Remember the three things (link) are: pretty things, projects, and howling winds?
Yesterday I realized that one of the reasons I’m really enjoying this particularly great harbor is that every single time I come and go from the boat or look outside I see something–big or small–that makes me smile. It could be an otter or seal swimming by, a Snowy Egret fishing through the shallows at low tide or a cute cluster of Grebe hanging out by the transom or yet another dive bombing Brown Pelican. There’s always something alive and entertaining.
About the projects? Ah, well, I’m making cushions for both the main saloon and chart house seating. No more sitting on camping foam pads. I located an awesome deal on 2″ latex foam mattress toppers (Walmart) to be cut and stacked into 4″ thick seating. So, yesterday found me in the marina parking lot on the pavement behind the car with my bread knife sawing 19″ wide strips from the queen sized mattress toppers. There is no place on the boat big enough and perfectly flat to do the cutting here. I’m reusing the coverings the latex came with (and nice zippers too) so we can sit on the foam but today I’m ordering the fabric I need to upholster the seating. Hopeful that will arrive next week.
And the howling winds? Well, I do need another wind-in-the-rigging story–we haven’t had many of those lately. Yesterday, as I was wielding my bread knife in the parking lot, the harbor master stopped by to say “hi” and share the information that the Coast Guard had called to let him know that the high winds coming from the Nevada desert will include gusts that may reach 70 knots–so batten everything down. Of course, the NOAA forecast doesn’t say that. Go figure. There is a gale blowing outside the Bay and a small craft advisory inside of it, though. Anyway, we used the winds as an excuse to either tie things down or clear them from the deck. Today, I hear that sound of wind in the rigging. Sounds like low to mid 20 knot range at the highest but winds are supposed to increase this evening. So maybe more howling to be had tonight–and therein a story.
December 2 update: No wind story this time. No real howling, just a little whistling…
