WEATHER FORECAST; JUST RIGHT

To be honest, September was a fickle month, as far as weather goes. I believe it to have either been too hot or too cold. It may have even been too wet or too dry. I didn't get in nearly as many walks as I like. But we turned the calendar page on the first full month of fall and I'm so happy to say that October has been "just right". If you have been unable to get outdoors and enjoy this beautiful Autumn awesomeness, please make every effort to do so in the coming week. From what I see on the local weather reports, we are in for picture perfect Fall weather. Today was the best walk I've taken in months and I look forward to, hopefully, a walk a day until the weather pattern changes.

I saw some positive things in today's newspaper today as well. I thought it was about time that the young American, Amanda Knox, was finally allowed to come home after four years of captivity in Italy. I personally believe that she was coerced by the local Italian police, wanting a suspect to this gruesome slaying of her college roommate, and slandered unmercifully by the Italian media, as they made money selling their sordid tale of sex and murder to the masses. It's been hard for me to believe that a young girl studying abroad for one year and from a good home in the states, would suddenly become a sexcrazed monster and do such a thing. I hope the whole truth does come out. The parents of the young British student, who was viciously killed, deserves to know what really happened to their daughter.

I also read a really uplifting story of a UK library employee who is getting a Habitat for Humanity home that is being financed by several student organizations. Nice to see the students doing something for a campus employee and for their community. The other positive story I enjoyed was about the Cincinnati Bengals young rookie quarterback, Andy Dalton. He is making steady progress, even though he has taken a step back now and again. As long as he's taking more steps forward than backward, it looks like he'll be okay. I've always wanted to be a Bengal fan, as it's the closest NFL team that we have in our area, but the off field behavior as well as the on field performances of the players, have steered me towards other teams, i.e., the Colts, the Packers and the Saints, to name a few. But, if this former Texas Christian University redhead continues on this steady path of improvement in leading his team, I think we'll finally have a Central Kentucky pro team we can get behind. Now would somebody please redesign their uniforms. I love orange and black, but those tiger stripes are a bit distracting.

It's wonderful to have your neighbors looking out for you. I just received a call from the farmer and farrier across the street who is mowing his field. Seems he spotted a couple coyotes headed our direction. I got the doggies safely in the house for a bit, but now that I'm outside blogging, they are all five barking at the top of their lungs at, not only the mowing in progress, but also at the two horses, who, again, are planted right across the street from our gate. I remember calling my next door neighbor in Henderson to let him know about an early morning coyote spying on his little dog tied up in their yard. It didn't take my neighbor long to sneak out with his rifle, take aim and send that critter flipping through the air. He did, then, take off into the woods, but we spied his lifeless carcass days later by a creek, just inside the tree line. I don't mind hearing the howls of these wily creatures, but please don't mess with our pets.

Checking out the Fall Festival at Reed Valley Orchard turned out to be a really fun afternoon for me and one of my neighbors. We visited the craft and food booths set up on their property, had a wonderful walking lunch and enjoyed both the nature trail and the entertainment provided on the big front porch. I was especially tickled to see the dulcimer group of ladies from the Paris/Bourbon County area. The lead dulcimer lady is my former senior English teacher, Kenny Roseberry. She informed me that she is also one of my country neighbors, just up Finnel Pike and over the county line. Two of the other dulcimer musicians and singers are the mom of a very dear friend and the "mom" of one of my grandpuppies. It was so much fun listening and singing along to their performance. It was a fruitful trip to the orchard.

As I mentioned before, I'm outside as I blog, and it's getting a bit nippy as the sun has set. It's time to take the doggies in and get on with the rest of my evening indoors. I hope, truly hope, you have been able to enjoy this perfect day wherever you are. As for Central Kentucky, we are looking forward to many more to come, apparently, so I'm going to get out there each day and enjoy them. Take care and stay safe, luv, Susan