Autumn Is Here

Boo

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Autumn Splendor

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Camp Lael - October 2010

Fall Follies

Hello Everyone - Around the Detroit Area it seems like we have an extended fall - maybe even an extended summer. Today's high was 64 degrees F!

As usual because November marks another year in which I 'turn older' - I've done a lot reflection. This year's reflection has brought about a big change for me - I put in my resignation at my part time job at Portable Church Industries. I've had nine wonderful years there, but it is time for me to only have one job. I wish I could say, "I have no idea what I'll do with all that time," but I do know that I am going to be working on "working out" throughout the year instead of just the summer. In fact, while I was at the Royal Oak Holiday Parade, I signed up for the LA Fitness Club. I can't wait to get started. This time will also give me time to pour into our discipleship initiative at church this year. We are using the The Way of the Alongsider materials (slightly cheesy but it does the job) from the Navigators. My church is committed to making disciples who live in community and who reach out to the community. This initiative strikes a lasting chord with me.

Speaking of Fall - Here are some of the pictures from my trip to Harbor Springs/Mackinaw through the Tunnel of Trees.

I have been a busy bee at school as well. The end of October we had parent-teacher conferences (we do two evening and 1 afternoon session). Our assistant superintedant took a superintendant position in Romeo Schools which left an opening at the central office. Our high school principal moved into that position and now we have a new principal at the highschool. He started this past week - midstream in the year. So much change. Mr. Gawell will be my 5th principal in 9 years. CRAZY. Our open house was this past week and the science department did a real "smash up" job. Instead of leaving our classrooms open like we normally do, we shut our classroom doors and opened up our two biggest labs in which we did demonstrations all evening. The community loved it. We had a lot of fire-related demonstrations: flame tests, fire/music demonstration tube, and how to start a fire in the wilderness. I sang into the fire/music tube and watched the flames create sine waves from my voice. It is really cool. I am going to try to get a picture/video of it the next time we set it up!

Last week I celebrated by birthday. I ate way too much. On Friday I had a huge dinner at PF Changs (mmmm!) and Saturday Bastones. My friend Kim special ordered me a beautiful cake. I ate WAY TO MUCH CAKE!!!! (hence LA fitness). Last night I went to see Tim's musical Urinetown at Rochester High School. The pit orchestra sounded great, the teenager/actors/actresses did a really good job. It was my favorite show yet that I have seen at RHS. Oh - and Alaina called me on gmail Video Chat. It was a really big highlight of my birthday. Next week we will all be together in Chicago. I can't wait!!!

That's all for now - please keep posting. Let us know how you are doing or tell us about something interesting!

Love, Tracy

Fall Fun Day

My Pumpkin all carved up. It was the thickest pumpkin I have ever carved - almost 3 inches to the hollow portion! Can you tell that it is a fish? A zebra fish?

Some of the pumpkins that were carved throughout the night. Carrie carved the third one in from the left. It was three dimensional with a tongue that was stuck out and cute little arms. It reminded me of the costumes in the musical "Cats"

I am "outstanding in my field"!

Tim is one of the first guys to find all of the markers out in the corn maze.

Beautiful Pumpkins!

Friends Sarah, Alli, Carrie, and brother Tim! We had a lot of fun!

Farmer's Market

These are some of my favorites at the Farmer's Market. First and foremost - Otto's Chicken. They come once a month and sell organic - grain fed - no preservatives - nor hormone chicken. I always get the chicken thighs - they are so tasty.


The Oatmeal stand. It's a bit on the pricey side but this Oatmeal keeps me full until lunch - it's chock full of dried apples, plums (aka prunes), raisins, and nuts. I cook it in the morning while I am getting ready for school - it's piping hot and delicious.


Green Peppers for Piggy - SHE LOVES 'EM!




MMMmmm - Berries

It is over . . .

Goodbye Summer.
Goodbye Vacation.

Gone are the days of taking off our watches and guessing what time it is by the position of the sun. Gone is the unconcern for the date it is - or day for that matter. Gone is our carefree nature - endless hours in the garden, a mid afternoon run, or ice cream in the wee hours of the night.

Oh Summer days - Oh Vacation - How I will miss thee.

Yes a Yurt

(yoort') –noun
a tentlike dwelling of the Mongol and Turkic peoples of central Asia, consisting of a cylindrical wall of poles in a lattice arrangement with a conical roof of poles, both covered by felt or skins.

My small group took an adventure up and over to the Pinery in Ontario, Canada for 3 days and two nights. It was a chilly weekend with brisk winds. We enjoyed hiking the Nipissing and Pine Trails. We watched the sunset over Lake Huron and even got our feet wet. We cooked on the fire and the camp stove until we were pleasantly full! We ate s'mores and laughed a whole lot. And most excitedly - we slept in a heated yurt. It had a vinyl outer covering and had a 'charmin-like' inner fabric. We were able to nestle in each night under its protection from the wind and cold. I can't wait to go again!

Enjoy the photos - if you are lookin' for me - I'm not pictured in these!

Family Sweet Family

I was just thinking back to a couple of weekends ago when Mom and Dad came to visit. My dear Mom is such a blessing - she helped me with laundry (she is now officially called the laundry fairy) and with getting my house back in order. It was a real blessing to me since this semester has been especially hectic. The new contract at school has given me an extra class, half of my prep time, and 180 students. It is a bit overwhelming - so Mom's help is just so appreciated.

Dad rearranged his worldwide travel just to be with us. He brings so much laughter to my home - it is precious to me. He and Tim fixed the railing to the bungalow (which had never apprently been screwed into the studs - duh!). I had been fretting over it for weeks and they fixed it in just a couple of hours. How amazing!

On the Friday evening we went to Tim's homecoming game where he was conducting the band. He is a master at what he does - coordinating hundreds of kids, cheerleaders, and activities all at once. You can see how much he enjoys the whole process - his smile is always ear-to-ear when they are "making music" and he is waving that wand!

Here are a few photos from our time together.

Fall has arrived!

Yesterday morning when I went to the Royal Oak Farmer's Market to pick up veggies, fruits, eggs, and organic meats I realize that Fall has arrived. I love it - no more scorching hot days - wearing jackets - eating cake doughtnuts and swishing them down with Apple Cider - brisk winds - Autumn leaves - and the beckoning of winter.