LET'S GO HOME FOR CHRISTMAS? - The whole time we were in Columbus from Nov. 27th thru the 15th of December we may have seen the sun 3 times. Every other day it rained and temps were in the low to mid 40's. On Monday the 14th our galley remodel project was coming to an end and we knew we would have to hang around until New Years for miscellaneous parts and pieces to arrive so 1st Mate suggested - " I want to go home for Christmas" at which the Captain replied "why don't you do that - get a ticket and fly home." "No, I mean I want the three of us to go home for Christmas" (slight hesitation) and then the Captain said "Sure, why not!" We left on Friday the 18th driving 17 hours straight and stayed thru the 26th returning to Columbus on the 27th. Temps were mild, we got 8" of snow on Christmas Eve and the whole week was like living in a Christmas Card - priceless.

Izzy's packed and ready to go home for Christmas

Got the decorations out and got a tree up even though we knew it would be only a week (kicked it to the curb on the 26th) - look Mom - the blockhead snowmen you made with your own two loving hands are adorning the fireplace (I accidently said to her this year that I thought Dad had some part in making them - boy did I hear from her on that one).

Get the shovels out - 8" of snow Christmas Eve and it's the lite fluffy stuff.

Izzy loves it!

Christmas Day turned to rain and the lite fluffy stuff became snowman making material. Izzy helped make this one.

The week was great - lots of visits with kids, grandkids and neighbors and Christmas cheer (maybe too much cheer). Izzy got to hike in the woods, on the lake, play with kids, her sister Kelly, dog friends, Buddy, Cisco, Abby, Tucker, Daisy and Etta and it took several days to recover once we got back to the boat.

UPDATE ON FRIDGE/FREEZER REPLACEMENT - After extensive research, we settled on an upright fridge/freezer combination made by a company out of Italy called Vitrifrigo. Rick likes it because it operates on a danfoss compressor/evaporater coil system and 12-36Volt DC or 100-240 volt AC. Deb likes it because it is pretty, shinny and new. We originally wanted it in black, but the dealer made us an offer we couldn't refuse on a stainless steel unit and we could get it right away.

This is the old Refrigerator Freezer side by side with the microwave in a cabinet down below it.

The hole where the old fridge/freezer sat - now the cutting begins. It's one thing to cut into a little cabinetry - it's another to cut into the fiberglass superstructure which was required in order to put in a vertical unit versus horizontal and, of course, all those hidden wires!

The top secret project underway - it was probably best not to know what was happening in there.

The new fridge in it's new space with the microwave/convection oven in it's new higher up cabinet - and more importantly -A NEW STORAGE CABINET (we all lust after more storage) - Deb called dibbs - sorry Rick - no tools allowed.

We found a wonderful cabinet maker in Columbus - cheap and he got what we needed done in three days! Face frame and doors for our new storage cabinet.

Bye-Bye - we talked about a burial at sea, but Jimmy and "T" (dock managers at Columbus Marina) offered to take them to recycling center for us.

Our new galley, still needs staining and varnishing, but it's functional - it certainly was not on the list of things to get done before we headed south, but, that's life. Nice job Rick, Love Deb

IT'S NANA'S BRAG BOOK TIME - School pics are out and here are four of my favorites

Cooper Campbell Smith - Age 6

Kindergarten

Georgia MacKay Smith - Age 9

Third Grade

Margaret Elizabeth Smith - Age 12

6th Grade

Jordan Ellsworth Smith - Age 16

11th Grade

WOULDN'T YOU KNOW NOVEMBER GOT NICE - it's hard to think about leaving to go south - you want it to be bitter cold and snowy. Anyway everythings ready so time to start packing!

We told Izzy to start picking out toys to pack to take south. She started with Duffy, Piggy and Ducky. Later she added Pheasanty (stolen from her sister Kelly next door) and squirelly. Oh, yes then boney and bally (notice a pattern here?)

Deb's family Thanksgiving/Christmas was very early this year - November 14th - Rick is happy because we can head south early. Here we all are in our festive party hats (minus David who is taking the picture and Cooper crashed on the couch).

