Hope you have a wonderful day
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Cruise Diaries--Fun And Fitness
Last month I went on a cruise and didn't gain a single pound! Part of that was due to the food choices I made, but if you've ever tried to manage your weight you know there are two parts to the equation: the food you eat and the exercise you do. For a week I ate more than I'm used to, but I also upped my physical activity, and that made all the difference.
I think the most significant thing Hubby Tony and I did was take the stairs (instead of the elevator) whenever possible. Our ship, the Voyager of the Seas, was huge. It had 15 decks. Some of the important locations:
We were always on the move! Occasionally if we had several flights to climb and there wasn't a line for the elevator we'd jump in, but even with banks of elevators at the front and back of the ship, there was usually a long wait to board. It was faster to walk. Going down several flights of steps is easy to do, but going UP is a pretty good aerobic workout.
In addition to walking, we tried to mix up our activity over the course of the week. The ship had a full fitness center. When we went on our last cruise in 2000, that ship may have had a place to exercise. I didn't check; I wan't in the habit of going to the gym back then. Now I try to make time for exercise, so on the first day of the cruise Tony and I took a tour of the center. It had all the things I was used to seeing at my regular gym-treadmills, elliptical machines, weight machines, and free weights. There were also classes you could sign up for, but they weren't free.
Even though I didn't get to the gym itself as much as I'd originally planned, I enjoyed my sessions on the treadmill. They were lined up facing the ocean against floor-to-ceiling windows. Walking on the treadmill isn't so bad when you have a wonderful view of the sea. However, when the ship's in rough water the treadmill became quite interesting. When it rocked in a port/starboard (left/right) movement, it felt like you were going uphill or downhill despite what the treadmill's readout said.
The ship also had other ways to keep active. We never made it to the sports court, inline skating track, or miniature golf course, but I tried climbing the rock wall (where sadly, I only got halfway up before my gimpy shoulder started complaining and I had to come down). I ice skated, and was pleasantly surprised that after a few shaky laps on the small rink I got the hang of it. Tony and I took a line dancing class in one of the clubs, and one night, after we indulged in the late night poolside buffet, we went up one level to the walking track and did a few laps in the moonlight before bed.
I think the most significant thing Hubby Tony and I did was take the stairs (instead of the elevator) whenever possible. Our ship, the Voyager of the Seas, was huge. It had 15 decks. Some of the important locations:
- Our room, which was on Deck 9.
- The Promenade area, which was on Deck 5
- The pool/solarium area and Windjammer Cafe, which were on Deck 11
- Our dining room, which was on Deck 4.
We were always on the move! Occasionally if we had several flights to climb and there wasn't a line for the elevator we'd jump in, but even with banks of elevators at the front and back of the ship, there was usually a long wait to board. It was faster to walk. Going down several flights of steps is easy to do, but going UP is a pretty good aerobic workout.
In addition to walking, we tried to mix up our activity over the course of the week. The ship had a full fitness center. When we went on our last cruise in 2000, that ship may have had a place to exercise. I didn't check; I wan't in the habit of going to the gym back then. Now I try to make time for exercise, so on the first day of the cruise Tony and I took a tour of the center. It had all the things I was used to seeing at my regular gym-treadmills, elliptical machines, weight machines, and free weights. There were also classes you could sign up for, but they weren't free.
Even though I didn't get to the gym itself as much as I'd originally planned, I enjoyed my sessions on the treadmill. They were lined up facing the ocean against floor-to-ceiling windows. Walking on the treadmill isn't so bad when you have a wonderful view of the sea. However, when the ship's in rough water the treadmill became quite interesting. When it rocked in a port/starboard (left/right) movement, it felt like you were going uphill or downhill despite what the treadmill's readout said.
The ship also had other ways to keep active. We never made it to the sports court, inline skating track, or miniature golf course, but I tried climbing the rock wall (where sadly, I only got halfway up before my gimpy shoulder started complaining and I had to come down). I ice skated, and was pleasantly surprised that after a few shaky laps on the small rink I got the hang of it. Tony and I took a line dancing class in one of the clubs, and one night, after we indulged in the late night poolside buffet, we went up one level to the walking track and did a few laps in the moonlight before bed.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Cruise Diaries--Eating My Way Through The Caribbean
For good reason, cruises have a reputation as a giant floating buffet. On our ship, the Voyager of the Seas, we had these food options included in our fare:
There was alcohol available. Lots of it. Anytime you walked into a bar or sat on the pool deck it didn't take long before a waiter came by and asked you if you wanted a drink. No worries if you declined the first time; it seemed like they came by every ten minutes or so.
