Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate
The first one said, "Oh my, it's getting late!"
The second one said, "There are witches in the air,"
The third one said, "But WE DON'T CARE!"
The fourth one said, "Let's run and run and run,"
The fifth one said, "I'm ready for some fun!!"
"Ooooh," went the wind
and
OUT WENT THE LIGHT
and the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight...

(A song I sang for many years with my elementary music classes during the Halloween season.)

October 31, 2012 – Wednesday – Halloween

31 degrees/partly cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

Boo! Consider yourself scared.

I’m listening to the wind chimes play their frantic tune early this morning. Seems as though the ghost of Hurricane Sandy is still rattling these parts. The wind is to die down in the next day or two and I see where an inch of snow is forecast for Saturday.

I read assignments for quite a while on Tuesday morning. The students are beginning to break into their predictable groups:

a)    those who are always on time and turn in top notch work

b)   those who are always a day late, yet fairly reliable

c)    those who have suddenly discovered that the end of the semester is coming, realize they are way behind in all their classes, and have made a conscious decision to try to catch up, resulting in sloppy work that either is marked way down or returned with my usual quip stating, “This must be for another instructor in a different ALST 300 class. Please turn in the assignment you prepared for MY class. Looking forward to reading it. Thanks!” It’s a game that’s played semester after semester.

I attacked the stand of popple trees with pent-up, frustrated, post-assignment, energy and filled the truck with wood chips. It took a full twenty minutes to shovel the future mulch into a pile in the orchard. I’ll spread it next spring.

The house needed cleaning. Burning wood is economical, warm, and is the only practical way for us to heat, but it’s dirty. I vacuumed the floors and ran a dust rag over most the surfaces in the living and dining rooms. It’ll suffice for now.

I finished taking the tailgate off the truck. Some people would say a gateless truck might look… junky. I tend to think that it makes the Man Truck look more manly; a mere battle scar marking the battles of life.

I measured and calculated then went to town and purchased a few 1x6’s with which to make a new tailgate. Hopefully, that will be completed this afternoon. Rather than fold down, it will lift out. As I told someone, the new tailgate is a stop-gap replacement for an eventual wooden box. At this time, I don’t have the money, time, effort, or energy, to replace the entire thing. If the power plant of the truck were in bad shape, I’d simply scrap it and look for a man truck replacement, but the engine is strong, the transmission stronger. I really can identify with that old truck. The mind is good. It’s the body that seems bent on falling apart.

Arriving home, I fixed clam chowder and let that simmer while I folded a couple of loads of laundry. After a quick shower, I hopped in the Blazer and made my way to Iron Mountain and parked the car so I might ride home with Sargie and keep her company. I’ve got to go to her old house this morning and take a load of goodies from the garage to Goodwill, so thought I might as well accompany her last night and this morning as she drove home and to work. I'll go over to her old house from Iron Mountain. It's on the way.

Sargie hard at work on Tuesday evening

I almost waited too long. The sun was getting long in the sky. A deer slowly walked out into the road and I didn’t see the thing until it was almost too late. I managed to miss him, but it scared the puddin’ out of me. After this, if I drive in the late afternoon, I’ll need to make sure I leave well before dark.

Sargie and I were both tired last night. I don’t think either of us woke or moved until the alarm this morning.

I’ll ride back to Iron Mountain this morning then pick up the Blazer and continue on to Sargie’s old place to pick up the stuff for Goodwill. After, I’ll drop it off and come back to build the tailgate and work around here. It’ll be a busy day.

Geesh, it’s almost 7 AM. Where’s the sun? Guess I’ll get another cup of coffee in preparation for greeting the day.

So are the tales of Pentoga Road…

The area I'm cleaning of scrub popple (aspen) trees. 

October 30, 2012 – Tuesday

32 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

It’s difficult to believe that this morning’s weather is brought to us by Hurricane Sandy. I mean, come on, the effects of a tropical hurricane felt in the UP of Michigan? But, it’s true. Other than gusts forecast up to 30 mph, we’re to have no other ramifications.

