Welcome to Favorite Photo Saturday!

We take a lot of photos every week. Sometimes hundreds! Seriously. (Love digital photography!) So we decided to choose one favorite each week and post it on Saturday.

I am totally mesmerized with paddle wheels on riverboats. Totally. The splashing of the wheel as it goes round and round and in and out of the water draws me in like the ebb of the ocean tide. I captured this shot of the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland from Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

May 7, 2012

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

April 17, 2012

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

For more WW visit 5 Minutes for Mom and the WW Hub.

Welcome to this week’s Photo a Day project. We had interesting weather this week. Sometimes it was “Oh So Hot” and other it was pouring down rain. It made for a gorgeous sky all week long.

Day 28 – 1pm and our orchids are looking lovely. instagram amaro filter

Day 27 – “somewhere we went” – I love to watch the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland. It’s like stepping back in time. instagram earlybird filter

Day 26 – “black & white” sodas at Richie’s Diner. instagram inkwell filter

Day 25 – Kennedy is “looking down” from high up in a tree. she was really high too!! instagram earlybird filter

Day 24 – “something I’m grateful for” The good sky through our foyer windows! instagram sutro filter

Day 23 – “vegetable” -  organic on the vine tomatoes. Even though tomatoes are really a fruit! instagram amaro filter

Day 22 – “something I bought” is delicious lemon curd. One of my favorites with vanilla ice cream. instagram brannan filter

“Live each season as it passes; breath the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
— Henry David Thoreau

Welcome to Favorite Photo Saturday!

We take a lot of photos every week. Sometimes hundreds! Seriously. (Love digital photography!) So we decided to choose one favorite each week and post it on Saturday. However this week we have three favorites!

I’m over the top in love with this photo of Austin (our 12-year old grandson) taking photos of the roses at our local elementary school. He went with us to see the Earth Day program our granddaughter (his baby sister) was participating in. The kindergarteners and fifth graders were planting trees together. As we were leaving, Austin took advantage of photographing the gorgeous rose bushes that line the front of the school. He’s a photographer in the making. Just look at this spider he spotted.

April 20, 2012 - Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

NY is the true photographer in our family. He has an eye for the abstract and more importantly details like the water drops on these delicate pink rose petals.

April 20, 2012 - Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

As we were leaving Disneyland this week the sun was setting but the “Partners” were glowing. I love the view with the lovely pink blossoms in the background.

April 17, 2012 - Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

April 17, 2012

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

For more WW visit 5 Minutes for Mom and the WW Hub.

One of the things on our bucket list is to relax on a lazy laid back riverboat cruise.  I can almost smell the magnolia trees on the banks of the river as the huge paddle wheel splashes along at the back of the boat. While we have yet to make our way to our private cabin on that lazy riverboat cruise, we did recently have the opportunity to ride in the wheelhouse of the Mark Twain Riverboat at Disneyland with two of our grandchildren.

And that experience surpasses that “other” one on our bucket list. The Mark Twain is an authentic steam powered paddlewheel riverboat that took us on a 14 minute voyage back in time to the 19th century.

The entrance to the wheelhouse is on the third level of the magnificent Mark Twain. Through this door we climbed the steps to what seemed like the top of the world.

Captain Brenda happily posed with the grands.

While we chatted with Captain Brenda, Cody and Kennedy took their task of guiding us along the Rivers of America very seriously.

Shhh … they truly believed they were steering the huge paddleboat.

Afterwards, we stood on the riverbank and waved to Captain Brenda as she sailed off on her next trip.

Next time you have the chance be sure to meet up with the Captain of the Mark Twain. You’ll love the wheelhouse experience! It’s a memory that can only be made at Disneyland!

 Disneyland is our “Go To” place for everything happy. We meet up with family and friends and always (even on crowded days and in the rain) have a jolly good time.

We had often noticed the bright red caboose that sometimes tags along on the Disneyland Railroad, but had not had the opportunity to actually see the inside.

That is until recently. Oh my! What an incredible opportunity it was! Not only did we see the inside … we rode in it all the way around Disneyland.

Walt Disney named this delightful Victorian parlor car Lilly Belle after his wife Lillian. It’s a sight to behold, both inside and out.

Our personal conductor for the ride was Ashley. She was wonderful about explaining and describing the history and details of the Lilly Belle and its decor. She also shared little known tidbits about the four stations the trains stop at throughout Disneyland. Did you know that the telegraph machine message you hear at the New Orleans station was tapped out by Lillian Disney herself? She knew Morris Code and the message is Walt’s speech from Disneyland’s opening day.

 If you’d like to experience the Lilly Belle, our advice is to arrive at the Main Street USA train station first thing in the morning, when the park opens. The resevation list fills up fast. Very fast. (Note: the Lilly Belle does not operate on rainy days or very warm days.)

Rumor has it that Johnny Depp, from Pirate’s of the Caribbean fame, sat in the chair NY is seated in. We’ve also read that it was where Walt himself sat while Lillian sat on the love seat beside him.

The Lilly Belle is one of the hidden treasures at Disneyland. We highly recommend riding it if you ever have the opportunity. It is simply magical!

You must make reservations for riding in the Lilly Belle at the Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland Railroad station. However, you can board the regular train cars at the railroad stations located in New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown (Fantasyland) and Tomorrowland.

All aboard ……… !!!!

This week we spent Fat Tuesday in New Orleans!

Not New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans Square, Disneyland. Disneyland’s Bayou Bash is full of “to die for” good food and ”get up and dance” music and entertainment.

Mickey and Minnie have donned their festive Mardi Gras party clothes and dance through the street in one of the best little parades we’ve seen.

Tiana sings her heart out to the delight of every little Princess within ear shot.

And who can pass up a delectable cupcake topped with chocolate mousse and a Mardi Gras mask?

Now, even though Fat Tuesday has come and gone, Disneyland’s Bayou Bash is still in full swing. Join the fun on the following dates:

• February 24, 25, 26
• March 2, 3, 4
• March 9, 10, 11

It’s Favorite Photo Saturday!

We take a lot of photos every week. Sometimes hundreds! Seriously. (Love digital photography!) So we decided to choose one favorite each week and post it on Saturday. We hope you’ll join us!! Just leave your link in the comments so we can drop by and see your favorite photo of the week.

We spend a lot of time at Disneyland but this week was the first time we actually rode in the Lilly Belle. The delightful red car is the caboose on one of the several Disneyland Railroad trains. The mahogany walls and ceiling are accented with stained glass windows along the top. The red Victorian furniture has seated many a celebrity including Japan’s Emperor Hirohito. The smoking jacket that the Emperor gifted Walt Disney with is hanging in the front of the car. Ashley, our conductor shared the history of the Lilly Belle during our trip around Disneyland. We can’t wait to do it again with our grandchildren!

January 25, 2012

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens