We almost had fresh venison the other day when these deer popped out in front of the car.

February 20, 2015 - Saturday
2 degrees ABOVE zero/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

I'm just about as happy as one boy can possibly be. My MacBook Pro was delivered yesterday. I was waiting at the end of the drive when the rural mail carrier pulled in to deliver the package and ask for my signature. 

"It must be something important," he said, "for you to be standing out here in the cold waiting."

"It is," I replied. "The class I teach, the pictures I take, the writing I do, all depend on what is in that box."



And so the computer arrived. Pictures, mostly of our LasVegas trip, have been enjoyed and honestly, the scenery was appreciated more on the computer than it was in person. Karen, my digital voice, has begun reading assignments, emails, and news, to me once again and the digital voice commands are almost in place. I'll soon be able to sit here with the machine on my lap and use the computer without having to look at the screen.

I didn't realize until a new keyboard was installed, how spongy and sloppy the old one had become. With more memory, a lightening-fast, new, solid state hard drive, and other intangible new components, including a software upgrade, the machine is like new. 

It takes around twenty seconds from the time I turn the power on until I can begin working. With the old system, it took around five to ten minutes. Downloading and working with the pictures used to be a twenty minute chore that has now been reduced to seconds. 

And so I thank my good buddy, Vince, who, when asked, personally undertook the extremely difficult task of breathing life into an old and fading digital war horse. This computer had been dropped into slush and snow multiple times from the back of a snowmobile, exposed to temperatures exceeding fifty below zero, and banged around on countless float planes and boats. That doesn't even take into consideration the several hours a day it was used while I was teaching full time. 



Other than the machine making my life much easier, why should I have such an affection for a piece of metal? The answer is easy. Besides the one class I teach online, it's my last physical link to what I used to do in Alaska when I thought I'd be ramming around the state in the name of education forever. Getting older and retiring was what everyone else did. I was completely above that.

But just like this computer, I was... as they say... rode hard and put away wet a few too many times. Problem is, I can't be rebuilt with new components. Now that I'm on this end of life, the machine still connects me to my previous Alaskan days as well as the many highs in my professional career. People in the Upper Peninsula, Sargie and her family, even my own to some extent, have little idea of my past adventures. But thanks to modern technology, it's a distant memory I often relive through mostly pictures and past writings, all brought to life once again on this computer. Thanks again, Vince. Nice job.  

I spent much of Friday morning aligning my ice fishing gear in preparation for the last part of the season. Between vacation and the frigid weather we've been experiencing, putting meat on the table has been low on my list of priorities. With spring around the corner, that's about to change. I hope to put several bags of fillets in the freezer in the next month in preparation for our first annual Mighty Milligan Fish Fry that will happen sometime this spring or summer.

After the computer arrived yesterday, I began transferring data from Sargie's old MacBook onto the new Chromebook that I've been using. I was able to set it up so that the commands are very similar to those of her old computer. In fact, Sargie was using the new one last night and it appears the transition will be almost seamless. 

At one point on Friday, all three machines were going so as to transfer information from one to the other. There was one time that I became confused over which machine I was working with and began to undo what I'd already transferred.

As mentioned previously, Sargie's on vacation this next week. I'm not sure what we'll do other than possibly take a few short day trips here and there. Now that my computer is back, I'll be uploading the hundreds of pictures taken on vacation, no doubt putting them on a photo sharing website. A few, I'll feature on this one.

I feel the lake calling me. It's later in the day than I like to go fishing, but I might as well go and see if there's a spare bluegill or crappie for the taking.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

February 27, 2015 - Friday
-22 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

Happy birthday, a day late, to my youngest son, Andy on reaching the big THREE - OH! Andy's been working out in the Gulf of Mexico and is readying to head to Alaska to begin work on the new Shell rig in the Chukchi Sea... my old stomping grounds. Happy birthday buddy. I love you.

The days are getting longer and the temperatures warmer. This is the warmest beginning of a morning we've had so far this week, a mere 22 degrees below zero. If the weatherman is to be believed, Sunday's high is predicted to hit twenty-five. Originally, the extended forecast was for normal temps, but I see now that the thermometer is to plunge back to the negative numbers the middle of next week. This weekend is just a teaser for promised days to come.

I hoped the rural mail delivery man would bring my Mac computer yesterday, but it wasn't to be. I even hung around outside during his normal delivery time. Imagine my disappointment when he drove straight ahead to the mailbox alongside the road rather than pull into the drive. I wiped away the tears and sullenly shuffled back into the house.

I've been tracking the computer ever since Vince mailed it last Monday. It went from Madawaska, Maine, to Scarborough, Maine, then entered a gray zone... "In transit." Well, shoot fire, what's that mean? In transit? That could have meant it was on it's way to Anchorage, Hong Kong, or Peoria. Finally, on Wednesday, a message came across saying it had landed in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I could see that package. I could almost taste it.

Then came another message... it was in Kingsford, Michigan, a mere forty miles away and was "in transit." I hoped that it might reach our local post office in time to be delivered yesterday, but no such luck. It will be here today, oh yes, by all that is holy, IT WILL BE HERE TODAY.  

I made my way into town yesterday morning and stopped for a visit with Yooper Brother Mark. Since the plant seemed to running smoothly and he didn't seem to need my expertise and advice concerning life's mysteries, I left Mark and his assistant, Ann, and made my way to the thrift store to purchase another pair of $3 skis. I ran over the tip of one on the Clam, cracking it, and it needs to be replaced.

The last stop of my tour was at Gloria's to purchase bait. Poor Gloria. She said I was the first person she'd seen Thursday and that business had been lousy. No one is fishing. It's just too cold. We talked for a few minutes and I finally bade her goodbye. I needed to be home should my computer arrive.

We already know the computer story. Failing its arrival, I strapped on my hiking boots and walked five miles in an attempt to erase the agony and pain of having to wait one more day. The walk lifted my spirits and I felt just a bit of spring in my step. My thoughts were on finding someone to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with. Right now, Mom seems to be the best candidate. Approaching 88 years of age, I'm pretty certain that if she gets on the right training program, she can be ready to go in a year, possibly two. The only problem; I'm not sure I could keep up with Mom. Since she had her heart bypass surgery last fall, she's a goin' concern. 

I carried in wood, played with the dog, and once again took up my clipboard, the one that holds the sketches of new designs for the garden. I think I know how/where I'm going to grow my vegetables this summer while the old garden is torn apart. More about that in a future writing.

Sargie had a beautician's appointment after work last night and arrived home later in the evening. I had an upset stomach and bedtime came early for me. Thankfully, whatever it was seemed to pass during the night and I feel 100% this morning.

We're in really good moods around here today. Sargie has vacation to use before she loses it, so she'll be off beginning Saturday through all of next week. She's looking forward to some well-deserved R&R. I'm looking forward to her company. 

I'll ride with Sargie partway to work this morning and walk five miles home. There are some papers to grade and that ski to replace on the Clam. The postman should deliver the computer sometime this early afternoon. After playing with it for a bit, I'm hoping to take off for the lake and get in a couple of hours of ice fishing before day's end. Sargie closes tonight, so it will be a long one for her.

It's time to think a few deep thoughts and pour another cup of coffee.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie's contemplating trading in the Kia so she might travel to work in style

February 25, 2015 - Wednesday

-28/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Thankfully, yesterday's wind subsided sometime during the night leaving frigid, but calm, conditions. After Tuesday's hurricane-fest, it seems like a nice reprieve.

We were on the road to Green Bay early yesterday morning. The roads were somewhat snow-covered, but we made good time and had an enjoyable drive.

The day was spent mostly window shopping. Having taken a vacation earlier in the month and with property taxes due, we were careful not to break the bank. 

Sargie shopped for a new comforter for our bed and found two sets she liked that were on sale, only to find that her coupons for both stores had expired. We both agreed more will come on sale later and she walked away. 

Green Bay was rather sleepy on Tuesday. With Christmas over and football season but a distant memory, traffic was light and shoppers were few. 



We stopped at Harbor Freight on our way out of town where I purchased a new work bench. I use Dad's, a commercially made wooden one, for light projects, but it's so nice that I hate to weld or pound anything that is made from metal on it. Mostly, it's utilized for carving or light assembly. Dad acquired the work bench when he first retired years ago and he was very proud of it. Though it's not nearly as pretty as it once was, I try not to abuse it.

The temperature was in the mid-thirties and the winds light when we started home. After about fifty miles, we spotted a formidable-looking bank of clouds on the horizon.



The wind began howling and it soon required both hands to keep the car from wandering all over the road. I drove, white knuckling the steering wheel, with an occasional admonition from Sargie to, "get over this way."



We pulled into the drive well before dark, but happy to be home. My hands and arms were ready for a rest. It had been a good day and the touch of spring in Green Bay made the drive worth the effort.

Sargie opens today. I'm not sure what Brutus and I will do other than plow yesterday's wind-driven snow from the drive. With a forecast high of five above zero, I imagine most of our activities will be confined to the inside. On a positive note, I see in the ten day forecast that by next weekend, the thermometer is to reach the mid twenties, normal highs for this time of the year, and remain that way as we inch towards spring.



Time to pour another cup of coffee, listen to the news, and think a few deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

February 24, 2015 - Tuesday
11 degrees/breezy/light snow
Pentoga Road

I'm up again early this morning getting the fire going and the house warm before we head south to Green Bay for the day. I wish I could have slept longer. I awakened before 4 AM, came downstairs, and had absolutely no urge to go back to bed. Sargie had the opposite problem. It was past midnight before she was able to fall asleep and I know she'll struggle to get out of bed. 

