deckful

[…]then through the sunned gathering of her marjoram and sweet basil from the herb garden, reading of book reviews in the latest Scientific American, into the layering of a lasagna, garlicking of a bread, tearing up of romaine leaves, eventually, oven on, into the mixing of the twilight's whisky sours against the arrival of her husband, Wendell (“Mucho) Maas from work, she wondered, wondered, shuffling back through a fat deckful of days which seemed (wouldn't she be first to admit it?) more or less identical, or all pointing the same way subtly like a conjurer's deck, any odd one readily clear to a trained eye.

Next morning it made a brave sight even for English eyes as it sailed statelily in, capitana and almiranta leading, flying wondrous fair flags betokening the eminence of their commanding noblemen, and decksful of armed men.