The Daily for Saturday Jul 03, 2021

[Cruising-along]

Good morning all!

Another sunny, warm (not too warm!) day here in the PNW.  Another day of gardening and otherwise being lazy!  DH will be working the Mariner games a lot in the coming week including on the 4th but that's ok, we never have big plans for the 4th anyway as the family is so spread out.  We had our potato salad and bbq chicken last night. 😉  

 

That seafood salad looks really good.  I'm wondering why the bad reviews though.  I think it's worth a try, it sure sounds good.  

 

@ger_77condolences on the loss of your friend. 

@dfishgorgeous sunset, thank you for sharing!

@mamaofamiI hope everything gets straightened out to your satisfaction with the rehab facility.

@aliaschiefI hear you about trying to keep up with the little ones.  When we have both boys (ages 6 and 8 now) we are totally worn out.  We'll have one of them for 2 nights July 16 and 17, and both of them for 2 nights later in the month.  It seems to get harder every year!  

 

 

[57redbird]

1 hour ago, lindaler said:

Thanks Rich and all Dailyites. Have a safe holiday. I think the drink sounds refreshing and I like the second version as it seems simpler. Now to figure out where to get grapefruit soda.  I do miss reading all the travel blogs including the grand trips, but I decided that life is too short to just read others travel blogs. I will be cruising during the holidays this year then Alaska one more time and then my dream trips. South America in 2023 and the world in 2024. Then who knows. As long as I don’t look in the mirror I can believe I’m still young and capable. 

Costco sells grapefruit soda -  Fever Tree Pink Grapefruit - glass bottles.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Wow!  Our rain just hit about 30 minutes ago, and we are having a gully washing,  frog strangler. 🐸 We've already gotten more than 1 3/4 inches of rain, and it'still coming down a little.  The sky does not look as dark as night, but it's still dark.  When  we get rain in Texas, we get rain!  🌧️ ⛈️  If this keeps up we may need this  🤿.  So glad I turned the water sprinkler off last night.

 

At least, with all this rain, I don't have an excuse to avoid all the paperwork that has been piling up the last week.

 

@dish  The picture of the sunset is stunning.

 

Just since the last edit, we're up to 2.1 inches in the last 30-40 minutes!

Lenda

Edited July 3, 2021 by Quartzsite Cruiser

[cruzn single]

Happy Independence Day Eve!  Watching the weather, hoping that Elsa DIES!  It is warm, sunny, and now we are going into a drier phase!

 

Going with family for an outdoor concert at one of our local wineries!  Always fun, and just hoping it doesn't get much over 90!  It is a large place, so it is easy for groups to social distance, and still have a great afternoon.

 

Just had a notification of a "change" in my scheduled boarding time for the Nieuw Amsterdam in Seattle.  Haven't even looked at the boarding documents yet, so I don't know what my "original" boarding time was.  It is all good--I will be on a BHB on August 21.

 

Today's port looks interesting.  Australia is my "bucket list" destination.  Just dread the long flight, even if the reward is a cruise ship.  Still thinking that one out!

 

Have a great rest of the day, everyone!

[sailingdutchy]

Good afternoon all ,

 

Another nice day on the Daily with another nice port from Rich ! 

Today it is Darwin where we landed with the Volendam on November 30th , 2015 on a 31 day cruise from Sydney on the Great Barrier Reef Cruise to be followed by a Far East Explorer

 

One of my favourite small ships the Volendam 

 

 

After we arrived in Darwin we walked with our friends to the Crocosaurus Cove in town where we watched some shows with the saltwater crocodiles and saw in the museum many other creatures from this area .

 

Different to see a Christmas tree for us Canadians in 92 degrees heat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a drink to cool us off we hopped onto the HOHO to go to the amazing  Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Australian Territory where we spend a few hours to see all the indigenous art in this beautiful building .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After another drink while watching  and listening to all these gorgeous colourful birds we went back to the ship for a special dinner .

 

 

Very nice adventurous self guiding day was had by all while we learned a lot about the Northern Territories . Great day in Darwin ! 

