Oh No.

Oh no!


Oh no!!!!



If you don't want to know the results to Dancing with the Stars from last night. Read No Further.

This is my one and only, ever, spoiler alert.


***********




Can you believe Sabrina was voted off the show?

Tragedy!

She was by far the best celebrity dancer EVER on that show. EVER!!!

I was really ready for Jane or Marie to go. Both of their dances were pokey and a bit awkward and not fun to watch at all....

And then there is darling, excellent, Sabrina.

I don't like it one little bit!

I think Jane or Marie should bow out so that Sabrina can continue.

Wouldn't that be nice?

Wouldn't that be the nice thing to do?

Show us how classy you gals really are!



Gurrrrr......



*********

Muffy says, "Happy Trick or Treat!"




Wishing you only treats and fun!



Katie will wear the colorful Sari that Emma brought her from India.

We will walk around our neighborhood and gather a load of candy!

But first we will go the the dentist for the annual checkup!

Everyone at the office dresses up and well....Katie thinks it's the greatest treat of all to go and see all the adults in their costumes!

Have a happy and safe day, whether you are at a harvest party or out begging in the streets :o)



Do you hand out candy?

What do you have for the little ones this year?


I bought



First time ever. Our street is dark and hardly anyone visits, but we have to have something on hand, just in case.

Personally, I like Butterfingers and Almond Joys.

How about you?



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


"Marilla says that a large family was raised in that old house long ago, and that it was a real pretty place, with a lovely garden and roses climbing all over it. It was full of little children and laughter and songs; and now it is empty, and nothing ever wanders through it but the wind. How lonely and sorrowful it must feel! Perhaps they all come back on moonlit nights. . .the ghosts of the little children of long ago and the roses and the songs. . .and for a little while the old house can dream it is young and joyous again."


Lucy Maud Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea



**********



Feel free to commiserate with me about DwtS in the comments.

And anything else that's on your mind :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football



The is the second reason I love Brett Favre:

He's the man!

Here is the first reason I love Brett Favre:


Deanna's Tribute to Brett



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

How did I manage to watch the Packers and Dancing with the Stars at the same time?

Tivo and an alert husband.

My husband knows the parts of football that I love. I love the excitement of scoring and I love the touching interviews with Brett and his family.

So anytime there is any scoring going on....I hear the cheers...and if Deanna (Brett's wife ) or Brett are being featured, he yells out for me.

And Tivo, it can be paused :o)

The last half an hour, we watched together.

The Packers scored on an 82 yard rocket fired by Brett, caught by Jennings.

First play. Overtime.

A thriller!

(The two links I provided are the best of what last night had to offer.)


*********

Dancing with the Stars was fun, too.

Helio is back! I even voted for him. Once.

Cameron didn't look as clumsy as before, but what is with all the jumping?

I think Marie and Jane looked slow.

I still think Sabrina is the best! And I think her partner is falling for her.

What do you think?

Who will go home?


***********

This is what Katie had in mind for the daily photo session......











This is what I was hoping for....



********

I sent Audrey word as to which workshop I would like to attend. I chose one in April instead of March.

It just might be too chilly in March.

Yesterday afternoon I sent her the hat I knit.
Better to have it now then in April.



**********



"The reason women don't play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public."

Phyllis Diller


"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office."

Dwight David Eisenhower


Encourage one another,
Donna

From the archives,



Seven Fresh Attitudes

I'd like to condense and share a list I found in Phillip Keller's little book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.

"Jesus never made light of the cost involved in following Him. In fact He made it painfully clear that it was a rugged life of rigid self-denial. It entailed a whole new set of attitudes. It was not the natural, normal way a person would ordinarily live and this is what made the price so prohibitive to most people."

1. Instead of loving myself most I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.

2. Instead of being one of the crowd I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang.

3. Instead of insisting on my rights I am willing to forego them in favor of others.

4. Instead of being "boss" I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap.

5. Instead of finding fault with life and always asking "Why?" I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude.

6. Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.

7. Instead of choosing my own way I am willing to choose to follow in Christ's way:simply to do what He asks me to do.

"God wants us all to move on with Him. He wants us to walk with Him. He wants it not only for our welfare but for the benefit of others as well as His own dear reputation."



