Cruising-along

So far we haven't found anything (checked the carpet under the skylight, and the roofers who gave first estimate yesterday saw nothing on the roof). The skylight is on the second story, so not easy for us to inspect. I'm going with the meteorite theory unless we find something to prove otherwise. 😅

I'm so sorry to hear this Roy. My deepest condolences.

Good morning all! Will try to squeeze in a post, while most of the rest of the household is still sleeping. Just the oldest DGS and I are awake. Cow appreciation day struck me funny, as yesterday I played "Invasion of the Cow Snatchers" with one of the DGSs while DH played Battleship with the other. It was a fun game and takes clever planning! I remember Etch a Sketch, DD had one and now her sons do too. Today will be a playdate with our neighbor's granddaughter, then we'll take the boys home again. Yesterday we got the first estimate to replace that shattered skylight and I'm feeling sad and angry at the same time. $600 just for labor, not counting the cost of the skylight, so around $1000. Our deductible is that much....the roofer said it looked like something hit it "very, very hard". I think Ray may have been right about it could have been someone shooting up with a gun.....which makes me very mad. Nothing else makes sense. 😞

My sister and BIL took one of his tours and loved it (they were younger then). No way I could do it. The limitations of luggage alone give me pause. 😉 We're also independent travelers and prefer DIY wherever possible.

Thanks for the reminder! The boys have lots of bubble making supplies, I'll make sure they bring some from home. When I was there on Friday they were using the squirt guns to hit the bubbles LOL.

I'm interested in hearing answers too. It comes with our Grand Australia booking. It's through HAL, not a travel agent.

Good morning all! We're having lovely weather here, low-high 70's F and sunshine. As we say here, summer comes after the 4th of July. 😉 Rushing again this morning, another busy 2 days in store. We'll be with the DGSs all afternoon, take them to their Taekwondo class, and then home to our house for the night. Tomorrow my neighbor's granddaughter will come over to play with them (lots of water balloons, squirt guns, cookies and milk). I plan to rest and do absolutely nothing on Wednesday! DH will try to reach some window companies this morning before we leave. That shattered skylight makes me so nervous. Hope we can get someone out here quickly. Have a great day everyone, prayers for all on the care list and cheers for those on the celebrations list!

Yes and thank you! I can understand how you feel, we all have different comfort levels. I have found his books to cover an immense amount of information, and each section of a city is covered (hotels, restaurants, and sites to see). With price ranges which I find very helpful. We rarely stay at the hotels he recommends, just because I use Trip Advisor more for that. And as for restaurants, we aren't foodies so we're more likely to just look around when we're hungry, we don't want to take a lot of time searching for a particular restaurant or cafe. But I do understand that he isn't for everyone, and I appreciate your taking the time to explain. 🙂

Thanks, I think I know what you mean. At one time I would have called him snobbish about cruisers too. Then I think he saw the $$ in attracting that group of travelers, and he started doing cruise port books. I find his books very helpful, with ideas and tips for a range of interests.

Now you have me curious LOL! I have never thought of him that way -- probably the opposite actually... We've gone many times to his lectures and travel center, he's always been friendly and accessible. 🙂

Good morning all! I adore kittens. We raised our last cat with a bottle from the age of 10 days (she was abandoned). She lived to be 17, so I guess we did something right. 🙂 Will pass on the Pina Colada (not a fan of coconut) but there are definitely enough teddy bears in our house for a picnic (or two or three). Agree with the quote, pass on the wine and have never been to this port in Norway (thank you Sandi @StLouisCruisersfor the great photos). The drink sounds good but will pass on the meal. Not a fan of olives, pepperoni or salami. Debbie @dfishI'm excited for you!! Will you be posting occasionally? Laura @Horizon chaser 1957what a lovely gesture and beautiful scarf! Jack @HeartgroveI'm happy to hear that your brother is now home. Jacqui @kazuI hope today will be better! Today will be a day of errands and shopping. The wine rack is getting low for one thing. 😉😄

That is another possibility -- we have a lot of pesky crows here. I'm actually hoping it wasn't that, only because we have so many crows around here, it could happen again! 😱 I'm hoping that whoever replaces it will have a good idea of what could have happened. I'm also thinking since we have to replace it, we'll also get a retractable shade installed. That skylight is where most of our sun shines through and heats up the upstairs. So if anyone has advice about those shades, please let me know. 🙂 On another note, a week or two ago I posted about a squirrel who got into our garage -- it must have left quickly, because we've found no damage to anything (or the cars) and no smell thank goodness!!

