Happy Holidays to All

Christmas!  The season has been every bit as wonderful as we had hoped for -- and will be a source of memories for many years to come.

Jim R joined us for dinner -- and we laughed our way through many stories.

Everyone Together!

Alan and Jimmy

David and Jimmy

I was thrilled to make dessert for the Leedy's Christmas Eve Party:  what about these gourmet apples isn't to love!  I did control myself (ie they are not over the top as I did not put the white chocolate drizzle on as I had planned).

All Good Things 

We were treated to a Christmas Eve day brunch with Barbara and John and then dinner at the Leedy's.  So much delicious food at every turn!  And friends & family!!

Bryan and Nick

Holiday Cheer!

The best Christmas I can remember!!

Holiday Happenings!

We are gearing up for the holidays!

The last couple of days have been a baking bonanza -- with cookies everywhere.  I made a few of our favorites:  Mexican chocolate cookies, snickerdoodles, cherry nut rugelach, chocolate coconut.  It was a bit of a marathon but the results are spectacular.

David and Monica arrived last night to spend Christmas with us.  It is wonderful to have everyone together.

Alan gets a special breakfast after his trip to Mexico

Christmas Cookies 2011

David, Monica, and Bryan

I AM BACK !!

After working on Magic for 8 days, I returned to the land of plenty, leaving Guaymas at 6 p m Thursday and driving straight through (1200 miles, 2 meals, 1 snack, 4 tanks of gas, 4 cups of coffee, 3 hours sleep!) arriving in Foster City, CA at 4 p m Friday. It wasn't all that hard, and Caroline & Bryan came and picked me up, which was a welcomed reunion. I traveled with Gordon Hanson of the boat "Far Counrty", who had been in the yard for 7 weeks doing major work on his boat: grinding off the fiberglass decks and coach roof, then replacing with new glass, etc.!

I did accomplish what I wanted to do, building a box form to accomidate two new engine controls, plus a whole page of smaller jobs. I also took down the final cables to complete the instilation of the new solar panels, and found the sun's power preformed well and charged our batteries even with refrigeration and lights on. Very good news!

The cut out for the control box at the helm

The engine controls and ply wood pices to make the box

Francisco fiberglassing the inside of the box

The box installed with controls before the outside was glassed in

Repairs to the stern before the whole boat gets painted

Gordon working on Far Country, a Valiant 40'

Francisco and Panchito sanding away on the side decks



On another subject, I'd like to ask you: Which of these two eating establishments would you choose for your lunch?

A Baby Shower!

What fun!  Caroline L was down from Portland for a baby shower; her first (a girl) is due February 29.  I had a wonderful time & am thankful for the chance to connect with many friends in Marin.

Every baby needs a few good books

My Mom sent booties

He LEFT Me!

Yeah, Alan left me today on the Tufesa Bus from San Jose.  In about 26 hours or so he when he arrives in Guaymas, he'll be wondering how he ever thought this jaunt might be a fun adventure?!  From San Jose he travel to Gilroy, Los Banos, Porterville something, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Indio in California.  Then onto Phoenix and Tucson -- finally into Mexico.  We've got a couple of critical boat projects underway & it seemed prudent (and FUN) for the skipper to be on site.  And it is freezing cold here and not so much there.

Alan and his snack bag -- ready to roll!

We also ushered in the Holiday Season with Les & Arlene & Barbara & John.  We go to the SF Seminary (here in San Anselmo) for their Lessons and Carols service.  We sing and sing; listen to the organ and choir; hear the Christmas scripture.  And then we come back to our house for dinner!  This is one tradition that I'm going to really miss.

Happy Holidays!

Alan and I also hiked at Big Rock and thrilled to a warm day with lovely views.

Looking west down at Skywalker Ranch

Winter Hills--gold turning to green

And I had lunch with my dear friends Sharon and Bonnie.  We all worked together at Kaiser many years ago.

Sharon and Bonnie

Thanksgiving and More

November is quickly passing.  A lovely hike on the Coastal Trail above Rodeo Lagoon; a few more boat errands and projects; and one of my favorite holidays:  Thanksgiving.  What can be a better day than one dedicated to showing love by shopping, chopping, and cooking food for dearest family?

We are also celebrating Bryan's first job:  he has been selected as a UC Davis Tour Guide!  The greatest challenge of the job seems to be walking backward while giving a peppy and heartfelt tour of the campus.  He is thrilled.  He also is celebrating his first college protest as the Davis community reacts to the pepper spraying of nonviolent protestors.

Back to the food.....I merged several recipes to come up with a new Thanksgiving side dish:  Gratin of Four Onions.  We actually tested this out on Wednesday night as I don't have enough oven space for turkey and yam casserole and an onion gratin.