Yes, Seven fresh attitudes, but also seven super hard things to do.

Just one of them takes years of concentrated effort!

Dying to self is a slow and painful process.

You won't find any help for this process outside of your own own soul.

It really is just between you and God.

What you are ready to let go of for His sake; and ultimately your sake, is up to you and your heart and well, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit will bring to mind what attitudes we need to change.

His timing is perfect.

I wasn't ready for this kind of "talk" until I was nearing forty years old.
(We can thank Elisabeth Elliot for bringing it up :o)


Now I understand. Now I am ready to look at that list with joy.

It's a great list. When you are ready.


Encourage one another,
Donna

The Three Lauras




The three lovely ladies in the picture are sisters. They have all won the Laura Ingalls Wilder contest in Pepin Wisconsin.

Nancy (their mom) and I thought it would be really cool to have picutres of the girls in a prairie setting.


We squeezed in a photo shoot last Wednesday afternoon between piano lessons and Awana.

It was chilly and the sun was gastly bright but I heard not one complaint.











Peek-a-boo!



Little House on the Prairie circa 2007


Aren't they adorable?
Doesn't that look like fun?


I haven't read the Little House books in a long time.

In fact, when Emma was in fourth grade we used the Prairie Primer for her school curriculum.

(The Prairie Primer is a year long unit study using the whole set of Little House books.)

We have never visited any of the Laura Ingalls Widler sites. But we just may tag along with Nancy and her girls next year.

I will have to sew a costume for Katie and read the books to her first tho.

The reading....that's not too hard. But sewing...yikes!


********

By the way, I braided Katie's hair before bedtime the other night and it worked like a charm.
Thank you!


*********

Little girls are the nicest things that happen to people. They are born with a little bit of angelshine about them, and though it wears thin sometimes there is always enough left to lasso your heart. . .
-- Alan Beck



Where shall we see a better daughter or a kinder sister or a truer friend.
-- Jane Austen


Grace was in all her steps. Heaven in her eye. In every gesture. dignity and love.
-- John Milton


Happy Weekend!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday's Feast



Appetizer
Name a great website you would recommend to others.

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 as highest), how often do you dream at night?

Salad
Did you have a pet as a child? If so, what kind and what was its name?

Main Course
If you had the chance to star in a commercial, what would you choose to advertise?

Dessert
What is your favorite kind of hard candy?


Ht to Friday's Feast.


Oh! These look like really fun questions!!!


I predict Janet will star in a commercial about Tide. :o)



I have 20 minutes before I need to be out the door.






I’m Late, I’m Late
for a very important date,
No time to say hello, goodbye,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late
and when I wave,
I lose the time I save.
My fuzzy ears and whiskers
took me too much time to shave.
I run and then I hop, hop, hop,
I wish that I could fly.
There’s danger if I dare to stop
and here’s the reason why,
(you see) I’m overdue.
I’m in a rabbit stew,
Can’t even say goodbye, hello,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late.
Good morning Mister Chatterbox
I’d love to stoop and chatter,
but in six and seven eighth minutes
I must meet with the mad hatter
the mad, mad, mad, mad Hatter.
We must chat about a very important matter.
I’m off to see the queen of hearts
who lives up in the palace,
and the very moment I’m through with her
I’ve got a date with Alice.
I can’t be late for Alice
or the queen of hearts who lives up in the palace.
I’m late



From: Alice In Wonderland
Music: Sammy Fain
Lyrics: Bob Hilliard


I sing this song on mornings like these :o)


Later Gators!

Encourage one another,
Donna


Update:::

I'm home. Friday mornings Katie has Flame. Dear friend Amy J has been driving and I have been staying home....blogging and watching tv. But now my Flame job starts. I am on the Drama committee. I know nothing about being on a Drama committee. But I will be going in weekly now to tell the kids where to stand and help them with their lines. Another blog-sista, Anita, came to help. She has a little bit of experience with the drama committee....and a whole lot more than me.

I also taught both young choirs sign language for the chorus to one of the songs.

This is easy for me, it just takes time.

The children are very sweet and the choir director is just the best. It's nice to watch her in action.

She is a true gentle spirit. We are lucky to have her teach our children.


