Getting Closer...

Wow! Schyler and I along with Kinsey went to the mooring field yesterday to see what we could do to help with Blue:30 and we were blown away with all the work Jack and Libby did while Schyler was taking an easy from his leg injury. When the boat went in last week, it did not have the following:

1) all the stantions
2) bow pulpit
3) all the deck hardware on
4) countertop in the galley
5) mast
6) woodwork back on

A sorry sight indeed.

Fast forward to yesterday. Jack and Libby drilled all new holes for the stantions and put them all in along with the safety lines. Jack made the bow pulpit "work" as he said. The bow pulpit, which was horribly bent was sent to Com-Pac Yachts in Clearwater, Fl to be fixed, and even though it looked fabluous when we got it back, there were some issues with lining it up with where it was before. Libby put all the woodwork back on as well as helped Jack with the stantions. It truly was a great sight to see when we got there. There is no way this all would have been done if it were not for them. THANK YOU! In fact, had Jack and Libby not been there, I highly doubt Blue:30 would have been launched at all this summer. I may want to add that all this work was done while the boat was in THE WATER and not in her cradle as it's supposed to be done!


Since we were there, Libby had Kinsey take all the tape off the boat and Schyler helped with the anchor. Honestly, everything was pretty much done by the time we got there. All that needs to be done now is the new countertop for the galley and some major housecleaning once that is in. Hopefully there will be a nice strong thunderstorm with rain and wind tonight to take all the crap on the deck off. All the other stuff can wait!

Almost there....

Memorial Day

Growing up as a child my brother Alain and I spent our summers in France with our mother's family. We spent half that time at our Grandmere's house outside of Paris and the other half at our family's summer home in Arromanches, a little town in Normandy and where the British and Canadians landed and was chosen as the location for the an artificial harbor to bring in equipment, weapons and ammunition on D Day, June 6th, 1944. Arromanches is otherwise known as Gold Beach. My brother and I grew up learning about D Day. My mother goes back every anniversary with her family to remember those who liberated the French in the campaign. There are only a few veterans left, so this upcoming anniversary will most likely be the last with any of them.
As children my brother and I along with our cousin Fabrice and miscellaneous french friends who would visit us for a weekend or so played on the beaches and climbed the remnants of the war. If you google Arromanches you will see what we played on when the tide was low. We were members of Club Mickey and would build sand castles, look for jellyfish and swim in the water. We were happy kids, running around town in our little bathing suits, buying candy from the candy store and getting fresh milk from the farm a couple of houses down from ours. It was Heaven for us. Carefree and fun, the best way to grow up. I love Arromanches. It is my favorite place in the world. My Grandpere Roger, Uncle Mario and my Grandmere are all buried there together in one grave in a little cemetery overlooking the beaches. I may have been born in Paris, grew up in San Mateo, but I am from Arromanches. I am both French and American, the best of both worlds in my opinion.


So, on this Memorial Day let's remember all those whose lives were taken so that we could all be where we are today. Free.

Thank you et Merci.


Memorial at Omaha Beach


Schyler at Omaha Beach - April 2007


In April 2007, I took Schyler to meet my family in France and show him Normandy. It was a beautiful trip. We drove from my Aunt Alyette's house in Sevres to Arromanches and spent a couple of days with my Aunt Evelyne at the house. It was really neat for me to show Schyler where I came from and for him to meet my family. I hope to go back again soon with my children.

Enjoy your Memorial Day!

A Baptism....he did it!

As I mentioned in a previous post, Keefe decided to get baptized at St. James Church here in Skaneateles by Pastor Rob Dewitter. I also mentioned that the actual baptism would be in the lake and it WAS! Thank goodness it was really warm here today so that everyone that went into the lake at least came out of the water to warm air.

I have to be honest...I am not a church going person. I never have been nor will I ever be. That is just who I am. However, I do respect those who do have their Faith. It must be a powerful thing....it just never caught on with me. Saying this, I would like to say it was a very touching moment as I watched my son get baptized. It was his decision to make and he went through with it. I am very proud of him. He did look cold though afterwards!

Memorial Day...the beginning of summer!

Yay! Summer is almost here and it sure felt like it today with close to 90 degree weather!! Since I don't have any new pics to post I thought I would throw a few from last year's sailing season. I can't wait to take new ones to see the changes in my children in a year.

A few updates:

Schyler is getting better, but his legs are still hurting. It will be 6-8 weeks before he is back to normal. I cannot tell you how fortunate we are he did not break both legs!

Kinsey received her US Sailing Dinghy Instructor Certification last weekend. This will be her last summer as an instructor at the sail school before she goes off to college. I'm sure she will be back in Skaneateles for the summers instructing all the little ones coming up the pike. That is until she realizes that is just way cooler to stay in Rhode Island and really sail!

Keefe has decided to get baptized this Sunday. Still processing the whole thing, but he wants to do it and I'm sure I will capture it on film. Did I mention he will be baptized in the lake??? Has anyone mentioned to him the lake is really, really cold this time of year?

I have two weddings to photograph this weekend. One tomorrow and another Saturday. I was so hoping to be a couch potato on Sunday since I will be EXHAUSTED, but it seems I will find myself in yet another church.

I hope Monday is calmer and I can finally be that couch potato watching mindless shows that everyone in my house hates.