Before left, I'd read on the Internet that the average weight gain on a cruise was 5 pounds. I was NOT going to be that person! The morning we left I stepped on the scale and noted the result. The morning after we got home I repeated the process, and was overjoyed to find out I hadn't gained a pound. I can't believe I didn't, because I ate WAY more than I usually do.
Most mornings we ate breakfast at the Windjammer buffet. It had every breakfast food you could think of: several types of eggs, potatoes hashed and fried, multiple types of breakfast meat, waffles, pancakes, bagels, and pastries. There was also cold cereal and a nice selection of fresh fruit (cut up strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon, bananas, oranges, and apples). The first day I had a hot breakfast, but on the second day I discovered there was an urn of oatmeal in the middle of the line. For the rest of the week my go-to breakfast was a bowl of oats with raisins and brown sugar along with a bowl of fruit. Sometimes I added a small pastry, or grabbed a piece of bacon as I passed that part of the line.
Three of the seven days we were in port for lunch. I ate what was offered, including dessert. On the at-sea days, we moved around for the mid-day meal--a couple of times in the dining room, once in the Windjammer, and once for BBQ on the pool deck. I tried to include a large salad or a lot of vegetables with each meal, sometimes choosing a vegetarian option.
Most days I had at least one between-meal snack in the promenade, but tried to make it a cup of fruit. However, I have to confess that the small sandwiches they offered were pretty darn good, and the pizza wasn't too bad either. Once when I got hungry in the late afternoon (we didn't have dinner until 8:00), I was at the Windjammer for a salad when the dinner buffet opened at 5:00.
We ate dinner in the dining room every night. The menu was divided into appetizers (cold and hot), salads, and entrees. The dessert menu came separately, after the main course. Each night I'd order an appetizer, a salad, and a main dish. I NEVER passed on dessert!
I discovered the Vitality food choices at dinner the first night. Several of the menu items were starred, indicating they were low-calorie and healthy. I didn't go out of my way to order these choices, but if I'd narrowed a course down to one of two items, and one was from the Vitality menu that's the one I'd get. I also limited the bread I ate. For meals in the dining room, a waiter came by several times with basket containing an assortment of breads. I'd choose something whole grain, and not have seconds.
(For the most part I drank coffee, tea, or water, with an occasional lemonade thrown in, which also had the nice side effect of keeping our shipboard charge account low.)
- Three meals a day in the Dining Room.
- And three meals a day in the Windjammer Café
- Nonstop snacks and coffee at the Café Promenade
- 24/7 room service
- Soft-serve ice cream machines with boxes of cones just waiting to be filled
There was alcohol available. Lots of it. Anytime you walked into a bar or sat on the pool deck it didn't take long before a waiter came by and asked you if you wanted a drink. No worries if you declined the first time; it seemed like they came by every ten minutes or so.
Before left, I'd read on the Internet that the average weight gain on a cruise was 5 pounds. I was NOT going to be that person! The morning we left I stepped on the scale and noted the result. The morning after we got home I repeated the process, and was overjoyed to find out I hadn't gained a pound. I can't believe I didn't, because I ate WAY more than I usually do.
Most mornings we ate breakfast at the Windjammer buffet. It had every breakfast food you could think of: several types of eggs, potatoes hashed and fried, multiple types of breakfast meat, waffles, pancakes, bagels, and pastries. There was also cold cereal and a nice selection of fresh fruit (cut up strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew melon, bananas, oranges, and apples). The first day I had a hot breakfast, but on the second day I discovered there was an urn of oatmeal in the middle of the line. For the rest of the week my go-to breakfast was a bowl of oats with raisins and brown sugar along with a bowl of fruit. Sometimes I added a small pastry, or grabbed a piece of bacon as I passed that part of the line.
Three of the seven days we were in port for lunch. I ate what was offered, including dessert. On the at-sea days, we moved around for the mid-day meal--a couple of times in the dining room, once in the Windjammer, and once for BBQ on the pool deck. I tried to include a large salad or a lot of vegetables with each meal, sometimes choosing a vegetarian option.
Most days I had at least one between-meal snack in the promenade, but tried to make it a cup of fruit. However, I have to confess that the small sandwiches they offered were pretty darn good, and the pizza wasn't too bad either. Once when I got hungry in the late afternoon (we didn't have dinner until 8:00), I was at the Windjammer for a salad when the dinner buffet opened at 5:00.
