August 21-August 27               North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We were excited about the impending visit of cousins from Fort Worth, Greg and Julie Galier.  After several delays at DFW, they finally arrived in New York and boarded a train to East Orange, New Jersey.  Here they helped their son, Tripp to become settled in his dorm at Seton Hall University.  Tripp, a 6’5” handsome young man had earned an academic scholarship to this prestigious school and is hoping to join their baseball team.  Greg and Julie reluctantly left him (although many phone calls ensued) to ride the train and join us in Rhode Island. 

                                        

 

The week was busy with dinner at Beech in Jamestown, a long tour of Newport on a lovely cool, sunny day, great lobsters and oyster dinner on the aft deck, a cruise on The Bottom Line northward to the Providence channel and a farewell dinner at Trattoria Romano in Wakefield.  Their late flight home on Saturday gave us time to treat them to more seafood at Blu in East Greenwich.  We try to feed our guests well!

 Most of all, we enjoyed their delightful company and sharing their plans to escape the “empty nest syndrome” now that their three children are engaged in career and school pursuits.  They will be selling their home, buying a condo in Dallas and traveling more.  With a new condo in Cabo San Lucas, they have great options for changing their life style.

 

 

 

 

August 8-August 20        North Kingstown, Rhode Island

Once again, we were faced with frequent refrigerator problems.  David did extensive research on the internet to find a refrigerator that met our needs but would also fit through the narrow opening from the salon into the galley and then into the space which held the old one.  Earlier searches had been unsuccessful but he found one at Home Depot that met all our criteria.  It was ordered and plans were made for installation.  No easy task!

Suzanne and Eileen arrived on August 15 after a delay overnight in Charlotte.  They were excited to be in Rhode Island and we were delighted to have them.  Lobster rolls on the aft deck were a welcoming treat.  The following day, we went to Newport and the girls visited the Breakers and we drove the scenic drive along the sea before lunch at our favorite small Thai Restaurant. 

We celebrated Eileen’s birthday with special prime steaks grilled to perfection by David and blueberry pie instead of cake.  The evening was cool and we enjoyed a lovely sunset.  I was very touched when Eileen declared this to be her favorite birthday ever.

 On Friday, the girls and I perused the shops in Wickford before returning to the boat to learn the new refrigerator had arrived early.

Suzanne and Eileen immediately went into organizational mode and began moving furniture to clear a path from the aft deck to the galley.  Four burly guys from the marina easily moved the old unit to the aft deck, lifted it over the railing into a flat-bottomed work boat and hauled it away.  In a few minutes the boat returned with the new refrigerator which was then lifted by these amazing men over the railing and carried to the galley.  It fit perfectly into the allotted space and with some door adjustments was soon cooling with all the stored food inside. Suzanne and Eileen quickly began cleaning, vacuuming and moving furniture back into place.  They were wonderful!.

We had dreaded this day and all our worries proved to be useless.  All went well and we were awed to have our beautiful new refrigerator installed.  A farewell dinner of steamed lobsters on the aft deck was a great way to celebrate.  On Saturday, the girls left for home.  We were distressed later that evening to learn Eileen had soon become ill after reaching home, went to the clinic and was diagnosed with Covid.  It proved to be a mild case.  No one else to date has shown any symptoms

Saturday was our sixty-eighth wedding anniversary.  David had shown a special Italian restaurant in East Greenwich.  It was a lovely place with excellent food and service.  We enjoyed happy memories of  our special day so long ago and the wonderful people (many now gone) who had been a part of our wedding.

 

 

 

 

 

July 24-August 7            North Kingstown, Rhode Island

The lovely cool weather of Rhode Island ended with days of heat and humidity.  Evenings were cool with pleasant breezes across the aft deck but days were increasingly uncomfortable.  Of course, the heat was far less than that in Texas.

To our delight, friends from Fort Worth, Toni and Wade Lowry arrived on August 3 enroute from Maine.  Their beautiful Fleming 55’ docked next to us and we were able to share dinners each night on deck. 

Toni and Wade had not visited this area and we were pleased to show them the charms of Wickford and Newport.  One day was spent touring the mansions, specifically The Breakers, and lunch at The Mooring in downtown Newport.  Toni and I enjoyed shopping in Wickford.   We were awed to see the crowded beaches at Narragansett before lunch at the Coast Guard House.

 After a minor repair was completed on their boat, they departed on Sunday headed for Cuttyhunk, Edgartown and Nantucket.  We were envious!