dfish

There is an airport 15 minutes from Midland, but it is small and expensive. We have flown out of there before and it is a nice way to start a trip. For next summer's trip we'll bite the bullet and pay the cost of flying out of there since we'll be gone so long. We have a ride to the airport lined up and this allows us to avoid parking fees. The other option is Detroit Metro, two hours away. I loved Eidfjord! We were lucky to visit twice on our cruise. We were so excited when we heard we were going back. Enjoy your time there. There are some nice hikes that are not too strenuous. The visitor's information office has trail maps and can give you information.

Good morning, everyone. It is good to be back in northeast Ohio, but I am looking forward to not having to make that trip once I move. I was so tired last night I wanted to go to bed at 8:30. I forced myself to stay up until 10 so I wouldn't be up at 4 am this morning. Today is the pool, grocery store, and laundry. That should keep me busy. Then, I have to start preparing different rooms to be painted. Joy, joy, joy! Today's meal is one I would love with low carb tortillas. I love marinated flank steak or skirt steak, especially when done on the grill. Marinating the steak is an important step as both kinds can be tough. The acids in the marinade help tenderize the meat as well as adding flavor. For more information on marinades, you can read this article. https://www.thespruceeats.com/marinade-overview-and-tips-335970 I do marinate some meats longer than they suggest with good results. When I make speidies I marinate the meat for several days. I mentioned that to the butcher once and he turned to his colleague and said, "She gets it." Skirt steak is a cut of beef steak from the plate. It is long, flat, and prized for its flavor rather than tenderness. It is not to be confused with hanger steak, a generally similar adjacent cut also from the plate. Though it is from a different part of the animal, its general characteristics and uses cause it to be confused with both flank steak, taken from the flank behind the plate and the flap meat from the bottom sirloin behind the flank and above the rear quarter. Skirt steak is the cut of choice for making fajitas, arrachera, Chinese stir-fry, churrasco, and in Cornish pasties. To minimize toughness and add flavor, skirt steaks are often marinated before grilling, pan-seared or grilled very quickly, or cooked very slowly, typically braised. They are typically sliced against the grain before serving to maximize tenderness. In this first recipe the skirt steak is marinated in beer and lime juice. The onions are green onions. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/grilled-onion-skirt-steak-tacos/ This next recipe marinates the steak in a chipotle blend and uses pickled red onions. https://leitesculinaria.com/114203/recipes-grilled-skirt-steak-tacos.html This recipe calls for a citrus marinade. It marinates the onions along with the steak and then grills them up for a topping. https://www.thekitchn.com/steak-tacos-23345539 Wishing you all a wonderful day.

She is a cutie! Congratulations! I arrived home safely. It was a frustrating trip today due to construction back ups. At one point traffic was backed up almost 10 miles. When I got to the construction site it was two guys with leaf blowers blowing dirt off the road. I am sure they were doing more, but there was no evidence of it.

8197 is the same cabin! Enjoy it. We sure did. We heard no noise from the aft deck during the night. Some chair scraping during the day, but nothing bothersome. The size of the deck makes up for the room being a little smaller. The internet starts to malfunction when you come into a port.

Good morning, everyone, from mid-Michigan. It is supposed to be a nice day here and at home in Ohio. I will be heading out on my trek home in about an hour. Sue and I went to an open house yesterday. We had kind of crossed the house off our list but decided we should see it and talk about the house to see where we stood. The house had some really good points, but the drawbacks were too many. Carbonara is an Italian pasta dish from Rome made with eggs, hard cheese, cured pork, and black pepper. The dish arrived at its modern form, with its current name, in the middle of the 20th century. The cheese is usually Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or a combination of the two. Spaghetti is the most common pasta, but fettuccine, rigatoni, linguine, or bucatini are also used. Normally guanciale or pancetta are used for the meat component, but lardons of smoked bacon are a common substitute outside Italy. This is the only recipe I found for carbonara cups. There are other webpages with the recipe on them, but they are all the same recipe. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/loaded-chicken-carbonara-cups/ If you want just the loaded carbonara, there are plenty of versions. You could make the cups from above and use any of these recipes for the "load" in the cups. https://www.framedcooks.com/2011/11/loaded-pasta-carbonara.html This next one is just a great chicken carbonara recipe. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a48598/chicken-carbonara-pasta-recipe/ Wishing you all a wonderful day. Time to pack up the car.

