Cruising-along

Did I miss it, or has the Daily Specials list been posted?

Good morning all! Another drizzly, cool morning here in the PNW. Supposedly the weather will improve this week. Won't complain though, since so many of you are going through high heat and humidity now. Like so many others, I prefer a float (any kind -- I especially like an orange float) over a soda, we've seen many bald eagles flying overhead here, and prayers for all refugees. I can just hear Jackie Gleason saying that 🙂 The meal sounds oh so yummy but yikes on the sodium content. Not long ago I only watched carbs, now the sodium content is even more important to me. Tonight I won't be cooking though, DD is making dinner for us for delayed Fathers Day. Last night we had the salmon with asparagus, rosemary and balsamic glaze. It was good! I added some orange peppers too. The drink sounds good but will pass on the red wine. Have never been to New Guinea. I was too busy planning my wedding in 3 months so there was no possibility of attending the Newport Festival in '69 even though I did live in CA at the time. Prayers for the 5 people missing in the sub -- so sad, and it doesn't sound good if they aren't found soon. Jacqui @kazu I hope Ivan feels much better today! Sandi @StLouisCruisers Good luck to Ren's team today! Yesterday I got the first bloom on my new Clematis (Dr. Ruppel). It will meet and blend with the Jackmanii on the other side of the arbor.

Good morning all! Good days to celebrate today. DD has both her kittens with her at work most days since she works from home most of the time. Since they're still kittens it can be challenging as you can imagine. I've gotten photos of one or both on her shoulders, hanging off from her, and chewing on computer cords. She loves it though. I think all our kids don't have work today and know the DGSs don't have school in honor of Juneteenth. As our older DGS said, they get a 3-day weekend, and then 2 hours of school on Tuesday and then get summer vacation. Too bad they couldn't just end school last Friday, but what do I know LOL. Good quote, I'll pass on the meal (prefer beans and meat in my chili), and will pass on the red wine and drink. Tonight we'll be having the salmon with asparagus and potatoes, recipe from a few days ago. I agree with Gerry @ger_77, I prefer drinks that aren't rimmed with salt/spicy mix. Also will join her with the pseudo martinis and pass on the real martinis with olives. 😉 Yesterday was crazy weather for June -- rain all day, very heavy at times, even hail (tiny but hail). Thunder and lightening! I was surprised all my flowers made it through that deluge. It feels so cold I even turned on the fireplace last night (!) Sandi @StLouisCruisers Congratulations to Ren's team and good luck tomorrow! Lorraine @cruising sister I'm sorry the kids lost out on the house. The right one will happen! Seems to be the way things are going now, at least here it's just nuts. DS and DDIL lost out on 3 or 4 houses before finally getting the one they have. And houses here are going for half again the asking price at least. Thank you Nancy @ottahand7and Vanessa @JazzyVfor the photos of Puerto Madryn. We haven't been there yet, but it's on our itinerary for the South America/Antarctica in 2025. Terry @smitty34877 I hope the visit with the oncologist today goes well.

Good morning all and Happy Fathers' Day to all the Dads out there! DH fished a lot in the past, but not now for years. Not me, I can't sit still that long lol. There won't be many picnics here today, it's pouring rain this morning and rain predicted now for days. I don't panic easily, but if the circumstances were bad enough I might! I'll pass on the meal, even if I substituted chicken for the tofu. Some of the other ingredients don't agree with me. Will pass on the wine too, but the drink looks like a very nice dessert. 🙂 We were in Rotterdam overnight on the VOV in 2018. The first day we went to Amsterdam and did all the touristy things (will save those photos for when we have Amsterdam) and the second day we did the Splash Tours in Rotterdam, a fun day! Photos below. No big plans here yet today, we'll be getting together with the kids for dinner on Tuesday because they're camping this weekend (where it's drier lol). I'll have to ask DH what he would like for dinner today. @Cruzin Terri Ugh, I hate it when all our bags don't arrive with us -- and it has happened to us way too many times. I hope your bags show up soon, it's good you have a few days in London. Nancy @ottahand7 Thank you for posting photos of your beautiful irises. They're all gorgeous, but I think my favorite is the apricot colored one you posted the other day. Here are photos taken from the Splash Tours in Rotterdam. Erasmusbrug Bridge Euromast Original HAL building Original Rotterdam The Shipping and Transport Building I bought some tulip bulbs that bloomed the next year.

Happy birthday Susan @durangoscots!

Ditto!! He's great!

Did you get photos of them? I'm wondering if I've seen them on other ships...(still can't help with names, sorry!)

Good morning all! Well the rain/drizzle has begun, and according to the forecast will stay with us for the next week. Much cooler too. This is more typical June weather for us, not the hot weather we had before. We eat a lot of vegetables here, and I would love to take a road trip. Our last one was a couple years ago when we did a big loop and went to several national parks. Usually jugglers don't interest me, but I do remember one on a BHB who was a lot funnier than the comedian we had!! Good quote, and DH keeps me laughing every day. I'll pass on the meal, drink and wine, and have not been to Colon. Prayers for all in need and a big cheer for all who are celebrating.

