Finally, It’s Official!

My brother, John and Vennessa are married!!! I have a new sister-in-law and great new extended family.

On Saturday morning, we voyaged on Capaz all the way into Portage Bay between Lake Washington and Lake Union for the big wedding at the Seattle Yacht Club. The evening before, my parents had put on a Ukrainian/Guamanian dinner in their backyard. We had all sufficiently recovered from those festivities in time to be ready for family pictures and the big event.

The Polynesian theme was just beautiful and both bride and groom were glowing and their outfits were great too!! John’s childhood friend, Dave, officiated at the ceremony and I got to be a witness and sign the marriage license. While we ate a scrumptious buffet dinner, we were entertained by traditional Polynesian dancers. They even got the some of the crowd into the fun with a quick hula lesson.

The evening continued with toasts, dancing, and dessert. After many songs unrecognizable to me and those around me who were my age, our demands for some good old music cleared the dance floor. I think the DJ must have known this would be the effect and that is why he held us off for so long.

Bryce Sailing .. . er . . .Beach . . . .er . . . . Dock Birthday Party

The best laid plans of mice and men, otherwise known as planning events and engine repairs without looking too closely at the calendar. We were all set to get back into the Thursday Night Racing Series on Elliott Bay with a birthday celebration taking some of Bryce’s friends and their families sailing (see last year’s blog entry). With the engine repair in progress, I had come up with a flippant back-up plan of just having the party at Golden Gardens. As Thursday approached and it looked less and less likely that we would have engine power, I began to dread getting party supplies down to the park when it would be totally crowed due to the weather forecast of a gorgeous day. Finally, we came up with Plan C which would be to just keep the party on the boat and while the boat was sequestered at that the dock.

At last, a plan that looked “like a winner” as G-ma would say. The adults enjoyed cocktails in the cockpit while the kids played Legos, Legos, Legos. Bryce was in heaven getting three new Lego sets, two of which came with new Star Wars mini-figures. Eventually, the kids came outside where they fished and tried out the kayaks. We all sang Happy Birthday to Bryce so that he could officially be 11 years old and watched the sunset over the Olympics. Bryce and his buddy, Jarret, where the last to hop in the kayaks and somehow did get the memo about the area restrictions. They disappeared around the corner and did a big loop around the end of the docks and back. They were thrilled with themselves especially when they realized that everyone else had been restricted to an area within eye-sight of the boat. Despite the shaky planning of the event, it seemed like everyone had a great time!

PS The engine is put back together AND running!!!!

Fishing for Spiderman

It all started when I got home from a very successful shopping trip (I found quite a few things that I have had my open for). On the floor in the boys' cabin was their favorite beach towel.
Spiderman - wet from sailing camp yesterday. The skies were clearing and I knew I had to get it and a few other damp items out into the sun to dry out.
But wait, there were perishables that needed to put away first. So, I flipped the 3 towels over the life lines fully intending (I know - my favorite quote comes to my mind too: the road to hell is paved with good intentions) to put food away and them properly clip the towels and other items on securely. I got the food put away and proceeded to starting clipping the 2 towels to the lines - wait weren't there 3! I realized too late that there actually was a little bit of breeze, apparently enough to blow Spiderman off the life line. How long ago had it happened? Was Spidey just floating behind the boat? Hey, it's a really low tide and maybe I can see the bottom - yep, there is the boys' favorite towel right there on the bottom between the dock and the boat.
I quickly went to grab the boat hook to see if it is actually shallow enough to hook and raise to the surface. But no, that would be too easy (where is that damn EASY button when you need it?). The boat hook is not in it's place on the cabin top. Luckily, my neighbor noticed I was peering into the water looking for something and came out to inquire what had fallen overboard. With the added problem of the missing boat hook, Jeanne grabbed hers and passed it across to me. Fully telescoped, the boat hook appeared to be about 4 feet too short.
Next try, fishing pole. This was probably a very comical process to watch as I try to know as little about fishing poles as possible (I am the cheif line untangler - but that's about it until the fish are caught, cleaned, filleted and ready to cook). I figured that I needed weights: so I put 4 on and a big hook (I know that the hooks caught easily on towels having removed a couple after casting practice): I used one of those big ones with a shiney lure so that I could see it down there. It took me two tries to get the hook in the vicinity of the towel and then drag it across Spiderman til it caught in his foot. I carefully reeled in Spidey and then rinsed him out. After showing my prize catch to Jeanne and Ed, I hung my trophy from the life lines with not 2, but 3 clothes pins.
My question is: am I a bad mom because I let Spiderman fall overboard in the first place or am I good mom because I saved him from the crabs below the boat???

