March 21, 2015 - Saturday 
28 degrees/partly cloudy/breezy
Pentoga Road

I have to laugh. I made a comment yesterday early-morning about how dark it was. At the time, I assumed heavy clouds blanketed the area. It wasn't until later that I remembered there was a solar eclipse that was to occur about that time. Duh.

Friday was a busy one. The day began with my usual five-mile stroll. I can feel my summer legs are returning and though I swore I'd not be taking any more solo long distance hikes, visions of a three-day fifty-miler (or longer) began walking through my head. There's a 1,000 mile trail, one that is fairly simple, that ambles through Wisconsin. Maybe I should explore part of that in the future.

One of the many landscapes I enjoy along my walking route. With the gradual spring melt this year, there's been little to no flooding.

After arriving home, I gathered the paperwork for the trailer and headed to the Department of Motor Vehicles. There were no other customers and the young lady who waited on me was quite helpful. In one trip, I managed to register and get a lifetime plate and pay the sales tax for the trailer, register the boat, get new tags (that were due in June) for the Kia and Blazer, and renew my driver's license that was also due in June. Since everything is on computer, it was truly one-stop shopping... and very expensive. Half an hour later and $300 lighter, I walked out of the place wondering if there was any future in robbing a bank.

The maple bags had run hard Wednesday night and all were full to overflowing. I'm grateful I don't have more than a few trees tapped. There's already close to eighty gallons of sap waiting to be boiled, enough for two gallons of syrup. It won't be long and we'll process what we have and call it a season.



I made a call to the insurance agent and arranged to have theft coverage placed on the new trailer. It's relatively inexpensive and now I don't have to worry about someone coming along, hooking onto it, and never seeing it again. 

The rest of the day was spent inside working on grading assignments or out in the shop building the pyramids. As of last night, I was completely caught up with my class and there's only one more planter on which to build the exterior frame and I'll be ready to begin cutting the shelves for all three. 



Sargie was home early last night and we had a nice, quiet, evening. She opens today, but thankfully, is off tomorrow. 

The weather has turned in the north woods. The high today is forecast to be a paltry 32 degrees and it appears winter is attempting to make one last stand. Carl the Weatherman has been talking about "significant precipitation, probably falling in the form of wet snow," for the middle of next week, something that's not unusual for this time of the year. 

I'll take my hike this morning and no doubt, there'll be papers to grade later today. If I can keep my hands warm, I'll continue to work on the strawberry planters in the shop. Otherwise, there's a garage that needs a spring cleaning, a task I've been putting off.

Time for a 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...

March 20, 2015 - Friday
33 degrees/cloudy - snow flurries/breezy
Pentoga Road

It's dark and cold this morning. I hope winter isn't returning. Spring has been too much fun.

The ride down to Green Bay was wonderful on Thursday morning. We talked the entire time, often laughing, and the two and a half hours flew by. 

It will be a few months before Lambeau Field reawakens to the 2015 football season.

Our first stop was at Fleet Farm where I purchased a large lawn sweeper. We spend hours in the fall raking the maple leaves from our yard and the summer months finds us leaving grass clippings that have been tracked in throughout the house. The sweeper I purchased, a large pull-behind affair, is heavy, well-built, and should cover our lawn in the matter of minutes. Naturally, it has to be assembled. 

I also bought a small, upright, toolshed to put alongside the greenhouse. It's almost six feet tall, but is only big enough to hold garden tools; a shovel and rake and possibly a few other implements. I've wanted to purchase this particular type for the past three years and yesterday, it was on sale. Boom. Oh yes, it too requires assembly.

We made our usual foray into Sam's Club for supplies and then stopped by a shoe store where Sargie bought a new pair for work. 



And finally, on our way out of town, we purchased our new trailer.



The trailer itself is going to work just fine for our needs. It's heavy, has sides tall enough to hold wood, big enough to carry my four wheelers or the mower or a snowmobile and ice shack, and pulled so easily that most the time, when coming home, we forgot it was behind us.

