The road to Gaastra, Michigan. I hiked the eight miles Friday afternoon.

February 28, 2014 – Friday

-39 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I haven’t looked, but I assume this morning will break yet another low temperature record for this date. I was up three times during the night feeding the wood stove. Thankfully, I had no problems falling back to sleep after each trip down the steps.

Funny how stupid dreams can often be. When the alarm rang a short while ago, I was having one where I owned a tractor parts store located in Saint Agatha, Maine. My sister-in-law, Debbie, who lives outside of Foster City, Michigan, and married to Sargie’s oldest brother, Pat, and I were driving to their home so I could measure Pat’s tractor for a power takeoff spline. At least it was summer and warm and I remember the wind blowing in through the windows of the car. We were gabbing a mile a minute; about what, I have no idea.

The past two days can be summed up in one word: cold. Sargie had to work Wednesday and was off yesterday.

I walked five miles on Wednesday morning. Nothing new there. The rest of the day was spent inside as the temperature never reached zero and the winds were howling. The Packer Nation flag that flies in front of the house stood straight out the entire day.

I was doing laundry down the basement, alternating between bumping my head on the rafters and shivering, when I felt a cold breeze, a very cold breeze. The wind outside was absolutely howling. By following my wet hands, it was easy to find the source, a large air leak, a space in the sill where the house sits on the foundation. I hurriedly retrieved a batt of insulation from the barn.

The next two hours were spent bumping my head as I used the round end of a flyswatter to shove yellow insulation into every crack, nook, and cranny. In the end, the basement became somewhat draft-free.

The same scenario later played out in the bathroom. The wind was blowing so hard that it was forcing cold air backwards through the exhaust fan. I taped a piece of clear, thin, plastic, over the vent. A couple of weeks of steam shouldn’t hurt the bathroom too badly, especially since there are only two of us who use it.

Friday was a lazy one, spent mostly inside. I made a large breakfast and Sargie and I enjoyed sitting in the living room, the sun shining through the windows warming it into the 80’s. With the temperature remaining at ten below zero accompanied by a hefty wind, neither of us had the urge to move or do anything other than soak up the natural warmth the sun provided.

Like most other pups, Brutus sheds. Unless he is brushed two or three times a week, he becomes like Pig Pen with hair flying every time he moves. 

It's difficult to brush him outside this time of year. He looks at it as a poor man's... 'er, a poor dog's massage and quickly rolls over on his back so his belly can be rubbed.

Sargie and I teamed up Friday morning. I brushed, she held the vacuum hose to immediately suck any loose hair and together, we de-haired Brutus. Problem is, he thought is was a lot of fun to have the vacuum suck his tongue into the hose. I've never seen such a dog.

We needed to go to town. I took off early on foot asking Sargie to pick me up along the way and made it to Gaastra, eight miles to the west, before she drove up from behind, slowed way down, and in a breathy voice, asked if I wanted a ride. I was pushing my pace up a very steep hill and told her I’d meet her at the top. It was a good workout.

Last night was spent watching television and huddling around the wood stove. I was up three times during the early morning hours keeping it filled and still, the temperature in the outter rooms of the house was only in the upper 50’s this morning when we got up. The living room remains at a fairly constant 70 to 75 degrees. It’ll warm rapidly once the sun rises.

I’m not sure what’s on my agenda for today. I’ll wait to walk until later when the temperature warms a bit. My nose and face have been frozen enough that both need a respite.

I don’t know, with no break in the temperatures in the long-term forecast, it seems this winter refuses to end. Even Brutus seems to be tiring of it. He was in a cranky mood last night (for him) and rose just long enough this morning to come downstairs, get his Denta Stick (the dog’s equivalent to brushing his teeth) then returned upstairs to sleep on his blankie on our bedroom floor. That’s pretty unusual for him to voluntarily be away from me for any length of time.

Sargie begins her vacation tomorrow. I think we’ll do a series of day trips, one to Marquette to see Macrea and Cale, another to Rhinelander, two or three days (and a couple of nights) down in Oshkosh, WI, Appleton, Green Bay, etc., and some good old fashioned sleeping in and being lazy. Until these temperatures break, that sounds as good as anything.

Time to pack Sargie’s lunch and pour another cup of coffee.

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

Early Wednesday morning

February 26, 2014 – Wednesday

-16 degrees/clear/breezy

Pentoga Road

Happy Birthday to my youngest son, Andy. He turns twenty-nine today, the last time in his life he’ll be able to say he’s twenty-nine and not be fibbing. Currently, Andy’s working his month-long shift in the oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico.  We’re hoping he makes it up this way later this spring for some well-deserved R and R. Happy birthday, Son. We love you.

