10 posts
Projects
Best of this Week: Crocodiles and a Wringer
This little fella is named Galileo. He is two years old. Alfredo thinks he was born prematurely; he is blind and has bone deformities.... I close my eyes and remember the feel of Galileo's surprisingly soft tiny abdomen against my palms, swelling and contracting with his sweet little breath.…
Project Breakdown: Companionway Screen Door
Yesterday I finished making a companionway screen door. This is probably not a general-interest post, though you might dig it if you love problem solving! This is a love letter to the Sewing On Boats Facebook group; I posted a photo there and several people asked for details.…
Boatyard Life
In order to replace the seals and bearings on Rejoice's rudder, she had to be hauled out of the water. We were about due to repaint the part of the hull that is under water, so as long as we&…
Not All Roses
Having recently shared a lot of gorgeous shots of our trip from San Diego, California to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, I thought I'd go for a nitty-gritty post next! Folks often imagine that a cruising life is largely leisure --…
Chocolate Mousse
Autumn is a heavenly time for avocados and dates along the coast of California and Mexico, which has made our journey a perfect time to enjoy one of our favorite desserts, a chocolate mousse from Reneé Loux's The Art and…
Kale Walnut Pesto
One of the things we are asked about often is how we eat on Rejoice. The answer is: very well! Nourishment is a primary activity and a great pleasure for us. My body has some interesting ideas about food, which is common…
Anxiety, Peace, and Our Ditch Bag
One of the things that James and I love about sailing is that emergency preparedness is, for good sailors, a natural way of being. As mainstream life in America grows ever more swaddled by layers of technology and commercialism, we are fascinated…
Everything You Call Mine is Holding You
One of the things that people ask most consistently about the path that we have taken is "Do you miss your things?" The simple answer is: No. The longer answer is: Our path toward living with a smaller footprint aboard…
In the Wee Hours: Anxiety and the Nature of Comfort
At some point in the dark and wee hours last night, I got up, grabbed a flashlight, and lifted a floorboard to peer down into the bilge, bottom of our boat. I'd like to tell you why, because it'…
Our Saloon
When we bought Rejoice, her saloon looked like this: Removing the TV/DVD player and taking out the carpet came first. After that, we debated for months whether to reupholster our settees, and if so, whether to try it ourselves or hire…