floatLiving

Winter Storm 2012

2012-01-24T20:54:00.000-08:00

First snowfall of the year and it was a doozy! Working from home all week, watching forecasts constantly change as what is "supposed" to happen doesn't, and several inches of the fluffy white stuff to romp in.

Pastel Yacht

2012-01-23T19:51:00.000-08:00

Sadly, I cannot make out the name or flag, so I have nothing for you other than these pictures and to say that this a beautiful yacht. I think the light, steely blue adds to her beauty, like an aircraft carrier or Navy ship is part of her heritage.

Like They Own the Place

2012-01-22T19:49:00.000-08:00

Coming through the canal, and then parks it right in the middle of the lake like they own the place. Then again, maybe they do...

Evviva is a Westport 164 megayacht. I'm not going to bother trying to summarize a rather lengthy and interesting article posted online over at powerandmotoryacht.com, just head over to read it and check out the extra pictures including shots of the deck, interior and outfitted with a heli tender.

Further reading confirms that the owner, in fact, does not actually own Lake Union. He actually owns Bayliner, the boat manufacturer.

Golden Gardens

2012-01-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

Most sunny (not raining) days during the week, Zephyr and I go to the beach to play. It is beautiful out there!

Arctic Fury

2012-01-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

The big, blue Arctic Fury came rolling in Lake Union.

Her info:

Commercial Fishing Vessel built by Homeport Marine Services in 1993

USCG No 996920

128.8 feet in length; 30 feet beam

Gross Tonnage 291

Instituto Oceanographico

2012-01-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

What a nasty day to be out working on the water.

This is a Brazilian research vessel assisted by Fremont Tugboat Co. It's hard to tell from the pictures, but it is getting tugged backwards out the canal to Shilshole Bay. As she's a foreign vessel, I have no naval registration information to share with you.

Red's Back!

2011-11-04T14:12:00.000-07:00

Red's making its seasonal debut, starring:

Lipstick, Cranberries, Leaves Turning, Cup, Cashmere scarf

Out & About in the Fall

2011-11-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

As much as I love to snuggle up inside & watch football, the harvest season is definitely for getting out on the town! Here are my nearby picks, hope to see you there!

Phinney Neighborhood Association Winter Beer Taste

Pack into this old-school-turned-neighborhood-center for a night of imbibing on local microbrews. It will sell out so get your tickets early or be prepared to stand in line early!

20something

I wouldn't jump to conclusions about the name, as this evening sounds fabulous enough for adults of all ages. Over 75 wineries, food from great restaurants like Ponti and Ray's, a live DJ and conveniently in walking distance for me...

Whistler Cornucopia

The town's biggest food & wine festival. Enjoy Whistler Village before the ski crowds show up and enjoy a little Canadian hospitality.

Dine Around Seattle
If you miss any of these events, don't forget about Dine Around Seattle in November, where you can enjoy three courses for $30 at participating restaurants. This is a great excuse to check out those restaurants that you've been wanting to try but don't want to risk a special occasion. Think Hunt Club, Chez Shea, Salish Lodge... go do it!

Traveling Again - Shanghai

2011-10-21T12:25:00.000-07:00

We saved the best for last on this 17-day trip that took us from Beijing to Malaysia to the Maldive islands back to Bangkok and across China. Our last stop was Shanghai, China's (and likely the world's) mostly cosmopolitan city. I immediately fell in love with Shanghai, with its architecture, river life, and mix of cultural influences.

on a hazy day from the top of Shanghai World Financial Center

Yuyuan Garden with SWFC in background

Yuyuan Garden

Xintiandi Neighborhood

Tea Shop in Xintiandi

Dim Sum dinner - cornbread poofs

Shanghai night skyline

The Bund

The Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou

Humble Administrator's Garden

fruits for sale on a cart in Suzhou

Silk textile factory

Venice of the East - Zhou Zhuang neighborhood

Canal town = Chinese tourists

We packed Shanghai and its neighboring town of Suzhou into less than three full days, which means I absolutely have to go back and see more. Shanghai is living evolution with giant skyscrapers filling the sky and old tenements being torn out for new apartment buildings. Suzhou is the springboard for visiting any of China's smaller "canal towns" that lay in the Yangtze Delta. These are popular Chinese tourist sites and it was great to visit a place where even the Chinese go for vacation. Of course that meant that there were a LOT of people there!

Traveling Again - Xian

2011-10-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

After three relaxing days in the Maldives and a whirlwind ride through Bangkok, we arrived in Xian, China for 36 hours of work and play.

pit of warriors

horses & horsemen, one headless

same hair, different faces

laid to waste

up close & personal

the one in charge of the headless

terracotta herd

The Terracotta Warriors are located just outside of Xian city. The finding of this site, the first emperor's tomb for the afterlife, is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the 20th century. Approximately three football fields have been uncovered and opened to the public with much much more to find. However, the digging has been halted until technology catches up and we have better methods of preservation. Sightseeing-wise, this was really the only thing I got to see, other than acres upon acres of pomegranate orchards once we got out of town. They make the most delicious juice.

Traveling Again - Bangkok

2011-10-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

Each time I have visited Malaysia I have had the opportunity of popping over the border to Thailand. The only thing there is a small town with a big attraction - Thai women. So we've always skipped Thailand and gone to Penang for the weekend. This time, we jumped on a plane and headed to the Maldives. On the way back to China from the Maldives, we flew through Bangkok and decided to stay for a night.

Four-faced Hindu Shrine at Erawan

Chao Phraya River taxi pier

Wat Arun "Temple of Dawn"

Bangkok Street Food

Grand Palace

Five headed figure detail in Grand Palace

Ornate exterior decoration of a building inside Wat Phra Kaew, Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Rooftop decoration at Wat Phra Kaew

Tuk-Tuks lined up on the street

Fish Snacks sold at a stall outside Wat Pho

Wat Pho "Reclining Buddha"

Preparing spices

Traditional decoration on bow of river boats

Bangkok is a bustling town that I can't even really say I "saw" because we were only there for 28 hours, of which five I was sleeping and two wasted in the airport. Nevertheless, I saw some amazing places, enjoyed using public transportation for a change, and caught a performance showcasing beautiful Thai dancing and music.We visited the historic temples of The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), and Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun). We road the chaotic river taxi and meandered through a local market. And, in a moment of sheer giddy joy I crossed one off the bucket list when I pet the tough, leathery hide of an elephant.

Traveling Again - The Maldives

2011-10-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

After finishing up work in Malaysia, we headed over to The Maldives for a little R&R before embarking on the crazy week that lied ahead. The Maldives is touted as being home to the epitome of exclusive, luxurious hotels and exotic islands. In an attempt to completely bust every claim we had heard about this place, we headed to the least exotic and luxurious hotel we could find amongst the hundreds of little islands, Holiday Inn.

We were so wrong.

crystal blue waters and white sand beaches

me snorkeling

what Nemo saw

overwater bungalows

canoe

crabby

hibiscus

launch pier for snorkeling and sunset cruises

arrival pier and cruise boat

lots of seashells to be combed from the beach

lots of fish to see snorkeling

a view of the Maldives from the air

The only thing Holiday Inn about this place was the sign at the arrival pier. From there, the "pinch me" experience began. We woke up each morning at dawn, with the Indian ocean peeking out above our toes and sipped freshly squeezed orange juice made in our room.We spent the mornings walking the 2-mile circumference of the white sugary sand beach and combing for seashells. Then we'd lay by the 3-tier infinity pool for hours.We had hermit crab races in our downstairs al fresco living room. To get anywhere, we walked or hopped on board - even to and from the airport. There are no cars, or roads. Just plenty of gorgeous blue waters and tiny little islands.

