12/21/25  Fourth Sunday in Advent.  Focus is Love

Partly cloudy today, a WSW wind, high 37,  A WNW wind tonight, low 14.  Sunshine tomorrow, a WNW wind, high 20, low 8.  Overcast Tuesday, a light NE breeze, high 23, low 15.  1-3 inches of snow Tuesday night.  Peaks of sunshine Christmas Eve afternoon. a north breeze, high 21, low 12.  Cloudy Christmas Day, a light north breeze, high 27, low 15.  Snow showers at night.

     LOVE. In our last week of Advent, we are invited to experience the love of Christ, as well share that gift with others. It is love that brings Jesus into our world and it is love that transforms our being. Advent has prepared us for the coming of Christ, and this last week brings it all together.

     God does not owe us anything. But He freely chose out of His infinite love to become man and to die for us. Jesus was born in order to die. He came in order to offer the perfect sacrifice of His own body and blood in order to gain for us forgiveness of our sins so that we can join Him in Heaven.  There is no greater Love.

     May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/20/25  Peace is not found in the absence of trouble but in the presence of Christ.

Sun and clouds, a WNW wind, 22 degrees.  More clouds this afternoon with a high of 29.  Cloudy tonight, a south breeze, low 25.  Partly cloudy tomorrow with a strong WSW breeze, a high of 40, low of 14.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 21, low 7. Cloudy Tuesday, an ESE breeze, high 23, low 18.  1-3 inches of snow Tuesday night.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a brisk NW breeze, high 23, low 9.  Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a light WSW breeze, high 22, low 16.  SS showers at night.  1-3 inches of snow showers Friday, a SW breeze, high 2, low 22.  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a NNW breeze, high 26, low 19.  Some snow showers At night. 1-3 inches of snow showers next Sunday, a NNW breeze, high 25, low 11.  Partly cloudy next Monday and Tuesday, brisk WNW winds, highs about 19, lows 7 and 10. Partly cloudy Wednesday the 31st and New Year's Day with WNW breezes, highs about 28, lows about 15,  Snow showers Thursday morning.  Partly cloudy the 2ed and 3rd, WNW breezes, highs about 30, lows about 16.  Snow showers. 

    We were fortunate, we didn't lose power, many people did.  Ours went off several times but came back on.  Lines and trees were in the road, school bus drivers had problems getting kids home.  Blocked roads caused problems for delivery people who were already overwhelmed with Christmas mail and packages.

    The wind switched to the west last night, blowing strong enough to keep waking us up.  All our snow is gone.  Everything has frozen again.  Yesterday's high 55, today's 29.

    Jay is working at the flower shop again today.  During his off season he helps them when they get busy.  Bekah is hoping to sell the last three Christmas trees.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/19/25  Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Cloudy, gentle east breeze, 43 degrees. A light rain starts at about nine, heavy rain and wind at noon.  South winds are forecast to average 24mph with up to 40mph gusts between 1 PM and 7PM.  Versant has posted warnings of power outages.  They have extra crews on standby.  Showers this evening, clearing overnight.  A low of 23 with a west wind. Partly cloudy tomorrow with a strong WSW breeze, a high of 30, low of 25.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 30, low 13.  Afternoon/evening snow showers Tuesday, a light SSW breeze, high 26, low 22.   Partly cloudy Wednesday, strong NNW breeze, high 26, low 12.  A light WNW breeze Christmas Day, high 23, low 18.  1-3 inches of snow late afternoon and overnight.  Wintery mix next Friday, a north breeze, high 27, low 19. Party cloudy next Saturday, a NW breeze, high 28, low 19. 1-3 inches of snow next Sunday morning, a NW breeze, high 26, low 12. Partly cloudy the last few days of December and the 1st and 2ed of January.  NW breeze.  Highs  the last of December 33, lows 8.9, and 13.  Highs on the 1st and 2ed 27, lows 14.

