Mattina

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Goes Beach Running

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley Here,

Now I’m a dog who likes to take it easy on the beach. I like to dig a hole and drop myself into it. But just when I try to relax in my pit of sand, I see my pack coming.

I’m trying to look cool, as if I’m uninterested in the runners. Do you like my hat?

Farley with HAt

But you know me. I can’t help myself and I get excited.

“Stop running,” I bark. “Come and sit in this nice hole I dug for you.”

Kristina waves and yells, “Come.”

“No way,” I bark. “I’ve got a coconut to play with.”

Farley Joining Run

No one stops, so what choice to I have but to join the run.

Gang running

Okay, I’ll admit, I had fun.

Woof Woof.

The Day We Bought Mattina

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Now that Mattina is for sale, all kinds of memories are surfacing. Things I haven’t thought of in a while. Sometimes in life you just have to laugh at yourself.

On the day we moved on board Mattina, we drove from Ottawa to a marina in Delaware and met the owners. We’d met the previous fall when  we flew to Baltimore to see Mattina, and since had been corresponding at a furious rate about Mattina. As it turned out, not enough to know the boat.

Mattina Day 1 2009 07 13

After checking out our lovely new boat, we agreed with the previous owners to go out for a drink and celebrate. Well, drinks turned into dinner and darkness had settled  when we arrived back on board.

Did we think about arriving in the pitch black this ahead of time? Not so lucky.

Try getting on an unfamiliar boat in the dark and figuring out the electrical panel. It’s hard to know which switch to flip to give power to the lights when the lights are out. We managed, but the event was good reminder we better take some time and get to know our knew home well.

New boat owner mistake. Gotta laugh.

Thanks for reading.

Farley’s Friday: Paddle Boarding for Dogs?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Farley Here,

Jasper and his human, Libby, go ripping by my boat on their paddle board. Jasper is one of my Friend For Life dogs. And doesn’t he look cool out there? Who knew a Springer Spaniel could be so talented.

“Wait for me,” I bark.

Jasper on Paddle Board

Now I don’t have a paddle board. I’ve got a kayak, which I love, but this board thingy looks pretty fun.

“Wait for me,” I bark again, but Jasper and Libby glide on by as if they don’t understand what I’m saying.

What kind of friends are they? Okay, still my FFL, but really, he should invite me along when he’s having fun.

Woof Woof.

Volleyball While Sailing?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 5 Comments

We often get asked how we keep fit while cruising, and usually I write about the sports I like to do. Today I thought I share a bit of Matt’s life on the  beach. He’s the one in the red shirt about to set the ball.

Volleyball

Everyday on Volleyball beach a group of people meet to play ball. There is anything from 2s to 9s at all levels of play. The 9s is fun volleyball. It’s comprised of nine people on each side, and as far as I can tell, a lot of laughter is mandatory.

On the other end of the scale is 2s. This is for the more serious players and Matt’s personal favourite. Next comes 3s and then 4s. Nothing like a bit of competition to make a guy happy.

If you’re interested in this lifestyle, Mattina is for sale.

Thanks for reading . . .

Writing Platform

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 3 Comments

Do you have place you love to write from?

Here is the view from my place this month. This is Sand Dollar beck in the Bahamas. I still can’t get over the colour of the water, and I’ll admit, it can be distracting. When I write from the bow of the boat, I usually use pen and paper. I worry about dropping my laptop overboard.

Using a pen for a change makes me write in a different way and I find it helps with my imagination. Then when I type the words I like to see the word count grow. It’s the little things that make me happy.

View from Mattina

Sometimes it’s good to sit back and reflect how great life can be. Then, back to work and get some words on the page.

Thanks for reading . . .

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten in a Dinghy

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Farley here,

I’m a dog who is treated well and sometimes I’m a bit of a baby.  The water may look flat, but that’s an illusion. We’re about to head around the corner of an island and into open seas – and I don’t like to get wet.

Farley s Dinghy Ride

Did that last statement surprise you? I’m a dog who lives on a boat, spends hours every day on the beach, and my car is a dinghy. So what am I talking about? Seriously, getting wet annoys me. Kristina knows it. Sometimes she humours me – like in the photo above and holds me tight, but other times, she just says, “Suck it up, buttercup.”

