7/29/26  The grass is greener wherever you stand because you bring value to every space you enter.

An east breeze is lifting the fog, 65 degrees.  Cloudy today, a brisk SE breeze, high 76.  Showers tonight, an ENE breeze, low 62.  Showers tomorrow and tomorrow night, NE breezes, high 70, low 61.  Cloudy Friday, a NNE breeze, high 77, low 50.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a west breeze, high 84, low 62.  PM showers Sunday, a south breeze, high 82, low 64.  Rain Monday, a WSW breeze, high 78, low 61.  Mostly sunny Tuesday and next Wednesday, WSW breezes, highs 83 and 89.  Lows about 63,  Partly cloudy next Thursday and Friday, SW breezes, highs 88, lows 63.  Possible showers Saturday the 8th, a WSW breeze, high 83, low 82.  Partly cloudy the next four days, WNW breezes, highs around 80, lows about 57.

    Barbie is not a happy lady.  The kingbirds visited her blueberries too.  Instead of the usual 100 plus quarts of blueberries she has gotten one,  I could not find a single ripe berry in my patch yesterday.  Barbie didn't get any cherries.  We got a quart,  The trees were heavy with berries until they started to ripn.

   Suddenly the garden is very dry.  Yesterday Jay ran soaker hoses all day, he'll be running them all day today too.  Early this morning I turned on the hose to fill the pond. Jay shuts it off when he starts the vegetable hoses. I ran soaker hoses in the flowers yesterday.  One more section today.  Bekah planted two hydrangeas this spring.  I watered one, today I'll do the other.  New plantings need weekly deep watering.  We are fortunate to have a good well. 

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/28/26  God doesn’t want our best for us, He wants His best for us.. There’s a difference” 

     Sunshine, calm, 60 degrees. Sunshine today, a light east breeze, high 84, low 62.  Cloudy tomorrow, a NE breeze, high 75, low 61.

Showers Thursday, a NE breeze, high 71, low 60.  Partly cloudy Friday, a NNE breeze, high 78, low 59.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a WSW breeze, high 85, low 63.  Mostly cloudy Sunday, a SSW breeze, high 83, low 63,  Thunderstorms Monday, a west breeze, high 76, low 60. Partly cloudy next Tuesday through Saturday the 8th, mostly west breezes, highs in the mid to upper eighties, lows in the low sixties.  Thunderstorms Sunday the 9th, a west breeze, high 83, low 61.  Partly cloudy on the 10th and 11th, WNW breezes, highs about 83, lows 60.

    It does not please me to sit here and watch a large flock of kingbirds fly into the blueberry patch.  We'll have to think about netting next year.  I've no idea how much that will cost.  A few are flying into Gilbert and Barbie's blueberries.  I just googled birds in blueberries.  A frame with netting is best.  Grape koolaid repels them.  Also a strong sugar solution.  Terror eye balloons scare the birds away. Now that the birds  have found the patch they will return every year.

   The forecast says we will be doing a lot of watering in the next few weeks,  The garden pond isn't far from the bee hives but I'm going to set up a watering station right by the hives.  I bought a float valve so it will be kept full automatically.  The pollen will be very dry.

   My lettuce and broccoli seeds have germinated.  It is time to plant fall gardens.  It was time a week or so ago but it isn't too late.

   Last night I made kombucha for the first time.  Fermented foods are supposed to be very good for us.  I'm taking a fermentation class.  I've never been successful at making sauerkraut.  We're going to try making it as soon as we have lots of cabbage.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/27/26 Some of God's greatest blessings... look a lot like ordinary days. 

    Sunshine, calm, 60 degrees. Sunshine today, a gentle ESE breeze, high 83, low 53.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a brisk SSE breeze, high 83, low 59.  Cloudy Wednesday, an ESE breeze, high 77, low 61.  showers Wednesday night with an ENE breeze.  Rain Thursday, a brisk NE breeze, high 70, low 60.  Showers Friday, a NNE breeze, high 75, low 60.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a north breeze, high 81, low 61.  Mostly cloudy Sunday, a SSW breeze, high 82, low 63.  Showers next Monday, a west breeze, high 79, low 60.  Partly cloudy next Tuesday, a WNW breeze, high 82, low 61.  Sunshine next Wednesday, a west breeze, high 85, low 63.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 6th, a WSW breeze, high 85, low 62.  34% chance of showers Friday the 7th, WNW breeze, high 60, low 60.  Partly cloudy Saturday the 8th,  a WNW breeze, high 80, low 60. Clouds and fog Sunday the 9th, a west breeze, high 80, low 60.  Partly cloudy Monday the 10th, a WNW breeze, high 91, low 58.