 

 

Tony

 

 

[lindaler]

6 hours ago, Cruise Suzy said:

 

On October 25, 2020 @summer slope provided this simpler recipe:

    Paloma

One part tequila
Three parts grapefruit soda

 

Stir together and serve over ice.
Standard garnish: Lime wedge

 

It works better for me because grapefruit soda is my go-to carbonated soft drink and always on hand.
 

 

I went to check the mail and the jeep just turned into the dollar store so I had to get some squirt. Now I have my Fourth of July drink. This recipe sure sounds more simple. Thanks. 

[StLouisCruisers]

2 hours ago, cunnorl said:

Good Afternoon Everyone from an overcast but warm day at the beach

     Late to the party today. DS called last nite to see if his " dear old Mom" wanted to play golf this AM. So of course, I went.  Got chased around by rain and only ended up playing 9 holes.  Always fun!

    Watching the path of the hurricane.  Have to wait and see.

    Not sure if the fireworks will go off tonite. Weather is iffy at best. The vendor is on the beach setting up so we will see. We have friends coming to watch and I have prepared snacks, etc.

   Darwin is on our scheduled circumnavigation of Australia in the fall of 2022. Really hope it is not cancelled! @StLouisCruisersThank you for the great pictures.  I love ssing the pictures from the different ports for many reasons. One is I like to see how accessible it is. Our DD is a fulltime wheelchair user and sometimes we have to be very creative!

 

Stay safe and enjoy today

    

 

Circumnavigation Australia cruises are awesome!  Well worth the time and money spent.  I want to go back, too.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! It sounds like a fun collection of days. I mostly appreciate mirrors when I’m driving. The meal sounds so good for today, but tonight is a family dinner of BBQ ribs. Seafood salad will wait for another day!

My sole experience of Darwin is that it was the first port to officially and fully rescind permission for the Amsterdam to land on the 2020 Grand World. And so yes, Darwin officially signalled The End of the World for HAL in 2020. Needless to add, we still haven’t been there.😏

We are enjoying our stay with DS and BIL on the lake. The heat is supposed to abate after today, though not in time to save Lytton. Friends of ours grew up and still have (had) family there, and are in shock right now. @ger_77, my full sympathies with this hitting your part of the country now. I hope your social and emergency services have been able to learn a few things from what happened here.

However, the lake is cool and the house has air conditioning. My nephew and DW are here too, and it’s so wonderful to spend a long weekend on the lake with family! We’ve also been enjoying watching the eagle and the herons perch on the tree beside the house as a vantage point for fishing.

 

And the view from the deck.

 

Happy Saturday, as our days back on our BHB’s draw closer!

Edited July 3, 2021 by Horizon chaser 1957

[mamaofami]

3 hours ago, ChaCr said:

Carol,

 

Kessler is expensive.  But extremely good.  They are also very selective in the patients they allow into their facilities. Or, at least they were when I was admitted in 2010.  My experience was at their West Orange facility.

 

Charles

Yes, Kessler is good. West Orange facility. They should denied our appeal for him to stay longer. He is really improving every day.

we’ve given them a list of three sub acute facilities now but Kessler hasn’t responded to our emails.

[dfish]

1 minute ago, mamaofami said:

Yes, Kessler is good. West Orange facility. They should denied our appeal for him to stay longer. He is really improving every day.

we’ve given them a list of three sub acute facilities now but Kessler hasn’t responded to our emails.

 

Have you considered filing a complaint with Medicare directly?  I wouldn't waste time on Kessler.

 

 

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Daily.

Interesting days. 

I like the quote by Twain.

Again I'll pass on the seafood salad and take the Paloma. 

I've cruised to Australia, but haven't been to Darwin.

 

Another sunny low humidity day here, probably the last for a bit. I have no special plans for the 4th so I'll just relax.

 

@ger_77 My condolences on the sudden loss of your friend.

@dfish Beautiful sunset!

@smitty34877 Good news about Camilla.

@mamaofami I hope things get sorted for the subacute facility. What an ordeal!

 

Prayers for the care list and cheers for the celebration list.

Stay safe everyone!

