Uber, have you used it?

We found an app while we were in Fort Lauderdale that is awesome. It is called Uber. It is like a taxi system but with people's own cars. There are parameters for them to pass for safety but it is quick, inexpensive and so efficient. We used this quite a bit while we were here. Check it out! Click here for Uber

Uber is an app-based transportation network and taxi company headquartered in San Francisco, California which operates in cities in many countries. The company uses a smartphone application to receive ride requests, and then sends these trip requests to their drivers. Customers use the app to request rides and track their reserved vehicle's location.  As of 16 December 2014 the service was available in 53 countries and more than 200 cities worldwide,  and was valued at more than US$40 billion. 

Lemon Tuna Crunch over Rice

I personally think this is the greatest light lunch you could possibly have. It is a little time consuming to make just because of all the chopping but it is definitely worth it.
 

Finely chop the following ingredients and combine in a bowl.
 

1 small anion
3/4 cup celery
6-10 radishes
 

Add
 

1T oil
1 lg lemon squeezed
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cans of tuna in water,  drained
 

Stir all together let sit for 10 minutes. serve over hot rice.

 

 

 

                                     Enjoy! If you make this, tell me what you think?

Fantasy Island Drink

In January, 2015 we were heading back North from the Keys in our new boat, Endurance. We put the hook down in No Name Harbor, Biscayne Key, Florida. Our neighbors were in a 32 foot Island Packet named  Fantasy. They are a couple who have been cruising since the eighty's. Jim and Gail from Raleigh, NC. We were invited over to their boat for cocktails and Gail served us this wonderful island drink  that I had to share.

So with permission here is the post.
 

Fantasy Island Drink
 

1/3 cp. Pineapple juice
1/3 cp. Orange juice
1/3 cp. Grapefruit juice
1/2 jigger Grenadine
1/2 jigger Banana liqueur
1/2 jigger Apricat liqueur
 

Add ice. Shaken not stirred. Add a slice of orange, lemon, lime or an umbrella for garnish.
Thanks Gail an Jim for the fun time in No Name Harbor and again in Sylvia Lake!

 

Gail M. Toups
Sv Fantasy
Raleigh, NC

 

 

Gobstopping Grapefruit

This morning I awoke after having a dream. In my dream there was a radio ad for Gobstopping Grapefruit. The new amazing drink. I didn't have to come up with the name or anything. It was all in the dream's radio ad. Lol!

1 shot of Vodka
1/2 glass of Coconut water
1/2 glass of Grapefruit juice.

I will have to try it.

Happy New Year from Fort Lauderdale!

Hello all!   We were talking last night and figured we probably should send a little update to everyone.  Overall, things are going quite well. The new boat has got a few little quirks and things it needs some help with.  But (so far), we have had many more pleasant surprises, than bad things.  

We are currently moored in Fort Lauderdale on the Intercoastal Waterway.   This is the same Marina that we stayed out two years ago when we were here - kinda fun.

Last night we went down to the waterfront/beach area and celebrated the New Year with many many people.  We both commented that we've never done that before.   kinda crazy. 

Either later today, or perhaps first thing tomorrow, we are headed offshore and then to the South (past Miami and into the Keys).  I'm a little nervous about the sailing part.  this is a MUCH bigger boat than New Girl.  I mean that's good and all, but quite a different thing.  Handling it when docking and maneuvering is a bit nerve-wracking, but so  far, haven't hit any other boats!  lol   The mast is much taller too, we have to be pretty careful requesting openings for all the drawbridges.   Our air draft is 48 feet.    

On board, the creature comforts are incredible - - much much different than New Girl.  I mean we loved that boat, but this is much more livable:  a freezer and fridge, headroom so I can actually stand up in the cabin, double sink in galley two burner propane stove and oven,  a head (bathroom) with a door and space to move around (in other words, you don't have to back in to do your business!!!) and an aft cabin with a queen size bed!

Overall, extremely pleased and pleasantly surprised. 

More later!

~mark

We had Tuna Tataki at Da Big Kahuna. Delicious!

There were so many people! Big fancy cars. There was a girl standing right next to me named Shanai.

We went and walked on the beach after midnight hit. Then we walked 2 blocks back to the marina and had drinks with a neighboring boat. 

Setting our new sails for Key West

Today Mark and I were soaking in the hot tub and discussing all of the items that need to be packed for our upcoming trip to Florida. We were having a dilemma on how to get the dinghy there so that we can use it to get us to land when we are anchored or moored. Do we try to check it on the airplane? Should we send it on Amtrak? Can we ship it? In the end our final decision was to box it up and ship it Fed Ex ahead of us. We sent it to the business where we bought our boat with prior permission. It is now being tracked en-route and is somewhere in Florida. Yay!!

Next we have to pack our bags and remember to bring PFD's, paddleboards and paddles, pump, snorkeling gear, tool case, fishing poles, tackle, and who knows what else will end up on the list! The good part is that we can leave all of this additional stuff on the boat. Our plans are to fly there again right after tax season for our spring trip. It will all be there and we won't have to worry about it.