It's said that opposites attract and there are no more accurate words when it comes Sargie and me. In just about every category of life, we differ. 
Sargie's soft spoken. No one ever accused me of being such. 
She's a night person, I'm a early to bed/early to rise kind of guy. 
She enjoys nice clothes and always looks immaculate. I'll take a pair of old bluejeans and a ragged shirt any ol' day. 
The girl loathes cold weather and snow. Though I'm getting sick of these long record-breaking winters, I can live with them and enjoy cold-weather outside activities (when it's above zero.) 
She loves decorating the house where everything has it's place. Hey, I lived in a plywood cabin north of the arctic circle. 
I enjoy extreme physical activity with a bit of danger thrown in. Sargie's not quite so active.

But we heartily agree on the things that matter most, God, family, and country. We raised four sons each and believe in the fundamental social principals of life; good manners, honesty, and treating others fairly. 

Sargie's taught me a lot by example; one of the biggest things, the art of compromise.

She loves to shop. I love riding with her on our way to the store. 
I'd rather fish than eat. She enjoys sitting in the boat with me and has learned the sport can be fun as long as I'm willing to take the fish off her lure.
I like to dig in the garden and get dirty. Sargie enjoys eating what I grow. 
She likes her car warm before leaving for work. Starting her Kia a few minutes early has become part of my enjoyable morning routine.
Sargie had never ridden an ATV to speak of. I like to ride my four-wheelers and use both as pickup trucks and as a major mode of transportation in the summer months. She found that she loves long rides into town, sitting behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist and has learned to drive an ATV with the best of them. If and when the day arrives that she becomes the head ATV driver, I'll be more than happy to sit behind her with my arms wrapped around her waist.
Need I even mention the tractor and front end loader? The girl's a born heavy equipment operator. And as my eyes have faded a bit, she's taken over the mowing duties. Perched on the Cub Cadet, ice tea in the drink holder, the new Head of Lawn Operations says she enjoys cutting the grass, something she'd never done in her previous life.

Life's funny and the people we meet are often those we least expect, but thank God, there's a Higher Power who knows what we need even when we don't know ourselves. I've heard that God gives us exactly what we need when we need it. I'm not sure what Sargie and I did to deserve each other, but opposite or not, it's a match made in Heaven.

I see it's getting time to wake Sargie for the day. We hope to be on the road fairly early, do our shopping, and be home shortly after dark.

Oh, yesterday's events? I stayed inside, graded a few papers, made out the weekly test, carried in wood, played with the dog, and ran the sweeper over the rug in the living room. Pretty mundane stuff.

Sargie said she had a busy, but good, day.

Time to get ready for a road trip to Title Town. I probably should call Aaron and let him know I'll be in the vicinity. He might want to do lunch and discuss a few new plays I've got in mind for next season.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A proud Dad moment.
 My son, Luke, a Lieutenant with the S. Portland, Maine, Fire Department, getting ready to fight a large house fire on Sunday.

February 23, 2015 - Monday
-33/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

I'm mad. I'm really mad.

I generally begin my day by either reading or listening to the online news. I have a daily ritual where I browse websites that are known to be to the politically left or right, hopefully so I can land in the middle and glean what's really happening... CNN, Huffington Post, The Daily Beast, Drudge Report, The Daily Caller, and Fox News. I used to read the NBC News online, but I heard that some guy named Brian Williams was making it up as he went along.

I've noticed a trend over the years with the reporting. 

First, it's become biased either to the left or right, makes no difference. 

Second, what is written or said is not always necessarily true. 

Third, much of what is printed seems to be dictated directly from a government source or some other agency outside of the news bureaus. Imbalanced, fact-based, reporting seems to have gone by the wayside. It's not about being liberal or conservative. It's about telling the truth.

All that aside, there's something wrong when the headlines and first several stories published by several news organizations were about last night's Oscar presentations. I had to search for real news... and eventually found it buried down a page, intermixed with more stories of Hollywood and glamour. 

Even the normally conservative, dirt-digging, Drudge Report, began with a picture of Neil Patrick Harris wearing whitey tightys. Huffington Post, the decidedly liberal rag was all about the Oscars, but thankfully, Fox News decided that what was happening in the U.S. and world, other than show biz, was more important. 

Priorities have changed over the past generation. It's sad.

I'm finished with my lecture, but I'm still seething.

Sunday was a lazy one for Sargie and me. The temperature finally got up to -4 and the wind blew at a fairly good clip. Brutus and I didn't stand around outside for long while playing fetch and rather than accompany me as I hauled wood, he once again made a bee line for the door and stood while waiting to be let in. I think my pup is turning into a fair weather, delicate, little flower.

