EPCOT

There's just something special about Walt Disney's Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. It is my favorite park for several reasons, and it seems to me one of the most fitting monuments to the man behind Mickey Mouse.

At its inception, Walt said of EPCOT:

 "EPCOT will be an experimental prototype community of tomorrow that will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are now emerging from the creative centers of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed, but will always be introducing and testing and demonstrating new materials and systems. And EPCOT will always be a showcase to the world for the ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise."

Ingenuity. Imagination. America. 

I think that's all of it in a nutshell. 

Walking through the park makes me nostalgic. Not only for past visits and childhood adventures, but also for the strong broth of a certain philosophy, spooned to me steadily from the time I could sit up, and mixed in my bottles before that. 

The basic recipe includes (but is not limited to):

• Whimsy


• Curiosity


• Music


• Creativity


• Exploration


• Fun


• Can-Do


• Optimism


• Service


• Kindness


• Wonder


• Learning


• Talking Animals


• Hats & Props & Seersucker Pants

Simmer over the gentle warmth of a heart aglow. Serve generously and without discrimination.



 Long before there was a search engine and megladon corporation, my siblings and I were privy to the fact that googol is a number- one with one hundred zeros. The loud thumping in our attic was not a fan but tiny little Indians holding a pow-wow. We lived in a world of honker birds and sing-a-longs. We were entrusted with glue sticks and spangles, given complete creative control over the construction paper pile. Life was punny and word play was encouraged. Pennies were wishes for personal computers. Stale bread became duck food. We made sleds from box tops; thrust ourselves down hills without any snow. We enjoyed a balanced diet of wisecracks and wisdom. We knew..still know..the joys of ice cream.



 Has she jumped track? Perhaps. I do tend to do that sometimes.



 The point is that there are good things in life, dreams do come true, we should reach for the stars and never give up.



In the theme park of Positive Mindset, the only admission fee is choosing to walk in.



I'm not saying that every day was Disney growing up, but it was close enough, in hindsight. I am saying that we were given a map to that silver-lined place called joyfulness, for which I'm grateful.

When I walk thru EPCOT, I feel hopeful. I see technology and new ways that we, as people, are working for the good of mankind; we have not ceased thinking, inventing, and trying to one-up ourselves. We are seeing needs and filling them, we are striving to improve upon our last best invention. We come up with some pretty nifty stuff.



 At Epcot, we're encouraged to push the buttons, try it out, think up some big thinks of our own. I see Walt when I'm there...or at least what I understand to be his thumbprint.  And I see that, despite the bleak headlines, all is not lost in this world... there's plenty to look forward to, much to anticipate.

 At EPCOT, I feel inspired, too.

 "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the small, small world after all"

There are many nationalities in the World Showcase, represented by more than airplane runway lights (long story)... all just steps away from each other - close enough to exchange a smile, try a pastry and appreciate the diversity of our world, without a trip through airport security.  Each of the worlds within the showcase are all so distinct, even those that have been influenced by other countries or cultures. There are different ways of saying things, different ways of seeing things.  So much to explore.  I love it.

We read "Around The World In 80 Days" this school year...and we are currently reading "Innocents Abroad", so it was a pleasure  and a bit of a living lesson to walk (and take boats) 'around the world' in less than 8 hours with the BigKids.

They also have a pretty good example of a geodesic form in one part of the park...if you know where to find it ;)

I  feel relaxed at EPCOT.  Walking around with my small-business-owner-always-at-work-even-when-he's-not husband and our eclectic cast of characters, I know that I can enjoy the day's park visit because of the work he's been doing. Because of the work he will return to in short order. I am reminded that he does all that work for us, for family moments like these and for all the others where we simply have a roof over our heads and enough food to fill each belly. I feel cared for and thankful for all of it..for all of them. For him.

Yes, we must eat by the sweat of our brow, but there is time for sculpted flower gardens too.



Time for exchanging pleasantries and learning something(s) new.



 All of these pleasures are available inside the parks, but on the outside, too.

 Especially outside. 

Every single day.

 The parks are just a reminder to stop and notice every now and again. 