    Open Farm Day was blessed with beautiful weather, there was a good turnout across Maine.  We had a great turnout here of gracious guests.  Bekah and Jay had lots of displays and activities planned.  Family was all here helping them.  Heather set up a flower bar.   The animals were on their best behavior.  One of the first guests was a handicapped little boy.  His mother let him get out of his chair and go into the pasture with Bekah.  Mabel gently took apple slices from his hand.  She acted like a little boy loudly mooing at her was an everyday occurance.  Bekah said that the boy's reactions and his family's pleasure made her day even if not many other people came.  A half hour later the yard was full of cars.  She was thankful she had lots of help guiding people around.  Lots of guys tried the hay toss.  The winner was the one who made the first toss. He is a regular customer.  Jay out tossed everyone but he didn't win the t-shirt, he was just showing how it's done!

     Saturday morning a pair of robins and a pair of catbirds ate all the ripe berries on the pagoda dogwood.  By the time the kingbirds came in the afternoon there weren't any.  The king birds were here at the crack of dawn this morning.  The dogwood tree is right out the kitchen window.  I think the hummingbirds must feed their babies lots of aphids when they are in the nest,  The fledglings are leaving the nests, the hummingbirds are coming back to the feeders.  There are lots of hummingbirds flitting through the flowers.

    May you day be blessed, Sally

 7/25/26  Lord help me to be slow, slow to anger, slow to judge, slow to walk so that I do not walk past someone who needs kindness.

  Sunshine, 63 degrees.  Sunshine today with a south breeze, a high of 84, low 52.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a light SSE breeze, high 81, low 52.  Sunshine Monday, a light east breeze, high 82, low 55.  Partly cloudy Tuesday, an east breeze, high 81, low 59.  30% chance of showers Tuesday night and Wednesday. A NNE breeze Wednesday, high 81, low 60.  PM thunderstorms Thursday, a NNE breeze, high 71, lo 60.  Some showers Friday, a north breeze, high 79, low 60.  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a west breeze, high 82, low 63.  35% chance of showers next Sunday and Monday, highs about 80, lows about 60.  SW breeze Sunday, NW breeze Monday.  Partly Cloudy Tuesday the 4th, a WNW breeze, high 82, low 63.  Chance of showers the 5th and 6th, WSW breezes, highs 83, lows 63.  Chance of showers the 7th, a WNW breeze, high 78, low 60.  Partly cloudy Saturday the 8th, a WNW breeze, high 78, low 60.

   Another beautiful day.  The yard is all freshly mowed for Open Farm Day tomorrow. The backyard and around the garden pond aren't mowed.  Bekah lets them get a little long and pastures Mabel and Mathilda on them.  She has several small pastures so they can be moved to a fresh posture every four or five days. The beef cows have the big pastures.

  Washing and refilling hummingbird feeders is first on my to do list this morning.  There are always some weeks midsummer that they seldom come to the feeders.  After the fledglings leave the nest they seem to come back.  Judging by how fast they emptied the window feeder this week they are back.

   Remember, tomorrow is Open Farm Day,  the day that many Maine Farms open their farms to guests.  We will be opening at nine and would love to see you.  May your Day be Blessed, Sallly

 7/24/26  Butterflies rest when it rains because rain damages their wings.  It's ok to rest during life's storms. Fly when they're over.

 It is sunny now and the sun will be with us through Monday, Tuesday will be partly cloudy. Highs in the low eighties until Tuesday with a high of 76.  lows in the mid fifties.  A WSW breeze today, then SE breezes.  Rain Starts Tuesday night, continues Wednesday and Thursday.  Tuesday night's low 61.Wednesday's high 71, low 61 with an east breeze.  Thursday's high 76, low 61 with a NNW breeze.  Partly cloudy next Friday and Saturday, highs 82, lows about 62.  A WNW breeze Friday, a SW breeze Saturday.  40% chance of showers Sunday the 2ed, WSW breeze, high 79, low 62.  Partly cloudy on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th, west breezes, highs  81, lows 61.  Fog Tuesday the 4th.  Partly cloudy Thursday  the 6th and Friday the 7th.  West and WNW breezes, highs 60, lows 62.  31% chance of a shower Thursday.

     Sister Lynne, my nephew and nieces are gathered together in New York today for my sister Donna's Celebration of Life.  Five generations of my family are buried in that village cemetery.  My heart and prayers are with my family as they say goodby..

    The lavender is done.  I'm not sure what is next.  Nothing for a few days as we get ready for Sunday, Open Farm Day.  I made butter again yesterday.  Even though Bekah has been making and selling vanilla and chocolate ice cream. ice cream.  .  Mathilda's milk has lots of cream

    A flock of Eastern kingbirds moved in when the cherries got ripe and cleaned the tree in two days.  They left.  Yesterday they came back and  moved into the blueberry patch. Netting the whole patch doesn't seem practical.  It may be the only way we get blueberries. In a few hours every ripe or nearly blueberry was gone. They have always shown up later in the season when the Pagoda dogwood berries ripened.  We net the few elderberry bushes we have.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/23/26  Good Morning! May your day be filled with happiness, peace, and beautiful moments. 