“What does that mean?” I bark.

“You live on the ocean, pup,” she says.

The dinghy bounces and spray hits my face. Then I look my cutest and Kristina gives in, and you can see the results. I get to ride on her lap.

“Suck it up, buttercup,” I bark and make Kristina laugh.

Woof Woof . . .

Why Did I Ever Watch Jaws?

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 4 Comments

Is there a movie you wish you’d never seen?

Mine is Jaws. Even though I watched the scary movie a long time ago, the dreaded music sounds off in my head – and you know the music I am talking about – as soon as I swim laps. I like to watch a scary movie, something like Aliens works for me. I know I’ll never have to face an alien the way Sigourney Weaver did – at least I hope I won’t. But sharks? I’m in the ocean most days. I love to swim laps, but I’ve yet to make it through a session without thinking of Jaws.

Below are two dolphins swimming along my favourite beach for laps. A mom swimming with her young one. A lovely sight. An amazing opportunity to swim in the wild with a wild animal.  A big grey creature, but not the kind to be afraid of.

Dolphins at Sand Dollar

My only close up and personal encounter with a shark happened while I was kayaking. Unlucky for me, I got between a shark and its lunch. The annoyed shark bumped the side of my kayak. A good message to tell me to get away from the buffet. All the food was spoken for. Was I scared – yup. Did I go right back to the same spot the next day – yup. Somehow I feel safe in the kayak, but not while I’m swimming.

Someone please turn off the Jaws music so I can swim in peace.

Thanks for reading . . .

Procrastination Can Be A Writer’s Friend

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 2 Comments

Procrastination? Don’t feel like writing but want to hit your word count?

Writing a novel can be an intimidating task, so why not try something shorter?

For me, when I’m overwhelmed or feel too pressured by word count, I write something else. I like to have my blogs written and pre posted. In my lifestyle, I’m never sure I’ll have internet access on a daily basis, so writing blogs ahead of time reduces the stress for me. You’re probably laughing and thinking what stress can I have living on a boat for the winter, but I take my writing and my blog seriously. Self induced stress, but still stress.

How does writing in smaller increments help with novel writing?

I find by taking on a shorter piece of work, I often get in the flow of writing and can switch over to the novel. Even if I don’t, I’ve been productive and written something.

Does it have to be a blog? Nope. You could write a short story or an entry in your journal.

How do you kickstart your writing?

Thanks for reading . . .

Farley’s Friday: A Wheaten Wears A Collar

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 8 Comments

Farley here,

I have a little cut on my leg. How I got it, I don’t know. Kristina cleans my wound and rubs on something she calls antibiotic cream. Not so bad really, but then I see her sneak back into the my medical kit, yes I have my own medical kit on Mattina, and I know what’s coming.

I run along the port side of Mattina and jump on the tramp.

“No, no, no,” I bark.

Kristina is coming with the dreaded cone of shame. She reaches the tramp . . .

But I’m faster. I run along the starboard side, jump into the cockpit, scamper into the main salon and launch myself onto the port bed. Now, I’m not allowed up there, so I know I’ve made mistake. I’ve cornered myself.

“Stop,” I bark. “I won’t lick my cut. I promise.”

But nope, Kristina grabs my front paws and drags me off the bed.

“Pretty please,” I whine in my nicest voice. “Don’t make me wear that.”

Well, you can see how that worked out for me.

Here I sit, looking silly.

Farley with cone

Don’t tell Kristina, but this thing is actually pretty comfortable when I’m lying down. I have my own personal pillow that goes everywhere with me.

Woof Woof.

Farley’s Friday: One Tired Wheaten Terrier

~ Kristina Stanley ~ 6 Comments

Farley here,

Kristina is crazy. She made me run 12 km. I told her I wanted to nap in the shade, but she ignored me.

Now look at me.

Farley 12 k run

I need a long, long nap to recover. Luckily, I got to the best seat in the cockpit first. I have my own towel to cover the seats, like I’m sandy or something, but once I’m settled, it’s pretty nice.

Kristina’s napping too, so I don’t feel guilty at all. And if I have to run with her, the least she can do is let me sleep later.

Woof Woof.