Lesson 560: Kindred Spirits

Good evening, Readers.

Eloise, here.

I'm thinking tonight of the like-minded,

people to whom I'm connected

and have interests and attitudes similar to my own.

We call them kindred spirits.

I first heard that term when I read this novel as a child.

It's a lovely book.

I found many like-minded individuals in my workout group.

We enjoy exercise,

the outdoors,

camaraderie,

 and laughter.

Many people would shy away from an outdoor workout

with looming skies as this,

but for those who showed despite the weather forecast,

were treated to this spectacular display on Tuesday evening.

College has been the talk at the Lamp Post as of late.

I cannot think of anything more exciting than the prospect of higher learning.

Ellen will be heading to Edinboro University in the fall of 2019.

Here is Ellen standing near the site of the original Edinboro Normal School--

the Teacher's College my grandmother attended in the early 1920's.

If you love to learn just for the sake of learning,

you are forever my Kindred Spirit.

My other Kindred Spirits love animals.

Hazel,

the newest addition to the Lamp Post,

is a little love, 

most of the time.

We take her everywhere we go.

She loves to ride in the car.

and are socializing her as often as we can with

people,

other dogs, 

and alpacas.

Tom Esterline had a Meet the Alpacas day at his North East farm.

My dream is to have one some day in my petting zoo,

along side my donkey,

miniature goats,

and tea cup pigs.

If you are my Kindred Spirit you will come and visit

and help me love them.

Halloween is coming,

and my Kindred Spirits like to have fun.

Sam is me in boy form.

Buddy the Elf went on a South Harborcreek Methodist Church Youth Group hayride.

My Kindred Spirits love Buddy the Elf

from the point of his hat,

right down to his curly green shoes.

My Kindred Spirits love artistic expression!

Ellen did a beautiful job on this graffiti assignment,

although she said that Ellen doesn't quite look like a graffiti kind of name.

My Kindred Spirits love books and coffee!

Here I am sporting my new Common Grounds t-shirt.

Libraries are evolving 

much like the ways of accessing information are.

This is my newest book!

This one is going to be one of his best sellers.

The story line is based off of a real place in North Carolina.

I'm thinking if my sister can go on racecations,

then I can go on a bookcation.

Who is coming with me

 to see the Kindred Spirit Mailbox on Bird Island?

Below is the CBS news report on the mysterious mailbox on the island.

Here is a link to a blog about it--

the video is cool,

and I'd love to walk that beach to find the mailbox.

Kindred Spirit Mailbox

We'll end with an Anne of Green Gables quote,

for all my Kindred Spirits.

Eloise

Lesson 559: Keep Moving Forward

Good evening, Readers.

It's a cold fall evening,

but we are aglow here at the Lamp Post.

We sat together tonight

 and recalled happy memories of our dear Uncle John.

He passed away peacefully at the age of 92 this week.

This image is my favorite capture of Uncle John,

my dad's brother from Cleveland.

Although I love shadow photos,

I cannot claim this one.

This was the cover of the Living Section

of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on November 5, 2008.

I'll forever remember him with is pipe,

taking a puff

then pausing a few seconds in thoughtful reflection

 before he ever expressed himself in words.

I'll miss the most the way he would greet my dad

each year when they would see each other.

"Helloooooo there, Brother!" 

A nature lover at heart,

Uncle John would have approved of the Erie skies on the evening of his passing.

It almost felt like he ordered them up for us.

Rest in peace, Uncle John.

Uncle John's passing happened

minutes before a new baby was born into the family.

As we welcomed baby Henry,

it reminded me how we are always in a state of constant change.

You can't resist it,

so you might as well ride the waves.

Even if you are in a rough spot,

know that the waters always settle down.

We went away to the woods last weekend,

and change was evident there.

The leaves were very different this year.

By mid October, 

the forest is usually bursting with oranges and reds.

A late spring,

and some bad storms with high winds,

took many of the leaves down,

but the green ones are left,

making for an unusual 

but beautiful display of browns and yellow-greens.

Life keeps moving forward.

Always be mindful to stay in the moment.

Don't miss the joys of witnessing a baby

see horses for the first time.

Take time to be present

and observe animals.

We have a lot to learn from them.

Learn to love the black sheep of your family,

and the ass.

If you get a chance to make a drive down to the Farmer's Inn

in Sigel, PA,

please do.

They are closed in the winter,

so call before you go to make sure they are open.

They have a great family restaurant,

gift shops,

and lots for the kids to do.

Hazel loved it, too!

I never thought I'd be ready to love another dog 

just two months after Josie's passing,

but I was wrong.

Josie would want us to keep moving forward.

Hazel spends lots of time sleeping.

riding in the car,

and being loved up by the family.

And when she's not doing those things,

she's up to no good.

Shoes are currently her favorite chew toy.

She likes to wrestle with her sister Opal.

My friend Amy made these blankets for them.

Embroidery is making a come back.

Call me if you need anything embroidered for Christmas

and I'll give you her number.

Today's lesson inspiration came from our Clark and Klein School

art teacher, Melanie Damon.

This clever wall display resonated with me this week.

I hope it does with you, too.

Stop and savor the moments of your weekend.

Eloise