Gentle Readers:

Fall is in the air, somewhere! And the weather report says it might be a sort of wet Labor Day Weekend! We can only hope...

The kids are back in school and a routine has been put in place. I hope everybody got the teachers they hoped for and everybody's school year is marvelous! Minus, of course, all the little stuff that goes on daily.

We are sending many thoughts and prayers to Terry and Judy Carmichael. They are great people and really need all the good things said thoughts and prayers can provide right now.

I saw Josh and Karen Cox's boy, Dawson, hawking popcorn on the corner at the bank the other day. It's a shame the economy is so bad that even the youngsters have to go to work (It was really a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts, and the popcorn was good – hope they came to your door too)!

Football season's off and running, and we have a new band director (who has a great bass voice, and a wife who can also sing, really well)! Take the time to say hello to him/them, if you can catch him/them at a game – they are swell.

Changes, changes, changes in the air... keep your eyes and ears open.

And thanks to everybody who expressed concern about my goats. Since the teenagers went on walkabout, the new ones (the mama and her two girls) are settling in nicely. Now all I have to do is get the dogs, the cats, and the goats to play nice (and not run with scissors).

And "keep smiling" to all the moms, dads, and relatives whose kids are going off to school for the first time, kindergarten, middle school, high school, and college – if you don't have younger ones at home, that "empty nest thing" is really tough to deal with... but after a month or two, you get the hang of it. Been there, done that.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Pat Heimer in the loss of her daughter, Vicki. And a "Gosh, we're glad you're okay," to one of my favorite ladies, Dot Warrington! And last but not least, our thoughts go out to Laura and Ashley and all the family – Laura, you went above and beyond, and are somebody to look up to – at least I think so.

P.S. Go Jett!