Stitching deja vue

Ink Circle's Celtic Mystery-Stitch-along
Stitched on Silkweaver - Karma
28 ct. Jobelan
using DMC floss

So as I posted last time, I had to pull out almost all of the right fish looking corner because I can't add.  Funny thing... I had to do it twice.  But I finally got it straighten out.  Also, since I was ripping out thread, I decide to redo the blue on the upper left corner.  The original blue that is suppose to go there is an lighter blue but it faded into the fabric.  So I decide to use only one blue since the pictures don't look like there is a difference in the blues.  I have completed 4-1/2 of the 18 different charts that make up this piece.  I am loving the work and the colors.  I hope to post more progress by the end of this week.


Also, I completed two patterns on Michelle's afghan.  The first was the Nooks and Crannies Square by Sally Ives and the second was the Apple Blossom Time pattern designed by Bonnie Pierce.  The Nooks and Crannies Square was fun to crochet.  I kept having to redo because I would lose track of where I was in the pattern but it was a fun pattern to do.  It turned out beautiful.  The I decided to try the Apple Blossom Time again.  At first I didn't want to do the apple blossom time because it called for E, F, & G hook; I was using K.  But, then I moved to the I hook for several of the patterns because the K was too large.  So, I tried again.  The Apple Blossom Time turned out beautiful. I now have 4 more squares to do for this afghan: (1) the Fisherman's Ring, (2) Early Harvest Square, (3) Basic Granny Square, and (4) Picots, Picots, Picots!  When I finish these squares, I will start on the squares for the Sunflower Afghan.  I can't wait to put Michelle's afghan together.  I am thinking of entering it into the Mississippi State fair this year.  We will see.

Nooks & Crannies

Apple Blossom Time

Well, got to hit the road.  Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the read.

Sharon

Plastic Canvas complete (well almost)

Welcome.  I finally finished all of my plastic canvas (well almost all) on February 10th.  First up is the Reindeer.  I finished him on the 6th.  He is very cute but has a funny nose.

Large Santa

On Sunday the 9th, we had two birthday parties.  My nephew Tyler who is 4+1 (5 but not 5) had a present opening party.  (He doesn't want to turn 5 because he doesn't want to go to school).  Then our friend Theresa had a stitching party for my sister Jennifer's birthday.  At the party, I finished the big Santa, the small snowman, the pilgrim, and the angel.  Then I realized that I didn't have a small Santa.  So, I created my own small Santa using others (like the witch and leprechaun) as my guide.  On Monday, I colored the fabric covered wire black and made all of the smiles.  The almost part is I need to get an orange marker to color the fabric to make the smiles & whiskers for the cat and the spider.  Also, I am waiting on Bridget to finish cutting out the Uncle Sam so I can stitch it.

The Snowman, Pilgrim, & my Santa

all of the Holiday Magnets

Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long
DMC Floss on

Since all of the current projects were finished, I pulled out another project from the box.  And the winner is ... Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long.  I actually started this project in March 2008 (when they release the first piece).  But, I didn't get very far.  When I picked it up this time it looked like the picture here.  Well, I worked on it all week last week and this weekend.  Then I spent all of Sunday and Monday pulling out what I had put in for the upper right hand corner.  I started stitching on it last night and redid all that I had pulled out.  I will post again on Saturday what I have completed then.  Also, I am still working on squares that are for Michelle's afghan.  My sister-in-law, Katie, helped me figure out the Fisherman's Ring Square so I will work on it this week.  Tonight "we bowl".  So I am going to work on the granny squares.

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the visit.

Sharon

Week 5 - Icy Weather begats progress

 As you may know, last week was a wash here in the south.  We had 2 inches of ice, not snow.  I basically spent Tuesday and Wednesday in the bed with the cats watching movies and working on my plastic canvas.  Why in the bed?   Why else? and because it was the warmest spot in my house.  I watched all 3 Mummy movies, all of the Twilight movies, all of the Bourne movies, as well as, Hansel & Gretel.  I started the Harry Potter series but only made it through the first 2.

