I spent a few days at my BFF Lani's house on land. It was wonderful to sit in the living room by the fire, in front of the HUGH Christmas tree. Zoe came with me and she enjoyed getting to play and sniff in the grass and barn yard. It was wonderful to take a shower and put on clean clothes that DIDN'T smell like DIESEL.
I am so tired of smelling like diesel, my clothes and hair smelling like diesel. I HATE it!
Ben and I braved Wal-Mart today.... he needed a new watch band, he broke his and has been whining heavily... I wanted some coffee creamer and needed some Tide to do laundry... Got up to the check out and I guess I've used my $124.00 in food stamps and apparently my bank account is 0.... I had to walk out WITHOUT my items. God I'm sick of being so broke all the time.
Sometimes I wonder how I ended up here.. so far from home, family and friends. Think I'll go take a nap.
Tues Dec 13, 2011
Maxie's new ride! I am now the proud owner of a Jeep. And not just ANY jeep.... A RED Jeep. COOL! After Ben spent days and weeks pouring over Craig's List, (Poor baby).... searching for 'just the right one', we finally found one that passed both HIS inspection, (motor, drive line, gears, wakka, wakka, wakka) AND a jeep that passed MY inspection, (the IMPORTANT stuff.... color, interior, stereo, carpet, seats....) My Toyota was sooo nice I HAD to have something at least as cute! Although a Jeep was probably not MY first choice... kinda like living on a boat... it was the vehicle that Ben wanted, so as always.... we now have a Jeep! How do I get even for him making me sell my Toyota and buy a Jeep???? 
I am going to turn it into a girls jeep! I know 'Chrome won't get you home' as they say... but I don't plan on doing any rock crawling, I figure some Tinkerbell seat covers, maybe a 'Jeeps are for Girls' sticker, I am even thinking of personalized plates. How about WKDWTCH ????? Ben would LOVE that. LOL. Can't wait to start driving her!
Monday Dec 12, 2011
The major Puget Sound yacht clubs are known as the The Grand Fourteen. The Women's Interclub Council (WIC) is made up from the Grand 14. …The purpose of this organization is to schedule and assist in carrying out an exchange of luncheons among the members of WIC on a non-profit basis and to promote friendship among boaters… In other words.... Once a month all the ladies gather at a different club to share cocktails, have a great lunch and bullshit. This month, the luncheon is at Port Orchard, it's our turn to host the Gals. For the ladies of the Grand Fourteen it's kinda a BIG DEAL.... each club tries to outdo the others. For POYC (Port Orchard Yacht Club), our luncheon falls in December this year. So we have been bustin' butt to get the club looking like a Christmas wonderland! Luzia and I spent the morning putting up the tree and getting the hall decorated. I made 90 napkin rings and 17 table place cards. Our colors this year are blue and silver, the luncheon is this Thursday. I am so excited! All that crafting kept me busy all weekend, I loved it! I should be a professional party planer. LOL
Monday Dec. 12, 2011
Port Orchard Lighted Boat Parade Saturday was our community boat parade. We had about 12 to 15 boats from the yacht club all decorated up for the Holidays. Even Santa joined us on this cruise so he could call out the names of people on the shore. We left the marina around 3:30 and cruised Sinclair Inlet up and down the shoreline for about 4 hrs. Lots of fun.... lots of booze... lots of food. My favorite combination! LOL. Poor little Zoe had to stay home. I think there was just WAY to much excitement for her. The night was clear and cool, around 45deg. The waters calm the moon full... a perfect night! My first Christmas parade. Maybe next year we can take our boat in the parade!
Mon Dec 5, 2011
POYC Sunday BreakfastThe first Sunday of every month the yacht club puts on a pancake breakfast for the members. Being the Helper Elf that I am.... I volunteer for the kitchen crew. Take breakfast orders, refill coffee, clear plates.... and of course I was the only one dressed up. WTH???? Does no one know it's Christmas??? HELLO PEOPLE. I worked from 8 to noon. We, the yacht club members, have to have 16 hours per year in work party time for the club. So Sunday morning I got 4 hrs work party time, so far I think I have like 30 hrs in 2 months. (I have alot of time on my hands)
Sunday evening Ben and I took TJ and Kaitlyn on the Special Peoples Cruise at the Bremerton Yacht Club. It is an annual event their club puts on for the special needs people in the community. They have a dozen boats dressed up in Christmas lights and they take out the folks on an nice hour cruise around the inlet. After the cruise they gave us bologna sandwiches and cookies and they had little gifts for everyone. after we drove TJ and Katlyn back to Port Hadlock Nicole took us all out to dinner at this great Mexican resturant because we were STARVED! We did not get home till after ten. It was a very busy day...
Sat. Dec 4, 2011
Port Orchard Pet Parade Poor Zoe, she may never forgive me. Ben and I walked down town from the marina, it was only a few blocks to main street. We took a dock cart to haul Zoe in so she wouldn't have to walk the whole way. Put in a pillow and covered her with a blanky. For the parade I made her get out and walk the 2 blocks. Well, I had to drag her the second block...
There were so many cute doggies and costumes. We watched the lighting of the Christmas tree and waited for Santa then it was time for this Elf to head home.... Sunday I have to serve Breakfast and Elf a cruise.
