The Fleet Report and Daily for Thursday June 13th, 2024

[Overhead Fred]

I finally have the cottage grass under control - it took a few passes with the riding mower. Now to get the dock in so I can go fishing! 

 

These peonies were originally at my grandmother's house in Beaver Falls, PA. They have been divided and moved several times over the years. They are probably well over 100 years old. My dad remembered them from when he was a child and he was born in 1923. Peonies are almost immortal when well cared for! 

 

 

 

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a sunny ☀️ central Texas.  It is 74F with 100% humidity with a dew point of 73F.  However, there is no condensation on the window this morning.  Our predicted high will be 94F.  Last night, for the first time in many, many days, I saw the moon.  Today will be busy with errands this morning and laundry.  I plan to get the first load in the washer going before I run my errands.

 

I'll skip the axe throwing for everyone's safety.  I hope Doe B's fans celebrate the day.  I can be a klutz in the kitchen; actually, just about anywhere.

 

An interesting quote from Plato.

 

We'll skip the meal, drink and wine.  

 

We have been in Zeebrugge three times, going to Bruges twice and Ghent once.  We were there once on Noordam III, and twice on the Prinsendam.  We have also been to Brussels once when Prinsendam docked in Antwerp. 

 

It is interesting the world's oldest treaty, signed in 1373 is still in existence.

 

@rafinmd  Roy, thank you for providing the maps.  Rich @richwmn I hope you get your internet back soon.

@MISTER 67  I hope you don't experience any flooding.

@Cruzin Terri  Terri, I hope you can make it to Miami and on to Jacksonville today.  Safe travels.

@aliaschief  Bruce, enjoy the realities of being back in the real world.  😉

@cat shepard  Ann, I hope your area gets some rain, but not the downpours the southern part of the state is getting.

@dfish  Debbie, enjoy your visit with Sue's former SILs, and try to stay cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lend

Edited June 13 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[Sir PMP]

Zeebrugge, Belgium:

 

 

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Since @richwmn Rich mentioned Brussels in today's destination, I'll include some pictures from our 2008 visit there.  This time we were on the Prinsendam and docked in Antwerp.  After an hour tour that morning of Antwerp on the Ho-Ho that did not have any stops, we took a tour to Brussels.  It was a good thing it was a ship's tour since we were late getting back to the ship.  The weather in Brussels went from bad to worse, with a heavy downpour as we were leaving town.  Our bus driver got lost, and we got to see more of the town that planned.

 

These first pictures are from the Brussels Expo site which was the place of the 1958 Expo.  The third one is the Atomium.

 

 

 

I'm not sure what this building is, but it looks important.

 

 

We had a walking tour of part of downtown Brussels.

 

 

 

 

 

Brussel's famous statue.  It is very small and almost hidden, and could easily overlooked.

 

As you can see, it really started raining once we were back in the bus and supposedly heading to Antwerp.

 

Lenda

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

In 2011 on the Prinsendam, we took a tour to Ghent.  I'm glad we got to see the town, but it is not as picturesque as Bruges.  We were there on a Sunday, and there were not many shops open, so we had more free time to wander around the older part of town than we needed.  The tour included a boat ride on the canal that goes from Ghent to the Scheldt River.

 

These are a few of the pictures from the boat ride. 

 

 

 

 

 

An old warehouse turned into what looks like a beer garden.

 

The area around the main square and the church.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think the weather helped with our impression of Ghent.

 

Lenda

[marshhawk]

Good Thursday Morning Dailyites!  I'm thinking that during Plato's time, there wasnt heavy metal music. Ah romance....

 

@dfishRadisihes related to cabbage?  I would have thought carrots. or Turnips.  I envy you your hot temperatures, as ours will be going up to 97 or higher this weekend.  They said with the humidity it will feel like more than 100.  Thank goodness that the air conditioner man came yesterday. 

 

This morning the view out the window is cloudy (no rain in the forecast) with hummingbirds. I did open the windows, in the front of the house, and the 3 "boys" are in the window sills and cat basket checking out the flight patterns.

