by Judy Handley | May 27, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 147: Boat
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 69, Low 52 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
The weather is cooperating, my old body is hanging in there, and everything is going along smoothly with the boat. BUT, boat work just takes an enormous amount of time and it almost always goes even slower than expected. AND you always find just one more than that needs to be done. That being the case, we are still making progress. Putting on the second coat of teak sealer is still not done, but late this afternoon I was able to get Ollie and Sam to come to the boat with me and we got a ton done in just one hour. Ollie volunteered to wash down the mast. It was not only dirty, there were parts that were green with mold. On our way to the boat, we stopped at Eastman Hardware downtown and bought Jomax. It works magic on mold and mildew and it did just that on the mast. You just spray it on with a garden sprayer and rinse it off. Ollie had so much fun doing it, he volunteered to come tomorrow to clean the booms. Sam brought his drill and put the hardware back on in the cockpit. Unfortunately, he was not feeling great today. The pollen count is through the roof and he seems to be having the allergy attack I had last week. I spent my time going up the ladder to check on Sam’s progress and down the ladder to check in with Ollie. Ollie also helped me lay out the front half of the canvas winter cover and get it folded and in the back of my car.
Tomorrow will be more of the same, depending on who is taking Jonah to his noon soccer game in Harwich. Jed took him today and was gone from 12:30 pm to 7 pm. Jed was going to try to find a ride for him tomorrow, but I haven’t heard if that is the case. Sam went to his soccer game today, riding with a friend, as he discovered his driver’s ed class is tomorrow and Monday, not today and tomorrow. The Boy Scouts were having a car wash today and Ollie worked there from 10:30 am to 12:45 pm when I picked him up. He was then with me for the remainder of the day. We picked up pulled pork from Wicked and Wood and corn on the cob for dinner for the Goldstones. I didn’t stay for dinner as I needed to get home to Shadow. I had the biggest artichoke I think I have ever eaten and an ear of corn. And now I need to take Shadow out for his last pit stop of the day and get this tired body to bed!
by Judy Handley | May 26, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 146: Encore, Boat, Grandkid
Date: Friday, May 26, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 66, Low 47 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
My day started with a Zoom meeting to discuss an Encore issue. By the time that ended and I took Shadow for a walk, it was 11 am before I got to the boat. That gave me only two hours to apply teak sealer. Not enough time to do I all I needed to do, but at least every bit of wood on the boat has at least one coat of sealer. I will continue that job tomorrow morning.
From the boat, I headed home to pick up Shadow. I have been leaving him so much that I decided to take him with me this afternoon. We picked Sam up at the end of the school day at 2 pm and headed for the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Yarmouth so Sam could present the paperwork to get his Learner’s Permit. I still can’t believe he is old enough to drive, but the RMV says he is. That process was fairly painless, but he still has to pass an online test to get his official Learner’s Permit. Then in order to get his Driver’s License, he has to take a Driver’s Ed course and pass the written test, the driver test, and drive with an adult with him in the car for six months. But at least the process has begun. After the visit at the RMV, I drove Sam to Harwich and dropped him off for rowing practice. While he was rowing, I drove back to Hyannis to get an item we need for the boat that was not available at the Falmouth West Marine. While in Hyannis, I made a quick stop at Whole Foods for two items I desperately needed and can’t get in Falmouth. Then it was back to Harwich to pick up Sam and then home.
That was it for today. Tomorrow, Jed is going to do the traveling to take Jonah to two afternoon soccer games. After I work on the boat in the morning, Ollie and I are going to hang out for part of the afternoon and then pick Sam up from his first day of Driver’s Ed class and head to the boat to do a couple of specific jobs that the boys can help with. Then we’ll fix dinner and have it ready when Jed and Jonah get home around 7 pm. I think Sunday is more of the same. Stay tuned.
by Judy Handley | May 25, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 145: Teak Sealing Day
Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 64, Low 46 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
It was another jam-packed day … of to the boat in the morning to continue applying teak sealer, mid-day break for a Zoom call concerning Encore planning, home for a quick lunch, back to the boat to apply more teak sealer. Then at 5 pm, I went to pick Sam up to take him to a local soccer practice. I returned to the boat to do more teak sealing while he was at practice, but it became apparent to me that there was no way get all of the teak done today. I have two coats a few things and one coat on all but the starboard toe rail. But since there is no forecast of rain, Jed and I removed the winter cover just before I left to go pick up Sam. Jed had to leave to pick up Ollie who was also at soccer practice. Since there were just the two of us today, without Heather, Jonah skipped his bass lesson this afternoon and he was at home. I took Sam by the boat on the way home and I wish I had been able to capture his expression when we drove down the driveway to the boat.
Sam is NOT easily impressed, but he was truly amazed at the amount of work that has been done and how much better the boat looks than it did last fall. So progress is being made.
