A yarn about yarn.

Wendy @ Knit and Tonic is always running into a knitting snag of one kind or another.
She writes such an amusing blog about it too. Which is always great fun to read.

But I don't. I'm Miz Safe knitter. I usually choose yarn I am sure about. I knit patterns I am familiar with. No problems.

But this week I ordered yarn from Schoolhouse Press. The folks on the phone were very nice. The price was right. The yarn looked soft and perfect for the blanket I have been yearning to knit. So I bought the unknown yarn for the big project.

And yesterday it came. I opened the box.

Color is fine.

I reached in an picked up a skein.

Not so soft. I feel lanolin.

I sniffed it. (because I sniff things)

And....ewwww....smells like sheep.

Big Ewww.

I don't think I can knit with it...and it is too bulky.
After casting on and doing a swatch there is no way this can be knit into the pattern I was dreaming of.

And, well, it smells icky.


Yesterday I told Carmon I was an Total Agrarian Sympathizer.
But when it comes to smells on the farm....

Call me a City Girl.

Well...not a smelly City Girl. Oh forget it!


I'm sending the yarn back.




Yarn purist, I am not.

Back to safe knitting I shall go.
Donna

**UPDATE****

My big surprise this week was being chosen blogger of the week!
Check out this very kind write-up!
Homeschoolblogger.com

I won a wonderful prize too! I will buy Katie some fun workbooks for kindergarten!
Lucky me!


***Back to regularly scheduled blogging....

Friday Feast


Appetizer
Name 3 people whom you admire for their intelligence.

Soup
What's the last food you tried that you really didn't care for.

Salad
If you could rename the street that you live on, what would you want it to be called?

Main Course
When was the last time you were genuinely surprised?

Dessert
Share a household tip.




If I were to choose a name for our street I would choose a name that is very easy to pronounce on the telephone. And easy to spell.
Okay...I've thought of the perfect name for my street.

Easy Street. That's it.

It's spellable and funny.

Perfect :o)



We live on a very nice street. It's wide and quiet. It's safe (except for criminals stealing checks our of our mailbox).
But we do not have sidewalks. And do you know what one really needs sidewalks for???
Learning to ride a bike.

Yup. Katie is the age that all three of our other children learned to ride a two wheeler. But we have no interest in running her up and down a gravely street to learn. So around in a little oval she goes on our short driveway.
Snooze-a-roo.

Fortunately she does not have a burning desire to ride yet.
Next summer we will have to come up with a plan.
But for this summer she and her bike are stranded on the driveway.





Encourage one another,
Donna

The simplest things...



tickle our fancies around here :o)

Weather

Dot a dot dot dot a dot dot
Spotting the windowpane.

Spack a spack speck flick a flack fleck
Freckling the windowpane.

A spatter a scatter a wet cat a clatter
A splatter a rumble outside.

Umbrella umbrella umbrella umbrella
Bumbershoot barrel of rain.

Slosh a galosh slosh a galosh
Slither and slather a glide

A puddle a jump a puddle a jump
A puddle a jump puddle splosh

A juddle a pump a luddle a dump
A pudmuddle jump in and slide!

-Eve Merriam

A change in the weather is very good.

We have the doors and windows open again...after about four weeks of shades down and air conditioning rushing, we let the outside come in again.

The cardinals whistle and the robins trill.
The outside smells drift in and freshen.

Wisconsin is at her best on a cool summer morning.

When is your state at her best?

Wish you were here!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Chicken-a-la-Poop-a-la-King


Today I share a recipe that my family eats.
The fancy-schmancy salads. No one is eating those.
The veggie dishes and pork and bean do-dads; all mine.

But Chicken-a-la-King they like!

You will notice it is missing many ingredients that REAL Chicken-a-la-King usually has. But like I said, this one they will eat.

So here it is in all it's glory;

2 chicken breasts

2 T. butter
3 T. flour
1 cup chicken broth or water with 2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 t. dry mustard
1 t. paprika
1 egg yolk
1/3-1/2 c. milk

White Bread

Serves about 4.


