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Happy Anniversary @cunnorl! 🍾🎂 Good morning. An interesting group of days , rarely drink beer except when the wines are poor then a Michelob Ultra, underwear a needed garment, I love oysters. In fact they would probably go great with a Torrontes. So would the pasta salad perhaps followed by a lemon drop for dessert. I am happy I don't have to do something that scares me daily. Thanks to our contributors each morning for these reports to start our days. Thanks for keeping us up to date on needs for prayers and shout outs Vanessa. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. We are heading to town later today for some errands and a wine and tapas at the local historical museum. I am sure there will be lots of iron mining and logging history in the museums as that is what these towns up here were built on. Have a great Saturday. Nancy

Happy Friday everyone. @Mr. Boston congratulations on your retirement. 🍾 @1ANGELCAT. Prayers for your friend Barb as she has her cancer surgery today. Thanks for the Daily reports @richwmn. I like chocolate chip cookies and have found a decent brand of sugar free. A very strange quote. @0106 thanks for taking the time to transcribe the recipe for us, the first one looks like a winner. Pass on the minty drink but the Aussie Grenache should be great. Never been to Bari hopefully someone will share photos. Several weeks ago there was a biopic on Miep Gies and the Frank family. It was very well done and so sad that someone ratted them out. @JazzyVthanks for keeping us updated on all the celebrations and illnesses in our group. Prayers for Murphy, Barb, everyone else on our list and the people of Ukraine. We have cooler weather today so moving plants is on my agenda. We fished yesterday afternoon even though there were white caps on the lake, first drifting and finally behind a couple of islands. No walleye but we had the big one John caught on Wednesday for dinner. It was tasty. Have a nice day. Nancy

Good Thursday morning. Thanks for our daily reports. No nuts to pass right now, I haven't had watermelon in a while and when I drink beer or ale it is always a light. I don't agree with the quote. Thanks for the recipes @0106. I love wedge salads, now that a second appetizer isn't $7 extra we can now ask for it chopped up and on top of our PGwedge salad again. I hope the Tokyo CollinsI has some Japanese whiskey. Today's wine sounds like it will be a good Aussie CS. Prayers for Baby Murphy still on ECMO🙏. Prayers for everyone on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. We have another hot day ahead of us and then back to seasonal weather with cool nights and days in the 70s. Yard work and fishing for me. John caught a nice walleye yesterday and it is in our holding trap in the lake. Fishing is a respite for me lately, I can stand and fish from the front of the boat without getting breathless. I am glad I made it until August until the smoke started getting to me. Have a nice day everyone. Nancy

@lazey1 Happy birthday! 🎂🍾 Good morning and thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn. An interesting group of days, our night out will be Saturday when go to a local historical museum for wine and tapas. I have not been to that museum in 30 years. Pass on the ice cream sandwich and doing CAD. Another good quote today. I like potato salad, especially with eggs, mustard, radish and green olive slices. No celery, no sugar please. I would like my Maker's Mark on the rocks or a splash of ginger ale. I like Malbec wine so would try today's value wine. Thanks for the beautiful photos of today's port. @JazzyVthanks for keeping us apprised of all the events and medical issues each day. Prayers for Baby Murphy, worried there hasn't been any news. Prayers for everyone needing them and the people of Ukraine. We will have temperatures in the 80s today. I am going to try to get my heavy gardening work done early in the day. It seems like after I go back outside to work after lunch my asthma is causing me to be winded. John will probably try to catch fish again today, yesterday all he caught was little ones. Have a nice day. Nancy

We were on her December 27 through March 18 2023. Having sailed 6 other HA ships we loved the intimate size of the Volendam. Plenty of lounges to tuck into the read and enjoy the scenery. We found the bars of adequate size, finding a seat in the Ocean Bar could be a problem right before dinner. Probably happens on all ships. We don't do a lot of shows but the seating was comfortable and didn't find any bad views. Easy to get on and off in the many ports we visited. Every cruise is different, our fabulous crew and chef got off right after we did. We ate in the MDR most of the time and the food and service exceeded expectations after we were given an assigned table near a couple of quiet service areas for early dining rather than just walking in. We tried breakfast once and it was a total flop, too long and cold coffee. Lido every morning after that. Persistence on locating a table will be required during shorter duration cruises when everyone tries to squeeze everything in during their precious time onboard. This is a common issue on all HA ships. Some of the wonderful MDR meals and Lido eggs Benedict.

