I read this over the weekend, at Flickr, of all places and thought it was beautiful and true and even
encouraging.

I'll bet you have read it before.

"The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents. Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took the time to share what we had to give. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around. It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities there are to make our love felt."

Leo Buscaglia

And in looking for that quote to copy and paste here,
I found a website full of quotes.

I could have written this one.

If each of us sweeps in front of our own steps, the whole world will be clean.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

When I was in college I took courses in German studies instead of taking a language course.
We studied Goethe and Faust the whole semester.

So when I'm looking at quotes, I often wander to the Goethe page.

And really the most valuable thing I learned about Goethe was how to pronounce his name.





So while I was over there looking at quotes, I wondered what Steven Wright, the comedian, might have to say,
here are two Steven Wright-isms.

(He is the guy who speaks very slowly and has a low voice. Read them like that ;o)

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?


You can't have everything. Where would you put it?

And really, why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle.
That is fascinating.


Let me know what you find out.



Encourage one another,
Donna

**



Matthew and Melinda just returned from Mexico and had dinner last night with Janet and her family!
She posted this picture for me on her blog and I promptly stole it, took out the red eye :o),
and uploaded it here!!! They look so great.
Matthew called on the way to Janet's yesterday evening.
He said everything went very well.

He thought the food was great (beans and tortillas) and that no one got sick.
They worked construction and put on puppet shows for the children.

He said he was happy to go...but he did mention that Melinda had to stay in a separate area of the church with the girls and he stayed with the boys....

Not the most romantic way to spend their first anniversary!

But really a memorable and enriching one!

Welcome home you two.
We love you and are proud of you!!


******


I wish I could have been there with Janet, cooking and preparing and then entertaining that group!!!

Did you know that since I have been married, in fact, my whole life since college, I have never lived in the same town with one of my six siblings. The closest was Nancy for a few years and she lived 150 miles away.

Isn't that the sad? You can all feel properly sorry for me know.

Okay. Thanks.

That's a really big reason I love this blog and the internet.

It has made me feel connected to them...and given me such a sweet sense of community.

When I first moved away from the Chicago area, an old friend said I would need to bloom where I was planted.

And then I learned of Elisabeth Elliot and her radio show, and she said amazing things like;

There they are—six things that, if done in faith, can be the way to resurrection: be still and know, give thanks, refuse self-pity, accept the loneliness, offer it to God, turn your energies toward the satisfaction not of your own needs but of others’.

And then our children grew up and started moving away,
and I am so thankful that I had Elisabeth counseling me all those years.

Because those are still the kind of words I need to hear and take to heart.





And then God gave us this little angel to comfort her mama as all the big kids went away.

And to act as muse :o)


Miss Muse is going to see Wall*e today with her daddy while I do a photoshoot.

We will let you know if Wall*e is as good as it looks!

Have a fantastic weekend!




This is Jason Mraz. I heard a little bit of this song on Dancing with the Stars and found the video on youtube.

Enjoy!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday's Feast



Appetizer

What is the weather like today where you live?

Soup

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?

Salad

What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?

Main Course

Name something that instantly cheers you up.

Dessert

How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?





Unexpected dancing is something that instantly cheers me up.
a rolled down window in the car
pretty clouds
overhearing Katie talking to herself
when the big kids leave me a comment
Regis
going out to eat
and shopping at Whole Foods.




Did I ever tell you why I like Regis so much?


Nineteen years ago, one month after Emma was born, I had a ruptured apendix.

I was so sick. And so all alone.

It was a dark time for me.

And while I was in the hospital room. I watched Regis and Kathie Lee for the first time.

And he made me laugh.

And I was not so lonely and sad any more.

And I have been devoted to him ever since.






Such cute little boys!

(I'm almost done editing krg. I think your pics will be up a bit early. :o)




As I wander into the business world, I find myself doing things I have never done before.
I ordered all sorts of boxes and ribbons and wrappings from Paper Source the other day.

You just can't hand your clients their pictures in a vanilla envelope!

