Do you like this effect?
It is called tilt shift.
It's my favorite.



Emma wasn't able to even stay for dinner yesterday.
zip in and zip out.
We had a nice day bumming around, we picked up Katie from school and took Emma to the bus.

I think not having a car is a great thing. (especially for a person living the non-profit, missional life)
But it can be very inconvenient.

Patrick didn't even see Emma this time.

I can not imagine that. I would hate that.

I love these precious girls.


Happy Hump day!

Love ya lots,
Donna

A tail and a tale.




First of all, what a total blast I had reading the comments yesterday and this morning.
What wonderful stories, suggestions, ideas and names, names, names.

Loved it. Thanks for sharing.

Katie and I will be going over the comments with a fine tooth comb tonight!!!



***

And now for my tale,
my tale of woe.



Yesterday Emma boarded a bus in Chicago bound for Madison.
I got Katie to school, edited pictures and showered.

At 3:45 Emma's bus arrived at the bus stop.
At 3:45 Patrick picked Katie up from school
I was picking up dinner and drinks and met Emma at 3:50.



Emma was wearing her Packer's jersey.
I my Packer fleece.

We drove and talked and ate salads.

At 6:10 we found our parking spot on the street right across from the water tower.
Emma loaded up with a hat and mittens and a scarf.
I grabbed my wallet, phone and keys.

With the first step toward Lambeau it came to me.

I had forgotten the tickets.

We stood next to the car in shock and dismay.

I was stunned. I felt terrible.
Emma had traveled so far for THIS!!
I had no hope.

I wanted to get right back in the car and head home. We could listen to the game on the radio.

Emma said we could look for tickets near the gates or we could go and watch the game at a local bar.
She was tired of being in a moving vehicle.

I called Patrick. "I forgot the tickets."
He said he would check the website and see if they mentioned what to do if you were a bonehead....er....had forgotten your
tickets.

You see. I have gone to probably 35 Packer games.
I am the ticket rememberer.

I had never even heard of someone forgetting their tickets.

What do you do?

So Patrick checked around and called Emma's cell. (Because my piece of poop, ATT serviced phone, NEVER EVER EVER gets a signal.)


Go to the Main Entrance, the one with the statue with Vince Lombardi, there is a ticket window there.
Go to 'Ticket Problems" aka "Welcome Morons".

Give them your drivers license. Tell them all of your information. Look really sad.

No. He didn't say that. That came naturally.

We waked all around the stadium to find the gate.
It was a long and worrisome walk.

I stepped up to the window. A nice lady took my id. Asked for names and addresses. She looked on her handy dandy computer. She handed me a form to sign.




She made us new tickets.


No sweat.


I told her I would like to give her a kiss.


She said. Enjoy the game.






We were in.
Still in a daze.
But very very happy!





The Packers won, 45 to 7.
We are 9-0
It's good to be a Packer fan.




The End

The blessed, wonderful, victorious end.

Donna Boucher

I hinted on Saturday that we were thinking about getting a puppy.
The litter I was interested in was going fast. The mommy is a pretty yellow lab named Mya. The daddy is a big beautiful boy named Duke. (Also yellow) Duke passed away soon after Mya was bred. Duke has a long line of gorgeous and wonderful children.

We made plans to go see the puppies because there were only two left by Saturday.

Mya's owner is a hunter and animal lover. She loves Mya so much that she wanted to breed her so she could have one of her babies. (She is not a career breeder.)

I am looking for temperament. Totally. This is why we are getting a Lab.
We just want a sweet dog to love.

My friend Wendy says, lots of love and walks and we can't go wrong.

That is my hope.







Katie is very excited. As she was holding the big girl, I brought the other lighter, smaller girl over to show her and Katie was not too interested in the smaller puppy. The second puppy was whining a little. (who can blame her) Our big puppy was calm and sleepy in Katie's arms and that was the end of that. Instant puppy love.



Our drive to Boscobel was a little under and hour and a half.

