Sailing Vacation Memories

Good morning all. We have a heat wave hitting us right about now. A balmy 8 degrees above and the overcast sky is carrying with it the promise of a little new snow today. There is a very light snow falling in the door yard as I write. There is no wind to speak of. Sunday mornings are a lazy time. Sawyer is building with his magnets while Courtney is putting on a play with her paper dolls. As soon as I am done with this I will make us all pancakes drizzled all over with our own homemade maple syrup. Yesterday I stacked wood in the shop as promised and Sawyer and I skimmed coated the ice skating rink in the afternoon. He makes his own Zamboni out of a garden hose and a sled. He and I also took a walk in the woods “hunting” squirrels. They have nothing to fear, believe you me. Jen spent the day stitching doll clothes for an upcoming auction. her doll creations are quite amazing.

Meanwhile, back in time, it is July 13, 2005, sailing the Maine coast:

“Wednesday a lite southerly wind forced us to tack out of the Western Way with the last of the outgoing tide. The warm moist southerly flow was fueling the fog machine offshore but we managed to stay clear of most of the thick of it by hugging the islands. Still it was a day for sweaters and a great day for a picnic. We anchored that afternoon early enough to get ashore to explore a small island with the biggest fern meadow I have ever scene. Hay scented ferns cover the top of this island and fill the senses with their fragrance and lush vibrant green. I couldn't help taking a million pictures of them for everywhere I turned their patterns changed and flowed between the spruce trees and granite ledges. We feasted on lobster on the beach until we could eat no more. Back aboard we play music and cribbage and watched the fog quietly roll in once again.”

Have a great day! Be well. Do good.

Comments

Anne of MA said…

I am having trouble getting the 'puter to accept my messages--Hope you don't get multiples !!
I'm DREAMING of LOBSTER_Bakes !!
Anne of MA

January 28, 2007 at 9:35 AM

Hail Mary

My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui

Swimming Anyone?

Good morning everyone. Winter is still here in New England though it seems to be taking a rest these days. We have enjoyed a little bit of a thaw. We still have snow covering our field but it is thinning out in the sunny patches. Mary Day rests comfortably in the harbor, bilges dry, cover intact, waiting for the crew to return. Another busy week has passed so I will get you up to speed on everything that is happening here at the global headquarters. Jen is putting the finishing touches on year end taxes. Blockfest 2008 is finally finished. The blocks have received quite the massaging. And while we have the off-white paint out we are starting in on the lifeline stanchions, the davits, and a few other miscellaneous parts. Alex asked me last night how we were doing with our pace. We are doing great but in the back of my mind I know that there is never enough time to do it all. Having perfectionist tendencies is a curse. I want to do it all and know we will never have enough time. There se

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Good morning everyone. The sun has been kind to us these past few days and the crew has been spending much time aloft prepping and painting the mast heads and tarring the rig as part of our annual fall maintenance schedule. They were a little silly on tar fumes by the end of the day hence the rat board dance moves. Am I the only one who is reminded of Willy Wonka's little friends at the sight of the crew in their tyvek suits? Schoona-loompas? The smell of tar, after all, is what we sailors live for. Extracted from the stumps and roots of pine trees through dry distillation pine tar will cure what ails you especially some skin conditions and any emotional maladies from being too long away from the sea. All we know for sure is that Mary Day’s rigging is kept hail and hearty by coats of tar mixed with boiled linseed oil. Notice that I specified boiled linseed oil and not raw linseed oil. Tar mix with raw linseed oil will not “kick”. Don’t ask me how I know this… just take my wo

Sailing Vacations
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