It's Been Awhile...

Sorry it's been so long since I've written updates. As you can see, Benny is settling in puuuurrrrrfectly...












































We have ended up with a car for me to drive around. It seems to run really good and it is so nice to have something to drive around!


We have discovered a windvane to purchase from another boat friend that we are so excited about.



Brett has gotten the dodger built (the windshield for the cockpit). The sunbrella we ended up with is light purple. He is building a bimini right now- We have one (the blue canvas in all the pictures) but it is old and has micro holes in it. We are redoing all the canvas in this light purple sunbrella. It's not pretty but very functional and very inexpensive due to the color of it. Once we repaint the hull white have all the canvas purple, it will look much better than it does now. We laugh so much as we have a blue hull, yellow windows, a red wind generator and purple canvas. LOL We've already been named "The Palacios Plum" which I will draw a picture of on her bow when we are done.














Brett has done a lot more mini projects to make our cruising more pleasant. He has installed a paper plate dispenser, 12v fan, kerosene lantern and many other small items. I stained our basket weave plates to match our boat. That was fun. Except I got stain splatter all over the cockpit!! OOPS!!! I also had wrapped the compression post with ropework.


















We have made the decision to head toward the Yucatan rather than the Bahamas. We will go up to Galveston and then cut South down to the Yucatan. We are hoping to start cruising the end of this year, Sept/Oct/Nov, after the hurricane season.
























































































We were also able to purchase and install our binnacle compass.



I went to a gem show Sunday before last with some coworkers of mine (Ann and Rebecca) and their three daughters. It was a lot of fun. We ate at two nice restaurants (La Madeline for breakfast and Cheesecake Factory for dinner). We went to Michael's before the show and bought a bunch of beads and clay before the gem show. I had never tried polymer clay jewelry and with the sale, I picked up several blocks and the tools needed to get me started. I have since done three different batches of jewelry and pens. I LOVE it. Very artsy and fun. I also plan on making a plaque for the head to match the handpainted Mexican sink to hang over the towel bar. I only use a toaster oven to bake the clay. Since we aren't getting a microwave, I justified a small toaster oven. :) I had to really play it up that I could make toast to get my oven but it worked. HEE HEE ;0) The clay is much cheaper than gemstones and a lot more work but I like it a lot. I still bought a ton of pearls from the gem show and can't wait to make more jewelry with it.

































I am trying to gear up my jewelry online again. We will not be showing anymore due to lack of space on the boat.

We have only sailed two times since my last post. We tried out the genoa and then the second time was just the main with a lot of chop out there on the water. The boat handles well in those conditions so far. We haven't tried her in heavier weather yet. Living aboard makes it difficult to properly store everthing when underway while we are still so unfinished (no drawers, cabinet doors, etc).

Hope everyone is well.

Good Timing and Desperate for a Sail

Last Saturday we headed toward the pump out station on Benevolence. The week before our gear cable for the transmission had broke so we couldn't pump out the holding station for a week. We ordered a new one and Brett installed it. So Saturday, we headed to the pumpout station next to the Bayhouse before the wind picked up. As I untied the lines, I noted that the water was very low. Brett felt confident that we had enough water to make it around the corner since we were floating at the dock.

Well, lol' and behold, we hit ground a few feet from the dock to the station. We spent about an hour trying to get Benevolence off the mud but she held tight. We tried to winch her free with Bill helping us but were only successful in digging her deeper. So we spent the day on the boat, 15 feet from the dock. We had many avenues to free ourselves with some effort but we decided to wait for high tide. We had nothing else planned other than motoring around the bay. So I read books and Brett installed our depth sounder and 12v lights. When is a better time to install your depth sounder than when you're grounded?! LOL

Bill with the yacht club, rowed over in his kayak and brought us fried chicken. We had all the food and water on our boat we could want but people kept asking us if we needed anything. We were finally able to shimmy off of the mud at 430. We tried again at 6pm to motor to the pump out station, this time me on land and Brett on the boat. He still couldn't make it in so we gave up the task for the day. Brett pumped out the boat the next day while I was at work.

On Tuesday, I came home for lunch and tucked a lot of gear away to hint to Brett that I wanted to go sailing after work. I was desperate to sail after work.

He picked me up from work and told me he had not even made it back to the boat before picking me up! When he found I had put everything away, we went ahead and went for an hour cruise that night. There wasn't hardly any wind but it was nice to escape and use the boat.

