Mom's going through security to begin her flight home.

December 31, 2014 - Wednesday
-17 degress/clear/breezy
Pentoga Road

I'm up way too early this morning, but after hearing the oil furnace kick on at 3:30 and coming downstairs to rekindle the fire in the wood stove, then having to tend it, I decided to stay up for the day. I need to check on the price of heating oil. With the cost of gasoline plummeting, perhaps heating oil might be inexpensive enough to burn. I had the tank filled two years ago in April and still have over three-quarters left. At that time, home heating oil was pushing $4 a gallon.

Monday was a beautiful day in the North Country. I began by taking my usual five-mile walk.



Mama spent part of the day packing and getting ready to fly home on Tuesday. 



I filled the afternoon by working on next semester's class and other than last-minute additions, am ready to teach.

Mom arrived home in Indiana safely last evening. She called around 8:30 saying my sister, Barb, had met her at the airport and the two had safely made their way to Terre Haute. I know Mom has a committee meeting or two this morning, so she's hitting the floor running. No grass grows under my mama's feet.

Tuesday dawned a bit chilly... 23 degrees below zero. Sargie didn't have to work and the three of us had a leisurely late-morning drive to Iron Mountain. 

It's a good thing we weren't in any hurry to get to the airport. 

We sat and talked while waiting for Mom's flight in the terminal and she was soon winging her way to Minneapolis and onto Indianapolis.



Yesterday afternoon was spent reading, watching television, chucking wood into the stove, and taking the Christmas tree down. I started bringing up boxes from the basement and with both of us working, the living room was soon devoid of the tree and most of the decorations. Sargie's off today and we should finish putting everything away by day's end.



It's cold, just plain out-fashioned cold outside. Actually, it's kind of cold inside too. Thankfully, I can rectify that situation by throwing more wood on the fire. The ten day forecast calls for far-below normal temperatures, a repeat of last year's record-breaking cold. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'm ready for a bit of global warming... just enough to raise the temperature above zero.



Sargie and I are going into town this morning and look at a set of shelves that are on sale at the hardware store. She'd like to store some of her finer Christmas decorations in the basement, but keep them off the floor. The rest will go in the storage unit.

Otherwise, I think we'll take the rest of the decorations down and get those put away. Since Sargie has to work on New Year's Day, our celebrations will be early ones tonight. Basically, it will be business as usual.

Meanwhile, it's time to load the stove with wood then get a cup of coffee. Oh yeah, I guess I should think a deep thought or two along the way.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Part of Sunday was spent watering the garden, picking green beans, listening to the humming birds hum and watching the butterflies flit to and fro.

December 29, 2014 - Monday
-9 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

It's chilly out there today... in fact, I noticed when I walked across the deck a bit ago, it creaked and groaned, the wood frozen solid. The house was only 53 at 5 AM, but after building a fire in the stove, the indoor thermometer is currently registering a comfortable 71 degrees. 

This is Mom's last day in the UP, darn it. It seems as though she just arrived and now we're packing her up to go home. Mom is so much fun... we spend our days talking, running an errand or two, and when Sargie arrives home from work or is off for the day, she and Mom have no trouble making conversation. I'm sure most of their talks center around tactics on how best to pick on me. They know I'm delicate and sensitive.

Mom with cucumbers picked just before the Green Bay game.

Sunday's highlight was the Green Bay/Lions game where the Packers defeated Detroit and won the NFC North Championship. Yooper Brother Mark and I texted back and forth and I imagine he's probably as exhausted as I am after spending three nonstop hours coaching our favorite team to victory. I was also communicating with my buddy, John Holst, in Sitka. John, the former superintendent of schools in Sitka, was born and raised in Wisconsin and is a Packer Backer, but living in Alaska. The poor guy was forced to watch the Seattle/St. Louis game and rely on others for insights into the Packer's contest. 

Mom, Sargie, and I, made our way into town shortly after noon and then drove to Alpha for Sunday lunch, but found the restaurant closed. We returned home and enjoyed left over pizza for lunch. Supper was a catch-can affair of popcorn and and/or leftovers. I'm relatively sure there was at least one food group included somewhere. 