 

[garlictown]

😉Agree...long flights aren't the easiest so the three times we cruised to Australia were from the West Coast ( San Francisco, Vancouver and Seattle). In the past, pre-Covid we'd break up the flight home by staying in Hawaii for however long the airline allows on the same ticket. Wonder how that will work now?! 🤔

[lazey1]

5 hours ago, lindaler said:

Thanks Rich and all Dailyites. Have a safe holiday. I think the drink sounds refreshing and I like the second version as it seems simpler. Now to figure out where to get grapefruit soda.  

Fresca is grapefruit soda and should be available at most grocery stores. Bonus, it has 0 calories.

[grapau27]

4 hours ago, CrabbyPatti said:

Good Morning!

       Today we celebrate my youngest sons birthday he is 32, hard to believe!  When I went into labor, hubby said you need to wait until tomorrow so we will have a 4th of July baby, I told him "then you carry him for the next 13 hours!"  Needless to say he didn't!

         We would both love to visit Australia, thank you for posting pictures, it is on our bucket trip list!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Denise

Sending birthday wishes for your youngest son.

Graham.

[St Pete Cruiser]

7 hours ago, ger_77 said:

Good morning, thanks for the Daily!  We should compliment our mirrors, rather than criticize them, but I'd like to find one that takes 20 pounds off me.  I remember in our younger days, the beer runs before we'd head to a lake for the weekend.  It really didn't matter that we didn't bring along a lot of food, as long as there was beer.  Of course, that was well BC - before children.  

 

It's so nice seeing some cruise ships sailing, even if we aren't on them - at least it means there's a better chance of us getting to board one in the future.  Hopefully we'll be able to do that in 118 days.

 

Another hot day on the "frozen tundra" with temps expected to reach 36C or 38C; we had a warm night, as DH thought the house had cooled down enough and turned off the A/C before we went to bed.  We both woke up sometime in the middle of the night, very uncomfortable because in addition to heat, we also have 79% humidity . . . something very uncommon here on the prairies.  Very sticky.

 

As far as "hop the park" day, we will be going to a park today, but not for a fun experience - we're going to attend the funeral of a friend who sadly died in his sleep a few days ago.  He was only 65 and relatively healthy, but apparently had a pulmonary embolism, so there was nothing that could be done.  We will gather with many others in a regional park where we can social distance, but still come together to grieve his passing safely.  Everyone will bring lawn chairs, water, and umbrellas to the service.

 

I like today's menu suggestion, but because it's still so warm, I think we'll be tossing some smokies on the barbecue when we get home, and will enjoy them with all the usual fixings and coleslaw.  And wine.

Prayers for everyone who needs them and even for those who don't think they do.  Clinking the glasses together to toast all on the celebration list, and to celebrate the life we have to live.  Stay safe, be well, wash your hands, wear your masks, and hydrate!

 

Smooth Sailing!  🙂🙂🙂

Gerry

Hi Gerry. 

Enjoy your posts from the frozen tundra!

This Floridian is in Maine and has achieved success in finding cool weather today. The high was 62F, or 17C or as the rest of the world knows it.

We saw a "bear" license tag today at a shop. It was from the Northwest Territory, as you probably know. I've seen them before. 

Our Airbnb here in Maine is ancient by Florida standards, built in 1891. The interior has been rebuilt and is quite comfortable. 

[grapau27]

3 hours ago, sailingdutchy said:

Good afternoon all ,

 

Another nice day on the Daily with another nice port from Rich ! 

Today it is Darwin where we landed with the Volendam on November 30th , 2015 on a 31 day cruise from Sydney on the Great Barrier Reef Cruise to be followed by a Far East Explorer

 

One of my favourite small ships the Volendam 

 

 

 

After we arrived in Darwin we walked with our friends to the Crocosaurus Cove in town where we watched some shows with the saltwater crocodiles and saw in the museum many other creatures from this area .

 

Different to see a Christmas tree for us Canadians in 92 degrees heat 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a drink to cool us off we hopped onto the HOHO to go to the amazing  Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Australian Territory where we spend a few hours to see all the indigenous art in this beautiful building .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After another drink while watching  and listening to all these gorgeous colourful birds we went back to the ship for a special dinner .

