Emmie's going home today

October 24, 2013 – Thursday

26 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I’m watching a couple of deer graze in the meadow at the end of our yard. The skies are just beginning to show hints of daylight featuring the two animals as striking silhouettes.

Wednesday was cold and windy. I began the day by riding with Sargie on her way to work for five miles then walking home. The darn knee continues to swell. Whether it’s splitting wood, walking, or merely pulling old plants from this past summer’s garden, the joint is not slow to become swollen and somewhat painful. I’m beginning to think this is how it will be on a permanent basis. It recedes somewhat after a night’s rest, but immediately swells once it’s called into action the next day. I miss long distance hiking and just as much, making plans for future marathon treks.

I caught my first raccoon of the year yesterday. A smaller one, he didn’t hesitate to explore the possibilities of treats that lay under the golf ball in the coon trap. I talked with Luke and told him since I got the first fur of the season (his animal damage control business doesn’t count) and being his daddy and all, I’d be happy to give him a few tips to help him along.

Luke and his buddy, Abe, are on their way up to northern Maine to spend the next two weeks trapping around the St. John River, the border between New Brunswick and the U.S. It’s where we spent many hours trapping, hunting, fishing, and swimming, when the boys were growing up.

I talked with Matt yesterday. Baby Emmie and Jessica are doing great and will be coming home today. Matt sounded tired. It’s tough work being a first-time daddy. Bern and Dave, Jess’s parents, are staying for a few days to help out and Pam will be there next week to assist. For certain, the newest member of the Pennington family won’t want for any hugs, cuddles, or kisses. I wish I could be there long enough to give her just one.

I moved the pile of wood by the brown shed and stacked it inside on Wednesday. Most of it was used last year when boiling maple syrup, but I was surprised how much still remained. One of today’s tasks will be to rake the area, ridding it of white birch bark and twigs.

Sargie’s off today! I’m not sure what’s on the agenda, but no doubt, we’ll find plenty to do. I want to get the patio furniture moved and wrapped in a large tarp for the winter months. I really need to begin canning carrots one of these days and there are beets that should be preserved. Next week’s assignments are beginning to arrive in my inbox so I guess it’s time to begin grading those so they don’t pile up.

I’ll tell you, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…