Grady was "talking" to his daddy on the shoe... 'er phone.

May 22, 2015 - Friday morning

26 degrees/sunny/calm

Pentoga Road

It's going to be a busy one today as we try to culminate all our activities in preparation for the Baby Grady Mighty Milligan first birthday party tomorrow afternoon. 

We didn't let a lot of grass grow under our feet on Thursday. Neighbor Mike called early and invited me up for coffee. Sargie was getting ready for the day, Grady was still sleeping, and so I went up to socialize and talk man-talk for a few minutes.

Time for a tubby in the kitchen sink. We're going to see Auntie Nancy!

We left for Foster City around 9 AM and had a pleasant time visiting with Nancy high atop Milligan Mountain. It's one of the most beautiful places I've seen in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Looking towards the old barn and wooden silo

While I tied the patio furniture into the trailer, Auntie Nancy played with Grady.

Nancy and Sargie went down the basement for something or the other. Grady was determined to follow. I blocked his way, so he attempted an escape and got his head into a space too little to get out of. I had to lift the chair to free the little bugger.

In the end, I did what any Grandpa would do if there's a piano handy and had taught music for years. We played and sang... and believe me, Grady LOVES to sing.

We stopped briefly at the cemetery before leaving Foster City to pay our respects to those family members who have passed on. 

Finally back home, Grady was introduced to the pleasures of playing in the grass on a springtime afternoon. The boy is at the age where everything is new and exciting, including plucking dandelions and playing with a big ol' ugly bulldog.

Grady sat in his stroller and kept me company for the rest of the afternoon while I painted the trim around the six living room windows. 

I discovered some rot and it appears that installing new windows will be next summer's big project. The current ones are twenty-five years old.

Grady was such a good little guy to keep me company that we later took a four-wheeler ride around Neighbor Mike's pasture. He was talking and singing, then suddenly went quiet. I looked down and discovered my pint-sized biker buddy had fallen sound asleep.

Sargie spent all afternoon in the house working her magic. Needless to say, none of us had a difficult time sleeping last night. If Grady remains asleep this morning for another hour, he'll have slept the clock around.

Grady and I are going to work in the yard today. It's been since the Pennington boys were young that I've seen a little guy love the outdoors like he does. If Grandpa's heading out the door, Grady's right behind. We've got weeds to pull, a lawn to mow, a garden to water, a patio to spray off, flower planters to hang. It's going to be an active day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...