When the Discovery Channel came out with the Boomdeyadah campaign years ago, we adopted it as a sort of school anthem.

 "I love the whole world, and all its sights and sounds..."

It's our home/school philosophy.

It's our life philosophy.

And Epcot provides a wonderful scale model. 

(It's a small, small world- ha.)

Not to mention, it's a lot less crowded than Magic Kingdom most days.

(the slideshow also includes hotel and other trip pics due to shortage of time to sift & sort- disregard red eye and double takes...if you can )

"We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." ~ Walt Disney

Cotton Candy

We found ourselves at Golden Corral: 

(You should have seen how quickly this fluff melted in the heat and humidity of south Georgia on a Sunday afternoon in July.)

Tree

Because it caught my eye...

"Grow Together" 

(?) 

Peeled Hummus

We've made hummus several times before. It was only recently that I learned to peel the garbanzos first. A bit time consuming, but worth a smoother finished product. 

From two cans of chick peas, the hulls filled up almost one entire can. 

Shopping w/ DaDa

Clay took the children shopping for few items to get them through the warmer months. Riley LOVED her new things. She brought the clothes into the living area and hung them all neatly on the television stand. She then took them all into her room and hung them on the dresser pegs. For an entire day, the clothes moved between bedroom and living area. She was very upset when I eventually moved them into the closet. She wanted to keep them on display, like decorations. :) 

Pet Store Zoo Photography

We have convinced Riley that the pet store is a small zoo. 

(I tried to convince her to pet the fish, but she  didn't take the bait. )

On this particular visit, we were there so that the children could close out their virtual photography class. I am so glad we had a camera (or two) out and ready when this lady walked in. 

We were watching the cockatiel (I have always wanted a cockatiel... I gravitate towards their cages) when she strolled up. 

She told us her name is Nancy. 

She had brought her own pet cockatiel into the store to visit with the store's bird. Apparently, the store had only recently acquired their feathered friend and he's been a little glum. 

So, Nancy brought him a little company. 

Wait. Stop. Hold It. I should explain that I am using 'him' as a default pronoun. As Nancy explained, there's really no telling if the birds are male or female without a very expensive test or trial and error until eggs appear. This was not that kind of visit. 

There was a good natured employee who came over to allow the captive bird some supervised visitation. It was a neat little random moment that we happened across in the pet store-zoo-photography class. 

If you look closely, you will see both birds after visiting hours had ended- one imprisoned in glass, the other caged in metal. But if you look even more closely, you will see that the visiting bird rode in on a cat.

When I realized this small truth, the happy little random moment escalated to magnificent. Because- look at the cat... he's the right color to be Sylvester and the bird is almost Tweety colored... and they were being pushed around by Grancy... I mean Granny... no, no, Nancy is her name...but you do see it, don't you?

We got acquainted a little more with Nancy before going our separate ways (you knew I would, didn't you?). She explained to us that she had taken the cat when her brother in law found out he had cancer. The man and the cat had been good chums but cancer treatment and cats don't mix. Nancy had become the cat's caretaker until the brother-in-law's recent passing. They had stopped by the pet store on their way back to the cat's original home. He was being returned to the widow- or at least going to visit, to see if he wanted to come back home... which reminds me a little of something:

I just love meeting new people

 (but, preferably on my own terms, if we're being honest... and why should we lie? .)

Unlikely Friends

I have been creating some visual art type things for a project. For one part, I needed a picture of 'unlikely friends' At least, that was one of the search terms I used. It was late when I came across these photos... and that is what I blamed the initial fit of giggles that overcame me on... this very late hour I found myself awake and playing with graphics.

 I have no such excuse however,  for every other time I am overcome by mirth by these candids- which is every time I happen to see them. 

That monkey's smile... 

the way he's so sincerely sharing his banana...  