Bake the chicken. I use a crock pot.

In a med size pan melt the butter and add the flour to make a roux. Give this a few minutes. Add your chicken broth. Stir as it thickens. Add egg yolk and the spices.
Shred the chicken and put it in the pan. Add the milk.
Toast the bread and tear into pieces.

I serve this with cottage cheese (which only Patrick Sr. eats), applesauce (everyone eats except Matthew) and milk (everyone drinks milk).

It's plain and simple and cheap and edible.
What more do you want?

And about the name...it's just morphed into that lovely name. I'm sure Matthew had something to do with it...or my husband, for that matter.

Katie does not like the name one bit.

Which ensures that it will continue to be called Chicken-a-la-Poop-a-la-King.

It has a nice ring to it. he he

Bon Appetit!

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. That was for you, Jo. You may need to double this :o)

Popping Hostas






Pop!


The little purple hosta flowers make a delightful little pop if you know just ones to choose. Gentle and quick and pop!

Choose a bud that looks like a tiny balloon.
Use the flat meaty part of your thumb and your index finger (pointer) and quickly pinch.

It doesn't work if you use your fingernails or the tips of your fingers or if you are too slow.
(Katie taught me all of this. She's getting the hang of it now.)


Popping hostas has been a summertime joy since I was a little girl.
One whole side of Aunt Dorothy's cottage was lined with hostas-at least two rows deep.

Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop!


And as far as I know, all of this popping does not damage the flower. They seem to do just fine even after being man handled :o)

Try it!

Donna

(My family thinks I am easily amused. They are right :o)

Book Love

This is the story of five sisters - Ella, Henny, Sarah, Charlotte and Gertie - growing up in New York City around the turn of the century. They share one room and go everywhere together. Their pleasures are simple- going to the Library, or the market or Coney Island or Papa's shop (especially on a rainy day when the peddlers come in). The best thing about this story is the warmth and fun of family life whether celebrating the Jewish holidays or dusting the parlour which Mama turns into a wonderful game (Mama hides buttons - if you dust well, you will find them!) You could say that not much happens but it is such a warm and caring world they live in - it is irresistible. And at the end of the book something does indeed happen which surprises all of the sisters!

I started reading All-of-a-kind Family to Katie a few days ago. She usually resists sitting down for a length of time to read. She's much more about action and talking than listening. But I thought it was about time she learn to enjoy it :o)

All-of-a-Kind Family was the perfect choice. For Katie and for me.

But you know what? She doesn't really want to snuggle up to me when I read. She wants to stand up and flit about the room, acting out the story.
Does this suprise me? Well, not really.

Katie even wants to say each line the girls say.

So instead of quiet mama reading on the couch, I am Steven Spielberg :o)

Most importantly, tho, Katie is listening and enjoying the story.

I guess I will grow into my new role; director extraordinaire.

It's a pretty fun job :o)


Are you reading a chapter book to your children? What did you choose?
What chapter book was a favorite of yours when you were very young?

If you haven't read All-of-a-kind Family, you must!
It's a delightful book!

Encourage one another,
Donna

I ran across this website yesterday and it sure is fun and pretty.

The Farm Chicks

Look what you can do with an idea, creativity and some elbow grease :o)

I like that they run an antique show twice a year. Not a store to run on a daily basis...but two special events.

**********

VBS is over.
So much work by so many willing workers!!!

I love hearing the songs;they are loud and wild and they all have big hand motions!
Talk about fun!

The children were invited on stage last night to sing. Most of them love this.
I could see Katie in the back row at first but then I lost her in the crowd.

I said, 'it was too bad you were stuck behind the big kids, I couldn't see you.'

She said, "I didn't want to budge."

Looks like Katie learned a new social skill at VBS.

Don't budge ;o)

Blue skies
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies
Do I see

Bluebirds
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds
All day long
-Irving Berlin

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast


Appetizer
What is your middle name? Would you change any of your names if you could? If so, what would you like to be called?

