A couple of people have come into the shop to see if I’m okay. “You haven’t been blogging” they say, “We’re worried something happened to you”. How wonderfully sweet I thought. I did have a spill on-board resulting in bruises and bloody knuckles, scraped knee and sore elbow after being dragged down hard onto the bow by the anchor rope, landing on cleats and a winch, but that wasn’t stopping me from blogging….I confess I just can’t fit everything in with a limited 24 hour day.
Fun is the culprit. I’m experiencing a bit of it and have decided I really like it. Maybe I should have tried it on long ago, got used to the fit in my youth instead of squeezing into it now. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m as boring as watching ice melt but I’m coming out of my cocoon like a late blooming butterfly. This boat is changing my life in many ways, mostly good, some not so good.
In the not so good category, I haven’t been writing like I should, but this is only temporary and I’ll be back at the helm again soon. Secondly, I haven’t pulled a weed this year. My gardens are a freak show and although guilt pummels me as I go in and out of the back door, averting my eyes from all the dried death and despair, I’m sieged by remorse as I realize I can’t do it all. My poor hydrangea bush is being towered by goldenrod's and giant grass and the once beautiful flowers struggle for space in the vicious takeover of unwanted interlopers. I’ve proudly nurtured my gardens for years and now they lay in ruins after only one season. I’m so sorry my little lovelies, I’m being selfish this year and have forsaken you……please understand that momma needs to blossom too.
The boat takes a lot of time and effort, displacing all else in its wake and although most would view it as work, I love every minute of it. She gives back far more than I give her and keeping her fit will guarantee many more years of pleasure. The reward for this toil is sailing, being out on the water, the wind in my face, anchored at some island, making wonderful memories with my hubby and pups to sustain me over the long winter.
Another downside is I’ve been sunburned recently on a jaunt to Andrew’s Island where we rowed ashore to swim with the pups and although I didn’t think we were out long enough to do damage, my anemic skin that hasn’t seen the light of day since childhood got pretty fried. You think I should know better but the sun and I aren’t that familiar with one another, I’ve never been outdoorsy; you’d think I have vampire ancestry the way I avoid it.
On the great side of good, the boat is everything I hoped it would be. I become a different person out there, the kind I’ve always envied from afar. The kind of gal my hubby thought he married, carefree and adventurous. We’ve been sailing around the islands of the bay, familiarizing ourselves with the depths and shoals surrounding them, visiting areas I’ve only seen by land, getting to know the best places to drop anchor, time away from home in the cottage on the sea.
We’ve been spending quite a few nights on board whether on the mooring or anchored off our house or beside an island. All the teak is installed now so we have tables to dine on and I’ve been taking out novels to read, filling the down time with adventure and excitement while I lie around like royalty. The current read is “I Let You Go” and it’s a page turner. I read, grow tired and then my book flops on my chest while I cat nap, wake up, yawn, wipe the drool from my chin and read some more. All our needs are met so it is easy to languish in the peace, serenity and comfort of our rocking womb.
The other day hubby was napping with me in the cockpit. The pups were lying beside us, Fiz on daddy’s pillow and shoulder. We had been chatting but slowly words ceased and we both drifted off. All of a sudden he started as a warm, wetness fanned out from below Fiz and soaked his shirt and pillow. He woke me saying, “Poor Fiz wet herself” and picked her up to hand her to me. I cradled Fiz who was wet underneath and took her to the pee pad to see if there was anything left to flow. As a puppy she used to pee while in a deep sleep. Her sphincter muscle was underdeveloped but over time she was able to make it through the night without dribbling. The horror that it might be back was unsettling. My poor girl would be doomed to wear diapers was all I could think of as she squatted over the pad to drain the rest of her tank. I hugged her then carried her back to the cockpit all concerned and filled with love for my baby girl. Daddy took her below to rinse her while I stripped the pillowcase and prepared to wash it. The pee was darker than usual, browner more than golden which gave me a fright. What horrible problem did my baby have, was it her kidneys?
I don’t know what possessed me to sniff the stain, don’t ask why, I just did. A smile spread across my lips as all the tension melted away. My beautiful Fiz was going to live! I said to hubby who was equally concerned because we all know that the wonderful, red headed Fiz is his unspoken favourite.
I say with a smirk, “Gee, this stain sure smells like Baileys and coffee.”
He took a whiff and then had to chuckle too. He’d been drinking coffee with a hit of Baileys and set it above his head on the combing top. After he’d fallen asleep, the mug tipped and leaked the now warm liquid all over him and poor little Fiz. Thank goodness for my sense of smell because it saved us a vet bill and poor Fiz a lot of unnecessary probing.
