The Fleet Report and Daily for Sunday March 17th, 2024

[1ANGELCAT]

Good sunny morning. It’s currently 56 and breezy and supposed to be cool tomorrow.

Happy St Patrick’s Day . I was in Ireland, 17 years ago this summer, I still have a jacket from the Cliffs of Moher. 
Happy Birthday to my fellow Camp Fire Girls. 
I was a Bluebird thru adult leadership. Many good memories.

Blessings and prayers to all on our journey.

[dfish]

Dreamy Sparkly Pants here.   I like sparkly.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

As I mentioned, we have been St. Johns, Antigua, twice, but I only have pictures from our 2015 visit on February 3.  Both times we rented cars and drove around the island.

 

Our day started with a rainbow as we sailed into port.

 

The view of the island from the ship.

 

We were greeted by a steel drum band on the dock.

 

Our first stop was the ruins of an old sugar mill.

 

 

 

You never know who you'll meet dong down the road.

 

One of the many beaches on the island.  The are almost enough beaches to visit a different one each day of the month.  Many of the beaches are very small, secluded ones, and I think we saw every beach on our first visit.

 

 

A nice restaurant on the beach

 

 

Part of the coastline is rugged with arches cut into the rocks by the waves, and blow holes.

 

 

Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbor

 

 

There is a small boat harbor at English Harbor

 

Another one of the lovely beaches

 

Hillside homes

 

St. Johns after the tourists have spent their money and returned to the ships.

 

 

Lenda

 

[luvteaching]

Good morning, 

We're having some nice warm weather - unseasonable for us and into the high 60's today. Yesterday it was so nice to open windows, air the house out and sit on the front deck for a while. 

Friday's lunch with friends went well. Very little of the Greek Lemon Soup left and out of 20 dinner rolls I made there are 6 remaining. DS will be over for leftovers. 

 

I am Kind-hearted Sparkly Pants. I have my shamrock earrings and leprechaun socks ready to wear today and nothing too much else planned other than hanging out at home. 

Karen

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

@0106 Tina, and @Nickelpenny Pennie, welcome home.

 

Lenda

[grapau27]

11 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

As I mentioned, we have been St. Johns, Antigua, twice, but I only have pictures from our 2015 visit on February 3.  Both times we rented cars and drove around the island.

 

Our day started with a rainbow as we sailed into port.

 

The view of the island from the ship.

 

We were greeted by a steel drum band on the dock.

 

Our first stop was the ruins of an old sugar mill.

 

 

 

You never know who you'll meet dong down the road.

 

One of the many beaches on the island.  The are almost enough beaches to visit a different one each day of the month.  Many of the beaches are very small, secluded ones, and I think we saw every beach on our first visit.

 

 

A nice restaurant on the beach

 

 

Part of the coastline is rugged with arches cut into the rocks by the waves, and blow holes.

 

 

Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbor

 

 

There is a small boat harbor at English Harbor

 

Another one of the lovely beaches

 

Hillside homes

 

St. Johns after the tourists have spent their money and returned to the ships.

 

 

Lenda

 

Excellent photos Lenda.

[grapau27]

This was Friday's dinner and a photo of Lake Derwent water next to Keswick.

 

Edited March 17 by grapau27

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Fleet Report/Daily. Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘️☘️

I'll salute Camp Fire Girls. Trust in your Doctor is important. I may make Corned Beef and Cabbage in my Instant Pot later. Funny Dave Barry quote. I like the meal, and the drink. I like the wine but won't spend that much. I haven't been to St. John's. 3 good days and a sad one for St. Patrick.

 

It's sunny here, but chilly and getting colder tomorrow with snow flurries. No big plans for me; just do things around the house, and watch some of the Players Championship. Tomorrow I will finally get to visit with my friends from the UK, although they are leaving in the evening to go home.

 

@Scrapnana Bon Voyage Kathi!

@irishjim Happy 63rd Anniversary to you and Sheila!

@StLouisCruisers Thanks for the nice St. John's photos.

@Crazy For Cats Enjoy a relaxing day. Sorry about the slow service yesterday in Tamarind.

@marshhawk Sorry about the keyboard; hopefully the new one will arrive soon. I'm glad you fixed the mirror before there was a bad accident.

@ger_77 I'm Vibrant Shamrock!

@Mr. Boston I hope all are feeling better in your house.

@RMLincoln It's nice that you're meeting new people in your community. Good news that DH's eye pressures are better. Lovely Irish blessing.

@grapau27 So sweet that you are trying so hard to help Pauline through this rough time. 

@ottahand7 Thank you for telling us the sad news about the NM state trooper.

@Quartzsite Cruiser Great photos.

 

Prayers for the Care List and Cheers to those Celebrating.

