Strictly Ornamental

This is where Disney stood out from all the other "amusement parks" of his day, and even into the current day; and what made him famous. Attention to detail. Nobody does it better.



Without these details, however, the fantasy aspect of the park would be the same level as any other park in Southern California.



I found some pieces of the "set" that are strictly used as exclamation points or to frame the main event; but not take away from the total effect or steal all the attention and become the star. Minor players that grab you in gently and begin to tell you the story of the attraction.



Sadly, literally thousands of guest each day walk on or past these details and miss their beauty. They are tucked into corners, paved into paths, crowning entryways, framing gates, and focusing your eyes continually into a new adventure.



However Disney does not have the only artisans around. Next time you are out and about in your town take time to see what the local craftsman have done to make the ordinary stand out. Whether it is the art deco colour scheme on the oldest department store in town or the new cement detailing on the underpass or bridge, catch the beauty in the overlooked. Notice how the feel of seeing these details adds to your enjoyment of the surroundings.



Ornamentation. It's a good thing.

It's a pretty world after all!

Who knew Disneyland had a pretty little brook that tumbles down and down? I'm guessing less than 1% of the visitors to the resort even know where this little piece of beauty is. Any guesses??? It's probably not where you think.



I found this pretty pink daisy in a tiny little patch surrounded by a wrought iron fence just around the corner from the Matterhorn on an out of the way path. Gorgeous.



There are quite a few waterfalls in Disneyland, this is one of them...from the back side! Yes, this is the famous waterfall you get to see from both sides while on the Jungle Cruise. (one of my favorite rides ever!)



You want a fiddle head fern? They've got plenty! This giant was near the old entrance to "Country Bear Jamboree", now the "Whinnie the Poop"* ride.



And lastly this absolutely engaging succulent garden is in (of all places) the water gardens that surround the Mermaid Grotto. It makes me want to go home and plant nothing but cacti!





Oh, and that little brook? Um yeah; next time you get of Whinnie the Poop* take time to sneak over to the end of the path as you get off the ride (next to the store). Hang a sharp right as if you are going "back stage". It's been there for years, quietly making it's little corner peaceful and refreshing.





*other folks know him as Whinnie the Pooh, however all the toddlers I know call him by the above name.

The Spookiest Place On Earth

OoooOOooeeeeeEEEeeOOOooh! While waiting for family to gather I had a few minutes to take a couple of shots to memorialize the day. I wandered around and found myself over at the Haunted Mansion...

Normally on a day like this day, there are lines everywhere. But today, even with large crowds, the lines at the Haunted House were skin and bones. Not enough bodies to utilize a Fast Pass, they terminated that entrance.

I took repose for a few moments and discovered that the boundaries could be crossed over if one walked nearer the far end and into the corners of the square.

I discovered beautiful sculptures, architecture, and over grown plants. A child's face, a sorrowful cherub, urns and vessels full of ivy that reaches both heavenward and towards, well... And if you look close enough, that chill up your spine will reveal itself as a ghostly aberration standing next to a shrouded garden friend....

Literacy Problem

Nothing Rhymes With Orange

Am I Blue?

Brown Eyes

Green With Envy

8 Random Things

Tagged: 8 Random Things About Me
I was tagged by Rynell, who has a very interesting (and for whatever reason -for me) peaceful feeling blog...This and That. I check in on her almost daily, seems like someone I would pick as a friend; and need to get her on my blog roll. ahem.

The Rules-We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.

-Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
-People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules.
-At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
-Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and they should read your blog.

1. Although it is my second favorite media form of art, I never paint water colour. I have tried, but I STINK at it and it makes me very depressed that I cannot conquer this. ugh. (I am a tad mad just writing about my inability...)

2. I have a comfort range of 7 degrees. Above or below the magic numbers I freeze or fry.

3. I have an extremely heightened sense of smell. It began during my last pregnancy and has developed over the past 20+ years. I can smell cigarettes being smoked from a car two or three ahead of me in traffic, alcohol in any form being served across a restaurant, and oh my heck don't get me started on perfume, diapers, or "odd" stuff. sheesh.

4. LOVE LOVE LOVE the smell of coffee. Can't stand the taste.

5. I was interrogated by an F.B.I. agent in a church Bishop's office because a woman I visit-taught suspected me (and my companion) of planning to terrorize and then kill her. We sent "Satanic messages" and "poisoned candy treats" and had "taunted and stalked" her with our monthly notes laced with such terrifying phrases as: "We love _____, she's so sweet; we have to leave her this heart shaped treat!" on top of a giant sugar cookie. Yea, we were criminal.

6. I was juror number 12 on a murder case. I was on the jury for the first three days of the preliminary trial stuff and FINALLY let go and replaced by the alternate at the last moment before the trial went to court. (At the very beginning I told the attorneys that I felt the defendant was guilty and that I didn't feel I could act without prejudice. They kept me anyway, until that final day. Oh and btw, after the trial went to the jury for a decision he was found guilty and sentenced to life.)

7. Watching parades make me nervous and embarrassed and very uncomfortable. I try to avoid parades.

8. I have collected an embarrassing amount of (empty) Target Gift Cards just because I like the graphic arts on them.

So there you have it. A few (more) random things about me. Now I am changing the rules. (You can keep the original rules for those you tag later.) All the folks that I am tagging I just recently tagged. (Other people I tag don't do memes, or are otherwise occupied, whatever, that's cool.) The thing is, after a while, these memes are asking for relatively the same stuff. This one is different in that the person gets to make a personal statement.

I tag: Food Chronicler and I want her to give random statements or facts about FOOD.

Bri, how about giving us 8 random hints/tips on better photography?

1st Daughter, inquiring minds want to know 8 random facts that only a law student's wife might know.

Pea, Give us 8 random statements on your life on the road with your once trucker hubby.

Lisa, 8 things that happened at the family reunion that were unexpected.

Mustang Sally, 8 random words that you adore and why.

SERIOUSLY, anyone who wants to do this meme, I would LOVE to tag you. I fear, however, that my readership is silent, lurking, and moot. If you decide to go forth and meme, let me know and we'll add youto the list and send you readers.

Shades of Gray

Seeing Red

local colour