1/13/26  No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn, In nature or in life.

Partly cloudy, 28 degrees.   Sun and clouds today, a SW breeze, high 38.  Cloudy tonight, rain/snow after midnight, a south breeze, low 29. Cloudy tomorrow, rain tomorrow night, SSW breeze, high 43, low 35.  Rain Thursday. a stiff SSW breeze, high 40, low 10. Mostly cloudy Friday, a brisk west breeze, high 18, low 12.  A SW breeze Saturday, Partly cloudy, high 32, low 20.  Cloudy Sunday, a WNW breeze, high 32, low 11.  A west breeze Monday, Partly cloudy, high 26, low 7. Morning snow showers next Tuesday, a Brisk WNW breeze, high 18, low -3.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, WNW breezes, highs in the teens, lows in the low single numbers. 1-3 inches of snow Saturday the 24th, a NW breeze, high 17, low 4.  Partly cloudy Sunday the 25th, a WNW breeze, high 14, low 2. About the same Monday and Tuesday.

     Andrew didn't get to go home yesterday.  The doctors put in another drain.  If that works well he can go home.  Gilbert had a much better day yesterday.  The pathology report is supposed to be ready for the oncologist today.

     Boxes of Christmas decorations are still sitting around.  Christmas presents aren't put away.  We'll get to them when we can.  Thursday is forecast to be warm, I hope to put the large outside nativity set way, 

    Everyone is saying how many birds they have coming to the feeders.  Last fall we noticed that the acorns had very little meat in them and a lot of the sunflower seeds were empty.  I think this is a winter that bird feeders are making a huge difference in the survival of wild birds.  

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 1/12/26  Families are one of God's master pieces.

 Clear, 18 degrees, a brisk SW breeze that will become a light wind today with a high of 26.  Cloudy tonight a low of 22.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SW breeze, high 38, low 2. Snow showers Tuesday night.  Overcast Wednesday, a SSW breeze, high 42.  Rain Wednesday night, low 34.  High 37 Thursday with rain/snow.  Snow showers Thursday night.  The NNW breeze during the day will become a stiff breeze Thursday night with a low of 11 Snow showers Friday morning, a brisk WNW breeze, high 18,low 3. Partly cloudy Saturday, a SW breeze, high 26, low 17.  2-6 inches of snow Sunday and Sunday night, A NW breeze, high 30, low 11. Partly cloudy Next Monday through next Friday,highs in the teens, lows in the single numbers. Snow the weekend of the 24th and 25th and Monday the 26th.  Highs in the teens, lows in the single numbers.

    Gilbert didn't have a very good day yesterday.  We are praying that with the weekend behind us doctors will learn more and be able to make him comfortable. He is facing more procedures and tests today. Stressing about Gilbert isn't helping Andrew any but he is doing ok.  Our prayer for him is that nothing comes up that keeps him from going home today.

    Bekah has gone over the confirmations from the nurseries.  At this time nothing seems to be deleted or back ordered.  They have changed some of the sizes available.  She is working on the vegetable seed orders.  Gilbert won't be helping keep the vegetable stand full but Jay isn't giving up on planning to help him plant a small garden.  The prayers are that he'll have the first cucumber.

   When the sun broke through the clouds yesterday afternoon we all noticed the increased day length.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 1/11/226 We must continue to hold firmly to our declaration of faith.  The one who made the promise is faithful.  Hebrews 10:31

 Snow showers , perhaps some mixing nearer Bangor.  A NNE breeze, high  31.  A stiff WNW breeze tonight, low 21.  Some snow showers.  Sunshine tomorrow, a light west breeze, high 26, low 21.  Partly cloudy Tuesday,  a SW breeze, high 38, low 29.  Snow showers Tuesday night.  Rain/snow Wednesday and Thursday.  SW to north breezes, highs about 40, lows 33 and 14.  1-3 inches of snow Thursday night.  Snow showers Friday morning, a stiff WNW breeze, high 18, low 3.  Partly cloudy weather Saturday through Thursday the 22ed,  Highs in the teens and twenties, lows mostly in the single numbers.  Snow the 23rd and 24th.

   

    Andrew is hoping Monday is the day he comes home.  The doctor believes the problem found in Friday morning's MRI will be taken care of.

     Gilbert is having  many procedures as doctors seek to know exactly  where all the cancer is..  The cancer in his lungs needs to be controlled so he can maintain a good oxygen level and he needs to be able to eat before he can come home.  The doctors believe they can knock back the cancer in his lungs.  They need to find out more about why he can't eat.  The outpouring of love and prayers from family and friends have meant a great deal. 

     May your day be blessed.  Sally

1/10/26  Gilbert

  I copied this from Rachael's facebook page.

Rachael Smith is with Tiffany Zarkadas and 2 others.

10h · 
Hi friends and family. I never thought I would have to make this post, but my father was diagnosed with cancer today. We don’t have all the details except that it is extensive and has spread to several locations in his body. We ask now for prayers as our family processes. We’ll be in the hospital for now. If you want to visit us or talk to dad please reach out to me.

MRI and biopsy results did not give any encouragement.  Visits from family and friends who are like family mean a great deal to Gilbert.  If you are able to visit early in the day it will be appreciated.  The family has asked for immediate family only after 3PM.

Andrew had a MRI yesterday morning.  It showed a missed pocket of infection.  Going home will be delayed to make sure that pocket gets cleaned up.

