You're famous

The guys happily pose for a blog photo!

"One of the best things in the world to be is a boy; it requires no experience, but needs some practice to be a good one"
Charles Dudley Warren

Girls we love for what they are; young men for what they promise to be.
Goethe

I see a lot of promise in that photo :o)


A few of the guys are loyal Quiet Life readers. They like the family stories I think...I don't think it's the knitting and diet talk that draws them in :o)

Maybe I remind them of home?

They had an eventful day yesterday. Getting to watch the Supreme Court in session at the Capitol was an interesting adventure.
Unexpected and educational.

**********

I will be attending a Family Nutrition Workshop today. (I signed up for this before I knew Matthew would be coming home)

Today I will learn the seven natural laws of health...how about that???
You can be sure I will share 'the good parts'.

Do you think I can bring along my knitting?
Naw...that might be rude.

Enjoy your Saturday with your boys and girls!!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Where do I start this morning....Friday Five.

I'll post the Friday Five and then tell you about our exciting weekend plans.

1. Did you go to college? Where?
2. What was your major?
3. Do you recommend your alma mater?
4. Would you do things differently?
5. Tell us about some of your extra-curriculars.



And why do I have college on my brain?
Well we have four college boys here at the house for the weekend! Matthew brought home three friends from Omaha; Matt, Dave and Luke.
They arrived last night at 12:15!

They seem like nice, fun guys!
They will go to a Brewers game tonight but before they go I will have dinner for them. Yummy Italian Beef. Homecooking is so important for college boys, don't you think?

They have never been to Wisconsin before so I might just have to make a cheese curd run!

Then bright and early this morning I took Emma to meet up with her homeschool choir as they are headed off on a tour. The High School choir is comprised of 40 teens.
They have been working on their music and choreography since January and they are excited to finally get to perform for real live people. They will sing at schools, retirement centers, shelters and a church.
The tour is such a blast for the kids and the parents who go along are really just the greatest servants.



Emma and one of her girlfriends.



Getting ready to board the bus.
(Sue, check out the purse Emma is using. She thinks it is the best :o)

So I have Matthew and his friends to keep me company when Emma is gone. I like having a housefull!!!

Katie is dying for the big boys to wake up.
They are not on the same schedule....at all.

She seems to always be learning patience. Poor dear.

Don't forget the Friday Five. I am very curious to hear what schools you attended!
Share away!

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Maggie is feeling better.

Well there you have it!

One-hundred thousand!!! and five :o)
The counter has been so weird this week I thought it was just going to konk out and I would have to start over. But...it made it!!! If I were in my car I would be honking the horn and making a big fuss :o) (I actually do that when I turn over 100,000 in a car. And I even remember where I was when this happens. The quiet life is often an easily amused life :o)

Blogging has been such a rewarding experience. It wouldn't be the same without you!
*gush* *gush*

Lina Lamont: If we bring a little joy into your humdrum lives, it makes us feel as though our hard work ain't been in vain for nothin'. Bless you all.

I have waited a long time to use that quote!!!

****************

We are off the gather Maggie the cat...I'll post a picture of her as soon as we get back. I am making Emma come along so she can hold Maggie and comfort her in the car.

Ya'll come back now, here!

and

Encourage one another,
Donna

*****************

Well....Maggie is not feeling very photogenic today.
She seems quite well. And her little paws do not have bandages.
BUT...she was a terror at the vets. She bit one woman and they were all afraid of her. So when we picked Maggie up this morning they had not given her any drugs yet...for fear of attack!!!

I told you she was sassy.

I apologized profusely to the poor woman....she was pretty cool about it.
Emma went in to get Maggie out of the cage and the lady with her got a hiss...and as soon as Maggie saw Emma, she mewed. And was just fine.

Poor stressed out puddy cat!

**********

Kitty Pain

I took our sassy Calico cat to the vet this morning. She is being declawed.
We have never really wanted to do this but in order to live happily in the same house with me, it had to be done.

She scratches Katie everyday. On the face. This is done just because Katie wants to pet her. Not pull her tail, or hit her, or even pick her up.

She is ruining my lovely new couch in the living room.

She is scratching the wood on the windowsills.

She scratched a big hole in the sliding door screen. (We will be getting a new door and don't want that ruined too)

So Maggie the cat is in for a very bad day. Poor dear.
We were told the first time we took her to the vets that Calicos can be rather sassy...and well...she has lived up to that prediction.

She growled at me when I picked her up today. (How dare I pick her up)
And then she hissed at me when I put her in the car. And complained the whole way to the vets.