The dogs seem to love the boat. They obey and never go up on deck unless we accompany them for pee breaks. It sure makes life easier than having to row ashore a couple of times a day. We still take them to land at least once for a good jaunt and sniff, stretch their little legs and explore exciting places they’ve not smelled before. It’s an adventure filled life for a dog, all this comfort while hanging with mom and dad. We are waiting for netting to arrive to cover the lifelines to prevent them from falling overboard. It hasn’t happened to date and we want to circumvent it from happening at all. I don’t think I could be on the boat if something bad happened so prevention is key. Once it is installed they will be free to roam the deck anytime they choose, except of course when we are out in heavy wind and choppy seas.
We are still spending a great deal of time on maintenance. Considering that a boat is surrounded by water I assumed it would remain pristine but they get as dirty as a house. Sand and dirt from our feet gets walked aboard and food crumbs, ocean salt and dust cover everything. There’s enough pastry flakes under the teak floor grates in the cockpit from all the butter tarts we're eating to make a pie. I’m constantly wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors. I’m glad it finally rained to wash away the salt spray that coated everything on deck, dulling down the stainless and the windows. Even the hull was covered with a film of dried white residue. I washed it off the last time we were out by rowing around and wiping it down. Now the rain will have given her a good freshwater shower so she is gleaming once again.
Preparation to go for a sail takes hours of work. Menu planning, shopping and precooking meals takes a good deal of time. Then packing it up and hauling it aboard before any fun can begin. I’m getting more comfortable with the propane stove and as time goes on I’ll prepare less at home and cook more on board. On longer hauls I’d have to cook as we go but for now this seems to be the most efficient way to do it. I’ve been making soups, casseroles, and lasagna, items that freeze well so I can grab meals quickly and heat them on board. I have been making breakfast on board, bacon and eggs and toast with this wonderful invention that sits over a propane burner and toasts four pieces of bread at once.
The one thing I’ve discovered...watching the weather is like betting on the horses. Chances of predicting a favourable outcome takes luck. Even the weather people can’t get it right. How they can predict anything past what’s happening in the present is a mystery. It’s seems to be all guess work by the way it changes so quickly. Tracking a storm is one thing, you can see it coming across the provinces by satellites but pin pointing local weather patterns is like dating someone fickle, you never know what they’ll do next. Sometimes they get it right but are off on the timing. One evening we rushed to shore as the lightning and thunder pounded around us. Being on a boat is relatively safe but our pups were home and Honey shakes like a vibrator with each clap. We thought we were safe doing a bit of work when the experts said it would begin at three in the morning and here was it was only 7:30 pm. We rowed the dingy at Mach speed as the black clouds chased us, the lightening streaked across the sky getting closer and closer, the thunder roaring in our ears. I've discovered one of the biggest drawbacks to owning a sailboat is the weather. Always waiting on the best of times, to experience the best of times.
Fun is the culprit. I’m experiencing a bit of it and have decided I really like it. Maybe I should have tried it on long ago, got used to the fit in my youth instead of squeezing into it now. Anyone who knows me will tell you I’m as boring as watching ice melt but I’m coming out of my cocoon like a late blooming butterfly. This boat is changing my life in many ways, mostly good, some not so good.
In the not so good category, I haven’t been writing like I should, but this is only temporary and I’ll be back at the helm again soon. Secondly, I haven’t pulled a weed this year. My gardens are a freak show and although guilt pummels me as I go in and out of the back door, averting my eyes from all the dried death and despair, I’m sieged by remorse as I realize I can’t do it all. My poor hydrangea bush is being towered by goldenrod's and giant grass and the once beautiful flowers struggle for space in the vicious takeover of unwanted interlopers. I’ve proudly nurtured my gardens for years and now they lay in ruins after only one season. I’m so sorry my little lovelies, I’m being selfish this year and have forsaken you……please understand that momma needs to blossom too.
The boat takes a lot of time and effort, displacing all else in its wake and although most would view it as work, I love every minute of it. She gives back far more than I give her and keeping her fit will guarantee many more years of pleasure. The reward for this toil is sailing, being out on the water, the wind in my face, anchored at some island, making wonderful memories with my hubby and pups to sustain me over the long winter.
Another downside is I’ve been sunburned recently on a jaunt to Andrew’s Island where we rowed ashore to swim with the pups and although I didn’t think we were out long enough to do damage, my anemic skin that hasn’t seen the light of day since childhood got pretty fried. You think I should know better but the sun and I aren’t that familiar with one another, I’ve never been outdoorsy; you’d think I have vampire ancestry the way I avoid it.
On the great side of good, the boat is everything I hoped it would be. I become a different person out there, the kind I’ve always envied from afar. The kind of gal my hubby thought he married, carefree and adventurous. We’ve been sailing around the islands of the bay, familiarizing ourselves with the depths and shoals surrounding them, visiting areas I’ve only seen by land, getting to know the best places to drop anchor, time away from home in the cottage on the sea.
