Hey everybody.

I'm headed to Missouri today to spend some time with
a few of my sisters.

I need to be with them.

Right Now.




When I go away and Katie doesn't come with me I like to put a picture of her on the blog so I can come by and see her sweet, happy face.

It's my picture in a wallet.


I did something last night for the first time: you guess.

a. lost my wallet
b. bought beer
c. found wallet
d. all of the above


The answer is d.

Now that I think of it, that is not the first time I have purchased alcohol....
I bought lots of vodka for a Christmas gift.

Who'd ever think I would be the bearer of booze?

It does make me a little uncomfortable....like I want to tell the check out girl,
"It's not for me. Really. Hic."

I'm not against drinking (in moderation) but it's just not been my thing.

Oh my! I just remembered going to Glen Ellyn to buy booze with my mom.
We would walk along and FILL up the grocery cart!

Oh my goodness. Surely that was for a big party.


Okay.

Gotta Run!


I will try to stop in to say 'hi'. Just not sure what the computer situation will be.
Yeah. I don't have a cell phone OR a laptop.

Can you believe that?


Love ya like a friend!

Pray for traveling mercies, please.
I'm a little scattered. Hope I don't lose my way.

Encourage one another,
Donna

To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.
-- Clara Ortega



""Don't you think it's rather nice to think that we're in a book that God's writing? If I were writing a book, I might make mistakes. But God knows how to make the story end just right--in the way that's best for us."
"Do you really believe that, Mother?" Peter asked quietly.
"Yes," she said, "I do believe it--almost always--except when I'm so sad that I can't believe anything. But even when I don't believe it, I know it's true--and I try to believe it.'"
— Edith Nesbit



Encourage one another,
Donna

I have a photography mentor.
She just doesn't know it.

She is my imaginary mentor.

Her name is Jasmine Star.

Fun Jasmine Video


Jasmine Blog



Jasmine says that she looks for the moments just before the kiss and just after the kiss when shooting.
It's part of her style.
She is a wedding photographer and she is telling a story.




I don't really think of this as part of my style.
I'm all about the beauty shot.
The most beautiful light, the most beautiful angle, the most gorgeous eyes.
(And to tell the truth...Jasmine is more than able to rock the beauty shot)

But as I was looking thru some summer pictures this morning,
I was looking to see if I had naturally caught that in between moment once or twice.

I mean, really, I shoot on continuous...it's bound to happen, even if I'm not trying :o)







That's Sue and Keith, the love birds, at their son's wedding last summer.
The final picture is blurry so I just ignored it.
But, heck, it's not like I'm selling the pictures!!!
They are just for our memories and enjoyment!

I think it turned into a fun and sweet storyboard.













Beautiful Cindy with Katie's big fat head.
Ah well. What cha gonna do?
Cindy looks just like herself. So beautiful so full of life.

I noticed that. In those in between moments, people look more like themselves....
if you know what I mean.





Thank you Jasmine, my imaginary mentor, for your fabulous self.
You inspire me daily.




Encourage one another,
Donna

My favorite ice dancers.

This their National Performance as the Olympic Comm. took last nights performance off of youtube.







Sayid dances :o)




Jai Ho!

Sadly I can't embed the jai ho song from Millionaire...but you can go and listen to it on youtube.

I wanted the ice dancers to last night to bust into jai ho! :o)
(They were wonderful nonetheless.)

video

I found a dubbed version where Jai Ho is used instead of the Indian Folk music.
It works very well ;o)





jai ho!!!


Why do I love that so much?


****

I am delighted to say that the April 24th workshop is sold out.

Woohoo!


***






I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers to God make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and all the consequences of those effects down through the centuries, we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives.
~Peter Kreeft



On my knees,

Donna

Demonstration. That is what I keep thinking about.
How will I demonstrate spot metering.
How will I show the class how to shoot a group and get everyone in focus.
How will show how to find the light.
etc.etc.

The set-ups and locations and answers spill thru my mind.

I can't wait to spend the day showing instead of writing. I love writing the tutorials for
Ree but I am such a hands-on learner that I find it is my favorite and most natural way of teaching.

