6/15/26  On these longest days of the year, there's plenty to be done in the gardens but make a point  each day to marvel at this beautiful world. 

 A quarter inch of rain, raining lightly. 60 degrees.  Rain this morning, mostly cloudy this afternoon, partly cloudy tonight.  An east breeze, high 72, low 54. Partly cloudy tomorrow, a brisk NW breeze, high 76, low 50. Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff SSW breeze, high 78, low 51. Rain Thursday, a strong SSE breeze, high 64, low 56.  Partly cloudy Friday, a strong WSW breeze, high 76, low 56.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a strong west breeze, high 69, low 54.  Possible showers Sunday, a brisk WNW breeze, high 70, low 53.  Partly cloudy the work week of the 22ed, mostly westerly breezes, highs in the mid seventies, lows in the mid fifties.  Scattered thunderstorms Friday the 26th. Partly cloudy the weekend of the 27th and 28th with WSW breezes, highs 78, lows 58,  Possible showers Saturday night and early Sunday morning.  Occasional showers Monday the 29th.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost from Common sense Home
Notice one small wonder. A wildflower, a bird song, a patch of clover buzzing with bees — taking time to notice life's small gifts helps keep us grounded.
Prepare while the skies are calm. Check flashlights, weather alerts, emergency supplies, and family plans before severe weather is on the radar.
Spend time in living places. Gardens, parks, woods, ponds, and even a small patch of flowers can help restore perspective when life feels overwhelming.
Savor the season. Enjoy fresh foods while they're available, whether that's cucumbers from the garden, berries from the market, or a meal shared with friends. 
Choose progress over perfection. A thriving yard, garden, home, or life doesn't have to look magazine-perfect to be rich with beauty and purpose.

A few years ago I admired the large snapping turtle Gilbert had placed in Barbie's yard.  He looked real,as if he owned the place.  A few weeks went by,  I looked out the kitchen window and there was a big ugly snapping turtle by the kitchen pond.  Weather has not been kind to him over the years, his shell was cracking and falling away.  Two packages of black epoxy putty and he is impressive again, uglier than ever.  Gilbert would be impressed, I smile(maybe with a tear in my eye) when I look out the window at Mr. Turtle guarding the little kitchen pond. I ordered another package of putty so habe it on hand if he cracks or chips in another spot.  I'm not always frugal.

   Yesterday the girls picked 21 quarts of strawberries before getting rained out.  Today Maegin is making a couple strawberry/rhubarb pies.  Most of the berries went in the freezer for jam.

   We are sold out of cucumber and tomato plants.  A lot of people had to replant because frosts killed their first planting.  We still have pepper and other vegetable plants.  There is a nice selection of annuals, perennials and shrubs.  We have plum, peach, apple and cherry trees.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 6/13/26  A good rule in life is to set about perfecting yourself instead of trying to reform others.

1.04 inch of rain. Fog and clouds, 65 degrees.  Sunshine this afternoon. a brisk WNW breeze, high of 84.  Yesterday's high here was 94. Tonight's low 58.  Overcast tomorrow, rain tomorrow night. A stiff SSE breeze, high 82, low 60.  Showers Monday, a WNW breeze, high 75, low 53.  Sunshine Tuesday, a west breeze, high 78, low 52.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a stiff SSW breeze, high 80, low 55.  Showers Thursday, rain Thursday night.  A strong south breeze, high 71, low 50.  Some morning showers Friday, a strong WSW breeze, high 74, low 56. Partly cloudy next Saturday through  Thursday the 25th. Strong WNW breezes on the weekend, highs in the low seventies, lows 54.  West and WSW breezes the week of the 22ed, highs in the upper seventies, lows about 55.  Possible showers Friday the 26th.  Partly cloudy Saturday the 27th, brisk WSW breezes, high 78, low 55.

      Yesterday was not only hot, it was very humid.  I didn't get much checked off the list,  the others complained too.  It was the last day of school.  The thunder and lightning passed to our north.  The kids were happy to play outside in the rain. And mud.  The washing machine is already running.  The flowers enjoyed the rain too.  Even with the fog they are beautiful this morning.  I took geraniums and mulch to the church box yesterday.  Another member of our church family already had the pansies and weeds out.  She planted the geraniums and I mulced. She  watered them.  I'm planting some of the pansies in the shade at the cemetery and in the kitchen garden.  She took some to plant too.  Pansies don't like hot  summer sun, especially in the middle of a hot parking lot.  We did the same thing last year, they perked up and bloomed again when the weather got cooler.

    Fog is gone, sun is coming out.  I'm going to a great granddaughter's high school graduation party this afternoon.  I want to plant the pansies and some other flowers this morning.   May your day be blessed, Sally.

 6/12/26   Those who bring snshine into the lives of others cannot help but bring it to themselves.

