A low of 35 degrees and scattered frost was forecast for Wednesday night.

August 27, 2015 - Thursday morning

47 degrees/very foggy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I was up very early this morning so I might begin spraying water over the garden before daylight in a last-ditch effort to save everything from being killed by frost. 

It appears a miracle happened overnight. When we went to bed, the moon was bright, the air calm, and the thermometer was in a nose dive with scattered frost in the forecast. I spent some of last evening covering what I could and making plans to get up early so I could spray water over the entire garden in hopes of lessening any frost damage.

According to what's currently online, it's 33 degrees in Crystal Falls, ten miles away, yet 49 degrees is showing on our thermometer here on Pentoga Road.

It appears heavy fog settled in our valley overnight and must acting as a blanket, insulating the ground. 

I believe in miracles. In fact, I've had a few happen to me over the years. For this most recent miracle that allows us to stretch the growing season a few more days or weeks, I'm very grateful. 

Fall isn't far away

Wednesday was a busy one. The day dawned sunny and pleasant and with that, I stepped off two-and-a-half miles like clockwork. 

There was a pile of cucumbers sitting on the counter and a large bag of green beans in the refrigerator. 

It was too nice of a day to stay inside canning and freezing, but I couldn't let the fresh vegetables go to waste.

I washed, sliced, and made several quarts of pickles. With over thirty quarts stuffed into Mason Jars this summer, I'm about pickled out.

The next order of business was washing, snapping, blanching, and freezing, the green beans. My back was aching from leaning over the sink, so I finally pulled up a chair and did everything in comfort.

The doorbell rang. It was Neighbor Mike who handed me a large pail of freshly picked blackberries. We talked for a while and I gladly accepted his generous gift.

 

Later, the berries were washed, sugared, and put into freezer bags to eat this coming winter.

The kitchen was a mess. Just as I was beginning to clean, I remembered the blueberries in the refrigerator that needed to be washed and frozen. As long as I was playing home maker, I decided to get those out of the way.

It was well into the afternoon before I got out to the shop. The first order of business was to temporarily hang one of the new ceiling lights in the shop so when the siding is hung, there'll be enough light on the inside to work.

I'm really impressed with the newer LED fixtures. They aren't the dim ones that at best, are no better than a single candle. These are actually outside security lights, but my requirements make them the perfect choice for inside lighting. This particular model emits a billion, gajillion, lumens with only fifty watts of power. There will be two hanging in the 12x18 shop and should provide more than enough overhead light.

I began hanging OSB particle board on the outside wall late in the afternoon. It's going to be a bit of a challenge as the floor not only slopes from east to west, but also from north to south. The slope translates into a quarter of an inch here, a bit more there. 



Still, everything seems to be matching up well enough that a bit of trim should cover any gaps. 



Sargie had to close the Vision Center last night so I wasn't in any hurry to come inside. With the remaining daylight, I managed to mow the front and back lawns. 

Today should be a bit slower. Sargie opens the Vision Center which means we should have a nice evening together. I'll take my walk this morning then I think I'll hook up the trailer and go get that large tire from Yooper Mark's plant. It should make a perfect sandbox for Grady.

I hope to spend the rest of the day installing the siding on the exterior walls. I can't do anything on the interior until I get the insulation and electric done. Those two things will be next.

This buck deer wasn't even tempted to graze in the garden which means he was probably introduced to the electric deer fence earlier this season.

Meanwhile, it's time to grab a cup of coffee and think about waking Sargie so she can begin her day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie and Brutus all snugged up the night before last. Brutus makes the best foot and leg warmer as long as you don't have to get up in a hurry.