Spirit Of Kaizen

Thawing Out

2012-02-07T11:44:00.000-08:00

The sun is starting to shine and spring is on our mind. Projects are starting to come together as the cockpit once again becomes a viable working space, hatches are flying open to let the fresh air flow in, daydreams of sailing are starting to feel like they will soon become a reality and our urge to explore the outdoors any way we can is undeniable. It's still a bit chilly out, so we donned all our cozy clothes and headed out for an adventure..... on the dingy. It was fabulous, the sun was shining and melting deliciously into our skin, we couldn't help but smile! As we slowly paddled along exploring our marina, it was a fun way to check out everyone's boats, search for treasure on the bottom of the ocean, sneak and creep under the bridges and of course practice our pirate lingo. I can easily see how in a few years (ok, maybe 10), L will be going out on little adventures of his own! We may not have acres and acres of land to offer L like I had growing up, but the water is also vast and full of adventures.

Can you feel the EXCITEMENT!!!!!!!!

Poor kid, I'm amazed I could even zip up his lifejacket with all those clothes on!

I think this is the only part of the trip he actually sat down, way to much to see, good thing he's got great balance.

~Home~

Bucking Broncos

2012-01-22T23:08:00.000-08:00

It's days like today that I am more than happy to be tucked away in the back of our marina.... protected. As winds were predicted to be between 80-110kph, I knew it was going to be a rough day. So after we planned our day for as many activities off the boat as we could, we headed outside for some stable ground. We all were starting to turn a bit green and needed some fresh air, so off we went to do some chores. As we were leaving the boat though we noticed a crowd of people and the end of the dock and thought we'd take a look. The winds were howling and the boats were bucking like crazy, it was quite a sight. Unfortunately for one of our neighbors, the bucking was so violent it broke their dock that leads out to their boat in two places.
Here is a little glimpse of the winds:

http://youtu.be/tNnv5lJ3xkg

Some Seriously Groovy Granola

2012-01-18T21:55:00.000-08:00

It's been years since I've had granola.....I'm in love!

2 C GF Oats
1/4 C (each) Pecans,Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews
1/4 C (each) dried blueberries, dried cherry's, unsweetened coconut
2 TB Flax seeds
1 TB Vanilla
2 TB Water
1/4 tsp Salt
1 TB Cinnamon
4 TB Almond Butter
4 TB Honey

Soften almond butter and mix with honey. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and then mix in wet ingredients. Once mixed thoroughly fold in the almond butter/honey mixture to cover all contents. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place granola on a lightly greased pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping once.

I used whatever ingredients I had in the pantry and roughly followed a recipe I found on this wonderful site my girlfriend Sherri introduced me to : www.cleaneatingchelsey.com She has tons of amazing gluten free recipes.

Blizzard on a Boat

2012-01-18T12:29:00.000-08:00

Well they didn't prepare me for this in any of the Sailing magazines! Luckily there are some residents here that have been here long enough and own a shovel. Usually here on Vancouver Island we get a "token" snow, it shows it's face sticks long enough for us to take a picture or make a few tracks on our way to our cars and then is gone before lunchtime. This is a whole different story, but fun just the same, I love the snow. It's a bit windy out there though, so makes it tough for the little guy to really enjoy it, but we make sure we get out and play when the wind dies down. We're staying cozy warm and enjoying the benefits that come along with a snow day!

My little snow bear, he can barely walk he's so bundled up

Logi's first snowman

Icy puddles are even BETTER, he's really loving the bike so far

The wind picked up so we headed in for a hot chocolate and some snacks at the marina's restaurant

I'm not sure what was more of a hit, the whipped cream or the hot chocolate

One happy little camper, snow days rock!

Mini-snowman created by Daddy and Logan

Super yummy homemade granola ~ my first attempt. Delicious and surprisingly simple, I'm hooked!

Story time with his buddy Stefan

Day 2 of storm, it's getting chilly around here!!!

Winter Blessing

2012-01-13T14:52:00.000-08:00

This holiday season I started off a bit bah humbug I must admit. Being away from all our friends and family and the few people we did know here were going to be away for the holidays..... and then I remembered what a stranger said to me one time in regards to the holidays when I said I wasn't "into" a certain holiday. He looked straight at Logan, gave me a big smile and said "You are now!" So I decided I had to put my big girl britches on and create some memories for my little boy. Really it was the perfect opportunity to start our own family traditions as I have longed to do for quite some time now. I never could've imagined it would have turned out so perfect!

Nothing says Christmas like a pair of Yoda ears, and making gingerbread cookies for Santa!

Santa was a hit, they even forgot to open some of their presents they were so excited.

Logi and I were going for a walk one afternoon and one the residents at the RV Park that is attached to the marina offered to come over for a "Santa Visit" It turns out he even had a Santa business card and showed up at our neighbors (who lives in a floating home across the way) and created some absolutely precious memories for our two boys.

Logi scouted out our first Solstice Stick

And then a sprig of holly.

My happy little pirate on his first treasure hunt.

Getting to the treasure was half the adventure!

Our first Solstice Stick (pre-glitter)!!

All our glittery bits, plus some homemade Apple Butter (so yummy!)

I do love celebrating solstice, so I thought since we can't fit a tree, or even a yule log on the boat I decided a stick would do. I also remembered back to our own family traditions and always loved getting together with all the girls and making wreaths over the holidays. I would get my fix of the beautiful smell of pine, and recreate some old traditions to boot! I wrapped the stick with all the treasures Logan had found on our adventure, and then added little papers with all the things we were grateful for this year and a little glitter.....and whala a tradition has been born. Not only is it something to decorate the boat with for the holidays, it creates a time for us to do something outdoors and celebrate the gifts and beauty of nature together. We both loved the adventure of it all, and though he wasn't to into the glitter this year (surprisingly) he loved looking at his creation pointing out everyday, each of the special treasures he had found!

With decorations up and our spirits lifted we ended up hosting both a Winter Solstice party AND a Christmas party. It felt wonderful to have the boat cozy and festive, filled with friends, old and new! Our Winter Solstice party made way for a very heartfelt and serendipitous reunion of unexpected friends, and Christmas dinner was a pure miracle. We had celebrated Christmas a day early because Gordon had to work on Christmas day. I was busy prepping foods, playing with Logi and getting ready for a evening party and had planned but somehow forgot to go to the grocery store..... this little fact hit me like a rock at 8:30 pm on our way home from a party!!! My little "uh-oh" turned into full blown panic when I realized ALL the grocery stores in town were closed until Boxing Day! Luckily one of Gord's workmates new of an Asian market that was open and called me at 11:00 on Christmas day to inform me of this wonderful news (I was cooking a Gluten/Dairy free, Vegan dinner for 7) so I was overwhelmingly relieved as I sped off to the store. Dinner was a hit and just as we were cleaning up the water tanks ran dry... no biggie we can refill those easily enough. But then, just as I was checking on the pumpkin pies.....the propane ran out! Amazingly enough they were actually done and we all enjoyed our ENTIRE Christmas dinner. Someone was definitely looking after me that day, I didn't even burn anything, which as many of you that know me know that that is a miracle in itself. So as I sit here and reflect, I truly can count my many winter blessings!

My beautiful family

Amazing (and ingenious ~ why didn't I think of this trick!) friends

Happy little boy

and One Happy Hubby xo

Happy Holidays everyone! I'd love to hear of some of your holiday traditions or special moments!