I have a Zoom meeting first thing tomorrow and then I will go to the boat and try to finish the teak sealing. I only have until 1 pm, so I might not be able to get it done. But I will be close and will find time on Saturday. At 1 pm, I will go home to walk the dog and eat lunch before picking Sam up at 2:00 to take him to Yarmouth to get his Learner’s Permit and then on to rowing practice.
Heather left home at 3 am and checked into her hotel in Telluride at 4 pm our time. At 9:05 pm, 18 hours after leaving home, she sent a photo of her at work outside and “still standing.”
Hopefully she can get enough sleep tonight to make up for such a long day today.
by Judy Handley | May 24, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 144: Boat Painting Done
Date: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 59, Low 49 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
Heather was determined to get the boat painting done today before she leaves for Colorado at 3 am in the morning. And she did it. She finished the second coat of bottom paint this afternoon,
took the tape off, and then taped off the top of the waterline stripe.
She couldn’t tape off the bottom of the waterline stripe over the newly painted bottom paint, so she just used a paint guide and did it free hand. It was almost dark when she was finished, but we could see enough to know that it looks good. Maybe not Heather’s normal perfect, but certainly good.
After my morning Encore meetings, I assisted Heather with the bottom paint and then turned my attention to applying teak sealer to the teak on deck. We are not varnishing anything because Jed would not be able to be on the boat for two or three weeks due to his allergies. The teak sealer is not a problem for him. The teak won’t be shiny varnish, but it all looks the same now, not a mottled mess of old varnish and gray spots where the varnish wore off years ago. I got one coat on half the teak by the end of the evening and will finish the first coat on all teak tomorrow and maybe even get the second coat on. The can says to put on only two coats as more can make the teak look too dark. But as it wears, we can add more during the summer.
So, WOW. After weeks of work, as dark took over this 24th day of May, we began to see the light. Once the teak is sealed, we can take off the winter cover, polish the top sides, and then do all the normal maintenance things that need to be done prior to launch each year. Hopefully when Heather comes to check on the boat when she returns next Tuesday, Jed and I will have it ready to launch the next morning!!!
by Judy Handley | May 23, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 143: Church of the Transfiguration Field Trip
Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 60, Low 42 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
I consider myself to be a spiritual person, not a religious one. But I certainly admire true dedication to doing good in this world, and I enjoy beautiful art and architecture. 
That made today’s Newcomers/Encore field trip to the Church of the Transfiguration in Orleans on the Outer Cape
a very positive experience for me. The Sister that served as our guide
conveyed a feeling of love and admiration for the art and architecture that was absolutely contagious. You walk on art and are surrounded by art. The floor of the sanctuary is mosaic after mosaic.
I especially enjoyed the one showing Jonah’s legs sticking out of the whale’s mouth.
The Sister explained that the name, Church of the Transfiguration, reflects the hopeful message “that in Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is possible for our lives to be transformed more and more into the likeness of Christ.” She explained that it is a Christian church, a nunnery and a monastery of both Protestants and Catholics, as well as a modern day art and architectural delight. There are mosaics and frescos, sculpted bronze, stone, wood, and glass. “Drawing on scripture, church tradition, and the local setting of Cape Cod” the Church of the Transfiguration attempts to “visually proclaim that all earthly life has heavenly meaning …” I could go on and on, but better than that would be to encourage you to visit this very special place here on the shores of Cape Cod.
I left the field trip early to head back to Falmouth so that I could drive Sam to his rowing practice in Harwich. Because of my early departure, I missed hearing the organ being played. At some point, I will return to attend an organ concert and just enjoy sitting in such a beautiful space.
by Judy Handley | May 22, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 142: Teak Cleaning Day
Date: Monday, May 22, 2023
Weather: Sunny; High 59, Low 46 degrees F
Location: At Home in the Cottage, East Falmouth, MA
The next chapter in the never-ending story . . . cleaning the teak again. I spent a huge amount of time getting rid of the old varnish on the teak. This boat has teak handrails on the cabin top, teak eyebrow molding on the sides of the cabin top, a teak bowsprit, a teak toe rail, teak mountings, teak cockpit coaming, and teak trim around the companionway. It also has teak companionway drop boards and a teak cockpit table and drink holder. The drop boards and cockpit table and drink holder are in my living room waiting to be sanded and varnished. All of the other teak got cleaned a week ago, but it needed another go. So today was that day. I won’t know how it looks until it is completely dry, but however it looks, it is as good as it is going to get as we are out of time. I will wait until Wednesday to make sure all the teak is completely dry before starting to apply teak sealer. Heather decided not to use varnish because Jed wouldn’t be able to be on the boat for at least a couple of weeks. And since it goes in the water next week, there is no time for any varnish to be applied this season. I will hopefully get the drop boards done this week so they can be on the boat a week so after it is in the water. In the meantime, we are using a clear plexiglass ‘drop board.’ And I am going to check with Heather about the table and drink holder. They might just be put back on the boat as is for this year if they want to use them right away. Utility before beauty.