@1ANGELCAT prayers for your DF Barb. Although the surgery is massive and the chemo a test of her lifetime there is hope. My dear neighbor back in MD was misdiagnosed for 18 months by a major Baltimore medical center she is now a 10 years survivor. She went to hell and back but she is healthy again. They are making strides in the treatments. 🙏

Good morning everyone. Thanks for our Daily reports Rich. I don't play Mah Jong, with asthma I never did any climbing in my youth but I stay in touch with my girlfriends back in MD and PA. Good quote by CS Lewis. Pass on the eggplant, we'll see about the daiquiri it if I had one it would be dark rum. I use that Blandy's for cooking. Nothing better than a vintage Madeira. Priestley really had a breakthrough discovering gaseous O2. One of the fathers of modern chemistry. I hope all went well for baby Murphy yesterday, continued prayers for her recovery and her family who have had their world tipped upside down. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. We went to town yesterday since we are out of bait and John was bored. I am never bored here always too much catching up to do. Have a nice day! Nancy

@Scrapnana so happy to hear you are on the mend. I loved following you Grand Africa adventures.

@cruising sister Prayers for Baby Murphy and her family today. 🙏❤️

Good morning everyone. Thanks for the Daily reports. We have had a few mutts over the years. I like watermelon but haven't had it in years. No avocado for me. I have been to Recife this year. Good typical quote by Rodney Dangerfield. Hamburgers look great, a tasty martini and another Crianza. A great dinner, start with the Martini, then a burger with a glass of Crianza. Thinking of @smitty34877 DH today. Prayers on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. We did a HA shorex in Recife and historic Olinda on the 2023 Grand South America. The cathedral was in Olinda as were the small building street scenes and views from above. Then we traveled down Mercy Street to Recife. We visited the oldest synagogue in South America and on the same street a museum of giant Carnival puppets. We had a great tiur except for too much time spent in a market with our guide dictating what we saw and when. Then a big storm came up and we missed our last cathedral in Recife.

Back to caviar. I recall in 2018 on the Konigsdam it was $70. When on the Volendam in February we enjoyed it in the PG but my enjoyment was tempered by seeing RUS on the top of the jar. I called it "blood caviar". It was $50 so we celebrated not knowing this when we ordered in advance. I thought that importation of Russian caviar is no longer allowed to the US. I asked the chef at a chef's table and he hemmed and hawed and said Siberia. Is the caviar on HA Russian? I understand before the ban producers exported sturgeon fingerlings to grow the product elsewhere. I am sure the price drop was due to lack of demand but "revenge travel" may again be increasing demand therefore the price hike.

Bon Voyage @AV8rix! 🍾🛳️ Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn. Hard to celebrate friendship today our friends headed back downstate after a month up here. It was nice not being up here by our lonesomes. No FIL to celebrate but a local restaurant back home makes a fabulous keto cheesecake. A great quote, people would be much happier if they could follow that suggestion. Fish sandwich #3 and the beauty Graham shared are right up our alley. A great classic Margarita and sounds like a tasty wine. Thanks for researching these for us each day. Looking forward to photos of Chiapas. Thanks for keeping us updated on everyone @JazzyV. Prayers for everyone on our list and the people of Ukraine. Prayers for baby Murphy. We have gorgeous weather ahead. Sun and 70s and 80s with lows in the 50s. The humidity finally dropped. Have a lovely day! Nancy

Good morning everyone. Bon Voyage @StLouisCruisers Sandi and Dennis 🍾🛳️ Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn. I love wings and lasagna. Tigers are beautiful. Great quote by Queen Elizabeth, many small steps in her long reign. John would like the spicy cocktail, we probably will both enjoy today's chicken dish. I am sure the Yalumba wine would be tasty. Looking forward to more photos from Japan. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. Prayers for baby Murphy. @grapau27 sympathy for Pauline on the anniversary of he father's passing. I hope she has many happy memories of him. A beautiful day in store today. I know no fishing on the docket as we ran out of bait. Unless John drives 13 miles to our local gas station/grocery store we will be on land. We went out for a bit yesterday with little success. I am afraid the bluegills that we used to catch have been caught in the winter. Most days we are the only boat on a 2.5 mile long lake. Have a nice Saturday! Nancy

@durangoscots I am sorry to read about the loss of your DF. 😿

@Heartgrove beautiful home, I am sure they went through a bit of paint to complete your house.

