Great weather.

So our Spring stunk.  The month of June was just wet.  I have to say, I thought July and August were magnificent, although many around here will argue….  So far September has been spectacular!  Unbelievably dry, clear and comfortable.  This weekend we’ll be taking Miss Gracie to Atlantique for the SBCC’s Fall Family Weekend.  I’m really looking forward to this.  More to come…..

Not quite Fall……

Thank God!  While the end of this past week was rather dreery, wet and depressing, Larry and I managed to make some sun shine.  We had a lovely Friday night with the kiddies after their first week of school.  Saturday was busy with play dates and errands and Saturday night we went to the Good Samaritan Ball!  It was wonderful.  It was like going to the prom.  Larry was so great – he danced with me like crazy!!!!  Not just the slow stuff either.  He ramped it all the way up.  It was so much fun!!!  I just loved it.  Karen & Rich took the kiddies for the night which was an added bonus. 

Yesterday brought the good weather back.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  There was adult sailing going on and Pete & Sandralee offered to sit with the kiddies at the pool, so Larry and I got to race the Flying Scot together!  We had a great time and sailed well together.  we were totally in sync.  There were only three teams and the other two attempted to fly spinnakers without a great deal of luck.  Still, we used some good tactics and did just fine.  We ended up taking 4 out of 6 races.  Lots of fun.  A few beers after and then home.  Cinderella was tired after the ball and racing all afternoon.  Kathy O’Brien took some photos and promised to send them to me….I’ll post ‘em if I ever get ‘em!  Be good out there.

Miss Gracie August Vacation Film Festival

We had another week of vacation last week.  We did many different things, all fun.  Two days in Sailors Haven, a day in Atlantique, a weekend in Hemlock, day trips, out to dinner and the BYC Clambake.  Here are some videos of the highlights:

We took the kids on an adventure.  They’ve only been out on the Flying Scot once.  Larry’s been itching to sail it further than just in front of the BYC, which we did on our own a couple of weeks ago.  So the vacation plan was to pack lunch, a chair, fishing net, goodies and an anchor and sail across the bay, under the RM Bridges to One Tree Island.  done

Here is Laurence being towed on a boogie board around Hemlock Heading.  What a gorgeous day it was!done

Earlier in the week we were at Sailors Haven (my favorite locale on Fire Island).  The ocean was perfect for the kids to boogie board.  Here’s a video of Moon Doggie, Gidget and the Big Kahuna waiting for and catching the perfect wave.done

Vacation, day two

Greetings!  Larry began vacation (again!) on Friday.  We had an incredible night.  Kiddies went to see Footloose with Aunt Karen and Larry and I had Thai food and Vodka Tonics down at the BYC.  Friday was probably the nicest day of the summer and Friday night was amazing as well.  Full moon, light winds….magnificent! 

Yesterday was sort of errand day, begin packing up the boat and see the cousins day.  Larry’s sister and her kids are here.  I took Gracie and Laurence to swim at Larry’s folks.  Larry put new spark plugs in the Mako’s engine.  Then we all went down to the Club.  Larry took the group out on our Flying Scot.  Laurence and I stayed at the pool and chilled.  They had a great time.  Nice, stiff breeze, they went across the bay and under the bridge.  Nice!

Last night was my fave party of the year, the Clambake!  It never disappoints.  We had a BALL!!!!  My brother and his wife came, along with my cousins Bob & Eileen.  We had many laughs and I danced my little tootsie’s off!  Of course, we missed Sandralee and Pete, but a good time was had by all. 

So today?  I don’t mind the weather at all.  It’s cloudy and yucky and we’re waiting it out to see if we leave today or tomorrow.  That is the nice thing about vacation.  No boundaries, no deadlines.  Who cares?  No work and we’re all togethah!!!!  We’re not even decided on where we’re headed yet.  Playing it as it comes.  I love it.  In any case, we are headed to Fire Island, just not sure if it’s going to be Sailors Haven or Atlantique.  There are benefits to both.  We have 3 or 4 different friends who’ll be at Atlantique for the week and they have a playground.  Sailors Haven has intense natural beauty, the Nature Center and the Sunken Forest.  It’s a win/win. 

While I took a solid dose of Advil last night prior to sleep and I have no headache today, I still feel a tad hungover.  Like I need a nap.  I think I’ll lay down for a tad before I begin the loading of Miss Gracie.  Hope the sun is shining near you!

Vacation thus far.

Larry began vacation last Friday.  We’ve spent some excellent time at home, the BYC and around town as well as some excellent time at sea.  We began with an overnighter to Hemlock Heading.  We rafted up with Mulle’s and Uncle Dave Hyer’s Filibuster.  Young David (Dave Lite as I like to call him, though he doesn’t much enjoy that…) and his gal Brie came in the inflatable.  Uncle Dave nabbed us mom’s and took us down to The Gilgo Inn (beach blanket bingo baby!!!) for happy hour.  What a gas!  The Gilgo Inn is one of those unmistakably Long Island gems that most people don’t know about.  It’s a hippy-ish, beachside shack with a bar, snack bar and great jukebox.  No indoor seating, outdoor picnic tables.  It’s excellent.  And they make a fine vodka tonic.  Or three.

We came back early Sunday for the Governor’s Cup.  Larry raced on Pete’s Sugar Magnolia and a good time was had by all.  Larry came and got me for the upstairs after party – fun!!  We’re loving 8 and 9.  The kids no longer need us by their sides at every moment.  We can actually leave them at the pool and sit in the Clubhouse (not more than 20 feet away mind you).  So we went to the upstairs deck for beers with all the racers.  Fun! 

