Disney dangled the visual weinee & Mickeystoontown gobbled it up! 10/26

[ddstratton]

I've been following some of your canning adventures on Facebook - I just love seeing all the goodies you're putting up!

Glad you are enjoying some time with family visiting, especially Lacey and Jesse.

Your family is in my prayers - hoping for good news for Mama, and a quick recovery for your SIL.

And hears hoping that the fresh veggies mellow your boss out!

 

[KatMark]

I'm so happy Lacey and Jesse are visiting.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom and hope she gets good news. I hope your SIL's surgery helps whatever they messed up.

Keeping your mom and everyone else in my prayers and thoughts.

 

[amandaw]

It's always so nice to have family in and just sit back and visit with them. My DH, DS & I went up to Shreveport this past weekend to visit family and it is special just to be able to sit around and talk and hangout with your family. Hope y'all have a great visit together!

Sending prayers and pixie dust for your family! Hope the test results are good for your mom and that your SIL's surgery went very well.

 

[mickeystoontown]

I've been following some of your canning adventures on Facebook - I just love seeing all the goodies you're putting up!

Glad you are enjoying some time with family visiting, especially Lacey and Jesse.

Your family is in my prayers - hoping for good news for Mama, and a quick recovery for your SIL.

And hears hoping that the fresh veggies mellow your boss out!

Darla, I've been busting my behind on all of my canning! I have only posted pictures of some of the stuff that I've done.

Thank you for the prayers! They are greatly appreciated!

I'm so happy Lacey and Jesse are visiting.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom and hope she gets good news. I hope your SIL's surgery helps whatever they messed up.

Keeping your mom and everyone else in my prayers and thoughts.

We are happy to have them home!

Thank you for the prayers, Kathy! They are very much appreciated!

It's always so nice to have family in and just sit back and visit with them. My DH, DS & I went up to Shreveport this past weekend to visit family and it is special just to be able to sit around and talk and hangout with your family. Hope y'all have a great visit together!

Sending prayers and pixie dust for your family! Hope the test results are good for your mom and that your SIL's surgery went very well.

Those are the best kind of visits! Nothing special to do but just sitting around visiting with one another.

Thank you for the prayers!

 

[ElsaColon]

Sounds like you got the epilepsy just in time. Sorry to hear that it put a damper in your day but it looks like you all recovered nicely and I am glad he started feeling better!

Nothing like a little Joffery's to make the day better! Looking forward to more!

 

[deedeew80]

Hi Lisa! I'm sure you are having a great time with Lacey & Jesse!! Glad they are there for a visit! Sorry to hear about your Mom & sister in law. My thoughts and prayers are with them! Hope the next update is good news all around!

 

[MissLiz]

Prayers for Mama and your family!!!

I hope everything turns out well. I'm glad you have your baby home with you for a while. I'm sure you miss her terribly.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sounds like you got the epilepsy just in time. Sorry to hear that it put a damper in your day but it looks like you all recovered nicely and I am glad he started feeling better!

Nothing like a little Joffery's to make the day better! Looking forward to more!

Luckily/thankfully, John has been grand mal seizure free for many years and now has warning signals that we can look out for.

The mango slushie was absolutely delicious! John didn't care for it but I loved it!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hi Lisa! I'm sure you are having a great time with Lacey & Jesse!! Glad they are there for a visit! Sorry to hear about your Mom & sister in law. My thoughts and prayers are with them! Hope the next update is good news all around!

Thank you so much! They are greatly appreciated!

Prayers for Mama and your family!!!

I hope everything turns out well. I'm glad you have your baby home with you for a while. I'm sure you miss her terribly.

Thank you!

