The Daily for Saturday May 08, 2021

[richwmn]

 

Today is Child Care Provider Day or Daycare Provider Day, Iris Day, and Military Spouses Day

"O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet. - Saint Augustine"

Meal suggestion for today - Best Ever Beef Stew

Drink of the Day - Bramble

Wine of the day - Diseno Malbec - Argentina - Red

Port of the Day - Muscat Oman

At Sea Caribbean
Nieuw Statendam Destination Fort Lauderdale eta 5/10

At Sea Gulf of California
Zuiderdam Destination La Paz MX eta 5/8

At Sea Pacific
Noordam Destination Los Angeles eta 5/6
Westerdam Destination La Paz MX eta 5/9

Corfu GR
Volendam
Zaandam

La Paz MX
Koningsdam Anchorage
Nieuw Amsterdam Anchorage

Torquay UK
Eurodam Anchorage
Oosterdam

Venice IT
Rotterdam

 

 

 

Edited May 8, 2021 by richwmn

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Thanks for the info ..

[rafinmd]

Thank you for the Saturday Daily, Rich.  An Iris is beautiful, Child Care Providers should be saints, as should be Military spouses.  How true on the Saint Augustine quote.  I've been to Muscat but many years ago, before my modern HAL travels.  It's hard to argue with Best Ever Beef Stew.  My alternative is Bahamian Spiced Chicken with Yogurt-Cilantro Sauce and Wild Berry Profiteroles, my embarkation lunch on Nieuw Statendam just over 2 years ago:

 

https://getawaysfrom21044.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/lunch21.jpg

 

Today's care list:

Kakalina

myself facing cardiac surgery May 14

Welfare of furloughed crews

India

StLouisCruiser’s sister recovering in ICU

JazzyV eye issues

Garlictown difficutl recovery from arm surgery

NextOne DH recovering from surgery

 

Today's Celebrations and Shoutouts:

Teachers, school workers and at home surrogates

Front Line Health Care Workers

Getaway for AncientWanderer

Nieuw Statendam back at PE Sunday-Monday

Getaway for CruisingAlong

Welcome home StLouisSal

and Sabine, HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it)

 

Roy

 

[puppycanducruise]

Good morning.  Hope it will be a good Saturday for everyone.

Thanks for the Daily Report.

Another wet, cool day here so I won't be doing many outside activities, other than taking Bertie for a walk.

Interesting collection of days.  Cheers to daycare providers and military spouses.  It's too early for irises to be up around here, but I look forward to seeing them. 

The meal sounds good, but we had beef yesterday so I will have to think of something else.

I hope the wine is not too expensive.

Another port I have not been to, hope there are lots of pictures posted.

Sending prayers for us all and a special one for @StLouisCruisersand her family.

Stay safe.

[dfish]

Good morning, everyone.

 

The workmen were here past dark working to fix the water main.  After it got dark they set up those big lights.  Here's hoping they finished last night and that my neighbors down the street have water again.  

 

It is a gray day here and kind of chilly.  I don't think we're supposed to have rain all day, just gloomy.  

 

Today's meal would be ok without the carrots.  For stews like this I have to have very carefully trimmed meat.  All the fat has to be gone.  I guess I am a bit picky about it.  That led to many fights at the dinner table when I was a kid.  Add in that my sister didn't like mushrooms and my brother didn't like celery and my mother would throw up her hands and say she wasn't a short order cook and we should eat what was served.

 

https://damndelicious.net/2020/02/29/best-ever-beef-stew/

 

 

[kazu]

Thanks for the Daily, Rich and our morning smile 🙂 

 

What a great collection of days!  Child care/Day care providers are SO important and are very appreciated in these covid times.

 

 

Irises are beautiful and deserve to be celebrated as do the dedicated spouses of the military.

 

 

LOl at the Saint Augustine quote.  A nice meal suggestion for another night when I have the beef 😉  DH would be interested in hearing about today’s Malbec.

