Day four Animal Kingdom We woke up before the alarm,,,  finished packing…  proceeded with check out, baggage hold, etc. We had heard about the Beignets  at the adjoining resort ,  so we got a shuttle and gave them a try.  Mickey shaped, light and fluffy deep fried and dusted with powdered sugar. Very nice Hopped the bus to Animal Kingdom We  headed to our favorite ride The Safari ride is as real as any Safari ride.  It is a Safari.  There are many animals in this huge area, and we observed about 20 or 30 varieties.    The usual, hippo, rhino. Flamingos, giraffe, and some that I cannot remember the name.  It was amazing. It was a clear day and the driver, Dillon was the best we have ever had. ( Wait time exactly 65 minutes) 30 minutes till the next attraction so we stopped for a bite Darrell got an Asian vegan dish and I got Asian fries ( I have never met a French fry I did not like ) Flights of wonder. Now this is very amazing and it is like a well kept secret.  Not very well attended, but everyone, all ages, got into the excitement.  Colorful birds, low flying birds, a bird that snatches a dollar bill from your hand… and then returns it. It was a little different this year, and always very entertaining. Now, just 10 minutes until “It’s tough to be a bug”. Lots of bugs and “interaction” Time for an ice cream “Mickey” bar for hubby  and for me, a cup of frozen lemonade A new attraction, “Kites”. It is a water show .  There is also some involvement with the audience, the kiddos.  Fun enough to let my grands know about it. ( and no one particularly liked my outfit today ..oh well ) An early getaway because of our flight home, so we did it. Got back, got suitcases, shuttle pulled up and away we went Plenty of time in the airport,  Talked about our agenda and what we might change the next time. Well, not much…except we if we take an extra day or two, we will visit Anna, Roman and Sophia  I live an exciting life

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Day Three

Got off to a good start

BTW... no clock ( maybe on the TV screen, but did not turn it on ) no night lights, no mickey décor )

   BUT... A Bible !   ( in the past few years, very few hotels have them ) 

Coffee in the room…then headed to The Grand Floridian via Magic Kingdom

Nice lady to serve us…. Racquel Welch( she smiled as she told us, well she winked  ).

No celebration for our 50th, but Racquel sent us home with fresh rolls, butter and jam

( instead of the buns we had left over )

I had a waffle and bacon. Darrell had an omelet. Not on the menu, but they always serve it.

Went to the front desk to check out the LL. Lightning lane… thought we understood. Then we are off  to the  Magic Kingdom, Big crowd. It is always the busiest. Happiest. 

This is when we learn, thanks to some tech help,  that there are no fast passes. LL means the same thing, BUT add $15. per day per guest

  And by now it is  10:00, and we had not taken a ride.

 Somehow Grumpy sat on a shoulder. 

The line for Pirates was not too long, so we snagged it. 

Came out to Darrell’s favorite, The Presidents.

Once again, President Kennedy was quoted…

Do not ask what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country.

A good presentation, for sure

Rode the Carousel. My favorite ride

It was pretty cold...I am wearing three layers

Checked out LL…. Some difficulty….

Off to Liberty Square for a turkey leg. We shared it, along with the breakfast rolls and our bottled water. That was the least expensive meal so far $12. !   For a huge leg.

Rode the carousel of progress and then

Looked up Barbara..we  her met on the boat to Disney  Springs and she remembered. 

And at least two people liked my earrings today.

By now my battery is very low and I discovered my charger is dead. Then Grumpy got on another shoulder. Frustrating when a cord or maybe  two are in our room, but not worth taking the time to go get one.

Took pictures at dinner.. Crystal Palace. Including a beautifully decorated dessert platter delivered by Laura ( she escorted us to the table ) and the Chef ( Jack ?) two of each: cups of pudding with Carmel corn on top… special cake, etc AND

Happy Anniversary in gold and butterflies and Mickey in chocolate 

Then back to our resort, but no Bob

Just hung out in the area for a bit and then back to our room to pack.

Tomorrow is a long day

I live an exciting life.

 

Day two

Epcot.

We  ate in our room, it saves time.  And there is a great coffee pot in our room

Bus came quickly and we were in the park before 8:30

Very small crowd

Soarin x 3

Then the Land

This exhibit shows great ways of gardening in small spaces and conserving on water

Stepping outside,...

 it was pouring

We missed the thunder and lightening.

Nemo..

The theatre featuring Pixar= three very good little movies 

Snacking along the way

It is the Flower and Garden show, so there are many venders around the park selling goodies

But the gardens are a great feature 

You get the idea... special flower gardens, in the Disney style 

Ratatouille ride was only a 40 minute wait so we took it

This is the newest ride and later in the day the line was much longer. 

But, 1/2 way through it broke down. Literally. They turned on the lights, came and escorted all of us out of the ride… gave us Lightning passes to come back any time

And we did, just before dinner

But we also visited some of the other countries.

Darrell got his favorite German lunch and I went for Italian.

America… a little more impressive this year.. probably due to the state of our county/ world

Pres. Kennedy. “Ask not what your country can  do for you, but ask what you can do for your country”

A few other reminders of how our nation used to be lead.

Early afternoon the sun came out and soon there was not a cloud in the sky.