We ate dinner in the dining room every night. The menu was divided into appetizers (cold and hot), salads, and entrees. The dessert menu came separately, after the main course. Each night I'd order an appetizer, a salad, and a main dish. I NEVER passed on dessert!
I discovered the Vitality food choices at dinner the first night. Several of the menu items were starred, indicating they were low-calorie and healthy. I didn't go out of my way to order these choices, but if I'd narrowed a course down to one of two items, and one was from the Vitality menu that's the one I'd get. I also limited the bread I ate. For meals in the dining room, a waiter came by several times with basket containing an assortment of breads. I'd choose something whole grain, and not have seconds.
(For the most part I drank coffee, tea, or water, with an occasional lemonade thrown in, which also had the nice side effect of keeping our shipboard charge account low.)
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
I Never Thought I'd Accumulate Such Wealth
I have...
Silver in the HairGold in the Teeth
Crystals in the Kidneys
Sugar in the Blood
Lead in the Ass
Iron in the Arteries
And…
An inexhaustible supply of Natural Gas.
Gosh, I'm rich!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Cruise Diaries--Ya Mon
After much discussion Hubby Tony, Son Brian, DIL Nicole, and I had decided on our excursion and purchased the tickets. I'd been in Jamaica once before, and wanted to go something new. We chose a tour that took us to see a working plantation and the natural beauty of Dunn's River Falls, with lunch in between the two stops.
In the morning the ship docked at Falmouth, which is an old city (founded in 1769), but a new cruise port that just opened last year. It's so new that my travel agent hasn't been there yet! The town is in between Montego Bay (30 minutes to the west) and Ocho Rios (an hour to the east).
While we were eating breakfast, the captain came on and announced that Prince Henry was in Falmouth today as part of his Jamaica trip on behalf of the Queen. (We never saw him, but talked to some people the next day who did.) As soon as they gave the all clear to exit the ship, we walked down the deck and out to the port complex. Everything around us looked shiny and new. The buildings, which mimicked the city's Georgian architecture, were arranged in a U shape with a large covered pavilion in the center. Some of the buildings weren't occupied yet, but the ones that were open were a mixture of retail shops and craft vendors.
A covered transportation hub was at the far end of the complex, and that's where the tour groups were gathering. We got at the end of the line for our tour and waited for a bus. Eventually there were about three dozen people. It seemed to be a bit confusing, but eventually our guide pointed us towards a minibus. We filed on and found seats, and the tour guide stood so she could see us. There was a bus blocking our exit, but as soon as it moved we were on our way.
Our destination was Brimmer Hall, a working plantation another 20 miles to the east of Ocho Rios. It was a LONG trip, which the excursion desk didn't do a good job of explaining. We drove through three parishes, and the tour guide entertained us with information about the area. She taught us some Jamaican phrases, and answered questions.
When we got to the plantation we were treated to a small cup of punch, then boarded a jitney (tractor pulled wagon) for our tour. Every couple of minutes the driver stopped and told us about the plants we saw. He was assisted by two other men, who jumped on the jitney when it was moving. I happened to be sitting in the middle of the wagon right next to one of the assistants, who pointed out things to me as we drove by. This working plantation grew a wide variety of plants: bananas, coconut, plantains, sugar cane, pineapple, cocoa beans, guava, limes, and allspice.
We ended our tour back where we started, and got to taste samples of coconut, sugar cane, and Jamaican apple, then had the opportunity to walk through the Great House. From the outside the single-story building looked rundown, but the inside was a different story. The house had high ceilings, polished wooden floors, and a wide veranda in the rear.
Then it was back on the bus for drive to lunch. I'm not sure if the driver followed the "official" route, because he took us through a local neighborhood that didn't look like it saw a lot of traffic. When we got to the restaurant, we got another small glass of punch, then there was a man taking snapshots of each party before before they were seated. The buffet lunch included salad, jerk chicken, pork, mutton with potatoes, rice pasties, and several kinds of cookies and pastries for dessert.
While we were eating the photographer circulated around the room dropping off the photos he'd taken. The one of our group was pretty good, but pricy. However, a couple of rounds of negotiation brought the price down to a third of the original cost, so I handed over the money and purchased the picture.
Instead of driving straight Dunn's River Falls after lunch, the bus driver swung into a shopping area (that I don't think that was on the tour itinerary) and gave us 15 minutes to shop. It took closer to 20 minutes for everyone to return to the bus. Ten minutes later we pulled into the parking lot at Dunn's River Falls. The tour guide gave us a time to be back at the bus, then let everyone wander on their own. Originally Tony and thought we were going to climb up the falls (and wore water shoes), but we chickened out at the last minute. Instead, we took pictures of Brian and Nicole as they climbed from the stairs next to the falls.
