December 30, 2012 – Sunday evening

19 degrees/clear

Pentoga Road

I’m beginning to grow weary of coaching the Packers from my recliner. They just don’t seem to be listening to any of my sideline, armchair, suggestions. Just as the Packers seem to be gaining momentum, they shoot themselves in the foot. There’s more than a quarter remaining. We’ll see what happens.

I was awake early Sunday morning, dressed, and out the door shortly after sun up. Other activities were planned for the day and I wanted to get on and off the ice before noon. As it turned out, I was home by 11.

Skate-ski tracks across a remote lake  (Picture taken by Sargie)

Fishing started slowly, but soon picked up. My biggest surprise of the morning was the large yellow perch I pulled through the hole. I’ve caught smaller ones, but never one this size. He’ll taste good!

The perch wasn’t the only nice fish of the morning. I caught one jumbo bluegill and several nice keepers. They’ll eat!

I was home and had the fish cleaned by noon. It was sunny and pleasant outside and Sargie and I decided to take a drive. Sargie grabbed the camera and snapped  all but one of the following pictures. We enjoyed the afternoon stopping at several local lakes to check on the ice fishing activity.

A group of fishermen sitting on the ice. They had a fire going and seemed more interested in conversation than putting meat on the table.

The Packers lost. Next week will tell the story when they play the Vikings in Green Bay. Sargie and I have great niece, Brielle’s, baptism in Appleton, Wisconsin, Saturday afternoon. Whether we stay the night or not, we’ll be home by game time on Sunday!

Sargie worked this afternoon finishing with the Christmas decorations. They are tucked away in the basement for another year. We’ve been relaxing this evening, getting ready for another week.

Turkeys, all jakes (immature Toms) running across a field in front of us. Picture by Sargie

There are some chores I’d work on this coming week. Of course, there’s always fishing and I need to start walking again. After taking the past two weeks off for the holiday season, I need to get the blood flowing again.

I now purchase my wax worms for fishing in lots of 250. It's much cheaper that way. Picture by Tom!

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

The bird feeder is a busy place these cold and wintry days. These are Common Redpolls. Thanks, Matt Goff, for identifying them.

December 29, 2012 – 9:29 PM

18 degrees/partly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

I thought I’d write tonight so I might get an early start on the ice Sunday morning. With Sargie being off and the Packers playing later in the day, I hope to be home shortly after noon if not before.

Ice fishermen on Fortune Lake a few miles from our home

Saturday was a catch-all day. After writing, I made omelets with all frozen vegetables from last summer’s garden. We’ve been using tomatoes I froze whole. I run hot water over the skin, then cut the frozen fruit into chunks and put those in the omelet. Somewhere in the cooking process, they thaw and have a wonderful flavor. It’s not as good a fresh tomatoes, but better than those purchased in the store.

I did the same thing with frozen zucchini slices and had the same results. It’s one way we can preserve and later use our excess vegetables.

I spent part of the morning working on ice fishing gear. New line had to be added to one rod, a mess untangled from a tip up, hooks sharpened, and general order restored. It took over an hour, but the equipment is in as good of shape as it was two weeks ago at the beginning of the season.

As much as I hate to clean fish inside the house, I stood at the counter this morning and worked up yesterday’s catch. The filets are now frozen in water and will be thawed and eaten later. That big bluegill I caught Friday measured just shy of eleven inches. That was a big ol’ hawg.

Sargie and I went into town and did a bit of shopping. With the wild sales that are occurring, I finally broke down and purchased a juicer for about 80% of its original price. I probably won’t use it until next summer, but this was just too good a deal to pass up.

Sargie started taking down the decorations today. The tree and other Christmas goodies are safely wrapped and tucked away for another year. It’s nice to be able to sit back in my recliner and watch television rather than having to lean way over to one side to see around the tree. It’s fun to see Christmas come. It’s just as nice watching it leave for another year.

We played cards tonight and Diamond Lil took pity on me and let me win. For whatever reason, the cards were falling in my direction. Victories for me are so rare that I’ll take this one and enjoy it until we play again.

Mmm, Yooper chocolate bars. 

Time to get this uploaded and think about bed. I would like to be on the ice shortly after sunrise in the morning, out there fishing hard to put meat on the table and get home to spend time with Sargie and watch the Packers game. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

That's a sore from a previous frostbite on my ear lobe, NOT a piercing.

December 29, 2012 – Saturday morning

3 degrees/ partly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

I took advantage of my body wanting to lie between the warm sheets this morning and slept in. Sargie has the weekend off and it was nice to simply be lazy. We were both up extra early Friday morning and after a long day yesterday and not going to bed until late last night, the sleep and laziness was welcome.