 

The stripping and cleaning of the deck and retaining wall began yesterday and I am beat already from running around for gas, pressure washer, dog care, etc for 5 hours. 

 

 

The dogs were very good yesterday and are being rewarded with a nice bone today (the kind that is safe).  The team will be back on Monday in full force and for full days which is going to be hard on the dogs (especially at stain stage) so I have arranged for them to go to their ‘vacation’ home.  (Just wish we were going on vacation).  

 

Praying for @StLouisCruisers& her family & for @garlictown 🙏🏻 

 

Prayers for everyone Roy’s Care list & for those that need them and 🥂 for everyone on the Celebratory list. 

 

Have a great Saturday everyone!!!  Don’t forget tomorrow is Mother’s Day!

 

Stay safe & please don’t forget your masks 😷 

[summer slope]

Good Saturday morning.  Day care providers are the lifeline for working families.  The one my DGS goes to is fantastic.  I loved Iris's when I lived up north, can't grow them here because of the heat.  And kudo's to Military Spouses.  Great quote and meal.  I had to look up where today's port is.  Never heard of it but really looking forward to the photo's.

Prayers and toasts to our lists.

Stay safe, social distance, and please continue to wear your mask.

Bramble:

Ingredients
2 ounces gin
1 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
2 teaspoons simple syrup
1/2 ounce crème de mure
Garnish: lemon half-wheel
Garnish: fresh blackberry

Steps
Add the gin, lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker with ice and shake until well-chilled.
Fine-strain into an Old Fashioned glass over crushed ice.
Slowly pour the crème de mure over the top of the drink
Garnish with a lemon half-wheel and a fresh blackberry.

[Crazy For Cats]

Good Morning Everyone, thanks for the daily report.   Amazingly the kids let me sleep in until 6.  @dfish the meal suggestion looks good.  Not sure what is on the menu for today.  Yesterday’s yard work was cut short as the sun vanished, it got colder and it started to rain.  I did see two baby bunnies, they were so cute.  A toad tried to get into the garage so I put him into the garden area I cleaned up.  The baby birds are getting bigger and their chirps are getting louder keeping mom and dad busy feeding them.  Soon I expect to be able to watch them being feed from a distance, that is always fun.

Drinks will be on today’s agenda.

[GeorgeCharlie]

We visited Muscat, Oman while on a Christmas/NYE cruise from UAE to India in 2016.

 

Here we had previously arranged for a private tour by Mohammed, the owner of Sunshine tours. Although, with two cruise ships in port the day we were there and Mohammed having some 21 tours to run, he did manage to give the four of us just a fantastic glimpse at Oman's culture and unique Arabian Gulf views. He has an exceptional level of knowledge of Oman's history and culture. If you ever get the opportunity to take a tour with Mohammed - grab it fast!!

 

Whereas, the UAE is mainly a flat desert, Oman is mainly mountains - and wondrous views result!

 

 

We were only in Muscat for the afternoon and evening, and with the markets and general city sites closed from 1 - 4pm, he took us for a drive through the neighboring mountains to various seaside villages and beaches.
 
Lots of road construction was happening (much more difficult building roads through mountains then the open deserts) and found their "flag persons" to be somewhat more practical then having someone stand out in the very hot sun.
 

 

At most of the rural areas Mohammed took us to, we were the only people there - it was hard to believe that there was two large cruise ships in port, with thousands of people all looking for something to see!!

 

Another beach all to our selves.

 

 

For afternoon tea Mohammed took us to a small local bakery and he bought all of us a fresh baked piece of Omani bread, with honey - it was just fantastic, but each piece was more then any of us were able to eat.

 

After the tea & bread feast he took us to the main souk - and we were then back with the crowds from the ships!

 

 

Then he took us to his home for an authentic Omani evening meal - and what a meal it was!!!