Easter Duck Plastic Canvas
Leisure Art

On Tuesday I finished the duck, basically.  I still need to get a yellow feather to attach to it.  Other than that, I am finished.  This one was pretty quick to finish.  Everything was either yellow or orange.  My sisters and Liz thought it was cute.

Hat
Pattern by Red Heart
Light Raspberry Yarn

On Tuesday night, I realized that I didn't have a hat.  Why you ask?  Well, I don't really look good in hats besides why would I need a hat in the south.  It never gets cold.  (Yeah, right). So after I finished the duck I went looking for some yarn and a pattern.  I choose the Red Heart light raspberry yarn.
The pattern was a pattern that was on a band of Red Heart yarn.  It was a really quick crochet.  (I finished it in less than an hour).  I wore it to bed for the next 3 nights until the temperature warmed.  The picture I took of myself looks like my Wii U Avatar.  (that's really funny).

Easter Bunny
Leisure Arts
Plastic Canvas

I started the bunny on Wednesday and finished it on Thursday.  My mom likes the bunny the best so far.  So on Thursday, I actually got up and cleaned a little in the house.  I cleaned my room, the hall, and the bathroom.  The cats decided it was time to go outside (that mean old vacuum was making too much noise).

On Friday, I took my mom to Walmart in Hattiesburg.  Big mistake.  As my friend Jenny said,"People are going to be out and about on Friday because they can't stand staying home another minute." AND it was the end of the month, so people were getting their regular end of the month supplies.  When she was finish shopping, I took her home and went to meet Liz at her house.  We went to Hattiesburg and had lunch at Longhorn's.  I had the baby back ribs (umm umm good).

Saturday was spent cleaning my office.  Well, it was spent straightening up my craft boxes and labeling them.  I bought another 2 x 3 cubicle shelf from Target.  (I put it together the night before.  As usual, tools and I don't get along.  I used the wrong dowel when putting it together.  So I used the pliers to pull out the dowel but I ripped a hunk of skin off my finger first.  Note: when I was younger I wasn't allowed to use a butter knife because I cut myself with one.)  But since it is just me I put the shelf together by myself.  I put all of my crochet yarn in it.  You would think that it wasn't a lot of yarn but it actually is quite a bit.

Happy Clusters Granny Square
Amethyst by Red Heart Yarn

Saturday night, I worked on another square for Michelle's afghan.  The square is called the Happy Clusters Granny Square.  It was really simple and turned out really pretty.  I thought the other two that I have completed were 7" by 7" but they are 6" by 6".  So, think I will go around them one more time with a green.  Break up all that purple when I put the square together.

Week 4 Progress

Mario
made with Red Heart Yarn
Pattern by WolfDreamer

Welcome back.  Here is what I did last week.  First up is the return to Mario.  I left Mario (without eyes) on my nephew's bed.  He was helping his mom in the yard.  Well I finally bought the eyes and put them on the Mario.  I love the end results but he is a lot of work (not as much as Yoshi).  Even though my nephew is a teenager, I think he really liked the Mario.  Maybe he can use it in one of his movies. Or maybe it will just sit on the shelf.  Either way, I think he liked it.  If anyone is interested in making the Mario, here is the website I used. She has many more cartoon amigurumi patterns for free.

Leprechaun & Duck
Red Heart Yarn
Pattern by Leisure Art

The next project that was pulled was the Holiday Stick ups.  I spent two days cutting out the pieces from the plastic canvas.  I now remember why they were put away.  I ended up having to ask my sister Bridget to cut out the last two characters because I had wasted two plastic canvases.  Sometimes I am so smart.  I left the pattern book with her to do the cutout.  So where does the "smart" come in?  When I sat down at my house to work on my leprechaun and realized that I didn't have a pattern to follow.  Thank goodness for technology.  In the past I would have had to wait until I saw her again to get the pattern.  Instead, I had her send a text with the pattern in it.  I finished the leprechaun pieces on Saturday.  On Sunday Jennifer had our monthly stitching group at her house where I put together the leprechaun and started the Easter duck.  While there I had an idea.  The Leisure Art book does not have a 4th of July pattern.  So I asked Bridget to cut out two bodies of the leprechaun but make the hat a top hat.  I'm going to try to make one of my own.  I will post a picture when I finish it. 

