Serenity is Home, Tucker is Getting Settled, Life is Good....

Holy cow, I looked at the last post date and realized that it's been 7 weeks since I had time to breathe!  Before you think I've actually caught up, I need to confess that the only reason I'm here right now is that our dinner plans on the boat got rained out in a major way.  Between Serenity and Tucker, my time is well- spoken for.  Don't forget that there is also full-time work, a horse and a weekly golf league in this wild mix!

Enough of that you're thinking, let's get to the boat.  You need to know that Serenity has been voted "Party Boat of D Dock".  In addition to her prominent position at the end of the ramp to the dock, her big spaces, huge frig that stores great snacks, wine cooler, BBQ grill and well-stocked bar, she is very inviting to sit on.  We finally got around to getting 4 more chairs so people can actually sit in the cockpit as opposed to sitting on our dock box or - heaven forbid and strike them down- lean their butts against the captain's glistening capstrip.  Though he tried to hide his look of horror, everyone soon realized that they'd rather stand til their legs got numb than lean against that capstrip!

Decorating a boat as beautiful as Serenity has been wonderful fun.  The claret-colored leather club chairs are the focal point of the salon.  They beckon to all who enter (as long as they're not in a wet bathing suit or other "no no"attire.  Plopping down in one of those chairs with a glass of good wine is heaven sent!

There's also a cozy throw to snuggle in, a fat pillow and conveniently located small table for that glass of wine to encourage folks to stay and chat even though it's 1 am and a week night.  By the way, we finally got that life ring hung just last week.  The captain more than agreed it didn't match the decor.

Serenity is equipped with a state-of-the-art Bose sound system.  Behind the right chair is a cabinet that houses a Blu-Ray disc player, an iPod dock, the subwofer and satellite radio.  Hidden in the port side  saloon is a 42" LED flat screen HDTV that provides the most incredibly clear pictures I have ever seen.  In the up position, the TV has a small, front-mounted speaker that adds to the surround sound in an unbelievable way.

Since a good TV show or movie requires something good to eat, 8 can sit around this table, 6 on the U-shaped settee and 2 on hassocks.  The table can be raised to dining height or lowered to cocktail height.  If needed, 2 leaves can be opened for maximum eating room.  The table also swivels so that if you've eaten too much and are seated alongside the back, you won't be trapped til the next day.  In this photo, the table is at dining height, but the leaves are closed.

Once the chairs were in place,  it was on to the rugs.  I think I mentioned in my post of May 22 that we were fortunate enough to get wind of an oriental rug liquidation at a nearby warehouse.  I think the owners smelled a big sale cause they were on us like ants at a picnic.  The selection was awesome and after about an hour of looking at a too large number of rugs, we settled on 3:  a 4x6 for the saloon, a 3x4 for the area in front of the bar and a runner for the companionway.  The owners were a bit dumbstruck when they learned that their precious rugs were going on a boat.  Only after I showed them pictures of the saloon were they convinced that the boat wasn't an open air skiff.

Though it's hard to tell, the rug has lots of navy and wine and is a most pleasing pattern to look at ( I think the rug guys said the pattern was Isfahan).  You can also see a bit of the rug in front of the bar.  It's predominately navy and complements the larger rug.  Can't remember what this rug's pattern is, sorry.

The companionway rug (which by the way fits without a whisker to spare) is green and ivory and feels fabulous under foot.  What you're looking at straight ahead is the master stateroom.  The guest stateroom is to starboard and the day head is immediately opposite to port across the companionway.  Guests simply have to take 2 steps out of their stateroom and into the head.

Though I don't profess to be terribly interested in cooking, the galley is a cook's dream.  The appliances are top of the line:  GE profile dishwasher and frig, 4 burner Viking range and huge GE microwave/convection oven.  There is plenty of counter space on granite countertops and so many drawers and cabinets that some drawers and cabinets are not yet filled.  The sink is stainless steel and deep with a wonderful sprayer that pulls out of the faucet.   Opposite the galley is a pantry big enough to lose things in.  I have 2 cases of water, several 6 packs of soda, paper towels, trays, jars, cans, bags of chips and other yummy things to eat in there and still have room for much more.

Once the door is closed, we have all the privacy we need with our ensuite head.  Like the day head, we have a wonderful shower complete with seat and extra large shower head.  There are 3 large cabinets to store every amenity today's living requires.  Paddington Bear has since been joined by Lucy Rabbit and  Mr. Teddy who both agree that they live a wonderful life aboard Serenity.  The print above the bed (one of our favorites) was imported from our home.  It used to hang over the living room fireplace - since we're in that room less than 4 times a year, we decided to hang it where we can enjoy it more often.

The pilot house is so spacious that we can actually entertain several people there.  The helm chair swivels and slides backwards and forwards - it provides a perfect additional seat.  Our sound system is wired into the pilothouse as is the TV so we can listen to music or watch TV on one of the two 15" Garmin screens.  Anyone wishing to stay over has the option of sleeping there since the seat opens into a full-size berth.  A table that raises and lowers provides the perfect resting place for snacks and drinks.

Since it's summertime and the livin' is easy, we often find ourselves outside.  The covered back porch is one of many outside entertaining spaces.  It's completely protected from the elements so that we can sit outside and stay dry in a rainstorm.  As I mentioned, we've added seating so that 8 can sit comfortably and not be on top of each other.  We have a small teak bistro table back there, but are in the process of ordering a table with 2 folding sides that can seat 6 comfortably, 8 if good friends (lol).

The fly bridge is the captain's favorite spot to run the boat.  It affords maximum visibility and the instruments replicate what is in the pilothouse, including cameras in the engine room and on the stern.  Our music plays up there and there is a settee that seats 4 comfortably with yes, another table for snacks and drinks.  The settee is conveniently located on the port side across from the helm chair.  The KKY folks think of everything and built what they call a "summer kitchen" on the fly bridge.  This summer kitchen is actually a large cabinet inside of which is good-sized frig.  Sitting on top of the cabinet is a large BBQ grill which gets it gas supply from the 2 propane tanks on the starboard side of the fly bridge.
I'll have to get you pictures of the fly bridge with its pretty cushions and pics of the BBQ grill - promise!

Another great place to enjoy sea breezes is the bow.  In addition to providing a home for our 2 anchors and chain locker, there are 3 huge lockers in which we store our snubber and extra set of lines.  We had 3 sets of cushions both back and bottom made to take full advantage of this space.  If you look back on the christening pics, you'll note that quite a few folks were gathered on the bow and there was plenty of room to spare.

BTW, the screens we had made for the windows do a remarkable job of not only protecting the fine teak dashboard, but keeping the pilot house cool as well.  The AC certainly has to work a lot less hard.  They make Serenity look as if she's wearing cool sunglasses.

Before I sign off, I thought you might enjoy seeing Serenity's future first mate.  Right now, Tucker is content to sit in his swing, but it's just a matter of time until he's driving in Grandpa's lap!

Now that you've had a tour of our beautiful Serenity, I promise to regale you with the many adventures we've already had in a short time - and hopefully while we're all still young.

I apologize for my long silence, but hopefully you've enjoyed this post and will come back for more!