Asher is One year old today.





We have babies because we think it will be wonderful and fun and cozy and exciting.

But the thing is...babies come to teach us to be unselfish and to love unconditionally and to sacrifice.

Those are the biggies.

And if they weren't so darn cute and funny and sweet and entertaining, I'm sure we would all just quit it....

but we don't....


No one thinks, 'I think I want a baby so I can learn to sacrifice and never think of myself again.'








I guess we can't stand not taking part of this glorious adventure...that is family making.









The loving...well...that's the easy part.

Happy Birthday Asher Boucher.

You are a good boy!
You are a smart boy!
You are a nice boy!

You are loved to the moon and back!!!
Always and Forever,
Yaya or Honey....

just not grandma.



Encourage one another,
Donna

I do have the first day of school picture...it's just that Flickr is acting up...
Let's see what else I can talk about for a while and then I'll check back on Flickr in a few.


***

I have just been made aware of a school rule that I LOVE.

Here is the deal.

"All intermediate students must have a library book with them each day. They carry it with them from class to class, read it during free time and after lunch times. These books can come from home, school or public libraries. They need one by Friday, September 2nd."


Can we hear an AMEN!!!


Katie confessed that sometimes she just stares at the pages (Mrs. Nord had this rule for her class last year also). I suggested she take a Harry Potter book. From what I hear they are page turners and it would be neat to look forward to reading during your quiet reading time between classes.

She took it.

I've got some street cred around here for my book recommendations.


***

DANCING WITH THE STARS: Cast for the fall season was announced last night!


David Arquette: Separated from Courtney Cox. Funny guy. Nice guy in general.
Chaz Bono: Sonny and Cher's child. I pity his partner.
Nancy Grace: Television hostess. Whatever.
Ricki Lake: I like Ricki Lake. She is interesting to me.
Rob Kardashian: Goodness. This punk needs something to do.
Ron Artest: Basketballer. (yeah. I'm talkin' like I'm British.) I will have to google this guy.
Chynna Phillips: Wilson Philips. Last seen in Bridesmaids. ha. Married to Billy Baldwin. Is he the Christian?
Kristin Cavallari: Pretty MTV reality star.
Carson Kressley: Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. I like him. He makes me laugh.
J.R. Martinez: All My Children. Veteran.
Hope Solo: American Footballer aka Soccer star.
Elisabetta Canalis: George Clooney's ex girlfriend. A star?



I think the producers did a real good job this time! I am usually ticked off by the people.
This time, not so much.

haha



*****



(amateur)


First day of school.

I tried to do her hair like Teresa did it on Saturday.

(Cynthia. That ear sticking out...is for you.)


(professional)

Katie floated out of the salon on Saturday afternoon.
She felt pretty special.



***

If you had a sixth grader...what book would you suggest they take to school to read at those in between times.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Listen to this song...
perhaps the words will resonate with you.

The first few lines caught my attention while watching a Trailer for Like Crazy in the theater on Sat afternoon.
I love the voices and the music but the words are creepy, I think.
I think they are singing about ghosts or deceases...and by the look of the other songs...this group is rather dark.

but....they sing so pretty....






We went to see My Idiot Brother. It was funny and Paul Rudd payed a very sweet brother.
My husband said, "Not as good as Bad Teacher."

So there you go.


haha



****


Sneak Peak.

A few more pictures from my Friday shoot.



We will get this one out of the way....
No one will appreciate it's beauty like I will.
I'm kind of a nutty photographer that way.






Be still my heart....



Such handsome boys!






Not only are they ridiculously good looking...they were super fun to be with!

Thank you! Can't wait to show you the rest!


***


This morning we head off to school for the first day of sixth grade.
I remember sixth grade...not a whole lot...but I remember my girl friends...

Claire Lamb and Lynn Robinson and Heidi Hutchinson....

We all lived in the same neighborhood.
They all moved away.

Seems I have been saying goodbye to friends for a very long time...
And perhaps that brings us back to that haunting song.


All right...
don't mean to be a Debbie Downer...
Off to school!!!

The sun is shining, Katie's hair is curled, the backpack is bulging...

All's right with the world.


Encourage one another,
Donna

I am not a hoarder.
Except in one little teeny spot.

My inbox.
I find it super hard to delete emails. I have 3832 messages in my inbox.
I treasure the words people have written me and I can't let go.

Some messages are business related and like check stubs, I feel like I should be saving them.
I do try to be efficient and delete goofy forwards and junk mail. But one tidbit of information keeps me from hitting the delete button.

