Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Keksie]

I am back from a super fun knitting retreat.  It started Thursday morning wheny friend and I drove over to Bellingrath Gardens to spend the morning.

Then it was 2.5 days of knitting, laughing and making new friends.  The teacher was very good and I picked up several new techniques.

 

[George C]

1 hour ago, Sunshine3601 said:

We have been in the same house for about 24 yrs.    I had been doing really good with getting rid of unused items and had lived by the rule that if I hadn't worn it or used it in 1 to 2 years then I would donate it or post online for sale.    

 

Then in 2018/2019 my parents passed away and I had cleaned out their home and sold it.    I bought home too many items that were family keepsakes including some favorite pieces of furniture that are in our basement family room.   

 

Then Eric's Mom passed away Nov 2022 and we cleaned out and sold her home last Fall and again we kept several boxes of family keepsakes and a couple pieces of furniture - such as nice white leather recliner that was hardly ever used.    

 

So even though we didn't move I felt like we did with the whole house clean out for both of those homes.   

 

Now we have way too much stuff again!    I have been slowly going through closets, basement storage, holiday decorations, etc. and so far I have gathered a total of 13 large black trash bags and boxes of items that purple heart will pick up on Monday.    Still have a lot more to go through but with Spring here and being outdoors again means the stuff in the basement will probably be there until next winter when it's too cold to be outside.   Ugghhh!

 

It's sad there is no real value to china these days.    I now have 5 sets of china.   My Nana's (2 different sets), her Mother's (my GG), my Mom's, Eric's Mom.     That is my next project to clean them out and keep my 2 favorites that I use for holidays and special occassions.   

 

Candles is another thing that I have way too many of. 

 

No plans of moving, especially with all the stuff stored in the basement.

When my wife’s mother passed she inherited 3 sets of China that she paid to ship from Buffalo to Dallas where it will never be used. 

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, Husky1987 said:

Fresh crack celebration for Saturday night.  House walls are all textured and they started priming today!  Should be painting by the end of next week.  The end is near, tentative move in date of June 1st (which I’m sure will slide a bit with inspections, etc.)…pics of painted walls to come next week 😊

 

 

Now that's a great way to celebrate. Love Barrell, How was it as all their expressions are different? Cheers to you soon getting back onto your house.

[Coralc]

There are probably 3 sets up there too. Donate. We already gave the flatware to Bill's cousin. We are all in on Corelle and Corning. 

Edited April 21 by Coralc

[Sea Dog]

29 minutes ago, George C said:

When my wife’s mother passed she inherited 3 sets of China that she paid to ship from Buffalo to Dallas where it will never be used. 

 

When my parents died and I had to have an estate sale, they asked me if I wanted to keep my parents china. I said no as I would probably never use it. It got sold but only for a fraction my parents paid for it. Seems now a days people are not impressed with china.

[firefly333]

52 minutes ago, George C said:

When my wife’s mother passed she inherited 3 sets of China that she paid to ship from Buffalo to Dallas where it will never be used. 

We got rid of multiple sets of china I knew I'd never use. Agree breaks my heart but trying to par down. Right now I'm pondering a very old dictionary my  mom always used, even has tabs inset for the letters I havent been able to throw away but no use for. Got a few little bags ready to give to my sister with some stuffed animals. I have trouble throwing stuff away. 

[aussielozzie18]

1 hour ago, Keksie said:

I am back from a super fun knitting retreat.  It started Thursday morning wheny friend and I drove over to Bellingrath Gardens to spend the morning.

Then it was 2.5 days of knitting, laughing and making new friends.  The teacher was very good and I picked up several new techniques.

 

I don’t knit but I admire your creative skills and that sounds like a perfect weekend 

[Coralc]

18 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

We got rid of multiple sets of china I knew I'd never use. Agree breaks my heart but trying to par down. Right now I'm pondering a very old dictionary my  mom always used, even has tabs inset for the letters I havent been able to throw away but no use for. Got a few little bags ready to give to my sister with some stuffed animals. I have trouble throwing stuff away. 

It is really difficult, isn't it? I had a dictionary fancy, embossed with my name, that my dad gave me right before college that he signed with sentiment. But I tossed it. I took photos of a few things. But it is hard to part with some of this stuff. And books are really heavy. I cut those at least, in half. 

