School House Lake

For many years our family went to Hayward Wisconsin for a week or two in the summer.
It was a small resort on little lake with skinny perch.
The perch were cleaned in a tiny fish shack at the lakeside.

We swam in the pool all day every day.
We hunted chipmunks.
We went to the dive in theater and stalked the bear at the dump.

But coasting.
That was my favorite.

This particular back road was roller coaster like.  Up and down, Up and down.
Our dad would race up the hill and after he roared over the top he would put the car in neutral...and coast down.  But it had to be fast enough to get up the top of the next hill.  How exciting!!!

I can still see those hills.
I can still feel the thrill.

****

Our mom had the twins when she was 32.
(Her later in life babies...ha)

Just think....I have a child who is near that age!!!

She was so young.

Young and loving her babies.


Did you vacation with your families?
Did you travel around the United States?
Go to the same place?

My kids got a mixed bag.  We mostly visited family around the states...along with summertime visits to Minocqua.

I wonder what my children remember.


****

Encourage one another,
Donna

Best Book Quotes.

Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly

the shade

"My mother always lies down in the afternoon—at least, she has for the past three years, anyway. Right after lunch she went upstairs as always, turned down the chenille bedspread and drew the shades. Out on the side lawn in the shade of the house Kitty was sewing doll clothes and talking to herself in a quiet, little-girl singsong. From Callahan’s, across the back garden, I could hear the drone of the baseball game on the radio. All the little children were in taking their naps and already our street had settled into the quiet of afternoon. I’d have to ask my mother soon for I knew that in a few moments she would be asleep.

Outside her bedroom door I paused. “Maybe I’d better count up to seventeen first,” I thought. “Seventeen and then I’ll ask her.” So I counted slowly, deliberately, being careful not to skip. When I was younger I used to count up to fifteen while trying to decide things, then it was sixteen, and now it was seventeen—one count for each year. But when I got to seventeen I still hadn’t figured out in my mind how I should say it. “Better count up to eighteen,” I decided. “Eighteen because that’s how old Jack is. After that I’ll go in for sure.”

My mother was almost asleep when I pushed open the door gently, lying on top of the blankets with my old blue flannel bathrobe thrown over her. Sunlight filtered through the drawn shades in a brownish-yellow glow and the crocheted circle used to pull them down twirled in the breeze. I swallowed hard and it made a noise in the quietness of the room.

“Mom,” I ventured, “a boy asked me for a date tonight.” She opened her eyes. “It will be all right and I’ll be home early,” I assured her hastily. “He’ll come over first and you can meet him and make sure it’s all right. They’re nice people—he plays basketball and his father owns the DeLuxe bakery.” I rushed the words after each other without stopping, before she could say no.

Rolling over toward the wall and nuzzling her head into the pillow she asked sleepily, “What’s his name? I don’t think I ever heard you mention him, did I?”

“Jack Duluth,” I answered and waited. The room was quiet except for the sound of the window shade flapping in the breeze.

“Duluth as in Minnesota?” Lorraine called out. She was in her own room down the hall taking the curlers out of her hair. She keeps them in all the time except when she’s going out. Lorraine wears her hair very long with just a little fluffy curl on the end like they all do in college. But already my mother was breathing lightly as if she were asleep.

“Mom,” I said quietly, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice—my mother doesn’t like it if we tease, “can I go or can’t I? It will be all right—really it will.”

“See what your sister thinks,” she answered. “I suppose it’s all right if you’re home early. And see if you can fix that window shade so it doesn’t flap so—put a book on the cord or something.”

first kiss

"And then, I, Angie Morrow, who had never done anything like this before, who until last Monday night had never even had a real date, could feel his cheek on mine, as warm and soft as peach fuzz. And I knew if I moved my face just a little, just a very little... 
In the movies they always shut their eyes but I didn't. I didn't think of anything like that, though I do remember a quick thought passing through my mind again about how much he smelled like Ivory soap when his face was so close to mine....I remember that behind him was the thin, yellow arc of moon, turned over on its back, and I remember feeling my hands slowly relax on the rough lapels of his coat. 
Sitting on the cool grass in my new sprigged dimity with the little blue and white bachelor's buttons pinned in my hair, Jack kissed me and his lips were as smooth and baby-soft as a new raspberry."



Ahhhh....I was a dreamy teenager....that was as lovely and romantic as it got back there in the innocent 40's. It suited me just fine in the 70's. 
I read this whole book out loud to my sister and some friends one summer night. We were sleeping out in the back yard. 

