I feel as though I'm being watched from above each time I walk through the garden. The weight of the sunflowers' heads cause them to droop and look down. It's a sure sign that fall is right around the corner.

August 19, 2015 - Wednesday

65 degrees/light rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

The precipitation has continued nonstop during the past twenty-four hours, a nice steady drip, rain that really counts for something. We've received 1.15 inches with this latest weather system.

Tuesday started by slicing cucumbers for pickles... lots and lots of pickles. I've put up well over thirty quarts this summer and I think another ten should see us through this coming year. 

I've never seen such large fruits, yet they are crisp, sweet, and have a very little seed cavity, even the largest.

Normally, a cucumber of this size wouldn't be fit to eat. I cut it open and this is what I found.

A person could almost make cucumber filets, or enjoy a cucumber steak... if there were such a thing. Instead, we make pickles or enjoy them raw.

After cleaning up the mess and doing a couple of loads of laundry, I moved to the garden to feed the beast. I read that at this stage, the pumpkin should be gaining anywhere from twenty-five to thirty-five pounds per day. I have to believe that it's right on track.

It's beginning to rise above the foliage... and many of the leaves are waist high.

It was moving on towards noon and time to work on the shop. I discovered that I'd mismeasured two studs from the day before so moving them was the first order of business, something that took almost an hour.

Building another section of wall came after. I bebopped to the music and sang as I cut and nailed. The last action was to raise it up and tack it in place.

But wait... it was shorter than the wall standing next to it? What the heck?

To make a long story short, there's an inch-and-a-half slope to the floor, from back to front, to allow water to run out. I'd failed to take that into consideration.

I talked to Yooper Brother Mark and a call was made to Mississippi Brother Garry, both Executive Vice Presidents in charge of Pentoga Construction Company. We came to the conclusion that I should simply include the slope in building the walls. No fancy construction needed. In the end, no one will know other than the three of us and a few thousand readers. It'll be our dirty little secret.

The rest of the day was spent messing around in the barn, not necessarily working, and I even found time to take a nap. I believe I'm safe in saying that after three years, my mind and body have truly entered retirement mode. 

Sargie was home early last night and we were just sitting down to watch television when the power went off. We talked for a bit, then decided to take a drive to see if any of our neighbors had lights. Instead, we came across this accident about four miles from home towards Alpha.



I heard that a motorcycle was involved and that there were electric wires down over the road. Other than that, we don't know anything. Power was restored last night shortly after 10 PM.

We didn't suffer. I connected the batteries that are charged by the solar system and we spent a nice quiet evening reading and listening to music.

It reminded me of my arctic days when the world seemed to move much slower and the evenings were without television and reality shows.



Sargie works early today. After feeding the pumpkin, I hope to work out in the shop. There's a wood bin and long counter to move, no small feats, to make room for the outside wall. The actual construction should go fairly quickly as I won't have to move any electrical outlets or frame around any windows.

And no doubt, there'll be the mandatory rainy day nap to take after lunch. I'm not surprised.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The wind-up/solar powered radio provided music and news to us throughout Tuesday evening.