1st ~ Time is flying by and it's time that we get moving on completing some of these projects.  As of today, there is still no working engine.  So we are still proceeding with getting progress done on the boat and acting like we are getting ready to leave so we can start our sea trial and shake downs once the engine is in.  Today I made the effort to completely empty and re-organize the galley storage, provision boxes on the floor as well as the food storage under our settee and get a complete inventory of what we have, what is going to expire and needs to be eaten 1st.  This process took me a whole 4 days to complete beause I was doing it after work then something would come up and stop me or I couldn't finish but after 4 days it was all done and organized.  

3rd ~ Andy is up to his shennigan's again... This time he installed a sub wolfer and some speakers to the cockpit. All just because he could!  We needed music to listen to while underway.  Not sure how this is a priorty item but it was...

8th  ~ Andy completed the plumbing and electrial connections to the washer!  Yay! I can actually wash clothes on the boat in the washing machine now.  I can dry them as well but then the time is 4 hours for one loan because it's ventless drying and takes a hot minute to do one load but hey, at least I can wash in 30 min and hang the clothes on the lifelines with pins and we are all good.

We also got our mantus bridle in today too that we ordered from the St Pete boat show that we went to a few weeks ago.  So happy to have this as we will need it for anchoring.  

15th ~ I finally was able to put up the curtains tht we needed for privacy in the salon. A little something can make such a huge difference

23rd ~ Back up to Plan B for a drop off from the storage unit so no work done on the boat.  Clearing out part of the land for parking and fire pit and removing fallen trees is the task for the day.

Hopefully we can make some better progress next month.... And oh, before you ask.... no the engine is not working yet.  It's been dropped in but we need all kinds of stuff, like mounting rails to start off because the newer engine is smaller so it's doesn't fit properly but appartently this is not a urgent problem for the mechanic to deal with at the moment so we are doing our best to be patient for the time being.

1st ~ Happy New year!  We spent last night ringing in the new year with friends and as previous years, we all spent the night and into the morning, talking, laughing, drinking and celebrating the closeness we all share.

 Jan 5th ~ We did what???  Plan B is now a thing.  We both needed some security and have come up with a back up plan should this sail thing not work out.  Plan B is a plot of land in North FL that is about .50 acres now with the potential for more that will in the future become our homestead when we are ready to come back to land.  This was purchased for several reasons, because we live in an rv and have a storage unit, we still needed something that wasn't going to cost money to store the RV (in the event we don't/can't sell it) and needed to empty the storage unit so we aren't wasting money on that.  We bouught this land and put a 40 foot shipping container on it.  Added some lights, solar panels and batteries so it would be self sufficent for power.  We also bought some plants in the hope that they can grow while we are gone.  We have drip lines and water to them while we are gone.  I planted some banana trees, blackberry bushes and papaya tree.  Well the papaya tree didn't make it.  The last cold front actually killed it since it went below freezing.

12th ~ Andy mysteriously was able to replace the wood panel that had dry wood rot and was able to match the color exactly.  Then installed the new wood panel around the window so we didn't have to look at the fiberglass anymore.  Next project on the list, the washing machine.  Time to get those measurements and figure out where to intall it so it's not taking up the most amount of room and still have storage for items needed.  This is going to take a minute to plan out...

18th ~ Andy installs the washer today! By install I mean putting up the brackets to mount and then hangs it on the wall in the aft head.  Nothing goes fast on this boat as it requires a lot of planning and cutting of wood and measuring everything like 50 times. Also, the last of the canvas from Tangi's Custom Canvas were installed today.  The enclosure is now complete and the boat looks amazing now.  We even had them make some wench covers out of exrra material.  Tomorrow we take the day off and head over to the St Peted Boatshow to see ourr sponors and if there is anything new or interesting that we might need for the boat (like a life raft or something).

Jan 26th - Back up to Plan B to get some shelving units put in so we can can start to empty the RV and the storage unit and bring everything to our new home. This is going to take several trips for us over the couple of months as we try to finish the boat and start the transition from RV to Land and Boat.

5th ~ Frankenstien was removed from the boat.  The new engine has been ordered and paid for and now is the time to remove the old one.  We were told this would be installed by Christmas so we can could begin sea trials and shake downs.  Is this true???

10th ~ Tangi's Custom Canvas is here today to take some of the measurements needed for the new bimini and enclosure.  Also working on some odds and ends and items that cant be seen that Andy completed without me being present.  

22nd ~ A few days before Christmas and we were able to have some help to get the old salon windows out (all 9) and have the new ones. This was scary because 2 of the windows had fire damage from our e-bikes and now they are starting to leak when it rains.  Let's hope this goes well.  It was a multi day process (3 days) to get all of the windows replaced.  Talk about boat yoga! How the heck did they get these windows in back in '74 when she was built?  We finally got them and now you can't see iin during the day however, at night with the lights on, you can litterally see everything.  I think I need curtains for some privacy at night and when the dogs are on board so they aren't barking when they hear people.  This was a huge project to get completed but progress is moving forward.

24th ~ Surpise, part of the canvas is ready, well the sailbags are at least.  Wow, doesn't Ms. Free Spirit look all spiffy in her new clothes?!  Mediterrean Blue suits her well.  The bimini top is also on now as well.  Tangi did an awesome job for us getting this completed and I can't wait for the finished product which should be mid Jan.  

29th ~ Say what? Andy put in a countertop in the aft head... he is kicking some butt and taking names.  It's go time! 

Andy has also done some clean up work in the engine room so all of the wires are now looking pretty, plus he also painted the wall that he glassed in a few weeks ago.  Also changed out the last 2 port holes in the aft head so that is done as well.  Now maybe the windows will stop leaking.

Also, haven't seen the mechanic for sometime time so I don't think it's going to be installed  by Christmas!  No surprise there... We will follow up and check on status after the hoidays.  Can't do anything about it now and it's too cold to go sailing at the moment.  Hoping next month is better. 

1st ~ Nancy is on a mission to get this girl ready to leave and has decided to take on some projects herself.  She attempted to install the Galley doors but eventually asked Andy for some assistance to get them up and mark one more thing off the to do list to leave

3rd ~ Andy finally was able to get the new bow roller installed and on for the anchor! What a project that was but not at least the anchor won't be hanging out on the boat and now is in its permanant location.

In preparation to get new canvas ordered, we needed to remove the solar panels and get the news on so we can determine where we needed the holes to be for the bimini.  We are having the canvas people come out this week to get the initial measurements and not sure if they needed the panels up or not but we took the old one down anyway since they were working well. So we installed the new mounting rails to hold up the new Renogy panels. 

11th ~ Well if it's not one thing, it's another... The scupper is plugged which means only one thing.... Andy has to get in the water to remove the barnacles to get the scupper to drain properly... Of course, he does it and makes it look easy

17th ~ Andy decides today is the day to do some fiberglass work... that means the wall between the engine room and the Aft Head a wall needs to go up sanded, and glassed in so we can start to work on the aft head.  This wall is needed also to intall additonal stuff in the engine room so it needs to get put in now so we can move on to finishing some more projects that are required to be completed before we leave.

23rd ~ Now we move to the aft head... Andy started with removing the last of the old rotten wood that was in there and removing all screws that were just sticking out and not doing anything, brought in power to the aft head and installed lights.  Apparently he got tired of working on the aft head and went to doing somesthing fun... there was a surprise in store for me.... We now offically have surround sound on the boat! What a treat and luxury item to have.

Happy thanksgiving to all!  We are taking the rest of the holiday weekend off to spend with family and yes, Nancy is cooking dinner on the boat again this year, Turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potates and dessert!