Lesson 965: Mother Clucker

 Hello, Readers.

It's been a Mother Clucker of a week.

The final days of summer are upon us--

for those of us who are Teacher Readers, that is.

The kids still have a bit of time left,

but most teachers in our area return Wednesday, 8/19.

Most teachers spend these weeks putting things in order--

getting their classrooms and homes school-ready.

It leaves many of us feeling like the last rose of summer--

or in my case,

last zinnia of summer.

I'm posting early tonight because

I'm bound and determined to finish 

the Great Semi-Annual Home-Sort,

hell or high water.

I just finished my second cup of coffee

and will pull and all-nighter if I have to.

Grandma didn't pull an all-nighter to see Elvis--

She just braved the Wednesday night rain

and made it to Whitford Park.

My mother is fun--she is not a clucker.

I did eat at a place of the blog title on Thursday evening.

We got the best chicken sandwiches

and lemonade from Mother Cluckers at the Warren County Fair.

I'm a sucker for a County Fair,

and this one set in the gentle mountains of Warren

is one to visit!

There is something for everyone.

Natalie loves the cows best,

so we were sure to visit the Moo-tel

My favorite is the Domestic Arts barn.

I love the creativity.

You, too, can see a cucumber dressed as George Washington.

The Home and Garden Barn was the best!

Mr. Lamp Post wants to volunteer to be a food judge

and award ribbons to pies, cakes, and all the delicious things entered.

There was lots of clucking around the camp table

last weekend,

when the girls hit the big woods.

And this big Mother Clucker was on my naughty list.

I thought my days of soaking muddy sports clothes were over!

The wiffle ball tournament was huge fun--

especially after some rainy days!

The Old Rooster and Hen

and most of the Erie brood

met at Oliver's Beer Garden 

for some mid-day drinks and snacks.

This little guy visiting Erie

noticed Grandpa's Coast Guard hat.

His father, grandfather, and great grandfather

were all in the Coast Guard.

His dad was in Erie doing some diving

as part of an underwater archeology study.  

I asked the little red head 

what he wanted to be when he grew up.

He said,

A sailor for the Coast Guard, of course!

Natalie has been a Mother Clicker today

with her favorite clicky pen.

She was answering 

and sending out new Happy Mail!

Thank you to all who have sent her cards!

It makes her so happy!

And I'll end on this note:

A local thrifter is going to be a happy Mother Clucker!

We are setting some Happy People apparel free

into the Good Will bags,

which will be dropped off at the Harborcreek location

tomorrow!

Happy, Happy-Hunting, Mother Cluckers!

Eloise

Lesson 964: Anthesis

 Hello, Readers.

Eloise here,

wishing you a happy weekend.

Today's vocabulary word is:

I've been watching our sunflowers reach 

this stage in their development.

Every stage along the way is beautiful.

I love going out to see them,

and returning to them a few minutes later

and there are changes.

Unfurled is true anthesis.

This one is the Autumn Beauty.

The Skyscrapers have not bloomed yet.

We are trying to figure out this one.

This one is Lemon Queen.

The Russian Mammoths are starting to bloom.

What is most impressive with that plant 

is the leaves!

Garden win of the week

in terms of tiny anthesis--

We planted Forget Me Nots

around Josie's grave.

She passed away on August 3rd, 8 years ago.

We will always remember

our beloved black lab.

A few months after her death

we adopted Hazel.  
When we reviewed her paperwork 

from the ANNA Shelter,

we discovered she was born the next day--

August 4th!

Natalie and I read the back of the seed packages

for two varieties of Forget Me Nots,

and tried to time their blooms

for August 3rd and 4th.

We were spot on!

If you are a local,

and have a cat adoption in your heart,

I have two young cats in need of homes.

They are not feral.

They will be going to the vet this week

to see if they are chipped 

and if they are boys or girls.

One looks like this--

a gray tabby with blue eyes.

I named it Welcome,

after a friend of our family who recently passed away.

Her middle name was Welcome!

The other is a pure black cat

with green eyes

and silky-shiny fur!

I named that one Artemis

for the NASA Moon Missions.

Please contact any of the Lamp Posters

if you would love to see one of these kitties!

Enjoy the weekend, Readers.

Eloise

Lesson 963: Williamsport

 Hello, Readers!

The Lamp Posters returned home

from the American Legion Baseball State Tournament

in Williamsport, PA.

It is home to the Little League World Series.

This team of guys was really fun to watch.

The field was in a gorgeous setting.

The mascot for the Williamsport Area High School is a Millionaire.

Given it's proximity to the Susquehanna

and river shipping of lumber,

there was a great concentration of wealth

a century ago.

It took us awhile to figure out the logo.

That's a top hat,

white gloves,

and a rose.

We lost the first game--

a close one to the team 

who eventually won the tournament--Pittston.

We had a win for the second game

which was has landed in my top 3 of all time games.

Sam hit well,

pitched well,

and had a blast.

The game that sent us packing

was the third game.

Louie watched from the hilltop in the outfield.

I walked up and down the hill to burn off stress

and took pics of wildflowers between innings.

We enjoyed the area so much

we would love to go back.

If you have dogs,

we found the best Vrbo!

Sam never got to eat at Pier 87.

Look up the restaurant if you ever are in Williamsport.

It's right along a creek.

Home Sweet Home

means Home Gutted Home

at the end of every July.

The annual Lamp Post resort has begun

and there are bins and boxes everywhere!

I rearranged all my bedroom furniture today

and I'm feeling it,

so I'm headed to bed soon.

Not before I give you your weekend homework, however.

Last week I told you about Natalie's 

Happy Mail project.

It seems she's not alone.

Snail Mail is trending!

If you watch the segment below

and read The Mailman,

you will want to bust out a pen and paper yourself!

CLICK HERE FOR Today Show Snail Mail

Goodnight, Readers.

Eloise