How does your garden grow?

When Spencer and I went to Disney a few weeks ago, we spent a day at Epcot.  The nerd in me was super-excited about Future World and the World Showcase!

{ Love that this hasn't chagned a bit. }

Now, my memories of Epcot as a kid involve Spaceship Earth, a light-up Captain EO visor and Goofy in a space suit.  { For the record, Captain EO is back in all its 1986 George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola glory.  Complete with moon-walking MJ and the original special effects.  Oh my. }

{ Poster cpyright Disney, of course. }

But what amazed me about Epcot this go around was that we were lucky enough to visit during their annual HGTV Flower and Garden Festival.  Given the recent demise of my rosemary, I'm no professional gardener.  But, I figure, I started off buring stuff in the kitchen before I was a halfway decent cook.  I guess you've got to kill a few plants to figure out how not to.

The festival provided inspiration on a multitude of fronts.  First, the topiaries:



{ Minnie's dress is made of begonias! }

{ Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater }

{ Look at sweet little Dopey! }

{ Love the Tick Tock Croc and the plume on Hook's hat }

But as much as I can aspire to a garden like my mom's { or like the pros at Disney, same difference }, we live in a townhouse.  With no yard.  So maybe topiaries aren't in my future.  Besides, if I had topiaries, they'd probably be of the "Eat More Chicken" cows.  Not sure my HOA would like that.  Nor do they like the dead rosemary.

So if I can't pull off an elaborate topiary, and the dead rosemary has to go, how about something a little more along these lines?

{ Maybe this I can do.  Maybe. }

With a little help and encouragement from Mom, I emptied the rosemary's pot and added pea gravel for drainage.

{ Take that, root rot. }

It's no Disney masterpiece, but I transplanted the Creeping Jenny { that somehow survived a winter on the deck } along with a new honeysuckle vine Mom propagated.

With the random Creeping Jenny now on the front porch and my feeling inspired { and again, encouraged by Mom }, we now have two red white and blue planters on the deck, too.

If this 95* weather doesn't kill them and I manage to water regularly, perhaps these will survive the summer!

How does your garden grow?  Any tips for a beginner?

Keys to the (Magic) Kingdom

Growing up in Florida kind of made me a Disney fanatic.  Having resident passes as a kid, we went all. the. time.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are there.  And I've always been intrigued by how they put everything together so seamlessly.  { Or how they manage to tame giant ants. }

{ On the "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids!" playground at Disney's MGM Studios when I was maybe 8 }

But did you know that there is a part of Walt Disney World that 95% of guests will never see?  And that some people think only exists in Disney legends?  Well, I can vouch that the the Utilidors { or "the tunnels", as most Cast Members call them } are definitely real.  Definitely underneath the park, not underground { this is Florida, folks.  Underground = underwater }.  And definitely cool.

As part our recent trip, we went on the "Keys to the Kingdom" Tour.  It started at 9:00, with a requested arrival time of 8:45.  Being the punctual { okay, OCD } person that I am, I did some investigating beforehand.  The park doesn't open until 9:00, so I was all concerned about finding this little Tour Garden where we were supposed to meet our guide.  And as usual, I had no reason to worry.  In true Disney fashion, everything was seamless.  There's a gate for early access, just for tours and appointments {at places like the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique }.  And the cool part was, we were virtually the only people in the park because it wasn't open yet.  It was a great chance for fun photos without the crowds.  If you're ever making appointments for the kiddos or choosing a tour time for yourself, I would definitely recommend those before the park opens.

{ Contrary to popular belief, this is Roy O. Disney, Walt's older brother }

And the tour itself was just so neat!  We had eleven people in our group, and we spent the day learning about all kinds of Disney "magic".  Little things, like how the tree outside the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square has 13 lanterns hanging from it, one for each colony.  And how the address at the Hall of Presidents is 1787, the year the Constitution was ratified.

{ It's all in the details. }

Then there were the hidden Mickeys located throughout the park.  There's an entire book dedicated to it, so we were only shown a few by comparison.  But it's still fun to feel like you're in the know!  Most were placed there by Imagineers as a way to sign their work, but there's one in the Haunted Mansion that was started by Cast Members.  Apparently when an Imagineer stops by they'll undo it... but as soon as they leave the Cast Members will put it back.  Pretty cool!

