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01 July 2016

June In Numbers

Clockwise from upper left: (1) Limoncello; (2) Plum liqueur; (3) Recycling old towels; (4) Getting crafty with my Sailrite sewing machine; (5) Cheap and cheerful frames from Walmart; (6) More kitty sitting.

Every month I do a random wrap-up in numbers of some of the things I got up to. June was a pretty quiet month at Indiantown Marina as most people have cleared out for the summer. Fortunately, my pals at MJ Sailing and Sailing Wind Spirit are still here to keep me amused, along with some other local friends. Summer officially started this month in the northern hemisphere - not that you would notice any difference in southern Florida. It's always hot and muggy here, just varying shades of hot and muggy as the seasons change.

Here's some of what happened on Tickety Boo during June, by the numbers:

  • 2 - The number of homemade liqueurs I made. I'm using this recipe for the limoncello (an Italian lemon liqueur). For my plum liqueur, I've basically chucked plums, cinnamon sticks and whole cloves into a jar with cheap vodka. It's kind of similar to how I made damson gin when we lived in Scotland. I'll add some sugar syrup to it later. The hard part is to wait for them to age for several months before sampling. 
  • 9 - The number of things I've magicked up on my Sailrite sewing machine including some fabric liners for storage baskets, a simple case to protect my cell phone, an adorable (if I do say so myself) tangerine swirl patterned tote bag and a couple of zippered pouches. Everything was made out of scrap material from other projects. I also re-purposed an old towel, cutting it into smaller sections and binding the hems to keep them from fraying.
  • 16 - The number of meatless days I had. I've been trying to do more vegetarian meals lately including dahl (curried lentils), black bean chili, pasta primavera and the ever popular PB&J on cinnamon raisin bread.
  • 19 - The number of picture frames I hung up on our boat. It's cheap and cheerful way to decorate in tiny spaces.
  • 15 - The number of minutes it took me to do my New Zealand taxes online. Dead easy compared to doing our US taxes. 
  • Countless - The number of hours I've spent researching various boat projects, equipment etc. It can take a lot of time to even understand a subject (such as snap installation tools, varnish, chain plates, galley faucets, water filtration or safety tethers), let alone figure our what your options and potential costs are. 
  • $1.06 - How much I spent on a cute pair of flip flops at the dollar store. They have colorful surfboards on them. I basically live in cheap flip flops these days, but I always feel bad when I throw a pair out after a couple of months and contribute to our landfill issues. 
  • 2 - The number of bloggers I met last month - Ed and Vicky from Catching the Horizon. It almost seems like every sailing blogger ends up in Indiantown at some point or another. It was lovely to meet them while they were here putting their boat in storage.
  • 3 - The number of calls I've had to make to the insurance company and doctors' offices to try to straighten out some insurance claims. And it's still not sorted. {Sigh}
  • 9 - The number of books I read during June. I've always loved reading - not only is it a great escape, but I'm constantly learning something new. Like Dr Seuss said, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

Hope you had a wonderful June and an even better July!

In case you missed them, here are some of our favorite blog posts from last month:

5 Frugal Things & The Cruising Kitty
Wordless Wednesday | Soylent Green
3 Things Kids & Writers Worry About

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22 comments:

  1. Busy month! I put in 12 calls to deal with Sears (online). It was an overseas call center. Eventually I realized they're just reading from a script and they don't even seem to have any idea what I'm saying. I think it's like me learning another language, then trying to comprehend the finer nuances of what residents there are saying. I'd probably pretend and read from a script, too! Just whatever you do, never, ever order anything from Sears online!

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    1. What a nightmare!! There is nothing worse than getting through to a call center where all they can do is read from a script and have no actual idea how to resolve your problem :-(

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  2. Good luck with the insurance claims. They are the worst! Especially when you add in the anger over using up cell phone minutes by being on hold and getting nowhere.

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    1. Fortunately, I have unlimited minutes. If I didn't, that would probably send me over the edge :-)

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  3. I do know that June is a blur. Went by awfully fast.

    You've had a good month and I love that you're doing more vegetarian than meat. I'm pretty much doing the same thing.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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    1. It's been fun to keep track of how many vegie days I've been doing. Makes me realize I can happily do without meat (most of the time).

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  4. Ah, insurance. I'm so very, very happy to be finished providing services for them. What a PITA it is. I know it makes putting off sampling your liqueurs even harder. You certainly kept busy! I do love the tangerine swirl tote. Very chic!

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    1. Insurance seems to be a nightmare for everyone - patients and providers. Ugh :-(

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  5. Mmmmm - limoncello. I'm coming to your boat.

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  6. You are making booze so you need to read the drunken botanist by Amy Stewart. She writes about the plants that make our drinks. She also has recipes. It's a book that will make you thirsty and you will learn lots.

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    1. Thanks for the tip - sounds interesting! I'll see if I can get it through the library online.

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  7. Sounds like you've been busy. I can't imagine having sewing equipment on a sailboat (do you repair your own sails?).

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    1. I haven't had to repair sails yet, but the machine I have is designed to go through heavy fabric like sailcloth. It's kind of a pain to have it on board, but since this is my only home, it kind of has to live here.

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  8. You are making so many enjoyable things, I would love to try your limoncello, and your tangerine tote is so cute. I'm missing my Sailrite, as it is on the boat, and I am not.

    Donna/Denali Rose

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  9. Liqueurs! I'll have to try the limoncello recipe. I spend hours in my childhood picking wild raspberries and eating them by the handful. And then one day my great-uncle told me his recipe for wild raspberry liqueur. Equal amounts of sugar and berries (I used less) cover with vodka and then a third more (I found that brandy worked well, also), shake the GLASS bottle every day, open and strain after Thanksgiving (late November). And then try not to drink any until the next June.

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    1. Yum...raspberry liqueur! I'll have to try that one too :-)

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  10. Your homemade liqueurs sound yummy. I totally understand that the waiting is the hardest thing! How come you have to file taxes in New Zealand? Do you feel healthier or more active when you eat less meat? Good luck with the insurance, claim, Ellen. Such a pain!!! I hope you at least get to talk to a person and ideally the same person each time you call...

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    1. We have bank accounts in New Zealand (and we're resident there) so we have to file taxes.

      I don't feel any different not eating meat, but I'm sure it's better for my health.

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  11. I've always said I'd make a great vegetarian (I really do have an issue with eating animals), but it's difficult on a boat when you like to hang out in remote area . . . that, and I haven't found any veggies that taste like chocolate. Good luck!

    Stephanie @ SV CAMBRIA

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    1. If only there was a vegetable that tasted like chocolate! I'd give up meat forever :-)

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