Grady's got a new sandbox... 'er tire

August 28, 2015 - Friday

57 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I could hardly believe it last night when I stepped on the scales and found I had finally reached my usual summer weight, 205 pounds. 

Losing weight used to be easy. Come April and May, the winter's excess seemed to slide off my body and not be seen again until the following December. I laughed back then. After all, didn't a man need a little extra insulation to keep him warm during the coldest months? 

As the years have progressed, so has the amount of time it's taken to shed the extra pounds. They have been very reluctant to leave and each has insisted on overstaying its welcome.

So, for the umpteenth year in a row, I'm making a resolution that this year:

I will not gain the usual winter weight 

I will practice moderation 

My eating habits will be exemplary

Yeah... and I'm going to pass up Sargie's French meat pie, Holly's holiday pastries, and forego a late evening bowl of hot, buttered, popcorn while sitting by the wood stove listening to the howling wind pounding heavy snow against our windows? Fat chance. 

Page Two 

It was pretty exciting yesterday on Pentoga Road where I allowed a tire to kick the poopies out of me. (Now I know where the weight went.)

After my morning walk, I hitched the trailer to the Blazer and went to Yooper Brother Mark's plant to get an old loader tire, one of several that had been discarded sometime ago.

I was impressed when Mark bent over and grabbed the thing, then straightened it upright and rolled it onto the trailer.

When I arrived home, the first order of business was to take the high pressure washer and remove years of mud and grime.

I truly believed that I could remove the tire in the same manner as Mark loaded it; that I'd hoist it upright and roll the thing out of the trailer. All I can say is, Mark's more man than me.

I fired up the tractor and used the front-end loader.

Much of the remaining day was spent painting the tire. There were "dabs" of paint that had been sitting around for several years, those left over that had been used on various projects. I've wanted to get rid of the old paint for a long time and the tire made a perfect excuse.

And so the day went. The backhoe was hauled to the front of the property and put into service.

I was soon excavating a new play area that will eventually be boxed in with treated lumber and filled with wood chips. A swing, slide, and play area are in the plans for next summer.

It was late afternoon, almost evening, before the tire was settled into the ground with dirt raked and packed beside it.

Other than a few garden chores, it was the tire that consumed my day. I was sore and tired last night from manhandling the heavy monster all day.

Speaking of heavy monster... despite a split stem, it continues to grow. I'm still feeding the pumpkin four gallons of secret, highly-classified, ingredients a day.

Sargie was home early and it was a short evening before going to bed. She was tired and I couldn't keep my eyes open.

I have an appointment first thing this morning and will be dragging the trailer behind to later fill with sand. I heard rumors that Grandpa and Grady are going to hang out and spend some quality guy-time together on Saturday. We might as well do it around the sandbox... or tire.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sandhill cranes