Spiderman is safe at last

Floating Fourth of July

It seems like most people with boats around here seem to spend the Fourth of July holiday on their boats. Whether it is most of my Potlatch committee celebrating at Henry Island or most of my neighbors journeying to Poulsbo for the Third of July fireworks show or my brother venturing out onto Lake Union with the hoards, everyone I know was floating for the Fourth.
While the Bakers were not on CAPAZ for the festivities, we were floating. We chose to carry on the long standing tradition of spending the holiday with my dear old friend, Tiff and her husband on their houseboat on Lake Union. We were in close proximity to the mayhem of the only show in town (Seattle's Lake Union Fireworks Display - no Fourth of Jul-Ivars this year on Elliot Bay), the houseboat community is just a little removed from it all. This tradition began many years ago with Tiff taking care of me on the Fourth while my new husband was out to sea on one of many Vic-Maui Races. Brad came with me when he wasn't racing, or road tripping or delivering CAPAZ to Seattle. As kids entered the picture, Tiff took care of the boys on the Fourth too, even though having kids on a houseboat used to terrify her. We haven't made every year, but if we are in town, we watch the fireworks together.

Our Floating Fourth Hosts: Brad and Tiff

This year was the tenth anniversary of living on a houseboat. Tiff's son, Brogan, went to visit his Grandma Ellie for the night which left the McNamara's free to play a little which we all know is difficult with a two-year old around. Tiff and her Brad and I went for a nice jaunt on the raft (basically a dock with a motor), while my Brad and my boys took the kayaks out through the masses and found Uncle John. We eventually met back at the houseboat and were joined by more friends for a barbeque, drinks and finally the big fireworks show viewed from the roof deck.
Another fabulous Fourth of July. I wonder where we will be this time next year? Will there be fireworks? Stay tuned . . . . . .

Potlatch

Potlatch (from wikipedia) - a festival ceremony practiced by Indigenous poeples of the Pacific Northwest Coast in North America, along Pacific Northwest coast of the US and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The word comes from the Chinook Jargon, meaning "to give away" or "a gift". It is a vital part of indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest.

In an attempt to control Native Peoples, 1885 brought bans on Potlatches in both Canada and the US. Believe it or not, in the mid-1940's members of the Seattle Yacht Club chose this tradition on which to base a family event to be held at their newly acquired property on Bainbridge Island in beautiful Port Madison.
After over 60 years of annually celebrating this event, it was my turn to run the show this year. I attended my first Potlatch before I was born (my mom was pregnant with me when she and my dad attended in 1969.) I revisited the event throughout my childhood and once Brad and I started our family, we began to make it a tradition in our family. Last year, even my parents joined us in Port Madison. My turn had already come up and I had committed to being the assistant (or Queen) last winter just prior to our purchase of CAPAZ. As you may have guessed, the assistant runs the show the next year. Now you know how, with just a little more than two months to go before our departure from Seattle, I wound up chairing a 250 person event. Lucky for me, I had a fabulous committee and the outstanding SYC staff at my disposal.

This event officially starts on Friday evening with an adult blindfolded dinghy races (dad dons a paper bag and mom tells him where to go). There is a dinghy and kayak category - Brad and I entered the kayak side and placed second. This fun is followed by a potluck lasagna dinner. Saturday is a FULL day. In the morning, there is a fishing derby, arts and crafts, sailboat building, a scavenger hunt, and face painting. The afternoon is full of relay races and another on the water game we call the "Whale Hunt". Luckily, no one has to worry about food as there are donuts in morning, hotdogs on the grill for lunch and a beautiful salmon bbq for dinner. For those who still have a little energy left there is a DJ with dance music and karaoke. The kids usually sleep pretty well after all that. Sunday (which is traditionally Father's Day) again starts out with donuts and then everyone races those boats that they built on Saturday morning.

A successful Whale Hunt - Team Baker

It seemed like there were lots of smiles and people looked like they were having fun, so in my book the event was a success. My family had fun this year though we are lamenting a little that we won't be in attendance next year. We thought back to 2 years ago and spending Potlatch with the Dennehy's as they prepared to go cruising. Last year, it was the Giffords' boat Totem next to us at the dock who were getting ready to take off south. Following in their footsteps, we had a great weekend with lots of boating friends. I am sure we will be meeting many like minded families during our adventure. Now I can work on my boat projects!!!