When I was in a quilting group in Marinette I realized this about myself.
My friend, Martha was a fantastic quilter. I was just learning.

She found a pamphlet on how to make binding on the bias. She made copies and handed them around.
'Will you show us?" I asked.
"Here. It's on this pamphlet." she said with a smile.
My brain cried. It looked Greek to me.

I can't remember how it came about...but the next time we met, she showed us how to do it.
It was probably the glazed over look in my eyes.
I miss Martha.


and that's the nice thing about small groups and a nice chunk of time.
I will be sending a questionnaire to the students beforehand so I know
just what they are most wanting to learn. I'm expecting the levels of experience to be
quite varied, from someone who just got their camera to someone who is hoping to start a business and
wants to get to the next level.

Gosh that sounds amazing to me.


*******




Katie FINALLY lost a tooth that has been "in the way" for the last few months.
We were all set to have it pulled by the dentist....but on the way home from school yesterday...it snapped....and moved....
and fell out.

We are so happy to say 'so long' to that pink tooth.

She wins the award for saving us $85 for the extraction.

Way to go, Katie!



******

See that cool font I used for the workshop announcement?
It's by Crystal Kluge. She is pretty darn cool.

Check out her fonts here

Crystal Kluge

She drew my fabulous logo :o)
Make sure you check out her very cool maps!


Happy weekend!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Sourpuss




Our kitty looks like this 99% of the time.

She is a sourpuss. I really don't think people use that term anymore. Our parents use to say it about us if we were acting crabby.

But I think it fits Maggie perfectly.


****


I am sending an email with the Workshop information this morning to the people who are on the waiting list.
Then tomorrow I will post the information for anyone who might have missed that blog or who
were waiting for the dates.

I am so excited about hosting the Workshops for Inspired Beginners this year!
My mind is a whirl with ideas and plans. I just can not wait to share with I have learned
about photography with enthusiastic students!!




I just know the snow will be melted by April 24th.




****

Hey! How about a Friday Five?


What is your favorite blanket like?
What was the last thing you baked?
What television personality gets you most hot and bothered?
When did you last burn yourself?
What are your feelings about hot sauce?




I found this at friday5.org


The week is almost over....
party on dudes and

Encourage one another,
Donna

I love birds. Really, really love them.

I love spotting them and keeping track of the birds I have seen.
Their pretty voices lighten my heart like no other sound in nature.
How I love listening to them call back and forth to one another.

In the last two weeks the cardinals have returned. In a tree in our back yard, I could see at least ten
chubby cardinals gathering....to make their plans or gossip about the crows.

This morning as I got out of the car, I heard the distinct call of the cardinal.
I scanned the tops of the trees. (Seems cardinals like to sit up top)
And there, two houses down, in a tall corner tree, sang a cardinal as red as a drop of blood.
I listened and heard the reply in the distance.

I smiled like a goon standing in my driveway because of the cardinals;
colorful, delicate, ingenious, melodious.


I am filled with wonder and joy.

My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather. ~Loire Hartwould

Encourage one another,
Donna

This is just the coolest music.

But what I'm a little confused about the lyrics.
Is chasing pirates akin to making plans or dreaming big dreams?

Anyone?

And how adorable is Nora Jones?




******







The children at Katie's school dress up for Fat Tuesday.
Katie was all set to go with her Mardi Gras crown.


She will be giving up cookies again this year.
I will be giving up bread and bagels.

I don't know the etiquette behind this giving things up as I am not an official Catholic.

I don't know if you are suppose to talk about it. Katie wondered (on the way to school this morning) what her teacher would be doing for Lent, and I said, I'm not sure it is polite to ask.

Does anyone know this answer? If you give something up for lent, why do you do it?


I was wondering about what the purpose of this 'fast' was and found a quote I liked;

A discipline won’t bring you closer to God. Only God can bring you closer to Himself. What the discipline is meant to do is to help you get yourself, your ego, out of the way so you are open to His grace.
~unknown

What do you think?
About Ash Wednesday?
About Chasing Pirates?