Sargie and I made a quick trip to town so I might purchase a door sweep. I'd earlier felt a draft coming in through the bottom of the kitchen door and upon closer inspection, found the old weather stripping along the bottom had grown brittle and cracked, leaving a gap of about six to eight inches through which the wind could seep in out of the garage.

We did our hardware shopping, grabbed a Coke each, took the long way home, and I was soon working on the door. 

Dad used to say that it takes at least twice as long to do something in cold weather as it does during warmer times. Yesterday was no exception. What might have taken ten minutes in the month of June consumed over an hour yesterday. Still, in the end, the door was made tight and the kitchen warmed significantly.



I'd taken fish out of the freezer last Friday, but because of Sargie's long work hours, we didn't have our fish feed. I started the fryer in the garage Sunday afternoon and prepared bluegill and crappie fillets along with sweet potato fries. There were two fat and happy kids looking at an empty platter two hours later.



We had a wonderfully quiet evening last night. 

Sargie has to close today. I just went out to start her car and found the battery too low to turn the engine fast enough. It's the original battery that came with the car and has seen it's better days. Thankfully, the Blazer started and instantly became the "auto du jour," especially since our friend and Sargie's coworker, Michelle, called and asked if Sargie might stop and jump her car on her way to work. It's one of those frigid, very windy, very cold mornings.



I was up at 3:30 this morning filling the wood stove. After returning to bed, Brutus decided he needed to go outside, so I trekked down the steps again. This time I stayed up reading and grading assignments.

I'll finish my university work today, try starting Sargie's car in a bit after the battery charger has had a chance to work it's magic, and otherwise remain on the inside looking out. 

We're heading for Green Bay first thing Tuesday morning to purchase needed goods at Sam's Club. No doubt there'll be a drive by of Fleet Farm, the mall, and Harbor Freight has a workbench on sale that will look good in my new shop.

At this point in my writing, I'd normally say something about pouring a cup of coffee and listening to the news, but I think I'll skip the later. Reading about Neal Patrick Harris clad only in his BVD's in front of an audience of millions just doesn't do it for me. I think I'll just grade assignments.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

There's no breeze coming in under that door!

February 22, 2015 - Sunday morning
-22/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

I was up early this morning throwing wood in the stove and intended to go back to bed for another hour or two of snuggling and dozing. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. The wood I'm currently burning was cut late last fall. Though it is from a dead tree, it contains a bit of moisture from last summer's rains. The stuff burns, it's just not overly hot, the type I like on these bitterly cold days. One bin is empty in the double wood shed with another still completely full, but I thought I'd use some of this harder wood in this cold weather. It appears I'll be going back to the softer type, that hauled from Yooper Brother Mark's plant while this frigid weather remains. It burns faster, but much hotter.

I've been shopping for barn paint. While in Iron Mountain yesterday, I stopped at Home Depot and priced five gallons of their flat red barn paint. The only problem is that it's not rated for steel siding. I've read accounts online where it supposedly works, but there's no mention of that on the label. 

Menards has red barn paint for metal and wood, but it's a pure oil base and is high gloss. I'm not so sure I want a glowing red building. I'm fearful it would end up looking more like a house of ill repute than a barn. 

Do I roll and brush the paint on or do I attempt spraying? I don't own a sprayer, don't know how to work one,  and I've heard horror stories of people who have good intentions, just like me, who've made a mess out of a project by attempting to use a sprayer. Being of the conservative nature, I imagine I'll use a roller and brush, take my time, and hope for the best. 

At any rate, I hope painting the barn will be my first warm-weather project of the spring. Anything to cover that awful powder-blue color should be an improvement.



When purchased, the house was blue with white trim and the bright red roof. With Uncle Terry's help, we changed that a couple of years ago to its current gray, a color we still love. When I asked the original owners why they painted the house blue, the reply was they needed something to match the barn. I always thought it's usually the other way around. I'm a patriot and love my country, but I don't want to live in an American flag. 

It's been suggested that I paint the barn gray to match the house. I doubt that will happen. I like red barns. Somewhere in the writings of early barn chronology, I'm sure it's stated that all barns, wood or steel, should be painted barn red; at the very least, white. It's the way I roll.

After arriving home Saturday morning from Iron Mountain, I washed the bedding and did some other house work. Sargie's worked such long hours this week that I didn't want her to worry about household chores on her one day off.

This week's assignments are beginning to filter in and I spent time reading and grading those. The university capped this semester's class at twenty students and I'm enjoying the reprieve. In fact, with the Mac being overhauled, it's worked out well, almost one of those God things. I can't imagine actually using my eyes to read assignments from an additional twenty or thirty students. I imagine this coming summer session will be full to overflowing since there were well over twenty students waiting to get into the class who didn't make it this spring. 

