SERIOUS Reading

I picked these yummy magazines up at Barnes & Noble today. 

 There's my blue and white cottage style that I love and I couldn't believe that there is a magazine out for aprons!  I laughed when I read the title "aprons with attitude."  I'm sure there will be lots of inspiration in both magazines.  

Sorry, I have to go NOW I have some S.E.R.I.O.U.S. reading to do.  

My Firsts

A "Twinkle", an "All Round" and a "Tree"...

My first ones!

  I did it!

  All thanks to the easy-to-follow tutorials posted at sweet Michelle's The Royal Sisters. 

Thanks Michelle!

I still have to "block" these.  And I might try spraying them with starch to stiffen them for hanging.  I can hardly wait to make more.

I was having trouble keeping all my crochet stuff together, but at the same time, have everything easy to get to...so I asked my hubby if he had any extra new and unused plastic fishing gear containers.  He did... and this one fit my hooks, scissor, needles and miscellaneous gadgets just right.

What is great about these containers is when the top is closed - because of the dividers - nothing gets mixed up together.  Everything stays separated!  This kit is so handy to use on the road too.  It slips easily into a bag or tote.

Keep on crocheting!

Love Blue & White

One of a set of four teacups and saucers... 

 The Spode Blue Room Collection 'Geranium' first introduced c1820 (Reproduced from a hand engraved copper plate).   

Ah...who doesn't love blue and white... 

Hollywood Studios

On to day FIVE at Walt Disney World during our recent trip and on this day we are visiting Disney's Hollywood Studios.  This is a cute, little park.  Not as much walking as the other parks but it has lots of fun attractions.

  

Here's a famous scene from Disney's Fantasia with Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice.   Isn't this lovely and look at the pail spilling out flowers as the water!  

   

Mickey Mouse is everywhere...on this water tower...

And on this water tower - how cute is that!

This is the Disneyland jet that Walt Disney used to scout out the land in Florida for Walt Disney World.

Sorry for the dark photo - this is my FAVORITE ride at WDW...

Me riding Toystory Midway Mania 3-D arcade.  This ride is so much fun!  See my new Mickey Mouse earrings! 

This is a view of the Toystory Midway Mania 3-D loading and unloading area. 

And it's snowing here at home (again) today with the weather guys predicting a foot of snow!

Epcot

The symbol of Epcot - Spaceship Earth!  

The journey continues - we visited Epcot on our 4th day during our recent trip to Walt Disney World (Florida).  This attraction is fun and it's a must do each trip.  It wasn't raining when we parked our car but by the time we entered the park it was POURING down rain with gusts of winds pounding us.  We got in line for Spaceship Earth and boy we were glad to get out of the rain.  By the time we came out it had stopped raining.  

Epcot is divided into two sections - the front section is "Future World" where Spaceship Earth is and the back section (which opens later at 11 A.M.) is "World Showcase" where the different countries of the world are presented.  We had fun in "Future World" riding Mission: Space (we picked the GREEN line which is the less stressful ride); the guys rode Test Track while us girls talked.  We had fun shopping at Mouse Gear for souvenirs before heading to the back section to see "World Showcase" and visit all the different countries.  It was a fun day with good friends!

Here's a view of Epcot from the back section of "World Showcase" looking over the lake to the front section "Future World."  Either you have to walk around either side to get to the back or you can take a boat ferry.  Epcot is a lot of walking so it's important to wear good walking shoes.  See the oranges in the tree bottom right.  Mr. Seagull is posing for us too.  The things out in the water are for the fireworks display - IllumiNations Reflections of Earth - in the evening.  We have seen the fireworks before so we didn't stay today - as it doesn't start until 9:30 P.M.   

Would you believe a Disney Cast Member "drew" this on the sidewalk as we were walking by just by using water and a broom?  
Unbelievable!

This was a beautiful water fountain display choreographed to music and colored lights with Spaceship Earth in the background.

We had supper at "Chefs de France" and had a surprise visitor stop at our table - "Remy" from Ratatouille.  

Isn't "Remy" cute!  

And our meal was delicious - thank you "Remy".  

I love French cooking!  All the cute, young waiters are from France too.  

We didn't get back to our RV until 8:30 P.M. so we had a long fun day at Epcot.

Magic Kingdom Again

Here's some more highlights of our recent Walt Disney World trip - this day returning to Magic Kingdom.  Here's our favorite couple - Minnie & Mickey Mouse - welcoming us.  Cinderella's Fairy Castle is in the background.

We visited the Liberty Square's Hall of Presidents, rode Tomorrowland's Buzz Lightyear laser game three times, rode Tomorrowland's Transit Authority and Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress (Walt designed this one himself for the 1964 World's Fair in NYC). 

Isn't this adorable!  How do they do this?  

See all the folks with rain gear on!  Another cool, gray, overcast rainy day but we still had fun.  

Not too crowded by the time we were leaving.  Stay tuned for more.

