And they all lived happily ever after...




Katie. Acting.
She has been asked a difficult question and is trying to think of the answer.




Twinges of tummy ache kept us on edge.
I decided NOT to think about it.

The production was quite good for children so young.
So much could go wrong with 75 children and lights and mics and props and dances...
But as far as I could tell nothing went wrong.

They worked hard and it payed off.

Hooray!
Bravo!

Phew!





The sisters just after the play.

I was just as proud of Emma for coming all the way home to celebrate with her little sister.

Excuse me while I gush over our girls.


*****

I gave myself about seven minutes to take a few pictures at the antique store on the way to the train.








****

Oh my! The drama on Amazing Race last night.

Patrick and I think we have a group of pretty unlikable folks this time.

He likes Tammy and Victor (Our parents will cry themselves to death)
I like Tammy and Victor and Margie and Luke.

Has there been a sibling group winner yet?

Did anyone else think of "Ping" while watching those birds fish?

****

Patrick and I have been watching The Sopranos on TBS for years. We do not have HBO so we have had to wait years to see the finale.

Next week is the finale. But last night was the big massacre of Tony's crew.
Tony laid down at the end of the show on a sheet-less bed with a machine gun across his chest.
While I have watched the famous last five minutes on youtube. Patrick has not.

For anyone who's watched to ending. Do you think Tony is dead or alive?


****

Well. I'm off to help at school today.

Thank you for your prayers for Katie.

We were very happy that she recovered so quickly from her tummy bug.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Sleeping Beauty




Dear little girl was up from 2:30 until 4:30 last night.
She threw up and couldn't get back to sleep for fear that she would throw up again.

Of all things.

I can't tell you the last time she threw up.

I sure hope it was a fluke. She has worked so hard and not missed one practice for the play it would be just awful to miss it.

She is still in bed so I am not sure how she is feeling today.

***

Patrick and I worked backstage last night as a little volunteer duty.

You know, it takes a special person to deal with 75 children.

That person is not me.

Calgon take me away!!!

You know how people say, "I could never homeschool."

Well. I understand. We are all created differently. "I could never work with large groups of children."
But, I sure admire those who can! What a wonderful group of directors and crew. They are calm and kind and hard working and I say, "God bless you!"


***

Off to pick Emma up from the train in Harvard. I think I will leave a little early as there is a antique store with TONS of stuff on the way and I have always wanted to take pictures of it to show you.
So that's the plan.

Busy day here.

Thank you for reading and if you have a second, toss up a little prayer for Katie's tummy.

Love ya!
Donna

Friday Five

What’s something you know how to draw?
Who’s someone you could get away with impersonating?
Where’s the stapler?
Why will this be a great weekend?
What is your favorite really messy food?


HT friday5.org



What’s something you know how to draw?



This is what I can draw.
I learned this from a girl in 8th grade.





This is a doodle I doodle almost daily.

So now you can see why I picked up the camera to express my artistic side :o)


Who’s someone you could get away with impersonating?

The Tin Man.

I can say "oil can" just like him.

and I think I do a mean Bob Dylan.

My family disagrees.

"How does it feeeeel...to be out at home."


Again, why I picked up the camera to express my creative side.


Where's the stapler?

I think it is in the corner cupboard in the kitchen or it is in the armoire in the living room.


What is your favorite really messy food?

My new favorite messy food is the Blue Moon Burger from the Blue Moon bar in Madison on old University.

It was so delicious and so messy. I can't stop thinking about it.

"Get in my belly!"


Why will this be a great weekend?

This will be a great weekend because I am determined to live right here, right now, in this place and moment.

The play that Katie has been preparing for since January will be preformed this weekend.

Saturday to be exact. We will go and see it twice. Emma is coming home just to see her little sister.

It's a big deal to Katie so it is a big deal to us!


I am determined NOT to think about Ree and the Ranch.

You see, this is the weekend Patrick and I were invited to go to The Ranch to meet Ree and MM and a few other bloggers.
I know you can imagine my despair when I saw the date of the get together and it was the exact weekend of Katie's play.
It never crossed my mind to miss Katie's play.

