Getting Defiant ready for winter

Bob and I spent all of last week in Vermilion, Ohio, getting Defiant II ready for winter.

Ah, Vermilion, otherwise known as The Fort Lauderdale on Lake Erie, or if you prefer, The Venice of the Buckeye State.

(I tied up in Vermilion long ago in Tristan, so that's how I knew it would be a good place to put the new Beneteau for winter storage and spring-time launch.)



But first, underneath the boat (which is hoisted up and resting in a cradle in a storage yard of the Don Parsons Marina: miter saw, tape measures, lengths of PVC pipe and fittings, etc.










And here's the framework of PVC pipe and fittings, each frame carried up a ladder and placed two and half feet apart stem to stern.











The finished framework. Looks good, yes?













And finally tarps wrapped over the whole structure making Defiant look like a beached whale. We trust this will protect her against all winter hazards, of which we got a good taste on Thursday.
On that day it rained, it was cold, and wind blew at 30 to 35 mpg--not making it easy to hoist those 30 by 20 foot lengths of plastic into the air, over the top, and then tied down to the cradle.
But there she is, ready for spring launching.

Sadie faces Autumn and the coming Winter

It's getting colder, and it's dewy damp on my paws out there. Do I really have to go further?











Well, anyway, there're still good smells to explore out there.












And there ARE compensations when I get home!

Eid al-Fitr

This past Saturday was Eid al-Fitr, the second biggest holiday on the Islamic calender. It is a day of feasting to commemorate the end of Ramadan and 14-hour fasts (certainly a reason to celebrate!). While I did NOT fast this year, I still fully took part in the festivities in good Huntley fashion - we may not be a religious family, but we definitely enjoy celebrating other people's holidays!





This is me helping cook for the big evening meal! I intended only to stop by in the afternoon to see how the preparations were coming along and put some henna on my hands, but alas I got sucked in to making kebab.






After a long day of cooking (mostly on the part of everyone else!) the dishes were finally ready to be unveiled! There was food from all over the world - kebab from Palestine, hummus from Jordan, friend eggplant from Afghanistan, chicken tikka from Pakistan, and more. Sooooo goooooood!!!





This is a group of us (mostly familiar!) enjoying that delicious food. From right to left Allison West (my roommate in Syria), Michael Winter (all-around good friend), yours truly, and Joe Giacomelli (getting-to-be-a-better-friend).









Did I mention how cute I looked? I made sure to wear my shalwar qameez (the loose-flowing comfy get-up I have on) that was a gift from Pakistan last year.






This is the Pakistan group from last year (minus our friend Zoe, who is a student at Duke). From right to left Andrew Amstutz, Allison West, yours truly, and Owais Gilani (resident Pakistani). It's funny to think that we all spent the last Eid al-Fitr together exactly one (Islamic) year ago in Istanbul. Don't we all look about one year more worldly and intelligent?

Hot wheels

These are not your hot wheels of old, no siree Bob. This is an absolutely gorgeous Audi owned and operated by my absolutely wonderful and wonderfully good looking nephew, Liam.

He gave me a ride.
He didn't let me drive it.
Do you blame him?

Mom

We don't know how she does it!!!!

Tia, you are amazing and wonderful and awe-inspiring. Look folks: not only a new baby in the house, and a 3-year old Willem to watch over, and a couple of dogs to keep happy, Tia finds time to send us a lovely, hand-crafted, nothing-else-like-it-in-the-world announcement card for Addison. Isn't it lovely!