Friday Dec 2, 2011
December... WOW! Where did the year go??? Hard to believe I have been on this boat for 6 months! I have been feeling alot better about things this last week. In part thanks to our daughter Crystal, I got a care package from her containing a tiny little Christmas tree with homemade ornaments from the grandkids, a wonderful letter and some chocolates.... they ALWAYS make me feel better. LOL. I also did something for me.... I found a Curves here in Port Orchard and I joined. I LOVE it! Can I afford the $34.00 a month??? Heck no! But I did it anyway. Getting up in the morning and going to Curves, working out, laughing and visiting with the other girls.. I feel great all day. It puts a smile on my face, it makes me happy. Gives me a reason to get outta bed and get dressed. This is the best thing that has happened since I moved on this DANG boat! Tomorrow is the Festival of Lights in downtown Port Orchard. There is a pet Parade and Zoe is gonna be dressed as an Elf. She looks so cute in her costume! Zoe of course HATES it.... but heck, it is the Holiday, I'm sure she can handle it for a few hours. I also have an Elf costume that I made from leftovers from the thrift shop. We are gonna have so much FUN! Free hay rides, Chile, a tree lighting, free hot cocoa... I can't wait! Nicole and family are gonna come down and join us for the day. It is nice to have a smile in my heart for a change! AND... to make today better our friends from back home, Scott and Denise came over for the Seahawks game yesterday.. (the Seahawks WON for a change HaHa) so they are taking the time to take the ferrie and drive to Port Orchard to visit us and take us to lunch.. How COOL is that!
It feels good to be me again instead of that GLOOMY GUSS who has been hanging around here! (I thing Ben is happy to see me in a better mood too! LOL)
Mon. Nov 28, 2011
It has been a couple of weeks so I guess it is time for me to catch up on the Blog.I managed to survive Thanksgiving so far from home. It was hard for me being so far from home, I think that's why I didn't blog anything...... Ben and I usually spend Turkey day with my brother and his family at the cabin in Idaho. It always feels like I'm home when we are there in the mountains. The wood stove cranked to 105 deg. the kids raising hell and havoc... me and Sylvia and Kayla having our 'special' Holiday cocktails... whatever that may be. LOL This turkey day was a tough one for me, it was just me and Ben and Zoe the wiener dog. The kitchen on the boat works great for daily cooking.... but you can't use the oven and the burners at the same time... so I cooked a turkey breast in the oven, then switched over to the cook top to do the potatoes and gravy. It all tasted great. I would have loved to have some cranberries and pie.... but our new budget... (being retired means having NO MONEY) just didn't allow for any extras like a can of cranberries or pumpkin pie.... You think the food bank would at least have cranberries for goodness sakes! So I cried and felt sorry for myself for a few days.... Poor Ben, he is trying to enjoy his retirement but he has to put up with a wife who is mentally unstable.... Not kidding there. But Life is what you make it.. Even people who live in CAVES can be happy, so I guess happy is what you make it. I am going to try to paste a smile on my face for Ben. This is his dream after all.
Monday Nov 21,11
My Little Blue Toyota... I remember the day I bought her... I wonder if I will remember the day I watched her drive away? I know, I know, it's just a truck. A vehicle, mode of transportation, to be drivin' and traded in for a newer, lower mileage model ever couple of years. I drove that little blue Toyota for 18yrs. Bought her in Lewiston, July 3, 1993, there was only 4 miles on the odometer.... Oh my gosh, I have had some adventures in that truck, my BFF Denise and I spent 3 days lost in the mountains back of Dixie/Florence before coming out in a firefighter camp down on the Salmon river. They looked at us kinda funny when we drove in, asked us if we knew we were behind fire line's.. and gave us coffee, very nice.... Gosh, I've had that truck longer than my hubby. WOW.... I guess all good things must come to an end. (The truck dear, not you)Now... We go shopping for that Jeep so I can go jeepin' with my Sylvia and brother
Friday Nov. 18, 2011
Snoqualmie Pass, expecting 10 + inches of snow today. Winter IS here.... Ben and I have been heating the boat with two small electric heaters...... I guess it's time to look at alternative heating sources. We bought a Dickinson Diesel heater this fall, it's really nice with a small window where you can watch the flames, but it burns around a gallon per day, at today's Diesel prices... OUCH. Ben figured electric would be cheaper. So today we are going to hit the hardware store and pick up some bubble wrap insulation and cover the windows, it'll be really DARK in the boat then! I think I will try the clear 'shrink' wrap on the main salon windows, that will let some light in. At first I was kinda bummed about being in a boat house... it is so dark in here. But when the rain and wind starts pounding.... it sure is nice to be safe and dry under cover! I think I'm gonna LIKE the boat house this winter. My plants however are HATING it! I think I'm gonna take them to Nicole's, I just don't think they will survive the winter in the boat house. It has been a LOOONG November. First Thanksgiving in a long time we won't be spending with my brother and his family. I am missing my family and friends. I scour the Kid's face book pages for new pictures of the Grandkids. I miss them so much. I have been sleeping alot.. not much else to do. I need to find a hobby I can do here on the boat, besides sitting in front of the computer or TV. Thinking of taking up cross-stitch, can't remember how to knit or crochet???? I should look on YouTube. You can find ANYTHING on YouTube! I think it will be just me and Ben and Zoe for Thanksgiving, not enough room in the boat to cook a turkey so I think I will just do a turkey breast... something simple. I am trying very hard to not let the holiday get me down... I LOVE Christmas, even if it is just in my dreams. It makes me sad that I won't be able to give the Grandkid's all Jammie's for Christmas like I have done for 10+ years. Our new budget doesn't allow for Grandma to get gift's for 16 Grandkids, assorted nieces and nephews, family and friends. This is gonna be a tough one for me. :-(
Monday Nov 7, 2011
Monday.... Let's see. Today we are going to run up to Port Hadlock and go through the storage shed. Time to dig out some of the winter coats and put the summer stuff away. **SOB** We really need to move that stuff to a storage unit a little CLOSER to where we are NOW! It is about an hour drive to Port Hadlock. It would be nice to be able to just run up town to dig out a pair of boots or that toaster out of the storage shed!