Oh yeah, today we are out of school for snow (which is sleet right now).  So I hope to finish the duck and the bunny today.   I have to finish the feet and bill and one wing on the duck.

Tilted Square
Amethyst by Red Heart
pattern by unknown

As you know I have been crocheting granny squares at bowling.  The granny squares are for Michelle's afghan.  Well I have completed two of the nine different squares I am going to do.  I am crocheting 7 of each of them.  The first one that I completed was the Tilted Square.  I using a K hook and purple yarn for all the squares.  The second square is called Pretty Pebbles Square.  As usual, I actually had to re-crochet 1/2 of several of these squares.  The pattern has a single crochet row, every other row.  If you put two single crochet rows together (which is what I did) the bubbled areas switch to the other side.  Next I was planning on working Wednesday on the next pattern but with this snow we may not bowl.  I guess I will crochet on the 3rd pattern at home.

Pretty Pebbles Square
yarn is Amethyst by Red Heart
pattern by Melissa R. Majewski

Well I am going to go curl up the with cats on the couch, work on my Holiday Stick Ups, and watch The Librarian: Quest for the Spear and The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines.  Thanks for stopping by.  Keep warm

Sharon

Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland Complete!

I really enjoy cross-stitching patterns like Bent Creek Summer Snapperland.  The patterns contain a theme and are easy to stitch.  I have stitched several series like this one.  I have completed Bent Creek's Red Thread Series, the winter snapperland and Snapperville.  I generally use hand-dyed fabric but regular DMC floss.  Sometimes I use the recommended specialty thread, if there is a large piece to cross stitch.


As for my project, I pulled out the parts of Mario that I have started.  I had completed both hands and the mustache.  I had part of the hat, part of the head, and part of the body started.  On Tuesday, I started working on Mario.  I thought about taking it to bowling because last week at bowling, when I crocheted I bowled well (134) for me.  When I was playing games on my cellphone, I did horribly (90).  I didn't take him though, rather I crocheted squares for Michelle's afghan.  I finished crocheting all of the pieces on Saturday and started putting Mario together.  I lost the mustache and his hair.  After I attached the newly crocheted mustache, I found the old one in the trash.  How it got there I do not know.  I still haven't found the hair.

So here is the almost finished version.  I need to attach the eyes.  But I need to buy some at Hobby Lobby.   Look at him, he turned out cute!  Tomorrow I will get some eyes for him, then completely finish him.  I left him for Patrick at MawMaw's.





The next cross stitch project that I am going to work on is the Ink Circles Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long from 2008- 2009.  I really like this series, the bold and bright colors.  The geometric shapes.  It appeals to the mathematician in me.  I don't know why it has taken me so long to finish it, but this year is the year.  I will spend an hour each day working on this and the rest of the evening on the next project from the box.  I hope to finish it soon.   Here is a picture of what I have completed so far.





Once I finished Mario, I pulled out another project from the box.  I am to complete the Holiday Stick-Ups.  They are plastic canvas holiday characters.  There are 8 characters: Love Bug, Leprechaun, Easter Duck, Easter Bunny, Witch, Turkey, Reindeer,& Santa.  I have completed the Love Bug, Witch, and Turkey already.  Today I have been cutting out the pieces for the rest of the characters while playing Wii U Mario with Theron and Skylander Swap Force with Leif.  I hope to finish them this week (Week #4).  These are fun to stitch since you only have to do half cross-stitches.  To the left is a picture of one of the characters I have completed.


