Monday November 23rd & Wednesday November 25th

By: Morgan Hennessy

Monday:

Many students are getting very anxious on their last few visits to the cafeteria with Thanksgiving Break being two days away. The weather has been pretty good for the most part. No precipitation to effect the students in what they are wearing or walking on. There has been more sign of squirrels today, maybe because there is such a small amount of people. Leaves are officially no longer on the trees and the ground is not really green, more brown from the lack of grass. Winter is starting to take a toll on the natural environment. Yet the temperature of this Winter has not bothered humans quite yet!

Wednesday:

Its 1pm, I'm about to leave to go home for break. I have seen maybe 50 people at most. The majority of them have their bags in their hands and are walking to their cars. Outside the Brody Cafeteria is very calm and there is little human interaction with others or nature. The weather is a little colder than it was on Monday, but for the most part the only difference is the amount of people on campus! Happy Thanksgiving!

Week #5: Monday November 30th & Wednesday December 2nd

By MORGAN HENNESSY

Monday:

At 3pm today the weather was much colder than it has been this whole month. There is not half as many people on campus today as there normally is. I would assume that is because the fact that Thanksgiving break ended yesterday and because of the extremely cold weather. Humans have a big impact on the Brody Cafeteria. There is many to-go boxes and cups on the ground near the caf that people failed to make to a trash can. There is also mud all over from people walking through the grass and mud on their way too and from the cafeteria and classes. The construction workers are making progress on the building and adding in additional sidewalks to the cafeteria. 

Wednesday: 

At 5pm today sleet was just beginning. People had on their winter coats, many layers, gloves, scarves, and boots to keep warm. The ground is getting soft and even more muddy than Monday because of the precipitation. Everyone is running to the caf to keep out of the sleet for as long as possible and a few people have slipped from the wet pavement, and slippery grass. The pollution factor is not as bad today as it has been the past couple of days. There was not much construction done today so there was no noise, dirt, or workers.  

Sunday the 6th: Katelin

Sunday: 10:00AM - 10:10AM

The snow is gone. I guess there wasn't enough of it to last through the weekend, but I'm sure we'll get more soon. Interestingly enough, the habits I described on Friday have also disappeared now that the snow is gone. Residents are now back to wearing their North Faces and lighter coats without scarves, hats, and gloves. It seems to be that they think they don't need heavy material to keep them warm anymore. Also, more people appear to be outside compared to Friday afternoon. I guess they assume the outside temperature must be warmer from the lack of snow and they are no longer afraid to venture outside. This is funny to me. I was sure that the presence of snow on Friday would act as a signal or sign to the residents that winter is here and cold weather is a given. I guess that's not the case though. Once again, human behavior is unpredictable.

Friday the 4th: Katelin

Friday: 3:30PM - 3:45PM

It's finally winter. Last night it snowed! It wasn't really enough to cover the ground, but it make the surroundings pretty with a little dusting. The cold weather and presence of snow has really impacted how the people living in Brody Complex act when walking outside. It seems to be that now everyone is bundled up in thick layers, wearing hats and gloves, and folding their arms over themselves or sticking their hands in their pockets in an attempt to keep warm. The snow and ice on the ground have also made the people roaming around Brody more cautious. Not as many people walk over the grounds of the complex; most people stick to the sidewalks. Also, when walking on the sidewalks, many people tend to watch where they step in case they should slip on ice and lose their balance. It's interesting to witness how a slight change in weather can really affect and change how humans live. I wouldn't be surprised to see these habits reappear on Sunday.

Thursday Afternoon

Last night it rained hard in East Lansing for a change.  Today, the ground is very wet, soft, and muddy.  People walk in and out of the cafeteria with hoods up and heads down as the wind blows freely.  Grass that was worn down from the other day looks terribly maintained.  The pathways have accumulated mud and dirt on them from the human activity.  Students dirty shoes walk over the grass and wet ground and stain the sidewalks.  The inside of the Brody Cafe by the door is also very damp and slippery.

-Mike Barber

Tuesday Afternoon

Today at the Brody Cafe, and around campus for that matter, the weather is great.  The sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, and it is warmer than usual.  You can see guys playing football in the fields right outside the cafeteria.  The grass is very worn down and looks to be stampeded.  The walkways are cleared by the immense human traffic on them, and the people are flowing in and out of the cafe.  Other than that, no human activity seems to disturb or effect the Brody Cafe today.

-Mike Barber

Zachary Luplow 12/2/09 10:40 a.m.-10:55 a.m.

