5/16/24 The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

Clouds, calm, 57 degrees.  Clouds today, a slight chance of a shower.  A SSW breeze with a high of 74.  Cloudy tonight, gentle breezes, a low of 55.  Partly cloudy tomorrow with an ENE breeze, a high of 76, a low of 52.  Cloudy Saturday with an east breeze, a high of 69, a low of 52.  Partly cloudy Sunday with a NE breeze, a high of 71, a low of 46.  Partly cloudy Monday with a SSE breeze, a high of 76, a low of 50.  Partly cloudy Tuesday with a SW breeze, a high of 82, a low of 54.  Partly cloudy Wednesday with  a strong SSW breeze, a high of 80, a low of 57.  Possible showers Wednesday night.  Some morning showers next Thursday with a brisk SW breeze, a high of 76, a low of 53.  A chance of a shower next Friday morning with a stiff WNW breeze, a high of 69, a low of 47.  Partly cloudy Saturday the 25th with  a WNW breeze, a high of 70, a low of 50.  40% chance of PM showers Sunday the 26th with a SE breeze, a high of 71, a low of 48.  Possible showers Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 28th with highs about 69, lows of 49.  Partly cloudy Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th with highs about 70, lows about 50.

     The cat tails are out of the garden pond!  This spring Jay realized why I always took half the cattails out of the pond and threw them on the compost pile.   Their goal is to take over.  They weren't so pretty anymore and they were taking over the pond, choking out the lilies.  Maegin gpt in the pond and tied a nylon rope around the cattail roots. and Jay took the mass out with the tractor.  They cut out the water lilies and put them back in.  There were enough cattails mixed in with the lilies to grow.  Dragonflies like to breed in cattails so it is important to have some.  Besides, a few of them are pretty.  Today Jay is going to redo the rock work.  Then Maegin will work on the landscaping as she has time.

     Bekah and Doug are delivering the load of hay.  When she gets back she'll be watering.  Something is always being watered.  If not with a hose the garden is being watered with the soaker hoes they plant with all the vegetables.  I hooked up the house hose, one of the fittings leaks,  Jay is redoing it.  I used to do all the water lines, now my hands don't do what I want them to do.  All fixed.  Now I'll clean out the little pond in the kitchen garden.  The birds love that little pond.

     There is no fire in the cook range. Except for cleaning, the stove has never been cold. The heat pump water heater Gilbert put in is heating our water.  The piece of plywood covering the electric range top is put away until next fall.  I dug the knops that have never been used out of a drawer.  Maegin cooked supper on the electric range last night.  I keep telling myself the house will be much cooler this summer.

     May God bless you on this day, Sally