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How I shop for apples on Cape Breton Island

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Travelog: Photographs and stories from sailing adventures and other trips.

S/V Ginger: From a fiberglass shell in a Shanghai shipyard to a bluewater cruiser.

Web Journal: October 26 , 2009 - It's been a long time between journal entries, probably because it's so darn easy to just slap an update on Facebook. Summer flew past, rather on the unremarkable side. Road cruises replaced outings on the water. The weather wasn't very agreeable and when it did improve, the few sailing days left weren't worth the time and effort of rigging and outfitting for a voyage. We made the most of our time with a long weekend to Prince Edward Island, and other day trips to ends of Cape Breton we hadn't visited before.

Our departure date hasn't been set, but we'll be back in Atlanta by late November. It will be tough to leave here. The thought of spending the winter isn't half bad, especially now that I have high-speed internet and a way to catch all the TV shows on the computer. But, the NC house is calling and we're itching to get it plumbed, wired, and ready for occupancy next spring.

That's about all there is to tell. All the day to day details are on Facebook. Friend me, (Ginger B. Collins) and you'll get the long version.

Web Journal: June 29 , 2009 - Just a few words to let you know we're alive and well in Cape Breton. Melvin's digging ditches and prepping for a concrete slab off the back porch that will make a dandy new patio.

I'm writing and making jewelry. There have been a few nibbles on my novel, but no agent has stepped up with a contract to represent . . . yet. I've posted one of the "Rita & Sylvie" stories on my writer's site, www.gingerbcollins.com. It's a shortie, but gives the flavor of the novel and the relationship between the two main characters. Stop by and give it a read. Then please feel free to pass it along to others.

Web Journal: April 19 , 2009 - Even when we're on land, our experience as liveaboard sailors comes in handy. We've been living at the Alleghany Inn in Sparta for one week and we're heading for two. We've snuggled into our 9x12 room in relative comfort. We have a microwave, fridge, cable TV, and high-speed internet. Someone comes in every day to clean the room and make the bed. What's not to like?

Another good part of our stay is all the progress we're making on the building site. While Melvin works with the crew, I have for writing, sending agent queries, updating the writer's page I've created on Facebook page, and posting to my blog.

So, my dear friends, do this redhead a favor and show a little love by signing up to be a fan on my Facebook page. Then make another stop at the blog, OFF THE TOP OF MY RED HEAD and read my posts about the uphill journey of a first-time author in search of a book deal in this new era of publishing. Please, please, forward both sites to any of your contacts who might have an interest in writing, writers, or how the publishing industry is evolving from the printed page to the audio-book and e-book download. Here's a hint: It's not just about the content anymore. It's about how the content is delivered.

Web Journal: April 7 , 2009 - We're on our way back from a working weekend trip to North Carolina. The weather hasn't been cooperating and construction on our shop/apartment has been packed into the few good days between rain, (and snow.) So, until we leave for Cape Breton in May, all our NC trips are working trips. Next week will take delivery of our SIPS, (structurally insulated panels) for the exterior walls. They are coming up from Bainbridge, GA, and our building project will be their debut in the area. Our Sparta neighbors are eager to see how this new method of construction is done, (word spreads fast in Alleghany County) which means we might end up having a "shop raising" party on the site.

I spent some time in Columbus with daughter Laura last week. We had our spring thrift store shopping spree and I had the chance to attend her friend Michelle's senior art show at Columbus College of Art and Design. Michelle's dinnerware was a big hit,

selling out about 150 pieces from her display, and receiving several commissions for custom dinnerware sets and her unique "chopstick" bowls. It was great to see a young artist get her career off to such a good start.

The trip to Columbus also let me visit with my long-time, (since we don't like the word "old") friend, Abby Moran Robinson. Our high school days are long past, but we chatted for hours like teenage girls at a slumber party. Abby is still the witty, talented person she always was, and I was thrilled to be gifted with one of her pieces of hand-blown glass. Everyone at the Columbus airport security screening liked it too!

Web Journal: February 28, 2009 - I'm composing this post as we drive south through the North Carolina rain. We're headed back to Atlanta after a get-away long weekend that started with a couple of days at the new property in Sparta. It was time to get building permits and line up tradesmen for the building phase. Melvin plans to have the shop/apartment dryed in by the time we leave for Cape Breton in May.The road is cut and graveled and the septic system is in. We have temporary power and the space is cleared and ready to pour the concrete pad. Bottom line . . . we are making hefty financial contributions to the Alleghany County economy. We've found the locals to be much like our neighbors on Cape Breton Island . . . friendly, helpful, and full of suggestions on how we can make our transition easier. They are sincerely nice and I believe they'd like us even if we weren't spending money.

When the rain started and the local news forecasted snow we headed out, and spent our 16th anniversary touring NASCAR museums around Charlotte.

After dinner at a local steak house we topped off the evening watching Will Farrell in Talledega Nights. Oh yeah, we know how to par-tay!

My writing has taken on a new twist. I'm still shopping my first novel, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW to agents and have a second novel in the works. Now, I've added a blog. With the publishing industry in a tailspin over the economic downturn, publishers are even more skeptical about first-time authors and agents are hesitant to take on work they can't sell. This makes a hard job even harder for a writer looking to publish a first novel or non-fiction book with a traditional publisher. The material has to be polished, relevent, and marketable . . . and so does the author. If all other things are equal, the writer with a strong "platform" has a better chance.

With that in mind, I've started Off the Top of My Red Head, Publishing Tips for First-Time Authors. As I research literary agency websites and blogs for the latest news and trends, I'll share links on my blog. I'll also include tips on social media, a powerful networking and relationship-building tool for writers. All this social networking is new to me, but with a long career in marketing, sales, and public relations, I understand how it can work to a writer's advantage. I also know that done poorly it can damage credibility. As I figure it out, I'll pass along the information. You can find the blog at http://coppertopcollins.blogspot.com. Please pass this link on to any of your writing friends.

Web Journal: February 14, 2009 - A quick update as we hold up in the Alleghany Inn in Sparta, NC. Melvin planted the "COLLINS" sign on the edge of our property on February 11, his birthday. It was a great way to start a new year. I posted a couple new photos, and I'll get a few more up soon.

Web Journal: December 31 , 2008 - Since I’ve been less than consistent with our website updates, I decided to do an overview of the year and bring everything up to current status. Here's the story. Click for pictures:

Melvin finished his first full year of retirement from Kirk-Rudy and I’m glad to say we’re weathering the storm of 24/7 togetherness quite well. Our experience with living on the boat helped a lot. We're used to being in small spaces for long periods of time, and as soon as we negotiated mealtimes it was smooth sailing, (pun intended.) Lunch at noon, tea at 3pm, snacks at 5pm, and dinner at 7pm. Just like a cruise ship and I’m the Social Director!

We headed up to Cape Breton in April and stayed until late October. In 2009 we plan to shift that schedule by a month. September and October are the best months in Nova Scotia and we want to be on the water or road trip exploring while the weather is still mild. Several friends took us up on our offer to visit: Bill and Sherry Weeks, Rick Marshall and Lisa Fowler, and Melvin’s South Georgia Island shipmate, Andy Ritchie. Our central location makes a good home base for island daytrips, and we heard raves from our visitors on the beauty of Cape Breton and Nova Scotia.

Daughter Laura came up for her annual birthday visit. We went sightseeing in Halifax for a couple of days, then did a couple of road trips on the island. She’s a picture-taking fiend and managed quite a few beautiful shots. Of course as her mother I’ve always thought she was creative, but she’s really gotten into the arts this year. With the help of her friend Michelle, a soon-to-be-graduate of Columbus College of Art and design, Laura has tried her hand at collage, pottery, and stenciling.When they visited over Thanksgiving, it was an art-themed weekend with stops at the Terra Cotta Soldiers exhibit and the Bodies exhibit, topped off by a stop at the Atlanta Aquarium.

Melvin is enjoying time with his two granddaughters, Maddie and Emma. Emma started fourth grade this year and Maddie moved up to middle-school. He lends a hand in the shop with school projects and even made an appearance during show-and-tell at Emma’s school to share stories from his Antarctic adventures.

