The Daily for Wednesday December 08, 2021

[aliaschief]

Some photos of our visit to Tonga on the MS Maasdam in 2019.

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by aliaschief

[ger_77]

Just now, aliaschief said:

 

I think the tubers are taro root, but what are the green things?

[StLouisCruisers]

Thank you @aliaschieffor the Tonga photos.  It looks just like what I'd imagine it to.  Green with pretty beaches.

[Cruising-along]

Greetings from NC. I haven’t been able to post since leaving home on Saturday because of CC problems but have been trying to read daily.
 

My prayers for strength for Jacqui @kazuand Jose. 
 

We went to Biltmore in Asheville and have had a nice time visiting friends and relatives in the Raleigh area. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[StLouisCruisers]

23 minutes ago, Cruising-along said:

Greetings from NC. I haven’t been able to post since leaving home on Saturday because of CC problems but have been trying to read daily.
 

My prayers for strength for Jacqui @kazuand Jose. 
 

We went to Biltmore in Asheville and have had a nice time visiting friends and relatives in the Raleigh area. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biltmore is still looking good!  The number of Christmas trees there is amazing!  I know you're enjoying it.

[marshhawk]

Thank you for both the Tonga pictures and the Biltmore pictures.  Lovely.

[Seasick Sailor]

Good morning Rich and fellow Daily-ites. A beautiful morning warming to 70's.

 

Prayers for our Roy and Jacqui. God bless you. Congratulations Roy on your halfway point. Jacqui I hope you were able to set tissues aside for a bit.

 

Last night after couples pedis we went to our favorite sushi place. Delicious!

Today will be busy with last minute things. We got a message from Luggage Forward our bags are in storage in Dania waiting for us. 

 

I read that a Rotterdam cruise was cancelled in March and a lesser days cruise was offered. Just after last payment was due. That's not very fair HAL..

 

Sandi I saw the Fox Christmas tree in flames as well. What's wrong with these people!

 

Tonight's dinner? No idea. Allen asked for mustard and turnip greens with pork hocks and cornbread. I made the greens yesterday and gave half to our neighbor who loves them but wife won't make them. It's his Christmas gift. 

 

I finished clearing the yard of summer chimes and flags, covered the tables and chairs and cleaned out the garage. Not much else needed to winterize. 

 

Wishing you a lovely day. Prayers and Cheers. 

[*Miss G*]

37 minutes ago, ger_77 said:

I think the tubers are taro root, but what are the green things?

 

I’m going to guess coconuts!

 

 

1 hour ago, aliaschief said:

My beautiful oak tree is giving birth to more acorns this year than I can handle. Yesterday with the help of blower, rake and old snow shovel (yes they come in handy in Florida) I gathered around 50 lbs of acorns! This morning our driveway is loaded again with acorns. This has been going on for three weeks.

 

 

We had a huge oak tree at our cottage on Georgian Bay and sometimes it went crazy.  Someone told me an old wive’s tale that it meant we were in for a harsh winter.  Your post made me google The Real Reason.

 

 

Congratulations to @rafinmdfor 50% achievement towards your goal!!  Wow.  I can’t believe you’re halfway through.  Time just flies, doesn’t it?

 

Oh my gosh, I got the most beautiful Christmas tree decorations at Biltmore one year!  Sadly, we have broken one or two so I think that’s a good reason to go back.  🙃

 

CC is giving me trouble again!  It won’t let me like what I want.  It also tells me I’m not logged in.  I guess it knows more than me.

 

@kazu, you are in all our thoughts and prayers.  Thoughts and prayers really work so you should be expecting a miracle shortly!

[aliaschief]

@MissG Interesting article on oaks and acorns. Thanks.

[StLouisCruisers]

4 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

@MissG Interesting article on oaks and acorns. Thanks.

 

I agree!  Lots of interesting info contained there.

[aliaschief]

1 hour ago, ger_77 said:

I think the tubers are taro root, but what are the green things?

I believe the green fruit is Paw Paw or large Papaya type fruit.

[puppycanducruise]

5 minutes ago, aliaschief said:

I believe the green fruit is Paw Paw or large Papaya type fruit.

They look like watermelons to me.🙂

[bdrcole]

Today is put the summer convertible away for the winter and bring the winter convertible out for tomorrows activity.

[Sharon in AZ]

Good morning everyone and Happy Wednesday!  
 

Great collection of days to celebrate. We aren’t putting our tree up this year since we won’t be here. We did put up some decorations though. Last year I shared some cruise related ornaments and thought I would again. So, today is Merry Christmas from the Maasdam:

 

 

I love collecting HAL and cruise ornaments while onboard. I started buying more ornaments instead of magnets when I ran out of room on my fridge. 

Roy @rafinmd thank you for the lists. Great news that you are halfway through treatments. Prayers to all on the Care list and extra for Roy, and @kazuJacqui & Jose. 
 