The spot is relatively the same. The surrounds are relatively quite since the construction workers are on break. The only noises are those of birds and students walking out of the cafe. The squirrels are still here and have gotten even heavier since break and even my previous visit the sight of students doesn't frighten them or impact the surroundings they continue on as it is normal.

Zachary Luplow 11/30/09 10:20 a.m.- 10:35 a.m.
The natural surroundings of the spot have not been impacted by the construction going around Brody cafe. The only evident human impact is the footprints along the grass where students have been walking. Because of the recent warmer then normal weather the ground has become softer then my previous visits to the spot.

Tuesday Morning

Today has been a little chilly and colder outside with little activity. The paths are worn going back and forth to the cafeteria. The grass where there is no pavement is noticeably worn down too. It seems that many people have been walking in that area. Also, the open field next to the Brody Cafe is stomped out from guys playing pick-up football. You can tell it has been stampeded by many people playing for a long time. A lone piece of pizza lays on the ground next to the sidewalk, serving as food for animals around the cafe. I would have to imagine that a student accidentally dropped it out of their carry-out box on the way back to their dorm room.

-Mike Barber

11/22/09 Zachary Luplow

The nuts under the tree are starting to disappear as the squirrels prepare for winter there are more black squirrels at the spot as compared to brown. The ground is still quite hard this morning as permafrost is starting to set in. The leaves have been removed by the grounds crew and are no longer part of the environment despite all the tailgating noise the squirrels don't seem to nervous.

Monday 11/23/09 Zachary Luplow

Not much has changed at the spot. However, I have made the observations that the black squirrels and the brown squirrels have started to gain weight for winter and are starting to hide their nuts.The brown squirrels also seem to be heavier and more plump then their counter parts. The black squirrels are undoubtedly smaller but were smaller from the beginning.

Wednesday November 18 @ 6pm Morgan Hennessy

This Wednesday was more bright and sunny then it has been in the past couple of days. The trees have remained the same and the students are wearing a little bit lighter of clothing than Monday. There has been squirrels randomly running around today. A lot of students all at once just got off the bus. The buses have been considerably more full this past week because of the cold weather. The grass is gradually getting more brown as the days go on. 

Sunday the 21st: Katelin

Sunday 4:00-4:15 PM

It was warm this morning, but cooled off as the day progressed. When I was out there at 4 PM, the air was a bit hazy and kind of cast a gloom across everything. I could tell people weren't ready for the temperature change from the morning because most people were just in sweatshirts or thin layers and were either shivering or hustling to keep warm. It seems that more people are getting take out lately and bringing food back to their room, which actually is impacting the landscape. There is a lot of litter scattered on the ground and none of it is being broken down or decomposed. No one cares about the litter either; most people just walk around it or right over it. This makes the environment look even worse because everything is trampled into the muddy ground or ripped to shreds. As if this wasn't enough, the cold weather makes everything look hard and bare. There really isn't anything that is green anymore except for some of the evergreen hedges around the cafeteria. Everything else is literally the same shade of muddy brown and not really fun to look at. Unfortunately nothing seems to really be new since I last came out here on Friday. The residents of Brody are damaging the environment and not even blinking an eye...

Monday November 16th @ 3 pm Morgan Hennessy

Monday was colder than it has been the previous weeks this month. The trees are extremely bare, except for the pine trees. The phenotype of the trees are some trees have the ability to keep their leaves in weather changing from fall to winter and some don't. Pine trees still have their leaves now and the other oak trees do not have any leaves left. Students are starting to wear their winter coats and boots. The bushes are more bare and the grass is turning brown and muddy. The days are darker because of the lack of sun. 

Friday the 19th: Katelin

Friday: 10AM - 10:15AM

It's really cloudy and foggy today. Actually, in addition to that, it's also misting. The temperature has dropped again, making it cooler than it has been for the past couple of days. The ground is still brown and almost all of the leaves have fallen off the last bushes and trees that kept them for this long. Red berries have appeared on some of the bushes, but that's the only brightly colored thing in the landscape anymore. The ground is patted down with mud from people walking across it and riding their bikes over it, so it looks uglier than usual. The leaves on the ground are barely visible anymore; one can hardly tell that they're leaves because of their muddy colors and blob-like appearance. The only thing that remains is the barks on the trees and the thorns on the bushes that line the cafeteria. It is now obvious that winter is approaching.

Thursday Morning

This morning there was a slight westerly breeze that seemed to swirl around trees, bushes, and the Brody Cafe. It rained all night so the ground is wet and softer than normal. Puddles fill the sidewalks and the trees and bushes are seemingly wet. Rain drops linger on the lower parts of the branches and there is a darker tone to the color of trees today. This is because of all the rain the tree soaked up amongst the bark. The color will fade to normal by tomorrow if no more rain pursues.