The odds of seeing the same formation is very low, if not 0. They do "mix and match" for the blues clubs on HAL. We usually see one or two familiar faces each cruise, but have never seen the same formation twice and we go to BB King every cruise that has it.

Good morning all! Another kind of cloudy day, mid 60's again. But at least not raining (yet). I'll be finishing the laundry I started yesterday, and do some gardening. Today would have been my sister's 82nd birthday. She passed after a long battle with cancer at the age of 69. She and I shared the love of gardening, and I always feel her presence in my garden. I love fresh veggies and the best are freshly picked from my own garden when possible. Waterfalls are wonderful, as are nursing assistants. I admire everyone who is in the medical field, it's hard, hard work. Good quote, will pass on the red wine. The drink sounds interesting, not sure about it, but would try it. We don't have Fluke here (I see that it's an east coast fish) but the coconut rice would ruin it for me even if I substituted another white fish. And sadly even low sodium soy sauce is off limits for me so I try to avoid dishes with that ingredient. Airlie Beach is on the Grand Australia itinerary and I'm trying to find something to do there. One idea is to walk part of the Bicentennial Walkway if it isn't too hot. Hoping there will be some photos today! Here is a photo of our most well-known waterfall, Snoqualmie Falls with Salish Lodge in the background. Prayers for the families and victims of the horrific crash in Manitoba. How very, very sad.

Yes, I just did this a few weeks ago and it was also a 5-day Pacific Coastal.

Good morning all! We have a couple days of sunshine before the drizzle is back. Maybe heading to 70 F today. I love nature photography and follow several photographers online. Prunes are ok, and believe smiles hold a lot of power. I like the quote, and the meal sounds very yummy. I've printed off the 2nd recipe (you had me at balsamic glaze) but will make it another night. We've had a lot of fish the past week. Rosemary isn't usually an herb I would choose, but in this recipe it sounds great. My neighbor and I are each growing some herbs in our front yards and are sharing. She's growing Rosemary, so I'll pop over and snip some when I do make this. Will pass on the drink and red wine. We've been to Scotland but not to Lerwick. Thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisers and Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser for the great photos. All the talk about painting houses and now I'm thinking maybe we'll do that next summer. I do still love the color we have (similar to Jack's @Heartgrove) so will try to have it matched as closely as possible. We also have Hardie Plank, I didn't know it can pull away! Getting my hair cut is tops on the agenda today, and then probably gardening. Not sure what we'll have for dinner, I'm thinking maybe pork chops. Gerry @ger_77 Happy Birthday to your DS! Susan @durangoscots great news that Bandit is doing well!

Good morning all! We have a cloudy day with a high in the mid 60's. I don't care for Bourbon, have done a little family history on Ancestry and also the Mormon site. My Mother's side has been traced back to 1100 but it's all much too complicated for me to keep up with. DH spent 4 years in the Army (and was in Viet Nam one of those years) and then retired from the Navy. In honor of Flag Day here's one of my favorite photos -- our youngest DGS helping DH raise our flag 6 years ago. Good quote, I'll take a hard pass on the meal. Not only does it have cilantro, but what's up with chicken and waffles?? I'll keep mine separate. The NZ wine sounds great, and I'd probably like the drink. Red Bay was on our Voyage of the Vikings itinerary in 2018, the only port in New Foundland and we had to miss it because of fog. We were disappointed, but hearing about the bugs maybe I should feel relieved lol. Thanks for all the great photos! Terry @smitty34877 I'm sorry yesterday was a tough day. It sounds like your DH has a great medical team, keeping you in my prayers. Lorraine @cruising sister I agree with the others, it sounds like that woman has a jealousy problem. Keep your head held high and in time she'll probably wise up. 😉 Roy @rafinmd Happy Heavenly Birthday to your dear brother. He was born 2 days before my sister who has been gone now for 13 years. Graham @grapau27 We've only done the Panama Canal once, in April. We had absolutely no problems with insects, but the heat and humidity was intense. Today I'm meeting up with my BFF for lunch, so will scoot now. I hope everyone has a great day! Photos from our near-miss of Red Bay. It was even foggier than this at times. The Captain was wise not to try to use the tenders that day. We did get a glimpse off some of it as we gave up and departed.

Oh thank you, Lenda. I had a feeling what I saw wasn't the right one. I did look up and down the regular grocery aisles too and didn't see it. Maybe our local Haggens would have it... thanks again. I hope your internet stays on now, that can be very frustrating!