We have had lots of laughs since they have been home (not that we don't laugh when she's not but you know what I mean). We hadn't seen them since Easter and that's too long. After this visit, we won't see them again until we go to Tennessee over the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

[Donald - my hero]

It is so special when our "babies" are able to come home! Our son was married last August and they moved about 3 hours away. Well let's be truthful here, that kid left for college and never moved back in So our visits are so welcome. I'm fortunate enough to be able to chat with him via FB daily! Our daughter and her girlfriend live a mere 10 minute walk from here but it still feels special when they pop in! Don't know about you though, but we sure breathe a sigh of relief as we shut the door behind them

Prayers are offered up from my house to yours, firm believer that you can never have enough good vibes! I know the struggles of watching parents deal with health burdens and the knowledge that the burden is being shouldered with others helps.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Oh Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear about Mama, but please make sure you let us know how it all turns out! Good for Lacey for going with her. I'm sure that makes Mama feel good! And, how did the surgery for SIL go? Prayers are being sent....

Ok, I've got to ask.....did stuffie Jesus come with Jesse and Lacey??!! I got such a kick out of him being in Disney!!

 

[rndmr2]

I'm so sorry to hear about Tim's brother. It's tough watching a loved one suffer so much so I understand your sense of relief. You know that the suffering is gone and they are in a much better place.

I don't think there's any reason for you to feel bad about planning the trip. Doesn't sound like the SIL is.

You got some really good ADRs! I've considered Biergarten many times but always pass it up for something else.

Thanks for the condolences. It definitely was hard to watch him suffer. We were never overly close over the years until recently, I actually spent a lot of time with him over those last few weeks/months and he would text me pretty frequently asking for help/advice about his pain meds, etc.


Oh you have to try Biergarten!! We LOVE that one! I wanted to try all new places this trip but Tim insisted we had to do the Biergarten anyway. He has even asked if there was another day we could fit it in! LOL


I will keep you mother and SIL in my prayers. So glad for you that Lacey and Jessie are visiting, that's good she was able to go to those appointments with your mom.

 

[mickeystoontown]

It is so special when our "babies" are able to come home! Our son was married last August and they moved about 3 hours away. Well let's be truthful here, that kid left for college and never moved back in So our visits are so welcome. I'm fortunate enough to be able to chat with him via FB daily! Our daughter and her girlfriend live a mere 10 minute walk from here but it still feels special when they pop in! Don't know about you though, but we sure breathe a sigh of relief as we shut the door behind them

Prayers are offered up from my house to yours, firm believer that you can never have enough good vibes! I know the struggles of watching parents deal with health burdens and the knowledge that the burden is being shouldered with others helps.

No matter how far our babies are, it always seems further away that they really are. Ummmm, yeah, I gotta admit that we do kinda breathe that sign of relief when they are gone. You get used to runnin' around doing your own thing and your own quirks. What about Hunter? Well, most times, he's either in his room or he's gone to his girlfriend's or doing something with the youth group at church.

Thank you so much for the prayers and good vibes! Mama's in pretty good health considering she's 80 but it's still tough to see.

Oh Lisa, I'm so sorry to hear about Mama, but please make sure you let us know how it all turns out! Good for Lacey for going with her. I'm sure that makes Mama feel good! And, how did the surgery for SIL go? Prayers are being sent....

Ok, I've got to ask.....did stuffie Jesus come with Jesse and Lacey??!! I got such a kick out of him being in Disney!!

Thank you! Mama has two tests down and the MRI to go. That's the one that she is dreading since she's so claustrophobic.

Sister in law is out of surgery and already back in their hotel room. It's not a hotel-hotel. It's one of the ones that is affiliated with the hospital. They said that she is feeling pretty bad but that's to be expected right after surgery. They'll check in with us later.

Actually, Jesus did not come. They are between apartments (they are looking for something closer to both of their works) and are living in his parent's townhouse temporarily until they find what they are looking for so Jesus may possibly be in storage.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Thanks for the condolences. It definitely was hard to watch him suffer. We were never overly close over the years until recently, I actually spent a lot of time with him over those last few weeks/months and he would text me pretty frequently asking for help/advice about his pain meds, etc.

It's good that he had you to call even if you weren't close before.

