Maggie and Me.

Maggie and Me

I went all out and bought Maggie three sparkly cat toys.

Can you say...impulse item?

Maggie is not much of a player.

But the balls were so colorful and how could a kitty cat just not love sparkly balls?

But she was not impressed.

Licking her behind was much more interesting.

She is a master at ignoring me.

And my sparkly little balls.

Come back, Maggie.

Here, kittykittykitty.....

I miss homeschooling....

Oh kitty. You are so pretty.

Please come play with me.

I am her slave.

She is the master.

I can not please her.

Someone send me an adoring dog.

ASAP.

(the post above was written in Sept. 2009.

B.G.)

*******

Maggie is still here.  She mostly stays upstairs because she is terrified of Ginny.

Ginny is now the one who wishes, so desperately, to play with Maggie.

Maggie gets all the attention she desires and continues to play with my yarn and elastics (rubber bands) in the middle of the night.  I look forward to winter when she drags the hats up the stairs and leaves them in the hallway.  I wouldn't know she is ever here except for the oddball stuff she drags out and plays with.

I'm heading to school (back to school) in a bit to hear a motivational speaker at Katie's school.  His name is Mike McCoy and he is a former Packer.  Should be nice.

Tomorrow I will post about Dancing with the Stars.

I was totally NOT going to like it this year.  Even said the 'hate' word...which my sister called me on.

But I watched it last night and I am charmed by many of the dancers!

So I'm in and I will tell you all about it tomorrow!

Have a wonderful day!

Love ya,

Donna

And We'll Never Be Royals.

I love this 60's sounding song.


I was inspired.




Oh you should have seen me trying to do this eye makeup.  Katie ended up just doing it herself.
We really didn't try too hard.  It was pretty dark and well....I'm just too lazy to be honest.

We did just enough to have fun.


****

My Tivo is on her last leg.  No.  I didn't think they were suppose to break or wear out.
But it is happening.  The cords attached to the TV, Tivo and VCR boggle my pretty little head.  I will have to wait for dh to come home and take a look.  I can trouble shoot a little but not a lot.


First world problems.

Moving on.

*****

Did I tell you I made this delicious dish?
Well.  I did and it was awesome.






Encourage one another,
Donna

Funny and True.

Oh my. That's funny!





Well said, Pooh. :o)



*****

Speaking of lunch.



Found these potatoes on Pinterest.   They were super delicious.






Parmesan Bacon Potatoes



*****



Happy Week. End.



Encourage one another,
Donna

Don't forget how much I appreciate you all!
Mean it.

Flash Back Friday. Blog post.

Last night I was looking for the October Party poem and I happened upon this post.

I thought it was sweet enough to repeat.  It was originally posted Oct. 30, 2009.

****

"Will you tell me about my grandparents?" she asked with a tear in her eye.

"I have told you many things about my parents," I said.

"Like what?" she urged.

"Well....Let's see. My dad was very funny. He was a big tease.

Remember what I told you about the toll booth?"

"No"

"My dad said that the toll booth was a popcorn machine. When you threw your money in,

you would get popcorn. But he never waited for the popcorn.

This would make us all scream."

"He also said when we passed by cows, "Look at all of the alligators."

"He loved dancing and music and sports. And he loved his family.

We taught him to do a front flip into the pool."

"Did he learn it?" she wondered.

"Not very well. I think he landed on his back. But he tried very hard. He was not very old."

"And my mom. She was funny, too. Like Aunt Cindy is funny."

"Oh!!!" exclaimed Katie with a smile.

"She drove us to school every day. She loved us very much. She would have loved you very much. You remind me of her, I was just thinking that today when I was looking at your pictures. You are a little Esther in my eyes."

She started to tear up.

"I am sorry you don't have grandparents," I told her.

"They would have just loved you. Maybe you will see the someday in heaven."

Then we hugged and I kissed her sweet head and she went to ask her daddy about his parents.

I forgot to tell her how much my mother liked to dress up for Halloween and how she liked to tap dance at parties.

Now that I think about it, perhaps the fact that Katie wore Kitty cat ears all day is what made me think of my mother.

When we came up to bed and went to kiss her goodnight last night,

she was still wearing the cat ears.

Encourage one another,

Donna

Cuteness overload.

She really was a pretty puppy...our Ginny Potter Harper Daisy Minnie Honey Glyman Boucher.

Ginny is growning into a very nice girl.  She learns quickly and gets along well with others.



We loves her.



It's mutual.
I'm sure.


Is it wrong to clip her chin hairs?


Donna

Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to leave me such lovely comments yesterday.
I honestly did not want to be a bore.  I felt that was what I have been lately.  Boring.
But it seems either I am not boring or you don't mind boring Donna.

So thank you for letting me know that you are happy to come by and read my blog.
Really and truly. I mean it.









I think I can see Asher or Malachi in this picture.  I see the boys more than I see my own children.
That's kind of neat.




This is one of my favorite pictures.  My favorite picture that I wish I had centered better.




Look at our thick hair.  Holy cow.  Mom is wearing white socks and loafers.  Hello 1950's.




This is Cindy.  She can't wait for the wine.  I celebrated my 50th birthday with my sisters in Missouri.