The details of Melvin’s South Atlantic voyage appeared in Ocean Navigator Magazine’s May, 2008, issue. Shipmate John Parker documented the trip. He clearly described the storm they encountered between South Georgia Island and the Falkland’s, and the knockdown that resulted in extensive damage to the mast, but thankfully, no severe injuries to the crew. It was an adventure Melvin will always remember, but he'd much rather talk about the penguins, seals, and breathtaking scenery than relive a brush with death.

We had our own cruising adventure this summer. It wasn’t what we had planned, but time on the water is satisfying no matter what we do. The big plan was to sail from Cape Breton to Newfoundland. When the weather changed, making a passage across the Cabot Strait very dangerous, we decided to sail from the north end of the Bras d’Or to the south and head over to Prince Edward Island. In the two days it took to sail the length of the lake, the wind direction changed again, putting the wind on our nose which meant a rough, slow ride over to PEI. Not worth it. We just bummed around the lake and tucked into a few new anchorages. Bottom line: No journeys to distant shores this year, but lots of quality chilling out! We’ll try again next summer.

Melvin is getting the knack of his new architect software and we’re making progress on the layout and design of our North Carolina mountain house. We plan to spend some time up in Alleghany County this winter setting up utilities and making contact with a contractor to start on Melvin’s shop building. We’ll put an apartment on the second floor so we have a home base while we finish the house. Now is not the time to put our Atlanta property on the market, but we’re hoping real estate recovers in the next two years and someone will be looking for a cute little house on four acres of primo property in west Cobb county. Anyone out there??

I've been writing up a storm, finishing the final edits on my first novel, WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW, and the first draft of a second novel. Doing the final edits on KNOW has taken so very long. Small changes, one and two words here and there that force me to go back two chapters and revise whole paragraphs. It's the nitpicky stuff that may seem like nothing but can cause "speed bumps" for the reader and jog them out of the suspended reality of reading fiction. My next job is finding an agent to represent my work to publishers . . . a challenge in this economy, but I'm optimistic. More info on recent published stories at www.gingerbcollins.com.

The second novel has the working title, ALSO KNOWN AS ELLIE, and I'm very excited about it. Mostly because of how it came to be. The ELLIE draft was written as part of National Novel Writing Month. NaNoWriMo is a worldwide event that coaches writers to generate a 50,000 novel draft during the thirty days of November . . . that's almost 2,000 words a day. It was a very intense experience. Every day I didn't write I fell behind, so ELLIE became job #1. There was no time for overthinking, (one of my favorite things to do.) The story had to come straight out of my head and onto the page.

The other thing occupying time these days is my jewelry crafting. I'm having big fun creating the designs and I really enjoy working with the materials . . . stones, glass beads, shells, and other found objects. Daughter Laura is my main "sales agent" but I am also doing a brisk business in the boutique of my friend Sandra Butler at Advanced Skin Care in Marietta. See jewelry: CopperTop Creations.

That's the scoop from 2008. Our investments might be at a low point, but our spirits are still high. It's the perfect time to recite my favorite motto: Within every adversity lies the seed to an equal or greater benefit.

Have a blessed and prosperous year. Send us a note from time to time. ............Barbara and Melvin..............

Web Journal: November 14, 2008 - When the fall color faded and the daily temperatures struggled to hit 45 degrees, we packed up the Subaru and high-tailed it back to Georgia. FYI:::::::::Driving during the last week of October and early November is especially dangerous because the deer are mating and they're hopping the highways and back roads, causing damages to both cars and people . . . and generating lots of venison available for your winter freezer. I'm happy to say that without any damage to man, animal, or automobile, we had a safe trip, taking the scenic tour through Maine, New Hampton, Vermont, before turning due south.

We stopped in Sparta, NC to check out the fall color on our new property. It's awesome and the mountain views were outstanding. We've come to an agreement on our basic house plan and will probably start the building process next fall. After starting the paperwork on power and water, we finished the last seven hours of the trip back to Powder Springs.

The next couple of months will be full of writing projects for me and shop projects for Melvin. He's got a car to finish and I've got another novel to write. I'm taking part in National Novel Writing Month, www.nanowrimo.org. The goal is to generate a 50,000 word novel manuscript in the month of November. Yeah,,,,do the math. It's almost 2,000 words a day, which leaves no time for rethinking and revision. That's the idea. Spend the time getting the story down on paper, not worrying about grammar, spelling, or whether or not you've used the exactly right word. Since I tend to get nitpicky, (i.e., writing chapter #1 twenty times before I go on to chapter #2) this will be a good exercise for me.

Web Journal: August 6, 2008 - All sailors know that advance planning is key to a safe and successful voyage, and yet all the planning in the world can't change what Mother Nature has waiting for you. This fact was never more evident than during our summer cruise.

Then we had fuel filtering problems, then the winds changed which made Newfoundland a hazardous trip, then the entire Maritime area was socked in with heavy rains and gale force winds. Thank heavens we don't get cabin fever. We just kept busy--reading, writing, napping and etc., while we sat at anchor in one cove or another . . . waiting. See photos.

Web Journal: July 21, 2008 - A quick note before we leave on our cruise to Newfoundland. We've been waiting out Cristobal and it looks like any hurricane winds have finally past. I'm itching to get away. We've heard so much about the southern coast of Newfoundland and are eager to sail the fjords and visit the tiny fishing villages that dot the coastline.

Since we arrived in mid-April, Melvin has done some serious work with his new tractor. He's hauled deadwood, dug trenches, cleared roads, and cut lots of meadow grass. He's also done some fine creative work, designing and building a rock garden walkway. I've been busy creating jewelry, a hobby I stumbled on while in Michaels looking for the pieces to fix a broken necklace. Before I knew it, I was dedicating a dresser to all my beads, wires, and baubles. The novel is winding to a close and beading is a great creative outlet and a way to cut the tension of writing and editing those final pages. Daughter Laura is going to be my marketing rep, so if any of the pieces on the photo page strike your fancy, contact her: lparchem1106@yahoo.com.

My short fiction continues to get notices, most recent being a second place showing in the Writing Advice Short Prose contest. Get more details on my writing life at www.gingerbcollins.com

Web Journal: April 19, 2008 – I'm writing this journal entry as we drive up Interstate 81 in Virginia on our way to Cape Breton for the sailing season. Early this morning we closed on a glorious twenty acres just outside of Sparta, North Carolina, one mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway. About a third of the property is wooded with cleared trails, one that follow a stretch of brook, another that rambles past a small pond. As you can see from the photo above, there is a large meadow that's perfect for a homesite with long range views extending from the east to the southwest. There will be many rocking chair sunsets from the porch of our yet-to-be-planned house. Melvin's thought a lot about the shop he intends to build, but all we've decided about the house is, "Not big." Click here to see more photos.

We are still scheduled to cruise along the Maritime coastline and down the Saint Lawrence Seaway. If we can get S/V Ginger in the water by mid-May and cast off by mid June, we should be able to make it to the 400th anniversary celebration in Old Quebec City on July 3rd. After that we can leisurely make our way back home with time to stop at some of the scenic anchorages and fishing villages along the way.

More good news about my stories. Two anthologies have recently published my work. Check out the writing site for details and info on how you can order the books on Amazon or Barnes & Noble .com. www.gingerbcollins.com The novel in progress is just that . . . in progress. I'm pleased with the development of the story and thank my editor/coach Abigail DeWitt for her critique and guidance. For all of you non-writers who wonder why this novel-writing business takes so long, look at it this way: Writing a novel is much like building a house. You have a plan and a load of lumber and bricks. It's not a standard blueprint, but something you've created in your head of what a house could be like. You're pretty sure you have everything needed to get'er done. Because you also have other people and things happening in your life, there's only a few hours a day to work on the house. Some days you work more, some days you don't work at all. You get stalled by a holiday and have to jump start to get back in the groove. Half way through you realize that the bedrooms are too small, the kitchen is awkward, and the porch needs to be wider to accomodate your favorite glider. You revise, restart, then have to stop to do taxes before April 15th. . . are you getting the picture? Yeah, I've been working on this novel since I first hatched the story idea in September, 2003, but that first teaspoon of premise hatched a potful of characters and is simmering into a deep, rich, and satisfying story I can be proud of. As eager as I am to have it finished, I know it's important to not rush the process.