Yes, it will be shaded. The aft deck overhangs the balconies below it. You can get sun if it is at the right angle, but there is always some shade.

@ger_77

Your aft veranda looks a lot like ours did. We were on deck 8 and loved it. Wi-Fi was really hit or miss on our cruise, mostly miss. The claim was that the fjords interfered, but they did so in a weird manner. When we sailed into Eidfjord the first time we had Wi-Fi all the way in and for a couple of hours while in port. Then, all of a sudden, someone flipped the switch and it all went out including Navigator. A similar situation in Flam. We had Wi-Fi sailing in, but not sailing out. Then the Wi-Fi went down and stayed down for a day. Crew was more agitated with that one than any of us because it made it difficult to do their work. The curious part was how often Navigator went down. Since that is intranet and not internet it shouldn't rely on the satellites unless it is a really cheap system using a cloud base. When I did the Midnight Sun cruise in 2017 I was able to get Wi-Fi the whole time. It never went down for me. In 2019 I was able to conduct a Zoom meeting off the coast of Greenland. I think the Wi-Fi system was changed. Last year in Alaska all the web sites came up on Spanish and it wouldn't allow me to send email or access some web sites. I admit they were questionable like the Ohio Department of Health. My thoughts is HAL should be ashamed of charging people for this service since they cannot deliver on it.

Good morning, everyone. We dodged the rain yesterday and while it was cool and cloudy we still managed to have a great picnic with the family and the traditional kick ball game. It is staying cool and cloudy today, but no rain in the forecast. Takoyaki is a ball-shaped Japanese snack made of a wheat flour-based batter and cooked in a special molded pan. It is typically filled with minced or diced octopus (tako), tempura scraps (tenkasu), pickled ginger (beni shoga), and green onion. The balls are brushed with takoyaki sauce (similar to Worcestershire sauce) and mayonnaise, and then sprinkled with green laver (aonori) and shavings of dried bonito (katsuobushi). Yaki comes from yaku, which is one of the cooking methods in Japanese cuisine, meaning 'to grill', and can be found in the names of other dishes in Japanese cuisine such as okonomiyaki and ikayaki (other famous Osakan dishes). Basically, it is eaten as a snack or between meals, but in some areas it is served as a side dish with rice. It originated and became popular in Osaka around 1935 (according to wiki) and then spread to greater south-central Japan and beyond. It’s one of the most popular Japanese street foods along with Okonomiyaki. Takoyaki is usually sold by street vendors, convenience stores, supermarkets, food courts, and of course specialty restaurants. In Osaka, takoyaki stands can be easily found throughout the city. It is usually served with slightly salty takoyaki sauce, which goes well with beer and other alcoholic drinks. Therefore, many Izakaya restaurants serve takoyaki on the menu. https://www.justonecookbook.com/takoyaki-recipe/ Takoyaki need quite a few ingredients and a specialized pan, but I think it’s worth it. You can find a takoyaki pan on amazon.com or you can use an ebelskiver (Danish pancake) pan. As for the insides, octopus is classic, but feel free to put in shrimp, chicken, or whatever savoury filling you like. Some like to do a combo of octopus, squid and shrimp. You can also throw in some mozzarella cheese to get an crispy toasted cheese outside with an extra gooey cheesy inside. If you’ve never seen takoyaki being made, do a youtube search, it’ll give a good starting point for how to flip the little balls around. https://iamafoodblog.com/takoyaki-recipe/ The differences in recipes is very slight, but I'll offer one more. https://tasty.co/recipe/takoyaki Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Timing on this is somewhat fluid. I would like to time it to move in November. I can sell my house in Ohio and I have a place to stay in Michigan until I can get into a place, if need be. It is a nice city. I think we'll be happy here. Thank you! Thanks! We are lucky as it is still a good time to sell, but in Midland things are moderating a bit and it is getting better for buyers. Jacqui, I am so sorry for you and for Shadow. Know that I'd love to be there to lift you up, but will have to settle for virtual hugs. I am really glad to read that you will be getting grief therapy. Do take care of yourself first. I hope you can find some peace and comfort.

