OOPS....58º

I was up early yesterday but wanted to get an early start making a batch of sourdough bread, fixing a zucchini casserole and oven fried chicken for our dinner...Since I must be dressed before Dusty gets here at 7am, I dug right in!..Later as I shut blinds, windows and doors against the morning sun, Herb said, "Closing up early this morning?" "No, it is going to be hot and we always closeup by 10." But it is only 9:00," He said...It was then I realized I hadn't written my blog, oh well another day.

I found out on Wednesday (from the MRI) that I have a torn meniscus, which is what Dr Grandi had diagnosed on that first office visit of 5 weeks ago!..It is a small tear and maybe will, with more time heal on its own with PT and exercises...I know that my knee has improved, being able to put weight on it now and walking more without the cane...Of course it is not healing fast enough for me and I've heard of tooooooo many people that this injury becomes chronic and surgery is still needed...It has already messed up the best part of summer and the walking program Pat and I had embarked on!#$%*@$%#&*

The bathroom is still in a state of ????? The electrician came yesterday to look at the possibility of installing an exhaust fan...Dusty should finish up the tile today but that leaves the glass block to be installed on Monday and then drying time so realistically shower time is midweek or later...Enough WOE IS ME...I must get dressed because Dusty will be here, I have a PT appt. at 8am, what will I fix for dinner...Herb has started laundry and the endless watering...The sun is shinning on another beautiful day here in Wallowa County...Hugs to All....OWAV:)

Smoky Valley.....60º

Not sure where the smoke is coming from that hangs on our mountains this morning...It is a warm 60º at 5am and predicted to be another 90+ degrees today, with a few clouds tossed in...It was a balmy evening last night when we met at the Enterprise city park for a mule days meeting, coming up just one month from now.

Herb and I worked outside yesterday morning, again we pulled more of the self seeding annuals that make up a large part of the gardens...I pulled the rest of our onion crop, cut lettuce and cleaned up that spot so Herb could give it a good soaking...Pat stopped by before 10am and we joined fellow writers in the Enterprise city park for our weekly meeting, then we lunched at "Happy Gardens" cafe.

I have a PT appointment this morning and hope that my MRI can be read so we know what is going on with my knee...It is getting stronger but still feels like something is out of place or moving around inside there...From PT I will drive to Alder Slope and pick up more raspberries that Pat and I have ordered...She is taking some to her sister in Hood River this week and I will freeze mine to make jam later...Dusty is progressing on the bathroom and it won't be totally finished by this weekend but just maybe the shower will be done so we can use it and the rest will be finished up next week...Hugs...OWAV:)

Saturday morning July 28, 2012….Must start the paper work and packing to prepare for the end of our cruise...Saturday we watched as the ship routinely closed down within, so all charges can be made and accounted for before we received our final billing in the wee hours of Sunday morning...By 3pm on Saturday the Casino, Duty free shops, Art Gallery etc have all closed their doors...We watched one last afternoon show in the Stardust Theater...Our ship cruised all day so we could reach Victoria BC by 6pm and people on board could go on shore excursions if they wished...We viewed Victoria from the ship, watched the "Star Princess" dock along side of us and stood in awe as we again realized just how HUGH these floating cities are...We played one last game of cards and ate our last ice cream sundae...We went to bed knowing that by 8am Sunday morning we would dock in Seattle...The Pearl is a "well run ship" and disembarking was made easy for us as everything is spelled out and regular announcement made over the ships PA system to guide us off of the ship...A taxi ride to Seatac, then a long wait but it was worth it as we dined in the airport on Iver's fish and chips and clam chowder, a place where Mona and Jerry had eaten years ago when they lived in the Seattle area...We parted ways in the airport they waited for a flight to Salt Lake City and we to Lewiston...We arrived in Joseph at 6pm and they in SLC at 7pm. 

All in all it was a good trip, seeing new sights, the workings of a large ship and most of all the people who made up the crew...All crew members are from foreign countries and on the ship they are assured of a better life than in their home country...They were all gracious, kind and dedicated to serving us, the people on board.

A pilot arrives to dock our ship

View of Victoria BC

One last view

The Star Princess

Temperatures soar....61º

Another morning of working outside before the heat forced us inside to the cool of the house...Dusty put in a full day in the bathroom as he started to tile the new shower stall...Seems like he has been prepping forever and finally now we are seeing some results...He called it a day at 4pm when Herb asked, "Is it time for a beer?" and Dusty said "If your having one." So under the shade of the aspens on our deck we drank beer and shared stories.

