A porthole view

What's it like living on a boat, with it always moving? Does it make you sick, do you get seasick?

Well, seeing as we haven't actually been out in deep seas for longer than a few hours and 7 foot isn't considered "deep water", I have no idea if either of us do/will get seasick.

What I do know is, it can be quite peaceful.....when tied to the dock! 

Let me give you a brief glimpse into our world. Close your eyes {well, not if you're driving. but if you're driving, you shouldn't be reading this right now, anyways. It can wait until you get where you're going} Where were we? Oh yeah, close your eyes and just breathe. Try to imagine a light, swaying motion....actually, a hammock with a light breeze might be just the ticket to understanding what it's like for us on the boat! 

Now imagine doing all of your daily chores while standing in a hammock. That's life on a boat, always moving....and even more so when you're out sailing or at anchor! At least my balance is getting better....well, most of the time, anyways! :)

Ahh, this is the life!!!! :)

We were given a hammock for the sailboat but hubs has yet to hang it..... I think he's waiting for the next {bigger} boat, but I want my hammock put up! Maybe if I go out there with a hammer and nails he'll get scared and get the job done! ;)

Making our boat a home

Pillows, pillows and more pillows! I may have a teeny tiny problem. You see, even before we moved onto the boat, I had a love for all things ocean related. Now I know what you're thinking, pillows aren't from the ocean, ah, but they sorta are when they are made using ocean/beach themed material, are they not? Ok, they're not, but I'll use whatever I have to to make my case! 

I had already been wanting to add to my collection of throw pillows when I read Lahowind's post on her many boat pillows, so, I  ran with the idea. {and I'm not done running, either....shhh! dont tell hubs!} ;)

Below is our salon {aka living area} lots of family photos & even two of my neice's art work is displayed. :) oh, and let's not forget, those ocean pillows. 

And the other side of the salon...

More pillows, a couple more photos and lots of baskets & bowls to keep everything on the shelves looking neat & tidy. 

When I found these indoor/outdoor pillows I snatched them up and added them to my collection. I am now up to 10 pillows, it would've been 11, but I finally won the war on Bertha and she took a hike to the dumpster a few weeks ago. :)

The itty-bitty head {aka bathroom}

Again, baskets to keep things looking clean and more importantly, so little things are not sliding around everywhere when we take the boat out. And, a custom sized rag rug made by moi for the itty-bitty bathroom floor! 

End result:

The v-berth {aka bedroom}

Nothing fancy, and not even really a room, just our cozy, lil' loft-style, bed! 

The little nook on top of our hanging locker {microscopic closet}

And, my favorite part of the boat, the galley {aka kitchen} 

Favorite, because standing in that back little corner I can see every part of our boat that makes our home!!

My dainty kitchen, not like anything I've ever dreamed of having, but it has its charm too! 

Everything is neatly packed in and easily reached while cooking, cleaning or just grabbing something to drink!

I've tried really hard to create a home in our boat....and I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. It's important to me to make it feel homey, so that I don't feel like I'm camping. If it feels like a temporary thing, it'll most likely stay that way....and we want this to last longer than a vacation. 

Pillows, photos and rugs, basically, anything that adds texture, a pop of color and a personal flair....these are the things that make up a home, for me! 

Nature Walk

It's been raining here the last couple of days so we have been hibernating again and probably watching too much TV, but what else are we gonna do? Well, I did read a book in less than four days. Joe couldn't believe I read it that fast...he said a book like that {less than 400 pages} would take him at least three years to read. Hahaha :) 

We did manage to escape the cabin fever  feeling in between downpours and walked through a nearby nature center. It was so peaceful! I could've walked around it for hours, even with the warning of alagators present, amongst other wild critters, but hubs said, "this was boring" and was ready to leave shortly after our arrival....most likely because the only wild animal we had seen was a Pomeranian. 

It was still damp from a fresh rain shower and some of the trees were just barely starting to bud...which can only mean one thing, spring is on its way and that means summer is right around the corner, my favorite time of year! 

That day I only had my iPhone with me, but I'll have to go back again with my fancy camera and see if I can snap some better shots with it....although, I think these turned out pretty good! 

Small town / Big names

Kemah is a relatively small town, only about 3,400 people{you can get the whole rundown on the town's history here}, but there are some big named peeps in this town!

Though, we have never seen them around town, we have heard that one of the ZZ Top guys has a house nearby. 

Jessica Alba was here during the filming of one of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition shows, along with the whole ABC crew!!!

This is the house in all its Home Makeover glory!! The Beach family adopted & fostered over 85 children, several with special-needs. Their house, sitting on 1 acre, a few blocks from the Kemah Boardwalk,  boasts 8 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a game room & a media room. The house has since been sold to a group that plans on turning it into a high-end drug treatment facility. You can see more photos and read all about it here. 

(This is how it looks today, complete with a parking lot for its new endeavor)

We cruise by Danielle Steele's elaborate home {& sometimes see her 100' yacht} every time we go out sailing. The house & yacht are equally exquisite!!!

And then there's Joe & Jennifer Bricker. And, if you ask them, they'll tell you, "We're kind of a big deal!!" There's just something about the dynamic duo! Once you meet them, you'll know what I'm talking about. And if you've already met them? Well then, you might be kind of a big deal, too!! 

Hahaha, but seriously, we kinda are!!!! ;)

Where have we been?

This last week, the crew of Irie {i.e. hubs and I} flew to the Bahamas to see our friends and fellow sailors, on s/v MiJoy!!! It is good to have friends in pretty places! :)

And oh, what a pretty place this is!!!!

We first met Mike & Joyce when we moved to Kemah and quickly became good friends, really more like family! 

It was so very nice of them to share their boat with us.....and yes, we still want to go cruising ourselves! 

We did so many fun, new & interesting things....I'll try and recap everything from the last ten days! 

Let's see, there was, 

• Ocean/transom showers

• Swimming, standing with stingrays

 

• Island hiking 

• Attended beach church with sandy toes 

• Explored a deserted island 

•{attempted to} blow a conch shell & picked up a few other shells, as well

•Played lots of beach volleyball 

•Slept on a trampoline {at least that's what it feels like when you're at anchor and there's strong winds}

•Sailed to Lee Stocking Island & back to Elizabeth Harbor

And saw some amazing sunsets

 And even a moonrise (I don't know why there's not moonrises & moonsets)

 

Yep! I'd say it's safe to say, we had an unbelievably incredible trip and can't wait to go back! Maybe our next visit will be on our own boat....that's the goal, anyways!

 

Who wants to come see us, when we're out there cruising the islands?