11/15/18
In 36 days the days start getting longer!

Some clouds, a west breeze and 12 degrees.  A west breeze today with sun this morning,  clouds and a high of 29 this afternoon., dropping to 20 tonight.  Dry and cloudy with a NE breeze tomorrow until late afternoon when snow moves in.  A high of 27.  NE winds will pick up as the storm moves in reaching 15-20 mph around midnight with a low temperature of 20.  About 5 inches of snow expected with the warning that it could be nearly twice as much.  Some sun Saturday morning, increasing clouds in the afternoon with a west breeze, a high of 40 and a low of 20.  Sunny Sunday with a NW breeze, a high of 29 and a low of 14.  Snow showers Monday morning with a NW breeze, a high of 35 and a low of 13.  Snow showers Tuesday afternoon with a NW breeze, a high of 20 and a low of 8.  Mostly sunny Wednesday with a NW breeze, a high of 21 and a low of 9.  Mostly dry thanksgiving with a chance for some snow showers late afternoon, a NW breeze, a high of 25 and a low of 11.  Sunny black Friday with a WNW breeze, a high of 29 and a low of 20.  Partly cloudy Saturday with a NW breeze, a high of 32 and a low of 20.  Snow showers in the forecast every day the week of the 25th with highs about 31 and lows about 21.

      Darel had a comfortable day yesterday with the pellet stove keeping the room warm as the wind howled.  Each of the boys stopped in to say hello.  Gilbert filled the woodbox and Mike bought in pellets.

     I spent some time on the phone with the phone company.  They called to tell me they were coming today to install a phone.  It turns out they want the technician to upgrade the box outside, nothing to do with me.  It was kind of funny , they were so confused.  Computers aren't always helpful!

      I spent most of the rest of the day on apples and Brussel sprouts.  Usually I can leave the sprouts in the garage until Thanksgiving.  Same with apples.  I'm making applesauce and freezing some all cut up ready for pies.  My thumb aches so it is good I'll be working outside today.

      Gilbert is going to help me cover the pots of perennials, well more like i'm going to help him.  I'm going to put the ends of the extension cords I use for Christmas lights in milk jugs so they are easy to find

     Have a good day, Sally.

11/14/18
One minute of anger weakens the immune system for 4 or 5 hours.  One minute of laughter boosts it for 24 hours.

 Clear, 16 degrees with strong west winds.  !.68 of rain on top of the 4-5 inches of snow we got in the early am yesterday.We can be glad the rain wasn't snow.  Sunny today with winds dying down this afternoon.  A high of 22 dropping to 14 tonight.  Partly cloudy tomorrow with a light WNW breeze, a high of 31 and a low of 20.  #-5 inches of snow Friday with a NNE wind, a high of 29 and a low of 22.  Partly cloudy Saturday with a west breeze, a high of 40 and a low of 19.  Sunny Sunday with a WNW breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 13.  1-3 inches of snow Monday with a NW breeze, a high of 31 and a low of 11.  Sunny Tuesday with a brisk NW breeze, a high of 19 and a low of 6.  Possible AM Snow showers next Wednesday with a NW breeze, a high of 23 and a low of 9.  Partly cloudy Thanksgiving with a NW breeze, a high of 25 and a low of 12.  Today black Friday's forecast is for sun with a NW breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 16.  Snow showers for the weekend and into the next week.

     Darel's day went well yesterday.  Andrew and Gayle both visited with him why I went to the dentist.  Andrew took the air conditioner out.  he worries about me when I'm gone, with good reason yesterday morning.  The roads were terrible.  I sent them a text as soon as I got to Route 15.  15 wasn't good but it wasn't terrible.

     Didn't get much done yesterday.  I just fed the birds and the cat.  got Darel's breakfast too, he is up early.  I put away the toys in the sand pile by flashlight last night.  Yesterday's slush is ice and i think it is going to stay.  today i'm going to work on the apples in the garage, it will be freezing up soon.

     Enjoy your day, Sally

11/13/18
Santa has been watching Facebook posts.  He is bring Bibles and dictionaries for everyone.

