It's Someone's Birthday Today!!!

Whose birthday is it? Moi?

The crew of the Time and Tide say it's Mom's birthday!

The Captain checks the calendar and today is most certainly the Admiral's big day!

Happy Birthday Moyia!!!

Not exactly sailing weather but still a great time

The summer doldrums are still with us as this morning shot testifies.  Great afternoon and evening anchoring out the previous day with just a little hint of the approaching autumn.

Heading home from Home

The little woman is heading home!  All the microwaveable food was depleted days ago and we did briefly consider actually going grocery shopping before we remembered that we can order pizza, chicken wings and nachos online for delivery in 30 minutes or less!  But the kids and I can only live on this for so long and even Dudley is pining for a can of dog food opened by his favorite girl.

Variety from the Garden

The little woman has been busy picking more veggies:  tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, sweet banana peppers, jalepeno peppers and basil leaves are in this batch.  Also looks like she's already sliced and diced some for lunch as well.

New take on a more familiar plumage

A couple of the boys hanging out back checking things out.  These two are new to the menagerie but differed little from their North American cousins other than the obvious change of wing markings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-winged_Blackbird

A little bas relief

The sign out in front of my home away from home (for 2012) has some bas relief features that lend themselves well to the cha-cha 3D photography method with burst engaged.

Laying Low

My two favorite Brazilian koi (actually the only two koi I know in the southern hemisphere though they may just be large goldfish for all I know) are laying low waiting for the sun to warm up their pond.  Nightime lows are ~50F which is great for sleeping but might be a bit cool for my finned friends.

Happy Birthday from One Shutterbug to Another!!!

Over the years I've built a bit of a perception that I take a lot of photos.....and I tell people that if you think I take a lot, you should see my dad!!!  Dad infected me with the shutterbug early on when he used a Kodak Instamatic shooting 126 Kodachrome slide film.  The slides were then viewed in handheld viewers or on family nights with a carousel projector while eating popcorn (I think mom was secretly in on this as well).  The coup de grâce was in giving me my very own camera---the venerable Instamatic X-15.  It was an insidious move combining, not only the ultimate in a stylish camera with Magic Cube flash capability, but also with the shared name of the record breaking rocket plane which, to a young boy growing up watching moonshots punch holes in the sky from his front yard, was about as good as it good gets :)

Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!

 

Waiting for the Spring Thaw

The garden at the Pousada da Villa barely survived the harsh winter this year and is looking sparse.  Hopefully the spring weather will come soon and revive the greenery.

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

Time to wake up...it's your birthday!

Don't be bashful, it is your day!

You've been thinking about this day for months....

We'll hang together some....

Of course you'll get lots of birthday wishes...



They'll be preparations for the birthday cake....

We'll sing Happy Birthday!

And then we'll eat the cake :)

...but then it is time to get down to some real business!!!

Always did get excited

And your mom and dad will always remember your first Birth Day :)

  Happy Birthday Son!!!

Nitty Gritty Filtration

Another addition to the Time and Tide is a ceramic water filter in line with the water pump and the three fresh water tanks.  The filter has a sub 1 micron rating which removes those pesky microorganisms that cause so many intestinal problems.

Exciting Ride Photo---waaaay before all the others :)

In April of 1989, the future First Mate and I went on our planned honeymoon to Cashiers, North Carolina (not to be confused with the impromptu trip to the courthouse and subsequent weekend at Madeira Beach the previous month)----and promptly got snowed in for a few days.  Once the spring snow melted we traveled through the mountains, took in the sites and ended up in Gaitlinburg, Tennessee.  Being the risky adventurer who always has to be on the cutting edge, my new wife had to go on the biggest ride in the city----the open-air chair lift to the city overview.  Unbenownst to us, an automated camera snapped a photo of us on the way up.

Eat your heart out Eight is Enough crowd :)

Keeping it Cool

On my list of "Things to Do" for the Head Mechanic of the Time and Tide is the lack of forceful air coming from one of the vents in the main cabin.



We seem to be missing a piece if the ductwork----looks like it was removed when putting in either the TV or Radar display.



Measuring up....

Measuring across....

The part is a standard 2x6 oval transitioning through a 90 degree into a 4 inch duct.  Installation of the part will be interesting :)

Cooler, overcast and 10-12mph winds!!!

Going to do a little sailing this afternoon with some out of town company

Three Old Salts

A recent gift from a former sailor in the family, these three old sea dogs will soon find a place in the nautical decor.

Seasoned Fisherman

This guy was a pro at walking the docks and leaning waaaay over to look under the edges to snag the big one fish----the ones that you see going all the way down his throat.

A morning walk through the garden

We've been gone for the last few days and went out this morning to check how our vegetable garden has been doing while we have been away.
Quite well apparently....


The very last bit of broccoli

Some of the many, many grape tomatoes---looks like one got "taste tasted"

A bit longer view

Some of our larger tomatoes

and more

and more

and more

Cucumbers are getting into the act

not a lot of straight ones though

Sweet peppers are looking good

Have trouble with squash though...maybe this year

Some jalapenos about ready

Found a straight one!!

View down the cucumbers' cage

Our beefstake variety

Ready to be picked by the happy little picker below!