Summer, 2026, II

 Continuing our account of the summer of '26...

Marie

Ken, Susan, Vicki and me

Ken and I have remarkably similar tastes

Rebecca and Penelope at one the favorite shoot-'em-ups

The grandparents' scores reflect their not having
adequately studied Disney game strategies

According to Disney, Halloween begins in August and continues
into November; sort of like Christmas elsewhere

More rain

Food truck at Animal Kingdom

Penelope does ears, Rebecca doesn't; did you know that the official
Disney ratio of ears to face is a variant of the Golden Mean?

Our culinary creativeness continues...Vicki's blue scones...it's a long story,
originating in Paris

Local sentiment

Having sworn our loyalty oaths and signed the non-disclosure forms, we are
now residents of the "Free State of Florida"; note extremely memorable license plate

Wildlife at our apartment complex; not animatronic

Map of my still-favorite ride; at least three Jungle Cruise captains live
in our complex

New pride and joy...a Roland piano graces our solarium...and I am returning
to my youth (musically), although now preferring Cole Porter to Bach/Beethoven/
Brahms; but not Wagner; the stained glass pieces are from Czech churches the
commies took down in the 50s; acquired in Prague 

My Tom Yum shrimp and grits creation...reflecting a new dietary regimen; 
recipe to appear soon at https://artificialartifices.blogspot.com

It was indeed a rainy summer

Summer, 2026, I

After returning to Winter Garden from the UK in late June, we spent the summer entertaining guests, continuing to outfit and decorate our apartment, and planning and preparing for our next trip, a sort of cross-country from Florida to Maine and back. The visitors were daughters Rebecca and Rachel, Vicki's sister Marie, college friends Susan and Ken, and Rebecca and grand-daughter Penelope.

First time we've been together, just the four of us, in a while...

The usual fireworks from our apartment

With my new classic Disney shirt; their visit included presents
and repasts and treats for our birthdays

On the grounds at one of the Animal Kingdom resorts

There, during one of the daily torrential rains

Bread course at the Sanaa restaurant

My curry course; it was a birthday dinner

Dessert

Moving right along, a lunch, with entertainment, in EPCOT/Germany

About to embark on everyone's favorite, Guardians of the Galaxy;
thanks, girls for a great visit