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

 12/6/25 There are three things that last forever; faith, home and love; but the greater of these is love.

Just enough clouds to make a pretty sunrise, calm, 6 degrees.  A gentle south breeze today, overcast, high 25. Some moonshine tonight, low 16. Mostly cloudy tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 26, low 11.  1-3 inches of snow tomorrow night.  Partly cloudy Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 17, low 2.  Mostly cloudy Tuesday, evening snow showers.  A SW breeze, high 23, low 14.  1-3 inches of PM snow Wednesday, a light SSE breeze, high 33, low 24. Cloudy Thursday, NW breeze, high 32, low 14.  Morning snow showers Friday, a WNW breeze, high 26, low 12.  Partly cloudy next weekend, Monday the 15th, Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th, NW breezes, highs about 21, low around 10.  Snow showers the next three days, accumulating 3-9 inches.

    Yesterday was a quiet day.  As I heard stories of frozen pipes I was thankful ours weren't. We have so much wind up here on the hill that we are better prepared when the wind is accompanied by the cold.  Even though the wind had stopped, Bekah went to the barn last thing last  night to run water.  And again first thing this morning.  I took warm water out to the hens in the morning and evening.  Bekah went out mid day because I was in Dover getting bloodwork.

     We bought a used butter churn, a gem dandy, it came yesterday.  Gem Dandy is a well known old brand.  There are plans to restart the Alabama manufacturing that made them.  We have our name on the list, but the cost may be too much for us.  Today Bekah will try it out.  The kitchen aid mixer makes good butter but only a half pound at a time.  This is a three gallon churn. We have an electric churn, a gem dandy..  It is a one gallon churn and has a plastic jar. With the concern about microplastics, Bekah doesn't want to make butter in plastic.We will continue to look for glass churning jars.  Bekah uses glass pickle jars and 2 quart mason jars for milk.  She is always looking for glass.gallon jars.

    Christmas shopping and decorating is today's plan.  We expect lots of Christmas tree customers. May your day be blessed.

Sally 

    

     

 12/5/25 Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Partly cloudy, a WSW breeze, 0 degrees.  Sun and clouds today, a WSW breeze, high 18.  A few clouds tonight, low of 2.  Clouds tomorrow, PM snow showers, a gentle SE breeze. High 26, low 17.  Mostly cloudy Sunday, a NW breeze, high 24, low 10.  Snow showers Sunday night.  Sunshine Monday, a stiff NW breeze, high 17, low 1.  Mostly sunny Tuesday, a WSW breeze, high 2, low 12.  PM snow showers Wednesday, a SSW breeze, high 31, low 25.  Rain/snow Thursday, a NW breeze, high 35, low 20.  Morning snow showers next Friday, high 26, low 13.  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a brisk WNW breeze, high 24, low 12..  Sunshine next Sunday, a WNW breeze, high 22, low 13. Partly cloudy Monday the 15th and Tuesday the 16th, WNW breezes, highs 25 and 22, lows 10.  Cloudy Wednesday the 17th, high 21, low 14.  2-6 inches of snow Thursday the 18th and Thursday night.  A WNW breeze, high 25, low 17.  PM snow showers Friday the 19th, a WNW breeze, high 24, low 13.

     Thanks to the Walmart trip Jay and Bekah set up another outside Nativity.  The kids love the bright colors and animals with lights in them in the big nativity.  I like the simple one of a plain Mary, Joseph and the baby with a string of warm white lights lighting up the stable.

    The plumber came yesterday.  The electrician came too, a day early! Maegin and Jay got a lot of her stuff moved between morning and afternoon bus runs.  She'll get all moved and settled in this morning.

     Justin is here getting water.  Not only was it cold last night, there was a strong northwest wind with lots of stronger gusts.

Bekah said the horse barn water was just a trickle at first.  It would have been frozen if she had been any later.

      Andrew and Gayle took me to Annabelle's concert last night.  I was thankful I was with them.  In the open stretches we could feel the wind on the suv.  Plus Andrew braved the cold, dropping  and picking Gayle and I at the door.  The wind has died down and the sun is shining.  But it is 1 degree.  The hens are wanting some warm water and the eggs will have to be collected a couple of times this morning so they don't freeze.  I have to go for bloodwork midmorning.

