Blog

  • Our Anniversary Celebration

    Steve & Teresa a Ludington Lighthouse
    Steve & Teresa a Ludington Lighthouse

    Yesterday, Steve and I celebrated a significant number of years of marriage. The day started out anchored outside of the Village of Pentwater. After our breakfast of toast and yogurt, we literally sailed/surfed 2-6 foot waves on our way to Ludington. Once “Ariel” settled in, she (and the crew) sailed great with the main and a bit of the front sail opened.

     

    In the afternoon, we mounted our tandem bike and rode along the shoreline north toward Ludington State Park. Early evening, I made our Anniversary Dinner reservation at PM Steamers located directly in front of our marina. Steve ordered seafood pasta with mussels, shrimp and scallops. I ordered cedar planked salmon covered with spinach and a generous supply of lemons.  Yum! Yum!

     

    I’m amazed at people’s comments and expressions when we tell them how long we’ve been married. Some comments included: “Wow, 34 years, that’s a long time!” or “Congratulations, you deserve to celebrate.”  My favorite one is “You don’t look that old.”

     

    I was still a teenager when my high school sweetheart and I married. That doesn’t mean I’d recommend getting married that young. It’s just the way it worked out for us. We made it this far, but I’m quick to add, but for the grace of God go I (go us). I’m not a certified counselor, but have learned a few tips along our trail.

     

    When looking for a Skipper to share a boat with (or soul-mate, life partner, spouse, whichever), look for these qualities:

     

    Sense of humor, unselfishness, is not easily angered, inner motivation, a sense of adventure, morality, and trust. Other features to consider: similar religious/faith convictions, and the ability and willingness to communicate freely with each other when disagreements flare up (notice I said “when” not “if.”)

     

    Skipper Steve waits while I finish writing this. He says it’s time to make a move toward a beautiful sunset with pictures to follow. Did I mention the quality of patience?

  • “Solitude” – Vacation Time

    solitude-over-pentwater-lake 

     

    Dusk falls ‘till no more light from which to read. Time for shut eye—the wind and sun from the day’s passage allows sleep to come oh so easily.

     

    Anchored in Pentwater Lake alongside the quaint village of Pentwater. American flag on our stern rail flaps in a stiff southern breeze while our sailboat spins and swerves on anchor line. The anchor line squeals as brisk wind tugs tightly. Around and around we go. First one direction; then another.

     

    No alarms or sounds of others stirring. Save a dog’s bark on distant shore. An occasional early morning fisherman seeks the “Big One” as they motor past. My head still hugs my warm pillow. Eyes shut tight. Rising is more difficult when I’m rocked within my quilt cocoon, warm, dry and safe. Even when sunlight peeps through our hatch overhead and through the companionway, I turn over and pretend it’s still nighttime. Just a few more minutes of sleep, and then I’ll rise and shine.

     

    I relish this vacation time of no worries or appointments to keep—no place we have to be or tasks we have to do! Isn’t that what a real vacation looks like?

  • Go to fullsize image

    I watched with intent curiosity as Richard applied brute force to remove the cracked windshield. It was the second windshield we’d replaced in a month. Last month, it was our other vehicle. Richard, the window replacement guy, says the glue used to hold the windshield can withstand pressure up to 900 pounds per square inch.  He seemed to know what he was doing, so I asked him how long he’d been in the glass business. Richard said he’d always been working with cars in some form, but only the last 20 years in this specific trade.

     

    When I made the appointment, the office asked if we had a garage to work in if perchance it rained. I said we did. Skies were gray when Richard started the operation. He worked alone which amazed me since a windshield can weigh up to 50 pounds—“about the weight of a large bag of dog food.” But a bag of dog food doesn’t crash or go into a zillion pieces upon impact. I determined Richard to be a brave and strong man.

     

    We were going along the road just fine not following behind a big truck or construction vehicle. Then, it happened. Crack!  Smack! We’d been hit with a rock that just barely clipped the driver’s side of the windshield. Then, the crack began to crawl. It crawled half way across in direct line of my husband’s view. No chance of forgetting that rock. No, I’d be making a call to my insurance company and the window repair company—AGAIN!

     

    The day after the rock hit; it dawned on me. The rock that split our windshield could have been a bigger rock. It could have distracted my husband to the point of swerving off the road or hitting another car or object. It could have been much worse. “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31) Wow, God really did take care of us.

     

    Just as Richard was completing the last steps of polishing the window, the sky began to drip. He had finished his task just in time, and I might add, quite admirably.

     

    “If God sees the sparrow’s fall,

    Paints the lilies short ad tall,

    Gives the skies their azure hue,

    Will He not then care for you?” – Anon.

  • Gals Summer Get together at the park

    Women's Bible Study Group
    Women’s Bible Study Group

    dscf5314

    It was as if we had just seen each other—we took up right where we left off in April. Talked about a Holy Land trip, vacations, boat trips and races, improved health of family members, being with family, sons and daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, answers to prayer. It was good to re-connect again in a casual, outdoor environment.

     

    Betty and Mary Ellen – thank you so much for organizing!

    Good food, good friends, and good fellowship!

