Happy Fall, Y'all...I've missed you!...

The past summer was somewhat eventful, and I am so glad that I can now log on and say hi to all of my blogging friends! In late May, I started a new job, working from home! It is a bit more intensive than my research job was (I didn't even think that was possible...famous last words!), but the people I work with are wonderful and supportive, and working from home is bliss. It couldn't have been a more timely change, either, with the faltering economy and rising fuel prices.

The temporary downside was that we had to convert to wireless in our home, and we've had problems with that all summer long. SO frustrating! My work computer worked fine (it is hardwired), but the others, dependent on the wireless signal, worked maybe 5 minutes at best, and then would time out. It made blogging and visiting sites next to impossible. We finally found a wonderful tech at Comcast this week (after about 12 service calls), who figured out what the problem was in the original set-up, and now all of our computers work...like they should! Such a relief for all of us, and so nice to be able to be back online for fun! I don't have as much free time right now as I would like, but I hope to be able to blog at least once a week or so...I've missed it, and all of you, so much!

I know that the economy has everyone a bit stressed, us included. DH's job is more recession-sensitive than mine is, so he's working harder than ever, as most everyone is these days. We are certainly thankful for our jobs...and for our health. I had a few health issues crop up in early summer as I changed jobs, and thankfully am feeling healthy and back to "me" now. Sometimes change can be a good thing!

Enough about me! I'm dying to catch up with all of you over the next week or two...I have quite a few months worth of lovely photos and updates and news to enjoy on all of your blogs...

Until then, I thought you might enjoy seeing the first of our fall decorations and what is growing in our garden right now. The mums above are on our front porch, and this is how we've dressed our front door for Fall:

Here is a better photo of the pocket arrangement; DH and I had fun putting this together with flowers we bought 1/2-off at Michael's and Hobby Lobby. DH is actually a better "arranger" than I am. :) We tend to use brighter colors around this area of our home as the porch is shaded most of the day, and more muted decorations just don't show up well.

We bought this hand-painted slate at our local Fall Festival a few years ago, and love that it can be used all the way through Thanksgiving.

Our sedum has done especially well this year...always a nice surprise...

and the Dogwood trees have just put out their Fall berries. Soon, those leaves will be turning pretty colors, too. Our Fall so far has been fairly sunny and crisp. It still is in the 80s most days, but nice and cool for being in the sunny South.

And, for those of you who are like me and also love the pretty blossoms toward the end of summer, this is probably my last rose of the year (I think that this one is "Miss America"). I'll look forward to the cycle starting over again in Spring. There is a sense of comfort in the changing of the seasons, I think. It is dependable...a steady rhythm...that gives us a sense of continuity in times like these.

I hope that each of you had a glorious Summer, and a nice start to your Fall. I can't wait to visit with you...it's so nice to be back in blogland!