Much of the afternoon was spent outside plowing the drive, putting a few things away in the barn, and playing with Brutus. He seems to be much like I am, tired of being cooped up. The pup has only two speeds during these cold months. When outside, he's damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Inside the house, he's barely more than a bulldog rug. In fact, if he didn't snore and occasionally toot from the other end, one would wonder if he's still breathing. 



Vince sent an email yesterday saying my computer is being shipped on Monday. I feel like a little boy counting down the days until Christmas. With a new solid state hard drive, 8 GB of memory, and whatever else had to be done, I'm ready to install a seat belt on my recliner so the machine doesn't blow me out backwards. Vince said from start up to actual working time takes fifteen seconds.

I can hardly wait for Karen, my sizzling digitized Australian voice, to read to me. With an Aussie accent accompanied by breathy pauses, assignments will once again become, at the very least, more interesting to grade.

Ah, to train the new Mac in all the verbal commands, to take dictation, and write and send emails by voice. As I said, I'm excited. Thanks, Vince.

And the pictures... one of the reasons I carry a camera with me at all times is so that I can unload all and see them UP CLOSE and clearly on the computer screen. More times than not, I enjoy the photos of earlier happenings more than I did while the event was happening. In fact, I've not even down loaded those from our recent trip to Nevada. When I get the Mac, I'll enjoy the trip all over again. I hope you will too.

Sargie was home early last night and we enjoyed a wonderful pot pie she made from the left over pot roast, vegetables, and gravy. You know it's good; there was only one piece left from a full-sized pie. Thankfully, there's another one that I'm certain we'll demolish in the near future.

Last evening was spent snuggling in my over-sized recliner, the blanket over both of us, watching television. Sargie's worked such long and late hours this week that we've barely seen each other. The closeness was wonderful and I noticed more than once that Sargie was watching television behind closed eyes.

My girl's off today. With the frigid temperatures and stiff wind, I'm fairly certain that other than our usual Sunday afternoon ride into town, we'll remain on the inside looking out. I'm going to continue to grade papers and there's a good chance a Grandpa nap might be on the agenda for later.

It's time to throw another log on the fire... if I can get the bulldog out of the way. He seems to be guarding the stove pretty closely these days, making sure no one sneaks in and steals it.

Time to get busy. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road... 

One of Friday's chores was to take the roof off of Brutus's house and install a brooder lamp for warmth. A job that would take a few minutes in the summer months required almost an hour yesterday. 

February 21, 2015 - Saturday morning
7 degrees/partly cloudy/calm
Pentoga Road

It seems eerily warm this morning. For those who think 7 ABOVE zero is still cold, consider that it's a full 31 degrees warmer than yesterday. Unfortunately, the warming trend is forecast to be short lived. Tomorrow's high is predicted to remain a few degrees below zero.

I finally got in gear on Friday and had three loads of laundry washed, dried, folded, and put away well before noon. I must have made fifty or a million trips up and down both sets of steps as Sargie is a tough taskmaster when it comes to laundry. She likes her outer clothes separated, washed, tumbled for a few minutes in the dryer, then placed on hangers to dry naturally (and wrinkle-free) to finish the process. I don't mind and really, it takes no longer, but it sure provides a good workout hoofing from the basement to the second floor with a few articles each time while the others remain tumbling.

My next project was to place the brooder lamp in Brutus's doghouse. Thankfully, the snow is deep enough that the heavy roof (lid) could be slid off and didn't need to be lifted. I used a mere 60 watt bulb and fixed the lamp so that it is suspended up at the ceiling, well out of the bulldog's way. The pup now has central heat in his well-insulated digs.

There are several inches of cedar shavings on the floor along with two rugs and now, the brooder lamp. The house is also double insulated throughout and with the attached garage, there is no way the wind can blow directly inside.

Time was taken to attempt to clear the snow away from the third strand of wire on the deer fence that surrounds the orchard and garden area.I'd disconnected the bottom strand last December and seeing how futile it would be to shovel completely around the perimeter, I simply disconnected the third strand. Only the top two remain charged.

Honestly, if a deer wanted to break in and feast on the blueberry and apple shoots, he probably could without getting a shock. On the other hand, the beast would probably find the snow as much a hindrance as I did yesterday. 



I returned to the house cold and hungry and enjoyed watching the movie Wild. It's a true story about a young lady who solo-hiked the Pacific Coast Trail along with the tribulations she encountered. Needless to say, by movie's end, I was ready to strap on my hiking shoes and kick off on the thousand mile trek.

That didn't happen, but I did hike the three miles to the lake and back. It felt good to have the blood once again become liquefied and upon finishing, muttered a silent oath that I will continue to walk daily, even if it's just to the end of the road. Becoming fat and out of shape is easy. It's remaining active, especially in the coldest of times, that's the challenge.