Sargie works early today. I'm going to walk my five miles this morning then spend the rest of the day with Mom. She wants me to give her some lessons on her computer, identical to the Chromebook I recently purchased. Other than that, I'll continue to chuck wood into the stove and think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Whoops. BUSTED!
 Todays' pictures were taken last July when Mom was here for her last visit.

Sargie, Macy, Jerad, Mom, Yooper Brother Mark, Sheri, Curtus, and Sarah
I had to go outside on the front porch and take the picture through a window to include everyone. While out there, Sargie jumped up and locked the front door. Hmm, what's the tell me?

December 20, 2014 - Sunday
9 degrees/cloudy - snow flurries/breezy
Pentoga Road

The house is eerily quiet this morning after last night's gathering with Yooper Brother Mark and family. All that can be heard is the gentle hissing of the kettle atop the wood stove. All is as it should be. 

The past two days have been active ones. Sargie worked both days. With Mom reading on Friday, I sneaked away for a few hours of ice fishing. I wasn't going to upload any fish pictures, but Sarah mentioned last night that that is her favorite part of the daily blog. Even though she lives in Wyoming, that girl can appreciate a Yooper fish, even if it is only a small bass.

What every ice fisherman sees when he closes his eyes at night after a day out fishing; a flag, signaling a fish on the other end of the line.

I wish there were pictures of big fish to show Sarah, but I didn't catch any. A couple of small bluegills and two undersized bass were my total take of the day. 

Carl-the-Weatherman forecast that three to five inches of snow were to fall overnight and during the day on Saturday. Carl lied. Somewhere between 8 and 10 inches dumped from the skies. We needed the precipitation, just not all at once.

Though I've been pouring through seed catalogues, next summer's garden seems a long ways off.

Mom and I saw Sargie off to work early Saturday morning. I hated to see her drive up the hill, breaking the path to the main highway a mile and a half away. Thankfully, the four wheel drive works well in the Blazer and she made it without difficulty.

Mom and I busied ourselves inside cleaning the house in preparation for company later in the day. Mom grabbed a dust rag, I manned the vacuum sweeper and broom. The house was soon looking sparkly clean... okay, possibly that is an exaggeration, but it looked better than it had previously.

I headed out the door to begin cleaning the deck and drive and spent most the late morning and afternoon moving wet, heavy, snow.

Before

During

After

I finally figured out how to best clean the drive. I usually begin using the snowblower and end with the plow on the front of the four-wheeler. If it's cold, I use only the plow. When the snow is wet and heavy like it was on Saturday, I blow as much as possible, then utilize the plow to clean up what's left. 

The best part of the day was when Izzy Sue, aka: Isabella, arrived with the rest of her family in tow. She's a sweetheart and so beautiful, the little girl looks like a living, breathing, baby doll.

It's a love affair, the bond between Grandma, Grandpa, and Isabella.

We spent a few short hours talking and laughing. It was good to catch up on life with Sarah, a former student of mine from the Sheldon Jackson days in Sitka, and her husband, Curtis. They live in Evanston, Wyoming. 

It didn't take long for Auntie Sargie to kidnap Isabella

Who's entertaining who?

We had to share Izzy and no matter who held her, she was a happy baby. What a sweetheart.

Pizza was on the menu for the night's meal. We demolished four family-sized pies along with the most delicious salad and other goodies that Sheri brought. Of course, most the time was spent just sitting around the table, laughing and talking.

Today's the big game, the contest between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, the long anticipated match that will decide who are the NFC North Champions. Both teams have already made the playoffs, but the winner of this game will have a first week bye and home field advantage.

Even Izzie's ready for the game. Unlike her mother and father who live on the dark side of the NFL, our little girl remains a steadfast Packers fan.

So with that being said, I'm going to pour another cup of coffee and continue thinking of coaching strategies. I'm pretty certain that the Packers will be calling at any moment for my valuable input and thoughts concerning the game.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

It appears Santa visited Pentoga Road and left goodies for the good little girls and boy

December 26, 2014 - Friday

28 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Seems strange that Christmas has come and gone in one big swoop. After weeks of decorations and anticipation, we're now on the backside of the season, steaming towards the depths of winter. 

Mom, Sargie, and I were unwrapping presents by 8:00 Christmas morning. Since we hadn't gone to bed until late the night before, none of us were in any hurry to rise on Christmas Day.

