I received this message earlier from my granddaughter, Emmie.

June 19, 2015 - Friday
56 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

Thursday was a day of "two's." I painted the second side of the barn, fell twice, bought two packages of hamburger, two bags of carrots, two ten pound bags of chicken quarters, and purchased two ribeye steaks for tonight's supper. There're a couple of other "two's," but I can't remember what they are right at this moment.

I guess you can tell by the picture below what I did Thursday. As with before, I started by pressure washing the siding and trim.



I guess I didn't realize how really dirty everything was until the first area was cleaned. The contrast was pretty remarkable.





The process went fairly quickly, mostly because I didn't have to use the extension ladder. It saved a lot of climbing.



A shorter ladder doesn't guarantee more safety. I managed to miss a rung, loose my balance, and fall backwards into one of the strawberry pyramids. All I can really say is that those things are well constructed. I came out a little bit worse for the wear, but the pyramid is just fine.

The arm's a bit sore this morning, but I don't think we'll have to amputate it quite yet.

I was wearing a pair of thin-soled loafers and the ladder rungs were hurting the bottom of my feet. I went downstairs and found my most favorite work boots, those with hard soles.

It was obvious something was inside one when I tried putting it on.

Decon, mouse poison! Evidently, one of the critters who called our basement home stored some away before he died. Hopefully, we won't have to worry about that anymore. So far, there are no signs of mice since I worked on the area surrounding the dryer vent.

I'm expecting a fashion magazine to call at any minute. 

I finished painting about six hours after I'd begun. Since the storage shed is attached to the back of the barn, I only have one metal side remaining. After, I'll do the storage unit and the trim, and we'll call this job complete.

Page two

One of our local grocery stores was having a one-day sale. I ran upstairs to change clothes. Unfortunately, coming down was faster than going up. I didn't see the top step, missed it and the one next to it, and just like Jack and Jill, tumbled down the entire flight of steps. Other than a bruise or two, nothing was damaged except my fragile and delicate ego. I'll live to tumble another day.

The ride into town was a bit chilly, the result of a cold front that passed through midway through the trip. Still, it was a good ride and I got some pretty good deals.

Getting fuel before coming back home.

I spent another couple of hours late yesterday afternoon spot-spraying thistles. I think that job is about over, at least I hope so. I'm about thistle'd out!

And of course, the last hours before dark were spent covering the flowers and garden. It's a good thing I did as we had patchy frost. It appears this morning that everything made it just fine.

Sargie took today off so we could be together for my birthday. I'm not sure what's on our agenda other than throwing those two beautiful ribeye steaks that were purchased yesterday on the charcoal grill. I hope we score a few ears of sweetcorn while we're in town today, maybe get a head of lettuce, and a vine ripened tomato or two. 

The giant pumpkin is beginning to send out runners and should be blossoming in the next week or two.

First? I think I'll get another cup of coffee and try to remember where I put a quart of white, exterior, paint. Golly, my memory's gone to heck. Like Mom used to tell me, I'd lose my head if it weren't attached.

The cucumbers are just beginning to grow through the trellis

One thing I know for certain; a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...