I'm not overly confident our land line phone service will remain intact all winter.

Sargie was scheduled to get off early and there was still plenty of light. I hopped in the Blazer and chugged over to Iron Mountain so I might meet and ride home with her. After eating fish sandwiches, (thanks for supper, Sargie!) our trip home seemed to be over in minutes. We talked and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. Sargie's worked some very long hours this week and the time we've spent together has been minimal.

She opens this morning and I'll ride over and drive back home. After? Who knows. I've thought about going ice fishing, am fairly certain I'll plow the couple of inches of snow that fell last night from the drive, or I might take advantage of the warm weather and give the garage and barn a light cleaning. That means putting away the tools that have hurriedly been thrown on the bench these past several weeks. Maybe I'll get wild and do all three.

Meanwhile, the coffee's done and I ought to think a deep thought or two while listening to the news.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

February 20, 2015 - Friday
24 below zero/partly cloudy/calm
Pentoga Road

Thankfully, a few clouds are beginning to drift in causing the thermometer to creep upwards. We had a low of -32 overnight, the second in a row of temperatures below -30. Thank God for global warming. Can you imagine how cold it would be without it? 

Last year's record-breaking low temperatures didn't happen for naught. I learned. The pipes wrapped in heat tape in the basement are remaining warm enough to keep the water from freezing. Even the discharge pipe on the wash machine (also wrapped in heat tape) is clear. There have been no hour-long sessions with a blow dryer.... yet. 

The past two days have seen me enter hibernation mode. The symptoms: the less I'm able to do outside because of cold temperatures, the less I actually want to do either inside or out. 

I've worked a bit on the drywall in the bathroom, but there's plenty left... nah, I  don't feel like doing that. 

I've been meaning to make some more cranberry English muffins, Sargie's favorite... maybe later. 

There's a brooder lamp to be hung in Brutus's doghouse so he might keep toasty warm when we're gone and he's outside.... sure, but I'll do that when the weather gets warmer.

And the list goes on and on. It happened yearly at the cabin and to a lesser extent in Sitka. Come late winter, north of the Arctic Circle, when I wasn't traveling and teaching, all I wanted to do was sleep or otherwise remain non-productive. In Sitka, I'd go to work, but basically, slog through the late winter days, occasionally breaking the monotony by going fishing. I'd do the same here if only the mercury would rise above zero.

How soon spring arrives determines when the hibernation ends. There are so many things I want to do, but right now, it's like going window shopping without a penny in one's pocket. I can dream. I can look, but it's going to be another month or two before anything actually happens.

I sound as though I'm whining, but I'm not really; just simply making an observation. I've gone into late winter hibernation for many years. Even while working, the spring in my step diminished somewhat until the days grew longer and warmer.

Meanwhile...

Brother-in-law Ross and I were supposed to watch some practice jumps for the International Ski Jumping contests in Iron Mountain on Thursday, but due to the cold and windy weather, we decided not to. He called later in the morning and said only two contestants had launched themselves from the giant slide and it was slow going.

The rest of the day was spent in semi-hibernation. I graded papers and made comments, did some housework, carried in wood and played with Brutus, but even the 125 lb piece of gristle with a heartbeat, whom I call my constant companion, wasn't too keen on playing fetch outside. He retrieved the ball three times, then on the fourth, with the ball in his mouth, made a bee-line to the door. Once inside, he lay in front of the wood stove and promptly fell sound asleep.

Sargie had to close last night and wasn't home until well past 8. We had a quick supper, watched television for an hour, then it was off to bed.

Today promises to be warmer with a high of +12 predicted. I'm going to attempt to break out of this late winter stupor and do something meaningful. Two loads of laundry have been washed with sweeping the kitchen and dining room floors next on the agenda. I'm going to crawl into Brutus's house and hang that brooder lamp after which, I'm taking off and hiking five miles. And following that? I very well may work on the age-old issue of solving perpetual motion.

Because you know what they say... a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road... 

We found this heavy glass globe at the Habitat for Humanity Restore this past weekend. It's going to take a bit of imagination, but I hope it will become a yard light in the front this summer. There'll be a bit of imagination required, plus redoing some metal pieces, coupled with electrical work, but I think it's definitely doable. For the $5 asking price, it's worth a try.

February 18, 2015 - Wednesday
-16 degrees/clear/breezy
Pentoga Road

So I've been thinking about this wooden pyramid design I found on the internet in which to grow strawberries and have decided I'm going to try it. I'm attempting to gradually grow the garden at more eye-level so I don't have to crawl on my hands and knees to see what's growing. The strawberry bed alongside the barn needs to be replaced this year; it's been four years. I'll try the pyramid as a replacement.

