The Olympic Sartorialist










Best Dressed Pairs

The Canadian Pairs team of Dube and Davison may have place 6th last night in the finals of the Pairs competition....

But in my super humble opinion, they win for best dressed.

Dube is elegant and lovely.
Davison is masculine with pockets on his slacks.

This is my favorite look for skaters. Always has been. Always will be.




Nancy Kerrigan in Vera Wang.

Simple, understated, beautiful.



****




I wrote a tutorial on Shooting in Low Light for The Pioneer Woman and it is 'up' today.
For those of you who wrote and asked for some pointers,

Check it out!

The Pioneer Woman/Photography Tutorials


I love this picture of Katie. It is my favorite....today :o)
It was taken in the garage.

I didn't want to take a picture yesterday.
Nothing interested me.

But I am doing that dang 365 on Flickr so at about 4:30 I asked Katie to come outside for just a second.

(When in doubt or uninspired....I shoot Katie.)

I edited it with Eye Candy Actions: Mini Makeover at about 20%

Eye Candy Actions

Sheye's photography always makes me feel all dreamy and warm.
That's good this time of year, don't you think?


*******




If you have never visited the REAL Sartorialist, you really must.


The Sartorialist

Visiting his blog is like a mini jaunt to some fabulous, chic place....where the people are unique and stylish.

Enjoy!



*****


The Bachelor bored me to death last night. It annoyed me more than usual that he was SO in love with
all of the girls. And how about when Ali called him and he was totally over her. In one week. hummm.
She will look back and probably be very glad she left. Mr. Fickle Wishy-Washy is driving me batty.



Why do I keep watching? Why???


***


Encourage one another,
Donna

A moment in the life of a child

in reverse.











































































When was the last time you stuck your whole hand in a glass of milk to retrieve
a yummy chocolate-y morsel?

I think when you stop doing this....


you are grown.






Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Did you watch The Amazing Race 16?

Safely IN.



****

Thank you for the wonderful words of Cheer over baby booshay to be!
For us Sept 3 will be here in a snap!
Matthew and Melinda both already love children...I can not wait to see the love that pours
out of them for their own little boy or girl.

I was talking with my friend Nancy yesterday afternoon and we were talking about having boys as opposed to
girls; how they are different, what we thought it would be like.

She wished for girls because she didn't have a sister.
I wished for girls because I didn't really know much about little boys. (my family had 6 girls and one boy)

But the second our first child, Patrick Jr. was born, I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with him.

I can't wait for Matthew and Melinda to have that feeling.


circa 1982



Polaroids are all the rage right now in the photography world.



We were there the first time around :o)



****

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!!!

Thank you for your warmth and kindness and joy!!!


Encourage one another,
Donna

I have so many exciting things to share with you today, I don't know where to start.

The MOST exciting thing is......there is a new baby booshay on the way!!!


And it is NOT me.

It's Matthew and Melinda.



They are expecting to be parents in early Sept!!!

We couldn't be more thrilled!!! It's a whole new world for us and we are just along for the ride
this time. The remarkable, wonderful, warm and cuddly ride!!!

Melinda shared about it on her blog just last night.

Next up.

What I will be called. Cause it ain't gonna be grandma.

(I'm so classy)
******



Secondly, I have tinkered and thought and wondered and worried over this long enough.
I shall bite the bullet and just go for it.





I am busy picking dates for the workshops.
The first workshop will be limited to five students.

I will be contacting people who have emailed me and shown interest first....so if you would like to be on that list write to me at
booshay6@charter.net

These workshops are intended for the inspired beginner, not the professional photographer.

My goal is to teach and share and demonstrate so that my students walk away more capable and confident and even more inspired than ever!

Sound good?


******

And one last thing....I mean...how can all these exciting things happen on one day....

My logo was finished yesterday!!! It is pretty and breezy and unique. I love it!










Thanks for being here with me so I can share all this wonderful news with you!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

This is a reenactment.






Mom!


MOM! STOP!




Mom!!! Come back!!!





