跟随花诗彤游密州
随着夏季天气开始消退，凉爽的风开始吹来，密西根州人期待秋天的到来，期待秋天的气候给我们带来的享受。玉米和小麦的田地变成了金色，这是接近收获的季节，占据主要舞台的农作物主要是树上的果实和地上的南瓜.
As the summer weather begins to fade and the cool winds start blowing in, Michiganders look forward to Autumn and all that fall weather brings for us to enjoy. Fields of corn and wheat turn golden, nearing harvest time, and other crops take center stage: primarily, fruit trees and pumpkins!
密西根州的州花是苹果花，这是因为全州到处都有苹果园，果实累累，似乎遍布各地。每年的这个时候，大多数果园主都为人们提供机会来体验苹果采摘的返璞归真的情趣。除了摘苹果，人们还可以从藤蔓上摘南瓜，或从收集箱中选已经采摘的南瓜。在自己采摘完新鲜，美味的瓜果后，果园主还提供最美味的苹果酒和甜甜圈给大家品尝。对于许多人来说这些都是生活中最珍贵的瞬间 – 当第一片绿色叶子变黄，然后变成橙色和红色的时候，伴随着笑声，一边喝着苹果汁，一边为万圣节做南瓜雕刻，搭建玉米迷宫和鬼屋。空气里伴随着新鲜出炉的苹果派那令人陶醉的诱人气味。至少，我知道这对我来说是很享受的。
Michigan’s state flower is the apple blossom, and for good reason. There are apple orchards all over the state and the fruit grows in abundance, seemingly around every corner. Most orchard owners have taken advantage of the nostalgia around apple picking this time of year and also offer pumpkins for plucking from the vine or in bins already collected. They also offer a most treasured treat of milled cider and donuts for a snack after the fun of gathering your own fresh, delicious produce. For many, the first sight of green leaves turning bright shades of yellow, orange and red brings along with it instant memories of laughter while sipping spiced cider, pumpkin carving in preparation for Halloween, corn mazes, haunted houses and the delicious inviting smell of a fresh baked apple pie – at least, I know it does for me.
秋天一直是我最喜欢的季节，尤其是在早秋，一切都刚刚开始发生变化，鲜红色开始在树叶和灌木丛中的绿色中开始绽放。随身携带轻便的毛衣或夹克，无论是在户外跑步还是嬉戏都感觉非常舒适。到十月，巨大的红橡树和枫树在纯净的蓝天下用鲜艳的色彩装饰着天空。在凉爽的天气下，小朋友的脸颊开始变得红噗噗。清新的空气，带着香气和清洁感。偶尔微风中，不时传来在壁炉中燃烧着的木屑所散发出来的气味。
Autumn has always been my favorite season, especially in its early days when everything just begins to change and bright red starts popping through the green in leaves and bushes. It is perfectly comfortable running and playing outside or going for a brisk walk with a sweater or jacket handy. By October, massive Red Oak and Maple trees decorate the skies with a vibrant array of color beneath a still blue sky. Cheeks start turning pink in the cool weather, but the air is crisp, fragrant and cleansing. The smell of burning wood lingers in a breeze coming from the occasional home running a fireplace.
对于我们的家庭来说，事情开始放慢了速度。我们的关注点从享受每一分钟的夏日阳光转变为轻松品味和家人相处的时间。每年我们都会在这个时候，三五成群地去苹果酒厂参观。我们烤馅饼或做苹果酱，然后一起分享。接下来，我们开始为即将到来的其他节日假期做准备，例如感恩节和我最喜欢的万圣节！
For our family, things start to slow down a bit and the focus changes from enjoying every minute of summer sun to winding down and spending time with each other. Every year we do a big cider mill visit or two, or three together. We bake pies or make apple butter in bulk to share, and we start thinking ahead to other family holidays coming up, like Thanksgiving, or my favorite – Halloween!
通常，这是一年中我们为学生组织许多户外活动的时间，希望他们像我们一样喜欢秋天不断变化的颜色，味道和气息。我们非常开心地看着学生尝试他们的第一口超级甜的苹果酿汁，眯起眼睛笑着大声说，这“太甜了！”，转而专注于摆在他们面前的南瓜蛋糕甜甜圈。寄宿家庭分享的故事里满载着苹果酒厂和果园的旅行，以及与他们的各种秋季的外出活动。虽然今年有所不同，但我们希望从这些文字和照片中欣赏密西根秋季的学生会为明年的亲身体验而感到兴奋。或者如果以前曾在这里与我们一起度过美好时光的同学，请在家里也记住这个季节！
Typically, this is the time of the year we would be organizing many outdoor events for our students, hoping they will love the changing colors, tastes and smells of Autumn as much as we do. We regale in watching students try their first sips of super sweet cider, milled before their eyes, laughing as most declare it “too sweet!” and focus instead on the pumpkin cake donuts before them. Reports from host families are flooded with trips to cidermills and orchards and stories of similar adventures with their students. This year is a little different, but we hope students reading this will be excited for this season next year, or if they have been here with us for it before, remember the season and enjoy it from home!