But the real trailer success story lies with John, the owner of Bay Trailer Depot, in Howard, (Green Bay) Wisconsin. A young man of 33, he typifies what used to be the American dream. With a small loan, the business began two years ago with just a few trailers. Today, there are well over a hundred various makes and models, has a sales person, and his wife has decided to leave a successful career to come work with her husband. I heard of their three young children, two of whom are in elementary school.

I'm not sure what I'm trying to say here other than in a country of entitlements where mediocrity and laziness has become the norm, even rewarded, John has asked nothing other than the opportunity to work hard and build a business. It was so refreshing to hear words like, "yes please, no thank you, I'll get it, I sure appreciate your business, be sure to let me know if you have any questions in the future," and a host of other polite and sincere litanies. 

John wouldn't allow us to leave before he made sure the trailer lights were working and spent several minutes making minor repairs to the connection plug on the Blazer. The last thing I saw as we left the parking lot was John waving to us. I'm sure his parents are proud of him. I barely know the man and I am. 

The trip home was flawless and we arrived to some very full sap bags hanging from the sugar maples. With Sargie's help, we unloaded the trailer, then the Blazer, and together, we emptied the bags. It had been a fun and flying trip to Green Bay.



Sargie opens at the Vision Center today. With rain in the forecast for this afternoon, I'm going to walk my usual five miles then venture to the state license bureau to register the trailer. The boat is also due for renewal this year.

After, I hope to continue work on the strawberry planters. I'd like to get them done before the next bout of cold weather returns. I see single numbers for lows are in the offing with a fairly good chance of snow arriving next Tuesday and Wednesday. 

But first, I'm going to pour a cup of coffee and think some deep thoughts. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

We received a picture of this little Leprechaun last night. Seems we weren't the only ones who were celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year. 

March 19, 2015 - Thursday
17 degrees/clear/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's a short one today. We're heading to Green Bay after while to get the new trailer.

Wednesday was a beautiful day. I rode with Sargie to Iron Mountain making a stop at the recycle place to deposit a winter's worth of daily newspapers, put gas in Sargie's car, kissed her goodbye, then dropped off my tax material, and chugged back home with an SUV full of lumber. 

I never thought the color green could excite me so much. Seems the ferns and undergrowth are as anxious for spring to arrive as the rest of us.

The first order of business at home was to empty the sap bags. Most were full to overrunning and each was half frozen. Ice makes emptying difficult, but since the pure water freezes first, leaving the concentrated sugar water in liquid form, it can save a lot of boiling later on. I now have 32 gallons of concentrate, translating into a gallon or more of syrup when the processing begins.



Knowing we'd be going to Green Bay today, I checked the Blazer and made it ready for the trip; air in the tires, oil level, windshield wiper fluid, etc. I believe it's ready, at least as ready as it can be.

I trapped the first squirrel of the year on Wednesday. Only 29 more to go to meet my goal.

I raked around Brutus's house. It seems the pup tends to "collect" goodies during the year, mostly half-chewed sticks. He's good to go for the summer season.

While I was raking around his house, Brutus had found a sunny place and was supervising with his eyes closed.

The rest of the day was spent working on the next three pyramids in the shop. I got more done than I anticipated I would and should start cutting the shelving in the next day or two.

So I don't forget the different angles, I've taken snapshots of each for various cuts on the pyramids.

Sargie was home fairly early last night. I cut up chicken breasts, breaded the pieces, and made chicken strips for supper. Those along with a baked potato made up our meal.



As mentioned above, we're heading to Green Bay shortly. No doubt, there'll be stops at the usual places before picking up the new trailer and heading back north.

But first, I can smell the coffee is done. Oops, Sargie's almost ready. I need to hustle.

Extra strawberry plants I'd just stuck in the ground last year. These and many more will soon be growing in the pyramids.

Ah, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Winter is beginning to lose its grip on a large beaver dam

March 18, 2015 - Wednesday
25 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

This very early morning business needs to cease. I awakened at 2:30 AM, heeded nature's call, then returned to bed, but not to sleep. 

After a few hours of sleep, my mind is capable of going into overdrive, finding some obscure thought then obsessing on it. This morning's beginning thought: how much wood should I work up this summer to provide heat for next winter?

I mean, really... the current winter's not over yet and I probably have enough firewood for next year, possibly the year after, yet my mind refused to rest. 

