Lesson 615: Pioneer

Happy weekend, Readers!

The light is shining brightly at the Lamp Post.

Eloise is glad you could stop by for awhile.

I'm writing lesson 615 this week.

Six hundred and fifteen times 

I've sat down at my computer 

to put my thoughts

and photos

and random musings.

It was 9 years ago 

that I pioneered this blog.

I had to think back where we all were nine years ago.

It's easy to do when you keep a blog.

Here were the first photos I added of my kids--

Ellen's 10th birthday party

Three year old Sam.

Life was busy and crazy managing all those little kids.

But, thinking about the future,

and when things would be easier,

kept me putting one foot in front of the other.

Fast forward nine years,

and life is still crazy

managing older kids.

In these 108 months of writing and reflecting

(108 is an important LOST number, by the way)

I've learned to balance things out.

Taking care of my home

and those in it

is the most important thing for me.

So is time outside with my trusty camera.

I'm definitely more careful now about 

what I eat and drink.

I still drink coffee,

but not as much as I used to,

because,

well.....

I make some time to

support local businesses, too.

Time for exercise is key

to balance out my support 

of the local business across the street

from the Lamp Post.

Time to try more recipes

and ways to make healthy food

 look more appealing is important.

Time for devotion is spiritual nourishment.

Time for reading

is always essential.

Life is not complete without music.

And books about handsome musicians

and food 

and exercise.

Clock is ticking down 

to November 5th!

I got all of my life essentials

rolled into one with

my new Pioneer Woman cookbook.

It came in the mail yesterday!

Ree Drummond is just like me!

She's a pioneer, too!

She also intersperses her photos

in what she's trying to teach the reader.

Those page layouts 

look an awful lot like a yearbook page.

Ree with a camera in front of her face.

Ree photographs sunsets over water.

Ree has a decorated graduate, too.

Her arms were made for hugging.

She likes to photographs girls with dogs,

people in shadow profile,

and her son playing Huskies football

(orange and black, too)!

Similarities are quite uncanny,

aren't they?

Maybe I'll get to see for myself 

just how much we are alike.

The girls and I will be heading to her ranch in June.

Friend Jen unbelievably secured one of the rooms,

and asked us to go.

The Happy People are headed to the Oklahoma ranch.

Opting for an airplane,

not this means of travel.

Lord, that must have sucked!

Honestly,

I claim to be tough,

but I probably would have died in route 

had I been a pioneer.

Captured by the Indians, 

most likely,

 because I'm always the vulnerable one

 at the back of the pack.

That and I'm not too keen with a gun.

But, 

for the short time

I was alive on the trail,

I'd do up my wagon like this.

A few notes from the week:

Sam's injury plagued team 

played a great game on Wednesday

but came up short of a win.

It probably won't make much sense to you now boys, 

but one day you'll understand

that losses are just as important as the wins are.

There is always something to be learned.

Halloween is cancelled

because Hazel ate the trick-or-treat bucket.

Dessert was Louie's slipper.

 Weekend homework is not reading about the pioneers--
it's watching this video.

I absolutely,
100% LOVE
this brilliant piece
on the Harbor Creek marching band.

The music they make
is the drumbeat of our school system.
Without them,
the school would not have a beating heart.

Dave Lefebre--
you earn an honorary A+
from the Quest Teacher.

Click below.

Be a pioneer this weekend.
Be brave and try something new.

Eloise