Late Summer Walk

Yesterday,

I walked,

... outside,

... in the cool,

... in the morning,

... in my neighborhood

... and it was grand!

See for yourself.

It starts with good walking shoes for my bad feet.

These look like just regular old shoes,

but there are prescription orthotics inside each shoe - $400,

and the shoes are the best I can buy $150.

So each foot is sporting about $225 dollars.

It has been quite a while since I could shop at Pay Less for shoes.

Take another look at those shoes! Now they look better, don't you think? :-)

I haven't walked outside for quite awhile due to the intensely hot weather and poor air quality. My exercise has been limited to Curves and my treadmill.

But ...

The day was perfect. And I realized just how much I missed walking outdoor. I live in a neighborhood that is about 25 years old. As a result, much of my walk is deeply shaded, a wonderful benefit of living in an established neighborhood.

My walk takes me past a local pool. The pool is still open for the season, but in not too long a time the lounge chairs will be permanently packed away for the season. Mid August for me is the waning days of summer. Soon school starts and even though official start of Fall is several weeks away, Fall starts for me - with September.

But the fruits of the spring plantings and summer waterings are reaching their peak now.

In our neighborhood this bed of flowers is one of the few

that isn't covered with deer-retardant netting.

Deer are a real problem in our area,

as most houses back up to a deeply wooded watershed.

External house ornamentation abounds.

Bird houses are everywhere

even though I never see a bird taking up residence in one.

Well ... maybe this trio might house a bird or two.

I love the colorful "mushrooms" that grace one neighbor's yard.

Even this spider seems to be making the home stead better.

At least she/he doesn't have any grass to water or mow.

The morning sun light of late summer is almost perfect.