Traveling Again - Malaysia

2011-10-17T16:41:00.000-07:00

Summer came to a close early this year with no indian summer for us. Which didn't really bother me because I was in Asia for the second half of September. It was a long trip at 17 days but fast paced, spending only 3 nights max in a few locations. Here I give you the highlights of Alor Setar, Malaysia, the smallish capital town of the northern state, Kedah.

The Container Store

Covered Sidewalks

River Crossing

Sidestreet at Sunset

Alley

Sidestreet at Dusk

Every street is lined with these colorful row homes, typically with covered sidewalks and storefronts on the bottom floor and apartments with shuttered windows above. The equatorial climate presents a challenge for exterior paint, and street fronts are better maintained and more brightly colored than the back entrance off the alley. Alor Setar is not considered poor, but being in a northern state that focuses mainly on rice and palm production, wealth is generally lower than in the south of peninsular Malaysia.

Stay tuned for the next installment of travel pictures, featuring Kandooma Island, Maldives.

Seafair Sunday 2011

2011-08-08T16:27:00.000-07:00

Another fantastic Seafair weekend with blue skies and Blue Angels out mingling in the Lake Washington flotilla...

want to ride a Duck? see instructions above.

Eddie & I happy aboard our boat!

hello Harrier

super cute cruiser making its way through the labyrinth of boats

any of you boys seen an aircraft carrier around here?

(note for all Blue Angels pics, I will recall Top Gun and you can sing "Danger Zone" to yourself)

tower, this is Ghost Rider requesting a fly by

too close for missiles, switching to guns

great balls of fire

the danger zone

cooling off in the lake

Thanks to Aaron for taking the great pictures!

Crabbing Boat

2011-07-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

Seen her twice already, loaded up with pots, buoys, and workers. Unfortunately her name is of the Russian language of which I know no translation.

on a side note, check out that gorgeous summer sky.

This isn't working

2011-06-17T16:10:00.000-07:00

Pretty sure that green paper reads "condemned", and things are starting to get soggy.

Big Tug going to work

2011-06-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

No name for her, but she is headed to sea to do some heavy pulling.

Another Lake Union Tour - Virginia V

2011-06-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

The Virginia V was built in 1898 in Seattle's own Pioneer Square for the Mosquito Fleet - a large network of passenger and cargo vessels that linked the small islands of the Puget Sound. She's the last in operation and was restored from 1996 up until 2002.

The Virginia V is powered by steam and is designated a National Historic Landmark Vessel. You can climb aboard her for a tour - see schedule at their web site here. Or, swing by during Farmboat - Lake Union's own Floating Market.

details
124 ft Long & 25 ft Beam
Built in 1922 by Matt Anderson & Company
Local old growth fir
Learn more on Wiki here

Maxiumus II - Who owns you?

2011-06-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you who owns Maximus II: Marin International Yacht Sales in Novato, CA.

You may charter her for a week with 6 of your best friends at the cool price of $48,950.

Details
94.4 ft Long & 23.5 ft Beam
Built in 2004 by Horizon Yacht Company
Call Sign WDC3874

Floating Homes in Oregon

2011-06-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Oregon Home Magazine featured three floating homes on the Columbia River Slough in their June/July 2011 issue. Growing up in Portland, the slough was the first floating home neighborhood I laid eyes. It is near perfection with views of both the water and Mt Hood.

Read the article here.

pics from Oregon Home Magazine

Pink Nose

2011-06-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

And pink tongue!

Made in Seattle

2011-04-28T20:19:00.000-07:00

Read this older story here, about an architect that built his own floating home on a barge not all unlike ours.

Well okay, it is a LOT unlike ours, as in a whole lot better. By a longshot.

Check out pics of the build here.

"Unlike other houseboats, the clean designed modern lined "Sandra D" is full sized for real living on the water." Shut the door, are you telling me I haven't been really living here all this time?

"All the modern features found in a high end downtown loft condo". Except for seedy downtown and the pretentious neighbors. Instead you will have crazy boat neighbors - which I can tell you is way better than downtown...

45' LOA, 15' beam. We've got the same beam but looks like Sandy's got about 10 feet in length on us and a killer rooftop deck.

I kid, but I actually like this place. I also like that the architect's name is Jack Daniels.

Mud Train

2011-04-09T16:30:00.000-07:00

Never before have I been this excited to showcase some Lake Union traffic. That is because I see her almost every day, but have failed until now to capture a photo. Behold...

She carries sand - or mud - almost every day.
That is all I know about her.

Alor Setar, Malaysia

2011-03-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

Alor Setar is located in the most Northern state of Malaysia, Kedah. I can say with most certainty that if it were not for work, I likely never would have come to this town. For being an agricultural based economy in the north, Alor Setar (pronounced Ah-lore Star) appears quite prosperous.

A view of the town from my hotel room; you can see fields in the distance.

A mosque in Alor Setar. I have never traveled in an Islamic country before and therefore was quite surprised to both fall asleep (at 10pm) and wake up to (at 6am) the call to prayer.

A cafe in the Chinese part of town. You get your drinks from a waiter at the tables and then order what you want from the different stands.

I had the clay pot rice. Pretty tasty.

Penang - Georgetown

2011-03-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

We stayed a single night in Georgetown before flying out to Beijing. We walked a bit around town, where you get a flavor of British Colonialism not captured in either Batu Ferringhi or Alor Setar. The real attraction worth showing you today is the enormous Buddhist temple Kek Lok Si.

Looking up, mind you that I was so overwhelmed taking pictures that my camera died before the grand finale at the upper statue in the left corner.

The first courtyard with its altar and lotus fountain.

The lanterns celebrate the Lunar New Year

From the upper tier, looking back down at the first courtyard.

Facade of the upper tier.

A view of all of Georgetown from the top.

He's watching you.

Penang - Batu Ferringhi Beach & Surrounding

2011-03-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

A few highlights from my trip to Penang, Malaysia in January. It was the first summer vacation of 2011 with temps near 100. Loved it.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce & Lemon Smoothie

Sunset over Penang Island

Fishing Boat (all hailing from Penang are painted blue)

Fishing Village Dock

Butterfly Sanctuary (with a butterfly population an order of magnitude greater than PacSci Center)

Monitor Lizard (also at the Butterfly Sanctuary, not at PacSci Center)

Deserted Beach

Monkeys on the Telephone Wires

Monet Moment at Tropical Spice Gardens

Small Penang Village

What an enchanting island... and I haven't even shown Georgetown yet. Stay tuned!

Japan in Pictures

2011-03-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

The recent news of the earthquake, massive tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis has brought to us incredibly devastating and sad images from the country of Japan. Having traveled there on many occassions, it breaks my heart to see the chaos thrown upon the Japanese, and I hope for the strongest recovery possible. With that, I offer up my favorite pictures from my trips to remind everyone of how great Japan really is.

Enjoy.

Golden Pavillion

Kyoto Zen Garden

Noritake Garden

Mount Fuji

Tokyo at Night

Dear SPD, this makes you look stupid, and dangerous.

2011-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Cop shoots schizo woodcarver point blank 4 times and calls for backup. Six patrols and 2 bikes rush to the scene, all approaching with hand on firearm. As if the first 4 bullets in an innocent man were not enough. Really, guys?

Somewhere in downtown at this time, real crime was being committed (I mean besides this one, that by the way, is not going to trial.)

Also it's strange to see so many bystanders, including drivers in nearby cars, completely unreactive to such a violent scene. Then again they were probably scared for their lives with all the cops standing around.

Video here.

Ocean Pioneer

2011-01-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

Towed backwards through the canal.