  • Mothers & Daughters

    Mother and Daughter riding Arnold ferry across to Mackinaw Island
    Mother and Daughter riding Arnold ferry across to Mackinaw Island
    "Little Stone Church" on Mackinaw Island
    "Little Stone Church" on Mackinaw Island

    dscf52271

    I started thinking about mothers and daughters this week since my daughter, Amanda, and I had the opportunity for time away. The two of us and a couple of other gals stayed on Mackinaw Island awaiting our guys to return after the 330+ mile only freshwater race from Chicago to Mackinaw Island (Chicago Mac).

     

    The first morning Amanda experimented with applying my eye shadow to match my blue shirt. I felt and looked like a movie star when she finished and was ready for my photo shoot to begin!

     

    We sampled fudge (even though we were cut off of the free sampling)—but we did purchase plenty too for later consumption. Amanda’s photography skills came in handy with the colorful array of flowers, horses and carriages, and racing sailboats.

     

    On one of our field trips, we walked inside the “Little Stone Church” established in 1900. I sat on a wooden bench and absorbed the peaked roof and old wooden beams. I could almost hear organ pipes reverberating “The Old Rugged Cross.” (See picture of mother and daughter sitting on a bench in front of the church.)

     

    We stayed up late watching old movies and munching popcorn in bed by night until the guys came in 1:50 am Central time on Tuesday morn. We didn’t dare miss the guys crossing the finish line via spotlight and the judges calling out their sail number, and the gun marking their finish time.

     

    Later, our boater friends relaxed on our second floor balcony sharing past and present sailing stories.

     

  • Awards Ceremony Pics: 5th Place Flag

    "Swiftsure" team on Grand Hotel lawn
    "Swiftsure" team on Grand Hotel lawn
    "Skipper Ron" receiving Flag for 5th place in division 1
    "Skipper Ron" receiving Flag for 5th place in division 1

    skipper-getting-flag21

  • “Swiftsure” and crew took the 5th place flag in their division!!

    “Swiftsure” and crew took the 5th place flag in their division!!

     

    It was long, slow race. It seemed strange to see the empty marina when we walked back and forth from the point where boats finished. Smaller boats didn’t finish till late Tuesday night and beyond. The guys loved it…even the long stretches with little wind. Given the opportunity, I’m sure they’d do it again next year.

     

    A gasoline powered vehicle, an ambulance in front of the hotel next to ours, seemed so out of place. We all stared and wondered what would bring this foreign mode of transportation out of its garage.

     

    Swerving bicycles, horse drawn carriages, and horse droppings were the biggest obstacles to forward motion along the sidewalks and streets. Nostalgia permeated my veins as I walked the streets with black rod iron fences lined with multi-colored flowers. The thought occurred to me that I could be happy in this environment. At least for a time.

     

    I foresee movie night at home featuring…“Somewhere in Time” DVD staring Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour.

  • THEY HAVE ARRIVED AT THE FINISH!!!

    FINISH TIME:  1:50 Central – 2:50 AM our time.

     

    Long, fun race according to Steve. Lots of dead time where it was really smooth and no air.  All crew members are safe, sound and ready for a good night’s sleep. 

     

    Once the results have been tallied, will check in later.

  • Our guys have: 39.1 Miles to go!

    “Swiftsure” and our guys are moving along at 6.1 knots…not too bad with 39.1 miles to go! It doesn’t look like our guys will be joining us for dinner tonight though (or before bedtime?)  We’re hoping they’ll show before 2:00 am.

    20-Jul-09 – 12:56pm
    101st Race to Mackinac – Mid Afternoon Race Update

    Monday, July 20, 2009 (Mackinac Island, Mich.) — John West, owner of Tomorrow’s Sunshine, was all smiles as he turned in his finish card to the Race Committee just moments ago. Sunshine, was the fourth boat to finish early Monday afternoon among the other Cruising Division boats that have been the first to cross the finish by Round Island Lighthouse.

    “We had such nice wind and this was the first time sailing in the cruising division that we really raced near other boats in our same section,” West explained. Following Sunshine’s Friday afternoon start, the crew was able to sail at full boat speed of 7.5-8 knots for nearly the first 24 hours of the race. “We reached Big Sable in record time for us,” Mike West added. Mike, son of John is Sunshine’s skipper. It was at Point Betsie where this crew experienced their first bout with the light winds that have plagued the rest of the fleet who started the race on Saturday. “They didn’t nickname it ‘Beastie’ for nothing,” navigator Guy Demesy explained. “We sat there for 8-12 hours looking at a light blinking in the dark.” Other than the great winds, the most heart pounding moment for Demesy, who was helming for the last 4 nautical miles, was where he had to time a tack narrowly missing a tanker that was coming through at the same time right before the finish.

     The Race Committee is expecting non-stop finishers all night into tomorrow as the rest of the fleet sails under the Bridge and to the finish. See cycracetomackinac.com for preliminary results and more race updates.

  • 7/19/2009 3:10:51 AM

    Pace has picked up thankfully (much better than 1.2).  Boat Mapper recorded 7.8 knots NNE, 239.4 nautical miles yet to go. My thermometer here says it’s only 50 degrees—I know it’s MUCH COLDER OUT THERE in the middle of Lake Michigan.  Brrrrrrr…….Stay warm, Babe, and enjoy the starry night!