Encourage one another,
Donna

Lost anyone?

The Olympic Sartorialist










Best Dressed Pairs

The Canadian Pairs team of Dube and Davison may have place 6th last night in the finals of the Pairs competition....

But in my super humble opinion, they win for best dressed.

Dube is elegant and lovely.
Davison is masculine with pockets on his slacks.

This is my favorite look for skaters. Always has been. Always will be.




Nancy Kerrigan in Vera Wang.

Simple, understated, beautiful.



****




I wrote a tutorial on Shooting in Low Light for The Pioneer Woman and it is 'up' today.
For those of you who wrote and asked for some pointers,

Check it out!

The Pioneer Woman/Photography Tutorials


I love this picture of Katie. It is my favorite....today :o)
It was taken in the garage.

I didn't want to take a picture yesterday.
Nothing interested me.

But I am doing that dang 365 on Flickr so at about 4:30 I asked Katie to come outside for just a second.

(When in doubt or uninspired....I shoot Katie.)

I edited it with Eye Candy Actions: Mini Makeover at about 20%

Eye Candy Actions

Sheye's photography always makes me feel all dreamy and warm.
That's good this time of year, don't you think?


*******




If you have never visited the REAL Sartorialist, you really must.


The Sartorialist

Visiting his blog is like a mini jaunt to some fabulous, chic place....where the people are unique and stylish.

Enjoy!



*****


The Bachelor bored me to death last night. It annoyed me more than usual that he was SO in love with
all of the girls. And how about when Ali called him and he was totally over her. In one week. hummm.
She will look back and probably be very glad she left. Mr. Fickle Wishy-Washy is driving me batty.



Why do I keep watching? Why???


***


Encourage one another,
Donna

A moment in the life of a child

in reverse.











































































When was the last time you stuck your whole hand in a glass of milk to retrieve
a yummy chocolate-y morsel?

I think when you stop doing this....


you are grown.






Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Did you watch The Amazing Race 16?

Safely IN.



****

Thank you for the wonderful words of Cheer over baby booshay to be!
For us Sept 3 will be here in a snap!
Matthew and Melinda both already love children...I can not wait to see the love that pours
out of them for their own little boy or girl.

I was talking with my friend Nancy yesterday afternoon and we were talking about having boys as opposed to
girls; how they are different, what we thought it would be like.

She wished for girls because she didn't have a sister.
I wished for girls because I didn't really know much about little boys. (my family had 6 girls and one boy)

But the second our first child, Patrick Jr. was born, I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with him.

I can't wait for Matthew and Melinda to have that feeling.


circa 1982



Polaroids are all the rage right now in the photography world.



We were there the first time around :o)



****

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!

Thank you for your warmth and kindness and joy!!!


Encourage one another,
Donna

I have so many exciting things to share with you today, I don't know where to start.

The MOST exciting thing is......there is a new baby booshay on the way!!!


And it is NOT me.

It's Matthew and Melinda.



They are expecting to be parents in early Sept!!!

We couldn't be more thrilled!!! It's a whole new world for us and we are just along for the ride
this time. The remarkable, wonderful, warm and cuddly ride!!!

Melinda shared about it on her blog just last night.

Next up.

What I will be called. Cause it ain't gonna be grandma.

(I'm so classy)
******



Secondly, I have tinkered and thought and wondered and worried over this long enough.
I shall bite the bullet and just go for it.





I am busy picking dates for the workshops.
The first workshop will be limited to five students.

I will be contacting people who have emailed me and shown interest first....so if you would like to be on that list write to me at
booshay6@charter.net

These workshops are intended for the inspired beginner, not the professional photographer.

My goal is to teach and share and demonstrate so that my students walk away more capable and confident and even more inspired than ever!

Sound good?


******

And one last thing....I mean...how can all these exciting things happen on one day....

My logo was finished yesterday!!! It is pretty and breezy and unique. I love it!










Thanks for being here with me so I can share all this wonderful news with you!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

This is a reenactment.






Mom!


MOM! STOP!




Mom!!! Come back!!!