Thinking of firewood led to wondering whether I should call and have heating oil delivered this spring or wait until the summer months and from there to pondering the price of gasoline which made me think of going over to Iron Mountain this morning to get the Blazer and we certainly don't want to forget to include the box of newspapers to take to the recycling place... and my mind rambled on and on and on and on and on.  

I rolled over and rubbed Sargie's back while playing with her hair and listened to her soft breathing accompanied by Brutus's not-so-subtle snores from the other side of the room. The oversized pup would occasionally yip, all four legs running through the nighttime air, chasing some unseen critter through his own field of dreams. 

Counting sheep, that's it. I started at a hundred and intended to count backwards when I remembered I should recite my morning prayers, but before I was through with those, it occurred to me that we need to purchase dog food while in Green Bay tomorrow... and speaking of Green Bay, the Packers really need to draft an inside linebacker. 

Enough. I finally gave up on any thoughts of sleeping. It might only be 3 AM, but it was time to get up for the day. If my mind had that much energy, perhaps my body would follow suit. 

Tuesday was a productive day. After hiking my usual early morning five-miles, I returned home to a big bowl of Sargie's oatmeal whose recipe came by way of sister-in-law, Nancy. Sargie had prepared it Sunday morning and there was a bowl left over. With a bit of water added and a tour through the microwave oven, it was ready. 

The recipe? Sargie said there was everything from vanilla and peanut butter to raisins and maple syrup. The bowl contained oatmeal perfection.

While waiting for it to heat, I thought of the gruel I used to make while living in the Arctic Circle. I'd whip up a huge batch, enough for six or eight people. With fistful's of raisins and scoops of brown sugar, I'd eat what I wanted then pour the rest into a bread pan to set up overnight. 

It was sliced the next morning and fried in butter with each portion drowned in homemade brown sugar syrup. Better oatmeal has never been tasted; well, at least in northern Alaska. 

I returned to the barn Tuesday morning and continued assembling the workbench. Two hours later, it was finished. The process was more difficult than usual due to the cold temperatures, well below freezing. Working without gloves made for numb fingers and that caused me to drop small nuts and bolts... which caused me to say all those words that Mom would have washed my mouth out for uttering, had she been within hearing distance. 

But finally, after starting the small propane heater and periodically warming my hands, the last nut was fastened and I could cross that job off my list. 



The red pine squirrels, those half-sized bushy-tailed rats, have come out of their winter stupor by the billions. I took the time to set and bait my token squirrel trap and there's little doubt that the first rodent of the year will soon be caught. I trapped well over twenty last summer. For those who are clicking their tongues, try ridding your house or garage of red pine squirrels once they have chewed a hole under the roof and decided to move in. The battle wages on.

Brutus likes to scratch his bed, much like one fluffs a pillow before going to sleep.Unfortunately, in doing so the other day, he made a huge hole. I spent well over an hour Tuesday afternoon stitching it closed with heavy monofilament fishing line. 

I called Sargie's accountant yesterday and made arrangements to drop off my tax information later today. I've had H&R Block do my taxes in the past, but each year, it's gotten progressively more expensive. 

Last year, I received a small refund. Hopefully, it will be the same this year, although I'm fearful I may owe some state income tax. We have a governor who claims to be a fiscal conservative, but can tax and spend with the best of them. In fact, every time I open the newspaper, it seems he's proposing a new tax, the latest, an increase on gasoline. When I purchased this property, there was no state tax on retirement income, one of the reasons I bought in the Upper Peninsula. That changed with this present governor a few years ago. Needless to say, he's not my most favorite politician.

I rummaged through the file cabinet yesterday in search of this year's W4's and anything else that looked as though it might help my cause. It's currently in a big envelope, labeled, and ready to go.

I drove to Iron Mountain late Tuesday afternoon and purchased enough lumber to build three more strawberry pyramids. I figure as long as the blades are set on the saws and the barn is a mess, I might as well do all the cutting and building at one time. After filling the Blazer with gas (down to $2.25 a gallon yesterday) I parked the SUV for the night and waited for Sargie to finish with work. We rode home together after a stop for Cokes-to-go. 

