Launched at Last

And there it is in the water! It floats! Imagine that! :)

Mom poured the bottle of champagne over the bow, when breaking it didn't work.

Mom and Dad took the boat to launch it for a test run on Wednesday, this last week.

But wait...there's more!

If you're interested in seeing progress on my broken house, check out the new photos I posted today. The foundation work is done!!! AT LAST!

Boat Moving, Lost Dog, and Blue Skies Abounding

And it's ready to roll away! Amazing! What a great day's work! Everyone is ready for a barbecued hamburger and a beer.

Once the trailer's in position, the truck is backed up to the trailer hitch.

Keep moving the trailer...

Now to back up the truck.

Still turning....

They use some of the rounded boards they'd rolled the boat with while it was inside the shop as levers to turn the trailer 90 degrees.

Now they have to turn the trailer in order to move it with the truck.

Pushing at the stern, they get it into it's final position.

Almost....

And it's out! Just a little further forward and it'll be completely on the trailer.

The crew now moves to the sides of the boat to help push it along.

Nearly out the door...

...trying to keep it aimed straight onto the trailer.

Guiding it out carefully....

Slowly, but surely, it began to move again.

Then, the boat was resting on the trailer and began lifting up off the ground. Most of the crew came out to weigh the trailer down, leaving only a few people to help guide the boat out of the garage door.

Keep it coming....

Starting to winch it out.

Readying the boat to move.

The entire circle drive was filled with the cars of the people who came to work and observe.

It took a lot of people to move the boat today. Chuck brought his whole family, including his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren who were looking on as grandpa and daddy worked.

Even Maggie likes her.

My Aunt Mary likes her so well, she may end up keeping her if the owners can't be located.

A young Brittany spaniel puppy wandered up to the house by the lake, so Mom and Dad are taking care of her while they search for the owners.

Trees surround on all sides of the lake.

My mother has cut a birdwatching trail around their lake.

A carpet of soybeans stretches to the horizon, waiting to be picked.

Passed this little rivulet and had to stop to get a shot before the light was behind the clouds again.

Blue skies, smiling at me...Nothing but blue skies do I see....

During my drive to Mom and Dad's place today, the sun and sky were just right for some lovely landscape shots.

Exhibit A--The Perils of Online Dating Services

(This entry was gacked from myself at Another Think Coming.) I confess that I didn't take this photo, but it's sooo bad, I had to post it here. Wow.

Seriously, does this guy really think he's going to get a date with this as his main profile photo? I mean, really!!! And yes, this picture really is from the personals site. I weep for my dating future if this is what I have to choose from.

There's another guy who showed photos of his back-hair-covered tattoos. Now, I can deal with back hair, but I don't want to see it when we haven't even met. Yipes.

Check these out...

Pictures of my trip last year to New Orleans on my other blog, Another Think Coming.