Well got to go.  I need to go to play Skylander Swap Force with Leif.  He is getting between me and the computer to talk.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Week #1 - 2 Completed projects

Liz's scrubbie on booklet

Welcome.  Here are the first projects that I have completed this year.  First up are the leaf -shaped scrubbies that started my amigurumi obsession of last year.  The pattern comes from Lily's Sugar'n Cream Eco-Kitchen booklet from 2009.  I crocheted 7 of these scrubbies (1 for my mom, 1 for my friend/cousin Liz, 1 for each sister, 1 for each sister-in-law and 1 for me.)  They turned out cute.  I didn't put the veins on the leaves because I thought that it wouldn't last long if the girls actually used them.  I had some yarn left over, so I crocheted an acorn-shaped dishcloth.  Well of course I ran out of yarn before I finished the dishcloth.  But, it looked like an acorn so I just tied off and tucked the ends.

-

Three scrubbies for Mom, Katie, and me

The acorn-shaped dishcloth

Tyler in his new hat

Week 2,  I pulled Tyler's hat.  During Christmas holidays I was working on an elephant for my cousin Pam's granddaughter.  Well Tyler put it on his head; it looked like a hat.  Bridget saw him and asked me to crochet Tyler a hat.  She bought the orange yarn and I crocheted him the hat. I really don't like this yarn because it sticks to your skin (especially if it is dry).  But it is a warm yarn.

Side view of the hat

Tucker in his hat

Then on the way home the night I gave Tyler his hat, Tucker tried it on.  Guess what?   You guessed it,  Tucker wanted a hat also.  Thursday evening Bridget gave me the yarn.  I dropped the hat off to Tim (her husband) at work on Friday.  Both hats are really cute and warm,




So, last night I pulled the next slip of paper.  It is crochet Mario for Patrick.  Most of these projects are already started or I have the supplies for them.  Well this one I have already crocheted Mario's head and arms.  Basically, I have the body and feet left to crochet then put it together.  I hope to finish it next week.

While doing all of this crocheting, I am working on a cross stitch project.  It is Bent Creek's Summer Snapperland.  I love these patterns they are quick and simple.  I should have finished it last year but I got sidetracked.  I have the sailor and the boat to finish on the 3rd pattern and 1/2 of the forth pattern and the border (plus the buttons and snaps).  But I hope to finish it in January.

Well, I need to finish cleaning the house before I can sit down and stitch while I catch up on Supernatural.  Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

2013 in Review

Well I didn't think that I accomplished that much last year.  In actuality, I didn't accomplish all that I had planned to complete, but I did do more than I thought.  So here we go.  I will break them up as Crochet and Cross-Stitch Projects:

Cross-Stitch Projects:
- Lizzie Kate's ABC Snippets (all 4 seasons)
- Scottie Dog for Vercher
- Treasure Map (Wild West) for Mari
- Lavender Myst (all but the cut work which my friend Teresa is doing)

Crochet Projects:
- Mari's Afghan
- Bunnies (1 for church sale, 1 for my mom)
- Mario for Tucker
-A herd of  Hippos (rainbow colored; yellow, blue & green; pink, blue & white; large fuzzy yellow, large fuzzy pink; pink; blue)
- A pride of lions (2 regular, 1 with green ears, and a little pink one)
- 2 yoshi's
- A flock of elephants (1 fuzzy orange, 1 fuzzy yellow, pink, blue)
- 2 chuthulus
- 1 Amazon girl
- 1 Ninja (repair)
- 1 grim reaper

Before the new year, I spent the week between Christmas and New Year cleaning (like spring cleaning) my house.  Every started project that I found I wrote down on a list.  Then my sister Bridget and I were talking about unfinished projects.  She gave me an idea.  I wrote each project down on a slip of paper and put them in a jar.  The idea is that I pull out a slip of paper and complete the project on the slip of paper.  My brother-in-law Tim joked about what do you do if you choose the project you don't want to do.  I told him they were all projects that I don't want to do otherwise they would be complete.  So the list of projects is in the column on the right.  The first slip that I pulled was complete the leaf shaped scrubbers that started the whole amigurumi craze.

My goal this year is to do a better job of posting on my blog.  I plan on posting once a week.  I hope to post progress on the projects.  Right now when I finish this I am going to work on the scrubbers and the Summer Snapperville that I have been working on recently.