Dusting of snow, calm and 30 degrees.  Snow for awhile this morning, freezing rain about eight am, tan rain all day with a NE breeze and a high of 38.  Clearing tonight with a WNW breeze and a low of 18.  Sunny and strong WNW winds tomorrow with a high of 22 and a low of 14.  Partly cloudy Thursday with a WNW breeze, a high of 31 and a low of 21.  3-5 inches of snow on Friday with a brisk NE breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 22.  Mostly cloudy Saturday with a west breeze, a high of 39 and a low of 13.  Sunny Sunday with a NW breeze, a high of 31 and a low of 13.  Snow showers Monday with a light WNW breeze and a high of 32. 1-3 inches of snow Monday night with a west breeze and a low of 19.  Lots of sun the next three days including Thanksgiving with WNW breezes, highs about 26 and lows about 12.  Snow showers Black Friday and the weekend.

     Darel had three visitors from Hospice yesterday including the doctor.  After prayer and consulting with family he decided all things considered he was doing well and would not agree to taking any addition medicine.  Especially since a reaction to the medicine could cause him to lose some mobility.

     I have a dentist appointment at eleven, hopefully late enough so the roads will be good.  Gayle is going to stay with Darel.

     I didn't get much done yesterday  I did get the window boxes and planters put away.  Got the floors all mopped and than got mud on the get to gather room floor.  Gilbert opened up the cellar so I could water the pond lilies so they will think they are at the bottom of a pond this winter.  And the pond pump got water added to its bucket, it is supposed to be submerged in water at all times.

     Have a good day, Sally

11/12/18
Gardening is a medicine that needs no prescription.  Already next summer's gardens are becoming beautiful and weed free!

 Clear with a NW breeze and 21 degrees.  Sunny today with a WNW breeze, a high of 39.  Rain/freezing rain late tonight with a low of 25.  Rain tomorrow, may start out as freezing rain, a brisk ENE breeze with a high of 40.  Clearing tomorrow night with brisk WNW winds and a low of 19.  Sunny Wednesday, strong WNW winds, a high of 23 and a low of 13.  Partly cloudy Thursday with a NW breeze, a high of 29 and a low of 20. 1-3 inches of snow to wintery mix Friday with a brisk ENE breeze and a high of 33.  1-3 inches of snow Friday night, strong NNW breezes, and a low of 20.  Mostly cloudy Saturday with a WNW breeze, a high of 36 and a low of 21.  Sunny Sunday with a WNW breeze, a high of 29 and a low of 11.  About the same next Monday with a high of 26 and a low of 19.  Snow showers next Tuesday with a west breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 16.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, the 21st, with a WNW breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 16.  mostly sunny Thanksgiving and Black Friday with highs around thirty.  Snow showers Saturday and Sunday.

    Darel didn't make it to church yesterday but thanks to Andrew and Gayle was able to go out diner yesterday afternoon.  Since I'm a teacher i went to Sunday School.  Our phone is set up so Darel just pushes 6 and it calls Barbie and Gilbert, 7 for Doug and Nicole.  I do make sure the lesson plan is in the classroom with everything needed for the class by Saturday in case some Sunday I don't make it.

    When I got home I dismantled a bird feeder that was falling apart.  it will now be just a platform with no roof,  I used the cement blocks it was on for the heated waterer.  It is higher this year in hopes it will be above the snow line.  We have a large number of birds this winter, many different ones.  And two gray squirrels.  So far only one is allowed near the feeders.  One runs the other off, way off , it chases the the other all the way around the house and across the yard.

    Monday is clean the house and do laundry day.  And lots of little things outside like put away empty planter boxes and toys.  Friday's snow may stick!  Have a good day, Sally

11/11/18
Thank-you to all past and currant service men and women.

Clear with a west wind and 27 degrees.  .33 inches of snow, sleet and rain yesterday.  Our ground is still white. Sunny today, a high of 36 with a west wind, dropping to 21 tonight.  Mostly sunny tomorrow with a west breeze, a high of 38 and a low of 26.  Rain Tuesday with a brisk east breeze, a high of 40.  Clearing Tuesday night with a WNW wind and a low of 31.  Mostly sunny Wednesday with a WNW wind, a high of 23 and a low of 14.  Mostly sunny Thursday with a WNW breeze, a high of 31 and a low of 22.  Snow showers Friday with an ENE breeze, a high of 36 and a low of 26.  Cloudy Saturday with a NW breeze, a high of 37 and a low of 24.  Snow showers next Sunday with a stiff NW breeze, a high of 30 and a low of 15.  Mostly sunny next Monday with a brisk WNW breeze, a high of 29 and a low of 18.  Pleasant mid weed with snow showers the weekend of the 24th and 25th.  Highs in the mid thirties, lows in the mid twenties.

