4/20/26 A mind unemployed is a mind unenjoyed.

It was 29 degrees but bright sun has already brought it up to 32.  Clouding up this afternoon, possible early afternoon shower.  High 43 degrees.  A stiff NNW breeze, Clear tonight, low 25.  Some forecasts say 22.  We did have a couple hours of mix last night. Partly cloudy tomorrow, a light WNW breeze, high 46, low 38.  Scattered showers  Wednesday and Thursday.. Highs about 50, lows 35.  A south breeze Wednesday, a WNW breeze Thursday.  Partly cloudy Friday, a strong north breeze, high 54, low 33.  Mostly sunny Saturday, a NE breeze, high 59, low 37.  Mostly cloudy Sunday, an ENE breeze, high 58, low 40.  Mostly cloudy next Monday, an east breeze, high 59, low 41.  Showers next Tuesday and Wednesday, east breezes, highs about 55, lows about 43.  Sun and showers next Thursday and Friday, north breezes, highs 56, lows 42.  Some showers the weekend of the 2ed and 3rd, north breezes, highs 55, lows 40. 

   I follow a few homesteading blogs.  Mostly Josh and Carlyn Thomas's Homesteading Family.  and Laurie Neverman, Common Sense Home.  I've taken several of Josh and Caryln's classes.  Last week I took one on stocking a pantry.  They have 40 acres but their suggestions cover everything from window sill gardens to unlimited space.  In the class Carlyn talked about one of my favorites for stocking up for winter, winter squash. There are many different kinds.   Several kinds have varieties that grow with smaller vines.  I grow big mama buttercup squash,a large squash and lots of vines.   We have the room and a large family.  There are smaller varieties, Johnny's has one that people love.  We grow it for sale because it is so popular.  All you have to do to preserve winter squash is wash it in a solution that is one part bleach to nine parts water, let it dry thoroughly, and store it in a cool dry place.  For me that has been three milk crates stacked with a round piece of plywood on top and a pretty tablecloth over it.  In the front room behind a chair. I've set a blue Hubbard on top for decoration because it was so big I didn't have any other place to put it. I've also lined squash up on the floor under the bottom shelf of a bookcase.  We often plant them in odd corners.  Their vines cover everything so there is less weed whacking.

   Late yesterday the forecasts about how much "mix" we were going to get and how cold tonight would be got to me.  I went to church and tucked some remay around the pansies.  Snowflakes make brown spots on the leaves, a wet mix seems to bother them less.  I don't think we are going to see 21 but if we did that would set the pansies back.  Their cheerful colors are so pretty, I wanted to protect them.

   May your day be blessed, Sally