Well, thanks for stopping by.  As I said, see you next week.  I'm off to stitch and crochet.

Sharon

Mario, Autumn, & a Scottie

 So in the last week I have finally finished one of my many projects that is on my list for this year (and last).  I've been avoiding doing the crocheted Mario (Pattern by Linda Potts) for my nephew Tucker because there were so many parts.  Well, I haven't finished it completely.  I need to add the eyes and buttons.  So here is a picture of the Mario.  He turned out really cute.  Now I have to make one for Patrick and WaLuigi for Tyler.

Crocheted Mario

Tucker with his Mario

Mario chasing the Mushrooms on Tucker's Wall

 Another finish this week was the Lizzie Kate's Autumn ABC's Snippet.  The pumpkin was stitched using specialty thread.  Now I need to finish the Winter ABC's Snippet.

 I finished this one Friday.  It is a JBW Designs named Scottie Dog designed by Judy Whitman.  I stitched it on white linen using DMC Black.  Jennifer and I are going to make it into a pillow for my friend Sharon Vercher.

This month Jennifer, Bridget, and I are going to a stitching retreat in Oklahoma.  I can't wait to go.  I really don't know what all I am going to take with me.  I'm going to take my Lavender Myst, Tiramisu, Celtic Mystery Stitch-a-long, and maybe some new projects.  I am getting very excited.

Right now I am working on TWO Yoshi's.  One is for Tucker and one is for Michelle.  Then Tyler asked for a WaLuigi.  I have a Luigi pattern by Linda Potts but I will have to change the colors to make a WaLuigi.

Well got to go eat supper.  Thanks for stopping by my blog.  I hope you enjoyed reading it.

Sharon

My Birthday Finish

Lizzie Kate's Summer ABC's Snippet

Yesterday was my birthday.  My cousin Liz took me out to Olive Garden for dinner.  We had a great time.  I had Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo while she had the Chicken Alfredo Pizza.  We had the Lemon Creme Pie for dessert.  Yummy!

Afterwards we went back to her house and watch tv.  I had finished about half of this the night before.  I stitched it on 16 ct Aida using the recommended DMC floss.  The difference here is that I used Mill Hill beads for the seeds in the watermelon rather than french knots.  I was going to use black beads but I don't have any (surprising).  So I used dark blue ones.

Today is the first day of my summer class.  I will be teaching College Algebra in the month of June.  Wish me and my students luck.  There is a lot of material for 16 days of class.  But I am ready to get it started.

Well got to go get dressed for class.  Thanks for stopping by

Sharon

Quick Stitch

Lizzie Kate's Spring ABC's Snippet

So after finishing Wild West (or Treasure Map),  I needed to stitch something simple.  So I started this pattern Tuesday evening.  I had finished it by Wednesday evening.  I used DMC floss as per the pattern for the letters and the egg at the bottom.  I used Crescent Colours; Tangerine for the carrot.  The fabric used was natural Aida, 16 count.  

At the moment I am pulling thread for the Summer sequel to this one.  I was going to used one hand dyed thread on each of the 4 patterns but the summer one doesn't have a big enough area to call for hand dyed thread.

Also, I have two new additions to my family.  I got two kittens from my brother and his wife.  Here they are:

Esmeralda

Periwinkle

Aren't they the cutest.  Well Esmeralda (or Cinderella as Leif calls her) is the vocal one.  Periwinkle (or Starlight as Leif calls her) is the adventurous one.  I love having them until 7am when they wake me up plundering.  They are very loving.

Well, thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed reading my post (or at least looking at my pictures).

Sharon

Wild West Finished!! Finally!!

So here is the history behind this pattern.  As I previously stated, my sister-in-law Mari wanted this pattern.  The problem is she doesn't stitch very quickly.  My sister Bridget said "Go ahead and get it.  Sharon will stitch it for you."  Well that was late 2006 or early 2007.  The following pictures are the progression of the pattern through the years.

