dfish

I forgot you had the old email. Spectrum suddenly decided I couldn't use that email and trashed it this spring. Along with the email went all my contacts, so I lost your email as well. You have the new email now.

@richwmn Could you shoot me an email, please?

I'm glad he's getting back to his old self. Neither. I've never heard of Otrivin. I have Flonase and Azelastine HCL, both nasal sprays. I also have Zyrtec and Benadryl. And DayQuil and NyQuil. I'm a little better now. I went back to bed for a couple hours this morning.

Well, fortunately, we are coming in the day before and our outbound flight isn't until late afternoon. Hopefully we'll be ok. I've tried Flonase and have allergy meds, but they aren't enough right now. I think I'll be better on Sunday when the level of grass pollen goes down.

Happy Birthday, Roy! @rafinmd Good morning, everyone. I was up at 4:15 this morning and haven't been able to get back to sleep. The main problem is that I am so stuffed up. I checked and grass pollen is high and will be high through tomorrow. I hope that is the issue. I have no plans for today except for a lunch with former classmates and a zoom meeting this afternoon. And a nap. I'll be interested in pictures of Grundarfjordur. We are going there this summer and I'm really looking forward to it. Today's meal was a hard one to find. The actual recipes are behind a paywall at Epicurious. If you have a subscription or are eligible for free views, here it is: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/roasted-black-bass-with-orange-flower-water IF not, here is the list of ingredients. Most of us should be able to figure out what to do with them. https://mealplannerpro.com/member-recipes/Roasted-Black-Bass-with-Orange-Flower-Water--1054998 Meanwhile the Food Network offers us this recipe for our bass. https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/roasted-whole-black-bass-2128676 And Williams Sonoma has this offering. It uses blood oranges, which gets us close to orange water. Doesn't it? https://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/roasted-sea-bass-with-fennel-blood-oranges-and-olives.html I hope this finds everyone well. @rafinmd Roy, I am glad the pain is minimal. Enjoy some more ice cream.

We are so excited and are looking forward to seeing you and Juan again. It has only been 5 years, right? I think that is how often we've been managing to cruise together. Today is one of those allergy days where the meds don't help and I am carrying the tissue box around with me. I think I've gone through a whole box already.

Good morning, everyone! It is another beautiful morning here in mid-Michigan. It is 67F with an expected high of 83F. Of course, there is abundant sunshine. We are supposed to get rain next week. I sure hope we do as we really need it. I love chocolate eclairs and onion rings. The Rain Forest deserves our respect and protection. The drink sounds good to me and the wine sounds heavenly. The only thing that doesn't appeal to me today is the meal. Too many carbs and I don't care for tofu. The recipes that fit the title of the meal exactly are behind paywalls and I won't pay for them. So, I found a couple that are pretty close. The first one has pineapple in it as well as the veggies. https://www.emilieeats.com/jerk-tofu-vegetable-and-rice-bowl/ The second recipe is a bit closer to the title of the meal. https://makeitdairyfree.com/vegan-jerk-tofu-rice-bowls-with-vegetables/ @ottahand7 Happy Birthday to your DF, John. @rafinmd Roy, enjoy attaining 80 today. That is a milestone that is denied to many. We'll celebrate tomorrow! @Seasick Sailor It was good to hear from you. I hope things are resolving and we look forward to hearing from you soon. @StLouisCruisers I am glad the water issues were repaired before there was any damage. Water is a homeowners nightmare. @JazzyV I want to echo the poster who said that you are meticulous in noticing what others post. I also have to go back and read posts after reading your lists. Thank you for keeping track of all of us! Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Good morning, everyone! It is another beautiful start to the day here in mid-Michigan. We are currently at 68F with an expected high of 85F. I'm looking at windows that desperately need to be cleaned. I did them a while ago and they just got dirty again! Hmmm. @kazu Jacqui, thank you for your comments about the house. We love the new color combination. The house is so much more interesting than the original boring beige. Apparently, the neighbors like it as well. We've heard there's been some discussion. I'm glad Ivan is perking up. I remember making boiled chicken and rice for my sister's dog when I was babysitting once. That and ice cubes perked Petey right up. He had gotten dehydrated. I tried to get into Cruise Critic using Chrome and just got 404 error messages. So, I switched to Edge and hope nothing goes wrong here. I have all my recipes stored in the reading panel on Chrome so I have to go back and forth here to get them. Hopefully, it will all get sorted out. As @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda said, I prefer my peppers stuffed with meat. The meat is usually replaced by a starch and that I can't tolerate. But, for those who can, here is our first recipe and it looks tasty! https://www.aheadofthyme.com/easy-vegan-stuffed-bell-peppers/ This next one also looks good and sounds yummy with the seasoning. It is higher in carbs for those who are watching. https://simpleveganblog.com/vegan-stuffed-peppers/ Next we have an Italian style vegan stuffed pepper. https://simple-veganista.com/vegan-stuffed-peppers/ Lastly, we have stuffed peppers with a southwestern flair. https://plantbasedonabudget.com/southwest-stuffed-bell-peppers/ I hope this gives you some inspiration and ideas for your own stuffed peppers. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

