12/19/25  Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Cloudy, gentle east breeze, 43 degrees. A light rain starts at about nine, heavy rain and wind at noon.  South winds are forecast to average 24mph with up to 40mph gusts between 1 PM and 7PM.  Versant has posted warnings of power outages.  They have extra crews on standby.  Showers this evening, clearing overnight.  A low of 23 with a west wind. Partly cloudy tomorrow with a strong WSW breeze, a high of 30, low of 25.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 30, low 13.  Afternoon/evening snow showers Tuesday, a light SSW breeze, high 26, low 22.   Partly cloudy Wednesday, strong NNW breeze, high 26, low 12.  A light WNW breeze Christmas Day, high 23, low 18.  1-3 inches of snow late afternoon and overnight.  Wintery mix next Friday, a north breeze, high 27, low 19. Party cloudy next Saturday, a NW breeze, high 28, low 19. 1-3 inches of snow next Sunday morning, a NW breeze, high 26, low 12. Partly cloudy the last few days of December and the 1st and 2ed of January.  NW breeze.  Highs  the last of December 33, lows 8.9, and 13.  Highs on the 1st and 2ed 27, lows 14.

    There is a dense fog thanks to the warm air hitting the snow pack.  The chicken house was damp so I put down a thick layer of dry bedding.  I was able to collect most of the eggs, they are laying earlier than they were.  There were still some hens laying but I won't go back out for a while, it is getting slippery anywhere there is a path or tire tracks.  The birds have food.

    I have to water the plants again.  Colder temperatures mean burning more wood and pellets which doesn't just warm the air, it dries it and the plants out!   The Christmas cactus is covered with beautiful pink blossoms.  It  will drop the blossoms if it doesn't get enough water.

    Today is a good day to wrap presents.  The generators have been checked, they are ready should we lose power.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/18/25 Gratitude is one of the most powerful “small skills” we can cultivate.

Sunshine, 26 degrees.  a few afternoon clouds, a SSW breeze, high of 40.  Cloudy this evening, showers after midnight.  Low of 35, a brisk south breeze.  Rain tomorrow lasting into the late evening.  A strong SSE wind with gusts up to 40mph, high of 54.  Strong WNW winds tomorrow night with a low of 22.   Partly cloudy Saturday, a strong WNW wind, high 30, low 25.  Snow showers Saturday night.  Snow showers Sunday morning, a brisk WSW breeze, high 3, low 15.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 20, low 10.  Cloudy Tuesday, a light SW breeze, high 24, low 19.  1-3 inches of snow Tuesday night.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff NW breeze, high 24, low .  Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze, high 20, low 14. 1-3 inches of snow Christmas night.  Snow showers next Friday, 1-3 inches Friday night.  A NNW breeze, high 28, low 18.  Snow showers next Saturday morning, a NW breeze, high 24, low 13.  Partly cloudy Sunday the 28th and Monday the 2th, brisk NW breezes, highs 22, lows 8 and 11. Afternoon fog Tuesday the 30th, a WNW breeze, high 23, low 12. Mostly cloudy the 31st and New Year's Day, NW breezes, highs 25, lows 12 and 17.

    Bekah says we are having hamster wheel days.  Get up, do devotions, milk, take care of milk, get kids ready for school. put them on the bus.  Then it's a clean house, wrap presents, and work on spring 2026 orders.  Kids get off the bus, we hear about their day, she milks, we have supper and get ready to start over the next day.  Maegin doesn't milk, she fills her orders for baked goods. 

    Yesterday I wrapped some presents for Santa, I still have lots of t-shirts left to wrap.  I checked online to see what a tiller for my tractor would cost.  Heather came by to visit and do books.  I don't expect today to be very different.  May your day be blessed, Sally

Take a few minutes each day to thank God for what already is...the food cooling on the counter, the sound of our children’s laughter, the mittens drying near the woodstove, the people we get to gather with this Christmas.

 12/17/25  Children have more need of models than of critics.

