We had lots of snow here, LOTS!!!!        We cleared Curtsy three times, plus several other boats, plus the docks and the ramp, it would get cold at night, so in the morning , lots of ice had accumulated which is very hard on canvas.      But, how beautiful it is, early morning, the sun barely  shining its light on the water, the snowy slopes of the Malahat already lit up, the boat gently crunching in the thin layer of ice, Curtsy is warm, she is insulated and we run the diesel stove 24/7, plus, in the aft cabin, we have a small electric heater.    The ice did cause some problems though, as the meltwater during the day sat in the locks of the hatches, they would freeze at night, and later on, when it started raining, we had a dandy leak in the large front hatch.      Once things warmed up, the problem went away, but its good to know what can happen when things get cold on the boat. 

A very lonely dinghy , surrounded by pancake ice.

We have a very smart friend, Shendra, the former owner of “Balandra”, and she told us about Collagen, something most important for out bodies to work properly. Once we are in our twenties, the amount of collagen depletes, as quoted from the container”  the body’s natural ability to repair supporting connective tissue (bone,tendons,ligaments,cartilage, skin,hair and nails),diminishes in one’s mid-twenties.   Collagen contains amino acids such as glycine, lysine and proline, which are important amino acids and can be used by the body to build connective tissue structures to support the functions of the cells”

Hydrolyzed collagen is the same as found naturally in bones , skin, and cartilage. It is a bioactive product containing 90% protein and is easily assimilated by the body.  So, there you go, i have had trouble with my nails and skin, and they have already improved after 3 weeks of use.     I buy the product on line at Amazon.ca      It comes from organic,grass fed beef, and is kosher.    It dissolves easily and i usually put the two tbs.in my coffee, you cannot taste it . 

I remember the day in grade 10 school, Biology class, when the teacher, Ed Van Weert, told us about these plastics, this NEW thing, this amazing invention, “beware “, he said, ” this will NEVER go away, it will always be here, you cannot destroy it, cannot burn it, and, there will be a huge amount of it eventually”       At the time i never thought much about it any more, life went on, i was young, (still young,haha), but look at it now, no matter where you go, there is plastic, almost everything is made of plastics, or has oil, the base for it, in it.   So, this new store is awesome, less packaging, less waist, reuse, i am so for it, had to share it with you!!!!

I try to mostly talk boat stuff, but as we are living on board, and so are many of our friends, these things are important!      First of all, this article in the local news paper….    When i was growing up in Holland, i shopped for food , for my mom, every day, armed with my wicker basket ,i walked to the butcher, who wrapped the meat in freezer paper, then to the veggie man, who put everything, potatoes, greens , fruit, in the bottom of my basket, then to the grocery store, where anything bulk went into a paper bag, no Tupperware yet in those days, that came later……  What i am trying to say is, NO PLASTICS!!!!!!!