 

Today is another day where someone has to stay home and wait.  Home Depot told DH on Tuesday that they will send someone out today to pick up the old laundry stuff (which should have been taken away on Saturday) and to replace the hose that was too short.  I have been able to do laundry, but I wish the machine was in the place for the washer, and not flush against a wall, sideways in the "mud" room.  But they didnt give us an estimate on what time someone will be here, so I need to go out and run a few errands before I "go" to work.

 

My vein and heart doc called yesterday to tell me that my appointment on Friday has been changed.  She asked if I was having problems with my leg, and I said, it was tingly and twitchy and she said, ok, your appointment has been changed for a month out. This morning I got a call from Emory that my lung doc has scheduled my next CT scan without contrast.  And that got scheduled for July.and just looking at next week and I have an appointment to get to or get DH to every day but thursday.  The older we get the busier we are. 

 

When we lived overseas in the early 60' we often went to Brugge, and I would eat my weight in chocolate and get sick as a dog.  You would think it would break me of the chocolate addiction, it didn't.  I just switched to dark chocolate, doing much better...LOL.

 

Speaking of flight patterns, I checked Miami Airport, delays are only 15 minutes, arriving and departing today, so as along as @Cruzin Terri has a break between flights, she should be OK.

 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, and thank you all for the well wishes for DH's birthday yesterday. He really did appreciate  them. 

 

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

These are pictures from our two times in Bruges.  In 2004, in addition to walking around Bruges, we also took a boat ride on the canals.  Bruges was quite a bit more crowded on June 2004, than it was in September 2016.  These pictures are a combination of both visits.

 

A couple of pictures of Zeebrugge on the way to the train station.

 

 

In 2016, we took the train from Blankenberge.  This picture was taken from the train station looking toward the church were the shuttle dropped us.

 

In 2016 on our walk from the train station to the walled part of Bruges, we found a smaller gate that lead  us through a part of Bruges we'd not seen in 2004. 

 

 

An open area on the way to the main plaza.

 

The main plaza was not wall to wall tourists.

 

 

 

 

 

We took a ho-ho tour that year, and saw some of town outside the walls including this windmill.

 

Different views of Bruges from a canal boat.

 

 

 

 

 

We came across this area on the way back to the train station.

 

Lenda

[grapau27]

15 minutes ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

In 2011 on the Prinsendam, we took a tour to Ghent.  I'm glad we got to see the town, but it is not as picturesque as Bruges.  We were there on a Sunday, and there were not many shops open, so we had more free time to wander around the older part of town than we needed.  The tour included a boat ride on the canal that goes from Ghent to the Scheldt River.

 

These are a few of the pictures from the boat ride. 

 

 

 

 

 

An old warehouse turned into what looks like a beer garden.

 

The area around the main square and the church.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think the weather helped with our impression of Ghent.

 

Lenda

Nice photos Lenda.

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning Dailyites!

 

The sun is shining this morning. Mama deer and twins cleaned out the bird feeders already, so Oliver and I will go fill them again. 

 

I'm sorry @StLouisCruisers Sandi you are feeling a bit off today. Prayers lifted for Tana, Jacqui, Roy, and our other Daily friends. Terri hoping you get through the airports safe and do not have any cancelations.

 

We have a quiet day. I'm headed to the market to get something for game night tonight. I'm thinking a mushroom, sausage, pasta dish and salad. And Cosmos..

 

Wishing you all a blessed day. Send a kind word to someone in need.

 

[rafinmd]

Thank you Rich, Vanessa, Debbie, Ann, and  Dixie.  I’ll pass on Axe; throwing, had never heard of Rapper Doe B but celebrate Kitchen Klutzes Day....

There’s a lot in the Plato quote...

I have been to Zeebrugge a few times including Nieuw Statendam in 2019.

649 years is a long time to be true to a treaty,.

I like radishes but wouldn’t consider them a meal..  My alternative is Chilled Bannana Soup, Tossed Seasonal Treens, and Chicken with Dried Cranberries and Orange Relish as served on MS Prinsendam on June 13, 2015.
                    

Not sure what I will do today but as much as possible to be ready for tomorrow.  It will be hot today but brutally hot then..

Roy

[grapau27]

[kochleffel]

Axe throwing is growing as a sport in colleges in the Northeast; it apparently came from Canada. The daughter of a friend joined an axe-throwing team in college and worked summers in a lumberjack/lumberjill show in Maine.

 

I am a bit less of a klutz in the kitchen than almost anywhere else. I often roast vegetables in the fall and winter but had never thought of radishes. The cocktail sounded like something pandas would eat but, seeing how it's made, I think I would like it. For the wine, I'll nominate Glenora's 2022 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, $19.99. "Beautiful tropical fruit, pear and lemon custard aromas intermingle with notes of light American Oak.  The combination of barrel and concrete egg fermentations give the wine a luxurious texture on the palate but the bright acidity still provides a crisp finish.  Try pairing with lemon pasta with cream sauces, soft cheese and herb roasted chicken."

 

<rant> One of the papers reports this morning on the choking death of a rare antelope in a zoo in Tennessee, caused by the cap from a pouch of baby food (food in squeezable pouches is prohibited in the zoo, because of this risk). It led me to ask: do people squeeze the food directly into the baby's mouth? (Yes) Will babies fed this way grow to be toddlers who still expect to have food squeezed into their mouths? (Apparently also yes, as there are pouches for older  children.) Will they still be demanding this kind of feeding when they are older, five and six, or nine and ten? (Based on families' experience with children who insist on bottles and sippy cups when they should be moving on to ordinary drinkware, probably yes.) Will humans evolve into a species with no teeth? </rant>

 

 

[grapau27]

[rafinmd]

Today's sunrise was from my 2015 Prinsendam British Isles cruise.  On June 13 we visited Foynes/Limerick, Ireland:

 

 

We had a bit of drama that day.  You know how they say they will wait for you if a ship tour comes back too late.  Well, Foynes is some distance up the River Shannon.  After several early tours left the pilots told Captain Roberts that due to tidal/current conditions we needed to leave a half hour earlier.  The last tour bus showed up at the pier just in time to see us sailing away.  We headed about 2 miles downstream to a safe anchorage before sending a tender back to pick up the missing group.

 

Roy

[ger_77]

Good morning, thanks for the Fleet Report and Daily!  I've never thrown an axe, although I've used one frequently during our camping years.  Had no idea who Doe B was, as I'm not into rap "music".  I can probably be included in Kitchen Klutzes, after having tossed several pans of pasta or vegetables down the drain over the years (overshooting the strainer or it moved out of place).  

 

The sun this morning was short-lived, as the skies are clouded over once more.  It looks like we had rain again overnight, and there's a 30% chance of rain again today - we need heat, please!  I know many of you are suffering through brutal heat, but if you wouldn't mind sending just a bit of it northward, it would be appreciated.

 

Yesterday at the cardiac rehab program went well; DH completed 3 full laps around the walking track, then spent 15 minutes on a recumbent stepper.  Interesting thing was that although he was straining with the exercise, his heart rate never went above 60, which is what his pacemaker is set at.  It may explain why he gets winded walking up stairs, as his heart isn't beating fast enough.  I've got a call into the cardiac device clinic to see if there's an explanation for this.  I know it's supposed to kick in and bring his heart rate up to 60 when his own fails, but I didn't think it was to act as a governor as well.

 

@Cruzin Terriwishing you a safe, and uneventful journey home today.

@marshhawksorry to hear you fell yesterday - are you alright today?  You're sure busy with your job and all of your and Chuck's medical appointments!

@smitty34877glad the ladies are in recovery mode; hope the men in the house get over the bug quickly, too!

@aliaschiefI'd advise you to check prices at the big box store - our neighbour saved lots of $$ just recently by going there.

 

Not a lot happening here today, I might take some time to clear out one of our glass curio cabinets in the living room - it's time to clean all the glass (a job I don't relish), so it sparkles once more.  And after that, I "should" clean the china cabinet where I keep all our hand painted stemware . . . that will be an all day job, and a not today job.  LOL

 

I'm going to pass on the drink, the wine, and didn't we have cooked radishes once before?  I like them in salads, and when they're pulled fresh from the ground, but haven't ever had them cooked.  Today's the day when I'll be reheating the stew we were going to have earlier in the week so we can enjoy it on the deck tonight.  And wine.

 

Prayers for everyone who is in need, in pain, in grief, in storms, and in wars.  Cheers to all with celebrations.