But it was cold and windy.

So Darrell went back to our room for our warmer sweaters, etc. It took about 1 1/2 hours. I did some looking around in the clothing / everything store and found shirts for both of us. And a water pitcher….with a garden theme.

While I was shopping I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror….   WHAT ?! While out in the wind, I had taken my cute visor / cap off. Once I got into the store I put it on. Don’t know how long it was…upside down.  

Twice later I got compliments on how cute it was

( that was my only fashion critique today )

OH.. my purchase ! A light peach jacket with deep pockets and in the pocket... a little Bible !   Yes and that confirms to me that it was for me  ♥

Dinner at our favorite French restaurant.. Chef’s of France.

The service was good, but no free dessert.

We shared the full meal special and it was more than enough.

Very cold and windy.. so we stopped at the Scandinavian restaurant for almond pretzels.

Decided to skip the fireworks…we could view a little while waiting for our shuttle.

Bob and the crowd were very crazy good tonight. Even the children, several of them, were marching around the room

OH...we walked over 6 miles today !  

I live an exciting life

 

Day one

But wait... we had to get there...Seattle to Orlando, an early morning flight

We have a favorite place to  park and then shuttle to the airport

On the way, in the shuttle, 

We were chatting with the couple in front of us and I said " God is good"  and the gentleman in front of us said "Yes He is". and a few more comments to confirm that he knew Who he was talking about.

A sweet way to start the day...and it is a long day..  5 or 6 hour flight 

Then on the plane a couple ladies behind Darrell were talking about Esther & Mary Magdalene, and Hannah and... sure enough they knew Jesus too. " Could not live without Him" one said to me. 

So we are ready.

Stepping out of our room at Riverside.

The weather was comfortable,  a quietness in the air...and the view.....  this is what I love 

Hollywood studios

Arrived in good time but it took a long, long time to get through “security”

( remember to pull charger and sunglasses case and hold them high in the air )

On the bus someone told me how to get fast passes.. so we did

First stop. Muppets…

Next. Buz light years

Indiana Jones

Lunch at a favorite   Prime Time Café 

Waiter  Gerome . Did a nice job and we ended up with a free dessert

Lots of congratulations …wearing our Celebrating 50th anniversary.

Our little corner table 

Our celebration dessert 

Then, the picture that we take every year.  But this year there are no more turquoise chairs. Darrell is holding a picture taken about 31 years ago and Damon was sitting in a turquoise lounge chair.  We have many more memories in "that chair" but this year it is "different"  

Then Beauty and the Beast  

While waiting for Darrell, a lady came up and sat by me and told me “You look darling”

( Yellow, bright yellow pants and white top with Minnie and little yellow polka dots on bows at the shoulder...making a note for next trip )

Feeling sleepy and all of our favorites were checked off the list

So back to motel

Rested

Boat to Disney Springs

Shopped

5:15 Boathouse Restaurant

We ate on the patio and had a wonderful view 

  some Disney Spring buildings and several amphibious cars “driving” along on the water.

This is the starting point, just outside our restaurant

Very nice. No free dessert

I had a pasta dish, key lime pie in a mason jar

Back to the resort

Bob was in great form.. announced our 50th and kept the crowd very engaged

He sings, he steps on the piano bench, he plays the harmonica 
all while playing the piano
and
engaging  the audience 

I live an exciting life

Memorial

 Saying goodbye..

but first,  hello...

It must have been about 38 years ago when our little Anita was taking swimming lessons, at the Y, and her teacher, Ann, was getting married.  Ann invited us to her wedding.  Turns out, Ann and her family lived just three houses down the back trail.

The family had connections in Hawaii and there were lots of Orchids.   That is the main memory we have of that occasion

No, these are not orchids,  but i do like to add a picture 

Soon hubby made his way down the path and was able to do some tree cutting.   And more tree cutting.   

Around Easter, he went to the woodpile and there were lots of colored eggs tucked in between the logs.  

The men got pretty well acquainted through the years. But  it was not long ago we heard that our neighbor lost his struggle with hard health issues.

We learned quite a bit at his memorial

Just down the road is a park.  Bridle Trails Park. That is where our neighbor spent many hours watching and helping his girls ride ponies, then horses. 
And, that is where we gathered.

Lots of pictures.   Coffee and treats. 

Then we were seated around the corral.  Our neighbor was a good neighbor.  He was a physician at our nearby hospital.  He loved to garden. He loved to share.  He was fun, positive and cheerful.  He was generous.  

His younger brother, living in Hawaii, sent a tape. Pretty special  to listen to some "stories" about this fun loving and adventurous man.  Oh, and he loved animals.  Collected animals... ducks, then pigeons, then rabbits ( not for long, they kept multiplying) Loved kites. Made them. Model airplanes, the list goes on

 And a few others shared about this special man.

At the end, a tape by the Odle Middle School Orchestra  ( made while his granddaughter was first chair violinist )   Concerto in D- J S Bach

( I am listening to a version right now on Youtube)

We paid our respects  to the family and went home

There was something missing.  His faith.  And that is something I hope to find out.  I have invited his wife to come by, and I hope she will do that, soon.

 

I live an exciting life