My son, Luke, with a nice largemouth bass caught in Maine. He must have had a great teacher when he was young.

January 7, 2013 – Monday

16 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

We’re beginning a week of January thaw, a traditional few days that seems to happen yearly, where one can regroup, enjoy warmer temperatures, and be assured that spring is somewhere down the road and will eventually arrive.

Sunday was a lazy day. After writing, I strapped on the hiking boots and strolled five miles. Yesterday wasn’t as difficult as the time before. I think my muscles are beginning to remember they’re to be used for something more than assisting in walking to the kitchen in search of food.

Sargie and I took a great drive yesterday. We traveled along some local roads east of here, watched people ice fishing, and simply enjoyed each other’s company and the beautiful scenery.

I watched some football late in the afternoon and we played a game of cards. Once again, Sargie handed my backside to me; this time, by several hundred points.

An orchard of sugar maples should be awakening from dormancy in about eight weeks. 

I want to take my walk first thing this morning. The graduate class I’m teaching should get uploaded and that chore will be done. Actual class work begins a week from today. It will be nice to have a few days of not worrying about university duties. And of course, somewhere in there, I want to sneak over to the local lake and fish for a couple of hours. There’s always meat to put on the table and you know what that means... a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales of Pentoga Road…

I'd smile too if I were laying down all those rummy points