9/11/26  We remember!  Honor the lives lost. Remember the heroes. Pray for and hold onto a stronger tomorrow.

      Low of  50.  It's clear and calm.  Sunshine today with a light WNW wind.  High 69, low 46.  Sunshine tomorrow a SW breeze, high 76, low 52.  Showers Sunday, a stiff south breeze, high 67, low 58.  Partly cloudy Monday and Tuesday.  Strong NW breeze Monday, high 67, low 42.  A west breeze Tuesday, high 71, low 53.  Showers Thursday, a SSW breeze, high 71, low 52.  Possible morning showers next Friday, a NNW breeze, high 70, low 47.  Partly cloudy Saturday the 19th through Friday, the 25th.  Brisk NW breezes, highs in the mid sixties, lows in the low to mid forties.  

      The drought monitor says the rain was welcome but Northern New England needs a lot more rain to climb out of the drought we are in.

Over the years it always has seemed that eventually nature balances itself out.  Will we see that balancing in snow?  Yesterday they put four cords of wood in the garage.  It has been cut since july.  They are stacking it so that we can get to the two cords left from last year first.  Another day they will put more inside.  We'll probably start the cookstove next weekend.  These chilly mornings Bekah is switching the heat pump hot water heater to electric.  When it is on heat pump it pumps cold air into the house.  Nice in July.  I started the pellet stove this morning.  A coil in the cook range heats our water when we use the range.

    We have lots of onions and garlic left.  Lots of squash too but it isn't ripe yet.

    This coming week's forecast is great for fall planting.  And it will be tempting to clean up the flower gardens but please leave them til spring.  Pollinators winter in the dead plants over the winter.  We never lead any ground bare.  We clean up the vegetable garden so no bad bugs have a winter home  Then we plant rye seed.  

   May your day be blessed.  Sally

 9/10/26  Choose to slow down, to savor, to be present…because time, not money, is life’s true treasure.”

An inch of rain last night.  As you look at the long range winter forecasts remember the forecasts for several days of no rain. Sunshine today, a strong west wind, high 80, low 51.  Sunshine tomorrow, a light NNW wind, high 70, low 48.  Sunshine Saturday, a brisk SW breeze, high 77, low 54.  Showers Sunday,  a strong south breeze, high 68, low 55.  Partly cloudy Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 67, low 43. More clouds Tuesday, a west breeze, high 71, low 50.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday, a WSW breeze, high 76, low 53. Showers next Thursday and Friday,NNW breezes, highs about 70, lows 55 and 46.  Mostly sunny the weekend of the 19th and 20th, brisk WNW breezes, highs about 65, lows 43.  Sunshine Monday the 21st, NNW breezes, high 66, low 44.  Partly cloudy the next 3 days, brisk NW breezes, highs 67, lows 47.

    The sump pump hasn't kicked on so there is a lot of dry soil soaking up the rain, no change in the water table but enough to give plants and trees a boost as they get ready for winter.  This morning is breakfast at sister Lynne's and a dr. appointment at 11:30.   Hopefully a short one, this time of the year the to do list is long.  Andrew bought me the cedar bows, now we need to get the bottom cabinets cleaned and fresh peppermint and cedar in the corners,  Next week's cooler temperatures will trigger rodents looking for a winter home.  We are down to one inside and one outside cat but they took care of the chipmunk that thought he'd spend the winter in the garage.

   Tuesdays and Thursdays the home schoolers go to classes.  They're having breakfast.  They weren't sure about it Tuesday but they are excited to go today.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/9/26  "Each day of our lives, we make deposits in the memory banks of our children." — Charles R. Swindoll⁣

       Low of 43.  Cloudy today, a stiff SSE breeze, high 66, low 59.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a west wind, high 81, low 51.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday.  A light WNW wind Friday, high 70, low 46. A WSW breeze Saturday, high 76, low 54.  Cloudy Sunday, a strong SSW breeze, high 74, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, NW breeze, high 70, low 44.  Perhaps a shower Tuesday, a brisk SW breeze,high 70, low 55. Partly cloudy next Wednesday through Wednesday the 23. Next Wednesday's high 75, highs the next three days 72.  Lows 53 Wednesday and Thursday, 50 on Friday, 47 on Saturday. brisk westerly breezes.  Highs in the mid sixties the week of the 20th, lows in the mid forties.  Brisk NW breezes.

     I started the pellet stove this morning.  Next week we are going to start the cook range.  This week fall cleaning will start because the temperature says house plants need back in the house.  Windows need washed, window sills cleaned and stuff piled on plant tables needs to be put away.  Plants that stayed in the house need TLC and the ones coming in need TLC.  I have romaine lettuce plants that need to be planted.  Other years I've had lettuce into November, this year may be different.  If nights get too cold I'll cover the plants with remay.

     Another reason to start fall cleaning is mice will be looking for a winter home.  We will clean the cupboards and put peppermint and cedar in them to repel mice.  Until last year I've always cleaned the cupboards in the fall and put branches of peppermint plants in them.  It wasn't done last fall and we've battled mice all winter.  Soaking cotton balls in peppermint essential oil was enough to keep them out of the drawers but it was summer before they were gone. I read where adding cedar to the peppermint makes a stronger repellant.  Cedarwood essential oil  on cotton balls was suggested.  Andrew had to cut down a cedar tree.  He is bringing me the green branches. I didn't want to spend money on the oil but I'll be glad to cut up some cedar branches and mix them with the peppermint.

     May your day be blessed, Sally 

 9/8/26  There's a quiet joy in starting fresh, enjoying the simple things, and creating little moments that are caring and feel just right.

