Before we left the dock in Annapolis, we had to do a major clearing out of “stuff” from the boat. So many of our clothes, books, and things are stored and labeled in Rubbermaid Totes, and kept graciously at several friends, homes, as well as in the storage space back at the studio.

But I had to stop at certain things. Knickknacks, or gifts that I could not, would not let go from the boat. Some of these are sentimental, and as trivial as it may seem, they are in my book, important. I kept a little squirrel made of some sort of dried grass that was a gift from my sister Jackie.  A little stuffed Alpaca that was a gift from my Brother Keith. A little statue of ST Christopher that was a gift from my friend Dave Ewing.  a little tiny wooden Viking from my aunt Edith.  Pewter candle sticks, a gift from Robert, a little St Gertrude  statue,( protector of cats), a gift from Kim at Art Things, Russian spoons, a gift from my friend Myra, stainless  steel martini glasses, a gift  from Eastport Liquors, ceramic jars of Nadine’s Cremes, a gift from Claudia and Nadine, and a few other things that are small and special and that all live on our Schotskies shelf that is easily stowed when we simply put up the table.  And we promised each other , no more. That’s it. Done. Shelf is full. (which is actually really cool because they are so neatly jammed together they don’t go flying around)

But then I fell in love with the Azores!  I love those islands. I love the look of the landscape! Steep green hills full of cows, low flat pastures, full of cows, steep cliffs, with cows on top, incredibly cool historic towns, some with cows just milling around. Amazing coasts with jewel like blue water crashing up against black lava rock, old funky harbors with brightly painted fishing boats, steep lava stone streets with bunches of old guys sitting around their porches discussing the days,  lively farmers markets, with cows right outside, dark stone farm houses surrounded by blue azaleas, and miles and miles and miles af blue azaleas, (like no where else in the world!) International sailboats with friendly sailors offering kindness and help in so many ways,  And cheese!  Wow is this cheese here good!  And each island has their own special cheese. And each bite is eyes rolling back wonderful. It’s made on each island.  And it comes from the cows!   Cows are so important in the Azores. They allow the islanders to be self sufficient with the making of cheese, butter and milk. Even the milk is really really good. But I don’t know if words can describe the cheese. 

we’ve made quite a few purchases while in Horta, Vela, and Angra. ( I did get shoes, OK? And they were a really good deal). And I bought a shirt from Pete’s Café. But the only reminder of the cows that we purchased has been cheese, butter and milk.  Lot’s of cheese. Which we will eat and then it’s gone!

So when I saw the little 2 inch black and white fuzzy  cow Schostky for less than 4 Euros, I had to get it. So now we have a ship’s cow, crammed in between the ship’s squirrel and the ship’s alpaca on the ship’s knickknack shelf! And every time I look at it I can think of ALL the cows that we saw on the islands (Terciera has 90,000 cows and 60,000 people)

And that’s it ! Fort Pit! No more knickknacks!!!!!! 

Until the next stop.