Some clouds this morning, scattered thunderstorms this afternoon and evening.  A brisk south breeze, high 82.  We saw 94 yesterday.  Tonight's low 60.  Partly cloudy tomorrow. a WNW breeze, high 85. low 58.  Sun and clouds Sunday, a light SSW wind, high 83, low 60.  Showers early becoming an overnight rain Sunday night.  Showers Monday morning, some afternoon sun, a WNW breeze.  High 75, low 53,  Partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday, WNW breezes, highs in the upper seventies, lows about 53. Showers early, becoming a steady rain on  Thursday, a strong west breeze, high 73, low 58.  Perhaps an early morning shower next Friday, partly cloudy, a strong west breeze, high 73, low 56. Partly cloudy next weekend, brisk WNW breezes, highs about 73, lows 54.  Showers Monday the 22ed, a NW breezes, high 70, low 54.  Partly cloudy Tuesday the 23rd and Wednesday the 24th.  WNW breezes, highs about 75, lows 53.  Perhaps some showers Thursday the 25th, a west breeze, high 73, low 53.  Partly cloudy Friday the 26th, a west breeze, high 75, low 54.

    I had breakfast at sister Lynne's yesterday with some other friends.  I don't covet my neighbor's wife, I just covet my sister's beautiful yard!  Maybe by July our yard will be where hers is in June.  We are making progress every day but I'm not sure we will ever match hers.

     The west side of the house was mostly bedstraw, about the only thing that will grow on the gravel..  Close to the house, where it is hard to mow we lined up tires on cardboard.  The tires have old chicken manure and used potting soil in them. Yesterday I planted colored corn in the tires.  This morning I'm planting miniature pumpkins in them.  Next week I'm planting pole beans.  In theory the pole beans climb up the corn stalks, which is why I planted the corn first, to give it a head start,  Legumes have nodules on their roots  that pull nitrogen out of the air into the soil.  Corn needs lots of nitrogen to grow well.  Since the soil I'm making in the tires is new soil I'm coating the beans with a nitrogen fixing bacteria inoculant. Any time beans or peas are planted in new soil the seeds should be inoculated.  Many gardeners always inoculate their beans and peas, they say it produces a better crop.  Originally we planted daylilies there to keep the bank from eroding .  The day lilies grew well enough to serve their purpose but we didn't do enough to maintain them on that gravel.  Weeds and bedstraw took over.

    May your day be blessed.  Sally

 6/11/26  Today is a good day to have a good day.

Quite a few clouds, more sun this afternoon. fog tonight.  A SSW breeze today, high 87.  Tonight's low 66.  Thunderstorms tomorrow, a SE breeze, high 79, low 59.  Partly cloudy Saturday, high 83, low 57, a NW breeze.  Cloudy Sunday, a strong SW breeze, high 83, low 57.  Rain Sunday night lasts into Monday morning.  Some sun Monday afternoon. a SW breeze, high 75, low 53.  Partly cloudy Tuesday and Wednesday, WSW breezes, highs 73, low 62.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, a SW breeze, high 77, low 56. Showers next Friday, a stiff west breeze, high 72, low 53. Partly cloudy Saturday the 20th through Thursday the 25th, brisk NW breezes, highs in the mid seventies, lows about 53.
    Yesterday I took a few things to the Community Closet at the Charleston Baptist Church.  I was very impressed.  They are holding their services upstairs so that the entire first floor can be the closet.  It is very nicely set up with lots to choose from.  Everything is free.  The people who run it are very nice.  They are hoping to have lots of school clothes and winter coats.  Can you help them?  Stop by and visit, you might find something you need.  We have too much stuff.  The girls have outgrown clothes that need going through. We have set a goal of donating something every week.
     Every fall I put the fuchsias hanging on the barn down cellar.  Some springs I just bring them up into the light about March 15th and hang them up on the barn when it warms up.  Some years they need to be repotted.  This was one of those years. Annabelle and   I just repotted them yesterday with new soil.    I used Coast of Maine potting soil and soaked them with our liquid fertilizer and Mycorrhizal Fungi powder.  I should have repotted them when they came out of the cellar.  They look pretty sad.  It will be a few weeks before they even begin to look like the beautiful hanging plants  I usually have.
     The greenhouse had a crop failure with begonias this year.  I usually line the back of the garage with window boxes of begonias.  Yesterday Maddie  planted geraniums in the boxes.  I'm hoping they do well with just afternoon sun. I'm planting dill between each box,  Dill is pretty, butterflies love it and we make lots of dilly beans and pickles. The greenhouse often sells out. Maddie and Annabelle are two of my Great Granddaughters.

     I'm going to my sister Lynne's for breakfast and running late.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 6/10/26 “May you always find three welcomes in life: in a garden during summer, at a hearth during winter, and in the hearts of friends  all your years.”​

Today will be a repeat of yesterday.  More clouds this afternoon, a SW breeze, high 87,  We saw 91 yesterday.  Overcast tonight, low 62.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a light south breeze, high 87, low 62.  Showers Friday morning, cloudy in the afternoon, rain overnight. High 82 with a brisk SE breeze, low 58.

