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...