I talked with Luke in southern Maine yesterday afternoon. He said the winds were blowing at a good clip, but everyone was safe and sound. He had ten gallons of gasoline, the generator tuned and ready to go, and like his father, I think he was looking forward to the challenge of the oncoming hurricane as something new and exciting rather than a detriment. I can relate.

If there’s a bad weather event forecast, other than tornadoes or severe thunderstorms, I generally await its arrival with great anticipation and am usually disappointed if it fails to materialize.

I especially love blizzards. This year will be a bit different because of all the driving Sargie is forced to do, but if she’s home, let ‘er rip. I don’t know, maybe there’s a bit of snow-day/stay at home syndrome in all of us.

One of the more memorable times in my life was being trapped several hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle in the Brooks Range when a huge blizzard hit. Alone on snowmobile and trapped in a pass, I chose to dig a snow cave and burrowed in for several days while 75 mph winds pushed heavy snow overhead. The temperatures outside were thirty to fifty below zero, let alone the wind chill. Inside? According to a small thermometer on my coat, they were averaging around forty to fifty degrees. I had to continually clear a hole in the ceiling to keep the condensation from dripping. Though I don’t think I’d care to do it again, I relished the experience and think about it every time a snow storm is forecast.

Yesterday flew by. I cut and chipped millions if not billions of saplings. When I’d take a break, one to be exact, I read assignments and attempted to get my grade book up to date.

The area in back of the yard (that will be future yard) is beginning to look nice. I’m leaving most the big trees and as of now, anticipating building a gazebo among them next summer, having a small pond and fountain.  It should be a great place for Sargie’s park bench that once belonged to an aunt in the family. The gazebo will be screened and should be a wonderful future place for grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, to sleep outside should they want to. I’m having fun in this retirement of mine.

I finally stopped around 3 PM, changed shoes, and took my five-mile walk. I was almost too tired, but figured the alternative was sitting inside and it was simply too nice of a day. The walk was wonderful.

I’m in somewhat of a dilemma. The tailgate on the Man Truck is rusting off. At first I thought I’d have the part welded, but there’s nothing to weld to. I think I’ll implement Plan B in the next few days… a wooden gate that will lift in and out! It won’t be pretty which mean it will match the rest of the Man Truck.

Sargie made huge salads last night full of chicken, stuffed with veggies, fruit, and almonds. We both were tired and in bed fairly early. She closes the Vision Center tonight, which means it will be a late evening.

I’m going to read more assignments this morning then begin cutting and chipping again. If I can get that area finished, it will be ready for the bulldozer next spring. I simply want the area between the big trees free of boulders and stumps so I might keep it mowed as an extension of the back yard.

Ah, if it weren’t cloudy, the sun would be coming up. Time to greet the day.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

This is like a deer super-highway crossing in the road

Saturday morning saw a thin layer of ice on this stream where I am trapping.

October 29, 2012 – Monday

16 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Once again, there’s a happy fire crackling away this morning. I don’t want a happy fire… it’s cold in here. I want a big, mean, ol’ aggressive blaze that will redden the stove in protest. It’s 16 degrees outside my window, 56 in inside. I should have gotten up an hour ago so the house could be warm before Sargie rises for the day. Oh well, time to turn up the thermostat on the furnace.

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous day, almost picture perfect. After writing, I started out on my five-mile hike, enjoying every step of the way. Sometimes, I think I have the Forrest Gump Syndrome. I start walking and would like to keep going. Where I don’t know… just keep walking until I get to wherever it is my feet take me.

I checked my empty traps and satisfied I had no critters to skin, returned home to flop in my recliner to watch the beginning of the Packers game against Jacksonville.