Edited April 21 by Coralc

[aussielozzie18]

Good evening.  After 4 lovely days in Victoria BC, we hit the road.  First stop, The Malahat Skywalk.  Horrendously overpriced but we are glad we did it. DS was the only one of us to do the quick return via the slide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also liked the driftwood sculptures that were displayed as you walked along the elevated timber walkway to reach the skywalk structure.

 

 

[Etta1213]

10 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Good evening.  After 4 lovely days in Victoria BC, we hit the road.  First stop, The Malahat Skywalk.  Horrendously overpriced but we are glad we did it. DS was the only one of us to do the quick return via the slide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also liked the driftwood sculptures that were displayed as you walked along the elevated timber walkway to reach the skywalk structure.

 

 

Wow!

[Etta1213]

@aussielozzie18 I plan to share the driftwood pics with a sister-in-law who has a very artistic granddaughter, etc.

[aussielozzie18]

2 hours ago, Etta1213 said:

@aussielozzie18 I plan to share the driftwood pics with a sister-in-law who has a very artistic granddaughter, etc.

Here are the other two I took photos of.

 

 

 

[Coralc]

You always have the best and most fascinating photos. I have never even heard of the Malahat Skywalk! 😊 But it looks really neat. 

 

In other news, we watched the first 3 episodes of FALLOUT on Amazon Prime, because there has been so much hype about it. The first episode is definitely video gamish. The second episode was more interesting with Michael Emerson (Person of Interest) and the origin of the dog. The third episode is more sci-fi, so we will probably go on to watch the rest. 

 

It is interesting that it was filmed in Namibia and Utah. You would think that they could find closer sand dunes.  

 

I wouldn't say it is great, but it is different enough to keep our interest. 😊

 

 

Edited April 21 by Coralc

[h20skibum]

Yesterday was the Harry Potter theme birthday for my granddaughter, so my task Friday night was to make chocolate wands. 
 

Some of the ingredients.  A mall crock pot to melt some half price Easter bunnies, and sprinkles for the top of the wand. 
 

 

It takes a while for the pieces to melt. 
 

 

This part was easy, because I just got chocolate covered pretzel rods from our local specialty candy store. 
 

 

Next was to figure out how much melted chocolate and sprinkles for the tip.  I dipped the first one and swirled it in sprinkles, and……

 

It looked remarkably like those lighthouse cookies.  😂😂

 

Ok, use a little less. 
 

 

The finished product. 
 

 

 

 

[h20skibum]

The Harry Potter theme party was a hit.  Since we had a few items left over from my California grandson’s party last fall, they could be used for this one. 
 

Before last summer, I knew nothing of Harry Potter.  Never read the books or saw any movies.  That changed as we prepared for our Universal Studios trip. So, unless you are familiar with them, some of these decorations may not mean anything. My daughter went all out with this party. 
 

There were floating envelopes. 

 

And floating candles that were remotely controlled by a wand. 
 

 

And the cake table was set up with several wands, and an iPad streaming a train scene. 
 

 

Entertainment at the party was this kids magician. 
 

 

He did an excellent show, and kids and adults were thoroughly entertained. He had one bit, where he had three adults, then three kids shake a die in a cup.  They would then look at the number that came up.  He wanted to see how good they were at lies.  They had to answer NO, as he would ask if it was 1, 2, etc., and he would then tell them what the number was.  He was 6 for 6 in reading each adult and each kid, and guessed their number. 
 

Lots of other tricks, but the kids faces were like my granddaughter’s when he did this with her. 
 

 

 

 

 

[Sunshine3601]

9 hours ago, Keksie said:

I am back from a super fun knitting retreat.  It started Thursday morning wheny friend and I drove over to Bellingrath Gardens to spend the morning.

Then it was 2.5 days of knitting, laughing and making new friends.  The teacher was very good and I picked up several new techniques.

 

Fun!   Nice photos too😊

[Keksie]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

The Harry Potter theme party was a hit.  Since we had a few items left over from my California grandson’s party last fall, they could be used for this one. 
 

Before last summer, I knew nothing of Harry Potter.  Never read the books or saw any movies.  That changed as we prepared for our Universal Studios trip. So, unless you are familiar with them, some of these decorations may not mean anything. My daughter went all out with this party. 
 

There were floating envelopes. 

 

And floating candles that were remotely controlled by a wand. 
 

 

And the cake table was set up with several wands, and an iPad streaming a train scene. 
 