      May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/4/25 Today take time to remember the quiet birth in the stable in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago; and give thanks.

Cloudy, breezy, 26 degrees.  Cloudy, strong west breezes, high 33.  A WNW wind tonight, low 1.  A WSW breeze tomorrow, Partly cloudy, high 19, low 3.  CloudySaturday, a gentle SSE breeze, high 26, low 16.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a NW breeze, high 29, low 8. Partly cloudy Monday, a N breeze, high 17, low 2.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a WNW breeze,high 21, low 14. Cloudy Wednesday, a SWS breeze, high 31, low 20.  1-3 inches of snow Wednesday night.  Snow showers Thursday, 1-3 inches, a NNW breeze, high 31, low 17. Partly cloudy next Friday, a WNW breeze, high 27, low 14.  Partly cloudy next weekend and Monday the 15th, brisk WNW breezes, higs 25, lows 14.  Partly cloudy Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th, WNW breezes, highs 25, lows 15. Snow showers on Tuesday.  Snow Thursday the 18th. 

    I made a Walmart order yesterday and picked it up using their pickup service.  My part of the order was the things we needed to finish decorating.  Maegin's part was totes.  Bekah needed more two quart mason jars for milk.  I will be using Walmart's pickup service again.  The lady who bought my order out was very thoughtful and pleasant.  Thanks to using the service I had enough energy to get groceries at Hannaford.

    Bekah and Jay put the tree up yesterday.  Jay cut a slice off the bottom.  A fresh cut allows the tree to take up water.  It did, Bekah had to refill the stand first thing this morning.  She placed a table top  humidifier behind the tree.  She set the tree up early last year the same way.  When they took it out after Christmas it still wasn't shedding needles.  It helps that it wasn't cut until the day before they picked the trees.

  Jay wrapped the beehives yesterday.  The forecast says we don't have to be concerned about them being too warm.  Today I will tighten up the chickens' part of the barn.  Balancing enough ventilation and keeping out the cold is a challenge.  I'll make sure they always have dry bedding.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/3/25 The world will know we are Christians by our love.

 About 5-6 inches of snow.  Cloudy, calm, 26 degrees.Partly cloudy today, a NW breeze, high  32.  Cloudy tonight, low 19.

Cloudy tomorrow, a west wind, high 33. A WNW wind tomorrow night, low of 1. Partly cloudy Friday, a WSW breeze, high 18, low 2.  Cloudy Saturday, a gentle NE breeze, high 24, low 12. Sun and clouds Sunday morning, cloudy in the afternoon.  A WNW breeze, high 31, low 7.  Sunshine Monday, a NW breeze, high 17, low 1.  Mostly sunny Tuesday, a WSW breeze, high 20, low 12.  1-3 inches of PM/overnight snow showers Wednesday, high 28, low 21. Snow showers next Thursday morning, a NW breeze, high 29. low 18.  2-6 inches of snow next Friday and Friday night, a WNW breeze, high 26, low 16. Partly cloudy next Saturday and Sunday, brisk WNW breezes, high about 25, lows 11 and 15.   Snow showers Monday the 15th, high 25, low 17.  Foggy Tuesday the 16th, a WNW breeze, high 27, low 16.  Partly cloudy the17th. 

    The weather forecasters did a good job advising the schools.  Road conditions weren't good late afternoon.  Cars were going by very slowly.  DOT and police were putting posts on FB asking people to stay home.  The plumber did not show up to hook up Maegin's water.  She and the girls stayed here last night.

     Some Christmas trees left. Kids home from school getting anxious for Christmas?  Bekah started rearranging the front room to make room for our tree.  I started matching names to t-shirts.  I need to get them sorted and wrapped so that the ones being mailed get on their way.  I talked to Kevin yesterday, he and Eileen leave for Hawaii tomorrow.  They have a winter home in Hawaii  and a summer home in Alaska. Today I'm going to get what I need to light the cross back up and set up the heated water for the birds.