 

 

We were required to sit on the floor and have the meal served to us by his youngest son (8-9yr) and we also were entertained by their youngest daughter (3yr). A great time was had by all and an excellent bonus for our tour. He also gave each couple a large bag of fresh dates from his uncle's farm.

 

Once again, I cannot praise Mohammed enough for the very professional (and personal) job he did in showing us his country and culture.

 

 

[GeorgeCharlie]

Missed this one in my previous comments regarding Muscat, Oman.

 

The famous Incense Burner outlook tower built to celebrate Oman's 20th. anniversary of independence.

 

[Mr. Boston]

Good morning everyone and thanks for today’s daily Rich.   Cheers to military spouses and day care workers.  It’s a little early for irises but it’s nice that they have their own special day.  Great quote today and the stew sounds tasty.  Prayers to all those in need.  Have a nice Saturday Dailyites I hope it’s productive for everyone.

[kochleffel]

22 minutes ago, summer slope said:

crème de mure

 

Crème de mure is a blackberry liqueur that is sometimes used in place of crème de cassis in a Kir, so I wouldn't hesitate to use crème de cassis in its place, either. But this really puts me more in mind of having a Kir this evening.

 

Irises are probably my favorite flower but their bloom here is probably a month away.

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Good Saturday morning all!  I am feeling good because at last word my Sister was doing well, so hoping she is recovering quickly in the ICU.  My niece sent me a photo of Sister yesterday afternoon and I said back to her "She looks like she is enjoying the drugs they gave her".  She had a tipsy look on her face.  It was so funny!  Thank you to @rafinmd, @puppycanducruiseand @kazufor today's good wishes for Sister.  

 

I celebrate Child Care Providers and Military Spouses today.  As a young mother I would do childcare for one or two children in addition to my two little ones.  What an exhausting job that was!  

 

The city I live near is known for its Irises.  I remember they were very popular in my neighborhood growing up.  I've never had any in my gardens though.

 

Today's meal sounds great and that photo @dfishshowed us looked delicious.  I used to make beef stew but DH says that is out of his repertoire of meals.  I like carrots and mushrooms in stew, but growing up my mother apparently didn't know what a mushroom was.  I didn't know anything about them until I was an adult, and cook with them all the time.  

 

As for port of the day, we have not been to Muscat, Oman before.  I would be interested in seeing that on a future itinerary, because we enjoyed Dubai and want to expand our view of that area of the world.  I will make a note of Sunshine tours and Mohammed in case we ever do go there.  Thanks for the tip @GeorgeCharlie.

 

@kazuI love the Wine for Mother's Day meme!  So true!  Your work around the yard sounds like a lot of work.  Good to hear you have some help on the deck cleaning/staining.  Just a few days ago DH had his pressure washer out and it started right up.  He was surprised.  He bought some gas and set to work cleaning the driveway and sidewalks of the dirt and black moldy stains they get.  After the first day he noticed the pressure hose had a small bulge near a fitting and knew it would be bursting soon.  The equipment is about 15 years old so not surprising.  So the next day we went to the home improvement store and purchased a new pressure hose and he set to work finishing up the sidewalks in the front yard.  He got to the last square of cement and ran out of gas with a tiny 12 x 18 inch spot left unwashed.  He planned on continuing on to our next door neighbor's driveway and stop there but didn't get that far.  The cement looks so bright and clean you practically need sunglasses on when the sun is beating down on it. 

 

We will probably pick up more gas today so he can finish the job.  Then I will sweet talk him into going around back and cleaning the patio and the deck above it.  The deck gets lots of dirt and green stains in the shady area so it really needs it every year.  Unfortunately, I think that job will lead to the following job --- re-staining the deck.  Darn!  Does it ever end??  I'd rather be on a cruise letting someone wait on me all day long while my chauffeur (Captain) and his staff escort me to another exciting port of call.  Wouldn't we all?

 

Have a great day everyone!

