We've been working hard this week! Well ... except for a couple of days of play, but that's what retirement is about, right?

Madcap is looking great with a freshly painted bootstripe (me), washed and waxed and polished hull (Jim), fresh coats of cetol on woodwork (me), cleaned out and organized tool lockers (Jim). I have to say that once again, Jim and I are both in our "beginning of season" mode when we cannot imagine loving a boat more than we love Madcap. After 6 months on board, we always want a bigger one but then we go home to a house for a while and when we come back, she is just right again. Funny how a boat can change like that!!

The weather has been great most of the week but it turned cold and windy Friday night so we were happy to dive under our down comforter and turn on the heater in the morning. Dinner Saturday was pork chops with roasted potatoes, buttered lima beans and sautéed zucchini and tomatoes - fresh from the Farmer's market. Mmmmm mmmmm. Looking forward to leftovers tonight.

We've had time for some strolls through the neighbourhood to look at the pretty houses of old town Fernandina Beach and watch the birds that make the marshes of Egan's Creek their home - snowy egrets, blackbirds, herons. We must be on a monarch butterfly migration route because the yard was full of them the other day.

We took a drive to the Commissary at Mayport with Tina and Dick to start our provisioning, and Jim has made a couple of trips to Sailor's Exchange in St Augustine. We are delighted to report that the "old stuff" we emptied out of our basement at home paid for 140 feet of new anchor chain! On Thursday, Tina, Jim and I drove to St Simon's Island to meet Steve and Sandi (Yes! They are here!), and see their new boat, Yonder. Oh - she's a beauty - and Sandi can be the Varnish Queen again! We went with Dick to the Boardwalk Bash at Amelia Island Plantation to smile at the little pirates and fairies and pumpkins and giraffes as they played beside the pond, and take in the Georgia Bulldog and Florida Gator décor as the place celebrated a college football/Hallowe'en combo. The town is full of Georgia folks who came just across the border for the big game in Jacksonville on Saturday. (Georgia won!)

I've become a great fan of Amazon.com. Find something on line, press a button, and hey presto - it shows up here 2 days later with free shipping. Yikes! This could be addictive!

We're off to see "Ides of March" at the movie theatre tonight. Launch day is Tuesday!