2/19/26  Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eyes for an instant? Henry David Thoreau

 !7 degrees  Sunshine today, high 37, a WNW breeze.  Clear tonight, low 7.  Mostly cloudy tomorrow, a NNE breeze, high 35, low 9.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a stiff north breeze, a few flurries, high 25, low 15.  Sunshine Sunday, a north breeze, high 37, low 15.  Mostly cloudy Monday, a strong NNE breeze, high 32, low 12.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a brisk NW breeze, high 33, low 5.  1-3 inches of PM snow showers Wednesday, SW breeze, high 34, low 25.  Rain/snow next Thursday, a brisk NW breeze, high 42, low 17.  Sunshine next Friday, a WNW breeze, high 33, low 19,  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a brisk WSW breeze, high 41, low 24.  Snow showers Saturday night and next Sunday morning.  A stiff west breeze Sunday, high 37, low 10.  Partly cloudy on the 2ed and 3rd, highs in the upper twenties, lows about 12.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday the 4th, snow showers Thursday the 5th,  Highs 33, lows 14.

    Last night we attended the Ash Wednesday service.  Today I join many Christians world wide choosing to prepare my heart for Easter  by spending more time in prayer and looking for ways to love my neighbor.  Besides giving thanks today that Christ loves me so much He died on the cross for my sins I am praying for the farmer in the paths of the wildfires in Oklahoma and Kansas.  I think my imagination falls short of their battle to save their animals and homes.  Some have lost the battle.

   The word Lent comes from an old English word Lencten that means spring.  Winter curtains are coming down.  White curtains with butterflies and flowers in pretty pastels are going up.  A light sage green tablecloth replaces the red one.  We'll have to deal with winter ski pants and jackets for a while yet.  The weather has been nice enough this week for the kids to get lots of use from them.  Lots of green showing up under the germination lights.  

    I have a doctor's appointment this morning.  I may price a grocery store bouquet.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 2/18/26  “A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.” – George S. Patton

Sunshine, 27 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, a strong NW breeze, high 34 degrees. Clear tonight, low 13.  Sunshine tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 37, low 8.  Mostly cloudy Friday, a NNE breeze, high 33, low 8.  Mostly cloudy Saturday, a north breeze, high 27, low 14.  Partly cloudy Sunday and Monday, north breezes, highs 36 and 33, low 11.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, stiff NW breeze, high 29, low 2.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, , a SW breeze, high 29, low 20.  Rain/snow next Thursday, a brisk SW breeze, high 41, low 22.  Partly cloudy next Friday, a WNW breeze, high 41, low 18.  Snow showers the weekend of the 28th and March 1st, WNW breeze, highs 38 and 32.  Lows about 18.  Partly cloudy Monday the 2ed, a Brisk WNW breeze, high 30 and 16.  PM rain/ snow Tuesday the third, brisk NW breezes, high 35, low 19.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, the 4th, a brisk WNW breeze, high 37, low 19.
     GMO seeds?  Monsanto/Byers have bought rights to many of the popular varieties of vegetable seeds.  They have bought rights to so many tomato and pepper seeds that it is nearly impossible to find varieties that produce the kind of tomatoes and peppers that we want.We try to source seeds that Monsanto/Byers don't have the rights to.  The seeds they buy the rights to don't automatically become GMO, they are still the same seeds as they always were.  We try to source seeds elsewhere because Monsanto/Byers is a profit driven company lacking in ethics.  Way back when we were a small commercial dairy with a 31 cow tie up their representatives sat in my kitchen and told me that if we didn't start using bovine growth hormone we would lose our market, they would stop picking up our milk.  The next day several of the cows were sold.  We started selling milk and butter directly to the customer.  Our bacteria count had always been low, every year we had gotten a plaque honoring us for producing quality milk.  We had no problem getting a licence to sell raw milk.  We could do that but what if we had been a 100 cow dairy with corresponding debts?  They have maintained their hold on farmers through bullying.
    Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Lent is a sacred invitation to pause, reflect, and renew our faith. For me the beginning of Lent seems like not only the renewal of my spiritual life but the beginning of spring, the season of renewal and growth.   Next week Bekah and Jay will start the fire in the first greenhouse. Three weeking (March 8th) until dayling savings time.  In four or five weeks the furnace in the second greenhouse comes on.  Spring arrives the morning of March 20th.  Easter is April 5th.