I've been doing a lot of "idea shopping" on Pinterest, (where these pictures were found) a website where people share their photos and ideas for about any project one can think of. I enjoy looking at the various gardening pictures and with some, attempt to calculate how one or the other might fit into my future garden plans. 

If nothing else, it's a wonderful way to spend the wintry days inside... planning for the time when warmer weather arrives.

I've also been looking at pictures of raised beds and garden ponds. Now that I have a backhoe, digging a pond shouldn't be a problem. Affording the heavy liner might be more of a challenge. 

Remodeling the garden this summer means that much of it will have to be removed so that I might start again. I'll still have several beds, but no doubt, the growing area will be greatly reduced while the new is being constructed. We'll see what happens. Hey, there's no rule saying a guy can't dream, especially when it's sixteen below zero, windy, and snow covers the ground.

So I've got projects coming out my ears, if only I had a place to work on them. Top priority for this summer is to build an insulated shop in the barn. Yooper Brother Mark suggested I purchase an inexpensive, large, camping trailer, pull it alongside the barn, connect the two, then strip the trailer and make a workshop out of that leaving the furnace and whatever all I need intact. After, I would need to build a roof coming out from the barn to protect it from snow. I don't know, but whatever I do, it'll happen this summer. 

School openings were delayed by two hours this morning due to the low temperatures. Sargie and I were talking... neither of us remember school ever being cancelled or delayed due to a cold morning. I do remember Mom telling my sister and me to " bundle up" and making sure we did so on especially cold mornings. But of course, back then, common sense was still in vogue, when parents, not the schools, were largely responsible for their children's dress and behavior.

I got the Blazer out of hock from the mechanic's yesterday morning. Though it cost an arm and a leg, our old SUV was pronounced in good shape and should continue to serve us for many years to come.

The rest of the day was spent on the inside looking out. I did a bit of sketching, something I enjoyed doing as a youngster. In fact, one Christmas, one of my bigger gifts was a Jon Gnagy "Learn to Draw" set. Though Mom assured me I had the talent to become a junior Norman Rockwell, I really didn't. I think she was simply happy to see me sit for more than two minutes doing something constructive. 

And as with my Jon Gnagy drawings of fifty-five years ago, yesterday's sketches found themselves in the wood stove. 

I was much more talented with the Etch a Sketch. I got my first when I was around ten years of age and owned several throughout the years, including one kept at the cabin and on the boat in Alaska.

In fact, as recently as six years ago, I was still etch-a-sketching. There was seldom a landscape, room, or structure I couldn't draw. Why it could be done with buttons and not by hand is beyond me. I guess it was for the same reason that I could never sing worth a darn, but was able to master most musical instruments, playing both by note and ear.

Well, anyway, yesterday's sketching went into the wood stove and I turned my attentions back to this summer's garden design. Right now, I've included everything but the kitchen sink. Common sense dictates that I need to be a bit more realistic. There's even a screened elevated gazebo alongside the garden pond (that also includes a fountain in the middle with a water falls at one end) and a decorative fire pit close by. Yeah... like I said earlier, a guy can dream.

Meanwhile...

I spent most of the afternoon either carrying in wood, playing with Brutus, or sketching while listening to the music station, Pandora. I enjoy a big band mix from the 30's and 40's, and find I know most the tunes and words from the days when I played in such an ensemble beginning in high school and lasting through college. I played bass, the big bass fiddle, with six other musicians, the youngest being fifteen or twenty years my senior.

Last night was a quiet one. Sargie and I spent time looking at a few of my older Alaska pictures online. She hadn't seen many, especially of my arctic and Southeast days.  

Who is that young guy sitting on the steps of his cabin during the arctic summer months?

Sargie opens today and it appears she may close tonight. With only two opticians working and the doctor's schedule booked solid with patients, she'll be like Little Black Sambo and lucky not to turn into butter by day's end. 

I have already begun working on the drywall project. Next comes a bit of mud, some sanding, and hopefully, a coat or two of paint. If only it matches. 

It's time to get back to work. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Cooling off in the current of the Mighty Brule River several summers ago.

February 17, 2015 - Tuesday
-11/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

I've got the energy of a slug, possibly a rock. Lying in my recliner with the sun shining through the windows and covered in my grandpa blankie, a battle is waging with my eyelids. They want to close... and I'm about to let them.

It's cold outside with no relief in sight. With lows close to -30 in the forecast, I think my body is subconsciously protesting the fact that this global warming is about to freeze us to death.

Mississippi Brother Garry is having the same problem down in his neck of the woods. He said it went from the 70's to the 40's on Monday and he's having difficulty getting motivated to do any work. I think this laziness and want to take a nap is a continental epidemic infecting old retired grandpas.