Details
Industrial Vessel Ocean Pioneer
Built in 1974 by Burton Shipyard
185.4 feet LOA 40 ft beam
Call Sign WDC9491

Oil Spill

2011-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

Came home from work on Friday to this:

A boat upstream leaked fuel into Lake Union. It eventually made its way into our little cove. Workers were attempting to contain it with an oil-absorbing boom.

Saturday morning, oil is still here. Boom is not.

Looking forward to... Fireworks!

2011-01-13T15:20:00.000-08:00

It's only January, but the snow this week has already got me thinking about the summer.

I know, they say that summer in Seattle doesn't start until July 5th, but I am still looking forward to the 4th of July 2011 fireworks show on Lake Union, recently announced by event organizer One Reel.

image from One Reel

See more here.

PS: I am jetting off for two weeks to China and Malaysia Saturday. Facebook for updates and I will be back with pictures and stories in February.

Another Houseboat post in the Seattle Times

2010-12-21T10:39:00.000-08:00

This time, it's a listing houseboat. Whoa...

From the Times: "Seattle Police Harbor Patrol this weekend responded to what they described as a "three-story houseboat on a barge" on Lake Union. It began listing at a 45-degree angle this weekend. After police, the Coast Guard and other authorities determined no one lived aboard and there was no easy way to save the vessel, officials disconnected the utilities, untied some attached boats and let it go. Police spokeswoman Renee Witt said righting the vessel will be the owner's responsibility."

We list a degree or two, probably because our kitchen and bathroom are on the same side. But never to the extreme of the poor house above. This also goes to prove another point, that these places are unsinkable.

SeaFreeze Alaska

2010-12-20T10:20:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I've done a traffic post, but this morning we were greeted with SeaFreeze Alaska.

Stats:
Type: Commercial Fishing Vessel
LOA: 267 Ft
Beam: 44 Ft
Call Sign: WDE7203
Built in 1968
Homeport: Dutch Harbor, AK

This is what happens...

2010-12-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

when you drop the keys in the drink!

whoops!

Went straight to the bottom last Friday night. Recovered with a 12 foot wooden pole MacGyver'd with a nail at one end to hook objects. Thanks to a well designed seal around the electronics, it still works!

Promptly replaced the floating key chain that fell off a month ago.

holiday survival guide

2010-12-14T13:43:00.000-08:00

Forget gifts - give yourself a present and retain your sanity this December!

1. Start thinking about gifts for people in July. Look, we could give gifts to each other all year long, but most of us wait until December to do it.
2. Shop online. Say it with me... "Cyber Monday".
3. Keep a journal. Yes some may call this a planner - but who starts flipping to the December section of their planner in July? Keep all those holiday projects on track on their own page in a plain paper journal.
4. Speaking of those holiday projects, try to dial it back a bit. Small-scale Martha style. For instance, I'd like to make all 100+ variations of her classic cookie recipe, but my tiny oven would run 24 hours a day for a month to make it happen. Instead I'll make 4 - still plenty of variety. For parties, pick one or two details that you really love and concentrate on those but don't re-do the whole house.
5. All those things that HAD to get done in 2010? Guess what - January 2011 is the perfect time do them.
6. Play Christmas music in the jazz and traditional influences. For parties and projects alike.

2010 in Review

2010-12-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

It was a big year, and here's the recap:

Fixes abound in the houseboat. Fixed the curtains, fixed the carpet (well, ripped it out), fixed E's sink, fixed the outdoor lighting and started the garden. More fixing to come in 2011. Likely will involve prying out more stripped Philips screws, since some idiot took to every screw in the house with a drill. Have we forgotten how to twist a screwdriver? We suspect it's our maintenance guy, and to that end, we have quit calling him short of a catastrophic event.

Well just look at that concrete jungle of a garden.

Eddie got surprised and turned 30. Actually, the surprise part was his birthday party, which I planned under wraps and threw at Flowing Lake. He was so surprised, he pee'd his wet suit, kidding!!! Next year I'm thinking we'll spend birthdays on vacation. But we'll throw more parties too. Throwing houseboat parties is fun.

heyyyyyyyyy there guys!

I went to Taiwan and Japan and Vietnam. And I loved it. Next year: China and Malaysia and Jamaica.

Red River junk... you will be mine

The Betty Jean II made it down to Lake Union! Nothing beats stepping out your front door and onto the boat. We did Seafair, docked for dinner at Ivars, and cruised Duck Dodge. A very Seattle Summer (complete with the crappy weather). Next year, I vote for more boat action in Lake Union (especially with my girls, we had a good time.)

cruising the canal

We adopted Zephyr the vizsla and continue to marvel at her canine wit and charm. She holds the record for most times falling in the drink (twice.)

no one can resist the power of the vizsla

Stick around next year for more fun in 2011!

Christmas Tree Joke 2010

2010-12-10T12:06:00.000-08:00

Last year I made up a silly story about our fir-y friend Christmas Tree. This year, it's a real story.
Let me narrate:

Tara: Hey E, do you think anyone ever makes furniture out of reclaimed Christmas trees?
E: No, I don't think so. I think the wood is hard to work with.
Tara: Because it's knotty?
E: Yeah I think so.

~ a moment of silence goes by ~

Tara: Hey E, what did Santa bring the Christmas Tree for Christmas?
E: I don't know, what?
Tara: A lump of coal, because it was naughty.

~ moment of silence goes by... in which E shakes his head, and I laugh so hard I cry ~

Wishing all our friends and family at the beginning of this Christmas Tree season the very best for the holidays and the coming year!

GO HAWKS!

2010-12-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

E and I went to our first ever Seahawks game, we sat 5 rows up from the turf!

and they won! GO HAWKS!

Snow Day!

2010-12-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

After our mild winter last year, we're in for a doozy in 2010. It started the week leading up to Thanksgiving.

Here's hoping we get a few more feet this winter!

Hello Hanoi

2010-12-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

I spent 4 days in Hanoi for back in October, and it is nothing like anywhere I have been before:

Two-stroke scooter army. Hello smog. In 50 years, these may be illegal in Vietnam too.

Crazy skinny tall buildings - this avoids high property taxes in Vietnam

Restaurants (?) As far as I could tell, none of these buildings had modern kitchens. Yet the food was just as good! Makes the modern kitchen seem like an enormous price to pay for the convenience (and I still want a bigger one!)

Red River. I want to import a junk. Think of the deck parties...

Hanoi turned 1,000 years old. It's been around awhile.

Temple of Literature. The turtles are good luck, and this is the only place that I saw traditional Vietnamese characters (because they now use the latin alphabet.)

95 degrees and 95% humidity. It was a little warm. Still, too much fun!

Dismasted

2010-12-06T09:29:00.000-08:00

Schooner Zodiac lost her mast! Thankfully no one was hurt.

More story on what happened here (Zodiac's web site) and here (Seattle Times)

Support the Zodiac!

Houseboat Tour

2010-09-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

A recent article in the Seattle Times highlighted a renovated houseboat on Lake Union.

The Seattle Floating Home Association held their annual houseboat tour on September 12th. Since we were up at Flowing Lake, we didn't attend or participate. Besides, compared to this place, I think our little barge is in a league of its own.

Seafair

2010-09-15T16:21:00.000-07:00

Lake WA did not disappoint. Best Blue Angles show ever.

F-18 had some serious speed too.

View from the bow

Traffic in the cut.

Seriously City of Seattle, what are we going to do with you?

2010-08-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

Saw this article over at KOMO news...Seattle Seeks to Ban New Houseboats

"City planners have drafted rules that would ban new houseboats, limit development, and demote the preferential water-use status currently enjoyed by floating homes."