Ben is going to do some work on the Toyota which is parked at Nichole's, then she is gonna feed us dinner. YEAH! I love it when I don't have to cook! It's nice to get outta the boat for the day.... do something different for a change.
Little Kale had surgery over the weekend on his lip and pallet. 3 1/2 hr surgery... poor little camper. It's so hard when they are young and they don't understand what is going on and WHY did MOMMY bring me here!!! His surgery was at the Children's Hospital in Seattle, he only had to stay one night. Kale is home now and Nicole said he is doing a little better. I'm sure a visit from his favorite Grandma (me of course) will make him feel better. LOL.... I better stop and pick up a get well gift. :-) I Love you little man!
Ben is going to do some work on the Toyota which is parked at Nichole's, then she is gonna feed us dinner. YEAH! I love it when I don't have to cook! It's nice to get outta the boat for the day.... do something different for a change.
Little Kale had surgery over the weekend on his lip and pallet. 3 1/2 hr surgery... poor little camper. It's so hard when they are young and they don't understand what is going on and WHY did MOMMY bring me here!!! His surgery was at the Children's Hospital in Seattle, he only had to stay one night. Kale is home now and Nicole said he is doing a little better. I'm sure a visit from his favorite Grandma (me of course) will make him feel better. LOL.... I better stop and pick up a get well gift. :-) I Love you little man!
Friday Nov 4, 2011
My gosh it seems like it has been a LONG week! Maybe it's just because I'm home sick. Seems like I always go through a funk after I get back from a visit home.... It's not looking like we will be going back to Idaho for the Holidays. DANG IT. Well, I will just have to find someone else to feed me turkey. Nicole and Anthony invited us for Christmas so I have that Holiday covered. and Lani and Dustin have invited us for Thanksgiving. Still, it's just strange... breaking tradition, starting new traditions. The Ol' dog new tricks syndrome. The weather has been mild, not alot of rain... just cold and cloudy. I am learning to embrace the drizzle. I LOVE having the shower in the boat working! Now that it's cold and frosty in the morning it's nice to NOT have to walk up to the marina to take shower... and the Port-a-Potty Ben got me for my birthday is also making my life easier .... Thanks Honey! Think today's menu includes laundry and grocery shopping... What fun!
Monday ~ October 31, 2011
Pumpkin's and Jello Shot's Well the torch has been passed, the Ghostly Jensen's have now officially taken over the Pumpkin Caving Party, and what a party it was! Ben and I arrived late Wednesday evening and found that Mike and Karey had been hard at work cleaning out the shop. They already had the tarps hung and 
the tables and chairs out. The shop looked GREAT! Karey and I did a little decorating Friday evening... but we saved the bulk of the decor and design for Saturday morning when we had a crew of designers .. aka.. skinny kids who could climb ladders.. coming over to help. I made up a couple batches of Jello Shot's while Karey worked on the 
Spooky Cupcakes. Friday night Mom came over to join us for dinner.... YUM. Steaks, baked potatoes fresh from the garden, cheesy spaghetti. peas, salad.... (Everyone should have a Chef for a sister...) Saturday morning we started off running. Coffee in hand, and our design crew on their way, we began transforming Mike's shop from ordinary into spooktacular! Vinny did all the high wire work and hung the balloons and streamers, while Jamie and Brandy worked the cobwebs, clings and graveyard. Guests started arriving around 5ish and just keep coming all night long! The pizza and pumpkins were flowing... as was the candy, cupcakes and jello shot's. The kids were wound up and running everywhere. The adults were hanging by the fire outside or helping the kids carve pumpkins. It was a great time. Thanks Ghostly Jensen's... I had the best time EVER!!!
