We'll see how the experiment works. I've tipped over the pots of southern rabbit eye blueberries and covered them with snow to insulate each from the bitter cold. We'll find out next spring if they made it. Stay tuned. 

December 10, 2013 – Tuesday

-8 degrees/snowy/calm

Pentoga Road

The temperature has warmed considerably during the night. The thermometer was registering sixteen below zero when we went to bed and currently shows it’s eight degrees warmer. I also see snow has moved in. That’s why. A cloud cover usually acts as a blanket to insulate the earth from an overhead cold air mass. Hmm, snow – cold… snow – cold. I think at this juncture, I’d rather have snow, but cold is okay as long as it’s not windy.

And wind has been the name of the game. It brought all of my activities to a halt before they ever got started on Monday.

After Sargie left for work, I made my way into town and visited Barber Bob, nothing new there. We commiserated concerning the Packer’s sloppy play, complained about the economy and politics in general, discussed the obvious effects of global warming as the wind howled outside his shop, and talked about grandchildren. It was a typical trip to the barbershop.

My next stop was to see my friend, Gloria, at Lucky’s Bait Shop where I purchased a dozen large sucker minnows. Actually, no payment was made. When I gave her my debit card for the five-dollar purchase, she told me to simply give her cash the next time I was in. She has to pay a fee each time a debit or credit card is used and with those customers she knows and trusts, she’d rather wait and get the cash.

Gloria remembered Andy is coming for Christmas and asked how soon he’d be in to see her. She always comments on what a polite and respectful young man Andy is.  Even though my youngest son is approaching thirty, his daddy still stands tall with pride when I hear compliments about him… or any of the boys; and Gloria’s a sweetheart. It’s all good.

The next stop was at our local lake on the way home. I talked with William, a regular who I only see during the winter months. He’d caught one decent northern pike, but was about to freeze to death. He and his buddy, both, had been fishing for only a short while and were about to pull their tip-ups and quit for the day. The wind was howling and the temperatures were in a nosedive. I told William I was planning to return and fish, but with the sudden drop in temperatures, I’d had a change of heart and he probably wouldn’t see me.

I fill the old bird feeder on a daily basis. This picture was taken a few days ago. This feeder has been destroyed twice by bears in years past and I'm fearful that it won't take many more nails or glue. I hope to use it as a pattern and make a new one next summer.

And that was my day. Other than carry in wood, I stayed inside, grading papers as they were submitted, watching television, listening to Christmas music, and occasionally closing my eyes.

Sargie made it home late in the evening. She’s had a long day at the Vision Center and was happy to sit by the fire. The poor girl had a very short evening as she is up early this morning and hopefully, will be home early tonight.

I finally relented and turned up the thermostat on the furnace before we went to bed. Our small wood stove definitely saves us huge money on the fuel oil bill, but when the wind howls and the temperatures dip well below zero, it’s not capable of keeping the entire house above fifty-five degrees. It was nice to wake up to a warmer house this morning and not shiver until the fire was stoked. I’ll also use the furnace while our company is here over Christmas. I don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable.

I really really really really want to go fishing today, but am mature enough to stay off the ice until the winds subside. Right now, they seem to be fairly calm. We’ll see what happens after the sun rises. Hopefully, I can sneak in an hour or two of sitting out on the ice.

Until then, I’ll continue to sip coffee, listen to the news, and think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Downtown Crystal Falls after last week's snowstorm. They plow the snow into the middle of the highway, then blow it into a dump truck to be disposed of.