12/21/24 do all you can to be a positive and affirming presence in the lives of others . . .

Snowing lightly, calm, 19 degrees.  A light NW wind today with a high of 24.  Tonight's low 7.  Sunshine tomorrow with a strong NW breeze, a high of 17, a low of 3.  Partly cloudy Monday with a west breeze, a high of 20, a low of 10.  An inch of snow Monday night.  A NNE breeze Tuesday with snow Tuesday morning.  About an inch.  A high of 23, a low of 15.  Travel should be  good on Christmas Eve.  Partly cloudy Christmas day with a north breeze, a high of 29, a low of 18.  Partly cloudy Thursday and Friday with light north breezes, highs about 32, lows about 15.  Cloudy on the weekend with light NNE breezes, highs of 36, lows of 24 Saturday, 31 Sunday.  Showers next Monday and New Year's Eve Day and Night.  NE breezes with highs of 40, lows about freezing.  Showers on New Year's Day with a NE breeze, a high of 42, a low of 34.  Rain/snow showers Thursday the 2ed with a NW breeze, a high of 39, a low of 29.  Partly cloudy the 3rd and 4th with brisk NW breezes, highs about 34, lows in the low twenties.

     Today is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.  A day that traditionally ushers in long cold nights even though starting tomorrow we start gaining a bit of light each day.  There are two very different long range forecasts for January.  One for warmer than average, one for just a bit colder than average.

     Doug and Nicole's family Christmas is this afternoon.  We all have presents to wrap for Christmas Eve afternoon when the whole family gathers here.  Some are making presents that aren't finished yet.

     Last night I gathered up the hay that spilled when they loaded the trailer and gave it to the hens.  They love scratching through it.  Today I'll put extra straw down for the cold.  Then I throw scratch in it so they get active digging for it.  Plus it gives them extra carbohydrates for warmth.

     May the Lord bless you on this day, Sally

12 /20/24  Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say.

Clouds, 17 degrees, and calm.  Clouds today with a NE breeze, a high of 25,  A stiff north breeze tonight, a low of 21, snow showers will give us a dusting of snow.  Cloudy tomorrow with a strong NNW breeze, a high of 26, a low of 7.  Sunshine Sunday with a strong NW breeze, a high of 17, a low of 2.  Mostly sunny on Monday with a light west breeze, a high of 20.  A low of 9 Monday night with a dusting of snow,  A light NNW breeze Tuesday, Christmas Eve Day with a high of 26, a low of 13.  Snow showers during the day will give us another dusting of snow.  Partly cloudy Christmas Day with a light north breeze, a high of 28, a low of 15.  Partly cloudy next Thursday with a light north breeze, a high oh 32,  low of 21.  Partly cloudy next  Friday with a light NW breeze, a high of 37, a low of 19.    Cloudy next Saturday, some sun next Sunday with light light north breezes, highs of 37, lows about 29.  Showers Monday the 30th with a NNE breeze, a high of 38, a low of 30.  Cloudy New Year's Eve Day with a NNW breeze, a high of 43, a low of 30.  PM showers New Year's Day with a north breeze, a high of 42, a low of 33.  Clouds the 2ed and 3rd with WNW breezes, highs near 40 , lows in the upper twenties.

      A perm and then to the feed store for chicken grain.  I came home from the store and raised the price of eggs to four dollars a dozen.  They have been $3.50 for a dozen large for quite a while.  When I got home I wrapped presents.

      We got notice that the order for the greenhouse furnace has been processed.  No delivery date was in the notice.  They won't be heating that greenhouse until towards the end of March.  If we have an ice storm it is nice to be able to heat the greenhouse enough to melt the ice off the plastic.

     The girls spent most of the day wrapping presents and making more cookies.  Bekah spent some time going over the spring plug and cutting order.    She has lots of pansies coming for early spring blooms.  She may add some other flowers that do well in early spring.

    Bekah and Doug are delivering hay. I told Bekah I'd make sure the chicken water wasn't frozen.  I am so thankful that I am well enough to be able to do things like that.  I try not to think "If only I had felt this good three weeks ago I would have  more done for Christamas."

     May God bless you on this day, Sally

 12/19/24  Keep calm, pray, it will all work out..07 inch of rain last night before changing to snow.  About an inch of snow.   Cloudy today with a light WNW wind, high of 38.  Cloudy tonight with a  north breeze, a low of 16.  Cloudy tomorrow with a north breeze.  An inch of snow tomorrow night with a strong NW breeze, a low of 19.  Cloudy Saturday with a light NNW wind, a high of 25.  A strong NW breeze Saturday night with a low of 6.  Sunshine Sunday with a stiff NW breeze, a high of 17, a low of 0.  Partly cloudy Monday with a light WNW breeze, a high of 19. a low of 7.  Cloudy Tuesday with a light north breeze, a high of 24, a low of 10.  Mostly cloudy Christmas Day with a light NNE breeze, a high of 28, a low of 21.  Partly cloudy next Thursday with a north breeze, a high of 35, a low of 21.  Partly cloudy next Friday with a light north breeze, a high of 34, a low of 22.  Cloudy next Saturday with a light north breeze, a high of 37, a low of 28.  Cloudy next Sunday with a NNE breeze, a high of 39, a low of 33.  Showers Monday the 30th and Tuesday the 31st with NNE breezes, highs of 41, lows of 33. Rain/snow showers 1/1/25.

