It’s been a summer! What have we been up to since the wedding?

We spent most of the inferno months in Vermont, exchanging Virginia boatyard swelter for loon-laced lake loveliness. Jeremy took a whole host of boat projects north; there were also many house projects to complete. Still, when this is our view (photo shot from the deck), who can complain too much?

Big boat projects included canvas work (dinghy chaps for Roti, the inflatable that’s Calypso’s tender), watermaker pump rehabilitation, and work on Marauder (Mischief’s dinghy). I spent a lot of time canning stuff for our upcoming cruising season, taking advantage of space, water, and cooking fuel! I feel like there was other stuff I’m forgetting about too. House projects included new lighting in the kitchen (long overdue), not enough painting, and installing vapor barrier in the basement.

Top to bottom: Attic canvas shop, a temporary mooring for my brother’s new-to-him power boat, Jeremy inspecting some of his handiwork in the basement, painting the steps, dinghy chaps in progress, canning jars ready to be filled.

Along the way, we enjoyed a lot of time with friends popping in to see us, some for a couple of hours and others for a longer stay. Cruising friends, friends from the old neighborhood in Charlottesville,, family, and more.

Top to bottom: Ann and Greg from Halekai, my cousin Terry, Charlottesville neighbors Margaret and Anna, Bee and college buddies, cousin Sally with Mom and Dad, Anna came back for a weekend, cut off selfie on Brousseau with Averill Corp neighbors (including Mom and Dad and cousin Pam), Uncle Peter and Stephanie came to stay, Mom’s family reunion (many of whom were with us at the OPO for almost a week)

We’re not all about work, I promise!

Our time at the lake ended on Wednesday, September 4 (Julian’s 25th birthday!) after a couple of crazy packing days, last minute garage organizing, and a flurry of other details. It seems that no matter land-life or boat life, the last bit before shoving off is a bit chaotic.

We stopped to see cousin Terry at her spot in Brattleboro, then spent the night with Zach and Amy (and Parker, Tatum, and the dogs) in Fairfield.

Then it was off to New York City to bring Bee a few goodies for their new apartment. It was so great to be able to really picture them in their new digs, a larger and MUCH brighter apartment just a couple of blocks away from Prospect Park. Many friends (some of whom came up to the lake earlier in the summer) live within walking distance, which is so great. We moved stuff in, walked around, took them grocery shopping, and enjoyed the new vibes.

And then . . . return to the boatyard. Friday, September 6. We arrived mid-afternoon, in time to get a few things set up, go grocery shopping for a celebratory dinner, and reacquaint ourselves to life on a ladder.

Now comes the push to get in the water. I’ve got a speaking commitment in the northern Bay at the end of September, with the boat show and Cruisers University right after that. We’re really REALLY planning to be up there on the boat for that. Talk about a deadline, right? Luckily we front-end loaded much of the work, so all that’s left to do is put the prop back on, paint the trim tab, and redo the anchor locker.

Wait. Did you think that’s ALL we have to do, period? No, that’s all we have to do to splash.

We’re hoping to go in the water by September 23. Next week looks like major deluge time here, with half an inch of rain or more forecast for each day of next week. Oh my.

Wish us luck!