 

Entertainment at the party was this kids magician. 
 

 

He did an excellent show, and kids and adults were thoroughly entertained. He had one bit, where he had three adults, then three kids shake a die in a cup.  They would then look at the number that came up.  He wanted to see how good they were at lies.  They had to answer NO, as he would ask if it was 1, 2, etc., and he would then tell them what the number was.  He was 6 for 6 in reading each adult and each kid, and guessed their number. 
 

Lots of other tricks, but the kids faces were like my granddaughter’s when he did this with her. 
 

 

 

 

What a wonderful party.  

[Keksie]

5 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Here are the other two I took photos of.

 

 

 

You have fantastic walks and I love seeing your photos.

[SteelCityCruiser10]

3 hours ago, h20skibum said:

 

 

It looked remarkably like those lighthouse cookies.  

 

 

 

 

Oh my 😳😳  

 

Party looked pretty awesome  👏🏼  & Im glad that kid got to keep her hand.  😂 

[bobmacliberty]

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

Before last summer, I knew nothing of Harry Potter.  Never read the books or saw any movies.

 

I don't know how this is even possible. 🤣  The activities that you plan for your grandkids are just amazing.  Again, will you adopt me?

 

While living in Ohio, we had a huge Halloween party and every year was a different theme.  Of course, one year was Harry Potter.  I'm still amazed at the Goblin that Micheline made from Gringott's bank.

 

[h20skibum]

1 minute ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how this is even possible. 🤣  The activities that you plan for your grandkids are just amazing.  Again, will you adopt me?

 

While living in Ohio, we had a huge Halloween party and every year was a different theme.  Of course, one year was Harry Potter.  I'm still amazed at the Goblin that Micheline made from Gringott's bank.

 

Oh, that would have gone nicely with the party theme.

[Keksie]

20 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I don't know how this is even possible. 🤣  The activities that you plan for your grandkids are just amazing.  Again, will you adopt me?

 

While living in Ohio, we had a huge Halloween party and every year was a different theme.  Of course, one year was Harry Potter.  I'm still amazed at the Goblin that Micheline made from Gringott's bank.

 

Wow that is impressive.

[Lionesss]

This cruise was needed in so many ways!!!  These last few months have been non stop busy. 
 

Traveling every Sunday to Oxford Ohio a mere 4 - 1/2 hour ride with pit stop. Then Every Wednesday driving home in the evening. 
 

Well I made my last drive the week before the cruise. And I knew it was coming but did not expect it now. 
And it was memorable. 
A going away gift was getting.Noro virus. 
 

Yup you guessed it. A cruise in less than 6 days and I am best friends with the Porcelain bowl and a bucket. 
 

I hadn’t threw up in over 35 years, but in conjunction with that sitting on the thrown. 
 

It was the 24 hour type. And what affected me most was the tiredness. 
It hit after the kids went to work. Zoey was a trooper, kept bringing her binkies  and toys. 
 

What made it more memorable is I did my last Pilgrimage to Oxford. 
 

I had made a brief mention of what was going on a few weeks back. But I got the official statement to share just recently. 
 

Brandon is the new assistant strength and conditioning coach at 

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY. 

Double salary. Better working conditions. 

Daughter s salary will be tripled going independent with an agency backup. 
 

I will now be able to leave Monday morning at 5 am. And come home Wednesday evening.

The drive will be 2 - 1/2 hours. 
I will be able to spend weekends camping and get an early starting  Monday in June. 
 

That is why this cruise is so meaningful to just chill. 
 

Take care. 
 

 

[grapau27]

Good afternoon from a sunny 50°F North East England.

My parents lived in the same house for 41 years before they both died within 4 months of each other.

Pauline and I have lived in our house for 42 years.

I hope everyone is safe and in good health and y'all have a fabulous day.

[Momof3gurlz]

@aussielozzie18 your photos are just beautiful.

 

@h20skibum what a fun party for your granddaughter! HBD to her.

 

When it comes to keeping stuff from moves or inheritances, it seems there are two types of people.  Those that toss out most of it and those that can’t bear to part with anything - and they usually end up married to each

other 😂.  I’m not sentimental about big things like furniture, china sets, etc. In my mind, if I’m not going to use it, it’s just clutter.  Andy on the other hand would keep everything. It’s led to some interesting ‘discussions’ 😉😂.