Some places in Maine saw severe storms yesterday, we got a few rain drops.  Sunshine today, strong ENE breezes, high 74, low 52.  Sunshine this weekend, WSW and south breezes, in the eighties, lows 56. Partly cloudy Monday, a SSW breeze, high 82, low 58.   33% chance of afternoon showers Tuesday, a brisk SSE breeze, high 74, low 60.  Rain Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 74, low 60.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, westerly breezes, highs around 80, lows about 61.  30% chance of shows next Sunday, a west breeze, high 80, low 60.  Partly cloudy the week of the 3rd, west breezes, highs in the low to mid eighties, lows 63.

     Didn't get much house cleaning done yesterday,no school means a houseful of kids.  It also means when I get home from getting a haircut some kids are cleaning the house.

     I took a kombucha making class yesterday.  The Lady that gets some of Bekah's milk to make cheese is bringing me a scoby Friday.  In the old days we called it "the mother". It's a clump of good bacteria to ferment the kombucha properly.  Nutritionists have learned that the old ways of preserving foods by fermenting gives us good bacteria when we eat the food.  No more buying bottles of probiotic tablets. Yesterday's class was part of a series of classes on preserving by fermenting that I'm taking.

     Last night I took the first load of lavender out of the dehydrator and put in the second. The girls like lavender/lemon iced tea. And they make a lavender lotion. The dehydrator will be used a lot until fall when we start the cookrange.  There is a drying rack over the range.  Some things can't wait until fall to be dried.

     I planted some lettuce and broccoli seeds yesterday.  A week or two later than I like  to start fall broccoli.  Not too late according to google.

     Bekah has been cleaning chichen housing this week.   This year's pullets will now be moved into their permanent home.  She has saved some old hay to pile on the pile of chicken manure to keep the smell down.  It would have been nice to get rain on the pile yesterday.  Some people clean their chicken house out weekly.  We put fresh straw on their floor every week.  By winter there will be a warm pack on the cold cement floor.  Gilbert used to clean the chicken house for me because he wanted to compost it and put it in his garden.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/22/26  My to-do list for today:  Pray-Count my Blessing- Practice Kindness-Let go of what I can't control-Be productive yet calm-Just breath-Listen to my heart

 About a half inch rain. Light rain, fog, calm. Showers this morning.  clearing tonight.  Today's high 80 with a stiff south breeze, scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, some may contain gusty winds.  Tonight's low 55.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a stiff west breeze, high 77, low 53.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday, SW breezes, highs 83, lows 55.  Partly cloudy Sunday and Monday, SSW breezes, highs 82, lows 56 and 59.  Showers Tuesday, a south breeze, high 79, low 61.  Afternoon showers next Wednesday, a SSE breeze, high 76, low 62.  Partly cloudy next Thursday, Friday and Saturday, WSW breezes, highs 80, lows 61. Afternoon showers Sunday the 2ed and Monday the 3rd, west breezes, high 80, lows 60.  Partly cloudy the 4th and 5th, west breezes, highs 82, lows 61.

     It is damp and feels chilly even though it's 67 degrees.  A good day to clean the house.  Also a good day to set up the dehumidifier.   I started the pellet stove,it will dry the house out some why it is running.   The house is damp because we've had enough rain to keep the cellar damp.  At times there is enough water to make the sump pump run. 

    I'm hearing with just one hearing aid.  The alarm going off in my right ear wasn't a low battery warning, it was telling me the hearing aid needed service.  It is at the factory getting refurbished for $300.  Much better than needing new hearing aids.  The audiologist told me that two radiologists retired suddenly because of medical issues.  Mine went out of state for care so leaving no way for patients to get their records.  They got 400 new patients in October and  November and were overwhelmed.

    The vegetables and flowers are doing well.  They are behind other years.  It was a chilly spring. Plus Jay and Bekah were so busy helping customers the gardens had to take a back seat in May.  Many customers lost plants to frost and chilly winds.  Even protected by remay, our cucumbers didn't do as well as usual.  We have enough but we won't be taking any to the food cupboard.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

    

 7/21/26  Home should be an anchor, a port in a storm, a refuge, a happy place in which to dwell, a place where we are loved, a place where we can love others and serve our Lord

Sunshine, calm. 59 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, a south wind, high 77 degrees.  Showers and thunderstorms this evening, rain overnight.  A strong SE breeze, low 64.  Scattered thunderstorms tomorrow, a stiff south breeze, high 81, low 56.  Sunshine Thursday, a west breeze, high 75, low 52.  Sunshine Friday and Saturday, a SW breeze, high about 83, low 56. Partly cloudy Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, SW breezes, highs 80, lows 60.  38% chance of showers next Wednesday, Wednesday night and Thursday morning.  West breezes Wednesday and Thursday, highs 79, lows 60.  Partly cloudy Friday the 31st and Saturday the 1st, NW breezes, highs 80, low 60.  Scattered thunderstorms Sunday the 2ed, a west breeze, high 78, low 61.  Partly cloudy Monday the 3rd, a WNW breeze, high 80, low 60. Perhaps some showers on the 4th, a NW breeze, high 61, low 80.

