Lesson 819: Science of the Silence

Happy Friday, Readers!

All is quiet here at the Lamp Post tonight.

 

It is a very rare thing 

when any kind of quiet finds me.

I have a loud life.

I think that's why the silence of growing things

has me fascinated.

Eloise has fallen in love with plants!

Learning about them through my Master Gardener class

is absolutely fascinating.  

I'm looking at the fall to winter period

with fresh eyes this year.

A time to sow the seed

and a time to reap the crop.

With the time change,

the tree blackens in the shadows

as I end the school day.

In the darkness we see 

the strength of her bones.

The snow preparations have started.

The snow tires aren't on yet,

but the snow stick has been planted.

We took a trip to the woods this past weekend

for the Cook Forest Gingerbread Festival.

We ate at the Forest Nook Restaurant

and looked around at the Nook Nacs.

Marienville is extra pretty this time of year.

The dogs think so, too.

Although they don't enjoy their tethers.

I managed to find the childhood home of a friend

by word of mouth directions:

"go past the farm stand, 

around the curve,

and up the hill."

Eloise loves to find things!

I also love to make homecooked food for the holidays.

My holiday cooking magazines are arriving in the mail!

I also am getting some ideas for new side dishes

from my Master Gardner classes.

Who is going to volunteer to take the first bite?

Enjoy your weekend, Readers.

I'm going to enjoy the rest of my quiet night.

Eloise

Lesson 818: Falling

 Hello, Readers.

What is it like to be a bird

perched atop the highest tree?

Is she ever afraid of falling?

She wouldn't care if she fell into this, I guess.

I fell for fall this past week.

It offered us a bit of everything.

Goodbye to summer's last blooms.

Faces turned and arms outstretched to the fading light.

The tears came.

And then came our first, soft blanket of snow.

Here is my favorite tree 

different dates this week.

Her leaves are really falling!

The tree reminds me so much of this one

by artist James Coleman.

The snow is so important for our water well!

We had some work done to it this week.

These guys are great!

Well, actually,

Great-Great!!

They are identical twin brothers.

Do you all remember the story of Baby Jessica

who fell down the well?

Every time I look down a well shaft,

I think of her.

Trivia question:
What year did Baby Jessica fall into a well?

See the end of this blog for the answer.

We said goodbye to the football season last Friday.

Greenville fell to the Huskies.

I'll miss seeing the crowd of kids the sport draws.

They are loyal fans who show up rain or shine.

#51 will be suited up again next season.

He's looking forward for a full return to basketball

on December 1st.

His spleen needs a few more weeks to recover.

I fell in love with plants this past year,

so I applied for acceptance into the

Penn State Extension's Master Gardner program.

We had our first in-person practicum class 

this past Saturday.

Here are some snapshots 

of things Eloise learned about.

Scarification of seeds.

Rooting techniques

Seeds!

One of my new, favorite topics!

I would love to find these books.

I think the one pictured below is out of print.

With temperatures falling,

it's time for me to squirrel away some winter reads.

I have to thank Wanda, Wendy, and Jessica

for the excellent book suggestion.

I gave this gal 5 stars,

which is a rare blessing,

given to only the best of the best books.

Watch for two upcoming dates:

1.  Anything But A Book Club, Book Club

Fall meeting to be announced this week.

2.  Happy People Shirt Sale,

announced this week, also.

Have a great weekend!

Answer to tonight's trivia question:
Year:  1987!