Ray that crossed my mind too. 😞 In the 28 years we've lived in this house, every 4th of July I worry something will happen. I'm actually surprised it hasn't happened before this. 😞

Good morning all! I'm recuperating from yesterday -- my "few hours" of watching the DGSs while DD had an in-office meeting turned into 9 hours ("Thank you SO much Mom!!"). She's in the middle of a big project at work and her team begged her to stay the rest of the day -- so.... of course I said I could stay on with the boys. We had a really good time, lots of board games, water fights, making brownies, etc. but I was exhausted after getting home last night. They are 2 very active boys. I have 2 days to rest up before we have them here for 2 days! I've never been a fan of sugar cookies, the horizon is always calling to me, and I don't think a lot about fashion unless I'm planning a cruise. 🙂 We're pretty casual here and I like it that way. The quote is true sometimes, will pass on the deep dish pizza (always thin crust for us), Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is always the best. Will pass on the drink. We had something very strange happen. One of our skylights (only 5 years old) has shattered! We can see a pinpoint hole in the middle -- no idea how or what day it happened. Since it had to happen during the week of all the fireworks, my suspicions have been in overdrive. Anyway, now we have to replace it. I hope they can give us some idea of what may have happened. @jimgevI'm so glad that after your many problems of getting there your land/cruise was fantastic and that your luggage got to you. @rafinmdWelcome home!!

Good morning all! Rushing to leave for DD's in an hour, to do last minute fill-in babysitting while she has an in-office meeting in Seattle. No body painting for me, I've never cared for motorcycles, and since DS got badly injured riding his, I really don't like them. He still has problems with his leg from that injury (needless to say, he dumped the bike). Blueberries are "ok" but I'd much rather have just about any other berry. Will pass on the meal and drink, but the wine sounds nice. We were in St. Peter Port once, and spent the day at Castle Cornet. My photos are too much like those already posted, so won't post mine. The quote is a little amusing. Well, off I go -- into the morning Seattle traffic.....have a good day everyone!

Good morning all! Not much on the agenda today other than I need to get my hair cut. That and some gardening/housework will fill the day. I'm all for chocolate any time any day! Forgiveness is so important, and I wish I could take a walk with my dear Dad. I don't agree with the quote and find it sad. Will pass on the meal, drink and wine. As Rich said, he and we were in Corner Brook in 2018 on the Voyage of the Vikings. I loved that town! Before the cruise I had read that one nice thing to do there is take the walk around the lake on Corner Brook Stream Trail. So that's what we did. Thankfully I didn't see any of the black flies that have been mentioned, and it was a 5+ mile walk. It was a very warm and extremely humid day, and usually that would keep me inside, but this walk was absolutely lovely and I'm so glad we did it. It did start raining before we were done, but luckily most of it was when we were in a wooded part with some cover. You can make the walk shorter by not going completely around the lake, so you can make it as long or short as you want. The lovely Rotterdam docked in Corner Brook On our way to the start of the trail we passed this cute couple. The Corner Brook Stream Trail circles this pond. It was beautiful. There were 2 swans and many ducks and seagulls. One part of the trail had memorial trees and plaques -- This one is in memory of 2 soldiers When it started to rain we were glad to be in this wooded area, so we didn't get *too* wet 😉 If I ever get back to Corner Brook, I would do exactly this again!

I second Rich's recommendation of Rome Cabs -- we've used them several times. Also highly recommend hotel Alimandi which is right across the street from the Vatican. Of course it isn't central to other sites, but since you mentioned the Vatican... Great itinerary, we've been to all the ports except for Ponta Delgado. Ask away, you'll get lots of advice here! (I do have to say, Mykonos is a cat-lovers heaven). They're everywhere and so friendly. 🙂

Good morning all! I'll be sure to give DH an extra kiss this morning in honor of kissing day. We both like fried chicken but don't have it often. And as a Washington State native, we have a joke here -- you can tell the tourists from the locals because the tourists carry umbrellas! 😉 Like others, I much prefer hoods so my hands are free. Our rain is usually just a drizzle. If it rains hard there is usually a strong wind, so umbrellas would be useless anyway. I agree with the quote, and like the meal, drink and wine. We were in Geiranger once in 2019 on the Nieuw Statendam, the beginning of our 65-day anniversary cruise(s). We took the tour that went on Eagle Road and up to Mt. Dalsnibba. I'll try to post some photos that haven't already been shared. We had a great time yesterday afternoon at the Seattle Aquarium with the DGSs. I can't believe we had never been there -- DD's family have a membership, so they have been there often -- in fact DSIL at one time was one of the "Santa divers" in the big tank. Today will be spent getting groceries in preparation of having the boys here overnight next week. My how those boys can eat!! @Ichiban NekkoI'm impressed with your move and downsizing. I know it's something DH and I will have to do some day, but I'm dreading it. You do make it sound almost easy! @marshhawkYou are not crazy! Good for you, you will love that cruise! The Med is my favorite place to cruise, I'm looking forward to your impressions of that area. @StLouisCruisersI'm so very sorry to hear about Buddy. Prayers for him, his family and friends. Some photos of our day in Geiranger: Some of the 11 hairpin turns on Eagle Road It was a foggy, cold day in September Our ship the Nieuw Statendam I braved walking out onto this grating for the (yikes) view below