And… that is about all the news from this end of the continent. I walked eight miles yesterday morning, from Alpha, Michigan, back to Pentoga Road. It was a bit nippy, but for the most part, very comfortable. I spent most of the walk dodging logging trucks and the county maintainer. There must be a huge wood lot on which they are cutting not far from here as I met several tractors pulling loaded tandem trailers on my way home.

The rest of the day was spent reading assignments, listening to music, and really, not doing much of anything. With the wind and cold, Brutus’s time and mine outside was quite abbreviated. It’s difficult to do very much when the wind chills are well below zero.

Sargie had to work late and wasn’t home until past nine last night. She opens today then is off on Thursday, works Friday, then begins her nine-day vacation.

I read last night that the National Weather Service is predicting this bitterly cold weather won’t begin to break until the end of March and then forecasts a long, cold and wet spring. Wait a minute, that’s what we had last year. Oh well, it is what it is.

It appears today will be a carbon copy of yesterday… and the day before… and the day before. The days may be getting longer, but the temperatures are firmly embedded in the dark days of January. Until this weather breaks, all one can do is dream of a warmer season to come.

Time to get another cup of coffee and ponder life.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

The winter wonderland continues... and continues... and continues

February 25, 2014 – Tuesday

-6 degrees/clear/breezy

Pentoga Road

Just as in the movie, Groundhog Day, the days keep repeating, one after the other. Until the winter weather breaks, about all one can do is to keep throwing logs on the fire.

Due to the wind (50 mph) from last week's storm, snow covers one complete side of the trees, or telephone poles, from top to bottom.

The biggest killer is the darn wind. Supposedly, it’s to die down over the next day or two so we can simply enjoy Thursday night’s predicted low of -30 degrees. That’ll be a good thing; no wind to get in the way of a record-setting temperature. Maybe I can get Al to come and enjoy it with the rest of us who live in the Upper Midwest.

The wind blowing snow across Pentoga Road on Monday morning

I walked five miles yesterday morning and almost hiked another five in the afternoon, simply as an excuse to get out of the house. Common sense prevailed and I remained inside and graded papers.

There's a family-sized car under that mound of snow

Even Brutus was a poop. We went outside to play fetch, but he decided he’d rather lie in a snow bank and simply chew the ball rather than retrieve it. I got fed up, yanked the ball from his mouth, and came back inside. As I told him, if he doesn’t want to play by the rules, we aren’t going to play.

It’s hard to believe that my classes are on assignment seven (of ten) already this semester. Spring break will soon be upon us and after that, we’ll be concentrating on the final projects. I see that I’m already scheduled to teach this coming summer and fall sessions. The university continues to treats me well. You want to go to college… a son or daughter, perhaps grandchildren? The University of Alaska – Southeast! (While in attendance, tell them to take Alaska Studies, ALST 300 or 600; keep the old man working.)

I made three loaves of bread yesterday morning, then barbeque last night. When Sargie came home, she had her’s over salad with a piece of bread on the side. I went “whole hog” and simply piled my barbeque over three pieces of bread, squeezed mustard over the top, and finished it off with a layer of jalapeno peppers. Probably a guy shouldn’t have that an hour before he goes to bed. I slept well, but I can’t vouch for Sargie.

Today… most likely a carbon copy of yesterday. Sargie’s closing tonight, so it’ll be a late one for her. I’ll ride partway with her and walk the five miles back; maybe all the way over to Rt. 2 making the walk closer to ten miles. There’s not a lot else to do; I might as well enjoy a below zero stroll.

There are a few assignments that came in overnight. I’ll read those this afternoon and probably find the time in my busy schedule to sneak in a grandpa nap.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Brutus now has to crawl down to enter his doghouse 

Saturday was a day of sledding high on Milligan's Mountain

February 23, 2014 – Sunday

-2/clear/breezy

Pentoga Road

Hmm, Sargie bought a lottery ticket that’s sitting on the end table beside me; a Mega Millions. I wonder if we won? I’ve not yet checked the numbers.

I bet we won. I just have that feeling. Just think, Sargie wouldn’t have to go back to work tomorrow, we could afford to add the other bedroom onto the house, I could purchase my backhoe, she could shop the clearance racks until she dropped, we could go somewhere next week while she’s on vacation, and who’d worry about cold weather and the cost of heating oil? I’d hire a live-in doggy sitter for Brutus and we’d burn fuel oil like it was water. Our sons, families, and friends, would become the recipients of most the winnings. Sargie and I agree, as long as we’re comfortable in a very modest manner, we’d give the rest away. Wouldn’t that be fun?

