“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” — Madeleine L’Engle Turning 48 this year was mostly peaceful, full of natural beauty and much joy! We left Coconut Grove and anchored off Key Biscayne on birthday eve. Tony and I watched the sunset from the bow…
Leaving the Dock: Miami
“That’s the way things come clear – all of the sudden. Then you realize how obvious they have been all along.” – Madeleine L’Engle Tony and I wanted our kids to have a relationship with the sea, and with this we have all benefitted greatly. What we are learning about life, each-other, and ourselves transcends…
“Have Ye Seen the White Whale?”
The capstone of our literature series so far has been finishing the exciting and memorable story of Moby Dick by Herman Melville. We read an abridged version, so we could get through it in a timely manner for studies, and also to bridge the reading levels of both kids. “Call me Ishmael. A few years…
Wishing for Snow
When leaving Cortado in a Marathon boatyard for a new bathroom refit, we said goodbye to our sunny Florida coastal life and wished OUTLOUD, strong and hard for snow when we arrived in Newport the following day. Tony flew to Antigua for a regatta and the kids and I hoped we might get to experience…
Key West Race Week
We arrived in Key West in nice weather this time and ready to race! The kids and I immediately set up school, picked up groceries and cleaned up the boat, as we know we will have many visitors this week. We have gotten used to hearing, “all hands on deck!” …which means everyone helps. Key…
No Rest for the Weary
How did we get here? We are feeling blessed and grateful for all we have and all we are doing together. 2014 finished with a quiet, peaceful and happy crescendo. At this point, we are not quite sure how to stop – because we love it – (family time, boat, flexibility, challenges, achievements, togetherness, learning)…
Cruising Cortado and Christmas 2014
We started out writing this blog, as a way to communicate with our families in Indiana, Maryland, Virginia and New York. This may explain why some posts are not about ideas or newfound wisdom, but just a glorified, public diary of our journey. Please understand at this time, we are just figuring things out. Our…
Christmas Prep from Miami to Marathon
School work and art time onboard CORTADO. Miami has been full of school, holiday surprises, and meeting new friends. What great fun (and equally, great CHALLENGE) to try to create and replicate our old ways of celebrating the Christmas season without the comforts of our house, decorations, friends and traditions we know and love so…
I (Heart) Coconut Grove
Do you know that Dinner Key Marina in Miami originally served as base of operations for Pan American Airway’s famed flying boats, the Clippers (basically the first-ever Sea Planes)? The original Pan Am terminal building (next door) now serves as Miami’s City Hall. Dinner Key is a short walk to all the cool shops and…
A Traditional Thanksgiving
On November 24th, we tied up the boat at a friend’s dock in Ft. Lauderdale and headed to Newport. We had a fun week with Grammy and seeing many friends. It is tradition at our house on Thanksgiving to cook a gigantic fresh bird, get outside and always, always there are arts & crafts. Highlights…
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