Sargie works early this morning and I'll be riding with her to retrieve the Blazer and run a few errands. Though it was cold yesterday, the sap still ran and I need to empty the bags. After, I'll unload the lumber and begin cutting out the pieces for the planters. The weather promises to be warmer and sunny; a good day to work.

Sargie and I will be heading to Green Bay early Thursday morning where we'll do a bit of shopping before purchasing the new trailer. It's going to be a busy next couple of days.

But then, am I surprised? After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

March 17, 2015 - Tuesday
24 degrees/clear/windy
Pentoga Road

And Happy St. Patrick's Day to you! Sharing my life and my love with a girl whose last name is Milligan means that we're wearing green today. May the blessings of St. Patrick be on us all.

It's a slow one in the What's Happening On Pentoga Road Department. Our summer-like temperatures have been replaced with more seasonal ones. It was in the upper 40's, cloudy, and calm last night when we went to bed. This morning dawned the exact opposite. 

After my usual five mile walk Monday morning, I collected another eight gallons of sap from the sixteen taps, a fairly good average. It's all going into a large collection barrel (better known as a sterilized garbage can) where it will be boiled down all at once.

Monday's project? Begin assembly of the Harbor Freight workbench.

The rest of Monday was spent in the barn working on the tool bench I'd purchased last month from Harbor Freight. I was going to get more lumber and begin construction of another strawberry planter, but I didn't really want to drive in the rain, and besides, what good is a workbench still in a million pieces inside a box? 



The engineer who dreamed up the construction of the workbench must have been a redheaded stepchild and decided to take his childhood abuse out on others. Dawning the magnifiers, I began assembly.



The first four hours crawled by and still, the bench was only half assembled. I felt sick to my stomach (wearing the magnifiers for any length of time usually results in nausea. Everything is either too close or too far or too blurry.) and my eyes hurt. More than a bit disgusted and muttering words that, in my youth, caused Mama to wash my mouth out with soap, I quit.



There was a pot of gold... well, corned beef, at the end of the rainbow. I came in the house and fixed a huge sandwich on Italian bread filled with left over corned beef and pickled baby yellow squash from last summer's garden, all topped with mayonnaise. A short afternoon nap followed.



It was time to get back to the barn and continue on the workbench.

I worked another two hours before the eyes gave out once again. At least I'm within sight of the finish line and should complete the task this morning. Amen.



Sargie was supposed to be home early last night, but a late onslaught of patients caused her to work much later than planned. We enjoyed tuna salad for supper in front of the television watching the first episode of Dancing With the Stars. 

Sargie closes tonight and I'm planning on driving over to Iron Mountain late this afternoon, leaving the Blazer, and riding back with her. I'll ride over with her in the morning and purchase what lumber I need from Home Depot to make another two pyramids. 

I'm going to walk my five miles this morning and enjoy the fresh air. No doubt, I'll attempt to finish the workbench after, then there's that pesky after-lunch grandpa nap. I'm fairly certain that it's written in the Grandpa Handbook that an afternoon nap is required several times a week. 

Meanwhile, it's time to grab another cup of coffee, listen to the news, and think some deep thoughts. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Brutus found some mud in which to dig while I was working in the barn.

It must be the Easter season. Luke sent this picture of their black lab, Guiness, checking out Kevin, the rabbit.

March 16, 2015 - Monday

43 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Andy sent this picture from Seattle where he and a working buddy are obviously battling evil in the Star Wars mode.
Andy is on a work boat in Everette, Washington, and will be heading up to the new Shell oil rig in the Chukchi Sea off of Barrow, Alaska. 

It's a dark morning out there and according to Carl the Weatherman, it's to rain today then turn colder and snow. I guess our token bout of global warming is about over. 

The past two days have been busy. Saturday was much cooler and most of the activities were confined to inside. 

Sunday dawned sunny and much warmer. I headed out the door to finish the strawberry pyramid. It's amazing how quickly everything goes once the angles and cuts are configured and set. 

I soon discovered a way to make all the shelving at once, cut the angles and bevel them.

I spent almost one whole day building the basic frame. Then another was spent and with Mike's help, calculating the angles and setting the saw blades. Once that was done, the pyramid almost flew together. I did two sides on Sunday in less than an hour.

