Category Archives: Pacific NW

Feb23

TENDER TUESDAYS -PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #11

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TENDER TUESDAYS -PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #11

BRING THAT BRAND NEW

CATALINA 28 HOME!

I know, I know, it isn’t even Tuesday! It appears cross-country skiing was a bit much for our Prairie Girl…. Landing on her tailbone, not only caused great tenderness (specifically, “a pain in the butt”), but the whiplash from landing so hard, brought on 5 days of tension headaches due to the impact on her neck muscles…. SHEESH….

The last post Prairie Girl wrote announced the purchase (scheming) husband made of a brand new Catalina 28 Mark 11 Anniversary Edition on their anniversary. (Blog Archives, Dec. 13, 2016) It was purchased in Portland, Oregon in early spring, and husband then had to figure out how to get it home to Thunderbird Marina … Read the rest

Feb5

SNOW DAY- A BLAST of WINTER!

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SNOW DAY- A BLAST of WINTER!

Waking up to a WINTER WONDERLAND on Vancouver Island, after just returning from Central America and the Caribbean, might make one think that this was CRUEL!  Not so! In fact, it was like waking up to a birthday gift!

mary_snow_day

After moving  to B.C. from the prairies, Mary found SNOW DAYS absolutely fascinating.  During her first year of teaching in Horseshoe Bay, a SNOW DAY was declared.  Declared, that is, for the students, as it was presumed too dangerous for them to be dropped off at school.  She “pooh-poohed” this nonsense until she had to make the drive from Deep Cove all the way out to Horseshoe Bay, including the cut (a very, very steep incline in North Van) … Read the rest

Dec13

TENDER TUESDAYS-Prairie Girl Series #10

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TENDER TUESDAYS-Prairie Girl Series #10

Happy Anniversary Prairie Girl–

                   We’ve Bought a New Boat!

For those of you who have been following the Prairie Girl posts on Tender Tuesdays, you’ll recall the post, “WE BOUGHT an OLD TUB! … REALLY?… REALLY!” I won’t mention which Yachting magazine is publishing it on their last page of the January Issue… but some of you will figure it out, I’m sure… The reason I mention it, other than the fact that I’m proud to have it published, is because Prairie Girl and husband sold their OLD TUB (after completely refurbishing it and enjoying several memorable seasons with it). Hence, the title of this post–“HAPPY ANNIVERSAY PRAIRIE GIRL– WE’VE BOUGHT A NEW BOAT!”        newsailboat

One … Read the rest

Dec6

TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #9

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TENDER TUESDAYS – PRAIRIE GIRL SERIES #9

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN STERN TYING!

(Leave the SAMBUCA at home!)

Somehow or other, Prairie Girl and husband had not had the need to stern tie and perhaps weren’t exactly up to speed with all the requirements. As it turned out, they decided to go into Pirates Cove Marine Park on De Courcy Island, as they headed toward home after cruising the Southern Gulf Islands. Upon their arrival, it was apparent they’d found a popular destination for boaters with children. Such a great place for swimming, water sports and hiking- no wonder all the boating vacationers had picked it! The cove was jammed, as most boaters had decided to come in (at least those that didn’t hit the … Read the rest

Nov28

TENDER TUESDAYS

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TENDER TUESDAYS

SILVER LINING in WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

BOOK LAUNCH

THE BOOK LAUNCH DAYDREAM VERSUS REALITY

You can imagine it, can’t you? The venue chosen is unique, as the perfect spot for drawing the niche of people for which one’s book was written. (MARTIN MARINE –so ideal as a long established North Shore family business that boaters frequent.) It’s in a community that both the author and illustrator had lived in and sailed from, as contributors for many years. Thus, a full house of familiar faces was anticipated coming through the door to share in the celebration of their book. Perfect! Right? (Reality Check: Perfect on a sunny spring day- YES! Maybe not so perfect on a cold, … Read the rest

Nov23

IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

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IT’S a BOOK LAUNCH in a MARINE STORE!