Cloudy, 26 degrees, a light east breeze.  Cloudy today with a brisk SW breeze, high 35.  Clear overnight, low 20.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SSW breeze, high 40.  Light rain after midnight, low 34.  Rain Friday, a strong south wind with gusts up to 40mph.  A high of 55.  Overcast skies after midnight, west wind, low of 22.  Partly cloudy Saturday,a WNW wind, high 28, low 24.  Snow showers Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Peeks of sun Sunday afternoon.  A WSW breeze, high 37, low 15.  Partly cloudy Monday, strong NW breeze, high 20, low 11.  PM snow showers Tuesday, a WSW breeze, high 24, low 20.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a strong NW breeze, high 28, low 8.   Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze, high 20, low 12.  1-3 inches of snow Friday, the 26th, a NW breeze, high 27, low 13.  2-4 inches of snow Saturday the 27th and Saturday night, a NW breeze, high 22, low 9.  Morning snow showers Sunday, the 28th, a stiff NW breeze, high 18, low 10.  Partly cloudy Monday, the 29th, a NW breeze, high 18, low 10. Partly cloudy Tuesday the 30th, a WNW breeze, high 23, low 13.  Snow showers Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

    Two concerts yesterday, one more than I could handle.  I didn't go to the afternoon one.  I packed the Christmas t-shirts for Alaska and Hawaii  and took them to the post office. Even though I'm mailing them later than I intended, the postmistress thinks they will reach their destination before Christmas.

   Three Christmas trees left.  Last year we had people looking for trees until just a few days before Christmas so those three will probably find a home.

    An email came yesterday reminding Bekah that it was time to get the order in for next fall's mums.  The spring order of plugs and cutting order is sitting on the table, along with the notifications of "not available" and substitutions.  Bekah will go through them and see what changes she wants to make.  Nursery and greenhouse work doesn't end with the fall frost.  The vegetable garden's work is just starting, she is working on the seed order.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/15/25  Short days are nature’s reminder to slow down, take stock of blessings, and allow yourself a bit more quiet.

Clear. calm. 9 degrees.  A light WNW wind today, sunshine, high 20.  Partly cloudy tonight, low 7.  Mostly cloudy tomorrow, a SW breeze, high 299, low 19.  Cloudy Wednesday, a brisk SW breeze, high 36, low 20.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a brisk SSW breeze, high 39.  Rain Thursday night, low 35.  Rain Friday, a strong SSW wind, high 51,  Snow showers Friday night, low 16.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a stiff WNW breeze, high 23, low 17.  Snow showers Saturday night.  Morning snow showers Sunday, a WSW breeze, high 35, low 16. Mostly cloudy next Monday, a WNW breeze, high 22, low 11.  Afternoon and overnight snow showers next Tuesday, a west breeze, high 22, low 6.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 15, low 5. Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze high 18.  1-3 inches of snow Christmas night, low 9.  4-8 inches of snow Friday and Friday night, the 26th.  A north breeze, high 20, low 7.  Snow showers Saturday morning the 27th, a brisk north breeze, high 21, low 8.  PM snow showers Sunday the 28th, WNW breeze, high 22 ,ow 12,

    Six Christmas trees left.  I hope that is just enough.  We don't like to have to tell someone looking for a tree "We're sold out."

We don't like to have any left over either!

    Sister Lynne spent a good part of her Saturday redoing my plant jungle.   Instead of curtains I have a hoya hanging either side of the large window. Their vines go across the window. Shelves and stands make room for lots of other plants.  Seven go outside for the summer.  This year only 3 went out, the others got too big for their spots.  Mostly I pruned plants why Lynne cleaned  My Christmas angel.  Couch covers, the blankets we wrap up in, pillows, they are all being washed today.  The first load is nearly done.  Maegin is going to go through the kids' toys when she gets through the bus run. By tonight the room will match the window!

   Six of Doug and Nicole's children live in North Bradford.  Yesterday Doug and Nicole took the grandchildren on the Christmas train ride.  Several of the parents went too.  Making special memories!  After church I sorted the Country Junction  t-shirts I'm giving everyone for Christmas.  The ones going to Alaska and Hawaii  need to go in today's mail.

  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/14/25  Cloudy, calm, 15 degrees. A north breeze today with a high of 28.  Clearing overnight with a low of 13.  Sunshine tomorrow with a WNW wind, high 20, low 5.  Then a few days of pleasant winter weather.  Thursday night rain starting at  at 32 degrees warming up overnight.  Mixed precipitation Friday.  High 47 early in the day , low 12

  The Angel said to them,"Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people".  Luke 2:10

  Some days we feel like the injustices in this world are more than we can handle, some days it seems like evil is taking over, some days we anguish over our own sin, and other days we long for the day when God will call us Home. The third Sunday of Advent helps us move out of these moods and into rejoicing, because God has come to save us and to be with us, and He will come again. 