Wednesday ~ October 26, 2011
Today we are driving home to Idaho! YEAH!!!! Although I suppose Port Orchard is now my official home.... Sometimes I still look at my Washington drivers licence and wonder just what the heck happened and how the heck did I get here????? I will always consider Idaho MY home. This weekend Mike and Karey are carrying on the 'Pumpkin Carving Party' tradition! For ten years Ben and I had the annual Beastly Byers Pumpkin Carving Party in Ben's shop. I loved that party, pizza, cocktails, jello shots, costumes, kids and of course... pumpkins! Something that the kids and grand kids will always remember. Kinda a family tradition. When we moved away there was a bit of an uproar... WHO had a shop BIG enough to hold everyone... WHO would carry on the tradition??? After all, we have a crop of brand NEW grand kids who need to enjoy the whole pumpkin experience, share in the memories... when Uncle Mike dressed as a Gorilla and SCARED poor Jake half to death (Jake STILL remembers THAT, and he was like 3yrs old!LOL), when Sylvia did a few too many jello shots... when.. well I'll stop there, what happens at the pumpkin party stays at the pumpkin party..... SO I was ecstatic when, in a moment of weakness, Mike caved in and mentioned that he was thinking of allowing us to use his shop for this years carving party..... (poor guy, he has NO idea what he is in for...but his shop will be clean!) EVERYONE in soooo excited! I think this will be one of the biggest crowds EVER! I can't wait to see everyone. Ben and I will be staying at Mike and Karey's through the weekend to help them setup for the party then cleanup the aftermath. Fun, Fun, Fun!
Saturday ~ October 22, 2011
Home, Home on the Sound. Well I'm back home on the boat..... Ben came and picked me up from the ferrie yesterday. I had such a good time at my friend lani's house! I had told Ben I had cut and colored my hair, but not how short or what color.... THAT had him worried! Last time I took off to do something like this I came home with stars tattooed on my face. LOL! I LOVE my new haircut and color, it's pretty tame, but just to give Ben a heart check Lani and I got some bright pink spray in hair color and covered my hair in it! The first thing Ben said when he saw me get off the ferrie ... "that DOES wash out???" Today we are back working on the boat. Ben is trying to get the shower running. The shower works but it drains into the bilge. He is trying to get the shower plumbed to drain outside the boat like it is should so he is installing a sump pump under the shower. We are still having problems with our toilet system... NOT GOOD. Not sure how he is gonna fix that problem. We DID get the diesel leak fixed... the leaking tank finally ran outta diesel... So now we just need to pull the ruined carpet, replace the floor and lay new carpet. Of course we need to replace that one tank.... ***sigh*** Wednesday we head back to Idaho for the Halloween weekend. It will be so nice to see friends and family... especially that new grand baby Dominic!
Thursday ~ October 20, 2011
Paradise in Gold Bar, WA. I ran away from the boat and spent the week with my BFF Lani at her beautiful home... on LAND... Ben dropped me off at the Kingston ferries Monday, costs nothing to walk across and ride to Edmonds. Lani picked me up on the other side. We started with lunch and drinks at the local Pub... the week has just been getting better. Lani has been treating me like a queen! We had so much FUN! Wednesday we had a 'girl's' Spa Day. We were waxed, polished, had our hair colored and cut. I feel pretty... oh so pretty... We drank, drank some more... than had a few cocktails. My new favorite drink.... shot of Whipped Rum, shot of Peach Schnapps, 1/2 shot Triple Sec, Orange Juice, Splash of Half & Half. This is awesome over ice or blended... Tastes like a creamsicle! Which reminds me I gotta hit the liquor store today! :-) Going home on Friday. Bummer
Saturday ~ October 15, 2011
How a Man Cleans a Waffle Iron..... So after eating pancakes for 3 months, we finally dug the waffle iron outta the storage unit. It was a little rusty and needed some TLC, so I asked Ben to take a SOS pad and clean up the outside while I scrubbed the cast iron waffle plates........ Hearing a POWER TOOL running???? I caught him using a small grinder to clean the waffle iron??? Well, it worked..... the waffle iron looks like new! Silly guy. Today we got our Internet and cable TV hooked up... now Ben has his TV again......
Ben had to spend the afternoon cleaning out the bilge, we had a hose break on our sewer lines in the boat... WHAT A STINKY MESS... Poor guy. After 2 or 3 trips to Lowe's and several rolls of paper towles.... he finally got the hoses changed out and the bilge cleaned! Now I just have to get the boat aired out!
Wednesday ~ October 12, 2011
MOVING DAY
Finally!!!! Today we get to move into the Boat House we have been renting since Oct. 1st. !!!!! After going through all the rig-a-ma-roll the Yacht Club put us through, (it was kinda like trying to pass a bill through Congress), late last night we finally got the call we have been waiting for...... permission to move our boat to the yacht club. OMG I am SOOOOOO excited! It has been raining here for DAYS, and the LOOONG walk up to the marina, to the bathrooms and the laundry, in the rain, has been a booger! Fortunately, Ben put enough silicone on the back of the boat that we haven't had any leaks, or water dripping on our heads when we sleep.... LOL. And on the up side.... with that Hugh glob of silicone on the back of the boat...... I no longer have to worry about the boat sinking, the silicone should keep us afloat. We will just look like some kind of alien Jelly Fish. LOL...
We are going over this morning to the yacht club to open up the 'curtian' so Ben can drive the boat in. It is gonna be a tight fit.... but I told him to just get the boat lined up and GAS it it... One way or another... it's gonna fit!
We will not only be outta the rain, there is room for extra storage for groceries, Ben has a small work bench for whatever it is he works on???? Ben has done a bunch of clean up.... I think he hauled out 4 or 5 loads of garbage, it's looking good and ready for me to spread out MY junk! This morning.. on this day.. I am so happy!