It must be spring fever. We're stuffing every vegetable known to mankind into our omelets these days.

Speaking of fun, that’s exactly what we had high atop Milligan's Mountain Sunday afternoon. After a lazy morning in which I made omelets and we took our time getting around, we arrived at the family homestead in the early afternoon.

It was so much fun. The big people were helping the babies into and out of sleds and often, rode down the large hill with a baby or two sitting on their laps. It was a bit chilly, the temperatures in the teens with a hefty wind blowing, but no one really seemed to notice or care. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Marley making a run for the first time by herself

Later, the babies and I sat around the piano and sang kindergarten songs of days gone by. It was the most fun when the aunts and uncles, mommies and daddies, became involved, going through the hand and body motions of elementary songs. We laughed and sang and had a good time.

We later enjoyed pizza, chips, and other goodies as we sat around the kitchen table and gabbed. What a wonderful day.

Aubrey and I are heading out for round two of sledding

Sargie and I arrived home just as the sun was setting. After a quick game of fetch with Brutus, we settled down for a game of blood and guts Rummy. As usual, I lost the most blood and she handed my Rummy-playing head to me on a platter.

Brutus helping me make some decisions... until he gave me some bad advice, I started losing, and he crossed over to the other side.

I’m a bit upset with Brutus. He was on my side and helping until it became apparent Sargie was going to win. He was quite stealthy in leaving me and sneaking around to the other side of the table. His name should be Benedict Brutus.

It started with light chat

Then he started giving advice

Telling Sargie which card to play

... and suddenly, it was two against one. No wonder I lost.

It’s hard to beat Sargie in any card game; coupled with Brutus, it's impossible. Sargie may be quiet and look innocent on the outside, but under that exterior lies the heart of a card shark... or a bulldog.

I decided to pout and mourn my loss by looking at backhoes online. One of the banks has an interest-free credit card for a year. Hmm. That’s how I bought my chipper/shredder several years ago. It didn’t cost me a cent to spread the cost out over twelve months. As soon as the machine was paid in full, the credit card was cancelled. In my retirement years, I refuse to pay interest to any institution, but I don’t mind using their money as long as it is free.

Today’s Sargie’s last one off until next Saturday when she officially begins her vacation. It’s cold and windy and I doubt we’ll work in the flowerbeds or stroll hand in hand through the woods.

I’ve been somewhat lackadaisical these past four days when it comes to grading my students’ assignments. With a new batch of homework due in tomorrow, I’ll spend part of today playing catch up.

 I imagine we’ll go for a ride this afternoon and after, play another game of Rummy and do whatever it is old people do on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

That's pure grace, poise, and beauty, zooming down that hill.

Hold it! I just checked the lottery ticket. We won… sort of; five dollars. Sorry, sons, family, and friends. It appears we’re still poor. I guess I better get busy and start grading assignments, earn enough money for crusts of bread and water.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

February 22, 2014 – Saturday

-4 degrees/clear/windy

Pentoga Road

I could get used to sleeping a little later in the mornings. Since Sargie’s not working for a few days, I’ve been in no hurry to get out of bed. What was once a 5 AM get up time has now become 7:30. Yesterday morning, it was closer to 8.

I enjoy being in that lazy state that exists somewhere between full consciousness and dreaming… simply dozing, dreaming, and yet, being partially awake. Oh well, spring should soon be upon us when I’ll enjoy hopping out of bed before daylight and waiting in anticipation for it to get light enough that I might work in the garden.

With Thursday’s storm gone, I spent most of Friday morning shoveling, scooping, and plowing. The weather service said we had wind gusts of up to 50 mph. The temperatures were in the lower teens and rapidly dropping.

It was frustrating plowing. With slush laying under the six or eight inches of snow, much more in the drifted areas, all four tires on the four-wheeler tended to spin and slip. I heard from Jeff and he said he had trouble with his ATV slipping off to one side, as the snow was so heavy. It wasn’t the normal pleasant experience we’ve come to enjoy this winter.

I used the Yooper Scooper to clean the back patio, then resorted to the old-fashioned shovel. It all worked and in the end, the results were the same.

Sargie and I took a quick trip into town. She didn’t really care if we went or not, but I was up for some sort of wintertime adventure.

Actually, it was all Yooper Brother Mark’s fault. He’d called earlier to check on us and when I told him I didn’t think we’d be coming to town, the boy started telling tales of days long gone by when he and buddy took off after a big storm to see how much snow they might drive through without becoming stuck.