Soup
If you were a fashion designer, which fabrics, colors, and styles would you probably use the most?

Salad
What is your least favorite chore, and why?

Main Course
What is something that really frightens you, and can you trace it back to an event in your life?

Dessert
Where are you sitting right now? Name 3 things you can see at this moment.





Here is the Friday Feast, unaltered. Usually I fix em up , more to my liking...
but let's just go with this one....and see how it goes :o)


And since sister Cindy doesn't have a computer at home....



I can show you the buttonhole bag I made her for her birthday :o)

Can you guess my inspiration for the colors and the name?


By the way, on the weather front, we had two morning with nice soaking rains here in Wisconsin. Thank you God, for the farmers.

It was so dark yesterday around 9am my son said the outside lights went on!
And then in the afternoon I saw some spectacular clouds.
Imagine a dark gray background with small puffy white clouds floating in front.

So very pretty!

Wishing you fancy clouds and a wonderful summer weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Each morning before I start writing I always check my favorite knitting blogs.
Why the knitting blogs?
Because the few that I visit are regular posters. Every day posters.
And these knitters are fast and friendly and inspiring.

This morning Wendy @ Wendy Knits was answering questions about lace knitting.
She linked a knitting store where she buys a lovely jumperweight yarn. (Now, I just like the way that sounded. Jumperweight. Reminds me of Princess Diana. She did not wear sweaters. She wore jumpers.)

And believe it or not...the yarn store is in Wisconsin! Elizabeth Zimmerman has been supplying handknitter since 1959! How about that!
Here is a link to her website. (Isn't the internet grand)
School House Press Yarn

And here is a bit of her wisdom.



"Knit on, with confidence and hope, through all crises. Elizabeth"

Oh I like that!


So that was my little discovery this morning. Nice way to start the day :o)


Yesterday we had a few interesting experiences!

We went to the Dane County Fair to visit one of Emma's friends, see the projects she had entered in the Fair and eat some Cotton Candy.

Emma ended up showing two chickens for her friend's little brother. (He was busy showing a dog at the exact same time.)

Do you think we can put that on her transcript, under extra curriculars?
(just kidding)

Played Soccer: four years
Showed Chickens at Dane County Fair.

Anyway..it went well...the bird did not fly away...and it did not poop on her.

I had to miss it tho. I had to get Katie home by three and it takes much longer to show all those chickens than you can imagine.

Emma's friend made a buttonhole bag and won a blue ribbon!



Way to go! You are one fine seamstress, knitter, and chicken show-er!

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Katie pinched her nose so tight in the llama barn that she left red marks.
She has a sensitive sniffer like her momma :o)

Birthday Wishes to my sister Cindy!

Cindy is sassy and smart and big hearted and gifted!
She is a loving wife and mother and dedicated Kindergarten teacher.
Add to all of that she is a darling girl with a great sense of style...and she is funny to boot. (who says that..to boot....must be a Wisconsin thing.)

Happy Birthday Cindy!
Miss you.
Love you.




Did you ever see such a perfect cake?




Enchanted Tulips and Other Verses for Children (1914): a machine-readable transcription
Keary, Maud



NIGHT like a coverlet is folded down
Upon the hills, and now the gentle trees
Rock in their arms the restless winds to sleep.
Cassiopeia, the Great Bear, and the Crown
Divide the sky with striding Hercules.
Her silent watch the pointed moon doth keep;
I, in my cosy bed, lie still and wonder
What makes the world turn round and stirs the thunder.




RESOLUTIONS

LET us try to be good and content,
Kind to each other,
Healthy and gentle and brave,
Obedient to Mother.


For of such were the heroes of old--
Patient in learning,
Seldom rude, seldom cross, never cruel,
From the truth never turning.


FATHER

OUT in the morning Father goes,
Whether it pours with rain or snows,
Whether the wild wind beats and blows:--
By the fire sit Mother and I
Doing our lessons quietly.


