House is almost done - just one more month!

Here's the latest picture of our house - approximately one more month until "CO" day!  CO means "Certificate of Occupancy" that is issued by the town stating the house meets local codes - complete to move in!  On Monday, they installed the front door and pavers on the lanai.  There is still a "Punch List" (builder term) of things to be done, but the builders are working to complete it.  We expect the counter tops in the kitchen to be installed this week and some of the sprinker system and sod in back.  Very exciting - we can't wait!

Hot, Hot, Hot

Southwest Florida's summer is hot, hot, hot.  We sailed down Charlotte Harbor with wind 15 kt SE yesterday all the way to Burnt Store - Nice on the water but drenched in sweat at the dock.  While we were on the water, the roofers placed tiles and the solar panel on the roof.  Back on the ground, graders moved dirt around. Concrete will be poured this week to support the paver driveway. Inside, work continued on the molding, interior door and kitchen cabinets.  See pictures.  Maybe will add more each day as construction progresses.

Notice, I have added link to The Blog That Ate Manhattan.  Somebody at Google picks a few blogs every day or so as Blogs of Note. So I have been checking them out. That's how I found the Manhattan blog. Another well done blog is the Crow Hill Almanac. Want to snoop on the inner and outer workings of a twenty something South Beach girl?  If you answer Yes, Google search for Red Means Go Blog.  Interested in sailing stuff? Click the Punta Gorda Sailing Club link on the left and scroll through the long, long webpage. New stuff shows up frequently.

So Well, So Well, So Well

 The time honored response, So Well, So Well, So Well  belted out by the crowd shook the IYC dining room walls.  The usually sadate club members were wired alive as Jim Morris performed solo for three hours without a break last Saturday night.  

They surprised me, these IYC folks. I never would have guessed so many not only knew the classic Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother lyrics, but also knew how to participate.  We did because Jerry Jeff Walker always includes this song in his annual performance at the Galveston Grand Opera House.  Joanne & I were fortunate enough to attend twice. What's the Redneck Mother doing down here? Don't know?  Review the  Redneck Mother Lyrics  so you can join right in next time you get a chance.  If you are interested in a little history, click UAW/MF.

Back to Jim Morris.  Some of his songs are about drinking; some are a little risque; and some - well just beautiful! Jim really knows the local Charlotte Harbor waters.  (Joanne rated the event an A+.)  We are looking to acquire some of his CDs and maybe head out to the Nav-A-Gator where Jim plays on a regular basis.    

SlideMoors & Update on Building Our House

This week Eagle's Wings moved to our new dock so that Ron Parr
Marine could install SlideMoors.

 
What the heck are SlideMoors?  Our stern cleat ties tight to a slide mounted on an aluminum track secured to the piling.  A second slidemoor system keeps the bow tight against another piling. To add a SlideMoor for the bow, Ron had to move a piling away from the dock.  

As the tide comes and goes, the boat remains tight against the pilings as it moves up and down. Click  SlideMoors if you want to learn more.  The SlideMoor system is popular here in Punta Gorda.  In Hurricane Charley, boats secured with the system fared better than those secured in other ways.

Of course, Charley didn't generate much of a storm surge and people here steadfastly believe that a storm surge as high as Ike's surge can't happen here.  As one who has looked out on the vast expanse of  Galveston Bay and then up at Ike's high water mark on old Jimmy Walkers pilings, I am not convinced.
So we will take additional measures to secure Eagle's Wings as we move along through the hot, hot summer.  Mainly, we keep our insurance paid up!

 Our house number plaque ordered over the Internet by Joanne arrived this week. We hope to have it mounted on our new house early September when we move in.  This week cabinets arrived. The outside was painted. The floor was prepped for tile. Some of the crown moulding was installed. The sewer was connected. a landscaper proposed a plan for plants and trees.  The A/C should be running next week.  Click the Building Our House link on the left and scroll down to see the latest photos.  Stay tuned for progress!