"dang it"




****




See. She really is over it! Happy girl.




Encourage one another,
Donna

Oh my gosh! Who was that pretty blond girl with the guitar! Oh man. I think she is very talented. She will be going a long way.

There. I found her name. Janell Wheeler. Any relation, Di?

And the young man who sang 'Straight Up'; Andrew Garcia. Interesting and good.

Those two will be in the top 12. My prediction.
I love making predictions.




She is the real deal. Look how poised she is!
Your NEXT American Idol.

***

Now. Lost.

I think the writers went on a holiday and came back hungover and then they wrote this episode.
I felt like it was a total waste of an hour.

The others are trying to figure out if Sayid is inhabited. Just as John Locke is not really John Locke and is inhabited by the evil-black-cloud entity. (Think invasion of the body snatchers.)

I just didn't like it.

We want to know why the police didn't come and find Kate in the yellow taxi and why Claire was still sitting right where Kate left her. That was very improbable.

(Of course the fact that they are existing in two separate realities at the same time is very believable.....

I do however want to give Sawyer an Emmy for his amazing acting in the last two episodes.

******


Camera: Nikon D700
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/11.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Last night as I said my prayers I was convicted about my behavior in the car.
I yell and call nearly ALL the other drivers names.
They are all morons and idiots.
I am huffy and mean and impatient.
You are not allowed to drive in front of me and go slower than I want to go.

And little Katie sits next to me and listens. She sometimes laughs and sometimes she cowers down a little like she is scared.
And why I didn't see it sooner, I don't know.
I guess like any bad behavior, it became a habit.

But on the way to school today, I asked her for forgiveness. I told her I was ashamed of the example I was setting for her
and sad that she had to be a part of all that tension. She was sweet and quiet and I rambled on and on about it.

And then I shouted, "Jerk" really loud at the windshield and she jumped in her seat and laughed and laughed and laughed.

The ride went without incident, I dropped her off at school and headed home.
I shouted 'jerk' at a car one time and caught myself.

This is not the first time I have had to pull myself out of this unpleasant rut and I feel
good to be over it for now.

Wherefore art thou dear quiet and gentle spirit?


Encourage one another,
Donna


Did you hear there was a earthquake in Illinois? Near Dekalb?

So here is the whole sign. I made it watercolor in photoshop because it just needed something and I tried about a million actions on it...and this is the one I liked.

I know it's huge, but the beauty is in the details. At least I think so.












This is my favorite.


So. Patrick asked if I wanted to go for a drive and for years I have wanted to take pictures of this sign and a sign for a motel called the Trails End.

We found the King's Inn right away but looked and looked and never found the Trails End.

The Trails End had a very cool sign with a bucking bronco and an Indian. It would have made a super cool picture if we had found it.

When we came home I put my excellent googling skills to work.
After about three minutes I had my answer. The Trails End motel was raised in 2007 to make room for a motorcycle shoppe.





So long old paint
I'm leaving Cheyenne.



And then I found a really cool blue door in Cambridge Wisconsin at the Lake Ripley Park.





(flickr is not working right now....had to use this little pic)

Funky.


*****

Did anyone watch The Bachelor last night?

Jake is in love with four women. That is just so weird.
Seems interesting that they only showed him asking Tinley's father for her hand in marriage.
If he had sent a girl home last night, I would have guessed it would be Tinley.

However, Jake said that in his life it was God first, family second....and Tinley is the girl I can gather has
the strongest faith.

And why didn't they tell us more about why Ali's job insisted that she come back.
I wish they would have elaborated there.
That whole situation seems staged to me.

It looks like Ali will come back at some point.

I predicted all along that Jake would not choose someone.

What do you think?
Who will he choose?


I can't wait for next week!


******

What would you think if Howard Stern took Simon Cowel's place on American Idol?

Are you excited to see Ellen on the show?


I actually think Howard Stern would be interesting....
They need someone who is cranky and has a real edge.

If they go with the boring safe route, my guess is David Foster.