I need to settle on a color scheme and get some business cards, right quick!



Don't forget the Feast.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Our Babe




Baseball season has started for us.

The rec program in our little town makes me proud.
I love the way the children's sports are run.

Easy, instructive, fun, sweet.



Dave Barry:
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there is a man on base.



Phil Rizzuto:
I'm glad I don't play anymore. I could never learn all those handshakes.


When Steve and I die, we are going to be buried in the same cemetery, 60-feet 6-inches apart. ~Tim McCarver, who caught all of Steve Carlton's games, 1977





One of the most beautiful pieces of movie making...ever.

It's perfection.



********

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE


Interesting dances last night.
I totally love the unusual and weird.

But, I do not care for the disco choreographer.
Her dances look clunky and don't have the quick little ball change I think should be in a disco dance.

I just don't know why they don't consult me on these matters.


~disco donna


Thoughts?



******



I'm not sure this link will work.
Please let me know if it doesn't.


The pictures in this link were taken by a wonderful photographer over at Flickr.
She is someone who has become 'famous' because of her wonderful creative eye and huge flickr following.

Now she is about to deliver twins; long desired and beloved babies.

The photographs of her belly are one of a kind and really special. (all self-portraits)

Take a look if you can.

Sesame Ellis


"The happiest days are when babies are born."
GWTW



Encourage one another,
Donna

Wow! I should ask you all to do stuff more often!!!

Janet's comment boxes were full of delightful, friendly comments all day.

It made me just as happy as it did Janet.

Thank you very much!


The best portion of a good man's life - his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.
~William Wordsworth



A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
~Dave Barry, "Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn"

(that's interesting!)


How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a weary world.
~William Shakespeare


So shines a good deed in a weary world.

I couldn't love that quote more.



*******

I have an update on the birds that I have been attracting.....

In the beginning, I had purchased the bird seed mix from the grocery store.

Little sparrows visited and I was happy.

Then after you all gave me such fantastic suggestions, I bought some suet.

And then the Grackles came.

The Common Grackle is an opportunistic forager, taking advantage of whatever food sources it can find. It will follow plows for invertebrates and mice, wade into water to catch small fish, and sometimes kill and eat other birds at bird feeders.

They ate like crazy. They ate a block of suet in 24 hours. And they scared the other birdies away.

I shared my sad tale with Amy J's father and Nancy and they said, Oh those Grackle, they are naughty.

Well. They really didn't say that....but Amy's dad, who LOVES his birds, said there was no need to put the suet out in the summer. And change the seed to unshelled sunflowers seeds. The Grackles don't like those and the cardinals do.

That sounded great to me.

So I did just that and what do you know?

The Grackles left in a day. Hooray.

But two weeks passed without any other birds being interested in my bird feeder.

Then yesterday morning, what do I see at my robin's egg blue feeder?

A perfect red cardinal.


With patience comes joy. Or something like that.


And speaking of patience....the hummingbirds have yet to find my yard.

Yoo-hoo, hummingbirds, over here!!!


*********


How is your garden growing?


My garden has sprouted a few wild strawberries.
We have pale purple flowers on the hostas and yellow blossoms on the tomato plants (two).


Those yellow flowers mean tomatoes and talk about patience and joy!!!

I can not wait for my first home grown tomato!!!





What are you waiting for?



Encourage one another,
Donna

Hello Ev-ree-bod-e!

(question one: who says everybody like that?)


I want to ask you a little favor.
Something that will make someone really happy for a day.

And encourage her to keep blogging.


Not that she has threatened to quit. Cause I won't let her.
Me and Janice would bug her endlessly to keep it up even if it was just for us :o)

I'm talking about my sister Janet.

She is home from her vacation to Washington DC and has some great tales to tell and really cool pictures to share...
and I don't think folks know she is home.

So. Janet's home!

You can go over and see what she's been up to!

My little sister Janet has a blog

If you leave her a comment it would make her day.