For instance, I got an email from British Airways this week. The deal was under $300 to Europe.
After reading closer, it was actually $300 each way. Still $600 to Europe is pretty good.
This information might be valuable to someone. (see...thinking like a hoarder)
Although I spotted even more fees at the bottom of the BA page. (Such as $200 more in fees.) But is $800 to Europe good? Possibly.
So it's saved and if you want to buy a ticket to Europe.

Email me.

hehe


See Carol.
It just happens.

And then I giggle and think, that was fun how that came out.


***

So fess up. How many emails are in your inbox right now?



Love,
Donna aka email hoarder and accidental writer

Sorry I'm late today.
I had a photo session out in the country with a sweet family.
I'm home now looking at the pictures.
Oh! What darling lively boys.
Just as they should be :o)




I am in love with this little guys brown eyes and blonde hair.


More later....


Stay safe from the storms.


Always love,
Donna

Must write blog.


I watched half of the Benjamin Button movie.
It made me cry.

Cate's hair was all wrong. She must have had the same hairdresser as Emma Stone in The Help.
Brad is beautiful. He just is.

Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance.
~The curious case of Benjamin Button.

I love voice overs. Nothing better than voice overs.

*****





I joined Twitter when I heard that Bonnie Hunt's mom Tweeted. I wanted to stay in touch with Alice. Bonnie's show was off the air and how else would I be able to keep in touch.
I love Alice. She makes me smile and cry. I see myself in her. When I grow up...I imagine myself just like her.

Now the thing about Twitter. You can follow people. They often don't follow you back.
Of course Alice does not follow me but I can send her tweets. They go on a different page.
You never really know if someone has seen your tweet....

Mostly Alice tells riddles. But sometimes she asks for prayers. She asks for us to support the troops.
She shares medical breakthroughs.

Knowing how much Alice loves music and the troops, I sent her the link of the Air force band.
I had a hunch it would make her smile!

It did.

She tweeted me back saying she liked it.

And well....

My heart went pitterpat and I have not come down from cloud nine yet.
Amazing.


****


Some people have small dreams.
Some people blog.

Donna

Hooked on Houses website has a fun house featured this week.
It's the UP house. A builder in Utah built it and you can buy one just like it if you want...


UP house



****

I saw this on Pinterest.






*****



I shoot on continuous...and I like it.




*****



Here is Johnna, my beautiful student.



I kept looking at her and kept wanting to take her picture.
Proof that brown eyes are just as glorious as green or blue :o)


****

“We’re going to live like we’re telling the best story in the whole world. Are you ready?”
~brothers bloom




Always love,
Donna

Yesterday afternoon I taught a one on one photography class to the loveliest woman from Arkansas!

I was her birthday present!

Isn't that funny? I wish I had remembered to wear a bow in my hair...or something :o)

Her husband emailed me and asked if I would have a workshop or some private time to teach this week.
I didn't have a workshop scheduled but I had some free time and so we arranged it all...and then on her birthday he surprised her and told her what her present was!!

We met downtown Madison. It was a spectacularly beautiful day.
Katie came along to model. You know I don't want to be in every picture. eek.











a brief encounter with a wasp














Love this shot. You can see that I spoil her sometimes....
(teaching backlit shooting)


What a great day it was.
Taking pictures. Meeting a delightful new friend.
Teaching, sharing, laughing.

...and spending time with all of you.


Sweet life.


Always love,
Donna

First off.
Hi. Good morning. Thanks for stopping by. :o)

Second.

If you are not reading the comments. Start reading now.
People leave great quote and links and information in the comments.
And they leave loads of love and wisdom too. So read them.
Your life will be enriched. I promise.

This weekend we learned that a Quiet Life reader is personal friends with the folks who make those wacky hats.
I mean. Come on. What are the odds?
You can find out more about that family on big guy hats dot com.


Third.

I went down to Wheaton over the weekend to wish my Uncle Mel a happy birthday!
His son Paul invited all of the cousins and their families. It was a wonderful idea!

How great to be together for a happy occasion!!

(For my sister's: paul, richard, heidi, carol, donald, michelle and three children, andy, jim, nancy, j.r., linda, uncle mel, loretta, emma, katie and me.)

We grew up very close to our cousins. We have very strong bonds and many shared memories.

Paul and Heidi (Paul's darling wife) made a slide show of old pictures and movies.

I absolutely LOVED every moment.

I got to see my parents dancing together.
I got to see my Grandpa again. Grandpa Glyman died in 1968ish.