I try to be sweet and nice to her but her ears go back and she scampers away.
(Actually Emma and I think it is very funny that she hates my voice)

She is one scaredy cat.

When I came home from the vets, Katie and I prayed for her. At least this made Katie feel better about it.

Maggie the cat will come home tomorrow morning...
I hope she will be okay.

So that's what's on my mind today.

What's on yours?

Donna

Lately

I have been knitting buttonhole bags :o)




They are drying on the kitchen table.

I used Lamb's Pride yarn this time and it was really a pleasure to knit with.

(And I learned in Words Fail Me by Patricia T. O'Conner that it is alright to end a sentence with .... a preposition. I am relieved and will stop worrying about that issue now! I am from the Mid-west, ya know!)

The buttonhole in the front with go over to Sweet Pea Knits and the little one in the back will stay here with us.

It is irregular.

I ran out of yarn and had to use a tiny bit of green in the blue handle. So it is not sale worthy. Emma likes the colors so perhaps she will tote that one around for a while.

I am learning to felt by trial and error. This time I did not have any fuzz mishaps, but I put too many things in the washer and had to go digging for the purses every five minutes. And I mean digging through very hot water.

I finally took all of Katie's whites out of the washer (soaked and dripping) and plopped them in a basket...in the nearby sink...so I could keep a better eye one the bags.

It's like I have to do everything wrong before I come up with the right way to felt.

So if you are going to felt something...don't use jeans with a tear, it creates fuzz.
Don't use a towel, more fuzz.
Don't fill the tub with little clothes.
Don't forget you are felting, extreme shrinkage.

I can't imagine what will happen next. Perhaps I will get it just right.
I can only hope!



And in the meantime, Katie decided to give herself a makeover.
She wants to be like her big sister.

I think I will be doing the makeovers from now on!

Funny times.

Encourage one another,
Donna

One hundred thousand!

If my stats counter works today, this blog will have had one-hundred thousand visitors.
That is astonishing!

I have gone the distance...just like Rocky!



I can relate to Rocky. The Rocky from the first movie. The chubby, unsure, big-hearted Rocky.

Who knew that something like a blog...could be so rewarding and fun and connecting?

I just love it!

Thank you all for coming by and being a part of my quiet life.


Little Rocky Quiz

No peeking!

1. Name Rocky's turtles?
2. Name Rocky's dog?
3. Where was Rocky and Adrian's first date?
4. Do you know what a South Paw is?
5. Can you say, 'Absolutely'. :o)

Ya gotta love movie where the heroine wears Lanz pajamas, don't you?
We all wore Lanz pajamas when we were in High School and College....and well into marriage I dare say. (Long flannel night-gowns)

When I was in Salzburg, Austria, I went looking for the Lanz Store. (Right on the tag it said,



I did find a store...but they did not sell flannel night-gowns.
They sold boiled wool jackets and lederhosen.

The store clerks looked at me funny when I asked for the nightgowns.
I came home with embroidered hankies and Toberlone instead.

*********

Oh yes...back to the celebration....

Thank you all for making this a fun place to be.
Thank you for your laughter and encouragement and for sharing your thoughts and memories!

*kiss* *kiss*

Encourage one another,
Donna

"To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony."

--William Henry Channing

I read this over at Tulipgirl's site a month or two ago and it has hung on the fridge since then.

I love the the peaceful, practical, gentle tone of it.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Good Morning

The Jeopardy Update is added on to yesterdays post, if you came a lookin' for that :o)

My friend, MFS over at Mental-Multivitamin, wrote a dandy of an article for today's post. It is one of her gems. I love when she writes this type of article.

Focus on the moment you're in. Not on the best handwriting book, most compelling history text, or most brilliant math program. Not on message boards or blogging buddies. (In fact, if you can, try an experiment: Limit yourself to no more than, say, one virtual visit daily.) Not on all the stuff you could be doing. No. On the moment you're in. On what you should be doing. Teaching. Learning. Coaching. Leading. Modeling. So, for example: Your children's minds are wandering? They've got holes-in-the-brain, you say? Where is your mind? Are you focused on them? Yeah, I didn't think so. Now that you are, discover why aren't they focused. Physical needs met? Something big coming up? Time for a walk? You get the idea.

That is just a tiny bit of the article. Go and read the rest.

Nice writing and thinking, Ginger :o)
Thank you!

Off to do some modeling...cutting strawberries,

Donna

It's just for fun

It's just for fun...it's just for fun....

Really, I'm not worried if I pass the try-out of not.
I'm just trying to calm myself down.

I haven't put myself 'out there' in a long time.

How about you?

Friday Five Freak out!


