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

 12/11/25  Be the break in someone’s bad day. Be the yes in their world full of no. Be the reason they still believe good people exist.  

 A coating of ice overnight.  Cloudy, calm, 27 degrees.  Clouds and 31 this morning..  Some sun this afternoon, a strong west breeze, a high of 20.  Clouding up tonight. a strong WSW breeze, low 12.   Partly cloudy tomorrow, a west wind, high 24, low 12.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a light SW breeze, high 29, low 13,  Morning clouds,/afternoon sun on Sunday, a NNW breeze, high 27, low 13. Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 1, low 9. Partly cloudy Tuesday, a WNW breeze, high 25, low 8.  Mostly cloudy Wednesday, a SW breeze, high 31, low 22.  Pm showers next Thursday, a WNW breeze, high 37, low 29.  AM snow showers next Friday, a strong WNW breeze, high 32, low 11.  Morning snow showers Saturday the 2th, a west breeze, high 23, low 15.  Cloudy Sunday the 21st, NW breeze, high 21, low 9.  Partly cloudy Monday the 22ed, a NW breeze, high 19, low 11.  Snow showers Tuesday the 23rd through Christmas Day.

    The doctor's appointment was good.  The bloodwork that had been left out of Friday's drawn was left out because it was 3 days before insurance would cover it.  The bloodwork was done yesterday.  The doctor  worked on me, putting my back in place. I stood straight  and went to my sister's for brunch.  I was home well before the light rain at 2 degrees made the roads treacherous.  Maegin made out fine but it was a slow bus run.  Jordn and crew had a window replacement job in Mexico, Maine.  Darel said it was a long slow drive home.  They pull a good sized Renewal by Anderson work trailer.

    Bekah's Christmas cactus came out of my bedroom, it is covered in buds. Christmas cactus care says fertilize at bud break.  We have.  We're hoping it blooms like the pictures we see on FB!

    May your day be blessed, Sally

    

12/10/25    The Sun itself is weak when it first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on. Charles Dickens

A heavy dusting of snow last night. Cloudy today with 1-3 inches of snow this afternoon, rain this evening ending as snow around 2AM.  A SE breeze, high 31 this afternoon, 33 this evening, 28 overnight.  Cloudy tomorrow with a stiff west breeze, high 32, low 13.  Partly cloudy Friday, a west wind, high 25, low 13.  Partly cloudy Saturday with a WSW breeze, high 27, low 13.  Cloudy Sunday, a WSW breeze, high 26, low 11.  Mostly sunny Monday, a stiff NW breeze high 18, low 8. Partly cloudy Tuesday, a west breeze, high 21, low 9.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a SW breeze,high 29, low 24.  A wintery mix next Thursday, a SW breeze, high 35, low 26.  Ice to snow next Friday, a stiff west breeze, high 32, low 15.  Mostly cloudy Saturday the 20th, high 24, low 17.   Snow showers Saturday night.  Mostly cloudy Sunday the 21st and Monday the 22ed, WNW breezes, highs 25 and 21, lows 12.  Snow showers the 23rd and 24th.

    Another quiet winter day,  keeping the house warm and the animals comfortable was the goal. Doug had some poor quality hay that he bales in large round bales.  Just for winter's cold.  He unrolls a bale in a protected spot,  soon the cows are all laying on it.  He and Bekah keep the water for the cows and chickens ice free.  Sometimes, when it is really cold I take a teakettle of warm water out so the hens have warm water to drink.  I've seen Doug carrying 5 gallons of hot water to the water tub.  Farmers know the wild animals don't get such TLC but we know our animals are more comfortable thanks to our efforts.  The wild birds flock to drink from the heated water pan set up for them.

    I have an early doctor's appointment.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/9/25  Have you had a kindness shown?  Pass it on!  Let it travel down the years, Let if wipe another's tears.

Clear, calm, 2 degrees. Sunshine today with a WSW breeze, s high og 19.  Cloudy tonight, low of 10.  2-6 inches of snow tomorrow and tomorrow night. A SE breeze, high 30, low 25.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun Thursday, a stiff west breeze, high 31, low 14.  Partly cloudy Friday, a light west wind, high 23, low 13. Partly cloudy Saturday, a WSW breeze, high 27, low 15.  Snow showers Saturday night.  Snow showers Sunday morning, a north breeze, high 25, low 5.  Partly cloudy Monday, a stiff WNW breeze, high 14, low 6.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a WNW breeze, high 18, low 5. Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a WNW breeze, high 23, low 17.  1-3 inches of snow next Thursday, a west breeze, high 28, low 22.  Snow showers the morning of Friday the 1th, a stiff west breeze, high 26, low 7.  PM fog Saturday the 20th, snow showers Saturday night. A WNW breeze, hig 18, low 8.  PM snow showers on the 22ed and 23rd.