He was so handsome. The way he danced with our Grandma...oh my...
I can see where all the boys got their love for dancing.

The clip of them all dancing in the living room....in their suits and ties.
Our mother wearing her silver dress. (The silver dress we played dress up in)

Oh. So young. They were young and beautiful.

Lots of pictures of Richard and Paul's parents and brother's and sister.

Happy sweet beautiful children; jumping on the bed, swimming in the pool, walking on the beach. Uncle Mel's babies.
In four/five years we have had to say goodbye to Jim and John and Karen and Aunt Sunny.

Yes. It has been a hard few years for the cousins. And for Uncle Mel.
But we really are family in the best way.

We love one another and care about one another and for one happy Saturday we celebrated together.

There should have been dancing. There was plenty of talk about rock and roll....
but we should have danced to honor those who danced before us.






Emma took the train to Wheaton. If you have ever lived in Wheaton you know about the In Between Popcorn shop.
The girls went in. Katie got penny candy.




Then we drove past our house on Whitman Lane.
It looks beautiful.

My room. Top left.




See that tree? It's a birch tree. I planted it in 6th grade. Arbor day tree. (You know those little sticks they give you!)
I am proud of that tree.


That is a lovely garage door now. We did not have that door. It's pretty.
The crab tree is gone from the middle of the yard. It's good.

What a nice house. Good memories. Sad memories.

That's life.



Happy Birthday Uncle Mel!

Love you.
Mean it!

****

Later that night, Katie and I drove Emma home to Uptown.
(ha. emma drove.)

Sunday we had breakfast at Ann Sather's, went to the church Emma attends in Lincoln Square and found a spot to watch bits of the Chicago Air and Water Show.

After an hour of diving around we found a nice spot on a quiet street to park.
Just so happened to be 3600 Lake Shore Dr. Our grandma lived at this building.

There was something about that lobby I'll never forget.
It was very Mad Men.

The Thunderbirds were very loud and put on a great show.

(I couldn't be that close to the Thunderbirds and NOT stick around to see them.)

So that's how I spent the weekend.
Reminicing with some of my favorite people in the whole world.
Hanging out with my favorite daughters in the world.


Love Always,
Donna


Edited.

Always love,
Donna

I saw this group of deployed service men and women being interviewed on tv the other day!
I thought you would love them! I love their natural and amazing talent!
They go by the name Sidewinder...just a youtube thing.





****

Yesterday was World Photography Day.





My little model was sleepy.





I took an Instagram picture too.



It was another perfect summer day.


and a picture of the television.




"Do you like my hat?"

"I do, I like it, I like your party hat!"

Have a lovely weekend!!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

The aperture of this picture is 1.4
Why is so much of Katie's face in focus. Not just one eye or the other?

It is because I am standing back. Further back makes for deeper depth of field (dof)
Try it. You will see.


****


I finished reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman to Katie yesterday.
I read her the good parts version of the good parts version.
Yes, there was some skimming. William Goldman is a big tease and he loves to write something VERY dramatic (like someone dying or someone coming back to life) and then he whisks you away from that storyline onto something else. So we skimmed a lettle....

I have many emotional ties to this book.
Family ties.
Sister ties.
The tragic death of my parents is even tied to this book.

Because Life is Not Fair is the moral to this story.

And learning that lesson is something you don't forget. I really do wish life WAS fair.

"There's death coming up, and you better understand this: some of the wrong people die. Be ready for this....
the wrong people die, some of them, and the reason is this; life is not fair."


dan.

Still don't like it.
I know I am suppose to be above this. My faith tells me so.
But death still stings. A lot.

And that's just the cotton pickin' truth.


***

Then we watched the movie. The movie is so sweet and funny and Inigo's revenge is
just the best. (I'm not suppose to like revenge either.)

Katie was disturbed at first with all the missing parts...but I told her to just watch it and enjoy it for what it was....and she did.

The wedding ceremony is brilliant in the movie. Mawrige. Twu luv. wing.

"Man and Wife." say, "MAN AND WIFE!"


But the fake mustaches. come on. I know Mandy Patinkin can grow a mustache.
What was with that glued on thing? Yikes.

I also think the part where Westley is coming back to life is very nicely written.
(Did you know William Goldman wrote the screenplay? He is one witty dude.)

But while Westley was being a bobble-head outside the castle, he reminded me of someone I love....





Matthew!!

Isn't that something? Twins I tell ya :o)





I love Mandy Patinkin.
He is so passionate and has a gorgeous voice.


Encourage one another,
Donna


p.s. wisps does not have an 'h' but whisks does.
just thought you'd like to know.