I'd like to promise updates more often, but I can't. I'll shoot for June. Oops . . . Here comes a rest stop. Gotta go, figuratively and literally!

Web Journal: January 1, 2008 – It was six o'clock in the morning when the phone rang. The connection from the Southern Hemisphere was strong but the voice was shaky. His first words were, "I'm safe. We're all okay."

After three days of pounding waves and winds that threw the boat on its side and plunged the mast into the water, (known as a knockdown) the S/V Spirit of Sydney had limped back to port in the Falkland Islands. During the worst of it, waves swamped the cockpit putting the crew under water and gushing ice-cold ocean through the companionway where it mixed with spilled diesel, a pot of hot soup, and anything that wasn't latched down to create a nasty mess below decks.

One week after that phone call I walked through the gate in the Ushuaia, Argentina airport to find my husband bearded, twenty pounds thinner, and no longer an ordinary sailor. He had the appearance of an old salt and the air of a seasoned adventurer. So, along with my new explorer husband I spent two and a half weeks discovering the wild beauty of the Tierra del Fuego of Argentina and Chilean Patagonia.

We are now back in Georgia and plan to stay south until spring. Melvin has antennas to put up and I have a novel to finish. We're setting our sights on Quebec this summer with a plan to launch S/V Ginger in mid-May and cruise along the Maritime coastline and down the Saint Lawrence Seaway in time for the 400th anniversary celebration in Old Quebec City on July 3rd.

Web Journal: October 23 , 2007 – It took about three weeks for Melvin to believe he was really retired. He kept thinking he was just on a long vacation -- then he realized there was no paycheck. Yep, that's retirement! In mid-August we spent a fun afternoon sailing with our Whycocomagh friends, see photos here. and then took off for a couple weeks cruising the Bras d'Or. Our original plan was to go out the channel at St. Peters and cruise north along the ocean coastline. That never happened. We discovered secluded coves, dropped the anchor, and chilled for days at a time.

But it wasn't all R&R. There were a couple challenging days of high winds that limited our schedule and a midnight anchor drag that had us abandoning our anchorage to motor in the pitch black until the wind eased up around daybreak.

Now the leaves are falling, I'm stacking firewood for the chilly nights, and S/V Ginger has been hauled out for the winter. Melvin will head south to the Falkland Islands at the end of October and spend the month of November on the S/V Spirit of Sydney as part of a six man crew on an expedition to South Georgia Island in the Antartic. To learn more about the island, go to www.sgiisland.org. To learn more about the expedition, go to www.spiritofsydney.net.

Am I going? Thanks, but no. I like my adventure sailing with tank tops and palm trees, not long johns and penguins. I'll meet Melvin in Urshuaia, Argentina, on December 1st for two weeks of exploring the Patagonia region of Chile and Argentina. Can you say alpaca, copper, and leather? Oh yeah!

On the writing front, the novel is coming along. My time in Cape Breton is good for the creative juices and the network of writers on the island provide great support. I even took part in the "Pitch the Publisher" event at the Halifax Word on the Street Book Festival, pitching the novel to a panel of Maritime publishers. Good experience. On the networking front, I've connected with a book club and am making friends from Glace Bay to Inverness. Capers are a friendly bunch.

Web Journal: August 7, 2007 – After thirty-four years, Melvin packed up his desk on August 3rd and said goodbye to his fellow workers and friends at Kirk-Rudy. There was a pizza lunch for all employees that afternoon to celebrate the company's 40th birthday, and a dinner party in the evening, where the the original Kirk-Rudy employees shared stories from the early years of the company with the current management team. Melvin gave his thanks to Harry Kirk for his years of support and had the chance to plant goodbye kisses on all the girlfriends in the front office.

I've had a busy two weeks wrapping up household business and packing for our first post-retirement stay in Cape Breton, but took a few days to go back to Huntington, WV, for one of our "two phone call" class reunions. This year Abby Moran Robinson got the ball rolling with a couple of calls announcing that a few SJC grads from our class would be in town the last week in July. The word spread and we ended up with a group of twenty for a "Forever 59" gathering by the downtown waterfront. Considering Abby had just a few week's notice and there were only sixty in the graduating class, it was a great turnout! Everyone agreed to set aside a summer weekend for a "Social Security" party in our 62nd year. See the photos.

Web Journal: June 7, 2007 – Yeah, yeah, I know it's been a while since I did an update. It fell to the bottom of the to-do list. Life has been whizzing by and I'm just now getting a break in the action. This spring was a combination of road trips and retirement prep that had Melvin and I bouncing between Atlanta and Cape Breton. Add his trips to trade shows for Kirk Rudy and my trips, (Duke Writers Workshop, and Montreat, NC to visit longtime friend Susie Watson Burns.) Whew! It was suitcase living at its best! See the photos here.

S/V Ginger is in the water and I'm here in CB, readying the house for the summer and prepping the boat to cruise the Bras d'Or Lakes and beyond as soon as Melvin arrives in August. Yes, the long talked about and planned for retirement will happen in less than two months, and the next chapter of our life will begin. Henry Fuller and his staff at the Cape Breton Boatyard have taken the boat from her winter cradle, painted and polished the exterior, and added sonar so we can detect the rocks and icebergs when we travel to the northern latitude waters. Plans for the winter are coming together, much depending on the result of our shakedown cruise in the Bras d'Or and the weather window available between August and the start of the winter weather systems. For once, there will be no time restraints. We'll follow the sun and the what happens,,,,happens. Call to all past and potential crew members. Are you ready to cast off with the Captain Collins?

Lots of good things happening with my writing. I've won a couple of contests and have had two stories accepted for an anthology to be published in late summer. See the details on the GingerB website, www.gingerbcollins.com. As always, the Duke Writers Workshop was a stimulating and fun experience. Our class of four blossomed under the guiding hand of Joseph Bathanti. Each day Joseph gave us a new assignment. I wasn't the only one who worked into the wee hours, but was it worth it! I came home with one finished story ready to submit and two other pieces that are solid first drafts. I also learned how to look inside a poem to find a short story hiding inside, and bring it to life using vibrant language.

Look on the photo page for shots of the Duke crew, snaps of Melvin and his buddy Bob Meredith in the pits at Taledega, my visit to Susie Watson Burns at her new oh-my-god-fabulous home in Montreat, NC, and the recent roadtrip Melvin and I made to Lunenberg, Nova Scotia. There's also update pictures of the Cape Breton property and my first adventure in lobster cooking.

Web Journal: December 19 , 2006 – Other than my activities with the Atlanta Writers Club, November was a non-event for me. I spent four days at the end of October at Colgate Performance Sailing School on Captiva Island, Florida. It included wall-to-wall days of classroom instruction and on the water practice. We focused on sail trim, handling, and racing tactics. I learned a lot. I also got battered, bruised, and totally humiliated by my dyslexic confusion between a wheel and the tiller on the training boat. It was an educational experience . . . and quite humbling.

After my return from sailing school, I slipped into a flu-type fog that lasted for a couple of weeks. I lolled around the house, read and wrote, and not much else. Happy to say, I'm on the other side of it and ready to head off forCape Breton and our second holiday in the new house.

Melvin is working on the 39 Ford, trying to get it finished and under power by spring, 2007. He had already decided that 2007 would be his year to retire, but when sailing friends from past rallies started contacting him with plans to visit Cape Breton next summer, the die was cast. Between visits from our sailing friends and the "Forever 59" party I'm cooking up for my Saint Joe classmates in August, Cape Breton will be a busy place next year.

Web Journal: October 18, 2006 – When I arrived in Cape Breton on September 23rd, the leaves were just starting to turn. There is this great place on the TCH-105 just before you come into Antigonish. The road trims down to two lanes and you are wedged between high, rolling hills on both sides. No houses, no gas stations, just lush evergreens mixed with birch, maple, and tamarack, bordered on the right by a wide stream that rushes over the rocks on it's way down to the Salmon River. As the road narrowed and I approached the spot, the palate of autumn colors fell on a background of clear blue sky and I had the sensation of driving in that "almost heaven" part of West Virginia. Maybe that's why I love Cape Breton. Besides the wonderful people, it geographically feels like home.