But that doesn't mean it doesn't haunt me just a little. Okay. A lot.


But I learned from the Audrey Woulard debacle, that it will all work out.
I can't fathom it. But I know it's true.


"Family First" as my mother use to say.
I didn't remember that until my sister Sue wrote it in the comments last week.
But, I remembered it in my heart, I guess.
There was never any doubt that we would be here for Katie.








Happy Friday All.


Encourage one another,

Donna

TEA party: Madison Wisconsin




We went to a TEA party yesterday!



Current and future taxpayers were there.



Some people wore tea bags.



Had something to say.



And made us laugh.



And dressed up their dogs.

But the best part was....



Nancy's daughter spoke before the great crowd of five thousand!

She was poised and articulate and inspiring!

The crowd loved her!

Lynn and I glanced again and again at one another in awe of this young lady!

Her parents must be so proud and from the video, you can hear her little sister is super proud, too!



******



At 5:30 this light was so gorgeous, I had to take a few shots of Katie.




Little poser ;o)



"Got a penny in my pocket,
got an angel on my shoulder..."


***

If you haven't seen the Susan Boyle youtube yet, head on over to youtube to watch it.
They have disabled 'embed' so you will need to watch it there.

I had seen this over the weekend and kind folks kept sending me word about it...
then Emma called last night after watching it. If Emma loved it, I knew I had to share it with you all.

She is pretty picky about her popular culture :o)

Susan Boyle sings


So there ya go...

a little protest, a pretty picture, and a song...


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Faraday is evil! I just know it.

Thank you!

Thank you for taking the time to share a little of your story with me.
You weren't suppose to say nice things about me!
But you all did and that is very humbling and makes me say 'shucks' a lot.

The cool thing is...THAT is the kind of people who read this blog;
Really kind, respectful, delightfull people.


I am the most surprised by the age range! Teens to great grandparents. Wow!


I wish you all LOL.

(That's code for....Lots of love)


****



Last week when I was shopping for shoes, tights and cami's for the play on Saturday that Katie is performing in, I spotted these boots.

Katie has been wanting a pair of Uggs all winter.

She googles Uggs on the computer and wishes she had a hundred dollars.

At our house, that is too much for children's shoes so I would always say...if we find some on sale.


So as we were picking out ballet flats at Shopko's shoe section, I spotted these Ugg knock offs.

Katie tried on a size two and I said yes.

Yesterday she woke up on her own for school and was dressed and ready to go at 6:30. Boots on.

I think it is the best thing I have ever bought her.

****


I jumped back and forth between Idol and Biggest Loser last night so I didn't catch everything.

That Adam is so showy he makes everyone else look super boring. I actually thought Adam's performance was the most indulgent thing I have ever seen on the show.

And Paula. I put the tv on mute when she speaks. I can not bear to listen to her.

Who will go home tonight?


I also skipped between DWTS and BL.

Bruno put it very well last night when he called the Cowboy, the gentleman and Steve-O the childlike clown.

The right person went home. Next to go are the Cowboy and LT.


The right person also went home on BL. Is anyone else totally bummed that Tara keeps winning every weekly prize.
Talk about Supergirl!!

I don't know why they have not played the game and gotten rid of her!!!

I would. In a second! But. I don't think they have had the chance, have they? Has she ever been under the line?

The makeovers were fun!

****

Tea Party in Madison today. I may head up there to take pictures.
Young Congressman Paul Ryan from Janesville will be speaking.
I have seen him on television a few times and was very impressed with what he had to say.
Nancy's (from the comments) daughter will be speaking also.

Should be informative and exciting!


Happy Tax day to all.

I hope you have all your ducks in a row and aren't running around like a chicken with it's head cut off today...and are happy as clams....

What's your favorite cliche'?


Love ya like a friend!!
Donna

Come out.
Come out.

Wherever you are!



In the last month or so I have gotten wonderful comments from people I do not know.

And that is wonderful. Fantastic. Super great!

BUT.

I want to know more about you.

So if you are new here or if you are a LURKER, come on out of the shadows and introduce yourself!