Back in the twilight Father comes,
When I've finished with books and sums.
Not all the noise of all the drums
Is a jollier noise, I know,
Than Father when he says, "Hallo!"



This is my kind of poetry.
Simple.
Children's poetry.
Poetry with pretty images.


The clouds are thundering...
It looks like rain.
Keep your fingers crossed!

Encourage one another,
Donna

How cool is this hat!
It is the Green Bay Packer Cure for Cancer Cap!

Now.... I never, ever, ever wear a hat...
But this one is so special!

I bought two!

Our heroic quarterback's dear wife spent last year fighting breast cancer and this is Green Bay's tribute to her.
($5.00 of each hat goes to Cancer Research)

She is in remission and Brett and Deanna are looking forward to a much better year and a great football season to come.

We are too!

Here is a nice article about Brett and Deanna Favre.


Reluctant Bathers Unite :o)



You are not alone!

But, like me, you are missing out!

Amy says that no one is looking at you!
Young Emma said the same thing to me the other day.

I will try to believe them. I will put aside my self...
and join in the summer fun with the family!

It's about time!
Care to join me?

And when my pink Packer hat comes in....
I will wear that proudly too!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Well...I am all out of sorts.

I am sitting in the basement with Katie singing ("Vacation Bible School is today,eh, eh, Vacation Bible School is today, hey, hey") and listening to a a cereal commercial blaring behind me.

This is not my typical blogging routine!

Emma asked her friends to stay over last night and (don't ask me why) they slept in the family room! Right where I blog!

But, I am not so mean as to wake them up at 7 :00am. Just can't do it!
I have no idea how late they stayed up!

*********

Have you seen the movie Luther yet?

I watched most of it last night. It's quite good.
One of the actors looked like Colin Firth. Emma didn't see it, so
I checked IMDB.com and found this man is indeed the younger brother of fair Colin.
Jonathan Firth.


We are having super hot weather here in Wisconsin.
The farmers need rain. Desperately. Please pray for rain!

I'm afraid I would be a crazy lady without air conditioning!
CRAY-ZEE

*******

Vacation Bible School starts tonight!
Katie should have a wonderful time.
Everyone at the church works so hard to put on a nice VBS.
Fun times :o)


*********

A family I know jsut had a baby girl last Friday. They named her Esther.
Tears just spring to my eyes every time I think of it.

*********

The girls are still asleep...but I am heading up for some pop and food for Katie and me.

Can you believe summer is half over?

OH, I went took a dip in a public pool with the girls the other day.
It was very awkward for me. (I do not like anyone to see my bod)
BUT, the girls were so happy to have me in the pool.
And it sure felt good.

Try it, you'll like it :o)

How will you celebrate summer this week?


Encourage one another,
Donna


p.s. yikes...I can't do spell check on this computer.
Well...there you have it...
the naked blog.

Carmon has written a wonderful piece on being Merely Players.

None of us can avoid our role in the drama. We'd prefer a little more comedy and a little less tragedy, of course, but the tragedy is sometimes part of the script.

Read her whole article:Buried Treasure

Let's play our own parts well and cheer on those who are on stage, giving their all in the performance of their lives.

Encourage one another,
Donna

The plays the thing....Friday Five

Have you ever been in a play? If so, what was it and what did you play?
If not. Why not?
What is your favorite stage musical?
What is your favorite stage drama?
What was the last play you attended?


Our mermaid



Even with her itty-bitty, teeny-tiny part...Katie loved being in the play!

The mermaids sang a little song, very softly and tentatively, and they said their three word lines the same way.

But they sure were colorful and pretty!

Near the end of the play the crocodile chases Captain Hook. The mermaids run along behind the Crocodile from one end of the auditorium to the other. Katie was the littlest and last to make it around the room!
No one fell! Phew!

As I sat in the audience I thought, 'this is probably the first of many times we would sit in a theater watching our Katie.'

Finally a way to get the men in the family to the theater :o)


Thank you all for your well wishes yesterday!
I read them all to Katie! She especially liked, "Break a fin!"
She said, "They said that, because they know I am a mermaid."

