7/21/26  Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved, a place where we can love others and serve our Lord

Sunshine, calm. 59 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, a south wind, high 77 degrees.  Showers and thunderstorms this evening, rain overnight.  A strong SE breeze, low 64.  Scattered thunderstorms tomorrow, a stiff south breeze, high 81, low 56.  Sunshine Thursday, a west breeze, high 75, low 52.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday, a SW breeze, high about 83, low 56. Partly cloudy Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, SW breezes, highs 80, lows 60.  38% chance of showers next Wednesday, Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  West breezes Wednesday and Thursday, highs 79, lows 60.  Partly cloudy Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st, NW breezes, highs 80, low 60.  Scattered thunderstorms Sunday the 2ed, a west breeze, high 78, low 61.  Partly cloudy Monday the 3rd, a WNW breeze, high 80, low 60. Perhaps some showers on the 4th, a NW breeze, high 61, low 80.

    Over the years Darel and I opened our home to others who needed a temporary home.  Mostly teenagers. Two were daughters to us.  Patti, Darel's niece, was just a few years older than our oldest, she grew up with our boys in  Alaska and stayed there when we moved here.  She had many health issues, she went to be with our Lord a few years ago.   Regina was our "Maine" daughter.  She and her children lived with us for several years.  Then she moved to Virginia.  She and her husband John raised her children and John's daughter, children I am proud to have call me Grandma. John had major heart surgery in May, so major it was over two days,  He was doing well, and they were deciding where they were going to retire.  He died peacefully in his sleep.  Please pray with us for Gina and the children as they give thanks that John is with our Lord and they plan their life without him.  I just received a shower invitation for Gina's daughter Traylynne's baby.  We are so happy for Traylenne and Justin.  We call this baby a long wished for miracle.  They live in Michigan so I won't be going to the shower,  Nor will I be able to go to Virgina to be with Gina. 

   We are also praying for safe travels for sister Lynne and her daughter Karen as they travel to New York for our sister Donna's Celebration of Life.  Donna died last winter.  I am able to live because I know we will all be together in eternity.

   This week everyone here is getting ready for Sunday.  Sunday is Maine's Open Farm Day.  Farmers across Maine welcome guests to their farms to experience a taste of farm life.  Bekah and Jay have lots of things planned.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/20/26  Always remember some days are better, some days are worse.  Look for the blessing, not the curse.

 

Sunny, calm and 57 degrees.  We got about an inch of rain.   Sunshine today, a stiff WNW breeze, high 79, low tonight 55.  Cloudy tomorrow, a south wind, high 76, low 64.  Rain tomorrow night with a strong SE breeze.  Thunderstorms Wednesday, a stiff south breeze, high 80, low 59. Partly cloudy Thursday, a stiff west breeze, high 74, low 53.  Sunshine Friday, a WSW breeze, high 81, low 56. Partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday, SW breezes, highs about 83, lows about 57.   40% chance of showers next Monday and Tuesday, SW breezes, highs 79 and 75, lows 61.  Cloudy next Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 77, low 60.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 30th through the weekend of the 1st and 2ed, NW breezes, highs in the low eighties, lows in the low sixties,
     Saturday was wet but not a complete washout.  Most of the showers came late in the day.  No rain on the parade, The country Junction float took first.  They got the float home and the straw bales the kids sat on back in the barn still dry.  It was pretty damp for the pig scramble.  Four of the Smith Great grandkids caught a pig.  Late fall pig roasts.  The forecast thunderstorms never materialized so the day ended with a great fireworks display. 
      We tried a new cucumber variety this year.  It started producing cucumbers early, lots of them.  It is crisp, sweet and juicy with a very tender skin.  A skin so tender that the few bugs we have all want to eat it.
      We had 12 old hens left. They laid pretty good this spring but lately we were getting about 12 eggs a week.  They became stewing hens last night.  The rooster is a beautiful silver lace  Araucana, so mellow he was not a stewpot candidate.  Our other rooster is so mellow he is eight years old.  No longer fertile though he thinks he is.

     I have an appointment with an audiologist today.  The audiologist I got my hearing aids from retired. He was the last independent audiologist around.  Last November I called a clinic for an appointment.  Today was the soonest they could get me in.  They couldn't check my hearing aid batteries until I was examined.  I am very glad today is finally here but I'm not going in with a very positive attitude.  Sister Lynne has an MRI on her knee today.   She hasn't had to wait eight months for it but she has waited several weeks.

    May your day be blessed.  Sally

 7/18/27 Darel and I didn't worry about keeping up with the Jones. We maintained our faith, worked to raise our sons to be hard working Christian men and cared for our land.