Sunday ~ October 9, 2011
FALL is in the air and it has been a busy October already... Friday night Ben and I went over to the Yacht Club for a Chile feed. Last night they hosted a steak fry... aka 'bring your own meat'... (I brought Ben).. This morning the club is putting on a breakfast from 8 to noon. I am going to work as a server, getting in some of my work crew hours. We have to have 16 hours per year. I don't think it will be a problem as we seem to go to EVERY event the club has.... And I always end up jumping up and helping anyway....
I am keeping my fingers crossed that today we might get to move the boat to the boat house. Gosh I can't wait! How exciting!!! We have already leased the boat house, we are just waiting for permission from the Yacht Club to move our boat in.... about half the members we talk to tell us we can just go ahead and move our boat in... the other half tell us we should wait and bring it before the moorage Committee first and get their blessing.. GGGRRRRR. Ben is getting FRUSTRATED as we paid the lease a week ago and have the owners blessing to move in??? So Ben said 'We are moving the boat today!" Sounds GREAT to me :-)
Wonder if they will let me blog from POYC jail????? LOL
I am keeping my fingers crossed that today we might get to move the boat to the boat house. Gosh I can't wait! How exciting!!! We have already leased the boat house, we are just waiting for permission from the Yacht Club to move our boat in.... about half the members we talk to tell us we can just go ahead and move our boat in... the other half tell us we should wait and bring it before the moorage Committee first and get their blessing.. GGGRRRRR. Ben is getting FRUSTRATED as we paid the lease a week ago and have the owners blessing to move in??? So Ben said 'We are moving the boat today!" Sounds GREAT to me :-)
Wonder if they will let me blog from POYC jail????? LOL
Wednesday ~ October 5, 2011
It looks like we are going to be spending the winter under cover!!! WOOWHOOO
days ..... It will be nice to have a place to store groceries, maybe have a washer and dryer.... there IS room for storage in front of the boat and around the sides. It means moving to another city... Port Orchard, but change is good. A new town to explore! I think today we are going to go over and do some cleaning, get ready for the move. I am very excited.
Tuesday ~ October 4, 2011
Happy 1st. Day Baby Dominic! What a wonderful day, a beautiful new baby joins the Buss/Byers clan.. (poor little thing) LOL. Just kidding Dominic, you will be LOVED sooo much. You have 3 awesome older sisters who will always watch over you... a Dad who ADORES you and can't wait to get you out mud boggin'... (should probably wait till he is outta diapers Dad before you put him behind the wheel of Skipper), a wonderful Mom who will always be there to kiss your owies, hold you close when you need it and give you a little 'shove' and encouragement when you need that too. You have some wonderful Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles... (just ignore Carson... DON'T EVER DO ANYTHING HE TELLS YOU TO DO!!!!).... and a BUNCH of great Aunts and Uncles who will just love you forever. Welcome to the world Dominic. It looks a lot scarier than it is, remember we are all here for you, you don't EVER have to feel alone. I can't wait to meet you and hold you in my arms. I love you already...
Sunday ~ October 2, 2011
Today is starting out as the perfect day to just hang out, read a good book and maybe take a nap or two. No rain yet, but it's kinda cold and overcast. Last night we had the little electric heater going in the bedroom.... I guess fall IS here. Big Ben is feeling a little better today, still has an upset tummy... poor guy, but at least he is outta bed. LOL. Last evening we were visited by our local band of Otters. A group of 4 or 5 that show up every so often to wreak havoc on the docks and the local residents..... I heard them chattering and splashing around the next pier over, then they all bailed in the water and popped up on our pier... I watched them checkout the empty boat next to us for a few minutes then back into the water they went to their next destination... about that same time Zoe was coming down the pier from her evening walk... aka, pottie break, when she let out a terrible squeal and took off running as fast as her short little legs would take her, yelping and crying all the way. She sounded like she was being chased by the hounds of hell!!! Ben chased after her and scoped her up to get her to quit crying. After putting her back into the boat we both walked down the pier to see what had frightened her so badly..... Just as I had suspected, it was those pesky Otters! I doubt if they had even gotten close to her, but just one bark from them was enough to send her into to nervous breakdown. Poor little thing... This whole boat life has truly been an adventure for her.
Saturday ~ October 1, 2011
October 1st.... WOW! Where has the summer, heck the year gone! It's had to believe we have been on the boat 4 months now. The weather definitely has the feel of fall. Cloudy and overcast, I think the news said we are expecting rain for the next several days..... Must learn to embrace the drizzle! Ben is down for the count today, at first we though we have a case of food poisoning, Yes I cooked! But then Niki said her family also had a touch of something, so maybe it's just.... NOT my cooking! LOL. Anyway I kinda like having the morning to myself. Had a nice visit with Willard this morning... He is the Blue Heron that usually SCREECHES at me and Zoe every morning. Got a chance to catch up on my Blog, work on the computer, do a little bookkeeping ... Yep, kinda nice. I listed the Toyota AND 4-wheeler on Craig's List today.. Very sad. I have had my Toyota since July of 93'. Got her brand new. Gonna make my cry when she sells....... (I have had her longer than ANY of my husbands!) Better watch out Ben....
