This 'N' That, with Pictures

Forgive us, but this post is short on verbiage, longer on visuals...

Here's a smattering of recent pics from the last few weeks:

Dev arrived back in Florida from a work trip to CA, and was greeted at the dock by the family in the "family car".

 We drove up to the Miami Boat Show, the biggest boat show in the world. We met Leon Slikkers, founder of Tiara Yachts.  Leon is the father of Dev's college roommate Tom Slikkers, who is now CEO of Tiara.  Leon started the company in his garage, and through hard work and quality boat building over many years, has created a legacy of fine yachts.

                                                Free boat show driving lessons.

 When we grow rich, we might get a big catamaran!  This Gunboat 66 might work.

 It was a wonderful surprise to run into Sylvia and Stan Dabney.  We met them at the Miami Boat Show over 20 years ago when we were first looking to buy a boat.  They own a Valiant 40 and are cruisers who spent a great deal of time answering all of our questions over many months and we owe them a great deal.  It was great to see them again!

                                            Boy. Dog.

                                                     Dog.  Boy.

                                 The water in Key West has so many unique colors.

 Jamie learns to drive the dinghy.   9' Boston Whaler with a 15 hp Yamaha outboard.

                                         Just another (amazing) sunset.

                                        Tooling around taking sunset pictures.

                                                    The dinghy dock in Key West.

 Visiting from Newport Beach, California on a cruise ship, Chase Greer and Jesse Blanchard were classmates of Brady last year.
 

 Visiting moms Michele Greer and Joanne Blanchard catch up with Alisa on the latest news from home.

 This bird landed on our rigging and hopped around the boat for a few minutes with a piercing, beeping call.  It looked a little like a redwing blackbird but is probably a rooster in disguise.

 The kids line up for a photo.  Jamie, Brady, Oliver, Jesse, Chase, Nikki, Kenzie, Martin.

 Putting on the mainsail on the boat requires inserting battens into the sail to keep it from flogging.

                                     Our new staysail boom weight.  

 Sunset dinghy ride with our boat friends Oliver (8) and Martin (5) from the sailing cat "Anticipation".

                                  
                                            Jamie working on his tan.

 This creature sailed by the boat.  Not to be trifled with....Portugese Man o' War will give you a sting you won't soon forget.

                  Another view of the sailor.

                                              Pirate Cat hanging on our wall.

                                              Relaxing.

            The Keys are home to some, well,  interesting people.

            A man and his dog.  Interesting people with interesting pets.

                    More creative transportation.

                         Boys on a boom.

Version number 3487 of the Lego Travel Lift.

 This Tilefish was hanging out near our swim step today, so we gently guided him into our net for a photo and then let him go.

 We raise our dinghy on a halyard every night for security and safety.  Oh, and to keep it from making noise banging against the hull in the morning when we are sleeping!

Family portrait just after launching from the boatyard.