The entire contest was ugly and simply put, if the Packers weren’t playing such a lousy team, they’d have been beaten. We’re going to have to shape up before the meat of the season arrives, games against Chicago, Detroit, and Minnesota. If not, Aaron, Clay, Donald, Randall, and Tommy P will be watching the Super Bowl on television dreaming about next year.

We met Sargie’s youngest, Macrea, at her old house and began moving anything the boys wanted to his brother’s pickup truck. While Sargie cleaned and scrubbed the kitchen appliances, I ran the vacuum sweeper, steamer, and carpet cleaner. Macrea sorted through many of his childhood memories, deciding into which pile each should be placed.

I think as we grow, stages of our lives are often defined in plateaus. I witnessed his reaching a new one yesterday when he realized his mother was giving him back many of his childhood mementos, clothes, an old trophy, an art project, perhaps a toy or video game.

I well remember years ago, well into my twenties, when Mom gave me the last vestige of my childhood, my second grade Think and Do book. I felt exactly as I think Macrea did yesterday.

I held the Think and Do book in both hands with the feeling that in some misbegotten way, Mom didn’t love me as much as she had when I was a wiggly student in Mrs. Johansen’s second grade room. I soon learned it was really Mom’s way of saying, “I love you more than ever. Good for you! Good for us!! You’re all grown up and have earned the right to go forth and make your own place for all life’s treasures.” Most importantly, I came to understand that a parent’s love doesn’t diminish with age, it continues to grow, but manifests itself in different ways. Mom doesn’t wipe my nose anymore, but that doesn’t mean she loves me any less.

We arrived home well after dark. With Sargie manning the wheel, we stopped in Iron Mountain long enough to grab a quick burger then continued on to dodge deer all the way to Pentoga.

Last evening was spent putting away the last remnants of the move, mostly cleaning supplies, a shelf, some ceramic angels, and the like. We’ll be finding homes for much of Sargie’s and my belongings in the weeks to come as we continue to meld our two lives into one. We both have said, this our last move in this lifetime, for either of us! The next time our adult possessions are displaced, it will be by our sons.

Today will bring a continuation of cutting the sapling popple trees in back and chipping them into mulch. The entire week is to be clear and cold, perfect for working outside.

Later this week, I’ll take the old pickup over to Sargie’s former house one last time. There’s a small pile to drop off at Goodwill, one for the dump, and a couple of things that will end up here at Pentoga. That will be the last trip to Vulcan… at least for the purpose of moving. It’s one I’m looking forward to. Amen.

I’ll make another run to Yooper Mark’s plant this week to get a load of log-ends. Though they quickly burn, they are perfect for our smaller wood stove and until it really gets cold when we’ll use hard wood for fuel, they fill the bill.

I’ve got papers to read and three separate classes I’ll be teaching next semester to make ready for.  A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Frost and ice along the lake shore are becoming common as fall marches towards winter

The presents are okay, but oh the bows and wrapping paper! Aubrey enjoying her first birthday party.

October 28, 2012 – Sunday

17 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

It’s back to seasonal temperatures once again. In the northland, we say it’s “making ice!” In fact, if my thermometer, which is quite reliable, were an official one, we’d have set a record low for this morning. The little house on Pentoga is way down in a valley so our temperatures are often three to five degrees colder than those officially recorded.

The new wood shed is about a third empty. I'll be going to Mark's plant for another load of wood later this week. 

Making ice… I love it. With any luck, in a few weeks, I’ll be drilling holes and fishing for bluegills in the local lakes. I love perching on an upside down five gallon bucket, jigging a small wax worm in an attempt to lure a bluegill to strike and become part of that evening’s meal. Soon… soon.

After checking traps (all were empty) and taking my walk yesterday, we departed for little Aubrey’s first birthday party. It was easy to see in which house the festivities were taking place. Cars were parked up and down the block.

