Such a sound and deep sleep last night. Amelia did her regular "food" three times after midnight but David got up for one of the feedings. Both up by 8:00 a.m. to meet our friends, Ken and Lisa, who were going to take us to the post office.
I spent the morning reading in the P.O. while David collated, checked, re-checked all the paper work for his Captain's license renewal. By 11:30 the Registered Mail envelope was being addressed. In the mail. Noon and we celebrated with a slice of pizza. We DO know how to have fun.
We went to the Consignment store. I needed another long sleeve shirt if it was going to continue to be 59 degrees, cloudy and damp here. Scored, and a colorful pullover sweater, too.
Walking on down the hill toward the waterfront a woman pointed these swans out to us. She was showing her son.
Six babies. Are they swanlins? Swanettes? Petit cygnets?
The adults were very much into preening...or cleaning. Necks twisted around all over the place. Big tails twitching side to side. Top of head rubbing under wing. Chin (?) massaging along sides.
And the MOST cunning thing....the babies were doing the same sort of movement with their much shorter necks!!! We watched for about 1/2 hour but I was okay staying all afternoon.
I don't know why the difference in color...4 grayish chicks and 2 champagne ones. Little fluff balls with legs and necks. Sweet. sweet. sweet!
Back on Grace I started cleaning up the decks from THE storm on Tuesday (I think it was Tuesday - recently in any case). Had a look at the shredded inner jib that was flying when the squall his us. In this photo it has the lovely sense of fringed curtains. Andrew Wyeth effect.
Not the case. A shredded sail. No chance of restoration. In talking with another sailor we spoke of how glad we were that the sail did wrap itself around its stay. That diminished the windage during the storm. Less area to catch the wind and push us when we didn't want to be pushed.
While I took the sail hardware off, wrapped it into the sail bag and hung the lines to dry - looked something like octopus tentacles hanging all around the deck - David dove into the engine. He wanted to see how the batteries had fared during the storm and put the new "sender" unit in the engine...to measure oil pressure.
I finished my work, started rice for dinner and sat on the aft deck to read. A new book - The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho. He also wrote The Alchemist which I enjoyed but am like this one even better.
Similar to The Alchemist , this current book follows an individual in her, in this case, spiritual quest. Easy narrative. Very thought provoking. Causes me to want to follow other instructions of being quiet, silent...getting away form the constant activity of doing, fulfilling another's agenda or expectations or just getting away from...silence.
Being on the aft deck, reading, watching, thinking, not thinking, limited planning...such a treat.
Dinner.
A gentle day. Conversation with friend Don, of Don and Diane who we are hoping/planning to visit when the weather allows...maybe traveling to Shelter Island on Sunday and Monday for a brief visit on Tuesday. Tomorrow promises rain and Saturday the wind is from an "unfavorable" direction. So, we'll hang here in Port Washington. Perhaps a yoga class and laundry mat for me tomorrow. And maybe friend, Lisa, will help me get started on my beanie. I bought the yarn way back there in NC while heading south in January. Finally measured my head but now will have to do it again. I forgot.
Almost time to re-hydrate Amelia. She is very vocal but is she hungry? No. Thirsty? Apparently not. Constipated? shrug/who knows, doesn't seem to be. Bored? Possibly but not willing to go out when I open the door. Maybe just dehydrated. So we'll do that tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, she snores, she purrs, she sleeps with her head turned upside down so that under her chin is totally exposed. And she is completely love.
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| New York City skyline |
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| Sunset: 5/17/18, Port Washington, Long Island, NY |
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