We brought Grace home to our yard several weeks ago, put a frame up and covered her for the winter months. It was cold, sad work. We are still feeling our disappointment in NOT being South for the winter, this in spite of loving Maine, home, friends, family and community. We'll enjoy sailing Maine this spring and summer and will renew our effort to travel the ICW, earlier next fall. But...
Sigh.

David has done the necessary maintenance (I think he feels the disappointment most keenly) and I've washed sails, lines and cleaned up and out. David will, no doubt, continue to "improve" the boat throughout the winter, researching and maybe installing a new depth sounder and autopilot.

I, on the other hand, am ready to be finished with most things boat until April. Of course, I'll attend to emergencies, should they arise (please, no) and will enjoy warm, spring thaw-type days (such as today when we repaired some leaks in the cover), organizing and day-dreaming about our summer sails. Already I've "planned" to get the boat in the water in early May (David hates it when I make these arbitrary "plans") and have set aside the first 2 weeks in June for a down east get-away, shake down cruise with David and maybe Amelia.

But for now, I need a rest from the boat. Our focus has been on her for more than 7 months. While I'm not excited to be in Maine for the winter, I am enjoying a shift in focus to community and home. Ready for my winter sport of reading in front of the wood stove.

Grace snug and tucked in close to our land home for the winter

 Looking forward to continuing, or starting, a Sailing with Grace blog next spring. Blessings abound.