Ordinary Life

Sometimes they're on land, too.

We're no Tiger Tomato   but we do love pancake art.  We made one whole box  of pancake batter, added food color in small batches and funneled  into our "pancake crayons". Then we played with our food. 

Sneak Attack!

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 f...

On our recent anniversary/family birthday, we were able to catch up with Snow White. She was a lot of fun.  

After Riley's first visit to Disney , the weather forecast a dreary next few days, so we headed home until the weather was to improve. Using the bleak days to clear certain business matters from our plate, we were free to return when the weather was nice... and just in time to celebrate our family's seventeenth birthday (anniversary). We chose Epcot park this time- my personal favorite. Aurora was scheduled to make one appearance so we made a bee line for her pavilion once we had checked in.  We were not disappointed.

When asked what she was most looking forward to at Disney, Riley hoped to meet Princess Aurora. Everyone else agreed that watching RyeBird explore the Magic Kingdom for her first time would be the highlight of our experience. While we didn't catch Sleeping Beauty this go around, Riley hardly seemed to notice once she got inside the park.  And we enjoyed watching her have a big day every bit as much as had been anticipated...even the part where she was scared of Daisy & Minnie... a decision she made only after we waited in a considerably long line, and only once we were close enough to judge they were just too big, too real for her comfort.  At the end of the day, Rye's favorite part was "Dream Along With Mickey"- the stage show at Cinderella's castle where we all defeated Malificent by chanting 'Dreams DO Come True!" until the jilted sorceress had no choice but to storm off in a huff and puff of smoke, promising we hadn't seem the last of her... (...

We had waited in a respectable line to meet Merida, listening all the while to people in front of us discuss 'underground trading' for Fast Pass slots to meet other, more in-demand characters. Apparently that's a real thing.  When we reached the front, the kilted line manager noticed Riley passing the time by testing the twirl of her dress. He asked her how his own twirl was, flaring the kilt with a full 360° spin. Gotta love those cast members who like to have fun. Before I could ask him for an encore twirl and photo it was our turn to greet the princess...he said "Let's see if Merida's dress twirls." It did.

Magic Kingdom trips 2006 // 2015. Time changes everything.  Or, most things. ;]

It was a long day, it was a fun day. It was a day filled with walking, it was a day filled with dancing. Stay tuned... [we're recharging our batteries... especially those of us who've known more than two decades worth of days]

Backroads Sunset

Lazaretto Creek is one of my favorite spots [ so far,  life is young yet...oh,  but not as young as she used to be ]  Whether we're headed towards the ocean or away from her,  I enjoy crossing over the scenic spot: boats of all sorts to one side,  lonesome Cockspur Light on the other. I enjoy spending time down near the docks even more. Yesterday's lunch found us creekside @ CoCo's finishing arithmetic [1 Million ÷ 25 ] o ver sandwiches featuring melted cheese ( there were other ingredients but it is only ever the cheese that matters ) and counting our fingers to the rhythm of the music from many decades and genres . That's all really.  Just a nickel for the Nice Day jar.  Thanks for listening. Bonus Nickel: I learned more about lazarettos than I previously knew when getting ready to frilly up this post with links. Double Bonus Nickels [dime?]: I learned more about Lazaretto Creek's unique history , too. And as is often the case, learning backstory...

Whenever my phone finds a WiFi signal, it uploads my photos to Picasa. Occasionally, I will remember to check Picasa for the "auto awesome" projects it creates for me. My favorite are the animations. If that isn't already clear by now, stay tuned. . . the pattern will repeat itself enough in time. .. The other day,  I took photos of the sun setting. Usually,  I don't even remember the Picasa feature but as I took these particular photos,  I remember thinking that I hoped an animation would be created from them.  I took extra to increase the chances [and also to make creating one myself easier if it didn't auto-create] Given the time, I could probably create a longer version. However, I  have not been given any time that doesn't already belong to other responsibilities and projects at the moment, so I'm pleased as punch that my little wish was granted.  Sunset Downtown Marina Fernandina Beach

Our FaceBook friend Mitch often posts poetic pictures of  the "Old Lady" tree near his home. And, it is a beautiful, old lady tree. See? Mr. Mitch is an interesting fellow and I often want to do and be and think and see in step with him.  So, imagine my delight when I discovered  that we have an Old Lady Tree too... See?  Okay, so she's a bit of a hag.  I surely wouldn't eat any apples from this tree. Mainly because it isn't an apple tree, bu t also because 'she' looks like the witch from Snow White, whose specialty was the Drowsy Apple.  See?  I have friends standing by - ready to call the right folks and administer the right meds for me if the lady in my tree turns out to be from another Disney franchise:  If I hear it speak, I am to repeat: "A tree may speak to me, but only metaphorically."  (...and so help me, if you ever find me running around in a buckskin dress...talking to the trees... wrap me up in my loooong sleeve pajamas please.....

Two of Logan's photographs were featured in the Spring 2014 Edition of the FLVS literary magazine VIRGE. They can be found on pages 62 and 65.

Chandler and Logan were featured in the 2012-2013 Florida Virtual School Yearbook with their answers to the theme question: " What does the phrase Cherish Today, Challenge Tomorrow mean to you?" Chandler: "Take each day as it comes and be ready for the challenges of tomorrow."   Logan: " I think the phrase Cherish Today, Challenge Tomorrow means that you should seek out what you want to do with your life and to challenge yourself to achieve the goals you have set."  They can be found on page 5.

Yes, sometimes I draw on my children. And sometimes I draw on myself, too. It's okay. It washes off. This particular piece is a metaphor about freedom, and letting go of the things you think are helping you to fly so that you can really fly as yourself- with wings spread wide... and also how you take your mom's heart with you wherever you go... so please don't drop it...  Yeah, that's it. 

In a serendipitous turn of events various cousins from various corners converged on Amelia... I was delighted to be caught in the cross-hairs.  Christian is my cousin Joni's baby boy- he's from Augusta. Fisher & Logan are mine. Charley is my second cousin Chuck's baby girl~ she was there with her momma, Donna (and a BOY!). They're all from around Waycross.  Tyler is Joni's oldest girl, also from Augusta. Riley is also mine.  (Chandler was  @ the golf course)  We couldn't have planned it.  But we have proof it happened... Once Upon Amelia.  :)  

Today marks the start of  Football Season @  BrewCrew Headquarters. .  Specifically Carolina Football.  (some say that's the only kind there is, but I have noticed other fellas in different costumes also having these weekend pagents)  Okay, it never actually ends...we celebrate Carolina Football in Spring and Summer too. (along with Carolina's Baseball, Basketball and Competitive Thumb Twirling if they had a team for that)   This time of year is also known to some of us as "Bring A Good Book" or "Get Stuff Done With The Comforting Sounds of Televised Football as Background Noise" or "Go Shopping" and occasionally "Roam the Stadium and Enjoy Concessions" Season.  It is a time of year we all look forward to (for various reasons).  Okay...alright...those last few are mainly me.  I like football fine- I just think there is too much of it... I prefer to tune in around the fourth quarter (after getting a few chapters read, or errands run, or a...