Friday, October 17, 2025

Lesson 921: Safe to Assume

Hello, Readers!

It's the weekend,

and it's Safe to Assume that Eloise is at her

Lamp Post writing station,

ready to recap the week.

I spent Thursday out on Presque Isle

with some students.


How lucky we are 


to live to near such a place.


I vowed to go out more often,
and it's Safe to Assume I'll be occupying this bench.


I also had the opportunity to attend a conference
for Science teachers on Monday.

It' Safe to Assume 
that when I was not in a session,
I was out and about with my camera.


Construction is easing up outside of Clark School--
but my tree photos are still suffering.


But the long shots of the gray-bottomed clouds


and the fall colors against the lake backdrop


are spot on spectacular.


The fall is chock full of stuff to bring into the classroom.


It's Safe to Assume these mammoth discs


are headed into classrooms next week.


I got the term Safe to Assume
from a riddle I gave to my students.
We start class each day with one.

It appeared in the answer to this riddle.
Here's your weekend homework:

Suppose there is only one barber shop in your town, and it employs two barbers. One of the barbers has a nice, neatly trimmed head of hair. The other's hair is a complete mess.


 Which of the two barbers should you go to and why?


Thinking?


Think some more.

Here's a chuckle to take up space
so you don't see the answer too soon.


I got some pretty hilarious answers 
from the kids.

Here's the correct answer:



Seems reasonable enough.
But when is is Safe to Assume anything?
Hardly ever.
The world is a strange and unpredictable place.

One thing you can assume
is that I will be enjoying the weekend
with my people and pets,
camera in one hand,
and book in the other.

It is Safe to Assume we will meet back here next week
under the light of the Lamp Post.

Eloise





Friday, October 10, 2025

Lesson 920: Brain Teasers

Hello, Readers!
I love fall!


Even the hole in this tree at camp feels my adoration!


We were there last weekend.
It was unseasonably warm,


and we enjoyed


every single minute of it.


We enjoyed with warmth,
but were concerned with the level of the creek.
So shallow!


It is still very dry,
so heed Smokey's warning.



It really made me think about my world 
with warm Octobers.
It teases the brain in really difficult ways.

What impacts will the rising temperatures
have on the flora




and the fauna?



We were there to ride the Tour de Forest.
It is one last trail ride party
before they close for the season.

We pulled out in the morning
at 7:30am and it was 42 degrees!
Hazel was not happy!


She warmed up after a bit 
and enjoyed our three hour ride.


Meanwhile at home--
Gus and Whitford were holding down the fort.


Here are a few more things to tease your brain.

October night skies


and the wee early morning skies
are equally stunning.


We are just three weeks away from 
setting the clocks back!

How do these deer get to the Rolling Ridge parking lot
in the mornings?


How will Ellen create a tile pattern
to cover the top of her latest roadside find?


I listened to a thought provoking podcast
about the difference between 
being nice
and 
being kind.

I am definitely not a nice person,
and I state that with a confident pride.



I opened class this week with this set of Brain Teasers.
These puzzles are a favorite
of my students.

I lost the answer key--
or never had one to begin with; 
I'm not sure.

Nevertheless,
we could not figure out the answers 
for numbers 
11
12
and
14

Can you be kind enough
to help the Questies out,
Readers?



Enjoy your October weekend.
Eloise






 

Friday, October 3, 2025

Lesson 919: Don't Let It Die

Hello, Readers.
It is time for your Friday chirp!


The Lamp Post 5 had a good week.
Me, Mr. Lamp Post,
and my trio
are all happy to reach the weekend.

So is this trio!
I almost missed them.
They blend in so well with the grape rows.




If I could dedicate my life to animals,
as my late Heroine,
Jane Goodall did,
it would be to observing
and living among the 
white tailed deer of Pennsylvania.

We will miss Jane Goodall.
I wrote a blog about her last year
on her 90th birthday.
You can read it below:

This is my favorite photo of Jane doing what she loved:


This is my favorite quote:


And this 
is the one 
that must live on.
Don't Let It Die


Rest in Peace
with all of your chimps, Jane.
I will do my part to keep your words
near and dear to my heart.

It won't be a difficult task,
as Eloise cherishes the environment.


I'm out in it every day,
in awe of its beauty.


The early fall is in full splendor!
It's October,
so I can break out the pumpkin spice coffee.


I love nothing more
than curling up with a blanket,
a steaming hot spiced cup,
and a good book.

This is my current read,
and boy is it a good one.
Grandma is reading it, too!
Let's see if we agree!


If you want to find out if Grandma and I jive on our book opinions
or listen to us bicker....

Come to the Lamp Post on Sunday, October 5th
from 2:00-4:00
for a 
Book Party!



And what does one do at a Book Party?
Talk about books, of course!
It's sort of a flip of a Book Club.
Eloise does not like clubs of any kind.
Too many rules
and 
too much exclusion.
And if there is one thing I've learned
 in 33 years teaching:

Nobody likes to read an 
ASSIGNED 
book!

Show up and be prepared to sit in a circle
and tell about what books you've read and liked.
Don't be shy.
I'll go first.
And Grandma will continually interrupt you....

Gus

and Whitford


want you to come, too!

As do Hazel and Penny!
They just will pester you for treats, though.

Look what our friend Nicole found for Natalie!
Hazel and Penny in their Halloween costumes!
Natalie will take them Trick-or-Treating.
Getting candy from house to house
will be one activity 
that Miss Natalie will never let die!


The Lamp Post contains five adults now
and we all have differing opinions on most things.
One thing we can all agree on is
to keep the Beast on the Bay going.
Don't Let It Die!


The Barber Beast on the Bay
The Final Obstacle
took place on Erie's Presque Isle
last month.

We agree with guest writer
Colton Kellogg.
It needs to continue.


If you can find the article from last Sunday's newspaper,
please read it.


If the Barbers are ready to lay down the sword,
I hope someone else picks it up.


It is too important of an event
for Erie to lose!




We've been on a Beast hunt
with some really big teams over the years.



We've had lots of fun 



competing for a very worthy cause.


We can't lose sight of the ones who benefit most.


Eloise should make a new motivational sign:
You've gone this far....
you may as well KEEP GOING!


Erie, please--
Don't Let It Die.
Very nice article,
Colton Kellogg!


Eloise