bubbled in

I was so excited about our lights I almost forgot to mention that the bubble is on!

This is the second year we are wrapping ourselves in shrink wrap for the winter. It's really so wonderful and dry and cozy I still kick myself for all of the winters we have had aboard that we didn't do it. Now we have an extra room during these cold, inside months which is invaluable. And it allows us a closed in space to knock out a few projects this winter as well.

We are having fun decking the halls in the bubble and getting ready for the holidays. We're all sealed in, so let it snow!

lights in the hood

Our whole neighborhood is sparkling. It's just a few days from the annual Parade of Lights in town, a holiday light parade where boats are decked with elaborate light displays and parade around our town's waterways showing off their creative illuminations.  It looks like many boats right here on our creek are getting ready. Unfortunately, we'll be missing this year's show but it's been fun just seeing everyone here in the neighborhood get into the spirit.

We decided to deck some halls here too. Slowly. Tonight we strung our few strands of colorful 12-volt lights in the cockpit. The kids were practically jumping out of their skins with excitement. It's neat seeing Zach be able to really do some work and help in meaningful ways, while Naia takes the role of BabyZilla chewing, stomping, and trying to completely tangle herself in lights.

Now the cockpit is all lit up and ready for St. Nicholas and the rest of the holidays coming down the line.

ROTH Winter

Hi there! Just popping in to say that I am thrilled to once again be a part of the lovely online seasonal magazine Rhythm of the Home. Their Winter 2012 edition is live and you can find me in the Celebration section talking about fabric gift bags and also talking about making chocolate covered orange peels (inspired by my friend Nicole who first got me hooked on these!)

Also my friend Serena wrote a beautiful piece in the Connection section all about finding her family rhythm while sailing.

Check it out!

fly

There is something about sailors and pilots. They tend to be cut from the same cloth. Adventurous, a little nuts, driven yet relaxed. We like those people and we're lucky to have more than a few pilots in our life. Zach is fascinated by airplanes and flight and I feel very fortunate that he gets a first hand insight from our flying friends.

Our buddy Peter flies for a major US commercial airline, but that's not quite enough for him. For the last 6 years he has been building his own plane in a rented workshop at the marina. He is a long time friend and fellow boat dweller and we have been keeping up with his progress as he's pieced together his airplane, from scratch, one little gravity defying jigsaw puzzle piece at a time. Truly, mind boggling.

 We dropped in to check out his progress recently. He has to keep the palne partially disassembled just so it will fit the wee space he's working in. Even in parts, it's starting to look like an airplane now.

He is so generous about answering the thousand little questions Zach has and showing him what's what when we drop in. He even allowed a little personal touch.

Zach has already very clearly made it be known that he would like to be among the first to take this baby for a spin when she's flight ready.

From the DIY'er to the high flier... our dear friend Shanon is a private pilot. Even though they live far away now, our families are very close, Zach adores their son who is the same age. Shanon flies a hedge fund manager around in high style on a private jet. There have been times when circumstances have allowed Shanon to fly in his son to come play with Zach for the day. Don't get used to that kind of play date, we tell the boys! He flew in for a day (without the kids) last week and treated Zach and Naia to a morning on the jet.

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Zach was blissed out as Shanon showed him every detail and how to push buttons and get the plane ready for the day. I thought we were going to have to pry him out of the co-pilot's seat.

Naia, who has never been on a plane, acted like a private jet was the most normal thing in the world. She climbed right on, checked the place out, and then found her seat and kept declaring, "I ready! I ready, we go now." She was truly in her element. Once again all I could think was, don't get used to this kid.

I am so grateful to our pilot friends who are so generous with their time and attention. It's always so remarkable when you have other adults in your life who will share so generously with your kids as if they were their own. Priceless.

hanging on

I always feel a little dizzy when Christmas lights go up while the Thanksgiving dishes are being washed. I adore fall, and I never feel ready to tuck it away for another year just after Thanksgiving. We still have some sunshine. We still have piles of leaves. You can fa-la-la all you want, but it's still fall.

(Thanks to everyone who came by Rhythm Of The Home blog for my posts each Monday. The last one for the month is up now. And be on the look out here for another fun giveaway coming soon!)

Gracias

An ocean of thanks to each and every one of you who take time from your busy days and nights to float on by this space. You are appreciated and I am grateful for all of the amazing connections I have made here.
May your bellies be full and your days be joyful today and everyday.

wee girl time

One day a week we drop Zach off at wilderness survival school where he spends 5 hours hiking and starting fires and building shelters and collecting plants. And suddenly it becomes a girls day out. At first I found myself not really knowing what to do with Naia during those days. She is so used to being the tag along rather than the focus. There's an errand to run, or a Zach activity to head out to, or we meet up with his friends and she just comes along and enjoys whatever we're up to. But now we had most of a day that could be all about Naia, with no sibling interruptions, no schedules, no agenda. And her favorite thing to do is "go for walkies!"

Oh how I love getting to know this mighty girl one on one. She is so independent, so focused and so joyful. Singing and chatting to everything, looking for owls, giving directions (you sit here mama, no right here please and I give you leafs ok?)  She is so sure of herself it blows me away.

This girl time is pure bliss for me, and the best part is it's just the beginning.