Rain showers early Saturday, some afternoon sun.  A SW breeze, high 83, low 57.  Perhaps some showers Sunday morning, cloudy during the day, some overnight showers.  A strong SSW breeze, high 82, low 57.  A few showers early Monday, cloudy the rest of the day. A brisk west breeze, high 76, low 53. Cloudy Tuesday, a west breeze, high 72, low 53.  Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a west breeze, high 72, low 53.  Mostly cloudy next Thursday, a WSW breeze, high 74, low 55.  Cloudy with a few showers next Friday, a brisk west breeze, high 73, low 56.  Isolated thunderstorms Saturday the 20th, a brisk NW breeze, high 76, low 55. Partly cloudy the next four days, NW breezes, high in the mid seventies, lows 54.

    My yearly eye exam took up most of my day yesterday.  I did get to feed the black flies for a while yesterday morning.  They are trying to make up for a late start.  Heather was able to finish planting her  garden but even with bug dope she got badly bitten. Many, many plants left yesterday.  Thankfully one of the girls who  work for Jay and Bekah occasionally was here.  She finished planting the fall mums.  A friend of Jays helped too.

    This morning I'm setting up a bee watering pan next to their hive.  A very large saucer with an automatic waterer.  And rocks in it for the bees to land.  They can go to the pond and sit on the water lilies but they will do better with water right by the hive.  To keep the hive cool the bees take in droplets of water and fan the droplets with their wings.  The evaporation cools the hive.  We help the bees as much as we can, our gardens need their pollination.

     May your day be blessed, Sally

 6/9/26  A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Christopher Reeve

Sun and clouds today, a WSW breeze, high 88.  Mostly clear tonight, low 57.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SW breeze, high  88, low 61.  Partly cloudy Thursday, perhaps a shower Thursday night, a SE breeze, high 84, low 60.  Partly cloudy Friday, a SE breeze, high 83, low 58.  Light rain Friday night into early Saturday morning.  Breaks of sun Saturday afternoon, high 83, low 58.  A SE breeze.  Partly cloudy Sunday and Monday, brisk west breezes.  Sundays' high 82, low 56.  Monday's high 76, low 54.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, perhaps a late day shower.  A SE breeze, high 71, low 54.  Cloudy next Wednesday, a SW breeze, high 69, low 54.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, a brisk NW breeze, high 72, low 55.    Cloudy with possible showers Friday the 19th, Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st.  Westerly breezes, highs 72, lows 55.  Partly cloudy Monday the 22ed and Tuesday the 23rd, NW breezes, highs 75, lows 55.

    Lots of plants left yesterday even though we were closed.  That always happens the first few Mondays we are closed.  Even though we had lots of customers, lots got planted.  Planted and covered with remay.  Today they will be planting peppers.  They will be covered too.  Even though it's warm out the tender transplants enjoy the protection from the warm breezes for a while.  Thanks to having help the front lawns got mowed.  Also lots of weed whacking. was done.

    They are going to take the tiller off the tractor and put the lawnmower on to mow some of the back lawns.  Some of the lawns behind the greenhouse won't be mowed for a while.  We have a pair of bobolinks and we aren't sure where the nest is. Modern farming and subdivisions have destroyed so much of their habitat that they are being considered for the endangered list.  They like to nest in neglected pastures.  Farmers often mow the pastures when the cows are moved to a new pasture to cut back the weeds and tough grassses the cows didn't eat.  Bobolinks like to nest  the tall tough grass and weeds,

    May your day be blessed, Sally

     

 6/8/26  Let’s not allow our busyness to cause the blessings and beauty around us  go unnoticed.  

 We were blessed to get one of the "possible bands of heavy rain", we got just over an inch.  Mostly sunny today, a NWN breeze, high of 80.  Clear tonight, low 54.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NW breeze, high 87, low 57. Mostly cloudy Wednesday and Thursday. A SW breeze Wednesday, high 87, low 59.  A  SE breeze Thursday, high 82, low 59. Cloudy Friday, a brisk SE breeze, high 80.  Occasional showers Friday night, a south breeze, low of 58.  Rain showers early Saturday, mostly cloudy the rest of the day. A SE breeze, high 79, low 58.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a brisk SW breeze, high 81, low 57.  Possible showers after midnight and next Monday morning.  Partly cloudy Monday, a brisk SW breeze, high 81, low 57.  Mostly cloudy the next three days, SW breezes, high about 75, lows about 55.  Partly cloudy Friday the 19th, a WNW breeze, high 77, low 57.   Cloudy Saturday the 20th, a brisk west breeze, high 73, low 46. Showers Saturday night, Sunday the 21st and possibly Monday the 22ed, Highs about 74 Sunday and Monday, lows 57.
     Jay and Bekah are already out in the garden.  I'm leaving in a few minutes to pick up a girl who will be sprucing up the store and display area.  She won't have to water!  She can watch for customers.  Two of her brothers are coming to help in the garden this afternoon. The nursery is officially closed Sunday and Monday the rest of the season.  Customers still come and they always help them-if they are here.
     During the rain there were quite a few birds at the feeders.  Today the sun is shining, puddles are everywhere, no birds!  We have a lot of swallows this year.  They are sweeping through the air catching black flies for their babies.  Everything looks so fresh and pretty after the rain. 

    May your day be blessed, Sally