Another Adventure

80 Years of Lasting Love

Jill — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 06:12:00 +0000

In a world where relationships often face numerous challenges, reaching the milestone of 80 years of marriage is nothing short of extraordinary. This remarkable journey is a testament to enduring love, commitment, and the strength of a bond that has weathered the tests of time. As we celebrate Don and Marge’s 80th wedding anniversary we look back on the beginning. The Beginning The year was 1944, and the world was a different place. Don and Marge embarked on their journey together, promising to stand by each other through thick and thin. The trials of youth, the joys of building a life together, and the presence of God in their lives became the foundation of their enduring commitment. Through the Decades As the years rolled by, Don and Marge faced the ebb and flow of life’s challenges and triumphs. The 1940s brought the challenges of wartime, the 1950s the joys of family growth, and the 1960s the winds of change. Each decade presented its unique set of circumstances, but their love remained steadfast. Their shared laughter, mutual support, and unwavering companionship became the pillars that upheld their lasting union. Family and Legacy In the heart of their journey, Don and Marge built a family that mirrored the love they shared. Children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren were welcomed into a home filled with warmth, wisdom, and a sense of unity. The couple imparted invaluable life lessons, teaching the importance of love, resilience, family bonds and the commitment to faith. Milestones and Memories Eight decades of marriage are marked by a myriad of milestones and memories. From the simplicity of shared sunsets to the grandeur of family celebrations, fishing and camping adventures. Along with a strong commitment to their church and community Don and Marg accumulated a treasure trove of moments that defined their love story. The Secret to Enduring Love When asked about the secret to their enduring love, Don and Marg often smiled and spoke of clean living, connection to God, understanding each other and never going to bed mad. Communication, compromise, and an unwavering belief in each other formed the cornerstone of their relationship. A Celebration of 80 Years As Don and Marge celebrate their 80th anniversary, the occasion is marked with joy, gratitude, and a profound sense of accomplishment. Family from near and far gather to honor the couple whose love has not only stood the test of time but is also a beacon of inspiration for all. Looking to the Future In celebrating 80 years of marriage, Don and Marge invite us to reflect on the beauty of a shared life—a life marked by love, laughter, and the enduring promise of happily ever after. May their journey inspire us all to cherish the bonds that matter most, and may their love story continue to shine as a beacon of hope for generations to come. In Conclusion I am so blessed to be able to say that Don and Marge are my grandparents. The memories that are some of my fondest are time spent with them whether it be on their farm, at my home, moving me across the county, or helping me with home improvement projects. Their lasting love and dedication to each other is something I cherish. 80 years is truly something to celebrate. Hope you enjoyed this small view of my family and if you are new here don’t forget to check out our previous post here. Also, find me on Instagram by clicking here Cheers, Jill