The trip back to the ship was subdued. The guide didn't have much to say, and played some reggae music over the sound system. The driver needed to make up some time to get us back to the cruise port; he was driving pretty aggressively and I was glad I didn't have a good view out the front window.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Totally Borrowed
From tattytiara at AAA1 Quality Blog, Ltd.:
I view my titles as a means of expressing my love for you, (insert reader's name here).
May all the bugs in your food turn out to be poppy seeds.
May you always pick the fastest cashier.
May your analogies always make sense and your anecdotes never ramble.
May your dog always make it to the yard in time.
May your cell phone miss the toilet bowl completely, and land in the laundry hamper.
May you manage to suck that thing out from between your teeth before it's your turn to talk.
May nobody have seen you trip, nor your lame attempt to make it look like it was on purpose.
May you get distracted before you find the dance floor when you're really really drunk.
May they accidentally delete those photos of you just before you really piss them off.
May you have new batteries on hand when the smoke alarm starts beeping.
May your kid ask the other parent where babies come from, and may that stain on their pants turn out to be chocolate.
May your bathroom scale be broken and reading five pounds too high.
May they credit your account, honor your expired coupons, and give you free upgrades.
And may there always be a cold beer in your fridge.
Namaste, my babies.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Cruise Diaries--It's Grand!
Tuesday was the third day of our Western Caribbean cruise, and we woke up to the warm, sunny weather we'd been waiting for. It was the second of our three days in ports. The ship had left Cozumel on Monday, and Tuesday morning we woke up in George Town Grand Cayman.
Hubby Tony and I had decided not to sign up for any shore excursions in Grand Cayman. We'd been there previously, had seen many of the attractions, and had no desire to go again. Son Brian and DIL Nicole wanted to spend the day on the beach. I did not, so we agreed we'd go our separate ways for the day. Since we didn't have to be anywhere at a specific time we slept in, then had a leisurely breakfast.
There are no berthing facilities for cruise ships at George Town. Instead, they anchor offshore and use tenders to ferry passengers ashore. In order to keep everyone from rushing off the ship at the same time they issued tickets, then called out the numbers of the tenders as it was time to board. By time we got around to getting a ticket they were giving out number 11, which meant we wouldn't be leaving for more than an hour. I got my book and went to the Solarium to read. The next time I looked up, Brian was walking by!
He and Nicole had gotten four tickets for the tender before ours, and Tony and I were happy to change our plans and go with them. When they called the tender number we made our way down to the exit, went through the security area, and over the gangplank to the boat. The trip took about 5 minutes, during which we were able to see ships large and small bobbing in the smooth water. When we docked there was a bit of a traffic jam, as everyone tried to get off the tender at once.
When we'd passed the gauntlet of food and souvenir booths at the port, Nicole and Brian went one way and Tony and I went the other. The first thing we saw outside the port area were stores. Shopping is big in Grand Cayman. It's a duty free port, so there are a lot of places selling things like watches, perfume, and jewelry. Cheap souvenir shops and restaurants catering to tourists were mixed in with the upscale stores. I knew I'd be browsing in the stores before we went back to the ship, but it was NOT the main thing I wanted to do.
Fortunately the tourist shopping area is only several square blocks. It didn't take us long to get away from it. The "real" George Town was a very nice and clean city. Grand Cayman is a British Overseas Territory, and cars drive on the left side of the road. I'm not used to that, and it made it a little tricky to cross the street until I got used to it. All of the historical buildings are close together. We stopped at the Clock Tower which included the 1919 Peace Memorial, a King George statue, the Public Library and the Post Office, and walked past Heroes Square where the Legislative Assembly met. The Cayman Islands are a major international financial center. George Town is the nation's capital, and has over 500 banks. Every time we turned a corner we saw another one!
Before long we got hungry. I wanted a local place, so we asked a clerk in one of the stores for a recommendation. She suggested Corita's Copper Kettle, which was just a couple of blocks away. Without the tip we would have walked right past the small building, but we entered and took a seat at one of the tables. The short menu was printed on a single piece of paper. I chose a red snapper meal, which included fish in a tasty red sauce, rice and beans, cole slaw, and fried plantain. Tony had fish and chips. For a minute I thought about not eating the cole slaw, since I was in a foreign country, but decided to chance it. No problems.