Santa treated all three of us well. After opening presents, we enjoyed one of the meat pies made by Sargie and Macrea a week ago. A Milligan Christmas morning tradition, the three of us managed to kill half a pie.

It was drawing towards noon and time to head to Holly and Ross's home for the annual Christmas Day gathering.

Holly asked that we bring something grown from last summers garden. I brought two quart jars of bread and butter pickles and also mixed up a large bowl of spread made from the northern pike I canned a couple of weeks ago.

Let's see, there's pike, chopped pickles, salt, pepper, sugar, mustard, mayonnaise, and other ingredients too secret to mention.

The rest of the day was spent talking, laughing, eating, and enjoying each other's company. 

Ross is sharing videos of granddaughters Aubrey, Marley, and Brielle. All celebrated with us on Christmas Eve but spent Christmas Day with other family members.

More niece and grandchildren videos shared among the aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Sister-in-law, Nancy, in one of her JC Penny catalogue model poses. For the first time, brother-in-law, Ross, joins her. I expect to see him on the cover of Maxim Magazine in the coming months.

As usual, we laughed and talked and ate way too much. In fact, the food kept coming nonstop. I drank way too much citrus soda and there wasn't a goody pass by that I didn't sample. Holly is a master magician when it comes to kitchen magic. Her cooking is fantastic and thanks, in part to her, I'll be needing to lose a few extra pounds after the holiday season isover. 

It was growing dark by the time we bade everyone goodbye. 

Ross had their home beautifully decorated.

With Sargie serving as our driver and native guide, we drove by a house in Niagara, Wisconsin, a few miles away, that is... ahem... decorated for the season. The only people missing were Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie of the movie, Family Christmas, fame.

The Griswold home in the movie, Family Christmas.

Clark and Cousin Eddie

Meanwhile, in Niagara, Wisconsin...

I received phone calls from all four sons yesterday. It was good to hear from them. I especially laughed when Josh told about Ellie getting a guitar for Christmas and Wyatt getting a kiddy drum set. The two were in a nearby room "practicing," getting ready to present a concert later in the day. Josh is definitely earning his Daddy Wings.

We arrived home and watched the 1938 movie of A Christmas Carol. We were three tired fat and happy people.

And so our day ended just as it began, surrounded by loving family and filled with the Christmas Spirit. 

Sargie's back to work today. I'm going to walk my five miles this morning and Mom says she's going to try on some clothes she found under the tree Christmas morning.

But first, I'm going to pour another cup of coffee and enjoy the peace and quiet of the early morning hour.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Merry Christmas!
The Clock Tower and Iron County Court House in Crystal Falls, Michigan.

December 25, 2014 - Christmas Day

Pentoga Road

Merry Christmas! For unto us a child is born... and lest we forget, today is His birthday. So for possibly a few moments, let's forget the holiday trappings and remember Him who was born and died to save us all.

Happy Birthday, Jesus.

Wednesday was a mixed bag of activities on Pentoga Road. Grady and Brutus entertained each other in the morning.

Mom, Sargie, Grady, and I, took a drive into town early in the afternoon. The trees are naturally flocked and around every turn was a scene worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Iron River, Michigan, on Wednesday, Christmas Eve

I spent a short while cleaning snow from the drive. Poor Brutus, used to accompanying me, has a hard time understanding why he's not allowed to cross the road with me when I check the mail.

We were soon loading the car in preparation of going to Nancy and Ron's who live in the old Milligan home place high upon Milligan Mountain.

They had their home decorated to a T for Christmas, both inside and out.

The following are family pictures from our gathering on Christmas Eve. My apologies for the graininess in several of the snapshots. My camera is built ruggedly for the outdoors and doesn't do inside photography justice.

Well, I tried to get all these pictures on very early Christmas morning... but gave up when the clock chimed 1:30 AM. 

The Mighty Milligan Christmas Eve Celebration was just that, a wonderful, fun-loving, celebration of Christ's birth. 

And today? We'll gather again at Holly and Ross's house to celebrate His birth once again. There'll be no shortage of food, family, laughter, and most of all, love.

So from Sargie and me, here on Pentoga Road, have a wonderful and Merry Christmas. 

God bless us all!

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...