Katie is attending horse back riding camp this week.
Her little friend Carrie has gone in the past and recruited Katie to come along.
Then we found out that Katie's good friend from Madison was going also.
Super fun!!!

They ride a school bus from here the there.

It is all so very exciting.

On the way home from bus pickup I heard happy excited voices reciting the names of the horses:
Bucky, Daisy, Zoey.

When I dropped Carrie off the girls ran out to the woods for a quick romp and they came back with these beauties.



A cup of Joy.


The flowers had short little stems so I just filled the cup with water and plopped them in.

"Katie, you need to pick longer stems." I said.

We will see if she remembers.



Here is how the iced cut outs were packaged.
Each person had one at their place, tucked into a folded napkin.

They really were a special touch and we are glad they were happy with them.




You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.
C. S. Lewis


God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.
C. S. Lewis



Encourage one another,
Donna

The wedding was a big wonderful happy family affair.
The cookies were a hit.
Patrick and I both thought the wedding message was meaningful and important.
Katie and I danced.
Patrick and I danced.

We had bacon wrapped water chestnuts.


***
Did you know that it is very wrong to say, "A good time was had by all."?

I learned this in journalism class at Hillsdale.

Most likely, it is not a true statement. Someone didn't win the door prize. Someone just heard bad news. Some one's shoes hurt their feet. Someone was not asked to dance. You know. Someone had a bad time.

It's also a cliche and good writers try to stay away from those.

Not me. I like cliche speak. Just not this one ;o)

It is one of the only things I learned in journalism class.

Besides the inverted triangle.

Most important facts at the beginning...ending with the dribble drabble at the end.
(Blogging takes a different approach.)


So now you know everything I know about journalism.


***




Christmas in June.

The DX crop made the boys look short. They are not short.

I'm not sure I will use this one.




I will probably use this one.



Just outside the church, I tried to snap a nice shot of the boys.

They were pretty stiff.

I told them.

Look at one another.

And they thought it was stupid and odd to gaze into one another's eyes.

Really???






And my sneaky ploy worked.

I made them laugh.




It pays to have a silly one in the pack.
The best shots came just after this one.



AWWW!!!



Matthew and Katie.

Awww....again....


Encourage one another,
Donna

Thank you all for the perfect advice and comments on Saturday and Sunday. Your wise words and stories touched my heart.
Thank you.

Iced cut outs. That's what we always called these.
Four hundred and eighty of them.



The bride and her parents are happy with them.
And that's all that matters.

Patrick Jr and Sr. Iced and sprinkled them...a lovely lavender.

I forgot to take my camera to the packaging party yesterday afternoon, but used someone's point and shoot to at least record the event.

I will take a picture of the cookie that will be placed at my place this evening.


While we were packaging cookies and sharing a salad lunch, the guys were golfing in a 'scramble'.

Our guys came in second place.



We were all invited to the rehearsal dinner.

Back in the day, only the bridal party went to the rehearsal dinner.
It was a large party with fabulous food in a terrific location.




I was asked to take pictures.

I found a spot with spectacular light. I think I will set up my studio right there.
Do you think they will let me?




Here is beautiful Bridget. The bride to be.



Our youngest and oldest.



Ellie and Steven. They were married last summer.




Here is my sister in law, Susan and her sister, Karen.
Susan is on the right.

They are really wonderful women. And so pretty!!!



Here's Dan, the groom to be. He has a great smile!



This is the view from my studio.
(just kidding)



The guy carving the prime rib had a stunning backdrop!!!




It really is a pretty city.


*****



We came home and looked for news on the internet.
No news at all.

Matthew does not feel comfortable calling the family. He feels they do not need...one. more. call.
I feel the same way. But is that wrong?

Would you call someone if you heard their son was missing and possibly drowned?

Or would you leave them alone? I honestly don't know what is the kindest thing to do.


I thank each of you for your prayers and good thoughts for this family.
Your comments yesterday were so appreciated.
You bless me every day.

We are in a strange place.
Celebrating with one family
and imagining how the other family is living the worst days of their lives.

"This moment contains all moments."
-- C.S. Lewis

Encourage one another....and love,

Donna


11:48: Update in the comments.

I am having a hard time blogging this morning.

Friends on Facebook are reporting a terrible accident involving a family we are very close to.
It is too awful to even comprehend right now.

We do not know the facts, with certainty.

And my prayers are sounding like begging at this point.

Emma says that's okay.




Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.





I'll try to come back later today and post some baking pictures and a Friday Five.


Thank you for understanding.


Love,
Donna

Time to make the donuts.





Patrick is baking cookies that will be given away as a "parting gift" to all the wedding guests at our nieces' wedding on Saturday.

His brother, Joe, shopped for the ingredients and procured a large kitchen in which to work.

Yesterday evening we all assisted Patrick as he made the dough. (It needed to be refrigerated over night.)




It took a while to figure out how this Hobart worked.

I guess the cage is for safety. It just got in Patrick's way.

"We don't need no stinkin' cage."




It was just like old times. But not. There was no chocolate milk.

Both of our boys worked for their dad at the bakery when they were little.




This afternoon, the cookies will be baked and iced.
Friday morning they will be packaged.

Oh! We hope they turn out!

More pictures to follow....and I will see if I can get permission to include the baker and his brother in these posts.


****







I did get some relaxed photos of Patrick yesterday afternoon.
I like this one. His eyes were very sensitive to the sun. I'll have to try some nice back lit shots of him when we get some pretty evening light.





He has always been comfortable in front of the camera and had such an easy smile!



****

9:00

79 degrees

Summertastic!!!



Encourage one another,
Donna

The first meeting




Twenty years ago.

This was our family.