"Part of a massive updating of Seattle's shoreline rules, the houseboat changes are intended to protect the ecology of Lake Union and Portage Bay, where most of the floating homes are. The official thinking is that houseboats and other "overwater residences" are harmful to wildlife habitat, particularly for salmon. But many houseboaters, who see themselves as stewards of the water, are suspicious of that reasoning. The Floating Homes Association has commissioned its own salmon study, which found that the fish don't come near the shores and houseboats on Lake Union. Houseboaters interpret that as them having little impact on salmon."

Read the whole thing here.

I would argue that the houseboat community is more mindful of Lake Union ecology and our impact to the environment than those who live on land and try to make a case for our removal. The Floating Home Association has established best practices for stewardship that minimize our impact to the water. Eddie and I know exactly where every once that we flush, drain, or otherwise dispose of ends up. I highly doubt that those living in our city's hills consider it as much when they pour something toxic down their pipes or into the sewer system.

I also think that City Council is motivated by one thing only: $$$$$

New wildlife!

2010-08-02T12:06:00.000-07:00

Mama Beaver showed up in the sticker bushes...

I apologize for the fuzziness but this picture was taken at dusk and she was a good 50 feet away...

Look at that tail!

We could only guess it was a female because this thing was HUGE, and maybe pregnant?

in all my life, I've never seen a beaver in the wild. Even in the Beaver State. She's shacked up in the sticker bushes, and we're crossing our fingers for baby beavers any day now.

Or... maybe it's just a well fed Lake Union attraction.

Growing Up Fast!

2010-08-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Zephyr Monster is growing like a little weed...

at Dixie Mountain Strawberry Festival

on the boat

look at those legs!

lounging around

Wooden Boat Festival

2010-07-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I didn't get many pics of the gorgeous wooden boats that attended the Center for Wooden Boats festival over the holiday weekend, but I did snap a few shots of this beauty:

Lots of folks on board this schooner, learning the ropes of a working wooden ship.

PS: CWB offers wood working classes and I really want to take them!

Coast Gaurd

2010-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Until now, I've only seen Coast Guard heli's:

Munro is the first USCG Cutter to be named after Doug Munro, the only Coast Guard member to receive a Medal of Honor. It is currently stationed in Kodiak, Alaska.

Munro is an active protector of our borders, seizing foreign boats that carried hundreds of illegal immigrants and over fifteen tons of cocaine in the past decade alone. It has also rescued fishermen in the dangerous Alaskan waters and has assisted in tsunami relief in Indonesia and in the capturing of African pirates.

details
High Endurance Cutter
378 ft LOA; 43 ft beam
commissioned September 27, 1971
armed with two guns, 76 and 26 mm
more info here

Summertime! ...

2010-07-28T21:00:00.000-07:00

... means I haven't blogged in over a month!

We're summering part time at Flowing Lake, enjoying family, good food, good drinks, and lots of wakeboarding action. No internet or cell phone though, so no posts!

That doesn't mean things aren't happening on Lake Union though. We celebrated a rainy but fantastic 4th of July and watched a gorgeous fireworks display. Zephyr is keeping us on our toes. The nice weather has enticed a parade of boats to pass by the barge nearly every day. The garden is finally starting to outpace the weeds.

Coming up soon: more traffic of interest (to me, at least), wildlife sightings, and pictures of Zeph. Later, more adventures on Lake Union and Seafair.

Stay cool!

Twitter me this... & the social networking scene in general

2010-06-28T14:56:00.000-07:00

I am now tweeting @floatingtara

Follow me if you dare.

I'll warn you right now, it's mostly design related. Probably a few splashy office comments thrown in (this crowd is just too great to keep to myself).

I think this social networking thing is akin to drugs... You start out trying one - for me I think it was LinkedIn - thinking that it was professional and harmless. Well then I started this blog, if nothing else to entertain myself. Now I find myself throughout the day thinking "I should post this or that" and "gosh I haven't blogged in n days, my one reader (Mom I love you) is probably on the edge of her seat in suspense". One month later I hit the big time and joined Facebook. I need my Facebook fix daily. I quickly abandoned my perfectly usable and technologically-current Blackberry to get a Google phone so that I could have a superior mobile Facebook app. A few days ago I activated my Buzz account, although I have no clue what it really does (is it like twitter?) I also have a YouTube account - for all 5 videos I have uploaded (that stuff takes TIME, man). I kind of want to dive into the world of Flickr... not even knowing what it will do for me (anything at all? Who knows...)

Lately, reading all of these great design-y blogs has me thinking I need an RSS feed. What is that exactly? Will it put all of my new posts in one place so I can view all the pretty pictures and links in one place? Is it different somehow from my Blogger dashboard which I don't really like the layout of?

I need help.

Danish Houseboat

2010-06-27T19:40:00.000-07:00

Stumbled on this lovely houseboat tour... in Port of Copenhagen, Denmark.

not an unusual site for us

loving the white walls and a wall of windows. i like their use of red rubber flooring

mostly white furnishings to keep things calm and simple &

a functional decoration - a life ring

shot of the kitchen - easy stainless steel cabinet units and upper shelving

the bathroom - in true houseboat fashion, the shower, sink, & toilet all in one room together

All pics @ Indenfor

UNIMAK

2010-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

In our ongoing documentary of serious ships...

details
TBD - NOAA was down when I wrote this post. Stay tuned!

Queen of Seattle

2010-06-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

I'm actually talking about a boat...

Queen of Seattle operates stern wheeler cruises through Lake Union. Built in the 1984, she has operated for more than 20 years as a scenic cruising boat along the Sacramento River as 'Elizabeth Louise' and Alaska's Ketchikan waterways as 'Alaska Queen'. 2010 marks her first season cruising in Seattle.

She does have a delightful little steam whistle tune that she sings to the bridge.

details
built in 1984 by H E Wilmunder
120 ft LOA & 25 ft beam - claims to be the largest stern wheeler this side of the Mississippi
hails from Seattle, WA

When you need to stash the cash in an off-shore account...

2010-06-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

You head to the Cayman Islands.

pic via NY Times Travel

While you're there, you fetch yourself a megayacht.

pic courtesy Superyacht Times

Then you take said megayacht, and you visit Lake Union.

notice the people standing near the transom door...

Blue Moon is owned by Richard Duchossois, founder of the Duchossois Group. They do high-tech and defense manufacturing, but are most known for their ownership in the famous Churchill Downs... This 198 footer is outfitted with state-of-the-art technology that could rival the Gates' Medina estate, has an elevator and has a 29-foot tender (housed port-side). It was built in 2005 by Dutch builder Feadship and hails from Cayman Islands.

Last month, Turmoil (also of the Cayman Islands) occupied the same spot. She arrived and left quietly and we never saw her pass by the house. She is 209 feet long and outfitted to be a self-sufficient world explorer. She was commissioned to builder Royal Denship by Land's End clothing founder Gary Comer who unfortunately died just a few months after taking delivery.

pic via Superyacht Times

Both of these yachts occupied the slip next door to this familiar boat, which looked a little on the smallish side at a mere 140 feet. Remember, that yacht is owned by a Fortune company and these two here are both privately owned...

Table Envy

2010-05-20T09:46:00.000-07:00

One of the few downsides to the houseboat is that I have no floor space to fill with these...

Wheat Sheaf Table

Tulip Table

This Little Number

I love that none of these incorporate any case storage. They say, "I have so much space I have the luxury of not needing a side table with storage". They draw the eye down to the design of the table and the open space below. Sigh, one day...