-Mike Barber

Tuesday Afternoon

This morning was calm with little breeze and sun peaking through the clouds. Decomposing leaves on the ground look brownish with little yellow while leaves still on trees look yellow with no green anymore. Squirrels are becoming less and less active. The ground is getting harder and the grass is getting more worn down.

-Mike Barber

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Zachary Luplow

11/14 09

The spot outside isn't much different then normal other then the fact the ground is harder still as we continue to have frost. The tree is almost entirely bare of leaves. Squirels are starting to get fatter as they bulk up for winter. We are supposed to included a phenotype this week and that is one i've noticed smaller squirrels develop larger and more prominent bellies then larger squirrels.

11/16/09 Zach Luplow

yesterday the temperature was colder then usual for the normal time and the wind was blowing at a high pace. The birds are no longer in the tree's and it is quiet there is no smell from the spot anymore as it is perpetually frozen.

11/14 09

The spot outside isn't much different then normal other then the fact the ground is harder still as we continue to have frost. The tree is almost entirely bare of leaves. Squirels are starting to get fatter as they bulk up for winter. We are supposed to included a phenotype this week and that is one i've noticed smaller squirrels develop larger and more prominent bellies then larger squirrels.

Friday the 13th and Sunday the 16th: Katelin

Friday: 3PM - 3:15PM

It's really nice out today, so a lot of people were milling about the grounds of the complex and heading towards the cafeteria. The grass on the ground have become a tan-ish, brown color because of the change in seasons; however, patches of it still have some green to it and little flecks of green can be seen on each blade if you get up really close to each one. The trees still look really barren, although some flowers have appeared on some of the bushes. I think this is because of the warm weather. It's almost as if the buds on the bushes don't know what's going on because the weather has been so bipolar, so they're blooming again. The leaves that cover the ground are all brown now and not as crisp as they used to be when you walked on them. They seem to have lost most of their shape and texture. More visible changes will probably occur when the temperature drops again, but for now I think everything is enjoying this nice weather.


Sunday: 5PM - 5:10PM

It's still pretty warm today, although since it's later in the day it has cooled off a bit. The grass is now all brown. In some rare spots you can still find a hint of green, but for the most part the blades of grass have become a really ugly tan color. Some of the flowers/leaves that still remained on the bushes by the cafe have fallen to the ground. Their bright colors of red, orange, yellow, and green stems have now dulled to muddy shades of the colors they once were. These plants didn't seem to last too long. The trees surrounding the complex are now all bare and their barks looks darker compared to how it once was. The rest of the leaves from the big trees that have been on the ground for a couple of weeks now are almost all gone too. I think the decomposers got the best of them. It seems like everything is ready for winter now. Even though it's sunny, nothing new seems to be growing or going through photosynthesis. I think every plant is just storing the rest of its nutrients in order to survive the winter. I don't expect anything to really change within the week. I'm sure it'll just look as barren as ever when I return.

Thursday Afternoon

The sun shines down and through the scattered clouds in the sky. This increases the temperature because of the warmth it gives off, even though the wind is mildly blowing out of the south. Tree branches sway in the wind, but no leaves fall to the ground. Trees are becoming more bare, even though leaves still occupy them. Inside the cafe, few people are eating. The pasta and hot line stations are closed which may have something to do with that.

-Mike Barber

Tuesday Morning

The temperature outside the Brody Cafe is chilly yet again and the skies are overcast. Clouds are grey and the wind is calm. Leaves rest helplessly on the ground, lining the sidewalks as if they were just swept aside. Activity is slow and animals are relaxed. Trees are bare with leaves towards the bottom of the branches. People walk in pairs into the cafe but nobody walks out. Perhaps they're dining in.

-Mike Barber

Wednesday November 11 @ 5pm Morgan Hennessy

This Wednesday has been a fairly sunny day with a lower temperature than Monday, yet still very warm for a November day. The grass is progressively turing more brown and the leaves that were on the ground Monday have disappeared. The tree and bushes have remained the same since the last time I've checked them. The students have started wearing heavier coats and warmer clothing. Still no sign of any animals during my seven minutes of observing outside. 

Monday November 9th @ 1 pm Morgan Hennessy

The weather this Monday is so nice out. The temperature is in its high 60's. This is leading all the students to not be wearing jackets or warm clothing. Usually in the first few weeks in November winter coats and mittens are being worn. The ground is very hard. There hasn't been rain in a few days. The grass is all different shades of green and brown and filled with brown leaves. The trees and bushes are getting very bare, and the few leaves that are left on them are still red and yellow colored. Yet the leaves that have already hit the ground are brown. Within in my time by the Brody Cafeteria there was no sign of birds or squirrels which leads me to believe they are all getting ready to find warm spots to reside in for the cold winter ahead. 

