Frost on the Ground!

The nights are cooling, the leaves are falling, and it frosted this morning! It's Monday again and I'm studying for yet another mid-term exam, this time in Global Studies. It's my last one and will be very relieved when Wednesday comes marking the start of Mid-Semester Break! The library is full, everyone is studying, and the pub might be running out of coffee. Yet, in the midst of a stressful time on campus, the leaves continue to change more everyday, and are starting to accumulate on the ground. I am eyeing the pile starting to form outside of ODY - it is turning into a prime leaf jumping spot. 

 This past Thursday for our 6-hour Mycology class, we headed to Mt. Arab for the day. On the way up we collected fungi and enjoyed the changing colors around us. After a short mile or so to the top, we stopped to eat lunch and enjoy the view on this brisk fall day. The view of the Adirondacks blended together with oranges, reds, yellows, greens, and everything in between. The clouds were minimal and the blue sky was shinning through. We even had a hawk flying above us for most of our time at the top! After a quick run up to the top of the tower, we were all feeling a little chilly and ready to head down. Collecting more fungi as we went to identify back in the lab, I also collected a bunch of beautiful leaves intended for pressing later on. The cool weather and nice hike reflected a typical fall day in the Adirondacks. Another awesome Mycology lab outside. If you are in Johnson Hall of Science be sure to check out our display in the glass boxes on the first floor!

On Friday my sister came to visit from New Hampshire and we headed to Ontario to visit our Canadian relatives for Canadian Thanksgiving!! We drove the 3.5 hours to stay with our Aunt & Uncle in Oshawa. The next day we traveled to Toronto to have a feast with our other Aunt & Uncle and cousins! Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, it was all delicious! And the pumpkin pie for desert was so good! I was pretty stuffed, but very satisfied. And the best part was that I get to have another thanksgiving in a month! I headed back to school on Sunday just in time to study and prepare for the short week of classes. Wednesday we will be heading for Midsemester break. I'm planning to go home, relax, and do some hiking in the White Mountains. More to come next week!

Cheers, Katie