    May your day be blessed. Sally

 2/17/26  Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sunshine, 15 degrees, calm.  Clouds today, high 38 with a SSW breeze.  Cloudy tonight. low of 27.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a stiff NW breeze, high 36, low 18.  Sunshine Thursday, a NW breeze, high 38, low 9.  Mostly sunny Friday, a light NNE breeze, high 33, low 11. 1-3 inches of snow Friday night.  Mostly cloudy Saturday, a north breeze, high26, low 12.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a NNE breeze, high 38, low 20.  Snow showers Monday, a light NNE wind, high 31, low 16.  Mostly cloudy next Tuesday, a strong NW breeze, high38, low 2.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, WNW breeze, high 27, low 14.  Snow showers next Thursday, a west breeze, high 38, low 20.  Snow showers next Friday, a brisk NW breeze, high 36, low 13.  1-3 inches of snow.  Mostly cloudy Saturday the 28th, a WNW breeze, high 33. low 14.  Mostly cloudy Sunday, March 1st, high 33, low 18.  A WNW breeze. PM snow showers.  Morning snow showers Monday, the 2ed, a stiff west breeze, high 32, low 16.  Cloudy Tuesday the 3rd, a NW breeze, high 35, low 17.

   A haze rolled through, no visible breeze. It is now 26 degrees,

   We started yesterday with a sock matching party, two grocery sacks full of socks.  Some sock pairs stayed here, some went home to Maegin's, some went to Heather and Darel's.  When the kids got tired of sledding they filled small boxes I'd saved with bark and small pieces of wood from around the chopping block.  Today they'll take the boxes out to the greenhouse for fire starters.  In the afternoon they went to the jump house to celebrate Levi's third birthday.

    Bekah rearranged the germination shelves so there was room for more seeds. She planted two more trays.  She put some of the kid's 2x4 blocks under some trays so the tiny seedlings would only be a few inches from the lights.  She'll be making butter today.  Jay's father has the ability to make something out of not much.  He made her a new butter churn out of some not working ones.  The kitchen aid mixer works but is slow.  So little can be made at a time.  He also fixed a loose outlet that was on Gilbert's list.

   No clouds so far, sun and 29 degrees.  May your day be blessed, Sally.

   

 2/16/26  The best relationships are built by partners telling partners what's mostly right about each other.

Mostly sunny, 15 degrees.  A light SSE breeze today, high 36, low 15.  Cloudy tomorrow, a SSW breeze, high 38, low 27.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff NW breeze, high 35, low 15.  Sunshine Thursday, a NW breeze, high 27, low 11.  Partly cloudy Friday, a north breeze, high 35, low 12.  Mostly cloudy Saturday, a north breeze, high 29, low 12. Snow showers Saturday night.  Snow showers Sunday morning, a north breeze, high 31.  1-3 inches of snow Sunday night, A NNE breeze, low 15.  Snow showers next Monday morning, a brisk north breeze, high 32, low 7.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a strong NW breeze, high 28, low 4.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a WSW breeze, high 33, low 18. Snow showers Thursday the  26th and Friday the 27th, NW breezes, highs about 36, lows 19 and 16.  Mostly cloudy Saturday the 28th, a brisk NW breeze, high 38, low 16.  1-3 inches of snow Saturday night. Morning snow showers Sunday March 1st, a brisk NW breeze, high 31, low 16.

    President's Day.  The house is very quiet as kids sleep in.  No school this week.Pleasant weather so the kids will be able to spend lots of time outside.  Some fun things planned plus their names are on the to-do list.

     Bekah's making a second pot of coffee.  She has milked Mabel, cared for her and the chickens, and watered all the tiny seedlings.  Time to relax with a cup of coffee.  Then double check two more nursery orders for bare root perennials and shrubs she wants to send in today.  She'll check the six boxes of plugs and cutting coming March 3rd or 4th.  Next week she'll be checking that order again.  So far there haven't been any cancelations on the plugs and cuttings orders, just some postponements to later weeks.  When that happens there are empty spaces in the boxes.  Sometimes Bekah likes to fill those spaces.