Make-Shift Griddle (Featuring MacGyver Clips)

One challenge I often face  is serving everyone's meal at the same time; without having the first half served cold.  Especially meals cooked in batches, like burgers or pancakes. Often times, eating a 'batch style meal' works a lot like singing in rounds... as the first group reaches the mid-point of their meal, the second group begins to eat, as the first group reaches takes their last bite,  the third group is beginning and the second group has reached mid-point... everyone finishes on whatever course they find themselves whenever I run out of ingredients... technically, all together.  

By "group" I mean, quite simply, individual.

I have a griddle that makes cooking for many a little easier. Thanks to our most recent move (into a furnished place), it was banished to storage almost a year ago... for (what feels like) forever. 

When life puts your stuff in storage- Make Lemonade!
Yeah, I mixed my metaphors. So, what?

Ice that lemonade and sip it as you improvise. 

Then pat your MacGyver self on the back.  

The point of this post is to tell you that I used a cookie sheet as a make shift griddle for our pancakes one recent morning. I also learned that it is a popular improvisation in other countries.
And now you know, too!

We did not eat- or sing- in rounds. But we all enjoyed warm pancakes around the table together. 

I did hum the MacGyver theme a little... over lemonade and maple syrup. 

(that's a lie, we were out of maple syrup, so we "MacGyvered"that too- using frozen strawberries & sugar ) 

For my particular oven, the Baking-Sheet-As-Griddle method worked best with the burners turned to High. You may need to experiment with a smaller portion of batter until you get the heat right for your own preferences/cooking speed. 

* Bonus MacGyver Clip~ in which Mac goes to the supermarket, cooks up some tear gas in aisle 6 and teams up with Granny to defeat the 'bad guys'

Eating Apples: You're Doing It Wrong

Watched this video on BuzzFeed awhile back. 

Decided to gave it a go. 

In fact, I bought apples just to try it.

It works. 

(and I did eat the seeds too... because someone once told me too...they're kind of 'almond-y')

Hot Tropics Tomato Soup

Ideally, I would have picked the tomatoes for this soup and stewed them down on a low simmer. I would have caught & plucked the chicken used for broth and set that on another low simmer. Not neglecting to milk my pet cow and a few coconuts too, I would have made sour cream, cocount milk and even the Cheeze-It ™ crackers from scratch. Eventually, finally, bringing it all together in a savory combination in one pot. 

This is not an ideal world. 

I have four children. (who all want something different for lunch, mind you)

I homeschool. (so I know about the dangers of using canned foods, I know!) 

I kill plants. (No tomatoes would have likely made it to the picking stage under my care)

I don't know that the cow would be that much safer. 

If I were close enough to a coconut tree to climb it, I wouldn't be rushing back to the house to make soup... (or climbing it either...but that is another story about how long it has been since I've been in the beloved Keys...and if I tell you THAT story, it will mostly sound like whining and I will become listless in my longing and neglect the reality of Everyone's Laundry...) 

Therefore: 

One can of coconut milk + One can of Harvest Orange Tomato + 1/2 Can of chicken stock= Tropical Tomato Soup

But, you can improve on this if you have the right ingredients.

(which I did, thanks to Chinese New Year)

Tropical Tomato Soup + Sriacha = Warm Tropics Tomato Soup...or Hot Tropics if you add a lot... Sun Burnt Tropics if you add half the bottle... and so forth. 

This was my lunch... and it was tasty.

 All of a sudden, my children decided they didn't want chicken fingers. 

They wanted soup too. 

So

I

 was 

 forced 

 to 

 share!

Don't you hate it when all those lessons about doing the right thing come back and steal your lunch? 

Busy, Busy

 It was a busy weekend in the Brewer Camp~ 2 birthdays (1 carrot cake, 1 jello) , 2 baseball games(1 out of town). Multiple sport practices,  one incident of UpWards Cheer...birthday present shopping and early voting across town.

 While I am still uploading and sorting photos for the birthdays, I thought I'd begin chronologically with the Halloween that wasn't--- since there are only two pictures for that occasion.

We opted out of Trick Or Treating... because of the aforementioned busy-ness; because the Big Kids are big now; and....because we're not pagans.

Relax- I'm only teasing.

:)

We also opted out of our church carnival (a.k.a. the "Christian Tee Shirt" version of Trick or Treat). (See above reasons.)

