Proud Big Sister

I suppose I could get into major trouble for doing this...but I took this article off the White Bear Press site. I am in no way crediting myself for this article.

I just thought I was really fun to see a picture of my baby brother Aaron and an article about what he did. He is going to have his 15 minutes of fame. "Well, done brother!" (he's the one in the blue shirt!)

My parents are friends of the Donatelle's and we have been going to their restaurant since before I can remember! Their food is wonderful...pizza to die for! I even remember my parents threw me a surprise party there when I turned 12!

Food Channel host Guy Fieri was in White Bear Lake to film at Donatelli’s with owners Trish Appleby and Steve Donatelle. The restaurant will be featured on the show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" this fall. — Submitted photo

Donatelli's not your average 'Diner, Drive-in or Dive'
Jun 25, 2008 - 10:19:34 CDT.
by Mike Morgan Staff WriterWHITE BEAR LAKE —

Donatelli's soon will be known far outside its loyal local customer base.The restaurant is being featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," a Food Channel program. A crew from the show was in town recently for two days of nearly constant filming.It all started when a former local resident now working as a producer on the show was in town eating at Donnatelli's — as she often had growing up.

Thinking the establishment would fit the show, she sought out Trish Appleby, one of the restaurant's operators who was working at the time.Appleby later spent a few hours talking on the phone with another producer describing Donatelli's independent nature.

She learned that the "Diners" series focuses on independent restaurants that make a sizable portion of their offerings from scratch.Additionally, the show only features restaurants that are one-of-a-kind and aren't looking to expand into chains, Appleby said.The criteria fit perfect with Donatelli's. It's been open for decades and makes its own Italian cuisine originally derived from owner Steve Donatelle's family recipes, said Trish, his wife, who goes by the last name Appleby.

In fact, Donatelli's opened as a pizza place in 1979 and has stayed with one owner ever since. It attracts longtime employees and regular customers, some of whom have been going long enough that staff members are meeting their grandchildren.The ever-changing menu of homemade food, along with a few signature dishes, impressed the show's makers.

The amount of food the staff makes each day impressed the crew as well, said Appleby.The show's host, Guy Fieri, watched longtime cooks Aaron Liedl and Jessica Kissell create the restaurant's pasta, sausage, pizza, meat balls and other Italian cuisine.

In all, the film crew shot footage from 8 a.m. to midnight June 1 and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 3. They interviewed staff members and customers and got plenty of shots of the food — all for a televised segment that will probably last about 12 minutes."I'm curious to see how it comes out," Appleby said. "It was a really interesting experience."

For those wondering how the show's creators select which restaurants to feature, Appleby said they're basically chosen through word of mouth, often through suggestions from people who operate the featured restaurants.Appleby said she suggested the crew head to Florida for a restaurant she frequents there.

As for Donatelli's segment in the spotlight, Appleby says many customers are fans of the program and can't wait to see their favorite local dining spot featured."Every day, people ask when it's going to be on," she said.The date has yet to be set, but the episode featuring Donatelli's is expected to air this fall.

RBS

I know. Everytime you come to this blog, it's a new color, isn't it? I think I have a condition called Restless Blog Syndrome. It flairs up quite often. I contunually have the intense need to change things, improve things or make them look just right. I have no idea where it comes from. But everyday, I log on and think "it just does not look right". Sadly, I spend countless hours looking for the "right" blogger template. It's ruining my life, my children are suffering from lack of attention. So is my husband. My house is a wreck. ;o) Consequently, I have the same urge when I log onto my MySpace account. "MUST CHANGE BACKGROUND. MUST CHANGE PROFILE PICTURE." What's to become of me? Maybe I'm just calling out for help.

Ahhhh, Summer!

Today was a fun in the sun kind of day. For the purpose of watering the ever crunchy grass, the sprinklers had been turned on and all children were dressed in their swimming suits. It's a good 84* in Minnesota and the perfect day for causing a sprinkler raucous.

So innocent looking and yet so full of mischief.

Let's get some sun on that boy!

It's always a good idea to remember your rain boots whilst running in the sprinkler! And always bring your Frisbee so you can shield yourself.

Our buddy Logan came to play and ride bikes. We had a Lemonade stand, which soon became the Medical Station due to the perils of biking, it's brutal. But the Raspberry Lemonade abounds and now 5 children are fast asleep at 2:33 in the afternoon.

Age of Electronics

A few weeks ago, we borrowed my parents digital camcorder to record Kalie's preschool graduation. As we were driving home from their house in Mahtomedi, Brian and I were discussing how we had to plug it in to charge it for the next day. The next morning, graduation day, Kalie was sitting in my room while I was putting on my makeup. I had the television on to the Today Show and they were talking about Cord Blood Stem Cell banking (the process of saving the umbilical cord after a baby is born to use the blood for other life saving purposes). Remembering a conversation she had with Brian not too long ago, Kalie said, "remember when dad cut Caleb's umbilical cord after he was born, mom? (that was a pretty interesting conversation for her) Well, mom, did dad do that because Caleb was done charging?"

We just live in the age where everything has to be charged, phones, cameras, ipods etc. But what an interesting concept of people being charged. I could really use a plug-in right about now. I feel like my battery is completely drained at this point. It has been many hard weeks of waiting on the Lord to provide a job for Brian. My kids are starting to feel it. We all have a heavy weight about us. We have grown weary. But a verse in Isaiah says "...those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31 NLT). So today, I need to plug myself in to God, He will give me the "charge" I need to keep myself from growing weary.

Please see this link http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/06/11/devotion.aspx?year=2008. I read this this morning (it was actually yesterdays devo) after I wrote this blog.

God's Protection

I thought this cartoon was great. And exactly what I need to always remember: God is protecting me from the big stones.

I am not sure where this cartoon originated but it was sent to me in an email. One I surely needed to see. I had already been through the "why?" Now I just need to remember that God is in control of the outcome.

(if it's too small to see, click on the image, I think it will enlarge)