Lesson 370: Beneath the Same Big Sky

Hey, Homeys!

Gnomey says 

Say cheeeese!

Gnomey,

a gift from Friend Leslie,

has found a new homey in my yard,

under the big, blue sky.

I captured this awesome cloud last weekend in our big, blue sky.

I knew it needed a quote,

but my creative juices were running on fumes.

I turned to facebook for some suggestions.

I received many,

but chose my favorite to include on this photo.

This one is headed for a dollar store frame soon,

with the perfect words to match the awesomeness of the sky.

I'll reveal on this blog which suggested verse I chose,

and the winner will be receiving a prize in the mail.

Speaking of mail.....

Friends and family should watch their mailboxes for a pastel envelope from Natalie.

She is sending out her Beast on the Bay sponsor t-shirt forms on Monday.
She's worked on them herself, 

stuffing every envelope,

signing every letter,

so it's taking some time.

Please be patient.

Anyone who inquired about a People T-shirt will receive one,

as well as other people near and dear to Natalie's heart.

I'll be taking t-shirt orders through August 15th.

Send word to the Lamp Post if you would like one.

We spent last Saturday beneath the big sky

in Saegertown, PA.

We went to our first Tractor Pull.

What an interesting event it was!

An amateur photographers dream!

It's only at a tractor pull you can find interesting exhibits such as this one.

Aside from watching friends' tractors

 attempt to pull the Draggin' Wagon the farthest,

I also watched a sawmill in operation

making shingles

free for the taking.

Very cool.

The skies over Lake Erie have been beautiful this week.

These shots thanks to my hubby and his GIANT iPhone 6+!

This one, 

compliments Sunset Peggy.

I listened to my nephew's band,

The Rust Belt Ramblers

beneath the setting sun on Thursday night.

Catch them if you are a local.

Great tunes.

A setting sun provides a nice backdrop for

a backyard family movie night.

Ellen Louise,

my artistic child,

prefers to paint beneath the great big sky.

Sorry Cocktails & Color,

she did this one on her own.

Evenings have been spent in the open air,

hot with the smell of Kettle Corn

and loud with the sound of screams of thrill riders.

Family has returned to bring their children to the same fun they had in their youth.

My attempt at my fourth consecutive Erie Half Marathon

was foiled by my own poor memory.

I could have sworn that I registered for that race!

Kenyan wasn't too happy with me.

I thought I'd simply forgotten which US President I signed up under.

After she went through pages of 1800 entries,

Kenyan was a little ornery.

(I'm the blue, calm, concise texter)

((Kenyan is the wordy one who likes to use mega exclamation points and emojis))

I wound up running the loop on Monday with Friend Leanne.

I had my best time ever and it was easy-peasy for me without the crowd,

parking issues,

and early rising just to do it.

Even though I know I won't come close to winning my age group until I'm in my 80's

(and set a trip wire and snares to mess up Heather Cass),

I still register for a few races a year to support Erie events,

and the general health and wellness of my community.

I've collected lots of medals and such over the past four years.

I hang them in my garage, 

so I can see them every day when I enter my house.

If you run 13.1 miles,

it is nice to get a medal and a t-shirt.

Usually,

Eloise does the Erie half in July,

Barber Beast on the Bay in September,

The Her Times 5K in October,

and whatever my sister Kenyan organizes in the spring.

That's plenty to keep me motivated,

and just enough challenge for my sore, tired feet.

I got this great shot of the moon this week,

and as I was taking it,

I thought of all the people looking up from Earth at the very same moon.

So many people,

so many stories.

The best story I've read is this woman's.

Her name is Immaculee Ilibagiza.

She is my age and survived the Rwandan genocide of 1994.

One million Rwandans were killed in 91 days 

the very year I was busying myself with my wedding plans.

It is your duty as a member of the Human Nation,

to read her account of survival.

She was hidden away for 91 days in a bathroom with seven other women.

If you don't read,

at least google her name and read the short version of her story.

You can also find her website and watch several news interviews that summarized her account.

Since my finishing of the book this week,

there hasn't been a three hour period I haven't thought about Immaculee.

I found a way to contact her, 

and am composing a letter to her in my mind.

I hope I have the guts enough to send it.

It is a humbling experience to read her account of pure evil.

It is hard for me to believe that Immaculee and I were living beneath the same big sky,

praying to the same big God.

I'll be out in the open air next week,

enjoying my favorite of all artists, Tim McGraw.

This year, I'm taking hubby, my kids, my sister, and some friends to see my boyfriend.

This should be an interesting trip.

Check in next week to find out how it all went down.

Peace to you and yours this weekend.

See you next week!

ELOISE