This is how we would sleep out; Grab the t.v., a radio, a light, sleeping bags and pillows and sleep right there on the cement patio. We would fall asleep after midnight and wake wet with dew on our faces and sleeping bags at sunrise. 

A funny aside...I have reread Seventeenth Summer with Emma and Katie and was so surprised by the smoking and beer drinking in the book. 

I mostly remember the innocence and nostalgia of the book. I remember Angie's mother napping in the afternoons while the shades tapped gently against the window sill  and I remember her little sister playing on the sidewalk. And I remember her boyfriend Jack...who is a baker's son. 

I happened to be a baker's daughter at the time....and I later married a baker. 

Memories, 
Donna 

p.s. I love this book.

USA.USA.

This is what I am doing in 28 minutes.

Will you be watching!!!???

Bandwagon jumper extraordinaire,

Donna 

USA

USA

USA

USA

Brewers Fan

This is from 2004.  Oh dear.



I am a big Brewers fan this year.  They've been easy to watch since
they are in first place and have a cool team.
It's a team, team.
No big names, for the most part, regular guys.  But gosh, when they are playing well, it's super fun to watch.

Fun and relaxing.

The Brewers are a bit kitchy too.


They have logos like this...

And a dog

Hank showed up at Spring Training...and was adopted by the team.

haha.  Hank has a bobble head. 

And racing sausages

What's not to love?


Encourage one another,
Donna

The sun goes down on the first day of summer.

After our ill fated trip to Milwaukee was came home...rested for an hour or so and then went out to eat.

We took the back roads because I hate traffic and the corn is growing and the sky was pretty....

Emma noticed the setting sun and wanted to stop and watch it go down.

So we did.

In the car one of our favorite songs was on the radio.



So they danced.

Of course.



Gosh.  I love those girls.



Encourage one another,
Donna

The most exciting day. FAIL.

My most favorite thing in the whole wide world is the Blue Angels.  My love affair with those loud, blue jets started when I was a young girl.  Our dad would take us to see them at the DuPage County air show.

The tradition has continued with my own children and family.

Last year the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds did not fly due to government stuff.

This year they are flying.

The Milwaukee Air and Water Show was on Saturday and Sunday.

We headed over to Milwaukee on Saturday morning, Emma was meeting us, coming up on a bus from Chicago.

It was cloudy.  Low clouds.
We hoped they would clear.

But when we got to the waterfront....it was freezing and socked in with fog....as they say.

And to keep the story short.

The fog never left.

We waited until 2:45 for the fog to leave.

It did not.

Stoopid fog.










Sums it up.  Perfectly.

I took perhaps my favorite picture I've taken in a while.
It's good to get out of the house and see different things.




with Instagram







phone photo edited with photoshop



****




Nikon edited with photoshop.






We LOVE the sneak up.





Another time Blue Angels.
Another time.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Flash Back Friday. Katie in Chicago.

Isn't it dear how children are so quick to give money to musicians and needy folks?

I think it is.


***

Katie is feeling a little better.  Our short shopping trip and lunch yesterday tired her out.  She was happy to get back to the couch.
Today she is meeting a friend at the pool.  She says she is up to it.
I told her to take it easy in the water.
"Don't go under."

Standing in the cool water and talking....that should be okay.

Oh there is so much responsibility being a parent.
These little daily decisions are never ending, aren't they?

Happy Friday!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Best Book Quotes. Solid Mothering.

“If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you’ll make it a better place."

 -- Marmee, Little Women”


Marmee.
A very good mom.

Harry Potter arrives in Orlando....as does Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon is spending the week in Orlando.  Harry Potter's world is the newest feature at Universal Studios.

And all I can say about that is....

THERE ARE DRAGONS IN HARRY POTTER?


Looks pretty cool!

Donna

The last 24 hours have been interesting.

I caught a doozy of a cold.
I have absolutely no sense of smell or taste.
You know how strong Vicks is.....

Not a thing.




I took this picture from my facebook wall.  It was on NBC 15's wall.


And then a tornado skipped past our house and hit the neighborhood school and numerous houses.

We live ten houses away from a house with the roof ripped off.
Our large tree did not drop a leaf.

We did go to the basement and went without power until 3:00am.

I was shocked to learn the damage was just down the street.  My night owl FB friends filled me in on what was happening just outside my door.







This morning I decided to take Katie to the Dr. for the third time.  I have never done this before.  I felt really dumb going in again.