Friday the 13th and Sunday the 15th: Katelin

Friday: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

I haven't had access to my computer because I've been in Ann Arbor, but Friday before I left, I went out to the cafeteria in the morning. No one was really around and it was a lot colder than the rest of the days during the week. There was frost on the ground and it covered all of the leaves that had fallen, grass, and plants. Usually plants look like they're wilting underneath all that frost, however, the plants looked really strong and in perfect condition. The leaves still looked crisp under the light layer of ice too. It was interesting to see because I was expecting more decomposition to occur during the week and for everything to look dead. It really didn't look that barren though; the only thing that made the area look bare was the missing leaves on the top of the trees.


Sunday: 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM

Sunday (today) was much warmer than Friday. It was quiet around the cafeteria again, probably because I went out early. The ground was kind of wet from the morning moisture, but things looked different compared to when I was there last. A lot of the leaves that were on the ground had lost their color and were now just dark brown or dark red. They looked like they'd had been pressed down into the ground too. They had lost their shape and looked more like blobs than leaves. I wonder if it was from people walking on them or if they were decomposing. I wouldn't be surprised if most of them weren't there when I go back on Friday, but I guess we'll see what happens.

Thursday Afternoon

The temperature is not as cold as yesterday because the sun shows signs of peaking out through the clouds. Squirrels aren't as active today, even though they still may be more active than others in most other parts of the state. People are carrying out food boxes with them in hoods and jackets, trying to protect themselves from the gusting wind that refuses to stop. Leaves are being thrown off trees and being blown all over the ground. It is a laid-back day at the Brody Cafe because the time of day, weather, and lack of motive amongst the Freshman population.

-Mike Barber

Tuesday Morning

People are out and about around the Brody Cafe but less than usual. Perhaps it is because lunch is still to come and not many people take advantage of breakfast. It is chilly outside but partly sunny. Squirrels are out and active, climbing trees and scurrying along the ground as if taunting people around them to chase them. Leaves are vacating trees, although some still remain. The colors are yellowish with little to no green on them.

-Mike Barber

Wednesday November 4 @ 5pm Morgan Hennessy

This Wednesday evening at the Brody Cafeteria,  there are many people heading to get dinner with their friends. The ground they are walking on is a significantly harder then it was on Monday. The ground also has many more leaves than it did on Monday. The Fall weather is taking its toll on the trees and bushes. The bushes also are more bare, but not too bare. The weather has gotten colder, but the animals have seemed to adjust because they are all around. For example: Birds and squirrels. 

Monday November 2nd @ 1 pm Morgan Hennessy

Outside the Brody Cafeteria there is many bushes, trees, and wildlife. The trees were all green, yellow, and red from Fall. There is an equal amount of leaves on the ground as there are on the trees. Because of the rainy weather over the weekend, the ground is still muddy and soft. There are not a lot of worms or animals that I have seen in this sighting. The bushes are still pretty full and intact. 

November 2, 2009 3 p.m.

The trees have lost a majority of their leaves and they have been blown away by a blower. The ground is hard as frost has begun. There is no birds in the tree and it is very cold. There is no wind however, the sky is clouded with breaks of sunlight peaking through. It also smells like a campfire and there are no surprising noises.

- Zachary Luplow

Zach's

Saturday October 31, 2009 10:30 a.m.
The leaves on the maple are red and the tree still holds about 3/4 the leaves. The ground is soft because of the rain and worms are on the sidewalk. The bushes along the dorms are no longer green and discoloring too a yellowish color. There are Birds are quiet but there still are about 3 crows in the maple.
- Zachary Luplow

Friday and Sunday: Katelin

Friday Observations: 10 AM-10:10 AM
Sunday Observations: 1 PM - 1:10 PM

This Friday and Sunday, I went out and observed the plants/organisms around the Brody Cafeteria. I realized it's a pretty interesting time to be observing the plants that surround the cafeteria since it's autumn. There are so many little changes occurring to the plants each day. Friday most of the trees and bushes still had leaves on them and they were brightly colored. However, once Sunday came, almost all of the leaves had fallen off. You could tell they had only been on the ground for a few days though because of how crisp they were. It didn't look like they had decomposed at all. I just thought it was interesting how quickly this process occurred; I guess the large amounts of rain and the strength of the wind the weather has brought us recently could have affected how quickly this transformation occurred. I'm interested to see if the leaves will look like they have decomposed at all when I go back to the site on Friday. I guess we'll see what happens!