After a week of cleaning, organizing, and sorting through the flannel to find suitable clothes for the change in temperature, I picked up daughter Laura in Halifax on her October 4th birthday for a few days of mother/daughter time on the island. As the caption reads, you know you're getting older when it sounds like fun to visit your mom on your b'day, go thrift store shopping, and drive around looking at scenery. But, fun it was. Maybe because we both were older? See the photos here.

While I was romping on Cape Breton with Laura, Melvin was making the rounds at the Annapolis Boat Show. He shared stories with other Outbound owners, (up to hull #28 this year) and made friends with other sailors who have traveled in the northern latitude waters we plan to explore. He has pegged August, 2007 as his retirement date, but I don't think he'll be able to last that long. The siren song of the ocean is calling.

The old heart skipped a beat when Melvin delivered the news. "I just bought a Grand Banks schooner," he announced. "Now we can go out cod fishing." Trying to keep up my end of the mutual excitement, I asked, "How wonderful! Where did you find them?" He replied, "A fellow named George Schaffer from Canso." I kept digging for information, "Where are they docked?" Melvin laughed. "He had them in the back of his truck. Now they're here at the house." Knowing that my husband has brought home entire cars, (in bits and pieces, assembly-required condition) I figured he was lining up the first Cape Breton retirement restoration project. It took a few minutes of wheedling, but I finally coaxed out the truth. He had purchased scale models of the circa 1800s Grand Banks Cod Fishing Schooner and companion dory that you see in the photos above.

That was one of the many highlights of Melvin's two weeks in Cape Breton over the Labor Day weekend. There was also the day sail with members of the Matheson clan, and the early morning spotting of a doe and two fawns on the property. The fun stuff was balanced out with lots of hard labor, i.e., many hours spent sowing seed, throwing hay, and building a rock wall. And, hauling in enough wood to keep us warm when we head up for Christmas and New Years. See more photos of Melvin's holiday in Cape Breton.

While Melvin played in the brisk sunshine of Cape Breton, I worked with my fellow Atlanta Writers Club members to promote the club during the Decatur Book Festival. See photos on www.gingerbcollins.com.

Web Journal: August 10, 2006 – I may make it as a writer, but I sure won't get a job as a photo-journalist. After the month of July in Cape Breton I came back with only a handful of photos . . . all of them construction shots from the house. And who wants to see a half-finished sauna and a newly installed window dotted with pre-paint filler? You'll just have to trust me. Instead, here are photos of the people who are making it all a reality. Brenda and Lisa, the best painters ever, are camera shy, claiming that their color-splattered outfits made them unsuitable. But, I was able to sneak up on the fellas.

The house is 99% finished inside and already 100% wonderful.

While poor Melvin was sweltering in 90+ temps, I was enjoying low 80s with dips into the 60s at night, making for great sleeping weather. We trade in late August when he will spends two weeks in Cape Breton around the Labor Day holiday while I take part in the Decatur Book Festival with the Atlanta Writers Club. www.atlantawritersclub.org.

Highlights of my trip: Three auctions at which I snagged some great bargains to finish the furnishings, (you know you're a member of the auction circuit when the auctioneer knows you by name) a day trip to the Inverness Center for the Arts that included an oceanside lunch with my buddy Lisa Bailey, and an outing with Floradorable to where else but our favorite shopping spot, Value Village. We are quite a pair in that place, running to the shelves to beat each other to the cool stuff. (Florence never hesitates to show off the leather masks she swiped right out from under my nose at our spring pilgrimage to VV.)

But, the best fun of all was the Friday night chickfest with Florence, Lisa, and the painting sisters, Brenda and Lisa. We ate, we told stories, we laughed, and we had an entertaining few minutes with a wrong number who was looking for a bachelor party. Cape Breton is so small that after he hung up, we did a *69 on the number, found the caller in the phone book, and plan to call him next year to see how the marriage is going.

Good news on the writing front. One of my stories has been accepted by a New York publisher for inclusion in an anthology coming out in March, 2007. Read more about it at www.gingerbcollins.com.

Web Journal: June 28 , 2006 – It would take way too long to give all the details of my sailing adventure with friend Katgirl Catlin in the British Virgin Islands. To say that we arrived home safe and sound should give you a clue that our seven days on the water with the Mooring Flotilla was oft times less than "safe" and left us teetering on the edge of "sound." Kathie and I lived the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." The good news is that neither of us suffered from seasickness, (although we pounded through hours of rain and white squall conditions that included winds of 35 knots and gusts up to 45) and we suffered no damages, (to the boat, to our bodies, and to our friendship). It was a true learning experience for both of us. We figured it was a lot like childbirth . . . while it's happening, you don't know how you'll get through it. But, after it's over, time melts away the pain and you start thinking, "Ah, that wasn't so bad." Another bonus is the fact that we made great friends among our flotilla sailmates, which led to lots of laughs and good fun throughout the week.To see a few photos from the trip, click here.

Web Journal: May 20 , 2006 – Before I leave for a long weekend in Columbus to visit daughter Laura, I'm posting a few new photos of our progress on the house in Cape Breton. Click here to see new photos. Just as we hoped, the countertops are spectacular, the master bath is way cool, and the place is coming together as planned. We've been assured by Wayne that when we get there in late June, the place will be put together and ready for living. I'll spend the month of July at the new place, nesting and writing. Heavenly!

Web Journal: April 23 , 2006 – Just a quick note to wish everyone a happy spring. It wasn't until someone nudged me about updates that I realized it had been two months since I posted something new. In the past sixty days Melvin and I have been road warriors. He's been doing the Kirk-Rudy trade show circuit with stops in Chicago, Orlando, and Birmingham, England, (all in one trip) and I've been exploring Chicago neighborhoods doing research for my novel, and playing project manager on our renovation job in Cape Breton.

After three weeks in Cape Breton I became totally immersed in all things Canadian. Maybe the weather wasn't so great, (rain, snow, and some 50 degree sunshine) but the people made up for it. Lots of laughs with "hairgurl" Lisa Bailey, marathon shopping with my buddy Florence, and garden planning with neighbor Melissa MacLean.

About Cape Breton, I'm not posting any new photos because even though we've made lots of progress, it's not visible. By mid-April we were ready for master bath installations, flooring, lighting, and the fabulous marble countertops in the kitchen. And, now it's dominos. The tile goes before the tub and the sauna, the linoleum goes before the bench installation and the countertops, etc. I'm expecting things to fall into place by July 1, and be ready for visitors in October for the Celtic Colours Festival.

On the writing front, the trip to Chicago was quite insightful. I walked the neighborhood on the north side that is the setting for the story, and found some locations that will serve as perfect inspirational jumping-off points when I'm writing. The trip also gave me an opportunity to catch up with my second cousin, Jenni Etherington. We shared family history over dinner and played fill-in-the-blanks on some stories that had been passed down in bits and pieces.

More writing news....an exerpt from my novel in progress, "The Queens of Irving Park" won second place in the Georgia Writer's Association 2005 fiction contest. Also, I have been named to the board of the Atlanta Writers Club as 1st Vice President.

But, the most exciting thing of all...........my new website, www.gingerbcollins.com. Please give it a look. Thanks go to Ralph Hilliard of WordNet Solutions for the layout, and to my dear friend Lyla Haggard for the use of her artwork in the design.

Gotta get back to the great outdoors. It's Sunday noon and already in the low 80's - a beautiful day for garden work. Melvin has given me Jorge and Ollie for the afternoon to clean up the perennial beds while I plant annuals.

Web Journal: February 28 , 2006 – A few notes as we step into March. Melvin and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on February 27th. We both agree that it seems like just yesterday and it feels like forever - and that's a very good thing.

Melvin has been busy installing ham radio antennas and working on his shop projects. He recently passed his "Extra Class" test, giving him the most advanced license available to ham radio operators. I'm not sure what all that means, but he says with the advanced license he's required to buy a MUCH BIGGER radio. Sounds fishy.