But, we did have a spot of pumpkin pie:

(15= First Date 15 years ago, Halloween Night 1997)

We decided to spend our evening inside, hanging out as a family. I started the birthday cakes, we watched a movie together and just relaxed. But then...there came a smirk worthy twist to our evening. 

But first, a smidge of background. 

In the week prior, several neighbors had asked if the kids would be trick or treating, so that they could have candy on hand, if so. Our complex isn't a local trick or treating destination and -our kids make up more than half the adolescent population. We have heard many times 

"How nice to have children around here... we were becoming a retirement home" 

Having received a "probably not" when asked if they should expect our kids at their front door, I thought perhaps I sensed some disappointment...but...this one time,  I was accused of over-analyzing stuff, so I didn't really give it a second thought. ;)

UNTIL....

The Reverse Trick Or Treating began. 

It started with a knock on our door. 

"Who is it?" met by "Trick or Treat!"

 I opened the door to our landlady, dressed as a friendly witch, holding out goodie bags for each child. 

On her heels came the complex's security guard, carrying a bowl full of apples, cupcakes and goodies that he and his wife had put together. 

Next up was our next door neighbor to the right with M&M's. 

Then came our neighbor on the left, two doors down- he brought Reese Cups. 

After that, more candy from our neighbor directly to the left - More M&M's.

I've never seen anything like it.

It is a hard thing for me to accept kindnesses and thoughtfulness extended in my direction. 

Of course, the kindness and thoughtfulness were really extended to our children, but- to me, same difference.

I tend to want to pay kindnesses back...endlessly... until what was meant as a small gesture, turns into a huge nice-off (and often involves an insane amount of baked goods exchanged)

But in this case, we had not prepared for trick or treaters...I couldn't even match them candy for candy. All I could offer in exchange for their treats and thoughtfulness was a smile, a heartfelt thank you ... and, I don't know... 

"...do you need some soup or something? Let me go see what I have in the pantry... surely there's something in there I could send you away with... "

:) 

(I'm not serious, though it MAY have crossed my mind...) 

Thank You Again, Neighbors!

We really appreciate your thoughtfulness. 

Reverse Trick Or Treating Sweets

Dallas Wiens

I am an unabashed prowler of library recycle bins- I especially look for magazines, because I like to cut those up - mince words if you will...

On a good day, I will happen across a stack of The New Yorker 

(leave that Yankee/Reb stuff at the door...I LIKE The New Yorker, ya'll...)

In a recent back-issue of one such 'library adoption', the February13, 2012 issue, I read the article 'Transfiguration'.

 It is the story of Dallas Wiens, one of the United States' first full face transplant recipients.

Dallas lost his face when he was struck by an electric volt---while painting a church. 

In the article, Dallas gives God glory and  proclaims his life one of transformation- from one who was living life for himself, to one who has submitted his life to God.

 Dallas says he knows he was running from God and he believes God took his face to save his life...

I'm including a video taken at what appears to be Dallas' former school, prior to the transplant surgery- it is rather long- but in it, Dallas speaks with the students about his accident and encourages them that, no matter what seems to be hard or bad in their lives, God is standing right beside them, waiting on them to turn around, into His embrace...we could all use that reminder sometimes.

If you don't have time for the entire video, this segment begins around the 14mm

There are some other great videos and photos on Dallas' site.
Especially precious are those of him with his young daughter-before and after the accident. 

I can't help but wonder if I could travel through such extraordinary circumstances and still have good things to say about God. Of course, I love to believe I would... but in my humanity, in humility,  I think...wow, I don't know... sometimes I pitch a such a hissy fit (to God) over the silliest stuff...I've got a long way to go on the whole long-suffering lesson, I assure you...

What about you? Do you feel like your faith would be shaken if God asked you to surrender the very basis of your identity? Do you worry that admitting you would be shaken invites God to do bad things in your life? Are you running from God; living life on your own terms?

Do you really want things to come down to an end where losing your face is a mercy?

Don't you know that losing your identity in the image of the One who formed you is the beginning of measureless Grace?