********

This morning before I left, I wrote a hilarious comment on Ree's (Confessions of a Pioneer Woman's) J. C. Penny's blog.

I mean it was so funny. I cracked myself up.

But alas, when I went back to check to see if anyone had commented on my hysterical comment, there were over 400 comments. Oh bummer. No one will see my brilliance.

I started reading quickly thru and nope , It looks like no one caught it.....

but hey, what's this....

Janet.

Brilliant, beautiful, younger sister of mine.

Janet spotted my reference to The Jerk.

And she acknowledged it!!!

She got it.

Someone got it.

Leave it to one of my sisters.

Janet Jean!!! You made my day :o)

All I need is your acknowledgment....

I don't need anything.... but your acknowledgment

and this thermos.....

I don't need anything but your acknowledgment and this thermos.....

That's all I need.

Happy Thursday!


Yesterday, Carol asked in the comments;

"How important, in your opinion, is a good camera to good photography? "


Here was my reply;

"I can get much clearer pictures, better contrast, and brighter colors with my D80.
I like being able to control the Aperture so I can blur the background making the picture more interesting and prettier.

I believe you can learn to compose pictures well with a point and shoot and I think everyone can learn to hold the camera nice and still...but the things that make a picture beautiful to me are in learning to use the light and working with your camera to achieve the best results."



Here is a picture I took last winter with my little Olympus digital camera.
I really liked this picture.




It is not very clear.
It is dark.
The house in the back is totally in focus.


Clarity.
Lightness.




Out of focus background.


And then there is Photoshop.


This is straight out of camera. Notice the gray cast over it all. I tried to lighten it...but it made some pimples show up...what could I do with this picture?

I liked the hair and the expression. It was worth fussing with....



So I did this with it.


Remember I am just a beginner with this whole Photoshop and SLR Digital Camera thang.

But I see a difference.

Don't you?



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


I'm going to tell you once again to watch Pushing Daisies on Wednesday nights at 7:00.

It's a terrible time. Right after dinner and no one in bed yet.....

But it is really clever and it makes me smile and I just can't believe it is on television.

It's very quirky and I think quite innocent.

Let me know if you watch it.


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


Remember Ava from last season of Greys???

Tune in tonight. She comes back!


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

And guess who's birthday it is today?

It is my Irish twins birthday. Sweet sister Sue.

She is now older than me again.

I love you, Sue!

Happy, happy birthday!


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

That's all folks!


Encourage one another,
Donna




Update:::



Ree @ Confessions of a Pioneer Woman has a tutorial on how to make the eyes pop!
I tried it on this photo.

Thanks Ree!

(Ree's link is on my sidebar)

The Hair Brushing


Katie with freshly brushed hair.




You may have noticed that Katie's hair is a bit wild.

I don't know why we don't go and get it cut to shoulder length.
I just don't know.

Other photographer/mothers manage to brush their children's hair.

And I do too. Once a day. It's on Katie's chore chart.

Brush hair.
Brush teeth.
Make bed.
etc.

But the thing is.... Katie has mats. Like a dog. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

She wakes up with big, giant, hard to brush thru, looks like a rat's nest, mats.

Poor girl.

And you can only imagine how difficult it is to brush them out.

I feel like I am in a Dicken's novel when I see those mats in her hair.

She reminds me of a street urchin.

My beautiful, happy, beloved, street urchin,


So what's the secret to mat free hair?

Have you ever experienced this?

Is it from sweating in the night, do you think?



***********

DWTS results show.


No surprises this week. But next week we will see someone with a little talent go home.

In fact, next week. I will vote.

Are Cameron and Helio the only men left?

That's amazing.


Did you like J-L0's songs? Me, not so much.
Her singing was screechy and off tune.

Sorry Jennifer.

Did you know she is pregnant. She's not talking about it yet.

I would actually prefer that the results shows were just 1/2 an hour long....15 min. would do the trick.


***********



This photo was edited with Lightroom.
I'm not sure if I am doing it right.
I click on Black and White-high contrast. And maybe I clicked on Old Photo too.
I can't remember.

But I liked this better than the color version. So that's okay.

I call it. Katie without freckles.


**********


Those of you in California, I am praying for you.