Friday began with a drive to Iron Mountain. Sargie had to be at the hospital early and we were lucky that she could walk in, have her blood drawn, and within a short while, walk back out. There was ample time for breakfast and we even made a stop along the way.

It wasn't until we pulled into the parking lot alongside the Blazer, left the night before, that I discovered I’d forgotten the keys. Sargie didn’t have one to the SUV on her key ring so I had to drive the 36 miles home, get my keys, then drive back, and finally, back home a second time.

Unless it’s local, I’d rather not drive alone. But still, one does what he must, and I dutifully pointed the car back home to retrieve the forgotten keys. It seems everyone else was in a hurry and it wasn’t long before a line of cars was following. Oh well, they got to enjoy the countryside. It’s beautiful this time of the year.

While in Iron Mountain, the second time, I stopped at Home Depot and purchased a few more pieces of cedar dog-eared fencing. The material is fairly inexpensive when compared to more refined lumber and for rough building, it works well.

It was past noon before I finally arrived home to stay. Still smarting from my earlier forgetfulness, I worked off some excess energy by carrying in wood and doing a few household chores. I also constructed a stand and box for the battery and fish finder from one piece of the dog-eared fence purchased earlier.

Hmm, how else to assuage one’s hurt feelings?

It was a fun couple of hours on the ice, fishing. I sat outside and fished until the shadows began getting long before moving into the Clam. I caught big and little bluegills alike, but set my own personal best for a nice bluegill I pulled through the hole.

Sargie was home fairly early last night and we enjoyed huge bowls of popcorn and watched a movie. It was the perfect end to Christmas week.

I’m not sure what’s on the agenda for today. I know Christmas decorations will begin coming down. I need put new line on my ice fishing rod and work a bit on some of the equipment. I’m sure Sargie will want to take a drive later. And then, I may have to go fishing for an hour or two, see if there are any more of those nice bluegills still swimming around. It’s tough, but someone has to do it. A man’s work is never done, you know.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Fresh bluegill filets and fried potatoes. 

December 28, 2012 – Friday

18 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

We’re up super early this morning. Sargie has to have some blood work done at the hospital in Iron Mountain before work so the girl has the early morning lantern lighted.

I left for the lake as soon as Sargie left for work on Thursday morning and wasn’t disappointed. With the final syllabi of my classes due to be uploaded in the next couple of weeks, I promised myself I’d get back home before noon so I might begin working on the ending stages of next semester’s academic work.

With holes drilled and the Clam in place, I immediately caught a bluegill, then another, and another. I peered out the window and saw a flag waving on each tip up. People pay money and spend vacation time to do this. I’m retired and live a mile down the road. It was Yooper fishing at it’s best and for that particular moment in time, my life couldn’t get any better.

Though the flags produced only small bass, I continued to catch bluegill, not huge, but certainly of good enough size to bring home and clean. When fishing slowed around 10 AM, I mentally validated my hunter/food gatherer card, packed, and left. There was more than enough meat for the table.

The smaller of the bluegills I caught on Thursday. I'd cleaned the first half, the bigger ones, immediately. These are thawing in cold water so they can be filleted.

Working on classes was next on the agenda. With calendar in hand, I matched class times and due dates and began penciling in some of the actual nuts and bolts that make teaching via distance work. After three hours, I turned off the computer, rubbed my weary eyes, and sat back in my chair. The classes are almost finished.

Knowing Sargie had to leave so early this morning, I hurriedly ran through the shower, dressed, and hopped in the Blazer so I might arrive in Iron Mountain before dark. I rode home with her last night and will keep her company during the drive and time in the waiting room this morning. She has to work at 9 and I should be home by midmorning.

And we feasted last night. While Sargie prepared the fish with flour, egg, and seasoning, and cut potatoes, I started the propane burner in the garage and was soon applying my culinary expertise to fresh filets and spuds.

Now think about it… fish caught through the ice from very cold water within the past 24 hours, some as recently as six or eight; garden potatoes, still crisp as the day they were dug, Pontiac Reds, thinly sliced and flash fried on a cold winter evening. We ate like queens and kings last night. Yooper candy. Mmmm.

I’m not sure what today’s agenda holds. Bluegills are like one’s health; there’s no such thing as “too much.” I should spend a couple of hours in the barn and shop putting away tools that have been flopped on the work bench with a mental promise to put them away properly at a later time. There’s another hour or two that needs to be spent on the classes… crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s. So much to do, so little of me. Have I ever told you that a man’s work is never done?

So are the tales of Pentoga Road… 

The Packers play Minnesota this weekend in the last game of the regular season.

