Wow- Boy, did it snow today! I was SO disappointed to not have any snow yesterday because we missed Elaine's graduation at her church and I didn't get any pictures I wanted to get. But as I used the bathroom this morning, I found no water. My first hint. As I was getting the gallon of water from the fridge, I looked out at the old Walnut tree by our cabin and it was covered in snow! I woke Brett and he spent a couple hours getting the water back up and running and getting a fire going in the other house that Rick and Elaine just moved out of. The snow was deep and the roads iced.


I pulled up my email and let my boss know I wouldn't be in today. (I realized later that she flew to New York on Sunday! They are having a horrible winter storm and I am worried her and Courtney are ok)
Though we were trapped, I enjoyed the day, taking hundreds of pictures. I'll post some on my PICTURE tab...

We picked up a Carbon Fiber tripod and it worked WONDERS today for the night shots and the landscape. I have to move fast for the birds, so I have to work on my camera shake.
(NEVER seen Benny in snow! He wandered around in it for about ten minutes!)

We've decided to drive back to Louisiana. It was a big decision as we lose a ton of money from the airline tickets but it was way easier and less complicated and less stressful to drive with Benny and the expensive equipment we're taking back. I am really excited. This will be SO much easier on Benny and for our equipment. We will also be able to pick up the folding bikes we've been wanting and drive them back to the boat. I am looking forward to the photographic opportunities on the road as well.

I am amazed how things are coming together. The boat is much more prepared than she was when we left her in August. And we are much more appreciative and grateful for the ability to live our dream.

Just Stuff Goin On

I got to play with my camera today and last night. I'll post pictures on my PICTURES tab.

Night before last, we went to Fred Meyer for cat food and I veered over to the silly stuffed animal claw game. I plunked in two quarters to win a stupid stuffed animal. I lost so Brett dropped two quareters more in and grabbed the stick. He aimed for the ugliest toy and guess what?.. Yup. We are now the proud owners of a George Jetson doll. It was great fun though. He said he'd never won anything before. I laughed hysterically through the store as I played with the cheap stuffed doll, his nose wagging at every step. When we got home, we tossed the toy at Benny. He immediately clawed at it. "Well, I guess we won't be giving it to Toys For Tots" I laughed. Three days later, he is still in love with George. Brett insists it's the orange hair. So we might have to fiind a pocket in our backpack for the dollar entertainment.

I had my last show yesterday at the work craft fair. I forgot half my supplies and threw together an improvised display setup. I didn't have lights or earring racks. Even with five other jewelers, I did VERY well. I had a LOT of fun and ended the jewelry shows with a great note. I had made a bunch of time consuming clay pens for the show. Brett helped me sand ten pens on Thursday night. None of them sold so I gave most of them away to the vendors. They were very pretty. I had run out of pens to use so I grabbed five of the other pens to use to make some more pens. They melted and shrunk in the oven, warping and cracking the expensive foil and clay around them. Before I could throw them out, Brett adopted them. Tonight he started making things with the clay foul ups. I gave him a crash course in clay and he has been spending the evening making new, wild creations. I think he is really enjoying it. I'll post a picture of his "pen" creations soon.

I spent the afternoon running errands in town since it it's supposed to snow tomorrow. On my way to the camera store and bookstore, I was driving the loop toward the mall off of Delta Highway and noticed a guy walking acrossed the highway with a gas can. I pulled over quickly and offered him a ride. I have NEVER done that as I have always believed it dangerous. But the poor young guy was walking around in 34 degree weather with no coat on, just a sweater and jeans. There was no gas station for at least three miles. So I got brave and offered him a ride. As he got in the car, I ordered him not to murder me. I drove him to get gas and drove him back toward his car. As he got out of the car, I noticed his lambskin slippers. He wasn't even wearing shoes! I called Brett to assure him I'd not been murdered and continued on to the mall. It felt good to help someone in need.

We're supposed to be plummeted by snow and cold weather tomorrow and I am very excited to get some awesome snow pictures with the new camera! We were going to go to church with Elaine but the weather looks very bleek for tomorrow and it would be very dangerous to drive to the church in Albany. We're bummed to not be there to support her graduation. She has spent three months in preparation for becoming a minister.

As I was shopping for groceries to stock up tonight, I found lobster tails on sale for 4.99 a tail. I'd never made them before so I took two tails and a free recipe. I excitedly showed Brett my new treasures to try. Eating lobster is very common on the boat. I had never had lobster and was excited to finally try it at a reasonable price. We cooked it together. It was good! Very sweet. I had no idea. It wasn't very much meat for the price but it was tasty. It did confirm I have a slight allergy to shellfish as the bubble developed in my throat that I used to get with Texas shrimp. But it's mild and not going to stop me from eating seafood while we cruise.

