Tag Archives: Disney at Home

Junior The Wonder Dog Turns Five

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Junior-looking-sneakyQuite some time ago, I introduced you to my BFF (Best Furry Friend), Henry Jones, Jr. – a.k.a. “Junior”.  I’ve never known anyone like Junior before and words cannot begin to describe the fun we have together.  He’s a great family member, full of zest for life along with a healthy dose of concern for our well-being…especially when the doorbell rings or a delivery vehicle pulls into the driveway.Junior-upside-down

This month, our four-legged, good-natured, sweet-tempered, super-patient, cookie-loving family member is turning five years old.  I can’t believe how fast time has flown – seems like he was just a baby and in a couple more years, he’ll be older than me!  Goodness, the fun we have together every day!!!  From the time we wake up to the time we turn in, we have a great time.  Junior has a wicked sense of humor and is always up for a game of chase or fetch or even hide-and-go-seek.  He knows so many tricks and is always interested in learning something new.Junior-with-messy-hairRecently, I got home from work and Junior talked me into a rousing match of chase-the-toy where we sort of take turns holding the chosen stuffed animal and chasing each other by turns around the living room coffee table.  When it was my turn to hold the toy and be chased, I realized that there was every chance I’d break my neck running around in high heels.  I thought it best to go change into more appropriate rough-housing attire.  To distract Junior, I tossed the toy across the foyer as I ran for the bedroom to change.  I was laughing hysterically, certain he would chase me once he’d retrieved his toy. Junior-the-Aussiedoodle

Surprised and a little disappointed that I got to hang up my work clothes in peace, I changed and headed back out to the living room.  As I turned to go through the door, I noticed the toy we’d been playing with was on the floor – in the very center of the living room entrance.  I, of course, bent down to pick it up and see if the game was still on.  At that exact moment, Junior jumped out from behind the doorway (where he’d been hiding in wait) and snatched that toy right out from under my hand.  As he ran off, I swear I could hear him laughing.  I was shocked!  He totally tricked me!  Then I was laughing so hard I could barely stand up – and as I staggered into the living room, I was so thankful!  I felt so fortunate and blessed to have this crazy, loving, perfect “person” in my life.  Junior-wants-a-cookieHappy Birthday, Junior!  And many happy returns of the day. (Don’t tell him, but I ordered a BarkBox subscription for his birthday gift – I’ll post a YouTube video when he opens it!)Junior-on-my-shoulderDo YOU have a Best Furry Friend?  Who is it?  I’d love to see a picture and hear how you met!

Flea Market Disney Treasures: Minnie and Mickey Banks

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Welcome to the weekend!  You know what that means – Time for another installment of Saturdays With Nick!  As usual, I had no trouble spotting another post about a couple of Nick’s flea market finds to share with you today.  These items from Nick and Barbie’s collection are too cute!  I’m always envious of their amazing array of Disneyana!  I suppose I should be glad, instead, that there are no flea markets where I live to tempt me with awesome Disney collectibles or I’m pretty sure I’d be perpetually broke.  Don’t forget – you can follow Nick, Barbie, and friends an all their social medias:

Disney Musings Blog, Disney Musings on Twitter, Disney Musings on Instagram, Disney Musings on Facebook  You can also listen to Nick (and Dave and me) on The Disney Exchange Podcast (new episodes available every Sunday morning).

Flea Market Disney Treasures: Minnie and Mickey Banks

Weekends at the Columbus Flea Market are hit and miss. Some days, my wife and I walk the isles of stuff, and don’t find a thing. Other times, we pick up several items, like these banks. Let’s start off with this large, 8″ x 6″ (20.32  x 15.24 centimeters), ceramic Mickey bank.

I picked it up for $5.

You can make out the simple Copyright Disney under the price tag. Originally priced at $18!

I picked up these terrific Mickey and Minnie banks for $10.

Made of rubber, they measure 6″ (15.24 centimeter’s) tall. At their bases they are marked Walt Disney Productions, aging them to pre-early 80s.

Made in Korea.