    Over the years Darel and I opened our home to others who needed a temporary home.  Mostly teenagers. Two were daughters to us.  Patti, Darel's niece, was just a few years older than our oldest, she grew up with our boys in  Alaska and stayed there when we moved here.  She had many health issues, she went to be with our Lord a few years ago.   Regina was our "Maine" daughter.  She and her children lived with us for several years.  Then she moved to Virginia.  She and her husband John raised her children and John's daughter, children I am proud to have call me Grandma. John had major heart surgery in May, so major it was over two days,  He was doing well, and they were deciding where they were going to retire.  He died peacefully in his sleep.  Please pray with us for Gina and the children as they give thanks that John is with our Lord and they plan their life without him.  I just received a shower invitation for Gina's daughter Traylynne's baby.  We are so happy for Traylenne and Justin.  We call this baby a long wished for miracle.  They live in Michigan so I won't be going to the shower,  Nor will I be able to go to Virgina to be with Gina. 

   We are also praying for safe travels for sister Lynne and her daughter Karen as they travel to New York for our sister Donna's Celebration of Life.  Donna died last winter.  I am able to live because I know we will all be together in eternity.

   This week everyone here is getting ready for Sunday.  Sunday is Maine's Open Farm Day.  Farmers across Maine welcome guests to their farms to experience a taste of farm life.  Bekah and Jay have lots of things planned.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/20/26  Always remember some days are better, some days are worse.  Look for the blessing, not the curse.

 

Sunny, calm and 57 degrees.  We got about an inch of rain.   Sunshine today, a stiff WNW breeze, high 79, low tonight 55.  Cloudy tomorrow, a south wind, high 76, low 64.  Rain tomorrow night with a strong SE breeze.  Thunderstorms Wednesday, a stiff south breeze, high 80, low 59. Partly cloudy Thursday, a stiff west breeze, high 74, low 53.  Sunshine Friday, a WSW breeze, high 81, low 56. Partly cloudy Saturday and Sunday, SW breezes, highs about 83, lows about 57.   40% chance of showers next Monday and Tuesday, SW breezes, highs 79 and 75, lows 61.  Cloudy next Wednesday, a NW breeze, high 77, low 60.  Partly cloudy Thursday the 30th through the weekend of the 1st and 2ed, NW breezes, highs in the low eighties, lows in the low sixties,
     Saturday was wet but not a complete washout.  Most of the showers came late in the day.  No rain on the parade, The country Junction float took first.  They got the float home and the straw bales the kids sat on back in the barn still dry.  It was pretty damp for the pig scramble.  Four of the Smith Great grandkids caught a pig.  Late fall pig roasts.  The forecast thunderstorms never materialized so the day ended with a great fireworks display. 
      We tried a new cucumber variety this year.  It started producing cucumbers early, lots of them.  It is crisp, sweet and juicy with a very tender skin.  A skin so tender that the few bugs we have all want to eat it.
      We had 12 old hens left. They laid pretty good this spring but lately we were getting about 12 eggs a week.  They became stewing hens last night.  The rooster is a beautiful silver lace  Araucana, so mellow he was not a stewpot candidate.  Our other rooster is so mellow he is eight years old.  No longer fertile though he thinks he is.

     I have an appointment with an audiologist today.  The audiologist I got my hearing aids from retired. He was the last independent audiologist around.  Last November I called a clinic for an appointment.  Today was the soonest they could get me in.  They couldn't check my hearing aid batteries until I was examined.  I am very glad today is finally here but I'm not going in with a very positive attitude.  Sister Lynne has an MRI on her knee today.   She hasn't had to wait eight months for it but she has waited several weeks.

    May your day be blessed.  Sally

 7/18/27 Darel and I didn't worry about keeping up with the Jones. We maintained our faith, worked to raise our sons to be hard working Christian men and cared for our land.

 Thin clouds, calm, 58 degrees.  A strong south breeze today, a high of 70, low 62.  Cloudy today with some showers, mostly late afternoon, evening and overnight. We may see a shower around eight this morning.  Thunderstorms may compete with Bradford Days fireworks. Partly cloudy tomorrow, a WNW wind, high 75, low 55.  Partly cloudy Monday, a strong WNW breeze, high 78, low 56.  Mostly cloudy Tuesday, a south wind, high 78, low 62. Thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk south breeze, high 79, low 62. 50% chance of showers Thursday, a brisk west breeze, high 78, low 56.  Partly cloudy Friday and the weekend, WSW breezes, highs in the low to mid eighties. Lows 59.  Cloudy with a chance of showers Monday the 27th through Thursday the 28th.  Pleasant Friday the 31st and the weekend.  NW breezes all week, highs around 80. lows around 60.

     Darel and I had some hard times, don't we all?   Mostly we were happy, thankful for and enjoying our family.  I think today's world needs more faith, more gratitude and more willingness  to work.  I am thankful my family seems to have all three.

