Carter Caves

July 10, 2010
On our way to Kentucky....

Shangra La Arch


Roxy was swimming on her own in Smoky Creek


Swinging Bridge over Smoky Creek


We ended up hiking 6 miles over a four hour period.


X-Cave


Was picked on at this point for being quite in the group.

House Rules by: Jodi Picoult

They tell me I'm lucky to have a son who's so verbal, who is blisteringly intelligent, who can take apart the broken microwave and have it working again an hour later. They think there is no greater hell than having a son who is locked in his own world, unaware that there's a wider one to explore. But try having a son who is locked in his own world, and still wants to make a connection. A son who tries to be like everyone else, but truly doesn't know how.

PLOT: Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome. He's hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject-in his case, forensic analysis. He's always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do...and he's usually right. But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger's-not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat effect-can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. For his mother, Emma, it's a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it's another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-scaring question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?

Emotionally powerful from beginning to end, House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way-and fails those who don't.

OPINION: This was my first Jodi Picoult book. I had heard good things about this author but never read any of her books. I loved this book & Jodi Picoult.
This book made me feel as if I knew someone with Asperger’s syndrome. Jodi
had really done her research before writing this book. I fell in love with
the family. I felt as if the mother was taking too much time with Jacob
(kid with Asperger’s) & leaving out her oldest son Theo. A Great story and
easy read.

Dead in the Family, 'SooKie STaCKHouSE Series' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Even with the blood of two vampires in her system. Sookie is having trouble healing from the terrible torture she endured at the hands of her great-grandfather's enemies during the brief but deadly Fae War. Worse are the emotional wounds-especially over the loss of her own personal fairy godmother and the near death of her first love.

Sookie is hurt and she's mad. Just about the only bright spot in her life-beside the fact that she is, after all, still alive-is the love she thinks she feels for vampire Eric Northman, who is under scrutiny by the new vampire king because of their relationship.

As the political implications of the shifters' coming-out are beginning to be felt, Sookie's connection to one particular Were draws her into the dangerous debate. And, unknown to her, though the doors to Faery have been closed, there are still some fae on the human side-and one of them is angry at Sookie. Very, very angry.

OPINION: Sookie is improving, physically and mentally, but she’s always going to have some dark moments now. She is settled into a relationship with the vampire
Eric. Eric’s maker comes and brings his out of control “brother.” The book
ends with Sookie & her fairy relatives.

Last Scene Alive, 'AuRoRa TeaGaRDeN Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: It's been more than a year since her husband Martin's death, and Roe Teagarden is still in mourning. All she wants is to be left alone to grieve-but that becomes impossible when a movie company arrives in Lawrenceton. They've come to make a film based on a book written by her onetime boyfriend Robin Crusoe, a book that detailed their shared investigation of a series of murders that occurred years before.

The locals are delighted, Roe is not. But Robin is beginning to win her over when the lead actress-who is playing Roe-is killed. Once again, the two of them join forces to thwart a killer-without knowing that Roe herself is the next target...

OPINION: Aurora is still mourning the death of her husband Martin. She is not happy
that a Hollywood crew is coming to town to shoot the scenes from the first
homicide Roe ever solved. Also coming to town is Robin Crusoe, Roe’s
ex-boyfriend, and the person who helped her solve the case but subsequently
went on to write the book on their investigation that has led to the movie.
I really like that Robin is back & helping her keep her mind off of Martin.
Martin’s son has a role in the movie & Roe is not happy about this. Roe &
Barrett never saw eye to eye.

Trust Me, I'm A Doctor...

This new healthcare bill is getting totally out of control.

Ohio

A Real Doll

Parents, stop buying your kid everything they ask for. That little girl does not need a real life doll to play dress up with, even if they say all their friends have them too.

Pennsylvania

A Fool and His Honey, 'AuRoRa TeaGaRDeN Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Aurora Teagarden's life finally seems to have settled into a comfortable pattern. Her marriage to Martin is going well, she's back at work at the Lawrenceton library-and she hasn't found a dead body in quite a while. But then one afternoon her handyman goes crazy in her side yard. Roe suspects this is a sign of more bad things to come. An she is right.

Soon Martin's niece, Regina, shows up with a baby that no one knew she had. Then she disappears, leaving behind the child-and a murdered husband. To find her, Roe and Martin retrace her steps from sunny Georgia back to snowy Ohio, where they will uncover dark family secrets-at their own peril...

OPINION: My favorite so far. The ending broke my heart.

The Blind Side

PLOT: The story of Michael Oher, a homeless and traumatized boy who became an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick with the help of a caring woman and her family.

OPINION: I love Sandra Bullock!!