And if you remember to go back next Monday, you will see pictures of Matthew and Melinda
fresh from their Mission Trip in Mexico. Their team is stopping at Janet and Dave's for some fellowship and food and refreshment after their time in Mexico.

Isn't she lucky to see them. (Take pictures please Janet. )

She is really a good hostess. It's one of her gifts. She can handle large groups with ease.

So git over there.

Go early and go often.

She doesn't know I'm doing this...so let's surprise here with some bloggy love this morning.

Thank you :o)


****

Every single day I am asked this question.


Can we get a dog?


Are you asked that question?

How many of you have dogs?

Is a little tiny dog and less problem than a medium sized dog?


The world is filled with dog owners. Happy dog owners.

But we had a bad experience with the one dog we owned and I am gun shy.

And we have a really unfriendly cat. That makes me sad every day.
Cause she just hisses at me and Katie and I have a complex about that.






Is there a fool proof breed?

And I mean FOOL proof!


Is it us?

What's a matter with us?

Why do all our pets turn out wacky?


***********




I have been trying out some new Actions.

The editing on these was done with Totally Rad Actions TRA2: The Revenge.

Totally Rad Actions:TRA2


*******

Better finish up.

Hurry on over to Janet's

And tell me what we should do about a dog.

Thanks!!!


Encourage one another,
Donna

You know when you are cranky, when something has you really worked up...
and then you take it out on all the wrong people.

You know how when you do that?

When you act so harsh and scary that your husband warns the little ones to stay clear...

Well.

My advice is this,

snap out of it

or

don't think about it.

Because thinking about how you acted and how your sweet innocents are lookin' at you cause you are having a hissy fit,

well....that's jut too much to bear.

So really, if you aren't good at denial.

I recommend snapping.

And quickly.


Even looking back at one day of being a mean mommy makes me want to cry.

Try to direct the anger in the right direction.

And if you can't do anything about it.

Cast it away.


I promise, letting go of those bad feelings quickly is much better on everyone involved.


Here ended the lesson.

And the confession.


*******

On Saturday I drove to Kenosha Wisconsin for a photoshoot with krg and her lovely family.

They were kind and funny and patient and easy going and funny and each person had gorgeous eyes.

All different colors (well, not eight different colors :o)
But deep sparkly browns and stunning blues and the most unique light green eyes I have ever seen.
And krg she has eyes just like Sophia.
That brown with yellow. So beautiful.

I will not tell you what she called them cause she and her daughter are super sassy.

But she doesn't realize how pretty they are. Sothere.

I took pictures of....


adorable families....


The sweetest young girl....

(She was a really dear girl. Not one second of attitude about our long photoshoot. Not one second.)


Mother and daughter...



Super spunky 5 year old



And a quiet older brother.





krg said, your are going to air brush and erase and yadda yadda yadda....

and I said, "I am know for my crisp focus! :o) he he







I have a hilarious picture of this stunning girl with her brother...
they are both wearing baseball caps. And I wish I could show you...
but I am going to wait for permission before I show a really goofy shot.

They didn't sign up for that.

Although they were asking for with, with all the shenanigans....


Hi-yah!



That's just a small portion of the pics I took on Sat.
But thought krg and her family would enjoy their sneak peek.


is anyone watching the new Password with Regis?

What do you think?

I have my opinions. Of course.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Saturday at the Capitol with George




Madison's Capitol building is a place of much activity.

Concerts, Art Shows, and the Farmer's Market.

It's a beautiful building inside and out.

I wonder if other cities use their Capitol in this way?

It's so festive!



I'm pretty certain that the Weinermobile doesn't stop by other Capitols as regularly :o)

(This picture is from last summer. Where did that cute headband go?)




This headband came home with Emma from England.
It is the perfect headband.

She says she picked it up in a five and dime.

It does not hurt the spot behind your ears.



******

I'm off on a big adventurous photo shoot today.

I'll tell you all about it on Monday!