May your day be blessed  Sally

 1/9/26  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

    Cloudy this morning, afternoon and evening rain with a strong south breeze..  It is 28 degrees now, a high of 40, tonight's low 35. Cloudy tomorrow, a stiff WNW breeze, high 41, low 27.  1-3 inches of snow Sunday, a NNE breeze, high 31, low 20.  Partly cloudy Monday, a strong WNW breeze, high 25, low 1.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a WSW breeze,  high 37, low 28.  Rain/snow Wednesday, a SSW breeze, high 41, low 29.  Cloudy Thursday, a NNW breeze, high 35, low 15.  Partly cloudy next Friday, brisk NW breze, high 20, low 10. Partly cloudy next Saturday, a west breeze, high 27, low 13.  1-3 inches of snow Sunday, a WNW breeze, high 2, low 11.   Partly cloudy the 19th through the 22ed, brisk WNW breezes.  Monday's high 23, 15 for the next three days.  Lows around 0.  Snow Friday the 22rd
  .lil Andrew spent yesterday making Andrew and Gayle's lake house handicapped accessible.  We got out Darel's wheelchair and scooter.  Lil Andrew took my walker, I won't be using it until the snow and ice is gone.  I only use it around the farm.  My truck.  This morning Jay found sister Donna' walker.  I don't remember why but she got a new one when she moved to Georgia.  A lighter one?  Andrew's PT man prefers that walker's style to mine.  It had layers of dust on it.  The scooter and wheelchair were wrapped in blankets.
  The hospital is crowded and short staffed.  If Andrew rings the bell at night when Gayle isn't there it may take a couple hours for a nurse to come.  There are so many patients with the flu that there is a concern about Andrew catching it.  Those things plus Gayle's ability to care for him have made the doctors agree to Andrew's request to go home today.
  Christmas decorations are mostly put away.  Spring cleaning has started.  May your day be blessed, Sally

1/8/26   In a world  that is too often bitter,  judgmental, lacking grace, may we stand-out when we offer peace, loving kindness, and compassion.

30 degrees, cloudy.  Peaks of sunshine later with a NW breeze, high of 38.  Tonight's low 19.  PM rain tomorrow, a brisk south breeze, high 39, low 35.  Mostly cloudy Saturday, a WNW breeze, high 41, low 27.  Snow showers Saturday night.  2-6 inches of snow Sunday and Sunday night.  A NNE breeze, high 30, low 22.   Morning clouds, some afternoon sun Monday.  A light WNW wind, high 27, low 21. Partly cloudy Tuesday, a SW breeze, high 39, low 29.  Snow showers Wednesday morning, a SSW breeze, high 40, low 24.  Snow showers next Thursday PM.  A NW breeze, high 27, low 10.  Partly cloudy next Friday and next Weekend.  WNW breezes, high in the twenties, lows about 8.  Partly cloudy the week of the 8th, WNW breezes, highs in the teens, lows about 2.

    A quiet day.  Bekah cleaned upstairs.  The kids played well together, enjoying a quiet day.  Things have been hectic lately.  I halfway listened to an online gardening class.  The other half of me made cottage cheese.  It's been a long time since there was enough milk to make cheese.  I was pleased with how it turned out.  Bekah asked how soon could I make more.

    All the feeders were full of birds.  I have a "maintenance" doctor's appointment in Dover today.  I'm going to have to buy seed there.  I wish I'd gotten more sunflower seeds when I got grain.  Perko''s bags of seeds cost less and the bag is all seed, no pieces of the plant.

    Andrew is doing more every day.  His voice is getting stronger.  He is thinking about home, I'm not sure the doctors are.  Now that he isn't in ICU Gayle can't stay with him.  The roads were so bad last night Lil Andrew gave Gayle a ride home.  He'll be taking her in this morning before he goes to work.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

     

 1/7/26 Looking at a white garden our mind can imagine the beauty in July.  What great plans we have!

 Snow showers, 22 degrees.  1-3 inches of snow showers today, a north breeze, high 33.  Cloudy tonight, low 28.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 39, low 20.  PM showers Friday, a brisk south breeze, high 30.  Nighttime low 36 with a stiff sout breeze. Mostly cloudy Saturday, a NW breeze, high 42.  A wintery mix Saturday night with a brisk WNW breeze, low 30.  A wintery mix Sunday, snow showers Sunday night.  A NW breeze, high 33, low 21.  Partly cloudy Monday with a strong WNW breeze, a high of 25, a low of 16.  Mostly cloudy Tuesday, a SW breeze, high 34, low 27.  Mostly cloudy next Wednesday, a SW breeze, high 37, low 23.  Snow showers Wednesday night.  1-3 inches of snow next Thursday, another inch Thursday night. A WNW breeze, high 30, low 18,  PM snow showers next Friday, a WNW breeze, high 28, low 12.  Partly cloudy the weekend of the 17th and 18th, Pog and snow showers Sunday night,  West breezes, highs 25 and 22, lows 9 and 5. Brisk WNW breezes the next three days, highs about 15, lows about 0.

    Our straw was delivered  yesterday.  We were out so we were glad to see it.  Whenever there is a warm up I need to give a good layer of bedding to the hens.  If I don't the floor gets damp and the eggs aren't as clean.  I have several bags of spilled hay I cleaned up.  I think I'll save the straw for when we have more of a warm up.

   Schools are canceled.  I'm not surprised south of us but I didn't think roads were going to be that bad here.

   All of Christmas isn't put away.  The Christmas storage shelves are behind where the pellets get put.  Enough boxes are put away  so the rest can be put away even if there are a ton of pellets stacked up.  I ordered pellets.  The last ton of pellets went fast.  I have to get more sunflower seeds too.  There are more birds coming to the feeders than I expected.

   May your day be blessed.  Sally