Squash & Chickpea Moroccan Stew

2011-12-26T15:13:00.000-08:00

~Saute these items together~

2 TB olive oil
1 med. yellow onion
4 med. cloves of garlic (minced)
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 cinnamon stick

~Then stir in the following items~

2 C gf vegetable broth
1 lb. butternut squash (diced large)
3/4 lb. red potatoes (diced large)
2 C chickpeas
1 (14oz.) can dices tomatoes with juice
pinch of saffron

~Add the following after removing stew from heat~

1 C brined green olives
salt & pepper to taste

~Serve with rice or quinoa, top with toasted almonds, cilantro and plain greek yogurt~

It's been a long time coming

2011-12-22T23:40:00.000-08:00

We have just celebrated our anniversay of 9 MONTHS living aboard! It's unbelievable really, and even more unbelievable that it's been that long since I've written about boat life. I have so much to say, so much has transpired. I think I needed a little bit of distance from the emotions of it all though in order to write objectively. I am a very emotionally driven soul, and sometimes can get a bit lost without a little objectivity. This has been a period of huge adjustments, both physically reorienting to a smaller space, and emotionally as I had to find a way to say goodbye to some of the most amazing friends. I find it is different now that I have a child, once you find people that not only hold a space for you but also your child in their hearts and love them as their own, and you feel the same about their children... it is very hard to walk away.

After about a month, I have to admit the honeymoon ended a bit. The reality that simple living isn't "simple"at all, hit me in a big way. As we adjusted to the space, the logistics of laundry (multiple trips to the laundry nap and folding laundry with a toddler is an all day adventure) , showering (try that one with a toddler when he has free access to a toilet that MANY people have used) and contending with the weather (we waited until August before summer arrived) as well as the tidal drops of as much as 15 feet (try going down that ramp during a winter storm) It all slowly but surely began to add up. As well as our impending departure in October, I think both my friends and I were in denial, it all caught up to me. We also were disappointed by the fact that due to mechanical issues we weren't able to take the boat out at all that summer. Honestly it took me by surprise how long it took me to adjust (but to be fair I think I was simply exhausted....see timeline below). Simply for the fact of how long we had been planning this and how much I was looking forward to it.

I am happy to say though, I feel I have adjusted, and am still extremely happy we made the decision to move aboard. We made our first jump down the island at the end of September and are now docked in Victoria, BC. We took about two and a half days to sail down and it was seamless and the weather was stunning. It was a trip initially blessed by the passing of hundreds of dolphins right as we were leaving the marina in Campbell River It is beautiful here and the weather is much milder than in Campbell River, which is a HUGE plus. Slugging it out in the rain day in and day out for most of the year gets to you after a while. I find it much milder here and we have spells of rain but they are sandwiched by glorious days of sunshine. I literally cried the day after we arrived and woke to the rays of sun beaming in our windows. I am ready to go cruising if it is for nothing else other than chasing rays of sunshine and rainbows.
I think it was in November when I finally took a deep breath and let go of all of the angst, and surrendered into the uncertaintity of it all. This experience has totally changed my perception of the strength of our family. I feel like I really know how strong we are, how loyal we are to each other and our vision., and truly believe in our ability to adapt to whatever comes our way. Luckily I have Logan to remind me daily to be joyful, spontaneous, and forgiving. He is such a little trooper and has adapted seamlessly (ok, maybe there was a bit of acting out when we first moved....but he missed his friends. Who can blame him, I was a bit grumpy myself). Truly though he approaches each day with such zeal and excitement. Everything is fleeting, happiness, saddness, but no matter what it is simply one moment at a time. Each independant of the next, no judgement, no clinging. And my husband, well I can't say enough about him. He has been amazing through this whole process, loving me despite all my tantrums. He continually goes out of his way to make sure I am comfortable, safe and most of all loved. I am a very lucky woman, and find myself falling in love with him more and more everyday. I absolutely love that we are rediscovering and redefining ourselves....together.

When looking back at the past 9 months, it has truly been a whirlwind (lots of fun and exciting things but a whirlwind nonetheless!).
Here is our timeline:

MARCH - Prepped house to rent as a furnished rental, put all other belongings into garage for storage ( I had no idea what a big task this would be!). Moved onto the boat. Went to Mexico on vacation for a week

APRIL - Acclimating to the boat, fixing up interior to make things more livable. Started an energy exchange at the local Bikram Yoga studio (work one day a week for free unlimited yoga)

MAY- I went home to visit my family in Virginia for the first 3 weeks, while Gordon sailed to San Fran with a friend to deliver their boat. Two days after returning home from VA, Gord left for 5 days to sail in the 'Swift Sure'Race in Victoria

JUNE-  4 days after returning home from Victoria, G left for 2 weeks to race in the 'Van Isle 360' on a friends
             boat. One week later we went 3hr south to Victoria for the weekend to celebrate a friends birthday.

JULY- We unexpectedly get notice that our friend that is renting our house is moving..... IN A MONTH! This was a double blow as we were SO sad to see her go, AND it meant dealing with the house again.

AUGUST - Has anyone noticed WE haven't been sailing yet??? Yes, the boat didn't move all summer because of  'transmission issues' It was quite a dissapointment, as well as the fact that summer still hadn't arrived in Campbell River yet. It was STILLraining. We had to sort all of our belongings again and move them to an 8x10 storage unit........I NEVER WANT TO EXPERIENCE THAT AGAIN. OMG I never realized we had so much useless stuff, and the sad part is that we are paying to store some of that stuff now! We gave most everything away though, we no longer own any furniture, no bed. nothing! It was quite a cleansing experience I must admit, and I highly recommend it (once it's over of course ;) End of August, we dragged our sorry, exhausted tails to the airport and headed back east to VA for some much needed R&R at my parents place for 2 weeks. Oh yeah, and on the way to the airport in Victoria we checked out and secured the slip we would be moving to in a month.

SEPTEMBER- Returned mid-month from VA, finalized all preparations for our first leg of our journey south.Verified slip vacancy at new marina, Gord got a new job at a hospital in Victoria, and the part missing pieces of the boat FINALLY put back together and we were mobile! Sept. 24th we left CR for a 3 day sail south to our new home, for the next year or two.

NOV/DEC - One trip home to CR tie up loose ends and visit friends. Winterizing the boat.  Otherwise taking a deep breath, finding our way around town, making friends, and reconnecting with old ones.

I know this was a long post, but I wanted to get caught up. We've had a lot of computer issues since September and it's made it difficult to keep up on things. I hope to be more disciplined and write more frequently about our experiences. As long as this post is, there is so much that was left out. Feels like this was just the tip of the iceberg and it doesn't justify the experience as there have been so so many beautiful moments along the way. I feel like it is a bit of a 'dry' no nonsense rundown of things and doesn't give the full picture of life we are living. I am so grateful that despite all the hard work it has taken that we have made this change in our lives. It has been truly transformative.......for all of us.

~This Moment~

2011-12-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. This moment via SouleMama

FAJITA SEASONING MIX

2011-12-09T14:27:00.000-08:00

1 tsp. GROUND CUMIN
1 tsp. OREGANO
1 tsp. SALT
1/4 tsp. PEPPER
1/8 tsp. CAYENNE PEPPER
1 tsp. CORN STARCH (mix w/ 1/4 cup warm water)

I usually fry up some tofu, 1 onion and 2 red/yellow peppers and then mix in ingredients. Serve up with your usual fajita fixings. I love mine served on GF rice tortilla wraps or w/ GF tortilla chips.

CARROT FENNEL SOUP

2011-12-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

2 med FENNEL BULBS W/ FRONDS
1 LB. CARROTS
1 med ONION
1 GARLIC CLOVE
5 TB OLIVE OIL
1/2 tsp SUGAR
2 1/2 C. GF CHICKEN BROTH
**("Better Than Bullion" brand offers some GF broth options - are concentrated and take up minimal storage space in your fridge)**
1 tsp FENNEL SEEDS
1/2 tsp SALT
1/4 tsp PEPPER

Preheat oven to 450 degrees f

Chop 1 tsp of fennel fronds and reserve - discard stalk and remaining fronds. Slice bulbs 1/4 in. thick and toss w/ carrots, onion, garlic, 3 TB olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread on a sheet pan and roast (stirring occasionally) for approx. 25-30 minutes.

Blend half of the roasted veggies in the blender with chicken broth until smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Repeat with remaining veggies and broth. Thin with water to desired consistency and simmer for 2 minutes.

