The relatives came....

and Katie treated everyone to Michael's frozen custard.  

We watched the Air and Water show on Lake Michigan at Bradford Beach.  The water was icy.

There was too much traffic getting to the show and we missed our favorite jets.  But even tho the parking was insane...

The beach was a great place to watch the Thunderbirds!

Yesterday we went to Lake Wingra for a little paddle on the lake.

It was cool and breezy. I could sit under a tree and look at the lake all day. 

Matthew took the boys out on a paddle boat. Zeek cried and came back to shore.

Asher got bored pretty quickly and Malachi stayed with his daddy.  Kaite paddled around on a paddle board.  I love taking people to this little park on Monroe Street.  It's a little gem.

*****

Tomorrow is my MOHS surgery on my nostril.  Hopefully the procedure will go quickly.

I did get some anxiety medicine.  I have never taken anything like this before, I hope I do not say odd things or do something wacky.

(My dad called pot, wacky tabacky.)

I took portraits of Matthew, Melinda and the boys this week.

I'll share those soon.  

I took single shots of the boys and really....I love a singleton.

Thank you for stopping by.

Encourage one another,

Donna

Shaving cream clouds

 Hello Landlubbers.

Is that right? haha...

My sister Cindy and her husband, Pat, bought a house in the their favorite place in the world.  

It's a perfect log home in the woods....very near Lake Minocqua.  They are just tickled!  They worked hard to make this dream come true.  Pat has a great job and Cindy will be teaching Second grade in Flambeau!!

Wednesday evening we took the boat out and zoomed around. Then we stopped to watch the Min-Aqua Bats ski show.  

Lake girl and her Island boy.

kiss!!

Candid at the ski show. I have seen the show two dozen times from the stands...never from the boat.

Thursday morning we went looking for a chipmunk postcard and a Minocqua onesie for baby Franklin.  We did not find either.  But we bopped around town and lived the tourist life.

So.  I want to post this here for full disclosure.  I love those filters and most days would much rather show my face with a filter.  Those filters give me eyelashes and less old looking eyes and smooth skin.  I especially like the eye issues.  But if I take a picture of myself just right....I can hide the sags behind my glasses :o)

It was a quick trip but it was just perfect!

Wishing you a chance to smell a lake and feel the rush of the wind and gaze at the shaving cream clouds!

Encourage one another,

Donna Elsie

Olly Oxen Free, Take a chance on me.

So....
You know that Abba song, "Take a Chance on Me"?

Well.... I always wondered why they were singing Olly Oxen Free, Take a Chance on me.

It didn't really make sense. And do they use that term in Sweden?
Did we get that saying from them?

Misheard lyrics are the funniest!
And, no, they are not singing Olly Oxen Free.

They are singing, get ready,

"Honey, I'm still free, take a chance on me."

haha

Well, that makes perfect sense.

And so it goes....

Encourage one another,
Donna

Faces I remember

I am not a huge fan of candid pictures.  You will notice that's not what a shoot.  But, gosh,

they sure can show a better idea of real life.

This picture was taken in our grandparent's backyard in Oak Lawn, Ill. Circa 1974

That's grandpa Hansen wearing the hat.  

His name was Carl and he came to American from Denmark.

He is smoking a cigarette. He had a terrible, loud, persistent cough.

He loved to garden and had the MOST bristle-y beard.

Behind him I see a towel drying on the line and a radio.

Grandma Hansen loved music.  She was always listening to what she called jazz. 

Two other things I notice are the brick on the back of the house...they don't do this now.  Most builders in the Midwest only put brick on the front of the house.  

And the pack of 7UP on the back step.

There is Janice wearing a top I remember.  That's our brother in law Binky.  He was a good sport to be hanging at the Grandparents.  He was only about 25 at this time.  Behind him appears to be a Michelob bottle.   What do you think?

Cousin Kelly is sitting on Bink's lap and cousin Johnny is standing up with his shirt collar buttoned to the top.

Probably the last time he wore a buttoned up shirt.  

That's me in the yellow behind Bink.   I have on huarache sandals  ...

I learned about these from my friend who moved to Arizona.  

A slice of life.

Caught on camera.

It's pretty cool.

Encourage one another,

Donna Elsie

Maybe I'll try to shoot some candids.