   
    Maine’s worsening drought isn’t expected to get better soon  Bangor Daily News Headline Yesterday.  It is cloudy this morning, calm, 59 degrees.  Showers this morning, a stiff north breeze,high 73, tonight's low 40.  Cloudy tomorrow, a brisk SSE breeze, high 65, low 59.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a west wind, high 81, low 52.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday.  a strong WNW breeze Friday, high 70, low 44.  A SW breeze Saturday, high 75, low 52.  Cloudy Sunday, a strong SSW breeze, high 76, low 57.  Possible showers Monday, a WNW breeze, high 68, low 47.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a north breeze, high 68, low 48.  Cloudy next Wednesday, a brisk SW breeze, high 73, low 52.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, a NW breeze, high 71, low 49.  Perhaps a shower Friday the 18th, a brisk NW breeze, high 67, low 48.  Partly cloudy the weekend of the 19th and 20th, brisk NW breezes, highs about 66, lows about 44.  Cloudy Monday the 21st, partly cloudy Tuesday the 22ed, brisk WNW breezes, high 66, lows 46.

      I don't think we are going to get any of the forecast showers.  The dark clouds are gone, the sun is shining.  I'll water this morning, paying special attention to new plantings.  Last week's rain was quickly absorbed by the dry ground.

     The homeschoolers go to school twice a week.  This is their first day.  Charleston Church provides the "hybrid' homeschool.

     I suggest you google "Are PFAS pesticides entering our food system?"  If you aren't up to date on the PFAS chemicals you might want to google them.  We only use an organic pesticide and we try not to use that.  We have never put sludge on our land.

  Have you noticed that most of our Coast of Maine soils are sold out.  The one stack left is Bar Harbor potting soil.  We order extra of that so we have some left when it is time to bring in houseplants.  I always seem to have a few plants that I want to repot, I'm sure you do too.  We have some bags of compost left if you want to top dress a plant.  I dust the pots with a bit of cinnamon as extra insurance against gnats.  After a frost it is good to put some compost on your Rhubarb, peonies and delphiniums for next year.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/7/26  To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under  heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

     Sunshine today, 51 now, afternoon high 78, tonight's low 57.  A stiff NNW breeze today.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a stiff NNW breeze, high 73, low 42.  Cloudy Wednesday, a stiff SSE breeze, high 67, low 59.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a light WSW wind, high 81, low 54.  Sunshine Friday, a strong WNW breeze. high 70, low 44.  Sunshine Saturday, a NW breeze, high 73, low 52.  Possible showers Sunday and next Monday.  A stiff SSW breeze Sunday, high 75, low 54.  A brisk NW breeze next Monday, high 72, low 47.  Partly cloudy the rest of the week.Brisk west breezes next Tuesday and Wednesday, highs about 69, lows about 49.  NW breezes Thursday and Friday  Highs about 67, lows about 47.  Possible showers Saturday the 19th, a stiff west breeze, high 65, low 45. Partly cloudy Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st, brisk WNW breezes, highs about 65, lows about 45.

    The weather report says it is time for Maine residents to start bringing houseplants inside.   Maybe throw something light over them tomorrow night and Friday night if you don't have time before the weekend.  The Rural Sprout farm and garden web site has several fall articles.  You can find them on Facebook and on the web.

     Sometimes I bring plants in as they are.  Sometimes if they are large or poorly shaped I prune them.  I never prune more than a third.  My main concern is making sure there are no hitchhikers. Why the soil is dry I drench the plants with hydrogen peroxide drench to get rid of any fungus gnats. 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide to one cup of water.    After a few hours  I spray them well with water.  After the plants are clean and any dead or damaged foliage is removed i spray them with insecticidal soap or neem oil.  I usually let them sit in the garage a day why I wash windows.  It's a lot easier to wash the windows before the sills are filled with plants!

    If you're looking for something nice to do today go to Harmony Free fair.  A small country fair with something for everyone.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 9/5/26  Feedback helps people grow.  Constant criticism wears them down.  You can sharpen a pencil until there's nothing left.

 Clouds, breeze, 58 degrees.   Cloudy today, a light NNE wind, high 68, low 50.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a strong north breeze, high 70, low 50.  Sunshine Monday, a stiff NW breeze, high 79, low 56.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a brisk NNW breeze, high 73, low 44. Possible afternoon showers Wednesday, a brisk south breeze, high 68, low 62. Partly cloudy Thursday the 10th through Saturday the 19th. A strong west breeze Thursday, high 77, low 54. More sun Friday, a strong WNW breeze, high 71, low 50.  Brisk WSW breezes next weekend, highs about 75, lows about 53.   Mostly west breezes the week of the 14th, highs around 70, lows around 50.

    Yesterday's highlight was a visit from Hans"Bob" Shade who went to school with Darel and was in our wedding party.   He lives in Pennsylvania.  He and his son are in Maine bear hunting.  He got his bear the first day.  Lots of good memories.  Neither of us has accepted the slowing down that comes with age and illness very well.

    The mums have been moved to the display benches.  They are just beginning to blossom; they'll brighten up yards for many weeks.  Nine dollars each or three for twenty-four.

    The girls are making peach jam and plum jelly today.  Some pears are ripe.  I'm setting out some good sized broccoli and cauliflower plants.  Right next to the back of the house.  Many of our falls have been late enough for them to produce.  If this fall isn't the hens will enjoy the plants and the ground will be ready for me to plant first thing in the spring.  May your day be blessed, Sally