   Focus on Jesus and the Blessings God has given us for joy.  Share your blessings and the reason for the Season.  May your day be blessed.  Sally

 12/13/25  Make each new morning the open door to a better day than the one before.

Mostly clear, calm, 14 degrees.  Partly cloudy this morning, cloudy this afternoon and tonight.  A light SSW breeze today. high 29.  Tonight's low 16.  Cloudy tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 27, low 14.  Sunshine Monday, a strong WNW breeze, high 20, low 8.  Sunshine Tuesday, a WSW breeze, high 27, low 14.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday and Thursday, SW breezes, highs about 33.   Tuesday night's low 18. Wednesday night's low 32, a stiff south breeze with rain.  A WSW wind Friday with showers, high 44.  A stiff WNW breeze, Friday night, low 11. 1-3 inches of snow late next Saturday, a west breeze, high 23, low 19.  Snow showers next Sunday morning, a west breeze, high 31, low 15. Partly cloudy next Monday, a WNW breeze,  high25, low 14. Snow flurries at night. 1-3 inches of snow Tuesday, the 23rd, a brisk west breeze, high 23, low 7 under partly cloudy skies. Partly cloudy Wednesday the 24th, a NW breeze, high 15, low 3. Snow showers on Christmas, a NW breeze, high 15, low 7.  PM snow showers Friday the 26th, 1-3 inches of snow Friday night.  High 18, low 6. A brisk west breeze Saturday the 27th, partly cloudy, high 16, low 6.

    All of Maegin's plumbing in the trailer is on one wall.  That is fortunate because the plumber says it all needs replaced.  What isn't good, he says he doesn't know when he can get to it.

    The dump run was a success.   Already we have found more that can go.  Next Wednesday morning the dump is open again.  We will be taking some things over for last minute "shoppers".

     I took an online class on pressure canning.  The class was good.  I had Bekah watch sections of the replay.  It was followed by an hour of questions and answers.  They were as interesting as the class.  She explained why the dry canning so popular on FB wasn't safe.  I might quickly put my hand in my wood stove oven to check the temperature.  I couldn't put my hand in a pan of boiling water.

    We expect lots of Christmas trees to leave today and tomorrow.  We will be doing more decorating in the house.  Sister Lynne is coming this afternoon to help me refurbish my plant jungle in the front room window.  I usually do that in spring and fall.  It wasn't done last spring or this fall.  Maegin went through the toys not long ago but there is still too much in that room.  If we have time after we redo the window we may work on the rest of the room.

    May your day be blessed.  Sally

 12/11/25

Friends and family, work, laughter, prayer, love. They add up to joy. For you, for me, for anyone.  If my attitude needs more adjusting, I visualize God holding me upside down and shaking all the negative stuff — fears, doubts, insecurities — right out of me. Try it. Ask God to turn you upside down! It’s a surefire pick-me-up. Dolly Parton

Partly cloudy, 12 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, a west wind, high 24.  Clear tonight, a strong west breeze, low 11.  Cloudy tomorrow, a light SSW breeze, high 28, low 14.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun Sunday, a NNW breeze,  high 27, low 15.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 20, low 9 .  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a west breeze, high 28, low 12.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday, a SW breeze, high 33, low 22.  Mostly cloudy Thursday, a SSW breeze high 38.  Rain Thursday night, low 35. Morning rain changes to snow showers next Friday.  High 40, low 6, a strong west breeze.  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a WSW breeze, high 25, low 21. Partly cloudy next Sunday, a west breeze, high 32, low 15.  Morning snow showers next Monday, evening fog, overnight snow showers. A WNW breeze, high 23, low 14. Morning snow showers Tuesday the 23, a west breeze, high 21, low 10. fog and snow showers after midnight.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday the 24th, a NW breeze, high 17, low 6.  Evening snow showers.  Partly cloudy Christmas day, a WNW breeze, high 20, low 10.

    Maegin turned the water on, there was a leak in the bathroom.  The plumber is coming today.  She was discouraged.

    On its second use the butter churn that we got off ebay quit.  It can be returned.  Making butter with the kitchen aid mixer works fine but only a small batch can be made at a time. Amazon sells new butter churns but the customer ratings aren't very good. Bekah was discouraged too.  She enjoys milking and caring for Mabel.  Butter sales would cover her expenses. Her butter is so good!   But she needs an electric churn.

    Our dump employees maintain a building to recycle.  They do a super job, a community service.  We have collected some nice things for children that we are taking over today.  Nice enough for Christmas gifts.

    May your day be blessed, Sally