I thought I did, but I'll post some again. In some of them the second coat still needs to go on, but you get a good idea of what it looks like now. And this is what it used to look like.

Good afternoon, @Quartzsite Cruiser Lenda and others who are dealing with extreme heat, I am glad you are all being wise and getting chores done very early. We walk early to avoid the heat and it is nothing like you are dealing with. The turkeys are back today. We thought they were living across the street and had just come for a visit, but perhaps they like the new look of the house and want new digs. Chippie, the resident chipmunk climbs up on the deck and gives them what for and that encourages the cardinal that lives in the trees off the deck to chime in as well. It can get quite loud here in the yard with all our wildlife. Last night at dusk we were visited by a strange animal. I thought it was a cat, but it had a racoon face and it didn't have a normal cat tail. As soon as Sue went outside on the deck it slunk away. Probably just as well. We don't need a fight between it and Mama Turkey. Today we went to Eagle Ridge Nature Center and hiked some of their trails. There was a wonderful breeze while we were there. Each trail segment is short, but they interconnect and you can get a good hike out of it.

Good morning, everyone. It is going to be another beautiful day here in mid-Michigan. It is currently 66F with a predicted high of 81F. We have nothing on the agenda for today except a walk. Maybe a trip to the big box store for paper products. We shall see. I remember going to the soda fountain for ice cream sodas with my mom. It was a nice treat now and then. And a nice time with my mom. Today's meal is one I will pass on due to the carbs. Rice is problematic for me, so I generally skip it. The nice thing about this dish is that you can basically use the ingredients you want and leave out the ingredients you don't want. So, @StLouisCruisers Sandi, if you want only shrimp, only use shrimp. https://www.aheadofthyme.com/10-minute-seafood-fried-rice/ One recipe site described this dish as being very forgiving, meaning you can easily substitute ingredients or tailor them to your tastes. https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-better-takeout-shrimp-fried-rice/ Here's one that actually uses more than just shrimp. https://gingerandseasalt.com/seafood-fried-rice/ Here's one that will sound familiar to many. https://soyummyrecipes.co.uk/nasi-goreng-seafood-indonesian/ Happy Birthday to all the celebrating spouses. Healing thoughts to Ivan in care of @kazu Jacqui. Best wishes for today's soccer game. Wishing you all a wonderful day.

It takes a while to get used to the new normal. I used to call my dad every night after Jeopardy to see if he got the final question. We had kind of a competition going on that. Suddenly, there was no one to call. What hit me the hardest was not going up to see him like I did. And, when I did go to Midland, I had no place to stay and ended up at the Holiday Inn. That first Christmas I stayed at the Holiday Inn and it was so wrong on so many levels. Now, of course, I have my own home, so that issue will not reoccur. It is hard to drive past his old house and know he and mom are not coming back home.

Cake is soft, too! But, ice cream is all you need. It has protein, fat, and carbs, so is a balanced meal.

We have been through that ordeal. Last fall we lost out on a house that we thought was our dream home. We got turned down after weeks of negotiating for a "better deal". That fell through eventually, but we had already had an offer accepted on the house we are in. We talk often of how we truly landed in a better place. This house is better situated and offers us so much more than the other one did. I'm hoping that the same happens to your kids. When I saw this, I sent her an email and Voila! We are glad that it was only an internet issue and nothing more serious. Sue would take your pine trees if I would let her. But, I think we have enough, thank you! @Heartgrove Picking paint colors is hard! I think we want to have an idea of the general color and let the pros take care of the details. I'm looking forward to the pictures of your house when it is done. Meanwhile, we had some visitors today.

