Best Life

 I started reading a book today and read a passage resonated profoundly with me.  "When you're doing what you're supposed to be doing in this life, amazing things can happen."  This is how I feel about sailing and our adventures as unconventential retirees.  We have seen and done amazing things and there are more amazing things waiting for us. Being New Years' Eve, I have not only looked back into all we have accomplished, but have begun to look ahead to all that awaits us. Accomplished in 2024: 1.       Bought a boat and learned to live aboard 24/7  - We have learned to live in a small space without          throwing the other overboard. 2.        Became proficient at provisioning - Not every meal is gourmet but everything is yummy on a boat! 3.        Shared our story at different clubs - I never thought I would be good at speaking in front of total strang...

 Happy birthday Paul!  61 years young!  How can that be?  We still have so many areas of the world to explore! Our time in Cumberland is coming to an end.  The kids return home tomorrow and we head back to Lincoln.   The bureau is complete and ready for use!                                             Lucille in front of the original on her wedding day May 16, 1959.                                           The dark brown, high gloss paint that proved challenging to remove.                                      The finished bureau with new knobs.  Very pleased with the end result!

 Fenway - the gift that keeps giving!  In 2015 Fenway was a Christmas gift that wound up staying with us.  Lucille, who thought he was the cutest thing ever, could not be persuaded even by Megan that he needed a good home.  So he stayed with us.  Gypsy was his best friend and now that honor belongs to Paul.                                                                   Sleeping curled up in Paul's coat.                                                         Quiet time with Paul in Maine back in October.                        ...

 Rupert was always the dirty, dirty horse.  Not anymore.  TK is the dirtier, dirtier horse.  Even with a blanket on to protect him somewhat from the rain, he managed to get absolutely filthy.  Since  he does not like the sound of the rain on the metal roof, he stands in the rain all day.  But he is extremely gentle and tolerant of being dried off and having his blanket applied.                                                 Rupert rules the barn.  TK waits not so patiently for his dinner. The second coat of urethane went on the bureau beautifully.  I am hoping tomorrow's coat will be the last.  Meanwhile I managed to keep busy and do a few things around the house, watch a couple movies, take a nap and totally enjoy the warmth from the wood stove.  All mixed in between feeding horses, ...

 We moved out of Pine Road just a year ago and tonight we are back.  The kids have left for Maine and we are on "horse duty".   The first thing we did was move the bureau I am refinishing into the basement for faster drying time between coats of urethane.  With Scott gone (his living space in down there), the smell should bother no one.  My plan is to finish by the kids' return on Tuesday. I thoroughly enjoyed cooking dinner on the gas stove and reinforces the decision to install one in Maine in the near future. Oven roasted broccoli and fish - yum!  Thank you Don and Kim (Hope you feel better). And the best part - the wood stove!  I am barefoot with a tee shirt on and am so comfortable.    Today is Visit the Zoo Day.  For so many years we were members of the Roger Williams Zoo in Providence.  The colder weather was always more fun since there were fewer people and the animals were more active.         ...

 Created in 1986 to encourage people to be thankful for what they have and stop whining about what is missing, on this day it is okay to whine - National Whiners Day.  They only thing I need to whine about is the cold.   Working on Brianna's bureau in the garage at Megan's is cold.  Turning the kerosene heater on is an okay solution but really just takes the edge off.  Only after sanding for a bit do I start to warm up.  Moving the treadmill to Lincoln is my solution to walking where it is warm and dry.  There is no cold car to warm to drive to a safe, ice free walking path.  (The scenery could be better but I won't whine about that - just stating a fact.) I am looking forward to staying at Megan's for the long weekend while they vacation in Maine.  There is no cold problem there thanks to the wood stoves.  The home in Lincoln needs one.  Even keeping the thermostat fairly low, the bill is outrageous.  (Yes I am whining bu...

 Merry Christmas!  As we continue to grow into our role as "empty nesters" and grandparents, Christmas has become a bit more sedate.  No more rushes to arrive home early enough on Christmas Eve to not only get the kids in bed and asleep, but assemble toys, stuff stockings and remember to eat cookies, drink milk and lay baby Jesus in his crib.   Now on Christmas morning we are allowed to sleep in and enjoy our coffee without being rushed to open gifts.  Time on the treadmill, a Christmas movie (Christmas Chronicles) and a light lunch.   And then a simple dinner with the kids.  The best gift tonight - a gazillion bandaids for Brianna from Kevin and Isis.  Her bandaid addiction is well known and she has many enablers.  We also had a ton of fun with the magic 8 ball.  (It predicted I would win the card game and I did!) Very different but still feeling blessed that everyone is happy and healthy and we were all together this holiday ...

 Merry Christmas from the Calitri's!                                                            Paul          Kim  Don                                                  Scott     Rebecca          Thomas                    Isis               Dan     Abbey                                                       TJ         ...