Warm and Fuzzy

Maggie:

Despite saying that we didn't want anything for Christmas, we drove back from Virginia loaded down with bags and boxes of new, sweet smelling stuff. Sweaters, books, shampoos, dog toys and of course, leftover Christmas food, made for the majority of our loot. Why is it that when you say you don't want anything for Christmas, no one ever believes you? 

It was nice to be warm, without relying on a wood stove or ceramic heaters blowing on your toes. I noticed how the majority of people are completely disconnected from the elements. Houses are warm, cars are warm, stores are warm, the only brief encounter with the outside comes from migrating between any of these destinations. Except if you are a smoker,in which case, due to the new laws and general smoking snobbery, you will be forced to spend some time outdoors. 

I love the outdoors, and even though it was freezing one day, it did warm up to almost 60 the next! We took that opportunity to feed the neighbor's horse some apples. That was my first time ever feeding a horse, they're so big and slobbery!  I was scared, but Rusty turned out to be a "sweet'olethang" and that made me feel warm and fuzzy...

Bitter boatwork

Maggie:

Well the first coat of bilge paint has been successfully applied to that beast of a spot under the cockpit! One more to go. Travis made some headway on the galley cabinets as well before the cold got to be too much and we headed home with our tails between our legs. I hate the f#&ing cold!

A Day in the Life

Maggie: 

The day started cold and dreary   

 

and things were not looking good

                  

                          

Breakfast first, then boat work

                    

Ready?

 

  Not ready!  Not Ready!      

 

 Just think happy thoughts!

                      

  What's Travis doing?

  And where's Chopper?

        

OUCH! This hurts!  

 Is this the worst job ever?

                        

No, remember this?    

 And how can you forget...?

       

I'll definitely try to forget this! 

 Can we go home now?

                      

Just as soon as I'm done           

with the mortise!             

Meanwhile, back at the house,

Billy awaits the "food givers"

     

Yeah! They're finally home!  

Billy! I missed you!

     

and now for an adult beverage

 and the days misery is forgotten!

Cold and Cranky

Travis:

It is the beginning of December and the cold has become nearly unbearable. This only makes us want to work harder to complete our boat and sail off to a more livable climate. But, as is so often true, what we want to do is not what we are capable of doing. We find ourselves moving slower as it gets colder and knowing that the "real cold" doesn't usually happen until February is no consolation. We are doing what we can, which is pale in comparison to what we would like to do. It is fair to say that winter is not among my favorite things. To add to the difficulty of the time, I have been working a real job now for two whole weeks. I honestly didn't think I would last this long. I get up in the dark at 5:30 am and have a nice breakfast, fix my lunch and go to build boats until it is nearly dark again. Now it seems all I do is sleep and work on boats. As a result of a forty hour a week job, I can now only afford two days a week working on Me Voy instead of three like before. So, this week we decided to take off for Oxford on Friday night at about 5:00pm. Bad Idea. Rush hour through Annapolis is worse than rush hour through Baltimore. We arrived at about 8:30 to a very dark and cold boat. Our little heaters did little to warm the space through the night but some good hard work warmed it right up on Saturday. I began work in the galley, starting to build some new cabinetry. The first step was to cut a dado by hand in a new post. There is nothing like whittling away at a nice piece of mahogany with primitive tools. It is a great way to warm yourself on a cold day. The post is cut and most of the pieces are installed in the cabinet so next week I should get it all ready for the new drawer, which I will build here at the shop beside the wood stove.

Cold spots

Maggie:

Well, it has done it. Its gotten cold. I never think that I'm going to live in a cold climate another year, and here it is, year four! in Baltimore. If it wasn't for Me Voy, we'd be living someplace warm, wishing for a boat. Instead, I wear long johns, and wool undershirts, and use hand tools to stay warm. 

                            

And there was plenty  to keep me warm the past couple of weekends. I kept on with the forward berth re-build, and am pleased with the results  so far.There is still one piece of floor to go, ...and then everything else!