Things were a bit slippery on Monday morning

November 24, 2015 - Tuesday

28 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm not even sure what I did yesterday. It doesn't seem like it was much. Whatever, the day flew by.

After sliding through my usual three-mile walk first thing, I made a last attempt to coax some life into one snowmobile or the other. There was no spark, no fuel... what the devil did I expect, ignition out of thin air? I closed the hoods and walked away.

Sanding Alaska was the next item on the agenda. I didn't realize how discolored the sign, and everything on it, had become over the past three years. I sanded for a few minutes by hand, then plugged in the belt sander and made short work of it. 

It was time to go into town to pick up the homemade bread we ordered. Wait a minute, if we didn't make it, is it really homemade? Oh Lord, another deep thought to add to today's growing list of things to think about.

Anyway, I turned the ignition key and found the battery in the Blazer was too weak to turn the engine over. I hooked up the charger for a few minutes and was pulling out of the drive shortly after. 

While in town, I stopped by a snowmobile mechanic's and asked if he thought either machine was worth fixing or sinking money into. His advice... take them to the scrap metal/salvage place and get a dollar or two for each. 

I stopped by to see Yooper Brother Mark on my way out of town and also talked to Dave, my auto mechanic, about why the signals have quit working on the Blazer. He'll look at it next week.

A stop was also made at the local auto salvage place to see if they might have a passenger side tail lens for the Kia. The one that is on there is cracked and lets in moisture which corrodes the bulb and assembly.

In essence, EVERYTHING seemed to break down or not work on Monday. It didn't bother me. I don't go anywhere that much anyway and if I need to, it can usually wait until later. Now if it were the backhoe or the tractor, even the old truck, then I be upset!

I took a quick nap after arriving home then headed out the door to work up a large wheelbarrow full of wood. I became a bit upset after growing so winded and tired and had to stop and rest. I can't be that far out of shape, can I? I've worked up wood my entire adult life... used to swing a 12 lb maul for hours and not think a thing about it. This aging thing is not for sissies. 

I've sworn that I'll make a one-day summit and come back down Mt. Washington in New Hampshire on my 70th birthday. The sons and I did it the summer of my 60th year and we swore we'd do it again ten years later. 

I'm already beginning to think of what I'll have to do to successfully climb that 6,000 ft mountain... and descend in the same day. I'll be 65 in a year and half and I think that would be a good time to begin preparing for the climb when I turn 70. The way I'm going, it will take five years to get into that good of shape. 

I was sitting here thinking about those snowmobiles. It was 4 PM and almost dark when I went to the barn, snapped a picture, and entered an ad on Craigslist. Both were sold and gone before 7 PM. Out of sight/out of mind and I'm $100 richer. Now I have to find something that will pull my ice shack this winter.

Yooper Brother Mark suggested I buy tracks for my four-wheeler. Good idea, but those puppies only cost $3,000 for the pair. Hmm, just a bit out of my price range. Ah, I'm not going to worry about it now. That's what tomorrow is for.

Sargie was home early and after a supper of winter squash and brat patties, we watched Dancing With the Stars. 

Tonight is the finale and we both hate to see it end. There's not much quality television on ... at least anything we're interested in watching.

Mmm, add a pat of butter, a bit of salt, and a sprinkling of brown sugar and one can enjoy my favorite garden vegetable.

Sargie works early today. I'm going to bop into town and buy a bit of lumber, some paint, and try to make some headway on the sign. I should be able to finish it by week's end.

But first, it's time for a cup of coffee accompanied by a deep thought or two.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Brutus and I were also measuring where the addition to the garden will be next summer.