Friday, September 11, 2026

Lesson 969: September Beauty

Hello, from Harbor Creek, Readers!

Our town, 

just east of Erie, PA

is peak this time of year.

Beauty all around!

The weather has been warmer than usual

but, cool temps are on their way

so we soak up all the sun we can.

Here is the morning sun earlier this week

and in the west 

at the very same time,

the moon watched over the sunlight creeping

over the landscape.


Our town is staring to smell like grapes!
The harvest will begin soon.

This is the vineyard we like to ride through 
on the way to the farm stand.


Firman Roaders,
if you spot our albino little friend
please text me,
I'd LOVE a pic.
I ran into Mrs. Farmer tonight
and she said she named the unusual little fawn, Audrey.
Penny, 
as you can see,
is on the lookout, as well.


The warmer weather means there is still time for golf outings.
The sport has created some addicts in my house.
This was the second place team last weekend.


Here was the first.
Lots of arguing ever since...


On Labor Day weekend
I toasted the summer of '26
with a strawberry sunset.

And that she was!



So long, summer!


Moving into our next season,
the skies are still so pretty.


This was the sky over the Thursday night football game.




The Huskies had a BIG win--
the biggest win I can ever recall.


Back to school means signs and posters
all around.
This wordy girl appreciates a good Xerox room sign:


If not Batman,
be a part of the marching band.
They are kind of like that, too.



We are hitting the farmstands on the regular.



Try oven roasted tomato soup.

It is so easy and delicious!


I paid my final photo respects to the Sunny Acres barn!
It came down this week!


Eloise loves fresh bedding,
and there are still a few more weeks for line-drying.
It was Sam's turn last week.


His Penn State t-shirt quilt is still holding up well
even with multiple washings.
It's a Kate Rose work of art.


If you purchased the $30 XL twin dorm bed 
comforter and sheet set from Amazon
when your kid moved out--
it was worth it!
This truly is a great blanket.


And see these?
These baby blankets were used by all three of my children!
The same ones!
Sam had them balled up in a pillowcase.


I'm trying to think of something I can make out of them
for all three of them.
If you have ideas, let me know.


I'm on a mission to find this candle
because I finally got my coupon!
I am a sucker for good packaging.
It could smell like barf
but I would buy it because 
it has a dog that looks like Penny on it
playing football!



Someone's reading has REALLY improved!
She is so motivated to read the cards
you have been sending her!



Sometimes all you need is a little motivation
to put down your phone
and pick up a book.

Here's a motivator for you:
Come to my Book Club That is not a Book Club!
Sunday, 9/13
3:00-5:00
driveway of the Lamp Post.
Bring a lawn chair.
I'll have snacks
and flowers,
and lots of conversation surrounding good books we've read.
It's the most low key book club you will ever be part of.
That's because it's not a book club.
It's more like a book party.
Anyone is welcome.

I'll be sharing many I read this summer--
it's probably the best book line up I've ever had.


Enjoy your weekend, Readers!
Here is something I read this morning
that I think is just so important 
for everyone to know.
September Beauty, for certain.

Eloise








 

Friday, September 4, 2026

Lesson 968: Long Term Goals

It's September, Readers!
Cue the skies!




How about this juicy peach?


The abundant zucchini
keeps the resident chopper busy
this time of year.
Growing a Garden
is such a wonderful Long Term Goal.


Entering fall
with all the cozy back-to-school vibes
have led me to announce
my next
Book Club That Isn't a Book Club--
Sunday, September 13th,
3:00-5:00
at The Lamp Post.


Bring with you a list of your favorite books
to share Show and Tell style with others.
I have plenty of chairs we will circle up
in the driveway.
We'll take turns talking about our recent reads.
You'll not only receive book inspiration,
but you will leave with some flowers, too!
Natalie has lots to share.
Sneak peek at the end of the blog.


I set my Long Term Reading Goal
that I'll share with my students in a few weeks.
A surprising fact about Eloise
is that I'm not a series reader.
I usually read the first one or two,
but taper off after that.
My favorite type of fiction is a stand alone story
that leaves you wondering about something in the end.
I prefer my stories not to be wrapped up neatly.

I have never read the full Harry Potter series!
Cue the gasps from my students.
I read the first two or three
in real time
as they were released.

 
I set my Long Term Goal to read the series
in a chapter-a-day format.
There are 199 chapters in the Harry Potter series,
so that puts me finishing in March!

I wanted to experience the stories 
along with some of my students.
Many are reading the series in preparation 
for the HBO reboot in December.
HP fans have mixed thoughts 
as if a reboot is necessary.

I say if you can inspire another generation
with creativity--that's a magic of its own--
so I'm in.

Anyone care to read along with me.
Grandma is not.
She told me there are too many dumb names to keep track of.
LOL.




Check out this trailer and see if it inspires you.

Improving my food offerings
has been a Long Term Goal of Mine.

Here's another way to cook chicken
in honor of Dear Departed Dolly.
It sounds good if you don't mind your food touching.
I never looked up how to bake it,
but if you start with already cooked chicken
it can't be that long.
Eloise guesses an hour-ish.


Sam has a Long Term Goal 
of visiting every Disc Golf course on his app.
We went out to Seneca High School this week
the day after the heavy rain.
We were ankle deep in water
but neck deep in fun!


She Who Shall Not Be Named
is chugging along with her Long Term Goal.
She's putting miles on her shoes
and Charlie miles on the scooter during training.


We stopped at the Warren County Visitors Bureau
on the way to camp last weekend.


I went in and looked around
(we need this sign on the front doors of our schools)


while the dogs played in the Dog Park.


I thought it would be a great idea
to make a Long Term Goal
to visit all the places on this sign!


I also thought a really fun trip sometime
would be 
Baby Arch in Warren, PA
to 
Gateway Arch in St .Louis.





Isn't that interesting?

Even more interesting are the varieties of 
zinnias and sunflowers Natalie has grown
part of her own Long Term Goal we set
in the Fall of 2025.

We saved seeds from her plants that season
and regrew them all this year!

Enjoy a photo walk through the beauty.


























Enjoy your weekend, Readers.

Hope to see you at the Lamp Post

on September 13th.

If you can't make it,

message me

and I'll send you a link to the book suggestions.

Eloise