Years ago my sister and I decided that when she retired we would sell our houses and buy a retirement house together, hopefully all cash, no mortgage. Since the rest of the family is in Michigan, it makes sense for us to find a place up there, so I will move to Michigan from Ohio. We made the decision that we would look in Midland because that is where the majority of the family is. We would also have easy access to medical care, a quick trip to the grocery store, and good senior services from the city.

Good morning, everyone. It is looking like the family picnic might get rained out today. Rain is threatening. We do have a covered picnic area, but the kids won't be able to use the playground if it does rain. Well, they probably could anyways. Kids don't seem to mind. The meeting with the realtor went well. Things are opening up here a bit so there will be some choice in homes in my price range. That is good news. Today's meal is a great one. Basically, we are swapping out the hamburger buns for Texas toast and melting some cheese on top. I always liked sloppy joes and the sloppier the better. The first recipe comes from Taste of Home and it is pretty basic and super easy. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/italian-joes-on-texas-toast/ Italian joes takes out the sweet and replaces it with Italian herbs, marinara sauce, garlic and mozzarella. That is a winning combination in my book. https://www.tastesoflizzyt.com/italian-sloppy-joe-sandwiches/ The next recipe is one that helps cut the calories a bit and follows the Weight Watcher point system. I would use real butter to make my garlic toast. Nothing compares. https://theskinnyishdish.com/italian-sloppy-joes/ Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Add my hugs in. @ger_77 So sorry to hear DH tested positive. I also wish for a short, mild case.

Good morning, everyone. I guess I slept in today. Felt good! It is going to be a lovely day here in mid-Michigan. I meet with the real estate agent at 11:00 am. We'll see what he has to say. Happy Birthday, Rich. @richwmn I hope your day is out of this world wonderful. Sake nigiri sushi is a traditional Japanese type of nigiri sushi. It consists of hand-pressed sushi rice that's topped with slices of salmon. The dish has a soft texture and a clean finish that makes it good for sushi newcomers, although the flavor can be a bit fishier than maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi. Traditionally, this type of sushi is eaten by hand in a single bite. It's usually accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger (gari) on the side. https://www.tasteatlas.com/sake-nigiri-sushi#:~:text=Sake nigiri sushi is a,maguro (tuna) nigiri sushi. Making sushi at home is easier than you think, and a lot less expensive than ordering it at a restaurant. The sticky rice holds together well and is easy to work with, but if you’re having trouble forming the rice balls, dip your hands in a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Rinsing the rice under running water before cooking also removes excess surface starch, which can sometimes make the rice too sticky. Serve with miso soup, a seaweed salad, steamed edamame, and sake. In lieu of salmon, try topping the rice with grilled shiitake mushroom caps, or slices of mango. https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/salmon-nigiri Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Greetings, everyone. I arrived in Michigan safely. @smitty34877 Terry, I'm so sorry to hear about Tana's rebound case. By all means, please get the night time help.

