Fall has arrived in Long Beach, IN.  The days are shorter and noticeably cooler.  Lake Michigan

roars at times.  It can go from being flat and serene to waves rippling to shore.  The children

are back at school working and visiting the pumpkin patches.  I think that is one of my favorite

pictures from pre-school - the class picture in front of the great pumpkin.  I believe it was Arndt

orchard.  It was always a great field trip.

Football is synonymous with Fall in the mid-west.  When we first moved to Indiana (1988),

we awoke early one Sat. morning to music.  It was the Purdue song.  Our neighbors had

put up the Purdue flag and were packing up the car to head to the game.  Long beach

is within 45 minutes to the University of Notre Dame, so there are plenty of Irish fans

here too.  One of my favorite rituals of fall is going to a Notre Dame game.  The tradition

is wonderful and exciting.  Everyone leaves their homes early to tailgate.  It is truly

something to see the Irish band march down the street towards the stadium and

then of course when the team runs through the tunnel onto the field.  It is always

a fun-filled day at the game usually followed by a quaint dinner in a warm restaurant.

Long Beach can be vibrant and exciting in the fall too.  There are plenty of activities to enjoy

with family and friends.  True the days are cooler, but it's perfect for that delicious pumpkin spice lat tee!