Life is full of so many sweet things!
I hope you are enjoying every blessing that comes your way :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Show Time





Katie is the Mermaid with black hair in the play Peter Pan.

I am assured that she will have more than shells on her little chest :o)

She has been practicing the mermaid song this week and delights in the sparkly green eye shadow she gets to wear.


Katie has three hours of practice this morning and then call time is 5:30 for the 7:00 preformance.
What a day for a little five year old.

We can't wait to see the preformance!

On with the show...
this is it!

Donna and Katie Gracie

Could we with ink the ocean fill
And were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky


The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell

-Lehman


That is my very favorite word picture...ever.

And I saw it played out yesterday afternoon.
I saw the Love of God played out in a young woman's marriage.

This young wife had a complete transformation of attitude and behavior.

It can be attributed to nothing other than her teachable heart and a powerful but oh so gentle God.

I was really astonished.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

The love of God is greater far,
than tongue or pen can ever tell,

Donna

To write with light





I drove Matthew down to work this morning.
His car is in the shop and he says his wheel is just about to fall off....something about a boot and an axel. It's a good thing to get fixed...especially with the long trip he is making to Omaha this weekend!
Good thinking son!


I took my camera with me because I thought I might be able to get a pretty shot of the countryside or a few sand hill cranes. But, alas, the light was not right.

One of the main components of Photography is light. The name says it all

Photo means light
Graph mean write

To write with light.

Poetic, no?

Different times of day produce different kinds of light.
And clouds add another dimension altogether.

Everything was flat this morning.
No dimension at all.
I knew the photos would be blah.

So I shot the windmill as I buzzed around a curve going about 60....and that's the extent of my picture taking this morning.

I was once asked to take pictures at a wedding. The wedding was at noon on a very bright summer day. Ugh. I will never forget how the leaves left big dark blotches on the wedding party. (I was only 21 and not too experienced...why they asked me, I will never know)

For portraits I would recommend mornings or evenings for a softer light.

Ah well.... those were my thoughts this morning as I drove along the country roads holding my digital camera.

I love photography. I think it is an art.

Do you?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Sometimes you feel like a meme...
Sometimes you don't.

This meme comes from Julie D.
She is one busy blogger! Sometimes she posts seven things in a day.
It's always fun to visit Julie :o)


5 snacks I enjoy ...


Pringles
French Onion Dip
Coffee Ice Cream
veggies with dip
Candy Bars...mostly chocolate...


5 songs I know all the words to... (upon reflection I seem to know all the words to many songs so this is what pops into my head right now)


Oklahoma
How Great Thou Art
Rudolph the red Nose Reindeer (I can sign this one too :o)
Spring Wind-Greg Brown
Barges (Do you know this song? I learned it at camp. Great harmony!)

5 things I would do with $100,000,000...

Pay off all our debts
Travel
Give, give and give some more
Have a housekeeper and a cook
Live on the ocean

5 locations I would love to run away to...

Italy
England
Maui
New York
Paris


5 things I like doing...

Being with our children
Reading
Going out to eat with my husband
Blogging
Knitting

5 things I would never wear...

Anything skin tight
a tank top and low riders
a mini skirt
heavy black makeup
A nose ring

5 recently seen movies I like...

Vanity Fair- BBC
Pride and Prejudice- BBC
National Treasure
Hitch
In Good Company

5 famous people I'd like to meet...

Elisabeth Elliot
Valerie Shepherd (E. Elliot's daughter)
Regis Philbin
Kelly Rippa
Pat Conroy

5 biggest joys of the moment...

My husband
My children
My faith
My family
Friends
Warm summer days


5 favorite toys...

Yarn and knitting needles
My blog
Dvd player
Our car
The telly


Feel free to answer any or all of this meme in the comments or take it to your blog if you need a little blog prompt.