1. When was the last time you had butterflies over something you were about to do?
2. What was it?
3. Have you ever tried out for a game show?
4. Jeopardy or Wheel. of. Fortune?
5. What are you doing today?

My itty bitty knit-shop is up and running.

If you look over at the sidebar you will notice a new link.
Sweet Pea Knits
That's me...and my handknit mittens and socks.

(Yes I know it's April...but what are ya gonna do? Maybe someone from Baffin will come by and shop :o)

I will be knitting some darling buttonhole bags too!
The sweet ladies at Mason-Dixon Knitting have given me permission to use their cute pattern! Thank you ladies!

Take a peek at Sweet Pea Knits. No pressure to purchase.

Okay...I'm off....

I'll let you know this afternoon how things went at the try-out.

It's just for fun....it's just for fun....

Donna


*****Update*****

Hi! I'm home!

I had a great time...but I did not make it!

That's okay. There were 100 folks taking the test with me and only THREE passed the test!
No points for a pretty smile and cute outfit!

I did get a pen that says Jeopardy on it! hehe

But you would not believe the good luck mojo that was rubbing off of me!!!!

I arrived 45 minutes early and plopped myself down next to a nice woman. We gabbed until we were called into the testing room. She was pushed into signing up and doesn't get to watch Jeopardy very often. She came to Madison from Milwaukee to take the test.

When we entered the testing room I took a seat closer to the front and sat next to a serious looking fellow. We did not speak until after the test. After the test I started asking him what some of the answers were??? You know the ones that are on the tip of your tongue...
So we visited until the Jeopardy folks came back in the room to announce the 'winners'.

It didn't look like he was holding many pieces of paper...and he wasn't.

First name he called...Sandy.
My new friend from Milwaukee.
Woohoo! Good for her.

Second name. Ken from Rockford.
My new friend, sitting next to me.
Woohoo! Good for him!

Third name. Unknown woman.
Woohoo. She did not need my good luck mojo :o)

So only those three were asked to stay and play with the buzzers.

I gave Sandy a hug and wished her well as I left.

They do not tell you your score. And I wonder if they just pick the top three or if it is minus one or minus two. Must be very high for that many people to 'fail'.

I left with a smile and flushed cheeks.
It was fun!

They asked us not to tell the questions, so I won't.

I missed two geography questions and one science question.
But I got the Shakespeare question right!!! along with most of the popular culture questions, of course.

I sure hope Ken and Sandy are chosen for the show. They were nice. And smart.

Sandy told me the sweetest story about her Grandmother. Her Grandmother wanted to go on The Price is Right her whole life. She finally got to go on when she was 80 years old. She won a washer and dryer. When the washer and dryer was delivered the newspaper came and took pictures. She told Sandy that it was the best thing that ever happened to her (being on The Price is Right) When Granny died they buried her in her Price is Right t-shirt and name tag from the show.

I hope her grand-daughter get to go on Jeopardy!

And so it goes...

Thanks for your sweet support. I am lucky beyond words :o)
Donna

Really?

So while reading the almanac last night *smile* I learned that there is a big island off the east coast of Canada. It is called Baffin Island. If you look east across Baffin Bay you will see big ole Greenland.

So everyone knows Greenland is huge, and most of us have heard of Madagascar. It is always and answer on quiz shows. Katie even knows where Madagascar is. (There is a movie coming out called Madagascar and Katie wanted to know where it was on the map)

But I was bemused to see that Baffin is just a little smaller than Madagascar.
It's bigger than Great Britain and New Zealand.

Poor Canada. They have a very bad PR man. That is for sure!

Okay...I just went to look for pictures and well, it is arctic. Burrr.....
That's why no one goes there.

But here is a little island in Canada I would love to visit...in the summer.
Prince Edward Island
And of course there had to be a movie connection...
Isn't Anne of Green Gables just the dearest movie?
I have a soft spot for spunky, dreamy girls with red hair.



I am going to borrow those movies from the library again!
I forgot how much I liked Anne.

Has anyone been to Prince Edward Island?
Do tell.

Encourage one another,
Donna

This. is. Jeopardy.


Yes, Friday is the big try-out for Jeopardy.

I have butterflies already.

I dreamt about it last night. I was spotting my competition from afar. We were in a garage. Goofy.

Just relax and have fun is what I am telling myself.

I am not studying. I am playing along with the television. Like I have done for over 20 years. I have won three out of the last five shows.
That's pretty good.

But here is the problem. Yesterday I won because I knew I didn't know anything about The Cabinet so I didn't bet. All of the other contestants bet big and lost. I did not bet and won. Lucky.

So if I am going to go anywhere with Jeopardy it will be dumb luck or providence.

