Karla's Cottage

A mosaic seashell fairy

We tried a new beach this year, Indian Shores.  While it was relaxing and beautiful, it wasn’t the best location for picking up shells.  But there were tons of teensy ones that I gathered by the scoop full and sorted into dark and light to make a mosaic fairy portrait.

While the Sprite was crafted in a new way, the same heartfelt gratitude for my beach visit went into it.  I loved my short visit at Indian Shores with long walks each morning at the beach’s edge, and laughing with family as we sat in the sand.
 This beach deserved a thank you fairy, no matter how hard it was to find shells.  I was determined.

I wasn’t there long, but was able to divide up my limited time between my sissies and nieces  so that I got some one on one with each.

And we gathered together to watch as many sunsets as we could.


The perfect end to the peaceful days.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ❤️ Hidden Mickies!

Terry and I have had a magical time at Disney World. She indulged my obsession to hunt Mickies too.

(Canada, Epcot)

Some are sneaky.

(Ratatouille, Epcot)

Like this one, very well hidden!

(Frozen, Epcot)

Others are pretty easy to spot. (Ariel, Hollywood Studio)

And some cannot be missed, like this coil of rope.

 (Living with the Land, Epcot)

My little eye spied a lot on that ride, but I didn’t get photos of them all  or on the Nemo ride, it was too dark.

This Mickey is hard to see, but it is lurking there in the deep shadow at Turtle Talk.

And while walking over a bridge at Epcot, I saw this rocky Mickey.

They can often be in signs.

(Figment, Epcot)

I can’t remember where this one is from.  But somewhere in Hollywood studios, maybe?

Instead of a mouse, these are hidden rats, in the wallpaper of the new Ratatouille ride.  Being a new and popular experience, it is very hard to get onto, but we set our alarm to be ready to hit the button to try to get in the virtual queue early in the morning and it paid off.  Six hours later, it was our turn to show up to get in the physical line for 45 minutes till it was time for us to spin around with a kitchen full of rats.  It was a clever ride, but even with ginger tablets, I was kind of dizzy and couldn’t wear the 3D glasses.  

I have seen these leafy Mickies a few times, but didn’t know where they came from.  Today we passed by just as the person sweeping the park finished making it.

Another fun peek a boo, is to look for Cinderella’s horse on the carousel at Magic Kingdom.  It the the one with the golden ribbon around its tail.  There is another horse with spots that form a Mickey, too.

To celebrate the 50 year anniversary, there are 50 golden statues throughout the four parks.  We made a game of finding them all, and doing some of their poses.

I didn’t do a great job of it, but at least I didn’t topple over.  That’s a plus, right?

And some poses were easier than others.

The statues will be there for 18 months, and you can get hints online about where to find them.  Most are pretty easy to see in main flower beds, but a few are in obscure locations, on balconies, poles, or signs.  

And the Mickies are everywhere.  Every time I go, I find more.  This one is on the Jungle Cruise dock.

If you find any good ones, let me know!

 

 

At Disney

I can’t even remember which leg of our multi faceted journey I am on right now.  Whatever number it is, it’s Disney World!  I’m tired, but having a blast.

Terry and I are here together, she made these Minnie costumes for us to wear to the Boo Bash.

We have also attended the fireworks dessert party, looked for hidden Mickies, and tracked down the 50 golden 50th anniversary statues.

And I still have two more days to go.

So for now, it’s time for a handful of my Boo Bash trick or treat candy and an early bedtime. 

Guncle-ween

Leg three of our vacation was a stop at Guncleland, where Randy and Kevin served up a seafood feast in a fall setting.

They know the shrimp boil is always my fave.

Randy says he is in the middle of decorating for Halloween, but to me, it looked like he had plenty done, there were spooky elements all around us.

Including the guest room.   Uhmmm, thanks guys…?

Not all the decor was spooky, some was simply lovely.

It was all a very nice mix.

Marco Island

We are in leg four of our multi-phased getaway.  First Asheville, then an emotional family wedding in Charlotte, Guncle time, now an idyllic rest at the beach watching dolphins from our balcony.

And what do I spy with my little eye?  A sunset wedding below us!

 

 

 

 

I ❤️ The Dog Park

Our city has a magnificent dog park.  Miles of trails through fields and the woods.  Some of the trails are paved, some dirt, some gravel.   Lately, I’ve been lucky enough to find heart shaped rocks in the gravel, like these two little ones.  

I thought it would be cool to use my blue crystal heart as a bowl to collect other rocks in.

This one was in the paved area.

And this little piece of my own heart came running up to me with an exciting greeting.  It’s Wally!  One of Sugar’s babies, and he seemed to remember me.

He lives nearby, in the neighborhood Ryan and I walked through regularly.   There wasn’t a week that went by when Ryan didn’t mention that he hoped we’d run into Wally, who had been one of his faves.  He had actually dog sat this boy for a week for the new owners and was pretty fond of him.

We hadn’t come across this cutey in our many walks, but the week Ry died, his brother took me on a “Ryan Walk” and guess who was there? Wally was out on a walk too!  I am afraid I cried too hard to be able to greet him.  But I made up for it when we ran into him at the dog park.  He got lots of snuggles from me.

In the fall, the bales are harvested in the many fields the trails go through and Molly likes to show off her jumping skills by leaping up onto them. Sugar can also leap into the air, but sees no reason to do it.

Dorothy enjoys the view from way up high, and likes to be sat up there with Molly.  Someone her height doesn’t often get to see the world from this angle.