    There is a dense fog thanks to the warm air hitting the snow pack.  The chicken house was damp so I put down a thick layer of dry bedding.  I was able to collect most of the eggs, they are laying earlier than they were.  There were still some hens laying but I won't go back out for a while, it is getting slippery anywhere there is a path or tire tracks.  The birds have food.

    I have to water the plants again.  Colder temperatures mean burning more wood and pellets which doesn't just warm the air, it dries it and the plants out!   The Christmas cactus is covered with beautiful pink blossoms.  It  will drop the blossoms if it doesn't get enough water.

    Today is a good day to wrap presents.  The generators have been checked, they are ready should we lose power.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/18/25 Gratitude is one of the most powerful “small skills” we can cultivate.

Sunshine, 26 degrees.  a few afternoon clouds, a SSW breeze, high of 40.  Cloudy this evening, showers after midnight.  Low of 35, a brisk south breeze.  Rain tomorrow lasting into the late evening.  A strong SSE wind with gusts up to 40mph, high of 54.  Strong WNW winds tomorrow night with a low of 22.   Partly cloudy Saturday, a strong WNW wind, high 30, low 25.  Snow showers Saturday night.  Snow showers Sunday morning, a brisk WSW breeze, high 3, low 15.  Sunshine Monday, a strong NW breeze, high 20, low 10.  Cloudy Tuesday, a light SW breeze, high 24, low 19.  1-3 inches of snow Tuesday night.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff NW breeze, high 24, low .  Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze, high 20, low 14. 1-3 inches of snow Christmas night.  Snow showers next Friday, 1-3 inches Friday night.  A NNW breeze, high 28, low 18.  Snow showers next Saturday morning, a NW breeze, high 24, low 13.  Partly cloudy Sunday the 28th and Monday the 2th, brisk NW breezes, highs 22, lows 8 and 11. Afternoon fog Tuesday the 30th, a WNW breeze, high 23, low 12. Mostly cloudy the 31st and New Year's Day, NW breezes, highs 25, lows 12 and 17.

    Bekah says we are having hamster wheel days.  Get up, do devotions, milk, take care of milk, get kids ready for school. put them on the bus.  Then it's a clean house, wrap presents, and work on spring 2026 orders.  Kids get off the bus, we hear about their day, she milks, we have supper and get ready to start over the next day.  Maegin doesn't milk, she fills her orders for baked goods. 

    Yesterday I wrapped some presents for Santa, I still have lots of t-shirts left to wrap.  I checked online to see what a tiller for my tractor would cost.  Heather came by to visit and do books.  I don't expect today to be very different.  May your day be blessed, Sally

Take a few minutes each day to thank God for what already is...the food cooling on the counter, the sound of our children’s laughter, the mittens drying near the woodstove, the people we get to gather with this Christmas.

 12/17/25  Children have more need of models than of critics.

Cloudy, 26 degrees, a light east breeze.  Cloudy today with a brisk SW breeze, high 35.  Clear overnight, low 20.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SSW breeze, high 40.  Light rain after midnight, low 34.  Rain Friday, a strong south wind with gusts up to 40mph.  A high of 55.  Overcast skies after midnight, west wind, low of 22.  Partly cloudy Saturday,a WNW wind, high 28, low 24.  Snow showers Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Peeks of sun Sunday afternoon.  A WSW breeze, high 37, low 15.  Partly cloudy Monday, strong NW breeze, high 20, low 11.  PM snow showers Tuesday, a WSW breeze, high 24, low 20.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a strong NW breeze, high 28, low 8.   Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze, high 20, low 12.  1-3 inches of snow Friday, the 26th, a NW breeze, high 27, low 13.  2-4 inches of snow Saturday the 27th and Saturday night, a NW breeze, high 22, low 9.  Morning snow showers Sunday, the 28th, a stiff NW breeze, high 18, low 10.  Partly cloudy Monday, the 29th, a NW breeze, high 18, low 10. Partly cloudy Tuesday the 30th, a WNW breeze, high 23, low 13.  Snow showers Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

    Two concerts yesterday, one more than I could handle.  I didn't go to the afternoon one.  I packed the Christmas t-shirts for Alaska and Hawaii  and took them to the post office. Even though I'm mailing them later than I intended, the postmistress thinks they will reach their destination before Christmas.