We’ve been spending quite a few nights on board whether on the mooring or anchored off our house or beside an island. All the teak is installed now so we have tables to dine on and I’ve been taking out novels to read, filling the down time with adventure and excitement while I lie around like royalty. The current read is “I Let You Go” and it’s a page turner. I read, grow tired and then my book flops on my chest while I cat nap, wake up, yawn, wipe the drool from my chin and read some more. All our needs are met so it is easy to languish in the peace, serenity and comfort of our rocking womb.
The other day hubby was napping with me in the cockpit. The pups were lying beside us, Fiz on daddy’s pillow and shoulder. We had been chatting but slowly words ceased and we both drifted off. All of a sudden he started as a warm, wetness fanned out from below Fiz and soaked his shirt and pillow. He woke me saying, “Poor Fiz wet herself” and picked her up to hand her to me. I cradled Fiz who was wet underneath and took her to the pee pad to see if there was anything left to flow. As a puppy she used to pee while in a deep sleep. Her sphincter muscle was underdeveloped but over time she was able to make it through the night without dribbling. The horror that it might be back was unsettling. My poor girl would be doomed to wear diapers was all I could think of as she squatted over the pad to drain the rest of her tank. I hugged her then carried her back to the cockpit all concerned and filled with love for my baby girl. Daddy took her below to rinse her while I stripped the pillowcase and prepared to wash it. The pee was darker than usual, browner more than golden which gave me a fright. What horrible problem did my baby have, was it her kidneys?
I don’t know what possessed me to sniff the stain, don’t ask why, I just did. A smile spread across my lips as all the tension melted away. My beautiful Fiz was going to live! I said to hubby who was equally concerned because we all know that the wonderful, red headed Fiz is his unspoken favourite.
I say with a smirk, “Gee, this stain sure smells like Baileys and coffee.”
He took a whiff and then had to chuckle too. He’d been drinking coffee with a hit of Baileys and set it above his head on the combing top. After he’d fallen asleep, the mug tipped and leaked the now warm liquid all over him and poor little Fiz. Thank goodness for my sense of smell because it saved us a vet bill and poor Fiz a lot of unnecessary probing.
The dogs seem to love the boat. They obey and never go up on deck unless we accompany them for pee breaks. It sure makes life easier than having to row ashore a couple of times a day. We still take them to land at least once for a good jaunt and sniff, stretch their little legs and explore exciting places they’ve not smelled before. It’s an adventure filled life for a dog, all this comfort while hanging with mom and dad. We are waiting for netting to arrive to cover the lifelines to prevent them from falling overboard. It hasn’t happened to date and we want to circumvent it from happening at all. I don’t think I could be on the boat if something bad happened so prevention is key. Once it is installed they will be free to roam the deck anytime they choose, except of course when we are out in heavy wind and choppy seas.
We are still spending a great deal of time on maintenance. Considering that a boat is surrounded by water I assumed it would remain pristine but they get as dirty as a house. Sand and dirt from our feet gets walked aboard and food crumbs, ocean salt and dust cover everything. There’s enough pastry flakes under the teak floor grates in the cockpit from all the butter tarts we're eating to make a pie. I’m constantly wiping down surfaces and sweeping floors. I’m glad it finally rained to wash away the salt spray that coated everything on deck, dulling down the stainless and the windows. Even the hull was covered with a film of dried white residue. I washed it off the last time we were out by rowing around and wiping it down. Now the rain will have given her a good freshwater shower so she is gleaming once again.
Preparation to go for a sail takes hours of work. Menu planning, shopping and precooking meals takes a good deal of time. Then packing it up and hauling it aboard before any fun can begin. I’m getting more comfortable with the propane stove and as time goes on I’ll prepare less at home and cook more on board. On longer hauls I’d have to cook as we go but for now this seems to be the most efficient way to do it. I’ve been making soups, casseroles, and lasagna, items that freeze well so I can grab meals quickly and heat them on board. I have been making breakfast on board, bacon and eggs and toast with this wonderful invention that sits over a propane burner and toasts four pieces of bread at once.
The one thing I’ve discovered...watching the weather is like betting on the horses. Chances of predicting a favourable outcome takes luck. Even the weather people can’t get it right. How they can predict anything past what’s happening in the present is a mystery. It’s seems to be all guess work by the way it changes so quickly. Tracking a storm is one thing, you can see it coming across the provinces by satellites but pin pointing local weather patterns is like dating someone fickle, you never know what they’ll do next. Sometimes they get it right but are off on the timing. One evening we rushed to shore as the lightning and thunder pounded around us. Being on a boat is relatively safe but our pups were home and Honey shakes like a vibrator with each clap. We thought we were safe doing a bit of work when the experts said it would begin at three in the morning and here was it was only 7:30 pm. We rowed the dingy at Mach speed as the black clouds chased us, the lightening streaked across the sky getting closer and closer, the thunder roaring in our ears. I've discovered one of the biggest drawbacks to owning a sailboat is the weather. Always waiting on the best of times, to experience the best of times.
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