Last day at the bus stop with the grandkids. Nana is very, very sad.

November 18th we headed south to Broulee in Columbus, MS via New York (doesn't everybody do it that way?) We had promised Rick's sister and brother-in-law a visit in September, but their son Brian had emergency brain surgery so our trip was delayed. With Brian now in rehab and on the mend we decided it would be a good time to visit. Don & San's house is on the Hudson River across from West Point in Garrison, New York . It's listed on the National Registry for Historic Places. Brian's doing great, Leslie's project is underway, the weather was perfect and it was wonderful to see everyone.

Rick & Leslie inspecting the equestrian center construction. Quite a project. Good job Leslie. Visit it's progress at http://www.myfeettakewings.org/

Devin, Macdera & Samantha

Devin stuck in the mud at the construction site

It was bound to happen - started out one stuck, then another one goes to help, then the whole darn family is stuck - kids anyway.

Brian and his daughter Sam at Leslie's house. Brian was on a one day pass from the Helen Hayes Rehabilitation Hospital.

Brian and his wife Courtney

Samantha's soccer team won the championship game her team was undefeated this season - Don and Rick congratulating her.

Sandra and Macdera

Izzy brought her stuffed toy (we call pheasanty) to New York with her, but as you can see Buster has latched onto it - well we figured it was ok, after all Izzy stole it from her sister Kelly who lives next door to us in Minnesota. We told Izzy you need to learn to share - let Buster play with it.

Well it looks like Phesanty is staying in New York with Buster - this was the day we were leaving and he was not giving it up. Have a happy life Pheasanty.

Got to Columbus, Ms on Thanksgiving day and did some quick grocery shopping - we loaded fridge and freezer with goodies, including Rick's favorite ice cream. Woke up the next morning to find out our freezer had taken it's last breath during the night - oh, good ice cream soup for breakfast. Seems simple - just call sub-zero and order a new freezer right? Come to find out they have quit making the freezer - you can still get the fridge - now what is the reasoning behind that decision. Anyway more to come on changes required to replace sub-zeros. Looks like we will be here for awhile.

OCTOBER IS CRUNCH TIME

We know it it time to get all the plants in, the boats, docks and lifts out and raking of the yard begins. All the lawn furniture needs to be stored and porches packed up. The kids have started to layer their clothing for early morning bus stop temps and we are dealing with the realization of moving to a 42 ft boat with a 65 pound puppy.

Well again, it was time to start moving all of the tropical plants and other plants worth saving into the green house/atrium.

Is there a green house in here somewhere?

Ok, we were getting the hint - the temps were falling and we had two snow falls just days apart on the 10th and 12th - a little scary because the boats, docks and lifts were not in yet. Luckily the snow melted and we had a chance to get the rest of our prep for leaving done.

Our neighbors, Mike & Anna suggested taking the new pups, Izzy & Kelly and seasoned veteran yellow lab Jordan out for a day of hunting to see how they would do. We were impressed with Izzy's first hunt - at least she didn't head for the car when the guns went off. Anna made an incredible pheasant dinner for all of us that evening.

Izzy, Rick and their 1st bird.

Rick flew down to check on Broulee in Columbus, Ms Oct. 19-23rd and to do a little engine room maintenance. Izzy and Deb kept the home fires burning and his two loyal friends awaited his return (and one of them is not the stuffed toy).

Carving of the pumpkin is a very serious event at our house. The kids both had different ideas on what the face should be. Georgia wanted a round mouth and square eyes. Cooper wanted a one toothed grin and triangle eyes. So the master carvers went to work and...

Tah - Dah, Pops managed to do a collaberation of Georgia and Coopers ideas and everybody was happy.

All the neighborhood kids have fun at halloween - they gather at one of the kids houses for a pre-party before heading out en masse for trick or treating - it's a little intimidating when you open up your door and there is 25 kids screaming at you. Cooper was a mighty fine Elvis this year and Georgia was a groovy Hippie Chick. Gail weren't you a Hippie Chick one year - oh, wait that wasn't a costume.

Carmen Miranda

Cup of Java, Stick of Butter, Ninja Girl
alot of fun stuff.