Just a little joyful music to send you on your way :o)

(PS22 Chorus~Staten Island NY)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Prayers Please and The Feast







My son, Matthew, and his bride of one year Melinda, are leaving on a mission trip tomorrow.
We are so proud that they are loving and serving God and His people this way.

I have never forgone my one vacation in a year to go into the world to proclaim the Gospel.

AND it is the anniversary!

They are pretty darn cool and I admire them.

It's wonderful to see their hearts for Christ in action!


Melinda has done a lot of the planning. A lot. I think she is the team leader.
I'd like to ask for prayers of peace for her.

She has done her best and now the rest is in God's hands.

She also would like prayers for;

Traveling mercies
Health and safety
Good communication even with the language barrier.
Tolerance for the very high temps
Wisdom, Endurance, Strength
Fun times and a chance to experience the culture
Cordial cooperation of all team members
The money to last.



For Matthew, I pray that he steps up and helps Melinda.
She is strong. But she needs you!

Enjoy your first international mission experience!

It's all going to work out!

Be a blessing :o)





What will happen on this trip is exactly what God wills.
It may not be exactly what you all think is going to happen,
but you will impact the lives of just exactly who God is drawing to Himself.

So go with confidence that God is doing a good work.
In everybody!


With love,
Mom


*******

Friday's Feast



Appetizer

If you could live on another continent for 1 year, which one would you choose?

Soup

Which browser do you use to surf the Internet?

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how much do you know about the history of your country?

Main Course

Finish this sentence: Love is…

Dessert

Have you ever been in or near a tornado?



*******


I ordered a large picture of Katie as a sample for my business.

And I am so happy with it, I can't stop smiling.

I want lots and lots more of these...and I want some in black and white too.









They are quite contemporary. But I love that you don't have to frame anything :o)
Easy as pie.



*******

So You Think You Can Dance.


I was very happy to see Suzie go. She was just way out of her league. Way, way, way.

Can you believe how beautifully Twitch danced the Viennese Waltz?
It was a thing of beauty. What a great surprise!
I look forward to seeing him blossom on this show.

And that judge Mary.....how does she come up with the things she says.
She is a regular hoot!


I can't believe it is Friday already!
As MFS says, Happy Weekending :o)


Encourage one another,

Donna

Just this morning I visited Michal's website AllyJoserudition
and she is playing along with Rocks in my Dryer and showing what Works for Her. Michal has a collection of vintage table cloths and in order to save them from spots and too frequent washings she places a clear shower curtain liner over the tablecloth.

The is an extremely practical and excellent solution for her problem.

And it made me think of our mother.

Get ready. I am going to tell you a secret.

I grew up with plastic on the couches.
Actual plastic upholstered covers with zippers.

White couches with plastic.

But seriously, do you know what would happen to those couches in one day with seven little children in the house.

I really do admire that practicality and common sense.

Our mom had a ton of common sense.

And when I think of the furniture in our house....
lots of it was hand me downs
and if it wasn't covered in plastic,
it was made of plastic.

Our father had a black leather chair. It was the only real leather in the house.
In the den, along with the black leather chair was a fake leather love seat.
There was also a glass topped coffee table. Our dad picked this out and I remember our mom saying it was
impractical and unsafe.

In the family room we had more fake leather furniture.
It was a dull avocado green.

We had orange curtains in that room.

Hum????


Practical but not necessarily pretty.


And actually, I think I may have left the plastic on lampshades in my day.

In fact, I can remember debating whether one was suppose to take the plastic off or not.

I've started taking them off, but golly, those lampshades get dusty!



And speaking of removing things,
all of the tags were definitely still attached to all pillows and mattresses.




*******







I just love clear crisp colorful closeups. It's my thing.

But I also love the new, highly processed look too.

The picture of Katie was very dull and boring in color but it was in focus and you know I can't resist the
blowing hairs. So I went to work and applied four different actions on this picture.

And I kind of like it.

And really now, WHERE did she get those eyelashes?

And Sophia's eyes. Oh my goodness. They are so gorgeous. I did nothing to those eyes!
Real, natural beauty.

