Grilled venison cheeseburgers were enjoyed for Friday night's supper. 

September 28, 2013 – Saturday morning

57 degrees/sunny/calm

Pentoga Road

I just received a text from Andy saying they’d driven all night after leaving Louisiana around noon on Friday, had crossed over the Illinois border into Wisconsin, and planned on arriving around lunchtime today. I thought maybe the kids would stop and get a room last night, but in true team fashion, one drove while the other slept.  Several years ago, Mollie and Andy drove thirty-six hours, nonstop, from northern Maine to southern Louisiana in such a manner.

Sargie has the house looking spotless, but I need to sweep all the floors and swipe the windows. The people who spray our house for insects are later than usual this year and the houseflies have been thick. I took it upon myself yesterday to spray around all the windows, inside and out. It took care of the flies, but made a mess on some of the panes of glass. Thankfully, the incessant buzzing has quit, at least for now.

I sprayed around the second floor windows too

I finished the antenna on Brutus's house. He can now receive several over-the-air channels, his favorite soap operas, but more importantly, all the Packers’ games. Next will come the standpipes on the roof, the electric meter, the flower box, then the windows and doors. It’s a process. One neighbor keeps telling me I ought to get a job. Another says I have entirely too much time on my hands. Both are retired, but obviously have yet to learn that a man’s work is never done.

Time was taken last night to mow the yard and all the trails. The place looks good and is still as plush and green as it was last spring with the exception of the trees that are beginning to display their fall time brilliant reds and oranges.

With the fallen leaves, it was the easiest mowing I've had all summer. I could see exactly where I'd already been.

One of the dining room chairs had a brace that broke sometime ago. The set belonged to my Grandma Reinhardt, Mom’s mom, and I inherited it many years ago. We used the chairs and table (with two full leaves) while the boys were home as we do now when we have company. The problem is, the glue dries out due to the dry winter air, causing me to glue and sometimes completely rebuild a chair every now and then. Yesterday’s fix required a whole new piece just under the seat, glue, clamps, and finally, two screws. It should last for the rest of my lifetime. After that, it will be someone else’s responsibility to keep it intact.

Sargie’s still in Marquette. She called a couple of times yesterday saying the sisters were having a lot of fun on their girls’ weekend. I believe Sargie found some treasures at the mall and one of the highpoints was visiting the bank where her youngest son, Macrea, is the manager. I was told his mom and all his aunts gave him big hugs and kisses making him turn red in front of his employees.

Brutus continues to get better and it’s difficult to follow the veterinarian’s advice to keep him quiet. The dog has two speeds; dead asleep or full out. He does both equally well. Right now, he’s on guard duty, sleeping on the blanket covering my feet.

Brutus definitely misses Sargie. He was all over the house during the night looking for her. I slept on her side of the bed (I miss her too) and there were several times he plopped his fat head where she’d normally be lying. He’s generally by my side during the day and evening hours. At night, he sleeps on the floor by her side of the bed.

Yesterday, Brutus was continually stuck to me. I couldn’t turn around without him being there and finally, I got his ball (which is HIS toy) and let him chew on it so I could mow the grass without him attempting to trot alongside the tractor.

I need to get this uploaded and begin to clean. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Taken at this moment while I write. My feet are under that blanket he's lying on.