A coyote caught on the trail cam early this morning.

May 14, 2015 - Thursday evening

54 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

The trilliums are beautiful this year.

I started Thursday by riding to Iron Mountain with Sargie. We had a nice, relaxing, ride and after saying goodbye, I went on to Home Depot and purchased a few pressure treated 2x4's with which to fix the kayak racks.

I stopped later and bought a flat of red, white, and blue, petunias. After arriving back home, I spent some time poking them through the holes in the dirt-filled pipe planter I made a week ago.

The flowers will hopefully grow and completely cover the pipe.

I had to break down and call the dentist today. He told me last fall that there was a cavity under one of my fifty year-old fillings and that I'd need a crown. I've put it off and procrastinated, but since the old filling is falling out in pieces, I thought I'd better give him a call. My appointment is on the 26th.

I spent quite a bit of time in the garden. The first order of business was to plant the giant pumpkin. I'd dug a three foot deep and three foot round hole a couple of weeks ago and filled it completely with compost. A Wall of Water was filled to protect the plant from any cold weather. Now it's just a matter of continual fertilizing, watering, and watching it grow.

That entire space to the other end of the garden is dedicated to just one plant... the giant pumpkin. 

I also planted a few tomato plants, some ground cherries, and a few cucumber seeds. It's still early for the warm-weather vegetables.

There's been a slow leak in the front right tire of the Cub Cadet. I've put off fixing it by simply adding air each time we've used the mower. I figured there was no time like the present.

Thankfully, the hole was still in the bottom of the tire, not on the side, and I was able to successfully put a plug in it.

I noticed a robin kept flying in and out of the barn while I was working on the tire. It took me a while, but I discovered what it was doing... making a nest on top of the electric door unit. I waited until the robin went outside for more building material and made quick work of getting rid of the nest.

The trail camera is taking some interesting shots. Last night's photo session produced pictures of a curious coyote and a nosy raccoon.

I spent the rest of the afternoon working in the area to the south of the garden, mostly raking rocks and later mowing. Its still rough, but what a difference from a year ago.

I started the charcoal smoker earlier this afternoon and smoked several pork loins. Sargie and I enjoyed a couple for supper along with a baked potato each. There are enough loins left over for another meal, probably two or three.

Today's Baby Grady's first birthday. We'll be going to the first of two birthday parties this weekend. Happy birthday little guy! Sargie and I are hosting a big Mighty Milligan first birthday party in another week.

Sargie works early tomorrow. There's rain in the forecast so it might be a shop day. If the rain misses us, I'll be mowing and working in the garden.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...