Sweeeeeet.


******


Wishing you a day of delight and very few spills!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Yesterday afternoon, the girls and I took a short walk thru our local zoo.

We were especially interested in the giraffes.

Three new giraffes.

The previous small herd died of a mysterious giraffe disease.

They are so beautiful and odd. The two older giraffes never look out at the staring crowd.
But the baby, she does. She looks and stares. She even tracked a screaming child.

I can't help but think we would all have so much more fun with the giraffe's if the zoo''s now did
things like the Brookfield zoo when I was growing up.

I mean, the Brookfield zoo was the best.

You wonder why?

They let you feed the giraffes!

Just bring a big ole bag of marshmallows from home and step right up to the giraffe ledge and let the fun begin.

You could interact with the giraffes.
See them up close.
See them move.
See them eat.

See their 20 inch long black tongue and squeal with apprehension and delight.

Now, THAT was exciting zoo going.

And Brookfield also had the porpoise show.

That was cool too! It cost extra.
But it was so exciting. Jumping, flipping, talking.
Just like Flipper.

*****

Now we have to be respectful of the animals.
We need to make them feel at home in their fake habitats.

And be sure not to look at, wave to, sign to or smile at the gorillas.

The guard will be sure to scold you if you do.


All I know is....it was more fun before.
And I'll bet the animals liked it better too.



Oh, I almost forgot to share my invention with you.

Since the giraffe's don't have anything to do but sit and chew their cud (nowhere as good as marshmallows).

I think there should be a mechanical lion that darts out at them.
Put it on a track so it can come right at them.
It could even roar.

Imagine the fun.
It would be good for their 25 pound hearts.
Get that blood pumping!

Isn't that a great idea?

I think all the animals at the zoo need some of their natural predators,
how can we duplicate their habitats and take away the the predators?


**********

My best friend is a gentle giraffe,
A gentle giraffe, a gentle giraffe.
He doesn't talk much but he makes me laugh:
Makes me laugh all day.

He danced a jig while crossing the bridge,
Crossing the bridge, crossing the bridge.
He taught it to me and my sister, Midge,
And now we jig all day!

Do you miss the jungle, Gentle Giraffe?
Are you homesick? Are you sad?
You're the best friend I've ever had! Please play with me!
And stay with me!

He smiled and winked, that gentle giraffe,
Gentle giraffe, gentle giraffe.
We had a big picnic in the grass,
And drank plum juice all day!

Peanut butter, jubilee jam,
Ginseng tea with half and half!
Nothing's too fine for my giraffe!
I love him true
He loves me too...oh...

My best friend is a gentle giraffe,
A gentle giraffe, a gentle giraffe.
He doesn't talk much but he makes me laugh,
Makes me laugh all day.
~Marla Lewis

Encourage one another,
Donna

Eric Liddell (on his missionary work in China and his passion for running):

“I believe that God made me for a purpose. For China. But he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.”



I have always loved that quote and the story behind it.

Eric Liddell is the missionary who ran in the Olympics.
But he would not run on Sunday. The day his race was scheduled.
Instead he ran another, longer race on a different day.
He won and set a world record.

Such an inspiration.


And as I plan the hours and days I will schedule photoshoots....
I am reminded of Eric's strong stand against working on Sunday and
it encourages me to do the right thing.


Might not be good for business.
But it is good for my soul and ultimately my witness.


******


And since I can't think of anything else to write about today,
I guess it is the day to share some very big news with you all.

Katie is going to school next fall.

She is giddy with excitement.

Patrick and I know this is what is best for her.

She will go to the small Parochial school that her cousins have all attended.
They have had wonderful experience there and have done very well.

The day Katie and I visited we found the teachers warm and excited and extremely welcoming.

Katie didn't want to come home and asked if she could go there for the rest of the year.
She is counting the days until school starts.

I am sad and going to miss her. But I can't homeschool her because it is best for me.
Fourteen years ago we decided to take it a year at a time as far as homeschooling the children.