** Please check any GF product recommendations, as ingredients vary in different countries (U.S. and Canada can have same brand name but different manufacturers and therefore ingredients) and also companies can change product ingredients . I am currently in CANADA. **

SAVORY CHICKEN APPLE SAUSAGE

2011-12-09T13:59:00.000-08:00

This is a super simple yet amazingly delicious (and healthier) alternative to regular sausage, plus it's super kid friendly.

1 lb. GROUND CHICKEN
1 APPLE (peeled and diced)
1-2 TB GF POULTRY SEASONING
1/2 ONION (finely chopped)
1/2 - 1 tsp SALT
1/4 tsp PEPPER

Mix ingredients, make patties and cook on stove top, Enjoy!

STIR FRY SAUCE

2011-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

Stir fry veggies as usual, mix and pour ingredients over veggies and let simmer for a minute.

4 TB GF SOY SAUCE (Tamari is a great gf alternative)
1 1/2 TB HONEY
2 GARLIC CLOVES (minced)
1/4 tsp CRUSHED RED PEPPER

BEEF STROGANOFF

2011-12-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

When you're really tired of spaghetti this is a great alternative:

GROUND BEEF ( I substitute sometimes with Ground Turkey)
1 tsp SALT
1 tsp PEPPER
2 TB BUTTER
1 TB GF FLOUR
1 C BEEF BULLION
1 Medium ONION
MUSHROOMS (BROCCOLI also goes well or can be a substitute)
3 TB SOUR CREAM
Squirt DIJON MUSTARD
Splash RED WINE (only if it's not your last glass!)

Brown meat and saute onions - set aside
Mix bullion and flour then add meat, stir in rest of ingredients and let simmer for about 10 minutes

QUICK CANTALOUPE SKEWERS

2011-12-09T13:28:00.000-08:00

This seems like a very odd mix of ingredients, but it was an absolute hit at a bbq!

4 slices prosciutto (gf)
24 cantaloupe cubes
8 bocconcini (halved)
16 whole basil leaves

Pierce one end of the prosciutto , alternate wrapping each ingredient with the prosciutto.

This Moment ~Mowry's New Family~

2011-08-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

This Moment ~ Peacock Sighting At The Petting Zoo!

2011-07-15T15:24:00.000-07:00

One Proud Puppy!!

2011-06-15T22:03:00.000-07:00

After a few times hearing "OH NO!!!" after Logan had been running amuck buck naked in the boat, only to then guide me to where he had freshly peed all over the floor, the couch, beside the toilet... well you get the point, did I realize it's time for a big boy potty! We took him with us to the store to pick it out, where he literally test drove each and every one. Not only by sitting on them ALL but by also pushing them up and down the aisle like he was a drag racing king. I was surprised though as soon as we got home and opened the box he was obsessed with it, even insisting on sitting correctly on it (proper penis placement and everything!!) I am ever so grateful he has his Daddy's trait of attention to detail and will hopefully choose to pee inside the bowl. As we busied ourselves with making dinner, lo and behold..... we had pee in the potty ( and a foot, but I'm not one for details ;) ! Here is the our Potty Champion, oozing with pride!

~This Moment~

2011-06-10T14:46:00.000-07:00

This Moment~ Too Much Fun Tickling The Cat

2011-06-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

2011-04-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

Claiming the cats bed...both to her and my dismay!
He ends up covered in hair head to toe

I spent a wonderful day outside with my little man today. The weather has finally warmed a bit and we were able to shed a few layers, the most important one... the rain jackets! It felt so good to feel the warmth of the sun as we celebrated Earth Day together. There is a little beach right by the marina and L had a fantastic time climbing logs, throwing rocks in the water, and slapping around slimy seaweed. It's is so fun watching him explore and be so enthralled with a rock or a stick. We spent over an hour on the beach and he quietly played the entire time, inviting me into his little world when he needed help manouvering over a big log or throwing an especially large rock. My mission on the beach today was to collect rocks and sticks to make some natural crafts. I saw a tutorial on making rocks into Easter Eggs by felting them (like you can with soaps) they looked beautiful and I thought it'd be a great alternative to the usual plastic eggs. I carefully selected my egg shaped rocks and while L was napping I felted them up, they turned out beautiful and I couldn't wait to give them to Logan. What I should of remembered was how much he LOVED THROWING the rocks at the beach.... so of course as soon as I gave them to him they went flying across the boat. Guess we'll have to needle felt some eggs that won't break my mirrors! I just tucked in my tuckered out little nome, he is so precious and I feel so grateful I am able to watch him grow. I hope he learns to tread lightly on the earth and to embrace the beauty that surrounds him each and every day.

He pick the BIGGEST rock he could possibly muster and then throw it an inch or two.
I kept trying to convince him go for the smaller ones but to no avail.

His favorite was definitely the slimy seaweed.

He's got the WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS....

My Sweet Pea xo

1 Month Anniversary!

2011-04-15T23:30:00.000-07:00

I sit here quietly on the boat, just the humming of the heater and (thankfully) the stillness of the water surrounds me. The last month has passed quickly, as we acclimated to the our new home and new lifestyle. It was a huge relief to be finished with the house and to focus fully on our "new" life. It was a beautiful way to transition as we were here for 2 weeks on the boat and then took a week vacation to Mexico. It was wonderful to get the tedious task of organizing done and then to take a much needed break. We were able to reconnect with each other as a family, take a deep breath and rejuvenate our souls as our skin soaked in the warm sun. We were able to return refreshed and inspired to keep on task and head south asap!! The winter storms keep rearing their ugly head and have made us long desperately for spring to return. After a few days of storms one right after another, I finally broke down and took some Gravol. Luckily it relieved the nausea and I was able to get a good night sleep and start fresh the next day. The 'calm after the storm' is always such a welcomed one
I had a bottle of champagne in the fridge, and wanted to celebrate......I know I should wait until G is home to celebrate with me, but after finishing cleaning up and the baby is quietly sleeping I wanted to relax and take a moment to reflect. So I guess you've figured by now, I decided to drink now and ask for forgiveness later!
I just feel so grateful, for so many reasons.... to start with I can't tell you how much I love the boyish grin on Gordon's face before he goes to sleep at night. He is so happy down here, so completely at peace. It makes all the tough days so worth it. He told me the most romantic thing the other night as we curled up in our little bunks and reached across to hold each others hand...." I want to grow old with you in small spaces. " It is so hard to put words to the way I felt after hearing that. I love that there is a beautifully intricate dance that must occur daily for us to live together here. A true sense of teamwork, an unspoken knowing of each others moods and needs. The importance of working through problems together , as there is no room for hidden agendas or unspoken feelings.
Logan has adapted seamlessly, he is enjoying the boat and it has also proved to be a great time to implement some much needed changes in his routine. We've started a new napping schedule and also started weaning him (partially) from the "All-Can-Eat Breastraunt". He is growing so fast, it's hard to believe he is no longer my "baby". He brings such absolute joy to my life and I am so grateful that I am able to stay home with him and enjoy every minute of his being. It is so pure and full of love, it is such a gift to be able to look at life through his eyes. He's talking more and more everyday. Continues to be sweet, silly and oh so loving. He loves giving his kitty "teats" and have caught him doing the 'one for you, one for me' bit. We bought Malloreigh a kitty bed the other day (in hopes to contain her copious amounts of fur) and he quietly goes up to the poor sleeping kitty, yells "GO" and pulls the bed out from under her and proceeds to curl up into a ball and try and fit himself into the bed. Usually this is after I have finally gotten him dressed for the day and we are just about to leave.....now COVERED in cat hair!!
I have to admit living in such a small space is a bit trying with a cat, the hair just seems endless! My once adventurous cat now refuses to go outside unless I physically put her out there and close the door. Then restless and rambuncous, she rustles around all night long. I've started putting her on the same program as Logan, she has mandatory outdoor time. It is in hopes that she will appreciate her time indoors and either play quietly or sleep. Unfortunately she's not as easy to train as Logan is!
Overall, I feel bit surprised actually that things have gone as smoothly as they have. There have been some really trying days (believe me!!) but it definitely seems doable. We're definitely getting into a groove down here and figuring out a system. I have to admit I am a bit of a princess and do have a microwave and a crockpot as well. I figure, we're not going off shore yet, so I might as well live it up while I can!! There are just some things in life that make living with a toddler SO much easier! I'll have to go through my own weaning process when the time comes... but in the meantime I'm going to live high on the hog!

