(Warning! Tech Content ahead!)

Most of us today are familiar with Instant Messaging (IM) services at work. If you use it, you love it or hate it -- often at the same time. Working at home from Chesterville, I live on IM, as it is a great way to stay in touch with co-workers around the world in real-time -- no waiting for emails to be answered. But it has its annoyances...

We skirted a frost last week and the tomatoes are still growing strong, although the pumpkins in my garden are taking for ever to ripen. From that garden, I've frozen packets of snow peas, green beans, and butternut squash. I've picked quarts of blueberries to freeze and I've canned peach slices, peach and cherry jam, rhubarb and tomato sauce, not to mention numerous batches of 'sun-dried' tomatoes (OK, there was a food dehydrator involved for those…) Fall must be on its way.

It's been almost a year since my wife and I (and five cats) moved to the farmhouse. As far as work goes, we both went from commuting to work, to a new life telecommuting from the house, which we never seem to leave. Ever. I now know why people work in an office outside the home.