The Miller Report 01152026

 Miller's Mysteries Blog

   Greetings and Welcome! 
Greetings from Miller’s Mysteries Blog, where Southington winter weather sets the mood better than background music. Snow blankets the yard, wildlife wanders past like surprise guest stars, and the cats monitor it all from indoors. 
 NYX

The goats next door lean in close, clearly suspicious of what’s being written. Soon we’ll be out enjoying Calendar House shows, movies, and meals that don’t require cooking. For now, settle in and enjoy the warmth.


  • Across my Desk!!

Squirrel hiding his stash
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lJ3-fUj9ilc

Signs that you're doing good financially:
debt free, savings, homeowner, investments, contentment, donating to charity
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1216298903795088

Mouse Trap
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/40wZkQZDJe8

Sun Sign
January 15, 2026 — Capricorn ♑
Today you’ll feel unusually productive, tackling tasks with the confidence of someone who definitely made a to-do list… and actually followed it. 📝✨ A surprise interruption may test your patience, but your dry wit will save the day and earn a few laughs. 😂 Keep your evening plans simple—good food, cozy vibes, and maybe bragging quietly about everything you got done. ☕🌙

Space News:
🍽️ NASA’s “Mars to Table” Challenge
• NASA is advancing food systems for long-duration missions, working on technologies that could help astronauts grow and prepare safe, nutritious food independently on Mars or the Moon.
Mars Bars – finally grown locally, but legally confusing. 🍫🪐
Red Planet Radishes – already the right color, no effort required. 🔴🥕
Orbiting Onions – cause tears before you even slice them. 🧅😭
Alien Eggplant – suspiciously judgmental. 🍆👽


Weather Forecast for this weekend
📅 Friday — Cold start to the weekend!
Expect periods of snow Friday night into early Saturday morning with a light dusting to perhaps a couple inches of snow here and there. 🌨️ Roads may be slick early, so bundle up and drive safe! 🧤🚗 📅 Saturday — Chilly with lingering snow chances.
Daytime highs creep into the upper 20s to low 30s, with some snow showers still possible and pockets of accumulation if the flurry timing peaks just right. 🥶❄️ The snow tapers off later, but it’ll still feel frigid. ⛸️☕ 📅 Sunday — Uncertainty with snow potential.
Models suggest a larger system could brush by, possibly bringing more snow Sunday if it tracks just right — but it could also stay offshore and leave us mostly dry. 🌬️🌨️ Either way, it’ll remain cold and winter-like, with daytime temps only in the low 30s. 🧣☁️

❄️ Bonus Notes:
After the weekend, bitter cold air moves in next week with wind chills potentially well below zero. 🥶☃️
Keep hats, gloves, and everyone’s favorite hot drinks at the ready! ☕🧤
Stay warm and have a safe weekend!

  
 • Math of the Week

1. Snowshoe Distance (Linear Functions)

Bob and Michele snowshoe along a pine-lined trail just after sunrise, their breath puffing white clouds into the icy air while snow crunches sharply beneath their boots. Bob walks at a steady pace of 2.5 miles per hour, while Michele, stopping occasionally to photograph frost-covered branches, averages 1.8 miles per hour.
a) Write a linear equation for each person’s distance traveled after t hours.
b) After how many hours will Bob be 1.4 miles ahead of Michele?

2. Ice Fishing Holes (Geometry – Area & Spacing)

On a frozen lake glazed with wind-polished ice, Bob drills circular fishing holes while Michele sets up a thermos that smells of hot cocoa and peppermint. Each hole has a diameter of 10 inches, and they must be spaced so that the centers are at least 3 feet apart for safety.
a) Find the area of one fishing hole.
b) If Bob drills 8 holes, what is the minimum rectangular area of ice needed to place them in two rows while maintaining safe spacing?

3. Sledding Speed (Quadratic Motion)

Michele launches her sled from the top of a snowy hill as Bob times her run, the runners hissing softly over packed snow. The sled’s height above the ground (in feet) is modeled by

h(t)=−4t2+16t+20

where t is time in seconds.
a) How long does it take for Michele to reach the ground at the bottom of the hill?
b) What is the maximum height of the sled, and at what time does it occur?


4. Cabin Firewood (Systems of Equations)

Inside a drafty winter cabin, Bob stacks firewood while Michele counts logs near the crackling fireplace, the scent of pine filling the room. Bob carries 4 logs per trip, and Michele carries 6 logs per trip. Together, they carry 72 logs in 14 total trips.
a) Write a system of equations to represent the situation.
b) How many trips does each person make?



