1/25/25  Yes, it is cold but there are violets under the snow

 Calm, clear, 5 degrees  Sunshine with a few afternoon clouds today.  A west breeze with a high of 22.  Partly cloudy tonight with a low of 4..  Morning clouds/afternoon sun tomorrow with a stiff WSW breeze, a high of 32, a low of 15.  Partly cloudy Monday with a SW wind, a high of 32, a low of 27.  Morning clouds/afternoon sun Tuesday with a west wind, a high of 31, a low of 4.  Snow showers Wednesday with a NNW breeze, a high of 18, a low of 3.  Sunshine Thursday and Friday with strong NW breezes.Thursday's high 11, the low-2.  Friday's high 18, the low 0.  Partly cloudy next Saturday with a WNW breeze, a high of 20, a low of 3.  Mostly cloudy next Sunday with a NNW breeze, a high of 27, a low of 21.  Mostly cloudy Monday the 3rd with a NW breeze, a high of 31, a low of 19.  Partly cloudy the 4th and 5th with brisk NW breezes, highs of 28 and 23.  Lows about 8.  A few snow showers Thursday the 6th with a stiff NNW breeze, a high of 26, a low of 15.  About the same Friday the 7th and Saturday the 8th except for possible AM snow showers Saturday.

     I went to Bangor yesterday afternoon.  So did everyone else.  Long lines and lots of traffic.  I had an Amazon package to return so I had to drive across town.  Maybe it is worth the six dollars to have UPS pick it up at the house.  A trooper stopped me to tell me my inspection sticker ran out in August.  He was pleasant, just told me to get the truck inspected.  I was able to get everything on my list at Sam's.  The girls cleaned the house when I was gone.  They found places for the boxes of this and that that was sitting here.

     Bekah and sister Heather are gluten intolerant.  King Arthur gluten free flour is pricy. two dollars a pound compared to seventy cents a pound for King Arthur all purpose flour.  But to make a recipe gluten free  we can just substitute the gluten free flour for the all purpose. Very simple and the cookies, muffins or whatever turn out good.  I haven't tried yeast bread.  Today I'm making cookies.  There will be a little cookie jar of gluten free cookies by the coffee pot.  On the table the big cookie jar will be filled with cookies made with regular flour.

     As I sit here with a quilted jacket on and my feet inside the foot warmer Jay and Bekah gave me for Christmas I am thinking about the people in western North Carolina and the south.  Many of them have no way to be warm.  Praying you are warm and your day is blessed, Sally