Thursday ~ September 29, 2011
Bremerton Navy Museum
Today we spent exploring the local area. What started out as a trip to Value Village for some jeans for yours truly.... getting kinda cool here on the coast, turned into a wonderful day trip to the local Navy museum! As we were heading to the parking lot above the marina we met up with our neighbors and friends Wayne and Juanita, they also live here on their boat. They were heading out to visit the museum and invited us to tag along, it sounded like a great idea! The fountains surrounding the museum were way cool, they 'erupted' like volcano's! I even took of my flip-flops and waded in the pools... it WAS really hot out.... don't tell anyone! The museum was very cool, lots of interactive stuff for kids AND adults. You could listen to sonar and guess what it was, whale or ship, ice or shrimp... I did VERY badly. LOL. We watched videos and movies... learned about the navy and the Pacific Northwest. It was way cool, but I am a big history buff so I loved it. After the museum we went to Value Village and us ladies found some warm clothes, then it was back home to the marina. Juanita invited us to dinner on their boat, Roast, carrots and potatoes. YUM... It has been MONTHS since I've had homemade roast. It was a great day all around :-)
Tuesday ~ September 27, 2011
Tonight was the Change of Watch Dinner and Meeting at the Port Orchard Yacht Club. This is where the old Officers step down and the newly elected take their places. Full dress uniforms and a catered dinner. It was VERY nice! Tonight was also the night when Ben and I received our final initiation into the POYC club! After 4 months of going through the application process, being presented formally to the club, then voted on, approved and finally initiated... did I mention the initiation fee was $3,000...... It was a pleasure to finally receive our Burgee (flag), and name tags. Very KOOL... We have to put in 18hrs per year in work time, 9 hrs each for the club. This encourages members to 'get involved'. Ben and I worked last Sunday for 4 hrs each setting up for tonight's dinner only to find out it didn't count.... Our time doesn't start till October. LOL. Oh well, it was worth it to watch Ben trying to make the centerpieces for the tables with the other ladies... He is actually quite good at crafting with glue and glitter... Dang I wish I had my camera! I think I'll sign up for some of the committees.... meet some new people. I sure had fun on the Labor day cruise! After all, I AM Queen of the Hobo's!
Thursday ~ September 22, 2011
Well, it's the last leg of our trip. Last night we stayed in Gold Bar, WA. with Dustin and Lani... today we take the ferries home to Bremerton and see if the boat is still afloat! Lani and I have been friends for ever... like Pre-Ben... for 20 yrs???? That's a LOOONG time! We have seen each other at our best and our worst, and we still like one another... weird.
Tuesday September 20, 2011
We took a little detour on our drive from Post Falls to Kamiah. From Lewiston we headed up over the hill so we could swing by Cottenwood to check out brother Paul's new house he just bought. It's an oldie.... but it can be fixed up, and the kids, Brandon and Autumn seem to like the smaller town. I sure hope it works out for them! It was kinda bittersweet going through the prairie, greencreek... seeing the fall fields and colors, the farms and animals. We made it to Kamiah Monday afternoon just in time for school to get out. Destiny has
a new hobby.... CHICKENS! And a girl and her Chicken is a beautiful thing! (The one thing I miss... well, one of the things I miss about living on a farm, is the chickens) I admit I have Chicken envy..... Oley, Sylvia and the kids all had school and work Tuesday, I spent part of the day with Sylvia down at the Flower shop. I didn't help much... but I DID go next door to the HUB and get us some Smoothies to help the afternoon go by faster! HeHeHe. Later we all drove to Grangeville to watch Brad (aka Big Sexy) #66, play football. I'm not sure if they won or lost... (I don't follow football), but Brad is a POWERHOUSE! It was just just fun to spend a warm fall evening sitting in the bleachers with family watching the kids play. Gosh I miss my Family :-( Tomorrow we head back to Washington....
Sunday ~ September 18, 2011
Sunday we continued our weekend in Idaho with a Birthday party and dinner at Mom Acre's. Mom made her famous 'Sisilian Supper'... enough to feed an army! YUM. It was a great turn out. Mom had all 5 of her kids. Barb, Dee, Ben, Karey and Marla plus lots of grand kids and Great grand kids. It was Mom, Marla and Barb's Birthday celebration... I won't say how old..... but they all looked Sooo young! Now that Ben and I live so far away it is even more special when we can all get together! Tonight we stay again at the Jensens then it's off to Kamiah to visit with Oley and Sylvia and the kids.... Can't wait!
Saturday ~ September 17, 2011
I have been LAZY and not keeping up on the blog... SHAME, SHAME! So I figured that I better catch up on all the happenings in the last couple of weeks... Friday the 16th we drove home to Idaho to attend the baby shower on Saturday for Don and Chas. It was such a wonderful party, even the boys were allowed to attend... well, there was free food and they just kinda stayed to eat. Of course if you stay you HAVE to play the shower games! Don cheated on the Baby Bingo and won that game.... but since he is the new Dad... I guess we will forgive him. Great Grandma Acre was there along with Grandma's Connie, Ann and Max ... (You can NEVER have enough Grandmas!), lots of Aunts, Uncles, and friends. Oh, and a Grandpa too, sorry Ben. It was a great party! Crystal entertained us with great party games, the boys tried to cheat of course.... the food was outta this world. That Connie, she can cook for me anytime! YUM We spent the weekend with Mike and Karey out at their place in Rathdrum. Their property is soooo pretty, I just love it when we go to visit. The smell of the trees, the sound of the squirrels chattering and the birds.... so very peaceful. The boat can be relaxing... but I AM a country girl and there is just something about being in the woods. Thanks Karey and Mikey for letting us stay :-)
Tuesday September 13, 2011
Last two days have been quiet. Spent most of yesterday in bed or on the couch. LOL. LAZY, LAZY, LAZY.. Trying to get my energy back from a weekend of Grand kids! No rain but the sky has been overcast, kinda a nice change. Cooler temps. Good nappin' weather. Friday we leave for Idaho for a few day to visit family and friends. I can't wait.
