Minimalist First Sunday in Advent Style. . .

We take a relatively understated approach to seasonal decor around Totleigh. Best to keep clutter to a minimum so that we aren't sick of Christmas by the time it actually arrives. Know what I mean?

And we have had a few inches of snow here in The Grand Duchy! The next three weeks or so will, invariably, be a bit busy as the semester winds down. However, probably like many people, I am looking very forward to Advent and the Christmas season.

In the meantime, it's back to the salt mines tomorrow (Monday) as my much missed maternal grandfather used to joke. We have not been entirely inactive since Thanksgiving Day. This year's Christmas wreaths have been hung on either side of the front door, and the icicle lights suspended from the eaves along the front of the house (our sole concession to seasonal exterior illumination). Most of the leaves have been sucked up from the lawn by now, and the snowblower even started on the first try this morning.

You know. Just to be sure it works when we actually need it. January through early March can be quite snowy here in Mid-Michigan in a good year.

On that note, and most important, the cross-country skis stand waxed and at the ready in the garage. Winter can begin in earnest.

-- Heinz-Ulrich

24+ hours of very light by steady snow yielded this delightful scene from the rear of our house this morning. Many people dislike winter and complain endlessly about it, but we look forward to and enjoy all that the season has to offer time and weather permitting. It's just one of those many small bits of joy that are all around us everyday if we bother to notice.

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Flannel and Suede Tuesday. . .

W hew! Almost three hours spent reading and providing feedback for 41 self-evaluative reflections submitted by students at the end of last week for one of my two courses this semester/term. A largely thankless task since most will pay no attention to the probing questions asked and suggestions made. There are ten such low risk (two points each) formative assignments between Week Two and Week 13 besides three collaborative projects (due at the end of Week Five, Week 10, and Week 14) and a semester capstone that students complete individually (due at the end of Week 15). The format is similar for all of the courses I teach whether face-to-face, hybrid, or asynchronous online. So, why spend the time providing feedback for the ether? To create a paper trail of sorts. That way, when students come to me with either belligerence or crocodile tears (it rarely varies) and complaints that they won't be able to earn their A+ -- a foregone conclusion out ahead of the invariable medical

Halloween Monday Style. . .

A dark, wet Halloween today, so time to break out the flannel three-piece, which is one of my favorites during the cooler/colder months. My sole concession to the day is the orange necktie which is a Brooks Brothers 'Makers' and, in my view, perfect for the fall season given its colors. The fedora, worn without irony, is a Borsalino 'Noir' model, which works wonderfully well with a trench coat. Hey, everyday is dress-up day in my little corner of the world. Here's a tip. When you dress everyday, and become used to doing so, it ceases to feel like a costume, and you become less self-conscious, eventually forgetting about your clothes all together once they are on your body. Which is what you want. Of course, it helps if you observe older male family members doing so routinely during your formative years, but that's not entirely necessary when you have the right approach. Take a page from Carol Dweck's book and adopt what she has termed a 'g

Fall Break Monday Style. . .

T he Young Master and I had some fun yesterday (Sunday) afternoon while digging out a few exterior seasonal decorations from the furnace room. Enlarge the top photograph to see what Mr. Bones is reading about at my son's suggestion. Personally, I would be happy to skip the Halloween decorations outside beyond a couple of jack-o-lanterns glowing on the front porch for trick-or-treat evening, but The Young Master, who turns 13 this week, still enjoys it, so what are you gonna do? He will be answering the door this year, however, rather than heading out himself. But fear not all you advocates of kids hopped up on sugary treats! His Tae Kwon Do studio has organized a trunk-or-treat for Saturday afternoon, in which our son will indulge following his morning classes toward Black Belt Recommended status (testing in December). Fall Break the first two days of this week, so a bit more work from home since, officially at least, the university is not closed for faculty and staff. J

Classic Style

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