Good morning. Thanks for the Daily and Fleet Reports. I will pass on milk chocolate, no water parks either. The Buffalo Soldiers should have a day and more to recognize them. Great quote by George Harrison. Looking forward to today's port. Baked ziti recipes look wonderful, pass on the cocktail but the Crianza looks like a winner. Thanks for the Cares and Celebrations reports. @Cruzin Terri I hope you have gotten your AC issues fixed. Prayers for everyone on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. We chose a good day to go to town to watch a 3 hour movie. When we walked out of the theater it was 92 degrees and 20 mph winds, it felt like a car heater. Oppenheimer was a great movie and held our interest the whole time, much better than Indiana Jones we saw a couple of weeks ago. We hustled home without our usual stop for dinner because a huge storm was coming. We got all the groceries in before the rain started and lasted for 3 hours. A day of gardening for me and probably fishing for John. We went out 2 days ago and the fish were biting but it started getting darker and raining. We fished for a while more but John decided it was time to head back. We had caught on keeper walleye so we had a fish fry Wednesday night. We are not short of rain. Have a nice Friday! Nancy

@mamaofami good news on Sam!

Good morning everyone. A strange group of days, my houseplants are too big to take on walks, bagpipes are ok for special occasions but never have been on stilts, closest is a Pogo Stick. Thanks for starting us off each day @richwmn. Quote is a good one. Pass on the chicken, the cocktail and probably the wine from Lodi. THanks fit the photos of today's port @StLouisCruisers. We have been there many times all on BHBs. I probably have all my good photos on my laptop. We are returning next winter and I think we will be three times on our multi back to back trip. Prayers for everyone on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. Prayers for @Scrapnanawho we haven't heard much about since she returned from her Grand Africa. We are heading into town today to get a break from the heat. Tonight we will have a cold front come in sparking predicted severe thunderstorms well after we have returned home. Have a great Thursday! Nancy

Good morning. All or nothing may fit today, we have some light rain due. Due to the heat we planned on fishing. If the boat is all wet it may be nothing. Hopefully the clouds will keep us cooler. No aunts or uncles to celebrate, I think my Dad who passed at age 96 in 2013 outlived them all and that was a gift. Wow what a quote a lot of context to boil it down to the last line. Tacos sound great, the non blue Blue Curacao would be great minus the bitters. Elderton makes great wines. Looking forward to photos of today's port. Prayers for Baby Murphy I hope she is able to get off the ECMO soon. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. I hope everyone at sea are having a grand time. I guess if it is a nuisance rain I will run the sprinklers to get things wet. I have so many thirsty species like bee balm and Astilbes that they need regular water to look their best. To beat the heat tomorrow we are going to get groceries and see Oppenheimer, if the 3 hour movie isn't too crowded. I doubt with it in three theaters in the building and it will be the matinee. Have a lovely day! Nancy

Good morning everyone. Thanks for the Fleet Reports @richwmn. Nice that culinarians have their day. We could have chili dogs because we had all the ingredients. No sewing today and I hope I have no other needle threading today. A very famous quote from Twain. Garlic shrimp sounds great, will take my espresso neat but the Stump Jump is another good D'Arenburg wine. Cheaper and easier to find than the Laughing Magpie. Haven't been to Singapore. Prayers for @mamaofami DH Sam. Prayers for baby Murphy. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. @Crazy For Cats beautiful view from near Halifax. Sitting in a really cold house this morning. It went down into the high 40s but going to 90 today. We have three hot days coming up and with no AC we get the logs as cool as we can, shut the cabin up and trap the cool air inside. Another smoke warning today, it really affects my stamina. Have a wonderful day! Nancy My tomato plants are doing well.

