Dinner in the Pinnacle Grill

Our second day was a sea day and we really didn’t do anything remarkable.  It was also a formal night for dinner so we dressed up and headed for the Pinnacle Grill which is one of the ship’s specialty dining rooms.

On the way we passed by the atrium area which houses this three story ornate organ. I have no idea if it is functional but it is beautiful and unusual.

Here is Wayne sitting in the Pinnacle Grill. Note the orchid on the table.  They were everywhere.

The first thing they brought was the bread, three different kinds of Hawaiian salts, and three different kinds of butter.  We are not really salt users but the butters were great.

This was the menu.

This is Wayne’s lobster bisque which was fixed at the table.

This was my crab cakes.  They were cooked differently than I am used to and were soft in the center.

We both had the lobster.  When the waiter asked how it was, Wayne remarked that it looked a little small.  He was joking but a second lobster tail arrived soon after that.

We ordered dessert and coffee and they brought this tiered plate first with the creams and different sugars with small truffles and other sweets on top.

I was almost too full to eat my chocolate volcano but you know me and chocolate—I forced it down.  I did take my cookie back to the room.

This was Wayne’s dessert.

Back at the room we found our first towel animal.  This is one of the things I get a kick out of.  This one was a seal.

We didn’t get through with dinner until after 9:00 so we didn’t do anything else that evening.

Austin to The Zaandam in Vancouver, BC

We changed planes in Denver.  It is really  a beautiful airport.

It is very open with lots of glass.

The road to the pier was lined with these beautiful flowering trees.

Our first view of the water as we drove towards the pier

This  is the Vancouver Cruise Dock Building.

This is a better view as we pulled away.  It is really a beautiful building.

As we pulled away from the dock a plane was getting ready to take off from the water.

Goodbye Vancouver.

On one of the decks we encounter an angry looking eagle.

This was our room.

The Lido Dining room where we would eat the first night.

The pool area which was covered for the most part which kept it very warm.  We should have brought our suits.

This is the piano bar where we sat and listened to music before turning in for the night.

The first day is always tiring as you have to unpack, etc. so we went to bed early.

Delta Gamma Wine Auction

On the Saturday before we left for our Alaskan Cruise, the Williamson County DGs had a Wine Fund Raiser.  Everyone brought a bottle or two of wine and we auctioned them off.  The proceeds went to the foundation with our share designated for the dogs for the blind.  We had lots of bottles to auction off.

In addition to the wine we auctioned off there was lots of goodies to eat.

We had a really good time and I look forward to the next meeting/social get together.

Crafts Class–June 5, 2013

We had a small group today on this last class before we leave for Alaska.  Wayne came out and took a few pictures.  That’s Nancy with her back to the camera with Annabelle and Bobbie and me.

This is a better picture of Nancy but I look like I’m really thinking hard about something.

We will have another class after I return.

Elaine’s 100th Birthday Parties

Elaine turned 100 on Thursday.  Since she lives in our building, most of the people in our building got together for a party on her actual birthday.  Linda’s daughter decorated a chair for her to sit in.

We made her stay in her room until we were ready for her to come down.

Here she is with Mary Alice who organized the party.

We tried to get her up in the chair but to no avail so we sat her in front of it.

Betsy did a Minnie Pearl rap in homage to one of the characters that Elaine often portrayed.  Minnie Pearl is her favorite although I hear she does a mean Charlie Chaplin.

We had put together songbooks with the words modified by Mary Alice to be all about Elaine. 

After we sang to her she honored us with a Minnie Pearl favorite.  Several of the women wore hats with price tags of $100.oo on them.  Here’s mine.

 

I had to leave early for the Happy Hour Out.

All day Friday, relatives and friends began arriving for her big birthday party on Saturday.  Here is our Birthday Princess with her crown and banner in her sized down decorated chair. 

   

The birthday cakes were beautiful.  The first one says Happy 100th Birthday, Elaine.

In addition to cake, chex mix, water, sodas, and beer—there were mimosas.  Here are Gert and Lyn enjoying some.

Most everyone sat under the carports in the shade.  I’m at the head of the table with my mimosa in hand.

There was quite a crown at the party.

Here is Elaine getting her picture taken with the cakes that enumerated 100.

Some of the ladies from the sing along group sang some songs to Elaine.

I think Elaine really enjoyed her birthday parties and I know that the rest of us did as well.

Happy Hour at the Westin

Thursday afternoon was our monthly Happy Hour Out at the Westin Hotel.  As usual the management team provided us and their invited guests with lots of delicious appetizers.

This pizza is my favorite.

Since Wayne doesn’t like avocados, I got the chunks out of his portion.

Toward the end of the happy hour two beautiful dessert trays arrived.  The chocolate writing says Happy 50th Anniversary.

They were presented to Phyllis and Bill to share with everyone.

We all had a good time as usual.