running water

we saw a few waterfalls when we went on our camping trip
and i decided to play around with my camera
and try to get that really soft look for the water
these are my favorites

camping in the cold

for my birthday month we went on a camping trip
you know the kind
where you pitch a tent, cook on the open flame and everything
the trip included 4-wheelin', of course

and duke went, of course

we wheeled for 90 miles in one day
there are so many trails - you can even go to canada
the trails are awesome
and they're legit - with street signs and all

it was FABULOUS!
and the scenery was AMAZING!

but the night was COLD!
we're talking 39 degrees...and we weren't ready for that
but i'd do it again in a heartbeat!

trees, glorious trees

did you know maine has trees?

we're talking TONS!

i haven't really lived anywhere that had so many trees
kansas and texas aren't really known for their trees
and when we say there are trees
we are talking HUGE trees

they don't mess around up there

and they pack them in thick

and grow them tall

hi, how are you?

but i don't really care
but i feel compelled to ask you anyway
cuz someone, somewhere, decided every time you meet someone you should say this
what really irritates me is when someone asks you
and then doesn't even wait to hear your answer before they move on to something else
why did you ask me if you didn't want to know?
why couldn't you just say "hi" and stop with that?
and why is it everyone answers the same
"fine" or "good"
is everyone always fine or good?
i know i'm not
and why if you ask me do i feel compelled to ask you back
when if you're a random person on the street i probably don't really care
that sounds kinda harsh but why would i ask you when you aren't going to tell me the truth anyway?
when did we all become so superficial?
so if we don't greet someone in this way how can we greet people?
"hi, glad to see you"
"hi, what a great shirt"
"hi, did you do something different with your hair?"
now that i've typed them there is a theme to it
why not find something nice or personal about the person and comment or ask about that instead?

here's my challenge to you...
1. next time someone asks how you are give them the truth "feeling a little rushed today", "feeling happy and healthy today", whatever it is
2. choose a different greeting when you greet people

let me know how it goes and how the people react

hiking the appalachian trail

one of the things i'd been wanting to do for years was hike up to the screw auger falls

and i finally got the chance during my birthday month
i was intrigued by the stream you get to cross to get there

i suggest wearing shoes when you cross though

there are so many waterfalls in maine
come to find out to get to the falls you get to hike part of the appalachian trail

hiking the whole trail is something people actually do though
it's over 2000 miles - starting in georgia and ending in maine
that's just crazy!

it's also crazy how slippery rocks can get after millions of year of water running over them
it's also crazy how scared one can get when they think they're about to go over a waterfall
when all they wanted was a picture of them at the top of the fall

in a place where it was over a mile to hike into
don't worry though, sean was there to get a photo to prove he didn't push me...

i really thought i was going over
every time i tried to move i slipped further
i finally found some moss that i crawled on my knees grabbing rocks that hadn't been polished smooth
my heart was beating so fast the rest of the day
it was a beautiful site to have a little picnic

but i don't suggest exploring too much

changing of the seasons

the days are getting shorter
and the nights are getting colder

that can mean only one thing

it's time to head south again
the only thing that keeps me in new england once it starts getting cold

...leaf peeping

i'm just glad the trees cooperated and turned early enough for us to see them
these are the beautiful colors from almost 3 weeks ago

i can only imagine what they look like now...

i thought these were so cool how they're partially changed

birthday month - the finale

i figured out the mystery day from week 3
not sure how i could have forgotten it
but it was pamper day - got me a new doo!!!

the celebration can't go on forever...it has to come to an end at some point
and that point has come...
here are the final days of the birthday month celebration

day 1 - kate and mike's wedding in portland - beautiful!
day 2 - common ground country fair hosted by maine organic farmers and gardeners association
day 3 - getting the house ready for the switch and more guilty pleasure tv without sean complaining
day 4 - quality time with duke - it was his pamper day
day 5 - dinner and drunkin' pumpkins with friends
day 6 - found a project i was meaning to do all summer and forgot about - scanning in old photos - there are some gems, let me tell you!
day 7 - out and about on the town with our friends one last time for the season
day 8 - andy and angie's wedding - what fun!
day 9 - sean actually decided on the festivities for this day...he's getting better!  it was our switch day to go back to texas and he had a stretch limo pick us up at the airport!!!  it was quite a surprise and so fun - duke really loved room and utilized it all!