Little things, like laying it partially down, helped a lot to see what I was doing.

I'm going to make at least two, maybe three, more pyramids to replace the strawberry bed alongside the barn. It was planted six years ago and should have been replaced two to three years after. I'll try the pyramid method. If it doesn't work, I can always make flower planters out of each and go back to the conventional way of growing. There's also a large strawberry patch in the orchard.

I'll landscape along the barn, install some pavers, etc., then fill the pyramids with dirt, and plant berries. There's a solar light mounted on top of the planter.

I collected 11 gallons of sap from 16 bags on Sunday; a pretty good average. I was so grateful that I didn't have a hundred and sixty bags hanging like I did two years ago. I hope to do my boiling all at once this year getting possibly one or two gallons of syrup. 

Neighbor Mike wants to make syrup, but he's gone to Florida for the next three weeks. If it's still running when he gets back, we'll make more. 

Last night was St. Agnus's annual St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage feed. I think it was the best corned beef they've ever served and as always, there was plenty to go around. In fact, we brought some home. 

The next two photos by Art Arigone

You can tell, Sheri's hanging onto every word I'm saying.

We met Sheri at the church and Yooper Brother Mark, who was helping in the kitchen, joined us for supper. It was a fun time.

We went grocery shopping after supper and was home soon after to enjoy a quiet evening.

Sargie opens today which means she should be home fairly early tonight. I'm going to walk my five miles first thing, then after, who knows? I would like to get some more lumber and begin making the next pyramids. It all depends on the weather and how cold it gets. 

One thing is certain; it's time to pour another cup of coffee, listen to the news, and think some deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Three sides to go and the strawberry pyramid will be finished.

March 14, 2015
37 degrees/cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

Friday was the picture perfect day of what springtime weather should be. The high ended up being in the 60's with bright sunshine and very little breeze.

I began the day by visiting Neighbor Mike. He called on Thursday night to be sure I'd come up the hill and drink coffee. I wouldn't have missed it. The coffee was great, but the blueberry pancakes he made, topped with Pentoga Road pure maple syrup, were out of this world.

Saying that if I ate any more, I'd have to take a nap, I made my way back home and into the garage where I hung two book cases that Sargie had stored over the years. 

I wanted to put up some kind of framing to minimize drilling holes in the cabinets.

Both are the inexpensive kind, particle board covered in paper, but each has a sentimental meaning from days gone by. On the back was written of a night long ago when Sargie and Macrea, then only 13 years old, assembled both and had one of those mother/son evenings filled with lots of good memories. 

I kept the shelves in the garage all winter and worked hard not to let either get wet. Now, they are up off the floor.

The pop/bait refrigerator we keep in the garage needed cleaning and was dragged outside and washed thoroughly with hot soapy water. It's now ready for another summer season.



I worked all afternoon on the strawberry pyramid. Things went well until I was ready to cut the shelves that go down each of the four sides. I was able to figure out the side angles with no problem, but since the boards tilt downwards, the angle for the width, the chamfer, eluded me.

Making the basic frame was no walk in the park. Now how to figure the angles of the shelves that fasten to it?

After two hours, I gave up and sought Neighbor Mike's advice. Mike is a real carpenter, not a fake like me. He's built several homes along with anything pertaining to wood inside, including cabinets, railing, trim, etc. etc. He even carved his own railings for the balcony in the camp.

I don't feel so bad about my lack of angle knowledge. It took Mike quite a while to calculate how to set the saws; it took two, the table saw and the miter saw, but in the end, the angle mystery was solved.



Mike stayed for a bit and we hung the shelves on one of the four sides. Since everything is set up to do the others (and I now know how to figure the angles for the future) I hope to finish this project today. 

I was dead tired when I finally walked in the house last night. It was almost dark and Sargie was on her way home after a very long day of work.

I popped popcorn and we called that supper. The evening was short and bed felt good.

Sargie opens today. I hope to finish the pyramid and think I might build two or three more in the next month. The lumber is some of the most inexpensive (treated dog ear fencing material) and I enjoy working in the shop. I've also thought of making an extra one or two to sell to recoup my expenses for the lumber.

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

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...