
If you have indoor houseplants, they require care when you are away and extended trips can take a toll on houseplants. Unlike cats and dogs, there is no kennel where you can take your houseplants and pay for someone to make sure they get the light and water they need. If you have good neighbors, you may be able to make arrangements for them to come in and do some watering once or twice while you are away. If you are going to be gone several weeks or a month or more, this may not be the best solution and experience shows that over watering is common when others take care of your plants.
There are lots of gizmos on the market that claim they will keep your plants hydrated and some work and some are a waste of money and effort. The best solution we’ve found is a self watering pot with a bottom reservoir. Manufacturers claim these pots will keep your plants watered for up to two weeks but, the truth is, they may not work that long if you have the air conditioner running (more evaporation) or the pot is small.

The best solution is to fill the reservoir and then stand the plant in a plastic container, the larger the better. We use a plastic storage tub. Put enough water in the plastic container to go several inches above the top of the reservoir opening. This will keep the plant happy for many weeks and, if it is kept in a well lit environment, the plant will be alive, happy and thriving when you get home.
There are lots of self watering planters on the market but one of the better choices is Misco (available at Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot and other fine stores). They offer several different sizes and colors so you can mix and match for all your plant needs.






under 2,000 passengers to between 5,000 to 6,000 and getting bigger each year. Depending on the cabin choice and cruise line selected, prices per person range from just over $100 to thousands of dollars.
laundry, drink packages along with parties, loyalty lounges, priority boarding and more. Our first cruise which was with our children was with Royal Caribbean and we quickly discovered how family oriented they are with a great kids program as well as family activities. We have cruised a number of times with Carnival, initially because their pricing is more economical. Generally we find their passengers are primarily younger singles and couples who tend to party all day and into the night. More recently we find ourselves cruising more often with Celebrity. We think they cater more to people looking for longer cruises to more different locations and that they represent, we believe, a notch up in service. Royal and Carnival are both in the Caribbean year round while Celebrity sails only in the winter season. Celebrity also offers more, longer cruises than the others.
on time available, budget and what your interests are. 



As you wait for your food, you can enjoy the Filipino hospitality and the amazing entertainment. The show varies by time of day and day of the week. On our lunch there was a piano player and a local on the guitar and they were joined by singers who are also your waiters and cooks. They sing together and also perform some impressive solo numbers. The microphones are soup ladles from the kitchen. The singers walk among the tables to get diners to join in and eventually staff and guests make their way to the “stage” to sing and or/dance. The only problem comes when you finish eating and it is time to leave. Getting your check can take a while as everyone is having so much fun they don’t want to break away!