Good morning, everyone! It is a beautiful start to our day here in mid-Michigan. We have a forecasted high of 80F and abundant sunshine. Our walk this morning should be very pleasant. We didn't do what we had planned for yesterday. That is the nice things about retirement. Plans can change on a whim. We ended up doing our neighborhood walk and then I weeded the garden for a while and Sue did some touch up painting on the house. I told her to limit it to what others could see, not to what only we would see because we knew what to look for. That brought her down off the ladder. We'll probably do much the same today except we do have to work in a trip to the grocery store. We had a pleasant time with our neighbors up the street. They have an interesting home that is in the mid-century modern style. Tons of windows look out on a forest. The yard is all natural, so no grass to mow. The trees help keep the house cool in the summer, but with all the windows it is a bear to heat in the winter time. I quickly learned in our house how to use the shades and curtains to help hold in heat. Today's meal sounds good, but would be better on a cool night next fall. Carrot lovers will like this recipe. https://cookieandkate.com/vegetarian-chili-recipe/ This next one uses sweet potatoes and corn for some bulk. https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/best-vegetarian-chili-recipe/ The seasoning is different on this one and I think I'd like it except for the carrots. Easily left out! https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a58719/easy-vegetarian-chili-recipe/ I liked the seasoning in this one. It has directions for the Instant Pot as well as the slow cooker. https://www.cookincanuck.com/instant-pot-vegetarian-chili-recipe/ Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Woo Hoo!

Good morning, everyone! It is a lovely sunny day here in mid-Michigan. It is currently 59F and the expected high is 83F. I think Sue and I are going to spend the day hiking at either City Forest or Stratford Woods. We can do yard work and such tomorrow. Tonight we've been invited to a neighbor's for dessert. She promised strawberry shortcake. Today's meal wouldn't be high on my list, but I'd eat it if I had to. We're talking about taking along a picnic lunch for today's hiking excursion. No panic here. I think I'd like to try the chocolate martini. I've always wanted to do so and it is chocolate. Maybe we should all reconsider and try tofu: Tofu is a food prepared by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into solid white blocks of varying softness: silken, soft, firm, extra firm, or super firm. Tofu is also known as bean curd in English. Beyond these broad textural categories, there are many varieties of tofu. It has a subtle flavor, so it can be used in savory and sweet dishes. It is often seasoned or marinated to suit the dish and its flavors, and due to its spongy texture, it absorbs flavors well. It is a traditional component of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisines, and has been consumed in China for over 2,000 years. In modern Western cooking, it is most often treated as a meat substitute. Nutritionally, tofu is low in calories, while containing a relatively large amount of protein. It is high in iron, and can have a high calcium or magnesium content. The flavors in this first recipe sound good. If you are really opposed to tofu, you could substitute chicken and go from there. https://www.thissavoryvegan.com/buffalo-ranch-tofu-wraps/ This one cubes the tofu and fries it up before adding the buffalo sauce. https://www.food.com/recipe/buffalo-tofu-wrap-363267 This last recipe is way different. Think of a chicken salad wrap except that you are using tofu in place of the chicken. It would be quick to prepare. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/buffalo-tofu-wrap/ We have quite a bit of variety today in the meal selection, so I hope you can find one you might want to try. Number 1 sounds best to me, but a lot of work. So, I'm leaning towards 2 or 3. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

I used to order that veggie platter, but when I asked about it last fall, the waiter didn't seem to know what I was talking about. I'll keep trying this summer. Happy Birthday! That is wonderful news! Keep it coming! I like Delta as well. We'll be flying with them this summer. I think that is the definition of nailbiter, Sandi.