We got a compass for the binnacle yesterday. We are hoping to do a long sail on Saturday. We are hoping to plan an overnighter either anchored or moored soon, too.

We are steadily making progress to get our boat ready. We ordered a shore power cord along with the compass. I found some great 12v lights and he has installed all but one and the three flourescents. We still don't have cabinets or drawers but the baskets are working well for the food for now. We still have no propane hooked up either and have been eating out or cooking in the crockpot or grill.

I am trying to get back into jewelry. We are busy busy but things are going well. We are anxious to get going though. The thought of being here still for another 8 months makes me cringe. But it's for the best.

Brett grounded. Not Happy.

Brett sailing. That's better.

Hope everyone is doing well. Miss y'all and hope to hear from you soon.

First Sail in Two Months

Brett worked on the engine on Sunday while I was at work and after he picked me up in the afternoon, we took the boat out for a motor cruise to test the engine. It was beautiful and warm and calm. We got back and I begged him for us to go out sailing in the 3-5 knot winds and 70 degree temp. After an hour, he finally succumbed and we spent only 15 minutes prepping the boat to go out. There wasn't a lot of wind and I did most the steering while he messed with the sails. Benny actually came out into the cockpit while we were sailing!! He was SO brave! Both the animals did really well. Brett had me "tack" back in the channel upwind. Very hard to do so it was good experience.

It was absolutely beautiful and I felt so much better doing what we came to do. SAIL. I am hoping it will be nice again this weekend so we can maybe go out again.

Update

I have really had to struggle even more with the internet since we moved aboard Benevolence. We need to find an external antenna to boost our signal. It's been difficult to log onto the blog to enter posts...

I don't know if I mentioned it or not, but I was able to get foul weather gear off of Ebay for $100 awhile back! It's a $350 set. It's almost brand new, only worn once. I had trouble getting it from her but when I did get it, I was very happy. It's in excellent, almost new condition and fits me really well with clothes on underneath. I also ordered a pair of used binnoculars from them and they are ok. It's nice to have things slowly checked off our list. I can't believe how unbelievable I felt when I received the foul weather gear and tried them on. I am unsure if they are made for offshore but they are really really nice and didn't break the bank. We'll see how they perform soon enough.















Living aboard has been really nice. I am struggling with all the cat hair everywhere but it's nice to have so much more space. Benny and Jack really really like it too. Benny gets to hang out outside all the time as long as he stays on the boat. He is loving it. Jack is happier now that he has three sunny sides of his cage to look out. Although he stays covered up a lot due to his squaking. :)
























































I talked to my friend, Pam, yesterday, finding out her kemo didn't work this time... My heart broke when I heard it from her. No one has been telling me what is going on and I finally called her and talked to her. Her spirit and her confidence in God during this time are amazing and I hope she realizes her strength is very inspiring through the pain I feel for her. I'd give anything to be back in Oregon with her...The cancer hasn't been growing or shrinking so we just keep praying for her strength and to have strength in God's will...


Yesterday Brett and I took a break and drove to Freeport to check out the marina and get away. After Freeport, we headed into Lake Jackson and went shopping. I picked up a sail repair book and foot pump spout we needed for the boat on clearance at West Marine in Freeport. The book is awesome and way cheaper than the one I was going to get online. Brett then let me cruise through Hobby Lobby and we went to Lowe's to pick up some wood. We also breezed through Walmart and I forced him to get some new jeans for eight bucks.

We spent WAY too much money on our card but we really needed to get away and it was great. We got a few things we needed, a few things we wanted and had a great drive.

We sold our tv/dvd combo unit a couple weeks ago and have been using the computer Eddie gave us to watch tv on the tv tuner with cable. It's worked out alright. The volume isn't loud enough so we're going to pick up some cheap speakers and the reception is poor due to the free cable we got but at least Brett still has his tv.

We have to take the boat to the pump out station again today. We ordered a small holding tank so we have to empty it more often. But Brett thinks it is good experience for me for us to motor to the pump out station every week. Last week we had problems with the prop and the wind driving us almost into a boat. This morning would have been perfect to do it with a North wind but Brett went to work and now we're getting a South wind which means we'll be blown into Tom's boat again. We'll see how it goes.

Last week we got a call from Brett's daughter. It was soooo cool. We hadn't talked to her in a long while, not being able to locate her in California while we were there. She had gotten our phone # and called us. It's the best thing that has happened to Brett in years, I think. She is in college, studying Graphic Design, just like what I wanted to do.