[cat shepard]

Thank you for today’s Daily, Rich! A special group of days. Cheers to childcare providers and military spouses! Thank you all! Irises are such elegant flowers, I used to have quite a group in my Maryland days. 
 

Thank you for keeping our lists, Roy! Morning Dailyites & my Sisters. @StLouisCruisers @garlictown, Sandi & Katie, extra prayers winging their way.  Today’s quote doesn’t sound very Saint-like, does it? The meal sounds good, but a bit too much for me. The drink looks beautiful, but not a gin drinker. Bet it would good with vodka, too. Just have to have a different name. 
 

Another lovely, but cool morning here. Unusual for May, but I love it. Even the birds were singing more than usual this morning. A bunch of outdoor chores await me this morning. Top of the list - I need to thread my bougainvillea through its trellis, since it is really starting to grow back after having the house painted. Then to the Winery this evening to celebrate actually getting to go to Iceland this year. 
 

Prayers for all who need our support. Cheers to all who are celebrating! Stay well everyone!
 

*********

Today’s wine is readily available at Target, Costco, Wal-Mart, etc... with prices starting at $8.49. I could not find any “expert” reviews for any vintage, and consumer comments were all over the board.  So if you enjoy a nice Malbec, take a chance on this one. If you end up not being a fan, use it for cooking. @kazu if DH tries it, hope he shares his thoughts. 

Winemaker Notes

Diseño is the quintessential Malbec from Mendoza. Our unique old-vine style delivers ripe mountain fruit, subtle tannins, and complex Malbec character. Deep purple in color with a crimson luster, the bouquet of violets and cherry blossom unfolds to a hint of tobacco. Explosive flavors of earthy blueberry and rich chocolate are robust with well-balanced acidity.

[KirkNC]

Happy Saturday, the week sure went by fast.  Go Canes who last night clinched the Central Division in the NHL!

[POA1]

Good morning all! If you were one of the webcam sail away people and you are looking for something to do watch today, you can check out the Fort Lauderdale Air Show. Streaming starts at 11:30 AM US Eastern time.

 

https://air.show/livestream-dashboard-fl/

 

[kazu]

43 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

 So if you enjoy a nice Malbec, take a chance on this one. If you end up not being a fan, use it for cooking. @kazu if DH tries it, hope he shares his thoughts

 

I went to look at a pic of the wine & label, Cat and DH has had it.  He found it quite decent.  Most Argentinian Malbecs and DH get along quite well 😉 

I found some reviews on the Total Wine site in case it helps anyone.  It was quite well rated there https://www.totalwine.com/wine/red-wine/malbec/diseno-malbec/p/46851750

 

Alas, it’s not available here but we do pick it up at Total Wine when we are in FLL.  

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning fellow Daily-ites,  sweet sisters, and thank you Rich for your dedication. Prayers for our Roy, Sandi, Katie and everyone on our prayer list. 

 

Finally.. Claudio's guys finished the stone trim around the planters. The firepit stones are due by Monday. No word on the pergola. 

 

It's a beautiful 70 at 8 am. Due to have an 87 degree day. I'm so sad that I found another beautiful painted bunting in our flower bed. We have decals across our windows. Allen thinks the resident hawk is accountable at chasing them. Regardless,  it's mighty disheartening to see.

 

Today is Farmer's Market, pick up indoor flowers for the week, and meeting friends at Pappadeaux's for an early dinner. We try to get home before dark as I do not see well enough after dusk and we have many deer that are out at that time. 

 

Cheers to military spouses. Allen and I married after his 20 year's of Army service. 

 

God bless child care workers!

 

Have a lovely weekend. Call a friend. Cheers, prayers and blessings. 

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Daily!  God bless all the child care workers - they are daytime angels (and some are nighttime, too).  Military spouses deserve a medal for keeping the family going while their beloved is deployed.  A little early to see an iris blooming here, but my day lilies are already about 4" high - something I can't kill!

