We're Back! (Photo heavy)

And where did we go?

We went to Disney World!

Our trip got off to a rough start. Our first flight was late which caused us to miss our connection. So we had to spend an unplanned night in Denver with no luggage. Luckily I was able to shift our reservations back a day so we still got to spend the planned amount of time in Orlando. The Disney folks were so nice about it and did not even charge me for changing our reservation at the last minute! I wish I could say the same for Travelocity and United Airlines. Suffice it to say that I will not be using either again any time soon.

On to the fun stuff. Could this be the visitor's entrance to the Ministry of Magic?

Epcot

We stayed at the Port Orleans - Riverside hotel on the Disney grounds.

This is the best photo I could get of the cool headboards in our room. It was truly magical to watch in the dark! Look closely and you can see the fireworks.

We added a few more autographs to our collection.

Phineas and Ferb

Marie from the Aristocats

Alice and the Hare

We rode lots of rides. The very first ride he wanted to do was Space Mountain. I was sure he would bail on us but he didn't. We ended up riding it and every other roller coaster multiple times.

Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios

Buzz Lightyear ride at Magic Kingdom

The plane from Denver to Alamosa is a small propellor plane. It seats about 20 people and two crew. There is no separation between the passengers and the pilots. It is strange to be able see out of the cockpit window. The boy sat in the first seat right behind the pilots. They gave him a headset to wear so he could hear them talking. The captain explained a bunch of the instruments to him mid-way through the flight. My husband was so jealous!

I didn't do any sewing on our trip. Too busy having fun!

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

On July 4th we had a special treat - we rode the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad from Durango to Silverton and back. It was an all day event and very scenic. It was also sooty and chilly at times. I took LOTS of pictures that day. The whole trip was beautiful, even when it rained.

The train goes past a small resort that is accessible only by the train, Soaring Tree Top Adventures. They have a "trail" of zip lines for their guests. This guy zipped along side the train with an American flag, because it was the 4th of July I guess.

An old mine just outside of Silverton

The train had to stop several times for water since it was using a steam engine.

The train ran along side the Animas river most of the way. Notice the black cloud coming from the engine stack. We rode in a gondola car. It was excellent for photography, but quite sooty. We all needed showers when we got back.

The drop off along side the tracks was a bit scary in places, but what a view!

The train museum in Durango is also impressive. It is located at the depot. We've been there before years ago, when my son was 4 years old and Thomas the Tank Engine came to Durango.

He wasn't too sure about Sir Topham Hatt. My goodness he was small (and cute)!

This engine was a big hit then too. Guests are allowed to climb up into the engine and sit in the driver's seat. I didn't get a good picture of the inside of the engine this time but this is what it looked like in 2006.

There is also a very large model train set up in the middle of the museum with several trains running all the time. Little boys (and big boys too) can stand for quite a while and watch them go around. It is pretty detailed so there is lots to look at. There is no admission charge to the museum, although donations are welcome, so it is an economical way to entertain the family for a few hours.

Vacation Time

We will be leaving soon for a trip to my parent's house. I may post some while we are away, but then again, I may not. Don't expect to hear from me until early July, but don't be surprised if I post something about our trip before then.

Back from our trip and a tip

We are back from our trip to Durango. We had a great time reconnecting with (and meeting for the first time) one branch of Tony's family. They are a fun bunch.

On Friday night we ate at a restaurant called the Sow's Ear. We were staying up near the ski resort and most of the action and restaurants are located 20 miles down the mountain in Durango. We had been driving for hours and hours according to Parker (actually it was only 4 hours) through some pretty heavy rain and didn't feel like trekking back down to Durango for dinner. According to the information at the place we were staying, there are only four restaurants on the mountain. At least only four that are open in the summer. Based on the brief descriptions we picked the Sow's Ear. We opened the menu and I thought Tony was going to fall on the floor - it was expensive. But we had the best meal we have had in years! They make everything from scratch, even butcher their own cows. The food was outstanding! I don't think I have ever had a steak at a restaurant that I didn't feel I could have fixed as well or better myself, until Friday night. My ribeye was better than I can do. If you are ever in the Durango area and are in the market for a meal to remember, go to the Sow's Ear!

To top off our meal, as we were waiting for our check a bear came ambling out of the woods down into the parking lot toward the front door! And me without my camera. One of the waiters went running down to close the front door of the restaurant since the bear seemed to be headed our way. However, by the time we got out to the parking lot we couldn't see him anywhere - thank goodness, he was big. Our waitress said that he was probably only between 1 and 2 years old though and he would get much bigger. Yikes!

Now for my tip. My LQS, The Gray Goose, gave these out a few years ago as a little gifty for purchasing something. They called them bobbin bikinis. Actually, they are ponytail holders for little girls but they work great to put around a bobbin to keep it from unwinding in storage.

You can get 42 for a dollar or two at Wal-mart. Pretty good deal I think and they fit my bobbins perfectly.