My husband felt the boys needed to be in a high school.
And Matthew needed anything but homeschool.
Emma loved it and never asked to try something different.
Katie has had her eyes on the school playgrounds for years.

And so it goes.

There will be new challenges for both of us.

I have told her if she gets a bad attitude or a baditude,
I would love to continue homeschooling her to keep her in check....

She will surely be worn out from long days on the go.

But she will adjust.

As you can tell from reading this blog,
I love being with Katie. For me, our days are delightful.
So I will feel left out.

But I have a peaceful feeling about this decision.
It feels very right to us.




Encourage one another
Donna

Beets.





When was the last time you ate beets?
Really now. Does anyone eat beets?

I had some for lunch the other day.
Here is my recipe.

Beets
Butter
salt
pepper

I think they are delicious.
These were from a can.

I don't know if my sister's remember, but our mom liked beets.
And she never made me eat lima beans.


******

When does one out grow Ring Pops?



Patrick always remembers to bring Katie a Ring Pop when he goes to the store.



I hope they never outgrow a spontaneous waltz in the rain!




****

Oh and FYI....

A bag of coleslaw purchased at the grocery store is not the same quantity as a head of cabbage and a carrot.

I tried to make home made coleslaw yesterday and I ended up with ColeSlaw Soup.

Ew.

Even too wet for me.

You don't need to see a picture of that do you???


***

Here's wishing you successful culinary adventures and a sweet waltz with someone you love.


Encourage one another,
Donna

"Love comforteth like sunshine after rain."

**



Katie's little friend, Carrie is here for just two more days.
She came over yesterday afternoon and well, the weather was still not quite what we would chooses for June 13th.
And since I had manicures on the mind....
we went to get manicures.

Who knew that Friday afternoon at 2:00 is the big hot time to get manicures?
Not me.

But we waited and I asked one woman to paint both of the girl's nails at the same time...
and I had a pedicure!

I was 'nice' and let the girls pick out their own colors.
This is hard for me.
I want them to pick out pink or red.

But as you can see, they picked out green and blue.

I chose red. Because I am either conservative or a fuddy duddy;o)

When got home, the sun was shining so the girls dashed upstairs to put on suits then ran outside for a few minutes
in the sprinkler.





Carrie was telling us about the best movie she has ever seen.
It is called Kung Fu Panda.
She says it is better than Horton Hears a Who.


We will miss you Carrie!
Very, very much!



*****

"What a Country."


I was so sad to hear of Tim Russert's passing.

I spent the rest of the evening watching his friends and colleagues talk about him on the tv.

I liked him and haven't been so sad about a celebrity passing since Mr. Rogers.

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t say to my son, ‘You are always, always loved, but you are never, never entitled.’

Russert says he feels blessed to have enjoyed a career that’s allowed him to meet the pope, interview presidents and learn so much about so many subjects. "My dad’s favorite expression is, ‘What a country!’" Russert says. "I look back to see the house I was born in and my dad quit school in tenth grade. The fact that the son of a truck driver and garbage man is now the moderator of Meet the Press, that’s everything you want to know about who we are as a people, society and a country. It’s not very complicated to know me. What you see is who I am. I am just someone who grew up in an extremely traditional lower middle-class upbringing and celebrates the uniqueness of this country every day.

"It can’t happen anywhere else," he says, then pauses. "It doesn’t happen anywhere else."

~both quotes from American Profile.com


I pray that God will comfort Tim's loved ones.


*****

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read and all the friends I want to see.
~John Burroughs



Death twitches my ear. "Live," he says, "I am coming."
~Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), Minor Poems, Copa



Let us endeavor to live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.
~Mark Twain


Every second is of infinite value.
~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


and one for the kids,


Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.
~From the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off



Encourage one another,
Donna

*******





This dude is an all too familair sight around these parts.
In fact, I spend more time with him than my husband, it seems.

just kidding ;o)



Damage locally is minor.
State wide it is horrible.

We are getting all the water.

All the water from the whole earth is falling on the midwest.

And isn't it interesting when you think about the fact that the water on this planet is the only and same water that has always been on this planet?
That is a pheonomal thought.
Same water. Recycled. Amazing.


Karen F,
Is the water in Green Bay rising? It has been so low for the last few years? Has the rain had an effect on it?



******


Friday's Feast


Appetizer

Do you consider yourself to be an optimist or a pessimist?

Soup

What is your favorite color of ink to write with?

Salad

How often do you get a manicure or pedicure? Do you do them yourself or go to a salon and pay for them?

Main Course

Have you ever won anything online? If so, what was it?

Dessert

In which room in your house do you keep your home computer?



*******

Books

I finished The Memory Keeper's Daughter last night.

To tell you the truth, the first 100 pages were very uninspired.
But the book improves and becomes more interesting and readable in the second half.
And the ending is extremely satisfying.

Don't think I can say. 'You must read this book."

I'll give it a B-.





I started reading this last night.

I was a big Jeffery Archer fan back in the 80's.

Oh, how I loved Kane and Able and Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.
Don't remember anything else, but that I loved them and recommended them at the time.

Next, I will read Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.


********





Walking through puddles is my favorite metaphor for life. ~Jessi Lane Adams


Coping with natural disasters is hard, hard, hard. ~me



And by the way, I am an optimistic pessimist.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Gifts


I think we have natural gifts. Gifts that we are born with.
Things that come naturally to us.
Not necessarily easy. Just naturally.

There are those that are gifted chefs.
There are those that are gifted with color.

Gifted writers.
Gifted artists and musicians.

Gifted physically.
Gifted spiritually.

I started thinking about this, this morning as I visited a few blogs.
I came across a knitter who is now learning to quilt.
The colors she chose for her quilt were totally inspired.
She is just a beginner. But her sense of color comes from...I don't know where!?
(Lynn has this gift of color and design. too.)

I quilted for years. I loved it. I loved the fabrics. Oh how I loved the fabrics.
But, I was just a copycat. I wanted to duplicate the pattern.
I could stray a little....but nothing inspired, really.

But that's okay. That's how I knit too.

I know what I think is pretty. But it is not my gift to think out of the box with color or design.
(Hard work and interest is one thing. Gifts are another)




Nor is it my gift to snow ski.





My sister in law is a gorgeous skiier. We skied together a few times. She looked like Jean-Claude Killy.
But, she did not work hard or spend time skiing. She skied the small hills at the park in Green Bay as a child.
But she took to it.
It came naturally to her.

I noticed this because I tried to be a skiier. I skiied pretty much for a girl from the Midwest.
But I never improved.

Really. If you saw me ski, ( Even when I was in college and traveling to Utah for Spring Skiing)
you would think I was out there for the first time!

Embarrassing.

But out on the slopes, I would glance over at my sister in law and watch her gracefully, beautifully gliding down the hill...
and I knew it was a gift to her.


But what a joyous thing to discover your gift.
To realize what you have been blessed with.

What are you gifted with?

I won't think you are bragging.

What comes naturally to you that brings you joy and thanksgiving?


Encourage one another,
Donna

*****


Letters and Email and bears oh my!


Do you write letters of complaint?

Do you write letters of thanks or praise?

Do you rely on email for this kind of correspondence?

Is the email connection as powerful as the written letter?


I can count the hand-written letters of praise and complaint that I have written.

I wrote John Powers a letter to tell him I loved his writing.
"Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?"


William Goldman. I wrote him. He sent me the "Reunion Scene". Or at least his people did.


I wrote Newsweek to tell them I thought the Jonestown massacre photograph was over the top.
They both wrote back.


Ben Stein wrote back after I sent him an email one day. That was a thrill.


But, what happens when you get a worm in your artichokes?

Huh?

Well, I once wrote and complained about THAT icky thing happening to me and got a few jars of free artichokes
out of the deal.

I think I may make a phone call today as my Eco Palmolive is not doing it's job.

