October 8, 2013 – Tuesday

42 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I’m not sure why, but I’m not in any hurry to do anything this morning. I sat and read my emails earlier, too lazy to get myself a cup of coffee. Normally, the log has been written and uploaded by now, but for some reason, I’m simply content to sit with my mind in neutral. That’s not a bad thing, is it?

Monday found me with my nose buried in assignments most of the day. I took breaks after reading every two or three and managed to wash and hang out two loads of laundry. Though chilly, it was the perfect drying day.

I also tackled a large boulder that’s been partially buried in the middle of the path I use to get into the north maple woods. While attempting to back the truck loaded with wood over it a few days ago, the drive shaft hit the top.

Andy and I tried to dig and pry it from the ground, but it was too big. On Monday, I simply dug around it, used a twelve foot pipe to loosen the thing, then pried it enough so that it’s now lying on it’s side and not sticking out of the ground so far.

I discovered, while digging around the boulder, that we live atop a dump and have uncovered everything from old pipe tobacco tins to broken bottles and plates. Several truckloads of trash were hauled away from the surrounding woods when the place was first purchased and I’m finding just as much garbage under the surface.

I made a trip to town to purchase my trapping and hunting licenses. Trapping will begin shortly after I arrive home from the East Coast and one of my greatest loves is tromping around in the woods. Last year, I built about a dozen ermine (weasel) boxes and those puppies will be my major target. I don’t really see good enough to build decent fox and coyote sets like I used to, but weasels, I can do. I’ll also see if I can’t pick up a few raccoons along the way. As evidenced from this summer’s pictures taken by the trail cam, there are more than enough living on our property.

Poor Brutus is going to have to stay home when I trap lest he find one of his delicate paws caught between two jaws. Not having my woods buddy with me, I’ll have to resort to carrying a GPS.

While in town on Monday, I stopped to see Yooper Brother Mark at the plant. As usual, the boy was working away with about a hundred irons in the fire. He implied I should stay and conduct their mandatory safety meeting. I replied that after forty years in the public school and university sector, I could conduct the longest, most boring, meaningless, meeting he’s ever experienced. I sure had plenty of experience.

Stacked clear to the ceiling, just a sample of the animal bedding manufactured at Mark's plant

After seeing Mark, I stopped by the store and bought some fall mums for Sargie. They are really pretty this year.

Sargie was home fairly early last night and we enjoyed an evening of watching Dancing With the Stars while munching popcorn. Perfect.

Andy texted, saying they made it home around 3 AM. I remember in my much younger days, when I could drive all night and still recover enough to work the next day. Those times are long gone. We’ll sure miss the kids, but they’ll be back in December for Christmas… and another Packers game.

Andy and Mollie leaving Pentoga Road for southern Louisiana very early on Monday morning

Sargie’s off today. Since I leave around noon on Wednesday for ten days with the sons and their families on the East Coast, I’ll be putting things away around here and begin to pack. I’m only taking a carry-on, so I won’t be packing much. If I run out of t-shirts or under things, I’ll borrow what I need from the boys. We’re all about the same size. God knows they raided my closet enough times while they were in junior high and high school. Daddy says it’s payback time.

I guess I should do something constructive, like get another cup of coffee and listen to the news. Yes, it’s true; a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

No sense raking leaves until they've all fallen. In fact, why rake at all? They'll just fall again next year. Makes perfect sense to me.