Wood from the past two day's work

November 6, 2015 - Friday
38 degrees/cloudy/gale force winds
Pentoga Road

I love windy days like this one, where it doesn't merely blow, it howls. I well remember the last year I was in Sitka living on the boat and safely tied to the pier in the harbor, when the strong winds would rock my boat back and forth with heavy waves crashing into the side. Every now and then, one would be strong enough to send water over the top. Meanwhile, I would be down inside the cabin, lying in my bunk, snuggling into my sleeping bag while letting Mother Nature rock me to sleep. 

A typical Sitka gale

Or when living at Hilltop, my beloved cabin perched high atop a hill in the arctic, overlooking the mighty Noatak River. Gusts of wind approaching 75 mph (and more than once, stronger) occasionally shook my cabin and once again, I loved lying in my bunk or sitting by the wood stove, letting nature do it's thing.

We slept with the window open last night and though our house didn't shake, rattle, or roll, the wind chimes played a perfect symphony. Sargie and I slept well snuggled deep within the covers.

Page Two

Thursday can be summed up in one word: firewood. 

I made several trips to and from the woods, cut, chunked, split, and put all away. After, the entire area was raked free of small pieces of wood and sawdust. 



I took the opportunity yesterday afternoon to ride around the property on the four-wheeler and found one more tree, a gray birch, that is standing and dead. I hope to get it cut up this next week.

A trip was made into Dave's so he could recheck the brakes on the Blazer. After crawling under the SUV and not seeing any signs of a leak, he found that the gasket on the brake fluid reservoir was bad and being sucked into the tank each time the brake was applied. Fluid would splash out and most pressure would be lost. I drove to the local auto parts store and ordered a new one. For $8, I can pick it up this morning. 

So that was my day... filled with lots of physical work, but not overly exciting. Sargie was home early last night and after a supper of leftover French meat pie, we watched television for a bit and climbed the steps to the bedroom early. She was tired from working all day and my body felt as though I'd been wrestling firewood for the past two.



Sargie opens this morning. I'll drive into town after she leaves and get the gasket. No doubt, I'll stop and see Yooper Brother Mark at the plant before coming home. With the cold and windy conditions, I think I'll spend the rest of the day in the shop. It's time to remake the sign that hangs by the road. The old one has lost a letter or two and has become discolored. 

But first, it's time to pour that all-important first cup of coffee and think at least one deep thought. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One last Grady picture