Downtown Disney

Life is beginning to return to normal as much as it can anyway.  Mum and Dad are settling into a routine and are managing really well with the new medication regime.  Dad is not quite up to driving yet but that will come and in the meantime I am happy to collect any shopping they need.  Both the gardens are in need of some TLC so my husband and I hope to get out into ours today and my parents at the weekend providing the weather remains good.  We have had some beautiful spring like days this week, long may that last.  We are a little behind this year with seeds so we really do need to get on with it.  I have had a massive de-clutter of my wardrobes and spent the day trying outfit after outfit on to see if it still fits.  The biggest surprise were my shoes and how loose they feel.  We have decided to stand at a car boot sale and try to sell some of my things, the car boot season locally starts at Easter.  Spring cleaning of the house remains on the back burner for the present, maybe next week.  I also have the mammoth task of de cluttering the craft room.  I am very pleased to say that I have been a good girl and not returned from America with a suitcase of fabric and yarn like usual.  I was very restrained and committed to my resolution of not buying anymore.  The only fabric bought was the Mickey Mouse fabric needed for Wilbur's quilt.  How I restrained myself in those amazing shops is a real miracle.  How are you getting on with the resolutions you made?

Today I thought I would share my outing to Downtown Disney.  We didn't visit the Disney parks this time but still needed a Disney fix, consequently we had a lovely stroll to Downtown Disney, the Boardwalk and the Yacht and Beach Club resort.  The Downtown area is under a massive reconstruction programme, so a lot of work is being done.  It will be fun to finally see the end result, I believe it is due to be finished Spring 2016.  There are plans on boards everywhere and it looks delightful.

New this time were the food trucks which appeared to offer food from all over the world.

The T Rex restaurant is still a popular place to be and loved by all ages, we love the dinosaur factory in there where you can make your own, give it a heart and dress it up.  I love the concept and would love to do it for my Grandchildren, maybe one day...

The Christmas store  remains a favourite place for me to wander but once again I was able to restrain myself.  I already have enough to open a shop of my own so don't need to buy anymore.  I must admit I really was tempted.

The beautiful décor in the main shop is still breath taking and leaves a lasting impression for you to savour.  I did buy a few trinkets in there for my Grandchildren, they are all Disney fans.

The flowers as always were a feast for the eyes with some truly beautiful planters everywhere you looked.  Disney do the gardens so well, wherever you are.

Finally I will leave you with a glimpse at the train running around the tracks in the rafters of the toy shop, now that is something we really did want to bring back for the children.

I now have the mammoth task of scrapbooking all these wonderful memories to share with my family.  There really isn't enough hours in the day.

 

See you soon.

 



Historic Downtown Kissimmee

Florida has so much to offer, much more than theme parks and beaches.  You would need to go on holiday for months to experience it all.  This holiday we tried to take in some of its history and took a walk to the historic town of Kissimmee.  As we parked the car the first thing that took our attention was a bench dedicated to the memory of Bette Sprinkle.

A short stroll brings you to the monument of States, an imposing monument with some amazing artefact embedded in the stone.

Another short stroll will bring you to a wonderful park and a garden of Rememberance.

A fitting tribute to the fallen and overlooking a beautiful lake with some amazing wildlife.  A walk around the town reveals some wonderful sculptures and a wonderful array of artwork on buildings.

The prices of the sculptures were out of my league but interesting to look at none the less.

I was impressed with the heart of steel, it spoke to me.

The art work certainly made for an interesting walk, as did the antique centre and the history of the hardware store.

Historic Downtown Kissimmee had lots to offer including a wonderful traditional diner which of course we had to try.

 

I had great fun last night sharing some of my holiday snaps with my parents and catching up with each other properly.  My father is now out of hospital, still a little frail needing extra care and medication but his spirits are good.  A busy day ahead catching up with some household tasks and then down to sit with Dad for a couple of hours, I still have lots of holiday adventures to share with him.  He has a passion for travel and loves Florida himself having visited many times, it is one of our favourite places to visit.  Have you got a favourite holiday spot?

 

See you soon.

Thundering Spirit Family PowWow

Whilst holidaying in Florida I had the honour of attending a Thundering Spirit Family PowWow.  A beautiful event which encompasses native crafts, food, music and dancers.  A truly wonderful, uplifting and spiritual gathering that I thoroughly enjoyed.

There were some beautiful craftwork on sale.  I tried my hand at weaving which I found quite therapeutic, the lady had the patience of a saint and seemed to enjoy sharing her talent.  There was certainly a lot to see and admire.

I was honoured to meet the storyteller and spend some time with him as he told me a story.  It was an experience that I will never forget and left me exhilarated.  The grand entry was a sight for sore eyes, one that honoured the flag and veterans which was not allowed to be photographed but believe me it was a beautiful sight.  The tribal and intertribal dancing was another highlight.

A truly inspirational day and wonderful to meet some lovely people who were willing to share there way of life with us and include us in there celebration.  Iron Turtle said "there is no wrong step to dancing, only the step that doesn't join in".  That really touched me and I was honoured to join in there dance...

 

I am doing a little dance of my own at the moment but patience is a virtue.  Dad has lost 2 stone since the onset of this last flare up of illness, he has had a scan to establish if there are any other underlying problems we are awaiting the results.  He is able to breathe without an oxygen mask now and is being weaned from the steroids.  It is such a lovely feeling to know that other people are thinking about us and that we are in your prayers, I thank you wholeheartedly for that.  I am still trying to catch up with you all, I am on the computer in between hospital visits which is an hour away and catching up with household jobs and family.  Have a restful Sunday.

 

See you soon.

 

The Wanderer Returns

I am back from Florida, a mixed holiday of pleasure and worry.  As we reached our hotel we were contacted by our daughter to let us know that my Father had been rushed into hospital and was seriously ill.  We kept in touch constantly by phone but it is not the same as seeing the person, so I was quite relieved to get home and to the hospital to see him for myself.  He is now on the mend and we are hopeful he will be allowed home soon.

It was also a mixed bag of weather over in Florida, some really cold days, where coats and scarves were needed.  Not at all what we had imagined.  The sun however never let us down, it always shined through brightly if not warm.

Despite our worries we did manage to get out and about and enjoy some precious moments.  Several of our activities centred around Mount Dora one of our favourite places to be.  We enjoyed the antique extravaganza and had a ball looking for vintage buttons and patterns to add to my collection.

There was stall after stall with some real delights, a feast for the eyes.  I could have bought so much had I been able to get it all back.  I did manage to get quite a few bits and pieces, which I will share with you at a later date.

Mount Dora has so much to offer, with a beautiful town centre and lots of inviting shops to wander around.  The bench outside a craft/gift shop made my husband and I smile...

We also took a moment to step back in time and enjoyed the round trip between Tavares and Mount Dora on the Orange Blossom Cannonball steam locomotive, which has been featured in over 20 movies and TV shows.  It really was a thrilling experience!

We also managed to catch up with some friends and met at the English tea room for afternoon tea.  It was lovely to meet up and chat with Jan and Don.  Good food and good company, not enough time.

They are coming over to the UK in September so hopefully we will be able to catch up again, for a longer visit.  The tearoom was a real delight with some beautiful vintage cups/saucers and British memorabilia.  A feast for all the senses.

 

I will continue with my holiday update later as I must get ready to visit my Dad.  I will catch up with you all when I can.  Have a great weekend.

 

See you soon.