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. I said my thank yous in the comments last night before I went to bed.
You might want to check that out.
Love you!

Like a bad dream, a very bad dream.

I acquired my spot in the Audrey Woulard workshop in an unusual manner.

I was contacted by a woman saying that she had a spot, she saw my name and intrest in Audrey's comments, and she emailed me.

The woman said Audrey had two workshops coming up,one in Sept. and one in Oct.

The Sept was too soon so I said the Oct dates might work.

I emailed Audrey and asked her if the woman I was dealing with was real and was it alright with her if I purchased a spot this way.

Yes, it was just fine with Audrey if I purchased a spot in the Oct. workshop.


So with great trepidation, I sent a lot of money by paypal to this woman.


I was in.
I was going.

And as you know I was elated and excited and nervous.


(People come from all over the world to attend one of Audrey's workshops. It is very hard to get a spot.)


So you know about the pre-trip preparations; Here's what happened.

I arrived in Chicago at 4:15 on Sunday, early enough to find the loft.
I wanted to be right on time and know where I was going on Monday morning.

I timed my drive both there and back.

2.4 miles

Between 12 and 15 minutes depending on the lights and traffic.

After a totally lonely night in the hotel and a sleepless sleep, I awoke at 6:30.

Not too nervous. I changed twice. Put deoderant on three times.
Had a complimentary breakfast. And walked to my car at 8:32.

Audrey specifically said not to arrive more than 15 minutes before the workshops.

I arrived exactly on time. There was no one standing outside the loft.
Could I be the first to arrive?

I parked easily along a side street and walked up to the door.

There on the door were two little business cards. Both Audreys.

The door was locked. To my right I spotted three buttons.

I buzzed.

The door did not open.

I tried all three of the buzzers.

The door did not open.

I walked along to see if there was another door that might be open.

Nope. This must be the door.

But where was every one

No one was arriving.

My stomach started to churn.

I called home. It was 8:54.

Katie drug Emma from bed.

"Emma, no one is here. Look at the paper near the phone and tell me if I have the address right."

She reads it to me. I have the address correct.

Tell me about the dates and times.

She does not see a mention of the date. But I have the time correct, my paper says 9-5.


By now it is 9:00.

I am all alone.

Something is terribly wrong.

I go back up to the door and call the numbers on Audrey's business card.


I try the cell phone first cause I know she is not in the loft.

The cell phone clearly says not to leave a message if it is concerning photography. I feel awful but leave a quick message.
Then I call her loft phone. I leave a bewildered and sad little message.

I go to my car and call Emma one more time.


Cheerful Katie answers again. I'm not really in the mood for silly cheerful right now.

I ask Emma to go thru all the correspondence and look for dates. Do I have the date right?

It takes some time but Emma reads thru all the correspondence and the only dates we have or were ever told are the dates from the seller of the spot.

Oct. 22 and 23.

I ask Emma to email Audrey. Perhaps we can get thru this way.

(I am still thinking perhaps the workshop starts at 10:00. But alas, no one is arriving.)

I dial Audrey's numbers one more time.

This time I leave slightly blubbering messages. I'm starting to unravel.


I can't remember where I was when Emma called me....

Either I was sitting in a parked car.
Driving back to the hotel.
Or already back in the hotel room.

But when Emma said, "Mom, Audrey emailed, she said the workshop was last week. She wondered where you were?"



So there it was.

My heart broke.

I cried and sobbed and started to pack.



As I stood at the elevator, in a daze, the phone rang.

It was Audrey.

She had the sweetest voice and the most positive attitude.

She was kind and sorry but she offered me a place in one of her next workshops. No charge.

She said, the workshops just get better and better. Every one is better then the last.


I told Audrey I would love to come to a future workshop. When would the next one be? January?

No. It is too cold for outdoor shooting. March will probably be the first workshop next year.

She said she would send me an email as soon as they set the dates.
I would get first dibs.


I will choose March.

And it's going to be her best workshop ever.

Cause they just keep getting better and better :o)





(In going over emails....the only date I ever got from anyone was the one from the seller.

Audrey's emails always just said....the October workshop.)



I can write this without crying today.
I don't see a reason for this odd adventure.

