Lesson 323: Sail into Fall

Fall is knocking on the door, Erieites.

You can feel it in the air, especially at night.

The skies contain football weather clouds,
purple puffs, tinged with pink.

The teams are at practice every night behind the Lamp Post.

The tweet of the whistles,

mixed with the smell of grapes,

gives assurance that fall has arrived in my hometown.

The woodpile is a sign of things to come,

as much as Old Blue's last trip down the driveway marked a time to go.

Some dealt with the transition better than others.

Sam handled it with his usual stoic grace and maturity.

As for me,

Old Eloise is ready to sail into the next thing,

whether it be a Honda Ridgeline
or a return of the polar vortex.

What's to come, will come.

Did you notice the headband I was wearing a photo back?

I got a six color pack of them at Wal-Mart for $5, and they fit my head.

I have a hard time finding headbands that are big enough for my cranium.

Apparently I have a big noggin.

Legend has it, when I was born, my father announced to everyone who would listen,

"It's a girl, and her head looks like a grapefruit!"

It's all brain.

Like anything that helps hold my hair,

from bobby pins,

to barrettes,

to pony tail holder,

I leave them lying around the house.

Every time my husband sees these lacy headbands,

he mistakes them for underwear.

"Hey...." says Louie in a throaty voice,

"what's this little surprise?"

Sigh.

Sorry to disappoint, Honey.

I wasn't disappointed with the outcome of one of my favorite shows of the summer season,

All of the top 12 finalists were extremely talented.

I was rooting for Acro Army

but a personable and clever illusionist won it all!

This is Mat Franco the mind boggler.

Speaking of talent, 

Natalie seems to be experimenting with color this year

in Mr. Rocky's Seneca High School art class.

I love Kid Art, and Natalie's interests me more than any I've seen.

What do you make of the thing in black?
Bird?

And if the thing on the right isn't a crop circle,

I don't know what is.

Mother Eloise is giving NASA a ring on this one.

Kenyan and my friends shined as bright as the sun did at the

Erie Marathon last Sunday.

It was a gorgeous day to witness so many fulfilling their dreams,

making good on promises to themselves,

and finding strength in the depths of themselves.

Eloise's next challenge is not of the running nature.

I'm toeing the line for 

for a chance to get healthy,

and win some money right before Christmas!

More details on next week's blog.

I have to hit the sack a little early tonight.

I have lots going on because my middle child turns 

fourteen on Monday.

Tonight's video slide show is dedicated to Ellen, 

one of the kindest and most patient people I've ever known.

Ellen has an extremely high tolerance for most annoyances--

long waits,

interruptions,

disruptions,

and changes of plans.

She handles them with grace.

I am glad that so many others can see in her what I see--

a big heart full to the brim with love to give.

The photos are set to Audra Mae's version of Forever Young.  Thank you, Michaelene Skarzenski for telling me about this song.  You were completely on the mark.  I do love it, and saved it for something special.

XOXO,

Eloise