He was a judge on Next Country Music Star and he was VERY opinionated, like Simon.

I am always curious to see how these things play out!


****

So let me know what you think; about The Bachelor and American Idol.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Ever since I spotted these blocks of color on other photographer's website....I wanted to make them.

I tried to make them myself. Searched around google and youtube for a tutorial on how to make them in photoshop, but I didn't find what I was looking for.

Just last week Jodi from MCP actions wrote and asked if I would like to try her new set of Finish It actions.

I stopped by her website to see what they were all about, and I spotted color blocks. Not used the way I had in mind....but I was able to adjust them a little and create what I was wishing to create!


MCP-Finish It

Those color blocks are intended to place your Logo in.

(Mine is being created and I just got some more proofs in the email this morning!!! I am so excited!!)

The other really sweet feature that I will use A LOT is the resizing button!

I did not have to recrop these images. I just pushed a button and they were ready to be uploaded.
Such a sweet time saver!

So Thanks Jodi for this great tool. I'm so glad you can figure out what I can't :o)







Oh man....my new logo will look so gorgeous on these color blocks!!!

****


Raise your hand if you thought the Colts vs. Saints game is Super Boring?


****


We watched "Away We Go" this weekend.

Some hilarious writing in this movie. Alison Janny (sp) utters the most outrageous lines
I have heard in a long time. Hangover worthy, if you get my drift.

Forgive me Father for I have laughed.

The young couple visits a few cities to see where they would like to live when their baby arrives.
The visit to Madison was so funny! They are, however, not really in Madison.

Did it drive anyone else crazy that My Big Fat Greek Wedding was supposed to be in Chicago and it was filmed in Canada?
That dumb decision really drives me crazy.

Any way.

Away we go is sweet and funny.
It is rated R for 'situations' and swear words.
Just a heads up.



****



Yesterday afternoon we took a drive. I have wanted to take pictures of this sign for a long time.
We were looking for another one and didn't find it. I'll tell you about that tomorrow.

Hope you had a great weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Photographers and movies goers....watch this cool video.

I just love watching the behind the scenes stuff!

*****

The children wore their special t-shirts on Friday.

I didn't notice until this morning what it said on the back.
(because of course...Katie slept in it.)




It's the school's theme/motto for this year.

I like it very much!


****

Enjoy the game all of you Colts and Saint's Fans!
We have family in Indiana and I am sure they are super excited about their chances this year!


** ***




Our thespian.





Our birthday boy.
Matthew.

Happy Birthday Matthew. 25 years old. Wow!
We love you so much! Wishing you the best year of your life :o)



Encourage one another,
Donna

This morning.
6:30





M: Morning honey. You are all ready!

K: I slept in my shoes.

M: You slept in your shoes?

K: Yes.

M: How come?

K: I tied em real good and I didn't want to undo them. So I slept in them.
Is that a bad thing?

M: No. I just think it would feel funny!




Oh My. That's just about as nutty as me trying to keep my hands folded while I sleep.
Dress up week is sure full of fun and excitement!

Today is Spirit day.

The teachers are going to play the 8th graders in a volleyball game at 2:00.
I think I'll head over there to watch that!

I'm telling you...it's the school that time forgot~!


*****



This just cracked me up...in a Napoleon Dynamite sort of way.

I am bossy








This is Dancing April from my sidebar.

I love the loading the dishwasher dance moves.


My knitting videos are just so BORING!
THESE are more like it.

Too bad I am too embarrassed to show you my whole body. (clothed of course....you know what I mean...right?)
It took months just to take off the sunglasses.

Oh well. Just one more thing to add to the list of things I do when I magically become thinner.

1. wear a swim suit
2. make funnier videos



Are you looking forward to the Vancouver Olympics?

Or as I like to call them....the YO-lympics.

If the Olympics are in New York, ever again....that is what they should call them.
It's fun to say.


Yo Adrian, It's me Rocky.