Last weekend, we watched a beautiful little boat cruise in and out of the marina. It looked like so much fun. The wind was averaging 10 knots. I encouraged Brett to take our little dinghy out so we pulled out the sail and he scooted around the marina area for a bit.

We've been making meals using our crockpot since we still don't have propane hooked up. It's been a learning experience with it. But I am having fun cooking with it- Not a lot of dishes and easy and cheap.

Well I just wanted to get you up to date. Hope you are all well. Love y'all.

New Experiences

We have been working on the boat every day as we live on it. Yesterday we attempted to move the boat to the pump out station in 10-15 knot winds. As we plunged forward with the wind, passing the pump out station and heading toward Tom's boat, we realize that the prop has once again folded closed during reverse and we had no way to stop the boat. As Brett wrestled the boat to a stop, I brace for impact but he stopped the boat in time. The dock line was over the lifelines and the pressure popped the stern pulpit and wind generator out of their mounts. Luckily, they had not been bolted in yet or it would have been bent. We discovered that the prop was once again folding on us when we put it in reverse and then we have no control.

We pumped out the boat and then pulled her forward and flipped her around using the wind. Then I steered her back to the marina and Brett steered her into our slip with the wind on our back.

We left her bow into the dock instead of having our cockpit to the dock and went to buy another hose so we would reach the dock.

Benny had been sick at night so we took him to the vet Friday. They suggested Benedryl and a nightlight to see if it is seasickness. She also gave us antibiotice for this week just in case. I gave him 1/2 Benedryl on Friday night and left a nightlight on and he hasn't thrown up since. He must have been seasick.

We had a storm come through last night. My first big storm inside the boat. It was kinda nerve wracking because I don't know where all our little leaks are and the rain is pounding. The leaks weren't bad though. Just a few drops from some windows. Definitely things we need to fix BEFORE we actually go offshore. Brett says that any leaks you have at dock are 10x worse at sea.

This morning it is absolutely gorgeous. Calm and sunny.

Brett and I have been discussing what it would take to get us moving. We made a list last night of what things needed to be done and bought for going down the ICW and what things needed to be done and bought for going offshore. It's a big list but it is a lot smaller than what it was a few months ago.

We still don't have our propane hooked up to the stove so I have been cooking in our crockpot (Thanks Shannon and Nathan). We're having slow cooked chicken and potato soup tonight. It's been nice, and cheaper. Less dishes, too.

It's been slowgoing trying to make our boat look more of a cruiser than liveaboard but we're making a little bit of progress every day.

SOME OF OUR LIST...
Water Tanks
Name on Boat
HIN on Boat
Change Prop
Haul Out- Bottom Paint, Check Inducers, Strut
Oil Pressure Gauge
Fuel Gauge
Hot Water Radiator Hose and Fittings
Cabinets installed
12v lights
Depth Sounder Transducer
Dodger and all canvas pieces made
Engine shut off cable
Engine Spare Parts + other
Charts
GPS antenna
Shelves in Lazarette
Flare Safety Kit
Fire Extinguisher
Air Horn
Binnacle and Bulkhead Compasses
Tethers and Harnesses
Offshore Sail Repair Kit
Radar cable and install radar
EPIRB
Sail Chaffting Gear
Light Rule
LifeSling
Netting?
Drogue
Inflatable Life Jackets
First Aid Kit- Offshore
Spot Light
Lee cloth
Radar Reflector
CQR anchor would be nice
Batteries (2)
VHF antenna spliter
Dinghy Mounts
Rebed portlights
Replace opening port lense
Storm plugs
Corks/wooden plugs
Larger inverter
Backflow device on engine bilge pump
Seal chain plates
COckpit cushions
gloves
cockpit table
foot pump spout and hose
hook up solar panels
battery charger?
shore power cord- 50 ft
Red lights installed
Macerator pump?
Another vent o mate installed
wind scoops made
MOsquito screens made
latches and catches installed
straps/chocks
Propane hookup list
hook up auto pilot
Wind VANE
Table for salon
Fishing Gear
Stove fiddles
Small propane tank
Harness for galley
Clock/Barometer
make flags
Snorkeling gear for Kyla
foul weather boots
boat shoes for Brett
Cable cutters
Bolt down stern pulpit
Repair sails
emergency tiller replaced
Fasten teak in cockpit

We MOVED Aboard!

Last Sunday, February 3rd, we moved aboard Benevolence. It has been wonderful to have so much space and a home. We still have a lot to finish to make the boat fully functional but we are happy to be aboard finally. The animals seem to like it a lot, too.