It's About Time...

Yes, I know I am way overdue on updating the blog so let's just call it better late than never and move on.


So, we'll start with the new dog: Ranger has become the newest participant in our live-aboard life.  She's become quite the boat dog!  She loves going on dinghy rides and as you can see, she's quite brave...and well balanced! She's been a little shy and slightly skittish around people, but she's slowly adjusting to her new environment and being a family dog. We have to figure that she's never ridden in a car with her head out the window, never been asked to come sleep in the bed, never had a squeaky toy, and certainly never eaten ice cream...which by the way, she is mad for!

 One thing is for certain...she adores her new daddy, and the feeling is quite mutual!

She's a beautiful dog, sleek and svelte, and she's incredibly sweet and affectionate.  It will be interesting to see how she develops now that she has a home.

Got a littler dog and a bigger boat!

 Alright...next big news:  we bought another boat!  It's a 44' Marine Trader, Mark II Cruiser and it's practically palatial! With 2 staterooms with queen sized beds, a bathroom, kitchen, and living room - we are living large!  I love having a living room!

Now it needs some work...it is a 1979 boat after all. It's had some water damage, could use a new coat of paint, and our recent bought of wet weather made it pretty obvious that it leaks like a sieve, but we are up for the challenge.  Jeff has already started work tearing up the teak decks and is revamping the narrow steps into the galley as I type.

Plans are already in the works for a new upstairs enclosure and hard top complete with solar panels and a wind generator.

The washer and dryer have been given away to a good home and shelves for storage have been installed...a much better use of the space. The antiquated TV's, microwave, VCR, and freezer have also been relocated to grateful recipients. I've already picked out the new fridge/freezer/ice-maker combo that is in our near future, and a giant flat screen is in the mail.

So here's a bunch of pics of "Ze SkunK" - the name the trawler came with - and I'll keep you posted with lots more pics of the progress of "DOGONIT"...the name it'll have on it soon enough.  I guess I'll be changing the name on the blog...next time it'll be Life on the M/V DOGONIT, and someone else can start a life on the S/V Thin line.  It is for sale.  Anybody want to buy a really nice sailboat?

Spare Bedroom

Master Bedroom...nice cushy, big bed!

Living Room/Salon [facing forward.]

Kitchen/Galley

Fly Bridge/Upstairs

Back Deck

Inside Driving Station/Side Door

Looking Forward

 

Old School VHF...My favorite for doing the Cruiser's Net!

OK...so one last thing, but certainly not least, we had our first guests on the new boat.  The Chambers', Dammit Janet and Poor Donnie, came for a visit. You may remember them from past blogs...Donnie and Jeff were partners once upon a time ago on the Police Department and Janet was the one who wrote notes all over our stuff on a previous visit. [ See Good Food and Good Company & Panty Gram and a Haircut]

We didn't have the best weather while they were here, and our guest accommodations might have been a little drippy, but we had a great time nonetheless!  We took dinghy rides in the rain, dropped them off on a deserted island, rolled dice, ate a lot of Kale...brought fresh from their garden in Kentucky, listened to some awesome music, drank our livers into submission, and thoroughly enjoyed each others company!

One of the best things we did was Sunday brunch on Little Palm Island...wow! The food was fabulous, the scenery divine, the service impeccable, the champagne ice cold!

The weather...well, we'll go for so-so on that one...but beautiful anyway!

 Miss you guys!

Poor Donnie And Dammit Janet

Much love! ~~>








So, that's all I've got for now.

Until next time!
Everyone take care!