We Just Lost Alaska (Again)

NCL announced this morning they have suspended cruises through June 30, 2021 so...we're not going to Alaska in June.   

Part of me feels 'relieved' that NCL made the call to cancel and now we don't have to.  I wasn't really feeling to 'ok' about cruising even if we were both vaccinated against COVID - so them taking that decision off the table is nice.  It's resolved.  No thinking (over-thinking which is my super power) to be done.  

Very excited to report that I am now eligible to be vaccinated too - over 55 with secondary condition.  Now it's just the mad dash/shuffle of checking Smith's, Walmart & Walgreens websites over and over trying to get a vaccination shot booked.  

Yesterday was blue skies with clouds at time - including some light snow now and then.  Too cold to work outside.  I went to the ATM down the street and was miserable in the biting wind/cold.  We hunkered down and worked inside mostly.  All the things you do post house guest - laundry, etc. .  

Today it's sunny and clear so maybe it will warm up enough to go out back and start working on tidying the yard in preparation for Spring.  There are dark small stones in the white small stone path (and vice versa) needing to be fixed.  It sure looks like we've lost a ton of plant - but it's hard to know for sure since things aren't greening up yet.  I'm actually really looking forward to watching the process this year - all of our plants look completely dead but so do everybody else's so we're anxious to see how they green up.  

That won't happen until the earth warms up a bit and so far, it's still pretty cold.  

I'm making Chrissy Tiegen's Chicken Pot Pie Soup with Pie Crust crackers today - I love trying new recipes.  I'm also going to whip up a batch of hummus to have around for snacks and lunches this week.  

I made a cake when B. was here - and realized after it baked that the baking powder I used was 7 years old and seriously inactive.  It ended up being more of a 'dump' cake - but put some chocolate ganache on anything and it tastes decent.  I also soaked some dried cherries in spiced rum and added them to the top of the cake (under the ganache).  B. ate the whole thing - so....it turned out pretty OK considering.  

J. is playing golf on Friday with friends and then playing again next Tuesday - which is great because they haven't played much the past couple weeks and everyone is anxious to get back out on the courses and get Spring going!  

(Coincidentally, J. just got a text from his friend about Friday - questionable weather....so we'll see).