We had a great time talking and gabbing. With all the Milligans present as well as many from the other side of the family, the crowd spilled from the first floor into the basement and occasionally, outside. As usual, I found a chair in a quieter place with a few other guys who were looking for the same, watched college football, and stayed in one place, letting it happen around me.

We left the party around 4 and made our way to the VA Hospital to have supper with Mr. Milligan. Sargie’s sister, Trish, niece Lisa and Sargie’s baby great nephew, came in later.

Great niece, Maddie, is modeling the latest in movie star ware! Check out the upside down sunglasses.

Arriving home around 8, my stomach was hurting, so I simply sat and watched tv. Once in bed, I couldn’t sleep and was up and down all through the night and early morning hours. I feel the best now I have in the past twelve or so. Maybe the worst has passed. I thought for a while I was going to have to call Yooper Mark to come out, put me down and out of my misery.

I’ll do my walk this morning… if I’m going to be off feed, I might as well be doing something I enjoy, then will check the traps. We’ll be heading to Sargie’s old house to load Cale’s pickup truck with the boys' possessions and hopefully, we can kiss all of that goodbye.

The Packers play today. I’ll be listening to most of the game on the radio. That’s okay, I’m finding anymore that the best action happens between my ears, not in front of my eyes.

There used to be a piece of birthday cake on the tray. It's still there, just spread a bit thinner!

The sun is about to rise and it’s getting light outside. Time to greet the day.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Uncle Tom with great niece, Brie. I've said before, I'm a hit with the ladies in the 0 to age 3 crowd.

The strawberries are turning brilliant red

October 27, 2012 – Saturday morning

25 degrees – Partly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

I really wanted to get up a couple of hours ago, but lying in bed on a chilly morning, snuggled next to Sargie, felt so good. As usual, I thought I’d lie there for a few minutes. That turned into almost two hours of dozing, sleeping, dreaming, and being lazy.

I’m not sure where Friday went. I know I had a lot of fun and was busy the entire day. It flew by in a blur.

I loved walking the five miles first thing. The wind was strong out of the north, the temperature was in the low 30’s. I bundled up and took off. There’s something about the wind and the cold on one’s face, the clean smell of the air… I completed the 5.24 miles in an hour and fifteen minutes; a fairly brisk pace.

Arriving home, I changed into my boots and checked the traps. A raccoon had emptied one and gotten away.

With the all the rain on Thursday and the cold temperatures, I decided to pull the coyote traps. It’s been very slow and I didn’t feel like remaking them. Not to do so would see them freezing into the ground; not an option.

Back in the barn, I started to work up the last raccoon, but decided it was time to make a gambrel, a triangular-shaped device from which to hang an animal for skinning. I made mine out of 3/8’s inch re-rod. I attached it to a come-along and can now pull the hides for the animals rather than slicing away and taking a chance of putting a nick in the hides.

Cutting the re-rod

Bending

Completed

I heard a hissing sound and with a spray bottle of soapy water and magnifying glass in hand, discovered a hole in the front right tire of the four-wheeler. Not removing it from the machine, it took only a minute to plug the hole. 

Mandy Jo called from Petersburg, Alaska. She and her daughter, Tegan, are visiting Mandy Jo’s best friend, Brandi Jo. When the three of us are in the same room, they call my Tommy Joe. Yeah, I know, it sounds like Petty Coat Junction.

At any rate, Mandy Jo has a fur hat making business and wants all the hides I harvest  so that makes me very happy. I’m relearning this year and from the wholesale side of things, my hides won’t be worth a lot as I’m making mistakes in skinning, fleshing, and stretching. However, when it comes to the practical side, there’s nothing wrong with the skins, few if any holes, and should fill the bill for her business in great shape.

There are no large animals around Sitka. Martin and mink abound, but coyote, coon, and the other large ones confine themselves to other islands or the mainland. I’m happy to have an outlet for them.

Finishing the coon, I loaded the four-wheeler with mink and muskrat traps and took off for a local stream. I also made three more raccoon sets. I don’t know if the animals are simply beginning to move or I’m finally getting the hang of it all after a long absence, but things seem to be happening. Regardless, I enjoy it and have missed trapping a great deal.

One of my new mink boxes along the stream

The same box camouflaged to look more natural 

I’d just gotten out of the shower last night when Sargie pulled into the drive. We popped huge bowls of popcorn and watched television. Bedtime was early, shortly after 9.

Today will be a busy one. I’ll do my five miles as soon as this is uploaded. Checking my traps will follow. I’ll have to hurry as Aubrey’s first birthday party begins at 1 PM. Sargie’s sons will be coming down from the university and driving a pickup truck. At some point, we’ll go out to Sargie’s old house and finish loading their possessions. The rest will go to storage or the dump.

It’s going to be a long and busy day, but I’m looking forward to it. Life is good.

The sun is up over the horizon. Time to greet the day.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Loaded and ready to go again

Sargie at Sam's Club. So little time, so many clearance tables...

October 26, 2012 – Friday morning

32 degrees/clear/windy

Pentoga Road

Brrr, fall decided to return yesterday in the form of a cold front bringing rain, thunder, lightening, hail, and clouds that looked as though a tornado might drop from them at any moment. More in a bit.

After writing Thursday morning, I hopped on my four-wheeler to do a quick drive by of the traps and discovered I’d caught another raccoon. For whatever reason, it appears my season of fur harvesting has suddenly turned around and I’m beginning to feel rather… trapply. That’s right, TRAPPLY.

Not such a word you say? Well, I still carry a professorial rank (of some kind) and the university pays me to think deep thoughts. My latest is to invent the word TRAPPLY; add that one to your spell check.

I brought the critter home and laid him out in such a position to be easier to skin at a later date, cleaned up, and we were off to Green Bay.

The first stop was at Woodman’s, a super-grocery, to pick up inexpensive soda. With the holiday season coming and the promise of visiting company, we stocked up. It’s hard to beat the 2-for-$5 twelve packs.

Sam’s Club was next on the agenda. I’m now a certified Sam’s Club member complete with a picture I.D. and all the rights and benefits associated with it. Sargie added me to her account.

I’ve never been a Sam’s member before and have to admit, I don’t feel much different than I did before. But yesterday, it was fun to push that big ol’ cart up and down the aisles, not really purchasing anything, but enjoying all the free food samples given by those trained plastic glove-wearing men and women of culinary descent who work in the frozen processed food department. My personal favorite delight was some kind of prepackaged tortilla. Mmm, I could feel the grease dribbling down my throat and settling into my arteries as I put my best foot forward and asked if I might have another.

Why go to the doctor when one can have her health completely checked for free by a machine at Sam's Club. 

We stopped at Gander Mountain. I needed a good implement with which to skin critters and found one in the form of a small Buck knife, all one piece, and very light. It’s made from very good steel and best of all, it was manufactured in the USA. I’m looking forward to taking it for a test run later today in the form of yesterday’s raccoon.

We whizzed past Lambeau Field from a distance. It was so overcast and the wind blowing so hard that a quick glance in that direction had to suffice.

Ah, the Kitchen Shop! I was eager to take a trip up and down the aisles. We found several small utensils we wanted in the outlet room, but especially enjoyed the free fudge samples that were offered. My favorite was chocolate mint. Sargie inhaled the Butter Finger fudge.

The mall… I could feel Sargie’s heart rate quicken as she speed shifted through all five gears of the Kia. This was what she was born to do. Swallows return to Capistrano, Monarch butterflies to Central and South America, and Sargie to the mall. Instinct can never be denied. The closer we got, the faster we went.  She even managed to find a premium parking place once we arrived.

The girl set her sights on stores such as Kohls, Yonkers, and other places that the female species seems to hold so dear. I kissed her goodbye and headed towards the more manly haunts, places where guys grunt rather than speak in full sentences, like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Best Buy. We promised to keep in touch via our cell phones, especially around our birthdays and the holiday season.

