Lesson 832: Phenology

Hello, Readers.

The Groundhog predicted an early spring today!

We are not at all surprised 

because of the mildness of the winter.

It's been a warm Phebruary.

Warm winters bring phog.

Eloise loves phog photography!

I also like words that have the "f" sound.

There is such a softness to it.

I have a particular phondness for words 

that start with the "f " sound and use the "ph."

I have the ancient Greeks to thank for that

phrom what I gather.

The new "ph" word I learned this week

was completely new for me--

never heard of Phenology before.

Here's a defintion:

What is Phenology?

The word phenology has two parts—pheno (appearance) + logos (study)—the study of plants and animals through seasonal changes.

We see it in everything from budding, flowering, and fruiting, to breeding, nesting, and migration.

By paying attention and recording your observations (see checklist below) you can not only become a more proficient gardener but assist with national volunteer projects that collect this information to give us a better understanding of nature and climate change.

Here's a YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgfb0Kd5W0Q&t=57s

Here's a TedEd on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNs3XpRmRfI&t=88s

Here are some creative projects to note your

nature observations.

Watercolor

Embroidery

Eloise give the highest praise!

I've already started the process for one of my own.

It's soup season!

Every weekend I make a new recipe

and serve it along with a loaf of homemade sourdough.

I finally mastered my starter.  
It took me nearly a month to get the hang of it.

Natalie and I were inspired by this artwork.

We are giving the wildlife 

something to look forward to

through the rest of the winter--

no matter when Punxatawney Phil

says that it ends.

I'm looking forward to spring

when I look at these lovely phlowers on my counter!

It feels so good to look at blooms of pink and yellow.

I found my dream greenhouse while scrolling 

this week.

After tending my plants

I'd work on my phenology wheel.

I think this is just perfect!

Let's end this blog with my phavorite of the week:

Second grade boy gives his classmate a pep talk.

To watch the heartwarming exchange, CLICK HERE

Goodnight my phriends,

see you next Phriday night.

Eloise

Lesson 831: Review the Game Tape

 Hello, Readers!

Isn't this cute?

It's the romantic thing about winter--

we northerners pretend we put on a hat

and ice skates and glide around on a flat, frozen pond.

When in reality.....

A week makes a big difference though.

Here I am last weekend in my new snowshoes-

a Christmas gift from my parents.

https://www.facebook.com/eloise.hawking.33/videos/1033129717793724

Now the snow has melted to a muddy mess.

Glad these photos of the Little Cheerleaders

made me forget about all the muddy dog prints on my kitchen floor.

The moms are going to be reviewing that game tape for many years--

and I doubt they even know the score of the game.

I watched a YouTube video while I was walking on the treadmill this week.

I caught it on my scroll and played it because it sounded interesting.

I listened to it,

liked it enough to write the 5 tips down--

and could only remember four of them.

I went back to look for it and I couldn't find it.

I'm thinking the fifth tip was to write things down.

Anyhow,

here are four of the five that really resonated with me

in the wee hours of the early morning

on an ordinary week in January:

1.  Define Winning the Day:  be clear about what constitutes a successful 24 hours

2.  Get up when you say you are:  Get moving when you intend to, even if you are a snooze alarm person, allow yourself the one tap, and then get up.

3.  Slay the biggest dragon first:  Attack that hard to tackle task, or the one you keep procrastinating about early-on, so you can live the rest of your day with the knowledge that you got it done.

4.  ???  A Lamp Post prize if you find it for me.

5.  Review the game tape:  At the end of the day, take a moment to look back at your calendar, planner, journal, or mental notes and think about it, be grateful.

Thanks for reviewing my game tape with me every Friday night.

It's my pleasure to share some of my life with you, Readers.

Here's a smile to end your night:
Homework:
Review the game tape from Tuesday night's baseball game against the Lancers of McLane.

Tied at the half.

Tied at the end.

OT.

Sam's friend Tucker got the winning bucket at the end.

This is the shot which is great.

Look for Sam on the bench.

#44

LOL.  

