Sharon in AZ

Good morning and Happy Sunday! When I saw Pie in your Face I immediately thought of Soupy Sales. I’ll pass on the Bavarian cream pie but celebrate turtles. Not sure what we are eating today but it won’t be chicken. The drink is one of Craig’s favorites, especially if there are no Negroni ingredients. We were surprised in Barcelona that they poured the rum and then gave the can of coke for you to pour. Sandi @StLouisCruisers, you are wise to stay away from that thread. Yesterday it was even worse. I think only Jacqui @kazu saw it before I reported it and it was removed. I did a screenshot just in case. Oh my! Terri @Cruzin Terri, I love your new living room set and also the ottoman. Like others said I would get a large tray with sides to set on top. It could look quite decorative too. DGD enjoyed her grilled cheese yesterday for lunch For dinner she asked me to teach her how to make my pasta with cream sauce, it’s like Alfredo sauce. That girl sure can eat. Have a great day everyone!

Thank you!

Bon Voyage!!! ⛴⛴⛴

Bon Voyage! ⛴⛴⛴

Well, I just broke my own rule. Do you have a brand name for the key lime juice? Oh, and a recipe?

Congratulations to everyone, especially Mom & Dad! Love the name Ethan! Welcome to the Daily! And how appropriate on Local Small Business Day. HAL doesn’t have a “lobster” night any longer, however the Pinnacle Grill has a fantastic Lobster tail for an up charge during some sailings in certain regions. It was huge and very delicious. Best lobster tail I’ve ever had. However, it probably won’t be offered in the Pinnacle Grill during your sailing since you will be in Alaska. It’s usually crab legs in Alaska, which is also amazing. Also an up charge item but worth every penny.

Joy @Seasick Sailor, take the extra tops. It does get boring to wear the same thing even though you are probably the only one who knows. I’m envious, I wish I could join you and Allen. BTW, I try to avoid those negative threads with all the complaining. @seagarsmoker so good to hear you are feeling better. Carol @mamaofami, has anyone else gotten covid in your family? I hope you are well. Sandi @StLouisCruisers, what great news about your grandsons! Congratulations to them! Good to hear you found a good table in the MDR. Vanessa @JazzyV, how is BFF’s DF doing? I hope all is well. Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser, you are cooking up quite the bakery in your kitchen! I love your tradition of making Key Lime Pie with your leftover egg yolks (or is it egg whites? I don’t know, I’ve never made one!). I hope DH is coming home soon. Terry @smitty34877, thanks for the input about using frozen spinach in the lasagna. I’ve discovered it’s a lot easier to squeeze out the liquid in the spinach when it’s totally defrosted and not cold. 😉. This last time (for the spinach soufflé) I left it out overnight, worked so much easier. Also, has anyone else noticed how much easier it is to tag using the blue bubble lately? They must have updated the feature because now your most frequently used posters pop up first when you type the @ and then a letter or two.

Good morning and Happy Saturday from Beautiful Tucson. DGD has been with us since Thanksgiving and we are really enjoying having her around even though she spends too much time on her phone. I made her favorite no knead bread last night, it makes wonderful grilled cheese sandwiches. We got takeout from Chipotle last night after dropping off a Thanksgiving dinner care package to DS & SO. We saw a live Christmas tree on top of a car, so it’s beginning to look a little like Christmas. 🎄 I’m not a big soup person so I’ll pass on the French Onion, although Craig would love to have some. We have a few local businesses that we like to frequent. Have a great day everyone!

The HAL hairdryer worked fine on my shoulder length fine frizzy hair. However, it isn’t my preference, I like the ones that are ionic which really help with frizzy hair. Anyway, I would highly recommend not taking your own hairdryer. On the Rotterdam in December and this was a Vista cabin, I blew the fuse three times using my own hairdryer. And when it happened, all the cabin outlets went out plus a bank of cabins next to us. I thought it was because I had other things plugged in but after the third time with wet hair and a bath robe on looking for our cabin steward to fix it, I gave up.

Good morning from a chilly Tucson. I’m taking it easy today after the craziness of yesterday. All I have to say is too many cooks in the kitchen. Our kitchen only is accessible for 2 people but the family seemed to think they had to join me even though we have a counter with barstools. I had to shoo them out several times. The Honey Baked Turkey and Ham were a success, although I probably won’t get a Turkey again because it was very sweet. The baked Brie was the hit of the appetizers. Here’s the recipe: https://magnolia.com/blog/recipe/deff5e75-cec2-49cd-ba0d-340faeb72863/baked-brie/ I didn’t bother using a mixer like the recipe suggests, it’s easy to do it by hand if the butter is soft. I love corn so I’ll celebrate Maize day. I’m not going out to shop Black Friday sales. I got a lot of Black Friday emails so will happily shop from my recliner. Branzino is a wonderful delicate fish but rarely have it except when eating out and even then it’s expensive. The Bloody Mary sounds interesting. Thank you for your recipe Terry. Have you ever used frozen spinach instead? My DM also made porcupine meatballs when I was a kid. I still have her handwritten recipe. I’ll check but I think it’s the same one Gerry @ger_77 posted. Vanessa, I’m glad you got home safely. Prayers for BFF’s DF. Have a great day everyone!