First Thursday

CAPAZ and her crew made it out to the first race in the Elliot Bay Sailing Series on Thursday night. Even though there wasn't a theme for the evening, we organically came up with our own south of the border theme. I made some leftovers into nachos to go with the taquitos that I already had while Rose satisfied her avocado craving by making and brining a big bowl of guacamole. The missing piece fell into place when our neighbor from Delos, Erin, showed up with a pitcher full magaritas and Octavia jumped on board with some Pacificos. It could have been better if I had planned the whole thing. There really is something to be said for NOT plannning, sometimes.
The race itself was pretty fun too. There wasn't much wind at the start, but we tried to sail for a couple minutes before turning on the engine. We toured around the course and after rounding the second mark, the wind started to come up. So, we put our sails "back up" and saild the rest of the course. Ryan did some teaching up on the foredeck and we now have not one, but two newly certified spinnaker snuffers. Either Autumn or Bryce can be counted on in that category! Bryce also wanted to try a little driving when he looked over at Sliante and saw his friend, Sheridan Ferguson, driving their boat.
The party after racing was held in a little different spot, but there was a good band and hot dogs, so all was well. Ullman Sails was a sponsor for the evening and they were giving away t-shirts and had lots of "smalls". It almost killed Brad (after all his years with North Sails) that Bryce wanted to wear his new sailing t-shirt to school on Friday.
We will miss next week's race because we will be attending Bryce's 5th Grade graduation and gearing up for Potlatch!

PS Sorry for the lack of pictures, the camera was misplaced (it has been found!)

Laundry Breakthrough

It really is amazing what can make your day. Today, for me, it was laundry. I had a pretty serious laundry break-through today. Some of my closest friends may or may not know about my laundry freakiness (now I guess EVERYONE will know). It goes something like this: for the past several years, I have considered it my personal challenge as chief domestic engineer of the Baker household to be as efficient as possible with the laundry AND dry as much of outside for as much of the year as possible. You would think that living in Seattle, this would be a daunting task, but really most years (don't know about this last winter), one can dry the laundry for a family of 4 outside from about March 1st through the end of October and into November. My land neighbors can all testify to my laundry habits, but I must say that they were very supportive, keeping their comments focused on my color sorting abilities.
The original reasoning behind the laundry drying fetish was that when we installed a hottub, we should try to cut our electricity usage in other areas. The refrigerator, as number one power consumer, was not on the chopping block. However, number two, the dryer, could definitely be used much less, so off I went. As green became the new cool thing to do, I felt very much ahead of the curve because I had already gotten my whole routine down to a science: ask weather-boy (that would Brad and this comment along probably deserves its own blog entry, but I digress) what the outlook was for the following day. If the weather looked OK, throw a load of laundry in the washer before bed, hang in the AM. Take it down in the afternoon, folding and sorting as I went. Distribute to owners' bedrooms for putting away.
Then we moved onto the boat . . . . . . .
The whole reason for moving onto the boat was so that I could figure out most of these routines long before we leave. I must say that I was getting a little nervous because I just was not getting the rhythm of laundry. Most other areas seemed to well under control, but I just couldn't quite seem to get the laundry figured out.
At first, we still had access to the house which was a blessing and curse. I could throw a laundry into the washer at the house, but then that meant that I had to come back to dry it. This was not really helping me detatch myself from the house. Anyway, since the house went on the market, I was forced to give up my crutch.
We are pretty lucky that the laundry facilities here at Shilshole are very manageable to use. I have heard horror stories about long lines and quarter eating machines that just don't work very well but thus far this has not been my experience. I must say that there is something to be said for getting 5 or 6 loads of laundry completed in about 2 hours, but something was still just not right about it for me. Getting caught up on some reading or working on my laptop while waiting for the laundry to get done isn't a bad side effect.
Today, I got figured out. I was meeting a friend to walk with her and her dog up to the dog park at Golden Gardens. I hit on the great idea that I would put the laundry in on our way north along the docks towards the park and then I would change it over to the dryer on our way back. The timing was pretty perfect. I also decided to just fluff the laundry and see how much of what wasn't quite dry I could fit hanging at the boat. This turned out to be the missing piece. Today was hot for us Seattlites - 87* and there was a great northerly blowing through the marina. I fit most of 4 loads of laundry hanging from the life lines and by the time I had eaten lunch, it was all dry and ready to be folded and distributed to everyone's cabins. So, I think that I have one more thing figured out in this new boat life of ours!

While the laundry was a VERY exciting part of my day, tonight's concert at Greenwood Elementary bears honorable mention. It was great and we are so lucky to attend a school where the PTA has seen fit to focus their fund-raising goals on rounding out our children's school experience with Art, Instrumental Music, Song and Dance!!!