Friday, July 25, 2025

Lesson 909: Collective Pursuit

Hello, Readers.

I came across the term

collective pursuit

while picking my way through a 

 mediocre book

that I happen to be reading in a

 mediocre kind of week.

Not many Wows! this week,

but lots of Ows!


It took a collective pursuit of all of my health care providers

to determine where the intense pain on the right side of my head

was coming from.

I have an infected tooth and jawbone

which is triggering pain in my trigeminal nerve.

If you see me out and about

everything from the neck up hurts.

Please be kind.

Hoping to turn the corner on the 

swelling this weekend.


I haven't been able to move much

or go many places,

so I was thankful for my garden.

It is a collective pursuit to grow flowers--

I couldn't do it all myself.

Everyone helps.


There are always things to observe

and appreciate.

I walk every morning of the summer

and this morning,

the Canadian geese were back in the park.

I don't even have their 
Welcome Back to Harborcreek photo,

because it's too much effort to carry my camera.

If that doesn't tell you my level of discomfort,

nothing will.

I started observing a year or two ago

that the first sunflowers open

the day the geese return.

That, I did get a photo of.


Here are some more pretty flowers in bloom.
My parents named this tall orange zinnia, Sam.









And I found what was eating my zinnia leaves!

I couldn't kill her.

She has to eat, too, I guess.


The cats have become best of friends.
It helps pass the time
watching them play.


July is always Project Time

at the Lamp Post.

The girls always have something going on.



Baking my sourdough is therapeutic,
but also turned into a collective pursuit.
My oven broke this morning--
no repair man until August 8th.

My sis loaned me her kitchen space today

and I left her a loaf.


The Legion Post 571 Baseball Team

had their sights set on the State Tournament 

again this year,

but French Creek Valley 

will be playing in the heat of Millcreek instead.

There were lots of long faces

and talk of next year.

It was a pleasure to play with these boys.


Best friends always.


In my periods of relief 

when the Advil takes a little of the edge off,

I'm vacation planning.

We are heading east soon

and I have my sites set on seeing this first!

I actually started the series again

so I can find all of the spots on the walking tour.

Laughter truly does make you feel better.

If you have not watched it

and are looking for laughs and an excellent story build,

The Office is on Peacock.

It will take a collective pursuit to get us there though.

The van is making a weird noise when accelerating

and is in the shop.


Say a prayer that your friendly weekend blogger
responds to the 2,000 mg of antibiotic
and 16 pills for pain relief
very soon,
before both eat a hole in my stomach.

Heading to enjoy some music
with the good people of my community tonight.
An enjoyable community
is a worthy collective pursuit.
Come on out and meet the kind people of
Harborcreek.

Harborcreek Community Park
5:00-10:00
7-25-25

Eloise















Friday, July 18, 2025

Lesson 908: E!

Happy weekend, Readers!

It is a happy one at the Lamp Post!

The E! exclamation mark
in Lesson 908's blog title,
is representative of 
the Entertainment News Network.


Here is your Entertainment news of the week,
most deserving of the exclamation mark!

Pets are as important as people
here at the Lamp Post.

We had two pet celebrations this week!
Lovable Penny turned 5.
She got her favorite Dairy Queen Pup Cup.


Gus was found two years ago
and he got a crocheted birthday hat.


which he was not too fond of.
(Had to be the ruffle...)


Whiford attended the party--
all 3 pounds of him!
He's growing and healthy!


Ellen has been on a crochet kick.
It keeps her hands busy
while she waits for employment.


Good news!
She's employed!

Our puppet-loving,
outstanding student


accepted a position in the Harbor Creek School District

as a full time Speech Pathologist.

She was School Board approved

on Thursday night.

Bis Sis Natalie

and all of her family and friends 

are very proud of her.

We wish Ellen to have a full

and rewarding career.

Work hard,

but don't stress.

Take the advice from the schwa e!

(inside joke of the SLPs, apparently--

enough to make tee shirts of the reminder, anyway)!

An E! Newsworthy event--
Sam got over his dislike of speed.
It just took a boat,
a river,
and pride in front of his girlfriend's family.


Click the link to see how it went.


The first harvest from Natalie's garden!


Nature was E! Newsworthy this week!

Fawns at the camp!



An eagle.


And a bird I thought was an eagle,
but upon closer look,
it isn't.
Readers, weigh in!


Daisies.


Insects on daisies.


And this squirrel 

who found the burned piece of Texas toast

that we threw out!




I caught the sun rising over the mountain

at Camp.

It makes getting up before the sun

every single day

worth it.




I'll remember to put the final e on Eloise tonight.
Last week I was so tired
I signed off as Elois.

A friend posted this
to inform me my typo
could be for the better.

I prefer famous warrior.
-

EloisE!






Saturday, July 12, 2025

Lesson 907: Deep


Hello, Readers!

This week finds us Deep into Summer 2025.

All of the best things about the summer were this week.

The Cherry Festival!



Sam is an absolute ace at carnival games.

We brought home a cherry pie for dessert.

Ellen crocheted her own for far fewer calories.


This was a happier moment for her college cat, Gus.
He was a bit perturbed
as Whitford insists on using his litter box.


While deep into the American Legion baseball season,


there was still time to celebrate high school baseball.
The banquet was this week,
and Sam was honored to be chosen 
for the first ever
Impact Award.


My Gal Pals accompanied me Deep into the mountains.

We were on the lookout for this guy,
 


and we found him!


The time around these events has been spent
picking at this project--
the gutting and reorganizing 
of my huge, roll top desk!
I went DEEP--
every nook and cranny
was opened and sorted.


It is home to many items--
notepads and post-its.


my penny collection


Eloise loves maps!


Some of my favorite tricks--
fake teeth
and 
fake parking tickets,
and of course,
the fart machine.


Will I be needing my lifetime supply
of orange and black ribbon
now that all of my tribe has moved through high school?


Anyone in need of Sam's head?


The desk is one part warehouse
and
one part museum.

Huskies--I still have Ray G's armadillo.


And someone tell Zack M
I still have the Smencils--
and they STILL have scent!


Questies,
I'm starting some planning for next year.
Perhaps we will break out the FLARP


and my yo-yo collection.


Sorting makes a huge mess,


and Penny has quite enough for tonight,


so here endeth my blog.

See you next week
with a recap 
of more fun and adventures
from 
The Lamp Post.

Elois