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Snorkeling The Pier

Jill — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. This means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. Read the full disclosure here It’s finally happening, It’s finally here! We are snorkeling the pier! The weather is beautiful and the bay is calm. We have been wanting to do this all season and originally didn’t think it was going to work out. Then a small weather window opened up and we jumped on it. You are probably wondering what am I talking about. I am talking about the Frederiksted Pier on Saint Croix. Let me back up a bit and give you some information to get you up to speed since our last post. After Dominica We cruised through several of the islands. Spent about a week in The Saints which we love. Then up to Saint Martin another spot we love. Spent several weeks between the two countries there waiting for a weather window for Saint Croix. U.S.V.I.’S After three weeks it never developed and we decided it was time to keep moving. Next, we sailed over to Saint Thomas USVI. After being there several weeks and looking to move over to the Spanish Virgin Islands we noticed a small weather window for Saint Croix and decided to go for it. Frederiksted So here we are in the beautiful Frederiksted Anchorage of Saint Croix. Frederiksted is a sleepy town in Saint Croix. When cruise ships aren’t in many of the shops and restaurants/bars are closed. That is the best time for snorkeling the Pier. The Pier The pier happens to be the cruise ship pier. It can only be snorkeled or dove where ships aren’t in. which makes sense, it is much too dangerous otherwise. As luck would have it when we were there, there was only one cruise ship in during the week. The ship was there when we arrived. Perfect, it would be gone by the end of the day. How to get to the pier So, if you are staying on land you can go to the beach/rocks next to the pier and wade into the water and snorkel. If you are coming by boat, you can take your dingy right up to it, tie off, enter the water, and begin your snorkel or dive. Another option is going with a snorkel or dive group offered onshore. They also offer night dives of the pier which we have heard are spectacular. We didn’t have time for this with our weather window. Pier Facts The pier is 1,526 feet long according to Wikipedia. It is officially named the Ann E. Abramson Pier after the women who spearheaded the rebuilding of the pier after it was destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo. It can host the world’s largest cruise ships and even submarines. At the very end of the pier, it is 90 feet down to the seafloor. What you need to know I would say you don’t need to dive the pier, you can see plenty of it just snorkeling which is truly remarkable. There are many places where you can’t snorkel and have to dive. This is the best of both worlds you can see lots of sea life snorkeling or diving. Depending on the time of year and how long you are in the water it can get cool. You may want to wear swim leggings, a wet suit, or a rashguard. Something for added warmth. The added gear can also protect you from little jellyfish stings which you may or may not run into. We did, Dave had swim shorts on and his legs had quite a few stings along with his stomach where his shirt had come up. It’s a long pier so plan to do several trips or plan a longer snorkel. We snorkeled it twice, the first time we spent 30-45 minutes in the water. The second time we spent over an hour it was fantastic. We ended up getting out because of getting cold. Don’t forget an underwater camera if you want to share any of what you see. We brought our GoPro the second time. The first time we just enjoyed it and didn’t worry about filming. We decided to film it because it is probably some of the best sea life we have seen snorkeling. If not the best. It was truly a beautiful experience. Back on the boat I have to say this was so worth the trip here. I am thrilled we were able to make it work out and spend a few days here. The snorkeling was absolutely beautiful. I am including a video below of some of the best outtakes of our snorkel. It by no means does the pier justice. It is so much more spectacular in person. Well, What are you waiting for? Go book a trip and see it for yourself. If that isn’t possible click on the video below and as always, Enjoy! Until next time, Jill

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Diving Dominica

Jill — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. This means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. Read the full disclosure here This week’s post-Diving Dominica is a bit of a flashback. As we traveled back up the chain passing Dominica, I realized I didn’t share our videos from our trip south. We spent a few days anchored in Portsmouth and then a night is Rousseau. Dive While in Portsmouth Dave dove with the local Padi shop. Dave filmed his dive with our GoPro and saw some neat things. So I decided to put a short video together of that and our river tour. Indian River They have all kinds of tours you can do. The best fit for us with having the dogs was the Indian River tour. This tour is only a couple of hours, so no worries about the pups. We did the Indian River tour with a guide as you are not allowed to do it on your own. Plus, it patrons the local economy It was a fun couple of days and we got to see more than just the anchorage. Sunday Night Beach BBQ On Sunday nights the boat boys (pays group). Put on a BBQ for a fee. It is a large buffet and a great spot to catch up or meet new cruisers. Also, a nice way to support the local community. If you are not a sailor you may be wondering what boat boys do? They help you grab a mooring ball or set up tours, help you find things around town, etc. For a fee of course and they also patrol the anchorage to make sure boaters don’t have any safety issues. As I have said we are making our way north and doing some bigger passages. More on that in upcoming posts. So, for now, enjoy the video and short update this week. Dominica Video Cheers, Jill

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Best Sourdough Beef Empanadas