And really I am fine with that.

I am not being modest and I am not fishing for compliments.

Two days ago there was a category called 'Edward Albee'.

After a few clues I figured out who he was....and yesterday there was a category all about treaties. Not a clue.

So bring on the easy stuff...popular culture...easy history...general knowledge...

Please No Spelling!!!

And the only Shakespeare questions I can answer are;

What is Romeo and Juliet?

and

What is Taming of the Shrew?

So we will see.

Do you think they will let me bring my camera into the try-out? I'll try.
Maybe I will look at the Almanac a little bit over the next two days.

Wish I had the "I'm blogging this" t-shirt just for this occasion.

hehehe

Thanks for your good wishes and thank you so much for the encouraging words about Emma's essay.

Lynn, you made a very nice observation about the essay going from the inside of the house to the outdoors. Emma says it was not on purpose. But it is an interesting method and I think a great pointer for future essays.

Fluttering off to make pancakes...
Encourage one another,
Donna

10th Grade English


When people ask about homeschooling they often wonder; do your children have to take tests, what about socialization, and how do you teach all of those hard subjects?

I will answer two of the questions briefly and give an example for the last.

In Wisconsin the children do not need to take tests. I have given them because I wanted to know how Emma was doing, but it was not for the State. She just took the granddaddy of tests two weeks ago, the ACT.

Keeping up with academics is not really a problem homeschoolers face. It's quite the opposite. They are doing very well.

If you have read this blog for a little while you see that Emma is not suffering in the socialization dept.

Her way of learning is different from the average bear...
but she has friends and activities and is learning...and I couldn't be happier. (and I don't think she could either...well if she got to quit Latin she would be happier)

So how do I teach all of those hard subjects?

Now that Emma is in High School, I get a little help.

Emma used a DVD program (MUS) for Geometry this year. It went beautifully.

She goes to Chemistry once a week at a young woman's home with five other students.
I couldn't be happier with this! I have Emma signed up for Biology with this same young woman next year.

Correcting English papers was also an area that I felt the need for some help.
It's hard to know how picky to be.

So Emma is enrolled in an online English course thru The Potter's School.
She has done very well on the papers so far...but we are not really impressed with the whole on-line situation for her. We will not do this again next year, but I have a woman in mind who is willing to correct Emma's essays.

So that is how it goes. I find help where I need it. I get to choose the exact books that Emma reads for Great Books and History. And I get to make her do Latin every day :o)

Below is an example of the Emma's writing. I am posting this because I thought you might like to see an example of a 10th grader student's writing. This would have been helpful to me.

The assignment was to write a descriptive paper; three paragraphs; use as many references to your senses as you can.

Here is what Emma turned in last night:

As a spring rain falls, the grass in the yard exudes a color green only grass can attain. The yellow slide turns even brighter as the warm sun reflects off of it. The ice in the sandbox melts away, revealing shovels and toys thought to be lost. The pine trees look fresh and the maple trees are on the brink of revealing their leaves. Birds are hopping around the yard, searching for worms that suddenly appear in the springtime. Squirrels bound across the grass and onto the fence, scampering playfully away from each other, like children playing a game of tag. Cute, brown bunnies hop about; never on a mission, they seem to emerge from their homes merely for our pleasure. A lone butterfly floats about the yard, just out of reach of the children's fingers. The sky is cloudless and a perfect shade of blue.


Opening the back door, an abundance of cheery noises reach the ear. Neighborhood children laughing, a cardinal singing proudly, and the buzzing of a bee searching out a flower can all be heard. The wind blows gently through the pines, while they rustle softly in contentment. The clothespins sway and click as an easy breeze flows through the yard. Stepping on the rocks, a loud crunching disturbs the peace and a robin quickly flutters off the ground into a tree. A lawnmower can be heard rumbling off in the distance.

Walking on the lush green grass is like walking on a soft shag carpet, a delight to the toes. The soft, radiating sun can be felt beating down, making everything hot to the touch. A light breeze seems heavenly on a balmy spring day, and a stronger wind brings goose bumps to warm skin. Climbing the jungle gym you can experience rough wood on soft hands, the smooth metal on the monkey bars, and the bumpy ride down the plastic slide. In the sandbox, the cool, damp sand squishes between the toes. A sprinkler spins around the yard, refreshing anyone who comes into its path. Springtime has come and is eagerly welcomed in my backyard.

Okay...gotta run...

Slept like a baby.
Woke up a few times, crying.

Not really.

The bed felt cloud-like.

Still I have to adjust a little...plus Katie made an appearence and stirred things up.

