I lived on the coast most of my life. My memories of places, people and events frame these stories. I always start with something true…but, I sometimes wander off a bit.
Dining with the Devil- a flashback Friday presentation from 2018
When I restarted my business in the 1990s, I was eager to work and eager to do work that would build my portfolio. I was doing mostly boat portraits, transom banners, quarter boards, and that beautiful booth fee payer spoons, spatulas and cutting boards.
Rooted
I entered my shop this morning to smell linseed oil, varnish, and wood shavings.
Parables
I wasn’t going to do it. The advice from the “wise heads” in my wife’s family was to buy a multi-unit house, have the tenants pay the mortgage, and live in one of the units. They thought I was stubborn and maybe a bit inscrutable when I stated that I would not do it.
Desertion
Now, it is true that many of us New Englanders do appreciate a few weeks of winter break in Florida. But, likewise, most of us perversely love the cold weather in April and early May we call spring.
Town Meeting
What I found most amazing was that so much agreement and unity had come out of such vigorous dispute.
Character
The little boat did kind of look like a terrapin. It was a bit beamy and of a design almost guaranteed not to capsize. It was a perfect small tender for a larger boat. And a safe one for a couple of adventurous teens to explore the Harbor. I had enjoyed my time with the kids as they “helped” design the transom banner I’d carve for them.
Bilge Rat
The King James Version of the bible says that “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.” However, at sea, things are different
Getting Wisdom
Spinney let me accompany him one afternoon while he did a marine survey of a sloop one of his regular customers was interested in buying. The sloop was on the hard, so Spinney first walked around, taking in the general lines and appearances of the boat. Next, he noted and mentioned to me items the general upkeep and condition of the boat.
An Inconvenient Pine
The Cap’n finished tamping his pipe, lit it, and then tersely commented- “They’re just Summer Complaints.” My wife, her mother, and Cap’n’s brother nodded in agreement. I kept quiet.
Drink Up!
I used to head directly to the espresso when I was younger. So you might say that I was on the express to the espresso.
Tide
There is something about the tide that has always attracted me. The tide encroaches on the land twice in twenty-four hours, and every high and every ebb brings new possibilities. Especially after a storm, old shorelines are revealed or concealed, wrecks not seen in a lifetime exposed, and treasures and trash tossed for your examination.
Essentials
I’ve been told that Lake Superior is very chary about giving up its secrets. So when the video and photos of the schooner barge Atlanta emerged the other week, It got me started thinking about lakes, seas, oceans, and sailors.
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Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver 