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@dfishtodays pork chop recipes look wonderful. I had just ripped a recipe out of Cooks Country for pork chops with prunes. It looks tasty. I have a freezer full of pork so I am looking for new recipes. I will pass on the drink and take my Beam neat. That Chilean wine looks good too. @rafinmdthanks for the photos of Fortaleza, we will be there February 25th. We have nothing planned so your photos looks like a walk around it appropriate for that port. @StLouisCruisersthanks for the comments on Alter Do Chao, we have nothing booked there either and if it is really hot we may stay aboard. I put a note in the itinerary I have printed about the issues in the port. Thank you for sharing the Gingerbread Village photos, along with @lindalerwe will be able to enjoy in on the New Year's cruise. @aliaschiefI hope that you feel better soon and that it isn't Covid. @kazuSo happy to hear your foot is slowly getting better! Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine. DF showed me a 3 minute video of Ukrainians using their US provided Javelin missiles to attack a convoy of Russian tanks and Humvee type vehicles. Not a single missed. Probably 30 vehicles wiped out. Have a wonderful day and a shout out for everyone getting ready to go on a cruise! Nancy

Happy Hump Day! We will be heading out in an hour to visit DB and hopefully make the last Costco visit before we hit the road to FL 12/22. I will have a report about his progress later. @Quartzsite CruiserGreat news that Steve is going to be released to home. I am sure you will be so happy to have him home with you. Thanks for the Fleet and Daily Reports! A great quote. I have been diligent in doing computer security on my laptop. I have Norton that came with my latest one. It is fairly unobtrusive versus the AVG we used to use. Yesterday DF John gave me an early birthday gift, a new battery for my Dell computer. I bought a Costco floor model for $500 off a year ago. One of the hazards of floor models is they sit on a charger constantly and that really shortens the battery life. He had to open up the back of the computer and installed. All is good. Here is another kind of moose, thanks for the hint @RedneckBob! I took her picture driving back to the cabin through my truck window.

A bit of thread drift but if anyone notices smoking from nearby cabins contact ship's services right away. We were on a B2B and second leg we smelled the smoke starting on day one. They tried to hide it by smoking early but we are early risers and got a snoot full every morning. My dramatic coughing did nothing to curtail them so I ratted them out. They were visited according to our NS concierge and told to cease smoking. It isn't the bothering one's neighbors but more so the risk for fire.

Time to start wearing your masks if you don't already. I always follow this map when I decide I want to go into the public since I catch everything that comes along. Thankfully Michigan isn't a hot spot yet. When I work at our annual Greens Sale next Saturday I signed up for outside duty doing Wreathes and Roping. We will have to slowly drive through the south on our way to our 12/27 cruise. It has been a hot zone for the last 4 weeks. Stay safe!

Good Tuesday morning! I love lemon cream pie but I haven't had it in years. We had to take square dancing class in gym when I was in 10th grade. It was in addition to other dances and it was called Folk Activity, we had a more appropriate name for us who hated it. Rhymes with Folk activity. A good thought provoking quote. I will pass on the cauliflower pizza, I can only enjoy cauliflower raw. The cocktail looks great and will probably pass on the Rose'. On this dingy but warm day I am enjoying the photos of sunny La Rochelle. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports! Thanks for the Cares and Celebrations lists! Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine. DSIL texted me this morning. DB had a vascular ultrasound yesterday afternoon and he spent the night in the hospital, hopefully in a room. He went through the insertion of the PIc line procedure at 8AM today. DSIL does not know if he will get back to the rehab by evening as slow as the transfer ambulance service. At least with it in his chest it won't interfere with his arm movements for PT. I have to get mouthwash and toothpaste. I have a lot on the house but it is relegated for the long cruise and I don't want to draw from that. I am also going to get my nails done and see DB if he arrives back at rehab at a decent hour. Have a great day!

I checked my cabin photos from the NS and there were 2 hooks on the wall but we were in a Neptune Suite. Check out Halfacts for pictures of yours or nearby cabins.

@HAL SailerPrayers for your DSIL, she has gone through a lot and must be a tough woman. Sandi and Dixie looks like you are enjoying your Amazon cruise, thanks for sharing the picture of you together. Sandi thanks for letting us know those ancient TVs have been updated! Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports. I love French toast and today would be perfect day for it because we have macerated raspberries in the fridge. Not to be because I have an ultrasound today and some blood work then we will probably head to the nearby tavern for lunch/dinner. When I eat there I don't need any dinner. I'll take my brisket on a roll with horseradish rather than sauerkraut. The drink looks great minus the mint. When I looked at the wine's name earlier I knew it would be pricy. Looking forward to pictures of Mauritania. Prayers for all on the care list, @JazzyV and for the people in Ukraine. It is very dark and cold there right now. I didn't see my brother yesterday as I decided it was time to do a good housecleaning before the Ravens loss. I got a call from DSIL about 11 and she asked if DB could go on oral meds instead of IV because he had Pic line issues again. I explained he has a Pic line that goes directly into his heart because he needs the antibiotic into his blood constantly. He has osteomyelitis or bone infection. Since the bones have limited blood supply he needs the IV drug delivery. The mess dragged on all afternoon. His arm with the Pic was cold and clammy so they did an x-ray. After that they decided they were going to move the Pic back to his left arm that had issues last week. Then they had to wait for a specialized IV nurse to move the line. She tried several times and it did not work. Therefore he has no line in now and will be at the ER this morning to have one put in his chest. My older sister saw him yesterday and he looked great and sitting up in a wheelchair but he was limited in movement due to the Pic line issue in his right arm. It seems he is two steps forward and one and a half steps back. So sad for him and my DSIL. Have a nice day! Nancy

@Sharon in AZ Nice rum pour in Barcelona!

Good Sunday morning! We were thrilled to see Michigan beat Ohio State. First time on their stadium in 22 years! Today is the Ravens versus the Jaguars. @richwmnThanks for the Daily and Fleet reports and the comments on my favorite summer cocktail. I love a CL with Diet Pepsi and Pusser's rum and some lime. Since we have been traveling in the Caribbean a lot of late I picked up some new ones in the DR and Barbados. A couple of those I really enjoyed at our cabin this summer. A great quote and some interesting days. @0106Thanks for the happy memories of the Orioles pie in the face activities, my DH loved the Orioles. All the comestibles look like winners! @Quartzsite Cruiserthank you for the photos today. Such beautiful sunny weather there. @rafinmdThank you for the Cares and Celebrations reports. Prayers for all needing them and for the people of Ukraine. I had a very brief visit with DB yesterday but for a good reason. I got there at my usual 10 am and he was still in bed. He said don't stay long because they had put him on a bike in PT and he suffered the consequences all night in pain. He called later and apologized but I said no problem. DF asked why I was home so quickly and I told him that it was for a good reason since DB was put through his paces in PT. Today we are putting all of our Thanksgiving decor away and I will bring out a small fabric Christmas tree with a matching white bunny in a cap. That will be the extent of our decorating. Usually every flat surface is covered and two Christmas trees plus lights front and back. Have a wonderful day! Nancy

@Quartzsite CruiserThanks for the beautiful pictures of Ha Long Bay! @Horizon chaser 1957are you and the Grand Africa cruise? Your pictures are great! That is one cruise I would pay for the 5-day safari because when would one ever get back to Africa. I hope it will be offered in 2025. @StLouisCruisersGreat news on Ren and Colton, they must be spectacular players. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports. In place of cake I will have apple pie left over from Thanksgiving. @dfishthanks for the great onion soup recipes. It takes so many onions to make a good one so I think we will have it on the Volendam at the end of the month. @summer slope and @cat shepard thank you for our daily libations. They look really tasty but high in the sugar content. Thanks for the cares and celebrations reports! @seagarsmokerglad that you are on the mend from Covid. Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine. I am heading to see dear brother today after a 3 day hiatus. Two for Thanksgiving and prep and yesterday our adventure cutting greens on 4 different sites. The weather was sunny and in the 40s and I only had to put my knee boots on at one spot due to the snow depth. We started with white pine at a farmstead, then next to a property owned by the small city near us for spruce and more beautiful white pine, the next stop was another old farmstead for Junipers and finally a ranch home that had a beautiful stand of arborvitae which they allowed us to cut small pieces. In all my pickup and another pickup with a cap were filled up with greens. We unloaded them at our Council house and our members will begin crafting arrangements for us to sell at our annual fundraiser. They do some beautiful work with those greens. I am praying that when I see him there has been marked improvement! Have a wonderful Saturday and Go Michigan!!

I love Notes tastings. I started with whiskies of the world. I found there were certain scotches I like. We were on for 21 days on NS and the Islay Scotch and Japanese whiskey tastings were new experiences for me. If Jarrie is pouring at Notes she is the best!

@ger_77 Thank you! Both recipes look like they would taste like my Mom's. Nancy

@0106Thanks for the recipe! Nancy

Good Friday morning! No Black Friday shopping for me. Like Jacqui we did ours early booking a couple cruises for 2024. Today I am meeting several members of our garden club to go cut pine branches by the truckload and then haul them to our Council House. They will be used for the swags and fresh green arrangements for our annual Greens Sale a week from today. Thankfully we had a thaw the last several days so we hopefully won't be trudging through knee deep snow. I was going to prune a lot off my Mugo pines and carpet junipers but most are still buried. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn. I love the quote by Fitzgerald. Today's fish is an absolute no. I will have my Laphroiag neat but the Pinot will probably be very tasty. Thanks @grapau27for photos of today's port. Thanks for our cares and celebrations list. Very happy so see many in our group at sea or soon to be. We have 31 days until we board the Volendam for our New Year's cruise B2B. Prayers for all on our care list. The poor people of Ukraine are all mainly in the dark due to Russian rockets disabling their electrical grid. President of the EU calls for Russia to be designated as a State Sponsor of Terror due to their crimes against humanity. Prayers for them and for this war to end. @ger_77 Would you share your recipe for the porcupine meatballs? My mom made them once or twice when I was a kid and would like to have them. Have a nice day! Nancy

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FOR ALL OF US IN THE US! My sister is due in about 30 minutes. A quiet day for the three of us and I am sure a lot of wine will be consumed. So many things to be grateful for in this house. I have been to today's port mainly flying through to southern Caribbean islands. We were there in February 2019 on the old Rotterdam. It was raining so we stayed aboard. @dfish I will share some food porn later today and I am looking forward to everyone elses'. Have a fun day!!

After being married for almost 20 years to a life long Baltimore guy we had the Sauerkraut and my DH would find Smithfield Ham which was served with dinner. His Dad grew up in Accomac Virginia and that was their tradition. @Vict0riannHappy 60th Anniversary! @kazu Sending you wishes on the anniversary of Jose's birthday. February 28th is always a memory day for me.

@bennybear I am sorry to hear about your cancer's return. Maybe time for Mohs. My cousin who recently passed had a cancerous lesion on his ear. They kept burning it off. Finally it got so invasive that they had to remover his ear. Thanks for your lovely photos of Kotor! @Cruising-alongThanks for a Pepper update! Nancy

I read that and it is my thoughts exactly. Especially this time of year when travel and food costs are higher than usual. @marshhawkI hope that this works out for you. That is an unreasonable demand. Nancy

Good morning! @seagarsmokerI hope you and your DW feel better soon! Lenda and Sandi thank you for the beautiful photos of Kotor. It looks like a wonderful place to visit. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet reports! I will have my cranberries tomorrow. I like cappucino rather than espresso. All my cooking planned for yesterday went out the window when DF wanted to go the local casino and then to dinner at a tavern in a nearby town. They have a juke box in there, the new DVD style ones. Excellent fried chicken dinner. It was nice not to cook but I am so far behind I cannot go visit DB today. Thank you for the celebrations and care reports @rafinmd. Thankfully my brother's prognosis is getting better. He is still in danger of being sent to a nursing home if he doesn't do his PT but his energy level is much improved. I think he will be on the IV antibiotic for a long time for his bone infection. He had OT and PT yesterday after I left. Prayers for all on our care list and for the people in Ukraine. Prayers for all involved in the mass shootings in Chesapeake, VA and Colorado Springs. Sadly we live in a time where there is too much hate! @grapau27thanks for sharing your fabulous food porn! @kazuGlad that your luggage is getting closer! Back to making rolls and apple pie, then some serious house cleaning. Just John and my older sister for our Thanksgiving. Have a great day! Nancy

@Cruising-along Thank you for sharing the photo of charming Pepper. A very cute pup! I had a brief visit with DB. Thankfully I was there when the doctor came in and his PT lady. He looks great but is griping about PT. Doctor not concerned about heart rate and BP is now normal. He is on an additional oral antibiotic but I didn't note what it was. He would have spent the night in the hospital if they had a bed for him, so he had a late ride back to rehab around 8:30. I told him to do his therapy. I will return to see him tomorrow. I have my lard, butter and flour out for pie crust. Now just need to find my food processor in the basement. No cod for dinner tonight, DF has cabin fever so we are going out somewhere. Have a great day! Nancy

Good morning. I am getting ready to go back to the rehab this morning. My DSIL texted me last night at 2:30 am that he is back at the rehab. She said his return was delayed, probably waiting for transport. His BP is normal HR still elevated and they put him on a new antibiotic. They both must be exhausted. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports! I never had freckles when I was young or my skin was thick enough that they didn't show. Now I have massive ones all over. I went until I was 60 before I had to use foundation, now it is a necessity. My Thanksgiving cranberry relish is already made. I used 2 bags of cranberries, a large jar of Smucker's orange marmalade, a bit of sugar and threw in a large handful of dried cherries. It will be good on Thursday. I will be going for a ride down the highway to visit DB. I will pass on the squash and lentils, wait on the drink and would try the vino. Never have been to Topolambo. Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine. Thank you for your messages and prayers about my DB. A photo DF sent me this morning to brighten my day, I hope it does you too. A Rose Breasted Grosbeak at my jelly feeder last spring. Have a good day! Nancy

@1ANGELCAT Happy Birthday!!

Good afternoon! We started early to beat the rush. We had the can return room to ourselves and were able to get $32 for our cans that were taking over the garage. John shopped while I turned the can receipts into $5 bill for tips for our cruise. We will need a lot more than that, I used to buy scratcher lottery tickets and I like the tips Idea better. Then I picked up a prescription and then took a side road down to dear brother's rehab. The side roads are covered with very thick packed snow and ice. They were slippery and very bumpy. Thankfully we took the highway home. I had a nice visit with my DB while DF went to Costco a choice he regretted. I am glad he went though because he picked up a case of Kirkland Malbec for $7 a bottle. It passed the taste test and the migraine test. He said they were almost out so everyone loves a good tasting bargain. DB was sitting in his wheel chair when I got there which is a real positive sign. Both of his legs are really swollen. We visited for a while and then a new nurse came in and said she is concerned about his BP and his heart rate. BP low HR high. She also was worried about the swelling around his pic line. I asked her if she was there before and she said no she was just there for a meeting today. I told her it looked like that the last time I saw him on Wednesday. Due to those issues he has to take a ride to the hospital on the far side of town to have his pic line put in his right arm and to decide what to do about his blood pressure and HR issues. Then they tried to check his temperature and 2 different thermometers showed his temperature at 94. They said they were defective???? Meanwhile he was moved back to bed to get his IV and then he started shivering. I called his wife and said come down so she can ride along to hospital. After the nurses left my brother said "I could die from this". I agreed and said he could have an amputation if the infection can't clear. He said his surgeon mentioned that but said he is healing well when he had his staples removed. Looks good on the outside but maybe not deep down in the bone where he has his infection. So frustrating and I am sure he is getting to the end of his rope. Thankfully he has a couple of aides who are gems. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn while having no power. So glad it is back on. I love to make Gingerbread cookies for Christmas but we are not decorating or baking for Christmas. Ginger cookies make the house smell like Christmas. So does butternut squash they way I bake it with butter and a dusting of cinnamon and Penzey's Northwoods seasoning. TV is important here. Will be running the TV late tonight with MNF from Mexico. Ravens won, Vikings were thumped by the Cowboys. I will pass on the curry dish but the cocktail and the vino look great. The port in Norway looks like a very interesting place to visit. Thanks Lenda for your photos and for sharing Sandi's. Prayers for all on our care list and for the people of Ukraine. A beautiful sunrise today.

Thanks for taking us along and thanks for sharing your misfortune with your Kindle. I have a new one due on our front porch tonight. Our next will be too long for no Kindle and my addicting Word game like Scrabble. Will follow your World Cruise while we are going round SA. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Welcome home Jacqui and thank you for the beautiful photos of Madeira. I am sorry for your assist issues in Miami. Rome is no prize either. I was coming back from a Konigsdam cruise with my friend who had macular degeneration and was sight impaired. Her wheelchair was there waiting at Dulles, Amsterdam and back at Dulles but Alitalia was a no show. Thankfully she was ambulatory. We waited 20 minutes and I said we should walk to the gate lest we miss our flight. Rome airport is a mess and it took forever to find our gate. Once we started to board there was a long flight of stairs down and then climbing stairs to board the plane. Thankfully a passenger saw our plight and carried DFs carry-on for her while I helped her up those stairs. Alitalia is like the airport - a mess. @kaz@kazuI hope your luggage has been delivered.