I'm so thankful.
Look at Suzy.  Oh dear.




I was not blogging in 2001.
But like you I will never forget that crisp, sunny, September morning.
I remember feeling fear and being horrified. I had this terrible shaky feeling in my chest.
I also remember camaraderie.
I remember the love.
I remember the helpers.
I remember the hard, hard work.






Life is precious.


Love you.
Mean it.

Donna Elsie

Cause I'm Velcro.

Vini, Vidi, Velcro.  I came, I saw, I stuck around.
~author unknown


(2007)

In which I get a blogging award.
From myself.



As I near the epic ten year mark of writing this blog I feel like I have totally run out of anything interesting to say.
And yet.
How could I walk away from the friends I have made here?

I know from my stats that folks are still coming by.  So that is good.
The comments which used to be in the 30's and 40's every day are fewer that is for sure.  But they are precious and and important.  Not only to me.

Blog reading has dropped off for many people including myself since FB filled that social need.

But I will stick around, I think.

Cause I'm Velcro.

Encourage one another,
Donna

P.S. I always loved show and tell.

What a fun weekend!

Katie went to her first Young Life party.  It was a tail gate party for the local high school football game.
Janet and Janice's children are very involved with Young Life and they all love it.    I was thrilled to learn we had an active club right here in our little town.

Saturday I had a Senior session.
Senior in high school.










What a joy to meet this young man and to take his pictures.  He is smart, friendly and smiley!
He will go far.  No doubt about it.


We watched a movie called What Maisie Knew.  This movie is basically a study of a little girl and her fighting parents.  I liked it.  Patrick said, "No more chick flicks."  And slept.

I told Katie about the movie and she said, "Not everyone should have children."

She's right.




Then we watched the Packers lose a tough game against the 49ers.
This was no fun at all.

There were a few catches that wowed and Clay Matthews got to the quarterback a few times....but the fact that they couldn't cover #81 nearly did me in.


I am watching the final season of Breaking Bad.  I have not watched the other seasons but I love a final season.....

Last night the ending of the show was EPIC.  (Three more shows to go until the finale.)
Let me know if you are watching and what you thought.
(I will be surprised if anyone else is watching this.)



Last week the list of 'stars' for Dancing with the Stars was announced.
It is a really blah list.  Too many people I do not care for and do not care about.
I don't think I will be watching...unless there is nothing at all on whatsoever.


Volleyball has started and Katie is excited about that.
Which makes me excited too.


I am reading a book called Love Does by Bob Goff.
Have you read this book?



Encourage one another,
Donna

I've got a drinking problem.

It's not if I will spill on myself.
It's when.


I was totally surprised to spot Katie in the background of this picture.
We laughed and laughed about it.

Still makes me laugh.


Happy Weekend!

Encourage one another,
Donna



Would you pray for Katie Wagner this weekend?
She is a sweet, faithful high school senior from Arizona who has been fighting cancer for
many years.  This would mean a lot to my sister Janet and her daughter Danielle who are especially close to Katie and her family.





Thank you for being a blessing.

Wish you were here. Omaha Instagrams.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have already seen many of these images.   But I know many of you do not so I want to share the happy baby pictures.


I mean.  Come on.  Is this a happy baby or what?






Omgeeeeee




The Boucher Boys.



After we dropped Patrick off at the airport we took a quick visit to the Art Museum.  It's free.  Weeeee.
They had an Impressionism exhibit and many other beautiful pieces (including many stunning pieces of American Indian pieces).








Top bunk fun.




"I'm all shook up."


Melinda told me that Asher would really scream when he cried.  I actually couldn't imagine it.
Until he decided he was hungry one day.  And the scream he screamed was scary.  Whoa boy!

Fortunately he is happy, happy, happy 99% of the time.



Simple treasures.
Simple pleasures.

I'm so thankful for our sweet family.


Wishing you sweet times and the eyes to see them.

Encourage one another,
Donna

let your light so shine

XOXO
Donna

How babies kiss.

Babies kiss with big wide mouths
like chicks in a nest
waiting for momma bird bring a worm.


Why babies learn to kiss and desire to look us in the face is really fascinating,
don't you think?

****




Auntie Katie :o)
Emma and Katie are almost eleven years apart.
Katie and Asher are almost 11 years apart.




Uncle Patrick and nephew having a chat.





Peek a boo!
I love you.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Pictures from Labor Day Weekend

How's that for a Christmas picture?

I will attempt to photoshop a little more fabric on Emma's shirt!  haha.

We laugh.


****

The little Boucher boys are doing beautifully.  Asher has adjusted to being a big brother is is really a nice, helpful, fun, big boy!
Malachi is happy!!!  He loves to find faces to smile at.
He stole our hearts.
Matthew and Melinda work hard and team parent like I have never seen before...
It's a new day.  They are doing great!!!

We had a ball.

More tomorrow.

XOXO
Donna

Hi friends!
We had a fantastic time in Omaha.
My computer is acting up this morning so I'm giving it a little rest.

I'm not sure if I can add pictures as I am using my iPad....

Let's try...

Nope. Can't do it.

Catch ya later!!

Donna