Good morning, everyone. It is starting out to be a beautiful day here in northeast Ohio. I'll celebrate Sons and Daughters Day. Actually that is a day for everyone of us as we are one or the other. I'm heading up to Michigan today. We have a family picnic on Saturday. It will be nice to see the whole gang as it has been way too long since I've seen most of them. Pizza Margherita (more commonly known in English as Margherita pizza) is a typical Neapolitan pizza, made with San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, salt, and extra-virgin olive oil. In June 1889 the pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito, Pizzeria Brandi's chef, invented a dish called "Pizza Margherita" in honor of the Queen of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, and the Italian unification, since toppings are tomato (red), mozzarella (white) and basil (green), ingredients inspired by the colors of the national flag of Italy. The origins of Pizza Margherita came from mixing similar toppings that were was already present in Naples between 1796 and 1810. In 1849 Emanuele Rocco recorded different pizza toppings like basil, tomatoes and thin slices of mozzarella; the mozzarella was thinly sliced, and added to the toppings already present. The variations in Pizza Margherita will be the way the crust is made and the tomato sauce. This first one is very basic and quick and easy. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/personal-margherita-pizzas/ This next one has a homemade crust and tomato sauce. https://www.abeautifulplate.com/the-best-homemade-margherita-pizza/ This recipe offers a choice for the dough and a recipe for the sauce that uses fire roasted tomatoes. Couldn't you fire roast your own on the grill? https://www.acouplecooks.com/margherita-pizza-recipe/ Here it is, ready for @ger_77 Gerry's Pizza Friday tomorrow. Enjoy! Wishing everyone a wonderful day. I'm off!

I called Flight Ease direct and got a better response. I was upset that AA had dumped me from First Class into Economy and my PCC said there wasn't anything else. Flight Ease changed it for me at no charge since it was due to the airline making changes. Give them a try. Oh, the best part was there was no wait.

Good morning, everyone! It is supposed to be a nice day here in northeast Ohio. I'm going to do laps this morning and then hit the pool later. Last night I went out to dinner with friends and had a wonderful time. It has been so long since I've gone out in the evening. I like the concept of s'mores but I could never get the chocolate to melt. I don't have time to be lazy today and lions can celebrate from afar. Today's meal is a great one. You can make the packets in parchment paper or aluminum foil. The foil packets work wonderfully for cooking on the campfire or on the grill. I used to make a dish that was similar that I called fish in red wine, but I couldn't find the recipe anywhere. I would put fish down on the foil or parchment paper, layer some veggies on it (zucchini, eggplant, broccoli), add herbs that I liked, dot it with butter, salt and pepper and then pour red wine over it. I'd seal the packets and then bake or grill. Even some non fish lovers liked it. When I was a kid one of our favorite meals was what Mom called Hobo Chicken. She'd put chicken on the foil along with some onion, potato slices, and green beans. Salt, pepper, and butter were added, the packets closed up and cooked on the grill. Very little mess to clean up afterwards. This first recipe is shown done in parchment paper, but if you're grilling you'll want to use foil. https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a47899/bass-packets-with-tomato-corn-chickpeas-and-olives-recipe/ Like other recipes, pay attention to technique and tweak the ingredients to suit your taste. This next one has more juice in it and is just begging for some little red potatoes to sop it up. https://www.eatthis.com/sea-bass-packet-recipe/ This next one doesn't include the vegetables but does have a whole fish. I do something similar but with fish fillets. I put down a layer of citrus. It can be oranges, lemons, limes, doesn't matter. Then some fresh herbs. I put the fish on top and top the fish with the herbs and another layer of citrus. Wrap it up and stick it on the grill. https://eatsmarter.com/recipes/baked-sea-bass-packets-with-lemon-and-herbs I would love the peppers and onions in this next recipe from the Food Network. Mmmmm https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/foil-packet-peruvian-fish-with-peppers-and-tomatoes-8741670 Just for good measure, I'm including the one for chicken. The non fish eaters can do this one. These are all easily done in the oven as well as on the grill. https://easyweeknightrecipes.com/chicken-vegetables-foil-packets/ Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

There was a park office on the Village Green. We always stopped in there to pay our entrance fee and pick up maps. Last time my sister did get a park pass there.