     It is very pretty outside but with the wind and 38 degrees I don't expect it to last.  

      This room is full of boxes.  Everyone has their packages delivered here.  Tomorrow will be a major wrapping day.  Today is the day for finishing handmade gifts.  I am getting a perm .  On the way home I'm going by the feed store.  There won't be time to get grain next week.

      May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/18/24  Don't let the pursuit of tomorrow diminish the joy of today.

sting of snow.    Today's high 43 with a SW breeze.  tonight's low 33.  Sunshine tomorrow with a strong NW breeze, a high of 37, a low of 16.  Cloudy Friday with a NE breeze, a high of 24, a low of 19.  Cloudy Saturday with a strong NNW breeze, a high of 25, a low of 7.  Sunshine Sunday with a stiff NW breeze, a high of 17, a low of 1.  Sunshine Monday with a light NW breeze, a high of 18 a low of 3.  Partly cloudy Tuesday with a light NW breeze, a high of 23, a low of 11.  Partly cloudy Christmas Day with a light north breeze, a high of 28, a low of 15.  Partly cloudy next Thursday with a light north breeze, a high of 33, a low of 23.  Partly cloudy Friday with a light NNE breeze, a high of 36, a  low of 29.  PM Rain/snow showers Saturday the 28th with a NNW breeze, a high of 39, a low of 29.  Cloudy Sunday the 29th with  a west breeze, a high of 39, a low of 31.  Showers Monday the 30th with a north breeze, a high of 39, a low of 32.  Morning rain/snow showers  New Year's Eve Day with  a NW breeze, a high of 41, a low of 31.  Partly cloudy New Year's  Day with a NNW breeze, a high of 39, a low of 29.

    I'm able to do so much more than even a few weeks ago.  That seems to include sleeping in because I get very worn out.  The weather and Loop may get to you later but I am thankful.

     The front yard is finally ready for Christmas.  My favorite Nativity, a simple one of figures screwed to the barn under the large star is up.  The yard is brown, a white yard is Mother nature's job.  It doesn't look like she is going to give us a white Christmas.

      The sump pump quit.   We always have a spare,it was set up quickly.  I will get another spare this morning when I go to Bible study.

      No school yesterday due to water problems in the elementary school.  Bekah, Maegin and the kids made Christmas cookies.

     One of the live traps was set off but empty.  Jay will try again tonight.  I bought ten bags of odor absorbing charcoal.  They have absorbed most of the odor in the house.  They are recharged by setting them in the sun for a few hours.

     May your day be Blessed, Sally

 12/17/24

To get the full value of a joy you must have somebody to divide it with.

    .09 inch of rain.  It's raining lightly with a gentle west breeze and 43 degrees.  Rain early, becoming partly cloudy later with a strong SW breeze, a high of 50. A west breeze tonight with a low of 32.  Cloudy tomorrow with a light WSW breezee, a high of 43, a low of 32.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun Thursday with a strong WNW breeze, a high of 37, a low of 15.  Cloudy Friday and Friday night  with snow showers giving us an inch of snow.  A NNE breeze with a high of 23., a low of 19.  Snow flurries Saturday, mainly in the morning.  A strong NW breeze with a high of 25, a low of 7.  Partly cloudy Sunday with a brisk NW breeze, a high of 15, a low of -1.  Sunshine Monday with a WNW breeze, a high of 17, a low of 5.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, Christmas Eve day, with a light west breeze, a high of 26, a low of 11.  Partly cloudy Christmas Day with a light NNW breeze, a high of 29, a low of 17.  Partly cloudy Thursday, the 26th with a light NNW breeze, a high of 34, a low of 27.  Cloudy Friday the 27th with a WNW breeze, a high of 38, a low of 28. Mostly cloudy Saturday the 28th with a NNW breeze, a high of 40, a low of 30.  Freezing rain early morning on Sunday the 29th.  Sunday's high 42 with a NW breeze, the low 31.  Rain/snow showers Monday the 30th with a NW breeze, a high of 42, a low of 30.  Partly cloudy New Year's Eve  Day with a NW breeze, a high of 40, a low of 28.

     My pellet stove worked for a day.  Jason will be here first thing this morning.  With the warm forecast I told him this morning was fine.

     Due to no water at the elementary school there is no school for elementary students. I need to replan my day.  No present wrapping!  Between Meals for Friends at church and the school concert I didn't get much done yesterday.  Neither did anyone else.  There was a morning and afternoon concert.  Between the siblings and cousins we have children in all the grades.  I visited with the propane man a bit.  Jay and Bekah got home from the morning concert shortly after he got here.  They ordered the greenhouse furnace.  They also decided to switch entirely to Valley fuel.  Their propane is a lot less.  No one has greenhouse furnaces in stock so it will be a few weeks before we have heat in the new greenhouse.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

      

 12/16/24 Find your gifts, and share them with others. The world is a more beautiful place when we connect with positive purpose.

