On our way to Book Signings
Our wonderful Maine Ocean Retreat Vacation. I will share the rest of the photos on Sunday
I am writing as quickly as my fingers will fly across the keyboard from my home computer this morning. Lorraine (my sister, best friend and publisher) and I arrived home late last night and unpacked the pretty red car with all our vacation things with some additional treasures that we picked up during our Maine vacation.
We have a very quick turnaround and will leave less than 12 hours from arriving home last night. I was mentally packing in the car last night as we made our way up the winding highway through the Laurentian mountains and home. I will share my Maine Vacation with you on Sunday. There were too many beautiful photos and fun experiences to share with you to try and pack them in this morning. When I write to you I enjoy selecting the photos that evoke an immediate smile and share worthy experience. There are just too many Maine highlights so I will share them with you on Sunday!
I have no idea which ship I will be joining and will let you know as soon as I do
As the end of October is approaching I am receiving numerous inquiries about my next ship. I am registered in the Union Hall in Thorold, Ontario. I am second in line under the Chief cook heading. Our cards are placed in the order of the day we registered. I am a book member so, although there are some chief cooks that are registered before me the book members are called for the jobs first in the order that they registered. I registered right after I left the Spruceglen but asked them to only start calling me after our book signing weekend tomorrow Saturday the 21st at the Little Book Store in Clayton NY from 1-3 and Sunday in Brockville, Ontario at RiverWest Co from 1-3. Both Lorraine and I look forward to these events. I already know the feeling I will get every time my phone rings starting Monday, wondering if that will be the call for my next ship. During our Maine vacation Lorraine and I talked about my job for November and December and she reminded me how much I prefer to work with a second cook. She's right and even though I may be tempted to take the first call that I get I will make sure that I have a second cook on board to make the job easier. I will keep you posted. I have had the most wonderful time off and after a busy fun September, the past 10 days in Maine were a perfect way to end my time ashore. I will revisit my trip to Maine with Lorraine many times on my next ship as I am doing the tasks that allow my mind to wonder and dream like standing at the cutting board chopping vegetables or rolling out the dinner rolls. I love these moments that allow me to just revisit my favorite memories. I am now sitting in the car, even my fastest typing not offering enough speed to finish before Lorraine arrived to pick me up. A lot of the leaves have fallen since October 9th but it is still a beautiful drive south from Mont Tremblant.
Halfway between Montreal and Mont Tremblant is St Sauveur
Our delicious lunch at Adonis Grocery store take out counter.
We have a few stops to make and our home base for the weekend book signings will be at the River Retreat. In my optimistic outlook I can see Lorraine and I bundled up sipping coffee on the dock even though the weatherman has forecasted rain. I remind myself that the weatherman has been wrong in the past.
We were lucky with the weatherman and with ship watching
Almost immediately after the first ship we saw the second ship following closely behind
The ships pass very closely to the many islands of the Brockville Narrows
We were just driving into Brockville when we spotted a ship and quickly made our way down to Blockhouse
The plane always reminds me of waving at my mom and dad when I passed by on a ship. I always asked the pilot/Captain to salute at the plane because mom and dad ‘s condo lined up directly behind the plane.
The First Presbyterian Church. Our Parents went every Sunday and my dad sang in the choir.
We wish everyone a wonderful day. Book signings/meet and greets are always fun and we look forward to seeing you. Lorraine (my chauffeur) driving beside me says hello. On Monday I will be home and start to organize my seabags. During our trip into the little town of Ogunquit Lorraine and I came cross a little store named Sea Bags, I smiled at the name. Start packing packing your virtual seabags the call may come soon. Stay tuned. www.shiptoshorechef.com