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

I watched the BBC Production of Vanity Fair this weekend. It was very, very good.
(How do you like that description :o)

I did not know the story at all. It seemed a bit like Gone with the Wind.
In fact, I read that Margaret Mitchell was accused of copying much of the story.
Oh but it is quite a wonderful story. See if you can track this one down. I waited at least four months for this Dvd from the library and it came with nary a scratch!

The acting is brilliant and the characters are rich.
The music is obnoxious.

I highly recommend this production.

Has anyone read the book? Perhaps I should try again.

Now that Emma is home, I just might watch it again with her :o)
It's only six hours long :o)

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

Katie starts First Act Academy this morning! They will be performing Peter Pan by the end of the week! Oh this is going to be fun!

Hope all is well with you and that you were all able to rest up over the weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Wisconsin's beautiful State Capitol



The booths are set up on all four streets surronding the Capitol



You can see the artist's gray hair peeking through the crowd.
Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz is very popular in Madison.
I popped my head in and quickly introduced myself and them left just as quickly.
She was very busy.



This building is just as lovely as any of the art I saw today.
It says Bank on the front.



Just as we rounded the last corner, Patrick spotted a booth where Katie could be a little artist.

We were also treated to bagpipe music.

It was crowded...but we never stay too long.

Wish you were here :o)

Donna

Art Fair on the Square

Oh goody...

Today is art fair day.

The good part is the beautiful, varied and odd things people create and sell
The bad part is walking in a big circle around the State Capital like zombies.
The sun beats down and there is much wrangling for a spot to see the art.

But I'm not going to think about that...
The crowd will get me down :o)

Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz will be there! I am going to be brave and say hello. I have not met her in person, but she has stopped by Quiet Life.




I finished Katie's poncho/shawl last night. We went to the Sow's Ear and picked out the buttons last night. (The buttons are blue flowers and are at the neckline.)
Katie likes it!

Gotta run!
I'll post photos tonight.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Appetizer
What time do you usually go to bed at night?

Soup
When was the last time you bought groceries? What store did you go to? Name 3 things you purchased.

Salad
How many books have you read so far this year? Which was your favorite and why?

Main Course
What is something you consider to be very elegant? In particular, what about that item/place/person conjures up the feeling of elegance?

Dessert
Who taught you how to drive?


1. I go to bed between 10:30 and 12:00. I always read before turning out the lights. Last night I read Pat Conroy's Cookbook. I shed a tear.

2. I ran to the store last night for some Coke. We live in a suburb of Madison (snicker, snicker) and we have a wonderful little grocery store. Our grocery store, library and bank are my three favorite things in our little town. Oh Yikes...how could I forget The Knitting Store! Four really good things about our little town.

3. I'd say ten start to finish. My favorite being Staggerford. But I confess I have partially read at least 30 books so far this year. Some books were not good enough to finish, some I was not diligent enough to finish.
I am going to turn over a new leaf. For the rest of this year I am going to read one book at a time! Even if you tell me about a fantastic book...I will not borrow it from the library until I have finished reading my current book. I will keep a list of the books I'd like to read. This will help me read one at a time don't you think?

4. When I think of elegant, I think of our Aunt Dorothy.
Besides the way she dressed, which was very glamorous. And where she lived, Lake
Shore Drive...she was loving and hospitable. She always made us feel very special.
Yes, Aunt Dorothy is the most elegant person I have even known.

5. My brother-in-law, Binky, taught me to drive. I can barely remember practicing!
I was taking Driver's Ed at the time our parents died in a car accident.
Coach Hauptman came and sat right next to me on the day the 'accident movies' were shown in class.
The room was dark, the movie started and the coach came down the row and set his chair beside me. I think he was worried that I would have a hard time with the film. I didn't really. But I am touched, still, remembering our gruff football coach's sensitivity. I can not hear 'youse guys' without thinking of him.


Down memory lane I travel. It's one of my favorite places, you know.

Oh and one more thing about driver's ed....we practiced driving in simulators!
They were like photo booths with video screens, steering wheels and pedals!
Imagine that!