I talked with Yooper Brother Mark last night. He's at their plant in Kentucky, right where yesterday's winter storm dumped a foot of wet, heavy, snow. Poor guy, can't escape the snow and cold, even several hundred miles south of here. Being a fairly new grandpa, he has yet to perfect the fine art of taking a morning nap when the weather is nasty on the outside. He will. It takes a bit of practice and assuming one wants to keep his job, being retired certainly helps.

A week ago today, Sargie, Sheri, Mark, and I, were gallivanting around Freemont Street in Las Vegas clad in shorts and t-shirts. I felt young and alive, not unlike Forrest Gump, who began running and never felt the need to stop. I wanted to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, ride the Ferris wheel and roller coaster on the Las Vegas strip, and plug pennies into slot machines.

Back to reality...

I took the Blazer to the mechanic's yesterday. He gave me a loaner to drive back home.

The rest of the day was spent grading papers. Thankfully, the Chromebook has a large screen which made reading much easier. The computer doesn't read to me like the old Mac, but with half inch sized font, I have no problem reading due assignments.

In the good news department, I learned that I'll be teaching the summer session of Alaska Studies beginning in June. With all the gloom and doom coming out of the university due to the crash in oil prices, I wasn't overly optimistic. I'll take it a semester at a time and be thankful for whatever work they throw my way. UAS has certainly treated me well over the years; a real class institution.

After closing and arriving home late last evening, Sargie had to work early today. She'll be a tired girl tonight. There's some drywall in the bathroom that I need to fix, one of my least favorite jobs in the world. I guess I ought to get to it while the weather is cold. I certainly don't want to be doing interior tasks once spring arrives.

But first, for just a little while, I think I'll remain covered from neck to toe with my grandpa blankie and close my eyes for just a bit. You know, think about that drywall job and possibly dream of warmer days ahead. After all. a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Grandma Sargie and Grady having a serious conversation

February 16, 2015 - Monday
2 above zero/cloudy/calm
Pentoga Road

It's been a nice break, not writing daily, and really, I hadn't planned to resume this soon. However, I did get a new Chromebook, compliments of HP, to replace the other that was covered by the manufacturer and was dying to test drive the thing. So far/so good. I absolutely love these 14 inch Chromebooks. Hopefully, this one will prove to be a bit more durable. 

We ventured to Marquette on Sunday to pick up this new laptop from Best Buy. Of course, a trip to the big city dictated that we make a Grandma/Grandpa stop to visit Macrea and Baby Grady. Grandma and I took turns making funny faces, strange noises, and playing with the little guy. (Grady, NOT Macrea.)

Sargie has a few days of vacation time to use the first week of March and it appears Grady may spend some time with us then. I'm already making plans... ice fishing, snowmobiling... maybe doing a bit of snowshoeing. Okay, maybe I'm pushing it a bit, but I know he likes to sit on his Grandpa Pennington's lap, talk in a language that only he can understand, chew on anything that will fit in his mouth, and drool. That's good enough for me. We'll work on the outside activities later.



Our vacation with Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri to Las Vegas was one of the most fun times we've ever had. I'll talk more about that when I post pictures (still waiting for the Mac). We did all the tourist things, gambled just a bit and between Sargie (AKA Miss Kitty... as on the old Gun Smoke series) and I, left Las Vegas with thirteen dollars more in our pockets than when we arrived. I know, last of the big-time spenders. It's hard to make a lot of money playing penny slot machines, a penny a pull, but on the other hand, one gets a lot more bang, time-wise, for his buck.



We laughed and gabbed and enjoyed our new digs, even if they were only ours for a few days. We observed more homeless people than I've ever seen, witnessed a rotund man wearing bunny ears and dressed in a bikini, and watched a man and a woman prance around glad only in diapers and duct tape. I'll let your imagination take it from there, but go ahead and picture the worst.

Sargie, Sheri, Mark, and I, spent lots of time in a large hot tub simply talking and relaxing. Those were my most favorite moments.

Mark and Sheri at the Grand Canyon

We visited Lake Meade, Hoover Dam, and the Grand Canyon. Next on my bucket list; hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, spend a day alongside Bright Angel Falls and the Colorado River, then hike out on the third day. All I need is a spare set of eyes. Sister and brother-in-law, Debbie and Pat are outdoor enthusiasts. I wonder how many jars of maple syrup and pickles it would take to bribe one or both into the venture? Stay tuned.



Oh, and the weather? WONDERFUL! How could we leave on a morning when it was -22 and spend a week basking in sunshine and temperatures in the mid 70's and not enjoy it? 



More to come when I publish the pictures.

So life is back to normal. Sargie's working today, I'm grading papers. It's bitterly cold outside. Frigid. (The weather service's words, not mine.)

The Blazer is at the garage getting a new water pump and something else installed. I'll pick it up tomorrow morning. It's been leaking copious amounts of antifreeze and I'll be happy to have it fixed. 

So that's life from this end. It's time to get back to grading papers and throwing wood into the stove.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...