 

Smooth Sailing!  ☺️☺️☺️

Gerry

[cunnorl]

Good Morning from a cloudy and soon to be raining day at the beach

          Our rain continues but no flooding thank goodness. This weather pattern is expected to last for a few more days.

          There is actually a place near here that has ax throwing. They host all sorts of events, team building etc. I have not done it but know several, including my son that have.

Kitchen klutz? I can relate. 

     Have not been to todays port but it is on my list. Thanks all for the pictures.

     Will pass on todays meal. The quote is a good one.

  There is a launch scheduled for this afternoon but the probability is low at this point.

   Not much on the agenda today. Golf cancelled. Will try again on Saturday morning early.

 

Stay safe and enjoy today

  Charlene

   

 

[rafinmd]

Enhanced maps today:

 

 

 

Roy

[wandb]

Thanks to everyone who shared pictures of Brugge, Ghent and Brussels. We will be there in exactly one month!!  Can hardly wait. We have been to Brussels before, for one day—-about 20 years ago. Excited to see Brugge and Ghent. 

[RedneckBob]

2 hours ago, dfish said:

Good morning, everyone.  

 

It is going to be a scorcher today.  The windows are still open as it is cooler outside than in, but I'll close them before I leave for yoga.  Expected high of 87F.  We are supposed to meet Sue's former SILs and their families at Dow Gardens today.  They sure picked a hot one!  I think the spray park might have been better.  

 

Today's meal is one I tried and didn't care for, but perhaps I should try it again.  I love raw radishes, so I should like the cooked ones.  At any rate, radishes are a super healthy food.  

Radishes are root vegetables that come in several different colors and are a cousin to cabbage.

This bright spring veg is a very good source of disease-fighting and immunity-boosting vitamin C

Radishes contain natural antibacterial and antifungal properties.

They contain a unique phytochemical called indoles, which promotes detoxification, helping your body rid itself of harmful substances.

Radishes are full of powerful antioxidant flavonoids that fight havoc-causing free radicals and aid in healthy liver and kidney function.  

Garlic Roasted Radishes

 

 

This next dish is very simple as it is just olive oil, salt, and pepper.  There are some suggestions on how to use the cooked radishes in other dishes.   Roasted Radishes

 

 

This next recipe is more involved and I bet the flavors are amazing.  It might be worth giving it a try!  Egyptian Roasted Radishes

 

 

That gives us something to think about!   @Cruzin Terri safe travels home.  Wishing you all a wonderful day!

I will pass on this dish so I will not pass gas! 😳

[durangoscots]

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

Since @richwmn Rich mentioned Brussels in today's destination, I'll include some pictures from our 2008 visit there.  This time we were on the Prinsendam and docked in Antwerp.  After an hour tour that morning of Antwerp on the Ho-Ho that did not have any stops, we took a tour to Brussels.  It was a good thing it was a ship's tour since we were late getting back to the ship.  The weather in Brussels went from bad to worse, with a heavy downpour as we were leaving town.  Our bus driver got lost, and we got to see more of the town that planned.

 

These first pictures are from the Brussels Expo site which was the place of the 1958 Expo.  The third one is the Atomium.

 

 

 

I'm not sure what this building is, but it looks important.

 

 

We had a walking tour of part of downtown Brussels.

 

 

 

 

 

Brussel's famous statue.  It is very small and almost hidden, and could easily overlooked.

 

As you can see, it really started raining once we were back in the bus and supposedly heading to Antwerp.

 

Lenda

Lenda, interesting photos of the 1958 Expo site. Somewhere I have pictures taken at that Expo. Mom and I went over to it for 3 days after visiting family in London. I think it was seeing all those exhibits that inspired me to return to college. I also remember we returned to the U.S. on the Statendam... my second trip on a HAL ship.

 

Susan

[aliaschief]

@ger_77Thanks for advice. They matched “Big Box” price of tires and I liked their 24 month road coverage if tire get’s a nail or damaged.

Very nice dealership with cafe with full time attendant and they even have a barber shop.

Hope I get out of here before lunch.