Finally Aboard And Making It Home

2011-03-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well it seems unbelievable that we have actually been living on the boat now for 9 days! This past month has been a whirlwind of projects between wrapping up projects in the house (and everything breaking last minute - fridge, faucets....) and prepping the boat for us to live aboard. I feel like I've been in a daze this past week, decompressing and adjusting all at the same time. Luckily, other than trying to find places for the many many bags of belongings we brought down, it has been pretty seamless.
The first night down, I see it as my "Initiation night". One of our classic Pacific Northwest storms was rolling through, it packed a bit of a punch though with winds up to 90kmph and sustained high winds ALL night long. After a long day of packing and cleaning, I couldn't wait to just lie down and pass out, unfortunately Mother Nature had other plans for me. The boat was rocking and rolling all night long. The winds would press the boat on its side and then drop, the fenders constantly squeaked as they protested taking on the weight of the boat as it forced itself over and over onto our neighbors boat. I thought maybe after a bit it would quiet down, but no such luck, this baby was gonna go all night long! The boys on the other hand slept like a rock. G did wake up at one point, I watched him silently waiting to see what he was checking....he got closer and closer. "Are you awake?" Yesss.... "Oh good, your were freaking me out for a second, I thought you were sleeping with your eyes open!" I wish I could have kept my eye on things as I slept, I guess that's a skill I will acquire as I become an old salt. Needless to say, it was a difficult putting in a full day of cleaning and packing at the house on zero sleep. Emotions were labile to say the least. Breaking down Logan's crib and packing away his room did make me stop for a minute. With a tear in my eye, my heart hoping we were making the right decision for him and us as a family. At that moment it all finally seemed real. Previously I had just been going from one task to the next, crossing things off the to-do list. But now as I saw my little boys life as he new it was about to change, and I had to believe in what my heart has been saying all along, it is going to be a wonderful adventure.

Logan has taken on his new life with gusto, his first night as he quickly scrambled up the steps up into his room, he turned around with a huge grin and shouted "WOW"! It is my little mountain goats heaven as he can reach everything. We are slowly learning what we can and cannot climb on or touch. He's also learned how to let himself out of his crib, it at least keeps him from rolling out of bed while sleeping. Guess we're moving to the concept of a toddler bed whether we like it or not! He loves all the walks we go on now. He has his little loop down pat, kissing all his favorite wood carvings as we go along. Mastering the stairs as we go up and down and up and down over and over again. He has been such a little trooper, never skipping a beat and embracing each moment, each new experience with grace and excitement. He definitely could teach me a thing or two!

The stove is working beautifully and so is the fridge. I feel so lucky to have hot water as well. It does amaze me though how much water we go through. I think we emptied our tanks after a day and a half (and I thought I was being conservative!) and used much more drinking water than I thought we would too. I have lots to learn, but am enjoying the process.

Here is a peek into our first week:

Logan's room in v-berth

My caveman lighting his first fire on the stove!

Celebrating our first dinner

SUPER MOON

Checking in with Eagleman on our evening walk

Loves brushing his teeth now that he can stare at himself and make funny faces in the mirror. Crazy hair = shinier teeth

Parking lot puddles create hours of entertainment

Checking out the beach, honing his goaty abilities... those logs are slippery when wet.

It's Coming Together!!

2011-03-05T10:07:00.000-08:00

The count down continues, and the days are slipping by so fast now. So many projects to do and so little time. There is nothing more rewarding though when you see a project finally coming to an end. Though there is still the last bits to do on all of these projects I thought I'd post an update. Gordon has done such a amazing job. It seems surreal at times that this is actually finally happening!

I know the picture of the head may not seem super impressive but believe me if you look back at the old pictures they are. I no longer feel like I am in a grungy gas station bathroom or could catch some obscure disease. With all the caulking and old stains, no matter how much you cleaned it just looked, well gross. But now!!! Oh my, it's just breathtaking when I walk in there! SO CLEAN (*can you see me smiling* ). Sorry the doors are missing, they are at the house drying.
I also found some adorable Wall Decals that I thought we could put up so it doesn't seem so sterile and gives Logan something to play with (you can close off the area to the actual head and it leaves a small play area). I'm in love with the Baby Elephant Chalkboard, now that he is starting to draw, and chalk wipes away much easier than markers! Anyway I digress.... onto the rest of the projects.

Head floor, Hazmat suit no longer required.

So Shiny & Clean, Yay!

Port side head

To the left is our custom made cutting board (which is attached to the lid of the fridge) made by our wonderful friend Jim! G also found a new piece of formica to match the existing counter tops. The lid still needs to be mounted, but all of G's measurements were perfect and it has turned out beautifully. So much more space than the old design, and super organized to boot!

New Dickinson 3 burner stove and custom made cutting board!

Custom made fridge (we've even got ICE CUBES) Everything fits Just So!

The house is a work in progress, it's all the little things - emptying the file cabinets, boxing up the millions of pictures I seem to have stashed EVERYWHERE, unpacking (for the first time) and repacking boxes from the last move. Through it all I realize I have a bit of a problem, I hoard things..... books, beads, craft supplies, fabric, did I mention books. Getting one of those Kindle's is looking better and better after hauling multiple boxes of books to the garage. I just can't bear to part with them (and I do read them again) .... ok I'll stop trying to justify.

Anyway, it is all starting to come together, despite an entire month of continuous illness shared between the three of us(cold, stomach flu, pink eye, cold again) and the glorious onset of the terrible two's ( they are SO fun L thought he'd start early!) G is now off for the next few days and it is the final push to finish up projects and start moving the last bits out of the house and start moving our carefully selected items onto the boat!

Looking forward to the next post of COMPLETED PROJECTS!!!!!!!!!!

Homemade Baby Wipes

2011-02-25T11:34:00.000-08:00

One afternoon at the coffee shop when Logan was just a little bitty thing, another mother overheard me talking with a girlfriend that I was having trouble with Logan's sensitive skin. Anytime I used wipes, no matter what type, he broke out into a bright red rash on his bum. She so graciously offered me her recipe to her homemade baby wipes and said they work wonders. For over a year now we've only used wash clothes and warm water on Logan which has worked wonderfully but now that we're looking to reduce our laundry, it seemed perfect timing that the piece of paper with the magical recipe floated out of one of my baby books. I had forgotten about it, but it seems it was waiting for the perfect timing. So yesterday I got out all my ingredients and made my wonderfully earthy homemade baby bum wipes. So far no rash, no clothes to wash and easy on the budget.

We're also trying a trial run of "G Diapers" I'll let you know how it goes, our first day L did have a little pinching redness at the site where the diapers attach. I'm not sure if I just need to perfect my diapering style or if it will be an ongoing issue, we'll see.

BABY BUM WIPES

Cut paper towel roll into thirds, and put 1/3 roll (cut side down) into an empty wipes container.

Mix: 1 cup water

1tsp baby soap (liquid)

1tsp calendula oil

few drops of lavender oil

few drops of tea tree oil

Pour over paper towel and then turn container upside down for 10 minutes

Remove center roll and pull wipes from the center

Subtle Hints

2011-02-23T22:29:00.000-08:00

I thought is was quite funny when I got the first bright yellow book in the mail from my sister, figuring it to be a humorous gift as we were ready to embark on our new adventure. Then I thought it a bit peculiar when the next book showed up in the mail the next day from my Mom. I just shook my head and laughed.....

