Cruise with Barb and Dave on Hallelujah
  • Cover
    • About Us
  • 2020 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2020
    • Summer, 2020
    • Spring, 2020
    • Winter, 2020
  • 2019 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2019
    • Summer, 2019
    • Spring, 2019
    • Winter, 2019
  • 2018 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2018
    • Summer, 2018
    • Spring, 2018
    • Winter, 2018
  • 2017 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2017
    • Summer, 2017
    • Spring, 2017
    • Winter, 2017
  • 2016 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2016
    • Summer, 2016
    • Spring, 2016
    • Winter 2016
  • 2015 Trip Log
    • Fall 2015
    • Summer 2015
    • Winter, 2015
  • 2014 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2014
    • Summer 2014
    • Winter / Spring, 2014
  • 2013 Trip Log
    • Fall, 2013
    • Summer, 2013 >
      • Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
    • Spring, 2013
    • Winter, 2013
  • 2012 Year Trip Info
    • Fall, 2012
    • Summer 2012 trip >
      • September, 2012
      • August, 2012
      • July 2012
      • June 2012
    • Winter 2012
  • 2011 Loop Trip
    • Winter 2011 / 2012
    • Loop Trip Leg 11: Canal Cruising
    • Loop Trip Leg 10: ICW North from FL
    • Loop Trip Leg 9: Bahamas
    • Loop Trip Leg 8: Keys
  • 2010 Loop Trip
    • Loop Trip Leg 7: Clearwater FL to Keys
    • Loop Trip Leg 6: Tenn-Tom Bigby to Clearwater, FL
    • Loop Trip Leg 5: Tenn River Part 2
    • Loop Trip Leg 4 - Tenn River Part 1
    • Loop Trip Leg 3 - River System
    • Loop Trip Leg 2 - Lake Michigan
    • May - June, 2010
  • Loop Trip Leg 1: Summer 2009 Cruise
  • Route milage logs
  • BJR recipes
  • Guest Comments

May, 2015

The month of May was hot!  Cape Coral set a heat record for the month of April, but May was even hotter.  We swam every day and sometimes twice a day to cool off (pool water was 84 – 86).  Barb finished a number of projects – the top of the lap quilt for a class she took and most of the top for the Irish Chain quilt.  Barb also finished a major project for the children’s library in Cape Coral – so she can start a new project next fall.  We spent a fair amount of time working with various companies to finish some home remodeling projects and also boat repair projects.  The second half of the month was spent preparing to head north, although we did take time to have boating friends over for dinner before putting away all sorts of household stuff.  Our big aha for the month was putting up the hurricane shutters – we found that three windows was all we could do a day and we did them early in the morning before the temps were in the 90’s.  We organized and packed the car and headed north on the 29th.

Picture
The Irish Chain Quilt - have to sew on borders and then top is finished. First quilt I've made.
Picture
The lap quilt for the family room. Second quilt top and this is ready for quilting. Each square is different.

April, 2015

We are into a routine – yard work, swimming, quilting, computer work.  We are finally getting caught up on the web site; got taxes filed (ugh!) and continue our volunteer work at the library.  Celebrated Barb’s birthday with good friends – went out for dinner.  Barb started a new quilting class that will go into May.  She is making a lap quilt – machine piecing.  We continue to work on the yard – it is a disaster from the construction last year.  We had to have it graded so that water would run away from the house, then it has to have new sod – so we are busy watering it daily.  Thank heavens for the underground sprinkling system but the water bill will take a hit.   The big project this month was the canal dredging so that Hallelujah wouldn’t go aground at the dock.  The pictures show how this is done from land – no barge here.  The company does all of the City dredging so they know what they are doing.  They literally vacuum up the muck separate it and sent the water back to the canal while keeping the mud in a dump truck.  They hauled away two truckloads of mud and one old post.  The vacuum is heavy and hard to maneuver so it took two crew members taking shifts in the water to complete the area to be dredged and two days to complete all the work. We were glad that the new sod came in after they were done. We sure hope that Hallelujah won’t have issues at the dock.  We ended the month with a new garage door – not all that exciting but it was needed.   Can’t believe that May is around the corner.


