I don't go for 57 years, now I have been four times - Disney once again.

This time we planned it around daughters fall break, and got to see Disney's Halloween.
First day we played at a water park, 'Blizzard Beach'.

Yeah! Mickey!















Second day Animal Kingdom.

 This year she had a friend to do a lot of things with.

Looks like the real thing.




















Day three, Hollywood Studios.

 Where she really wanted these stunt drivers autographs.

And we ate at the Italian restaurant that had cupcakes as big as her head.



















Fourth day, Epcot.

 Where we got to visit Mary in England and

. . . make merry in Germany.

We even made a stop in Scotland for veggie haggis (which I didn't know was possible).




















Day five would be Magic Kingdom to celebrate Halloween.

Where it seems Disney was even able to pull off a foggy morning to make the castle look scary.

 Pumpkin Mickey's.

Crowd getting ready for the parade.

(The light show on the castle was fantastic)

Even got to meet her twin.















Back to the water front and Typhoon Lagoon for our next stop. . .

 Where we snorkeled with sharks and. . .

 . .  rays.

And played in the waves.















Last evening after all the water sports we ended in Downtown Disney for toy buying and an Irish Meal

Raglan Road was the place.

 Fish and Chips and a pint for me.

Along with some Irish music and dance.

Again, Disney is in the detail, and there was a great deal of that.

Treat from out West. Michael Haynes art work

Heard from Michael just before we went on vacation, so will catch up here with his latest. (in his words)

I have! Bryan was out here for a few days and we went painting. About an hour apiece. I've attached a couple and a photo Bryan took of me painting one of them.

I was recently awarded a huge contract for doing about 20-25 large paintings of Indian life along the Natchez Trace by the National Park Serv but you know where we are on that. Dead in the water. This is a multi year project that is one of the most significant bodies of work of my career. Those stupid Tea party idiots had no idea what effects their posturing has on all kind of contractors, etc… Of course they don't seem to have any legitimate ideas  regarding what the rest of us might call reality. 

Also had some of my Lewis and Clark paintings open at the Woolaroc Museum ( http://woolaroc.org/) in Oklahoma and, closer to home, an exhibit of 8 paintings I did of the tribes native to Missouri opened at the Mercantile Library 2 weeks ago. Each painting has an associated artifact featured in the painting that is on display beside the painting. I hope to make it home to check that out before it closes.

Mike at work.

(It's gotta be hard going into work with this kind of 'office')

The works. (For my artist friends, Mike said they each took about an hour, remember.)

Mike's brother, Bryan, has had a lot of great stuff going on with his work lately, check it out here.

Bryan at work.

Final harvest

Fall is here, and after a very late start, the plants are about done.
Lots of pumpkins and watermelons. The melons, though small, are very sweet.
We also got some more green beans and tomatoes.
Time to hibernate.

Ketchup time. . .

 As with most of our weekends, we got to spend a lot of time outside again.

Pumpkins are doing great and are ready to harvest.

 We finally have our first watermelons.

And we didn't think the peppers survived the summer, but they to are starting to produce.

 Got out to the cabin a bit also this past weekend.

 While working hard. . .
















I watched this little guy 'running' back and forth along this log.

 Starting at one end.. . .

 . . . and making a lap the whole length of the log and back.

I think he was training for 'Turbo Two'.

 Also got over to brothers and picked chestnuts.
A bumper crop this year.
Having only really picked of off one tree out of two, we already have about fifty pounds.

Life is good.

Happy Birthday Yosemite!! 123

I think it is kinda funny that Google is celebrating Yosemite's 123rd on a day the Republicans are holding us hostage and will probably be closing it down more a little while.

Vernal Falls by Thomas Hill

QS #366 - once more to the Highlands - three hour painting

Photo of painting taken on an  IPAD - size 11x14, acrylic on canvas

Frasier Crane in the new 'Expendables' movie . . . .

As the story says, not only will he complain about the wine with dinner, but will kick your **** also.

Rambo Crane

Darn, I missed the start of series 7 of Foyle's War.

Series Seven

This weekend was. . .

. . . beach time with friends. . .












. . . and first watermelon of the year!

If you know the name of Batman's butler. . . .

. . . but you don't know the last name of the first person to break the four minute mile, this may be for you.

Questions most college students can't answer.

Who is this a picture of?

PS, I got five out the last questions correct.

180 real quick!

One minute, calm and tranquil. . . .
















 . . .  the next, Sixteen Crazy Daisy Girl Scouts!

Praying to be let in?

While checking on mom's garden. . . .

We caught this good lookin' creature trying to get in. . .

Thought to ponder for the day. . .

How does a turtle swat a fly?


Photo from a friend.

'Wild' - A long walk back to one's self.

Just finished reading this. A good book about finding one's way back after a great loss and heart break.

Reads part adventure book (she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail mostly alone) and part reclamation of a life in turmoil.

Very well written mixing flashbacks and hardships (and good things) while hiking the trail.

It was an Oprah choice book, and Reese Witherspoon has optioned it for a movie.

I would like to know what happened to several of the people mentioned in the book, but that is not to be. Cheryl probably doesn't know either.

A very good read.

Labor Day weekend plus - or - return to bountiful

 A Labor Day weekend with good weather just called for a couple of pool parties, one of which required a good spread of food. . . .

. . . lots of time spent outside playing and doing yard work. . . .

. . . garden at grandma's still doing well . .

 . . . grandma shoulder deep in the tomatoes . . .

 . . . who would have thought okra would have such a pretty flower. . .

 . . . tomatoes have finally started coming into their own. . .

. . . "the Okra is as high as an elephants eye, and it looks like it's climbing clear up to the sky,"


who knows what movie that's from?



Well Okrahoma of course! . . .

 . . . grandma posing with the produce. . .

 . . . really, does anyone want some okra? . . .

 . . . saved a couple of plants for the young one to pick tomatoes from . . .

 . . . that lasted till the first itchy plant and possibility of bugs . . .

 . .  so instead she helped mom plant some flowers along grandma's front walk . . .

 . . . then watering. . .

 . . . okra wasn't the only thing budding . . .

. . . so was the artist in her. . . .

We Won!!!!!!

I don't ever win anything. Well, unless you consider me winning the hand of my lovely wife.

But normally I don't win things. I have never won a car, or the lottery. No free vacations or cases of wine or beer. Nothing, ever.

I don't enter very many things and I don't play the lottery, so that could have something to do with it.

But a week or so ago I sent daughters photo in to a contest at our local steak house and it got picked for their Facebook page for week five (one of several I might add).

So free steak for daddy this week!

I think I found my little lucky charm.