I had to find out if this was planned or just a coincidence. Ends up my sister sent me "The WORST-CASE SCENARIO Survival Handbook" in order to prep me for any of the "What are you gonna do when..." questions my Mom was going to ask me. And my Mom (who is known as our Safety Girl) had sent me "SURVIVE! ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND TACTICS TO GET YOU OUT ON ANYWHERE-ALIVE" all on her own good conscience! Between these two, looks like I'll be prepared for anything and everything. I love my family!!!

Fonzarelli In The Making

2011-02-23T22:04:00.000-08:00

At least the "Ehhhh" will come naturally to my little Canadian, now just to teach him the thumbs up and put a little grease in his hair! His Auntie Brooke gave him his first leather (faux of course)jacket, and it is precious, he absolutely loves it as you can tell by the smile on his face!

First time rockin' his new jacket, can you feel the excitement!

All Dolled Up

C'mon Mama, now we've gotta find me a Harley!

The Count Down Begins!

2011-02-19T10:42:00.000-08:00

We had finally taken the last of the pictures of the house to put a flyer up in a few selected places to see if we could find a renter for the house. We had been hoping we'd find someone we knew, but it wasn't looking good. Funny how the universe works.... before we got a chance to put the flyers up, within a few days we got 'the call' from a friend. She is absolutely perfect (and Logan approved ~ actually I think he's got a huge crush on her) and we know the house will be well taken care of. What a relief! We've negotiated that we can keep the garage and use it as storage which makes things so much easier for us. The clincher... our move out date is March 15th!!! To say the least a fire has been lit underneath us and we are on a rampage around here. Boxing, fixing, painting, organizing, tossing and ordering all sorts of stuff. How did we accumulate so much STUFF!

Logan loved it, JUST his size!

We were very excited though to finally buy our new stove for the boat! We can even fit a regular cookie tray, and muffin tin inside. So here it is, our Dickinson 3 burner stove & oven.

We can't wait to get it installed, we're waiting for some additional parts but then we're good to go. In the meantime G is working on installing the fridge system. He has almost finished the lid (it turned out beautiful) and we have a friend who has generously offered to make a custom fit cutting board for the top lid. Jim does amazing work and we feel so honored we'll have a piece of his work on our boat. Slowly but surely it feels like our boat is not just a house but becoming a home. We've also decided to make the V berth L's area which I think logistically will work better, but I also love the idea of him having his own space. I've been daydreaming about decorating it and truly making it his own. I hope we can make a ladder so he can go in and out as he pleases during the day. I've noticed lately here at the house he really likes "his" room and loves to show it off to anyone who comes over and loves hiding and playing in there. I also love the idea of somewhere to put all those toys!!

We're so excited to move beyond the planning phase and into action! To keep from getting too overwhelmed we just take it day by day, but it all seems to be falling into place. We'll keep updating as progress is made!

This Moment ~ "Reads" Along

2011-02-19T09:48:00.000-08:00

A Few Nuggets

2011-02-12T09:41:00.000-08:00

A couple words of wisdom from my hubby (who quoted from Liz Clark - swellvoyage.com) to keep me motivated and inspired:

"Top 5 lessons I’ve learned:

1. Be grateful for what’s good and find the positive.

2. Try first, then decide if you ‘can’ or ‘can’t’.

3. Hard work will almost always get you there.

4. Even when it all seems impossible, TRUST that everything will work out.

5. Nature is the source of ALL…love it, spend time with it, fight for it!"

(Liz Clark - http://www.swellvoyage.com/)

Sometimes it's easy to get lost in the frustrations as we strive to reach a goal, and it's nice to have someone who help you put it all back into perspective.

Another great find of his which I'm really enjoying is http://www.galleyswap.com/ .

Thanks Sweetie xo

~ This Moment ~ Puddle Jumpin'

2011-02-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

A Miracle happened today....

2011-02-04T10:16:00.000-08:00

As I was doing the dishes, listening to the news on CBC I suddenly realized I was actually undistracted. This usually spells TROUBLE, so I went looking for my little monkey.... on the table tops, on top of the dresser, strategically behind the stereo amongst all the many wires, on top of the book case. He was in none of his usual places and I started to worry. Never, NEVER did I expect to find this..............

My little mountain goat tired himself right out and put himself down for a nap!

This Moment~ Puppy Power!~

2011-02-04T09:09:00.000-08:00

This Moment

2011-01-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

This Moment ~Best Friends~

2011-01-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

The Simple Things That Guide Us

2011-01-18T22:24:00.000-08:00

I finally take a minute to pause and write down a few of my thoughts. It has been a whirlwind since November when my parents came to visit. I cherished each and every moment they were hear, and it sure was hard to watch them go. Now that I have a child, 6 months seems like a lifetime, just so much happens in that short amount of time. It is when the tailspin of emotions began, and it's been a roller coaster ever since. The rush of excitement after making the decision to move onto the boat has faded a bit and the fears and doubts have crept in. It has really made me look at WHY we've decided to make this move, and I have to say I'm still satisfied with our answer.... SIMPLICITY. It seems like such a plain, generic, vague word. As I searched for the answer though, I actually was overwhelmed with its complexity and depth. It's like the endless rabbit hole, all the different ways to obtain it. When it comes down to it though, as I search and search for the answers to our many questions, seeking peace and happiness, longing to be enough... it truly is simple. We must let go.

It is funny how the universe brings you the answers you seek. I love to read, and had recently finished the book Momma Zen that a friend lent me and loved it (written by a Zen Buddhist Priest) and wanted to read her next book Hand Wash Cold - Instructions for an Ordinary Life so it was my Christmas present to myself. I just devoured the book and was ready for the next. Unexpectedly a friend stopped by and dropped off Eat Pray Love which I also loved. The book I'm on now is Simplicity Parenting, which was recommended by a friend on Facebook. It finally hit me as I was talking with some friends, the message absolutely blaring..... Simplicity. Stop looking, searching, obsessing, over the "next thing" to do, to learn, to obtain, to enhance and just be. YOU are enough, THIS (even dishes, laundry and cooking) is what it's all about, and it's absolutely PERFECT (good or bad). I feel like when I read these types of books, in the back of my mind it's "yeah yeah yeah, so what to I need to do to get THERE.... because I'm definitely not IT, haven't found that place of Zen, or done whatever it is that needs to be done to get me to THAT place. What do I need to do, learn, say, buy to get me there PLEASE tell me." The answer is clear, the answer is simple. Let go and embrace what is, right this moment. I've it read this same message over and over again for years now, but finally I think it's sinking in (I know I'm a little slow). For some reason it feels scary to me, to let go of all the angst and worry. Like things might fall apart, but I know deep down it is a false sense of control. I can't control the next moment, but I can alter the way I engage in the present. If I remain in the present moment, and am fully aware, how can I make a bad decision.

As I read these books, it made me feel so at ease that I am not seeking an irresponsible life. I am simply taking the steps to disengage from the masses and carving a path of my own. One that speaks to me on such a deep level, that makes sense, for both my family and I. It is not an egocentric journey, but one that strips away the unnecessary clutter and debris and allows us to engage fully with life and each other. I also love that this way of life will allow my son a true childhood, filled with adventures and innocence.

I am feeling empowered, that we are moving towards something beautiful... a simple life. Getting there is part of the journey and I am trying to embrace each moment. I have been overwhelmed by the support of our friends, as we had a painting party over the weekend and they rallied and helped us to repaint almost our entire house. We're prepping it to rent out, as we plan to move aboard Kaizen in May. G continues to work on projects on the boat and will be finishing the fridge soon. I was so impressed with how well it's come together so far!

Each day we move forward with purpose and with passion, reveling in the satisfaction that we are making the most of TODAY.

My little Zen Master

This Moment ~Discoveries~

2011-01-14T11:55:00.000-08:00

This Moment ~ Salad Anyone?~

2010-12-31T10:54:00.000-08:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. This moment via SouleMama

This Moment

2010-12-17T21:35:00.000-08:00

This Moment {Special Bonds}

2010-12-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

A most spectacular day

2010-12-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

Today is a bittersweet day, a day we're celebrating as it was the day a beautiful soul was born. We celebrated Bryan's 30th birthday today with 2 of our wonderful friends and their son. We filled our house with love and friendship, danced and laughed... just the way he would have loved it.