I wonder who took this?

Old dog. New Tricks.

You are not going to believe this.

I drank the same drink at Starbucks for seven years.  Lots of them.
Never interested in anything else.

But then one day, I felt like trying something different.

I tried a Pink Drink.

It is strawberry acai juice with coconut milk and lots of ice.

(Usually there are freeze dried berries in it.  I didn't want those.)

And just like that I changed my drink.

It's deliciously refreshing!

It has no cholesterol,  which I am watching, fewer calories than the chai and less sugar than the chai.

I have found that my knees feel better without the milk.

Or is the the Omega 3, Tumeric/ginger, and Bosweilla I've been taking?

What ever it is, my knees feel 100% better than they did six weeks ago.

(Even if I was not having wonderful physical results from changing my drink, I would stick with it as it's yummy!)

***

And here is another new trick I learned this week.

I have added sprinkles to my Rice Krispie treats.

I am not usually a sprinkle girl, but I think this trick makes plain old Rice Krisipe treats look so much better!!!

My high school friend, Diana Williams Pace has a lovely daughter named Courtney who is a brilliant cake baker.  Courtney showed how to make these on Instagram.  And while her cakes look delicious and gorgeous, these rice krispies are more my jam.

Along with the cereal, marshmallows, and butter, you add two Tablespoons of packaged white cake and a few Tablespoons of jimmie sprinkles.

And just like that...cuteness.

Here is Courtney's link;

Cake by Courtney

Courtney has been on television a number of times and is featured in Oprah magazine in August.

She teaches classes in Utah and will send you a box with all the ingredients and instructions to bake and decorate her cakes.

I'm sure she would laugh that the item I chose to make from her Instagram feed...but you know me...

the easy chef.

Who knows what I'll learn next?

Or what wild and crazy habit I'll switch up?

Have you tried something new lately?

Encourage one another,

Donna Elsie

Ten years ago...part two

Original post date: July 17, 2009

They were there in spirit.



Once upon a time there was a handsome Greek boy from Chicago.
He met a pretty little red head from the south side.
They fell in love and married and had seven beloved children.
Jim and Esther loved life.
They danced the jitterbug and listened to Frank Sinatra and Herb Albert.
They vacationed in sunny, sandy places; Acapulco and Maui and one particular cool and fishy place: Hayward, Wisconsin.
They danced.
They drank.
They sang.
They laughed.
They loved their friends.
They loved their family.

And then they were gone.

But their spirits live on in each of us.

And apparently we have picked up where they left off!!!


















Here we are in birth order.
Who knew all of my sisters would wear white?
And sunglasses. 
Yeah. 
I was preoccupied, what can I say?


****

I was able to take a few wedding pictures. I did not want to get in the real photographers way...
so I shot from my seat and grabbed a picture when I could.












"Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
--Oliver Wendell Holmes


"If I know what love is, it is because of you."
--Herman Hesse

Encourage one another,
Donna Elsie

Ten years ago....part one

Ten years ago Sue's son Wesley married Stephanie.  All of Esther and Jim's kiddos traveled down to Destin, Florida for the wedding.

Nine months later Suzy would be gone.

That wonderful time together was such an amazing gift.

I am so thankful for it.

*******

We're home!

Oh! It's so good to be home.

It is wonderful to be on vacation and it is even more wonderful to be with family....

But there is nothing like sleeping in your own bed.
In your own home.
In the coolness of Wisconsin.

Dear Wisconsin,
I love your coolness.
Love Donna



We drove for 17 1/2 hours yesterday to get back to our beds and coolness of Wisconsin.

Emma and Patrick drove.



I sat in the back seat a lot with Katie.



Nintendo DS is a nice gadget to have along on a long car ride.

We played the alphabet game and collected license plates.

Late yesterday we passed a van from ALASKA.

It was thrilling.



I was relaxed and happy in the back seat. I was cool. This is the last time my mouth was closed for some time.

(This is on the way to Florida.)



The REAL reason we went to Florida was to see Wes and Stephanie wed.
They are just the nicest young couple. So together. So happy. So in love.





We found other reasons to celebrate while we were there.

Cynthia Carol!!! This is so her. So beautiful. So full of life!