Have I mentioned I am really looking forward to Monday!?



I'm tired. I am going to bed.

I can't believe my son is getting baptized in the lake.

Crane Day '09

Well, even though Schyler could not be there to see Blue 30 go in, Libby and I did what we could do.

Checklist: Is the insurance paid up? Yes.

Okay, let's get her up and in!

We do have a few critical things left to do before we sail her to the mooring field. We have to drill new holes for the stantions and put them in, fix the bow pulpit and fasten that on, replace the counter in the galley, and put in that new HEAD! We lost some time yesterday with Schyler's accident, but she's in, she floats and her engine started...all key things Libby and I were relieved about this morning. However, with Schyler out of commission it made us realize how key he is to getting things done. He just knows how to do everything.

Here's a peek at Blue 30 going in. Please excuse the quality...the photos were taken with my Blackberry.



Can't wait for that first real sail! WOO HOO!

The Day Before Crane Day...

there was a little accident....

Schyler was pinned between a steel cradle and the CMF trailer yesterday while getting boats ready for crane day today. We were terrified that he broke both of his legs, but somehow he did not! He still hurt himself very badly by crushing his calf muscles and needed a few stitches. He is at home resting with his feet up in the air. Poor guy, he is uncomfortable and his legs really hurt, but at least he's not in a body cast! Can you imagine????

He did miss crane day. A first ever.

You Wiggle, I'll Screw

Was the quote of the day yesterday up at the Boat Barn while Schyler, Jack, Libby, Owen, Annie and myself worked on the Pearson trying to get her ready for Crane Day this Wednesday. Libby and Jack were trying to do put on the handrails and obviously something wasn't moving. Then from the cabin, we heard "You wiggle, I'll screw". We laughed so hard.

Anyway, who said that owning a sailboat is romantic? Yes, I agree, it is a romantic notion to step on board a beautiful sailboat and sail into the sunset. However, in order for the boat to continue to sail into that sunset we are all searching for, you must maintain the beast. Fix leaks, sails, keels, maintain the woodwork, and the most dreaded part, at least for me, is the head and holding tank. Thank goodness Jack and Libby handled that one. What a nasty job.

The exciting part of the day is that the Pearson now has an official name: Blue 30, which has been beautifully painted on by Rob Hazard. We were all thrilled to see it yesterday for the first time. Once we all screamed with excitement it was time to get busy and start getting the Blue 30 ready for her 2009 Splash. Here are some shots of where we are at, and yes, Crane Day is the day after tomorrow!

We will all be back tonight working on our beautiful Blue.

One LAST post and then I'm out of here!

While going through the hard drive finding old photos I came across some miscellaneous ones of our animals and other things. I promise, I'm shutting down after this! The polo pony is NOT ours...but the black horse was mine and his name is Bugsy.

Okay, I REALLY don't feel like working on the Pearson tonight!

Okay, it's 7:09pm, Schyler and Libby are at the barn working on the Pearson and I am still at work playing. I really don't feel like sanding wood or varnishing but if I want memories like this photo I better get my arse in the Bug and head up toute de suite!

My Bug

Thought I would at least show a shot of my roadtrip friend! Believe me, we got stuck many a times! I may add....PreSchyler.

Old Trucks & Tractors

Well, I was going through some old files on my computer and found some cool images I forgot all about. I can't remember the year, but it was probably in 2004 and 2005 when I would go on solo roadtrips in the Bug just to get out in those long winter months. I think I had just gotten a new camera and wanted to see how it worked along with this little funky lens called a lensbaby. I honestly forgot how cool these were and long for those little roadtrips. When did I become too busy or preoccupied to no longer take these? I miss them.

Anyhow, here is a little bit of what I found.

Oswego Road Trip

A couple of weeks ago I had to go out to Oswego to check out a church and Fort Ontario for a wedding I did just last weekend. I was unfamiliar with the area and wanted to see what the light was like for when I would be there with the bride and groom. I brought Kinsey, Keefe and Victoria along with me for subjects. We had a great time and it was really neat for me to take photos of Kinsey and Victoria again. I haven't had the opportunity to do so in quite some time so I took advantage of the moment. Kinsey and Victoria have known each other since they were about a year old. Through the years they have remained best friends and I cannot even tell you how many beautiful photographs I have of them together as they grew up. There are hundreds and many of my favorites are ones of them near the water. Victoria's family has a camp on Skaneateles Lake where we spent many summer days swimming and playing on the shore. Memories that have been captured on film (yes, film as in Kodak) to be cherished for years to come. They were so little then and now they are strong and independent young women. I love them and will always cherish the photos I have of them, as well as all the photos of Keefe.

Time does fly by. Grab it while you're in flight and hold on tight.

Catching Up....Key West 2009

Well, as usual it's been awhile since the last post. Things have been a little off with everyone getting sick and now it's my turn. I'm on the couch feeling the inevitable coming on so I might as well update our blog. I thought I would post some photos of our trip to Key West with our friends Jon and Arline Libby back in February. They flew, we drove. Long drive but it was so worth it. We stayed in this great little place called The Duval House right on Duval Street in the middle of everything. We also rented mopeds to scoot around. We really hope to go back next year and maybe Jon and Arline will be down there with their boat Kasidah this time.