Gratin of 4 Onions

1/2 lbs shallots, chopped
1 large yellow onion, sliced thin
2 bunches of leeks (I used 4 leeks but I love leeks)--green tops discarded, washed and sliced thin
2 garlic cloves
3 Tablespoons of butter
1 bag of frozen pearl onions (1 lb)  -- I only used about 1/2 of the bag
1 Tablespoon of bread crumbs
Grated cheese -- about 1/2 cup -- gruyere or other melting cheese

1 -2 cups of bechamel sauce.

In a large skillet cook the shallots, yellow onion, leeks and the garlic in the butter over low heat, stirring until the onions are soft.  (I like them really soft so give this step some time.)
Stir in the frozen pearl onions and cook until they are tender.
Take off the heat and stir in the bechamel sauce.  Season with salt and pepper.

Place in a gratin or other baking dish (oiled or buttered).
Sprinkle bread crumbs on top; next sprinkle on the cheese.

Bake in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes until the cheese melts and the sauce is bubbling.

I used the leftovers in a vegetable lasagna:  roasted some mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, peas and corn.  Then stirred in the remaining onion gratin and, finally, all of that was combined with tomato sauce.  It was totally delicious!

So here are some pictures of our last few days:

Hiking along the Coastal Trail near Rodeo Lagoon

The Coastal Trail

Bryan -- the newest UC Davis Tour Guide!

Ready for Thanksgiving Dinner!

Projects Every Day

We are back & hardly laying low.

Bryan came for a brief visit and he is thriving at UC Davis.  He has settled into apartment living and backed off on the cooking "gourmet" approach to food.   Tasty and fast -- words to eat by!

Alan and I are in the thick of projects -- both house and boat projects.

So how many mittens, gaiters, snow pants, and hats do you need?

Lists:  marine, hardware stores, on line shopping.....keep it straight!

New cockpit seats -- bye bye teak!

I'm back to Rosetta Stone; got to laugh:  I have to be back in California to find time to learn Spanish!

Guaymas Memories

What a difference a fast internet connection makes!  Especially when it comes to photos.  Here are a few images from our working trip to Guaymas.  It was 100 degrees when we arrived and 3 weeks & 50+ projects later it was only 70.  Really -- winter and cruising season are fast approaching!

Cold Drinks are a switch away!

Boats going in the water -- Contessa del Mar is headed to Australia

Horatio -- indeed the yard jefe (boss)

Helados Man -- every morning our first break was a popsicle

Sunday at Algadones Beach

Francisco redoes our water line

About those building codes

Open air market

Open air market

Aldo's Shop -- we got new leather seat cushions for the car

Well, I'm sure it is here somewhere......

A New Sonora

Street scene

private water taxi for early morning workers

The Mexican Way -- getting 2 engine blocks onto Magic.  Omar & Cheva & assistant

Bow down and say "Merry Christmas" to the skipper

Omar -- my new best friend (and diesel mechanic) in Guaymas

Hello This is the San Anselmo Police!

We drove 23 hours over two days through such exciting spots as Hermosillo, Nogales, Tucson, Gila Bend, Blyth, and Santa Clarita before pulling into our garage in San Anselmo.  It was really cold (for us and this early in November) but we cranked on the furnace and fired up the hot tub.  A quick supper (sour batard bread is a fine meal) then early to bed.

About midnight I heard the shout out:  "Hello This is the San Anselmo Police" and was blinded by the powerful flashlight beam coming from the kitchen.   "Wake up Alan, it's the police!"  Or else a very nice home invasion team.  Alan is still dreaming and decides these are the guards from the marina and he needs to move the car.  He suddenly is fluent in Spanish:  "uno memento" he calls out and then looks for his car keys.  I give some advice to put his pants on and go to the back door get them to turn off the d#%&m flashlight.

Finally he is aware that he is in SAN ANSELMO!   And the police are at his back door.

Our police department has a free service to patrol houses for residents away from home.  They come by several times a week to check the doors and windows to determine if anything is amiss.  And since we always leave the back door unlocked (when we are home) the patrol stumbled upon us.  So much for that well deserved long sleep!

So we are back, working on two lists:  everything for Magic to take back in January and everything for the house so we can be moved out by January.  We will get working on those tasks just as soon as the heat kicks in and the coffee warms our bones!

Dia de Muertos

This is a festive -- and pensive -- few days in Mexico.  The Mexicans love a party and so there are celebrations for Day of the Dead.  And on October 31, many will spend the night in the cemetery remembering deceased love ones.  The night is not long and lonely -- the cemeteries will be crowded with families and all manner of food and drink (favored by the departed but enjoyed by the families).  The flower shops and street vendors are doing a brisk business.

We spent the evening walking the streets and joining the festivities.

Day of the Dead

Gordon and Alan chat up the locals

An Altar for Steve Jobs

Detail from Steve Jobs' Altar

All Altars feature at least 3 crosses:  white -- gray -- black/brown

Skull for votive candle

Day of the Dead bread with distinctive spider like top

Having fun 

An Altar

An Altar