4/5/26      He is Risen!

 Cloudy with showers this morning, rain this afternoon. It is 32 degrees. Today's high 43 with a south breeze. Partly cloudy tonight, low 34. No showers are in the forecast until next Tuesday. Highs about 43, low in the twenties Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then the highs will be in the fifties, 60 on Friday. Lows in the upper thirties and low forties.


When the stone was rolled away, it was not so Jesus could get out. It was so we could see in. Heaven was making an announcement. The work is finished. The debt is gone. The sacrifice has been received. Scripture says He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). That means the resurrection is heaven’s receipt that your sin has been fully paid for. There is nothing left outstanding.

Easter Blessings, Sally

 4/4/26  Greater love has no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.

An inch and a quarter of much needed rain in the last 36 hours!  Sunshine and clouds today, a NE wind, high 47, low 33.  Periods of rain tonight and tomorrow,  showers for the sunrise services.  And perhaps letting up just in time for afternoon Easter egg hunt. A stiff south breeze, high 45, low 35.  Cloudy Monday, a NW wind, high 43, low 26. A little sun on Tuesday, a NW breeze, high 40, low 21.Sunshine Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 44, lo 27.  Sunshine Thursday, a south wind, high 53, low 39.  Partly cloudy Friday, a SW breeze, high 61, low 38.  Partly cloudy next weekend, highs about 59, lows 39 and 43.  Pleasant temperatures the week of the 12th, highs in the fifties, lows about 40.  Rain Monday the 13th and Wednesday the 15th.

   It is nice to see the sun even if that NE wind is chilly.  One more good sap run in the forecast than warmth.  The house will be warm with Easter baking.  Bekah finished filling the eggs for the Easter egg hunt this morning.  Azalea made a picture of the empty grave with the words, "He is Risen" across the top. I got a chain of flowers to put around the picture for a frame.   The chicks came yesterday.  Bekah has already checked on them.  They are all lively and eating.

   Danielle's service is at four today.  Darel's Heather and Dainielle lived next door and were best friends growing up.  Adulthood took them down separate paths but Heather made two beautiful bouquets, one for either side of the altar.  Annabelle will be pleased.  Annabelle is 12, Aydan is 9, we want the service today to surround them with love. 

   The peony cages came in.  Bonemeal strengthens the stems but it also makes larger, fuller blossoms.  If the soil isn't thawed enough to stick the cages in the ground it soon will be.  Open Greenhouse Week doesn't start until May fourth but the greenhouse opens  next Saturday when it warms up enough to set out pansies.  Bekah says the pansies are beautiful!  She is putting them in the back room to transition them to cooler temperatures.

  May your day be blessed, Sally

   

 4/3/26  Good Friday  

 Freezing rain, 30 degrees, light ENE breeze.  Two hour school day.  Temperature rises above freezing at about ten am.  Freezing rain stops at about noon.   A stiff SSE breeze today, high 41,  Fog tonight, low 34, a still WSW breeze.  Partly  cloudy tomorrow, a strong NE breeze, high 46, low 33.  a quarter inch of occasional rain Sunday, a stiff south breeze, high 44. low 35. Mostly cloudy Monday, a light NW wind, high 43, low 27.  Partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday, NW breezes, highs 44, low 21 and 30.  Partly cloudy Thursday through next weekend, highs in the fifties, lows in the upper thirties. Variable breezes.   Rain Monday the 13th, an east breeze, high 54. low 40. Partly cloudy the next three days, WNW breezes, highs in the fifties, lows in upper theories.  Rain Friday the 17th.
   The chicks didn't come yesterday.  The feed store won't know if they arrived ok until the post office opens at eight.  I won't rush over to get them,   I'll give the road maintenance plenty of time to sand.  There isn't much traffic, what there is is moving slow.  I'll buy more sunflower seeds when I get the chicks, the word that there is food here has traveled  the birds' landline.  Thankfully not many blackbirds have gotten the word.
    Propane delivery, 400+ dollars of propane in three weeks!  Plus Bekah kept the wood stove going.  Not enough sun and too much wind.  The plants miss the sun but they are warm and growing.
   Last night I went to our church's Maundy Thursday service.  I will go about my day quietly getting ready for Easter with gratitude for the love of Christ.   Why gratitude?  Why is this "Good" Friday?  