All pics via 1stDibs

Work in Progress

2010-05-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

There is a stepped hill in concrete blocks at the edge of the marina next to the houseboat. At one point, long ago, it had been landscaped. That was probably the last time it was touched.

I am bound and determined to rectify this weedy, overgrown disaster.

The rose bush went wild and began climbing up the house. Hacked that back a bit. One of the three shrub-tree plants mysteriously died (before we moved in). Cut that down to let the light in. Weeded half of the beds by hand, and still fighting the regrowth. Enter Roundup.

The second half doesn't have a fighting chance (you can already see it dying!)

I've planted a hydrangea, making careful note not to let it go the way of the rose. I've also planted low growing ground cover that will eventually replace the bark in the lower beds. Climbing ivy (existing) and cascading vines (planted) finish the landscaping to date.

Can't forget to accessorize the garden. Potted plants and small birdie figures along with washed up finds from Lake Union complete the landscape.

Still more work to be done as well as constant weeding, but progress is being made! And since I'm sharing all this, does anyone have any ideas for good shade plants?

A Perfect Combination

2010-05-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

all the ingredients for relaxing on the dock...

a lunchtime sandwich
snacky foods (pirate booty)
something healthy (carrots)
a tall drink (soda water w/ a splash of orange)
mobile phone
reading material

ready... set... relax... guess who got nothing accomplished this weekend?

that's right... moi.

Spring has sprung!

2010-05-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

flowers are blooming...

and chicks are hatching!

summer is nearly here!!!

A reminder that Seattle is CRAZY

2010-05-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

The Ship Canal Trail

Yes, we live near there.

I shouldn't be exposing my puppy to all of this weirdness. She wants to talk to everyone...

First up, the dude sitting on the bench at Zephyr's favorite grassy knoll. He's drinking Steel Reserve from a Starbucks cup and smoking pot. Of course she doesn't care about that, in fact likes both alcohol and cigarettes, so I suppose pot would be a natural segway for her. After chatting for 10 minutes, I'm certain that this guy is a pathological liar (he definitely doesn't look 85 years old) but will duly note his advice that all the bums on the opposite side of the canal are on cocaine and heroine. I, for one, am glad that we have the soft drugs on our side of the water...

Next, the guy practicing tai chi in the grassy field. Z definitely wants to participate. He is using a light saber as a prop to practice with (or rehearse for the next Star Wars). Envisioning an even more awkward conversation looming, we continue on...

See, where Z doesn't judge anyone, I get to do the judging for her. The other day, it was the alcoholic over the light-saber-force-wielding guy. Where is that card in the "Would You Rather" game?

Houseboat hopping in Seattle - Sunset.com

2010-05-13T08:48:00.000-07:00

Sunset Magazine did a recent article on the Seattle floating home community.

I'm working on getting a totem pole even bigger than this one.

Check it out here: Houseboat hopping in Seattle - Sunset.com

Dual Tug Action Captured

2010-05-05T20:36:00.000-07:00

Remember these two? See them at work...

details
Fishing Vessel Kodiak Enterprise
built in 1977 by American Marine Corp
hailing port Seattle
253 feet LOA and 44 feet beam
operated by Trident Seafoods

National Geographic Explorer

2010-05-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite reads is National Geographic. I never knew they have their own boat...

A rather large boat...

Outfitted with kayaks...

and lots of other exploring stuff...

details:
passenger vessel National Geographic Sea Lion
built by Nichols Bros in 1982
hailing port Seattle
operated by SPEX Sea Lion
136 feet LOA and 31 feet beam

Strange Crane

2010-05-03T20:45:00.000-07:00

Must catch some awfully large fish with this on board (is it even for fish, I haven't a clue).

Couldn't grab a vessel name.

Boating Season Opening Weekend

2010-05-02T16:50:00.000-07:00

It's the first weekend of May, and officially the opening of boating season! The bridge was opening every 15 minutes at least...

... mostly for cruisers and sailboats...

and then these guys rolled through...

for all I know, either of these could have been in a famous movie.

boat #1...

boat #2.

sorry no details! anyone know?

Couch Surfing?

2010-04-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

Some people get very creative...

Yes, that's a sofa. I can see a lot of rights and wrongs here.

First of all, I don't doubt that this is a cushy way to cruise around. You get a great view, kind of like a self-made fly bridge; and you can kick back on comfy plush upholstery instead of marine grade vinyl.

Then again, its upholstery... outside... on a boat. I liken this to the abandoned roadside sofa with mystery stains and weird smells. And also, notice the platform that the sofa rests on. It's made of plywood and definitely not part of the boat's structure. I'm not sure I'd trust it on the high seas or urban lakes, chances are you (and your sofa) could end up in the drink.

a true superyacht

2010-04-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

Who wouldn't want to buy a couple billion dollars worth of jetliners after a schmoozing trip on this:

Aptly named Daedalus for the mythical creature who flew from Crete to Sicily on wings made of wax and feathers, The Boeing Company's M/Y Daedalus is a true luxury floating hotel. She sleeps 10 passengers and 7 crew (including an executive chef).

Daedalus is moored in Lake Union just a few blocks from our home. When it's not in Seattle, Daedalus is cruising the waters off the coast of Alaska and Canada (and an occasional tropical resort or two), wooing would-be or preferred airline customers.

details
Motor Yacht Daedalus
Built by Delta (a local builder) in 1999 in Seattle
150 feet long and 31.4 feet beam
Owned by The Boeing Company

What would I do with this...

2010-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

We've got a lot of beadboard and woodwork going on in our place, and while I think it makes for a super cozy atmosphere, I can't sometimes help but feel like I live in a pine forest.

If it were up to me, I might go for something more like this...

The brightness of the walls is welcoming in both the dreary winter and the sunny springtime!

photo credits Just Beachy

The Zephyr Train

2010-04-19T23:28:00.000-07:00

I can't promise this will be the only time I write a post on Zephyr, but her grand welcome to our family deserves a few inches of monitor time.

Zephyr wore the purple ribbon in the litter and was the smallest pup with the biggest personality. She ran straight out of the litter pack to greet us when we arrived in Okanogan to pick her up.

She struggled in the car ride (and yacked) but enjoyed the airplane ride, proving that she is our fly-dog. More importantly, she likes the floating home!

Zephyr likes to think that she personally caused the dinosaur extinction.

When she isn't hunting dinosaurs, she dreams about it.

We are loving all the time we spend with her (even during 2AM potty breaks) and look forward to sharing our lives with her!

Gently down the stream

2010-04-18T23:50:00.000-07:00

Recently we got our hands on an inflatable boat to row around in. Here's the highlights of our first trip.

spying on our neighbors in Westlake Cove

an amphibious Duck tour

a view of the city

Gasworks Park

this crewmate doing all the work for me :)

More news...

2010-04-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

Since this is a blog to document the delights and truths of the floating home experience, I felt compelled to share this story. An unidentified man jumped off the Aurora Bridge early yesterday morning around 2 a.m. and killed himself. E and I thought something was up; loud sirens woke both of us up last night, and when I took Z outside at 3:30, a search was underway at the scene to recover the body.

Coincidentally, earlier at work yesterday I learned that a former colleague attempted to murder his family and after failing to do so jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I was shocked.

Both scenes were swirling through my head last night as I listened to police on board the search boat communicate to surfacing divers via megaphone. Were they able to find the body? What was the condition? Did I inadvertently wake up in the middle of the night to the sound of the splashdown?

Despite the search crews, the water was absolutely pristine and mirrored the night sky. I don't know what went through the jumper's mind - "I'm the 231st person to do this" or "Oh my god am I really going to do this" or "What will it feel like". Did he or she notice the beautiful reflection of the bridge's sweeping arch in the water, or did they stare into the black water seeing the final solution to their misery?