The rain is back this afternoon so my weeding and deadheading was cut short. Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser I may have found the pad Thai kit at the big box store -- it was in the refrigerated section and has chicken -- but when I read the sodium content I thought better of getting it, darn. It also has cilantro, which was no surprise. We did find plenty of other things to buy though and as usual I went for a couple things and came out with a cart-full. 🤣

Good morning all! Today will be 15 degrees cooler than yesterday, the low 60's. Maybe summer will come next month. 😉 Any day without rain I'm weeding the garden. I also took sewing in school (we had to have one semester of sewing, one of cooking). My DD borrowed my sewing machine a couple years ago and I haven't seen it since -- but don't miss it LOL! Never was good at softball. I like the quote and drink, will pass on the Chianti and meal. It looks so yummy, but I know I'd have to reduce the spice down to nothing so it wouldn't be the same dish. We've been to Key West twice, the first time in 2017 when we walked to the Hemingway House and took the Ghosts and Gravestones tour. The second time was just last fall, we took the trolley tour and the glass bottom boat. I'm kicking myself that I never got the key lime pie on a stick, since I doubt we'll ever get back there.. Today will be a run to the big box store, and gardening. Oh, and cruise planning of course. Welcome back Melanie @puppycanducruise! Thinking of you and your DH Terry @smitty34877as you go to the appointments and the surgery comes up this month. Vanessa @JazzyV good that the nerve test looked ok, sorry they had to push those needles so far into the tissues. Susan @durangoscots I'm sorry that Bandit was sick all night and you had so much to clean up -- hoping he's much better today. Here are some photos from our first visit to Key West in 2017. The photos from last time are similar to those already posted. The main thing I wanted to see was the Hemingway House (the cats, of course). Not being beach or bar people, we just walked there, and then took a Ghosts and Graveyards tour. It was as funky as it sounds. A little blurry, it was hard to catch him sitting still. Sharon @Sharon in AZ Do you think this is the same cat you saw 2 years before? If so, this is definitely that cat's bed! 😉 🤣 We visited this museum as part of the tour "Robert the Doll", supposedly haunted 😉 Our ghostly guide

Adorable! Thank you. 🙂 I believe he was the Captain for our Pacific Coastal last month.

Loved this story, something the children will always remember. So what's the Captain's name?

Thank you Lenda, I'll take a look there!

Good morning all! I plan to enjoy today's weather (high 70's) because we're headed for a cool spell after today. June is turning out to have its typical weather now after the hot weather we had earlier in the month. I'll pass on the jerky (and jerks), and the peanut butter cookies. I like peanut butter and peanuts, just not in cookies. Love, love red roses and have 3 red rose bushes. IMO the quote is only half right, don't judge but do think. I'd like the meal but don't have a lot of the ingredients -- so maybe if someone prepared it for me. 😉 Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser the kit is a good idea, if I could find one. Will pass on the drink and red wine. We've been to Egypt but only to Cairo and Alexandria. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chuck @catmando! Thank you for the beautiful photo from your cruise and you ARE giving yourself the best gift by quitting smoking. 🙂 You can do it! Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser WOW on that thunderstorm! Jacqui @kazu Yikes about the sting on your head. Very good it wasn't on your temple, that could have been even worse. I wonder if it was a bee.

It is a lot to do, but thankfully it's what I like doing best -- planning travels! lol. I'm no expert at Excel either, and I'm sure an expert would take one look at my spreadsheets and laugh...but they do what I want them to, and I figure nobody sees them but DH and me. 😉

Good morning all! Good collection of days and we also love corn on the cob. Maybe will pick up some for tonight. I thought we'd been to Seville, but no, only to Cadiz a few times. Thanks to all for the amazing photos. I won't try to name everyone, lest I leave someone out! Will pass on the red wine and sweet drink. Debbie @dfish I'm going to make the last recipe tonight. We have a lot of salmon in the freezer. Of course, no surprise, I'll leave out the cilantro! Instead I'll add some of my homegrown parsley and basil. Lorraine @cruising sister I hear you about the activity on our roll call! Do you have notifications turned on if anyone posts? It helps to not miss anything. Those private tours go fast!! This morning I spent over an hour going over my personal spreadsheet, booked excursions, and the roll call spreadsheet. So much to keep up with and we still have over 6 months to go! Today our 2-day rain is ending so I'll get out in the garden. All I could do those 2 days was try to keep up with the slugs, who came out in force with the first rain. 😞 I hope everyone has a great day!

I've used it some too. I found it to be much more complete (for my family anyway) than Ancestry. That said, I'm not very good at it and months go by when I'm not looking at it. For some reason I'm always doing cruise research instead! 🤣

It's the same here, Lenda. However you want it -- and nobody laughs however you choose it! I admire your patience in looking up your ancestry. I lose patience and go a little nuts after a few hours. I have seen some "famous characters" supposedly in my lineage, but they weren't as well known as George Washington, most were European and way back...

Good morning all! It has been raining (more like a drizzle) here since yesterday, but we really need it. Someone told me today that we're heading into a drought. I use ball point pens and herbs and spices every day. Ice tea I can take or leave, not one of my favorite drinks. I'm chuckling because just this morning one of our GA relatives complained on FB that he overheard someone ordering an UNsweet tea with NO ice. 😉 They seem to make a huge deal over it -- and of course his friends said it had to be a Yankee...no thought that some of us are diabetic and can't have sweet drinks (no excuse about the lack of ice though LOL). I like the quote, will pass on the drink and red wine. The meal sounds very good but a bit high in carbs and sodium for me. Have never been to Indonesia yet. Happy Birthday @Denise T I hope you have a wonderful day! Debbie @dfish The photos of the lake look beautiful. Is it warm enough to go swimming? Jack @Heartgrove Good news about your DW's echocardiogram.