Pentoga Lake keeps getting larger. Initially, I was going to plant a hundred blueberry plants where the center of the huge puddle now lies. It will remain in grass as part of the yard.

April 28, 2013 – Sunday evening

63 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Since Brutus and I will be riding with Sargie early in the morning and hiking five miles back home, I thought I’d start writing this evening.

Mallard ducks

It was a year ago today that I boarded the ferry in Sitka to begin my long journey home from Alaska. It wasn’t that long ago, was it? It seems like a month, maybe two. I still listen to KCAW – Raven Radio, broadcasting from Sitka, several times a week to keep up on the local news. Though I know better, it seems as though I could hop on a jet, arrive in Sitka, and be back aboard my mini-tugboat in less than a day.

Brutus slept well last night. He started on his bed downstairs, but I think he might be afraid to be alone. He ended up sleeping on the floor at the foot of our bed all night. I don’t think he made any noise; leastways neither Sargie nor I heard him.

Once in awhile, he’ll cry just a bit… for less than a minute. With that big ugly mug of a face, he looks so sad. Tonight I got down on the floor and we had a dog to man talk. He’ll be okay. I think the poor pooch misses his former family and it seems the evening hours, after a day of hard play and walking, are tough. Like anything else, it’ll take time.

One thing about it; I wanted a buddy and I sure have one. No matter where I go, Brutus is beside me. He’ll settle for Sargie if I sneak away, but otherwise, he’s at my side continually. I don’t know if he’s afraid of missing some action, fearful of being left behind, or a healthy combination of both, but we’re glued at the hip. That’s okay… if I have to be attached to a pooch, I’ll take Brutus. We talk the same kind of language.

He'd been outside romping through the water and rolling in the mud. Poor guy was confined to the rug by the door until he was dry and the dirt brushed from his white coat.

Today’s been sunny and warm and the three of us were outside most the time. I started the day by putting a load of clothes in the washer. While they were doing their thing, I spent over an hour and a half grading projects, reading assignments, and doing other university chores. I hung the clothes on the line before we went for our walk.

It’s the end of the semester. Grades have to be entered at week’s end, yet it amazes me how many students simply don’t seem to care. Actually, my undergraduate munchkins seem to be more diligent at getting their homework in on time more than their graduate/master degree-seeking, counterparts.  Oh well, it is what it is.

Brutus and I clicked off five miles this morning in nothing flat. He’s so good at heeling that I forget he’s even trotting alongside. His nose is usually even with my right foot and the few times that he forgets and begins to get ahead, I need only to click my fingers or make some kind of sound to remind him.

Brutus wasn’t slow to hop into the water along the shore of our large local lake. I had no idea that American Bulldogs liked water so much, but this big guy actually acts as though he prefers swimming over walking.

After arriving back home, we played fetch for forty-five minutes and talked with Sargie. After, we took a short drive and went to town.

Mark and Sheri stopped out this afternoon in their new side-by-side four-wheeler. Sargie and I both would like one so maybe an unknown rich uncle will pass away and leave us untold millions of dollars. Oh, wait, I only have one uncle still living and I can guarantee he doesn’t have millions.

I attempted to assemble several “Walls of Water” with which to surround my tomato plants this early spring. There was just one problem; the dog. First, he thought the plastic insulating handles for the electric deer fence were fetch toys and spotting one on the ground, picked it up and started to run until the wire grew taut and yanked it from his mouth.

Then there was the garden hose. He seemed convinced it was there for his entertainment. I squirted him as he attacked the stream of water. We played that game for well over half-an-hour.

Sorry there's no sounds with the video

Then he wouldn’t stay out of the raised beds. With the warm dirt, soft and rock free, he was determined to lay in it and roll around. I don’t even step in my own raised beds. No 120 lb bulldog is going to start now.

In the end, I assembled six walls of water in the garden before quitting. I also plugged the fence in for the year. I thought maybe Brutus would touch it tonight, but he wasn’t around the garden. I think after his nose touches the electric fence, he’ll probably not want to enter any more. I hope not. I have the feeling that my garden and orchard is one place Brutus will have to stay out of.

Sargie spent her day doing laundry and scrubbing the interior of some of the kitchen cabinets. It’s that time of year… spring cleaning.

We played Rummy tonight. As usual, Sargie handily defeated me.

Tomorrow should be a busy one. Brutus and I will do our morning hike and after, I hope to grade papers, then power wash the back deck after that. If the flooring arrives for the upstairs bath, I’ll begin installing that and then there’s the new vanity. It’s to get colder beginning on Wednesday with snow forecast for the end of the week.

Time to turn off the lights and head upstairs. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…