2025, October 6-12

Back to a relative return to routine. 

Hallie had the opportunity to work at a different Starbucks this week. Fun change of scenery. On Friday she was back at Springville enjoying seeing all of her regulars and working with her favorite barista.

Who doesn't love pictures of Fergus? Hallie noted that she would usually share pics like these with Sue and is sad that she's no longer with us to appreciate them. Now Alie can get them instead. 

The picture of Fergus below is different because it is Landon's friend petting Fergus in a place Fergus doesn't usually let people pet him.

We received this lovely bouquet of paper flowers as a memorial to Mike's mom. 

Mike caught the pumpkin stuck on the top of Main Hall sometime during the week. This is a three-decade's-old tradition. No one seems to know how it first happened or who keeps it going, but people have their suspicions. 

Both Eliza and Kai enjoy the feel of the wind in their hair as they go on rides. Heading to school this way must be soothing for Eliza especially.

Eliza caught this brilliant sunset from Leslie's barn. She's a cowgirl through and through. As she laid in the loft, she said she could hear bats and that laying on the hay is very comfortable.

Shortly after the pictures at the barn were taken, Hallie and Bryce's family met up with Eliza at the barn. We got to spend a few minutes together before they headed back to Hallie's parents to get ready to go back home to California the next day. Unfortunately, we did not get pictures.

UM went all out with its pep rally on Friday night with the marching band, rousing speeches, and fireworks out on the Oval before the carillon bells chimed in celebration. Mike didn't get in with the crowd but had lots of fun listening and watching nonetheless. 

One of his heraldry friends made him and other moderators of the Discord Heraldry Server into Poland Balls (remember those?). 

On the day of the big football game against Cal Poly, Mike walked over to the Lodge to get a bite to eat and watch the game. Not many people were there, but he was glad to have a place to watch the Grizzlies make a second half come-from-behind victory. He got there by way of the Hello Walk, a tradition that students and others have at homecoming of using chalk paint to say hello in a variety of ways and languages. 

Later, he walked around campus and took a picture of Main Hall lit up in victory. See the giant pumpkin still stuck to the spire? It'll eventually rot and fall off by sometime in the spring. 

Fergus has had some issues tied with old age, such as not as easily getting into chairs like he used to as a wee kitten. He still can make it up to cuddle up with his people during a thunderstorm. Earlier in the evening, Eliza had gotten caught out in a hailstorm. 

On Sunday, Mike went to campus as he usually does to read and walk and otherwise enjoy the scenery. Fall leaves are really starting to show, and the wildflower gardens are about ready to be done.

Someone posted a memorial for Jane Goodall, the primatologist and all around good human who passed on October 1. Earlier in the week, Mike had shared a short video with her famous last words from a Netflix show that released last week. Worth a watch.  

These leaves will peak sometime next week, and then *poof!* they'll be gone.