But I have great hope.

I will sleep through the night again...someday.

Soon!

Off to make breakfast.

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Give yourself a brownie point if you made it all the way through this very long blog-post!

Do you remember the story of the Princess and the Pea?

It is actually named The Real Princess and it was written by Hans Christian Andersen.
This is the year of Hans Christian Andersen's two hundredth birthday!
How about that?

I just wanted a picture of the bed :o)

And look at that beautiful illustration I found by one of my favorite illustrators Margaret Tarrant. (MamaT introduced me to Margaret Tarrant)

So anyway....

The reason I am looking for a picture of a bed is that after 25 years we are getting a new mattress!

(Thank you Uncle Sam.)

It will be delivered this afternoon!
The long, long wait is over!

It is six inches higher than the bed we have now! (we chose the low profile box spring because otherwise the bed would have been 10 inches higher then our current bed)

Katie queried, "How will I be able to climb up there?"

"You may need a stool!" I answer with a grin.

It really is fun waiting a long time for something, cause finally getting it is oh so sweet.

It couldn't possibly be too comfortable, could it?

Doing a happy dance,
Donna

The Lacemaker
Johannes Vermeer (1632 - 1675)

We are not alone.
We are even in masterpieces :o)

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.
1 Thessalonians 4:11

Encourage one another,
Donna

Oh, give us pleasure in the flowers today;
And give us not to think so far away
As the uncertain harvest; keep us here
All simply in the springing of the year.

-Robert Frost

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.
-Helen Keller

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
An eternity in an hour.
-William Blake

The bright sun welcomes us to another gorgeous morning here in Wisconsin.
We blossom. We emerge from our cocoons. We blink our eyes at the glare. We are greeted with the cardinal's song.

It good to be alive in the Spring in Wisconsin.

influences

The teacher in To Be and To Have had such a big influence on the children at his little school. Hey, he made an impression on me in 100 minutes.

Influential Friday Five

Who has influenced you?


1. Spiritual influence
2. Physical
3. Scholastically
4. Biggest domestic influence
5. Parenting influence

Bonus for my glamorous sisters and Wendy :o) And anyone else who wants to play along.
This could be quite fun.
6. Personal Style

My answers:

1. The Bible, Elisabeth Elliot, Dennie Dowell
2. Having babies has influenced my body. Mercy!
3. Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, Susan Wise Bauer
4. My mother, my sisters, the Quilters (my friends from up North who taught me to quilt) and Knitters (new friends here in Madison and cyber-knitters), various television chefs.
5. My mother and father, my sisters, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, the Bible.

bonus

My sisters, Martha Stewart (I've decided I like her big, crisp shirts), my husband (he buys me very chic purses), Dr. Scholl.


I am looking forward to really great answers today!

Encourage one another,
Donna

I am the proud owner of one of the above. Guess which one?
The Audi Turbo or the Addi Turbo?

Yes, you guessed right. The knitting needles :o)

Fine needles they are. Fast with a soft cord and smooth transfer!

A delight to knit with.



Little bitty mittens for a little bitty boy.

Katie will get a pair of these too.

Knit with Lorna's Laces yarn.
Size two dp's.
Vintage pattern.

_____________

I finally watched To Be and To Have last night.
It is such a gentle, subtle movie.

George Lopez is a patient, patient man with a love for teaching and it was nice to watch and learn from him. (The movie is a documentary of a teacher and his students in a one room school room in France)
I think those of you who are homeschooling a large family would find this movie interesting. He has beautiful control of his classroom and the children are so quiet. Not that anyone is aiming for this...but I was impressed that he could accomplish so much with such a quiet manner.
I am going to start whispering my orders from now on :o)

Thank you to the poster who recommended this quiet movie.
Speak up, if it was you :o)

__________

One more little thing.

For dinner last night I prepared a salad of lettuce, pears, pecans and chicken with the raspberry vinaigrette.
It was excellent! The raspberry vinaigrette was light and tangy. Not too sweet at all. Superb.

Thank you all for your salad helps...I have been having fun with your suggestions and recipes!

Encourage one another,
Donna

A Meme: new bloggy term for a list.

Ten things I'd like to do before I die.

I am going to post the list I left in MamaT's comment box yesterday.

She told us not to write things like 'cure cancer'.
So I just typed these babies off the top of my head.

My ten things:

1. Live near my sisters again. It's been a long time.
2. See my children grown and happy and faithful and be a grandmother.
3. Work for Ron Howard (preferably choosing the music for his movies)
4. Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
5. Go to New York.
6. Go to the Rose Bowl Parade.
7. Travel Europe some more.
8. Drive around the US in a little Airstream.
9. Go to Hawaii again.
10. Lose weight and keep it off.