   Christians call it Good Friday because the death of Jesus, though deeply sorrowful, brought about the good news of salvation. On the cross, Christ took the punishment for sin, satisfied the justice of God, and opened the way for mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life. Good Friday is “good” because it points directly to the hope of Easter and the victory of the resurrection.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

PS If you haven't fertilized your peonies this spring do it now so spring rains can wash it in.  I put about a cup of bone meal around each crown.

 4/2/26  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34

 Clouds, 28 degrees.  Clouds today, high 41, an ENE breeze.  Freezing rain tonight, low 21.  Rain and freezing rain tomorrow morning, showers in the afternoon. A stiff south breeze, high 41, low 33.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a strong NE breeze, high 44, low 33.  Occasional rain Easter Sunday, a south breeze, high 44, low 34.  Partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday, NW breezes, highs about 42, lows 25 and 21.  Sunshine Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 42, low 28. Partly cloudy next Thursday and Friday, highs about 55, lows 23.  A SW wind Thursday, a brisk NW breeze Friday.  Clouds Saturday the 11th, a brisk SE breeze, high 53, low 41.  Partly cloudy Sunday the 12th, a NW breeze, high 58, low 40.  possible am showers.  Rain Monday the 13th, a north breeze, high 52, low 36.  Lots of clouds Tuesday the 14th, a NW breeze, high 53, low 36.  Morning showers Wednesday the 15th, afternoon sun, a WNW breeze, high 54, low 38.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 16th, a NW breeze, high 55, low 35.

   We never did get all of our spring cleaning done. So we're cleaning the house for Easter. We are planning Easter dinner.  And  the Easter egg hunt.  Baby chicks arrive today.  Bekah has the brooder ready.  The greenhouses  get more demanding every day as the plants grow and need more TLC.   So many finches and evening grosbeaks the bird feeders need to be filled twice a day.  The cream is on the counter warming up to make butter. We find ourselves rushing through each day.    Maundy means mandate, Christ told the disciples "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." John 13:34.  Am I rushing so to get the daily to do list done and to get ready to celebrate Easter that I'm missing the point?  Today I will look for ways to love others as Christ asked his followers to do.  Tonight I will take time to attend Maundy Thursday church service to help me remember how Christ loves us..

   May your day be blessed, Sally


A note from our Pastor:
   It is tempting to rush through our journey during Holy Week.  We want to arrive swiftly to our destination, the celebration of Easter morning.  But there are important stops along the way.  Maundy-Thursday with its message of transformational love, Good Friday with its theme of atonement, mixed-in with our personal times of reflection between now and Easter morning.  No, we’re not there yet, friends.  Let’s not rush the trip.
 

4/1/26  Advice is like snow, the softer it falls the more likely it is to dwell.

 Showers, 32 degrees.  Cloudy today, a stiff NNW breeze, high 46, low 27.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NNE breeze, high 44, low 3.  Rain Friday, a stiff south breeze, high 41, low 25.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a stiff NE breeze, high 43, low 33.  Rain on Easter, a south breeze, high 46, low 35.  Partly cloudy Monday and Tuesday, brisk MW breezes highs 45, lows 28 and 22.  Sunshine Wednesday, a north breeze, high 41, low 27.  Sunshine next Thursday, a brisk SW breeze, high 51, low 35. Some clouds next Friday, a SW breeze, high 56, low 38.  Partly cloudy next Saturday and Sunday.  A west breeze Saturday, high 56, low 38.  A south breeze Sunday, high 54, low 40.   Rain Monday the 13th, a strong SW breeze, high 58, low 38.

   Yesterday's snow/ rain forecast lasted about 30 minutes.  No icey rain last night.  A good thing, I have a doctor's appointment in Sangerville at nine.

