Some sunshine, along with bit of warm weather and water, and poof, Sargie's flowers look beautiful.

July 22, 2015 - Wednesday

46 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Sargie is to have blood work done early this morning and has been fasting since last night. We're up early and will go to the hospital in Iron Mountain, have her blood drawn, go out to eat breakfast, and should have that girl to work by 9. I went over to Iron Mountain last night so I could ride back and forth to keep her company.

Tuesday was a busy one. I began the day by hauling the last of the boulders and rocks from the side yard. 

I'm sure I'll find one or two more as I'm finishing the yard, but for now, it's looking empty of boulders.

The bucket on the backhoe needed to be changed from the one that is smooth and used for landscaping and digging in soft dirt to another with teeth, teeth that can get down and dig in hard clay.

Towing the backhoe to the shop

Summer is approximately halfway over, so it was time to not only change the bucket, but also do a thorough lube and grease job, tighten everything, check fluid levels, etc. etc.

The bucket on the two-wheeled dolly doesn't look very big, but it weighs in excess of 200 lbs.

The rest of the day was spent digging fill and hauling it to the side yard.

I spread three loads on Tuesday afternoon and was sure dragging my backside around last night.

Brutus became exhausted while watching me work. Nothing like rolling in a nice, cool, mound of dirt to keep a puppy dog comfortable.

I received an email during the day from Aunt Sue with a suggestion concerning my broken camera. She suggested I rub the battery and terminals with an alcohol-soaked Q tip. It worked! I'm back in business. Thanks, Sue!

Aunt Sue and Uncle Terry are leaving for an extended stay in Europe towards week's end. 

I took a break and went fishing. The following is a video of what I caught in our little lake at the end of the road:

OK, that's a complete lie. Actually, my son, Luke, sent this video he made while shark fishing off the coast of Maine. It made me think of my fishing days in Alaska and honestly, it made me a bit homesick.

Meanwhile, back to reality:

I finished spreading the fill in the side year, enough that I could mow it for the first time. I'm hoping to be completely finished in the next day or two.

The area beyond the garden was all rocks, tall brush, and trash. I well remember being unable to drive the truck through there several years ago. 

Brutus was a dirty mess. There was nothing to do but take the pup to the lake, let him cool off, play some fetch, and scrub him clean.

Thankfully, we didn't see any sharks

I'll be riding with Sargie this morning, first to the hospital, then to have breakfast, and finally, seeing her off at work. I'll bring the Blazer home and the rest should be history. 

The side yard is in my sights for the rest of the day. I think another three or four loads should see it finished. Lord, I hope so. 

The area where I worked Tuesday

The next project is to pour a cobblestone walk and patio between the deck and drive as that area becomes a mud pit every spring. Of course, there's still painting to do on the back of the storage shed, the brown wood shed to paint, the far backyard to landscape, and the shop to build in the barn. 

But first, it's time for a cup of coffee while listening to the news, maybe think a deep thought or two, and possibly, invent perpetual motion.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...