Monday September 12, 2011
Well....... The hammer has come down. I knew it was coming, just a mater of time. I got the word last night. DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS ......
Sunday September 12, 2011
Jellyfish Whisperer ... Everyone slept in this morning, well.... at least till 8ish. Then all heck broke loss. LOL. Showers up at the marina with Grandpa for the boys and of course EVERYTHING is exciting for the 4 year old twins! Even a shower in the marina is an adventure! Eggs-in-a-nest, sausage and O.J. for breakfast, then off to the docks for more adventure. The Kids thought it was way KOOL that you could catch and HOLD Jellyfish! The twins were awe struck and wanted to hold everyone! They loved the small Candle fish and wanted to know if we could 'light' them.. or if they would 'burn' us... No girls, we don't light the Candle fish. LOL Crystal discovered that if you slap it the water you can actually 'call' the Jelly's to you at the surface.... or at least SHE could... (Kid's always been a little weird....) anyway, the boys were pretty good Jelly catchers as well! Root beer floats for lunch. YUM. Then, sadly it was time for the kids to pack up and head for Idaho. It has been so awesome this summer to have Chas and her crew and Crystal and kids come visit us this summer. I have missed them all soooooo much! Spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning and RESTING.... Gosh I wish I could bottle that energy! What a GREAT weekend!
Saturday September 10, 2011
Batter up..... What a FUN weekend! Crystal and the kids came to visit Grandma and Grandpa on the boat! YAH!!! The twins, Cassie and Kyra, and the boys, Shawn and Jake. They got in late last night around 8ish... and after a flurry of pillows and blankets, exploring the boat and a few whispered concerns about "sharks"...... Boys, quite scaring your sisters! Everyone settled down into their bunks and beds. The next morning we got up EARLY to make the 1 1/2 hour drive to take Jake to his baseball game. It was the first time we got to see him play and boy did he! The little slugger hit a home run! Handsome and talented...... His team won both games, of course. It was a long afternoon but so much fun. 
The kids explored the docks and loved feeding the Georges (Geese and Ducks). All the kids, even Crystal... got to go for a ride in Grandpa's Dingy. They wanted to take out the big boat... but we just didn't have enough time, Bummer. 
Thursday September 8, 2011
This entire week has been glorious! The evenings are awesome! Nice and cool, the days heat up to the upper 70's lower 80's. It's just perfect. Clear blue skies and starry nights. The mornings are bright and clear. I love having my coffee on the back deck early... 5:30 or 6, it's so quiet and peaceful. The water is so calm and smooth.... like glass.... It's magick. Crystal and the grand kids are showing up tomorrow. I can't wait to see the twins, Cassie and Kyra. and Shawn will LOVE all the kool sea life and we get to go watch Jake play in a couple of his last baseball games of the summer... How cool is that! They will only be here till Sunday. I am so excited to share everything with them. The starfish and jellyfish and ducks and geese and all the other neat stuff on the docks.I had to include this picture of a Californian Trawler that Ben and I found on one of our cruises. It is a few years newer than ours... But it is sooo nice. This is what I want our boat to look like! Work, Work, Work......
Sunday September 4, 2011
All Hail the QUEEN of the Hobo's !!!!! Yes it is true, I have won the crown. Big Mike was crowned King and yours truly the queen. I had sooo much fun! For dinner we had fresh caught white salmon grilled on the BBQ, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, salad, grilled bread... an open bar. Gosh life is GOOD when you are a hobo. I even dressed Zoe in a matching little hobo costume. She looked so cute. We got to know a bunch of new people and had a great weekend. It was fun to get out of the same ol' rut, meet some people, drink and laugh. I had a really good time. They feed us a great breakfast every morning and an awesome dinner both nights. Tomorrow we have coffee and pastries on the dock then we head out around noon, back to Port Washington. Can't wait to do it again.