Dead Over Heels, 'AuRoRa TeaGaRDeN Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Roe never liked Detective Sergeant Jack Burns, but she never wanted to see him dead-especially not dropped from a plane right into her own backyard. Luckily, even Lawrenceton, Georgia's finest know that Roe couldn't possibly be in two places at once, so her name is crossed off the suspect list.

But then other strange things happen around Roe, ranging from peculiar (her irascible cat turns up wearing a pink ribbon) to violent (her assistant at the library is attacked) to potentially deadly (her former lover is stabbed). Clearly there is a personal message in this madness that Roe must decipher-before it is too late...

OPINION: I love these now. Roe stands up for what she believes in. She's a very strong & smart individual. I love her marriage to Martin. It's not perfect - but they make it work.

Roxy playing soccer with the guys.

She loves playing soccer & golf with Aaron & Ed.

I join in on the soccer sometimes and one mistake-Roxy has the ball.

She will chase anything that runs.

She's tries to keep the ball from us but telling her to "leave it" works & she drops it to only chase it again.

Now, she's tired and takes a break.

The Julius House, 'AuRoRa TeaGaRDeN Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Roe has never been happier than she's been since she met her fiance, wealthy businessman Martin Bartell. Despite their differences in age and background, he seems to know exactly what she wants-like Julius House...

Being something of an amateur sleuth, Roe is thrilled when he giver her the house as a wedding present. For years she has been intrigued by its infamous history. Six years ago, the family who lived there disappeared, never to be seen again. As Roe throws herself into renovating Julius House, her misgivings about Martin's rather murky past recede.

But when Roe is attacked by as ax-wielding maniac, she realizes that the secrets inside her four walls-and her brand-new marriage-could destroy her...

OPINION: I love that she is married and I love who she is married to. He makes her so happy. She's found a new friend in Angel who is living with her husband in the garage apartment.

Three Bedrooms, One Corpse, 'AuRoRa TeaGaRDeN Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Aurora "Roe" Teagarden had always worked for a living, until an unexpected legacy gave her the money to quit her librarian job. Now, with time on her hands, she decides to try selling real estate. Her mother, after all, is Lawrenceton's premier real estate agent, giving Roe a head start on this new career.

But at her first house showing, Roe discovers the naked corpse of a rival broker in the master bedroom. To make matters worse, one of her mother's colleagues has fallen under suspicion.

Roe, a natural-born sleuth, is determined to find out who is responsible. And when a second body is found in another house for sale, it becomes obvious that there is a very cool killer at large in Lawrenceton, one who knows a great deal about real estate-and maybe too much about Roe...

OPINION: Okay, so I have finally connected with the character. She is way more interesting in this book. I cannot wait to continue reading.

Grave Secret, 'HaRPeR CoNNeLLY Mysteries' by: Charlaine Harris

PLOT: Lightning-struck sleuth Harper Connelly and her stepbrother Tolliver take a break from looking for the dead to visit the two little girls they both think of as sisters. But, as always happens when they travel to Texas, memories of their horrible childhood resurface.

To make matters worse, Tolliver learns from his older brother that their father is out of jail and trying to reestablish contact with other family members. Tolliver wants no part of the man- but he may not have a choice in the matter.

Soon, family secrets ensnare them both, as Harper finally discovers what happened to her missing sister, Cameron, so many years before.

And what she finds out will change her world forever.

OPINION: A lot of questions get answered in this book. I hope Charlaine keeps going cause I'm a fan of the Harper mysteries.

Two is Better Than One

I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life
And I thought hey
You know this could be something
Cause everything you do
And words you say
You know that it all takes my breath away
And I am left with nothing

So maybe its true
That I cant live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
I'm thinking two is better than one

I remember every look upon your face
The way you roll your eyes
The way you taste
You make it hard for breathing
Cause when i close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything's okay
I'm finally now believing

Then maybe its true
That I can't live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
I'm thinking two is better than one
(oh yeah)
I remember what you wore on the first day
You came into my life
And i thought hey

Maybe it's true
That I cant live without you
Maybe two is better than one
There's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
And you've already got me coming undone
And I'm thinking
That I cant live without you
Cause maybe two is better than one
But there's so much time
To figure out the rest of my life
But I've figured out
When all is said and done
Two is better than one
Two is better than one.

I love this song soooo much right now. It features Taylor Swift which makes it better in my book. (I love her)
The second verse is my favorite.

Practice makes Perfect

Come on, it’s just practice. I mean, we talkin’ about practice. Not a game now, we’re talking about practice man! Practice….not a game. Not a game. Practice. We talking about practice!
Virginia