I took the conversation as a challenge. The tone of Yooper Brother Mark’s voice might have been interpreted as implying I was a poo poo, a sissy, someone who couldn’t navigate the vast expanse of snow-covered township road lying between our home and the main county road a mile away. The Alaska mountain man in me rose to the occasion. He was laying it down. I picked it up. Game on, Skippy.

The plow hadn’t been through and there were some goodly drifts lying across Pentoga Road. Once again, Sargie INSISTED we didn’t HAVE to go to town. Oh yes we did. I was on a quest, a challenge. There was more than a bit of Tommy P’s mojo on the line.

I almost turned around ten feet down the road, but pride and stupidity dictated that we continue. To sweeten the pot of adventure, I was driving. Less than perfect eyesight be damned. I was behind the wheel and knew all I had to do was keep the SUV moving forward and stay between the ditches.

There's a sign under all that snow

Even with the four-wheel drive engaged, we came close to getting high-centered and stuck more than once. But we didn’t. To celebrate, Sargie ordered her usual McDonald’s Coke, and no 49 cent ice cream cone has ever tasted sweeter than the one I enjoyed once we arrived in town.

The return trip home, down Pentoga Road, was just as thrilling. I’ll confess, there was just a bit of swagger to my step when I stepped from the Blazer after parking it in the barn. The old man still has it, at least for today.

Oh, and about Sargie; hopefully she’ll begin talking to me sooner rather than later. I’m going to fix her favorite breakfast, omelets, to help begin the peace process.

Armed and dangerous, Sargie's going to town

The first annual Mighty Milligan Sledding Adventure is to be held at Nancy and Ron’s, who live high atop Milligan’s Mountain, later today. I’ve been relegated the task of popping Pentoga Road Popcorn to bring. Problem is, I’m not sure the event will happen. With the highs forecast to be around 10 above and winds of 25 mph howling, resulting in a windchill of -30, I wouldn’t be surprised if the event gets postponed. No doubt we’ll hear from the family corporate headquarters later on this morning.

If we don’t go, I’ve promised Sargie a game of cutthroat Rummy. I’m not much of a card player anymore, but hey, she loves the game and after all, the girl sat in the right-hand seat during yesterday’s jaunt to town. Who knows, if I let her beat me, maybe she’ll begin talking to me. It seems like the thing to do but then I hate to lose. Ah, heck with it. Game on, Skippy.

But first, it’s time to refill the coffee cup and think some deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

February 21, 2014 – Friday

24 degrees/cloudy/very strong winds

Pentoga Road

Any hint of spring we’ve enjoyed the past couple of days left earlier this morning as the cold front that brought the latest round of snow and wind moved further to the east. Looking at the back patio, source of the official Pentoga Road Weather Bureau estimates, we must have received six or eight inches of new snow, give or take a few inches. It came down so hard, wet, and heavy, that had it been very far below freezing, the accumulation would have been much greater. Now we’re left with growing drifts as the wind continues to howl.

Thursday was a fun day. I dropped Sargie off at the beautician’s in Iron Mountain and made my way to have the front windshield replaced on the Kia. Armed with my  Kindle, I fully expected to sip coffee and read for the next two hours while waiting.

I settled into the waiting room and began talking with my newest friend, Jeff. You ever meet someone who you just feel as though you’ve known your entire life? That was Jeff. Over the next two hours, we talked about tractors and backhoes, camps, four-wheelers, the best place to purchase ATV tires, wolves, hunting… you name it, we probably touched on the subject. I hated to see him leave, but we exchanged email addresses and phone numbers. No doubt, Jeff and I will run into each other again somewhere down the road. I enjoyed his company a great deal.

Amanda, the manager who was sitting on the other side of the counter, and I began talking. About the age of my sons, she told me of her young daughters, husband, and how she ended up managing an auto glass store. I told her about Sargie and how I came to relocate in the Upper Peninsula from Alaska. What little time remained flew by and suddenly, the car was finished and I needed to go pick up Sargie and continue our day. I never thought that having a windshield replaced could be so much fun, but it was yesterday. (I know, I need to get out more.)

Sargie was walking towards the auto glass place and though I couldn’t see her, I  recognized her lime green winter coat. I pulled over and asked if she wanted to go for a ride. Seconds later, we were on our way.

We picked up a few needed things in town before continuing onto the Chinese buffet. I swore I wouldn’t eat too much; I always do, and as in times past, I did. That last trip to the dessert bar for one last scoop of rice pudding and a couple of fried sugar rolls put me over the top. Walking out, I took a silent solemn oath that I would never eat again.