Emma and I think there is some music that makes you think of traveling.
Perfect for looking out the window of a car or a plane.

Do you know what I mean?

There is just something about some songs.


And speaking of driving in cars.
I still like to pretend my hand is an airplane and make it go up and down in the wind like it's taking off.


And why is is that some people can drive in a convertible and their hair flies back all glamorous and perfect and mine
flies forward in a million wisps of hair and smacks me in the face.

Why?

It was a dark and stormy night....


um...





actually is was a bright and peaceful afternoon.
Katie and I had been working all day to clean and prepare for a dinner at our house with one of Patrick's co workers.
I grocery shopped in the morning. The corn looked terrible at the Target so I made a trip to a farm stand.
I picked out six ears right off the truck and hoped for the best. Corn is tricky. It's always good, actually, but to me it's weird that you can't see it. But that's just me, I guess.

So about 4:30 Katie and I went outside to shuck the corn.

It's a tedious job but I was actually enjoying quietly sitting with Katie.
The cicadas were quietly doing what ever they do to make that buzz.
A gentle breeze drifted past.
A fly went by.
;o)

Katie was struggling with the tassel strands.
She did not like that part of the job.
I showed her how you can hang the corn upside down to loosen the tassels a little
and gently pull it off like that. It leaves less to pick at.

I told her I would do it and she could tear off the big green leaves.

A few minutes later Katie got creeped out by a thumb full of mush.
What is this? she wondered.

I had a hunch.

I took the corn and peeled back the leaves.

There was a very healthy green worm eating away at the fresh corn.

"Look" I said and shoved the corn Katie's way.

The peaceful afternoon was shattered by a high and very loud scream!
Katie jumped up and ran to the far side of the yard where she proceeded to throw her arms in the air and panic.

And I, of course, laughed.
Really hard.

I threw that piece of corn away. I don't care if the worm was nibbling only on the end.
It's just creepy.


But the corn we did eat was
the most tender and sweetest of the season.

Worms know things.

A worm in your corn is probably a good sign.


Happy August!

Encourage one another,
Donna

"You is kind.....You is smart.....You is important."

Aibileen
The Help


****






I watched a video clip yesterday wherein the woman said that it is dehumanizing to photograph women this way:
Without faces showing and just focusing on one part of their body.

What do you think of that?





Do you know the real name for Queen Anne's Lace?



Encourage one another,
Donna

The Help and my little co-pilot.


The Help is a very good movie. It was touching and funny and sad.
The screen play was as full as it could be. I didn't want it to end.

I particularly like Minny, played by the talented Octavia Spencer. The Minny and Celia storyline was one of my
favorite parts of the book. It was very sweet to be sitting next to Katie who felt so strongly for Celia. Katie warmed up to Celia's color-blindness and loved her for it. Katie found a hero in Celia.

Sissy Spacek (while too young to play the part) was GREAT.

Ron Howard's daughter played Hilly. She was excellent at playing the villain.

Emma Stone (Skeeter) was terribly handicapped by the worst hair in the history of movies. (in my eyes)
I could not stop staring at her scalp. Her hair was matted at the scalp. I'm sure it was a wig.
A Irish Dancing wig. blech.

The movie was a touch 'light' for the subject.
When Minnie is hit we do not see it.
A short jail scene is even happy and gay.

I am sure these things were not meant to be trivialized...
but I felt the were not weighted properly.


The book is better. I loved the book.
I haven't read a book I liked better in years.

But go see the movie. It's a really good movie and hopefully it will be nominated for some awards come Oscar time.

Just not hair and makeup.



******

“Life's better with company. Everybody needs a co-pilot.”
~up in the air















Thankful for mine.




Encourage one another,
Donna

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!






No photoshop monkey shines here...her eyes are really that pretty blue.



Oh my, this dog was not listening to my friend Karen...it was so funny.
But when her son came out he took over and knew how to wrangle the dog.
And I was SO excited I had my aperture on the right setting to get both E. and the dog in focus.
I had an angel on my shoulder for this one.






Glasses.
No Glasses.

It's hard to decide. So cute. Both ways :o)



E. and her french horn make a beautiful pair.




FAB posture!!! I need to take a lesson.




A quick snapshot with her dad.
I adore.


Here is a funny out take...




Thank you. Karen, for choosing me to take your sweet girl's pictures.
They have a special place in my heart.
As do you.


****

Happy Weekend!
We are going to see The Help this morning.
So excited.


Love ya lots,
Donna