    Cool is good for Bradford Days.  Showers are back in the forecast.  We're hoping we can have our cake and eat it too.  We need rain but it would be nice if the showers held off until late afternoon.The pig scramble is at four, 41% chance of a shower  I guess we'll know at nine whether the fireworks come from lightning or gunpowder.  The Country Junction float will be leaving for the ten o'clock parade in an hour or so.  It is not supposed to rain on the parade.  I will be here to greet customers who come why everyone else is at the parade.  Hopefully I can also help them. Vegetables are self service.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/17/26  For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela

Sunshine with  variable breezes that will become light NW winds today.  It's 58 degrees now, today's high 78, tonight's low 55.  Tomorrow eveningShowers Tuesday, a SSE wind, high 77, low 64.  Thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk WSW breeze, high 79, low 60.Partly cloudy Thursday through next Monday, highs in the low eights, lows about 60.  Weatery breezes.   and overnight rain seems to have become just a few overnight showers.  Good for Bradford Days but the gardens and second crop of hay liked yesterday's wetter forecast.   Tomorrow's high 73 with a strong south breeze,  The low 64.  Partly cloudy Sunday with a WNW wind, high 74, low 55.  Sunshine Monday, a west breeze, high 80, low 57.  some showers the 28th, 29th and 30th, highs about 70, lows about 80.

   Late yesterday was  pleasant  working outside,  I had breakfast at my sister's in Dover and came home through Corinth to do some errands.  As I left Corinth wind and rain were moving in.   After I went by the wind broke a large branch off a tree.  It went through a lady's windshield, killing her instantly.  The two children with her were not seriously injured.  The limb also tore down power lines causing problems for the first responders.  North Bradford got a few drops of rain.

   I transplanted some volunteer sunflowers to the sunflower patch in front of the barn.  I watered them when I planted them, without tomorrow's rain I'll have to keep watering them.  I planted them thick because I'm not sure how well they'll take.  If I left them they would crowd my perennials out but I didn't want to just toss them on the compost pile.

   More weeding and watering today, perfect weather for it.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/16/26  Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.

Sunshine, gentle east breeze, 66 degrees,  A strong WNW breeze today, high 74, low 56.  Thunderstorms this afternoon and evening, some may come with strong gusts of wind.  Sunshine tomorrow, a strong WNW breeze, high 79, low 53.  Showers Saturday afternoon, rain overnight,  A SW breeze, high 72, low 63,  Showers Sunday morning, a light WNW wind, high 75, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, a west breeze, high 81, low 57. Showers Tuesday, a strong SSE breeze, high 77, low 64.  Scattered thunderstorms Wednesday, a brisk WSW breeze, high 79, low 62. Partly cloudy next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday , west breezes, highs 79-84, lows about 60.  Cloudy Sunday the 26th, a few showers Monday the 27th, NW breezes, highs 81, lows 60.  Partly cloudy the rest of the week with NW breezes, highs 81, lows 60.

    I fertilized all my containers yesterday, some were looking a little peaked.  Hot weather has meant lots of watering, lots of watering washes the nutrition out of the container,  I fertilized the peppermint patch too. I want lots of peppermint to put in the cupboards this fall when we clean them.  We were late cleaning last fall and mice moved in.  I didn't have any mice when I cleaned the cupboards in September and put several sprigs of peppermint in the corners.  Peppermint essential oil on cotton balls works but  someone has to remember to put freshly oiled cotton balls in every month or so.  The sprigs stay fragrant.

    Every two weeks we get a shipment of fly parasites. The ting bugs lay their eggs in fly larva,  When the eggs hatch the bugs eat the larva.  We still put up fly paper in the house but we've had far fewer flies since we've been getting the parasites.  People tell us they don't have animals and they have a fly problem.  We don't.

    Lots of perennials, shrubs and fruit trees left yesterday.  Cooler temperatures mean people are working in their gardens.  Why they are here they get hamburger, milk, yogurt. eggs and vegetables.  Also butter and ice cream when we have some.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/15/26 Just a reminder that watching the birds and listening to their songs may be better for your peace of mind than watching the news.

Fair, calm, 72 degrees.Yesterday's storms gave us enough rain drops to equal a heavy dew.  a combination of clouds and wildfire smoke blocked the sun.  Without the sun's heat there wasn't enough energy to cause severe storms.  Partly cloudy today, a WNW wind, high 82, low 62.  54% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. A strong WNW breeze, storms may contain gusty winds.  High 73, low 54.  Mostly sunny Friday, a light WNW wind, high 77, low 55.  Afternoon showers Saturday, overnight rain.  A SW breeze during the day, SSE breeze at night. High 78, low 60.  Morning showers Sunday, partly cloudy in the afternoon.  A brisk NW breeze, high High 78, low 56.  Partly cloudy Monday, a   west breeze, high 81, low 62.  Showers Tuesday, a stiff south breeze, high 78, low 61.  Showers next Wednesday, a west breeze, high 79, low 56.  Mostly sunny nest Thursday,a west breeze, high 80, low 58.  Partly cloudy next Friday and Saturday, west breezes, highs about 82, lows 58.  Cloudy Sunday the 26th, a west breeze, high 82, low 60.  30% chance of showers Monday the 27th, a west breeze, high 81, low 61.  Partly cloudy the 28th and 29th, NW breezes, high about 82, lows 60. 

