I was telling my brother about the hiking trail we explored last weekend and he asked if it was too rocky for his kids. Honestly it was pretty moderate and there were only a few steep sections near the creek crossing. The wildflowers were still blooming which was nice to see this late in the season. We packed sandwiches and ate near the waterfall around noon and the mist felt great because it was getting warm. I forgot to bring extra socks and my feet got wet crossing the stream so that was a mistake I won't repeat next time. He said they might go this Saturday if the weather holds up. I also mentioned that the parking lot fills up fast so they should arrive before nine. There is a shorter loop that goes around the meadow if the kids get tired and that part is mostly flat with benches along the way. I think they will have a good time as long as they bring enough water and snacks. The trail map is posted at the ranger station near the entrance and it shows all the connecting paths clearly. We saw a family of deer near the campground on our way back and a fox crossed the trail just ahead of us which was a lucky sighting.

I also wanted to ask if you have ever tried making sourdough from scratch because I started a starter last week and it is finally bubbling nicely. The first few days smelled pretty strong and I almost gave up but now it has a pleasant tangy aroma. I fed it this morning and it doubled in size within a few hours so I think it is ready to bake with this weekend. I found a simple recipe online that only uses flour water salt and a bit of patience. My kitchen counter is now covered in flour most of the time but I do not mind the mess because the results are rewarding.

I read that book you recommended last week and honestly I was surprised by how much I liked it. The pacing felt a bit slow in the middle chapters but the ending tied everything together really well. I stayed up until almost one in the morning to finish the last few pages because I could not put it down. The characters were well developed and I found myself caring about what happened to them which is rare for me. I usually lose interest if the plot drags but this one kept me engaged even during the quieter scenes. The setting reminded me of that small town we visited in Vermont a couple years ago with the old stone buildings and the narrow streets lined with maple trees. I could picture everything so clearly while I was reading. I think you would enjoy the author earlier work too because it has a similar tone but explores different themes. I borrowed a copy from the library and I will drop it off at your place later this week if you want to borrow it. There is also a sequel coming out next spring according to the note at the end of the book. I might preorder it because I really want to see where the story goes next. Let me know what you think when you get a chance to read it and we can compare notes over coffee sometime.

Speaking of libraries I finally renewed my membership after letting it lapse for almost two years. The librarian said they now offer free streaming access to documentaries and language courses which I did not know about. I signed up for a beginner Spanish course and I have been practicing for about ten minutes each morning. My pronunciation is still rough but I am slowly getting more comfortable with common phrases. The app they use has a feature where you can record yourself and compare it to native speakers which is helpful even though it is a little embarrassing to hear myself stumble through sentences. I am hoping to build enough confidence to hold a basic conversation by the time I travel next summer. The whole thing is free with a library card so I cannot complain about the value.