Wearing my cap and gloves that are about ten times too big, I think Sargie ought to run for the coveted title of Ms. Yooper 2013.

March 24, 2013 – Sunday morning

22 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Saturday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. With the temperatures in the lower 30’s, I seized upon the opportunity to take an early walk. Upon arrival back home, I made big veggie omelets and after eating, headed to the barn to begin construction on the greenhouse.

There are bags and bags of nuts, bolts, and things that I have no idea what they are for.

In many ways, building it has been somewhat easier than I anticipated. I’ve read some horrible online stories in various gardening blogs of those who have given up or in the end, hired someone to build it for them. So far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised. Naturally, Sargie, the girl who has both feet solidly planted on the ground, reminded me I’ve spent enough time the past two to three weeks memorizing the instructions and researching the construction, I ought to be fairly comfortable building the thing.

The base plates are mounted and the four corners bolted into place.

Putting it together is more of a process rather than an activity. The pieces, all ten billion of them, are numbered on little paper dots stuck to the aluminum pieces. That requires the magnifiers to find the darn dots, and occasionally, one has fallen off leaving me wondering how the part I’m holding fits into the larger scheme of things.

But for the most part, I read the instructions, hold a piece where I think it should go, look at the instructions again, feed a bird, talk about it out loud, then with the nut driver attached to the cordless drill, fasten it in place.

Sargie came to my rescue yesterday. I couldn’t get the corner braces to fit… the holes wouldn’t line up. It was discovered that I’d put two corner studs on upside down and was attempting to fit the braces on the outside rather than in. We finally got it figured out and construction continued.

My final action last night was to place the ridge cap. Today should see me begin to bolt in the frames for the glass (UV treated composite plastic) and possibly begin on the slider door. I’ve read two accounts where people skipped the sliding door concept and mounted it as one would a storm door. That appeals to me, but I’ll have to wait and see how it all fits together. The last act will be to mount the plastic pieces into the frames. I’ve read that’s also a challenge.

We took time out of building Saturday afternoon to go for a drive. While in Iron River, we stopped by the local craft fair being held at the old school.

One thing I do know… beginning Wednesday, the temperatures are to rise into the upper 30’s and lower 40’s and remain there. That means maple season will FINALLY be upon us. I have a feeling it’s going to be fast and furious this year and I’ve mentally cleared my plate of any other activities other than collecting and boiling sap. I need to have the greenhouse finished by then.

Every Packers man's dream come true... his woman dressed in a Packers apron. I told Sargie I thought she'd look hot in it. The girl just kept walking.

Sargie works today from noon to five and after, will have supper with Mr. Milligan at the VA Hospital. I’m going to get this uploaded, strap on the headlamp, and go for my walk. I want to be back so I can have breakfast with Sargie, then continue working on the greenhouse. Because you know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Jimmy has also adopted Sargie