HEAD– It’s the BOAT TOILET, okay?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humourous cartoons and a cheeky glossary! Mary Laudien, a fourth time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park, has just released, WHO’S the CAPTAIN? Anyone who has ever sailed or cruised with kids aboard will relate to the cartoons and reminiscing of those adventures on the water will be inevitable!

mary-anim-character

Mary didn’t start sailing until her late forties, missing out on the fun of cruising with her sons, as children. Many of her school families had extraordinary sailing adventures to share with her. As she cruised the Pacific NW on their Catalina … Read the rest

Nov20

BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING

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BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING

WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

AHOY ALL BOATING FAMILIES!

A BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING EVENT at MARTIN MARINE

WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humorous cartoons and a sassy glossary! A delightful and recognizable story for any family that sails together.

whos_the-_captain_cover-336widejpg-1

            – Written by Mary Laudien, a 4th time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park.

            -Cartoons by the talented, Dave Alavoine of Pacific Yachting Magazine’s COCKPIT CONFESSION.

DATE: Saturday, November 26th

TIME: 12:30 – 2:00

LOCATION: Martin Marine Services Ltd., 1176 Welch Street, North Vancouver

BOOK PRICE: only $14.99

For more information go to: https://www.marylaudien.com or email: mlaudien@outlook.com

DRAWS during the launch

… Read the rest
Nov10

AHOY ALL BOATING FAMILIES!

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AHOY ALL BOATING FAMILIES!

A BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING EVENT

at

MARTIN MARINE

WHO’S the CAPTAIN?

FINALLY! A FAMILY SAILING BOOK that cracks the code of nautical terms through humorous cartoons and a sassy glossary!  A delightful and recognizable story for any family that sails together.

– Written by Mary Laudien, a 4th time B.C. children’s author and former Principal of West Bay and Cypress Park.
– Cartoons by the talented, Dave Alavoine of Pacific Yachting Magazine’s COCKPIT CONFESSION.
whos_the-_captain_cover-336widejpg-1 

DATE: Saturday, November 26th

TIME: 12:30 – 2:00

LOCATION: Martin Marine Services Ltd., 1176 Welch Street, North Vancouver

BOOK PRICE: only $14.99 CDN. ($13.99 USD)

For more information go to: https://www.marylaudien.com or email: mlaudien@outlook.com

DRAWS during the launch program… even

… Read the rest
Nov8

TENDER TUESDAYS

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TENDER TUESDAYS

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? BOOK LAUNCH & SIGNING in a Marine Store!

Mary Laudien has been a super engaged author these days! She and Dave Alavoine are busy preparing for their BOOK LAUNCH of WHO’S the CAPTAIN?  The event will be held at Martin Marine  (1176 Welch Street in North Vancouver) on Saturday, Nov. 26th from 12:30pm-2:00pm. Martin Marine is the PERFECT venue to launch their nautical book, as a long established North Shore ‘family business for boating families’.

Dave Alavoine is a long term North Shore resident, sailor, sailboat builder, former British Merchant Marine…and most importantly, Pacific Yachting Magaizine’s nautical cartoonist! Mary Laudien is a  4th time B.C. children’s author and the former proud principal of West Bay and

… Read the rest
Oct28

FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS

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FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS

WHO’S the CAPTAIN? is FINALLY AVAILABLE!

What is FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS?

It’s a Picture Book/ Middle Grade Book Review post that will be shared every other Friday.  I intended to start this much sooner, but publishing WHO’S the CAPTAIN? seemed to take over my life for the last year.  Now that it’s finally available, I can start posting regularly the picture books and early novels that I cherished reading with students when I was a teacher/principal in West Vancouver schools.  I know many of you are always seeking out worthwhile, entertaining reads for you to share with your kids or grand-kids.  That’s the purpose of FUN KIDLIT FRIDAYS... to introduce you to KIDLIT that’s FUN! I‘ll … Read the rest