Jill — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 07:30:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. This means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. Read the full disclosure here This is one of my favorite recipes to make. I have been perfecting these sourdough beef empanadas for a while now. Frankly, I am always fine-tuning them, but they are ready to be shared on the blog. So, this week I am sharing the recipe and next week we will be back to “what we are up to” posts. Benefits One of my favorite things to make these for is our big sailing passages. Like when we went from the Bahamas to Puerto Rico. They work so well because they can be eaten handheld if the weather is rough. Or, you can plate them with salsa and sour cream, cilantro, etc. when it is calm. My husband loves empanadas, and I love sourdough so I have been working on making this something that works for both of us. Sourdough Beef Empanadas have become a passage favorite. I try to have some in the freezer at all times. They are just so filling and such a quick meal. You can add sides easily to make it a proper meal if you choose. Another benefit is they come together pretty easily. I cook them all and then freeze them. I found if you freeze them assembled but not cooked they get sticky and can tear super easy and make a big mess. You can pop these in the microwave to reheat in your oven or air fryer. Whichever route you prefer. Different Sizes for the Empanadas The nice thing is this recipe makes about 16 so you can throw them in your freezer and have them on a night you just don’t feel like cooking. I generally make medium size empanadas. But, you could make larger ones, making only 8, or make mini ones as appetizers and get over 30 of them. I have made them smaller and bigger and they always come out great. It just really all depends on what your needs are. The small ones are fun to bring somewhere for happy hour. We tend to do a lot of happy hours on friend’s boats, making this a great option. Larger empanadas are great for dinner when the empanadas are the main dish. It is all about what works best for you. Tools I Love For This Recipe I find using parchment paper makes for easy cleanup and less mess in your oven. The cheese can often boil out of the empanada when baking. with the parchment paper, it is easier to slide them off to cool. I also use and love our convection oven. I cook them on Air Fry at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You can bake them in a regular oven as well. You could fry them as well if you want. I have not tried this yet as we don’t fry food on our boat. If you do fry these I would love to hear about how it goes. Let me know in the comments below. We have such a small space on the boat and Frying can get grease everywhere. Not only creates a huge mess to clean up but also can be an issue with hot oil and burns. We just eat fried food on land we when have a craving for it. Anyway, here is the recipe. I hope you enjoy it and please let me know if you make it by rating it or leaving a note in the comments below. Cheers, Jill Sourdough Beef Empanada Recipe

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The Island of Martinique

Jill — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

This post contains affiliate links. This means I will make a commission at no extra cost to you should you click through and make a purchase. Read the full disclosure here As I mentioned in last week’s post, this week is all about our stop in Martinique. Always one of my favorite stops. This time we skipped the Saint Anne anchorage. It’s a great stop, especially if you need boat parts. However, the dock isn’t very easy to get the dogs on and off the dinghy and we didn’t need any boat parts. Fort De France, Martinique We decided to sail straight to Fort de France anchorage. It’s a nice anchorage right in the heart of downtown. A fabulous dinghy dock for the pups with a great park for walks only just steps away. It can get a little rolly during the day here when the ferries run. They don’t run at night so you have a calm anchorage for sleeping. The plan was to spend 1-2 weeks here. However, after a couple of days of exploring and enjoying the city we had to leave. The Coast Guard came over to our boat and told us they were closing the anchorage for a sailing race. The race started in two days and would close the anchorage for several weeks. Reluctantly, we moved. This was a bummer because we had rented a car to take the pups to the vet and it was a quick bus ride to pick up the car. Now, we would have to find a new way to get to the car with new bus routes. Anse a l’Anne, Martinique We moved over to a nice little anchorage that had some fun restaurants and beaches. We got to experience a party with a band that was fabulous and we ate wonderful food. Our new anchorage gave us yet another favorable view of this great island. While at this anchorage we did some major provisioning. We were in need of a lot of things and wanted to stock up on all the yummy meats, cheese and wines while we were here. Back to the car rental. It took Dave half a day with several bus changes to get to the airport to pick up the car. It was quite frustrating. Returning it was much easier since he now knew the routes and times better. The pups were due for some vaccines so a trip to the vet was in order. We have been to this vet several times and we like all the staff and doctors. They are so nice. If you need a vet give them a call. Clinique Veterinaire De Cluny is their name. They speak English as well. Saint Pierre, Martinique This was our last stop in Martinique. We spent a few days here waiting for the weather. While we were here we enjoyed some great food, a Saturday market, and a fun little bar. This bar was built in the ruins of one of the old buildings that were damaged by the major volcano in 1902. It was very rustic and unique. Plus, it had an incredible view of the water, which we were able to see our boat. Always a plus. The picture in the title of this post is of that bar. In Conclusion Martinique has a peacefulness about it. It is very laid back, no one is in a hurry, and laughter, and music is heard often. It is a great place to relax and recharge. Of course, you must enjoy the food and wine! Cheers, Jill