Picture
Picture

March, 2015

Picture
March flew by!  We said goodbye to Jeanette and had house guests two days later.  We enjoyed having the Avery’s (boating friends) here with us for a short time.  When they left we made a quick trip to the condo and lunch with former colleagues (the Konecki’s and Lazerus’).  Then it was home to prepare for the DeFever Cruiser Rendezvous and continue to sew on the quilt.  The 19th came quickly and we drove to North Palm Beach for the Rendezvous.  As I was registration chair, we had bags to stuff, registration materials to give out, and lots of friends to see.  Of course, Dave did a lot to help with the physical work.  The event was a success and everyone enjoyed seeing boating friends – we met new members and had a great time sharing stories and hearing great information.   We returned home on the 24th tired.  We returned to our normal routines of working in the yard, swimming, biking, and cleaning.  Barb finished the squares for the Irish Chain quilt – all 35 of them.   Saturday, March 28 we made a quick day trip to the condo which turned into a full day due to traffic (some Indi car race in St. Pete). 


Picture
The new electric 50 amp power at the dock. The bush that was here will be replaced.
Picture
Barb with Sue Hodes and Dave welcoming a DeFever member.

February, 2015

PictureDave and Jeanette in the pool - we love our afternoon swims.
February was very busy!  We cleaned house quickly as Jeanette (Dave’s sister) came for the month.  It was great having her here and we did a lot --  we took a quick trip to St. Pete so Jeanette could see the condo’s new windows and refrigerator.  Went to a very large quilt store in Dunedin and got material for an Irish Chain quilt that Barb is going to make (this will be her first quilt).  Every day there was some small shopping or touring that took place and of course sewing on the Irish Chain quilt.  Barb and Jeanette took an applique class, went to a quilt show, found a rug for the office, silk flowers for one large vase, and lots of different foods and recipes.  Barb tried making bread in her new Kitchen Aid mixer with Jeanette’s help.  We went out to Sanibel to the Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary and had a great time looking at various wildlife that were wintering there.  Jeanette and Barb drove to Naples to see what was downtown and came home with very little new stuff (Dave was thankful).   The weather finally started to warm up so with the help of the pool heater, we were able to get into the pool.  It seems like there were also a number of workmen around during the month – the dock electric went in, the pest service had to come and work with ants that were coming into the house, more yard work, and more stuff from contractor.  Will we ever be done with the house?  And of course there was the DeFever Rendezvous work to do. 


January, 2015

Somehow January got really busy!  We had four different Looper couples come to visit – they all loved the guest facilities. We attended the AGLCA Gold Looper Reunion and said a sad good-by to a great boating friend – Tom Conrad.  Our new furniture for the guest bedroom and the office arrived – so we were busy putting together furniture and figuring out how to arrange rooms.  We continued to work on the yard – had an old palm removed and took out more bushes.  Michael from Stumps R Us loves us!   The guest bedroom A/C was finally fixed and Jim finally got some for stuff to us.  We can’t believe we are still trying to get house construction completed.  The big event of the month was that we put in a new dock for Hallelujah.  It looks great.  Barb continues to work on the DeFever Rendezvous while Dave continues to bike every day.  We didn’t swim much this month as the weather was cool – 60’s during the day. 

Picture
Barge that drove in the pilings for new dock.
Picture
West side of guest bedroom - this room is 24 feet long so bed is left of door with TV in cabinet.
Picture
This is one end of the bedroom that we changed into Barb's work room - note the computer and sewing machine.
Picture
Our finished dock. We have big pilings and extra large rubber bumpers for Hallelujah.
Picture
The east side of the guest bedroom with a sitting area - this slider opens onto the pool.
Picture
This is the other end of Barb's workroom - with the cutting table and closets. We will have one more piece of furniture later this year.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.