5. Skating Rink Lights (Sequences & Series)

As dusk falls over the outdoor skating rink, strings of golden lights flicker on, reflecting off the ice while skates scrape rhythmically. The first string of lights has 12 bulbs, and each additional string adds 5 more bulbs than the previous one.
a) Write an explicit formula for the number of bulbs on the nth string.
b) How many total bulbs are there after 10 strings are hung?

 
 • Now, This Week's Exciting Story

Cold Roads, Warm Chili

The snow started as a whisper and quickly became a roar, swallowing the back roads of Southington in white. Molly gripped the dashboard as Rick eased the truck around another icy bend, tires crunching and slipping like they were thinking twice about every move. Between them, the crockpot of chili sloshed gently, the warm, peppery scent filling the cab—a small comfort against the cold pressing in from all sides.

The farmhouse appeared suddenly through the trees, hunched and half-buried, its roof sagging under the weight of the storm. Rick parked near the old stone wall, engine ticking as it cooled, and for a moment neither of them moved. Snow rattled against the windshield like impatient fingers. “Well,” Molly said softly, forcing a smile, “at least the chili survived.”

Inside, the house greeted them with a hollow quiet that felt louder than the wind. Rick stomped snow from his boots while Molly set the crockpot on the kitchen counter and plugged it in, the low hum sounding almost alive. The air smelled of cold wood and old memories, and somewhere deep in the house a floorboard creaked—slowly, deliberately.

They lit a few lamps, their yellow glow carving out pockets of warmth in the shadows. Outside, the storm thickened, the windows frosting over as if the house were sealing itself off from the world. Rick tried his phone—no signal. Molly’s laugh came out thinner than she meant it to. “Guess we’re committed now.”

As the chili began to bubble, a sound drifted down the hallway—a soft thud, then another, like footsteps testing their weight. Rick froze, listening. The wind could do strange things to an old house, he told himself, but the sound came again, closer this time, followed by the faint scrape of something being moved.

They sat at the small kitchen table, bowls steaming between their hands, pretending the warmth was enough to push the unease away. Molly noticed how the shadows seemed to stretch when she wasn’t looking, how the air felt charged, expectant. “Rick,” she whispered, “did you hear that?”

Before he could answer, the lights flickered. The wind howled, finding a new voice in the eaves, and from upstairs came a slow, deliberate creak—as if someone had stopped to listen. Rick reached for Molly’s hand, his grip steady even as his eyes scanned the darkened doorway.

Whatever shared the farmhouse with them wasn’t rushing. It was waiting. And as the storm tightened its grip outside, Molly and Rick realized the cold wasn’t the only thing pressing in on the walls—they weren’t alone, and the night had just begun.


Rick lifted his chin toward the hallway like a knight pointing a sword, except his weapon was a fireplace poker. “All right,” he said, trying for confidence, “if this house has ghosts, raccoons, or judgmental spirits from the nineteenth century, now’s the time to speak up.”
Molly snorted. “Great. Annoy it. That always works in horror movies.”

They stepped into the hallway together, the floorboards protesting each move with arthritic groans. Molly held a lantern, its light bouncing wildly with each step. “You know,” she said, “this is how every bad decision starts—‘Let’s just take a look.’”
Rick grinned. “Relax. Worst case scenario, we die next to a really excellent chili.”

The staircase loomed ahead, narrow and steep, its banister cold and slick beneath Rick’s hand. Halfway up, something scurried in the walls. Molly stopped dead. “That,” she whispered, “was not the wind.”
Rick leaned close. “If it’s a serial killer, I call dibs on asking the first question.”

At the top of the stairs, a door stood ajar, rocking gently as if nudged by an unseen hand. Molly pushed it open with the lantern, revealing a bedroom dusted with snow where a window had cracked open. Curtains flapped like pale ghosts. “Okay,” she said, exhaling, “drafty window. Not haunted. Yet.”
Rick nodded. “I give it a B-minus on the terror scale.”

From the far end of the hall came a sudden clatter—metal on wood. They spun around in unison. “Kitchen,” Molly said.
Rick sighed. “Of course it’s the room with knives.”

Downstairs, they found the source: a cabinet door swinging lazily, the wind nudging it open and shut. A lone ladle had fallen to the floor, rocking slightly. Molly stared at it, then at Rick. “So… possessed ladle?”
Rick crouched, picked it up, and bowed. “Be gone, demon of soup.”

Just then, the power died completely. Darkness swallowed the house, thick and sudden. Molly groaned. “Fantastic. Now we’re in a pioneer survival game.”
Rick squeezed her hand. “On the bright side, pioneers didn’t have chili this good.”

They made their way to the living room, discovering a back door rattling violently under a drift piled nearly to the handle. The storm roared like an angry crowd outside. Molly peered through the frosted glass. “We’re officially snowed in.”
Rick smiled crookedly. “Romantic, right? Nothing says bonding like mild peril.”