But lots of times we don't.


Thank you for all the hugs and love yesterday afternoon and night.





Did you ever go to a concert or a wedding or a photography workshop on the wrong date?


Encourage one another,
Donna

This was as close as I got to Audrey.




I was all alone.



Come back tomorrow and I will tell you what happened on my trip to Chicago.

Bring tissues.

Love,
Donna

October Sun








Superstar!
(This one made me think of you, Rechelle)


Sometimes I gather Katie and all her energy and my camera and head out to take pictures.

I know noon is the worst time.
But it was gorgeous out and I wanted to challenge myself a little.

Can I do take a picture in the bright sun?


I can boost the color and make these a little darker. But, ya know, I like em light and bright cause that's the way it was.


******

Thank you for your words of courage yesterday.

I will read over them a few more times today...before I leave.

You're the best .
I feel quite blessed.

Encourage one another,
Donna


I just spotted this on Rechelle's blog. She sings! The Country Doctor's Wife sings and plays a great guitar!!!

Listen to her sing this winsome, folky song.

Here's the little hat I made to take to Audrey Woulard.

Let's see....what size head will it fit?

I'd say a five year old.

It is tight on Katie.

I used this pattern;

Stitch Cafe Hat Pattern

But, truely, that woman, lovely as she is, must have a teeny head. I cast on with the yarn recommended and used one size smaller needles (cause I couldn't find eights) and it is really small.

This is the pattern I used for Patrick's hat. (I found it in my archives) and sadly it was too long ago (last winter :o( ) for me to remember the number of stitiches I used and what needles.
I best start keeping a little notebook of this sort of information.

p.s. I used the second pattern on the page. Although if you want to learn a hat with cables the first one looks easy breezy!

**********

I am just a bundle of nerves.

I can't remember the last time I felt like this.



"I feel the greatest gift we can give to anybody is the gift of our honest self."
Mr. Rogers


Well. I hope he's right. Cause it's all I got.


***********

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. ~Thomas Edison


The follies which a man regrets most in his life are those which he didn't commit when he had the opportunity. ~Helen Rowland


Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the one you miss. ~Author Unknown


Any other wise words to give me courage this weekend?

Thanks!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Appetizer
If you were a dog, what breed would you be, and why?

Soup
What does the color purple make you think of?

Salad
Approximately how long does it take you to get ready each morning?

Main Course
How many cousins do you have, and are you close to them?

Dessert
Take your initials (first, middle, last) and come up with something else those letters could stand for. (Example: SFO = Sweet Funny Otter)


"Well, I - I think that it - it wasn't enough to just want to see Uncle Henry and Auntie Em - and it's that - if I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with! Is that right?"
~Dorothy






I went outside to take a picture of this brightly colored tree blowing in the wind.
A took a walk around the yard, to see what I could see.







Oh! Hi Katie :o)


A CHILD'S HYMN
Charles Dickens

Hear my prayer, O heavenly Father,
Ere I lay me down to sleep;
Bid Thy angels, pure and holy,
Round my bed their vigil keep.

My sins are heavy, but Thy mercy
Far outweighs them, every one;
Down before Thy cross I cast them,
Trusting in Thy help alone.

Keep me through this night of peril
Underneath its boundless shade;
Take me to Thy rest, I pray Thee,
When my pilgrimage is made.

None shall measure out Thy patience
By the span of human thought;
None shall bound the tender mercies
Which Thy Holy Son has bought.

Pardon all my past transgressions,
Give me strength for days to come;
Guide and guard me with Thy blessing
Till Thy angels bid me home.


I have had that poem saved for the longest time and I don't think I ever shared it here.

Maybe I thought it was a teeny bit morbid and perhaps heavy for a child.
But who am I to argue with Dickens?

So here it is.

I think you can handle it :o)

What do you think?


See you in the comments!

Encourage one another,
Donna

And Greys Anatomy! I almost forgot. It was very good wasn't it.
Camille's plot line broke my heart. Wasn't that well written.

And then McDreamy's proposal!!!!

"I think no mother is prepared for what happens to her when she brings a child into the world. When our bodies open to
release our children, what spills out behind them is light. Our children illuninate us."