I'm plugging away on the novel and hope to have my revision finished by mid-year. To add the necessary local color and atmosphere, I have a week-long research trip to Chicago planned for early March. It's a slow-go, but I hear first novels often are. Thankfully I've been blessed with some immediate gratification. Part 1 of my creative non-fiction piece, "Sailing into our Sunset" appeared recently in "Living Aboard Magazine." Read it here. Part 2 will run sometime in 2006. I'll let you know when.

Web Journal: January 16, 2006 – What a wonderful holiday! It was our first Christmas in Cape Breton, and with the hospitality of our friends and neighbors, it was one of the best ever.

We arrived at the house on December 23rd to a beautifully lit tree, decorated by a little elf named Florence, who we have renamed “Floradorable.”The next morning we fired up the new woodstove, only to hear yelling and screaming from the chimney.

Upon inspection, I found Santa wedged in an awkward position, and did my best to help him out. (Another piece of Floradorable handiwork.)

Melvin spent the holiday cruising bands on the ham radio, hiking the property, and watching eagles. I joined him on one of the longer hikes, but spent the rest of my time reading and, writing. We both devoted a good amount of time to food, stuffing ourselves with local oysters,(thanks to our oysterman neighbor Bill MacLean and his wife Melissa) and homemade baked goods from (who else but) Florence.

The house is progressing nicely. The weather has been agreeable, and new siding is taking over the old white stuff. As the real winter sets in, the interior will get priority, and by April, (If everything goes to plan) we should have everything finished but the “poolroom.”

Web Journal: December 12, 2005 - We had a wonderful Thanksgiving trip to Cape Breton, where we had a chance to share the "Canadian Experience" with daughter Laura and her friend, Tommy Neal. We toured them around the island by plane and by car, introduced them to all our Cape Breton friends, and got them to pitch in on some chores, (an important part of that "Canadian Experience".) See photos.

Snow has set in on the island, and work on the house is shifting from outside to inside. Wayne and crew took advantage of the good weather in November. He's finished the front deck and started the siding. We'll trade the forty and fifty degree temperatures of Atlanta for a below zero Christmas and New Year's in Cape Breton. Not only will we be making decisions on the construction in the "poolroom" space and just hanging out, we'll be proving ourselves more than just "fair weather" Capers. We look forward to spending time with our new friends and snuggling in at home, watching the lake begin it's winter freeze while we test out the new wood stove.

Web Journal: October 4, 2005 - Progress continues on our Cape Breton home. By the time we head up for Thanksgiving, we will have a new roof, new siding, new doors and windows, and a large deck that overlooks the lake. When the cold weather sets in, Wayne and his crew will head inside to construct the re-designed layout, and install floors coverings, and countertops. We'll make a short trip in October to get S/V Ginger ready for haulout, and finalize the decisions on the new master suite. Don't worry, not all work and no play....over the weekend we'll take in some of the fine Cape Breton music during the Celtic Colours Festival. For the latest photos, click on Travelog and Photo Gallery

Web Journal: August 22, 2005 – It’s amazing how life can change in only a few months. Melvin and I have become frequent flyers into the Halifax airport, and love our time in Cape Breton. Not only is the moderate, low-humidity weather a welcome break from the sweltering Atlanta summer, the people and the pace are a refreshing change from the get-it-done-and-get-it-done-now tempo we have grown accustomed to.

As previously reported, Captain Mel and crew took “1st In Class” in the 2005 West Marine Bermuda Rally. After a few days in Bermuda to rest and reprovision, David Grove, Lake Superior sailor and Bermuda Rally vet, climbed aboard, and S/V Ginger pointed north to Canada. After a six-day “unremarkable” voyage, (mostly motoring due to light winds) the boat came through St. Peter’s Channel and into the Bras d’Or Lakes. Their arrival was followed by a couple of days to recoup and share stories of fog, whales, and outstanding cuisine. Before the crew headed back to the States, Captain Mel called for volunteers for further exploration of the Maritimes in 2006, and received a hearty, “Aye, Aye.” See Photos.

The house is progressing a bit every day, thanks to the unwavering commitment of our contractor, Wayne Muise. Let’s face it. We’re just not used to workers who show up every morning . . . and work all day . . . and give you a status report at the end of the day on what they plan to do the rest of the week. It's divine! Last year, I had a paint contractor who would show up at 10am, work for 45 minutes, and be gone for the day. A 10-day job took him over a month. So, you can see why having Wayne and his crew from Digger Construction on the job gives us peace of mind, even when we are a thousand miles away. See construction photos.

Melvin has come up with a new design that gives the house a needed facelift and adds to its livability. A new driveway to the back entrance, and transplanted laundry area will put the entire house on one level, leaving the basement and garage area for Melvin and his shop projects. A large screened porch will overlook the water and allow for bug-free enjoyment of the lake breezes. We have an interior designer working on a layout for the master suite. We will see those plans in September.

Just days after settling in, friends came to visit. First, Kathy David and husband John stopped at West Alba as part of their Cape Breton summer vacation. Kathy and I did a walk down memory lane, and when we realized that we stood next to each other at First Holy Communion in second grade at Our Lady of Fatima School, we knew we qualified as “old friends”. Our threesome visited the Heritage Village in Iona, and spent the afternoon soaking up scenery and Celtic culture. See photos.

Then, to help with the interior decorating, (and also just for fun) longtime friend, Kathie Catlin joined me for two weeks in July. We draped fabric swatches over windows, we slapped sample colors on the walls, we hit the flea markets and used furniture stores. We even visited the Cape Breton Marble Mine to look at potential countertop surfaces. See photos. And, all the while we did the cabbage soup diet to shed those extra “snack pounds” accumulated over the last year. I’m pleased to say that by the time we left, all the bedding was in place, window coverings were selected and the basic furnishings were either bought or on a list for future purchase. AND, each of us returned home around eight pounds lighter.

Web Journal: July 1, 2005 -After nine months and three trips, we have closed on a piece of property overlooking the Bras d’Or Lakes, on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. The property is located in the center of the island, on the western shore of the Bras d’Or, approximately 45 minutes on Highway 105 from the Canso Causeway, and 4 hours from the Halifax airport. Traveling by car, our official address is Orangedale-Iona Road, West Alba. Traveling by water, we are on the west shore of the “Boom” across from Boom Island. We have 93 acres that includes a 3,000 square foot house, and a five-acre cape we plan to develop in the future. See Photos.

Bounced from the crew with a bum shoulder, First Mate Ginger B. watched Captain Mel and crew sail off on June 21st in the West Marine Bermuda Rally. See photos. Read details of the rally at www.carib1500.com.

Web Journal: April 1, 2005 - I kept putting off this update because I wanted the next journal entry to read, “Collins Couple Become Cape Breton Landowners.” But,unfortunately we have yet to become “Capers.” It’s not because we haven’t tried! We have made multiple trips, looked at a dozen (or more) properties, and have had one contract go south because of the gypsum mining rights on the land. Our agent, Sherry McLeod of Cape Breton Realty, (www.capebreton realty.com)has guided our search and refuses to let us buy the wrong property. We now have our eye on 93 acres in an area called “The Boom” on Bras D’or Lake, and it is still our goal to be landowners by summer so we can sail from Bermuda into our own harbor in July.

We've been working weekends to get the gardens in shape for the spring and summer. Mel's latest project, (see photo above) a totally restored 1951 Ford 8-N tractor, has been tricked out with a mower attachment, making it right handy and real purdy, too.

"Green Acres"

Ginger will go back in the water in late April, headed back to Hampton, VA, and Bluewater Marina. We will sail the Chesapeake until we leave for Bermuda with the West Marine Bermuda Cup. This will be our second year with the rally, and we look forward to the trip and the camaraderie with fellow sailors.

The recent BRUSH CREEK WRITERS’ COOPERATIVE fiction workshop held at the Page Writer’s Loft was a grand success. Sixteen writers participated in a full-day workshop on Premise, followed by a full-day on Structure. Linda Busby Parker, award winning novelist and creative writing instructor at Spaulding University led the workshops. If you are interested in attending one of the workshops or know a writer who would benefit from participating, e-mail me at ginger4410@bellsouth.net for details on our next round of classes.