Herb and I had a late dinner because of the heat...Fresh zucchini from our garden, grated and mixed with farm fresh eggs, then fried in patties in a little olive oil and butter, served along with bread and fruit...Later a dish of ice cream as the temperature started to drop and soon it was bedtime...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Day 7...July 28, 2012...The Pearl docks in Ketchican early Friday morning where many people leave the ship for shore excursions…It is foggy, cold and bleak outside…We have breakfast at The Summer Palace, Then H, M and J take this opportunity to leave the ship for a short walk in the rain and check out some of the local shops. I take an ice pack for my knee and my computer to the library where I write and watch fishing boats coming and going…This is the quietest spot on the ship, has a nice view and comfortable chairs…After doing my blog I do a book exchange, M and J arrive with cards in hand so we go next door to the card room and play cards until lunch time…I have checked out the lunch menu and find that we are having fresh caught salmon (YUMMY)BBQ for lunch…Not a very big crowd today as many people are off the ship and don't have to be on board until 1pm…Luckily we are almost finished eating before it starts to rain and the BBQ has to be moved inside…We pack up and H & I go to our favorite spot in the lounge area of the Champange and Wine Bar, M and J go to their cabin for the afternoon rest.

We never saw this huge shower head in action but it looked like a fun place for a photo opportunity!

Mona and Jerry 

Herb and Della

At about 2pm I suddenly realize that a program was starting at the Stardust Theater…I called M & J to meet us…Members of the crew shared their other talents with us…We listened to singing, comedy and enjoy a group as they present a skit entitled "The Fountains"…M and J went back to their cabin to replenish their pepsi cups, then joined us at the lounge. H & I splurged on a bottle of wine, half for today and the other half saved for tomorrow our last day before we disembark on Sunday Morning…We were entertained with piano music in the lounge and outside by a school of dolphins as they leap and fly through the air then disappear back into the water…People watching is also on the agenda as an almost continual stream of our fellow passengers are going by.

We chose the Indigo for dinner and were not disappointed as we dined on steak and shrimp and pork chops, salads and dessert…Time to sit by the window again, watch the open sea and the people before bedtime.

Weekend....58º

Over the weekend we (Herb, Rusty, me) worked in the cool of the morning pulling the endless poppies from the garden and flowerbeds...I love them but their rampant volunteer seeding has to be slowed down or next year we will have nothing but poppies!

I also put Rusty to work digging volunteer garlic that has made its way into the flower beds...The little seed pods wave merrily in the breeze calling out for attention...By 10am we were having brunch and looking for a cool spot to sit...Herb was tending to the endless watering that needs to be done as the temperatures continues to rise.

Late afternoon, Rusty and I made dinner rolls and we had a pot luck dinner with Becky and John...Rusty will join them this morning for a trip into the Minam, returning on Thursday.

July 27 2012…Day 6...5:30am we were up and ready for the day and another new dining experience…We had to walk the full length of the ship and finally found the "Summer Palace" tucked between Decks 6 & 7…We ordered breakfast off of the menu of juices, omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes and assorted breakfast meats…Plates of sweet rolls are offered to us by a waitress and our drinks are refilled on a regular basis.

This morning was spent in Glacier Bay where we viewed many glaciers. The largest were, Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. I Saw one calving…We spent most of the morning, our ship barely moving as we viewed this awesome sight and listened to commentary by National Park Rangers as they explained how this bay has changed from when it was first explored in the 1700's… Then it was totally filled with ice and today the glaciers have receded to the point that cruise ships are able to enter the bay, turn around and give passengers the thrill of seeing this sight up close…The small Ice floes floating all around our ship look like swans, iguanas or whatever your imagination will allow…After exiting the bay, whales are spotted and can be seen with the naked eye but much better if you have binoculars…M & J spent the morning outside on deck 12 taking photos and viewing the sights…Herb and I in the lounge next to a window, me with ice on my knee inside out of the wind.

Glacier from afar

Glacier up close

The jagged top of the glacier

We decided to try the Blue Lagoon for lunch but all the tables were full with a wait of 20 minutes…So away we went to the Summer Palace for lunch only to find it closed…The last option was back to the deck 12 and the buffet…As we leave the food area and onto the main deck and swimming pools, the sound of a helicopter greets us…Looking up we see a Coast Guard Rescue helicopter hovering over the very top deck lowering a medic out the side door followed by a gurney…Then the helicopter circles the ship for about 10 minutes before returning to hover and slowly lift the gurney & patient up and into the helicopter, with the medic to follow...Not everyone gets to see an emergency evacuation off of a ship.

1pm finds us in the Stardust Theater to watch a program presented by the National Park Service with more info about Glacier Bay and what it has to offer…Afternoon is nap time for M & J while Herb and I seek out the lounge and comfortable chairs to while away the afternoon.

Dinner time again, the Summer Palace is our choice but ooops Herb has on shorts…Okay for breakfast but not allowed for dinner…This gives us a chance to try the Blue Lagoon again…We are all in agreement that our chicken wings and fish and chips has to be one of the worst meals we have ever tried to eat!