We are picking up Endurance in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We have a reservation at the Los Olas Marina.
 Active Captain has a great description of the place and you can make reservations here Reservations. We have stayed here once before on New Girl for our trip to the Abacos, Bahamas and really enjoyed it. It is on the ICW 17th St. bridge, very inexpensive and also has mooring available. It is 2 blocks from the beach, washer/ dryer, showers, wifi, and close to shops. There is also the Sun Trolley that we can take for provisioning. It is a great means of transportation.

We will be celebrating New Years Eve right near the beach. They will be dropping a ball. That sounds pretty cool. I have only seen those things on t.v. in New York.  Key West will be celebrating with a drag queen in a large high heeled shoe. Ha! I hear there are crazy things that happen on Duval Street.

Then on New Years Day  we are to casting off the dock lines and heading out for Key Largo. We have a lot of plans for paddle boarding, snorkeling and lobster fishing. We have purchased our tickle stick, snare, net and bags that are needed for the hunt. I think there is going to be some good eating in the cockpit at evening hours! I am also hoping that this is something that doesn't freak us out and we can actually catch them. Have you ever tried this? What was your experience? Please let us know in the comments.

We will travel all the way down to Key West and do some exploring of Duval Street and the town. Hemmingway has a museum there with live 6 toed cats out front. Lol!

When our adventure is done in the Keys we will head back up the Gulf Stream and catch the elevator ride up. Our entry will be St. Lucie/Stuart and then head up the St. Lucie River toward the Okeechobee Lake. We will rest the boat on the hard at  Indiantown Marina. We did a lot of research for a place to leave her out of hurricane trouble and away from the high cost of Fort Lauderdale/Miami area. We will have to go through our very first set of locks with a 13ft. rise. I am so excited to experience this. I saw my first lock with my sister-in-law Mary in Appleton, WI.

Bahama bound is planned on her come November, 2015. We will head down with the truck and trailer in tow from Montana. We will get to visit friends and family on the way. Sail her to the flower Bahama Islands this time and then drive her home. Come May 2016 she will get dropped into fresh water for a nice bath, fun weekend sailing and racing with our yachties at the  South Flathead Yacht Club.

DIY Craft Table

This whole things started when Molly and I were crafting in the living room. We had to start cleaning up all of our stuff around us because we had to have the space livable. Sure would be nice if we could leave all this here and keep working the next day. That's when we both decided we needed a craft room. Where could we put one? Rachel had moved out a couple of years ago and we moved some gym equipment in there but the room just didn't get used enough. We both decided thats what we would do. So I started searching the internet for types of rooms that we wanted. There sure are a lot of beautiful craft rooms out there. I finally ended up on Pinterest pinning bunch of different ideas that we liked. I found one pen that was a craft table and had plans with it for building. Marco always tells the kids if you want something bring me some plans and we can build it. Perfect! I see a craft table in our future.

The first thing I did was go shopping with the truck. I needed to find some items discounted. So I went too the Restore  (Habitat for Humanity),  Salvation Army, Flathead industries thrift store and Goodwill. At the Restore I found an old hotel desk that I could refinish, put a new top on and some pull handles for the drawers. At Goodwill I found a dresser that I thought would look cute under the bay windows for storage. It has cute detail in the drawer faces. I just need to refinish it. At the Salvation Army I found a huge piece of plywood that would be the perfect measurements for the craft table top. I got this for $5. That will save me about $60. Now I'm headed to Lowes to pick up the rest of the wood for the craft table, the laminate top, stain, and varnish. The laminate top was a lot more expensive than I thought it was going to be but I believe one sheet will cover both the craft table and the desk. My truck is full. Time to go home with my treasures and get to work.

After all of the sanding, staining and varnishing, I ended up with some good looking furniture. Mark and I built the bookshelf ends for the craft table. Then he put the edges on the top and we I got on top and rolled out the air bubbles with a rolling pin. We brought it all up to the room and then Mark installed the electric outlets to the top of the table. That will work out great for glue guns and soldering. It will be nice having them right there. I found them in black to match at Lowes.

All pieces are now in the room and look great. I will do some organizing and bring all of my goods up into the room but the building is done!

 

What do you think of our progress and the finished products?

 

 

 

 

                                   Building the book shelves (the bottom of the craft table)

 

 

 

 

The bookend after applying a walnut colored stain and 3 coats of varnish

 

                                                     Edges were added to the top

 

                                                   Applying and cutting the laminate top

 

 

 

 

Mark with the power tools

 

     The electric outlets were installed under the table

 

 

                                           Black outlet and covers to match the laminate

 

                               The finished table. I will put baskets on the shelves for storage.
                                               I bought the chairs online from Kohl's

                               Here is the desk that I started with. I am thinking this will make a
                                                  nice sewing table. Nothing fancy.

Stained it all with the walnut varnish to match

and varnished it and the drawers

 

 

 

                                       I added hardware to the drawers for easier opening.

                           We used the remainder of the laminate and covered the desk as well.

                         I found this dresser at the Good Will for $29. I love the detail in the drawers.

                                Espresso stain for the top and bottom and some varnish.
                                I painted the drawers and the detail. I love how it turned out.

 

I found a post on Pinterest for a thread and

bobbin rack so I made myself one.

 

                                                Stained and varnished to match of course.