Im really behind posting this month. We did a lot in February but so much has happened since then that the details are lost to me. Here is what I do remember:

Chris helped crew the C’est Si Bon, a 1980 Tayana 42’, on it’s offshore voyage from Kemah, TX to Lake Pontchartrain.

I sent him off to get provisions for his 4-day trip, but when he returned with only a box of granola bars and a six pack of diet Pepsi I decided to intervene!

I loaded him up with cans of tuna salad and crackers, nuts and beef jerky. Then I called the captain of Ces’t Si Bon and asked if the crew would like breakfast burritos for their early morning departure. I was told it would be very much appreciated. I chose a recipe that has a high calorie content, I thought it would be a good, stick-to-your-bones kind of meal; Chris said it tastes more like a Sloppy Joe than breakfast, but it "wasn't bad, just different".

Foul Weather Gear for a cold February sail

Crew getting ready to depart in the early morning hours

Passing through the bridge into Lake Pontchartrain

C'est Si Bon motor sailing about 50 nm offshore

I also made a pot of Ree Drummond’s Cowboy Stew. The reviews for the crew ranged from “Delicious!” to “Lifesaving”. With such high praise it’s definitely going into our regular rotation of boat recipes. I also packed a bag of sandwiches (which Chris decided to hoard for himself). It wasn’t much but I was very glad I was able to contribute something, it made me feel like I had a small role in the trip even though I wasn’t actually onboard.

Crew arrived safely just after sunset

You can click on the picture above, or the button below, if you want the recipe for this "lifesaving" Cowboy Stew! Hopefully one of those links works.

It was strange being alone on the boat at night while Chris was gone. "Wasn't bad, just different". Soon enough though I was headed to Louisianna to meet up with the crew. Buddy, the owner of C’est Si Bon, generously hosted us for the evening at his home in Mandeville MS and then brought us back to our boat in Kemah.

We returned to find the weather had warmed up significantly and decided to do a little sailing on our own just out in the bay. It was pleasantly uneventful, almost. We did have the small issue of the streaming light being knocked off the mast by the headsail, (don't ask, I don't know).

Chris went half-way up the mast to replace it. I wasn’t too worried about winching him up, I was however dreading the lowering him back down part. I wanted to call our neighbor Len, who leant us the Bosun’s chair, but Chris said we needed to learn how to do these things on our own since we wouldn’t always have someone nearby.

Turns out we already had a Bosun's chair, thanks to the previous owner. But prior to borrowing Len's we had no idea what it was, some kind of cover for the radar dome or the BBQ grill??!

The only thing scarier than having to go up the mast in a Bosan's chair is having to buy one, which like everything boat related, is pretty expensive. Thankfully we were able to borrow one.

We also had new decals (including our boat's new name, LaurAlee), made and installed for us by G Wraps Signs & Graphics. Maybe someday we will get around to DIY-ing new pinstriping. Maybe.

Started with a good cleaning.

Opted for professional installation.

We are really happy with how they came out. What do you think?

Watch this if you want to make sloppy joe burritos, too!

Holding Fast and Moving On