Katie and I talked the whole way of doggie names.

We went thinking of Lucy as our main choice.
After seeing her, Katie actually didn't think she looked like a Lucy. I wasn't sure either.
I think she looks like a Harper. (Named for Harper Lee author of To Kill A Mockingbird.)
Katie is not crazy about that name. Katie likes 'y' or 'ie' endings.

The pups were born on Halloween and will come home the week of Christmas.

We have thought of holiday names but our favorite is Holly and I know a few people named Holly.
Belle could be like a Christmas Belle.

Here is our list that I typed onto my phone.

Lucy (Lucy, you've got some splainin to do)
Nelle (We just thought this was a cute name, my niece Lindsay says, "Whoa Nelly!)
Maisy (cute name. maze is yellow)
Matilda
(Miss) Honey (I love miss honey. works for color.)
Jilly (always thought this was a cool name)
Monroe (I love this. For Marilyn. It sounds solid. Katie does not like it at all.)
Minny ( for wonderful Minny in The Help. Solid and sassy)
Harper (I love)
Sally ( sweet, Katie likes this)
Belle (we love Bella but know a puppy with that name)
Libby ( I like 'L' names)
Daisy (cute and long time fave of mine)

Here are some I wrote down but can't get passed Katie;

Willow
Bronte
Lizzy


Any ideas?

Remember she will be large and strong, we think, with a blocky head.

Katie wants to decide quickly. I am not in as much of a hurry.
Michelle said we can come back to visit any time. I'm sure we will in a few weeks and we can try out names then.

We are beyond excited!!

Squeeeeeee!
Donna

We thought of Boo. (TKAM and Halloween)
Not great for yelling tho.

Last Saturday I shared my Pinterest finds from the week.
I think I will do that every Saturday.


Check out this clever and very watchable video.
It's really well done and super informative.

And today....I am going to buy myself a thin scarf so I can do this!







****

Source: etsy.com via Donna on Pinterest

You'll never guess what we are thinking of doing....very soon....

****

Source: makeupalley.com via Donna on Pinterest

This is a cool color, isn't it? I usually don't care for pinks...but this one....I love.


*****

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Donna on Pinterest

I need a record player.

Then I can listen to Saturday Night Fever and 'Let's Get Small' and Funny Girl in my family room.

****


This weeks words of wisdom....

Source: etsy.com via Donna on Pinterest

Pinterest is fun.

If you want to follow along....there is a new button on the sidebar.


Wishing you a delightful weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

11-11-11


A special number
an ordinary day


in pictures




splash




routine





plain




share





daybreak


......



would you buy a raffle ticket from this woman?





lunch




on the ground





students




funny




instagr.am


"There are no ordinary people."
cs lewis



What happens matters,
Donna

After a very gray and white day where we had quiet falling snow,
we had a pretty orange and pink sunset.














and there were perfect snow balls to be made.


"Can I throw it now!?"

"Yes!"




John Denver captures in this song how snowy days feel to me.

Sorry about the wreath...I don't mean to push Christmas on you all.
I'd prefer John singing or pictures of snow. But, alas, I am not in charge of everything.
This youtube is made from an album. I can hear it scratching.

That's funny.

I really do need a record player.


Enjoy!
Donna

I got suckered in by the upsale and I am now a tea drinker.






A few Saturdays ago I was shopping at the mall with Katie and her girlfriends when I stopped by a new store that
was selling tea. It's called Teavana.

There were two large containers with different teas brewing at the store entrance. One was a chai tea.
I tried a little. I liked it. It did not have that icky tea taste.
I have always hated tea. Don't even like sugary, lemonade summer iced tea. Ick. Ick.

But this chai was spicy and good.

I followed the sales clerk into the store and was caught in the web of Teavana.

The tea is in big buckets; six dollars, ten dollars, 16 dollars for TWO ounces.

So you decided to just get two ounces. BUT Nooooo.....
The tea you tried has two different teas in it.