Does it sound like I need to get out of the house?


Speaking of getting out of the house...

Those poor tired racers on the Amazing Race!!! I don't think we have any idea how tired they all were. To choose the tea delivery task over smashing coal told Patrick and I that they were t.i.r.e.d. And then to find that they were not at the Pit Stop yet! Ugh.
Did you see Phil raise his eyebrow a la John Belushi?

And try as I might I can not say 'our' like Phil, can you?
I'll bet our readers from Down Under can say it.

I couldn't stop sighing after the show.
I was exhausted.

____________

If you would like to share your top then with us, please post them in the comments box or at your website and let us know :o)

Mine is printed out and in my drawer.

Our 25th Anniversary is in November and we are hoping to go to New York.

Then I can quote movie lines to my husband and drive him nuts!

It's the nearest thing to heaven, and you were there!

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.

I'm excited just thinking about it :o)

Happy Wednesday!

Encourage one another,
Donna


p.s. I am on the verge of signing up for a knitalong...
I'm just gathering the courage to make the commitment.
I'll decide by tomorrow and share the pattern with you all.
It's a cutie!

Break Fast

Have I told you that Katie is a very picky eater?
Yesterday she requested Mickey Mouse Pancakes.

So I donned my chef's cap and went to work.



She love it and ate every bit of it.

Emma woke up a little later and I made her a big round pancake without the smiley face :o) She ate her's all up too!

****

For dinner I cut some strawberries for Katie and had a brilliant idea.
(I get in such a rut sometimes I don't know what to eat...that isn't a bread product)

I made myself a salad with strawberries and pecans. Here is the recipe.

I had to substitute a few things...like iceberg for spinach...and cider vinegar for red. But it was delicious and fresh and whole and good for me(despite the sugar in the dressing)

I ate vegetables and fruit and that is a good thing!

Do you love salads? I do!!! But I find they always taste better if someone else makes them.

Do you have any salad making tips?
Do you have a recipe you would like to share?

Yum...Salad.

Thanks for the fun comments yesterday!

Encourage one another,
Donna

What are you reading this month?

I have a few new books added to the collection I am trying to get through.

I bought a book called Buffalo Coat this weekend. It is written by the author of Caddie Woodlawn, Carol Ryrie Brink.

The book starts off quite well.

"Originally published in 1944, Buffalo Coat appeared for several weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The first adult novel written by acclaimed Idaho writer Carol Ryrie Brink, winner of the Newbery Award for the outstanding book of children's literature in 1936, Buffalo Coat has become a classic of Northwest literature. Buffalo Coat tells the tale of three doctors who came to Opportunity (Moscow), Idaho, in the 1890s seeking success and fortune in the town with the promising name. Yet each of their lives ended in tragedy."

The Philosopher's Diet by Richard Watson finally came in at the library. I am looking for the good parts that MFS quoted a while back. I am surprised about the actual dieting information in this book. I thought it was going to be all philosophy.
Mr. Watson suggests eating 900 calories of healthy, whole foods, no refined, white anything, and running to lose weight.

Well. That'll work!

I just have not heard anyone recommend 900 calories in, say, 30 years.
Like I said, I liked the motivational quotes that MFS supplied so I am still looking for more of those...it's a little book...I should find them soon.



Getting a little dusty is A Home-Concealed Woman:The Diaries of Magnolia Wynn Le Guin. Keeping a diary such as this is what women did before blogs.

Have you ever heard of a five year diary? A friend of mine said her grandfather kept a five year diary.

Perhaps my blog should be a five year blog.



The fourth book on my nightstand is The Riddle of Amish Culture by Donald Kraybill. I just like the picture on the cover of this book :o)
I'm not too far into this one yet.


I won two books at Amazon over the weekend.
Better Off by Eric Brende and The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody.
Both books were read last year and enjoyed so I went ahead and purchased them for cheap, cheap, cheap!

Fun, fun, fun!

So what are you diving into this month? Finishing Up?
I'd love to know.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Ralph Waldo Emerson
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.

Folliot Sandford Pierpoint

For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Refrain:
Christ our God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.


Katie sang with the children's choir this morning.
It was fun and uplifting.

The fresh warm air greeted us as we exited the church
So we went for a little drive.



Days of Rest by Glenn Sanderson-Wisconsin Photographer


What a beautiful world,
Donna

The Moon's the North Wind's Cooky

The Moon's the North Wind's cooky,
He bites it day by day,
Until there's but a rim of scraps
That crumble all away.