Also I wonder, did he or she expect anyone to find out? The Aurora Bridge is the second most popular suicide bridge behind the Golden Gate bridge. A suicide on the Aurora Bridge calls the attention of the boat police, Lake Union residents and businesses below, and the local media. Did the jumper purposefully seek this attention, or maybe just want to experience the sensation of falling (or flying?) Was there any sliver of hope in their mind that they may actually survive?

There's probably a different answer for each of the 230+ cases that the Aurora Bridge has seen. Since we have lived here, two deaths have occurred. I feel relieved to have not personally witnessed either incident, but am still left with these questions that may not even have answers.

recycled boat

2010-04-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

on the topic of recycling boats and keeping trash out of the landfill (and the ocean)...

here is the story of a boat made of plastic bottles en route to observe the plastic mass swirling in the Pacific.

pic courtesy seattletimes

what's this???

2010-04-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

sick & tired of looking at the derelict inflatable underneath our dock, and motivated by the nice sunny weather to get out and explore Lake Union, we took it upon ourselves to fix up this dinghy...

E hauled this mess up onto the dock

drained about 8 gallons of water out of the air chamber and scrubbed an awful scummy substance off the bottom. only to air it back up and discover several holes in the hypalon material...

not much of an inflatable boat if it won't stay inflated

hypalon patch kits will set you back a mere $60... we thought this was going to be a free boat! intent on not paying $60 for the free boat, we got the $20 hypalon sealant, and went searching in Ballard for some scrap material. we ended up at an inflatable boat store on Market St @ 24th Ave W. after convincing the guy to give us free scrap hypalon, we got to talking. all we wanted was a little raft to row around in, and lucky for us, he had one.

when the rich & famous get a new yacht, they want a fresh new dinghy for its tender. what to do with the old one? it costs too much to dispose of it (ironically, about $60), so it sits in the boat shop taking up space.

with the promise that we wouldn't put a 10hp motor on it, we took it off his hands... for free!

a little clean up, and its ready for action on Lake Union!

Upgrades

2010-04-01T12:44:00.000-07:00

finally fixed that curtain problem...

We found these sunny yellow lined curtains on clearance at Pottery Barn.Clearance price + gift card = no $ out of pocket, hooray!

hip boots & price i$ right shoe wheel in the corner

To tie these back, I got a bright purple & white print scarf from H&M that i cut into strips to use as ties. I also put up privacy film on the two dockside windows.

We're loving these a lot more than the old hideous shades. Now, we've got to find wall decor that won't get knocked off and hurt us in bed if a crazy night-rider blows thru the canal!

Biggest yet

2010-04-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Randomly glanced out the window and this was towering overhead.

Details
Fishing Vessel Osprey
Hailing port: Vancouver, BC
Built in 1998
55.7M Long and 13.5M beam
Operated by Osprey Marine Ltd.

Oregon Responder

2010-03-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

Oregon Responder on route to Northlake Marina near Gasworks Park:

details
vessel service - oil recovery
built by Halter Marine Inc in 1993.
operated by Marine Spill Response Corporation, hails from Astoria OR
length 193.5 feet, 44 ft beam, call sign WBO8590

Dual Tug Action

2010-03-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

a pair of tugs passed thru Sunday morning, Westrac & Westrac II.

details
T/V Westrac built in 1987, 63.4 feet long, call sign WTH4325
T/V Westrac II built in 1995, 73.8 feet long, call sign WCU4545
both operated by Western Towboat Company in Seattle

Hightlights of Taiwan

2010-03-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

a little background...
Taiwan is a small island located off the southeast coast of China and southern coast of Japan. Ethnically Chinese living under Japanese rule for 60 years leading up to WWII, Taiwan is a unique cultural center and seems to embrace the very best of all things Asian. It is a vibrant and developed nation with big companies, impressive buildings, great festivals, and lots of motor scooters.

big buddha - 6 stories tall!

first up...
the Lantern Festival culminating the end of the celebration of the Chinese New Year. This marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. We walked through lots of big light displays featuring different scenes (mostly showcasing Tigger, the well-known cat from Disney's Winnie the Pooh) and listened to drumming and singing performances at stages set up around the festival.

tigger basking in his glory

guessing the message of these signs will fetch you good luck

running around...
I got a chance to run through this park and get a taste of daily life. Much like Seattleites, the Taiwanese use their parks to get out in the nice weather. The parks are also used as an outdoor playground for their pets, because most people live in apartment buildings. Pets are preferred to children, and I can vouch that I definitely saw more dogs than I did children. Dogs can also ride on motor scooters.

from the 39th floor

the great outdoors...
nice weather also calls for big outdoor markets and Taiwan markets come alive at night. The biggest night market on the island, Feng Jia (named for the nearby university) is full of everything including clothes, shoes, jewelry, scooter helmets and delicious food. I had barbequed shrimp on a stick, fried chicken with a unique Taiwanese sauce, and Indonesian tea. The tea was mixed with milk in two large pitchers and poured back and forth several times before getting poured into a small plastic bag with a straw.

night lights at Feng Jia

drinking from a tea bag

yummm Chinese food...
in general in Taiwan is very tasty and has a lot of Japanese influences from their 60-year occupation. Sushi and other Japanese-style foods are very popular and I definitely indulged whenever possible. I loved eating the noodle soup and it was interesting that each bowl had a slightly different type of noodle. On a more humorous note, I witnessed a cat run out of the kitchen and hide in the corner of the restaurant. A cook promptly tracked down the cat and carried it back to the kitchen. While I am fairly certain that it was a pet, the colorful stories of the varied cuisine in China (including both cats & dogs) had me thinking twice.

i wish i had an actual pic of the cat (this one via pixdaus.com)

rocking - wait am i at floatLiving?...
another highlight of the trip was a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck the island. I can only say that in addition to being swanky, our hotel was also sturdy! It swayed only a little and when I finally got the courage to take the 'vator down 39 flights to the lobby, I discovered that nobody was phased and carried on as usual. as the poster says, Keep Calm & Carry On!

Sinking Ship

2010-03-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

in case you need a ship that does sink, you can find it here.

where's the stern?

looks like a heavy load

did they cut that ship in half?

special delivery for tara please

pictures from dockwise

Elvis Rose

2010-03-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

All kinds of reasons to name my drink the Elvis Rose

1. my biggest fan suggested it
2. brings to mind a Cadillac, but not a Cadillac tequila cocktail
3. the color is just right
4. ER - i like the ring to those initials (and so does my better half)

thanks for the suggestion JD!

Boat Drinks

2010-03-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

In honor of St Patty's Day, we'd like to post recipes for a few cocktails we imbibe from time to time.

DZ Manhattan - Eddie's grandfather's recipe
2 oz bourbon
1 1/2 oz sweet vermouth
1/2 oz dry vermouth
Pour over ice in a highball & garnish with a maraschino cherry
(add a bit of cherry juice for extra sweetness)

Cosmo - Tara's variation
2 oz Absolut Mandarin
1/2 oz dry vermouth
Splash of cranberry
Shake all together and serve up in a martini glass (sugar the rim, if you must)

The pink color reminds me of a Mary K Cadillac, but I refuse to name my cocktail after that. Suggestions?

Spring Cleaning

2010-03-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier I mentioned that E donned his hip boots and went out to clean up the shoreline. The canal has a slow current and things occasionally make their way back into our area.

He found (and filled 2 black garbage bags with):
Old inflatable mooring bumpers
Chain links
Packing styrofoam (the worst, because the waves break it down and it is impossible to pick up all the tiny pieces)
BBQ tools (not entirely sure how these got here but I doubt they floated)
Tin cans
Plastic bags & the usual beach trash

Other times, things just pass by, but never end up at our shore.