The rest of the day was quiet. We made our way home well before the snow began to fall. I exercised Brutus and got the wood carried in for the night. Sargie and I spent last evening watching commercials combined with a bit of Olympic figure skating.

I’ve been ordering berry bushes and garden seed in anticipation of some kind of growing season ahead. Last night I purchased three arctic kiwi plants, a dozen double hollyhock roots (flowers), two Goji berry bushes, two thornless gooseberry bushes, forty sets of Norland potatoes (supposed to be scab resistant), and a partridge in a pear tree.

I’ve already ordered two Russian varieties of tomatoes that I’ve pondered about for a couple of years, also a black cherry tomato variety. Since Sargie loves to graze from the garden in the summer months, I’m concentrating on varieties that will allow us to do just that… walk through the beds picking and eating as we go. Stay tuned. This could be the most lame-brained idea I’ve ever had, but then, no one other than my mama ever accused me of being overly brilliant.

So with all that being said, I guess I ought to move on and pour another cup of coffee, possibly think and few deep thoughts, and eat something for breakfast before I head outside to plow. Oh, that’s right, I’m never eating again. Never mind. Oh, if only you had my life.

Time to get busy. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…        

A bulldog can't begin the day without looking his very best.

    

From the ground it doesn't seem that high, but when looking down the ladder...

February 20, 2014 – Thursday

24 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Depending on who you listen to, we’re in for a storm that can dump from an inch of rain, followed by two inches of snow, up to sixteen inches of pure snow, depending on where the storm tracks. This time of year, I’d much rather have the snow. If the rain freezes, we could have a real mess and probably no electricity for quite some time. Not much we can do about it either way, so let ‘er rip. Thankfully, whatever we receive is not to get here until three this afternoon, giving us ample time to get to Iron Mountain and back.

Wednesday was the first day we’ve had since November 17^th that got above 40 degrees. It was wonderful… absolutely gorgeous.

I began the day by shoveling the snow from the living room roof. I’m thankful I began as early as I did. Once the snow began to melt, about halfway through the job, the tin roof became very slippery. It was hard to stand, let alone move the heavy, wet, snow. Still, in the end, I got the majority of the weight removed and fell only once.

Before

After

Shoveling the snow from the Man Truck went quite a bit easier. Getting the full garbage cans from in back of the west woodshed proved more challenging. Wading through waist-deep snow, I had to wrestle each one to the drive, then hoist it into the truck. This was one chore where Brutus was absolutely worthless. No matter how much he stayed at my side and tried, he was helpless when it came to dragging and loading the trash. He gets an A for effort. He tried.

The trip to the dump was uneventful, although it’s beginning to get expensive. When I first bought the house, the minimum charge was $16. It’s now $21. I guess I shouldn’t complain. I only go twice a year making it much less expensive than curbside pickup… and that’s a good thing as we have no curbs on Pentoga Road.

The snow on the trees is the result of the spray from the plow as it rushes by when clearing the roads

I used the snow rake and removed a goodly amount of heavy white stuff from the front porch roof. I was hoping it would slide down on it’s own, but in the end, it took a bit of coaxing. I didn’t care. It was an excuse to remain outside and play. 

Hmm, there were still a couple of hours of daylight. I hurriedly came in and strapped on my hiking boots for my daily, if somewhat delayed, walk. The southerly breeze blowing, the occasional smell of dirt… perfect. I took my time and enjoyed each step. What a privilege to be outside on a perfect day.

Brutus and I ended Wednesday by playing fetch. He ran and ran much like a kindergartener turned loose from the classroom at recess time. I wasn’t the only one celebrating the brief respite from winter.

Sargie had to work late so I spent the rest of the day and evening reading and grading papers. After a hot shower, a bowl of soup, and sitting by the wood stove, it was all I could do to keep from nodding off. Sargie arrived after 9 PM and we had a short evening watching the end of the Olympic figure skating competition.

We head to Iron Mountain in a bit. Sargie has a hair appointment. I’m going to the auto glass place armed with my Kindle and knowledge that there’ll be a two-hour wait. It’s our intentions to head to the Chinese buffet restaurant after for a big noon meal, then we’ll zip home before the storm arrives.

Sargie and I are both in great moods as this is the first of her four-day mini vacation. Since she has to use vacation days or lose them, she’ll also have the first week of March off. Now if only the weather will cooperate. If not, that’s okay too. We have plenty of canned food in the basement and lots of wood with which to keep warm.

Time to get this uploaded and grab a quick cup of coffee before we depart.

You know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…