Backyard Boat Parade!

Nutin' says Florida Christmas like a holiday boat parade. Our 'hood hosts an annual one, and we're lucky enough to be on the last canal of the parade route. This year, we decided to mark the occasion by having a lil' viewing party (as if we needed an excuse to host dear friends & neighbors. ha!) Saturday night, just before 9pm, we all scooted down to the seawall to watch in wonder and awe. Our neighbors cruised by in their boats bedazzled with lights, cheery decor and holiday music.

We saw boats with Florida style...

Some with LIVE performers...
And MANY, MANY Santas...
It was hard to pick a favorite, but we fell for this one. Anyone else got a fave?

We had so much fun, we are considering making the boat viewing party an annual tradition. Sweet!

Green hope for Tampa?

Tampa isn't known as the greenest city. Actually, it's ranked pretty low compared to other cities. But there's hope! Last weekend Tampa held the Going Green Tampa Bay Expo 2009. On the first day of the expo, author/actor/environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. was signing copies of his two latest green publications. We made it to the Expo on its 2nd day and perused a variety of eco-vendors ranging from solar installation companies to eco boutiques. We drooled over endless eco-goodies and the mack-daddy of them all: a hybrid-electric luxury boat manufactured in Clearwater, FL.

Behold the "Endeavor" which even has a bimini roof option featuring solar panels:

WEEK 42-43:I’m on a boat…

We got a boat! Since the day we closed on our house nearly 10 months ago, we dared to dream of someday owning a small, uncomplicated boat that would fulfill our coastal dreams… The big gas-guzzling vessels were never an option, as we didn’t think they would go with our environmentally-friendly house. We Googled, researched, and Googled some more until finally agreeing on the Pelican Energy DLX boat : an electric/pedal hybrid boat. Instead of horse power, this bad boy uses human-power (pedaling) or alternately you can use the electric engine which has 5 forward and 2 reverse speeds. Other goodies include: marine battery, 3-lb anchor, adjustable seatbacks that recline; seat cushys; retractable bimini top; two built in cooler/storage compartments; pop-up rudder and of course…cup holders. CHEERS! And though you’ll never see our boat on a music video, it is just enough to take us - plus 3 of our closest friends - cruisin' the Florida waters. WHEE!

• DECISIONS: to take a day off of work for J's birthday and spend part of it at the grand opening of IKEA-Tampa; to get a 7x10 shed for all the yard and tools supplies we never knew we needed (electric hedge trimmer?); exchanged Pfister vanity faucets from Home Depot for more contemporary styled IKEA ones; to call in our favorite contractor to expedite a few lagging projects like the interior doors


• LABOR: We painted the patio pad (tutorial to be posted soon); installed the gazebo; and put up a new Rubbermaid Big Max Ultra shed...phew!


• MAJOR PURCHASES: Pelican Energy DLX electric pedal boat; Rubbermaid Big Max Ultra Shed; IKEA Dalskar faucets;

Here's our very own marine vessel!

Master bath faucet (x2) for the double vanity:

WEEK 22- 23: Bye-bye boat!

It’s gone. It’s really gone! When we purchased Pacha Mama House, she was the biggest eyesore on the block – everyone knows that. What is less known is that Pacha Mama had a secret on her seawall – the late 70s derelict vessel. At nearly 22 feet long, you could not miss this boat. Although large and outfitted with a cutty cabin, the boat was abandoned and neglected for many harsh years. With much fanfare, Jim of “Jim’s Boat Removal” was finally able to tow the boat away. Thanks Jim, you are our hero. With the boat removal saga behind us, we can really enjoy our waterfront view. So now M. is on a back-yard kick lately and has repeatedly taken a chainsaw to some of the invasive and non-native trees to “clear-cut” the backyard jungle. In the clear-cutting process we discovered some tiny crabs on the seawall and a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the water… With the holidays coming up, we will be busy of course, but M.’s taking some days off of work which will hopefully mean more progress for Pacha Mama House.

• DECISION: To subcontract out the exterior painting of Pacha Mama House to the “pros”


• LABOR: In the Master bedroom and Dining room, we finished all crown molding and baseboard painting; Painted dining room in “Smooth driftwood” color; have started clear cutting backyard jungle since boat is now gone


• MAJOR PURCHASES: a table saw with stand that does mitered cuts (so that M. can work on our interior doors, moldings and baseboards; a clay chimnea with stand; a ceiling fan for the living room with domed light and a remote control - we think it is contemporary without being too cold and we needed a flush-mount for our low ceilings and a light kit that people wouldn't bonk their head ons

Ta-dah...the new fan!

"I'm amazed this thing is floating"

Today was supposed to be the day..the day we would bid a bon voyage to our derelict vessel. But it was not to be. It was, however, the day that I fell in the canal. There were no injuries, but I did have to say goodbye to an old pair of shoes and socks, and a bit of my pride. The mud next to the sea-wall is deep, and gunked up the socks & shoes beyond saving. I was already laughing by the time I hauled myself out of the water. I was also able to amuse J when I told her what had happened.

-----
A little background on the "boat". Neighbors tell us it showed up somewhere around 5 years ago. From what we've been able to tell, it was purchased by one of the former owners. The boats motor & other salvagable pieces were stripped and sold. This owner lost the house in foreclosure, and it was bought by an Investor, Mr T. Mr. T. rented it for a couple of years with the boat still there, before deciding to flip it to sell. Once the house was nearing completion, the market had taken it's turn south, and he let it go into foreclosure, and the bank took over..all with the boat still there.

Now looking back on the situation, we should have included the boat removal in the offer process, but we did not realize how the situation was going to unfold.
-----

Fast forward to today. The boat has been semi-floating for 5-ish years, and we have a guy coming out to take care of it. Jim showed up and we went out to take a look a the boat. he hopped on board, and started to realized just how much of a process this was going to be.

The boat is 1978 Bayliner, and it used to have an inboard motor. For the uninitiated (like I was until recently), an inboard motor actually mounts below the water line of the boat. This also means that if you remove the motor, you end up with a large hole below the waterline of the boat. Boats don't really like having holes below the waterline, because they usually lead to sinking..which is bad.

So while Jim was checking the boat out, he said "I'm amazed this thing is floating", which is exactly what J and I had thought on so many occasions. So he checked out the boat, and realized that he did not have the pieces necessary to remove it this morning. So he put together a list of parts to bring, and we rescheduled for Saturday. So if all goes well, which it probably won't, we should be short one derelict vessel by the end of Saturday.