A low noise echoed from the cellar—more of a whoomp than a thud. Molly raised an eyebrow. “Please tell me that was the furnace.”
Rick listened, then laughed. “It was. Old oil system kicking on. Mystery solved.”
She exhaled. “I was two seconds from naming the ghost.”

They returned to the kitchen, adrenaline fading into laughter as the crock pot continued its heroic simmer. Molly leaned against Rick, shaking her head. “We drove through a blizzard, investigated a haunted house, and defeated a rogue ladle.”
Rick wrapped an arm around her. “And tomorrow, we’ll tell people it was way worse.”





===========SHADOW
When a sudden power outage engulfs the town of Cheshire, a hush falls over the community, replaced by strange sounds that echo through the darkness. As residents peer out into their yards, they witness flickering lights and a specter-like figure gliding through the shadows. When the lights return, families are gone—only their shadows remain, flickering on the walls as they scream for help without a sound. The haunting realization grips the town: life as they knew it has been snatched away, leaving behind echoes of their existence and the void left by the otherworldly presences that have taken them.
    
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3
Join the ranks of those who dared to examine the UFO phenomenon.  Order your copy today and start your own calculations!



Visit and enjoy my Author Page 🍂📜 ♣️❤️♠️♦️
https://warlockpublishing.com/author-joseph-miller.html
📚📖📘📙📗📕📔📒📓📔📒📓📚 ✨🌙💥👣️👽️🛸🚀☁️ 🕵️‍♀️💕




============ sponsor

KelDel Creations
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090364412851

Kelly’s booth is one of the warmest spots in the craft fair, and she’d love to have you visit. Her creations combine skill, imagination, and a gentle touch of humor. Every piece has a personality of its own, making her table a delightful place to explore. If you’re looking for a gift with meaning, this is the place to find it. She takes pride in using quality materials and time-honored methods. While you’re there, enjoy chatting with her about how each piece came to life. Kelly welcomes you with an open heart and a smile.

3-15-2026 Psychic, Oddities and Steampunk Expo at Ocean Beach Park, New London, Ct.


============

 • Thank you for stopping by! 

Thank you for spending part of your day here. Outside, winter roads stretch on, cautious and slow. Inside, hot black coffee reminds us to breathe before moving on. The firepit offers its steady glow, asking nothing in return. Hot soup warms more than hands—it warms resolve. I’m glad you stopped by.


 • Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question. If I like it, I'll publish it right here in Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[send to mindmyst@yahoo.com]

Until next Thursday,    
Happy January!!! 

Joe Miller 🌲️❄️❄️

 
 • weather forecast
Expect freezing temperatures and wind chills that question your life choices 🧣❄️. Astronomers spotted something blinking near Orion, but the bigger threat remains the driveway. Travel cautiously and trust nothing that looks shiny.
 
   Joe
 
  
math
answers:  

1. Snowshoe Distance (Linear Functions)

a)
Bob: dB(t)=2.5t
    ​
Michele: dM(t)=1.8t
    ​

b)
Set the difference equal to 1.4 miles:

2.5t−1.8t=1.4
0.7t=1.4
t=2

✅ After 2 hours, Bob is 1.4 miles ahead.



2. Ice Fishing Holes (Geometry)

a)
Radius = 5 inches

A=πr^2=25π≈78.5 in^2


b)
Centers must be 3 ft = 36 inches apart.
Arranged in 2 rows of 4 holes:

Length: 3×36=108 inches
Width: 1×36=36 inches
Minimum area=108×36=3888 in^2


3. Sledding Speed (Quadratics)

Given:

h(t)=−4t2+16t+20

a) Set height to zero:

−4t^2+16t+20=0
Divide by –4:

t2−4t−5=0
(t−5)(t+1)=0

✅ Time = 5 seconds

b) Vertex time:

t=−b/2a=−16/2(−4)=2

Height at t=2

h(2)=−4(4)+32+20=36

✅ Maximum height = 36 feet at 2 seconds


4. Cabin Firewood (Systems of Equations)

Let:

x = Bob’s trips
y = Michele’s trips

x+y=14
4x+6y=72
    ​
Multiply first equation by 4:
4x+4y=56

Subtract from second equation:
2y=16   y=8
x+8=14  x=6

✅ Bob makes 6 trips, Michele makes 8 trips



5. Skating Rink Lights (Sequences & Series)

a) Arithmetic sequence:

a sub n=12+5(n−1)

    ​
b)
10th term:

a sub 10=12+45=57


Sum of first 10 terms:

S sub 10=(10/2)(12+57)=5×69=345

✅ Total bulbs = 345