Encourage one another,
Donna

You are just the best blog-sistahs a girl could have.

Thank you, thank you very much. (said like Elvis)


I am astonished at how hard you all work, it makes me want to sit down to knit, just thinking of it!

A Song from the Suds

Queen of my tub, I merrily sing,
While the white foam raises high,
And sturdily wash, and rinse, and wring,
And fasten the clothes to dry;
Then out in the free fresh air they swing,
Under the sunny sky.

I wish we could wash from our hearts and our souls
The stains of the week away,
And let water and air by their magic make
Ourselves as pure as they;
Then on the earth there would be indeed
A glorious washing day!

Along the path of a useful life
Will heart's-ease ever bloom;
The busy mind has no time to think
Of sorrow, or care, or gloom;
And anxious thoughts may be swept away
As we busily wield a broom.

I am glad a task to me is given
To labor at day by day;
For it brings me health, and strength, and hope,
And I cheerfully learn to say-
"Head, you may think; heart, you may feel;
But hand, you shall work always!"

Louisa May Alcott

And besides the willing workers that you all are...I didn't hear any complaining!

You are an inspiring bunch!

Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

Theodore Roosevelt

It is not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular, but why he does it.

A.W. Tozer

[I wish you] health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

Johann von Goethe

Encourage one another,
Donna

Okay...that's enough of that!
You all need to come out of your shells!
Two comments in two days...well that's just depressing!

Is everyone at the beach? Enjoying their summer?

Ya better be :o)

I understand you have better things to do :o)

But....





Make my day! Just leave a crumb today to say you came by...
How's it goin'?
Whatcha doin'?
Seen a good movie?
Read a good book?

I just can't bear another goose egg today :o)



Jo was talking about what heaven would be like on her blog the other day. She imagined she might be assigned a chore.

Here is the comment I left in her box,

Okay...in my heaven I will have a perfect body. I will be able to eat whatever I want and keep that perfect body.

And chores!!!You have got to be kidding. No one told me about no stinkin' chores!

Please say it ain't so!

I plan to sit at Jesus' feet all day. That is what I plan on doing in heaven.
Wings would be nice!
I'll give tours and take pictures, gather with saints and sing lovely songs.

But chores....oh no.

How does heaven look to you?

Donna

Positive reinforcement



Katie ate well for seven days in a row.
And she earned some very nifty sand art.



Ya know it has been at least 10 years since I have done a little reward challenge like this with one of the kids. It's neat to learn what works for your child in the way of motivation :o)

Encourage one another.
Donna

"Two Little Boys"
public domain

Two little boys, two little toys
each was a wooden horse.
Gaily they played, each summer's day
Soldier boys, of course.
One little chap, he had a mishap
and he broke off his horse's head,
Wept for his toy, then cried with joy
when his young comrade said:
"Do you think, Jack, I'd leave you crying
when there's room on my horse for two?
Climb up, Jack, we'll soon be flying.
He can go just as fast with two.
When we grow,we'll both be soldiers
and our horses won't be toys,
And it may be, Jack, that we'll remember
when we were two little boys."

The years quickly passed,
the war came at last'
and bravely the boys marched away.
Cannon roared loud, midst the mad crowd
wounded and dying Jack lay.
When out rings a cry and a horse dashes by
out of the ranks of the blue.
Dashes away to where Jack lay
and a voice rang strong and true.

"Do you think Jack, I'd could leave you dying
when there's room on my horse for two?
Climb up Jack, we'll soon be flying
He can go just as fast with two.
Do you Jack, I'm all a tremble?
Perhaps it's the battles noise-
Or maybe,Jack, that I remember
when we were two little boys.



Greg Brown sings this song on his children's album, Bathtub Blues. He says it is a Civil War tune and it taught him about loyalty as a young boy.

I wish everyone could see Greg Brown...just once...he is one fine folk singer!


Enjoy celebrating your independence today
and join me in remembering those brave, independent souls
who were instrumental in forming our remarkable nation.

