4/6/23 Having a soft heart in a cruel world is courage, not weakness.

Fog calm and 31 degrees.  Yesterday's temperatures were just cold enough to freeze the rain gauge.  Possible mixed precipitation early this morning, cloudy the rest of the day.  A south breeze with a high of 59.  A west breeze tonight with a low of 37.  Partly cloudy tomorrow with strong WNW winds, a high of 42, a low of 22.  Sunny Saturday with a NW wind, a high of 39, a low of 23.  Sunshine for Easter Sunday with a stiff WNW breeze, a high of 47, a low of 27.  Sunny Monday with a west breeze, a high of 60, a low of 34.  Partly cloudy Tuesday with a stiff WNW breeze, a high of 61, a low of 42.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with a stiff WNW breeze, a high of 65, a low of 44.  Sunny next Thursday with a brisk WNW breeze, a high of 69, a low of 46.  Partly cloudy next Friday with a NNW breeze, a high of 68, a low of 44.  Partly cloudy next Saturday with a NW breeze, a high of 64, a low of 42. Partly cloudy next Sunday with a NW breeze, a high of 60, a low of 41.  Clouds the week of the 17th, mid week showers possible.  NW breezes with highs in the fifties, lows 38 to 43.

    Another quiet day spent transplanting.  Freezing rain made us glad we had no outside work. Although everything is covered with ice  there wasn't much ice buildup  for as many hours as we had freezing rain. The driveway is very shiny.  The flock of blackbirds that have been here for several days seem to have moved on. Today Andrew is going to take advantage of the warm temperature and put spray foam  in any place under the eaves that the blackbirds can get in.  Last year we had them nesting in the eves.  He is also going to change the firebrick in the kitchen range.  A job he does not look forward to.  I'm trying to burn up the coals so the stove will cool off.  Why the stove is out I'll clean it and he'll clean the chimney. The large pan I keep on the stove full of water to raise the humidity in the house will be retired for the season.  A few days early but I'd be taking it off Sunday so we have the whole top for Easter dinner. Next week's warm temperatures means we won't be drying the air in the house with stoves going full tilt. I won't miss the job of filling it all the time.  The large teakettle stays on the stove year round.

    Why the stove is cooling I'll plant some seeds to put under the lights in the house.  Bekah is going to start some seeds in the greenhouse.  Next week we'll start the seeds in the cole family.

    May God be with you on this day, Sally