I find it hard to articulate the way I feel right now. Overwhelmed by both how fragile life can be, and the strength and tenacity of the human spirit. I find I so easily can be consumed by the 'what if's' and play out the scenarios in my head. Needlessly worrying about things that have not nor will ever come to pass. I constantly have to refocus on the here and now, step outside my emotional self and focus on practical matters.

On an 'emotional' note though I am so happy to say, we have finally told our family of our plans (and we haven't been disowned)!!! I can't tell you what a huge relief it is, I am so lucky to have such a supportive family. Though they have reservations, they didn't skip a beat in offering unwavering support and love. I hope that the conversations continue as we navigate the 'unknowns' together.

As things sit idle on the boat front and the winter storms quickly approach, I find myself searching for motivation and focus. It still seems surreal, as I sit here typing next to my cozy fireplace that we truly are preparing ourselves for a new life aboard. I feel like I need "the next step". I know that mastering the art of living aboard is going to come only with time, and that time is approaching quickly (we're hoping around May). My anxiety sets in though when I think of actually sailing, and wanting to be a proficient sailor. I know time on the boat would also resolve this issue, but I feel like I would like a boost. I was looking into taking a course with WOMANSHIP they offer courses out of both Annapolis and Vancouver. I just requested a package from them so it'll be interesting to get some info. I could take a course here, or when I take a trip home in the summer. I think it would be wonderful to get a basic competency when it comes to handling the boat. I have 'classroom' knowledge but would love a hands on course that would really boost my confidence.

It is both a bit daunting and exhilerating, there is a lifetime of learning ahead of us. I just wish it was summer time so we could get out there already! For now, we'll just have to settle for a book and a glass of wine as we prep for the grand adventure ahead.

Adding in a precious moment from last week xo

Logan and his Pop Pop enjoying story time!

This Moment ~ Birthday with my other favorite boy xo

2010-11-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

This Moment ~ It's Halloween EVERYDAY here!

2010-11-12T08:33:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - via soulemama

Blissfully Zen

2010-11-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

Things are slow and steady on the boat, G is almost finished with the fridge... I'm anxious to take a look and also get some pics of my own. I have a few of the beginning photos and I'll hopefully get some updated ones soon. Lots of insulation was installed, seeing that the original one had almost none. Hopefully this one will actually keep things cold! When space is so precious, stepping around 2 extra coolers on the floor of the boat is not fun. We're really excited that we're truly going to be able to utilize the space appropriately.

On a less "boaty" note, but still relevant just the same... thoughts on a simple life. I just finished reading the book "Momma Zen ~ Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood" www.mommazen.com , and I absolutely loved it. All you new Boat Momma's this is a must read!! It put so much into perspective, and gave me permission to just be and enjoy my child. I decided to stay home instead of returning to work and I struggled a bit with "am I doing enough"(and rebelling against the role of House Wife). After reading this book, not only do I feel a resounding YES, I feel inspired to make it my life's work to learn to embrace each and every moment.

I have studied for so many years on the practice of being present in the moment, working with the universe through positive thought and intent, focusing energy to heal the holistic self ( I've worked for quite a few years now with Reiki and Therapeutic Touch). I have to admit some days I've definitely felt as though I've been paddling upstream, like I just wasn't "getting it". I know I've done a lot of work in the past, but suddenly it just feels like something has clicked. Maybe having a baby has forced me to live in the moment, forced me to stop and take notice of the beauty that surrounds me. So effortlessly they're full of curiosity, joy, love.

I find my thoughts have shifted, as the process of shedding to prepare for boat life took hold, I am learning to let go of more than just material things. I'm learning to let go of anything that does not bring joy to my day, letting go of expectations (of myself and of others). Embracing the simplicity of every day, giving my full attention to even the mundane. Trying to use my everyday chores as a time to meditate in a way. My yoga room sits empty, but I have my yoga mat out amongst all the baby toys. Knowing I must make the time for these types of things, even if my practice looks nothing like it used too. My focus is no longer on serenity and deep meditation, but flexibility (mentally and physically) and joyfulness. When in Cobra pose and my little buddy jumps on my back for a piggy back ride or plays peek a boo while in Downward Dog it's hard not to giggle!
Ok, so my thoughts are wandering a bit, but my point is I feel like though we are not yet living on the boat our path to simplicity has already begun and that brings me a lot of joy. I love that we are learning to enjoy the many luxuries we have in life, and recognize them as such. I love that I am exploring my interests like sewing, cooking, and practical knowledge that can serve me and my family. I love that I have found a voice in writing. I feel like by letting go of what is expected of me, I am able to embrace who I actually am. Instead of busying myself with too many activities/ responsibilities, I can quietly engage in activities that truly bring joy to my life.
I used to joke with my friends that when I moved to the west coast I was "goin' granola"..... it's never felt so good to be so crunchy ;)

Here's a peek of my sewing project (and the cutest model of course)! These pj bottoms were inspired by his Auntie Brookie who has called L "Paul Bunyan" since he was born. Couldn't believe it when I came across it at the fabric store (options are pretty limited here).

New friends, new realities

2010-10-21T09:07:00.000-07:00

It's funny how once you put your intentions into the universe, the universe conspires to work to support you. I find now we are surrounded by people so supportive of our dreams, willing to share their own wisdom, stories or their dreams. It is a wonderful gift, focusing on all the beauty and possibilities the world has to offer. It feels so fresh to try and look at the world with child like innocence, full of wonder and limitless possibilities. Having a child has reignited this passion for seeking the beauty in the world, but I realized I too can seek it for myself. Just because we are "grown ups" doesn't mean we have to put blinders on. We have an amazing friend Rob who truly exudes 'light' and beauty, because that is what he seeks in the world.... I hope to follow in his footsteps.

We have a couple coming for dinner tonight, we know the wife through work and she's excited for our husbands to meet. They seem to be kindred spirits when it comes to the dream of sailing and come to find out they have been following the same sailing blog for YEARS now ( www.projectbluesphere.com ). It will be a fun night, talking about all the amazing possibilities ahead of us, and to support each other in making our dreams a reality!

Celebrating tonight!!

2010-10-19T21:57:00.000-07:00

I officially passed my Maritime Radio Operators course tonight! Woohoo ! I was flitting around here like a nervous little jenny wren all day trying to cram as much studying in during nap times as I possibly could. I'm happy to say it payed off. It feels so good to have that under my belt and to feel like I could truly handle a distress situation (technically) if it were to occur. It is amazing, it feels like it is a whole different world out there on the water. So much to learn and experience. It is both daunting and exhilerating all in the same breath. The type A side of me wants to know all that needs to be known, to have it all perfected. Then the other part of me wants to embrace the idea of a lifetime of learning, of never truly knowing 'it all', letting go of the need to control my environment and to release myself into the experience of it all. It reminds me of falling in love with diving, in the beginning you're so concerned with the technical aspect of it all, but then once you are immersed into the beauty of the sea it consumes you. You are no longer a separate being, but a part of this immense living being with millions of enchantingly intricate webs, which in the end connect us all.