US History Site
National Archives

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

America, America
God she His grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.

A Sunday Psalm


The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.


Psalm 19:7-11

Good things

Katie had a wonderful week at First Act Academy.
The class was well organized and led by two gentle, creative teachers.
Katie was a good little student and I am very proud of her.

On Thursday night we attended Alice in Wonderland performed by the older students in the Academy. My new ( :o) ) friend's daughter would play the part of Alice.

Katie and I sat in the front row. She was totally attentive and very quiet.
(I have never taken this little 5 year old to a movie or a play in the past. She does not sit for long periods of time....quietly)

So there she sits, completely quiet and enraptured with the play.

The Queen of Hearts says her lines loudly and clearly. She says "Off with you head." over and over and over.

Nearing the end of the play, totally out of the blue and clear as a bell, Katie blurted, 'Why does she keep saying Off with their heads?'

It just snuck out. Everyone laughed. (It got the biggest laugh of the night)
I was mortified. But I know for sure that I have a child...who is just like me.



Here is my little thes-bee-ian.

New friend Amy took this class picture and last night I figured out how to crop a photo. (I did not feel right posting a picture of lots of children without their parents permission.)
Learning how to crop is a huge accomplishment for me!

How about that happy bee!?

In two weeks Katie will attend First Act Academy again. She will be a part of the Peter Pan production.
She's going to have a ball.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast


Appetizer
Where do you plan to go on vacation this year, or where would you want to go?

Soup
What color is your bedroom? If you could redecorate it, what would you change?

Salad
Do you have a bumper sticker on your vehicle? What does it say?

Main Course
What's the worst pain you've ever been in?

Dessert
Who is your favorite celebrity? What do they do that inspires you?



I'll write my answers here today.

1. Patrick and I hope to take a trip to New York in the fall for our 25th wedding anniversary. Neither of us have been there and we would both enjoy it so.
I will be asking for hotel recommendations soon...so start thinking of a nice, well located, historical hotel that does not cost an arm and a leg. I have looked into the St. Regis and it is too expensive. I think the Plaza is closed for remodeling because I can not even check prices and reservations for them.
If historical is out....clean and well located would be the next best thing.


2. The master bedroom is very plain. White walls. Brown wood trim. Bor-ing.
I would like white woodwork with white crown molding. A pretty pastel blue might be nice on the walls. I would love a canopy bed with some gorgeous floral fabric.
And a fabulous set of new sheets would be dreamy!


3. No bumper stickers here! No way! Dear hubby would have a fit. My sister once sent me a cute Bart Simpson sticker that said "Out of my way, Man." I was a type A driver for many years. I have been informed by my children that I am slowing way down.

4. Why, childbirth, of course. Even my bowel obstruction-surgery or ruptured appendix-surgery couldn't compare with that strong pain of childbirth. I have, I admit, had some spiritual and emotional pain that was almost as unbearable as childbirth.
I think the spiritual pain was particularly hard.

5. Gee, I don't know if I admire many celebrities.
I admire and am inspired by Elisabeth Elliot.
I admire Jane Austen for writing such wonderful books.
I am sure there are many musicians and artist I am not able to think of right now.
But movie star celebrities...not too inspiring.



And speaking of inspiring, my friend, Lynn sent this poem to me last night.
The author, Elizabeth Brigham Rooney, was a local woman.

Lynn and I have talked many times about women and friendship. She knew I would love this poem. ( Lynn, I hope you don't mind my sharing it with the class :o) I think it will touch many hearts.)


Invitation

Good morning, stranger!
Will you be my friend?
Will you and I begin
The tentative approaches
And retreats
Through which one gradually meets
Another soul?
Dare we exchange
Nods, smiles, small pieces of ourselves,
Till we grow bold enough to share
The secrets of our hearts,
The needs, the griefs
We bring to God in prayer?
Come, stranger-friend,
Let us begin at least to chance
The delicate maneuvers
Of this dance.


True and lovely words.

Encourage one another,
Donna