Lesson 961: A Me Moment

 Hello, Readers.

Eloise here,

if you look hard through the

smoky haze of wildfire smoke.

Our hearts go out to our Canadian friends.

How terrifying.

I spent the last few days wishing 

there was something I could do to help.

It is very hard for me to feel helpless

when someone is hurting.

It got me thinking about my worth as a person--

you know,

the Why Am I Here

kind of thought train.

Have I done enough in life?
Have I contributed positively to this world?

I was outside all day today--

unavoidable, really.

My plants needed me

and American Legion baseball

has commenced.

I was pondering life

while I stopped to spy on a bird nest,

built in the crook of a downspout

right outside of my childhood bedroom.

I was standing at my bean teepee

in my toe shoes,

camera strapped like a weapon crossbody,

book in hand

when the thought hit me: 

Right here

That's where I'm supposed to be--right here,

doing what a do.

It was quite A Me Moment.

Go a little further,

you can see my Princess Diana commemorative ring

my FitBit that tracks my steps, sleep, and heart rate,

and tracks of sourdough on my forearm.

a remnant of this morning's loaf prep.

Right here.

That's where we are all supposed to be.

In my Me Moments

you'll find me picking flowers

photographing wildlife--

We found twins this week!

And reading some books.

This book is excellent.

I'll probably do a post just on this book.

Others are having their Me Moments, too.

Penny got her photo taken at Pet Supplies Plus

for her birthday!

Gus had his birthday two days later.

Natalie is happy with her first CSA delivery!

The Wizard was out when the guys drove through

Leeper, PA.

Always a thrill.

The gamers of the house also won big

at the Cherry Festival.

We made out annual outing

for a doughboy,

some BINGO,

and a game or two.

Three Pill Game wins

and two BINGOs

made us head home with our 

winnings.

Ellen had a Lucky find, too,

with a drink she took up 

to a weekend trip.

--A collab with Pet Rescues!

My Sis had a Me Moment

and earned her Iron Man medal

with these two teammates.

Kenyan is one tough lady

and 

Eloise is one tired lady.

We play an early game tomorrow

so I am going to dream of rain

and a land free from smoke and fire--

unless the bats iginite tomorrow.

That will be fine.

Praying for our Canadian friends.

Eloise

Lesson 960: Little House

Hello, Readers.

Eloise here,

wishing you a happy summer. 

It's been going well at my house,

The Lamp Post.

The lake has been beautiful.
Here is the sunset from

the little blue cottage

on July 4th.

An eagle flew over us right before sunset.

Happy Birthday, America!

We've been busy with American kind of things this month:

Ellen was not celebrating USA's big birthday stateside.

She was in Italy for a week!

Check out her best photos on her 

social media accounts.

This little house has been overflowing with activity.

It has been the biggest producer of flowers this summer!

We love flowers!

It's taken two summers,

but we finally got our hollyhock!

We saved seeds from our giant zinna from last year.

We named it Sam.

His offspring bloomed again,

towering above the others.

On the subject of giants,

Natalie is trying her green thumb with some pumpkins

this year.

We got this one for fun.

Cinderella may have to go to the ball on a skateboard--

this is all he's grown.

Natalie loves labeling her plants.

Evidence of Natalie's touches

are all around.

Her butterfly garden is coming in nicely this year.

Last year it was a flop.

These are the American Legion poppies

she is pretty proud of.

We got one strawflower

and it is so unique and beautiful.

The Forget Me Nots 

are coming up around Josie's grave.

We have them timed to bloom on her 

the day she died--

which was also the day Hazel was born.

That is also the stump of one of the 22 ash trees

we lost due to the emerald ash borer in 2020.

The ash tree is regenerating!

We have a lot to learn from the land,

and it is fun trying

and failing

and trying again.

That's what the pioneers did--

just like the Ingalls family.

I pre-gamed and reread this book 

on Monday to be ready for the Netflix reboot

of the 1970s and 80s tv show.
It ran for 9 seasons!

It has been extremely interesting watching the new portrayal.

I've spent much of the week in rabbit holes

looking up different perspectives,

particularly of the Osage tribe.

I highly recommend watching,

and reading, of course.

Speaking of reading,

I am having a Book Party as soon

as American Legion baseball is over.

Look for announcements as to the time 

in a week or two.

Come to the Lamp Post for the best book-sharing session around.

I'll have plenty of sourdough for you to snack on

and you will leave with a long reading list

and a bouquet of flowers!

Here's is my favorite summer reading spot

in my little house--

the front porch swing with my soft blankey.

It's the best spot to watch the sun rise

and begin the day with a story.

I'm almost done with my summer saga.

It's soo good!'

Here's my evidence from the text as to why.

Funny thing is that I'm reading Covenant of Water

next to my dry creek bed.

I started this one today, too.

Anyone else reading this 

very entertaining

and well written true story?

Headed to watch another episode of Little House.

Let me know in the comments if you are watching it too!

Eloise

Lesson 959: American Timeline

Happy Birthday, America!

We turn 250 years old today! 

                                                    Eloise has been flipping through images

of American timelines for the last week.

I like this one the best as it is represented

by a winding path.

The most epic journeys are never in a straight line.

I've also been taking US History quizzes

to test my knowledge.

Check this one out--

it moves fast 

and has multiple choices.

This might be fun to pull up at you picnic.

US History Quiz

This next one is really good if you have 12 minutes.

It is an old Jeopardy episode with our beloved game show host

Alex Trebek.

It was so great to hear his voice again.

What an interesting man he would have been 

to have at your dinner party!

This quiz is referred to as the Eras Tour

of American history.

If you want to skip ahead to your special interest,

here are the Eras categories.

00:00 - The Revolutionary War 01:09 - The Civil War 02:18 - Reconstruction 03:19 - The Gilded Age 04:39 - The Roaring ‘20s 05:52 - World War II: The Home Front 07:01 - The Civil Rights Movement 08:08 - The ‘70s 09:18 - It Was the 90’s 10:17 - Remember the 2000s? ______________________________

Click the link below

Jeopardy Chronological US History

Since we mentioned the Eras Tour,

Eloise would be remiss without

congratulating Taylor and Travis!

As time marches on,

we are on a windy road of development.

Below is the briefest of image walks

to illustrate how much can change in 50 years.

Take it from a 55 year old writer.

1776

1800s

1850s

1900s

(Cousins--Grandma O was born in 1900)

1950s

2000

2026

Happy birthday, America!

We all are responsible for carrying the American inheritance forward.

Reflect on how YOU can do YOUR part

in following the wise words,

 which I believe are

the finest guidance ever written 

for a human society:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, 

that all men are created equal, 

that they are endowed by their Creator 

with certain unalienable Rights, 

that among these are 

Life, 

Liberty 

and the pursuit of Happiness.

Enjoy pursuing your happy.

Eloise