This is Nancy and her husband Bink. She is being harassed by fun-loving Cindy in the top picture...
They are our guardian angels.
When our parents died, Nancy was 20 years old.
They kept our family together.
An amazing act of love and loyalty.





Here's Jim. Our big brother. Yes. The only boy.
He loves all of his nutty sisters.
And his silly sisters LOVE him!
He is gentle and thoughtful and very dear to us.

But he won't dance. Even when they play "We are Family".

What's with that?





Sister Sue is my Irish twin. She is the mother of the groom.
Look at that wonderful smile!
Sue handled all of the destination wedding mother of the groom duties with grace and style!




Janice is "A" baby. Our Greek baby.
She is so smart and witty. I had forgotten how smart and witty Janice is!
And she is a bit of a tease. Just like our dad!
Oh Janice! I love to see you smile!




Janet is "B" baby. Our Dane.
Did you ever see twins who looked so different as Janice and Janet?

Janet Jean, Where did you get those eyes, dear girl?
No fair. At all.


So that's the Glyman line up.
All present and accounted for.

And what did we do.

We hugged and laughed and talked and caught up.

...and ate fried food at the Kiwi bar overlooking the pool and the bay.

Everyday.

It was heaven.




And loads of fun!!!



Yeah. My mouth is open.
What can I say???


Coming up:

Wedding pictures.
Little swimmers.
Family photoshoot under the pier.
And excitement galore ;o)


Off to make breakfast.

I missed making my own food.
A lot.

I think I will be cooking more.
Did you ever realize that you can make better food than most restaurants?
I realized that this week.

So bye for today.
Looking forward to catching up with you all.

Anything exciting happen while I was gone?

Encourage one another,
Donna

Where in the world....

Look who is expecting?  Emma is 20 weeks pregnant this week.

She and James will find out if the baby is a boy or a girl on Thursday.

She is feeling well. 

The baby should be kicking hard enough for them to feel it soon.

That is such a wonder and joy, isn't it?

We are so happy and thankful for this little bebe.

*****

I've been busy all summer with Dr appointments and working with a great gal who is helping Patrick and I plan for retirement.  We feel very fortunate to be getting this great guidance.  

I have been trying to get a hold of Social Security for a few weeks and let me tell you...

Start early. It took me two weeks to get a human to speak to...and then he said, I can't do anything for you, but make an appointment. (I said, "what do you do?")

Then he told me  that there is not an appointment to talk to me for 60 days!  

(Maybe cause I said 'What do you do?")

(I was honestly confused. Not mean about it.)

But 60 days out for an appointment???

Even on the phone.

Oh lordy.

I love America.

I am thankful to have been born here and feel blessed.

But yikes.  

What a mess.

That's all I'm gonna say about that.

I am going to encourage you to save your own money and start very early in your dealings with Social Security.

****

So I have a little basal cell cancer on my nostril.

I am having THAT sliced off on Aug 1.

(MOHS)

It is not a bad cancer...doesn't go anywhere...

but the fact that it is on my face is horrible.

I have had moles cut off my face before and it's a nightmare.

The shots hurt terribly and I sat and cried big tears the whole time.

They did not give me anything....I thought I would be sleeping.

So now that I know I will be sitting there  and very aware while they cut.... I am getting drugs from my doctor.

I need something to make me not so scared and petrified.

Any recommendations?

****

I have some fun visits to look forward to in the next month and a half.

Matthew, Melinda and the boys are coming to Wisconsin.

Emma, James and Lorelei are also coming to a near by State park.

Katie is working hard and packing lots of fun into her last summer before college.

I don't know if I told you that she is going to Bennington in the fall.

Bennington Vermont.

She is looking forward to this new chapter.

We are proud of her persistence and perseverance.

These qualities will serve her well for her whole life.

I have no doubt.

I think we are ready.

Emma Jean Jelly Bean.

I'm sorry for the long span...

I don't feel like I have anything to say...

but I talked with a few of the gals last night by email and we all miss this space....

I'll try to do better.

Happy July.

"What a beautiful, sunny morning.  It makes you happy to be alive, doesn't it?  
We can't let the sun outshine us!  
We have to beam, too!"


-  Takayuki Ikkaku

Encourage one another,

Donna Elsie