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We have a tradition around Mother's Day in Berks County....And it always involves plants. I don't really know exactly how it started, but I'm sure it has something to do with my dad always saying that the earliest you can plant is Mother's Day. The winter just hangs on too long to start any earlier. So my lovely family graced me with some geraniums for the front hanger....



And then the real work started. After 14 years of living here, we have finally decided to do something with the flower beds...or lack thereof. Twenty bags of mulch and $135 later, we had this...



Not bad, if I do say so myself...I told DH that we better put the "Sale" sign on the place NOW! We aren't planning to do so for at least 4 years, but we're daydreaming a bit these days. We'd like a place with some acreage. We have 1.3 right now, but would like to have at least 5, a small barn, and separate rooms to support our hobbies. Maybe move the studio onsite. We'd like to have some critters too. When we first moved here 14 years ago, we looked at a place not too far away from here that met all of the criteria. However, with a 1 & 3 year old and full time jobs outside the house, we felt it was too much for us at the time. We were probably right, but now we're kicking our butts. So, we will continue to repair and improve our current abode...and dream.

I took Mom's Day off from work/housework/sewing stuff, so today it's catchup. We have a busy week with Max attending his first prom (he got asked by a Senior girl). Things have changed a lot since 1976. The kids kind of go in gangs to these affairs. I splurged on flowers (granted I don't even know this girl, just that she's a good kid and in the orchestra). We went to the florist, where the wrist corsages started at $16.99. "Show me more" I say. So they did, and I ended up purchasing the corsage that "I" would have liked to get in 1976, but didn't. Total flower bill $39.99 (corsage & boutinneire). In 1976, you had to get some guy to ask you to the prom or else you didn't go. "It just wasn't done", I explain to my son. He looks at me like I'm an alien. "And girls didn't ask guys, either". (Another look). "So if you didn't get asked, you just didn't go", he asks. "Yup." "That's kind of sad," he says. "It is." As a quilt appraiser, I relish things from the past, but this is one area that I'm glad has changed.

First, I must confess that I had no real desire to go to Disney World. The only reason I did was because my son was playing in the orchestra there (more on that fantastic business model later), the trip was priced right, and my other son who is autistic was thrilled at the prospect of going to Disney.

However, after walking around four parks in four days in 90 degree heat, I now understand the general population's attraction to Disney World.

The positives:
1. There is a lot to do that is all included in the ticket price.
2. It is well staffed with friendly people. I did not encounter one surly "cast member"
3. It is clean
4. It is the most handicapped accessible park I have ever been in. All four parks were like that.
5. The hotel was just fine (All Star Music Resort)
6. The transportation to and from the parks worked well.
7. They had a person who was a Johnny Depp look alike dressed as Cap'n Jack Sparrow (my husband had to drag me away).
8. They had the most photogenic gorillas I have ever seen.

The negatives (but not totally unexpected or annoying)
1. Every ride exits through a gift shop.
2. Food/drinks are expensive. We had some meal vouchers which helped. But being from Berks County, we think everything is expensive.
3. They tell me that it wasn't that crowded. I would not want to be there on peak season.
4. We waited in many lines. One was 70 minutes. Most were 30 minutes. We did develop a strategy through. Get a Fast Pass (a voucher with a return time), go wait in line for a different attraction, then go back with the Fast Pass.

Disney is a first class operation. I was impressed, and I can see why some folks go back multiple times. But I don't plan to any time soon. I have too many other things I haven't seen (Rockies, Grand Canyon, Arizona, Mexico, England & Wales, and on and on).

Now for the terrific business model..... Disney offers high school music groups the "opportunity" to perform there. First, they have to try out by sending a tape of the group. Then (if selected), they pay to come down, stay at a Disney Resort, buy Disney food and provide "Disney" entertainment to Disney guests. Now, Now, dear readers, before I get comments saying that I am a mean, jaded old bag... It was a wonderful moment seeing our school groups performing there and one that I will never forget. But you gotta admit, the model that Disney uses is a really good one. You're bound to get people to Disney who probably would not have gone there, but go because their child is performing. And there were lots of groups of school kids there. In fact a large portion of All Star Music Resort appeared to be full of performers, chaparones, and parents.

But all in all, it was a great trip and one that I would recommend.

Now I'm digging out of work...and laundry. And desperately trying to sew some.