People are kind and friendly here.


Please leave your name (screen name is fine) and location (if comfortable with that) and something about yourself so we can get to know you a little bit.

And those of you who have been around a long time...you can introduce yourselves to the newbies.


Doesn't this sound like fun!?

It sure does to me.


Can't wait to meet you!

Encourage one another,
Donna
Wisconsin
Blessed


(I generally have 1200 visits a day and 15 to 40 comments. You can imagine my curiosity :o)

I am not Martha Stewart.



In fact, I am the antithesis of Martha.





Katie does not care that I am not Martha.

I am careful not to even show her creative, beautiful, fabulous easter eggs.

This is all she knows.

Don't tell her.


***

A few things that have piqued my interest lately.



Jessica Claire posted a wedding shoot on her blog over the weekend.

I found it wonderful and interesting to peek in on an Orthodox wedding.

(un)orthodox wedding


***


Anna Kuperberg posted this video last week.
I have never seen anything like this before.
Keith Loutit is a photographer using time lapse photography.
Wow!



Bathtub IV from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.


***


The trouble with most people is that they think with their hopes or fears or wishes rather than with their minds. ~Will Durant


***

And this.








What's been on your mind?



Encourage one another,
Donna

South West Wisconsin









I am always pleasantly surprised to see an Amish buggy on the road.


Saturday Six

What are your Easter plans?
Will you be dying eggs today?
What is in your Easter basket?
Did someone buy you an Easter Lily?
What does Easter mean to you?
Does it change you?



Little Donna circa 1961



Easter blessings!

Donna

Good Friday






photo of Christ the Redeemer, Rio

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Isaac Watts

What a moving hymn.
What a perfect Easter sentiment.

'Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.'

That about says it all.


Encourage one another,
Donna

We went to pick up Emma today.



How fun is this??


It feels odd to post something this late in the day.

I hope your day has been blessed.
Donna

It sure is nice to get out of town for a little bit.
Katie and I drove 60 miles exactly and arrived at my friends farm.

It was clear and bright and WINDY!
My senior was really great! He was gentlemanly and polite and didn't look at me funny
as I did my thing. He has beautiful brown eyes that I could see a twinkle in from time to time.
In these parts, brown eyes are very rare.

Since he was so tall I had to find rocks to stand on and I even stood on a bale of hay.

I forgot to ask his mother if I could post a picture of him here on the blog...so that will have to wait.

Sorry.

On the way home, Katie and I took pictures of the super huge windmills.






I was enamored with the clouds yesterday. They were wild and dramatic.






***

Feel free to dish about Idol and Dancing and BL.


I really enjoyed hearing about your mother's sayings yesterday.
Thanks for sharing those!

Hey! What was your dad know for saying or doing?

My dad was a real tease.

He called cows alligators and told us that toll booths were popcorn machines only he didn't want to wait for the popcorn.

He also use to say when we drove past a cemetery, "People are dying to get in there."

And when I brought my report card home, "D is for dandy!"

I miss him, too.



Alright. Gotta go!

Encourage one another,
Donna

My mother was not an octopus.

"I'm not an octopus!", she would declare as her seven silly charges called out for things during dinner.

Nor was she a short order cook.

"This is not a restaurant." she said.

Actually there was one meal that she was a short order cook and that was on the wonderful mornings we would have french toast.
She'd cook em like crazy and they would get gobbled up as soon as that small batch of four hit the table.
We loved her french toast and I think she liked doing this for us!

"Esther, sit down and eat." My father would say.

And she finally would. And we would tarry a bit longer at the table with her.
But eventually we would leave her to her breakfast and coffee and dad.




I, on the other hand AM a short order cook.

Here is how I served hamburger's the other night.


Papa Bear


Mama Bear


Baby Bear


(Baby Bear's burger is smaller than it looks here. That is a salad plate :o)
She had a hard time eating the whole thing,)


I used Baby Bella mushrooms. They were wonderful sauteed with the sweet Texas onion.



****


We have a visitor for spring break.





*****

Are you a short order cook around your house?