 

Love the quote, it reminds me of the prayer "Dear Lord, please grant me patience . . . now!"   I had to look up what creme de mure is, and of course, we don't have it in our liquor cabinet.  What we do have, though, is a bottle of Hendricks Gin - we finally found some at one of the liquor stores in town.  We were underwhelmed by the taste.  DH said "I think somebody walked by a cucumber field and showed the bottle a rose" because we were expecting a more flavourful experience than we did.  I think we're just going to use it to make good old gin and tonics in the summer.  LOL

 

I have tried today's wine - yes, it's quite drinkable!

 

Love the menu suggestion, as I've been making beef stew all my married life.  I throw everything in there - potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, corn, whatever's in the cupboard or freezer, and let it simmer either on the stove or in the slow cooker.  For tonight however, we're going to barbecue chicken breasts with an apricot sauce and dill & onion potatoes.  A side salad will round out the plates tonight.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who needs them and even for those who don't think they do.  Extra prayers for Roy.  Raising the glasses tonight to toast all on the celebration list.  Be safe, stay well, wash your hands, wear your mask(s), and get your jabs!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Gerry

[portofrome]

Thank you for the Daily Report.

[rafinmd]

I only have one May 8 sunrise.  It's from my 2019 Nieuw Statendam/Cunard round trip transatlantic.  I slept late May 8 but caught this from my hotel window in Kiel.

 

 

Roy

[Himself]

Good morning Rich.  Thanks for the fleet report.   Thanks to all posters and readers of the DAILY.  It is a cool sunny day here.  God Bless all!

[Overhead Fred]

1 hour ago, cat shepard said:

Today’s wine is readily available at Target, Costco, Wal-Mart, etc... with prices starting at $8.49. I could not find any “expert” reviews for any vintage, and consumer comments were all over the board.  So if you enjoy a nice Malbec, take a chance on this one. If you end up not being a fan, use it for cooking. @kazu if DH tries it, hope he shares his thoughts. 

Winemaker Notes

Diseño is the quintessential Malbec from Mendoza. Our unique old-vine style delivers ripe mountain fruit, subtle tannins, and complex Malbec character. Deep purple in color with a crimson luster, the bouquet of violets and cherry blossom unfolds to a hint of tobacco. Explosive flavors of earthy blueberry and rich chocolate are robust with well-balanced acidity.

 

This is another wine that is (was?) available on our BHBs. We had it a few times; it was one of Mitzi's favorites.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! Iris are my favourite flower, and I take my hat off to Daycare Providers and Military Spouses. Neither is easy. It’s a rainy day here, so beef stew sounds good. However, DH took a pork loin roast out of the ice cave yesterday, so that’s our menu tonight.

Yesterday I got a beautiful flower arrangement delivery from our daughter in Taiwan for Mother’s Day. The Rieslings are getting big and boisterous. Rizu would probably like a day to herself for Mother’s Day. Motherhood seems to have lost its shine for her.

I've  never been to today’s port, and look forward to the pictures.

 

I came across this. It’s pretty much the point we’re at right now.

 

Happy Saturday, with hopes of seeing our BHB’s before too long!

[smitty34877]

Good  morning  to  all. It  is a rainy and  overcast  day. My  closest  friend  started  an  after  school  program  in  her  town  and  my  DD  and  DS  both  worked  for  her  as  teenagers. I  think  DS  became  interested  in  teaching  after  that  experience although  he  preferred  High  School   students.

Military  spouses  deserve more  than  a  day. They have  to  be  endlessly  able  to  adapt  and  keep  things  going  while  their  partners  are  deployed.

The  beef  stew  recipe  looks  good, very  similar  to  my  own. Today  I  made the  French  Chicken  Casserole  recipe  again  due  to  popular  requests  from  DH and  DSIL. I  had  only  port  wine  and  used  it  instead  of  white  wine. It  smells  great   and  will  hopefully  taste  great.

Enjoy  the  day  everyone  and  thanks  for  the  pictures  of  the  port.

Terry