Prayers for your DH Sam. I hope that he doesn't need surgery. 🙏 Thanks for starting us off each day Rich. My cousins are in good health but the one that I had interaction with sadly passed away last year due to lupus and vasculitis, his kidneys finally gave out. Amelia Earhart was a trailblazer and a pioneer. Interesting that pioneer day is about the movement across the US of the people of the LDS church. Pass on the quote and the Pasta but Cuba Libre is a favorite of mine but with Pussers dark rum. The Laughing Magpie is a tasty wine, I wish it was in stores more around where we live. Thanks for keeping us updated on events, illnesses and Celebrations @JazzyV. Prayers for baby Murphy I hope she can get off ECMO soon. Prayers for everyone on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. I hope everyone at sea are having a wonderful time. @StLouisCruisers thanks for the pictures of today's port in Tasmania in both gloom and sunlight, it looked like a nice walking city. The brisket turned out great, I will probably always cook it at 275 degrees. It was on at 5:45 am and done at 3 so I could bring it in and wrap it in foil to let it settle before carving. It was fun to watch Harman win the rainy Open yesterday while getting ready for company. I think John will fish today and I will weed in hope of finally getting my mulch down. Beautiful weather here for the next two days then two really hot then back to cool weather. John swears the reason the fish aren't biting is because the lake is so cool with it being below 70 degrees for most of the summer. Have a nice Monday. Nancy Brisket at 205 degrees and some arrangements I made yesterday.

My late DH was a life long MD native. He always used finely chopped curly parsley in his crab cakes. I will return to Baltimore for a Ravens game and we always return home to MI with 2 pounds of MD jumbo lump and 5 pound box of gulf shrimp from Gibby's. We are going in September so fingers crossed if the season will still be open.

This year, Grand South America on the Volendam. Never had been on a Grand voyage before this so I never could compare it to another. Our Spanish chef, the wonderful South American ports and to experience the remoteness and grandeur of Antarctica. We loved the Volendam too. We missed the Falklands and we didn't go to Igauzu Falls and I didn't sign up soon enough to go to Torres del Paine. First time they offer it in January we are repeating.

@summer slope Dixie have a wonderful birthday. Today's cocktail would be a good substitute for birthday cake. 🍾🎂 Good morning everyone. My mother enrolled us in swimming lessons pre school. Another drowning preventer is to heed the posted signs at the beach. Cowboys are a needed occupation and vanilla ice cream is wonderful. Pass on the vegetarian wings, the sweet cocktail but today's wine reads like a winner. Great quote today! Thanks for the photos of today's port @StLouisCruisers. Prayers for baby Murphy and the medications can treat her sepsis, prayers for her parents who must be distraught. Prayers for everyone on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. Today we are having lake neighbors over for a brisket. I got the smoker going at 5:15 and it was ready for the brisket at 5:45. I am smoking it at 275 today, a little bit hotter than normal so we might be able to enjoy it before 6pm. Kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder and some Montreal Steak Seasoning. Have a nice Sunday! Nancy

Good morning. I joined the poor sleep club last night. What I call "false sleep". Waking up frequently thinking I hadn't been sleeping. Maybe too much of my very low caffeine home made ice tea or my new box of tea bags was mislabeled. Bon Voyage to @dfish @Crazy For Catsand @NextOne. Have wonderful trips. 🛳️🍾 That for the Daily and Fleet Reports @richwmn. No hammock here, thanks Graham for explaining Spoonerisms, never knew they had a name. No summer leisure here, string trimming and preparing for a smoked brisket dinner tomorrow. The quote is true. I love joohjeh kabobs. We don't have any of the ingredients and an hour from the nearest store to buy them. Pass on the cocktail but the wine sounds like a good one. @kazu thank you for the wonderful photos of Ceuta. A place I would love to see. @JazzyVthanks for the care and celebrations lists. So happy the Bon Voyage list is firing up big time today. Prayers for all on our Care list and the people of Ukraine. The hummingbirds are looking in the window, that means their feeders are empty. I am regretting only buying one bag of sugar in town, I will just have to make their liquid weaker to stretch it. A few blooms from yesterday, it is time for the Japanese Iris to strut their stuff. Have a nice day. Nancy