I bought a big jug of the stuff at Target a few weeks back.

It is in a pretty white and green jug.

It was on sale.

It is terrible.

The phone number is right there on the side. I should call, shouldn't I?

"Hello, your detergent is awful and my glasses are spotting and my silverware is dirty."


Why not entertain us with your best letters and responses and complaints and freebies in the comments?!

Fan letters, anyone?



*******




And one other thing.

Do you let your children dress themselves?

At what age do you stop with the comments and let them be?

I tried to get Katie to put on a plain shirt with those shorts.
But she wasn't having it.
And I wasn't about to argue about it.

So there she is. Looking all Fierce.

I love that she has definite ideas about what she likes.

So totally different than myself.

I wore whatever hand me downs came my way.

I rarely, rarely, rarely bought clothing for my self when I was under 18 years old.

So marvel at Emma with her closet and drawers bursting with clothes.

And Katie with her mad style....and her desire to go to the mall looking for more.

I guess they got the Booshay gene for style and fashion. Patrick Sr. loves clothes and wears them well.

That's what must have happened! Mrs. Booshay would be so happy.



*****

About that picture. If you look at it closer, it really looks like I used a flash.
I did not. The sun was hitting the side of our light grey house and bounced onto Katie.
Very interesting.



Happy Wednesday!

I would tell you to watch So You Think You Can Dance tonight....
but I'm mad at them and can't find an email address to write them a letter of complaint.
So there.




Encourage one another,

Donna

It's a twister!

A little eight year old, red-headed twister!

In the Wizard of Oz, one of the farm hands says with a New York accent,

"It's a twist-a"

It has become part of the vernacular.

You pick up those things when you see a movie forty times.


But what is really going on is......a hair cut.

Katie got her hair cut, tra la la la la la.





Seven inches. Gone.

And we all think it's adorable!


******


That Cold Pasta Salad Everyone Makes.




On Sunday I decided to make TCPSEM.

I don't think I had ever made it before....and if I did it was 25 years ago.

But I had such a tasty one at the grad party I attended on Saturday that I wanted to give it a try.
(And Emma's friend's mother makes one that she is kind of famous for....and I had that one recently too)


So here are the ingredients I choose.

Medium Shell Pasta
Cheddar Cheese
Ham
Broccoli
Celery
Red Pepper
Onion
Shredded Carrot
Black Olives

Wishbone Italian Dressing


I liked everything about it except for the dressing.
To be honest. I am not crazy about that Wishbone Italian Dressing.

Tell me, what do you use on TCPSEM?

I want a better Italian Dressing.

One without that weird aftertaste. Does anyone know what I mean?

It can be bottled or home made.

It just has to be better. (Lighter maybe)


*******



We heart you too, sweetie.

We heart you, too.


*****

Encourage one another,
Donna

School is never "Out".

Not if the world is your classroom...and your are curious!

A month or so ago we learned of Dr. Walter R. Tschinkel and his interest in ants.

Tschinkel's Bio





Gather round. This is so interesting.



*******

Most outdoor plans were dashed as we had lots of rain all weekend. Even our big summer parade was cancelled.

Katie's friend came over on Sunday afternoon and they played in the sprinkler since it was a bit cool for the pool.
69 degrees. But they tried their hardest to convince me otherwise.

Bed In Summer

In winter I get up at night,
And dress by yellow candle light.
In summer quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day,

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown up people's feet
Still going past me in the street,

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

by Robert Louis Stevenson

(That is possibly my favorite poem.)




I worked for many, many hours editing and uploading the pictures for the on-gallery for my clients.
I am delighted with how it turned out...and that I learned so much in the process.






******

I am curious.

Do you like black and white pictures?
Would you order black and white pictures?





I happen to love them.
But I want to know what you think!


Thanks!



Encourage one another,
Donna

*******





I pulled over on our drive home from a grad party to take a few
shots of the dramatic weather.

Storm clouds.

Beautiful and awe-inspiring.

And a little bit scary.




For Linda.
No edit.