July 24-29                      Southwest Harbor, Maine                         

Our long stay at Southwest Harbor gives us ample opportunity to complete some remodeling and repair projects.  Joe, from Ellis Boat Company, came onboard and agreed to install molding in the hall to give a finish to the separation of wallpaper and flooring.  He will also design and install teak above the helm to cover holes left by the removal of antiquated electronics.

In the meantime, David is caulking, sanding, varnishing, and completely covering most of the boat with an assortment of tools, equipment, and supplies that are never returned to their rightful place.  He is oblivious to clutter and disorder.  Mindful that such an arrangement will continue until his projects are finished, I remind myself it will not be a permanent situation—order someday will return.  I am delighted that this year, for the first time in two years, David is feeling well enough to be interested in working on the boat.  He enjoys these activities but they are not fun when one is in pain.

The dinghy straps (used so well in hoisting our washer/dryer from the dock onto the boat) were worn and stained.  The heavy and expensive hardware was in good condition.  We only needed to replace the straps.  My visit to the nearby sail maker was not successful.  She reluctantly inspected the straps, made a call, informed me the black strapping I wanted was available only in 1000 yard rolls, and she could not do the job. It was clear she was not interested in my small project.

Leaving her shop, we walked across the street to West Marine, found a roll of black strapping, purchased 40 yards at a reasonable price, and, using information from a friend, drove four miles to Bass Harbor, and found the lovely home of Ms. Johnson, a seamstress for boat builders.  She inspected our straps, determined the project was doable, and told us the work would be finished within an hour.

We used the time to have lunch at Seafood Ketch, a charming seaside restaurant in Bass Harbor with an incredible view of the bay with the blue mountains beyond.  David raved about his steak sandwich and my crab cakes with lobster bisque sauce were excellent.  We returned to Ms. Johnson’s shop and, as promised, our dinghy straps were ready for us.  Her charge was reasonable and we were delighted with the work.

Lobster rolls are popular on menus from Cape Cod northward (McDonald’s serves them in Maine).  As we have easy access to lobster in our marina, I asked a local for her recipe.  It was surprisingly simple:  chopped fresh lobster meat, finely chopped celery, mayonnaise to taste, and a sprinkling of Old Bay Seasoning.  Mix well and refrigerate for at least an hour.  Lightly toast buttered sub or hot dog buns.  Add chopped lettuce to the bun and top with the lobster mixture.  The result is wonderful!

In a telephone conversation,  my neighbor and good friend, Esther Huckaby, told me about One Man’s Meat, a compilation of essays by E. B. White written from 1937-1942.  She described it as a “Maine classic” as the author writes about his life on a Maine farm during that turbulent period before and during WW II.  Esther is a voracious reader and I greatly respect her choices.  To my surprise and delight, I uncovered a tattered and yellowed paperback copy of One Man’s Meat at the Southwest Harbor Library Book Sale. 

I was familiar with E. B. White as the author of the children’s classic, “Charlotte’s Web” and the co-author of “The Element of Style,” a manual on writing considered indispensable by Stephen King and many other authors, but had not heard of “One Man’s Meat.”  I found it to be a treasure, with beautifully written short essays conveying the insightful, often humorous ruminations of the author on his family, neighbors, nation, and the world.  Reading this book is giving a gift to yourself! Since my copy is in a deteriorated condition, I shall try to find another on Amazon.  It is a reminder of the goodness and beauty found in people and the value of the simple joys of life.