[RMLincoln]

7 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

@0106 Tina, and @Nickelpenny Pennie, welcome home.

 

Lenda

+me! Safe home! 

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning and Happy Sunday.  I’m Smiling Golden Balls and Craig is Cheerful Rainbow Lips on this St Patrick’s Day. 
 

Happy Anniversary to @irishjim and his DW!

 

Bon Voyage @Scrapnana!
 

We are having corned beef today but no cabbage with mashed potatoes. I have the corned beef in the crockpot right now, I’ll be adding carrots in a bit, and it will be ready for us at lunch. I always buy the uncured corned beef at TJ’s, it’s a bit more expensive than the regular one but well worth it, and I have a second one in the freezer for next month. I’m also going to make soda bread. I have some Irish butter and Dubliner cheddar to go with everything. 

Debbie @dfish, can you share your recipe for the Beef and Guinness Stew?  Sounds yummy. I have one but it’s a pot pie recipe. 
 

Thank you to Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser, Jacqui @kazu, and Debbie @dfish for all your kind words last night when I was so frustrated with my day Friday with my DM. At this point I’m not going to reach out to her PCP. I think she would be really upset and I’m just going to wait and see for now. Part of the problem with this last outing is that we did too much in one day. I know better and plan to not do that again. She gets frustrated and I get stressed and tired. 
 

Have a great St Patrick’s Day!

[VMax1700]

 

Happy St Patrick's Day to all from a warm(ish) 56°F/14°C but windy and dry Cork.  Usually the weather is a lot colder and wetter, indeed often sleet or hailstones.  Corned beef is not a 'thing' in Ireland, but bacon and cabbage is the dish that most people here would relate with Paddy's Day.  Loin or back bacon, cured (sometimes smoked) and boiled in a pot.  The cabbage is cooked in the same pot.  Historically, the Irish tenant farmers kept pigs for their own consumption as they were cheap to feed, could be cured to preserve and could be cooked slowly over the open fire that was the centre of their dwelling  

@dfish Darina Allen and her family run a cookery school and restaurant at Ballymaloe near Cork and they do a great Sunday lunch.  

 

Have a great day everyone.

 

 

[irishjim]

33 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Good morning and Happy Sunday.  I’m Smiling Golden Balls and Craig is Cheerful Rainbow Lips on this St Patrick’s Day. 
 

Happy Anniversary to @irishjim and his DW!

 

Bon Voyage @Scrapnana!
 

We are having corned beef today but no cabbage with mashed potatoes. I have the corned beef in the crockpot right now, I’ll be adding carrots in a bit, and it will be ready for us at lunch. I always buy the uncured corned beef at TJ’s, it’s a bit more expensive than the regular one but well worth it, and I have a second one in the freezer for next month. I’m also going to make soda bread. I have some Irish butter and Dubliner cheddar to go with everything. 

Debbie @dfish, can you share your recipe for the Beef and Guinness Stew?  Sounds yummy. I have one but it’s a pot pie recipe. 
 

Thank you to Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser, Jacqui @kazu, and Debbie @dfish for all your kind words last night when I was so frustrated with my day Friday with my DM. At this point I’m not going to reach out to her PCP. I think she would be really upset and I’m just going to wait and see for now. Part of the problem with this last outing is that we did too much in one day. I know better and plan to not do that again. She gets frustrated and I get stressed and tired. 
 

Have a great St Patrick’s Day!

Thanks. Jim.

[kochleffel]

Just back from Aldi, where I bought some Irish cheese made with Irish whiskey.

 

Behind me in the checkout line was a man buying 12 jars of sauerkraut.

 

[dfish]

16 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

 

Happy St Patrick's Day to all from a warm(ish) 56°F/14°C but windy and dry Cork.  Usually the weather is a lot colder and wetter, indeed often sleet or hailstones.  Corned beef is not a 'thing' in Ireland, but bacon and cabbage is the dish that most people here would relate with Paddy's Day.  Loin or back bacon, cured (sometimes smoked) and boiled in a pot.  The cabbage is cooked in the same pot.  Historically, the Irish tenant farmers kept pigs for their own consumption as they were cheap to feed, could be cured to preserve and could be cooked slowly over the open fire that was the centre of their dwelling  

@dfish Darina Allen and her family run a cookery school and restaurant at Ballymaloe near Cork and they do a great Sunday lunch.  

 

Have a great day everyone.

 

 

 

I like to collect cookbooks from places I've visited and Ireland is no exception!  The first time I was in Ireland I mentioned it to our tour director and the bus driver overheard and bought me one of Darina Allen's cookbooks!  He thought she was the best at authentic Irish cooking. It would be cool to go to her restaurant someday.