I hope everyone is having a blessed season. I am struggling with the holidays but I am hanging in there. I am anxious to get back to our dream. But I have a feeling, you already knew that. ;o)

I got to play with my camera today and last night. I'll post pictures on my PICTURES tab.

Night before last, we went to Fred Meyer for cat food and I veered over to the silly stuffed animal claw game. I plunked in two quarters to win a stupid stuffed animal. I lost so Brett dropped two quareters more in and grabbed the stick. He aimed for the ugliest toy and guess what?.. Yup. We are now the proud owners of a George Jetson doll. It was great fun though. He said he'd never won anything before. I laughed hysterically through the store as I played with the cheap stuffed doll, his nose wagging at every step. When we got home, we tossed the toy at Benny. He immediately clawed at it. "Well, I guess we won't be giving it to Toys For Tots" I laughed. Three days later, he is still in love with George. Brett insists it's the orange hair. So we might have to fiind a pocket in our backpack for the dollar entertainment.

I had my last show yesterday at the work craft fair. I forgot half my supplies and threw together an improvised display setup. I didn't have lights or earring racks. Even with five other jewelers, I did VERY well. I had a LOT of fun and ended the jewelry shows with a great note. I had made a bunch of time consuming clay pens for the show. Brett helped me sand ten pens on Thursday night. None of them sold so I gave most of them away to the vendors. They were very pretty. I had run out of pens to use so I grabbed five of the other pens to use to make some more pens. They melted and shrunk in the oven, warping and cracking the expensive foil and clay around them. Before I could throw them out, Brett adopted them. Tonight he started making things with the clay foul ups. I gave him a crash course in clay and he has been spending the evening making new, wild creations. I think he is really enjoying it. I'll post a picture of his "pen" creations soon.

I spent the afternoon running errands in town since it it's supposed to snow tomorrow. On my way to the camera store and bookstore, I was driving the loop toward the mall off of Delta Highway and noticed a guy walking acrossed the highway with a gas can. I pulled over quickly and offered him a ride. I have NEVER done that as I have always believed it dangerous. But the poor young guy was walking around in 34 degree weather with no coat on, just a sweater and jeans. There was no gas station for at least three miles. So I got brave and offered him a ride. As he got in the car, I ordered him not to murder me. I drove him to get gas and drove him back toward his car. As he got out of the car, I noticed his lambskin slippers. He wasn't even wearing shoes! I called Brett to assure him I'd not been murdered and continued on to the mall. It felt good to help someone in need.

We're supposed to be plummeted by snow and cold weather tomorrow and I am very excited to get some awesome snow pictures with the new camera! We were going to go to church with Elaine but the weather looks very bleek for tomorrow and it would be very dangerous to drive to the church in Albany. We're bummed to not be there to support her graduation. She has spent three months in preparation for becoming a minister.

As I was shopping for groceries to stock up tonight, I found lobster tails on sale for 4.99 a tail. I'd never made them before so I took two tails and a free recipe. I excitedly showed Brett my new treasures to try. Eating lobster is very common on the boat. I had never had lobster and was excited to finally try it at a reasonable price. We cooked it together. It was good! Very sweet. I had no idea. It wasn't very much meat for the price but it was tasty. It did confirm I have a slight allergy to shellfish as the bubble developed in my throat that I used to get with Texas shrimp. But it's mild and not going to stop me from eating seafood while we cruise.

I hope everyone is having a blessed season. I am struggling with the holidays but I am hanging in there. I am anxious to get back to our dream. But I have a feeling, you already knew that. ;o)

Countdown begins....

My sister in law called me this morning to tell me that it was snowing in Louisiana! With a few clicks, I had weather.com open and sure enough, a winter storm was crossing right through the middle of Mandeville! Glad we aren't there right now! LOL

The autopilot arrived Monday and it is HUGE! So we'll have to mail it down to ourselves. We have a LOT to mail to ourselves when we get down there. It's an awesome autopilot though and Brett is really excited about it. Our boat is really well balanced so he thinks the smaller size won't be a problem at all. The autopilot will save us from constant driving at the helm, 24 hrs a day. We can read a book on watch or run down into the cabin for a cup of coffee. We can change sails and adjust lines. It will be WONDERFUL!

We are so excited to be so close in returning to our boat life. We've been blessed while back in Oregon but we are both much happier on the boat. We feel prepared and armed with most of the equipment we needed to feel safe crossing the Gulf. There are a few things still left to get and we still need to haul out but we are so close to being ready. We have prepared and even over-prepared and feel confident Benevolence is nearly ready to safely take us anywhere in the world.

