10/16/26  She  looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness." - Proverbs 31:27   Homemaking is an important job!   

  Cloudy, 37 degrees,  Rain today, starting about 8AM, stopping late evening.  A strong SSE breeze, high 55, low 40.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NW wind, high 46, low 27.  Sunshine Sunday, a west breeze, high 52,low 41. Mostly sunny Monday, a SSW breeze, high 63, low 32.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, a NNW breeze, high 66, low 37.  Sunshine Wednesday, a NNE breeze, high 59, low 31. Most sunny Thursday through the weekend A SE breeze Thursday, high 56, low 38. a NNW breeze Friday, high 58, low 35. A north breeze Saturday, high of 60, low 33. A NNW breeze Sunday,, high 60, low 37. Partly cloudy Monday the 26th, a NNW breeze, high 56, low 41. Mostly cloudy the next four days, NW breezes, highs in the mid fifties, lows in the upper thirties.

     Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and upstate New York all fall into the region’s least predictable precipitation zone this winter according to the long range forecasters.
      Dahlia tubers must be dug up each fall as soon as the tops frost and stored inside until the next growing season. You may want to mark them before frost so you will know the color of each tuber.  If they aren't frosted yet they'll frost tonight or tomorrow night. Cut back the frosted foliage so that only a few inches of stalk remain —  this will become your handhold. Use a pitchfork to loosen the soil about a foot away from the stalk in all directions, then gently lift the entire plant to free the tuber clump from the ground. Take your time during this part to reduce breakage.  Some people rinse all their tuber clumps and then let them dry before storing them. I don’t do that —  I’m too afraid that the moisture will lead to mold or rot. Instead, I let the tuber clumps dry and then brush off any excess dirt before storing them,  as though they were potatoes.. Ideal storage conditions for tubers are between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, at close to 90% humidity.  I’ve stored mine in cardboard boxes in the cellar, our cellar is very damp. The biggest issue I’ve noticed with this method is that they can get too dry and tend to shrivel up a bit. But some years are better than others.  I've also stored them in cedar shavings. 

     A busy day today as we get ready for tomorrow's birthday celebrations.  Another window got done yesterday.  I washed one section, Sally Jo took over and washed the other two.  The plants were happy to move out of that chilly garage into a warm, sunny window.

    May your day be blessed, Sally