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Heading North

Jill — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 07:30:00 +0000

After spending a few weeks in Cariacou it was getting time to head north. With our insurance, we’re required to stay below a specific latitude til November 1st. So we decided to head to The Grenadines to a couple of the islands that were still south of that. The first stop was to check into Union Island. We decided to anchor over at Palm Cay due to the Clifton anchorage being so tight and so many mooring balls. Once we got checked in and back to the boat we realized it was too rolly to stay at Palm. We decided to make the short hop up to Mayreau Island. We found a quiet anchorage with just us and one other boat. Decided to Spend a few days there until November 2nd. While we were there we finished up on some lingering boat projects and took care of some maintenance. First stop going north-Bequia November 2nd we sailed north from Mayreau to Bequia Island. This is a spot we love. Great anchorage fun restaurants and bars and the people are super friendly. We were able to get some snorkeling in which is always nice. They also have some great fresh markets on Saturdays. Pretty much fresh fruit on every corner. Saint Lucia Due to the weather, we would only stay here for 3 days and then make the sail north to Rodney Bay, St. Luicia. The sailing has been great, we haven’t had to turn the motor on for much more than anchoring and pulling up our anchor. This is a welcome break from having to motor sail a lot of the trip south. We spent several days in Saint Lucia, enjoying the sushi restaurant Rituals. One of our favorite sushi restaurants. If you find yourself here definitely stop in for a roll or two. Of course, we did some catching up on a few boat tasks. As we are moving north up the chain we are hitting some of our favorite spots. Unfortunately, Not many photos were taken at these stops, instead, we were just enjoying the experience. Martinique The next stop is Martinique. I love this island. The food, wine, people, it’s just a fun place. We will spend at least a week here. More on what we get up to in Martinique next time. In case you missed last week’s post you can click here to view it. Until then, Have a great week, Cheers, Jill

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Dolphins and Our Dogs

Jill — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:48:00 +0000

Today as I was going through gathering my photos for a blog post that will be coming up in the future, I came upon a bunch of photos and videos of dolphins and our dogs. I get asked a lot “What is it like on board our boat when we see dolphins and our dogs see them?” So, today I thought I would share it with you. But first, let me explain where we were and where we were heading. Comer Channel On our trip heading south this year for hurricane season, we went through the Comer Channel in The Bahamas. We started the channel just outside of Thompson Bay, Long Island. This channel takes you to the Jumentos and the ragged island chain. We were hoping to spend some quality time in the ragged island chain. The comer channel is shallow. Charts show the depth at 6 feet MLLW. We are a deep draft boat. Our boat draws 8 feet. When we are in the Bahamas (which tends to be more shallow) we always pay attention to tides. We did this on a rising tide so as we arrived at some of the more shallow spots we would have enough water under our keel. We did see zero on our depth gauge at one point. That was very stressful, but we made it through with no issues. We transversed the channel on a calm day not to much wind. The seas were pretty calm and the water was very clear. It was a beautiful day. Dolphins Within the first hour, the pups started getting excited and barking. Before we knew it we were surrounded by dolphins. The dolphins stayed with us for 20-30 minutes and then came back a little while later for another short visit. It was a great day and trip through the channel. The dolphins made the experience all the better. I put together just a short video of the interaction between the dolphins and our dogs. I hope you enjoy it. I thought this was a light and fun video to post this week. Especially being between Christmas and New Year’s and all the stress that the holidays can bring! Video So, enjoy, smile, laugh, and have a Happy New Year! Oh! and in case you missed some of our other recent posts click here or here to catch up on the blog. Cheers, Jill

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How To Make Sourdough Garlic Cheddar Bread

Jill — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

Last Updated on January 7, 2024 by Jill This week I have a delicious sourdough garlic cheddar bread recipe for you. The flavors absolutely POP! in this bread. I have been making sourdough bread for about 8 years now. It really is something I quite enjoy and have really been expanding my repertoire. Experimenting and creating is something I have really found a passion for. Sourdough Garlic Cheddar Bread Recipe This recipe is one of those creations. I hope you enjoy it. This bread is great for sandwiches or as a side with any meal. It will take your delicious sandwiches, fresh or toasted to the next level. The garlic adds such a wonderful flavor to the bread. Garlic is excellent for our immune systems and overall health, an added bonus to the bread. I used fresh minced garlic but you could use dehydrated or roasted. I think roasted would really elevate the flavor. Who doesn’t love a little cheddar cheese melted in their bread? Making it a wonderful pairing to the garlic. If you’re not a fan of cheddar you could certainly use a different hard cheese. This Sourdough Garlic Cheddar Bread is a must-try. Scroll down for the recipe. Bread Loaf Pan There are lots of things you use when making bread, measuring cups, bowls, spatulas, etc. I wanted to share this loaf pan with you. It is one that I have been using for over a year and absolutely love it. It is non-stick and very easy to clean. The sourdough garlic cheddar bread just slides right out of the pan. The best part is you don’t have to spray it with oil or butter before adding the dough. If you want to pick one up for yourself you can get it by clicking here Sourdough Tips and Tricks Don’t forget to check out some of our popular posts Please let me know in the comments below if you try the recipe. I have just started putting recipes on my blog. Any feedback is greatly appreciated in helping me grow and improve my blog. Once again, I hope you enjoy this recipe. I am trying to post recipes, and what we’re up to posts, etc. evenly. So, if you were hoping to read a different post this week, check back next week as there is always something new. If there is something you would like to see me post about on my blog please let me know. If I can I will. Cheers, Jill

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What’s Up With Us?

