Seahorses

Don't ask why it took me until now to discover that seahorses are considered good luck.

Image: oscar alexander/Flickr

Bodega Bay #3 Painting

Oil painting by Deborah Cushman. (See another one here.)

Image: LittlePaintings.com

Lily Update

Lily's deaf. I'm pretty sure she's been deaf for a while, and I just didn't realize it until this week. It's an adjustment -- I guess I don't need to say blueberry as a key word, or wear bells around my ankle. It's made me aware of how much I talk to her, and now I'm trying to use touch much more, rather than voice. But her quality of life is good, and we're taking it one day at a time. I just know how lucky I am to still have her with me at 14. As a little kid at the park said, "That's like 100 years old."

Anchor Tattoos

Although this is still my favorite, I do like the anchor tattoo, too.

Image: Unknown via Nautica

Sunset Water Abstract

I'm really trying to enjoy our lovely autumn sunsets. And everything else before winter hits us.

Image: lakewentworth/Flickr

My DeLonghi Heater

About my heater: I had this DeLonghi oil-filled radiator for years, and loved it. Then it died, and a few days ago I bought this smaller version off Craigslist. It's smaller, more portable, and fits in a cupboard. When it's out, it takes up less visual space -- which appeals to the minimalist in me. (And yes, it gets cold on my boat, but it's California cold, not Alaska cold. You know we're weenies.)

Image: Amazon

Earthquakes

Nope, I don't feel earthquakes when I'm on the boat. I suppose that makes sense since, um, the boat's not on land. Recently I may have felt an aftershock because the dock sort of shifted and made a strange sound -- I couldn't be sure, though. Just in case you were wondering.

Image: kconnors/morgueFile

Propane Heater

My friend D has a SIG Marine propane heater on his sailboat. It's pretty cool. Maybe someday I'll get one -- although I'm not sure where it would fit.

Image: West Marine 

Dog Bed

Coveting this dog bed.

Image: bawkbawkbawk

Layoffs

Interesting: My new neighbor B was laid off right after he moved aboard the boat he's renting. Just like I was (the day after I moved onto my houseboat three years ago). He seems okay with it because he's so enamored of living aboard. Just like I was.

Image: rcphoto/Veer

Floating Dining Room

Speaking of outdoor meals, check out this floating dining room. It floats on plastic bottles, travels the world, and seats 12 people for multi-course sustainable seafood dinners. More info here.

Images: School of Fish Foundation
Via: **Happiness Is...**

Outdoor Meals

I have a hunch that this past weekend was the end of our Indian Summer. It feels as if we never really had a summer -- and it definitely feels as if I didn't eat enough meals outdoors the last few months.

Image: West Elm

Mirrors

Fantastic bathroom. I love all the different mirrors. Oh, and the sinks and faucets, too.

Image: Les Sources des Caudalie via Remodelista

Driftwood Sailboat Napkin Holder

Not that I need napkin holders, but OceanSwept's are pretty darn cute.

Image: OceanSwept/Etsy

The Holstee Manifesto Poster

The Holstee Manifesto poster by Holstee.

Image: Holstee

Where I'd Rather Be

Today, I'd rather be here.

Image: Cote Sud via French By Design

Simple Bedroom

Nice and simple.

Image: The Smithy via The Brick House

One Flower

One night I was feeling blue, walking along the dock after dropping my rent check off at the harbormaster's office. A neighbor who lives on one of the other docks -- someone I don't even really know -- was also walking along, and we started chatting. Suddenly he handed me a rose, saying I looked like I needed it. I did.

Image: M. Christian/Flickr

Window Seat

Oh yes.

Image: Safdie Rabines Architects

My Grey Floors

The saga of the floors continues. First I tried to match the unbleached linen I have on the settees, so went with Benjamin Moore's Smokey Taupe (top), but it had too much pink in it. Then I tried Thunder (bottom), but I don't love it. Paint colors always look different on the boat because of the light, and Thunder just looks too dreary, industrial. I'm not sure what's up next.

