9/9/26  "Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." — Charles R. Swindoll⁣

       Low of 43.  Cloudy today, a stiff SSE breeze, high 66, low 59.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a west wind, high 81, low 51.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday.  A light WNW wind Friday, high 70, low 46. A WSW breeze Saturday, high 76, low 54.  Cloudy Sunday, a strong SSW breeze, high 74, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, NW breeze, high 70, low 44.  Perhaps a shower Tuesday, a brisk SW breeze,high 70, low 55. Partly cloudy next Wednesday through Wednesday the 23. Next Wednesday's high 75, highs the next three days 72.  Lows 53 Wednesday and Thursday, 50 on Friday, 47 on Saturday. brisk westerly breezes.  Highs in the mid sixties the week of the 20th, lows in the mid forties.  Brisk NW breezes.

     I started the pellet stove this morning.  Next week we are going to start the cook range.  This week fall cleaning will start because the temperature says house plants need back in the house.  Windows need washed, window sills cleaned and stuff piled on plant tables needs to be put away.  Plants that stayed in the house need TLC and the ones coming in need TLC.  I have romaine lettuce plants that need to be planted.  Other years I've had lettuce into November, this year may be different.  If nights get too cold I'll cover the plants with remay.

     Another reason to start fall cleaning is mice will be looking for a winter home.  We will clean the cupboards and put peppermint and cedar in them to repel mice.  Until last year I've always cleaned the cupboards in the fall and put branches of peppermint plants in them.  It wasn't done last fall and we've battled mice all winter.  Soaking cotton balls in peppermint essential oil was enough to keep them out of the drawers but it was summer before they were gone. I read where adding cedar to the peppermint makes a stronger repellant.  Cedarwood essential oil  on cotton balls was suggested.  Andrew had to cut down a cedar tree.  He is bringing me the green branches. I didn't want to spend money on the oil but I'll be glad to cut up some cedar branches and mix them with the peppermint.

     May your day be blessed, Sally 

 9/8/26  There's a quiet joy in starting fresh, enjoying the simple things, and creating little moments that are caring and feel just right.

   
    Maine’s worsening drought isn’t expected to get better soon  Bangor Daily News Headline Yesterday.  It is cloudy this morning, calm, 59 degrees.  Showers this morning, a stiff north breeze,high 73, tonight's low 40.  Cloudy tomorrow, a brisk SSE breeze, high 65, low 59.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a west wind, high 81, low 52.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday.  a strong WNW breeze Friday, high 70, low 44.  A SW breeze Saturday, high 75, low 52.  Cloudy Sunday, a strong SSW breeze, high 76, low 57.  Possible showers Monday, a WNW breeze, high 68, low 47.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a north breeze, high 68, low 48.  Cloudy next Wednesday, a brisk SW breeze, high 73, low 52.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, a NW breeze, high 71, low 49.  Perhaps a shower Friday the 18th, a brisk NW breeze, high 67, low 48.  Partly cloudy the weekend of the 19th and 20th, brisk NW breezes, highs about 66, lows about 44.  Cloudy Monday the 21st, partly cloudy Tuesday the 22ed, brisk WNW breezes, high 66, lows 46.

      I don't think we are going to get any of the forecast showers.  The dark clouds are gone, the sun is shining.  I'll water this morning, paying special attention to new plantings.  Last week's rain was quickly absorbed by the dry ground.

     The homeschoolers go to school twice a week.  This is their first day.  Charleston Church provides the "hybrid' homeschool.

     I suggest you google "Are PFAS pesticides entering our food system?"  If you aren't up to date on the PFAS chemicals you might want to google them.  We only use an organic pesticide and we try not to use that.  We have never put sludge on our land.