After lunch it was time to shop.
I stopped into one of the jewelry stores that was advertising a free gemstone necklace, which turned out to be a small but nice-looking garnet on a silver chain. They tried to interest me in the matching earrings, but I explained that garnet is my birthstone and I already have a lot of garnet earrings. However, at another store I did take advantage of the promotional earrings. I got a nice-looking pair of smoky topaz for only ten dollars. This time the sales pitch went in reverse-did I want to buy the matching necklace? The clerk didn't look like his heart was in it, though, and didn't argue with my "no". We stopped in a couple of souvenir shops but didn't see anything that interested us and decided to go back to the ship.
As we were waiting for the tender the skies got dark and the wind picked up. We'd just docked at the ship when it started raining. Fortunately we were able to stay dry. Brian and Nicole, who we found out were on the tender just behind us, weren't. They'd been sitting on the top of the boat and got drenched.
Hubby Tony and I had decided not to sign up for any shore excursions in Grand Cayman. We'd been there previously, had seen many of the attractions, and had no desire to go again. Son Brian and DIL Nicole wanted to spend the day on the beach. I did not, so we agreed we'd go our separate ways for the day. Since we didn't have to be anywhere at a specific time we slept in, then had a leisurely breakfast.
There are no berthing facilities for cruise ships at George Town. Instead, they anchor offshore and use tenders to ferry passengers ashore. In order to keep everyone from rushing off the ship at the same time they issued tickets, then called out the numbers of the tenders as it was time to board. By time we got around to getting a ticket they were giving out number 11, which meant we wouldn't be leaving for more than an hour. I got my book and went to the Solarium to read. The next time I looked up, Brian was walking by!
He and Nicole had gotten four tickets for the tender before ours, and Tony and I were happy to change our plans and go with them. When they called the tender number we made our way down to the exit, went through the security area, and over the gangplank to the boat. The trip took about 5 minutes, during which we were able to see ships large and small bobbing in the smooth water. When we docked there was a bit of a traffic jam, as everyone tried to get off the tender at once.
When we'd passed the gauntlet of food and souvenir booths at the port, Nicole and Brian went one way and Tony and I went the other. The first thing we saw outside the port area were stores. Shopping is big in Grand Cayman. It's a duty free port, so there are a lot of places selling things like watches, perfume, and jewelry. Cheap souvenir shops and restaurants catering to tourists were mixed in with the upscale stores. I knew I'd be browsing in the stores before we went back to the ship, but it was NOT the main thing I wanted to do.
Fortunately the tourist shopping area is only several square blocks. It didn't take us long to get away from it. The "real" George Town was a very nice and clean city. Grand Cayman is a British Overseas Territory, and cars drive on the left side of the road. I'm not used to that, and it made it a little tricky to cross the street until I got used to it. All of the historical buildings are close together. We stopped at the Clock Tower which included the 1919 Peace Memorial, a King George statue, the Public Library and the Post Office, and walked past Heroes Square where the Legislative Assembly met. The Cayman Islands are a major international financial center. George Town is the nation's capital, and has over 500 banks. Every time we turned a corner we saw another one!
Before long we got hungry. I wanted a local place, so we asked a clerk in one of the stores for a recommendation. She suggested Corita's Copper Kettle, which was just a couple of blocks away. Without the tip we would have walked right past the small building, but we entered and took a seat at one of the tables. The short menu was printed on a single piece of paper. I chose a red snapper meal, which included fish in a tasty red sauce, rice and beans, cole slaw, and fried plantain. Tony had fish and chips. For a minute I thought about not eating the cole slaw, since I was in a foreign country, but decided to chance it. No problems.
 |
I stopped into one of the jewelry stores that was advertising a free gemstone necklace, which turned out to be a small but nice-looking garnet on a silver chain. They tried to interest me in the matching earrings, but I explained that garnet is my birthstone and I already have a lot of garnet earrings. However, at another store I did take advantage of the promotional earrings. I got a nice-looking pair of smoky topaz for only ten dollars. This time the sales pitch went in reverse-did I want to buy the matching necklace? The clerk didn't look like his heart was in it, though, and didn't argue with my "no". We stopped in a couple of souvenir shops but didn't see anything that interested us and decided to go back to the ship.
As we were waiting for the tender the skies got dark and the wind picked up. We'd just docked at the ship when it started raining. Fortunately we were able to stay dry. Brian and Nicole, who we found out were on the tender just behind us, weren't. They'd been sitting on the top of the boat and got drenched.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Just Dandy!