Web Journal: January 9, 2005 - If you have been watching the weather, you know Atlanta has been experiencing a virtual heat wave. Our Christmas and New Year’s Eve was celebrated in short sleeves.

During the holiday break, Mel teamed up with Bob Meredith to take advantage of the warm temperatures. They made great progress on Bob’s dream project—a wood-body sports car. See photo.

An update on the Nova Scotia property: Things are looking good but moving slowly. It’s a long and complicated story that boils down to this: Bad title search years ago equals complications now. But, we have been assured that after slogging through the red tape, the situation will be resolved. We hope to be property owners by spring.

As Project Coordinator for the Brush Creek Writers’ Cooperative, I’m working with writing teacher and author, Linda Busby Parker, to present two fiction workshops in the Atlanta area. Click here for more information.

Web Journal: November 26, 2004 - It's a quiet weekend here in Powder Springs. Laura and friend Tommy Neal joined us for our holiday meal, and after our non-traditional "chicken duo" dinner, (one roaster stuffed with traditional cornbread dressing, one roaster stuffed with wild rice, nuts, and cranberries) we chilled out with Laura's pumpkin pie. The evening was topped off with a bit of ham radio cruising into the hinterland airwaves. A good time was had by all.

A snag has occured in our purchase of property on Cape Breton in Nova Scotia. The title search revealed that someone other than the seller owns the mineral rights to the property. This is not good. Since gypsum is mined in various locations on the island, there would be a chance that the owner of the mineral rights could decide to plow under the property to mine the gypsum. Yikes! We are investigating the options, but are resigned to keep shopping for property in this area if the deal goes sour. We'll keep you posted.

I am pleased to report that at 10:23pm on my birthday, I finished the working draft of my first novel, "Gerta's Girls." It was a birthday gift I pledged to myself, and I was very happy to deliver it as promised. Gerta and her daughters are now with Darnell Arnoult, author and writing coach extrordinaire, who will give the manuscript a good once-over and provide me with direction regarding revisions.

Web Journal: November 3, 2004 - At our house the guest room is also called the "assembly room." On any given day you'll find suitcases in various stages of packing and unpacking, or plastic containers with seasonal clothing waiting to be shelved or stored. The assembly room was very busy last month. It all began with Mel going to the Annapolis Boat Show . . . alone. I was down with a cold, so he made the pilgrimage solo. I was relieved when he returned with only receipts for hotel and rental car . . . the American Express had escaped unscathed. Little did I know there were bigger purchases on the horizon.

"Why don't you make a little trip to Cape Breton. I think we need to check out Nova Scotia," he said. "It sounds like a great place for us to head after Bermuda next June. Visit the marinas, take pictures, talk to the locals. You know, get the scoop."

Knowing my role as First Mate and Trusty Scout, I accepted the assignment. Then it started to get complicated. Each day new tasks were added. It had gone past securing charts and visiting marinas to investigate workmanship and facilities. He had decided that I should look for "a little place" to use as a summer home-base after our warm water winter cruising. What started as an innocent trip to visit the Canadian Maritimes has snowballed into a contract to buy 132 acres of land with a long band of waterfront surrounding two deep-water coves, suitable for anchorage. The property also has a four bedroom furnished home, two barns, and acres of mossy-floored woodland. The closing isn't until the end of November, but the seller is happy with the deal and we expect a smooth transition to ownership. See Photos.

The working draft of my novel is 95% complete and I expect to meet my November 16th deadline for the finished manuscript. Several finished pieces are out on query, I have a feature assignment, and I just returned from the North Carolina Writers Conference, see photos. All this is big news but pales in comparison to the fact that we will be spending the Christmas holiday in the butt-chilling, fiddle-plucking, accordian-playing, four-wheel driving, evergreen splendor of 2073 Orangedale-Iona Rd., Alba, Inverness County, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

Web Journal: September 9, 2004 - The Labor Day holiday passed without a minute out on the water. While Hurricane Frances pummeled Florida, we sat under overcast skys and intermittent showers. Mel worked on one of his many projects and I worked to perfect the art of relaxation. Napping ran rampant.

The high point of my week was the arrival of the September Cruising World with my story in the "People & Food" section. Nothing like sharing an embarrasing oment with the world. Since it's publication, I have heard several caught-in-the-buff stories from other sailors. I guess the term "sail naked" has more risks than just sunburn. There will be another Cruising World piece in their January online edition. Look for it! Not another half-clothed exploit, just a funny story with an unusual recipe.

Web Journal: August 6, 2004 - The cruise to Bermuda was everything we expected . . . and more. Ginger came in first in her class and third overall. We made the trip from Hampton in just under four days. For you non-sailors that may seem like a long time, but it was really a fast trip! The boat performed beautifully, averaging a speed of over 7 knots. We were blessed with a great crew and good weather. Captain Mel was very happy! Click here to see Bermuda Photos.

Our return trip was delayed by a problem with the autopilot that sent us back to Bermuda six hours into the trip. It was fortunate that we waited a day to depart, seeing that the rest of the rally encountered lightning storms and rough seas. We experienced the tail end of the nasty weather, and arrived safe and sound in Hampton four days later with a mound of dirty laundry, an ample thirst, and a need for something other than a one-dish meal or a sandwich.

Mel scooted back to Atlanta as soon as we returned, and for the next three weeks, I divided my days into three parts: cleaning, writing, and reading. When I multi-tasked by listening to a book on tape while cleaning, I took that saved time and spent it at the pool. My obsessive-compulsive side does have benefits, you know!

Captain Mel was gracious enough to give me a repreive from my chores back in Atlanta, and allow me all that time onboard. It was quite a luxury. Several days were spent with Kathie Catlin, scouring the Northern Neck of Virginia for the perfect retirement spot. The balance of time was spent on my novel. It is taking shape and I hope to have a manuscript draft finished by late fall. By the way, when I publish my novels, I will use a pen name. Ginger B. Collins, author of fiction, creative non-fiction, and essays. Look for her books in a store near you!

We are not yet sure how Ginger will spend her winter. Maybe on the hard for a good dry-out, or maybe in southern waters for some winter sailing. We may also be invited for a return engagement as the manufacturer's show boat in the October Annapolis Boat Show. Too soon to tell.

Web Journal: June 7, 2004 - You know you are behind when complaints start arriving about the lack of fresh material! It's nice to know you guys really read this stuff. Guess it's time to crank out the latest news, so here goes:

Since the March journal entry, Mel has upgraded his ham radio operator status to cover our offshore communications and installed a variety of necessary and costly items on Ginger in preparation for ocean sailing. You'll have to get the details from him, I just fill out the forms and send the checks. Being a features and benefits kind of gal, this is the bottom line: People will be able to follow our progress on the internet and see a little speck in the Atlantic Ocean that represents our boat, and most important, we can have air conditioning while we are underway. Yea!

It is wonderful to see Mel make the transformation from company president to sailboat captain. From the minute he steps aboard Ginger, he turns from Mr. Collins, busy executive to Cap'n. Mel, techno-swashbuckler. His nav station is state of the art, and he has mastered it all. I've heard a rumor about an office pool. They are taking bets on whether he will come back to work after our summer voyage. Since I'm not a betting woman I'll leave that one to fate.

Another bright spot since March is the acceptance of two of my stories by Cruising World Magazine. Both pieces will run in the "People & Food" section, the first scheduled for September and the other to follow some months later in the online edition of the magazine.

I am working on the commercial front to place a column or series of articles titled "Two on the Blue," focusing on our move from the hinterlands of Atlanta to a life on the water. Between paring down my vast wardrobe to fit three months of clothes in a duffle bag, to finding a new home for Miss Celeste, our prissy Himalayan, our life is an abundance of rich material. Hopefully, some publication will feel the same.

On the literary front, I just finished the Duke Writer's Workshop and have a real focus on the structure for my novel, "The Poodle Girls." I continue to work with author and writing coach, Darnell Arnoult, and am active in the Brush Creek Writers, a collection of fiction writers in the Atlanta area. We have even initiated "Open Mic Night" at our local Barnes & Noble. If you know me well, you know I have that baby covered. A microphone? An audience? Just point me in the right direction.