From Comeback by Claire and Mia Fontaine

When I first read that sentence I thought it was a little off. Cause what came out of me when my children were born
was not light.

But I was being too literal....and not literary :o)

And I believe children really do iluminate us. The good and the bad parts.

My children have been crucial in forming my character.

I have learned patience and sacrifice and learned how to love.

I have also learned that I am flawed and short-tempered and scared out of my wits.



But, I believe God uses whatever circumstances we are in to conform us to the image of Christ.

I'm glad He choose motherhood for me. While it is a long and many times painful process, the good parts are really very good.

So good that my heart overflows with thankfulness.




Encourage one another,
Donna

Here is Audrey's hat. Don't worry. I should have two hours or three between today and Sunday to make this pretty little thang.

Isn't that pretty yarn? I bought Noro Silk Garden #264, because it was just a little bit softer then the Kueyron that I usually use.
Be we know how itchy wool can be for some so I am using one with a little silk.

The pattern can be found here:

Wendy Knit's Free Hat Pattern

Thanks to Wendy for such a simple......free pattern!
And thank to Lynn for helping me relocate this pattern.

If you can't use double pointed needles (Robin) let me know and I will look for a two needle hat.


***********

Katie lost her little electronic pet yesterday at the soccer field.
We will trudge up there today in the damp grass to see if we can find it.

Hubby says to buy her a new one cause she loves it so.

So I wll....but gee....she keeps losing or wrecking expensive things.
I know she is only seven and watches and electronic pets are meant for children that age.

How do you teach them not to lose things?

I just don't know.




I did not take one picture yesterday.

But have no fear....

I got lots :o)



The focus is off. But I like the rest :o)

**********

Now I am gong to say something shocking. Really shocking.


I liked when Wayne Newton sang Danke Shoen last night....and Cheryl and Drew danced along.

Really liked it!

I usually don't watch the singing and dancing numbers...I dash around the house or change channels or comment on my blog. But this one I watched.

It was kitchey, nostolgic fun.

And that song. It's a happy, goofy song.


So long to Floyd.
He was gracious and I liked that about him very much.


******

Busy day today!

What is your busiest day of the week?


Encourage one another,
Donna


p.s. And please forgive the spelling errors. I haven't learned how to use spell check.
And you were all so gracious to forgive my horrid mistake yesterday of using 'there' instead of 'their'.
I was mortified when I spotted the error of my ways....but not enough to change it. he he
I'll go do that now.

Let's see...what else can we talk about besides computer woes. Which seems to be the thing that stands out about yesterday.
(Read yesterday's comments to get a drift about what the day was like....and how it ended.)

But the good version of the day went like this.

Katie and I had a good day with her studies. We forgot to read for her Bible and she reminded me to do it.
That tells me she is enjoying it. Yay.

We read the story of Abraham taking his son up the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice.

My gut reaction to this story is one of dread even tho I know how it will end.

Katie was sure all along that Isaac would be saved. She was sure.

When I was young l I probably didn't like this story because I thought parents should love their children the most.....
close to how much they loved God....most likely even more than they loved God.

But as we mature we learn who God is and that Great He is...
and that it all begins and ends with Him.

Then we slowly come to the realization that it is God who deserves all the praise and glory and worship.

And that even our children can be idols.
or money
or our marriages
or food....


But before all the wrangling and awakening....is the time when you are a child and you can believe that God wil save Isaac because God keeps His promises.


And if we are lucky, we end up at that same place in the end.


*********

And then Katie and I went shopping a little and I bought her a sweatshirt. Cause she didn't have a sweatshirt that fit her.
We bought it at the grocery store. Have you ever bought any clothing at a grocery store?

Then we came home and I took pictures of her running around.

This was my favorite part of the day.


This one makes me laugh.


I love this one for the focus. I take loads of action shots of Katie. She is very wiggly.
And they are usually a bit blurry. If you enlarge this one you can even see her eyelashes.



This one makes me think of The Miracle Worker. You must look past the ball to the wild girl.
Doesn't she remind you of Helen in the dining room scene?


**********

And the last good part of the day was Dancing with the Stars.

Again I thought Floyd (the boxer) was the worst. His carriage is just all wrong.

