I remember way back when... 48 hours ago when I was lazing in 80 degree weather in Louisiana. I was going over the maple trails on Wednesday and completely missed one. It took quite a bit of digging, lifting, and muttering to get the old beast out of the four feet of snow that still lies in the woods.

March 27, 2014 – Thursday

28 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

It’s a quick one today. Yooper Brother Mark and I are leaving after bit for Rock, Michigan, where we’ll be looking at a towable backhoe. Whether or not I actually purchase one remains to be seen, but it’s worth the effort of going. If the price is right, we may come back with a backhoe on his flatbed trailer. If not, we’ll have a few hours of quality guy-time.

As Dad used to say, I picked ‘em up and put ‘em down, on Wednesday. In other words, I hit the ground running.

After my daily five-mile walk, I began filling out a dictionary-sized packet of papers that are needed to begin receiving my Maine pension in June. I received the packet several weeks ago, but have put off beginning that process, not for lack of wanting the other half of my pension, but because every T and I must be dotted.

I finished around noon and went to town so two of the documents could be notarized. While at the bank, I withdrew the money needed should I want to purchase the backhoe.

I stopped and visited with Yooper Brother Mark for a bit at the plant. We hadn’t seen each other in some time and it was good to talk with him as well as his administrative assistant, Ann.

Back home, I began working on clearing the drive. We’d had several smaller snowfalls last week and it was once again packed with snow. Between using the plow, an eight-inch wide flat chisel/scraper, and a good old-fashioned shovel, I finally got it cleaned down to the blacktop. The sun immediately began melting what was left as soon as the black paving was exposed.

I went over the maple trails with the snowmobile in preparation for maple season. Naturally, I lost sight of one or two and became stuck in three to four feet of snow more than once. I don’t know how this season is going to progress once it really becomes warm and the snow is soft. I’m half tempted to chalk this year off to Mother Nature.

The dead Kindle Fire... what to do with that? In the past three years, I haven't read more than one or two conventional books... it's simply too much work to see the words. But the Kindle Fire, that's a different story! I can enlarge the print and actually enjoy reading for short periods of time.

I began doing some research on the internet and found others had experienced the same mechanical problem as I... that the unit simply refused to turn on. I also read that it could be rebooted, much like a computer.  So, that's what I did, a hard boot, and presto, my reader came to life! After Tuesday's successful television fix (plugging in the power cord) and yesterday's Kindle reawakening, I'm feeling like a real electrical technician.

I ran the sweeper over the floors last night and began the preparations for stuffed baked potatoes for supper.

It had been busy in the Vision Center delaying the beginning of Sargie’s evening by quite a while. Unfortunately, she closes tonight. Some weeks her schedules are diamonds, others they are coal. She’s mining coal this week.

I put a dozen Giant Red Pepper seeds between wet paper towels last evening to sprout. Hopefully, I’ll be planting those in six-packs in four or five days. Every single tomato and pepper seed I sprouted between wet paper towels three weeks ago is growing in the indoor greenhouse. I had a 100% success rate. After last year’s dismal beginning to starting my own bedding plants, I may have discovered the secret of how to do it right. Mostly, it’s called having the right equipment.

It’s time to close and get ready to depart for the bustling burg of Rock, Michigan. Rock is about two hours away towards the east, straight north of Escanaba. Snow is approaching the area, but it’s to be warm enough that we should make it over and back before it gets too bad. Sargie will take the Blazer to work today so she can utilize the four-wheel drive if needed.

I’m going to grab a quick cup of tea and quickly listen to the news.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…