Web Journal: March 17, 2004 - The biggest news this month is Ginger's big spread in "Sailing Magazine." We both have a copy handy at all times. It's like new baby pictures . . . proud parents ready to show off.

In advance of our June trip to Bermuda as part of the West Marine Bermuda Rally, we attended the West Marine Offshore Symposium in Annapolis. We received lots of good information and learned of even more things we need to do in preparation for the cruise. Between April and June we plan to be in Hampton every other week. Good news for the folks at Airtran. Bad news for our vegetable garden.

The "Writers at the Roundtable" Florida workshops were a great success. St. George Island is much nicer than I remembered, with beautiful beaches, great weather, (not sweltering south Florida-style) and no neon or fast food joints. Darnell Arnoult, our teacher, coach, and cosmic vortex, made sure there was lots of writing, lots of new thoughts about story development, and lots of comraderie. More "Writers at the Roundtable" workshops are planned for the Atlanta area in May. Check Darnell's website, www.darnellarnoult.com for more information.

Web Journal: February 17, 2004 - The first week of the month flew by before I realized it was time for an update. Lots happening at the old homestead. Melvin is busy in the shop creating a car with Bob and Robbie Meredith. After many evenings discussing, assembling, and welding, the frame is taking shape. After the frame is is finished, Bob will create the body out of wood . . . yes wood. This car has been a dream for many years, and will soon be a reality. Watch for more details. Barbara is busy working on the development of a novel, and coordinating an upcoming Florida writing workshop, "Writers at the Roundtable"with Darnell Arnoult. Learn about the program here. The work on charts, radar, and weather has been set aside for a few weeks, but is looming in the background.

That's it for now. Next week is Melvin's birthday, so check back in March for photos of the birthday boy and snaps from the Florida writing workshop.

Web Journal: January 1, 2004 - If the year 2004 turns out to be anything like the month of December, 2003, we predict lots of sailing, writing, and blowing our noses. We would be very happy if the first two arts of that prediction came true. As for the nose-blowing, we’re hoping B12 shots can help to keep that part from happening.

In the last month of the year we made two trips to Hampton for long weekends aboard Ginger. Now that we have officially signed on for the June, 2004 West Marine Bermuda Rally, there are lots of things to do. Shopping for life rafts, generators, and single side-band radios has us scurrying around Portsmouth and Norfolk on Fridays, and the balance of the weekend has Mel either mounting, wiring, or fitting something to ready the boat for bluewater sailing.

Barbara’s schedule is less physically strenuous, with time spent working to become skilled at navigation software, and brushing up on radar and charting techniques through a software learning program. Time is also spent working on stories and articles, and planning for a February writing workshop.

The February workshop features author and creative writing coach Darnell Arnoult teaching two - 31/2 day programs on St. George Island, Florida. As coordinator of the workshop, Barbara will not only attend, but hopes to revitalize her dormant marketing and publicity career as she promotes the events. The team of Arnoult and Collins hopes to tackle other workshops and seminars if this initial venture proves successful. Learn about the program here. Since we didn’t do the holiday card thing this year, (actually we haven’t sent out cards for several years) let us take this moment to wish you joy in your heart and peace in your soul as the new year begins. Knowing that we are mirrors of God to each other, spread around some joy and kindness, then watch it grow. Remember, you are either part of the problem or part of the solution!

Web Journal: December 1, 2003 – November blew threw bringing both joy and sadness. By the end of the month we were remembering times with friends, preparing for the holidays, and looking forward to a new year.

Barbara and Kathie Catlin spent an action-packed weekend with Sue McKee in Tulsa. Between house hunting, movie watching, and carryout from P.F. Chang, there was the close camaraderie that can only be found in long term friendships.

The next week brought sadness with the death of close friend Jodi Gossage-Reitz. If any of you folks from Columbus remember Jodi from her years at Mount Carmel Medical Center, you will know what a bright light she brought to all she touched. She survived breast cancer fifteen years ago and we all believed she was out of the woods. Cancer invaded her liver, pancreas, and bone, and spread undetected until September. In two months she was gone. Her mother, daughter, husband and family will miss her warmth, compassion, and devotion in their lives, especially during this holiday season. I will miss her, too. She was my writing muse and a cherished friend.

Mel moves closer to his goal of a rebuilt 39 Ford. Weekends are spent in the shop doing whatever it is guys do in their playrooms, kept company by a steady stream of visitors, willing to give advice and watch Mel as he works.

Christmas will find us in Hampton. Ginger probably won’t have a Christmas tree, but we may string a few lights up the mast just to give her a bit of holiday flavor.

We wish you a blessed holiday filled with joy, laughter, and appreciation for all of our God-given gifts. Each day is an opportunity to share our wealth, not just from the wallet, but from the heart. So spread it around! It's good for the economy and good for the soul!

.Web Journal: October 23, 2003 – This month we got a taste of what it will be like to liveaboard. On October 2, we arrived in Hampton and started preparing for our trip up the Chesapeake to the Annapolis Boat Show. This was our first excursion on Ginger, and we were lucky to have Phil Lambert, owner of Outbound Yachts, www.outbound44.com on board to ease us into our big new cruiser.

Our first day of sailing brought southwest winds in the 20’s with gusts up to 30mph. Ginger hit a steady stride of 8kn, venturing into 9kn territory often and hitting 10kn during the big gusts. For you non-sailors . . . we were flying! We thought of renaming her “Scalded Dog” because she was high-tailin’ it up the Bay so fast. That evening we pulled into Mill Creek on the western shore, anchored in an idyllic little cove, and felt pleased with our day’s accomplishment of over 48 miles. Bay Cruising Photos.

The next day plan was to leave Mill Creek and reach Herring Bay, just below Annapolis. With the wind on our nose, we motored. It was so early when we reached Herring Bay that we decided to keep going and reached Annapolis by late afternoon. The south anchorage was already filling up with boats destined for the show. We sized up our competition and began to straighten up the boat for five days of welcoming people aboard.

Monday was move-in day and brought a steady stream of sailboats into position in the “Ego Alley” of Annapolis Harbor. See Boat Show Photos. One false move could have brought boats crashing together in a collision of wood and fiberglass. Thankfully, all went smoothly and we tied up in position on “D” Dock. The days that followed were full of new faces and enthusiasm as we shared our boat with the public. Ginger showed well and received many compliments. Phil Lambert of Outbound was pleased because several of those compliments turned into new boat orders, with many other prospects putting the Outbound on the top of the list for their next boat.

Barbara took Saturday off and drove to Rockville, MD, for the wedding of Tom Harrold, son of Mary Jean and Fuzz Harrold. Wedding Photos.

Then, off to Newark, DE, to visit Jodi Gossage-Reitz, longtime friend, who is hospitalized with staph infection complications in her fight against cancer. Please keep Jodi in your prayers. She cannot begin battling the cancer until the infection subsides, and every day not in treatment is a day of lost ground.)

By Monday at 5pm, the show was over and the race was on to clear out the sailboats to make way for the power boats in the Power Boat Show. See Boat Show Photos. A week of living aboard during the Boat Show, (kind of like camping in your trade show booth in McCormick Center) was a real experience. Hectic, fun, and full of surprises. We would do it again in a minute!

Yes, Cruising World and Sailing, Ginger is ready for her closeup!
Tuesday was spent taking prospects on sea trials and welcoming Alvah Simon from Cruising World and John Kretchmer from Sailing Magazine as they reviewed Ginger for articles in their respective publications. It was a blustery day with not much sunshine, but Ginger performed like a champ. All during the sailing tests photographers Billy Black and Bob Grieser followed in chase boats getting shots from all angles. So get ready for those “baby pictures” folks! We will soon be sporting pictures of Ginger in full sail and running with the wind.

Web Journal: September 23, 2003 - Wow! What a September! After the Labor Day Open Boat Party, we planned to settle back and prepare for the Annapolis Boat Show in October. Then Hurricane Isabel came on the scene. With twelve hours notice, we were on a plane to Hampton. Three hours after our arrival, we were stocked with food and on the run from the hurricane.