I make my cornbread dressing very similar to Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser’s but use store bought cornbread mix and regular bread mix, so two boxes, and use Mrs Cubbisons. I also add breakfast sausage, usually Jimmy Dean, and two eggs. This year it came out especially good. I forgot to take a picture. I also make a spinach soufflé. Ina Garten’s is really good and I add two eggs which help to make it puffy. Recipe: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/spinach-gratin-recipe-1940406 Happy Heavenly Birthday to Jose. I can’t wait for your recipe! Vanessa, I’m so sorry about the cancellation and hope BFF’s DF is well. I have done that recipe and agree, it’s fantastic! Happy Anniversary to Ann and DH @Vict0riann!

Good evening everyone and Happy Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving!

Scenes from the Bay of Kotor, Montenegro. I don’t really know what each picture is of but do know that it’s all beautiful. This is June 11, 2022 and also the day Craig lost his EarPods. The tracking on his phone never changed from location—Bay of Kotor, so I just think that the battery went out. The approach to Kotor is beautiful. Somehow this ship beat us. There were sailboats everywhere, this area was especially pretty with the little patch of beach. And sunset that evening. Gorgeous. Maybe someday we can return and make it to town. I really want to see the cat museum and store.

Good morning from SE AZ. Craig’s busy vacuuming and a bit later I’m going to finish making the dressing and the pie I never made on Monday. I started the dressing on Monday by sautéing the onions and celery in lots of butter and added the breakfast sausage which Craig finally was able to find at Safeway. Today I just need to finish it up. Yesterday I made a spinach casserole that DD requested for our big meal. We also took Blue in for a check up on his toe and Valley Fever results which were negative. He hurt his toe at Craig’s brothers house, it got caught between the slats on the deck and broke the nail above the quick. Our vet did surgery and removed the nail. It’s healing very well and hopefully a new nail will grow normally. The size of our Thanksgiving has gotten smaller. DS’s significant other has covid and the girls are sick. So, our gathering will only be 6 people. I’m going to find out if they want a delivery of food, not if they do because DS has never liked Turkey or ham. All he wants are the rolls. In our small town on the eastern plains in Colorado there was a diner that had a jukebox. I loved that place. I’ll save my cranberry eating for tomorrow. I usually only drink espresso when I’m in Italy. We missed Kotor when we were on the Oosterdam in June. The sea was too rough to anchor and transport people in the tenders. However, we did stay a while waiting for some new crew to arrive. The Captain said that it was really important for the crew to come through Montenegro because they don’t require visas. I have a few pictures from the Bay of Kotor that I’ll share in a separate post. Have a great day everyone!

I agree with everything you said except sometimes you can be asked to share a table with others. It’s usually a large table, and there aren’t many large tables in CO. IIRC, only one table for 8. We always say no thank you and wait for a table for two.

Good morning from SE AZ where it’s chilly but warming up this afternoon to 71F. Later this morning I’m going to make spiced nuts and hopefully a chocolate chip bourbon pecan pie for Thanksgiving. I really need to do some dusting before Thursday too. I’ll just have to see how much energy I have. I watch a lot of TV, especially since I’ve been sick. DGD is notorious for wearing mismatched socks, it’s become part of her personality. I like gingerbread cookies but never make them. I’m not a fan of curry so I’ll pass on today’s meal suggestion. Thank you Graham. I hope you enjoy whatever adventure you are on. Sandi, we have been served our wine from the little carafes, however the pours were bigger, probably 6 oz. We were in Club Orange though so not sure if that makes a difference. But I agree, I think the Ocean Bar does a much better job with a larger pour. Have a great day everyone!

Thank you so much Carolyn. Sandi, thank you for your well wishes. I’m sure the ship will have a special menu for Thanksgiving. We had special menus last year for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Thank you Jacqui, I’m hoping I’m good by Thanksgiving. Welcome home and I hope your foot is better very soon. Thank you Lenda! Thank you Vanessa! When is your cruise? Debbie, thank you so much for your well wishes. Trust me, I’m really trying not to do too much. I’m happy you are enjoying your new home and neighborhood. Thank you Terry! Welcome home Jake! Thank you Ann. Yes, it’s crazy about the availability of grocery items! But pecans with breakfast pastries? Oh dear. Thank you Annie! And I agree, a good nap solves a lot of things and seems to make everything better. I am a long time, actually lifelong napper.