4/7/2007

So first up is a picture from 2007.  I think I started the pattern Easter weekend but am not sure.  This is the first picture I have of the pattern.  I had also blogged on 4/7/2007 about starting the project.  I wrote about how easy this project would be since I had finished half of the 3 large pieces.  Boy was I wrong.













This picture was posted in March 2008.  Notice that the new stuff is the bottom half of the miner.  This pattern was very difficult because you changed colors a lot.

1/12/2012

Then in January 2012 I decided to do the 24 pattern challenge (12 new projects & 12 old projects).  So here is what I had completed between 3/2008 and 1/2012. Not a whole lot of new stuff was stitched.  I worked on this project through out 2012 but there were a lot of little areas with several color changes.  It took longer than I planned.

Finally in 2013, I made the decision to complete all started project.  Here is what the project looked like in January 2013.  I started working only on this project.  Which is hard because I really didn't want to work on it.  So instead of cross-stitching, I crocheted instead.  I finished my sister-in-law Mari's afghan (see post First Finish of the Year).

3/20/2013

This is what I had completed in March.  I should have completed the entire project by the end of March but again I was being lazy.  The only things left are the stagecoach and the cow skull at this point.  Well, I continued to work on it for the next two months (mainly the last two weeks) and have finished it.














And ta-da.  It is now complete.  I have washed and ironed it.  I will give it to Mari tonight.  She is planning on framing it and put it in the boys room when they finish building it.  So it took me 6 years and 2 months to finish this project.  I am so glad it is done.

Completion Date: 5/21/2013
Pattern: Treasure Map #015-0234 by Janlynn
Designed by: Diana Thomas
Copyright 2006

Thank you for stopping by.

Sharon Clark

Nearly Completed UFO

This is the Wild West kit that my sister-in-law Mari bought for her son Theron when he was 3.  I told her that I would stitch it.  Well, he is 9 now.  So, I thought I needed to finish it before he outgrew it.  I  have made great progress.  As I completed a section of stitching, I also completed the backstitching.  I have a large red stage coach, a cow skull left, and the coast line of California to complete with less than 1/4 of the border.

It is looking great.  I can't believe it is almost finished.  I hope to finish it this weekend.  My brother and Mari are planning to finish  building the boys room (Theron & Leif) upstairs this spring.  I want to finish and frame it so the picture can hang on the wall in their new room. 

Next big project to finish is the Rose of Sharon.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Books, Books, and more Books

Hello,

So last weekend I was cleaning up my room and decided to organize my pile of books.  When I finish gathering all of the unread books in my house, I had a stack of 55.  (My friend Cheri called me a light-weight).  I decided then that I would spend less time in front of the TV (since nothing worth watching is ever on; and if it is I let the DVR recorded it to avoid commercials), and spend more time reading.  So I started in week six of the year.  If I read a book a week, which is possible for most of the books,  I could wipe out the majority of what I have by the end of the year.  That is, if I don't buy any new books.

So, I went to Paperback Swap and put every book on my TBR list (To Be Read).  As I finish each book I will move it to my read list and then post it for swapping.  I wonder how many I will get through this year.

I really loved to read but I haven't read a whole lot this past decade.  My main reason for not reading was my Ph.D. that I was working on.  I felt guilty reading for pleasure when I was suppose to be reading for my dissertation.  Well, at the end of April last year, I made a decision to stop working on my Ph.D.  for three reasons.  Reason 1, I was on my 3rd major professor and my new major professor was like my 1st major professor; it took him several months to read and critique what you had sent him.  Reason 2, I had pretty much reached my limit and would have to start all over.  Finally, Reason 3, my research was old and dated and had been proven already by others.  So,  now I am actually very happy and less stressed.

I plan on relaxing more this year while completing projects in cross stitching, crocheting, and scrapbooking.  If you look at my UFO Challenge for 2013, I have several projects that I have been working on for years.  I am ready to be finished with these projects.  Well, got to go.  My nephews are playing BanjoKazooie on the X-Box and are having trouble.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon  

First Finishes of the year

The first project to be finished this year was Mari's afghan.  I finally finished it last Sunday.  I think it ended up taking 14 skeins of yarn to finish it.  If I had followed the directions to make it at first, it would have made a rug for the living room.  The pattern said to crochet 358 chains. The pattern is suppose to be 45" by 60".  It turned out to be 54" by 88".  Mari was very happy when I gave it to her.