    Saturday morning I pulled and scraped the loose broken putty from the inside of the shower.  Saturday afternoon Darel recaulked it.  Today I'll clean the other places in the bathroom that the caulk is broken  so Darel can recaulk them.  I need to make more cottage cheese too.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 2/15/26  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Follow God's will, his pleasing, perfect will.  romans 12:2

 Sunshine today, a brisk NW breeze, high 31. Tonight's low 6.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun tomorrow, a SSE breeze, high 36, low 18.  Cloudy Tuesday, a SSW breezee, high 37, low 26.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a brisk NW breeze, high 37, low 12.  Snow Friday night and Saturday.  For those who believe the long range forecast there is a refined spring forecast.  Warmer than average in March for New England except for Maine.  Cooler than average for Maine.  Warmer than average in April for all of New England including Maine.  May cooler than average for all of New England including Maine.
     Our way of life will set the tone for February vacation week.
     We bring our children alongside us and require them to help with chores and the raising of the food they will consume. This is the reason we put in effort to run a balanced home, and a balanced family life.
     A Balanced  family culture looks like not being completely separated from the modern world, just close enough to understand which way the current is trying to drag the next generation. Close enough to be able to give our children the practice they need to swim against this modern current. Yet separate enough to protect them from the influence of the modern culture. More time at home , together with family, working and playing in God's great creation will allow the old fashioned skills of homesteading plenty of time to settle deep into our family culture.

     May your day be blessed, Sally

 2/14/26  The reason they put eracers on the end of pencils is because everyone makes mistakes.

 I'm pleased to report the low is not 4 as was forecast, it is 15.  Sunshine this morning, clouds this afternoon. A WSW breeze, high 34.   Tonight's low 10.  Sunshine tomorrow, a stiff NW breeze, high 31, low 9.  Cloudy Monday, an ESE breeze, high 36, low 20.  Snow showers Tuesday morning, a WSW breeze, high 39, low 25.  PM rain/snow Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 39,low 17.  Clouds Thursday, a NNW breeze, high 36, low 18.  Partly cloudy Friday, a NNW breeze, high 32, low 15.  2-6 inches of snow next Saturday, a NW breeze, high 34, low 19.  Partly cloudy next Sunday, a brisk NW breeze, high 34, low 14.  Partly cloudy Monday the 23rd, Tuesday the 24th and Wednesday the 25th with brisk NW breezes.  Highs around 30, lows 11, 9, 16.  Rain/snow the 26th and 27th with brisk NW breezes, highs 34,low 20. Partly cloudy Saturday the 28th, a brisk NW breeze, high 34, low 16.

    Vacation week looks like good weather for lots of sledding. Our goal will be to have spring cleaning done, ready to go "greenhouse" full time.  No sun the following week when we start the greenhouse,  But no big storms or serious cold either.

   This morning I'm peeling the crumbling calking from the shower, getting it ready for Darel to recalk it this afternoon.  Bekah has to switch out one of the 4 foot shop lights that is refusing to stay lit.  It is only three years old but the ting  seedlings need dependable light.  LED fixtures are supposed to last years.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 2/13/26  Soft hands and an empty pantry won't serve you when the world gets hard.  Learn to do things.

Clear and 13 degrees.  Sunshine today, a stiff NW breeze, high 32.  Clear tonight, low -3.  The warm spell forecast a week ago has gotten much shorter.  Don't put your sap buckets out yet.  Mostly cloudy Saturday, a west breeze, high 35, low 9.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a brisk NNW breeze, high 33, low 9.  Cloudy Monday, a SSW breeze, high 37, low 26.  Snow showers Monday night.  Snow showers Tuesday morning, a SW breeze, high 40. low 27.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff NW breeze, high 36, low 14.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a NNW breeze, high 34, low 5.  1-3 inches of snow next Friday, a north breeze, high 29, low 16. Partly cloudy next Saturday, a brisk NW breeze, high 32, low 16.  Sunshine next Sunday, a brisk NW breeze, high 36, low 11.  Clouds the first three days the week of the 23, snow at the end of the week.  How much changes every day.  Brisk NW breezes all week with highs around  30.  Lows around 11 until Friday.  Friday's low 16.

    Even though I have lights making the hens days longer, the naturally longer days are triggering the hens to lay more.  The pullets are laying nearly 100% and the old hens have all their new feathers and are starting to lay again. Warmer temperatures may be helping.  No ice in their water buckets.  Deviled eggs for an after school snack today!  A few times this winter there were no eggs in the "eggs and milk for sale" refrigerator.  Now there are enough to keep it full. There are two refrigerators in the house entryway. one for grass fed hamburger, one for milk and eggs.  Self-service.  Customers just walk in, choose what they want and put payment in the money jar.

    Lots of green showing in the germination trays.  Giving the tiny seedlings TLC is now on Bekah's to do list every day. Filling the bird feeders after the birds go to roost is on my list every day..  I forgot last night so I was out there just before daylight.  I could fill the feeders during the day, there are times the birds all seem to take a break.  But they often take their break right there in the kitchen garden, hiding in the bushes or Christmas tree.  Yesterday several doves were lined up, dozing in the sun.  I don't like to disturb them.

    May your day be blessed, Sally