We took a private ride on the Jungle Cruise.  There's a hidden Mickey in there, and even an homage to disco, but given my recent experience with Tai these guys were my favorite.  : )

Speaking of the Haunted Mansion... I think we saw someone we know. { Or is it knew? }

{ Sorry, Maude.  Couldn't resist. }

Of course you can't take pictures of the infamous tunnels, but honestly they're not that much to look at.  They were designed by Admiral Joe Fowler, and since he was in the Navy... they feel a whole lot like a color-coded submarine.  Each area is painted differently so that you know what's above you.  There are all sorts of secrets under there... things that shape your experience up above.  But things I won't spoil for you. : )

If you're at all interested in what goes into a Disney Park experience, I would highly recommend the Keys to the Kingdom tour.  It was well worth it and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Just A Sneak Peek

Yesterday, it was the Magic Kingdom...

Today, the world! { Well, more like Epcot. Or Hollywood Studios. }

Tag... you're it!

I love fun surprises!  On Monday, Erin { a sweet friend and fabulous old roommate who's currently living the sunny life in California } tagged me in a quiz post she wrote.  As a relative newcomer to the blog world, I've never done one of these sorts of things.  And apparently rules apply.  { Emily Post, honey.  Get with it.  I need a guidebook to this Internet etiquette thing. }

So, without further ado { and no, it's not "adieu"... that's French for "goodbye" }, let the randomness commence!

If there was an extra hour in your day, what would you spend it doing?
OK.  I'm only on question number one and this is already hard.  I can't make up my mind, so we'll go with what I'd do today.  If I had an extra hour right this very moment, I'd probably use it to bake something.  I was on the road almost every week in October, so I haven't had time lately to play with all of the fun fall recipes I want to try!

What movie have you watched the most?

If I'm honest, this one is unbelievably strange and embarrassing to admit.  Growing up in our house, we watched Mrs. Doubtfire about a hundred thousand times.  No, seriously.  We wore out the VHS tape.  And we still quote it.  { "Virginia!  Get back in your cell.  Don't make me get the fire hose!" }  I guess it's kind of like the play count on my iPod.  I haven't seen the movie in forever, but I've watched it so much in the past it's still on top.

Which is worse? Being in a place that is too loud or too quiet?
If I had to choose, I'd rather have somewhere that's too quiet than somewhere that's too loud.  I'm like a kid with shiny objects when it comes to being easily distracted.  The more I try to block something out, the more I can't seem to stop thinking about it.

Are you generally an optimist, a pessimist or a realist?
If you know me, then you already know the answer to this question. : ) Optimist.  All the way.  Here's my train of thought: everything is going to be okay because, well, I don't like the alternative!

Who is your favorite celebrity crush?
Gleek alert.  Mr. Schuester, aka Matthew Morrison.  He's just so stinkin' cute!  { But not as cute as my husband, of course. } That, and I secretly wish my life spontaneously broke out into song.

What is the top thing to do on your bucket list?
I actually have a Bucket List I've been working on for a while now.  For here, I'll go with one of no particular stature in the list, other than that I think it might be kind of unique and I'm going to need some help making it happen.  I would love to be an Imagineer at Disney for a day or a week or really just like an hour.  And I'm dying to go underground at The Magic Kingdom.  I figure I can combine the two somehow.  Does anyone know an Imagineer that might be willing to let me tag along for a day?  I'll gladly return the favor if they like Chick-fil-A! : )

Would you rather be a great photographer, dancer or singer?
When I was four, I got the greatest Christmas present ever.  { Or maybe it was a birthday present.  It's hard to keep them straight when your birthday is actually on Christmas Day.  Anyway, I digress. }  Behold, the STAR STAGE.  We're talking a working microphone, voice synthesizer, and the all-important flashing stage lights.  I played with this thing until I'd Steven-Tylered it across my fireplace "stage" one too many times and the mic would no longer attach to the base.  The living room was my arena and I thought I was Gem with the Holograms singing backup.  Suffice it to say, I wish I could sing.  I mean really sing.  I did musical theater in high school, I sing in the ensemble at church now... but I've always sort of been the backup girl. : )

Now for the fun part.  To the five friends below, now it's your turn.  Let me know if you find Emily Post or her Internet Guide to Etiquette. : )

• Katie at Gamble's Rambles
• Ashley at Healthy, Happier Bear
• Amy at All is Wells
• Courtney at Daily Tales of Sugar & Spice
• Janelle at The Sweet & Interesting Moments

And here are your questions...

• What's the last book that you read?  Was it any good?
• If you could tell your sixteen-year-old self anything, what would it be?
• What is your biggest pet peeve?
• If you were a Muppet, who would you be?
• When you were young, what did you want to be when you "grew up"? { And of course we know we're not grown up yet, are we ladies? }

3... 2... 1... go!