Happy Birthday to @mamaofami’s DGS.! 🎈🧁🎉

 

Today’s meal suggestion sounds wonderful. Thank you for the recipes Debbie @dfish  I think it’s also possible (in addition to the Olive Garden ones) that some are considered copycat recipes is referring to the restaurant Al Forno, which is known for it’s oven baked pasta with the red and white sauce mixed together. I’ve never been there but it’s quite famous and I watch way too much TV. 😉

Have a great day everyone!

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by Sharon in AZ

[Himself]

4 hours ago, rafinmd said:

Thank you for the Hump Day Daily, Rich.  Not sure whether the Brownies in question are treats or little girls.  Take it in the Ear day sounds kind of whimsical.  I hope everybody who needs it gets a Christmas Tree this year (mine is tiny and artificial),  I'll disagree with the da Vinci quote.  The meal sounds nice.  I've been to Nuku alofa only on Crystal.  I'll take yesterday as hump day as it was my 15th of 30 treatments.

 

Today’s care list:

Strength for Jacqui and Jose
RIP Bob Dole
Welfare of furloughed crews
Seasick Sailor’s friend Walker wthdrawing from cancer treatments
Eruptions in Las Palmas and Indonesia
kakalina with spreading lung cancer in hospice
SrLouisCruisers DMIL in hospice
positive biopsies for summer slope and Mtn2sea
From the rotation:
rafinmd undergoing radiation
Mamaofami’s friend in hospice
Cruisin Terri Autoimmune problem
HAL Sailor DH health issues

 

Celebrations and Shoutouts:

 

5 BHB with passengers
Bon Voyage Crazy for Cats (NCL Dawn to 12/19
Front Line Health Care Workers
5 days for MissG (Nieuw Statendam  to 1/9)
4 days for Seasick Sailor(Rotterdam to 1/16)
3 days for NCTribeFan and JAM37 (NA to 12/23)
Vict0riann getaway to Bellingham
Quartize Cruiser and Heartgrove (Koningsdam to 12/12),_Lindaler (Rotterdam to ½) , Cruisin Terri (Rivie ra to 12/13), Sea Viewer (Allure OTS until 12/19) Crazy for Cats (NCL Dawn to 12/19) and  kb4683 (Regal Princess to 12/9) at sea
A Johns Hopkins  appointment for NextOne DDIL with Long Haul Covid
highland cruiser in Vallarta
Konibngsdan Staff Captain Sabine - officially onboard & introduced. - Our first female staff captain and HAL’s likely first female Captain(I know this is a repeat but she’s worth it)

Roy

 

Roy, I am glad you are more than half way through your treatments.  I hope they are successful. Thank you for the care and shoutb out lists.

[Sharon in AZ]

7 minutes ago, Sharon in AZ said:

Today’s meal suggestion sounds wonderful. Thank you for the recipes Debbie @dfish  I think it’s also possible (in addition to the Olive Garden ones) that some are considered copycat recipes is referring to the restaurant Al Forno, which is known for it’s oven baked pasta with the red and white sauce mixed together. I’ve never been there but it’s quite famous and I watch way too much TV. 😉

BTW, if you ever eat at Olive Garden you can purchase the Baked Ziti to go for $5 when you order an entree. Whenever DM and I eat there for lunch I always buy one for later in the week. It freezes really well too. I usually bake it longer than the instructions say because I like the edges crispy. Yum. I might have to talk DM into lunch sometime soon. 😉

[*Miss G*]

23 minutes ago, bdrcole said:

Today is put the summer convertible away for the winter and bring the winter convertible out for tomorrows activity.

 

That made me laugh.  Can you come and clean my garage?

[Mtn2Sea]

We were aboard the Amsterdam in 2019 when it docked at Nuku’Alofa, Tonga. Our excursion took us to a side of the island where the rocky shoreline has created numerous blowholes. We continued riding around the island until we reached Oholei Beach, where a lunch had been prepared in a Tongan underground oven, known as a umu. We had lamb, chicken, snapper and roasted pig as well as several side dishes. Our plates were made from the stalk of a banana plant. We were entertained with music as well as a south seas dance performance. As our ship was leaving the dock, some local dancers performed some goodbye dances, wishing us safe travels and inviting us to return one day.

 

 

 

Look closely and you see a young man collecting coconuts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by Mtn2Sea

[rafinmd]

I've been booked for Nuku'alofa 3 times.  It was Crystal Serenity in 2011 and I did pretty much the same thing as the second visit, and I have no organized photos from that.  Next up was Crystal Symphony in March 2018,  @aliaschief has already shown you the Palace and Royal Tombs so I'll pass on those.  The biggest part of my tour was a buffet and show at Liku'alofa resort.  Here's their beach:

 

 

We had a show with native dancers:

 

 

Nuku'alofa became a constitutional monarchy in 1970, joining the Commonwealth, and was given a sculpture garden as a gift at the transition.

 

The month before our visit Cyclone Gita, a category storm, came through causing great devastation in both the country:

and in the city, totally wiping out the Parliament building:

Unfortunately, our stop there in 2020 was cancelled.  We were approaching the dock when the government decided that a cruise ship there was just too much a risk.

