End of August

School has started for me now too.  The weather has been warm with occasional storms.  A little bird got caught in some netting in our yard a few days ago so Katie got to hold it for a little while.  We made applesauce last night, and tonight we made s'mores on the grill.

Transitioning into the school year

Karen, Kris and Katie have started school classes this past week.  I have been prepping for classes but start this coming Wednesday.  Karen and I celebrated our anniversry last Thursday.   Today was probably the hottest day of the year, but I went out fossil hunting with the girls and some of their friends.

Mid-August?

The weather has been pretty mild and dry.  It sort of feels like late September, and to add to that effect, we have maple leaves turning in our front yard and apples are ripening!  I picked a couple pumpkins today (one I think is the best we have had here) so I guess you could call them Assumption Pumpkins.  I am still seeing a few fireflies in the evening, however.  Today I joined the girls briefly at a local go-kart place.  Katie (and Kris) got to steer a little dune buggy.  Katie also had her first soccer practice of the season this evening.

Grandma June's Passing

My Grandma June passed away a few days ago after a long battle with Alzheimer's.  The day after I got back to Peoria from Grand Rapids, we headed up to the Green Bay area for the funeral this morning.  It was sad, but also fun remembering her and also meeting family. I remember her for so many fun things: her candy drawer, her phrases ("Heavenly days!  You dasn't hide behint the davenport!"), her snappy dress and clean house, the way she yelled "Boys! Boys!" at the TV when there was a fight on the field during a Packer game, her wonderful sense of humor, etc. but I also remember she had a strong faith in Christ.

More BCCE

Another interesting piece of art on the GVSU campus.  More talks and posters.  This evening's reception featured the band Al D Hyde and the Key Tones (a word play on the chemical types aldehydes and ketones).  The group started in 2004, only performs every other year (at these meetings), and is composed of all chemists.  They covered many rock songs and a bunch of people danced.  It was fun to watch, kind of like being at a wedding.

Visit to Grand Rapids

Today I stopped by a technology exhibit at Grand Valley State University.  I saw one of of those laser drawn keyboards and got to try on a Google Glass.  This evening I took a quick drive over Grand Rapids.  I stopped at Fish Ladder Park (I think the fish ladder park in Seattle is better - it is a lot more educational) and by a Calder sculpture by city hall.

2014 BCCE at GVSU

I'm in Allendale, MI, right now on the campus of Grand Valley State University for the 2014 Biennial Conference on Chemistry Education.  My talk, given this morning, went OK.  They had a concert at the bell tower last night that was nice.  There was a TV screen near the tower so you could watch the person playing the bells with a keyboard.  It is a pretty campus; I have included pictures of some of the art here.

Wildlife Prairie Park Visit

Today the Karen and the girls got free admission to Wildlife Prairie Park from the local library for reading a lot this summer.  The park has changed a bit (for the better) since we last visited.  We did not have time to see it all, but we enjoyed the expanded train rides, the "farm" area (with the goofy pig races), and the butterfly house.

After a summer shower....

...the streets were steaming and there were mammatus clouds in the sky.  Our apples are getting ripe, too.