My pet chickadee, Jimmy. Actually, I named them all Jimmy; that way, I don't have to remember who's who. This little guy rode around on my hand, shoulder, and head for about five minutes on Monday afternoon.

February 26, 2013 – Tuesday

21 degrees/ptly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Happy Birthday to my youngest son, Andy. He’s a happy boy this morning… the large ship on which he works as a winch operator just returned to port after being out on the Gulf of Mexico servicing and moving oil rigs for the past month. Andy will get a two-week reprieve beginning tomorrow. Happy birthday, son. I love you.

The accelerator cable end rusted and broke on the Man Truck. No problem. Having graduated from the Automotive Repair School of Baling Wire and Bubble Gum, I leaped into action with twist tie in hand. I'm currently working on my Duct Tape Certification.

Monday was a busy day. It began by riding with Sargie partway to work and getting off in Alpha, Michigan. I walked home, a distance of eight miles, in two hours-ten minutes. It was a wonderful stroll and with the pavement melted bare, I made good time.

An app on my smart phone records my travels, tells me where I am at any given time as well as the rate of speed.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon was spent reading and grading papers. Project proposals, along with a regular weekly assignment, are all due this week. Realistically, there is double the reading, comments to make, and assessments to post. I think the bubble is over now and things ought to return to normal. My eyes sure hope so.

I worked outside for several hours getting ready for the upcoming maple syrup season and relocated no small amount of wood that was stacked alongside the shed. The rest of the time was spent moving snow. I used the snow scoop initially, then switched and utilized the Man Tractor and front end loader. The snow blower was even drafted into action.

I learned several things yesterday afternoon. The tractor works much better when there’s gas in the tank and that a snow thrower doesn't discharge a five pound chunk of firewood worth a darn. Also, Pat and I must have done a heck of a job building that wood shed last summer. The silly building jumped out in front of me when I wasn’t looking and I banged into it with the tractor. Hardly a scratch was made.

Sargie didn’t get out of the Vision Center until 6:30 last night then had a hair appointment after. It was almost 9 before my poor girl arrived home. She had a quick supper and we both fell into bed soon after.

It appears today will be an almost exact repeat of yesterday for both of us. Sargie will visit her dad at the VA Hospital tonight after work. I’ll do my walk this morning then finish what papers have come in and finally, with the temperatures forecast to be above freezing again, work outside. It feels good to be physically working, to get out of the house and be doing something productive.

I love winter, but one can’t beat the healing rays of the long daylight hours when he senses spring is around the corner. It’s that time of year.

Time to get this uploaded and get ready for the day ahead. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

One doesn't want to stand under the eaves of the barn or house these days. Huge amounts of snow are beginning to slide from the metal roof.