The South Wind is a baker.
He kneads clouds in his den,
And bakes a crisp new moon that...greedy
North...Wind...eats...again!

Vachel Lindsay

Well how about that. The moon as a cooky.
I think someone could write a thesis on all of the foods that moon has been compared to.

Cheese. Milk. Cookies.

April
The Frog Moon

Frogs sit in the marshes,
throats bellowed tight,
feeling quite romantic,
calling through the night.
Come my love, my love, my love.
Come be mine to night.
-Penny Pollack

That sounds like muskrat love to me.

We can hear the frogs already. They are loud. I don't think I have ever lived anywhere where there are such loud frogs! And I don't even know what they look like.
Guess I should walk over to the pond with Katie and explore.
Science. That's the ticket :o)

Have you ever heard a bull frog?
I haven't since I was very small.
But I remember the deep, burpy sound,
And their big, heavy, slimy bodies.
They make quite a racket!

The world comes alive in Spring.
Good bye snow!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Five Again

Now this week went by in a flash.

It's our mother's birthday today. She would be 71. So in her honor I will write a Friday Five with her in mind.

1. Can you tap dance? If not, would you like to learn?
2. Who do you like better Elvis or Frank? (This was an actual discussion at our house!)
3. Did/Does your mother have a hobby? Do you do the same hobby?
4. Tell me how you are like your mother.
5. How are you different from you mother.

Oh good...that turned out nice.
Looking forward to your answers.

If you would like to learn more about our mother click here and here.

Life is beautiful! Enjoy!
Donna

A child's heart

If you like dressing paper dolls, you will love this Jenny B. Harris' site.
She has designed some very cute little virtual dolls/robots/rooms to decorate and dress. They are colorful, cute and fun, fun, fun!

Jenny B. Harris dress-up softie

Page down to find the first doll. Click on 'things to do' to find the bunny, robot and bedroom.

___

Katie just came downstairs and made a little groan.

She was hoping to see her daddy sitting in his chair.

She is quick and sensitive so she tried to cover up her disappointment that it was just me.

I am not offended. She loves me.
She wears her little heart on her sleeve and can tell you all about what is on her heart.

She thinks it is very special to spend time with her daddy.
And that is how it should be.
It is a blessing that they adore one another.

Our other children may have felt this same way...but they didn't talk about it.

Katie narrates her life, like a voice-over in a movie.

Scout: [narrating] One time Atticus said you never really knew a man until you stood in his shoes and walked around in them; just standin' on the Radley porch was enough. The summer that had begun so long ago had ended, and another summer had taken its place, and a fall, and Boo Radley had come out.

I had Katie call her daddy at work to say good morning.
She liked that.
She told me so.


Encourage one another,
Donna

How did the boys end up last? Yes they started out in last place and they climbed the wrong water tower...but two other groups made huge time wasting mistakes and they were still able to beat the brothers?
I am sad to see them go.

***Okay, I just saw the brothers interviewed on CBS.

They said they were hours behind the other teams. They made many mistakes on their final leg of the race including getting lost and chasing the goats for forty minutes.
They said that they started the race only ten minutes behind the other teams...but made every mistake possible!

Wow! Isn't that Amazing Race editing team tricky.

There is another episode on tonight!!!

I hope Ron and Kelly are the next to go.

______________

Nashville Star is drawing the rest of the clan in too!
Emma and Patrick are not big reality television watchers and usually find something else to do...but Emma watched with me last night...and Patrick heard some of the singing from another room and started singing along :o)
He knows the words to all of those country songs.

Hidden talent!

Me: You know the words to these songs?
Patrick: Yes! Richard (disabled dish washer from work) listened to this stuff on the radio for all those years at the bakery.

"Party time, Pat's house!"
~Richard

___________


New definitions or should we say new daffynitions?
Go to Julie D's for a chuckle.

My faves; pokemon, circumvent, willy-nilly, flatulence.




"The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with."
Marty Feldman.

tee hee...extra points if you know who Marty Feldman is. :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Flopinzeeola!





My handy dandy felted clutch felted all wrong.
I don't know if I left it in the washer too long. (I gave Katie a bath and forgot about it)
I don't know if I knitted it with the wrong number of rows. (It did not look like this before the hot water)
I do know that it was very difficult to knit. (Not difficult to understand, difficult to maneuver)

So a lesson has been learned.

Don't forget your felting projects when they are in the washer.

Do go outside for a long walk and visit to a neighborhood park when it is 70* in April in Wisconsin!




Katie and I had a wonderful time at the park!

She is now able to swing entirely on her own! Woo Hoo!
No more pushes to get started.

And she discovered how fun it is to spin on a merry-go-round.