The Dr. said.  I'm glad you brought her in.

Her lungs are 'crackling'.

What does that mean?

Pneumonia.

The walking sort.

We will try another drug.
If that does not work he said to come back in on Monday.



How was your night?

Love ya,
Donna

It's good to be alive.

This wild rose bush is thriving this summer.  It has never bloomed like this before.
 I think it is just happy to be alive.


Human nature fascinates me.

Why some folks can overcome the most difficult circumstances...
and others with every blessing, struggle.

I don't think there is an easy answer and that's why I think about it so much.


“It would be good if you opened your heart to the fullness of time and spirit.”
~A Prairie Home Companion



Encourage one another,
Donna

Best Book Quotes. Charlotte was both.

“Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”




Encourage one another,
Donna

Katie and Ginny

A fun little photo shoot.


***

Katie is still not well.  She coughs and coughs and coughs.
The Dr. says her throat is fine, and her lungs are good.

But the coughing just won't quit.

She is taking a steroid for a few days to see if that helps....but you don't take that in the evening because they say it will keep you up.  It seems to be helping ...but then the coughing starts again at night.

I am starting to suspect whooping cough.

The Dr. thinks it is just a few colds strung together.
(We've been twice to see him.   twice)


So anyway.  We are hanging around the house.  Trying to get this girl well.


How you doin?

I thought this was a wonderful message.





a fiery heart
a wicked brain

and a

joyous spirit




Encourage one another,
Donna



*source unknown for this quote

love stories

With the release last weekend of The Fault in our Stars...and it's big box office success, I have been wondering.
What are the most popular love stories in cinema?

Not romantic comedies.

We know and love those and can name them all and recite lines from them.

But plain old love stories.

Not Twighty love stories either.

I think of Romeo and Juliet.  The most famous love story of all time.

The Notebook.

Love Story.

Fault in our Stars.


We have the wonderful Jane Austen movies and the very romantic Jane Eyre.
But these movies don't really attract the general teen population and are mostly made of television.
Too bad.  Cause they are wonderfully told love stories. (the best)

Which makes me think about my interest in the royal romances...
These are not romantic comedies....

These are straight forward love stories starring pretty ladies and men would would be king.

And btw,

we enjoyed the book and the movie The Fault in our Stars.

Besides being charming and sweet and terribly sad, it gave us some great issues to discuss.

The movie beat Tom Cruise and X-men at the box office.

This was no surprise to us.  The book is beloved....and now so is the movie.

Can you think of other 'pure' love stories that have been made into successful films?

Kids LOVE to quote this movie.

My favorite quote is;

"The world is not a wish granting factory."

Encourage one another,

Donna

calls them on into life

“The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't. The light that shines into darkness and never goes out calls them on into life. It calls them back again into the great room. It calls them into their bodies and into the world, into whatever the world will require. It calls them into work and pleasure, goodness and beauty, and the company of other loved ones.” 
~Wendell Berry


 XOXO
Donna

annelle. people are crazy.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised....





Happy Friday.





For Emma.



Encourage one another,
Donna

shrubbery.

I love irises.  These are in our yard.  I didn't plant them.  If I had planted them they would be purple.
But, you know...beggars can't be choosers.  So thank you past owner for this spring surprise.  They are especially nice this year.
Our town has lost a particular shrub due to the harsh winter.  I see dead, rust colored bushes all around the area.  Now.  I am speculating.  I am not an expert on shrubs.  But my common sense tells me that the ground froze the roots of this particular type of plant last winter.  But the iris bulbs.  They must not mind being frozen.  They are right there close to the surface.

This is just fascinating.

haha

In which I blab about something I know nothing about.

But those flowers are gorgeous.
So there you go.


Oh!  It's throw back Thursday.

Here.



Katie's first month at Blessed Sacrament.
~2007

SWEET!


Encourage one another,
Donna

horizontal wall boards.

This could not be more perfect.

I absolutely love this look.  I'm not sure what the official term is...but I call them slats or horizontal wall boards.  I think it gives the rooms a cottage-y, warm look.  In the top room they have just done it to one wall.  That's a good idea....just to try it out.

All of these pictures are from my pinterest pages.  The top one is from Hooked on Houses. 

I continue to visit Hooked on Houses and am more often than not delighted by the pretty houses.

And just for the record.  I still love wallpaper.  I know it has come and gone out of style.  

But I just love it.

What do you think of the horizontal wall boards and wall paper?

XO

Donna