December 27, 2012 – Thursday

17 degrees – cloudy/light snow

Pentoga Road

Wednesday was an ice fishing day on Pentoga Road and a fairly good one at that. I traveled from our home to the end of the road and caught meat for the table. What’s for supper tonight? Mmm, fried bluegill filets.

Everything fits into the Clam sled. I'm ready to go!

We were entertained at first light on Wednesday morning by a flock of red grosbeaks, a beautiful bird that we see mostly in the winter months. It seems black sunflower seeds are one of their favorites. As quickly as they arrived, they left. I need to refill the feeder.

I couldn’t see the detail of the birds well enough to know what they were, so I sent some pictures to my friend, Matt Goff, in Sitka, Alaska. I taught with him at Sheldon Jackson College years ago. Matt is a genuine bird enthusiast… a birder? …  a bird watcher? … he likes birds! I’ve been high on a mountainside or way back in the boondocks more than once and come across Matt with a camera strapped around his neck. The boy will hike and climb miles for the opportunity to snap a picture of a rare or different bird. Thanks, Matt, for your help.

I drove to the bait shop and visited my friend Gloria. We talked fishing and exchanged recipes on how to prepare small northern pike. I prefer canning. She likes to put them in a grinder to separate the small bones, then make fish patties. I’ll have to try her method some day. I walked away with two-dozen shiner minnows and fifty wax worms.

Despite all the modern-day advances in ice fishing, I prefer to use the same type of equipment that Dad and I used when I was a small boy. Since the old-school rods are no longer manufactured, I made the one above. Despite all the gadgets and gizmos, sometimes one can't beat an old fashioned bobber and worm.

Check out those high tech line holders!

It was past 10:30 AM before I was on the ice. Action was fairly light for the first hour with only undersized bass hitting. The tip ups were active but again, it was small bass stealing minnows. They are fond of grabbing the three-inch shiners, running the line to the end of the spool, then dropping their prey and swimming off. I caught several, but turned all back.

At one point, nothing was hitting and while texting Yooper Brother Mark, he sent me a picture of a bluegill so I'd know what one looked like. That's okay, Brother, you know what they say about paybacks.

Another undersized bass

The bluegills were intermittent and I’d catch one, then two or three, then wait for, sometimes, an hour before they started to bite again. I was really surprised when a pike hit the bluegill jig and I managed to wrestle him through the hole. Usually, their sharp teeth cut the monofilament line and they get away.    

I caught the biggest bluegill I’ve ever landed in the UP yesterday. I wish I could get about fifty more just like him. It doesn’t take many that size to make a good meal. Wouldn't it be nice to have some in the freezer for those times when they aren’t biting?

I came home just before dark and cleaned my catch. After, I filled two quart jars with pike and fired up the propane burner with the pressure cooker in the garage. There was laundry to do, floors to vacuum, and wood to carry in. Finally, I got to take a shower and just sat down as Sargie walked in the door.

Chunks of pike getting ready to go into the pressure cooker

Sargie had to close last night and arrived home just in time to eat supper and go to bed. It was a very short night for my tired girl as she opens today, but at least my favorite optician in the world will be home early this evening. We’ll feast on fish filets and fried taters. I’m certain they are on both of our post-Christmas diets.

I’m going back onto the ice first thing this morning. I’d like to be home by noon as there are a few million chores I should be doing. Between the holidays and fishing, I’ve let some things slide. Oh well, that’s why there’s always tomorrow. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Auntie Sargie and little Brielle on her first Christmas

December 26, 2012 – Wednesday morning

5:52 AM

Pentoga Road

And just like that, Christmas has come and gone. Just think, in the past week, we survived the end of the world, celebrated the birth of our Savior, and now we set our sights on a new year that is but a mere six days away.

It’s chilly on the other side of our windows this morning. A rather robust -7 is registering on the thermometer and it appears as though the temperature will sink another degree or two before the warmth of today’s sun can fully be realized. I’m grateful for the cold. Last night’s dip should ensure that the weaker spots of the area lakes will be safe to walk upon. It also will make this year’s sugar maple sap run harder when the time arrives. Given the time of year, cold is a good thing.

Christmas Eve was fun. Sargie hustled around finishing wrapping the presents and I bravely donned my heavies and set out on the local lake in search of meat for the table.

Grandpa Ross dining with those who were MOST excited at the Milligan Christmas Eve gathering.

I am coming closer to mastering the use of the fish finder Luke gave me. There’s a learning curve to the thing.

