May 12-14 Mother's Day Weekend

When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family and friends... –Barbara Bush

We spent a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend with our oldest son and his family. We definitely missed Eric and his family, but we got to spend some amazing time with them this past winter. Our summer home puts us close to one son and our winter home keeps us close to the other. It’s a pretty good situation.

The Pearl is a little small for six people, so Kyle, Bryt and Cora stayed at an Airbnb. Graham enjoyed staying on the boat and I’m sure Cora will love staying with us soon. They both seem to enjoy being on the boat and around the water. Graham is very inquisitive and wants to know, in detail, how everything works...right down to where the sewer goes. He’s a little captain in the making. 

The highlight of Mother’s Day was the wonderful brunch we enjoyed at The Inn at Taughannock. The inn sits just above the lake with an amazing view and was the perfect place to enjoy an incredible meal. The food was delicious and presented beautifully. Thank you Kyle and Bryt for a wonderful weekend. We love being close where we can spend time with you and your family. 

Fun on Paw Paw's dinghy...one of Graham's favorite things to do at the boat.

Cora thinks playing on the boat is a lot of fun.

For Graham finding out how everything works is even more fun.

But all that fun can wear a kid out.

We all had fun at the Ithaca Children's Garden

The Inn at Taughnnock over looks Taughnnock park and Lake Cayuga

I had the seafood cocktail and the lamb

Stan had the mix greens and the steak and egg scampi

We both had the the chocolate mousse for dessert 

My wonderful Mother's Day flowers make the cabin look beautiful

May 5 - The Kentucky Derby

We have cruising friends that own a horse farm (we call them ranches in Texas) in upstate New York...what a great place to be to enjoy the Kentucky Derby. We spent a wonderful day with them enjoying the races at Saratoga Springs last summer. Maybe one day we'll be watching one of their fouls run.

The Kentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday in May and has been run every consecutive year since 1875. The Kentucky Derby is a top rank, Grade I stakes race for 3 year old Thoroughbred horses. The race distance is 1 ¼ miles long and it's run on the dirt racetrack at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. 

In addition to the race itself, a number of traditions play a large role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep, an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint and a sugar syrup, is the traditional beverage of the race and burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby. The Derby is frequently referred to as "The Run for the Roses," because a lush blanket of 554 red roses is awarded to the Kentucky Derby winner each year. The tradition started in 1883 when New York socialite E. Berry Wall presented roses to ladies at a post-Derby party that was attended by Churchill Downs founder and president, Col. M. Lewis Clark.  

The infield, a spectator area inside the track, offers general admission prices but little chance of seeing much of the race. Instead, revelers show up in the infield to party. By contrast, "Millionaire's Row" refers to the expensive box seats that attract the rich, the famous and the well-connected. Women appear in fine outfits lavishly accessorized with large, elaborate hats. The extravagant hats that have become associated with the Kentucky Derby did not really come around until the 1960s. Every year the hats become larger, brighter, and more extravagant. The tradition of the playing of "My Old Kentucky Home" as the horses are paraded before the grandstands began in 1921. 

Waiting for the race to begin

This years derby was run in the rain...the track was a mess

May 2 - Splash Day

Beacon Bay Marina

The Pearl got a much needed makeover this spring. The last time she had new bottom paint or a good wax job on the hull was in November 2015 when we were in Indiantown, Florida. She was really in need of a face lift...and boy does she look great now.

One good thing about keeping her in upstate New York is she'll be kept on the hard during the winter. That means each spring she'll get the care and love she deserves. We spent a week on the hard getting the work done and trying to stay warm...it even snowed one day, but splash day was warm and sunny and spring has arrived. The boat and crew are ready for a wonderful summer of fun.

Before and after pictures of the bottom and hull.

This is the first time the dinghy has gotten a coat of paint since Stan made the dinghy in 2010...she looked even worse than this before picture. I didn't get a picture of it before Stan cleaned and sanded the bottom.

Back in the water

The Pearl on her way down the lake to her summer home in Ithaca.