Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sheri and Sarah stopped for a visit on Saturday afternoon. They came driving Yooper Brother Mark's brand new side-by-side ATV. When the cat's away...

July 7, 2013 – Sunday

67 degrees/rain/calm

Pentoga Road

This is one of those summer mornings that I love. It’s dark and cool with the rumblings of thunder echoing somewhere far away. The sound of the rain hitting the tin roof is hypnotic. After yesterday’s scorching 91 degrees, this is like a long, cool, drink of water. It’s as though the outside is being washed, making everything fresh and new.

Day two of my self-imposed confinement was a mixed bag. After cleaning a large bowl of strawberries, I managed to sneak out and mow all the back meadows and trails. The belt that drives the blades slipped from the pulleys twice causing me to drive back to the shop and put it back on.

After looking at this picture, I can see why the blades weren't turning!

The thistles were tall, but haven’t yet bloomed. I got the majority hacked down and if it dries later today, I’ll go out with a hoe and chop those I couldn’t reach with the mower.

Much of the afternoon was spent watching The Buddy Holly Story staring Gary Busey and Maria Richwine. I’d seen it before and enjoyed it as much the second time around.

I remember, well over a half-century ago, at 11 AM on Saturday morning, American Bandstand came on television and the sounds of the 50’s and 60’s blared into our living room. My sister, Barb, loved the program and tried to get me to dance with her. I was the listener. She was the shaker and mover.

Page Two

Brutus playing cat and mouse with a remote car

Sheri and Sarah stopped and we had a wonderful visit. It was fun listening to Sarah tell stories of her fourth grade classroom in Wyoming. She’s come a long ways from being one of my college undergraduate students in Sitka years ago and I’m proud of her.

I sent some green onions home with Sheri

Sargie arrived home late as she had to close the Vision Center then go grocery shopping after. We won’t be starving any time soon. I think we’re going to make super nacho platters for supper tonight, one of my favorites.

Sargie’s off today and we have absolutely no plans. No doubt, we’ll take a Sunday afternoon drive and I hope that Brutus and I might take a test walk of a mile or two. My knee is weak, but the swelling is almost gone and there’s little or no pain. The large cut on Brutus’s pad has scabbed over and is healing with no signs of infection. The pup now has only a small limp. If either of us has many more days with no activity, we’re going to drive each other crazy. It’s a toss-up to know which of us is more eager to resume our normal lifestyles.

I think that’s all the news from the northern Midwest. It’s rainy, cool, dark, and from my point of view, life is pretty darn good.

All three meadows were mowed Saturday morning

Except, my coffee cup is empty. I need to get off my backside and fill it. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

I was standing at the sink cleaning strawberries when Sargie walked by.