I decided I have been slacking... I better catch up on my blogging while able to remember all that is taking place.
This is a regular scene here at South harbor village marina. I will be here until October 1st. I think???

Much has happened since last update. I am now into week 6 with no pain meds.  Interesting. Overdoing it, certainly has a different connotation when there is not a pain pill to bail one out. :-)  I have had all manner of weird releases of stored up meds in my body. I will suddenly feel kind of weird and buzzy. It will last anywhere from a couple minutes to a half hour. However...taking the good with the bad. I am regaining my faculties. I knew the pain pills affected my reasoning, communication and functioning, I just had to get to a point where I could do something about it.

I feel more like "me" all the time.

Last week Steve and Linda Franko stopped by on their way north. I truly enjoy their company. I have found the boating world to be rife with good people and they are a shining example.

So back to boat projects.

The fresh water pump needed replacing. You know what they say about opening a can of worms?
The old pump was mounted under the galley sink. Instructions for new pump said to mount within 5 feet of water tank....hmmm. Means under v-berth. I also realized that the old water line was pretty flimsy. I am sure it was meant to be used with the hand and foot pumps that came with Mary Lee when new.

So I created a mess. By the time I was done, I had stuff everywhere but the spot on settee where I sat to assemble, rest and plan.

The mess just kept growing...and growing. I also had to run wire for the new pump along with the hose.

At last I had all but the wiring finished. Why is it that I constantly have this place open? I have seen holding tank and hoses for said tank all I can stand.
I get it all put together and find one more problem. No vent on fresh water system. Cannot fill water properly and after fixing many leaks. I now have a vacuum that will not allow pump to work properly. Great!!!

 Picture of new pump in new place. I had to reach in to get a picture of this. It was not so easy to install

Through hull fitting. Vent hose ran up into hanging locker and back down through v-berth. I installed through hull about 7 inches down from elbow that was up near fill cap. Put screen on fitting before sliding hose on. Keeps bugs out. Tank fills correctly and shoots out through fitting when full. Half the boaters (sail and power) I asked had this set-up. It works for now...I'll take it.

Sea Midge is first dinghy on assembly line. I am converting these old plans over to a stitch and glue.
I will build several different dinghies this summer until I find the one that suits me. I should be able to sell the ones I do not like so I can recoup my losses when buying material. I will finish lofting(drawing out) Sea Midge today and should have most of the pieces cut out and be starting assembly today.

I thought I had a picture of hanging locker that vent was installed in. There is a nice little trim piece that keeps everything tucked away nicely in the corner.

Cardboard mock up of new galley. I wanted to see if it was something I could live with. Space on right is where gimbaled stove will go. Old galley will turn into Nav. station. It seems odd to have a sink and stove right in the corner with the electric panel. I also need a galley I can have room to cook in. I m not a minimalist when it comes to that. I thought I would have to learn that when I bought Mary Lee. Steve and Linda set me straight there. They give up nothing as far as having good meals.
Sure...I can cook everything in a skillet, but why?

I can do a hundred variations of meat and potatoes in a skillet. Love pancakes with eggs. I never get tired of favorites. But I think I want a place to make cinnamon rolls, sweet bread....whatever.

I bought a new cast iron skillet and flat iron for galley work. I love cooking with cast iron.

Could not figure out how to turn this picture. The guy had a couple of these out when I rode by on bike.

I have more to blog about but it is getting late in the morning and I have a dinghy to get to work on.

One last picture. I met Paul on his way south to Florida. This is his restoration project. One of 22 block Island 40's built before plans were sold to Hinckley. Bill Trip designed. Paul's was built in 1961. What beautiful lines. I will look him up when I go south just to see how it is coming along. Paul is good people.

I am constantly meeting new people and making friends. The back pain is a constant companion but I am dealing with it. The point....Better to have a life, no matter how painful...than to not have a life because of the pain. I know both ends of it. I am going to hurt anyways, this way I have things to look forward to.
I am constantly amazed that of all the things I could have done to try and get my life back...I really did choose correctly. If given the choice...I would maybe do a few things differently .. maybe? I would still have made the choice to buy Mary Lee. The battles fixing her have helped with the recovery. At times I am sure working on Mary Lee is more than I can take. But to stop...... not a chance. I will happily take the good with the bad. Next week I will be stringing new running rigging. Then begins sailing 101. I have help. I will sail all I can this summer once started.

Mary Lee is pulling into shape at about the speed I can keep up with. A beat up sailor and a neglected boat. What a pair!!!  

Life is good!!!