  Kaden's skans came back clear.  On his way out of the cancer center he got to ring the bell!

   There were three trailer loads of hay, they all are in the barn.  I don't know how many times the tarps were pulled off so the sun could dry out any damp spots, then put back on because it started to sprinkle.  Early in the day there wasn't much help around, Bekah put one trailer load in the barn by herself.  The conflicting reports of severe weather made her nervous. Watches for  tornadoes and  thunderstorms containing high winds and large hail made it hard to make plans.  Sun is shining now, back to gardening and yard work.  Bekah usually makes yogurt every day but Sunday.  Yogurt is back on schedule. So is ice cream.  I made butter Monday.  The cookie jars have been empty since last Friday.  Today I'll refill them.

   May your day be blessed, LS

 7/14/26 There are always things to be thankful for!

We got about .20  of rain last night. More showers this morning.   The severe storm warnings have been lifted. Cloudy today, a stiff SW breeze, high 88.  partly cloudy tonight, low 68.  Sunshine tomorrow, a WNW wind, high 83, low 61.  PM showers Thursday, a light WNW wind, high 77 low 54.  Partly cloudy Friday and Saturday, WNW breeze, highs 77 and 81, lows 58.  Showers Sunday, a north breeze, high 81, low 58.   The rest of the ten day forecast is about the same as yesterday.  Some forecasts are still calling for severe storms this evening.

Early this morning the forecast said no rain today.  Now it looks like they shouldn't have taken the tarp off that last  wagon load of hay they didn't get in before last night's storm.

    Bekah and I got the tarp back on.  Mostly Bekah, all I could do was try to lift some so she wasn't pulling the whole tarp.  Jay and Azalea have gone fishing with Jay's Dad.  When they left early yesterday morning no one knew it was going to dry out enough to make square bales.

    Last night was chaotic for a bit.  They knew the storm was coming, they were able to get the load they were working on mowed away.  Large drops started falling as they finished.  They grabbed a tarp and rushed to get it over the last load.  Others rushed to roll up truck windows.  Wilson was running around barking at them.  Suddenly a skunk sprayed.  Wilson was trying to tell them they disturbed a skunk when they got the tarp.  There were people everywhere, the skunk didn't know which way to go so it cleared a path.  For a while they thought the skunk sprayed Wilson.  But Wilson was smarter than that, everyone else was just lucky..  The wagon got covered and it rained so hard that there is very little smell this morning.

   Pastor Cindy got home to New Hampshire just before dark.  The family was thankful she was able to come up to be with us Saturday.  On Friday she did a service for a long time friend and neighbor.  Then she got up early Saturday morning to be here before eleven.  A long few days for her, back to back services for two people she was very close to with a long drive inbetween.  Almost to the day twenty two years ago she was with our family.  Grandson Mitch died the first night she was in Corinth as a new pastor.  One in the morning but she came when she got the call.  Gilbert was one of the first ones she talked to.  A few years ago she married Tiffany, Gilbert's daughter, and Evan.

    Jay sent a video of Azalea trying to reel in a big fish, it broke the line just as she was reaching to grab it.  Now she has the fishing bug, she wants to stay and fish more this morning.

     It's raining lightly, it is supposed to start raining hard in a few minutes.  Some forecasters are still predicting a chance of severe storms tonight.  There are some volunteer sunflower plants under the feeders.  Today I want to move them to the sunflower patch by the horse barn.

     May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/13/26  Resilience isn't just preparing for the future—it's being a good steward of the resources, relationships, and tools already entrusted to us.

Sunshine, 62 degrees. Mostly cloudy today, a stiff WSW breeze, high 86, low 65.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a strong WSW breeze, high 90, low 65.  Sunshine Wednesday, a WNW wind, high 84, low 63.  35% chance of PM showers Thursday, a light WNW wind, high 76, low 65. Partly cloudy Friday, a strong WNW breeze, high 76, low 54.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a WNW breeze, high 79, low 57. 44% chance of showers Sunday afternoon, a north breeze, high 79, low 56.   Partly cloudy next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, WSW breezes, highs in the low eighties, lows about 60.  35% chance of showers Thursday, the 23rd, a WSW breeze, high 83, low 61.  Partly cloudy Friday the 24th, a WNW breeze, high 84, low 63. Isolated thunderstorms Saturday the 25th, a WNW breeze, high 83, low 65.  Partly cloudy on the 26th and 27th, WNW breezes, highs 85, lows 64.

    Summer is almost half gone, time to start getting ready for winter.   The leftover firewood has to be moved to the front so it gets burned first.  We have to get next winter's wood inside and stacked so it can be seasoned.  Fall's forecast for us was published last week.  Cool and wet. 