Lately I feel like a sout piel (I am loosely using this Afrikaans slang word ) which is (my interpretation) when you have each foot firmly planted in a different land mass and your whoo haa dangling in the water. We are steadily working away on our to do list, one for the boat the other for the house. Somehow though, you just feel spread way too thin..... streeeeeetching with each foot firmly planted in different places. Making you feel pretty vunerable though with your do dads dipping in that cold water. I just want to slide my feet together, create a new little island to stand on (warm those bad boys up) and live conciously in ONE place, so I can fully appreciate it for all it has to offer. I do feel so grateful for the beautiful house we live in and all the wonderful comforts it provides, but I do feel a bit anxious to move onto the next page.
We have a wonderful friend who sailed around the world with his wife and has been lending us his videos of all his travels to keep us inspired. We're like a bunch of junkies, every night we get our dinner and tune into our 'next adventure' , it's wonderful. I do look forward to though when we are no longer living vicariously and are filming our own story. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a fantasy land between all these videos and the many many blogs I follow of sailing families. It all seems so real, and so doable. I so look forward to taking that final step of moving on the boat and focusing our energy there.
Gordon is working steadily on the fridge, he's taken some pics I just haven't gotten a hold of them yet. So we'll have some project pics up soon for you guys. He's definitely done a custom job on it and I think it's going to turn out beautiful. It amazes we what he can create, not only does he have a brilliant mind but he's not to shabby of a carpenter either ;)
Well now that I've got this course under my belt, I can focus again on streamlining the house and organizing as much as possible. One of these days a renter is going to work out! For now I'll just enjoy my celebratory glass of wine :)

~This Moment~

2010-10-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

~This Moment ~ via SouleMama

Logan celebrating with his Mama after her first race post pregnancy/baby (Royal Vic 8K)

My psychic ability eludes me, so it seems

2010-10-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I sure thought I had it all figured out ;) ! I should know better by now. Our potential renter actually rented another house, so there goes that plan. It just seemed like everything was lining up for us, as we know everything happens for a reason, and it will happen for us all in due time. What was all that fluid talk last post? I guess I better start thinking watery thoughts. We continue to plug away at our to do list, both here and at the house. We are currently taking a course for our Marine Radio License and take our test on Tuesday, it'll feel so good to have that under my belt. The more I learn the more confident I feel. I do have to admit though, we have a bit of a 'Cowboy' as one of our instructors who LOVES to tell horrific stories and had me a bit unnerved by the end of class. Gord had to talk me down and talk me through all the stories our Cowboy had so freely unleashed on us. Guess he didn't realize he had such sensitive souls on board ;)! Well I better go study, hoping to beat Gord on this exam ... hehehe

~This Moment~

2010-10-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

~ We love you Bryan ~

Feels like I'm at the top of a roller coaster just waiting to drop ......

2010-10-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

My chest is tight and I'm not sure if it's fear, excitement, anticipation, sadness... everything is such a muddled mess right now. But for better or for worse HERE WE GO! I've picked up the house and am anxiously awaiting our "potential renter" to come over and take a look at the house. He's looking for 6 months to a year at least. We're figuring we'll negotiate and hopefully make it work. He is a coworker and has a young family. It would be perfect for us, we'd much rather rent to someone we know, plus we're hoping to negotiate that we have access to our garage for storage purposes. We're willing to rent fully furnished, so I'm hoping they'll want to keep most of it (less work for us)! We still have lots to do on the boat but with the relief of the monthly mortgage it'll definitely make it easier to get things done faster. We also have a friend who has offered his fully furnished basement apartment to us anytime we need a place to crash (during boat project, bad storms or cabin fever). It is a very generous offer, and I have to admit it's nice to know if all hell broke loose we'd have a place to go at the drop of a hat.

I feel so blessed, we are surrounded by so many wonderful friends here. Feels like everyone is willing to do whatever it takes to help us along our journey. Feels like even though we keep trying to put this on the back burner, doors keep opening for us. We'll see how the meeting works out today.....

Little one is awake, will update tonight!

We didn't drown or kill each other.... just a lazy author ;)

2010-10-05T13:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've really got to get better at updating things here. Well we made it successfully a little over 2 weeks on the boat, and learned a lot. Our intended 1 month was interrupted by an impromtu trip to see a friend and take in the 'Power to the Peaceful' concert in San Francisco ( Just HAD to go see our man Michael Franti!!) We did feel though that the 2 weeks had sufficiently answered the questions at hand.... could we handle living together in a small space, how would Logan handle it, and what were the main things that needed to be fixed in order to truly make it livable.

To sum it up, the space (though will definitely take some getting used to) is definitely doable and didn't bother me as much as I thought it might. You kind of get into a groove. The one saving grace was definitely was the beautiful weather we had and that the cockpit could be used as living space. I loved the morning, sun shining down, reading, sipping coffee, or doing yoga. So incredibly peaceful. When winter comes it'll be a different story, but I think you'd just use different coping mechanisms (sign up for indoor activities for Logan so he can get the ants out of his pants... he's started walking now and is a force to be reckoned with. God help me when he learns how to run!) Using the gym more often, hanging out at friends houses. The rain never stopped us from getting out for runs and stuff but the little guy will need some space to stretch. When it came to all of our stuff, we'll definitely have to be selective about what we bring on board... man that closet is small!! But a few nice quality things and we'll be good to go. I realized I really don't worry about what I'm wearing etc. until I'm around people who REALLY care, but luckily I'm old enough now to be comfortable with what I feel is important, instead of feeling bad about myself because I can't compete with the many facets of 'The Jones' out there. A small storage space will be a must though for special family things / documents and such.

Logan of course did amazingly well. It did take him some time to adjust to sleeping in the main salon in his fancy dancy berth, so a few nights w/ frequent waking but finally he got comfortable with his surroundings. We made some black out clothes for the portholes that were letting way too much light in and they worked beautifully. I did win the 'Bad Mommy' award though when after a week of frequent wakings I was trying to let his 'work it out on his own' a bit. But after 15 minutes and the screaming progressively got louder and louder I thought maybe he had a nightmare or was scared because of the rain/wind storm we were having. I FINALLY went to him, picked him up.... and he was soaking wet head to toe and freezing cold! I hadn't checked the portholes (they were closed but unfortunately not tightened down enough) and his entire bed was soaked with rain water. I felt so terrible. We quickly changed him and he got a free ticket to sleep with his Mama for the rest of the night. He settled down and was back asleep as soon as snuggled in next to me, but man did I feel horrible! Other than that , and one good bonk he was a happy little clam. He is an absolute monkey though and knows how to climb up the stairs in the companionway in a heartbeat. We need to figure out something to keep him down, very difficult to do the dishes when he's trying jump IN the sink, or cook when he's up trying to stand on the counters.
So that leads us to the "must have's " list:

1. We need a regular stove (we were using a Coleman 2 burner propane stove), that is gimbled and has those prongy things that keep pots on the stovetop. I don't like to cook when there is no one to keep their eyes on Logan. I have nightmares of something falling on him and burning him. So it makes it tricky when you have a crazy schedule in general w/ baby in tow and then not be able to cook/ fix meals when he is awake. So much already has to be crammed into his nap times.

2. We need a working ice box/fridge. We were packing in 4 bags of ice a day. We found our icebox was only efficient at barely cooling the veggies, and then had to use a big cooler to store any truly perishable items. Gord is working on replacing it now and is almost finished. I'll post some pics when he's done!

3. We will need some sort of protective covering for the winter. Being able to use the cock pit as liveable/ useable space is absolutely invaluable when space is an issue.

4. A shower would be just divine, I guess technically I can use the marina showers but man it'd be REALLY nice. Not to use on a daily basis but in case of dirty bird emergencies. I had a stretch of 4 days where I was unable to take a shower (working out/ running in between days talk about smelly!) I really tried to be resourceful, went to my house - city maintenance had turned off all water, went to gym - baby freaked out in childminding and had to go home to take a nap, hubby at work- no one to watch L while I'm in shower = one DIRTY Mama serving dinner to our guest after 4 days of no shower. I know it was all a matter of circumstance and normally one of those options could have worked out, but for us with little ones, nap time is our saving grace and is usually our only time to take care of such things. It's high on my list anyway!

So we both left the boat feeling like we just need to 'take the plunge' , that it is truly what we want and that we need to make it happen. We had decided to work on projects this winter (both house and boat) to get them both ready. We had vacilated a million times, do we rent , do we sell (now / later). We're so excited about the new venture, but then it all seems a bit overwhelming when you actually look at the To Do list. It will be interesting to see what happens, we made our final decision to stay in the house for the winter, but we keep getting a call about an interested renter, so we've scheduled a meeting next week to see if we can meet each others needs, who knows maybe we'll be on the boat before you know it.