(maybe that's Philly)


What channel are those Yolympics on anyway. Better not mess with The Bachelor. (otherwise known as the hatchet man around here. He let four girls go in one night.)


Do you like the Olympics?
Will you watch the Olympics?
What is your favorite winter sport to participate in?
Do you snow ski?
Bobsled?




Encourage one another,
Donna

(can you see the dove?)

With the call time for Blessed Varieties bumped up to 5:45 and
Destination Imagination ending at 4:30 Katie and I decided to stay in Madison for a little bite to eat
instead of driving home.

I am like the horse in the song Trail Ride. The song is about a trail ride on a horse called Homesick.
Homesick walks oh so slowly when he is walking away from the barn,
but when they turn toward home, he walks faster and faster until he is galloping.
He just really likes to go home.

Yup. You can call me Homesick.

But we stayed anyway because even I knew it was crazy to drive an hour to be at home for 15 minutes.

So we went to Noodles on University and hung out there.
They had Dr. Pepper.
And I had my camera.

Lucky for you. oh yeah.

I had just bought a dry erase board for Katie so she was delighted to draw on it for the whole time.
Seriously she was so distracted she could hardly eat.




I was mesmerized by her bracelet.






Bracelet bokeh! Oh man. I wasn't even trying!







Check out that luscious condiment caddy of bokeh.



We make a good team.


We heard this song at Noodles.
I love this kind of guitar playing.




This morning I listened to all the words and Johnny,
I've just got to say,

Make the best of the ride.


And can I take your picture?




Encourage one another,
Donna

What I have been doing when it seems like I am not doing anything.

I have been falling down outside Noodles.

I have been awake most nights because of the injury on my arm from
falling down outside of Noodles.

I have been listening to the girls and giving them counsel.
Emma broke up with a boy. She is doing just great.
But there is a lot of talking and listening.

Katie's performance is today. We are busy juggling
three activities that want to be held at the exact time on the exact same day.

I write letters and send retainer money to the woman who is suppose to design my brand/logo
and she does not write me back. She may have fallen off the face of the earth. I may have sent
the money to a black hole for as much as I know.

I have paid the sales tax to Wisconsin with the help of Amy J and found a new Print Company that
I am so happy with I want to cry.

Simply Color.

I drive and drive and drive and drive.


(taken this morning while driving...dress up week at school....best week of the year)


I miss having client's this time of year. Even tho it is still scary to meet new people,
I love being invited into their lives for a moment and capture their beautiful, unique, happy faces.

The sameness of this time of year in the landscape wears on me. Lots of white.
Even the sky is white. It's daunting.

I finished a pair of socks for Katie that she won't wear and I am on the thumb of my mitten that is still quite ill fitting.

Aside for learning new ways to multiply, I have learned a lot about Stevie Wonder lately.


Watching three hours of Lost last night was almost too much. What a marathon!



So! What do you think is going on.

How will the survivors on the island catch up with themselves in LA?

The New John Locke can sure make the best evil stare ever! Wow!

I just realized last night how miserable everyone was who came to the island as we see what they are all coming home to.
(Except the sweet married couple)

I want them to remember what they have been thru....and that is my only hope for the finale....
that they remember. If they don't. I will be super mad and yell at the tv.


Cause you know what? ....even it if is not blogworthy......

What happens matters.






Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. I see that comments are not working properly today.
I'm sorry. I miss you.

Adios Amigos



Come back pretty white mustang! Come back....
Shane....


Shane....


When I was a little girl, perhaps first or second grade, I wanted a horse very badly.
Our grandpa told us he would get us a pony and I believed him. I'm sure I asked him about it every time I saw him but unfortunately he didn't get around to it.

I loved horses because I love Roy Rogers and Trigger.
I loved the horse movies they played on Family Classics. (Flicka, Son of Flicka)
My favorite outfit was the cowgirl costume with fringe and a vest.... I loved it very much.

And every night I prayed for a white horse.

My friend Cathy and I pretended we were horses. We galloped and jumped and ran up and down her driveway.
We were Wind and Windy and one of us was the fastest and the other could jump the highest.