She's on her way into the mall

I bought nothing, but needed nothing. It was fun playing with the newest computers, looking at hunting and fishing equipment, and gabbing with clerks as they hawked their wares. Resigned to being a looker and not a buyer, I walked back across the busy highway and connected with Sargie at the mall. She had looked, more than purchased, but found presents for her nieces’ birthdays and other goodies too numerous to mention.

Yooper Mark sent a text saying we were having strong storms and torrential rains at home. In Green Bay, the skies were cloudy, but so far, it had been a very warm day but dry. Mark also asked if we’d been to the Harbor Freight Store yet.

Oh my God… in Green Bay, Wisconsin? Lambeau Field AND a Harbor Freight both in the same town? My pulse quickened and breathing became shallow, thumbs turned numb as I attempted to punch in the address on my smart phone.

There it was… the address AND a map. We were off.

The only thing that could have made the Harbor Freight shopping experience more enjoyable would have been if Aaron Rodgers, Clay Mathews, and Donald Driver had met me at the door. As it was, I had to settle for some greasy little guy named Tony who needed to brush his teeth.

But still, with Sargie in tow, I happily skipped up and down each aisle looking for treasures I didn’t know I needed, but now felt I couldn’t live without. In the end, there were several, most under $3.

We heard heavy rain hitting the roof. It quit long enough that we might get to the car, but ominous dark clouds were quickly approaching from the west. All kidding and most conversation ceased as Sargie steered us out of the neighborhood and onto the interstate. It was going to be a bad storm and we wanted to be clear of any traffic when it hit.

And it was bad. We joined a parade of cars creeping along, each following the other’s taillights. At one point, I looked over and noticed the gods of passing cold fronts had obliterated Lambeau Field from view. I’m sure it will be there the next time we’re in town.

Lambeau Field is over there somewhere

Sargie’s fingers were white as she gripped the wheel. We were high on the bridge that goes over the Fox River alongside Lake Michigan. Winds would catch the miniature car and as Sargie said, it felt more like we were flying in severe winds than driving an automobile.

Still, we emerged on the other side unscathed. I felt, more than heard, Sargie let loose with a big sigh and we once again resumed our normal talking as we headed north back to Yooperdom.

We stopped in Crivitz, Wisconsin, and had a good old-fashioned fried chicken dinner. The Gateway features some great food and their giant-sized half-chicken dinner was to-die-for good. Thanks for supper, Sargie. I love you too.

It was almost 9 before we arrived home. The house made it through the day’s downpours in good shape. It wasn’t long before we were headed upstairs. I guess I slept well last night. I don’t remember dropping off to sleep and my eyes opened at 5 this morning without a problem.

Sargie has to work today, although she is off early and with the new winter schedule, is free from the Vision Center on Saturday and Sunday as well. Great niece, Aubrey’s, first birthday party is tomorrow. We’re contributing dinner rolls, hundreds of thousands of dinner rolls, all lovingly made by the culinary experts at Sam’s Club. The Mighty Milligans will be there in force and I’m looking forward to seeing them all. It’s always a special time when the Milligan clan gathers.  

I’ll take my five-mile hike first thing this morning. Water season opened Thursday which means I’ll begin to set mink and muskrat traps today… assuming the water level is such that I can get close to the streams. I’ve got other traps to check and the raccoon to work up. It’s going to be a busy one.

It’s getting light outside. Time to greet the day.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

I think I'll leave the tag on... adds a bit of class, don't you think? As a professor, I feel there are certain unwritten codes of dress I should follow.

That's a mama with triplets in our backyard on Wednesday. Though somewhat unusual, triplets aren't rare.

