The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We spent all of Thursday at Universal Studios and what we termed "Potterville". We had a great time and were very impressed with the castle and the streets of Hogsmeade - very real. We enjoyed lunch at the 3 Brooksticks, complete with Butterbeer and Pumpkin juice. Marcie T stood in line to visit the famous wandmaker, Ollivander, we visited Hagrid's hut and rode a roller coaster named "The Flight of the Hippogriff".

Andrew, Anne and Marcie T pose in front of the Hogwarts Express.

The Hogwarts Conductor got into this picture and any other one he could weasel himself into!

Downtown Hogsmeade!

Ahh, Honeydukes - the sweet store. 

One of the more popular purchases, the chocolate frog. Each package has a "trading card" inside featuring one of the original 4 Founders of Hogwars. 

A glimpse of the Hogwarts castle and then.............. 

in full view.

On our way to the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride, we passed through the medicinal garden of Professor Sprout.

We were able to photograph the famous mandrake plant before fully developed.  Stay tuned later for a photo of a fully developed one - screaming at the top of its lungs.

Buckbeak himself "bowed" to us as we started up the first leg of the roller-coaster "Flight of the Hippogriff"

Hagrid's hut.

 

Anne posing with a couple of Hogwart's choir members, with frog accompaniment!!

 

The center of town was a popular stop - for a mug of butterbeer.

Entryway to the "3 Broomsticks" restaurant - we enjoyed shepherds pie, cornish pasties, fish & chips, and a huge turkey leg.  We washed it all down with butterbeer and pumpkin juice!

Finally the mandrake is fully developed and screaming its head off - luckily it's behind a glass window - these plants are made into a mandrake draft, especially good for restoring petrified folks.

In front of Ollivanders wand shop.

You can select from the many varieties of "Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean" - complete with flavors such as grass, earwax, sausage, bogie, and vomit!

After drinking so much butterbeer and pumpkin juice, we were glad there were plenty of these:

Marcie T at the crossroads leading to either Hogwarts or Hogsmeade!!



Another view of the castle as we made our way out of the Wizarding World.

Jackson enjoyed playing more with the pumpkin juice container than its contents.

We enjoyed a stop in the land of Dr. Suess where the 3 Turner boys enjoyed a ride together.



Walt Disney World - Magic Kingdom

We just spent a wonderful 5 days with Zac, Joy and their children at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida!  We enjoyed weather in the 80's and 90's, were very tired each night (a very good tired!), and had a marvelous time together.  We spent Tuesday night and Wednesday all day at the Magic Kingdom.

Anne and Andrew found themselves in trouble Tuesday night during the Halloween party!  A tough "time-out" was enforced. 

Luckily by the next day they were back in good standing with Walt and his crew, and were able to roam around the Magic Kingdom without restraint.  They could hardly stand still for a picture!

Anne gave Grandpa quite the wild ride in Autopia.

Jackson had a great time at the Arcade driving the tractor.....

and his Dad around Tomorrowland!

Anne, Andrew and Darlin' enjoyed the merry-go-round.  Sorry Andrew - you were riding your horst so fast I couldn't get a clear picture!

Anne and Andrew pose long enough for a photo with the castle again in the background.

We came upon a wonderful dance down main street - here Anne and Andrew are chasing after Woodie and some very tall characters.

Anne enjoyed dancing with some of the cast members - they enjoyed her too!

After the dance the confetti was released - Anne received her fair share.

We used the Disney "fast pass" system very well but really the crowds weren't that bad.  We went on our favorite rides as many times as we wanted to.  

Sound Singers, Adieu

The ever popular singing group, The Sound Singers, began in 1976 and have now disbanded here in 2010.  That's a continuous performance history of 34 years!  Marcie T was privileged to sing with this group for 20 of those 34 years.  She was fortunate to be invited to sing with them shortly after we moved here in 1990.  For several years, their "Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. practices" were held at the Turner abode, much to the delight of the 3 growing children:)  Our poor kids have never been able to really like a "red robin" after being woken by the sounds of that song on so many Saturdays - days they looked forward to maybe sleeping in - but not so!  The truth be known, they really didn't mind the music at all, it was the prelude talking and laughing for an hour before the 30 minute practice that they disliked!

Last Sunday, the group sang in Mike and Judy Bigelow's Sacrament meeting before they leave to serve a mission in Buenos Aires Argentina.  A few days later singers and spouses met for a lovely dinner.

After eating, the men were treated with a tune and choreography from one of their classics!

We were all very impressed that they still had the "moves".

Bringing their final tune to its conclusion. 

They have some wonderful memories to savor over the years.

We couldn't help wonder if it had been the boys who had formed the group - pretty good on their feet, eh? (Look at your Dad's face, he really got into it!!)

The whole gang together.

Just this last Friday night we had a ward party called "pumpkins, pies, and ugly ties".  We were invited to carve a pumpkin, bake a pie, and wear an ugly tie for judging.  Here is a sampling of the ties.  We qutie enjoyed Brother George's (far left) entry of the "Cact Tie!"

Sine Die

Sine Die is a Latin term usually referring to the ending of a legislative session.  The definition also reads that it's an adjournment without fixing a day for reconvening.  Well that's what happened this past week to an inanimate member of our dear family - something that's been with us since 1981.  Remember we bought it that year and it was used then!  It's been a great tool for us and has served us very well:)

 Sorry to share a picture of the dilapidated condition of our dear rototiller!

There are several internal parts that just don't work any more and I am having more difficulty in fixing it. 

So we decided it was time to remember great times but move on.  

Here's the new Troy Bilt - hope it lasts as long as the Honda.

In its better days, it was always a favorite tool for Brigg.

Can't seem to find the picture of Zac trying to tame the old rototiller out back one fine summer - but we have great memories of that.  I think Megan kept her distance!!

Lattin's

We made our annual trek to Lattin's this morning - it's crisp and cold and a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest.  

It was pretty crowded with lots of families there taking tractor rides, looking at the animals, and enjoying the fares on sale.

Would take a chain saw to carve these pumpkins!

There were boxes and boxes of wonderful apples - and quite a bit less expensive than at the store.

Marcie T found a huge apple - and admits that she was a bit dramatic for the camera:)

No trip to Lattin's is complete without some fresh apple fritters!  Here they pose (are there 6 of them but only 2 Turner's at home?) on a bed of fresh corn.  Can't wait to take you all there some day!