On Wednesday I don't have to be at work until 12:30. It's my day to move slowly; I enjoy puttering around the house in the morning, then eating a nice lunch at home before it's time to leave. Usually I go to the gym, but since it was so nice out today (a forecast of 80 degrees, 15 degrees above average) I decided to walk through the neighborhood instead.
After breakfast I put on my shoes, grabbed my MP3 player and phone, and headed outside. Part of my route went by the local elementary school, where I saw one of the maintenance people cutting the grass with a large tractor. As I walked by the freshly-cut grass a strong onion-y smell came my way, and I realized there must have been some wild onions plants mixed in with the grass.
I'd already been mulling over what I was going to have for lunch. The only vegetables we had in the house were broccoli and carrots, which I'd had every day this week. I had no desire to repeat them again today. The smell of the wild onions got me thinking about all the "weed" plants that I've heard are edible, and all of a sudden a light bulb went on. Why couldn't I tap into my yard for something to eat?
We haven't treated our yard chemically for several years (and it shows). Along with the grass, right now there's a motley mixture of clover and broad leaf weeds. I've seen several yellow dandelion flowers, so there had to be plants too. By "harvesting" the dandelion leaves I could kill two birds with one stone; the plants couldn't go to seed and reproduce, and I'd get a nice green leafy side dish.
When I got home I gathered my supplies: a trowel, a measuring cup to hold dandelion leaves, and a plastic flowerpot for everything else that would be going in the compost pile. I started in the back, then moved around the yard looking for the distinctive deeply toothed lance-shaped leaves. Some of the plants had flowers and were easy to see. The ones without blooms weren't, but when I was done I had a cup and a half of packed greens. I also had a flowerpot full of dandelion roots and other weeds I'd removed.
My original plan was to treat the leaves like greens and saute them with some garlic and onion. However, when I saw the tiny leaves I changed my plan. If I were buying them in the store, they'd be called "baby greens" and I'd probably pay a premium price for them. I nibbled on one. It was slightly bitter, like endive, so I decided to have salad for lunch
I "hard boiled" an egg in the microwave and threw it into the refrigerator to chill. Right before lunch I gave the dandelions a coarse chop, along with the egg and some strawberries, then tossed everything with balsamic dressing
The salad was ok, but the bitterness was a bit overwhelming. The strawberries really helped add sweetness. However, after I was done I decided that if the dandelion leaves had been part of a mixture of greens they would work well. I'll have to experiment with this...I certainly have enough dandelions in the yard!
After breakfast I put on my shoes, grabbed my MP3 player and phone, and headed outside. Part of my route went by the local elementary school, where I saw one of the maintenance people cutting the grass with a large tractor. As I walked by the freshly-cut grass a strong onion-y smell came my way, and I realized there must have been some wild onions plants mixed in with the grass.
I'd already been mulling over what I was going to have for lunch. The only vegetables we had in the house were broccoli and carrots, which I'd had every day this week. I had no desire to repeat them again today. The smell of the wild onions got me thinking about all the "weed" plants that I've heard are edible, and all of a sudden a light bulb went on. Why couldn't I tap into my yard for something to eat?
We haven't treated our yard chemically for several years (and it shows). Along with the grass, right now there's a motley mixture of clover and broad leaf weeds. I've seen several yellow dandelion flowers, so there had to be plants too. By "harvesting" the dandelion leaves I could kill two birds with one stone; the plants couldn't go to seed and reproduce, and I'd get a nice green leafy side dish.
When I got home I gathered my supplies: a trowel, a measuring cup to hold dandelion leaves, and a plastic flowerpot for everything else that would be going in the compost pile. I started in the back, then moved around the yard looking for the distinctive deeply toothed lance-shaped leaves. Some of the plants had flowers and were easy to see. The ones without blooms weren't, but when I was done I had a cup and a half of packed greens. I also had a flowerpot full of dandelion roots and other weeds I'd removed.
My original plan was to treat the leaves like greens and saute them with some garlic and onion. However, when I saw the tiny leaves I changed my plan. If I were buying them in the store, they'd be called "baby greens" and I'd probably pay a premium price for them. I nibbled on one. It was slightly bitter, like endive, so I decided to have salad for lunch
I "hard boiled" an egg in the microwave and threw it into the refrigerator to chill. Right before lunch I gave the dandelions a coarse chop, along with the egg and some strawberries, then tossed everything with balsamic dressing
The salad was ok, but the bitterness was a bit overwhelming. The strawberries really helped add sweetness. However, after I was done I decided that if the dandelion leaves had been part of a mixture of greens they would work well. I'll have to experiment with this...I certainly have enough dandelions in the yard!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Cruise Diaries--Mexican Monday
Our Western Caribbean cruise lasted seven days. The ship, the Voyager of the Seas, left New Orleans on Saturday night. Sunday we were at sea, had three consecutive days in ports, then two more sailing days before we arrived back in New Orleans on Saturday morning.