 

Roy

 

[StLouisCruisers]

Thank you @Mtn2Seaand @rafinmdfor those wonderful photos.  Sad to see the devastation from the cyclone though.

[Heartgrove]

Good morning everyone!

 

Sharing this morning's sunrise while in the channel at Mazatlan.

 

Sam has been doing a lot of howling while missing two members of his pack! We'll be home soon buddy.

 

- Jack

 

 

 

[summer slope]

Happy Wednesday.  Love brownies, have a pan in the oven.  And I was a Brownie when I was a young girl.  Not sure what take it in the ear means and Not putting up a tree this year...well not in the house.  We have one out on the lanai.    Have not been to today's destination.

Prayers and toasts to our lists, Virtual hugs to all of us.

Please continue to stay safe, social distance, and wear your mask.

Snakebite:

A snakebite is an alcoholic drink from the United Kingdom. Traditionally, it is made with equal parts of lager and cider. If a dash of blackcurrant cordial is added, it is known as a "snakebite & black" or a "diesel". Different regional recipes and names exist. Stout may be used instead of lager in the United States. Wikipedia
Ingredients: One part Beer, One part Cider
Preparation: Mix in equal volumes in a standard pint glass.
Served: Without ice
Drinkware: Pint glass

 

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

Good morning from a sunny and pleasant Mazatlan.  It's another great day to sit on the balcony and watch the world go by both in this very busy port and on the streets outside the port.  

 

Like several others, I'll celebrate both Brownie scouts and especially the baked brownies.  While I love most things chocolate, brownies are my downfall.  If I baked them as often as I would like I'd weigh a ton.  😉 😱  I'm not sure about take it in the ear day, but definitely like national Christmas tree day.  🎄  We have an artificial tree, and I'll start working on it early Monday morning.  The bottom section is heavy so we set in the base the day before we left for this cruise.  The test I can manage by myself.

 

The quote of the day is interesting, but I think it is a little too simplistic.

 

Stellenbosch wines are very good,  but I don’t think we've had today's wine.  In 2000, on the world cruise on P&O, we did a private tour that included Stellenbosch and a picnic lunch at one of the wineries.  Each couple was given a picnic basket with a multi-course meal.   I think one or two baskets would have fed all of us.  😁  Naturally, each couple also bought a bottle of wine to go with their meal.

 

We have not been to Tonga -- YET!  Thank you to all who posted pictures of Tonga.

 

@Cruising-along Also, thank you for the pictures of Biltmore.  It's been more than 40 years since we were there.

 

@rafinmd  Roy, great news you're halfway through with your treatments.

 

@kazu wishing the best for you and Jose.  

 

@mamaofami  Carol, wish Matthew a HAPPY BIRTHDAY for us.  What type of apps did he develop?

 

Lenda

 

 

 

[tjcox9]

A few more pix from Tonga from a stop there in 2017 on the Maasdam. I'll post pix that others have not.

 

We just took a stroll around the town and found the cemeteries very interesting as there were many elaborate quilts on display, some were rather well weathered but this one seemed in rather good shape.

 

They also seem to really revere the King and Queen. The blue treasury sign was right in the heart of town.

[Horizon chaser 1957]

Good morning, all! Prayers and strength for @kazu, Jacqui and Jose.

Brownies, either the group,or the baked kind, are worth celebrating. The only meaning I know for taking it in the ear is not polite, so I’ll pass on celebrating that one. The meal looks good, and will make an appearance on tonight’s table.

We went to Nuku’alofa, Tonga on the Amsterdam in 2020. We were the last cruise ship in, and several others ahead of us had been turned away. Before we were allowed off the ship, a medical team in hazmat suits spent a couple of hours going through medical records and documents on board before they let us off. It was a wonderful day, and certainly worth it!

 

Making sure no one goes ashore before the ship is cleared.

 

The vendor stalls on the pier.

 

The market in town.

 

The artisan shop in town.

 

Local highlights: the three headed coconut tree,

 

Tsunami rock, an immense coral Boulder washed miles inland by an ancient tsunami.

 

Flying foxes, huge bats the size of, well, foxes. Just in case gigantic bats don’t bother you enough, the huge tree they all nest in is in the middle of a cemetery.

 

 

 

The most amazing blowholes ever. The rock formations create a long series of blowholes along part of the coast as far as you can see in either direction. As each wave hits, it sends a line of water spouts down the shore towards you and then continuing away out of sight. The effect is an endless Pan pipe of water.

 

 

 

 

Making Kava, a ceremonial and mildly intoxicating drink.
 

 

Only a few of us tried it. None of us died.

 

Making tapa cloth from the bark of mulberry shoots. The bark is stripped from the shoot, beaten very wide and thin, put together with tapioca paste, and finally painted with natural dyes.

 

 

 

And a final view of the palace from our cabin as we sailed away.

 

Happy Wednesday, with fond memories and eager anticipation of journeys on our BHB’s!

 

Edited December 8, 2021 by Horizon chaser 1957