Dreaming of Spring

We still have quite a bit of snow on the ground but every time I look at these beautiful flowers (gift from hubby for Valentine's Day) I have thoughts of S.P.R.I.N.G!

Red, pink and white....

OK - everyone think warm thoughts and maybe SPRING will be here soon!

I LOVE FLOWERS!

My First Heart!

This is my first crocheted heart!  I just love it and am so proud of myself for changing colors too.  The pattern is from the wonderfully talented Michelle's blog "The Royal Sisters."  I used her Grandma Hearts tutorial posted there to make the heart this morning with Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn and an F hook.  Michelle's tutorial included great photos with the instructions printed right on the photo.  So easy to follow for a beginner like me.  Michelle has also posted Grandma tutorials for 1) "Tree"; 2) "All Round"; and 3) "Twinkle" (star).  I'm looking forward to trying these tutorials too.    

  

From my Heart to Yours!

Vintage Apron Patterns

My paternal Grandmother was a wonderful seamstress.  She made dresses for all of her granddaughters every year and christening outfits for several of her grandchilden.  Here are four of her apron patterns - one Butterick and three McCalls.  All of these patterns cost 25 cents apiece.  Now it's been many a year since I bought any patterns but a few years ago I sat down in the pattern section of Joanne Fabrics and was shocked at the high price of patterns.  I have lots of aprons passed down from my Mother and my MIL which I hope to post about one of these days.  

Here's a closer look at the patterns.

I remember wearing aprons while growing up mostly on Sundays after church helping with Sunday dinner in the kitchen.   We didn't have as many clothes as we do now a days so back then we protected our good Sunday dresses.  We didn't play in our school clothes either - we changed when we came home and put on our play clothes.  My parents took me to Sears and Roebucks in August every year before the start of school and bought me one new school dress and a new pair of school shoes.  I was so proud to wear a new outfit to school the first day.  Boy, have times changed.  

I have to get some pretty new fabric and make these aprons!  I miss sewing and these would be fun to make.

 
  

With Loving Hands

Just a simple post today.  This lovely embroidery piece was passed down from my beloved MIL.  It hung in her kitchen ever since I knew her and now it hangs in my kitchen.  I like to think of her stitching it with loving hands while talking and laughing.  

We miss you Mum!

Animal Kingdom

Here's the entrance to another Walt Disney World park - Animal Kingdom.  

We visited it on the last day in January which was a cool day in the 50s F. with overcast, gray skies.

This is the "Tree of Life."  Can you believe it isn't real at all?  More Disney magic.  Look closely and you can see animals carved all over it.  

Getting on the safari ride at Animal Kingdom.  We walked right on - no wait at all.

These are the only two animals shots that turned out on our safari ride.  It is extremely difficult to take photos on the safari ride because it is so bumpy.  Just as you are ready to take the photo the truck goes faster or it's so bumpy you can't stop the camera from shaking.   Hubby gets an award for these shots.  Isn't mommy and baby elephant adorable!

We're off the ride now walking through one of the trail.  If memory serves me right I think these were fruit bats.  They are HUGE.  See the one all wrapped up and hanging like a vampire on the left.  The one on the right is eating fruit while hanging.  

A magnificent Tiger sleeping up close and personal.  I'm not this close and I'm not this brave - there is a barrier between me and the tiger.  

Another Tiger resting.  Isn't the background interesting?

This is my Hubby's favorite Tiger photo.  This one is wide awake!

Isn't this a pretty bird? - look at the pattern on the feet and legs.  And the headdress is beautiful.

Mommy "Green Winged Dove" sitting on her nest.

Me petting a sheep!  It's so soft and big!  I was the one that wanted to go into the petting zoo.  I love animals and wanted to see them up close and personal.

The young goats (kids?) loved playing "King of the Mountain."  

And they managed to butt heads - but mostly they were licking and kissing each other.

The donkey was cute.  The keeper said that this is the type of donkey that Mary rode to Bethlehem.   Look at the dark brown stripe going down the back and the shoulders - they form a CROSS.  Amazing! 

Mr. Gorilla sat very patiently watching and waiting for the keeper with his afternoon snack.  He would move his head from side to side looking through the crowds for the keeper.  We didn't get a photo of his hands - they were so human like just BIGGER.  

Mr. Wolf  , ah, Gorilla, what BIG teeth you have!  He isn't roaring just yawning.   Again we are close to Mr. Gorilla but not stupid there is a glass partition between us.

  

 On our way out of Animal Kingdom we caught the parade.  Isn't the Minnie jeep cute?

Our last photo of the day taken on our way out of the park.  The birds are coming in to roost for the evening/night.  

Animal Kingdom closes early - 5 P.M. - way before the other parks.  We were told the reason for that is it takes almost two hours to bring all the animals in for the night.  For lunch we ate at the Tusker House Restaurant - a buffet with delicious food.  We didn't see everything so we will come back another day.  

Hope you enjoyed our tour of Animal Kingdom!  More to come...