Good Sunday morning everyone from SE AZ. I have been away from the Daily for a while because I’ve been really ill. Turns out my cold/flu symptoms were sinusitis and bronchitis. I started on an antibiotic on Tuesday and finally am starting to feel a bit better. Boy, it really hit me hard and knocked me down. I hope everyone is well. I’ll try to catch up with all the news I’ve missed. We finally have all the grocery shopping done for Thanksgiving. Craig did all running around and shopping. It seemed like a wild goose chase sometimes because stores would be out of different items, like thyme and Jimmy Dean sage sausage and pecans. Crazy. We are going super casual this year and using paper plates and eating outside. It’s supposed to be in the 70’s so that will be nice. I’m going to start cooking today, just a little bit each day to make it easy. I rarely eat fudge but I’ve had peanut butter fudge and it’s really good. Craig’s DM loved fudge and would always buy it if she saw a store selling it. IIRC, she also made her own. She had a huge sweet tooth. Have a great day everyone!

Good morning everyone and Happy Saturday from SE AZ where it is chilly and warming up to about 72F. This morning was yard day and the worker came early which is really nice. He found a water drip leak, seems like we have one every few months. Craig has replaced a lot but not the side yard where it was discovered. I am feeling better today and think I’m on the mend. I took another covid test last night just to be sure and it was negative. I absolutely love French Dips and make my own using deli roast beef and use consume soup as the dipper. Yum. I’ll have to get the ingredients. BTW Graham @grapau27, the accompaniments in the article you posted might sometimes be served with the sandwich, but here it’s always French Fries and possibly a pickle. I do like cheese on mine and sometimes add sautéed mushrooms and onions. Debbie @dfish, thank you for the recipes today. Here’s another Ina Garten recipe in case anyone is interested. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-beet-butternut-squash-and-apple-salad-5498505. It was on just this morning, the episode was Thanksgiving sides. Jake @Crazy For Cats — Happy Birthday! Enjoy your special day — extra special spent on a BHB! Sandi @StLouisCruisers, Happy Birthday to your DS! Also those ornaments from your DD are beautiful! Have a great day everyone!

Edi! Yikes! I am so happy for you that this was discovered and that it is treatable. I hope the meds help. Take care. Thinking of you.

Good morning from SE AZ and Happy Friday! Very chilly this morning, the low was 37F. I don’t remember a November being this chilly before. There is no change in my cold, in fact I felt worse last night. I’ve been coughing and I never have a cough. I was supposed to have a hair appointment today but rescheduled and also meet with DD to make our Thanksgiving grocery list. I told her that I’d see how I feel tomorrow. Lenda @Quartzsite Cruiser, what a stressful day you had yesterday. I hope things straighten out and you both get some answers. Terry @smitty34877, Happy Birthday to your twin grandchildren! 🎈🎈. They are adorable but at 12 they probably don’t want to be called adorable. Thank you to all who are serving and have served on this Veterans Day. My father was in the Marines during the Korean War. Craig’s father served during WWII but would never talk about it. I love trout but not sure I’d like the sauce. The last time I had trout was at Red Lobster and it wasn’t good, over cooked and salty. Have a great day everyone!

Yes Maxine, exactly what we feel like. I hope you all feel better. So true! Thank you Ann.

Bruce, I never could figure out what you meant about the acorns before since I’ve never lived anywhere that they were an issue. But, OMG! They were everywhere in Charleston, you couldn’t walk anywhere without stepping on them. I can’t imagine picking them all up from your yard. Thank you Joy! Thank you Sandi! It’ll pass, just crummy not feeling good. It’s crazy, but I actually felt like I was in closer contact with others during this land trip than on any of our cruises. Plus on our cruises everyone had to be vaccinated.

Good early afternoon from SE AZ! I wanted to check in since I haven’t posted in a few days. I’ve been under the weather, not really felt good since I got home from Charleston. I took a covid test yesterday but it was negative and I’ll take one again tomorrow just in case. It really feels like the flu but I had a flu shot at the same time as my booster. Have a great day everyone!

Good afternoon from Charleston! We have had a lovely time here, me with my Faith & Food Girlfriends and Craig spending time reading, eating and some sightseeing. We are now at the airport waiting to board our first flight to Atlanta then will fly Atlanta to Tucson, getting home really late. Tomorrow we pick up Blue. Yay! Friday the Girlfriends went on a 3 hour walking tour lead by a chef ending up at a restaurant where he spent 2 hours cooking for us. It was amazing! Saturday the Girlfriends went to the Slave Museum, quite humbling. Photos aren’t allowed inside. That evening, oh yes, that was last night, we had a cooking class with one of the Girlfriends. Beef Wellington, roasted fingerling potatoes and carrots with a wine pairing. OMG! Amazing and such fun. Have a great day everyone!