   Bradford Days is this coming weekend.  They've been planning the float for the parade.  Saturday's forecast is good, let's hope it doesn't change.

   Jay will be picking vegetables this morning.  People stopping by on their way home from church emptied the cucumber cooler early yesterday afternoon.

   I need to wash and put fresh food in the hummingbird feeders.  They come to the feeders more on hot days.   A woodpecker was checking out the empty suet feeder yesterday.  I have a suet cake that is supposed to be good for summer feeding, I'll' put it in the feeder today.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/10/26 Trust that if you honor the nature of your land, your animals , and your plants they will do good things for one another and for you.

Perhaps some light rain the next half hour as the storms move away.  It's calm, 67 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, a brisk NW breeze, high 63, low 57.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a NNW breeze, high 80, low 57. Sunshine tomorrow, a north breeze, high 84, low 59.  Partly cloudy Monday, a stiff SW breeze, high 86, low 66,  Cloudy Tuesday, a stiff WSW breeze, high 90, low 72.  Partly cloudy Wednesday, a light WNW wind, high 86, low 63.  Sunshine Thursday and next Friday, stiff WNW breezes, highs in the low eighties, low about 58.  Partly cloudy next weekend and Monday the 20th, highs about 80, lows about 60. Perhaps a shower Tuesday the 21st, a south breeze, high 81, low 60. Cloudy Wednesday the 22ed, a WNW breeze, high 83, low 60.  Partly cloudy on the 23rd and 24th, west breezes, highs 86, lows 62.

    Not much rain during the night, the puddles from yesterday's short, sudden downpour have pretty much dried up.  Just enough rain to give us a day's break from watering.  The sun is breaking through the clouds now.  Mathilda is glad Bekah has figured out which side she expects to be milked from.  She has been in the same milking string for a few years and wants the same routine.

   There are red potatoes, summer squash and cucumbers on the stand.  Vegetables are self service just as milk, eggs and ground beef are.  Even when we are closed Jay harvests vegetables and maintains the stand.  Bekah milks the cows and I collect eggs, we keep the egg and milk refrigerator stocked.  We are usually open Saturdays but not tomorrow.  The family is gathering to lay Gilbert's ashes to rest in the family cemetery.  The cemetery is here at the farm..  This week tomorrow will join Sunday,  there will be no "loop" or Facebook weather report.

   May your day be Blessed, Sally

 7/9/26  Believe in the goodness of the world, and be good to it in return.

Partly cloudy, an east breeze, 61 degrees.  Occasional showers start about 3, rain overnight.  A west breeze, high 88, low 65.  Becoming partly cloudy tomorrow after some morning rain.  A NNW breeze, high 83, low 59.  Sunshine Saturday, a NNW breeze, high 81, low 57.  Sunshine Sunday, a north breeze, high 84, low 58. Partly cloudy Monday through Thursday, highs around ninety until Thursday, then a few degrees cooler. Stiff WSW breezes Monday and Tuesday, brisk WNW breezes Wednesday and Thursday. Sunshine next Friday, a stiff WNW breeze, high 81, low 59.  Partly cloudy next Saturday, a brisk NW breeze, high 80, low 59.  Cloudy Sunday, the 19th, a WNW breeze, high 82, low 61.  Partly cloudy Monday the 20th, a WNW breeze, high 83, low 62.  Cloudy the 21st and 22ed, WSW breezes, highs 85, lows 63.  Fog on Wednesday.  PM showers Thursday the 23rd.

    Mathilda, a pretty Jersey cow came to live at the farm yesterday.  Mabel was very happy to see her.  Mabel has been lonely, cows are herd animals.  We're all happy to see her too.  More cream for butter and ice cream.  More milk , partly because we keep getting more milk customers, partly because we want to try making cheese. Mathida walked in the barn to be milked last night and this morning like she had always lived here.

   In between unloading hay trailers the last few days all the lawns got mowed.  They are mowed short, ticks don't like short grass.  We don't like ticks, we especially don't  like ticks in the grass where little ones are playing.  The backyard is the only place there have been ticks, even there we don't have many. There are only a few spots left that the grass isn't under control. With everything else tamed and me feeling better I'll get to them.

   May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/8/26 If we seek peace and justice, it is up to us, in even some small way, to speak out and act for peace and justice. Pastor Bruce Young

Partly cloudy today, a SSW breeze, high 86, low 62.  Scattered thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon and evening, occasional showers overnight. A SW breeze, high 88, low 65.  

Partly cloudy Friday, a NNW breeze, high 83, low 61.  Sunshine this weekend, NNW breezes, highs in the mid eighties, low 59.  Partly cloudy next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 

brisk west breezes, high in the mid eighties, lows 64.  Sunshine next Thursday and Friday, brisk NW breezes, highs in the mid eighties, lows 62.  Partly cloudy the weekend of the 18th and 19th, highs about 83, lows 60, NW breezes, Partly cloudy the 20th, 21st, and 22ed, WSW breezes, highs about 85, lows about 63.  

