April 8th: Taking on Borders and One Hand Done, One to Go!

Randy and Cindy pulled their boat out of the water for the summer. They wanted to work on it in the boat yard for a couple days so we invited them to stay with us.  When Randy and Cindy left to work on their boat, Gidget and Cricket became a common sighting in our window.  They always wanted to see who was coming and going. Of course most people had to come over and say "Hi". I knew they could tell if it was Randy or Cindy coming down the dock. They would get very excited even though they were far down the dock. It was amazing. I believe maybe they can hear their particular walk.


Cricket quickly made claim to our rocker recliner. We don't know why, but she loved that chair.  She was not inclined to share! But who could resist that cute little look enough to retake the chair.










Gidget tended to roam around a lot more and made a great vacuum cleaner for anything that was dropped.




I decided to make some peameal bacon for a send-off breakfast before Randy and Cindy left. I have to make the peameal bacon from scratch because you can only buy it in Canada. We always enjoyed it when in Canada and then one year Linda's Dad decided he could make his own back in Ohio. What a great idea! I am carrying on the tradition. It's not difficult and you too could make some.

I use a pork tenderloin and place it in a brine solution in the refrigerator for three days. The brine is made from Morton Tenderquick Home Meat Cure. The directions on the package call for much more salt than we like. I use 1/8 cup to no more than 1/4 cup of salt to 4 cups of water. Depends how salty you like it, but 1/4 cup is plenty. (Just a note of caution: Morton's Salt contains a necessary preservative to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Don't use plain salt.) After soaking for three days in a covered container, remove the pork and roll it in medium or coarse corn meal. Wrap the pork in aluminum foil and put it back in the refrigerator for two days. Once it is finished you can slice it to your desired thickness and freeze it. Pan fry it when you want it. I pan fry ours in a small amount of oil.




While I was doing other things, Sharon continued working on our teak. One day I was leaving and it was very hot, so I suggested waiting for a cooler day. But she was very determined to finish a thin "eyebrow" rail at the top of the front cabin. I came back to the boat and Linda had set up a tarp for her to work under so she wouldn't melt!

Sharon working on the door under a shaded platform

Starboard door looking great

Next she asked me if she could do the starboard door. Guess what I said!













Linda had a great idea for protecting our new fly bridge furniture. We need to take the bimini top down when storing the boat due to possible high winds. She decided she could make a flat cover for the fly bridge that we think will hold up. Notice she has full use of her right hand! She has had the outrigger splint off for 3 days! Time to get some work out of her since she is going to get her left hand done Monday.







We were able to make good use of a Christmas present from Rebecca. It is a snap removal tool. It makes it very easy to unsnap snaps that have been in place so long they are stuck.

The project was completed successfully as you can see from the picture.








We were treated to a great sunset a couple nights ago. There was no green flash but the colors were spectacular.

The long wait is over. The surgery to repair Linda's left hand is set for Monday! We are very grateful for the wonderful job her surgeon did with her right hand.  After 3 months it is looking great.  She has full use of all her fingers. We are excited to have her left hand follow suit.