What did your mother say so often you know it by heart?


Encourage one another,
Donna

I have a Senior Photoshoot this afternoon! Can't wait to go out to the farm and see Jean and her children....
and her donkey. Katie is coming with me. She is hoping to do some cat wrangling.

My favorite.





Flickr favorite.


That's what makes the world go round.
The world go round.
The world go round.





***




HT to Tara.



For some odd reason that video makes me want to keep at it.
Keep doing with I love.
For no other reason than I love it.

It takes courage to put myself out there but doing my art really does make my head fill with ideas and my soul
fill up with joy.

The challenge makes me feel excited and determined.

It doesn't feel like work.

It feels wonderful...



Encourage one another,
Donna

P.S. I just thought of something.

That's the way I have always felt about mothering.
Not work at all...
but wonderful.
Exciting and joyful and wonderful.

It's such a blessing to love what you do.

Katie's school put on a Lenten Retreat for the children yesterday morning.
They went to Mass then they made crafts, sang songs, ate sting cheese and jello and read special readings.
Finally they went back to the church to experience the stations of the cross.




She came home with all sorts of goodies.

The staff works so hard at that little school to bless those little children.

It makes me very thankful!




The sun shone so pretty in the back yard at 5:30.

I wore my yellow sweater again.

I took a picture of Katie.




She took a picture of me.




She goofed off.

We went out to eat.

I read funny comments all day.

I didn't get any mail to speak of.

It was a good, quiet day.



If you and your family want to go out to eat and spend as little as possible, where do you go?

We thought Ian's would be a good choice.

Three people= $13.00.

Sonic might be good if you stick to the dollar menu.

But then there are those drinks. Those drinks are yummy and really add up, don't they?

Where do you go for a 'cheap date'?



Wishing you a wonderful, snow-less weekend!

"The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day.
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You're one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
a cloud come over the sunlit arch,
And wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you're two months back in the middle of March."

- Robert Frost, Two Tramps in Mud Time, 1926

Encourage one another,
Donna

**

I think I will stop getting the mail.

For Good.

The last two weeks had brought only bad news and bills.

Last night, I received a real doozy in the mail.

A Letter for the Office of Homeland Security saying my blog was under suspicion for terrorist activity.
They have been watching my traffic and see some real bad dudes hanging out here.

They said that they would be watching and if they found more visits they would need to make a visit to our home in less than 24 hours.

In the final paragraph, Ned Emerson Undersecretary, said they would leave a message in my comments to alert me as to whether I had again been visited again.

The code to watch for was "The hurricane has impeded the Eagle."
This code was to be left on April 1, 2009.


Um.

I did get that weird comment on Wednesday. I wondered what it meant, but ignored it because it was kind of creepy.
You may call me the Queen of Denial now.

So, my heart started beating really fast and I called my husband at work. He was not there so I left him a message.
I googled the Office of Homeland Security to look for a Ned Emerson. No Ned Emerson visible on that site.

My husband called back and I read the letter to him.

I wondered if it could be real. He suggested I google hoaxes.
I realized that the message was sent to my blog on April 1st.
Nothing showed up in the google search as to April 1st Homeland Security Hoax.
BUT. I did notice something odd when I googled Ned Emerson.
Those are both names from a favorite tv show. Pushing Daisies.

Hum?

While I was googling away with shaking hands and burning cheeks an email entered the system.

It was good friend, Amy J writing to ask if Katie could get together with Carrie next week when they came to town.
She then asked if I saw that odd message in the comments "hurricane/eagle"?

Oh no! I thought, NOW "they" will follow Amy's message and start watching her!

I called her to warn her!

She asked where the postmark was from. I couldn't really tell. She seemed properly concerned by had to run one of her kids to a meeting. (I can't really even remember where she was going, I was too rattled.)

Fortunately Patrick came home. He knows things. He knows how to ping websites and track down IP addresses.

But before he did anything he said, I think this is from someone who knows you.

"No one I know would do this!", I was sure.

"Well, lets look up the zip code." He said.

"Arlington, Virginia"


Oh no! That would be DC. That would fit with the Homeland Security.

