October 1, 2014 - Wednesday

45 degrees/cloudy/drizzle/calm

Pentoga Road

I know, I have entirely too many pictures of beautiful leaves these days, but after looking at the above forecast for this coming weekend, I'll enjoy the colors while I can. It appears they aren't going to last much longer. In fact, peak leaf season is over and we're now marching towards winter and all it has to offer.

That being said, I didn't let a rainy start interfere with Tuesday's activities. After walking my five miles, the sun peaked out from behind the clouds, so I hopped aboard the riding mower and sheared the grass for one last time this year. It's still green and lush and looks beautiful.

I mowed the rear of the side yard for the first time where Andy and I worked early this summer. Grass is already taking over. 

It sounds as though a bearing is going out in the mowing deck and there's a leak in the rear seal of the transmission of the mower. I think I'll take it to the mechanic's in the next couple of weeks so it will be ready for next summer. 

I turned my attentions to assembling and mounting three solar panels I purchased last spring. 

It took several hours, but they are now permanently attached to the house, charging any and all batteries, and assures us that should we have a power outage, we'll have lights and some power in the house. My goal is to eventually hook them up to the water pump downstairs. We'll have lights, water, and a radio/television. The wood stove will give us heat and I believe we could survive for quite a while with a few luxuries. (Yeah, I know, there's a bit of prepper in me.)

Papers were graded late Tuesday afternoon and the weekly test was sent in to be uploaded for my class. 

The university system is really being squeezed at this time by lack of oil revenues in Alaska and has to cut $26 million dollars from their operating budget for next year. I hope I'll make the cuts and can continue to teach for many years to come. If not, well, it's been a great educational ride. Either way, my heart will always lie with UAS. They've sure been good to me over the years. 

Sargie was home late last night with good news. It appears the Vision Center is changing to shorter hours and will be closed on Sundays. It's wonderful news for us. Sargie and her coworkers work such long hours and we're never certain from one week to the next when she'll be working. At least now, we'll know that Sundays belong to us and she'll be home earlier on the days she closes.

I'm not certain what today will bring. With rain in the forecast, I'll probably work in the basement, cleaning, sorting, rearranging, and doing all those things one does when he's laboring in a dungeon. Sargie works early today and we should have a normal evening together.

But for now, it's time to grab a cup of coffee and listen to the news.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...