I never tire of our jogs around this little lake. It is so beautiful at this time of year. This month marks our one-year anniversary of going out to walk/jog this 5K route. I remember when I first saw this gorgeous flowering shrub. It's HUGE! I've since learned that it is a rose mallow, also known as Confederate Rose. This is the sight that greets us as we park our vehicle in the parking lot before we begin our jog.

Today Jeff and I did a double loop of the lake. Well, Jeff did a complete and I did a partial double loop. After we jogged the 3 miles one way, Jeff reversed his direction and headed back around for an additional 3 miles. After jogging one way, I walked for 1 1/2 miles...until I met up with Jeff again, and then I completed the path...jogging an additional 1 mile. This marks another first for me. Four miles of jogging in the same session. YAY! There was a couple of times during the jog that I wanted to snap a photo of the dappled light, still day...sun shining on the water. But I think I can remember it...even without a photo.

Fall Blooming Iris

If you thought this a "springtime photo" you would be mistaken. It's what I would have guessed if I were to see it. I planted these iris last fall, 2007. Back then I didn't understand the importance of keeping good notes on the various cultivars I was putting in the ground. I had 12 different tubers, no green, nothing blooming, so no color to go by, each tuber a different cultivar. Now I'm wishing I knew WHICH variety of iris this is because it's the only one that is blooming this autumn. Oh well, it's blooming and after a couple of years I'll be able to divide it and spread it around!

I'm still here

October is waning and although the leaves are falling and night temperatures are cooler...I'm still wondering what happened to September! Life is good. I finished my Master Gardener course work and will continue logging volunteer hours to achieve my certification. I've volunteered manual labor with the Claybank Master Gardener group a couple of times and will join these folks this Saturday on Ozark's "Make a Difference Day." Again, we'll be turning out at the Ozark library (the group's pet project)....to fluff and add pine straw to the daylily and iris beds we divided and transplanted last weekend. Such a nice group people I've been getting to know and makes me feel good to be a part of something that's helpful and productive.

I've been keeping busy with work...creating some new designs and producing large quantities of items for the upcoming Fort Rucker Community Spouses' Club yearly Craft Show. I haven't done a craft fair in years....and it's kind of fun getting ready for it!

Jeff and I have been out to Dale Co. Lake for our walks/runs...and the last three times I've been out there I've jogged the 3 miles.....without stopping . I remember when I was going to the gym at Fort Campbell, a couple of times a week...walking the 1/2 mile distance to and from the gym when I would go. And I remember working up to being able to jog the entire distance from the gym to our quarters on Hawaii Avenue....without stopping. This was 1/2 mile...and I thought I was QUEEN then! So this 3-miles is a big deal for me. I think I can speed walk as fast as I jog/shuffle....but am so proud of myself. Three miles is as much as I want to do...but my goal is to do it a bit faster and have it feel easier. This body isn't striving to run any marathons...but just to keep good bone health and cardio strength.

I finally got in the yard and used my favorite chemical (glyphosate)....ROUND UP, lil' doggies! (I love knowing the active ingredients in some of these name brand pest and weed control sprays. One of the many benefits of attending this Master Gardener class.) I've been wanting to extend my daylily bed on the side slope of the yard for months...and this is the perfect time of year to do the laborious job. I needed a nice day without wind...and the first day that happened, I was all over it. I sprayed to kill the lawn/weeds to finish out the daylily bed....and I also sprayed to kill the grass in another area....where I have hopes of planting several Rabbit Eye blueberry bushes. These are one of the few fruits that we can grow in these here parts....and I'm all over this!

I heart flowers!

Works been good

Work has been good to me these last few weeks. I have great customers who bring out the best in my creative process. I've designed several new magnets and freshened up the face on some oldies, but goodies. Many years ago when Eileen and I first started making magnets, I don't think either one of us had a clue that we would still be making them. Almost all of my "good ideas" are now made into magnets first. They've grown on me. Just say "No" to stainless steel refrigerators and "Yes" to magnet art!

Kimberly in her glory

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, that is. What fun to play with this extraction tool in Adobe Photoshop. I'm getting better at it...but there are still some crucial elements I need to school up on so I have more control over the size of the photos I'm merging together, dpi-wise.

G'bye to friends

I can't believe it. We watched the last episode of the final season of "The Wire." I'm going to miss the great characters (flawed to a fault), even the bad guys. I'll miss the gritty realism of the inner city...and the smart, quick dialog that made me feel like I was being let in on a well kept secret. Hey! I think it's because the writers gave credit to their audience and didn't feel compelled to explain every little thing. I liked that a lot. I'm grateful to all the folks involved in bringing us such great television...and I look forward to seeing what this writing team comes up with next.

More television pseudo-friendship goodbyes included the final season of "Foyle's War" on PBS Mystery ...and the final season of "Inspector Lynley" on the same station. I'm bereft on both counts. What better testimony of good entertainment...than a viewing fan who feels they've lost a friend.