Jennie Garth's carriage on the other hand was lovely. She looked very good last night.

Cameron (superman) is dramatic but I still think clunky.

And Helio has feet like Fred Astaire. Swift and right.
Notice Helio's feet. He is good.


What did you think?

**********


So as Carole King says...we gotta take the bitter with the sweet.

Right, she is.



Encourage one another,
Donna

I got a new computer Saturday.

And let me tell you,

I am reading, thinking and learning.

And clicking.

A lot.

And let me just say to anyone trying to learn something completely different.

It never works the first time.

Never.


But once you accept that fact.

Your life will be less stressed because you don't expect it to work the first time.

And you know deep down....that it will work...perhaps in two clicks from now....or one-hundred and two clicks from now.

And of all else fails, send me you phone numbers, all you Mac users out there, so I can call and blubber and whine and ask you how to put that thing on that other thing.


And the BIG, COMPLICATED, REAL-DEAL Photoshop should arrive very soon.

And then.

Perhaps my head will explode from the amount of information going in.

Can that happen? I have never heard of something terrible happening from learning too much.

Have you?

:o)

And the whole reason for this new machine is to better work on my pictures.
I needed a new monitor and well....that was a learning experience unto itself....so here I sit with a bright shiny new tool.

And next Monday....right about this time...I will be walking into Audrey Woulards loft to begin day one of her workshop.

Holy Moly Cow.

I am going to be a nervous wreck!

Heads up, friends....I'm gonna be asking for prayers, real soon.

Dear God,
Please don't let Donna's freak out.
Give her Your peace.
Thank You,
Amen.

Something like that :o)



I'd like to crop this picture before showing you.
But that would take, like, say, an hour.

So just crop it in your own heads. Or put your fingers around the photo.

I should be a pro by tomorrow.


What did you learn over the weekend?


Hey! Ya know what else I learned?

The Packers are back, baby!

The Pack is back!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Spellcheck doesn't work.
he he
First time...not a charm.

"Let us hope that we are all preceded in this world by a love story"
Don Snyder, Of Time and Memory

The movie Sweetland opens with that beautiful and sweet sentiment.

It makes you think, wonder, imagine about the love your parents shared.
It made me wonder what our children would remember of us.







It is a quiet story that is filmed so beautifully that just seeing it can bring you to tears.

The music is fresh and folky and dreamy.




Sweetland haunts me, just a little.

Thank you Laura, for the perfect birthday gift.


"Let us hope that we are all preceded in this world by a love story"

Something to think about, to dream about, to discover.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday's Feast


Appetizer
When was the last time you were surprised?

Soup
Fill in the blanks: My eyes are ________, but I wish they were __________.

Salad
If you were a Beanie Baby, what would you look like and what would your name be?

Main Course
Name two things you consistently do that you consider to be healthy habits.

Dessert
What brand of toothpaste are you using these days? Do you like it? Why or why not?



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

And just so you know...


Thinking and driving do not go together.


On the way home from Target yesterday afternoon....
I was thinking and thinking...I think I was thinking about photo shoots.

But I'm not really sure.

All I do know is that while singing along to Madonna on the radio I finally looked in my rear view mirror and there were all sorts of flashing blue and red lights.

I put on my blinker, slowly pulled over and snuck my seat belt into place.

(Yeah. I'm a naughty girl like that)

Officer Steve introduced himself. I introduced myself back :o)

"Hi, I'm Donna"

(Most Friendly, 1975)

So officer Steve says, "I stopped you because you were speeding and after that you ran the stop sign."

(Oh good. It wasn't the seat belt.)

"Do you know the speed limit on Nesbitt?" said Steve.

"I think it is *think*think*think* thirty-five." I say.

"Well, it is thirty-five up to Fitchrona Rd., but then it becomes thirty."


I still don't know how fast I was going.

Then Officer Steve mentions the unfortunate rolling thru the stop sign issue.

"I can not even remember going thru that stop sign. I don't know where my head was.
I normally stop at stop signs. (I do not defend myself about the speeding because I AM characterized by going over the speed limit."


"What did I actually do? Did I even slow down?" I query.

Officer Steve describes my un-stop.

