Collecting them… I think Not!

Disney has lots of things to collect… we get into Disney Pins as a collection that never ends… and the occasional collectable item or two… but the latest craze… Vinylmation… I think Not.

Too many things to collect and too many $$$$.

Would like some of these…

Like the Castle…

Or maybe the Monorail…

But for the most part…

I maybe like 1 out of every 20.

And since they are only sold in sealed packages…

(not knowing what you are going to get)

I’m not going to buy 20 or so to maybe get the one I wanted. SO that’s one collection that isn’t going to happen. But it is all the crazy.

and some are cute…

but… No Thanks for now!

Getting into a Disney Frame of Mind…

Okay… Okay… I know… I’m always in a Disney frame of mind… but the season here is going fast… so thoughts are turning to returning to Disney.

We are planning to arrive Early October… have some fun with friends… and start working around November 1st or so. Can’t wait! Ready to see friends and have a little Disney Magic.

Also looking forward to some cooler weather.

We always have a great time at Disney but sharing those times with friends makes it all the more special… and again this year we will be taking full advantage of all our free passes… right up to the very last one…. at least until we get next years passes after the first of the year!

Only in California ???

Only in California… probably not.

Nothing better to Report…

Just another example…

I think they are ready to go to

Washington, DC.

On the lighter Side…

On the “Other” side…

any takers ???

Please take pictures to show when you return.

and take good notes…

Child of the 60’s

Child of the 60’s… wow… old memories… great times… simpler times… and simple fun… when life seemed to be a bit slower and you took in everything. Somewhere in the 70’s thru the 90’s it became a whirlwind blur… life got too fast. I just spent the afternoon listening to music from the 50’s & 60’s. That’s when you could actually understand the words to the songs.… the songs that take you back… at least for a brief time to remember all the great songs that you grew up with. Maybe a song that reminded you about the first girl you had a crush on… or good times with friends… when life seemed a lot simpler and less complicated. Songs that played on the radio while you drove around in the car or played board games, or took a walk along a country road… or strolled along the beach. Yep, simple uncomplicated times. Everything was easier and simpler… and all those great songs just take you back in time. Of course I wouldn’t give up my IPod for that old transistor radio that took the 9 volt carbon battery… I like being able to listen to anything I want and call up hundreds of songs to fit my mood. Modern conveniences do have their positive benefits. But a good get-a-way is to take a walk and get away from anything modern… nothing to spoil the setting… listen to the old favorites… take yourself back in time with the music… and have a little escape down memory lane… no cares, no worries, no concerns… just free floating in the moment… better than taking a nap. Reminds me a little of a movie… “Somewhere in Time”. A man goes to an old hotel from the turn of the century ( not this one… the last one… 1901), dresses for the time, removes all modern stuff, and even gets old money… and thinks or wills himself back in time. A good movie! but with a sad ending… after going back in time, he leaves a modern penny in his pocket, reminding him of “his” time… and he returns to the reality of the present… unable to make the return to the past again. But that’s a whole another thing too. But that kinda goes along with the sense you get when you visit a historic old place… and know you have been there before… when you know you haven’t… perhaps in another time…. but that too is a whole another story. For now… I’m just enjoying my music… from a simpler time… “There’s a Moon out Tonight”… “What’s your Name?” … “You are My Special Angel”… “Candy girl”… “Sherry” … “Sweet little Sheila” … “Earth Angel” … and “867-5309 (Jenny). What a great afternoon. Maybe you need to have your own little escape… Enjoy!

Stormy Clouds…

Most of the storms seem to split up and pass us by and sometimes the storm clouds are quite unusual and appear to be something you’d see in an end of the world movie. Swirling masses of angry looking clouds… ready to snatch you up… woosh! … Gone!

Bluish gray clouds swirling about everywhere…

and later the show of all shows…

yep… a sight to see! wow!

Dirty Dancing Revisited

Great Place for an Anniversary Dinner…

Mountain Lake Hotel… aka Kellerman’s

from the movie… “Dirty Dancing”

For our very first time there… we got a window table on the porch… best seat in the house.

Great Sunday Brunch Buffet.

Fresh Fruit & Cheeses… veggies, stuffed fish, Lobster & Scallop Newberg, great Beef Brisket, shrimp, fried fish, prime rib, ham, and Snow Crab Legs.

Than a walk around the grounds…

Commemorative Stone…

Sandstone Bench’s … familiar?

The year 1987

A great place to visit…

to relax or play…

Can’t wait to go back.

Scene Marker #6… on the Lake

Magic, Wonder, and now Dream

First there was Magic…. than Wonder… and soon… Dream. A floating palace filled with Disney Magic.

They say to top everything so far…

Wow… maybe it’s time to take another Cruise!

wow…

A grand staircase

Kids theater

Kids play pool deck

and Grand Dining

theater

stateroom

playroom

waterslide

Can’t wait…

It’s Up…than Down…than Up…

Not too far away from the campground, there’s a Hotel and lake nestled high up in the mountains at about 4000 ft elevation. Its the highest fresh water lake this side of the Mississippi. Discovered back in 1751, settled in 1829, cabins built starting in 1857, and developed with the current sandstone Hotel built in 1936, it was the Mecca for the rich & famous back in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. The history of the lake carries it through many cycles with its ups and downs. Every so many years the lake completely drains, than refills. Currently it’s on the fill up swing… here’s some photos of full vs empty that were taken over the years. The lake is spring fed and is dependant on snow & rain levels to feed the lake, which runs a very unique cycle.

Very dramatic changes… In August of 2006 the lake was full… but August of 2008, empty. Than by August 2009 it was on the raise again… and still even now, just a remnant of what was.

amazing to me…

almost unbelievable…

same spot… different times…

Simply amazing to me… and Thanks to R.Cobb for the great photos of the lake.

We get to see for ourselves this Sunday just how the lake looks now. Anniversary dinner at this special hotel… more to follow later… don’t want to give too much away… it’s a surprise for Shelly.

Update… now that we have been there…

here’s a few photos…

News articles reported that this has happen several times over the last 4500 years. Didn’t say when the last drainage occurred, but it must have been prior to 1751. Bet it came as a shock when it all drained away. The once bustling boats docks lay sunken to the lake bed and the reforming lake is a good 400-500 yards away.