Good morning, everyone! It is a beautiful start to the day here in mid-Michigan. It is 63F now with a high of 80F expected this afternoon. Nothing on the agenda today except for a nice walk and weeding the garden. We eat our vegetables daily in this house. One of my two complaints about the food on the BHBs is that they are stingy with the vegetables. I remember one meal where they served a fish with zucchini. I asked for extra zucchini and got 4 little round slices of zucchini. Seriously? My other issue is that so much of it seems to involve sugar. Sugar crusted this, candied that. Oh, well. No jugglers here and we took our road trip last weekend. Today's meal is a good one. I remember when portobello burgers became a big hit. I rather liked them as I was going through my vegetarian phase. This recipe caught my eye with the balsamic vinegar for drizzling. https://www.loveandlemons.com/portobello-mushroom-burger/ This one looks good with the melted cheese on it. Marinating the portobello is even better! https://www.skinnytaste.com/the-best-grilled-portobello-mushroom/ This last one sounds delightful with the boursin cheese spread. Mmmmm. https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a35928542/portobello-mushroom-burgers/ Hey, Jake, @Crazy For Cats, why not put your bacon on the portobello? Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Good morning, everyone! It is a chilly start to the day here in mid-Michigan. It is supposed to warm to the mid 70s by this afternoon and the sunshine shall return. Prayers for those involved in the horrific bus crash. High hopes for our Daily soccer player. Let's also hope the other team has learned some sportsmanship. Warm hugs for those with medical conditions that they are struggling with. I have a Zoom meeting at 10:00 and then we'll do a short walk. I'm making the Chicken Tzatziki for dinner tonight before our Farkle game, so I'll need to make a run to the store. Fluke is a member of the flounder family and is often referred to as summer flounder. It is considered an excellent food source with firm, mild tasting white flesh. If you can't find fluke, you could substitute flounder. Bon Appetit wouldn't let me in to get the recipe, but Epicurious did. https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/fluke-poke-with-coconut-rice-and-pickled-onions As it sometimes happens, there were many websites with this exact recipe on them. So, if you can't find fluke, you can use shrimp. https://saltsisters.net/blogs/all-recipes/shrimp-with-coconut-rice-pickled-onion Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Have fun with the house painting. It is amazing what a transformation a change in paint color can make. I hope the insurance issues work out. I'm glad you aren't going to stay away from your friends and the activities you enjoy. Now is when you need them the most. Head held high!

Good morning, everyone! It is kind of dark out and threatening rain, so we might not get our morning walk in today. That's ok, I have a walking route in the house and I can still get my steps in. We will concentrate our efforts inside the house today. I am getting my Covid booster today. I should have full, robust immunity in time for our cruise at the end of July. Tonight's meal is a great one. We are having salmon on the grill tonight so it wouldn't be hard to throw on some vegetables to go with it. Salmon and veggies are healthy and low carb, so dive in! This first one is a sheet pan recipe and uses asparagus and red bell pepper, but feel free to use the vegetable of your choice! https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/rosemary-salmon-and-veggies/ IF you decide to do the salmon on the grill, we roasted yellow summer squash on the grill the other night. It was wonderful and we both wished we had more. This next recipe includes some Yukon Gold potatoes. They can be roasted on the same pan with the salmon and veggies. If you have a vegetable basket for the grill, you can do them there as well. https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/280094/rosemary-roasted-salmon-with-asparagus-potatoes/ This last one shows you can use the vegetable of your choice, including carrots, to make the meal one you want to have over and over. https://www.nourish-and-fete.com/rosemary-garlic-sheet-pan-salmon/ I hope this finds everyone doing as well as circumstances allow. Wishing you all a wonderful day.

I would bring the extra parts with you. I always travel with an extra mask and hose.

Terry, remember that even when we don't say it, we are holding you and your DH close in our hearts. Thank you for sharing with us and trusting us with your burden. We'd all like to help lift it for you. Engage in the activities that you wish to and hold your head up high. Act like you don't notice her rudeness. That will drive her wild. You don't have to be overly friendly to her, but don't let her drive you away if this is something you truly enjoy.

Good morning, everyone! We have a cool start to the day here in mid-Michigan, but it will warm to the mid 70s. My kind of day. Not a lot on the agenda. We'll take our morning walk and then we have pedicures this afternoon. The rain over the weekend really greened things up here. We have peonies and roses blooming in the wilds. I refer to the natural part of the yard as the wilds. I spent a lot of time on family history and connected with a cousin to help with that. We had fun doing it and taking turns going to Ireland to check out cemeteries. I put what I had into a book with pictures of many of the ancestors and gave each member of the family a copy. It was met with lukewarm appreciation. One sibling declared she was an American that lived in the present time and never took her copy. The wine sounds like one I would like. So does the drink. I would like the chicken part of today's meal without the waffles. It is kind of a warm chicken salad on a waffle. Instead of being made with shredded or chopped chicken, it is made with ground chicken. You can go with the idea of chicken salad on a waffle and make your favorite recipe. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/peanut-cilantro-ground-chicken-and-waffles/ I only found one recipe for this dish. I found numerous websites with the recipe, but they were all the same. So, one is all you get today! Wishing you all a wonderful day.