Just like the rest of the country, it's cold. Nearing sunset late Wednesday afternoon. The temperature: -12. The wind: 17 mph with gusts to 30.

January 8, 2014 - Thursday

-8 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

I often begin by talking about the weather, but it seems everyone, except California and some of the southwest, is experiencing the same. California doesn't need weather, it has its new bullet train. (Sorry Susan and Pat, it was there for free. I had to say something.)

The last forty-eight hours have been put-one-foot-in-front-of-the-other types of days. It's been so windy, the kind that hurts. Couple those winds with temperatures way below zero and the mixture can only be described as brutal. 

Stuck (again) trying to clear Neighbor Mike's lane. The snow that fell several days ago was wet and heavy. Once the frigid temperatures settled in, the snow became more like ice. I finally gave up.

I earlier made a conscious decision that I wasn't going to spend another winter sitting in my recliner. Since, I've either been outside each morning engaged in some sort of activity, or at the lake, in search of meat for the table.

Two hours of fishing on Tuesday found me the King of the Baby Perch and nice-sized large mouth bass. Naturally, the bass that were in the area chasing the perch, are out of season. The little perch? I reeled each in, changed his diaper, cleaned him up, and threw him back in the hole. 

Another fish coming through the hole

I quit fishing around noon and trudged back to the house. I'd given fishing my best shot for one day.

Sister-in-law Holly asked if I would sharpen one of her knives. Made not far away, in Rapid River, MI, it's of the best quality and I spent sometime honing it to a fine edge. I'll finish stropping it in the next day or two.

Since I don't have a barber's strop, I use an old leather belt. 

I knew Sargie would arrive home Tuesday night frozen and hungry. I made a huge pot of vegetable beef stew and floated dumplings on top.

I've been asked for the dumpling recipe. It's simply Krusteaz Pancake Mix. I pour what is needed in a large mixing bowl and keep adding water until the desired consistency is reached. After, I bring the stew back to a boil and spoon the dumplings on top, put the lid on, and cook until they are done.

I've tried several flour recipes, Bisquick, and one or two commercial mixes, but in the end, we find we prefer Krusteaz for flavor and texture over the others.

I was on the lake first thing Wednesday morning to move the shack towards shore. Twenty-one feet of water wasn't producing anything other than little perch and bass. It was time to relocate to shallower water.

The first order of business was to chip out the ropes that had kept the structure from blowing away. 

I moved the shack about forty feet and was rewarded by catching several smaller bluegills, some almost-keeper perch, and again, several bass. 

I was too cold to fish for long. After working for an hour-and-a-half moving the shack, even with the propane heater blasting away, I was chilled to the bone. In fact, its the first time in many years that I can say I was miserably cold.

I did the laundry yesterday afternoon, ran the vacuum over the floors, and even read an early assignment for this next semester's class. It doesn't officially begin until next Monday, but there are always a few early birds.

Sargie was home early last night and we enjoyed a quiet evening.

Sargie's off today. We have no plans and that's a good thing. She's been working such long hours that I hope she sleeps late. There's no reason in the world why she shouldn't.

So with all that being said, it's time for another cup of coffee and listen to the news. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Still sitting by the edge of the couch waiting for Grandma. He can't figure out why Mom's not here.