Having Fun

Caroline and I have been in the midst of a power struggle, so haven't been able to really focus on anything but the home life. I tried to go back to the work out place I had previously been attending and just couldn't bring myself to go on a regular basis, so instead of "wasting" 90$ a month, I figure I can treat Caroline and I to something cool once a month, like a museum or going to the beach and having lunch, just something different. We have also given up television except the am news for one hour and one hour after Caroline has gone to bed. Just in the past few days the child's temperament has changed for the better. Not that we were really "plugged-in", but it seemed like we were doing a bunch of sitting around in the TV room (sometimes playing with the TV going as background noise). I don't think much damage has been done, she has a GREAT vocabulary and imagination, but I've noticed she is focusing a bit better already on listening to what I say to her. Now it's only been three days, but it is pretty positive. Nothing like using your kid as an experimental lab rat, "just to see if all the hoopla is correct". I'll be damned if it isn't proving to be true, but we'll give it some more time.
BTW - I'm working on getting Caroline acquainted with the computer a bit and we spent some time today using the paint program and the picture above is the result.

Fall's Brook

Cheryl and I took a wander down a path that used to be less traveled in hopes of capturing a true money shot. Alas, no go on my end. Before we were even 20 yards into the woods, there were a couple of loud snaps, such that a larger animal wandering in the woods would make. Cheryl being in an even more remote area than myself and having had bears meandering through her yard, immediately went on alert. Brave me is thinking "OK, I don't smell anything so it must have been a moose or deer" Now until yesterday when I was informed differently, I was under the impression (I don't know where from) that bears really, really, really, really stink and if you smell something like rotten meat and sweaty socks you better get your pepper spray or play dead or do whatever the current escape with little harm theory is. We listened for a bit, I sniffed the air like a scent hound, not able to give up on the smell thing, and off we went on the mile long all down hill trek. We rock hopped and waded our way to the main falls were we ran into some unfriendly people. I had so many great memories of this little hike and was basically walking down memory lane. Throughout my life, with all the moving my family has done, there have been some very special, happy, feel at peace places and this is one of them. Anyway, it was such a beautiful day with no clouds in the sky to help diminish the brightness a bit that almost all of my pictures are too bright. I still had a great time trying to get creative and see some different things in everyday stuff.
Getting artsy with reflections.
Tried to get dripping moss at the falls.

One of the few open spaces above our heads. The sky was so pretty though.

Brave Cheryl on the actual falls. She hates having her picture taken, but I needed to show the perspective of how big our little waterfall is. As you can see, there is no waterfall due to lack of rain in our area.

Just some different views

This one is my favorite, it is actually a second, much smaller
waterfall. The water flows from one sheer drop to a little pool, about three times.

So Much to Catch Up On

Obviously, by what we are wearing, the weather has changed a bit for the cooler up here. The trees are even showing signs of color other than green. It seems early to me, but maybe it'll be a good winter sport year.

Thinking of something to do
Riding home from Gran and Gramp's house with her fresh picked lettuce; that's all she wanted, no tomatoes, no cukes, just a fist full of lettuce.
Not the most flattering picture of the house, but wanted to get the sunflowers in. Also, please give your opinion of the color we should paint (color choices on left of house). From top to bottom of samples: putty, dark sage green, and plum (purple).