I have no recollection at all of this. And chalk it up to being lost in my thoughts.
(Not Alzheimer's)

The officer heads back to his brightly blinking squad car.

I wait patiently as Officer Steve checks out my record.

When he returns he informs me that I was going forty-six.

(Oh darn. I know what that means. More than 15 over is costly.
And I have no idea what rolling thru a stop sign costs. At least one-hundred dollars, I bet.)

He is going to just give me a warning about the un-stop.

(phew)

But he does not lower the speed and gives me the full ticket for speeding.

"Drive Carefully and Slow Down" He says.

"You betcha." I say.


Not really.


So I drive off trying to spot the dollar signs on the computer generated ticket; trying to see how much this thinking has cost me.

And yes. I was driving and reading.

I can't find the little spot with the 'fee' until I get in my garage.

What do you think I was charged for speeding on my way home from Target?







$186.00


EEEkkkk!

That is a lot.

It's not like I can argue it tho.

It's just really weird that I don't have any recollection of the whole incident.


Like I said before....


Don't think and drive.




I took this yesterday.
Katie is a good sport about it.
Cause who can look this pretty and happy....

when you are really feeling like...



She says she was Itchy von Itchy. That made us both laugh.


See you in the comments. The Friday Five is a little odd today.

But I always like to talk about Greys on Friday morning too :o)

And by the way....perhaps we should start calling Izzy, McKissofdeath.



Encourage one another,

Donna

Looks like it is
time to haul out the blankets,



make a wish upon a leaf,


and snuggle with a good book.


I am reading Come back by Claire and Mia Fontaine.

It is dramatic and thoughtful and gritty.


Tell me what you are reading this week.
Is it engrossing, funny, educational?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Prima Latina.

Katie will take her first test in Prima Latina this week.
I say this week because she is so little and there is no reason for her to take the test until I think she is very very ready.

I would rather go over the material with her for five days in a row so that she will have a positive testing experience. And I think she will learn about studying too.

At the dinner table Katie and I tested Emma. Oh! It was so fun.
Emma has forgotten some of the basics like 'What letter of the English alphabet is missing from the Latin alphabet?'

Emma would look at me with a puzzled expression and Katie would cup her mouth and whisper "W". Too cute.

Earlier in the day I suggested to Katie that she study before bedtime.
Last night,I kissed her good night quickly and ran back downstairs to catch the ending of Dancing with the Stars.

It wasn't until 11:00 when I finally made my way to bed that I noticed on the floor, amid the bunnies and Junie B. books, her Latin book.

What a good little student.


*********

About Dancing with the Stars.....

I am so glad the voting viewers go it right. So glad.

The worst two were in the bottom two last night.
And it was a good thing.

Wayne was voted off the dance floor and hopefully Floyd will be the next to go.

Although, Floyd looks so defeated, I started feeling sorry for him.

My advice to Floyd; work on your posture and lines. Period.
Do the simplest dance in the world. But do it with style.
Stand up, buddy. Look at your partner and point your toes.

Okay?
Okay.

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


Who Has Seen the Wind?
by Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you;
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I;
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by.

Come Fairies, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame!
William Butler Yeats

“The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, The answer is blowin' in the wind”
Bob Dylan (American folksinger, b.1941)

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
John 3:8

Encourage one another,
Donna

It was just that kind of day......

Before I forget.

In the last month or so, a young mom named Steph has been leaving comments here at Quiet Life.

I happen to know her a little bit.

She was the worship leader at a big church here in the Madison area.
I sang along with her lovely singing and piano playing many, many times.

In fact, I remember a very special service.

9/11

Amy J and Nancy also know Steph as they attended/attend this church much longer than I did. And they know Steph's glorious talent very well.

Steph has a website.....and a CD.

Stop by her website and take a little listen to her sing Great Redeemer.

I'm so glad she delurked, her comments bless me.

As do all of yours.


*Especially yesterday. They were rich and wise and I appreciated every one.


October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown.






The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on.
- Emily Dickinson, Nature 27 - Autumn





Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it,
and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth
seeking the successive autumns.
- George Eliot


The light was so pretty yesterday.
I just love how the yellow leaves glow.

They beckon me.

Come out and sit on my carpet of light.




Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Dancing with the Stars commentary....always welcome :o)