 Thin clouds, calm, 58 degrees.  A strong south breeze today, a high of 70, low 62.  Cloudy today with some showers, mostly late afternoon, evening and overnight. We may see a shower around eight this morning.  Thunderstorms may compete with Bradford Days fireworks. Partly cloudy tomorrow, a WNW wind, high 75, low 55.  Partly cloudy Monday, a strong WNW breeze, high 78, low 56.  Mostly cloudy Tuesday, a south wind, high 78, low 62. Thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk south breeze, high 79, low 62. 50% chance of showers Thursday, a brisk west breeze, high 78, low 56.  Partly cloudy Friday and the weekend, WSW breezes, highs in the low to mid eighties. Lows 59.  Cloudy with a chance of showers Monday the 27th through Thursday the 28th.  Pleasant Friday the 31st and the weekend.  NW breezes all week, highs around 80. lows around 60.

     Darel and I had some hard times, don't we all?   Mostly we were happy, thankful for and enjoying our family.  I think today's world needs more faith, more gratitude and more willingness  to work.  I am thankful my family seems to have all three.

    Cool is good for Bradford Days.  Showers are back in the forecast.  We're hoping we can have our cake and eat it too.  We need rain but it would be nice if the showers held off until late afternoon.The pig scramble is at four, 41% chance of a shower  I guess we'll know at nine whether the fireworks come from lightning or gunpowder.  The Country Junction float will be leaving for the ten o'clock parade in an hour or so.  It is not supposed to rain on the parade.  I will be here to greet customers who come why everyone else is at the parade.  Hopefully I can also help them. Vegetables are self service.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/17/26  For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela

Sunshine with  variable breezes that will become light NW winds today.  It's 58 degrees now, today's high 78, tonight's low 55.  Tomorrow eveningShowers Tuesday, a SSE wind, high 77, low 64.  Thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk WSW breeze, high 79, low 60.Partly cloudy Thursday through next Monday, highs in the low eights, lows about 60.  Weatery breezes.   and overnight rain seems to have become just a few overnight showers.  Good for Bradford Days but the gardens and second crop of hay liked yesterday's wetter forecast.   Tomorrow's high 73 with a strong south breeze,  The low 64.  Partly cloudy Sunday with a WNW wind, high 74, low 55.  Sunshine Monday, a west breeze, high 80, low 57.  some showers the 28th, 29th and 30th, highs about 70, lows about 80.

   Late yesterday was  pleasant  working outside,  I had breakfast at my sister's in Dover and came home through Corinth to do some errands.  As I left Corinth wind and rain were moving in.   After I went by the wind broke a large branch off a tree.  It went through a lady's windshield, killing her instantly.  The two children with her were not seriously injured.  The limb also tore down power lines causing problems for the first responders.  North Bradford got a few drops of rain.

   I transplanted some volunteer sunflowers to the sunflower patch in front of the barn.  I watered them when I planted them, without tomorrow's rain I'll have to keep watering them.  I planted them thick because I'm not sure how well they'll take.  If I left them they would crowd my perennials out but I didn't want to just toss them on the compost pile.

   More weeding and watering today, perfect weather for it.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/16/26  Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

Sunshine, gentle east breeze, 66 degrees,  A strong WNW breeze today, high 74, low 56.  Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, some may come with strong gusts of wind.  Sunshine tomorrow, a strong WNW breeze, high 79, low 53.  Showers Saturday afternoon, rain overnight,  A SW breeze, high 72, low 63,  Showers Sunday morning, a light WNW wind, high 75, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, a west breeze, high 81, low 57. Showers Tuesday, a strong SSE breeze, high 77, low 64.  Scattered thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk WSW breeze, high 79, low 62. Partly cloudy next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday , west breezes, highs 79-84, lows about 60.  Cloudy Sunday the 26th, a few showers Monday the 27th, NW breezes, highs 81, lows 60.  Partly cloudy the rest of the week with NW breezes, highs 81, lows 60.

    I fertilized all my containers yesterday, some were looking a little peaked.  Hot weather has meant lots of watering, lots of watering washes the nutrition out of the container,  I fertilized the peppermint patch too. I want lots of peppermint to put in the cupboards this fall when we clean them.  We were late cleaning last fall and mice moved in.  I didn't have any mice when I cleaned the cupboards in September and put several sprigs of peppermint in the corners.  Peppermint essential oil on cotton balls works but  someone has to remember to put freshly oiled cotton balls in every month or so.  The sprigs stay fragrant.

    Every two weeks we get a shipment of fly parasites. The ting bugs lay their eggs in fly larva,  When the eggs hatch the bugs eat the larva.  We still put up fly paper in the house but we've had far fewer flies since we've been getting the parasites.  People tell us they don't have animals and they have a fly problem.  We don't.

    Lots of perennials, shrubs and fruit trees left yesterday.  Cooler temperatures mean people are working in their gardens.  Why they are here they get hamburger, milk, yogurt. eggs and vegetables.  Also butter and ice cream when we have some.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/15/26 Just a reminder that watching the birds and listening to their songs may be better for your peace of mind than watching the news.