Saturday September 3, 2011
Port Orchard Yacht Club Labor Day Weekend Cruise This weekend is the official Hobo Cruise for our Yacht Club. We cruised into our destination around noon on Friday, just around the corner at the Bremerton Yacht Club. WOW... what a beautiful club and marina they have! The docks are both open and covered, boat houses line the wide and well lighted docks. The club house has a large meeting rooms as well as a big common area where we enjoyed a great breakfast this morning. The kitchen is set up to feed an army! They also have a very nice little park and a a Hugh pavilion that also boasts a full kitchen on one end and a gas fireplace on the other... FANCY... We were supposed to have one oar dingy races today but after that big breakfast I think everyone just wants to take a nap to kick back and just visit. Tonight we are BBQing burgers in the pavilion. I have to work on my Hobo costume. Tomorrow night they crown the King and Queen Hobo and of course I plan on winning. LOL
Thursday September 1, 2011
I have discovered that I actually have a following... well sorta.. I am so excited. I mean I knew that a few friends and weird relatives followed my Blog.. (Thanks Janie for ALWAYS posting a comment to let me know SOMEONE is listening)... But I recently found out that people actually look forward to my daily blurbs about weather and tidal shift and ducks and geese. So I am once again spurred on to try my best to post a bit more often and not neglect my blog..... I finished the canvas covers for the front windshield and side windows. I sewed them and Ben put in the snaps. There are a few things I would have done different, better... but all in all they turned out great. The labor was free, the material was about $60 not bad. They sure keep the sun from burning in all day long. It keeps the boat so much cooler. Next step is the side windows and lower bedroom windows.
Wednesday August 31, 2011
The Bimini is on!!! I LOVE it. Day by day... piece by piece... the boat IS coming together. Although it has truly been a struggle :-( at times. When we ordered the new canvas top for the back deck, because of the SIZE we had to get a Bimini made for a Pontoon boat ... aka Party Barge. Little did we know that the rails on a Pontoon boat are Square tube rails while our boat has Round tube rails....... Hmmmmm... Thankfully... my hubby was able to make square pegs fit into round holes and it looks AWESOME! Thanks Baby... :-) I even decided to take on sewing the canvas covers for the front windows. After finding the perfect material and thread I spent days cutting and planning.... Unfortunately my sewing machine had other ideas and decided it did NOT want to sew through the heave canvas... So today I am going to hit up one of my neighbors here at the marina who has a heavy duty machine. Maybe if I offer cookies??? We have fun plans for Labor Day. The Yacht Club is cruising out for a Hobo weekend. Meeting up Friday at noon here in Bremerton, then its off for a weekend of One Oar Dingy races, Dingy parades and even a Derelict Fashion Show.... Mimosa, BBQ, Games and Prizes.. sounds like so much fun!!!! I gotta get those front curtains done! LOL. AND I have to hit up Goodwill today so I can get started on my Hobo costume for the fashion show.... You KNOW I'm gonna walk down THAT runway... LOL
Tuesday August 30, 2011
It has been a few weeks since I sat down and wrote anything in the Blog so I figured I'd better get on it. LOL A case of just being to lazy.... Although I can spend HOURS on Facebook..... ?????? The last two weeks the weather has been AWESOME! The mornings are cool and clear, it heats up to the upper 70's low 80's during the day, and then cools down again in the evening. I have been spending my days with my Kindle (e-reader), lounging on the back deck and reading books. I have gone through about 12 books in the last 8 days. LOL. Very relaxing.. except for the invasion of ducks and geese... I HAVE created a monster with my feeding of the Georges and Franks... (They float right outside my door.. ALL day long... STALKERS) I hear them NOW!!!! FreakyThe picture above is the Lady Washington. She was used in several of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Very Cool. The Lady and her sister ship were in Brownsville doing mock battles. Ben and I got to go aboard and take a tour. It was very cool.
We have been taking out the Dingy and exploring the surrounding local area. It's fun to just jump in the little boat and head out. Even Zoe seems to like it! I build her a bed with some blankets in the bow and she is as happy as a clam. Silly ol' girl. I do need to get her a doggie life vest... weenies do NOT swim well. LOL
Monday August 15, 2011
Saturday we took the boat out in the Sound. Don and Ben were trying to catch a BIG one while the girls spent the day searching for Dolphins and Whales... We all struck out, no fish of ANY kind... we did see a minke whale and lots of seals, but we had a GREAT day. It was so much fun to spend the day with the kids, to see things anew through their eyes. McKenzi saw Whales EVERYWHERE. So funny. They were having a BLAST. We took the boat by
the Navy yard to look at the big ships, that was COOL. At one point we were just drifting so the boys could fish when a BIG ship came by us and the waves caused our boat to rock WILDLY from side to side. OMG! I thought the freezer on the Fly Bridge was gonna slide off the boat and crash into the sound. I was yelling for someone to grab the freezer, Don had jumped up to try to grab Chas and keep her and her chair from going over the deck, all the beverages on the table went flying overboard. BaHaHa. What a RIDE! We all survived, even Zoe. It was VERY exciting there for a few minutes, The boys never did catch anything so when we finally got back into the dock the boys decided to take the dingy out into the inlet for more fishing. That caused Chas and I a bit of concern.... 2 men in a boat sort of thing. 
Sunday morning was a low tide and Ash and Kenzi had a mission..... They had been catching Jelly Fish by the HUNDREDS... but they wanted a Star Fish to take home.... so with low tide they set out to find the perfect specimen. After crawling along the pier to get to the bank and a few close calls... Kenzi almost fell in at least 10 times.... LOL. But they did finally find the PERFECT one. After a serious battle they finally prevailed and declared victory. The hapless Star Fish ended up in a Wal-Mart bag and headed back to Idaho. I hope Chas does not forget that there is a smelly start fish in her trunk... Ha... With lots of Hugs and tears (mostly on my part) they headed safely back to Idaho.... I miss them so much already.
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