The second project I finished.  I finished just now.  I completed the Winter Basket from the Lizzie Kate season basket.  I plan on separating them and framing them.  

I hope to finish the 5 projects that I have had started forever.  We will see what happens.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sharon

Sisters Weekend

Hey.  Long Time; No Post!  Sorry, like everyone else, I have been so busy; with what I don't really know.  I don't know where the time goes.

Back story:  Last year at the beginning of October, my entire family, 18 people (ages 2 - 77) went to Disney World.  We had a great time but my sisters and I felt that we missed out on some things.  You know what I mean. For example, older kids who don't want to meet the characters, little kids who need constant monitoring, etc.   So when we came back home, Jennifer, Bridget, and I decided that we were going to Disney World.  Just the three of us.

Art of Animation

So, Columbus Day Weekend we went to Disney World.  Bridget & I drove through the night on Thursday.  We got to out lodging (Art of Animation) around 6am.  Our rooms were ready, so we went to our rooms, bathe, and changed.  We drove over to Animal Kingdom.  We had a great time seeing the shows like "Finding Nemo - the Musical" and riding rides like "Expedition Everest" (yes Bridget and Jennifer rode it once, I on the other hand rode it twice).  It did rain on us but only for a little while.

Here we are in the rain at Animal Kingdom

On Saturday, which was Jennifer's day, we went to Epcot.  The food and wine festival was happening while we were there.  Last year, Jennifer wanted to go but didn't get to enjoy it.  So this year we were determined to go to every booth.  There were 31 booths and we ate at over 20 of them.  Some of the food that we ate was escargot from France, mussels from Belgium, Moosehead beer from Canada (very good).  Our favorites were:  Barcardi Frozen Dragon Berry Colada from the Carribean,  Crispy Shrimp Taco with Lime Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks from Mexico, Kona Brewing Company Big Wave Golden Ale from Hawai'i, and the most liked meal the lobster and seafood fisherman's pie and cheese platter with Bunratty Meade Honey Wine from Ireland .

Bridget & I in Germany

While we were eating our way around the world, I did the passport for all of the countries.  We also rode rides and met with characters.  I did  "Soaring" for the first time.  Loved it!!

On Sunday, we went to Magic Kingdom.  We rode so many rides.  When we left at 2am I only had 3 rides left to ride: Dumbo, Space Mountain, and .  We met a lot of characters as well.  Jennifer got to meet Marie from the Aristocats.  I got to meet Aurora and Snow White.  While in line for Snow White, we met a guy who has been to Disney World 22 times and had every character's signature but one - Snow White's.  He was so excited; he was as giddy as the little kids in line.

On Monday, we went to Hollywood Studios.  I rode the "Rock n Roll Roller coaster" without Jennifer and Bridget.  I loved it. It is fast, has a loop and a spiral loop in it.  We rode the "Star Tours" and I was the rebel spy on our ship.  We also went to "The Magic of Animation" show then had our own animation lesson where we drew Minnie Mouse.

Goofy wrecked his plan (The BarnStormer)

Jennifer in the knife throwing target

We left a little early to go change into our costumes for "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween" at Magic Kingdom.  We dressed up as the boys who went to Pleasure Island in Pinocchio.  We had a good time, got a lot of candy, stood in line to meet characters, and rode a few rides.  We didn't get to do as much as we wanted to do but it was fun.

Tuesday we were going to go to Universal Studios to do the Harry Potter rides but we stood in pay to enter the park line for 30 minutes and was only half way to the ticket booth.  So we decided to go to Downtown Disney and shop instead.  We left for home about 4pm  and got home around Midnight.

I had so much fun.  I want to go again.  Maybe next year.

Thanks for stopping by,

Sharon