      May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/2/25 Let us neither express nor cherish any hard feelings toward any citizen who by his vote has differed with us. A.Lincoln

A beautiful sunrise, calm, 19 degrees.  Snow starts mid morning.  Our school is closed because of poor road conditions forecast by midafternoon.  Snow total forecast runs from 2-8.  A ENE breeze, high 26.  A strong NNE breeze tonight. low 24.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 32, low 19.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun Thursday, a west wind, high 33,low 1. Partly cloudy Friday, a west breeze, high 18, low 6.  Cloudy Saturday, a gentle NE breeze, high 27, low 15.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a WNW breeze, high 28, low 6.  Mostly cloudy Monday, a NW breeze, high 16, low 2.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday and Wednesday. A west breeze Tuesday, high 2, low 11.  A NNW breeze Wednesday, high 25, low 15.  Snow showers Wednesday night. 4-8 inches of snow Thursday the 11th and Thursday night. A WNW breeze, high 38, low 20.  3-5 inches of snow Friday the 12th, a stiff WNW breeze, high 29, low 17.  Partly cloudy the next four days, WNW breezes, highs about 29, low 18.

    Forecasters are having a hard time with this storm.  I look at three different forecasts , each has a different snow total.  Jay and Bekah are glad the Christmas trees are in the new greenhouse.  Not only are the trees protected from the weather but choosing one is pleasant.  No wind in the greenhouse.

    We were all scurrying around yesterday afternoon doing last minute things.  I was able to get the outsides of the windows on the south side of the house washed.  All large windows because they are on the south.

   Everyone else spent the morning working on Maegin's trailer.  The electrician called, he can't come until Friday.  A very nice man but he has time management problems.  With his track record Friday is probably Monday. The wiring is all done, it just needs finished at the breaker box.The plumber is hooking up the water today.  Fortunately a neighbor is going to make sure there is a hot outlet for the heat tape. 

  I didn't get the birds' water heater working.  I bought a heavy duty splitter so the heater and cross lights could be plugged into the same cord.  I unplugged the cross and plugged in the splitter.  Sparks flew and smoke started.  It didn't flip a breaker but now that expensive heavy gauge cord doesn't work. I'll get another cord tomorrow. And another new splitter that isn't defective!

   I want to fill the bird heaters before the snow starts.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/1/25 May love,  light and laughter surround you as you prepare for the birth of our Savior.

Rain washed away the snow, foggy and 33 degrees.  Temperature will drop to 25 this afternoon with a WNW wind. Tonight's low 13. 4-8 inches of snow tomorrow and tomorrow night.  A light NE breeze high of 26 tomorrow,  A strong north breeze tomorrow night, low 23.  A brisk NW breeze Wednesday, sunshine, high 30, low 17.  A strong west breeze Thursday, morning clouds/afternoon sun.  Thursday night's low 2.  Sunshine Friday, a west breeze, high 19, low 7.  1-3 inches of PM snow showers Saturday, a light ENE breeze, high 28, low 18.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a WNW breeze, high 29, low 12.  Partly cloudy next Monday, A WNW breeze, high 17, low 3.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a WNW breeze, high 20, low 10.  1-3 inches of PM snow showers next Wednesday, a light WNW breeze, high 26, low 17.  Morning snow showers next Thursday, a NW breeze, high 29, low 16. Partly cloudy Friday the 12th and Saturday the 13th with WNW breezes, highs 26, lows 14.  Morning snow showers Sunday the 14th, A WNW breeze, high 27, low 15.

   Today looks to be the last chance to get ready for winter.  I've noticed some of the kids' things here and there.  I'll have a list for them when they get home from school.  It would be nice if the skim of ice would melt.

   Yesterday I set up the big outside nativity.  All the lights worked.  Not so with the others.  Wednesday, after the roads are cleared I'll make a Walmart run for lights.

    The roads were not good yesterday late afternoon.  The girls had all gone to see the Nutcracker.  They got home safely but it was a slow trip.  Home just in time for milking.  Jay had Mabel inside waiting.

     We have four pairs of cardinals plus lots of other birds.  I'm setting up the heated water today.  I have three suet cakes and ffive feeders with black oil sunflower seeds in them.  I have some thistle feeders but thistle seed has gotten so expensive I haven't filled them.  Sun is shining, ice is melting, I want to do outside things before the wind starts blowing and the temperature  starts dropping.  May your day be blessed, Sally