Partly cloudy, calm, 15 degrees.  Partly cloudy today with a SW breeze, a high of 39.  Rain late tonight with a stiff SSE breeze, a low of 33.  It will warm up during the night as the rain moves in.  Rain tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow's high 49 with a strong SW breeze.  Tomorrow night's low 33.  Cloudy Wednesday with a WSW breeze, a high of 43, a low of 33.  Partly cloudy Thursday with a strong NW breeze, a high of 37, a low of 14.  Cloudy Friday with a NNE breeze, a high of 23, a low of 19.  Clouds and a NNE breeze are all we are going to get from the snow storm forecast a few days ago.  No white Christmas.  Cloudy Saturday with a stiff NNW breeze, a high of 23, a low of 19.  Partly cloudy Sunday with a NNW breeze, a high of 14, a low of 2.  Sunshine Monday with a NW breeze, a high of 19, a low of 5.  . Partly cloudy next Tuesday, Christmas Eve Day.  A light WNW breeze with a high of 24, a low of 14.  Partly cloudy Christmas day with a light NW breeze, a high of 31, a low of 24.  Mostly cloudy Thursday the 26th with a north breeze, a high of 36, a low of 27.  Rain/snow Friday the 27th with a NW breeze, a high of 38, a low of 28.  AM rain/snow Saturday the 28th with NW breeze, a high of 39, a low of 30.  Am rain/snow showers Sunday the 29th with a NW breeze, a high of 40, a low of 30.  PM rain/snow showers Monday the 30th with a NNW breeze, a high of 38, a low of 29. 

    Church followed by a nap before the girls got here.  Annabelle fixed scrambled eggs for their lunch after she showed off the Christmas Village and Memorial corner.  We did a little more decorating.  Then off to the Theater.  We got there forty-five minutes early. All the handicapped and close parking were taken.  Bangor is in a valley on the river.  We had to park up on the hill and walk down and back.  I did ok, I'm not sure I could have walked it even a few weeks ago.  The girls enjoyed the play, "The Christmas Carol"

    Jay put up an outside Nativity why we were gone.  Saturday Mike bought a load of wood so Jay had spent the day stacking wood  .A good thing but we didn't finish decorating for Christmas. I plan to do more today.  Even though I'm going to our church's Meals for Friends today.  Santa Claus and one of his elves will be there.  (Gilbert and Rachael)  After the meal there is a concert at the school.  There is a morning concert too.  I'm not going, Valley Fuel is going to be here to give an estimate on the propane furnace for the new greenhouse.  It  is more important for Azalea's Mom and Dad to go to the concert than me.

     May your day be Blessed.  Sally

    

 12/15/24  He will be a Joy and Delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,  Luke1:14 

Calm, clear, nine degrees.  Mostly sunny today, just a few afternoon clouds.  A high of 30 with a light WSW breeze.  Cloudy tonight with a low of 17.   Partly cloudy tomorrow with a SW breeze, a high of 38.  Rain tomorrow night with a brisk SW breeze, a low of 31.  Morning rain Tuesday with a stiff SW breeze.  Tuesday's high 48, the low 333.  Cloudy Wednesday with a WSW breeze, a high of 43, a low of 33.  A few snow showers Wednesday night.  A few snow showers Thursday morning with a brisk NW breeze, a high of 35, a low of 12. Cloudy Friday with a NNE breeze, a high of 22, a low of 19.  1-3 inches of snow Saturday, 3-5 inches Saturday night.  North breezes with a high of 26, a low of 20.    Partly cloudy next Sunday with a stiff NNW breeze, a high of 24, a low of 7.  Partly cloudy next Monday with a brisk NNW breeze, a high of 19, a low of 8.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, Christmas Eve Day, with a NW breeze, a high of 25, a low of 16.  Partly cloudy Christmas Day with a NW breeze, a high of 30, a low of 23. Clouds Friday the 26th through the weekend with NW breezes, highs in the mid to upper thirties, lows about 30.

      My new pellet stove has a new auger motor.  Jason from RJ Heating has been here so often he says it feels like home.  Yesterday morning he showed up with a new auger motor.  The stove worked perfectly the rest of yesterday and overnight.  A new stove with a defective motor?  It can happen.  I am thankful I bought it from RJ.

     One 5 foot Christmaas tree left.  It was reserved but the family has decided not to put up a tree.   They offered to pay for it but Bekah said no.  If you are having a Blessed Christmas give thanks.  This is the third Sunday in Advent.  We give thanks for Christ our Savior as we light the candle of Joy.

    Church this morning.  Bangor this afternoon with 4 great grand daughters.  The youth group is going to see "The Christmas Carol" at the Penobscot theater.  May God bless you on this day.  Sally