Gallop. Gallop. We were happy little girls.

And every night I prayed. And when the horse didn't materialize,
I tried making a deal.

Dear God,
If I can keep my hands folded all night and wake up with my hands still folded,
can I have a horse then?

Amen.


I was never able to sleep thru the night with my hands folded.
And I never got that white horse.

And now that if I truly wanted a horse, I could get it...but I'm not interested anymore.

I'll take a really good, obedient dog.

That is where my hopes lie now. A dog.
I don't fold my hands and pray and make deals anymore.
At least not about dogs or horses.

Mostly I say thanks for what I do have.





snuggle. snuggle.



Encourage one another,
Donna

one girl




two girls




home girl
our girl



****

After church on Saturday evening we drove over to the West Towne mall to meet Emma and her
friend Candice. They were shopping for some skinny jeans. Emma is a very good shopper and goes right to the sale
rack. She found a pair for $30. This is a great price if you are not in the know about jeans for young ladies.

It is very common for jeans to cost in the hundreds.....cough. cough.

I am so thankful that Emma is a bargain hunter. It took me years and years before I gained any frugal thinking so I am glad that Emma is starting out that way. It's a very good quality, in my opinion.

Anyway. We ended up paying for the jeans cause Patrick is generous and kind.

What cha gonna do?

Patrick and Katie and Emma grabbed a quick bite at the food court.
MacDonald's and Taco Bell.

Here's the thing about the Mall on Saturday night.

This is a whole new phenomenon in my little world.

First of all, the mall was not open on Saturday nights for most of my life.
But, they are open now and it looks like Christmas at the West Towne Mall on Saturday nights, now!

Maybe people went to movies on Saturday nights and now that is too expensive so they head over to the mall for some cheap food and window shopping.

But then there is the Apple store.
The recession proof, totally crowded Apple store.
How can so many people, that have so little money, spend so much at the Apple store?

I digress.

I wanted to tell you a funny story about the mall.

A week and a half ago I got a phone call from Stephie.
She was in town and happened to be heading to the Apple store.

With Katie's schedule and Steph's schedule, Steph and I had an hour to meet.
So we met at the mall with a big warm hug.
Steph and I have become friends because of this blog. I actually knew who she was,
but she didn't know me. Steph has a beautiful voice and is gifted at leading worship.
I went to a church for a few years at the beginning of the decade, and Steph was leading worship.
So that's how I knew her.

We have grown to be friends thru this blog. She is a devoted poster in the comments section.

So we went to the food court to grab a drink and find a nice place to talk for the hour.
Now, you know, we had a lot to cover.
Serious, important things to discuss.


And as we are talking, listening, concentrating on the important things,
some hip-hop wanna-be start singing. In my ear.

A group of young guys have parked themselves on the other side of the half wall
where we have planted ourselves and they are singing. Loudly.

I don't know what you call their singing. It was high sounding and an attempt at harmony.... and not a song I had ever heard....must have been an original. ha.
And I probably could have listened to Steph, had they not been singing into my right ear. But they were.

I don't think Steph was as distracted as I was, she could see them and was rather amused.
Had we had time we could have listened and enjoyed the show.

But, we moved on to a distant spot at the food court to speed talk for a few more minutes!

What a joy to get together with friends. In person.
My friend Lynn and I were able to get together for a few hours this weekend and I really think
in person communication is the best thing since sliced bread.

I don't get a whole lot of time with friends in person.

And this blog is so much about me....

It's such a joy to know more about you all.

One on one is my favorite way to communicate.
Looking into your eyes and hearing about your life.

Man. That's the real deal. I love that.

So thanks for calling me and asking me to meet you Steph.

I loved every second of our short visit together, even the hip-hop moments.

And Lynn...what a delight to see you again. It's been a long, long time.


Until we all get that chance to meet face to face,
the comment box will have to do.

And it's a darn fine comment box at that.

Best one on the Internet.

Love you guys!

Encourage one another,
Donna