   Three Christmas trees left.  Last year we had people looking for trees until just a few days before Christmas so those three will probably find a home.

    An email came yesterday reminding Bekah that it was time to get the order in for next fall's mums.  The spring order of plugs and cutting order is sitting on the table, along with the notifications of "not available" and substitutions.  Bekah will go through them and see what changes she wants to make.  Nursery and greenhouse work doesn't end with the fall frost.  The vegetable garden's work is just starting, she is working on the seed order.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/15/25  Short days are nature’s reminder to slow down, take stock of blessings, and allow yourself a bit more quiet.

Clear. calm. 9 degrees.  A light WNW wind today, sunshine, high 20.  Partly cloudy tonight, low 7.  Mostly cloudy tomorrow, a SW breeze, high 299, low 19.  Cloudy Wednesday, a brisk SW breeze, high 36, low 20.  Partly cloudy Thursday, a brisk SSW breeze, high 39.  Rain Thursday night, low 35.  Rain Friday, a strong SSW wind, high 51,  Snow showers Friday night, low 16.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a stiff WNW breeze, high 23, low 17.  Snow showers Saturday night.  Morning snow showers Sunday, a WSW breeze, high 35, low 16. Mostly cloudy next Monday, a WNW breeze, high 22, low 11.  Afternoon and overnight snow showers next Tuesday, a west breeze, high 22, low 6.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 15, low 5. Partly cloudy Christmas Day, a NW breeze high 18.  1-3 inches of snow Christmas night, low 9.  4-8 inches of snow Friday and Friday night, the 26th.  A north breeze, high 20, low 7.  Snow showers Saturday morning the 27th, a brisk north breeze, high 21, low 8.  PM snow showers Sunday the 28th, WNW breeze, high 22 ,ow 12,

    Six Christmas trees left.  I hope that is just enough.  We don't like to have to tell someone looking for a tree "We're sold out."

We don't like to have any left over either!

    Sister Lynne spent a good part of her Saturday redoing my plant jungle.   Instead of curtains I have a hoya hanging either side of the large window. Their vines go across the window. Shelves and stands make room for lots of other plants.  Seven go outside for the summer.  This year only 3 went out, the others got too big for their spots.  Mostly I pruned plants why Lynne cleaned  My Christmas angel.  Couch covers, the blankets we wrap up in, pillows, they are all being washed today.  The first load is nearly done.  Maegin is going to go through the kids' toys when she gets through the bus run. By tonight the room will match the window!

   Six of Doug and Nicole's children live in North Bradford.  Yesterday Doug and Nicole took the grandchildren on the Christmas train ride.  Several of the parents went too.  Making special memories!  After church I sorted the Country Junction  t-shirts I'm giving everyone for Christmas.  The ones going to Alaska and Hawaii  need to go in today's mail.

  May your day be blessed, Sally

 12/14/25  Cloudy, calm, 15 degrees. A north breeze today with a high of 28.  Clearing overnight with a low of 13.  Sunshine tomorrow with a WNW wind, high 20, low 5.  Then a few days of pleasant winter weather.  Thursday night rain starting at  at 32 degrees warming up overnight.  Mixed precipitation Friday.  High 47 early in the day , low 12

  The Angel said to them,"Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people".  Luke 2:10

  Some days we feel like the injustices in this world are more than we can handle, some days it seems like evil is taking over, some days we anguish over our own sin, and other days we long for the day when God will call us Home. The third Sunday of Advent helps us move out of these moods and into rejoicing, because God has come to save us and to be with us, and He will come again. 

   Focus on Jesus and the Blessings God has given us for joy.  Share your blessings and the reason for the Season.  May your day be blessed.  Sally