May 2, 2006, 3:45 pm, Tavernier, Florida
Names are important. It is an oft quoted fact that less time is spent choosing a child's name than in choosing a boat's name!
Naming boats is a tradition dating back thru history, one of the first boat names recorded in history is the very famous ARGO of Homer's sea epic Odyssey. After this much time, many superstitions have sprung up regarding ships and sailors, including many varied and quite crazy superstitons for a renaming ceremony as one of the most prevelant fallacies out there is that a boat should never be renamed! The thoughts behind this stem to ancient times when most boats were named after gods, and to rename the vessel would anger the god.
To rename our vessel we needed the following:
*Lots of liquid spirits (including cranberry sparkler - Marianna's favorite, Aquamarine Asti for the adults and Chandon for The Mari Hal-O-Jen)
*Silver (the more, the better - there goes the laundry money!)
*Special Champagne (brought from France for the smashing and hoarded by Hal)
*Lots and lots of food
Step one: Choose a lovely, sunny day, which is very easy here in the Keys! We're setting precedents here - we want breezy, gorgeous weather while we are together with this boat.
Step Two: Rename the boat and never mention the old name again in the boat's presence. "I christen thee, The Mari Hal-O-Jen", quoth our lovely and talented guest, Michelle. Crack the champagne bottle smartly over the hull. Pour additional champagne for all at the ceremony, toasting the boat and including the boat by pouring champagne into the water.
Step Three: Take all the silver you can find and shower the boat with it. No sign of stinginess is allowed! Handfuls of coins all tossed together!
Step Four: On the maiden voyage, sail (not power) backwards to rid the boat of the old and then plunge forward into the future on your lovely day surrounded by the signs of your generosity.
What is in a name? The Mari Hal-O-Jen is pronounced like a happy light bulb and involves our names: Marianna, Hal and Jennifer. In the final version the -O- shall be a lightbulb rather than simply an O. To name our boat did take longer than choosing my daughter's name, but that is because I knew exactly what to name her! (the child)
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Comments [3]
Toasting the Boat!
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May 1, 2006, 1:52 pm, Tavernier, Florida
A neighboring boater returned recently from South America and brought us a small present. Marianna had a lot more fun taking artsy photos of the jug than actually drinking the beverage. South American pop uses a different sugar than the soda produced in the United States. Here in the USA the cane sugar used has been processed and refined further than the sugars used in other countries. This lends a very different, distinctive taste to the Incan Gold Kola.
According to Marianna, this tastes like nothing so much as medicine for a cold. I think it tastes like a citrus creme soda blend and Hal compared it to Bazooka Bubble Gum! How three people can taste such different things in an unknown item when approaching it with a clear unprejudiced view is phenomenal.
We do enjoy trying new things, but I think we will place this pop in the window as decoration rather than drinking it!
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April 28, 2006, 3:01 pm, Windley Key, Islamorada
On a recent nature walk at Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site, we paid close attention to the trees. A favorite of Marianna's is the Gumbo-Limbo tree, known locally as the Tourist tree due to its red, peeling bark!
My favorite has to be Psychotria nervosa, or wild coffee. What a great name! Unfortunately a little research revealed that it is not real wild coffee nor does it make a brew resembling anything caffeinated at all.
Hal and I would both like to have a hunk of Ironwood, one of the most dense woods in North America, to experiment with. At 88 pounds per cubic foot, Ironwood will sink if placed in water and we'd love to know if it will burn normally or if a hotter than usual fire is needed to cause ignition.
You can walk along with us (virtually) here and view the hammock in 360' high resolution wonder.
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April 26, 2006, 7:51 am, Tavernier, Florida
There is an interesting discussion on-going at the 4 Real Learning Boards on the ideal school room for homeschooling. Our ideal would be full of fresh air, yet protected from the sun, have inspiring views and a comfy place to focus on studies. So at times you will find us under the bimini with our books in hand enjoying another day of tablework, if we decide to set up a table! The table today is actually part of the floorboards to the dink 7x8 propped on a freshwater jug, we have two other authentic cockpit tables available, but the Roman inside just seems to work better reclining at this improvised study corner than anywhere else! If it becomes too warm here and more work is to be done, or if we need a bit of elbow room for experiments our marina's tiki hut is always 10 degrees cooler underneath.
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April 25, 2006, 8:33 am, Tavernier, Florida
This year has found us implementing more of a Charlotte Mason approach to our homeschooling. Charlotte Mason was an innovative educator who wanted all children to receive a broad and liberal education utilizing the best literature, art and musical masterpieces, and an intimate knowledge of nature. Much of this we have always done, even before beginning our homeschooling experience, avidly devouring classic books, admiring beautiful artwork and playing a wide variety of music in our home. With the inspiring guidelines of Charlotte Mason, I feel that this year we have been able to delve deeper into education and spend less time on mindless teaching and busywork.
Some of my most inspiring sites on the web are included in the list of favorites. In addition, the complete 6 volume set of bookswritten by Charlotte Mason is available online. Try the ABC's of CM for a great overview, and check back with us frequently here to see how this all works out while aboard a 35' boat!
Hint - the nature study is great!
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April 23, 2006, 5:52 pm, Tavernier, Florida
Our most recent nature walk seemed to have a prevailing theme - LIZARDS!
More properly called Anoles, Florida has two common varieties, the Green, Sauria Squamata Anolis carolinensis, and the Brown, Sauria Squamata Anolis sagrei. The Brown is more prevalent in this area as it aggressively takes over territory from the Green.
The foliage and flowers are recovering nicely and the orchids are gorgeous!
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I awake to Hal, stumbling about, filling the cappuccino maker with grounds, then water. I hurriedly grab my sarong and tie it quickly as I climb the companion way. Glasses are a nice thing to have along but not a necessity when the path is so well known. Early morning, I hardly notice the coral gravel that must be crossed to reach the restrooms. Coming back a few minutes later I feel each stone and can take the time to lurch and hobble my way to the paved stairs. If I am unlucky, just after I have reached the relief of the smooth cement I'll step smartly down upon one more stone, kicked there last night perhaps.
Walking dockside now, I can take a moment to look up through the palm trees to check the phase of the moon, glance south over the water to watch the wind ripples or if the predawn is still, to see the sailboats sitting on their reflections.
Hal and I take our mugs, mine much frothier than his and climb back up under the bimini to sip the drink and watch the morning unfold. Perhaps the sun will rise in orange and pinks today, perhaps there is a storm to the east and it's a fantastic lightning show we're treated to.
The boat moves gently from side to side, half a dozen beats to the left and six back to the right. I prop my cushions behind me and facing aft smile with delight as another day begins so beautifully.
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April 22, 2006, 3:35 pm, Tavernier, FL
As Victor Hugo so eloquently said, the future is created by dreams. Follow along as our dreams shape our future...
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