  Have you noticed that most of our Coast of Maine soils are sold out.  The one stack left is Bar Harbor potting soil.  We order extra of that so we have some left when it is time to bring in houseplants.  I always seem to have a few plants that I want to repot, I'm sure you do too.  We have some bags of compost left if you want to top dress a plant.  I dust the pots with a bit of cinnamon as extra insurance against gnats.  After a frost it is good to put some compost on your Rhubarb, peonies and delphiniums for next year.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/7/26  To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under  heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

     Sunshine today, 51 now, afternoon high 78, tonight's low 57.  A stiff NNW breeze today.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a stiff NNW breeze, high 73, low 42.  Cloudy Wednesday, a stiff SSE breeze, high 67, low 59.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a light WSW wind, high 81, low 54.  Sunshine Friday, a strong WNW breeze. high 70, low 44.  Sunshine Saturday, a NW breeze, high 73, low 52.  Possible showers Sunday and next Monday.  A stiff SSW breeze Sunday, high 75, low 54.  A brisk NW breeze next Monday, high 72, low 47.  Partly cloudy the rest of the week.Brisk west breezes next Tuesday and Wednesday, highs about 69, lows about 49.  NW breezes Thursday and Friday  Highs about 67, lows about 47.  Possible showers Saturday the 19th, a stiff west breeze, high 65, low 45. Partly cloudy Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st, brisk WNW breezes, highs about 65, lows about 45.

    The weather report says it is time for Maine residents to start bringing houseplants inside.   Maybe throw something light over them tomorrow night and Friday night if you don't have time before the weekend.  The Rural Sprout farm and garden web site has several fall articles.  You can find them on Facebook and on the web.

     Sometimes I bring plants in as they are.  Sometimes if they are large or poorly shaped I prune them.  I never prune more than a third.  My main concern is making sure there are no hitchhikers. Why the soil is dry I drench the plants with hydrogen peroxide drench to get rid of any fungus gnats. 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide to one cup of water.    After a few hours  I spray them well with water.  After the plants are clean and any dead or damaged foliage is removed i spray them with insecticidal soap or neem oil.  I usually let them sit in the garage a day why I wash windows.  It's a lot easier to wash the windows before the sills are filled with plants!

    If you're looking for something nice to do today go to Harmony Free fair.  A small country fair with something for everyone.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/5/26  Feedback helps people grow.  Constant criticism wears them down.  You can sharpen a pencil until there's nothing left.

 Clouds, breeze, 58 degrees.   Cloudy today, a light NNE wind, high 68, low 50.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a strong north breeze, high 70, low 50.  Sunshine Monday, a stiff NW breeze, high 79, low 56.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a brisk NNW breeze, high 73, low 44. Possible afternoon showers Wednesday, a brisk south breeze, high 68, low 62. Partly cloudy Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 19th. A strong west breeze Thursday, high 77, low 54. More sun Friday, a strong WNW breeze, high 71, low 50.  Brisk WSW breezes next weekend, highs about 75, lows about 53.   Mostly west breezes the week of the 14th, highs around 70, lows around 50.

    Yesterday's highlight was a visit from Hans"Bob" Shade who went to school with Darel and was in our wedding party.   He lives in Pennsylvania.  He and his son are in Maine bear hunting.  He got his bear the first day.  Lots of good memories.  Neither of us has accepted the slowing down that comes with age and illness very well.

    The mums have been moved to the display benches.  They are just beginning to blossom; they'll brighten up yards for many weeks.  Nine dollars each or three for twenty-four.

    The girls are making peach jam and plum jelly today.  Some pears are ripe.  I'm setting out some good sized broccoli and cauliflower plants.  Right next to the back of the house.  Many of our falls have been late enough for them to produce.  If this fall isn't the hens will enjoy the plants and the ground will be ready for me to plant first thing in the spring.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/4/26  Here’s to a new day with endless possibilities.  Be kind. Shut off the news for a while. Name your gratitude. Serve someone today.

Clouds, calm, patchy fog, 60 degrees.  An inch of rain yesterday morning.  Partly cloudy this morning, late afternoon showers. a NW breeze, high 77, low 58.  Cloudy tomorrow and Sunday.  A light NNE wind tomorrow, high 68, low 57.  A strong north breeze Sunday, high 70, low 48.  Mostly sunny Monday, a NW breeze, high 79, low 56.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a brisk NW breeze, high 73, low 46.  Cloudy Wednesday, a south breeze, high 71, low 61.  A strong west breeze Thursday with showers.  Highs 74, low 53. Partly cloudy Friday the 11th through Friday the 19th. Highs next Friday and Saturday about 66 with brisk west breezes, lows 44 and 47.  Highs the week of the 13th in the low to mid seventies.  Lows in the low fifties to high forties.

