Gardener5b

We think lunch at the specialty restaurants is a great deal, especially if you can book them during a sale.   We've booked Izumi for lunch at less than 1/2 the price of dinner with virtually the same menu.   Also booked Giovanni's lunch for under 15.00 pp.    

We normally eat in the MDR (dinner) or Windjammer (lunch) but it's a nice change once in a while.

Happy National Dog day from our girl, Simone, and our foster dog Bernie

I don't have experience with the Retreat, but have sailed twice on the Summit since it was revolutionized.  I thought the ship looked amazing.   The cabins (at least in Aqua) had a very nice refresh and the public spaces looked really nicely done.

6 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

Today is my birthday.I am 81 years old.I have been receiving phone calls,texts and e-mails from friends and neighbors all morning .Most do not know about Beuk (my granddog) .I told my family that I do not want to celebrate till Beuk gets better.

 

My family asked me to thank all those who offered good wishes and or prayers.

 

Lenny

Happy Birthday Lenny!

1 hour ago, ValerieJo said:

@lenquixote66  I'm so sorry to read about your grand dog.  You really do become attached to them.  Hoping things go better than expected.

I'm also so sorry to hear about your grand dog.   We work with a basset rescue group, and we've had several dogs that have done very well with wheel chairs.  I wish all the best to that sweet doggie.

Such a huge thank you to @twangster and @Hoopster95 for sharing all of your adventures.  The photography and descriptions of your travels were just amazing.    Thanks for time you took to share this beautiful trip with us.

Thanks for sharing all of the great photos!!

1 hour ago, CrzLvr2 said:

I am so very sorry.  

I am so very sorry for your loss.  I hope your happy memories with Maureen will bring you peace.

4 hours ago, bobmacliberty said:

The Celebrity status match worked for me.  Downloaded the Celebrity app, signed in with my Royal credentials, and I immediately showed as Elite Plus (with 0 club points since I've never sailed Celebrity).
 

Happy that it worked for me also.  I am D+ on Royal, but was only Elite on Celebrity.   Nice to have the extra benefits of Elite + on Celebrity.  I am only "select" with my actual Celebrity points, so this is a nice upgrade.

4 hours ago, Luckynana said:

 

We only have mint in pots.  We learned years ago how mint can just take over.  🙅‍♀️

I grow 4 different mints in pots.   My favorite spearmint is "Kentucky Colonel", which is also great for mojitos.   I have a chocolate variety called "After Eight", and smells just like the namesake candy.   Mint will take over your lawn and garden in a heartbeat.

2 hours ago, Jimbo said:

@A&L_Ont Might need your help. On June 1st.     I will be at the Charlotte Knights  game (Triple A team for the Chicago White Sox's) in Charlotte. NC. at Truist Field

 

 

 

 

Saturday Game at 1pm (Bark in the Park Day)

 

Here is the food lineup:

 

https://www.milb.com/charlotte-knights/news/a-complete-guide-to-food-and-drink-options-at-knights-games

 

...

Let us know what was good.  There is a good possibility we will be there later this summer.   It would be fun to see the Triple A team for our White Sox (we are huge Sox fans).

8 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

That stinks.   I hate when seeds don't germinate.  This year I was concerned with my Cherokee Purple.   Half of them didn't germinate.   Luckily several years ago I began to at least start twice as many seeds as I plan to plant.  When most germinate I have several happy people around willing to use them.  Sharon's brother helped out BIG time this year in the garden.  I gave him at least as many plants as I got growing now.

We were able to plant several in grow bags and give them away.  I gave 2 to my PT.  She said tomatoes are starting.  One is a Cherokee Purple and she said that they are her favorite tomato. 

I always plant extra seeds.  I usually end up with 4-6 dozen extra tomato, pepper and herb plants.  I usually just post on NextDoor and they are snapped up immediately.    

Your beautiful garden is stunning.   I have a small suburban lot with a picky HOA, so I do everything in containers.   Fortunately my next door neighbors that can see my yard don't object to my veggie garden (and I always share with them).

9 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

Do you think they were bad seeds or something you did? I prefer to buy plants because seeds take to long, but there are so many choices with seeds.

I'm really not sure what to think.   I had some new seed starting mix this year that was terrible.   But I still didn't get germination after trying in a different mix.  I'm guessing the seeds were the issue.    Buying plants are great, but you are correct--there is not nearly the variety.   For our Master Gardener plant sale, we try to grow varieties of tomatoes/peppers, etc that you can't find at the big box store.  We have people come back every year to find something new (or to ask for a favorite from the previous year).

I have garden envy when I see other people's gorgeous gardens.

4 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Made it down to the garden yesterday.   Looking good. 

 

 

Peppers coming out.  These are Jimmy Nardello peppers. They are so good. After they turn red they look really hot however they are nice sweet peppers.   Great on pizza.

 

Tomatoes showing too.  Cherry tomatoes come out quick however the larger tomatoes are growing well too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your garden is beautiful.   I'm a Master Gardener and grow about 800-1000 herb and veggie plants each year for our annual sale.  My husband loves Jimmy Nardello peppers--I tried twice this year with 2 different batches of seeds and couldn't get a single one to germinate.

Hope you have a very productive garden this season.

Thanks for doing a review.  I'm so looking forward to this--we will be on Voyager for the November TA from Barcelona back to Orlando.   It will be our first TA.

I totally understand your concerns with elderly parents and pets (especially when they are elderly).   We've cancelled more than a few cruises due to both of those situations.    Keeping good thoughts for all to stay well while you are gone.

1 hour ago, NHProud said:

@dani negreanu so very happy for you and your family.  Happy Passover ! 

+1

@dani negreanu   Sending prayers of thanks you are safe.   Continued prayers that you will have a restful night.   Keeping all affected families in Israel in my thoughts that they remain safe.

@LadyZolt   Thank you for sharing those amazing photo.   It must have been an incredible experience.

49 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Is this normal for B&H?  I agree they are a great store. The line is crazy long!

That's crazy.   We did mail order for our glasses and camera filters from B & H.   Mail order service was very prompt.

4 minutes ago, dbancroft said:

Here are some pics from Maryland 

 

Great photos

We were on Splendour (British Islands/Norwegian Fjords) during the total solar eclipse in August of 1999.   It was a very different experience being out at sea, but it was just amazing.  We didn't book specifically for the eclipse but it turned out to be an awesome benefit.

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

 

We're you "over the moon" with excitement? 😃

 

I forgot to play a special Playlist. "Here Comes the Sun", "Paint it Black", "Total Eclipse of the Heart"...

One of our local radio stations played a different rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart each hour leading up to the eclipse    

We had a great view of the eclipse...fewer clouds than originally predicted.   It was so cool, yet eerie, how light it stayed until the first moment of totality.   The temperature dropped over 10 degrees, and the wind picked up.   Unfortunately, none of our photos did it justice.   It was pretty cool that all of our neighbors were out, the church down the street rang bells for several minutes. An amazing sight to behold.

48 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Hi everyone. 
 

Now I made the buckeyes, nut keiffels, Kolachi and Almond soft batch. 
 

 

 

 Your cookies (and those of your fellow bakers) look amazing!

 

 

2 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

From watching a video I don’t think I will need to cover the lense of my go pro for a time lapse.  What do you think?  I’m not fooling around with my phone of mirrorless camera. 

Sorry, not really sure.  Everything I've read indicated the only "safe" time to be without special lens protection is during the few minutes of total eclipse.    I'm amazed at how big of an event this has become in our area.