J, M and I decide to play cards and Herb opts to read his book…Card rooms are quite popular and noisy…Finally after moving once and playing two games we can't stand the noise and confusion any longer and decide to call it a night.

LaGrande Appointments...50º

6:30AM, Herb and I were in the car headed for LaGrande...We both had eye appts, shopping to do and an MRI scheduled on my knee at Grande Ronde Hospital...Everything done we were back home by 3:30PM...Dusty was finishing his day working on our bathroom, Herb unloaded our car and Pat arrived with just picked raspberries...A quick visit with Pat, then Herb set me up on the deck to sort apricots, ripe from unripe...I sat on the deck, ice pack on knee and finished reading a book...Seemed good just to look at the mountains.

That saying, "be careful what you wish for" came to my mind...Early this year I remember saying, "This summer I am going to spend more time on the deck looking at the mountains"...Well I certainly am but it is "imposed sitting" while Herb does his chores as well as mine...Now I want to be pulling weeds, dead heading or just slowly meandering around looking at what might bloom next or checking for zucchini, cucumbers or our own raspberries...Deep breath, sit back and be thankful for what I can do!..This morning will be spent putting apricots and raspberries in the freezer until later when I can make jam for the cellar shelves.

Rusty will be here today, maybe he can do some of my "honey do's" and Herb can look at the mountains!...OWAV:)

July 26--Day 5…Awake early this morning so I will finish up with the adventure of yesterday…After breakfast we explored the ship some more…Herb and I checked out the other restaurants that they have well hidden in the very middle of the ship, decks 6 & 7…Two more actual sit-down restaurants instead of the huge buffet on deck 12…The menu for the "Indigo" sounds good as well as the "Summer Palace" which also serves breakfast…The meals at these two restaurants are included in the price of our cruise but unless someone tells you about them or you really go looking for them you continue eating at the not so good buffets…Maybe the food will be hotter and the seating not so crowded.

We catch up with M & J before noon as they return from a walk into Skaguay where they checked out the shops (just touristy stuff)…They did buy some bottled water and Pepsi since it is so expensive on the ship…I called guest services and ask for a wheel chair to take me to the boarding place for our train ride…About 1pm we are seated in the train and on our way for a round trip of 40 miles in 3½ hours…The White Pass Railroad was built during the gold rush in 1898 so supplies could be moved easier into the gold fields…Before the train everything was first carried on the backs of the miners and then by mule train…The train zig zags up the steep mountain over hand build tressle's and through 2 tunnels…For the scenic trip 3 trains traverse the mountain side then swap engines from front to back on sidings at the half way point of our trip…The train track continues on for 100 miles into Canada.

We dined at the Indigo cafe, arriving about 5pm and ready to try something besides buffet fare…We all ordered rib steak with baked potatoes, roasted tomatoes, spinach came with the steak and we all ordered a salad…Dessert is included but most drinks are extra…It was a much nicer dining experience as we were treated like special guests and had servers at our beck and call…The food was served hot and we didn't have to walk half of the ship to find a table…Both girls that served us were very nice but one especially so as she really enjoyed serving people.

M J & I went to the evenings entertainment, a comedy and improv act…It was loud but enjoyable and funny…Herb headed for our cabin to stretch his hips and back, stiff from the train ride.

Aboard the train

The train ahead of us

Mountains up close

One of the old train trestles

   

Remodel...52º

Had a surprise yesterday when returning from taking a shower...Herb was on his hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor and all because I had posted in my blog that it was on my list of things to do...Bless his heart, he also had watered all the flower barrels and had water going on the flower beds...Now all I had to do was rest, elevate and ice...I thank you very much, My Dear Husband!

Bobi has been after me to post something about the bathroom remodel...So here it is in pictures...Stay tuned for more posts on the cruise....Hugs to All....OWAV:)

Side and front where the shower head goes

Side and bench and new toilet

New Throne

Frustration...57º

Physical therapy yesterday on my knee, still need to stay off of it, ice and elevate, do exercises...I have an MRI scheduled in LaGrande Friday and am now trying to get an appt with the orthopedic surgeon to read the MRI (easier said than done) so we know if it means surgery or is just a long healing process.

Made 5 loaves of sour dough bread yesterday, fixed chicken for dinner...Dusty is here this morning working on the bathroom...My goal for today is to water flower barrels and sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

Day 4 of our cruise, here are a couple of photos and tomorrow I will write about the train ride...OWAV:)

July 25…Coffee arrived at 6:30am, Herb is in the shower and I'm writing away…Today we will leave the ship and go on the "White Pass Scenic Railway"…From the photos we've seen it looks like we will be in for some spectacular scenery today…That's all for now aboard The Norwegian Pearl…OWAV:)…

Herb and Della

Mona and Jerry