      The sun has burned off the fog and is shining through a thin cloud cover.  We are thinking about decorating for fall as we prepare for winter.  The kids are anxious to pick the small decorating pumpkins and the gourds.  They don't know we have a large crop of the little white pumpkins for painting behind the house. They won't keep if we don't let them mature a little more.    A large box of plums sits on the counter waiting for us to decide what we are going to do with them.   We have so many green tomatoes.  The two inches of rain should give them some size.  Hopefully the sudden shot of water doesn't make them split.  As soon as they start showing some pink we'll pick them and put them in the greenhouse to ripen.

      May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/3/26   When life becomes all snarled up offer it to our Lord, let Him unsnarl the knots.

Rain, a SSE breeze, 59 degrees.  Heaviest rain this morning, clearing after midnight.  High 65, low 59. Late day showers tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 76, lw 58.  Cloudy Saturday, a light NNE wind, high 67, low 48.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a strong north breeze, high 71, low 47.  Sunshine Monday, a NW breeze, high 78, low 55.  Partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday.  a NNW breeze Tuesday, high 73, low 45.  A SSW breeze Wednesday, high 71, low 59.  Showers next Thursday, a stiff WSW breeze, high 77, low 53.  Partly cloudy next Friday through Thursday the 16th.  A stiff WNW breeze next Friday, high 67, low 44.  A NW breeze next Saturday,  high 69, low 47.  West breezes the week of the 14th, highs in the mid seventies, lows about 51.

    Lots of puddles!  This rain may not be enough to raise the water table but it will certainly help second cutting.  Peaches, pears, grapes and apples will get larger and juicer.  There haven't been as many birds at the feeders since the last rain.  It must have given wild foods a boost.

   Bekah will be working on orders today.  I'm going to my sister's for breakfast.  I didn't think to cut extra grass/weeds for the hens yesterday.  There is supposed to be a break in the rain early afternoon, so I'll dig them some dandelions.  Their favorite green.  Now I'm going to feed the homeschoolers breakfast.  Today they are going to make a menu plan for next week, their first week of school.

   May your day be blessed, Sally.

    

 9/2/26  "Don't neglect to see the beauty of the life around you while being overwhelmed by the duties of life." ⁣

 49 this morning, clear and calm.  Clouds start moving in this afternoon, rain after midnight.  A SE breeze today, high 76, low 57.  Rain tomorrow, a stiff SE breeze, high 65, low 58.  Showers Friday and Saturday.  A NNW breeze Friday, high 76, low 57.  A light NNE wind Saturday, high 68, low 51. Partly cloudy Sunday, a strong north breeze, high 72, low 46. Sunshine Monday, a NNW breeze, high 78, low 54.  Possible showers Tuesday and next Wednesday.  A NNW breeze Tuesday, high 75, low 49.  A WSW breeze Wednesday, high 69, low 56.  Partly cloudy next Thursday through Wednesday the 16th. A stiff west breeze next Thursday, high 78, low 53. Brisk WNW breezes next Friday and Saturday, highs about 72, lows about 50.    WSW and West breezes the next four days, highs in the mid seventies, lows about 52.

    Three of my grandchildren's families get on the school bus here so the yard is busy in the morning.  Two others homeschool, Azalea, Izzy and Maicy.   Maegin drives the school bus so Isabella, Maicy and Ruby are here.  I'll be fixing them pancakes in a few minutes.  They don't officially start school until next week.  But yesterday Bekah and Maegin's mother gave them sewing lessons.  Today they are going to learn about the color wheel. They are going to shop for a new rug, perhaps a new couch cover for the front room.

    Jay pulled the onions yesterday.  They are curing in the greenhouse, a good harvest.  Walla Walla sweet onions.  He says cucumbers are about done.  This was not a good cucumber year for us.

    I subscribe to Northeast Weather Alert.  Northeast doesn't forecast as mild and dry winter as Farmers Almanac.  He isn't forecasting a hard winter but is forecasting plenty of storms with snow and freezing rain so make sure we are stocked up on shovels and sand.  Farmers Forecast hasn't put out their prediction yet.  

    May your day be blessed, Sally