So you have to buy two teas.

One is six dollars for two ounces and has the caffeine. (a must have)
the other has the flavor and costs ten dollars. (chai)

Oh my. What have I gotten myself into.

I am then sold two metal tins, that come with a lifetime guarantee to keep my tea fresh.
One tin for each kind of tea.

For heavens sake.

I need to make this loose tea...how do I do that?

The young sales clerk directs me to the cast iron $60.00 pots. They will last forever.

I tell her that my husband would kill me if I came home with that.

"Isn't there something less than this?"

She takes me over to the $30.00 ceramic pots.

Nope. I tell her. Still too much.

She shows me a Thermos that she uses....nah. Don't want that.

And then I am reminded of those metal balls that you put tea into. "Do you have those mesh balls?"
She hesitantly takes me over to the mesh ball corner of the store. "These are not good," she tells me.

At this point, a woman who I think is the manager of the store or the owner, steps in. "Has she shown you the pots over here?"
"Yes, she showed me everything."
Did she show you this handy dandy $15.00 tea maker?

Oh. That looks nice and easy.

Okay I'll get that.

How about a cup? This tea maker must fit over the cup.

Gotcha.

I grab a perfect tea spoon for scooping the tea out of it's home in the $7.00 dollar tin. (That will last a lifetime)

Up to the counter I go.

I need German Rock Sugar now. It doesn't sweeten, it enhances the flavor.

gah.

I buy it.

And then grand total for my cup o tea.....

$56.00

I am out of my mind.

It's a fine cup of tea. I used all my loose tea up already.
I am enjoying this warm cup in the afternoons.

My cup has a happy saying on it.

"Come let us have some tea
and continue to talk about happy
things.

~Chaim Potok


Monday, Katie and I went to the mall for a birthday present for her friend.
I went to Teavana to buy some more of my tea.

They tried very hard to sell me more varieties.
But new varieties would call for new tins to hold those new varieties.

I said NO!

The sales clerk said, but they will last for a lifetime and if you fill your tin to the top you can get 'this much' for free.

No thankyou.

Just the chai please.



Seriously now. Come on over. I'll make you some tea.






Love and kisses,
The pushover

Some of my favorite things to take pictures of.


***


Hey! Did you know, the three biggest trends in food are?

Red Cake

Salted Caramel

and

Nutella


If you spend any time looking at food blogs or Pinterest you will see....
people are obsessed with these foods.

I have seen Red Cake ice cream, Red Cake whoppie pies, Red cake cheese cake, red cake pancakes.
Then there is Salted Caramel drinks and brownies and apples and candies.
How about Nutella in everything? I remember Nutella from way back. But it has made a HUGE comeback.

Nutella is to food what Walgreen's is to pharmacies. Kinda.

Walgreen's has been around for a long time...but some clever business person took the company and grew it like crazy.
Same with Nutella. Is there a Nutella ice cream yet?

I have been making Red Cake with the boiled milk dressing since I first tasted it in 1980. Thank you Mrs. Jeffery for your recipe.
Most of the people I made the cake for had never heard of it, back in the day. But not know. It's everywhere.

It's interesting to see the fads come and go.

Owning a bakery we saw quite a few.

Remember when croissants were the big deal? Muffins?
Remember how popular Mrs. Fields was?

Yes. Food fads come and go.

I won't be making any caramel or nutella things...but these....
oh! These look good.

Source: smells-like-home.com via Donna on Pinterest

Red Cake Brownies


I would use my old frosting recipe. (Mrs. Jeffery)

Frosting for Red Cake

5 Tablespoons flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cook 5 T. flour and 1 cup milk over a low flame-stirring constantly- cool.
Cream 1 cup butter add 1 cup sugar and 1 t. vanilla.
Add cold flour mixture.
Beat this on high for 15 minutes.
Stop and scrap every five minutes.

It will look like whipped cream.



****

Our son Patrick needs to come home...then I will make these brownies.
His birthday cake of choice was the red cake. Don't they look amazing?


