"Didn't they buy a sailboat????"

Yes, we did buy a sailboat.

So why haven't you seen any posts about us sailing?

Actually we tried to raise sail our second time out of the slip but we had a bit of a malfunction.  Our jib furler was jammed.

For the non-sailors-we have two sails on this boat - the mainsail is the one that goes up the mast.  The jib, or foresail is the sail at the front of the boat.

Our jib is on a furler which is like a window shade - we pull one line and it rolls out so we can fill it up with air and sail.  When we're done we pull another line and it rolls up and is stored safely in a roll.  Very cool.  When it's rolled up the drum under it should be mostly empty of line.  Ours looked like this -

Not good.

So after consulting the equipment manual and our sailing moms we fixed it.  Now when the sail is rolled up (furled) it looks like this 

And when the sail is out (unfurled) it looks like this 

Much better, huh?

What's especially nice is that when you pull a line, something happens.  It really is much better than that jammed thing.

So now we should be able to go out sailing and post pretty pictures of our sails out and us with BIG smiles!

After all we are sailors

Dave watching our resident eagle.

In other news - we are not far from the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island.  There has been an increase in military jet activity in the past few days.  Since Dave & I aren't news hounds we started wondering if perhaps war had broken out with the Canadians and we missed it.  After all they do produce those hideous quarters that foul up U.S. showers and washing machines.  It's not like there aren't grounds for a declaration.  So we asked the kid at West Marine about it - because that's how we get our news these days - and he (clearly thrilled to be asked) told us that this always happens this time of year with increased practice flights.  Apparently we could get a bumper sticker saying that we like it?  Umm, no.  Thanks.  I'm pretty sure the blue herons don't want one either. They've been cranky the past few days...

We hope all of your lines are running smoothly friends.