Lesson 364: In Your Nature

Smile pretty!

It's summertime in Erie, Pennsylvania,

which means it's prime hunting time for Eloise.

I hunt wildlife,

but I shoot with a camera instead of a gun.

It amazes me that robins go from this,

to THIS

in just ten days!

The baby robins know me by now.

They tweet when I come near.

I made up my own little whistle song so they know it's me.

Momma bird even will sit on my porch railing and let me take a quick photograph.

She doesn't swoop or peck or chatter at all.

It's not in a Momma Bird's nature to do that, 

but we've built trust.

Trust is important.

For posed shots, 

when Mother Eloise yells,

"Stop!  Smile!"

I only post good shots.

I've earned the trust of my teenage daughters.

My favorite of shots though, 

are the natural ones

with no poses,

just captures of life as it happens.

Moments dance like a flame,

and it is a joy for me to freeze one in time.

It's in my nature to find beauty in nature,

and share it with you.

We caught a beautiful afternoon at the ballpark last Sunday.

Sam and Ellen got to throw out the opening pitches.

Ellen played a game with only 8 players this week.

Two strong-arms covered the outfield,

and the ladies pulled out a win due to teamwork.

Way to keep your heads in the game, girls,

despite the odds stacked against you.

You played with heart this season.

When the intentions of your heart are good,

and you can keep your mind in the right place,

it's easy sailing.

Don't be held back by the cages of your own mind.

Eloise is Play-It-Safe kind of person.

In the dance of life, I like to keep things comfortable 

and within my natural rhythms.

One of the best lessons I've learned the last few years,

is that it's OK to turn the station and dance to different music once in awhile.

In fact,

it can be good for you.

Many people have signed up for my Hill Challenge.

Hills are hard, but very worth it when you reach the top.

I only needed 7 shirt orders to make the 12 shirt minimum for printing,

and when I dropped that worm, 

many fish bit.

We are a team of over 70 strong,

tackling area hills

walking,

jogging,

or biking up them.

Thanks to my helpers for organizing them all.

I'm the Idea Girl,

not necessarily the organizer.

Two dozen of my friends spent time in nature 

at the Peak-n-Peek Adventure course.

If you haven't tried it yet, it is worth checking out--

even for the faint of heart, like Old Eloise.

I was rather white knucked going into the event.

Heights are not my thing.

I don't have a paralyzing fear of height,

but I certainly prefer to have my feet on the ground.

The first sign of trouble for me came when I missed this sign for the turn.

Perhaps they should post a larger one.

I was thankful for the detour though,

because I would not have passed this house otherwise!

I can't quit thinking about it!

We harnessed up

and hoofed it up the side of the mountain.

As I walked up it,

I kept thinking what a crappy Von Trapp I would have made.

The Germans would have captured me for sure.

After what seemed like an eternal safety lesson,

where the instructor used words like tweezle,

or was it tweedle?

or treezle?

we were turned loose to climb on wires between trees.

After three hours of 

balancing,

tunneling,

ascending,

and descending--

we wobbled our way

to a new found confidence.

Eloise was so mentally spent by the end of that 180 long minutes,

I was talked into the Giant Zip Line by daughter Ellen Louise.

I was too exhausted to fight myself,

and did something in nature that was against my own nature.

Despite my fear, I took the leap.

I was glad that I did.

The view from the top was amazing.

The learning I took from the experience was this:

So who are we?

Ourselves?

Our self?

What makes us US?

How much of you results from learned behavior,

and to what degree is innate?

Eloise has been thinking about that quite a bit lately,

and I cracked out all of my Ayurvedic medicine books and articles.

I really dig it,

and it makes complete sense.

Weekend homework:

What's your dosha?

There are many on line quizzes you can take.

My personal favorite was linked to one of my books,

an easy to read one about the basics of Ayurveda.

Click the link below.

Take a minute to read the short introductory letter from the author.

She explains Ayurveda very well.

What's Your Dosha Quiz CLICK HERE

This test,

as well as many others I've taken,

place me in the kapha category overwhelmingly.

I scored a 35 there.

I also had a few vata characteristics as well.

I scored a 9 on this one.

I had zero in this category.

I love this way of looking at health,

because so much is based on food intake.

What a refreshing way for us to think,

based on 5,000 year old wisdom.

It's in my nature to sleep soundly,

and it is about time I get some.

It's time to turn the Lamp Post into a night light.

Get out in nature

 and do what's in your nature

this weekend!

ELOISE

Lesson 363: Heart's a-Flutter

Happy summer, Readers.

Although the official doesn't reach us until later in June,

Summer has arrived!

School is out
and hearts are a-flutter here at the Lamp Post!

Summer 2015 is starting out on a positive note.  

Ellen Louise and Team started out 

their first evening of summer vacation with a big win.

Maintaining focus when the game turns tense is the sign of great team play.

Thanks Old Station One for making Natalie your honorary teammate.

She will wear #9 with pride,

and be the loudest fan in the stands.

Soon we will hear the fluttering of brand new wings!

My baby birds hatched!

They respond to the sound of our voices!

Triplets!

Nice job, Momma.

Special birthday wishes go out to my Momma!

Cheers to 7 decades of love,

laughter,

celebrations,

fun,

and kindness.

Now that you're in your seventies,

maybe you'll start behaving.

Doubtful.

Beautiful flowers are in bloom everywhere.

Flower photo of the week goes to my friend Wendy Chwatty.

She took this with her phone camera!

Hearts have been a-flutter over the Cleveland Cavaliers,

but not a-flutter enough to keep Sam awake to see the end of the game.

My teacher friends and I are anxiously awaiting the return

to our newly renovated school building,

and told the principal we've had our fill 

of packing and unpacking boxes.

The sneak peek was Selfie-Stick worthy.

Eloise's fluttering heart was broken with a couple tough losses this week.

Even when you give it your all,

sometimes the game still gets away from you.

It's the lessons you take with you about the loss

that are the most important.

Heck with the fluttering heart,
I got a cooking lesson that got my taste buds leaping with joy.

Eloise is looking forward to making these tasty breakfast bites.

I'm going to get a real charge out of sneaking spinach into their chocolate shakes,

and black beans into their brownies.

My heart's a-flutter just thinking about breaking the news to my trio

that the dessert was healthy.

I'll have my camera aimed and ready to capture the moment.

Eloise and Company are going to tackle 11 local hills this summer.

The heart may not be a-flutter, 

but it will surely be pumping.

I'm no Katniss when it comes to bravery,

but I try to stay after myself and

not allow my limiting fears to creep back in.

Eloise is going to try out the Adventure Course at Peek-n-Peak,
part of my Challenge Erie 6 Wellness Package.

I'm not 100% fully on board,
but truthfully, I haven't had time to be afraid.
I'm going to follow the wisdom of the swoosh--
Just Do It, Eloise.

That's exactly what I told Sam when he was waiting to do his
Mini Mudder at the local YMCA.

Sam said to me,
"I didn't have time to think of being afraid until just now."

Mother Eloise so knows the feeling.

I found him some buddies
and gave him a pat on the back and a few high fives

and sent him on his way.

Once Sam got through the first few high hurdles,

he was OK.

He needed lots of encouragement to get over a few of them,

but a helpful hand 

and an encouraging word

can be just what you need

to get you through.

Check back next week for Summer Rules 2015.

Hubby and the kids get the first weekend off,

then the rules go into full effect on Monday.

Enjoy the start of June.

It's a beauty.

ELOISE