    Everyone is just working at keeping warm.  Lynne stuck some poinsettia in the boughs on the church box, it was cold enough so we called that good.  Heather and Maegin got back from Heather's doctor's appointment in Waterville just in time for Maegin's afternoon bus run  So not much was done on the trailer.  

    Bekah and Azalea got back early enough to decorate the Christmas tree.  Jay sold some trees.  I washed the side windows that open in the get together room.  And realized they were never latched and were letting in lots of cold air.  It takes two people to shut and latch them.   They are now shut and latched.  As we moved plants around to wash windows, Bekah and I decided today would be spa day for house plants.  Wednesday Maegin is moving her plants to the trailer so tomorrow will be plant rearranging day.  I think we all have too many plants!

     May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/8/25  Life is mostly froth and bubble, Two things stand like stone, kindness in another's trouble, courage in our own.5 inches of snow last night.  9 degrees and clear.  Sunshine today, a high of 15 with a light NW wind.  Clear tonight, -1.

Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SW breeze, high 21. low 22.  Snow showers tomorrow night.  2-6 inches of snow Wednesday and Wednesday night.  A light SE breeze, high 31, low 26.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a west breeze, high 33. low 14.  Partly cloudy Friday, a west breeze, high 26, low 13. Partly cloudy this weekend, WNW breezes, Saturday's high 26, Sunday's 22.  Lows 12.  Mostly cloudy next Monday, a brisk WNW breeze, high 18, low 8.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday and Wednesday, WNW breezes, highs about 21, lows 6 and 16.  1-3 inches of snow Wednesday night.  2-6 inches of snow Thursday the 18th and Thursday night.  SW breezes, high 31, low 16.  Partly cloudy the next four days, WNW breezes, highs around 20, lows 8.

   Yesterday was a quiet Sunday.  Lynnne and I stayed after church and put boughs on the sign.  Really Lynne put the boughs up and I cut pieces of wire and handed them to her.  Today we are wiring some bows on.  In the afternoon ladies from the girls' church came to the greenhouse  for a wreath making workshop.

   Some annual doctor's appointments, not for me this time, mean a pause on decorating for Christmas and work on Maegin's trailer.  A sunny day is a good day for me to wash the insides of one of the big windows. We have so many plants that washing the insides of windows means doing a lot more than just washing a window.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/7/25  This second Sunday in Advent we light the candle of Peace.

Some clouds, calm, 19 degrees.  More clouds this afternoon, a NW breeze, high of 25.  A stiff NNNE breeze towing with a low of 11.  1-3 inches of snow.  Sunshine tomorrow, a NW wind, high 17, low 2.  December weather consists of one arctic clipper after another giving us lots of snow days without a lot of accumulation each day.. But snow every few days and cold temperatures will add up to a significant  snow pack.

   

This Second Sunday of Advent 

focuses on Peace, a deeper preparation for Jesus' arrival, moving beyond just the excitement of Christmas to a spiritual readiness,  symbolized by the lighting of the second purple candle on the Advent wreath. It calls for creating inner space for God, emphasizing reconciliation, overcoming fear, and preparing for the justice and harmony of Christ's kingdom.   We work to mend broken relationships, we put the weight of a to-do list that seems to never get shorter in Christ's hands, we give our worries over what kind of a world our grandchildren and great grandchildren will face to Him.  Jesus brings a lasting inner peace and quiet expectation, not just worldly calm.   Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He is in Heaven preparing a room for us.  We have peace about our future for we will be with Him. 

     Also on this day, Pearl Harbor Day, with sadness and a solemn, enduring reverence, we pause to remember the 1,177 brave souls who found their final, eternal resting place aboard the USS Arizona on that devastating day in Pearl Harbor. Their final act was one of unfathomable courage. In a moment of sudden, blinding violence, as a single, catastrophic strike breached the forward magazine, these men faced the ultimate test. They did not waver. They stood their post with unyielding heroism, embodying the highest ideal of duty and sacrifice.

May your day be Blessed, Sally