    Bekah has everything almost ready for the chicks.  They are supposed to come tomorrow.  Hopefully they do, they always do better when they don't come a day late.  The old hens are responding to the longer days, they are laying lots of eggs.  500 plastic eggs arrived yesterday to be filled for Sunday's Easter egg hunt.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

     

 3/31/26  If He cared enough to redeem you, He cares enough about what burdens you today.

 Cloudy, calm, 38 degrees.  Rain/snow this morning, rain showers this afternoon.  Rain tonight, freezing rain overnight.  A brisk NE breeze, high 39, low 31.  Clouds tomorrow. a brisk north breeze, high 43, low 26. Partly cloudy Thursday, a NE breeze, high 42, low 31.  Rain Friday, a brisk south breeze, high 43, low 37. Mostly cloudy Saturday, a NE breeze, high 43, low 35.  Rain on Easter Sunday, a south breeze, high 49, low 38.  Partly cloudy next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, NW breezes, highs 48, lows 36.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 9th, a West breeze, high 50, low 33.  Partly cloudy the next  four days, SW breezes, highs in the upper fifties, lows about 39.

  On its way out winter is throwing some snow and freezing rain at us. Hopefully Friday's forecast of all rain doesn't change.  Bekah and Doug are delivering early, rain/snow isn't supposed to start until late morning.  The forecast says the plants can be moved to the little greenhouses and the cold frames just a few days later than usual.  

   I started a four day bee class yesterday.  Jay says one of our two hives made it through the winter.  The last few years I've had allergy problems.  I'm making sure I get a tablespoon of local honey each day, which is supposed to help.

   Saturday, April 4th. there is a memorial Service for Annabelle and Aydan's mother, Danielle at our church, Corinth Methodist.  If you would like to send Annabelle and Aydan a card they get their mail here.  1204 Main Road, Bradford, ME  04410.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 3/30/26  To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.

Cloudy, gentle east breeze, 30 degrees.  Some sun this afternoon, high 58. a light SW wind.  Clouds tonight, a NW breeze, low 35. Showers tomorrow, possibly heavy rain later in the day.  Some snow may mix in early.  A NE breeze, high 39, low 32.  Showers Wednesday morning, perhaps some afternoon sun.  A brisk NW breeze, high 48, low 26.  Cloudy Thursday, a NE breeze, high 42, low 30.  A wintery mix Thursday night and Friday morning.  The mix changes to showers Friday afternoon and night.  A SE breeze Friday, high 37, low 31.  Cloudy Saturday,  high 42, low 33.  Light rain on Easter, a SE breeze, high 44, loww 36.  Partly cloudy Monday the 6th through Monday the 1th.  The only chance of showers in the forecast is Saturday the 11th, 40%.  NW breeze next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, highs about 47, lows about 29.  A west breeze Thursday the 9th, high 47, low 31.  Westerly breezes the next four days, highs in the fifties, lows 37.

   Bekah has been seeing bats.  Some species of Maine bats migrate south in the winter, others hibernate. It seems too cold for the hibernating bats to be up and moving.  Bekah looked it up, when spring is prolonged bats come out for water.  Hopefully with warmer temperatures some insects will hatch.

   I grow quite a few things in containers.  I didn't get them cleaned and sanitized last fall.  During the next few weeks I will use a stiff brush to take off stuck on dirt.  I'll wash them and rinse them with water with some bleach, about a fourth cup to a gallon.  Saturday the kids cleaned the baby chick waterers and feeders.

   The large flock of blackbirds has moved on.  We have a few red winged blackbirds singing in the swale.  They come scratch through the sunflower hulls under the feeders  looking for some that still have the meat in them.  Doves are ground feeders, they haven't left much for the blackbirds. Tfe female red-winged blackbirds  haven't arrived yet.

  The snow is gone, Jay will be able to clean up the area the Coast of Maine soils and compost go.  Soon we'll be getting a call asking if we are ready for delivery.  May your day be blessed, Sally