Images: Benjamin Moore and Benjamin Moore

'30s Boat Fashion Vintage Photo

Another great vintage photo. For sale here.

Image: PaperSeeker/Etsy

Encinitas Boat Houses

The S.S. Encinitas and S.S. Moonlight were never actual boats, but were built in 1929 to honor mariners. Located in the beach town of Encinitas, near San Diego, the Boat Houses are rental homes. Click here to read more.

Image: Duckworks

Buying Stuff (and Boats)

The other night D and I were talking about how studies have proven that it's experiences that make people happy, not things. But then I realized that buying a houseboat actually did make me happy, and he said that buying his sailboat made him happy. We agreed, though, that what we were actually buying was a change in lifestyle, a different way of living. So boats don't count as things if you live on them, right?

Image: TomCZ/Veer

Stainless Steel Destroyer Wheel

One of these days I just might replace my wood steering wheel (which you can see here) with a sleek stainless steel one.

Image: Marine Specialties

Sea & Sky IV Photograph

Archival pigment ink on canvas by Cheryl Maeder.

Image: Cheryl Maeder/PurePhoto

Belted Kingfisher

New bird sighting this weekend -- i.d. helped by binoculars and my handy-dandy guide (oh, and R): a Belted Kingfisher. (Really didn't care about birds three years ago.)

Image: Kevin Cole/Wikipedia

Old Faithful Beach Cottage

Please, can I go stay at Old Faithful? Such a cute little beach cottage in Ocean Park, Washington. It sounds idyllic. Details here.

Images: Lisa Warninger/{frolic!}

Harbor Water

At some marinas, the water's clean enough that you can jump in and swim. Not ours. Although some of my neighbors and their kids do jump in on really hot days, I'll pass on joining 'em.

Image: digerati/Veer

Sea Monster Letterpress Cards

I'm feeling like I may need some of Erica Barraca's sea monster letterpress cards.

Image: littlepretty/Etsy

Three

Three years ago today, Lily and I moved aboard the houseboat. Best decision ever.

Image: foshydog/Flickr

Nine Minutes

R once told me that he thought I could pack up my entire boat in nine minutes. Including the stuff in the drawers. He may be right. 

Image: MysticLily/Etsy

DIY Convertible Couch

While I love my built-in settee, copying Mette's homemade couch/guest bed would have been a good alternative. Click here for the details.

Image: Mettes Potteri

Rolling Huts

Check out the six Rolling Huts, in Washington's Methow Valley. Each hut has just what you'd need for a vacation: A fridge, microwave, fireplace, sleeping platform, modular seating that can be made into another bed, and WiFi. There's an adjacent portable toilet, and full bathrooms and showers in a barn. Kinda like camping, but kinda not. More info here.

Images: Tim Bies/Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects

Shell Doorstop

Perfect.

Image: Tricia Foley/The Perfect Thing

Blue-Grey Wall

Pretty blue-grey wall (the paint's Parma Gray by Farrow & Ball).

Image: Design*Sponge

Life Ring

I guess I should get one of these at some point. Not that it's a pressing problem until I actually take the boat out.

Image: Andy Dean/Veer

It's Good to Live Simply

It's good to live simply when things are going well, but when life is difficult it is essential. That's because every object, habit, movement, conversation, undertaking, responsibility, and reaction takes energy.

-Daphne Rose Kingma

Image: High Road House

Lily Sprawled

Well, that's a new position.

Monterey Friday

Yesterday in Monterey: Sunshine. Blue skies. Perfect temperature. Blue, blue water. Walks with Lily at two beaches and a park. Geese. Ducks. Coots. A nice lunch. Thrifting. And this, on the steps of the house as I left. (Yes, I talked to her -- until a large buck came along, and they both disappeared into the backyard.)

Monterey Reduction Linocut

Reduction linocut by Michelle/Quail Lane Press.

Image: quaillanepress/Etsy