We are trying to decide on electronic charts for the laptop vs a chartplotter to go along with the standard paper charts but haven't made up our minds yet. Each have their own pros and cons.Brett's foul weather gear was old and torn in many spots and also about three sizes too big. For Christmas, I bought Brett offshore, Henri Lloyd foul weather gear off of Ebay (yes, EBAY). I received the coat and it is perfect! He LOVES it. The bibs are on their way, too. Each of them were 20% of the price of new ones. I seem to (most of the time) have a knack for finding great deals for the boat stuff.

We are having to bring Benny back to the boat with us as we couldn't find a home for him. It is scary to think about the long day of flying from here to Louisiana with him. I take him into the vet to get the paperwork next week. I am more worried about the flights with him than anything else right now. He did well on the boat so we'll adjust our cruising plans to accomodate him so he is comfortable and happy.

I have been listening to podcasts from Furled Sails again this week. They are intereviews of sailors and I can't believe the enormous amount of knowledge I've gained from listening to these interviews. They are inspiring and I can now relate to some of the stories after living aboard and traveling on the waterway.

We are in count down mode till we get back to our dream. Brett is working nearly every day and I am trying to organize last minute details. We have to plan a way to mail all of our gear back, pack very little with us on the plane ride back and figure out storage for the few possessions we kept that are staying in Oregon. We are also needing to coordinate our haulout with a surveyor which will be tricky.

We kick ourselves for getting our plane tickets already- With Benny, we much rather would have rented a car and driven back down than take him on a plane. We wouldn't have had to worry about mailing all our equipment either.

We didn't save the amount of money we wanted to save but we have made progress by huge leaps and bounds with more equipment and with paying down bills.

We've always been blessed and know that God is taking care of us and offering this amazing opportunity to us right now. I just need to be better about trusting in Him to guide us through.

Some Pictures I took right after I got my new camera (and read the manual of course). Canon Rebel XS (18-55mm) (75-300mm)

New Camera

Well. We sold a computer and some jewelry and were able to get the camera I wanted at a great deal for Christmas. It came on Friday and I played with all the modes and took a couple of pictures of the birds that hang out on our porch. It's an awesome camera and I can't wait to take excellent photographs of our travels... I'll post a couple of the pictures I took on the first day under my picture tab....

Ebay Finally Got Me!

Well- I FINALLY got badly jipped on Ebay-

I had been dying to get a DSLR (Digital SLR professional camera) but couldn't afford it. Then I discovered one on Ebay for 70% of what a new one cost so I snagged it. I emailed back and forth with the seller, who seemed like a nice old man who lost his wife. I excitedly shared my find with all the electronic stores but they all gave me doubtful looks. I checked out five digital photography books from the library and studied them while waiting for my treasure to arrive. I bought an expensive memory card for it so I could use the RAW format which takes a lot of space. I also found the perfect backpack to hold all the cameras and even our tripiods. I had everything set.

The seller said it might be here Monday, so I took off work early to do laundry and check the post office. I had had a horrible day at work and was hoping the camera would arrive to cheer my day up. After waiting 30 minutes in line, I found the camera had arrived. I set it in the car and raced to the laundromat to throw the clothes in the dryer. I struggled to tear the box open with my fingers. He had taped all the seams, just as I did with packaging boxes. I eventually peeled the bottom away. Immediately, a battery package, dated 1995, fell in my lap. Weird, I thought. The long haired tennis player guy on the front of the box looked dated. Huh, I thought again. I read the name on the box and it was the right name.

I pulled out the manual. It looked old? I gingerly opened the box and found a FILM camera! I couldn't believe it. It was the same name but a fifteen year old film model not the new, three month old digital model! I cried as I crushed my clothes into the basket. I drove back to work so I could punish myself for my stupidity.I studied the listing over and over, trying to find an indication of film. There was NO indication of film OR digital on this description! He had been extremely sparce on his description. His picture was so small, you couldn't tell which model it was. I finally found it. "Item Specifics: Film Cameras" I emailed the seller and asked him to consider a return since I was under the impression it was the digital model. He was very mean about the misunderstanding so I forked out more money for batteries and gritted my teeth with owning a second film camera.

I called Brett and cried to him about my mistake. I was worried to tell him about the money I'd just wasted but he was more worried about my disappointment. He talked me into looking at the many positive things about it. I am making the best of it and will post pictures from the new film camera when I get them developed. I am still hoping to end up with a DSLR to take fabulous photos of our travels and maybe even get good enough to sell them. :) Brett is super supportive and is interested in taking up photography as well.