Dennis and Nancy drove up from Rockport for the first launch of our new-to-us pontoon boat. Getting the boat into the water went well and we spent an hour cruising around the lake. It was brisk, but sunny and beautiful. Life was good!

But the rest of the story, like any boating tale, begins with “No sh*t, there we were”. No surprise here… I had to pee. We tied up to a fishing courtesy dock and before I got back to the boat, the motor died and wouldn’t restart. Repeated tries and futzing around didn’t help so I hiked up the hill to get our bearings while we waited a bit, hoping it was just flooded. Though I’ve now made the acquaintance of a camp host named “Mary” who has lived at a Park across the lake for the past 15 years, and a gentlemanly young Ranger named Phillip, (whose phone number, as well as the Sheriff Department’s is now programmed into my phone) we didn’t end up needing rescue. The motor started and, much relieved, off we went, chalking it up to learning the quirks of our somewhat vintage motor.

After another pleasant hour (or so) spent noodling around the lake, we headed back toward the boat ramp. Along the way, we began to lose power and about 30′ from the dock, the motor died again. So close and yet so far!

Though Steve did get it to restart, never again did it stay running for very long. Did you know it is rather tricky to load a pontoon boat back onto a trailer (especially for the first time!) without power? With much perseverance, and the assistance of a very wet brother-in-law (in 51 degree water… yikes!) we did finally succeed. As we drove home, grateful that our first (mis)adventure in motor boating was safely over, we counted our blessings. The motor didn’t die out in the middle of the lake. We were off the water with light to spare. The dogs and Nicole sat this one out. We had the support of Dennis and Nancy. Motors are serviceable.

We learned a lot. And now we’ll spend some more money. What’s that old adage about a boat being “a hole in the water that you throw money into?” I think there might be something to it.

I decided to go with a letter “B” theme for this post since December has been filled with good things that start with the letter “B”. First…

Birds. Our dining room has become a bird blind with the addition of multiple feeding stations outside the windows in all directions. It is fun to sit inside on a cold day with the Christmas lights and decorations, watching our own little nature channel right outside. So far we’ve attracted a good variety of regular visitors: Carolina Chickadees, Tufted (Black-Crested) Titmice, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Scrub Jays, White Winged Doves, House Finches, American Goldfinches, Bewick’s and Carolina Wrens, Chipping Sparrows, Yellow Throated and Ladder-backed Woodpeckers, and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets. Oh and squirrels. Active, agile, cute-as-a-button, orange-bellied squirrels (Eastern Fox Squirrels, to be accurate). I’ve heard them described as “cute tree rats”. Oh well, we like them anyway.

We have seen a Greater Road Runner out front but not since putting up feeders. We’d like to see it again. I wonder how one attracts a Road Runner? Hmmmm… National Geographic’s “Birds of America” states they eat “insects, lizards, snakes, rodents, and small birds”. With all the small birds at our feeders, maybe we just need to wait and be patient! I know there are lizards too as Grayson brings them in and lets them go. If Dottie is barking and whining madly under the bed, we’re likely to find one there!

Our most exciting sighting wasn’t at home. We were almost to Rockport on Christmas Day when I spied a couple dozen cranes in a flooded field next to the road. We were really stoked as the majority of endangered Whooping Cranes, about 250 birds, winter on the Texas coast. People come from all over the world to see them. And there they just were. Merry Christmas to us! Well, upon further investigation, they were Sandhill Cranes, not the rare Whooping Cranes, but oh well… like the squirrels… we liked them anyway.

Babies. Won’t be able to use the “B” word for the twins much longer. Grace and Emmett are 1 year old now. And they toddle. Not without a little support quite yet but they are speedy as it is. It won’t be long before they’re doing it fully on their own. I flew to California for the birthday event. I hadn’t seen them in three months and wow … they changed. Imagine how grown up they’ll be when I see them again in June! It’s hard to really believe how it was this time last year, with both of them still in the hospital. They’ve come so far. We are forever grateful for the blessing of Grace and Emmett.

Boat. We bought a boat this week! It’s raining and cold so it has only sat in the driveway so far symbolizing fun to come! It’s a 1997 22′ Parti Kraft pontoon boat, not pristine but we had a budget! It’s intended to be our “living room on the lake” and we can’t wait to get out on the water. Some sun and temps over 40 degrees would sure make it more inviting and … good news on the weather forecast just now … sunny and warmer coming right up for New Year’s Eve. And we have sparklers too!

My fingers are crossed it will be nice the first week in February when Judi comes to visit. Our first out-of-state visitor, I’m so excited! For the rest of you… you know you’re welcome. We’ll leave the lights on!