 

 

 

Very nice adventurous self guiding day was had by all while we learned a lot about the Northern Territories . Great day in Darwin ! 

 

 

 

Tony

 

 

Great selection of photos thanks.

[StLouisCruisers]

7 minutes ago, St Pete Cruiser said:

Hi Gerry. 

Enjoy your posts from the frozen tundra!

This Floridian is in Maine and has achieved success in finding cool weather today. The high was 62F, or 17C or as the rest of the world knows it.

We saw a "bear" license tag today at a shop. It was from the Northwest Territory, as you probably know. I've seen them before. 

Our Airbnb here in Maine is ancient by Florida standards, built in 1891. The interior has been rebuilt and is quite comfortable. 

 

Looks like quite a comfortable and well taken care of home.  Enjoy your stay and your further vacation plans.😎

[ChaCr]

3 hours ago, mamaofami said:

Yes, Kessler is good. West Orange facility. They should denied our appeal for him to stay longer. He is really improving every day.

we’ve given them a list of three sub acute facilities now but Kessler hasn’t responded to our emails.

Carol, I'm sorry.  I haven't read your original and following posts.

 

After they discharged me after about two months of being in-house, they provided out-patient PT and cognitive therapy. That lasted a bit more than six months. And after that, they recommended, and gave contacts, for in-home therapy.

 

I was lucky in that my insurance--several different kinds-- paid 75% of Kessler's charges. Perhaps a bit more.  But we were able to pay the rest.  My insurance totally covered my in-home therapy.  I'm very lucky.

 

I hope things work out to your ability levels. And I hope your DH has the help and therapy he needs to resume most or all of normal activities.

 

C

Edited July 3, 2021 by ChaCr

[Cruising-along]

On my lazy day, I thought I would share some color from the garden.  

I did put down the Grub-Ex today -- I waited because the mole/moles were gone awhile, most likely because of the Black Cat worms I put down in the tunnels.  But now there's one in the flower garden. 

 

The heat brought out the Sweet Peas in a hurry.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the Foxglove that has sprung up from who knows where. 😄

 

 

Jackmanii Clematis

[rafinmd]

Edge out of FTL just before Crystal Serenity due to leave Nassau.

 

Roy

[kazu]

1 hour ago, Cruising-along said:

On my lazy day, I thought I would share some color from the garden.  

I did put down the Grub-Ex today -- I waited because the mole/moles were gone awhile, most likely because of the Black Cat worms I put down in the tunnels.  But now there's one in the flower garden. 

 

The heat brought out the Sweet Peas in a hurry.

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the Foxglove that has sprung up from who knows where. 😄

 

 

Jackmanii Clematis

 

Lovely!

[kazu]

7 hours ago, CrabbyPatti said:

Good Morning!

       Today we celebrate my youngest sons birthday he is 32, hard to believe!  When I went into labor, hubby said you need to wait until tomorrow so we will have a 4th of July baby, I told him "then you carry him for the next 13 hours!"  Needless to say he didn't!

         We would both love to visit Australia, thank you for posting pictures, it is on our bucket trip list!

Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Denise

 

I’m glad for your sake he was born on the 3rd 😉 

Happy birthday to your DS. 🎂 

[NextOne]

Happy Fourth of July Eve! I'm watching "Aerial America" on the Smithsonian Channel -- a 50 state marathon. They are showing Washington state right now, with a section on Seattle.  Of course, a BHB sailed by. Yes!!

[1ANGELCAT]

40 minutes ago, NextOne said:

Happy Fourth of July Eve! I'm watching "Aerial America" on the Smithsonian Channel -- a 50 state marathon. They are showing Washington state right now, with a section on Seattle.  Of course, a BHB sailed by. Yes!!

Thanks. Now showing Alaska.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

It looks like our rain has moved on for a while.  In the last 24 hours,we got 3.4 inches of rain.  Plenty of rain for a few days, but we could still get more in the next few days.  Right now it is pleasant outside as our humidity has dropped.  

 

@Cruising-along Your flowers are lovely.

 

Lenda