After five months = 20 weeks of effort -- at about 20 hours per week = 400 hours total, Tuck emerged from his basement workshop yesterday with America in hand, planked and rigged and fitted out from stem to stern. Currently at work on formal ship's cradle/display stand.
"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by."
Tiny atop the diningroom table was all eyes this morning.
"And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over."
"And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying."
The Old Salt, shorebound at Camelot-by-the-Sea, can still enjoy many a "grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking" at the river's mouth (behind beyond windows in photo).
"I must down to the seas again to the vagrant gypsy life.
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife."
Update: "Zed Monster answers with a Wowza staring at Tiny and those beautiful green eyes," but "It appears Tiny has her eyes only for the critters she is smiling at in hopes of one to drop into her paws," writes Megan Monster at Bad Kitty Cats' Carnival of the Cats Edition 217.
Quotations from John Masefield's "Sea-Fever."
Enjoyed the romantic post and the America. Legend has it that the Queen commented as she sailed by, "Look how she schoons," and from that came the word schooner to describe that type of rig. Thanks for the nice photo.
Posted by: goomp | May 06, 2008 at 08:14 PM
That photo of Tiny on the table is just gorgeous!
Posted by: kimsch | May 06, 2008 at 08:23 PM
Simply awesome work; 'God is in the details'. ;)
Posted by: pam | May 06, 2008 at 08:44 PM
WooHOOOO!!! Congratulations Tuck! It looks wonderful. I almost didn't get over here yet again today (haven't been online much at all the last few days) but I'm very happy to see the completed work of art.
Now - where does your kitty get those huge green eyes? It's always fascinating to see just how green they are. *grin*
And Goomp is looking veerrrry spiffy indeed.
Posted by: Teresa | May 06, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Goomp is one fine looking man, that's for sure. He looks like someone you'd like to just sit down with for a few hours of truly intelligent conversation - a rarity where I live and work (Washington, D.C.).
But oh that picture of Tiny! What a great shot and what a beautiful beautiful feline! I make it a practice never to let my Sam see pictures of your cats, Sissy. They are his equal in beauty! Almost, since of course, Sam makes my heart go pittypat on a daily basis!
Posted by: Gayle Miller | May 07, 2008 at 11:58 AM
What a great picture of Goompa!
Posted by: Heather Jameson | May 08, 2008 at 09:49 AM
Beautiful photos. I used that poem in a post once too:
Sea-Fever
Posted by: Amy | May 08, 2008 at 08:56 PM