Hey, I just got back from the hike and wow it was way more humid than I expected. I should have brought more water but at least the trail was mostly shaded. The wildflowers were really starting to pop along the ridge. I think next time I will start earlier in the morning before the heat really sets in. The parking lot was already half full when I got there at eight thirty. I saw a couple of deer near the creek about a mile in which was a nice surprise. My legs are definitely going to be sore tomorrow but it was worth it. The view from the top was completely clear and you could see the lake in the distance. I brought a snack but honestly I was so focused on the climb I almost forgot to eat it. I will probably do this trail again in a couple of weeks once the weather cools down a little. Let me know if you want to come along next time. I can bring extra water and we can take a longer break at the summit. There is a nice flat spot up there with a few rocks that make good seats. The whole loop took me about three and a half hours with a few photo stops along the way. I was pretty tired by the end but it felt great to get outside. I ended up stretching for a good ten minutes after I got back to the car and that helped a lot. I think the fall colors will be amazing up there in a few months. I might try a different trail next weekend just to mix it up a bit. There is another one on the other side of the ridge that connects to a small waterfall. I have not done that one yet so it could be a fun adventure. Anyway just wanted to share how it went.

Talk soon.
Take care.

I finally got around to reorganizing the bookshelf and honestly it was long overdue. I had books stacked in piles on the floor for months and I kept telling myself I would get to it next weekend. Well next weekend finally came and I spent the whole afternoon sorting everything by genre and then by author last name. It sounds a little obsessive when I say it out loud but it looks really clean now. I found a few paperbacks I forgot I owned including one that my sister lent me like two years ago. I should probably return that to her soon before she asks about it. The whole project took longer than I expected because I kept stopping to flip through old favorites and read a few pages here and there. I also wiped down all the shelves with a damp cloth and dusted the tops of the books which made a bigger difference than I thought it would. The light comes in from the window in the afternoon and hits the spines just right now. It kind of makes me want to do the same thing to my closet but I am not sure I have that kind of energy left. Maybe I will tackle that next month. I also moved a small lamp onto the top shelf and it gives the whole corner a warm cozy glow in the evening. It is nice to have a little reading nook that actually feels intentional. I have been trying to read more before bed instead of looking at my phone and having a tidy space helps me actually follow through. I am halfway through a mystery novel that has a lot of twists and I keep changing my mind about who did it. I will probably finish it this weekend and then I will need to pick something new from the now very organized shelf. Let me know if you have any good recommendations.