"dang it"




****




See. She really is over it! Happy girl.




Encourage one another,
Donna

Oh my gosh! Who was that pretty blond girl with the guitar! Oh man. I think she is very talented. She will be going a long way.

There. I found her name. Janell Wheeler. Any relation, Di?

And the young man who sang 'Straight Up'; Andrew Garcia. Interesting and good.

Those two will be in the top 12. My prediction.
I love making predictions.




She is the real deal. Look how poised she is!
Your NEXT American Idol.

***

Now. Lost.

I think the writers went on a holiday and came back hungover and then they wrote this episode.
I felt like it was a total waste of an hour.

The others are trying to figure out if Sayid is inhabited. Just as John Locke is not really John Locke and is inhabited by the evil-black-cloud entity. (Think invasion of the body snatchers.)

I just didn't like it.

We want to know why the police didn't come and find Kate in the yellow taxi and why Claire was still sitting right where Kate left her. That was very improbable.

(Of course the fact that they are existing in two separate realities at the same time is very believable.....

I do however want to give Sawyer an Emmy for his amazing acting in the last two episodes.

******


Camera: Nikon D700
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Last night as I said my prayers I was convicted about my behavior in the car.
I yell and call nearly ALL the other drivers names.
They are all morons and idiots.
I am huffy and mean and impatient.
You are not allowed to drive in front of me and go slower than I want to go.

And little Katie sits next to me and listens. She sometimes laughs and sometimes she cowers down a little like she is scared.
And why I didn't see it sooner, I don't know.
I guess like any bad behavior, it became a habit.

But on the way to school today, I asked her for forgiveness. I told her I was ashamed of the example I was setting for her
and sad that she had to be a part of all that tension. She was sweet and quiet and I rambled on and on about it.

And then I shouted, "Jerk" really loud at the windshield and she jumped in her seat and laughed and laughed and laughed.

The ride went without incident, I dropped her off at school and headed home.
I shouted 'jerk' at a car one time and caught myself.

This is not the first time I have had to pull myself out of this unpleasant rut and I feel
good to be over it for now.

Wherefore art thou dear quiet and gentle spirit?


Encourage one another,
Donna


Did you hear there was a earthquake in Illinois? Near Dekalb?

So here is the whole sign. I made it watercolor in photoshop because it just needed something and I tried about a million actions on it...and this is the one I liked.

I know it's huge, but the beauty is in the details. At least I think so.












This is my favorite.


So. Patrick asked if I wanted to go for a drive and for years I have wanted to take pictures of this sign and a sign for a motel called the Trails End.

We found the King's Inn right away but looked and looked and never found the Trails End.

The Trails End had a very cool sign with a bucking bronco and an Indian. It would have made a super cool picture if we had found it.

When we came home I put my excellent googling skills to work.
After about three minutes I had my answer. The Trails End motel was raised in 2007 to make room for a motorcycle shoppe.





So long old paint
I'm leaving Cheyenne.



And then I found a really cool blue door in Cambridge Wisconsin at the Lake Ripley Park.





(flickr is not working right now....had to use this little pic)

Funky.


*****

Did anyone watch The Bachelor last night?

Jake is in love with four women. That is just so weird.
Seems interesting that they only showed him asking Tinley's father for her hand in marriage.
If he had sent a girl home last night, I would have guessed it would be Tinley.

However, Jake said that in his life it was God first, family second....and Tinley is the girl I can gather has
the strongest faith.

And why didn't they tell us more about why Ali's job insisted that she come back.
I wish they would have elaborated there.
That whole situation seems staged to me.

It looks like Ali will come back at some point.

I predicted all along that Jake would not choose someone.

What do you think?
Who will he choose?


I can't wait for next week!


******

What would you think if Howard Stern took Simon Cowel's place on American Idol?

Are you excited to see Ellen on the show?


I actually think Howard Stern would be interesting....
They need someone who is cranky and has a real edge.

If they go with the boring safe route, my guess is David Foster.





He was a judge on Next Country Music Star and he was VERY opinionated, like Simon.

I am always curious to see how these things play out!