Oh you have to try Biergarten!! We LOVE that one! I wanted to try all new places this trip but Tim insisted we had to do the Biergarten anyway. He has even asked if there was another day we could fit it in! LOL

Picky eaters can find something there? You know how my boy is. Who am I kidding? I'm a bit picky myself.


I will keep you mother and SIL in my prayers. So glad for you that Lacey and Jessie are visiting, that's good she was able to go to those appointments with your mom.

Thank you so much!

 

[mickeystoontown]

That man has a crutch in his crotch!

After Hunter was done talking with his Mamaw, we looked at each other like “now what?”. I checked the time and it was lunch time. Before we started our walk around World Showcase, we wanted to get something to eat and the Electric Umbrella was close by. Lucky for us, it wasn’t very crowded and we were able to get a table easily. Hunter waited at the table and John and I stood in line for the food.

John tried something that was fairly new (at the time) on the menu, the bacon mac & cheese burger:





Hunter ordered a burger:



I went with chicken nuggets which I am normally not a fan of in the “real world” but I like at Walt Disney World. Well, I take that back, I like Chick Fil A nuggets. Yum!



For dessert, John and I ordered one of our favorite counter service desserts...the strawberry cheesecake. Love those things!



Hunter ordered the gluten free/sugar free dessert because he’s really not a dessert kinda guy but does like brownies. For the record, he didn’t eat it. It ended up in my backsack.



Everything was really good even if it were just plain ol’ American food. That’s what we like. Oh and John said that the mac & cheese burger was lots better than he expected. Not that he was expecting it to be bad or anything. I guess maybe he didn’t know what to expect.

We made a bathroom stop and started walking towards World Showcase. We took the pathway that’s never busy. You know the one...the walkway that goes over the water on the Test Track side and it comes out at the building that they use for seminar/shows/etc. That’s not a very good description so I’ll just call it the “pathway that’s never busy”.

The monorail was making the loop over the park and I was able to take a quick picture:



This picture was taken near the end of the “pathway that’s never busy”:



As you can see from the above pictures and this next picture, the black clouds were rolling in:



It really didn’t matter too much to us because we had reached our destination, Mexico. Because this trip was longer than all of our others, we felt like we had more time to really see some of the things that most, including ourselves, normally rush by or just glance at and keep walking. There are some really neat artifact displays just inside the entrance.







Each of the artifacts had a small sign underneath explaining what they were and how old the item was. We were walking down the display case reading each one and oohing and aahing over them. We talked about how amazing it was that they had been found still intact and had lasted so very long. We were feeling all historical and stuff. Then, we saw this guy who had a crutch in his crotch which made us laugh:



And then the whole “it’s cool that we are learnin’ somethin’ new” feelings went away and we went back to our true selves and Hunter was mimicking one of the statues:





**Continued in next post

 

[mickeystoontown]

By this time, more and more people were starting to come into the pavilion and the majority of them were wearing ponchos. Looks like the black clouds had burst open. We ventured further into the Mexican village:



Despite there being quite a few people milling around, the line for the boat ride was virtually non-existent. I asked if they wanted to hop in line before everybody else did and the guys said yes. We were immediately loaded into our boat and were on our way to look for Donald Duck.







When we got to the exit of the attraction, we could see that the place was packed! I’m talking wall to wall people. Everywhere! Even though it was pretty obvious that it was still raining out since so many people were huddling in the corners, on the walkways, streaming out of the margarita bar, etc., Hunter went to the entrance to see. He came back to say that it was still raining pretty hard. We might as well waste some time. I think this is a little on the small side:



Remember how I was saying that there are some things that most people just walk right past and don’t pay much attention to? One of those things is the artist who make some truly amazing pieces of artwork. They used to be located right inside the entrance to the Mexico pavilion but are now inside the courtyard area.

John and I spoke with the young woman who was selling the pieces and found out more about her craft. Hunter listened for a while and then took pictures while we continued talking.