We've spotted:
Plastic Chair (tried to salvage, but it drifted too far away)
Tennis ball
Small Cooler
A single long stem rose floating on the water's surface (sat and watched it forever, trying to imagine the story behind how it got there)

Boating season begins in a few short months, so I'm sure we'll start to see more things come our way.

Latest

2010-03-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

Work (Tara) and school (Eddie) kicked into high gear - sorry for the lack of posts this past month.

The latest:

Good thing Eddie cleaned up our backyard shoreline. Spring is here and the water levels have been lifted by the locks operator for Lake Union and the Ship Canal. The shoreline is now underwater and our dock step (formerly a big step down) is now level with the pier. We retied our lines to accommodate our ~ 1 foot increase in elevation.

Tara spent a week in Taiwan... and wanted to bring home the hot & sunny weather with her. More on that to come.

We are adopting a puppy! She comes home with us in 4 weeks at the ripe age of 2 months.

Stay tuned!

Stuck

2010-02-15T17:18:00.000-08:00

A week ago (Feb 6th), the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show concluded and several mega yachts motored through the canal and out to the Sound on their way back home. Three of them made it through. Then the bridge stopped working.

M/Y Devotion lingered off our dock for over an hour waiting for the Fremont bridge. I can only imagine how awful it must have been...

It appeared that there was a malfunction on the North bridge segment that caused it to stick, halfway open. The bridge crew was finally able to fix the problem, and Devotion's horn blew a very grateful note on its way past the bridge tower. I'm sure they were craving Taco Bell after watching E and I cook up burritos for Sunday night dinner (likely to the disgust of the ship's private chef.)

By the way, if you are reading this, and are of a certain crowd that knows these luxurious things (like what an ounce of beluga caviar costs off the top of your head) then perhaps you could arrange a charter for E and I, or outright purchase it for the reduced sale price of $6.45M. We would be most thankful.

Images courtesy yachtdevotion.com

TomTom

2010-02-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

R/V Thomas G Thompson is a large vessel outfitted for the purpose of oceanographic studies and research in the Pacific Ocean. It calls Portage Bay home, and makes to the ocean via the ship canal, passing our house on its way.

Photo credit NOAA

The ship was built by the Navy, who still maintains ownership, and delivered to UW in 1991. Teams of scientists conduct research missions 250+ days out of the year.

Stats:
LOA: 274'
Beam: 52.5'
Draft: 19' fully loaded

A recent article describes a mission that TomTom made, findings from the samples retrieved aboard the TomTom reveal that the Pacific (and probably all of Earth's oceans) are becoming more acidic. This spells trouble for all ocean dwelling organisms.

I'm not able to find the stat, but this ship is a mammoth on the water. It appears to rise 25 feet or more at the bow, the equivalent of a two story building floating by our house. That's big.

He said it

2010-01-28T17:56:00.000-08:00

"You can't be a pirate if you haven't got a beard. I said so. My boat. My rules."

This will make you laugh.

Picture Taking 101

2010-01-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Should have read this. (Thanks Decorno.)

Even still, we live on the north face of a large hill. And it is the middle of winter. In the NW. So there really isn't any natural light to play with - despite having so many windows. Sorry.

You'll have to use your imagination. Don't imagine it any bigger though, it really is as small as it appears.

These have got to go...

2010-01-15T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hideous!

3 of them in the stateroom!

My plan? Tear them down!

These windows let in quite a bit of light and two face the marina, so whatever replaces the roll-ups needs to be black-out grade and provide privacy. My plan? Apply window film to the two windows that face the marina (at the foot of the bed and above the dresser) and hang heavy fabric curtains inside the window frame in a coordinating fabric.

Any other ideas? I'm all ears on what to do! Anything but the roll-ups!

How We Live

2010-01-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010!

This is a long awaited (by maybe two people) and thus lengthy post with pictures of the inside of our floating home. The holidays are over and so are the decorations, this is how we live day to day eleven months out of the year.

I'll cite sources where I remember them, leave a comment if you're still curious about anything!

Stateroom

Our bedroom is mostly occupied by our bed and a few pieces I picked up from Craigslist to maximize storage. We haven't hung anything on the wall because we are a bit wary of pointy picture frames falling on our faces if we get rocked too hard at night! I am thinking an unstretched canvas print or something soft might work better.

The antique wardrobe was a craigslist find and the white dresser I posted earlier here.

On top of the dress is a C&B lamp, an angel ornament, a picture from our wedding, my jewelry boxes, and a Homedics brethe air freshener (it works fabulous!)

The bedside table came from my parents' house, we love that it has two drawers and space below for extra storage!

Spa-fice (aka Office)

I wanted the office to be a comfortable place for E to work on homework and for me to blog. It's also E's vanity and our laundry area, so functionally it pulls triple duty. The end result is a spa-themed office. I rolled up our bathroom towels and put them in a basket, hung our robes, and added a potted plant. We also have a water feature at the end of the desk that makes a lovely gurgling noise..

Head (aka Water Closet / Bathroom)

The shower and toilet occupy a small area between the spa-fice and the stateroom. I applied window film over the small window to let light in but keep it private and installed the ledge over the casing. The basket is filled with soaps of all kinds. The shower curtain is a white waffle weave texture and the bath run is light green. The floor is elevated one step to accommodate the black water tank under the toilet.

Galley (aka Kitchen)

The kitchen occupies about 1/3 of the main living area at the end of the house. Our appliances are all boat size, which means we have 3 burners and an oven that will fit a 9x13" pan max. The refridgerator is also on the smaller side, and we added an extra freezer mostly just to store ice and meats. The open shelving holds dishware and glasses and cookbooks; food is stored in drawers to the left of the sink. We love our double basin sink!

The kitchen island acts as our food prep area and also houses most of my tea collection. We like the top cleared off to keep the room from looking too cluttered. The clock is Eddie's and the tile is from Greece. The cakestand and candle holders were wedding presents. Below our tv and media cabinet face the sofa. The media cabinet is actually an overhead kitchen cabinet sold at Ikea. I love the white frosted glass and our tv remotes work through it, so we never have to leave the cabinet open!

All of our cooking pots hang from the pot rack (Ikea again) that constantly moves with the house. We've arranged everything on it so that nothing clashes - it's not New Years everyday! The stainless/cutting board lid lefts to reveal the 3 burner cooktop.

Bar

We've got the bar stocked with glassware, wine, and spirits and are ready for a party anytime! The rocking chair is my reading spot and the ElectroLog (left by the previous tenants) keeps us cozy! We took down all of the dirty and broken mini-blinds and I added sailcloth curtains on the land-side of the boat. The lake-side windows are left open.

Living Room

Our sofa fits in here perfectly and the color actually matches the lake outside! We put it on risers so that we could maximize storage underneath, and the brown suede footstool holds things as well. Our books and magazines are stored above the windows in shelves, and no they never fall on us!

Sofa: Costco Home (sadly, now gone); Footstool: Target; Side Table: Kasala Outlet; Lamp: C&B; Pillows: Macys Hotel Collection; Rug: wool and viscose at Overstock.com

Hallway

The hallway actually takes up a good chunk of the floorplan, but I have to admit that I like having it. We installed a long coat rack that now holds nearly all of our coats and also a nice spot to leave our keys and shoes so that the outdoors isn't invading the rest of the house. On the walls we have boat pictures and a cross-stitch made by my cousin commemorating our wedding. The hall light is completley useless (maybe a 15w bulb?) but we never use it anyway!

Thats the tour and as things are improved they will be shared! (trust me, there will be things!)