There, but for the Grace of God, go I, indeed.

On Waiting...

This artist/spoken word piece aired on Wretched recently... it captures well what I'd like to tell those who wait...and for those who should've but didn't?  Our God is greater... He really is. He is a God of Mercy and Grace and Restoration. He can mend the broken and restore what the locusts have eaten... if you allow Him to. Look for more by Jeanette Ikz in the near future- I like her.

Time Machine

Moving here has been good for my soul in many ways- but, given my 'transient' disposition in life thus far (36+ moves, my friends), one of my favorite aspects about this island is that it has been a part of my life from an early age... it's a little like moving home, and a lot like starting fresh, too. 

I have been scanning in a roll of film that I made copies of last time I visited my parents - some of it is my earliest memory of Fernandina (though I am told I came here before I could crawl well) 

The other pictures, some of you dear to my heart will recognize right off... the Cousin Playroom, the Nazarene Church... some sort of Family-Get-Together-Involving-Lap-Trays @ Idlewylde... and for the handful of you that have no idea why that blue carpet on the church porch is important... stay tuned!

Photo Album

SOLITUDE

SOLITUDE

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Laugh, and the world laughs with you;

Weep, and you weep alone;

For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth,

But has trouble enough of its own.

Sing, and the hills will answer;

Sigh, it is lost on the air;

The echoes bound to a joyful sound,

But shrink from voicing care.

Rejoice, and men will seek you;

Grieve, and they turn and go;

They want full measure of all your pleasure,

But they do not need your woe.

Be glad, and your friends are many;

Be sad, and you lose them all,—

There are none to decline your nectared wine,

But alone you must drink life’s gall.

Feast, and your halls are crowded;

Fast, and the world goes by.

Succeed and give, and it helps you live,

But no man can help you die.

There is room in the halls of pleasure

For a large and lordly train,

But one by one we must all file on

Through the narrow aisles of pain.

DeJa Vu

Prize elephant from the same claw game "MUPPY" was won. 

Blown into a puddle. 

Went through the wash. 

Lost arm.

Stitched. 

"So Much Betta Now..." (~Rye)

Elephant Amputee 

stitch

Recovering Nicely

To Go...

Yes, but how much will the DUI cost?

Is this really a good idea?

Mending Muppy (the Purple Puppy)

Our baby has a streak of Vegas in her veins- anytime she spies a coin-op claw game, she puts up a fuss til we drop in whatever pocket change we can scrounge up... (who carries actual money anymore?) 

Muppy the Purple Puppy was a prize from one of our luckier nights-as lucky as a fixed game can be I suppose... I had put a dollar bill in the machine (sorry waitress, your tip just got lighter, but the baby's gotta play...) Won Muppy first grab and nothing on the required second swoop... oh well. 

I wouldn't have paid a buck for the dog under other circumstances, but for that RyeBird's smile? 

Any price. 

  

So, Muppy has been a constant companion since that lucky day. 

Muppy's ear however, hasn't been so lucky, having found employment as a tote handle.

It was bound to happen... 

We had to "Doc McStuffins" the dog immediately...

Muppy is recovering nicely.

And yes, those are underpants Muppy has on...

but that's another story. 

BREWER PAGE

We've departed Facebook (again) 

...for now anyhow...

But we still want to keep in touch. 

And we intend to keep everyone updated with pictures and current events right here...

...for really real this time... 

So, we've updated our WIX page (again)

The link is: kellyandclay.wix.com/brewport 

(we are too 'thrifty' to buy a domain for something we will largely neglect)

As a placeholder page, the WIX site will mostly serve to route folks back here where all the updating action takes place...but there IS a handy email form over there...

If you'd like to be notified when we DO get around to updating this site, sign in here and you'll occasionally receive an email alert : 

Sign In:

...SUCH A LOVELY PLACE...

Another attempt at ESCAPE from the world of Facebook- where truly you can check out but never leave... {cue Hotel California}...all family photos, videos, updates, newsletters, confessions & gossip should be found right here (until one of us caves and logs back in...)