The young woman was more than happy to answer our many questions. We would point to a certain piece and ask how long it would take to paint it. Some took just hours or a day while some took up to a week. John asked about an armadillo and if they had them where she lived. She said that they have “many, too many” in Mexico and that some people actually ate them but she wouldn’t. She also picked up a turtle and said that they were used in soups and she would eat it sometimes. We told her that people in Louisiana made turtle soup too but we didn’t eat it.

Every single piece was hand painted down to the very smallest detail. John, being the wordworker that he is, asked about the wood and she pulled out a piece of wood that they used for him to look at. She said that her father and brothers were the ones who did the carving and that her brother also worked with her at Epcot but her father and mother were in Mexico. She said that she had been taught to paint by her family and that was their main way of making a living.

I am so very glad that we took the time to stop and talk with her. I regret that I didn’t buy one of the pieces even though some are a bit pricey. No matter what, I’m buying one next trip.

The crowds had not thinned out so we assumed that it was still raining out. Hunter had moved on to watch the glassblower and John and I squeezed in to watch for a minute or two. Hunter was able to take a few pictures but I don’t remember what it was that he was making nor can I tell from the pictures.





The small room was pretty crowded so we went into the little store next to look at the pretty jewelry and leather goods for sale. I saw a few things that would make good gifts for Mama but I didn’t buy anything because I still had almost the whole vacation to find her something.

Back in the main shopping area, we did pick up a few things. We bought some type of coconut log/candy, a couple of guava rolls (looked like cigars to me) and a bag of candies that sounded (and ended up tasting) a bit like pralines. We were taking the coconut and guava candies back to our friend from Guatemala who works with John. Purchases made, we turned around and saw this rig:



Can’t see it? Hunter took another picture:



That right there, my friends, is one heckofa protected scooter. They were making sure that not a drop of rain got on that driver. Speaking of driver, where was the driver? The scooter sat there, unattended for a long time. People would walk by and point and have the same “where’s the rider?” face. Finally, after quite some time, we saw it going up the ramp.

We had done all of the shopping and browsing that we could do and had moved off to the side when up walked this guy:





Soon, the crowds descended upon us and Donald and a castmember had to divert the line. We scooted down a bit and watched a large family let their children proceed to climb in and out, up and down the clothing racks and merchandise stalls. I was ready to buy a doggone poncho and leave just to get away from them. Instead, we walked to the entrance to see that it was barely sprinkling rain so we ventured out into World Showcase.

**Up next: Get me to the church on time! Where's the bathroom?

 

[Clarf]

Fun update! I LOVE Hunter's pictures, especially the one where he's posing like the statue.

Those wood carvings are beautiful. We'll have to check them out when we go.

I can't believe that contraption for the scooter. Looks like it took up a lot of room.

I will keep your Mama and your family in my thoughts and prayers. I hope all is okay with her.

 

[ddstratton]

Love the update! Looks like you guys made the best of a rainy time. I love all the little details Disney does...

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Yay for Lacey, Jesse, your niece and her husband all visiting. That is great that they are there for a while, I know you miss Lacey with her being far away.

Prayers and good thoughts for your Mama and SIL. I hope both are resolved easily and safely with good prognosis' for the future. I knew someone who had heart surgery at that Mayo Clinic a few years ago and she said the staff there were all great.

That Mac n cheese burger looks great, and I have a feeling George will try it when we are there. It's right up his alley, food-wise.

Hunter takes such great pictures Seriously though, he is hilarious in his poses.

 

[rndmr2]

Picky eaters can find something there? You know how my boy is. Who am I kidding? I'm a bit picky myself.

Yes, I am super picky, too. They don't have pizza but they have lots of salads, soups that are usually pretty good, pretzel rolls, roasted potatoes they also have schnitzels (which is basically breaded meat -)chicken and Veal, the chicken would be like a chicken fillet or tender. Usually a carved pork loin and rotisserie chicken too.