Good morning, everyone. We are having a rainy start to the day but we are told it will clear out mid morning and be a beautiful day. I am a book lover and devour several books a week. The polka is the only dance I ever learned. I will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day. Not only do they deserve a day of recognition, they deserve our respect every day. I attended an EXC talk on our Alaskan cruise last September about the indigenous peoples of Alaska and what the US government did to try to destroy the culture. Our history has many moments that do not bring us pride. Today's meal sounds good to me. Phở or pho is a Vietnamese soup dish consisting of broth, rice noodles , herbs, and meat (usually beef , sometimes chicken Pho is a popular food in Vietnam where it is served in households, street stalls and restaurants countrywide. Nam Định people were the first to create Vietnamese traditional Pho. Pho is considered Vietnam's national dish. Pho originated in the early 20th century in northern Vietnam, and was popularized throughout the world by refugees after the Vietnam War. Traditionally, pho is made with strips of beef, and the broth is flavored with fish sauce. To make a vegetarian pho, substitute shiitake mushrooms for the beef and used tamari (or soy sauce) instead of the fish sauce. Be sure to sautee the mushrooms in oil to help give the broth some depth of flavor. https://cookieandkate.com/vegetarian-pho-recipe/ There are some great ideas here on substitutions you can make to tailor the soup to your liking. https://www.loveandlemons.com/easy-vegetarian-pho/ This one has a slightly different seasoning in addition to the traditional herbs. I like the idea of lime. I'm wondering how this would do with the addition of some shrimp. https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/vegetarian-vegan-pho-recipe/ I think I would like this soup. I'd probably use zoodles to reduce the carbs. Rice in any form wreaks havoc on my blood sugar, so I wouldn't try the rice noodles. The rest of it would be great. And, I might just toss in some shrimp to try it! Wishing you all a wonderful day .

$200!! Mine only cost me $100. I need to appreciate my hair stylist a bit more I think.

Love it, love it, love it.

Good for you, Ann! I now have brown hair. I have to keep people on their toes.

Bless you, Bruno, for being there for him. It will get to the point where the care he needs is more than you can give. If he is almost 100% bedridden, I am guessing it will be the nursing facility. It isn't an easy decision nor an easy move, but for his safety and yours, one that may be necessary. I hope you can get some occasional respite. Caregiving is intense and it is as hard on the caregiver as it is on the person being cared for. I'll keep you in my thoughts and send you virtual hugs.

Good morning, everyone. Today will be another beautiful summer day here in northeast Ohio. Temps are supposed to moderate a little today. I'm doing laps this morning with the pool scheduled for later in the day. Today's meal is a wonderful one. Stir fry is so versatile. Use what you like, leave out what you don't. Chicken is a great choice, but you could also use pork, beef, and even shrimp. When it comes to stir fry, the recipes are suggestions. Technically to be a stir fry you need high heat and at least one vegetable. Because of the high heat, you have to stir a lot. Hence, stir fry. Our first recipe calls for a sauce made from honey, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil. https://www.momontimeout.com/easy-chicken-stir-fry-recipe/ When making the stir fry you want to remove the chicken from the pan after you cook it. This will help you avoid having tough chewy meat in the stir fry from over cooking. Add it back in with the sauce at the end. https://natashaskitchen.com/chicken-stir-fry-recipe/ This next one is for garlic lovers. There are a lot of suggestions for substitutions here. https://www.dinneratthezoo.com/honey-garlic-chicken-stir-fry/ This last one is a simple recipe with just chicken and green beans, but feel free to add in other veggies. The technique here produces crispy chicken by dredging it in a little cornstarch. https://themodernproper.com/crispy-chicken-stir-fry Stir fry is such a great idea! It is healthy and ready in 30 minutes. Go for it! Wishing everyone a wonderful day.