A few times a week Katie brings me papers from school to sign.
If she has a very good score, I sign my name and make a big happy face.

I have been know to draw a frown on a paper or two.

Yesterday, she proudly handed me a paper with a 91%.

I signed my name and said, "I like A's!!"
Then I said, " 'd' is for dandy! That's what my dad would say."

Katie said, "Aw! I love that!"

" I was not very smart." I told her.

"Well you turned out fine." she said to me.

"I guess I did."




Katie's gonna be fine too, I suspect.


Encourage one another,
Donna

We are waiting for Youtube to upload the Pinterest Talkie Blog....
It is not without it's own glitches.
Technology is not for the impatient....well maybe it is...

Ginny says woof.

I will be back when Youtube gets it together.

Love
Donna


Pinterest Part One





Part Two






Here is the question I remembered I forgot.

How do you put those Pinterest images on your blog with the nice information below them?

I click on the word 'Embed' and then I copy the information and paste it on to my Blog when I am composing a post.


The woman who created Link with Love is called Kal Barteski.
Just wanted to let you know. She is a wonderful artist and seems to be a pretty cool person too.


Done. Hooray.
Hope this helps.

Love ya!

Donna

The Golden Globes were on last night after the worst Packer game we have seen in years.
El Stinko.

The Golden Globes on the other hand were entertaining...and that is what they are suppose to be, so that was nice.

Downton Abbey was a downer last night for many reasons....except on the Golden Globes it won for best Mini Series.

Has anyone seen Hugo? That movie looks lovely to look at? Scorsese directed it with his daughter in mind and I love that.
His films are masterpieces of drama and violence, usually. I can not wait to see his Hugo.

For as much television as I watch, I recognized very little, but got some good ideas for shows (seasons) to Tivo.
(If you do not have HBO or SHOWTIME you're kind of out of luck.)


Now on to the red carpet!!







Reese looked happy and relaxed and sexy in her red dress by Zac Posen.




Sofia Vergara. She is funny and flawless.
(But she wears this style every time. No surprise. I like surprise)





This is the very lovely Frida Pinto. Her necklace was spectacular. It was delicate and sparkling. You may think her dress is big and clunky on her. But I like it's body and texture. I also think this dress fits the occasion best...they sit at tables and chat and eat and drink at the Golden Globes. Frida was a presenter so she picked a dress that would be beautiful but does not steal the show. I like her. She's a clever young girl...and beautiful too.



Maya Rudolph from the Bridesmaids and SNL look great to me. Some thought this boring. I thought it was perfect. Her fabric was very interesting. The shape is perfect on her. I like the black. I like this very much. David Meister.




Jessica Alba looks very pretty in the color and dress. I almost think this is too tame. It's Gucci. It has a David's bridal feel to it in this picture. But she is really great all around.



Why is this picture here? Because Callista has never looked better. I'm so glad she has eased off the botox a little.
She looks wonderful. Go Callista. The earring on Harrison Ford is weird. But he has had it for a while. So that's him, I guess.





Another Zac Posen. Beautiful, beautiful model Elle. It's almost unfair. She is The Body after all.





Here is Diane Agron. She is from Glee. This dress grew on me as I saw it on tv and then online as I was searching for winners.
This is interesting and unique, beautiful and bold.
Her hair and makeup and jewelry. Fantastic! I wonder who styled her?

The dress is by Giles. I will have to google him/her.




Viola Davis from The Help. She is so beautiful. Her dress was not my fave. But she wins for looking great on the Red Carpet.




Every year you all love Helen Mirren. She looked wonderful as usual. Not a fan of the top of this dress. I love the bottom of it and Helen's gorgeous face and hair and makeup.




Hee Haw. Oh! You are my favorite actress but dressing up is just not your thing.





Charlize. She had me at hello. Now you know I like very low cut dresses. Last award show I picked out another belly button V.
What can I say? It's not that I even think they are sexy. It must be the shape. The complete look.
She was flawless last night. Almost all the pictures I have seen from last night are just too bright and wash out the stars and their dresses...especially if the dresses were light and the hair was blond. But believe me, this was perfect.



No. She had me at hello. How interesting and beautiful and perfect and white. Who can look that great in Satin/ White. No one? Well I can think of one other, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy in her wedding gown.




*****


And the winner is....


Charlize Theron in Dior.
It was her shoes.
I like her shoes better than Angelina's shoes.




On to the Oscars!!!