 

32 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

 

Debbie @dfish, can you share your recipe for the Beef and Guinness Stew?  Sounds yummy. I have one but it’s a pot pie recipe. 
 

 

I'll get the cookbook out.

 

32 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Thank you to Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser, Jacqui @kazu, and Debbie @dfish for all your kind words last night when I was so frustrated with my day Friday with my DM. At this point I’m not going to reach out to her PCP. I think she would be really upset and I’m just going to wait and see for now. Part of the problem with this last outing is that we did too much in one day. I know better and plan to not do that again. She gets frustrated and I get stressed and tired. 
 

Have a great St Patrick’s Day!

 

How old is DM now?  That may be part of the issue.  I think we'd be a bit cranky, too.  Am I right that she is in an assisted living arrangement?  If so, would they contact you if they noticed something was really off?  It is hard taking care of an elderly parent because in many ways you are the parent and they are the child, but they don't want to be the child and let you know that they aren't!  

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

@0106 Tina, and @Nickelpenny Pennie, welcome home.

 

Lenda

 

Add my welcome home to the mix.  

[irishjim]

8 hours ago, richwmn said:

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Volendam!

Love this cake' Jim.

[irishjim]

8 hours ago, portofrome said:

Thank you for the Fleet Report.

Irish Jim.

[irishjim]

7 hours ago, kazu said:

Jim & Sheila @irishjim wishing you a very happy 63rd anniversary 🙂 

 

Thank you so much  from   Jim and Sheila.

[kazu]

Just because it is St. Patrick’s Day 😉 😊 

 

 

[irishjim]

7 hours ago, kazu said:

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!!!!

 

The day is worthy of celebration for sure.  I wish I had thought to buy corned beef and cabbage but it really is too much food for one person.  I do love it though.

 

 

LOL on the quote - wouldn’t it be great if it were true?  Raining here and it’s either rain, snow or a mix on St. Paddy’s day normally.  It seems to be a tradition.  I have a hard time recalling when it didn’t.  Lots of tasks to do inside so it’s no biggie.

 

 

Prayers for those on the Care list, those suffering losses, grief, pain, health problems, worries & those that need them 🙏. Cheers to those celebrating and cruising 🥂 

 

 

 

Love the Irish cat  Irish Jim.

[kochleffel]

[Sharon in AZ]

47 minutes ago, dfish said:

How old is DM now?  That may be part of the issue.  I think we'd be a bit cranky, too.  Am I right that she is in an assisted living arrangement?  If so, would they contact you if they noticed something was really off?  It is hard taking care of an elderly parent because in many ways you are the parent and they are the child, but they don't want to be the child and let you know that they aren't!  

She’s 94, 95 in September. She is so healthy even with two different bouts of cancer, colon and lung. Both caught really early. Her doctor told her Friday that all her blood work is good and she said something about wondering when it won’t. He said that her most troublesome concern should be falling and breaking something. She said that’s why I use a walker. Anyway, your words are so true and I’m sure she hates me helping her so much. And yes, the facility would contact me if they notice something off. Thank you Debbie!  I miss you!

 

 

[dfish]

Here is the recipe from Darina Allen:

 

Beef and Guinness Stew

 

 

The one I use is very similar except it doesn't call for carrots.  I put the small pearl onions in it along with mushrooms.  Otherwise, they are the same as to amounts of stock and Guinness and seasonings.  

 

Deb

 

[Vict0riann]

Pat commented this morning that when he was growing up in Ireland, the feast of St. Patrick was a Holy Day of Obligation ( must go to Mass), and all the pubs were closed.  Funny to think of that now.

 

DD had a call this morning from the hospital, orthopaedic surgeon recommends surgery.  She doesn't think she wants to do it.  We may not be cruising next month...

[VMax1700]

8 minutes ago, Vict0riann said:

Pat commented this morning that when he was growing up in Ireland, the feast of St. Patrick was a Holy Day of Obligation ( must go to Mass), and all the pubs were closed.  Funny to think of that now.

 

DD had a call this morning from the hospital, orthopaedic surgeon recommends surgery.  She doesn't think she wants to do it.  We may not be cruising next month...

Please thank Pat for reminding Ellen & myself of these facts.  Indeed St Patrick's Day is primarily a religious festival and the pubs were indeed shut (as they were on Good Friday, until recently).

We do hope you will be able to cruise!

 

 

[Vict0riann]

1 minute ago, VMax1700 said:

Please thank Pat for reminding Ellen & myself of these facts.  Indeed St Patrick's Day is primarily a religious festival and the pubs were indeed shut (as they were on Good Friday, until recently).

We do hope you will be able to cruise!

 

 

 

We hope so, too.  I like your new picture - how did you change the ship into a gingerbread man?