"Do you know anyone from there?" Patrick pressed.

"No!" I don't know anyone from there......

BUT Amy J has a BROTHER who lives in Va."


Oh! The clues quickly flooded in.
Amy wrote the email to check up on her plot.

And I called like a scared bunny.

How fun that must have been for her.

Just one more thing to try to see if we were on the right track.

The IP number.

And there it was, sent from Amy's husband's place of business. The stinker!!!

The whole family was in on this little April fools joke.

Patrick thought it was GREAT.

I am still recovering!



Wicked.



Make no mistake about it, that innocent gal holding the dog is not as innocent as she looks.
I have a feeling she is the mastermind behind this whole hoax. She is too smart for her own good.

And look at that awful woman torturing her poor little girl.

Strangling her beloved. And enjoying it.

Very sad.

Unfortunately, I do not have a picture of Mark, the man behind these sly women.
He was naughty, too.



I don't have the strength to do a Friday Five this morning. Recounting that story took a lot out of me.



Recovering in Wisconsin,
Donna

This talkie blog was so spur of the moment I didn't turn off the TV or get my sunglasses.
It pains me to look at it, BUT both Katie and Patrick said I should show it.

So there you go.


Yup. I'm really still a nine year old girl at heart.

Going to hide now.



***



Talk about LOST, please.

I loved the time travel discussion between Hurley and Miles.
And I was surprised and so happy to see Locke.

Wow!

What a show!


***

There are few things in life more heartwarming than to be welcomed by a cat. ~Tay Hohoff

I wonder what that would be like?

It doesn't do to be sentimental about cats; the best ones don't respect you for it. ~Susan Howatch

R*E*S*P*E*C*T



***

I'm off to school.

Have a great morning!


Encourage one another,
Donna

The sun shone for five minutes last night.


(sooc)


I dashed outside to take a few pictures.

It was very pretty warm light.

Not like the 'dark' light I mentioned in my 'Very bad day' talkie blog.

It wasn't until I opened this up in photoshop that I saw the bokeh.

Swirly circles of wonderful light.

Aren't they cool?

That's just a little water on the shrubbery.











Up close and in color!
Woo!

I was wearing a yellow sweater and can see myself clearly in her eyes.
The yellow is a big freaky/cat like.




I have noticed a lot of photographers wearing black during their shoots.

Is this so they don't find themselves in their client's eyes?
Or do you think they want to blend into the background during a wedding?
Or do people just like to wear black?


****

On to other things...


What did you think of American Idol?

I really like that Megan. I know many of you don't. And that is fine.

You don't have to agree with me...really you don't.
(Don't you like when people say 'that' Megan'. Like 'that Todd'.)

I like Megan and Fred Gokey.

What is his first name?

Larry,Opie, Rob, Ted, Vic,

Nope. None of those.


Who will go home tonight?



****

Dancing with the Stars.

They are on the right track. Right people being sent home.


What great dancers they have this year. I NEVER would have guessed it from the original line up.

But Miss Bachelor is so great, and the French dude is amazing.
I love how well The Cowboy is doing and that little gymnast is a natural.

Even Lil Kim danced a beautiful dance this week. Her lines were as lovely as one of the pros.

It's been a pleasant surprise.


****

Does anyone watch Biggest Loser?

I watch it, but not very carefully.

Last night, the woman who lost 87 pounds at home earned her way back onto to ranch.

I swear I heard the hostess tell her that she would have immunity.


But she did not have immunity and it was never mentioned as the same young woman fell below the line and was sent home again.

Did I miss something or did I hear it wrong?

Signed,
Confused in Wisconsin.


*****

I needed to zone out in front of the TV last night after ROUND TWO with the IRS yesterday afternoon.

Heaven help me.

I'd like to say it is resolved but I just won't believe it until they send us the money they STOLE from our Tax Refund.

Again, I have to thank Amy J for her good advice.

"Do not hang up until they have this problem resolved."

And I didn't. And I think they have.


*****

That's all I know....

Have a great Wednesday!


Encourage one another...you are so very good at it :o)

Donna