Encourage one another,
Donna


Update on Freida Pinto's dress and necklace.
(The Slumdog Millionaire actress opted for a no frills Prada ball gown so it wouldn't distract from her massive 144.96 carat yellow diamond Chopard necklace.)

Oh yeah! That's sparkly!!!

Pinterest Picks

Source: vogue.com via Donna on Pinterest

The ladies from Downton Abbey in Vogue.
I love much about this picture...except the crop.

Source: google.com via Donna on Pinterest

She is the oldest woman ever on the cover of Vogue.
That is fantastic!

Source: google.com via Donna on Pinterest

I adore this natural, windy, gorgeous picture of Lucy!
And that bow!!! My style.

Source: houseandhome.com via Donna on Pinterest

Source: houseandhome.com via Donna on Pinterest

I love this symetry and the blankets and calm colors.

Source: foodbeam.com via Donna on Pinterest

So beautiful.

I like lemony and lime things.

Did you know, those are my favorite yogurt flavors?

Source: justapinch.com via Donna on Pinterest

My O my. I want to eat this.
Perhaps because it looks so moist.

Cake must be moist.
Food in gereral must be wet.

Is that weird?


*****

I saw this on Jimmy Fallon's talk show, I happen to think it's really funny.


Jimmy Fallon mixes things up with Tim Tebow and Davie Bowie.





Tebowie (1/12/12)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Go. Pack. Go!

I just got a message from a dear friend.
She asked me for a prayer.
I ask you, prayer warriors that you are, to pray for an unspoken request.



For Our Children

Father, hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the treacherous quicksand, pluck them.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Holy Father, save our children.

Through life's troubled waters steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them.
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.

-Amy Carmichael, from "For Our Children."

The fight.

The very important and valiant fight against self pity and comparison.

You see, it is easy to feel sorry for yourself and boy that hole is big and waiting.
It's hard to fight it.

It's like a black hole... with a pull.

In the quiet of my house, I can feel it yank.
The tears of bitterness want to fall.

And then I fight.

I catch myself.
I stop myself.
I scold myself.

I do not cry.
I shoo those first thoughts away.

I stomp on them when they are little.


I replace those nagging, mean, pitiful thoughts with
positive, good and true thoughts.

I encourage myself right out of it....

or I watch Downton Abbey.


Naw. Just kidding about the Downton Abbey part....
it's Dance Moms.

No really.

It's keeping this blog up.
Looking for something that will build up and encourage
keeps my wandering toes out of that black hole and looking for beauty and joy and peace to share.

Thank you for that...
for keeping me faced in the right direction.



Thankful for the snow blower.
Thankful to be done.
Happy to come in to the warm house.


Encourage one another,
Donna

a different kind of beautiful...



“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross





If life is treating you a bit rough right now, remember,
beautiful people do not just happen.


Encourage one another,
Donna

skin tones so grey from lack of warm light.



I tried about 20 different ways to make her skin look more pleasant.
haha...now her teeth are yellow.



Katie's braids looked super cute and messy after school yesterday.
The sun was out and the light was pretty.

My camera was at home so this was were the shoot would be.
As I drove down our street my heart sunk. You see, we live down a small hill.
We are just low enough that the sun, while still hanging above the trees, does not shine on our front yard or our back yard. The people across the street have sun. We are in the shade. It kills me.

After trying to take pictures upstairs and failing...we came down and I looked outside.

There I spotted a sliver of light. I am not exagerating to say this ray of light was no more than 1 ft. by 4 ft.

My muse could see it too and she went to stand in it.



Glowing braids.




Pippi




Katie says she is glad to be taking pictures again.
It's become special, fun time together.

You know, she doesn't even look at the pictures.

That's where you come in :o)

Thank you for letting me share my love of photography with you.


******


Ginny plays and potty's in the backyard. We don't have a fence and she is a good listener and stops when I say no.

er....

until this morning.

I said no in a stern low voice but somthing out front excited her and she was not going to listen.

Then I got afraid.

1. I don't want to chase.
2. I don't want her to run away.
3. I don't want her to get hit by a car.

I was able to fake her out with the promise of a treat.
(Yes. She has learned this word.) She came running into the house.

My heart was pounding. I was not calm and assertive.
I was mad and scared.
I yelled at her.
I'm sure she didn't know what I was yelling about.

She is napping now and my heart has finally calmed down.

Next time we go out, especially when she is high energy (in the morning), she will be on the leash.

Because she is so smart and obedient, I think I have too much confidence.

She comes, sits, stays, waits, goes potty outside and comes back in, and responds to no....she is so very smart.
But she is still a curious puppy and I will be more careful.