 
No markings on the bottom. I’d love to know where they were originally purchased.

As a bonus feature, which I didn’t even notice when I bought these, they each have one articulated arm! Minnie’s raises up to her mouth. You can almost hear her giggle!

You can hear Mickey saying “Thanks for stopping by the Disney Musings Blog, hope to see you again real soon!”

Disney at Home: Gardening for Disney

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RM-Lisa's-ThumbTake a close look at this picture of my thumb.  Seriously, zoom in on it and check it out.  You will find not even the slightest hint – not even a tiny smidge – of green.  Luckily for me, Raymond has not one, but TWO green thumbs (and the other 8 digits are green as well).

Of all the ways we try to save money for Disney vacations, my favorite is by growing our own vegetables and herbs.  Even though I’m plant-care impaired, Raymond’s a natural at raising thriving flora and is willing to plan, plant, and maintain a summer vegetable garden.  I take care of the herbs – they’re very low maintenance and most, except basil, are perennials.  He lets me pretend my contribution is meaningful and important.  (Shown are oregano and rosemary – I’ve also got parsley, mint, basil, and sage.)  RM-OreganoRM-Rosemary

Every spring around Easter, Raymond plows the garden plot into neat rows and uses a combination of seeds and small plants to begin the process of supplying our household with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, butternut squash, eggplant, peppers, corn and lettuce for the summer.  Weeds and insects require the most attention, but in what seems like no time at all, I’m planning meals around what’s ready to eat.RM-Zucchini RM-Lettuce

Just last week, zucchini and lettuce were ready to enjoy.  Tomatoes won’t be far behind.RM-Green-TomatoesBefore long we’ll be rolling in produce with plenty to share…except the corn.  It always looks like there will be plenty of corn…until the raccoons realize it’s there.  Then, an entire stalk at a time, the corn will slowly disappear each night.  Yes, it would be easy to put up a hot wire (electric fence) that may help save the corn, but I just don’t have it in me to do that to those poor raccoons.  RM-CornIf they’re crafty enough to find the corn and hungry enough to shuck (they actually do) and eat the ears off an entire corn stalk in one sitting, I’m inclined to let them have our corn.  We do manage to scrounge a few ears for ourselves during this time, but it’s rather disappointing how few we end up with.  Still – for saving money on produce, we (I really mean Raymond) have become experts.RM-Lettuce-for-Salad

What’s your favorite way to save for a Disney vacation?

Disney CD Set: The Music Behind the Magic

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This week’s Saturdays With Nick takes us once more to an item in Nick’s amazingly fantastic collection of all things Disney.  How I would love to get my eyes (and ears) on this in person!

Disney CD Set: The Music Behind the Magic

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by: Nick

Released in 1994 by Walt Disney Records, “The Music Behind the Magic: The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice” is a four CD set highlighting the creative evolution behind the music of The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
The set includes demos, tape recordings, final recordings, and unreleased master recordings of some of the most beloved music in Disney history.

The book and CD case are both cloth bound.

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The word genius gets tossed around waaaay too often these days when it comes to music.
If you want to hear musical genius unfold before your ears, one needs only to listen to these CDs.

The first 2 discs show how 2 men, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, in my humble and honest opinion, saved the Walt Disney Company. The impression I get is The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast were written around the lyrics to these songs.
Really.
The third disc shows how amazingly fortuitous it was that they found Tim Rice to help complete the music for Aladdin after Howard Ashman’s untimely passing. Rice’s lyrics meld seamlessly in with Ashman’s.
Some of my favorite material from this set is hearing Ashman and Menken’s Little Mermaid Demos. It’s just amazing to hear Ashman do different character voices. The standout for me being his Ursula.
This set also comes with a wonderful book that looks at this creative period in the rejuvenation of Walt Disney’s animation department.

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Track Listing, on Amazon.

You can read all about Nick, his wife, Barbie, and their passion for all things (and places) Disney: Disney Musings Blog / Disney Musings on Twitter / Disney Musings on Instagram / Disney Musings on Facebook