On Monday we were scheduled to arrive in Cozumel, Mexico at 7:00 in the morning. Our group (me, Hubby Tony, Son Brian, and DIL Nicole) had signed up for a shore excursion that would take us to the Mayan ruins at Tulum, followed by lunch and a "beach break" at another location. Cozumel is on an island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Once you're there you have to get to Playa del Carmen on the mainland by passenger ferry. That trip takes 45 minutes. From there we'd take a bus, and repeat everything in reverse at the end of the day.
The tour left at 7, so we got up early and had breakfast in the Windjammer Café before going to the La Scala theater where the group was gathering. I brought a bag with our swim suits, towels, and sunscreen, and stuck a bottle of water in my purse, along with some oranges from the cafeteria for a mid-morning snack.
When we arrived at the theater, we walked down to the front and stood in line to get a sticker that indicated which excursion we were on (There were several that started at the same place, then diverged once we got to the mainland), and took a seat. Seven o'clock came and went. One of the shore excursion staff, who was in radio contact with the deck, indicated we'd be leaving later than planned. The ship was having trouble docking at Cozumel due to rough water.
We ended up waiting an additional twenty minutes. While we were waiting, the shore staff mentioned several times they had seasickness pills available for anyone who wanted them. I didn't need one of theirs because Tony had brought some of his own. After taking a tablet he offered one to me. I was pretty sure I wouldn't need it, but took it just to be on the safe side.
Finally the ship docked and we were cleared to leave. Our group was one of the first off, going through the security area and onto the pier. The weather was just warm enough for t-shirts, but it was cloudy, and a stiff breeze was blowing. We walked to the ferry area, then waited at that pier for a few minutes. We could see the smaller boat, which looked like it would hold a couple of hundred people. I could see the boat bouncing up and down at the dock, thanks to the rough seas.
Somehow the four of us ended up close to the front of the line to get on the boat, and we snagged window seats right by the exit. Once we got on we had to wait for 15 minutes while an a group from a different ship also boarded. Before the boat left the ushers walked around passing out little green barf bags, then cast off the ropes and headed towards the mainland.
The first time the boat jumped over a sea swell it was like being on a roller coaster and quite a few people cheered. The second, third, and fourth times each had fewer cheers. Soon the constant up and down movement was nauseating. About ten minutes into the trip I heard someone get sick. My stomach was rolling, and I tried to concentrate on the TV at the front of the boat. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good. In our group, Tony was the only one who didn't get sick.
After what seemed like an eternity we saw land. I couldn't wait to get off! Fortunately we were right by the doors so it didn't take long. At Playa del Carmen there were multiple tour guides waiting. Each guide held a sign indicating where they were going. It didn't take long for our group to form and head towards a large tour bus.
The drive to Tulum took an hour. Shortly before we arrived, he handed out headphones and wireless transmitters on straps that we could put around our necks. During the tour he used a microphone, and his voice was transmitted to us.
The parking area and visitor center were about a half mile away from the actual ruins. The guide offered us the opportunity to hop on a tram, but no one took him up on it.We walked past a gauntlet of shops that sold various crafts and souvenirs, then down the side of a road towards our destination. Thanks to the wireless system, our guide was able to continue his commentary the entire time.
Tulum is set on a cliff top high over the Caribbean Sea. After the guided tour we had time to wander around. The sun slipped in and out of the clouds, and the wind was really blowing, especially at the top of the cliff.
We returned to the bus, and the trip to the restaurant took about 20 minutes. When we arrived, we found a buffet laid out in a large thatched roof porch that was part of a resort. There was salad, pork chunks in a spicy sauce, some type of baked fish, black beans and rice, tortillas, chips, and salsa. Dessert was a wonderfully sticky-sweet rice pudding.
After lunch it was "beach break" time. However, it was too chilly and windy to be fun. I took my shoes off and ran into the ocean to say I did, but after the first wave covered my lower legs I ran out. We sat in some beach chairs and watched the ocean before it was time to board the bus again.