“Love is like a good cake; you never know when it's coming, but you'd better eat it when it does!”
― C. JoyBell C.


“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.”
― Dave Barry


More than any other dessert in the whole wide world, I would rather eat a moist, delicious, heavy with frosting piece of cake.
~Miz Booshay



Encourage one another,
Donna

Michael Buble singing a farewell song to Regis today on his morning show.
Regis will leave the show in two weeks.






Enjoy this sweet song.

Thank you for the many great ideas for the coaches.
I did not have time to do many of them and I just couldn't decide on gift cards.
The amount we had to spend on each coach would not have paid for a family meal...so I didn't want to give a gift that they
would have to spend money to use. Do you know what I mean?

So I went with my oddball idea of scarves. I looked online at the gap and saw some color block scarves that were neutral-ish. I know all the moms have black coats so we would be safe.

Katie and I made smaller gift bags for the coaches' helpers. We got them Essie nail polish, emery boards and polish remover.

I know. I know. Not sporty at all. But this is what happens when you put me in charge. I never do things like anybody else.


Katie made cards for all the coaches. I printed a volleyball off the computer. The girls signed their names on the paper volleyball and wrote nice long thank you messages inside the cards. Like some of you said, this personal thank you from the girls means a lot.

In between our two games we went to a local restaurant and had a throw together party. Fries, cheese curds and pop.
The coaches seems to like their scarves. They are very soft.
I don't know.




Turns out, if you spent a certain amount at the Gap....you got a certain amount off....

So I bought another scarf. For us.

We bought a really colorful one.






Our three coaches are all very busy moms.
They gave of their time and talents.
They were always positive and helpful and kind to the girls.
I never heard one complaint about the coaches.
Our girls were happy, they learned, they improved.

I'm so thankful for each of them.


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. I have never coached a team. I have however taught knitting. haha
I told Katie, cheerleading is my thing.
(We thought our cheerleading coach was ancient. She was 30.)

Things I spotted on Pinterest this week.

Source: smashingmagazine.com via Donna on Pinterest

This sweet picture made me smile.

Source: tig-fashion.blogspot.com via Donna on Pinterest

The light and styling of this image caught my eye.

It's so beautiful.

Source: ew.com via Donna on Pinterest

I spotted this picture of Westley and Buttercup.

Source: southernliving.com via Donna on Pinterest

And this kitchen....swoon.
Dear old stove,
will you be mine?

Source: i.imgur.com via Donna on Pinterest

Wayne's World!! Party Time. Excellent.
That blonde child is a perfect Garth!!!

LOL!

******



Any ideas for coaches gifts? I took this on and haven't gotten any feedback at all.
If you have been a coach, what did you really like getting from the team.

Quick. I need to buy this today.

Thanks!!

We have three coaches, btw.


Hugs and kisses,
Donna

Oh my goodness...you should have heard the conversation this morning.
I tried to explain day light savings to Katie.
It did not go well.




(The top picture is how Katie wants to smile...all the time....she is a pretty smiley girl.)


*****


Television recommendations.


I have been watching two new drama's on television this fall.
The first is called Person of Interest. This is a crime drama of sorts. I like the actors and that is why I gave this one a chance.
Jim Caviezel (Jesus) and Michael Emerson (Ben from Lost). I have really enjoyed this show.






The other is on Friday nights and is called The Gifted Man. I was intrigued by this one because our girl
Jennifer Ehle is on the show. Jennifer is Lizzy from the BBC Pride and Prejudice. She plays a ghost who
visits her ex husband and gets him to look after her free clinic. He is a surgeon and has "better" things to do.
The male star is a Broadway star called Patrick Wilson.
This is a medical drama.



I like both shows and hope they make it.


Oh....and guess what?

I caved.

I was boycotting ABC at noon because they took All My Children off to put on a stupid show called The Chew.

I watched it.

And I liked it.


