My son, Josh, sent this picture of my youngest grandson, Cody, meeting the rigors of winter head-on. He's definitely a Pennington boy.

March 14, 2013 – Thursday

-8 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I already wrote a diatribe concerning spring’s tardiness yesterday so I won’t comment on the fact that it’s -8 this morning. For ten years I’ve been wishing that we might have an “old fashioned winter,” one like those I remember as a boy. As Mom’s always said, “Watch out what you hope for. You might just get it.” Point well taken, Mama.

Wednesday was a day of reading and grading assignments and I’m happy to say that everything is up to date. I hope I never procrastinate on my professorial duties again. It’s simply too involved, too much reading, too hard on the eyes, and honestly, after five or six hours, too tedious. From now on, I’ll spend an hour or two a day to keep current. It’s much easier.

While downloading pictures, I came across this one of Andy holding a gecko that he'd caught during our visit to Louisiana.

You know my life must not be too exciting when I say the biggest news of Wednesday is that five geranium seeds sprouted. I’m not certain if I’m more excited that the seeds, worth more in weight than gold, are actually sprouting, or if it’s the fact that my homemade bottom-heat table is working.

I’m a bit perplexed. I read that geranium seeds take up to three weeks to sprout. These took three days. I’m learning as I go. Stay tuned.

That's condensation dripping from the plastic wrap covering the seed flats. The living room (where the table's located) often gets down into the 40's at night, so trapping the bottom heat is essential.

I walked my five-mile route Wednesday afternoon and was happy to meet up with my friend, Ken, who lives a mile-and-a-half away on our local lake. Ken’s retired and walks about five miles daily. There’s nothing new on his end of road. As is the case with me, he’s ready for spring.

Sargie had to close last night and it was 9:30 before she arrived home. Thankfully, my girl is off today and after putting in some long hours this week, can relax.

I’m not sure what today has in store. It’s to get up to 36 degrees, the only above freezing temperature forecast for the next ten days, so I’m certain we’ll spend a bit of time outside. I’d like to break into the large box that contains the greenhouse kit to retrieve the instructions. It’s still my hope to build the frame inside the barn on 4x4 treated timbers then pull it out to the garden area with the tractor where I’ll install the large, clear, hardened, plastic panels.

It’s time to get another cup of coffee, throw a log on the fire, and watch my geraniums grow. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

Obviously, feeding Jimmy the Chickadee by hand has produced a giant bird of epic proportions.  Some people have a watch dog. I have a watch chickadee.