The trip back to the ship was less eventful. I took a second seasick pill, and even though we had another rocky ride, I didn't get sick. We were late returning to the dock, but because we were on a ship's tour, we didn't have to worry about being left in port.
On Monday we were scheduled to arrive in Cozumel, Mexico at 7:00 in the morning. Our group (me, Hubby Tony, Son Brian, and DIL Nicole) had signed up for a shore excursion that would take us to the Mayan ruins at Tulum, followed by lunch and a "beach break" at another location. Cozumel is on an island off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Once you're there you have to get to Playa del Carmen on the mainland by passenger ferry. That trip takes 45 minutes. From there we'd take a bus, and repeat everything in reverse at the end of the day.
The tour left at 7, so we got up early and had breakfast in the Windjammer Café before going to the La Scala theater where the group was gathering. I brought a bag with our swim suits, towels, and sunscreen, and stuck a bottle of water in my purse, along with some oranges from the cafeteria for a mid-morning snack.
When we arrived at the theater, we walked down to the front and stood in line to get a sticker that indicated which excursion we were on (There were several that started at the same place, then diverged once we got to the mainland), and took a seat. Seven o'clock came and went. One of the shore excursion staff, who was in radio contact with the deck, indicated we'd be leaving later than planned. The ship was having trouble docking at Cozumel due to rough water.
We ended up waiting an additional twenty minutes. While we were waiting, the shore staff mentioned several times they had seasickness pills available for anyone who wanted them. I didn't need one of theirs because Tony had brought some of his own. After taking a tablet he offered one to me. I was pretty sure I wouldn't need it, but took it just to be on the safe side.
Finally the ship docked and we were cleared to leave. Our group was one of the first off, going through the security area and onto the pier. The weather was just warm enough for t-shirts, but it was cloudy, and a stiff breeze was blowing. We walked to the ferry area, then waited at that pier for a few minutes. We could see the smaller boat, which looked like it would hold a couple of hundred people. I could see the boat bouncing up and down at the dock, thanks to the rough seas.
Somehow the four of us ended up close to the front of the line to get on the boat, and we snagged window seats right by the exit. Once we got on we had to wait for 15 minutes while an a group from a different ship also boarded. Before the boat left the ushers walked around passing out little green barf bags, then cast off the ropes and headed towards the mainland.
The first time the boat jumped over a sea swell it was like being on a roller coaster and quite a few people cheered. The second, third, and fourth times each had fewer cheers. Soon the constant up and down movement was nauseating. About ten minutes into the trip I heard someone get sick. My stomach was rolling, and I tried to concentrate on the TV at the front of the boat. Unfortunately, it didn't do any good. In our group, Tony was the only one who didn't get sick.
After what seemed like an eternity we saw land. I couldn't wait to get off! Fortunately we were right by the doors so it didn't take long. At Playa del Carmen there were multiple tour guides waiting. Each guide held a sign indicating where they were going. It didn't take long for our group to form and head towards a large tour bus.
The drive to Tulum took an hour. Shortly before we arrived, he handed out headphones and wireless transmitters on straps that we could put around our necks. During the tour he used a microphone, and his voice was transmitted to us.
Tulum is set on a cliff top high over the Caribbean Sea. After the guided tour we had time to wander around. The sun slipped in and out of the clouds, and the wind was really blowing, especially at the top of the cliff.
We returned to the bus, and the trip to the restaurant took about 20 minutes. When we arrived, we found a buffet laid out in a large thatched roof porch that was part of a resort. There was salad, pork chunks in a spicy sauce, some type of baked fish, black beans and rice, tortillas, chips, and salsa. Dessert was a wonderfully sticky-sweet rice pudding.
After lunch it was "beach break" time. However, it was too chilly and windy to be fun. I took my shoes off and ran into the ocean to say I did, but after the first wave covered my lower legs I ran out. We sat in some beach chairs and watched the ocean before it was time to board the bus again.
The trip back to the ship was less eventful. I took a second seasick pill, and even though we had another rocky ride, I didn't get sick. We were late returning to the dock, but because we were on a ship's tour, we didn't have to worry about being left in port.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Polished Piggies Redux
I know I just posted this picture a few weeks ago, but when Betsy of My Five Men announced she was having a virtual Pedicure Party today I couldn't help but joining in!
Do you have polished piggies? Would you like to see how other people have decorated their toes? Head over to Betsy's and join in.
Do you have polished piggies? Would you like to see how other people have decorated their toes? Head over to Betsy's and join in.
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