     Another good day for Darel.  No hunting but that was fine, we went to the ban supper at church.  Sunday School and church this morning, than out to dinner with Andrew and Gayle.

     I got everything on my list done!  I was doing the last thing, taking the soil out of the old washing machine i put petunias in, by flashlight when we got home from the bean supper.  I wasn't a very pleasant day but it never rained very hard.  i was thankful for another day without freezing.  our Brussel sprouts are in the garage, the chicken's sprout are stacked in the barn.  Due to the dry summer the sprouts aren't as large as usual but they are tender and good.

    I also filled the bird feeder by flashlight.  A flock of evening grosbeak came by in the afternoon and emptied them.  Luck had it that Darel was at the sink filling his water bottle when they came so he could watch them for a bit.  I will try to find time today to set up the heated waterer.

     Looking forward to a good day, i hope yours is good too.  Sally

11/10/18
Health isn't just what you are eating.  It is what you are thinking and saying.

 Calm, a couple inches of snow on the ground, and 33 degrees.  Showers starting in a few hours with NNE winds that will shift to strong NNW winds.  A high of 41, dropping to 26 tonight as the skies clear.  Sunny tomorrow with west winds, a high of 34 and a low of 21.  Rain Tuesday with stiff east breezes, a high of 42 and a low of 28.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with a west wind, a high of 31 and a low of 17.  Sunny Thursday with strong WNW breezes, a high of 29 and a low of 22.  Mostly cloudy Friday with a west breeze, a high of 39 and a low of 20.  Mostly sunny next weekend with NW breezes, highs about 30 and lows about 18.  Partly cloudy Monday the 19th, and Tuesday the 20th, with rain/snow showers the rest of the week.  Highs will be in the mid thirties and lows in the mid twenties.

  Darel had a good day yesterday.  With freeze up looming i couldn't stop to take him hunting but Raymond Freeman visited for quite awhile and they told hunting stories.

    A 125 foot row of garlic is planted next to the blackberries.  I saved exactly enough garlic for planting to have just enough left for us.  That is guessing a little too close for comfort.  The individual cloves were large this ear so each pound of garlic had less cloves to plant.  I got the space between the berries and garlic mulched with hay and cardboard.  i planted it where the green beans had been.  Pulling the bean vies left the ground easier to dig in the plant.  I had thought maybe i should have planted the garlic earlier when i could have tilled.  But yesterday a garlic grower told me he was concerned about his garlic with the inches of rain we've had the last few weeks.  The rest of that section of garden was tomatoes and peppers.  The dead plants are all in the compost pile and the plastic they were planted in is in the dumpster.  It was getting dark as I drove the tractor to the house.

    I still have odds and ends to do today including cutting the Brussel sprouts. I'm hoping the morning showers will wash off the snow.  

   Tonight is bean supper night so Darel will get out today.  Have a good day, Sally

11/9/18
The life in front of you is more important than the life behind you.

 Clear, calm and 35 degrees.  Partly cloudy today with a light NNE breeze, a high of 46.  Rain tonight with an east wind and a low of 35.  Showers tomorrow with the wind switching to the west, a high of 41 and a low of 27 as the skies clear.  Sunny Sunday with a west wind, a high of 34 and a low of 20.  Mostly sunny Monday with a WNW breeze, a high of 36 and a low of 22.  Rain/snow Tuesday with strong ENE breezes, a high of 39 and a low of 32.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with a west wind, a high of 34 and a low of 18.  Mostly sunny Thursday with a WNW wind, a high of 29 and a low of 18.  Lots os sun next Friday, Saturday and Sunday with NW breezes, highs of 32 and lows of 21.  A little warmer the week of the 19th with lots of rain/snow showers.

     Darel had a good day yesterday.  Quieter than he likes but he did get a visit from the chaplain and I did take him hunting in the afternoon.

      I got a lot done yesterday.  Enough so that i was beat last night.  But freeze up comes tomorrow night.  Thanks to the needed rain the list is too long.  I warned Darel he might not get to go hunting tonight.  I can do a lot in two hours!  Even though the garden is too wet to till the garlic bed is ready to plant this morning.  Ready the old fashioned way.  Gilbert had to come borrow a hoe to get his ready.  He has a very productive garden but he isn't well acquainted with a hoe.

      The perennials are all ready to cover.  The first day without too much wind they will be tucked in.

      The sun is rising in a sky with no clouds and there isn't a wind today.  A beautiful day to see if I can get everything crossed of the list.  Have a good day, Sally