[durangoscots]

Good morning. Sunny and dry and hot.... just more of the same thing. Maybe some showers on Friday. Current temperature is 62F and will get up to mid-90's which is hot for Durango.

 

I qualify for the kitchen klutz team.

 

Little on my agenda for today. I do have to make a quick trip into town to Post Office and then out to buy dog food.... a major necessity as I scrapped the bottom of the dog food container this morning. Pups will be mad if they do not get supper. Will continue trying to work on putting my living room to rights. Have a few things put back in one curio cabinet and a box started for the thrift store. Have also some things marked for scottie rescue auction if I can figure out how to get them up to Denver before October. Some items are very heavy and some are fragile. That is taxing my poor little brain. I plod on.... I am just refusing to be rushed. And the work continues on the condo. They hope to finish up by tomorrow. Then I can do things at my own slow pace.

 

@Cruzin TerriHope you can get home as planned. I think getting the assistance was a very good idea. Sometimes it is just worth laying out more $ than intended just to keep us unstressed. I find as I age I am having to do it more and more...

 

Susan

 

 

 

 

 

 

[luvteaching]

Good morning, 

 

We're having a sunny morning and that's nice as rain is in the forecast for the weekend. I'm not a radish fan and there was a "Passengers vs Officers Axe Throwing Contest" on Majestic Princess last week. I understand the axes were plastic. 

 

Yesterday was two water aerobics classes then I headed home. DS came over and we had a couple of hours together. He's finishing up his first quarter at the local junior college, did well (he got his GED about 30 years ago) and is now aiming at getting his BA and Masters. He wants to go into Human Services. Mom helped him out with some money yesterday as he hasn't been working. Worth every penny! His Dad would be so proud of him. DS put on a new toilet seat for me, filled the two smaller hummingbird feeders and moved some boxes. He also called my Mom to chat. She doesn't hear as well when we call on our cell phones so the land line is better. She was supposed to have a procedure done next Monday but it's now postponed until sometime in July. 

 

Today I need to finish unpacking, sweep floors, do some organizing, etc. I have to get something made to take to the Widow's Support potluck tomorrow. After the potluck I'm meeting DS to pick out baseboards and he'll install those for me. Two weeks today marks the one-year anniversary of DD DH's passing. Not sure what I want to do that day so it's weighing on me a bit. I'm not sure if I want to go for a drive to one of our fave spots, stay home, or what. I guess time will tell. It's the last "first" for me to get through and remember - I'm a tough old broad! 

Enjoy your day!

 

Karen

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning and Happy Thursday. I have seen axe throwing on TV and don’t think that I’ll ever try it myself. I try not to be a klutz in the kitchen, just take it slow because of my arthritis. 
 

I like radishes, especially in tacos and salads. I’ve never had them cooked. I’m thinking about making yesterday’s meal next week. Debbie @dfish, did you make it yesterday?  Let me know what you thought. Today I need to make something with some Costco rotisserie chicken breast, I haven’t decided what yet but I’m leaning toward making sandwiches since I have bread left from making BLT’s. BLT’s are a favorite summertime meal for me. 

 

I’m not sure if I’d like the drink or wine. I haven’t been to Bruge. It looks beautiful. 
 

Ann @Vict0riann, so good to read that your surgery is soon. I’m thinking about you and hope your recovery is quick. 
 

Joy @Seasick Sailor, I’m praying for Allen and know with your good cooking he will gain the one lb he needs to gain. 

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Vict0riann]

Good morning, Dailyites!  Pat made it home safely last night, the flight was delayed, of course, so we got to bed after midnight, and he was up at 7, full of energy.  My holiday is over!  Cleaning lady comes today, so we are busy tidying up for her...  Next week our visitors (the California cousins) arrive - I haven't even started thinking about what to feed them, how to entertain them, etc., my mind has been elsewhere.  We have invited one set of local cousins to dinner one night, and I think we'll invite the other local cousins to join us at Butchart's for tea.  But I am procrastinating.  Can't seem to get in gear and get going.

 

Prayers going out for Terri, Terry and Tana, Annie and Chuck (sorry I missed the birthday yesterday, hope the breakfast was good!), Jacqui, and all the others with worries.  

 

Definitely peony season here, too.

 

 

Edited June 13 by Vict0riann