Yooper Brother Mark taking out the old bathroom window

August 25, 2013 – Sunday

68 degrees/partly cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

I’m enjoying watching two young wild turkeys strut past the window. Though rarely a day goes by we don’t see flocks of the big birds, it’s still a treat to have them so close.

A hot day is forecast, in the upper 80’s to low 90’s, and going to be downright miserable when one adds in the humidity.

I had just finished writing yesterday when Yooper Brother Mark called suggesting we install the bathroom window. You may recall, we purchased the front door, a window for the bathroom, and one for the kitchen sometime ago. Grandpa Stauber, Mark’s dad, was going to come visit and stay in the area for the summer months.  Being retired from the construction trade he said that when he came, we’d install any and everything I wanted to change in the house.

The old window

Grandpa Stauber got sick, never making it, and passed away last year. No slouch when it comes to carpentry, Yooper Brother Mark installed the door a year ago, but since, between both of us being busy or bad timing, the windows have remained in the garage. There’s been no rush to get either installed and I figured when it happened, it happened. Yesterday, the bathroom happened.

We were fortunate that the original opening was almost the same. We had to lengthen the opening by two inches, but other than that, the new window fit with little modification.

The old one, a single pane of plexiglass that had been was tinted, let in so much cold that every winter, I’d stuff a quilt or towels between it and the screen to insulate against the cold air. Last year, Sargie used a kiddy quilt and we had Mini and Mickey Mouse smiling at us through the winter months.

I’d also notice that each time one would perch upon the reading chair, just inches from the window, his toes would get cold, almost to the point of freezing.  Yesterday we discovered why… there was a huge gap beneath the window, clear to the floor, with little or no insulation. Only a bare wall separated the interior from the cold wintery winds.

The window went in fairly easily and after leveling, fixing, sighting, and nailing, it’s been affixed into its permanent home. Yooper Brother Mark said he’ll be back out this morning to do the trim. I’m fortunate to have such a good friend. Thanks, Mark.

The new window, sans trim

Neighbor Mike stopped down, no doubt to see what all the pounding and sawing was about. He said he found several old pieces of foam insulation that were dirty, but usable in his barn, and offered them for Brutus’s doghouse. That pup will be snug as a bulldog in a rug this winter.

Sargie and I made our way to Iron Mountain to have supper with Mr. Milligan. We went early and stopped at Home Depot to pick up trim for the window and enough lumber to finish the framing of the doghouse.

We had good conversation over dinner and later, after the temperatures cooled a bit, enjoyed the evening breeze outside.

I picked the first three almost-ripe tomatoes last night from the garden. Suddenly, there are many beginning to blush and I’m fearful in the next two weeks, we’ll have bushels. I can already feel the canker sores inside my mouth. I know we’ll use a bunch, Sheri and her family always use tomatoes, and Mrs. Wilkins, who I’ve almost ignored this summer due to lack of vegetables, will enjoy some. It’s been such a lousy gardening summer that none will go to waste.

Okay, maybe I'm pushing it a bit, but they're ALMOST ripe.

I’d better quit and get this uploaded. I know Yooper Brother Mark will be calling after he gets home from church. I’ve got pictures to upload, the dog to feed, the giant pumpkins to slop, another cup of coffee to drink, and news to listen to. If only you were me. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…