Adventures in dog training.

Yikes.


Encourage one another.
Donna

Day-Time Moon

In the morning
When the sun
Is shining down
On every one,
It's very strange
To see the moon,
Large and like
A pale balloon,
Drifting over
Roof and tree
Without one star
For company...


-Dorothy Aldis


I made Katie learn this on the way to school.
I can not see a daytime moon without reciting this darling poem and for the life of me ( and my lenses) I can not take a picture of it.

So the beauty will be in my imagination and these words.



From our friend John.



January
by John Updike

The days are short,
The sun a spark
Hung thin between
The dark and dark.
Fat snowy footsteps
Track the floor,
And parkas pile up
Near the door.
The river is
A frozen place
Held still beneath
The trees' black lace.
The sky is low.
The wind is gray.
The radiator
Purrs all day




Why do I want to say Amen after reading that?


***

Many of you saw this picture on Facebook yesterday.
But my brothers-in-law, I'm afraid missed it....
and they happen to be keeping count....

In which Ginny learns to fly.




Mary says, 'Of course she can fly, she's magical Ginny Potter.'


Joy in the simple things.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Oh! How I love to take down the tree.
It makes me feel like the house just expanded!!




Katie vs. Mommy





Ginny continues to grow faster than anything you have ever seen.

We take her to Starbucks to meet the wonderful baristas.






Downton Abbey Season 2 premiered last night.
It was all that I hoped it would be....more stories, more music, more wonderful acting.

I love Downton Abbey.

I honestly think it is the best thing on television....in a really long time.

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Donna on Pinterest

I made this for dinner last night! It was very good. If you follow the link under the picture you will find the recipe.

And I find chopsticks frankly distressing. Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven't yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food? ~Bill Bryson

Recipe above.
Folk recommended.
The best part.
The Ritz cracker and buttery topping.


Happy Monday!!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Pinterest Picks 2012
1/52

I really do love sharing these pictures with you all.
It's like show and tell..and for me...show and tell is just about the best thing in the world.

Source: designmom.com via Donna on Pinterest

Do you know Design Mom? She took her family to France for the year. Her blog is very popular.
Her house search in France was on House Hunters International. This was her family photoshoot this year by Lily Blue.

Just the cutest styling in the whole world.

Source: click.si.edu via Donna on Pinterest

I continue to be in love with the Kennedy family images. This is by the great Richard Avedon.

Source: weddinginspirasi.com via Donna on Pinterest

Simply Beautiful

Source: bestmadeco.com via Donna on Pinterest

I found this map and thought it was wonderful.

On this same website, I found some other treasures.

Source: bestmadeco.com via Donna on Pinterest

courage. compassion. grace. fortitude

good things. for sure.

Source: lost.net.au via Donna on Pinterest

If I remember correctly. This is Mr. Wood's sister and dentist!
How about that?

Source: newyorker.com via Donna on Pinterest

Roald Dahl's writing hut.
It's perfect.

I have a fantasty of having some sort of 'house' in my backyard. We need a guest room and I think a cottage in the backyard would be charming.

Source: peacockparkdesign.blogspot.com via Donna on Pinterest

This might be nice too :o)

Source: digitalspy.com via Donna on Pinterest

We watched Midnight in Paris this week so I pinned a picture that reminded me of something....
Patrick and I have a picture on one of these green benches in the South Garden at Norte Dame.

I'm not showing it. I have a shelf butt in the picture and Patrick would rather not be on the blog....again.

Source: ebay.com via Donna on Pinterest

I would wear this every day of the week.
I'm not kidding.

Of course I would have to be thinner. But, you know, if I could wear this, I would wear it every day.

Source: sweetandsavorybysarah.blogspot.com via Donna on Pinterest

Almond Cake. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
I have not. But I have now and I will make this one day.

p.s. of course the blueberries make the picture more appealing.
But I would not be putting any fruit on my cake.



And that's the truth.

Encourage one another,
Donna

Hum.....
Let's see.

What can I blog about today.

How about....

Katie and Ginny!!!

On the way home from school yesterday we had a little photoshoot at a park on a hill.



This one is called.....

Paws.




What's that?




She is one serious girl.
Katie on the other hand is fun loving.








Squish.




Acting.




Yes. We did put the puppy down.
She had lots of sniffs.

A year ago on this same hill...it was 5 below zero.
Yesterday.

Fifty-four.



And that's the news from my humble hamlet.


Happy Friday.

So excited for Pinterest Faves tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Encourage one another,
Donna