Monday was gorgeous and we planned on taking the Flying Scot out.  Gracie had a birthday party and Laurence went to O’Connell’s to play!  We had two hours for a great sail across the bay and up the channel.  We planned on rounding the island, but we realized we should have rounded from the east – never mind!  We just turned around and sailed back.  Delightful.  Karen had the kids sleepover that night and we had chinese food by candlelight upstairs at the Club. 

Tuesday:  RAIN.  RAIN.  Movies.  MORE RAIN.

Wednesday:  Beautiful!!!  Off to Atlantique.  Gorgeous, sunny, ocean was magnificent.  The kids went in at 2:30 and didn’t get out of the ocean until the guards blew their “off duty” whistles at 5:00.  I went in too.  Awesome.  We woke up this morning to super shitty weather – pea soup fog, chilly, blowing, just plain YUCKY.  We didn’t even bother with Joe.  Coffee could wait until we got home.  We cleaned up and pulled out.  Once we got through the channel, Larry put out the jib and we were FLYING!!!!  The east wind and tide had us going very fast!  Laurence skippered us through the bridge which was a thrill for him.  Smiling all the way. 

Home now and glad we’re here.  Chilling, drying out, relaxing.  We’ll see what the weather holds for tomorrow.  If it’s nice we’ll head out to Hemlock Heading tomorrow, otherwise bright and early Saturday.  There’s a cruising club rendezvous that I think is going to be great fun.  The hosts have put together a band of sorts and they have been practicing for months.  They plan on using amplifiers!!!  At a raft up!!!  All the music is right up my alley – Mostly CSNY and 70’s rock – Eagles, Jackson Browne, etc…  They’re planning to start playing at 4:00pm in the afternoon.  They’re certainly going to shake up Hemlock!!!  I think it’s going to be a gas.   Photos and updates to come….perhaps even video!

Been a long time since I rocked and rolled….

in my best Robert Plant impersonation….  Yes, I’ve been a slacker.  In blog only.  Life is full and good and oh, so busy.  I’ve begun sanding Miss Gracie’s teak.  I’m halfway through the handrails, eyebrow and combings.  That’s for starters.  This will be refinished first before moving on to the very big and long toe rails and rub rails…..the best laid plans….  I will indeed get to it, I just need sailing lesson and swim team to end! 

Larry begins vacation tonight!  I have beers chilling and am anticipating a nice long week together.  We’ll do some day trips and one or two overnighters.  Not sure where, though it doesn’t really matter.  Chill time.

Before and after photos of the brightwork to come.  

Here are a few fpics rom last weekend’s Anchored Racers Rendezvous at Hemlock Heading.  The O’Connells and the Morgans provided quite nicely.  GROG!!!!!

 

Thank you!

Tonight is what is becoming an annual Crew Dinner Party.  It’s Larry’s way of having some fun in Larry’s Lounge AND saying thanks to everyone who’s sailed with him over the last year.  Good things are in store for this evening.  Here’s what’s on the menu:

Smoked Salmon Canapes, Shrimp Cocktail, Pita Chips & Guacamole, Zen Party Mix, Assorted Olives.

Spring Greens with Chopped Apple, Blue Cheese, Pecans and Homemade Pomegranate Vinaigrette, Wild Rice, Filet Mignon with Bearnaise Sauce, Rustic Garlic Bread.

Strawberries & Blueberries with Champagne Sabayon Sauce and Chocolate Covered Strawberries.

The cocktail of the evening is a Chocolate Espresso Martini complete with Chocolate Shavings.

I’m WAY excited.  It’s been a while since I’ve had a dinner party for friends and I’m very much looking forward to this one.  Both Kiddies are sleeping over others homes, so I have no worries and don’t have to get up early tomorrow!!!  Yippee.

Twelve

Here’s the latest addition to the fleet – possibly named “Twelve” for the six parents and six children who now own it all together.

Larry and Carl (and in this photo Joe too) have been racing it all winter in the BYC’s frostbiting program.  Today was a winner of a day for Larry.  There were six boats out there and he came in second.  This is good.  He was second only to the Clubs’ equivalent of Cayard and Conor.  Larry was happy.  And all was good in the land of Schaefer.

 

Here are Larry, Joe and Carl first around the mark. 

Today our thoughts and prayers are with Carl and his family as Carl’s dad has passed away.

She kicked some ass.

Miss Gracie was out racing on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend.  It’s the Annual Turkey Race.  20 Boats!!  Larry and the boys (Joe, Jarrett, Carl and sister Paula) were leading the pack heading out to Bay Shore.  They were leading on the way back too….until they got through the bridge.  Many theories emerged as to why they lost speed after that.  They ended up finishing 6th out of 12 boats.  The other 8 went spin.  Here’s Miss Gracie in the lead heading back west towards the bridge.

It gives me some pleasure to tell you that these were taken by Mike Duffy from our old boat Loon (he’s heading east still to round the mark).  We had some awesome rum punch back at our dock when they pulled in.  Marty literally backed down our canal (7 houses in!!!) – I couldn’t believe it.  Like a pro.  He rafted up and had a coupla pops with us.  It took me a few minutes to realized how hammered Pete was!!  Apparently they had been hitting the rum!!  Too funny.

Lighthouse Video

Larry’s camera is just plain great.  It takes better than average photos AND it takes really good video for a teeny little thing.  Unfortunately, I lose a lot of clarity in the upload to YouTube, so these are grainy, but you get the idea.   Again, if anyone knows the cure for this, please share the wealth.  Merci!

Enjoy!