Jill — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 08:00:00 +0000

A little update on what’s up with us. Where we have been and what we have been up to. We have been absent for a while, busy with life and blog issues. Well, let’s get into it. Oh! and If you are new to the blog here are a couple of previous posts. Click here or here. Hurricane Season Well, it has been a long HOT summer with not a whole to post about. I had a lot of issues with the company I host my blog through and after months and months, things are finally sorted and back on track. With the blog being down so long I had a lot of work to get it back in shape again. More on that later in the post. So, before you start seeing posts again I thought it was best to update everyone first. What’s up where we are We spent this hurricane season back down in Grenada again. We stayed in Port Louis Marina this season. The marina was the best option this summer with what we had going on. It made it a lot easier to get the dogs on and off the boat for walks several times a day. It also made it easier in case Dave had work he was working on. This way I could take the dogs myself much more easily. The pups loved the break in a marina and the countless walks hunting for lizards. Generally, we got out and walked 4 times a day. The only downside was no beach time. We made up for it when we left the marina and spent several weeks in Carriacou. In Carriacou, we had loads of beach time, hauled the boat out for new bottom paint, and took a break from the boat. While the boat was on the hard we rented an apartment for a week. It was a nice change to boat life. Where we are headed Now that hurricane season is over we are working our way north. Our insurance lets us start moving north after November 1st. So, that is exactly what we have done. Of course, we are spending some quality time in some of our favorite spots. Stocking up on French food, pastries, rum, and of course, wine is a must on our list of things to do. The Blog With all the downtime and issues I had with the blog, it got severely outdated. I have spent a lot of time updating everything to get it back in order again. With that, I am starting to add in some things that I have always wanted to post including recipes, some of my passage-making recipes, Sourdough info, fermentation on a boat, more info on pups on a boat, things we use and love on the boat, and much more. Please let me know if there are things you want to see on the blog that I am not posting and I will try and include them if possible. So, I am going to start sharing those things on the blog sprinkled in. I have also been able to get a bit ahead enabling me to stay more consistent. I will still be posting things we are doing and seeing so don’t worry about that. In Conclusion That is pretty much the news on what’s up with us. It’s great to be back online again. It is also wonderful to be out of the marina sailing and experiencing new things. We will see you next week. Cheers, Jill

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New Dodger & Enclosure

Jill — Sat, 11 Feb 2023 10:00:27 +0000

Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Jill I have been getting a lot of comments and questions on our New Dodger & Enclosure. So, I thought it would be easiest to showcase it here. I put together a short video of the process. It’s nothing fancy and not too interesting but for those interested in it it is short and sweet. Link at bottom of the post. Dodger Dave helped me redesign the dodger frame. We got lucky and only had to order a few parts to adjust the height. We wanted to add height so that we could see someone standing at the bow of the boat. The old dodger was very short in height and you either had to look over it or bend down to see someone at the bow. Each window zips out completely, but the center window can be snapped to the top inside of the dodger. Enclosure The enclosure is something I have wanted to make for our boat since we bought it. It is nice to have during a squall underway or sitting at anchor to keep the cockpit dry. We have tested it out already and like it. There is still some tweaking that needs to be done to it yet. The front two windows stay in place all the time and the other two panels on each side zip out completely. They can all be removed if we need to take all the canvas down, but otherwise the front two stay in place. Next, I connected the dodger and solar frame (our bimini) with fabric. I did this to make it all one unit and again keep us dry when it rains. Last, I also put fabric above our heads right behind the end of the solar panels. I did this for shade while we are underway and for rain. We get a lot of sun exposure here so this helps a lot. We are still floating around the Bahamas waiting on the weather to get to The Raggeds for a week or so before sailing to Puerto Rico with a good weather window. In the meantime, we are busy working on boat projects and getting together with other cruisers. Dave has been working quite a bit as well. It’s great to be back in some beautiful water like our trip to the Dry Tortugas last year. Cheers, Jill

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