After a while she would float from one position to another as she spun around and around.

Then I taught her how to push it herself and jump on.
Pretty cool.

Not one mention of dizziness.

Ah youth!

Enjoy,
Donna

Call the children over.
Give the doggy a bone.




Hat tip to Mrs-Mmv


Did I tell you I have the dream of a dog?
Yeah, I know I did.

But the wanting is coming on strong again.

The reality of a dog is messy and expensive and sleep depriving.

And the reality is that dear hubby says 'no' Not now.

So I will continue to dream and hope.

Poem for New Puppy

Don't smell crotches, don't eat plants,
Don't steal food or underpants.
Don't eat my socks; don't grab my hair,,,
DON'T RIP THE STUFFING FROM THAT CHAIR!!

Don't eat those peas, don't touch that bush,
Don't chew my shoes, what IS this mush!?!
Eat your cookies, drink your drink,
Outta the toilet! Outta the sink!

AWAY FROM THE LITER BOX, IT'S FOR THE CAT!
(and must you kiss me after that!?!)
Raising a puppy is not for the lazy,
Those rugrats are funny, but also quite crazy.

Don't despair through the toil and the strife.
"Cause after three years you'll get back your life!
So lets go for walkies, so you can do your "thing"
And maybe I'll get back my diamond ring!

-Author unknown

Cute little reality check :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Personal Touch

It was a great shock and loss for our grandparents when our parents died. So much more than we children could ever understand.

We were children.

In 1980 I stayed with my Grandma G. in Chicago when my sister Cindy got married.
Grandma shared with me that she had lost her faith and had been angry at God after our parents died. But she said that her faith had been restored since the Pope had visited Chicago in 1979.

She was not a Catholic.

Pope John Paul II's visit, however, gave her hope, healed her heart, and helped her go on.

I am thankful that his presence and words meant so much to her.

God of our life, there are days when the burdens we carry chafe our shoulders and weigh us down; when the road seems dreary and endless, the skies grey and threatening; when our lives have no music in them, and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage. Flood the path with light, run our eyes to where the skies are full of promise; tune our hearts to brave music; give us the sense of comradeship with heroes and saints of every age; and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage the souls of all who journey with us on the road of life, to Your honour and glory.

Augustine
Works and Biography

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28


Encourage one another,
Donna

Show and Tell

My new friend, Lynn in Wi, has just started knitting. She has been knitting about two months. Look what she made last week!



But even more impressive...the woman designed a smaller version of the buttonhole bag and made a coin purse!



Isn't that wonderful! I am going to have her write down the pattern this afternoon so I can make one too!
Isn't that encouraging? She just started knitting and look what she has already been able to accomplish!

There is hope, new knitters! You don't have to knit scarves forever :o)

__________


Prayers for my Catholic friends and for their beloved Pope.

"To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others."John Paul II

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."John Paul II

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Five

1. Who did you think was funny when you were a child?
2. Who do you think is funny now?
3. Funniest Blog?
4. Tell us a little joke.
5. Funniest movie ever?

I love to laugh...and have been laughing since I was a little girl.
It's always been one of my favorite things to do :o)

I love someone with an uproarious laugh. My son Patrick laughs loud and often and my friend from up North ,Martha, laughs well. You want to go to a comedy with Martha cause she enjoys it so much!
It lifts your spirits to be with someone who is full of glee!

When I was a little girl my best friend and I would make one another laugh so much that we would wet our pants. Often.
We are bonded by childhood giggles.

My sisters make me laugh too.
No wonder we love to be together!

Now I laugh really hard when someone dances funny...or unexpectedly.
For instance there is an episode of Friends where Monica and Ross go to Rockin' New Years Eve and do a dance for the cameras. I think it is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
And on Fresh Prince of Belle Air when Will and Carlton dance, it's hysterical.

Which brings me to my first love and goofy dancer, Jerry Lewis.
I embarrassed to admit I loved him as a child. But have you seen him dance?
Funniest thing ever.

So here are my answers for today's questions;

1. Cathy R., Jerry Lewis and The Three Stooges.
2. Eddie Murphy in Bowfinger is really funny, Regis and Kelly make me laugh, Steve Martin and numerous family and friends in real life.
3. Knit and Tonic, Puppdaddy, and Fluffa are witty writers.
4. Why is Cinderella such a bad soccer player?
Because her coach is a pumpkin.
5. Parenthood, On Golden Pond, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and The Jerk all come to mind.


I can't wait to read your lists and jokes today.
And by the way...

I'm pregnant!




NOT!



April Fool!


A cheerful heart is good medicine,
Donna