.  
As our children grew older it became harder and harder to find time to travel together.  But in the fall of 2012 all of that changed.  The youngest of the children had just been delivered to the doorsteps of college so it was time to get together with our friends. 

We hiked and talked and ate and shopped--we only shopped because it rained on us for a while--normally shopping is not on the agenda.  With just one key to our house for the weekend, you can imagine what would happen if any of us separated from the group--yep--some of us got locked out of the house. 

Problem Solved

We had a great time with our friends that weekend but we were unsure of how we would adjust to our empty nest. 

Wonderful Old Pictures

Isn't it fun to go through old pictures?  I remember going through the drawers at my Grandmother's house looking at old pictures asking her to name the people in each photo.  The other day I got to go through some of my parents old pictures.  Look what I found!

The only trip I ever regretted...

I can just hear Gomer Pyle saying "Surprise, surprise, surprise."  When we got home recently , I found a surprise.  After unpacking and getting everything settled, I headed to my car to go get some groceries.  There it was--my surprise.  A gift sat waiting for me in the drivers seat.  I can't even begin to imagine how it got there.  Just the sight of it made me smile and pause and wonder--who left this for me?  How did this get here?

Inside the package I discovered a beautiful silver frame with an especially  fitting quote for this adventure we continue to live. .

So what is the quote?  "The only trip I ever regretted...Is the trip I didn't take."


I love this quote as a reminder to take risks, act on impulse, step outside of the box.  It reminds me of what  Mark Twain  says  "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do."   How true!

The surprise was from Terry Wright, a friend I met at church.  She and her husband were very supportive and encouraging when they learned of our boating adventure.  Terry is one of those people who just make the world a nicer place.   
  

Many thanks to Terry for this sweet surprise!  

P

   P.S.  This photo has nothing to do with the gift or the quote--just thought it was pretty! 















 

Younger Next Year

We celebrated my birthday on the boat this year.  It was a great day.  The day started with a game of tennis in the morning, followed by a lunch outside at Fresco followed by a trip to the gelato store and a visit with Lainey at her dorm.  Of course it was great to get all the birthday wishes by phone and on Facebook.  

I had the Corvina with fried spinach for lunch and several flavors of gelato for dessert.  Lainey gave me a red velvet cupcake that I saved for a late night snack.  

Corvina with fried spinach and a tomato cucumber salad

Turkey Club with Lobster Bisque

Have you ever heard of a "To Me From Me"?  Well I found out about this delightful gift from Terri Long.  She started the tradition many years ago--I decided a few years ago that I like her tradition so much I had to join in on her idea.  A "To Me From Me" is you guessed it --a present to yourself from yourself.  It is a really great idea so you should join in on this.   Steve's friend and sometimes business partner practices this tradition with boats--I won't print his name here--he has recently joined Boater's Anonymous so I must respect his privacy.  

I gave myself several gifts this year, but I have to lay the ground work for these gifts first.  

My dear tennis partner and I declared 2012/2013 the years of health.  We made doctor's appointments for various and sundry ailments and upkeep and we kept those appointments.  Well I kept them--my partner still has one she must re-schedule. Hint Hint!!!  This year my tennis partner introduced me to a book entitled Younger Next Year for Women.  I purchased it (First Gift to myself), read it and have become inspired by this book.  So for my birthday this year, I have decided to be younger next year.  

The book reminds me of the poem by Dylan Walsh

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

 

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377#sthash.R333qMF7.dpuf

 Ok so that is a little grim or dramatic--however the message is the same.  Keep working out to stay healthy as we age.  Younger Next Year is filled with many stories of over fifty adults who stay young by exercise.  Women especially should add weights to their workouts to keep muscles and tendons in good working order to prevent broken bones, which I certainly want to avoid.  

I also bought myself a Polar FT 7 (Second gift to myself) heart rate monitor.  I have been monitoring my workouts like the book suggests--if we keep a journal we are more likely to make progress.  It has been interesting to see which workouts raise my heart rate the most and which burn the most calories.  I was hesitant to use a heart rate monitor but at the advice of Katy and my tennis partner--I am pleased!

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.


- See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15377#sthash.R333qMF7.dpuf