Good morning all! I love apple turnovers or any kind, haven't worn a bikini since my teens, and never was a complete work-a-holic. Will pass on the Mexican Wedding Cookies, but both the drink and wine sound good. We were in Stockholm on a Baltics cruise in 2014. Strangely I can only find one photo, of DH and me at the Ice Bar. That was a hoot. Rushing a bit this morning, we will be spending the day with the DGSs -- going to the Seattle Aquarium today. I tried lightening the photo, but a bit hard to see we're holding drinks in glasses made of ice.

Well bbq it will be after all. There wasn't as much steak left from yesterday as I thought, so I had it for lunch 😉 and it's bbq chicken, roasted peppers and garlic bread tonight. The fireworks started before 9 this morning and haven't stopped all day. I hope everyone is having a good day!

It really is, Vanessa. They bought the house because they liked the floor plan and the house has "good bones" and of course the acreage. It will be nice when they can finally move in, but fun to watch the progress meanwhile! Bruce @aliaschiefgorgeous photos, makes me want to take a drive down the coast! Are you staying at a rental or does your son own it? We're always looking for new places. 🙂

Happy 4th of July to my friends in the US! We had BBQ yesterday at DS and DDIL's, they made a wonderful steak bbq for us. Today may be something I can do with my left-over steak (huge steaks!) Not sure yet what that will be, maybe stir fry or tacos. Not a fan of most Country Music other than I do love Johnny Cash. It's only going to get up to the high 60's F here today, so no sidewalk egg frying! Will pass on the meal but the wine and drink both sound yummy. I don't agree with the first part of the quote -- especially here in the casual PNW and have never been to the port but it's on the Grand Australia itinerary so I hope we'll have photos. Like several others, it's been hard sleeping this week with all the LOUD fireworks. I've been wearing ear plugs (and hate them) and cranked up the sound machine really loud. Tonight will be much worse. We had such a nice time yesterday. We saw the latest on DS and DDIL's house renovations -- seeing it in person is so much more dramatic than just photos. Wow!! The house has pretty much been gutted, all flooring will be replaced, the sunken living room was raised, closets and walls moved, on and on. I love their choices of counter tops, cabinets, flooring etc. DDIL is an artist and has definite likes and dislikes 😉 They have big plans in the yard too, like moving some fruit trees out to a sunnier spot (the previous owner put them under evergreens (!) and adding to their "orchard". I've already been asked to be the jam maker and have offered to make some yummy Apricot Riesling jam that is out of this world. @Cat in my lapsafe travels! @kazuToday just has to be better I hope!!

Thank you, we need all the luck we can get! There are so many places for it to hide. I may borrow my neighbor's cat. The one that was with me is too old and laid-back to care!

You're right, it happened to my Dad (and his car was parked outside). 😞 Will definitely check that. He (she) looked more lost/bewildered/confused when it ran into the garage, but I don't know. @Vict0riannwe have also used Air Tags (gift from DS) and love them. @dfishThe Navigator is notorious for having wrong info, we learned that on our last cruise!

Good morning all! It's a drizzly morning here, but we do need a little rain so that's good. I won't have to water today. I won't be building a scarecrow, try to avoid mirrors when I can, and am always obedient (🤣) I love fried rice! But as others have said, it isn't good for my blood sugar. So we don't have it often. I try to add lots of protein (eggs and bacon or other meat or shrimp) and veggies so there isn't as much rice. It reminds me of my Mother, who made it when I was growing up. Maybe it would make a good dinner tomorrow but today we're going to DS and DDIL's for dinner. It's a belated Father's Day bbq. We'll also see the progress on the renovations of the house they bought (remember all the trials and tribulations about that!) They're still hoping to be able to move in late September, but there's a lot left to do. The wine and drink also sound good. Have never been to Asia. Yesterday something happened that I'm still worrying about. I was in the garage after gardening, and a small squirrel ran into the garage --- and was never seen again --- any advice??? I stayed out there for a few hours hoping to see it leave again, and looking for it, but no luck. In all the years we've lived here, this has never happened. 😕