I have to admit there are days I am ready to just sail away, and others I am paralyzed by fear, doubt, and of the unknown. So many questions, so many we'll never be able to answer unless we just do it. It reminds me a lot of childbirth/ raising children, we try to plan plan plan for something that is unpredictable just so we can say we're prepared. When in the end, we just need to let go, be fluid and trust in ourselves that we have the strength, the love and the courage to be all that our hearts yearns to be.

I stand in awe (or angst) of our own story sometimes, feeling like I'm reading a novel, anxiously awaiting to devour the next page, or fearful of the struggles ahead, wondering what will make us 'finally take the plunge'. Well this next page I could have never imagined, but I think it is the final push. We recently got news that one of our best friends was killed by a drunk driver. This is a man who absolutely lived life to the fullest, devoured life and sat back with a smile, illuminated all that was good and beautiful. He was someone you truly did just watch in awe just waiting to see the story unfold knowing of anyone HE would have an amazing story. And he did, no day was taken for granted, he loved his friends without regard... open arms, an open heart and a huge smile for all to see. I have never been so close to such a tragic event, so broken hearted. But I do feel as though his energy has been channeled back into the universe and to us, giving us that push. Amongst all the sadness and heartache, there is a subtle sense of calm, I suddenly do not feel scared, attached or alone. I want my story to be full of life, of challenge and engaging with all of those around me. So that no matter when my story ends, it will be a life fulfilled.

Bry you will be in our every sparkling sunset, every full moon, and every breath we take ~ you are an inspiration and a beautiful light for all the world to see. It is your light that will illuminate our way. Thank you for such a precious gift, we love you.

1 week and still floating!

2010-08-27T17:35:00.000-07:00

Breakfast time for my sleepy heads

Logan loving his new space!

Well I have to admit it's a bit hard to keep a blog updated when you have no internet access. Just looked into it at the Marina office and they want $30.00 a week or $60.00 a month!! Crazy, and just 30 min south, they offer it free at their marina. I'll just update when I can from the house. The week has been filled with lots of ups and downs. After a flurry of activity prepping both the house and the boat, exhaustion is finally setting in. The last few nights we've been going to bed at 9:30, SO wonderful!
I was so happy Gordon was able to be off work for the majority of the first week so we could get things organized and have some help with L while I got used to cooking on the little stove (it's not gimbled so I don't want to cook unless I can focus fully on the task). We successfully made a berth for Logan and tried it out for the first time last night, didn't make for much sleep but I think he's getting used to it. It's not as dark in the main salon, and of course is a fun new place to check out... even at 3 am! He's been loving playing in it during the day though too so nice to have all his toys up and off the floor. Plus it keeps him from climbing the steps over and over again while I'm trying to accomplish something ;)!

This week has been one of increased awareness, learning to slow down and savor the moment. To acknowledge that this is a lifestyle change..... not something to check off on my to do list. It is an evolution of habits, thoughts and actions. I think that is why I am so attracted to it as well, ever evolving, continual progression and improvement. I love waking up and sitting in the cockpit, either having coffee, reading or doing yoga. Soaking in the rays of sun, the sensation of warmth on my skin, and the awareness to take a little bit deeper breath, close my eyes and be grateful. I love that dinner has become a creation I plan for and (try) and not just hurry the task along. But take time to create it with love knowing it will nourish my two boys. I loved the first time it rained, turning off the radio, baby asleep and just listening to the drops and learning the creaks of the boat as the wind picked up. I also loved having a little time just to myself, to sit quietly and just 'be'. The process of slowing down, is such a beautiful one. It gives us the ability to assess things as they are and realize it is truly 'enough'.

Secured under cushion with screws & boards

Here are some pics of Logan's berth.

Middle had to be lifted to make it high enough to keep him in.

Attachment point, same on either side.

Sorry so dark, but you get the picture !

We've moved aboard!

2010-08-24T12:50:00.000-07:00

Closet - v berth

dresser drawers- v berth

Logan's sleeping area (bottom is usually taught)

V berth

Head - Port side

Seating/Shower area once finished

Starboard side of head

Port berth Main salon

Starboard berth Main salon

New Corelle dishes :)

Galley - starboard side

Nav station

Pilot berth on port side (aka junk drawer)

Finally the head is installed, along with the sink. Friday I anxiously headed down to the boat to clean, clean, clean. It took quite a bit longer than I expected, but we were able to spend our first night aboard none the less :) The boat is in a "roughly finished" state, but everything is in working order and definitely livable. We have a working head, hot water, a stove top (coleman stove for now~ we removed the alcohol stove that came with the boat), our ice box works relatively well (we have a cooler as well for perishables and just put veggies/etc. in the icebox for now ~ we're looking into a small bar fridge for the time being) .
We did have a few hiccups the first day, we were filling the tanks but forgot to clamp some unconnected hoses and had a bit of leaking water (oops!!) and we didn't get Logan's berth completed on time (still trouble shooting that one) so the first night we co slept (shaking head here...I should have reread my first post!) so our little mountain goat was in full force ~ making one grumpy sleepless mountain mamma in the morning. Needless to say (sleeping is my weakness) I was ready to go back home by day two (let's get a full nights rest and try again tomorrow) but Gordon convinced me to rally and we let Logan have the v berth to himself and we slept in the main salon.... where we still are trying to figure out that damn lee cloth. Such a simple idea but somehow so difficult to actually execute ( again insert shaking head). We're sooo close though, hopefully by the end of the day today ;)
I am loving waking up and having coffee in the cockpit, soaking up the sun and the peacefulness of the marina and all it's little sights and sounds. I love the detail to every action performed, simple thought out meals, and the togetherness. The first 2 days were a bit overwhelming, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it!

~this moment~

2010-08-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. via soulemama

Projects, projects, projects

2010-08-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

Home made curtains for the boat, even made pillows to match. Yes, a Domestic Diva in the making ;)

We're sooo close to having the head hooked up to the holding tank, the water run to the head sink, and painted interior. This is the final project (for now) that has us waiting to move aboard Kaizen. I don't mind simplicity, but when a girls gotta go... a girls gotta go! I can't wait to be able to get down there really clean things up and make it all homey! Great thing about a boat is, it can become a mess in a hurry, but can be cleaned up just as quickly (I'm hoping, seeing that I'm the clean up crew ;)

Gordie showing off his handy work, ALMOST done!

Yikes!

My little Mountain Goat xo

I'm still undecided about the best thing to use on the port berth to enclose Logan's bed, Gordon is suggesting Dacron. I'm sure it'd work fine just doesn't seem too cozy. Can't sit on it too long, if I hope to get any sleep we've got to figure this out. When Logan sleeps with us up in the V berth he climbs all over me like a mountain goat and I get NO sleep, so I better think of solution fast!

A New Path

2010-08-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

We are a family of 3, my husband Gordon, my son Logan (1yr) , and I, currently living on Vancouver Island. We're starting this blog in hopes of documenting our journey as we explore life aboard. We hope to be living aboard our Ohlson 41 sailboat (custom sloop, built by Bristol Yachts in 1968, designed by Einar Ohlson) on a trial basis this upcoming week (keeping our fingers crossed that projects go according to plan~ we all know how that works on boats ;) for at least the next month to give it a fair shot. Many hours have been poured into the boat and into researching this lifestyle. The more I read the more I long for the simplicity and the deep connection with nature (until winter time of course ~ already a fair weather sailor!). To shed all that does not serve me, or enhance my life and focus fully on the things that bring me happiness and promote growth. I feel this lifestyle resonates deeply with both my husband and I and also will provide our son with a life filled with amazing experiences and strong core values.

I plan to write frankly of all the highs and lows so we can fairly evaluate this experience as we decide if this is the life for us. Deep in my heart I feel as though it is, but so many things need to happen if this is the life we choose, so we need to take just one step at a time. So many things have lead us to this point in our lives, I am so grateful we have been able to shed light on our true desires and have the courage to follow our hearts.

I also hope to share with others, as over the past year I have learned so much and lived vicariously through so many other bloggers out there.