September 2-22                       North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Labor Day weekend was rainy until Monday when we finally could enjoy the holiday activities.  The dock was crowded with boat owners and guests, the boats were busy arriving from and departing for the bay and the kayaks, paddleboards and dinghies necessitated a sharp eye to avoid collisions.  We loved watching all of it from our aft deck.

John and Maria Carpenter, our neighbors in the 70’ Hatteras, joined us for dinner.  David had made a delicious beef tenderloin with a mushroom sauce and new potatoes.  Maria brought a wonderful fruit and sorbet parfait for dessert.  Delicious food and interesting conversation made a most enjoyable evening.

With great excitement, we happily welcomed our granddaughter, Kennedy to the boat on September 16. After a four-hour delay in DC, she finally arrived about 9:00 PM, hungry and tired but eager to see and learn about Rhode Island.  I was ready for her!  Tickets had been booked for three of the fabulous Newport Mansions, The Breakers, The Marble House and Rough Point, the home of Doris Duke.  After a required visit to The Black Dog shop in downtown Newport, we hurriedly avoided the crowds gathered for the Newport Boat Show and headed for Bellevue Avenue and Ocean Drive.  Kennedy, as expected, was awed by the opulence and magnificence of the homes.  As an employee of one of the leading interior decorators in Texas, she was perceptive and appreciative of the extraordinary details in designs and furnishings. 

After a long day, we enjoyed dinner on the aft deck with steamed lobsters and corn—the traditional New England feast.  Saturday began with David’s delicious frittata, followed by shopping in Wickford.  Kennedy found several lovely additions to her wardrobe which she vowed would be perfect for the busy weeks ahead as she assists her boss at the Dallas Designer Show House.  Dinner was at the local favorite, The Coast Guard House in Narragansett.  We enjoyed great seafood as we watched huge waves crashing onto the rocks outside our window.

Sunday came too soon!  Kennedy enjoyed a leisurely morning with a pancake breakfast and a two-mile run through the adjacent neighborhood before packing for her return trip.  She is eager to return with Taft, her husband, next year to experience more of the wonderful life in Rhode Island.

Impulsively, on September 9, we booked a trip to Paris and a river boat cruise in Provence with an emphasis on foods and wines of the region.  We have hurriedly made all additional arrangements (including a sitter for Pretzel, our dog).  We will drive to JFK on September 22 and leave for Paris that evening.  We will return to JFK on October 5 and resume our stay on The Bottom Line until October 13 when we fly to Texas.