People started arriving on Friday evening, and by Saturday, we had a full boat headed for the Bay and an afternoon sail. Sunday brought more friends, but weather prevented a day of sailing. People came from miles around . . . Atlanta, Tampa, Richmond, Minneapolis, California . . . and it was wonderful to share our love of the sailing lifestyle with our friends. See Boat Party photos.

After the Labor Day holiday, Barbara headed to the hills and the John Campbell Folk School in Murphy, NC (www.folkschool.com) for a week-long writing workshop. Our instructor was Darnell Arnoult, published author of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Darnell is a long-standing faculty member of the Duke Writers Workshop and teaches regularly through the Duke University Continuing Ed and Middle Tennessee State University. She provided an incredible week filled with new ways to tap into our imagination and create solid fictional characters. The workshop also generated the beginning of new friendships with fellow writers. See class photo. Darnell is working on another seminar for February, 2004, at St. Georges Island, Florida. Go to www.darnellarnoult.com, for samples of her work and info on her classes, seminars, and long-distance coaching services.

On Monday afternoon, (September 15th) we motored down the Intercoastal Waterway to Atlantic Yacht Basin, about eight miles north of the North Carolina border. After adding extra fenders and creating a cobweb of lines between Ginger and the dock, we settled in to wait for the storm. Luckily we had a helping hand from Phil Lambert, the Outbound44 importer, and lots of borrowed stuff from our sister ship, Night Star, and the generous Jerry and Diane. See Hurricane Isabel photos.

Web Journal: August 1, 2003 - Every day Ginger becomes a bit more of a seaworthy liveaboard. She has been fitted with radar, GPS, and all the latest electronics. The galley looks like home, with cabinets full of cooking gear,spices, and staples. See the latest photos.

We have fine neighbors, several of them circumnavigators who have chosen Hampton as a "resting spot" between cruises. They have been great about handling the lines when we bring the big girl into her slip, and have offered the wisdom of the experienced on subjects such as dinghies, solar panels, etc. Part of the allure of sailing is the comraderie between sailors. There are few we meet that do not become instant friends. And, there is something special about cruising couples. They sincerely like each other. They have to! The space is to small and the responsibility on the water is too large for petty disagreements. Much like frontier folk, sailing couples work together for the success of the whole.

BlueWater Marina is a lively spot. Many of the resident tenants are powerboaters with monster Viking fishing boats. The rest are a mixture of power cruisers, trawlers, and sailboats. Half of the marina is devoted to transients, so week days are pretty quiet. The action starts on Friday afternoon when the weekenders start pouring in. One of the attractions of Chesapeake Bay is the wide range of marinas and anchorages within a day's trip. A group of boaters will decide on a destination then meet there for an overnight stay. By late afternoon the chairs and coolers are set up on dock. Soon after, the grills are at full blast. It's fun to sit on the bow and watch everyone come in, (docking maneuvers are always entertaining!) then sit in the cockpit and talk with folks as they stroll the docks after dinner. Because Ginger is a new boat, we always get lots of questions. That's when Mel and I go into sales mode. We love to show her off and drum up new business for the Outbound builder.

Hampton is an easy place to get to know. People are incredibly friendly. I have been called "baby" more times in a week than in years! My new-best-friends at the Walmart checkout have recommended shops for the freshest seafood, and everyone seems to have their favorite "back way" to avoid the traffic. After chatting with a woman in line at the grocery, I was actually thanked for moving to Hampton and adding to their economy.

We look forward to exploring the Hampton Roads area. I have found Hampton to be not only friendly, but full of art and culture. Besides the museums downtown and the antiques shops located in Phoebus, I have found a writers group that meets once a month at the Arts Center. People tell me I have just scratched the surface. They say once we get over to Portsmouth and Norfolk, we will be truly glad we located in the area. I'm sold already! Click here for the Hampton Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Web Journal: July 14, 2003 – After ten long months of waiting, Ginger put her keel in the waters of Chesapeake Bay on July 7th. We were waiting on the dock as the delivery captain brought her from the container ship to the boatyard where she was promptly hauled out for bottom paint, electronics installation and all the other items that go into commissioning. See photos.

Web Journal: June 1, 2003 – Drag out the white pants and white shoes. Summer is here! It’s time for sailing, and Ginger is on the container ship making her way from Shanghai to the Chesapeake Bay. The ship has GPS, and we can check its progress on the shipping line website. If all goes well, she will be in her new home at BlueWater Marina in Hampton, VA., by mid-July. See the latest Ginger photos.

We made a fast trip to Shanghai in early May to check her out and sign the final paperwork to take possession. We had planned to make the China trip a three week tour of Asia, a once in a lifetime adventure trip. Instead we made the trip in six days. With the SARS outbreak in full force, we didn’t want to take any chances. It was a hectic visit full of mask-wearing, hand-washing, and temperature-taking. See China photos. You can also read about our trip in the Cincinnati Inquirer Travel section, http://cincinnati.com/travel. Part 1 of the story appeared June 1st, with Part 2 on the following Sunday, June 8th. Read SARS stories.

The SARS story is the second of my articles to be published in the Cincinnati Inquirer. Thanks to high school buddy Ann Johnston Haas, my mid-life writing career has found a newspaper audience. On April 13th, the Inquirer printed a story on our trip to the Washington Olympic Peninsula. Click her to read the story.

April 1, 2003 – February and March blew by in a flash. One of our traditions is a surprise birthday weekend for Melvin, on or around his February 11th birthday. This year I surprised him one week early and really got the jump on the occasion.

In case you are not familiar with the drill, for the last nine years, I have shown up at Mel’s office on or around February 11th with a suitcase in the back of the car and the South Georgia pick up line, “Don’t argue baby, just get in the truck.” Then the fun begins.

Since he has no idea of the destination, we play 20 questions until he guesses the location. Whether a road trip or an airplane ride, the guessing game is fun. In the past years, I have taken him to North Carolina to look at a steam engine collection; Dallas, Texas, and Marion, South Carolina, for tours of sailboat factories; and Fort Lauderdale for a sailing weekend.

This year the surprise destination was Detroit and the Henry Ford Museum. We saw lots of cars, lots of steam engines, assembly lines, and cool old stuff. We also encountered 20 degree weather, slushy snow, and roads with lots of potholes. It was truly the “Motor City” experience. Then, on his birthday, Mel had the extra surprise of dinner with friends. As you can see by the photo, it was a grand celebration of Melvin's "double-nickle" birthday.

Our sailboat, Ginger, is almost ready for our inspection in Shanghai. Click on "44-10" after you click on latest construction photos. You will see that she is progressing nicely, and actually starting to look like a real sailing vessel. We are eager to get her stateside. As we wait, we collect stuff . . . dishes, towels, radios, pots & pans . . . a whole garage full of gear!

My writing is coming along well. I am producing more stories and doing more magazine queries to get them published. A recent assignment for Living Aboard Magazine took us to St. Helens, Oregon, (outside Portland) to interview Craig and Barbara Johnston. The Johnston’s are the owners of Sequoia, an Outbound44 sistership to our Ginger. They have taken the big leap from land to become liveaboard sailors, and are on their way to New Zealand, via the Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, and other South Pacific islands. See their website:www.svsequoia.com.

We took advantage of the location and spent our anniversary weekend, (10 years!) driving the Olympic Peninsula.

See Alaska Photos. And, please pay close attention to the photos with the rock bass and the salmon. I not only caught them, I cleaned and cooked them. We were excited about our “free meals” until we added up the cost of the rod, reel, bait, and license. In reality, they were the most expensive fish dinners in Alaska!

January 1, 2003 – Highlights: We stayed home this Christmas. Mel worked in the shop on his ’39 Ford hotrod.See our cars. I made pasta. We spent New Year's Eve with the "Huntington Transplants," (Mary Jean & Fuzzy Harrold, Mary and Norb Ore) See Photos

Mel and I are counting the months until we go to Shanghai for the final inspection of our dream boat, Ginger. Click on Ginger to see the boat under construction. To see other Outbound44’s, visit www.outbound44.com .

I am in my third semester at Kennesaw State University in Creative Writing. Click on Stories to see some of my work. My goal is to establish some publications that will accept my work after we retire and move onboard. Sitting on deck with a laptop . . . yea, I can handle that!