Fair, calm, 72 degrees.Yesterday's storms gave us enough rain drops to equal a heavy dew.  a combination of clouds and wildfire smoke blocked the sun.  Without the sun's heat there wasn't enough energy to cause severe storms.  Partly cloudy today, a WNW wind, high 82, low 62.  54% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. A strong WNW breeze, storms may contain gusty winds.  High 73, low 54.  Mostly sunny Friday, a light WNW wind, high 77, low 55.  Afternoon showers Saturday, overnight rain.  A SW breeze during the day, SSE breeze at night. High 78, low 60.  Morning showers Sunday, partly cloudy in the afternoon.  A brisk NW breeze, high High 78, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, a   west breeze, high 81, low 62.  Showers Tuesday, a stiff south breeze, high 78, low 61.  Showers next Wednesday, a west breeze, high 79, low 56.  Mostly sunny nest Thursday,a west breeze, high 80, low 58.  Partly cloudy next Friday and Saturday, west breezes, highs about 82, lows 58.  Cloudy Sunday the 26th, a west breeze, high 82, low 60.  30% chance of showers Monday the 27th, a west breeze, high 81, low 61.  Partly cloudy the 28th and 29th, NW breezes, high about 82, lows 60. 

  Kaden's skans came back clear.  On his way out of the cancer center he got to ring the bell!

   There were three trailer loads of hay, they all are in the barn.  I don't know how many times the tarps were pulled off so the sun could dry out any damp spots, then put back on because it started to sprinkle.  Early in the day there wasn't much help around, Bekah put one trailer load in the barn by herself.  The conflicting reports of severe weather made her nervous. Watches for  tornadoes and  thunderstorms containing high winds and large hail made it hard to make plans.  Sun is shining now, back to gardening and yard work.  Bekah usually makes yogurt every day but Sunday.  Yogurt is back on schedule. So is ice cream.  I made butter Monday.  The cookie jars have been empty since last Friday.  Today I'll refill them.

   May your day be blessed, LS

 7/14/26 There are always things to be thankful for!

We got about .20  of rain last night. More showers this morning.   The severe storm warnings have been lifted. Cloudy today, a stiff SW breeze, high 88.  partly cloudy tonight, low 68.  Sunshine tomorrow, a WNW wind, high 83, low 61.  PM showers Thursday, a light WNW wind, high 77 low 54.  Partly cloudy Friday and Saturday, WNW breeze, highs 77 and 81, lows 58.  Showers Sunday, a north breeze, high 81, low 58.   The rest of the ten day forecast is about the same as yesterday.  Some forecasts are still calling for severe storms this evening.

Early this morning the forecast said no rain today.  Now it looks like they shouldn't have taken the tarp off that last  wagon load of hay they didn't get in before last night's storm.

    Bekah and I got the tarp back on.  Mostly Bekah, all I could do was try to lift some so she wasn't pulling the whole tarp.  Jay and Azalea have gone fishing with Jay's Dad.  When they left early yesterday morning no one knew it was going to dry out enough to make square bales.

    Last night was chaotic for a bit.  They knew the storm was coming, they were able to get the load they were working on mowed away.  Large drops started falling as they finished.  They grabbed a tarp and rushed to get it over the last load.  Others rushed to roll up truck windows.  Wilson was running around barking at them.  Suddenly a skunk sprayed.  Wilson was trying to tell them they disturbed a skunk when they got the tarp.  There were people everywhere, the skunk didn't know which way to go so it cleared a path.  For a while they thought the skunk sprayed Wilson.  But Wilson was smarter than that, everyone else was just lucky..  The wagon got covered and it rained so hard that there is very little smell this morning.

   Pastor Cindy got home to New Hampshire just before dark.  The family was thankful she was able to come up to be with us Saturday.  On Friday she did a service for a long time friend and neighbor.  Then she got up early Saturday morning to be here before eleven.  A long few days for her, back to back services for two people she was very close to with a long drive inbetween.  Almost to the day twenty two years ago she was with our family.  Grandson Mitch died the first night she was in Corinth as a new pastor.  One in the morning but she came when she got the call.  Gilbert was one of the first ones she talked to.  A few years ago she married Tiffany, Gilbert's daughter, and Evan.

    Jay sent a video of Azalea trying to reel in a big fish, it broke the line just as she was reaching to grab it.  Now she has the fishing bug, she wants to stay and fish more this morning.

     It's raining lightly, it is supposed to start raining hard in a few minutes.  Some forecasters are still predicting a chance of severe storms tonight.  There are some volunteer sunflower plants under the feeders.  Today I want to move them to the sunflower patch by the horse barn.

     May your day be blessed, Sally