June 3, 2013 – Monday

28 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

The little house on Pentoga Road has once again become still and has that feeling that only two old people live here. Our pint-sized visitors were last seen strapped into their car seats as they were whisked down the road by their mommy and daddy. We’ll miss them, but as I told Marley, that’s why there’s a next time… and we’re already looking forward to next time.

We had a good Sunday filled with a bit of Disney Channel, Auntie Sargie’s French toast, and playing and working outside in the yard. Marley helped me to cover the plants in preparation for last night’s frost and little Aubrey enjoyed chugging around the yard with Brutus closely in tow. He was going to make sure nothing happened to his little girls and as I mentioned to someone later, I wouldn’t have wanted to make a threatening move towards either girl… I believe I’d have had a 120 lb bulldog wrapped around my neck. Brutus later was Marley’s constant companion as she played out by the woodshed.

We had company during the afternoon. Mark and Sheri stopped out to get some rhubarb and visit. As always, it was wonderful to see our good friends. Sheri’s going to use some of the rhubarb in a 4-H project. I’m glad it didn’t go to waste.

Jerad, Mark and Sheri’s son, and his girlfriend, Macy, visited later. Jerad has a bear permit and is going to try his luck at harvesting one of the many bruins that call Pentoga Road home. I need to get some fresh batteries and set up the trail cam in the next few days to see if I can give him a hand.

Derek and Leah arrived later in the afternoon. The girls were happy to see their parents and with the sun shining and the wind subsiding, we spent most of the time outside. I later put brat patties on the grill and we enjoyed a summer-type meal around the dining room table.

The paver called yesterday afternoon saying his crew would like to begin working on the garage today. I have until 11 AM to get anything loose put away before they arrive. The crew will carry out the workbenches, shelves, and anything heavy on the floor.

The plan is that they will use a cement saw to remove the old concrete since the exterior walls of the garage rest directly on the existing floor. It has settled over the years and has cracked and become uneven. New gravel will be added and tamped down, then concrete mesh will be added to the new cement to prevent cracking in the future. We should have a new floor in the next 24 to 36 hours.

The blacktop will be done next week. It will take that long for me to gather the loose items in the barn before it is emptied so it can be paved along with the drive. It’s going to be a busy next two weeks here on Pentoga Road.

Sargie’s old computer has been rapidly dying. The screen has become quite dim and a crack has made it almost impossible to read. I found a rebuilt/refurbished Macintosh, the same age as the one I use, with a fourteen-day money-back guarantee. It should arrive in the next day or two.

Oh yeah, it frosted last night

It’s time to get this uploaded and head out to the garage. Cement saws, cement trucks, gravel, wet concrete… I’m feeling the boar hog syndrome in me awaken. After a very enjoyable weekend of Princess Sofia the First and dollies, I’m going to be surrounded by guy stuff. But first, I need to get another cup of coffee. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

After a weekend of playing with the girls, Brutus was a tired pup. He slept on the landing between the bedrooms while Marley and Aubrey were here.