I discovered I’ve been using it as a gauge to determine when I should set the hook for a strike. That simply doesn’t work. I either pull too quickly or late. I found that if I use it as a guide to alert me when fish are gathered around my bait, then pay attention solely to the tiny cork bobber attached to my line, I have better results. Christmas Eve’s trip onto the ice resulted in a couple of nice bluegill, another northern, and an undersized small mouth bass.

My bait is at 12 feet. There's a fish swimming up from underneath at 15 feet.

I came back home shortly after noon. Macrea had arrived and was wrapping presents. Sargie had ventured into town to run a couple of errands and reported that the stores were filled with last-minute shoppers.

We left late in the afternoon for Auntie Trish’s and Uncle Donnie’s who were hosting this year’s Milligan Christmas Eve gathering. Trish is one of those who is really handy and Donnie’s a carpenter. With that in mind, I’ll simply say their home is beautiful. Trish had it decorated for the holiday season and there was lots of room for everyone to spread out and talk.

I spent much of the evening with Sargie’s brother, Pat, sitting around a card table in Donnie’s heated shop. We could talk with those who walked in and yet were out of the main fray.

Donnie built a gun cabinet out of a large cedar log. He, literally, had hollowed one out using a combination of a chain saw and chisel and when finished, stood the thing up on end. If/when I find a log large enough, I’m going to try to do the same. Our home isn’t big enough to house such a beast, but that’s okay, making and carving it would be the challenge. Luke has a lot of guns and large house.

There was food as far as the eye could see and then some. My personal favorite was sister-in-law Debbie’s stuffed mushrooms. I probably ate an enchanted forest’s worth and honestly, had I been able to shove a few in my pockets to bring home, I would have. But all the food was delicious. From the ham sandwiches to the cheesy potatoes, with all the olives, crackers, pistachio bars, Uncle Donnie's homemade bread (oh yes, the boy also bakes in his spare time) and Little Smokey’s in between, we ate like royalty.

The clock was showing 11 PM when we hugged and kissed everyone goodbye to make our way home.

Marley, four years gold, (far right) is telling anyone and everyone, almost pleading, why she needed to go home early. Daddy had earlier looked on the computer and reported that Santa was already in Canada and heading this way. Marley wanted to make sure she was in bed before Santa arrived.

Santa came sometime during the wee hours of Tuesday morning. The clock showing 1:30 AM when our heads finally hit the pillows, we slept in and took our time in greeting the day. Sons Andy, Matt, and Luke, called first thing and I called Mom to wish her a Merry Christmas. Yooper Brother Mark and I exchanged hearty holiday wishes and I wished happy birthday to Sheri, who has the fortune (or misfortune) of sharing her special day with Jesus.

Santa treated us well. I received some great clothes, a trapping DVD, (and how I need it) a new contractor’s grade SKILL circular saw, among other goodies that were just as wonderful.

Oh yes, even my tootsies bleed green and gold for the Packers. Thanks, Mom!

Sargie did well herself. Santa had left her sweaters and scents, other clothes, and somewhere in the mix under the tree, were a string of pearls.

Macrea and Sargie... opening gifts

Macrea left to have Christmas with his father late morning. We soon departed for Holly and Ross’s home in Iron Mountain.

Once again, there was enough food to feed the starving third world countries. Most of the men gathered in a heated gazebo outside to watch a basketball game. Ross, Boyd, and I, got into a conversation about the Packers of old and the first Super Bowls. Names like Ray Nitchke, Jerry Kramer, and Jimmy Taylor, popped up, and for a while, each of us was transported fifty years back in time when those players, and other Green Bay super stars, were household names.

The afternoon culminated in a huge game of Trivial Pursuit. With participants seated around a large dining room table and others standing close behind, it was a thrilling, chilling, race to the finish. The noise was great, the cheering more so. One would have thought the victors’ prize was a million dollars. I’m not sure who won and in the end, no one seemed to care. Everyone was a winner. The Mighty Milligan’s had once again celebrated the most special of days together as a family.

We stopped to see Mr. Milligan at the VA last night. Dressed in red and white, with his white hair, smiles, and chuckles, he looked like Father Christmas. Sister Jeanne was also there and we all talked and gabbed for over an hour.

It’s back to the Vision Center for Sargie today. After three holiday-filled days away, she didn’t appear to be the most eager girl when I awakened her this morning.

I need to visit the local bait shop and see my friend, Gloria, catch up on the latest scuttlebutt in fishing, and purchase some more minnows and wax worms to aid in my quest to catch the wily bluegill.

The Clam on the ice on Christmas Eve

It’s time to end this and get it all uploaded. I’ve got wood to bring inside, a load of laundry to throw in the washer, and line to change on one tip-up in preparation for going fishing. A man’s work is never done you know.

So are the tales of Pentoga Road…