Monday, February 12, 2024

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!



Friday, November 17, 2023

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?




Thursday, August 31, 2023

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?



Saturday, July 1, 2023

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






Tuesday, September 13, 2022

 

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...

 front

 back 





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

Behind the camera and keyboard
Posted by Jan




Saturday, June 5, 2021

WOWers meet at the Murray Morgan Bridge

 What an evening... we were all so excited to be back together after a year and a half of "pandemic isolation". Slowly, slowly things are resuming. 

The event that brought us all out was the Seventy/48 race. Here's a link: https://seventy48.com

We haven't been able to be on  Vérité before too long. Till then we will cheer the others on....










and look longingly at our old digs...


yet marvel at the creativity presented to us...









and contemplate crocheting our own barnacles.





We smile as we watch this dog and others on the waterfront being spoiled.



Folks seemed to really enjoy the festivities.


We just wish we could be on the water and have 
with sparkle lights too.