The little guy is Matthew. I think he wants to touch baby Emma.
The big boy in the middle is Patrick Jr. He looks just like a Patrick, doesn't he?

Patrick Sr. loves to hold babies.

If we go somewhere and someone has an infant, Patrick will ask to hold the baby.

I never do.

It's weird, I know.

But I think it is quite endearing that Patrick loves holding babies.

And look at little Emma. Oh dear. That little red hair on our little girl.

She was the perfect addition to our family.

This was my life....this was our little family.

Twenty years ago.

I loved being a young mom.
I never wanted to do anything other.


Patrick flew in to town yesterday afternoon.
Oh! It's so good to be together.

He laughs with abandon like me. I could hear it last night.
I loved listening to him laugh.
And he talks more than I remember.
Has something to say about everything I mention.

I had kind of forgotten that or maybe I never realized it before....


Katie marveled at our conversation.
I think she said, "You two are the same."




It sure is good to have him home.



Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s I will try to get some pictures today.
Can you imagine...I didn't take one picture all day yesterday.
That's a first!

My dear friend, Karen, sent me this youtube last night.

Chuck and Karen own Mickey-Lu's.

It is one of our favorite places in the whole world.

We all miss it and everyone in my family is a 'fan of Mickey-Lu's on Facebook". :o)

But I miss Karen even more than Mickey-Lu's.
Love you Karen!!!

Watch!








Marinette is the last town in Wisconsin on hwy 41, just before you get to Upper Michigan.

If you are on your way to the U.P. via Marinette....you must stop at Mickey-Lu's.

You won't be sorry.

In fact, you will be delighted.

FYI: It's closed on Mondays.


****






Katie said she was trying to make a face like Emma.

Oh yea. Emma does a little sideways glance thing.






***



Hello Nineties!!!

I have a rule around here.

We are not allowed to complain about the weather.

No matter how hot and sticky and flushed and uncomfortable we are....we can not complain about it.
Unbearably cold and snowy winters will make you do all sorts of things.

We have a cool car and a cool house and fans for hot nights.

Summer is for sweat dripping and sunburns and dips in the cool pool and trips to the farmers market.
It is a time for bare feet and mosquitoes and sunlight.

I am determined to love every sweaty second.



****


The girls of summer



Look at Katie's tummy!!! White enough for ya?

She borrowed her friend's super cute swimsuit for the afternoon.

Burned her little back in the process, but had hours of fun in the pool and sprinkler.

Super fun!!!

***

Patrick Jr. comes home this afternoon!!!
We can not wait.

I think I will bake a cake!!!


What special treat do you make for your friends or family when they come to visit?



Encourage one another,
Donna

Sesame Ellis Actions.

How I love these actions. The ones for photoshop and the ones for Lightroom.

Rachel Devine ( of Sesame Ellis) has a gentle touch and a lovely eye.

I use her Photoshop actions a lot! Her black and white is numero uno on my black and white list.

And because I was one of the first in line to buy her actions about a year ago...she has keep my name on a little list somewhere and when she creates a new set of actions, she sends me a set for free.

How great is that?

I feel greatly blessed by this.

So this weekend I received her new Lightroom presets called 'round two'.

And I am in love.

They are just perfect for the summery shots I am taking right now.




Thank you, Rachel!

Sesame Ellis Actions



p.s. she did not ask for a link or a thank you....just sent me the presets.
But of course, that deserves a big thank you in my book.


***

I was looking thru an old journal and found a list that I have attributed to Elisabeth Elliot.

This journal is from the mid nineties, I think I was just meeting Elisabeth around this time.

Here is the list;

Elisabeth Elliot

1. Strive to see God in all things.
2. Do everything for God.
3. Do everything quietly.
4. Commend all to God.
5. Lie still.
6. Cling simply to God.
7. Maintain a holy simplicity of mind.
8. Do not smother yourself with a host of cares.

I find such peace and quiet in that list and think it is a great place to start the week.


Encourage one another,
Donna

My dad




This picture says a lot to me, sitting at a distance.
Out of reach.
Torn.

So long ago.

I remember his hands.
His milky brown eyes.
His black shoes.
The quiver in his lip.

Was it his lip?

His bowling ball muscles and his missing tattoo.

Oh! we were so fascinated by his missing tattoo.

That large scar on his shoulder.

He said our mother bit him.

What a tease! Funny, I don't remember his laugh.


I don't remember feeling extra special or beloved. I was happy-go-lucky.

But, I know I was loved, I know it most assuredly.



My funny dad.

I sure miss him.

Summer came to Wisconsin



And by golly.

We are taking advantage of it.

Every humid second.

And as you know, I have some extra seconds available due to my fabulous drawer organizing.

So here is what summer looks like around here.

And I am delighted to say, my doom and gloom prediction about our cold summer has been dashed this week by a few days in the high seventies and a few days reaching up to 81 degrees.

The air conditioner is running and the thunderstorms have kept me awake all night.

That is summer.

And this....



Things are picking up at Quivey's Grove, but we hired someone to do the mowing this summer, anyway.
For her benefit and for Patrick's :o)




Playdates. Yes. That is what they are called and I guess I should just get used to it.

Wonderful, sweet, fun, happy playdates.




And chalk on the driveway. Lots and lots of chalk on the driveway. I mean. Hours of chalk on the driveway.







Goofy goggles.




and bundled bathing beauties.




Thank you, summer, for coming to Wisconsin.
We love you very much.


Summer Five


What is your favorite thing to eat in the summer?
What is your favorite thing to drink in the summer?
What is your favorite thing to wear in the summer?
What is your favorite thing to read in the summer?
What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?


That should be pretty easy.


See you in the comments!


Encourage one another,
Donna