Posted on Thursday morning but mostly written on…

October 24, 2012 – Wednesday evening

59 degrees

Pentoga Road

I thought I’d write tonight since Sargie and I decided we’re making a trip to Title Town tomorrow. We’re running low on several things and decided it’s time. Really, no one has to work too hard to talk either of us into going to Green Bay. I mean, c’mon, home of the Packers? Duh. Just driving by and seeing the heavenly glow emitted from Lambeau Field is worth the trip. (OK, when proof reading this, I may have gone over the line, but we both enjoy going.)

I’m feeling a bit spunky tonight. FINALLY, I trapped a raccoon. He was a big ol’ buck that had stuck a paw into a dog-proof cuff trap. Also, a coyote came along during the night and sprung one of my foothold traps, so the action is picking up. It’s been two weeks and nothing, then suddenly, the trap line is producing. Just call me Trapper Tom.

Other than muskrats, it’s been years since I’ve trapped and I assumed my sets were poor. They may be subpar, but were good enough to trick at least one raccoon and make a coyote look twice. I’m satisfied.

I took my five-mile walk this morning in heavy fog. Sargie left almost half an hour early for work anticipating the need for extra driving time. I stuck a hunters orange cap on my head and took off down the road. It was eerie, but in a strange sort of way, fun. I only saw three or four cars the entire time. Not many folks were out joy riding in that soup.

I checked my traps and harvested the raccoon. Since it’s been a few years, I spent a majority of the afternoon skinning, fleshing, and stretching the hide. It’s now drying and I’ll sell it later this winter. I was fairly happy the way the hide came out. There’s a bullet hole in the head where I dispatched it, but otherwise, I managed not to put a nick in the skin.

It's actually stretched and dried with the fur in. I had the hide this way to let the fur dry before turning it.

I’ve always dispatched my animals by quickly hitting them between the ears with my trapper’s trowel. It doesn’t make a hole and is very quick and effective. Years ago, in northern Maine, Luke was home from college and we were checking the traps. I’d caught a nice coyote and started to dispatch the animal with my trowel. The coyote went down, but managed to grab hold of my boot and attempt to make a meal of one leg. It didn’t bother me, but it sure did my second son! Luke was a bit disconcerted and has since made me promise to use a small caliber rifle. Yooper Mark loaned me a children's sized .22 he'd gotten for Jerad and Sarah years ago, so I put that to use. 

There was a deer in the orchard this morning when we woke up. I’m not sure how he got in there; I’m guessing he hit the electric fence and probably bolted through after receiving a 7,000 volt shock rather than back away. When I yelled at him, he quickly ran and escaped between the wires. I put another strand on this afternoon and tightened the others up.

Then this afternoon, a doe and her triplets were grazing in the back yard. The three little ones were absolutely precious when they were first born. They’re still undersized for this time of the year, but I’m happy to see all made it through the summer months. Now if I can just keep them from eating me out of house and home.

I spent the remainder of Wednesday straightening the house and doing a load of laundry. It’s going to be a busy weekend. We’ll be celebrating Sargie’s great niece, Aubry’s, first birthday on Saturday. It promises to be a huge Milligan Family gathering. Hopefully, Sargie’s boys will be coming and we’ll get to see them. 

October 25, 2012

54 degrees

I thought I’d get this finished last night, but…

We received a package in yesterday’s mail; buckwheat flour from Aunt Sue and Uncle Terry! While they were here last month, we were talking about buckwheat and I expounded on how good ployes are… an Acadian buckwheat pancake. While living in the St. John Valley, we occasionally dined on ployes and enjoyed them a great deal. I’ll be making some this weekend. Thanks, Aunt Sue and Uncle Terry!

It’s raining. No, it’s POURING outside this morning. This is our last day of warm weather before a cold front comes marching through bringing with it more seasonal temperatures.

Time to wrap this up and get ready to head south towards Green Bay. No doubt, Sargie has a list a mile long of things we need, so she’ll be navigating us through the highways and byways and not missing too many bargains available in Title Town. Me? I’m just along for the ride.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…