Strange Happenings

2010-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:00

I just read this in the Seattle Times.

At 3:45pm on Thursday 1/7, a body was discovered floating in the canal just west of the Fremont Bridge. To add perspective, we live directly east of the bridge, very close to the reported location. Police at the scene thought the body had been in the water for awhile.

Oddly, I went for a run right by the scene at about 4:30 on Thursday, only 45 minutes after the discovery, and saw no indication of a police investigation or of their presence in the area.

Then, a police boat roared past horns blaring late last night / early this morning, rocking us a bit. Earlier in November, we came home from work to a police boat trolling past the house, two officers searching for something in the water. Related?

Looking forward to more news on this!

Happy New Year 2010!

2010-01-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

The new year has officially arrived and it's time to make floating home resolutions...

PLANT a garden;
MAKE new curtains to replace the hideous ones in the bedroom;
THROW a fabulous Independence Day party and birthday bbq's for both of us;
EXPLORE Lake Union & Lake Washington;

and definitely enjoy everything 2010 brings our way!

Holiday Decorations

2009-12-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

We've got the tree trimmed and the stockings hung (sort of)!

Our Christmas Tree is trimmed in 4 strands of white lights, Shiny Brite ornaments and silvery tinsel, along with other ornaments that we have collected throughout the years. This year, I made the stockings laying on our fireplace (linen stockings lined with woven cotten percale and adorned with felt, sequins and beads.)

On the bar, our Who-Ville Santa Hat picked up at a coffee shop in Boise, stacked Penguin containers for holiday snacks, and a poinsettia arrangement. The candle scent is Fir Tree.

The cookie jar (filled with thumbprint jelly cookies, gingerbread, sugar snowflakes, and Nanaimo bars) and hot chocolate mugs. A small branch tied with red ribbon accents the cake platter and candle globes.

Jingle bells ringing at the front door

Lights and evergreen boughs with holly and pine cones frame the porch door.

"If Santa could do it, so could the Grinch!" A print we picked up on our honeymoon in Maui.

Happy holidays to all of our family and friends!

Frozen Falls

2009-12-13T20:49:00.000-08:00

The front page on the newspaper Saturday morning called us to make an impromptu trip up to Snoqualmie Falls to check out the ice.

These are giant icicles!

We also visited the beautiful Salish Lodge restaurant for desert - a warmed chocolate cinnamon apple bread pudding. You feel like you are hours from the city but it actually takes less than an hour to get there! I'd definitely recommend spending a few hours - if not a quick weekend getaway - up at Salish Lodge and Snoqualmie Falls, it is fabulous all seasons of the year!

Evergreens of a Certain Age

2009-12-13T20:39:00.000-08:00

There is something about an early December weekend that brings out the dare devil in a young Evergreen.

Strapped to the top of a car careening down the freeway, feeling the wind blow past every needle. Never mind all of the needles left on the road, this tree is having the time of its life.

Thousands of them. All patiently leaning against the temporary 2x4 stalls at grocery stores, strip malls, and farms across America. Waiting for their chance to experience the thrill of a lifetime before being whisked indoors and decorated tip to trunk in bright little lights and glittery ornaments.

Maybe you were out last weekend and happened to see one of these young firs car surfing!

I found my camera!

2009-12-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

After carrying my camera around with me everywhere in the house for the past month, I finally managed to lose track of it around Thanksgiving.

I finally found it yesterday! Right where E suggested - in the bag I took to the other lake for the holiday weekend.

Lots more pics to come over the holidays!

Fire & Ice on Lake Union

2009-12-08T11:19:00.000-08:00

Reported here and here in local Seattle news, a yacht fire started just down the street from us on Westlake Ave.

Excess water from the fire hoses turned to ice on the docks, causing firefighters to slip and fall into the lake. They were rescued.

Fires can quickly engulfed fiberglass boats and melt lines, causing boats to float into others and spread the fire. These firefighters were able to put out the fire in 15 minutes and limit the damage to only a few (unoccupied) boats.

Over the past two days, ice has caused our and our neighbor's waterlines to freeze. We woke up on Monday morning to the same drip that we left running Sunday night - no more. After defrosting the lines in the lake water for a few minutes, we were back up to normal pressure. The garden hose that feeds our neighbor's boat was solid like a pipe. Yesterday after work we got together and were able to fix the lines while keeping the water contained in the lake. Running water and no icy dangers here!

Inside Details

2009-12-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

We've got the inside completely decorated so I thought I'd share a few pics of the details.

Kitchen Counter

Next to our sink, our lake-friendly hand soap (Method) and dish soap (Mrs. Meyers) along with some infused cooking oils.

Tea Shelf

A small ledge positioned just above the chair rail holding my teas I got on a trip to Japan and a pair of Penguin salt & pepper shakers. Teas (from left to right): Mighty Leaf Earl Grey, Lemongrass, Passion Flower, Green, and Mint. The picture above is of Venice.

Close-Up of the Tea Shelf

Bar Table

On the bar table: wise words, a heart-shaped nut bowl, and sailboat picture frames.

Willows

Willows looking out onto the deck. Our fearless climber rapels down the window!

View

A view over the couch onto the Lake with the Aurora Bridge above.

Holiday Time is upon us and I am excited to share pics of the Christmas Tree, but I can't find my camera! When I find it I will be sure to post pics of the holiday decor and the Christmas Ships!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

2009-11-26T09:59:00.000-08:00

From our lake home to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the pumpkin pie and time with family, and get ready for the busy holiday season!

Can we turn on the Christmas tunes yet?

Love E & T

Flippers

2009-11-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

I glanced in the "backyard" one afternoon and witnessed this:

Scubadivers!

You can barely see their bright yellow oxygen tanks, but these divers swam through our backyard (behind the wooden pilings) to reach the base of the bridge for inspection.

Cray!

Squeaky Buoys

2009-11-24T21:44:00.000-08:00

We have several large round buoys that separate the houseboat from our main dock. The main dock is a concrete walkway with a step up platform for our front door entrance. It is our first line of defense against rogue waves and general turbulence as it dissipates many of the waves before they roll under our floor. The buoys serve as spacers to prevent the concrete dock from damaging the houseboat.

The buoys, made of a rubber / poly-something, make squeaking noises when they rub against the side of the house.

This drives E nuts.

Many attempts have been made to reposition the buoys and their lines to cure the squeaking. Often this is in wet & windy weather!

In the words of many a London tube operator, "Mind the Gap!"

The Wind that rocks us

2009-11-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

We're at that time of the year again: The honeymoon with the fall season is over.

The sun goes down at 4:30 in the afternoon. It's dark and rainy. Last week I told my dad that it wasn't raining during my run to Gasworks Park, and then quickly recalled that it was raining, just not the torrential downpours we have been experiencing lately. I guess in our reality, light rain equals no rain.

It has been so stormy outside I haven't been out in days, but inside the houseboat the rain has actually been quite cozy. It pitter-patters on the roof and skylights over our heads, and produces a lovely gurgling noise as it runs out the downspout near our bedroom window.

Then, there is the wind.

When this messy Pacific front moved in a few days ago, I woke up at 3 in the morning to the sensation of rocking as if we were bobbing in the open ocean. Buoys squeaked between docks and boats. I wondered if E would need to take a dramamine pill. Now I just lie in bed and never want to leave (especially to face the perilous flood plain that is I-5).

We find ourselves checking the lines and adjusting the buoys more frequently to ease the squeaking and make certain we won't drift away. There's really no fear that it would ever happen, just more to be responsible houseboat dwellers and get acquainted with our mooring equipment. It's definitely a new habit we have formed in the new place!