Eloise

https://www.facebook.com/reel/933543644774579

Lesson 830: Scarves, Blankets, and a Tablecloth

Hello, Readers!

Brrr!

It feels like January at the Lamp Post! 

It's time to bust out the scarves!

The hats and gloves are out in bins eight months of the year.

But the scarves

only take up precious space in my hall closet

when it's really, really cold.

All week we've had Weather Alert days.

The rough, windy weather 

blew across the lake last weekend.

freezing everything in its path.

We had to go check on the little, blue cottage.

Well,

I sent the hubby to check while I waited in the warm van.

She's frozen but still standing!

This is the weather I actually look forward to each year.

It makes you want to curl up with a blanket 

and a good spy novel.

One that even has snowy footprints on the cover!

Look at the surprise I received in the mail today!

It was the best of surprises, too!

An anonymous book-giver!

THANK YOU!

What's Penny looking at, you ask?

Visitors who come both day and night.

The dogs look at deer out the window,

and I look out my classroom window onto a playground,

blanketed with snow.

I love watching children in wintertime play.

This week my family lost a member--

my dear Aunt Jeanne.

She meant a lot to me.

So much so,

 I gave my daughters each a piece of her name in their own.

Aunt Jeanne was genuine and kind.

A family member who wrote her obituary described 

her joys so well:

Nothing brought Jeanne more joy than being with her family, hosting gatherings filled with laughter and games, and travelling to support the various interests of her children and grandchildren. 

Oh, how wonderful those memories are!

She had this wonderful tablecloth 

that she would cover her kitchen table with 

during holiday gatherings.

There were always Sharpie markers

scattered between the holiday dishes of 

5 Cup Salad,

Chip-Chopped Ham,

and Stefanelli's chocolate.

This isn't the tablecloth,

but it looked something like this.

My sister and I agreed that we'd get a tablecloth of our own 

to use for holiday gatherings,

which we plan to fill with

laughter and games,

just as Aunt Jeanne did.

She will be missed,

but never, ever forgotten.

Natalie Jeanne,

Ellen Louise,

and the tablecloth

will make sure of that.

Read about her life HERE

Eloise

Lesson 829: Howling

Hello, Readers.

Typing fast tonight as the winds are howling

outside of the Lamp Post's rattling windows.

Losing power is a possibility.

So, who said it best?
The wise Japanese,

or Walt?

The basketball team was howling tonight

in an all-dog match up--

The Huskies of Harbor Creek

vs

The Bulldogs of Meadville.

Our gym has a warm, cozy feel.

It's so pretty!

I like the softer lighting

rather than the glaring white of other gyms.

It makes it very hard for photos though.

Sambassador was at work,

talking to the other team during foul shots.

Sam is as fun to watch on the bench

as he is on the court.

Blurry,

but don't worry.

He's not flipping everyone off.

It's the Tommy DeVito!

We call the McDowell match up

Sam vs Cam

The Cousin Rivalry.

We all howled when we realized she went to preschool

with his friends.

My students got stranded at the Tom Ridge Center

when our field trip bus wouldn't start 

for our return trip home.

CLICK HERE for a musical treat

While on the field trip 

the students took a personality test

to help them match career fields with 

their tendencies and behaviors.

Weekend homework:
Take this test!  https://www.16personalities.com/

Post on my facebook what you are!

I am to the Protagonist---

the green guy with the sword on top of the T in Personalities.

ENJF are the letters.

At this late hour I can't remember what they stand for,

but the E is Extrovert.

We howled with laughter when my husband,

known for his big personality,

said his test determined he was an introvert.

We are convinced he answered the questions backwards on the scale!

If we use his 1991 job resume we found 

as evidence of his exuberance,

we have our proof!

Fraternity President 

and played every sport known to man,

definitely not an introvert.

We are hoping our Little Blue Cottage 

survives the weekend.

Hold on tight Erie Lakeshore.

High winds will be a-howling all weekend long!

Stay safe, Readers.

And try reading a book if your power goes out.

It's a really nice pastime

and reading makes you a much more interesting person.

Eloise