Last month I spent quite a bit of time prepping and painting the wicker chairs passed down from generation to generation (see post). This past weekend I used recovering and adding filler to the old cushions as an opportunity to learn a little bit more about sewing — with Brenda’s Sailrite machine. I’ve tackled a few projects with some success so far, but curtains, generator covers and pool cover repairs are hardly a cushion requiring me to make piping and install hidden zippers. Even with all the many "learning mistakes," I’m pleased with the result (even got a complement from Brenda saying how much her mother (photo) would have love them … and she doesn’t hand them out all that easily!)
One of the more interesting aspects of social networking is that one never knows who they might connect with. I’ve been a fan and have posted before about the late James Garner(1928-2014) for most of my life and noticed his daughter Gigi (MavrocksGirl) actively keeps his memory alive on Twitter. I’m not sure what her purpose is in reaching out to a few fans, but I don’t mind connecting and smiling at good memories that came from his many movies and television appearances.
Along with the Red Stewart Airfield airshow and night airshow on Saturday September 2, 2017, my EAA284 Chapter will be serving up a pancake breakfast for those camping over or flying in on Sunday morning September 3rd. Always a great time.
While learning a little bit more about the improved camera on the iPhone7+(was the reason I opted for the "plus" was the camera), I tested the macro and zoom features while shooting a video of my "Little Praying Friend." It has been vastly improved over the iPhone 5 in several areas … particularly stabilization (in my opinion).
Before kids, Brenda and I owned a beautiful sailboat we named Brenich and kept it in Vermilion for the first year (subsequent in Huron) and haul every winter at Don Parsons Marina and Boatyard each winter. The Robert Perry designed Baba 30 was one of the sailboats on my "dream list" and when a near perfect secondhand boat came up for sale in our area I had to inquire (rare to even see in Ohio or on the Great Lakes in those days). We were newly married and fresh out of college so budget-wise this was not really the boat for us … but the owner who’s wife was ill, lived only a few miles from us in Chagrin Falls took a liking to this young couple wanting a boat and "made it happen." He covered the year of dockage and convinced the Vermilion Yacht Club to let this young couple stay … thank you Harry McKee. Only years later did I realize the risk he took and strings he pulled.
We enjoyed Brenich for several years of summer life in Lake Erie’s western basin and cut our teeth on learning to handle an underpowered full keel sailboat in fast changing weather that "is" Lake Erie. Lots of chop and quickly degrading conditions … along with what seemed like a month or two of almost no wind in the heat of summer … oh and those biting flies! (really I should know all of this since I spent my whole youth growing up on the shores of Lake Erie) Anyway, it was great having Taylor’s photos and good time trigger OUR good times and memories.
A bit of a catch-up and thank you post to a sailing friend and loyal blog reader Mark Jones for giving me an overnight rest stop outside of Savannah, Georgia last weekend on my drive home from Florida; your hospitality and friendship is very much appreciated. Actually I have been looking forward to seeing Dar and Mark’s new house after lending a hand in loading up the moving truck in Florida a few months ago … and it did not disappoint. Their new ranch home in Guyton, GA (not really close to the town center) is about as perfect as can be for a couple in retirement. Everything on one floor and brand new … it should make for a lot of comfortable years before upgrades or maintenance (cough, cough … unlike our house!).
A big plus for them was moving closer to their son Ray who is now only 15-20 minutes away … making it ideal for son and dad (and mom!) to do things together. I enjoyed an outing to the archery range with them on Saturday and found myself resisting getting interested in "yet another hobby!" For Mark and Ray it will hopefully lead to hunting season and getting a deer this autumn … and from the looks of their accuracy (photo above) I’ll bet someone’s freezer will have meat this winter!
Thanks again for the great time and welcoming me to your house. I really enjoyed watching the hummingbirds … even the one Dar named "Stupid." (he has yet to figure out how to feed from the holes in the top of the feeder!)
Originally I opted for a protective iPhone7+ case, but soon realized moving from the iPhone5 with a protective (bulky) Otterbox case to the much larger iPhone AND a protective (bulky) Supcase Unicorn Beetle was a lot of phone to slip into ones pocket. The final complaint was that I couldn’t slip the metal plate between the phone and case like I did for the smaller phone in order to use the magnetic car mount — it just wouldn’t stay.
So a new start up company called Totallee markets a "super thin" case (really a scratch protector) with a soft touch thin leather backing. I liked the premium look and soft-ish feel rather than sticky rubber/plastic, so decided to give it a try. Besides the slower than usual shipping (spoiled by Amazon Prime), the new black iPhone7+ Totalleecase is very nice and came packaged as we’ve become accustom for a premium product. Love seeing new companies take pride in how their products are received … I only hope it will last for a couple years without the very thin leather peeling off (they claim a 2-year warranty).
It has been a little while since Encore has been on the hard and the bottom paint is worse than I thought or expected. Really disappointed to see a couple blisters reappear after the "shave, skim and epoxy barrier" a few years back. Looks like I’ll need to work on grinding out, drying and patching a few blister before applying bottom paint again. I’m starting to think taking her out and maybe doing a yearly touchup is a better way to go?
In any case it is time to address a few of the other items too … dripless coupling, zinc, thru hull seacocks that are stuck and the transducer if I can find it!
This past week while in Florida to do a little boat work, as well as a repair item at the Delray Beach condo, I noticed several new residents – hm? We have always had itty-bitty chameleons, but never the big lizards (or perhaps “medium” sized ones). This was a new surprise for me as I walked around to take a look at the back screens. I startled them, and they did the same to me. I can’t say I’m a fan of reptiles of any skin – NO to alligators, crocodiles, lizards or snakes (here’s one that slithered back to the canal a few years ago).
For now, I think I’ll make sure all the screens stay hole free and will remind everybody to keep the doors to their car and to the condo closed.