****

So let me know what you think; about The Bachelor and American Idol.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Ever since I spotted these blocks of color on other photographer's website....I wanted to make them.

I tried to make them myself. Searched around google and youtube for a tutorial on how to make them in photoshop, but I didn't find what I was looking for.

Just last week Jodi from MCP actions wrote and asked if I would like to try her new set of Finish It actions.

I stopped by her website to see what they were all about, and I spotted color blocks. Not used the way I had in mind....but I was able to adjust them a little and create what I was wishing to create!


MCP-Finish It

Those color blocks are intended to place your Logo in.

(Mine is being created and I just got some more proofs in the email this morning!!! I am so excited!!)

The other really sweet feature that I will use A LOT is the resizing button!

I did not have to recrop these images. I just pushed a button and they were ready to be uploaded.
Such a sweet time saver!

So Thanks Jodi for this great tool. I'm so glad you can figure out what I can't :o)







Oh man....my new logo will look so gorgeous on these color blocks!!!

****


Raise your hand if you thought the Colts vs. Saints game is Super Boring?


****


We watched "Away We Go" this weekend.

Some hilarious writing in this movie. Alison Janny (sp) utters the most outrageous lines
I have heard in a long time. Hangover worthy, if you get my drift.

Forgive me Father for I have laughed.

The young couple visits a few cities to see where they would like to live when their baby arrives.
The visit to Madison was so funny! They are, however, not really in Madison.

Did it drive anyone else crazy that My Big Fat Greek Wedding was supposed to be in Chicago and it was filmed in Canada?
That dumb decision really drives me crazy.

Any way.

Away we go is sweet and funny.
It is rated R for 'situations' and swear words.
Just a heads up.



****



Yesterday afternoon we took a drive. I have wanted to take pictures of this sign for a long time.
We were looking for another one and didn't find it. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Photographers and movies goers....watch this cool video.

I just love watching the behind the scenes stuff!

*****

The children wore their special t-shirts on Friday.

I didn't notice until this morning what it said on the back.
(because of course...Katie slept in it.)




It's the school's theme/motto for this year.

I like it very much!


****

Enjoy the game all of you Colts and Saint's Fans!
We have family in Indiana and I am sure they are super excited about their chances this year!


** ***




Our thespian.





Our birthday boy.
Matthew.

Happy Birthday Matthew. 25 years old. Wow!
We love you so much! Wishing you the best year of your life :o)



Encourage one another,
Donna

This morning.
6:30





M: Morning honey. You are all ready!

K: I slept in my shoes.

M: You slept in your shoes?

K: Yes.

M: How come?

K: I tied em real good and I didn't want to undo them. So I slept in them.
Is that a bad thing?

M: No. I just think it would feel funny!




Oh My. That's just about as nutty as me trying to keep my hands folded while I sleep.
Dress up week is sure full of fun and excitement!

Today is Spirit day.

The teachers are going to play the 8th graders in a volleyball game at 2:00.
I think I'll head over there to watch that!

I'm telling you...it's the school that time forgot~!


*****



This just cracked me up...in a Napoleon Dynamite sort of way.

I am bossy








This is Dancing April from my sidebar.

I love the loading the dishwasher dance moves.


My knitting videos are just so BORING!
THESE are more like it.

Too bad I am too embarrassed to show you my whole body. (clothed of course....you know what I mean...right?)
It took months just to take off the sunglasses.

Oh well. Just one more thing to add to the list of things I do when I magically become thinner.

1. wear a swim suit
2. make funnier videos



Are you looking forward to the Vancouver Olympics?

Or as I like to call them....the YO-lympics.

If the Olympics are in New York, ever again....that is what they should call them.
It's fun to say.


Yo Adrian, It's me Rocky.

(maybe that's Philly)


What channel are those Yolympics on anyway. Better not mess with The Bachelor. (otherwise known as the hatchet man around here. He let four girls go in one night.)


Do you like the Olympics?
Will you watch the Olympics?
What is your favorite winter sport to participate in?
Do you snow ski?
Bobsled?




Encourage one another,
Donna