Other than fifty or a thousand more coats of polyurethane, the sign is finished. "Alaska" is also a reddish color, but the shadow makes it look darker. 

December 3, 2015 - Thursday

31 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

The fire is crackling away in the wood stove, Brutus is lying on my stockinged feet, the house is still, and other than the light from the lamp at my side, the room is dark. Everything is perfect, just as it's supposed to be in the early morning hours. 

This is the best part of the day, when it's quiet and peaceful and the only voice I hear is that of my conscience. It's during these times that I attempt to have a conversation with God, but it's usually a one-sided affair. It appears the closest experience to a burning bush I'll ever have are the flames in the wood stove... and that's okay. 

God did speak to me the other day, in His own way, while Grady, Sargie, and I, were building the snowman; to watch the little fellow shuffle through the snow with squeals of delight accompanied by plenty of giggles and witness the outpouring of unconditional love that only a grandmother can show a grandchild. I stood and watched and realized that Moses and the burning bush had no corner on God's communication and love. 

After arriving home from my stroll on Wednesday morning, I began work on the sign. 

I wasn't certain if I'd have the patience to mount all the letters in one day, but I rolled up my sleeves and got busy.

Hmm, to simply nail them on with brads? Facing south and close to the road, the sign takes the brunt of the summer storms and in the winter, the snow plow throws rocks, slush, snow, ice, and road kill against it. (Only kidding on the road kill... just wanted to see if you were paying attention.) 

I opted to drill holes in the letters, apply glue, then nail each permanently onto the sign. I countersunk the brads and filled the tops with wood putty, then painted them over. 

It took all day, but in the end, short of physically running into it, there's no snow plow going to take any of our letters off the sign!

I did take a break and drive to town for more polyurethane and a small can of wood filler. I saw Yooper Brother Mark at the hardware store and along with our friend, Rich, we gabbed for a bit... long enough that more than one store employee accused us of having our social hour in the middle of the main aisle. 

Poor Mark and Sheri... the tank on their upstairs toilet cracked and they arrived home the other night to find water pouring through their kitchen ceiling and down into the basement. I talked with Mark last night and he was installing a new stool. When I told him he should have called and I would have helped, he remarked we both wouldn't fit into that corner of their bathroom. Hmm, is he calling me fat? I do feel a bit bloated this morning.

Since we've had no calls on the recliner, I moved it from the barn into the shop. It's in the perfect place... under the window where the natural light pours in. There'll be more than one nap taken in that recliner in the years to come.

Sargie and I enjoyed turkey sandwiches and winter squash last night along with yogurt and apple pie for dessert. We talked and gabbed and later watched television until it was time to go to bed.

I'm going to work on the cross and rose today, possibly apply another coat of poly to the sign if the last has dried. Sargie closes, so it will be late evening before I see her again. 

Other than that, the sky's the limit because as we all know, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...