Time to wrap gifts

December 16, 2012 – Sunday

34 degrees

Pentoga Road

The days continue to creep towards the Mayan Calendar forecasted end-of-the-world date of 12/21/12. I’m amazed when I read of those who are convinced the end of the world will happen at the stroke of midnight this coming Friday.

I rather think it will be like the big millennium catastrophe that never happened. That being said, with all that is going on in the world and our country, I feel confident when I foretell of many hardships in the years to come, but doubt it will all come crashing down at the stroke of midnight on 12/21/12.  We’ll see in another five days, won’t we?

After finishing writing Saturday morning, I put on my boots and hiked the usual five-mile circuit. I wish I could think of another route that would be the equivalent amount of miles in about the same time span. Our “block” on which we live is a bit over seven miles. Unfortunately, it’s not nearly as interesting. I’m considering walking ten miles into town once a week and either asking Yooper Brother Mark drive me back home or do it on a day when Sargie’s off. A round trip of twenty miles in one day is excessive unless I’m on a back packing trip.

I was out checking my traps when I received a text/picture from Luke. He was checking his trap line in Maine and discovered he’d gotten three beaver and a muskrat in a single round. That’s his all time best.

We’d just hung up when I opened one of my ermine boxes and found I’d trapped my first of the season. It was a Pennington trapping day on Saturday!

Don't worry, all traps are set well away from Elmo's haunts.

That's a piece of deer liver on the wire with a rat trap set directly in front. It's designed so the animal jumps through the hole in front and lands on the trigger of the trap.

Sargie drove us into town early Saturday afternoon to do a bit more shopping. I think we’re finished. Sargie was happy at what she found. I have a few gift cards to order for the kids then I’m finished. It’s a good thing as the checking account is about the same!

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent wrapping presents. Well, okay, Sargie wrapped; I supervised from the recliner. I set up a table in the living room so she could soak up the warmth from the wood stove and watch television as she worked. I was busy keeping her company.

We played a round of cards last night and simply relaxed. Sargie must have felt sorry for me as I won… barely. Ah, sweet victory! I’m enjoying the feeling as I know it will be short lived.

The wrapping paper is cleared. Diamond Lil is trying to snare me into her card-playing lair.

The Packers play the Bears today at noon. If Green Bay wins, we’ll have sewn up the division. If not, it’ll be a race to the finish. I’m drinking my coffee from my Packers Victory Mug, so we might have an edge. Just as with the Mayan Calendar, end-of-the-world date on 12/21/12, only time will tell.

Time to finish and get ready for my daily walk. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…