    Mabel didn't do a good job of mowing the backyard.  There was enough grass so she could pick and choose, leaving some grass to grow tall and lanky.  She did eat the dandelions. Friends came by yesterday and turned the scruffy hayfield back into a lawn.  One of them helped Bekah in the haymow.  Another made good use of the repaired weed whacker.  All they would accept was milk and cucumbers.  Blessings come in many shapes and sizes.

   Yesterday was dumpster pickup day.  In the morning the kids took the piles of stuff in the garage out, some went in my truck for Community Closet, most went to the dumpster.  Jay made sure he was there to help throw boxes in the garbage truck when it camz.  People see this large family and bring us stuff.  Azalea did get a nice winter coat out of a box yesterday but there is a lot of nice "stuff" going to the closet.

   Another hay day, the sun and breeze means plants need water. More weeds are going to meet their end with vinegar spray.  May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/7/36  Whenever you are about to find fault with someone, ask yourself the following question: What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?

 Partly cloudy, 61 degrees.  Sun and clouds today, a south breeze, high 81, low 57.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a SSW breeze, high 86, low 63.  Partly cloudy Thursday, afternoon/evening thunderstorms with a west breeze, high 86, low 66. Scattered thunderstorms Friday, a NW breeze, high 85, low 61.  Partly cloudy Saturday, a NW breeze, high 62, low 58.  Sunshine Sunday, a NW breeze, high 92, low 58. Partly cloudy Monday, a stiff SW breeze, high 85, low 65.  Scattered thunderstorms next Tuesday, a stiff west breeze, high 84, low 64. Partly cloudy next Wednesday and Thursday, brisk NW breezes, highs about 83, lows 69.  Partly cloudy Friday the 17th, through the weekend and the 20th and 21st, WNW breezes, highs about 82, lows about 60,

    Haying and watering fill the days this week.  In between unloading hay they've been going through winter's accumulation in the garage.  The dumpster is overflowing, it's good pick up is today.  My truck is filling up, I'll be going to the community closet tomorrow afternoon.  It is at the Charleston Baptist church, everything is free.  I can see at a glance that I mustn't look around, I'll be taking something home.

    Snow's Saw Shop dropped off our weed whacker yesterday.  All fixed, now they'll be looking for time to weed whack.  Maegin usually does a lot of weed whacking but she has weed whacking to do at home and she is driving a bus for summer school.

    May your day be blessed, Sally

 7/6/26  “May we think of freedom not as the right to do as we please, but as the oppprtunity to do what is right.” ~Peter Marshall

Sunshine, 60 degrees.  Partly cloudy today, an ESE breeze, high 83, low 56.  Partly cloudy tomorrow, a south breeze, high 83, low 56.  Partly cloudy Thursday and Friday, WSW breezes highs about 88, lows in the mid sixties.  Scattered thunderstorms Friday, a NW breeze, high 83, low 61. Sunshine Saturday, a NNW breeze, high 84, low 59.  Partly cloudy Sunday, a NW breeze, high 85, low 60. Possible afternoon and overnight showers next Monday, a brisk SSW breeze, high 83, low 62. Scattered thunderstorms next Tuesday, stiff WNW breeze, high 80, low 61. Partly cloudy next Wednesday, a brisk WNW breeze, high 80, low 60.  Fog next Thursday, a NW breeze, high 80, low 60. Partly cloudy Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th, west breezes, highs 82, lows 60.  Perhaps a shower Sunday the 19th, a west breeze, high 83, low 63.

    It was a hard weekend.  Gilbert loved celebrating the Fourth of July.  His absence meant the day was celebrated quietly, finding  different things to do. This bunch went to the beach and baked.  The strong winds cooled them off when they got home.  I went to the boat parade.  "Santa" Gilbert always had his boat leading the parade.  Not only was Santa missing but not as many other  boats turned out.

   Twenty some years ago brain cancer took a grandson.  Yesterday was his birthday.  Mike, his father, and I spent some time at the family cemetery.  Doug and Nicole keep it mowed, Mike did some trimming. He watered the flowers on Mitch's and Violet's graves.  I pulled creeping charlie. Sally Jo had just weeded it out a few weeks ago! Gilbert's headstone is there now.  Barbie chose a beautiful stone. Saturday close family will gather to lay Gilbert's ashes to rest.  The greenhouse will be closed.
   Square bale hay weather is here..  They started filling our barns yesterday.  Many farmers are making hay, please be patient if you get behind a wagon load of hay.  Be thankful there was rain to grow the grass and now there is sun to dry it. 

   This weather is when we are thankful for soaker hoses in the gardens.  Saturday was the cucumbers' day for water.   Lots of water makes sweet cucumbers. Jay is picking some every day.  Yesterday was the mums turn to get watered.  Today  the potatoes' soaker hoses get turned on.  Have you planted shrubs, trees or some perennials? They need a good weekly soaking.

   May your day be blessed, Sally