In the words of Chauncey Gardner, "I like to watch."




Thank you for your care and prayers for my friend and her husband!

Lots of love,
Donna

This little Novena card was pressed into my hand at Bible Study yesterday morning. My friend Mary earnestly said, put this on your blog.
It says on the back "Powerful Novena of Childlike Confidence."
This is the Infant of Prague.

We are praying for Amy's husband Mark to get a job. He has been out of work for a year. Amy is a good friend of mine here in Madison. She is loving and hospitable and a real delight. She is always doing for others. She has weathered this storm with quietness. Her husband is a great man, he is a smart and hard worker. He is so personable...every one loves him. He is in construction safety and as you know that industry is hard hit. It is a testiment to how hard times are when a man like this can not find work.

Madeline, a retired kindergarten teacher, listened in as we chatted with Amy about her dental bill which is weighing heavily on her right now. Madeline immediately said, have you prayed to St. Jude and the Infant of Prague? She went to her purse and brought out these little cards.

Madeline said when she had cancer years ago she sent a note to her classroom parents. She said she didn't need meals or help at home, all she requested was that families say this prayer. She has faith in prayer. She was healed.

And so I share this novena/prayer with respect and love.

Here is the prayer on the back;


O Jesus, Who hast said, ask and
you shall receive, seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened to you,
through the intercession of Mary,
They Most Holy Mother, I knock,
I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who hast said,
all you ask of the Father in My Name,
He will grant you through
the Holy intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother, I humbly and
urgently ask Thy Father in Thy Name
that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who hast said "Heaven
and earth shall pass away but My
word shall not pass", through the
intercession of Mary, Thy Most
Holy Mother, I feel confident that my
prayer will be granted.

(Make your request)


****



"Saying Grace" by Norman Rockwell


"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20




Encourage one another,
Donna

Good Morning!


It was so dark out this morning on the way to school, I could have sworn it was night time.

In the winter I get up at night and dress by yellow candlelight,
In summer quite the other way I have to go to bed by day....


***

Today I deliver a set of Senior pictures.





I wanted to show you because the client ordered a big print and it turned out so nice!
Print something big. 16 x 20. Do it for me. I promise you will LOVE it!


See the white pillow and the brown pillow? I bought those yesterday. They are from Target and they were very reasonable.
The fluffy white pillow looks just like a pillow in Garnet Hill that costs $100. This one, while it is not real sheep, was only 14.99.
And that brown one is super soft, also 14.99.

I don't buy a lot for the house, but soft things are my weakness.


****



I read a Clickin' Mom's tutorial on how to take Spooky Pictures.
I tried it on Halloween.



****






Katie 2007.


Fun times together.



****

"November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring."
- Elizabeth Coatsworth





Encourage one another,
Donna

Happy news on many fronts.

First, the Fat Flush Phase One is over. I lost ten pounds in this two weeks of cranwater and
extreme structure. I am glad it is over. I have spent the last week counting calories also as a practice.I
I will add the dairy and bread/grain products gradually while continuing to eat fruit, vegetables
and lean meats.
I am using an app on my iphone called My Net Diary. I like using it.
Also I have started a wee streak. I am committed to ten minutes of walking or aerobics a day.
I know it is super short. But it is what it is.
I found a fun channel on my television. Channel 927. They play Party Favorites.

So there I will be, doing my low impact aerobics in the family room....ten minutes a day.

She got up off the couch. Briefly.


***


Being separated from our children is a painful thing.
Seeing pictures, lots of great pictures, of the daily happenings and special
events makes me super happy!








Seeing our son this content and happy....is there anything better in life?



Little Asher...your Wisconsin roots are showing. Cutie pie.



Melinda. You are stunning.

****

"I just love a house with pictures. It do make a home."
~driving miss daisy


“Folks will always come back to where their heart is.”
~yankee doodle dandy


“Just remember that honoring one’s parents is still a pretty good idea.”
~now voyager




Encourage one another,
Donna