We enjoyed some excellent Italian food on our Saturday date night.

April 27, 2014 – Sunday

24 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I just got the fire going in the stove, the sun is beginning to show over the horizon, a partridge is performing his mating ritual by booming nearby, and I have a hot mug of tea; a perfect beginning to the day.

Saturday was near perfect. After my morning stroll, I tackled the problem of the little blue ATV. It was hesitant to start last fall, the last time fuel and spark actually combined to make it run, and though I’ve tried a few half hearted attempts at making the thing come back to life, it’s remained dead since.

The battery was freshly charged so I knew it wasn’t that. Mark suggested the machine might have an air lock. I put my hand over the breather and pulled. That wasn’t it. Finally, I removed the sparkplug, shot some ether into the hole, replaced the plug and pulled the rope. The 200 CC engine reawakened from its winter hibernation and after a few adjustments, seems to be ready for another summer of work.

No more rest for the little ATV. It's back to being the seasonal workhorse that I've come to rely on.

I called and asked Yooper Brother Mark is he was SURE, 100% CERTAIN, that we’d receive no more measureable snow. He simply laughed. I took that as an affirmative that our record-setting winter is over and removed the plow from the Polaris ATV. With the tires aired to the correct pressure, I called it good enough. When Andy visits, I’ll ask him to help me change the oil and filters and should be able to mark all those tasks off my list.

Next came assembling the new mower/trimmer I purchased last January during an off-season sale. As with most goods manufactured in America, the directions were easy to read and I soon had the machine filled with oil and gas and the 8 hp Subaru engine purring. I didn’t realize it had electric start until I spotted the key in the ignition. A further inspection revealed a pint-sized oblong battery.

Sargie and I had purchased two solar powered outdoor yard lights on sale this winter. I assembled both and set them in the sun to charge. Though they don’t give off a great deal of light, they are pretty and add life to some otherwise very dark areas of the yard.

My buddy, Jerad, stopped out for a visit later in the afternoon. It was good to see my young friend and catch up on what's happening in his world. Somewhere/somehow in the last few years, Jerad has grown from a gangly high school kid into a hard-working man. I sat here wondering where the time has gone.

I’d earlier called Sargie at work and asked if she would go out on a date with me last night. I didn’t have to ask twice. She arrived home early after work and we drove into town and ate lasagna at Alice’s Restaurant (yes, we really do have one, but probably not the same Alice’s as the famous 1960’s song is written about).

The lasagna was good and plentiful and we brought home enough to have for supper tomorrow night. We were later laughing about how we are beginning to sound like an old couple. Seems every time we go out to eat, we end up saying we should have only bought one meal and split it. I never thought I’d get to that stage in life as I’ve always had a huge and hearty appetite. My eyes are suddenly much bigger than my belly, though my belly only seems to grow larger with age.

Sargie’s off today. The forecast is for less than favorable conditions, but hopefully, it will stay as it is for part of the day. Wind and rain is forecast for every day in this upcoming week. I hope to use the time to finish up this semester’s classes and get ready for the summer session. There are plenty of “shop jobs” that need completing and I want to set out the Walls of Water in the garden to begin heating the ground underneath. It’s that time.

Speaking of that, time’s burning. I need to get this uploaded, listen to the news, and think a few deep thoughts before taking off on my morning walk.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

Out of the garage and into the barn to be assembled.