Sargie and Pam trying to decide which frames look the best on my face. I really never was part of the discussion.

 November 23, 2013 – Saturday

4 degrees/windy/snowy

Pentoga Road

I suppose just because the temperature is in the low single digits, this means that summer is officially over. I saw where one of the world organizations said that this was to be one of the warmest years on record. They need to get away from their desks and visit the North Country. It was a cold and long spring, a cool and rainy summer, and this current winter is coming in like a lion. Oh well, those people are appointed politicians. Need I say any more?

Saturday began with the usual five-mile trek. It went well and I was home within an hour and a half. I’m still not back to my former hiking speed, but it’s coming.

A flock of snow birds in the middle of the road. I'm not sure what their official name is, but when the flock flies, it looks like a mass of snow flakes. I don't know where they're from, but they show up every winter.

I spent the rest of the morning preparing two deer hindquarters for smoking. I injected each with a combination of melted butter and honey, plus a combination of other herbs and spices, that if I told you what they were, I’d have to do you in. It’s a secret family recipe dating back to yesterday.

Injected with honey and butter and ready for the smoker

A trip to town was made to run some errands. I stopped by Yooper Brother Mark’s plant for a visit. As usual, the man is running a marathon that never seems to end, but the animal bedding industry is much like farming; it has to make hay while the sun shines. Yooper Brother Mark is making hay this weekend.

I installed the plow on the four-wheeler in anticipation of the forecast snow this weekend. It took me a while to figure it all out. With magnifiers on, I crawled under the machine and found the two points where to attach the arms. The rest was easy and within a few minutes, it was installed and ready to go.

Unfortunately, any snow that had fallen the night before last was largely melted, but I found a bit in the shade where I could test the plow. It works well. One thing is already obvious; we’re going to love the paved drive this winter. No more gravel in the yard, no more mud next spring.

It was well before dark when I made my way to Iron Mountain. Other than a few deer hunters, traffic was light and I had no problems. I ordered new glasses last week and Sargie, Michelle, and Pam, all had fun suggesting various frames. The ones I liked, they didn’t, and vice versa. In the end, since Sargie’s the one who has to look at me the most, I told her to pick out whichever ones she liked and those would be good enough. To me, they look almost identical to those I already have… but then, she chose the current frames too.

Mr. Milligan continues to look good and was in a good mood last night when we stopped to visit him. He’d just returned from having a cat scan performed and seemed to be so happy to be surrounded by three of his daughters, all fussing over him. At one point, he looked at me and laughed. The man knows a good thing when it happens.

We stopped and had a bite to eat. It was getting on by the time we arrived home and the evening was short.

Sargie works today. I’ll ride over with her this morning and get the Blazer. I have several final projects to read, laundry to do, and floors to sweep and vacuum. After that, it’ll be time to begin thinking about how I can coach the Packers to victory on Sunday, then of course, there’s the mandatory afternoon nap.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Don't worry, Mom, Sargie wouldn't let me get these.