Sargie has company while taking down the decorations

January 2, 2016 - Saturday

12 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

It's been a long time since we've seen the stars. This fall and winter have been mild, but it has also been wet with plenty of precipitation, mostly rain. It feels good to see a clear sky and hopefully that will translate into a sunny day.

New Year's Day was a relaxing one on Pentoga Road. I started by cleaning the shop. I don't know who keeps sneaking in there when I'm not around and messing the place up, but I wish they'd stop. 

The only way I can really clean is to start at one point and methodically work my way around until I arrive back to where I began. That's what I did on Friday and at least for now, everything is in it's place and most the sawdust and small pieces of board are disposed of. We'll see how long that lasts.

Though above average, the temperatures are managing to stay below freezing and the area lakes are finally beginning to develop a good covering of ice. It was with that in mind that I dragged out the ice fishing gear and began winding new line on the reels and getting the fish finder ready for another season of angling.

I use three rods and reels so that if the line on one breaks, another is ready to go. This eliminates the chore of having to string the line through a very teeny eyelet while on the ice, something that is nearly impossible for me to do without the aid of magnifiers.

I cut a new pipe on which to mount the transducer. As soon as the battery is charged, the unit, a new one, should be ready for use.

This part sticks down through the hole into the water.

There is still one rod to replace (a broken tip) and the line and leaders on the tip up's to test, but failing that, I think the equipment is ready for another season of putting meat on the table. 

We took a ride to town in the early afternoon then drove to a couple of area lakes. So far, it doesn't appear anyone is fishing around this immediate area. In talking with Jerad last night, he said that several are fishing on a lake about ten miles to the west and having luck catching walleyes. I'll just wait a few more days. The forecast calls for below freezing temperatures for the next two weeks and beyond. I'm in no hurry.

Friday afternoon saw all three of us taking down the Christmas decorations. With oldies music blaring from the stereo, I was kept busy hauling totes back and forth from the storage unit while Sargie packed.

It appears as if Sargie and Santa were having their own dance in the corner... or she was merely trying to unplug the old fellow.

 Mom pitched in and packed the ceramic Christmas village, the one that my great aunt Ila (Mom's aunt) made many years ago.

At one point, we had a real assembly line. Totes coming in and out of doors and up and down the stairs while items were being packed in others.

In the end, Christmas was put away for another year, always a good feeling.

I talked with Yooper Brother Mark and we agreed to meet at the Snipe Lake Pub last night for the weekly all-you-can-eat fish fry. As always, the food was delicious, the company even better.

Sargie's back to work today. I think Mom and I are going to do a bit of shopping, possibly drive over to Iron Mountain for a new needed things.

I tried a new dog food with Brutus and he's gone lame again. You may remember that he was getting in bad shape until I tried a new food several months ago. Almost overnight, he became his old self.

We needed dog chow a couple of weeks ago and purchased a natural, very high-priced brand from a local store, thinking it would suffice and save us a trip to Iron Mountain. It didn't work. 

We suspect Brutus is allergic to any type of grain, including rice. The only thing that seems to work is one that contains only meat and potatoes. Hopefully, he'll be back jumping and running in a day or two once he chows down on the good stuff.

At first it was one deer, then two, finally three. They told their friends and at one point last night, there were six in the back yard. Mom certainly got her wish, seeing deer, up close and personal.

Sargie will pick up Grady after work and bring him over to stay for the next couple of days. He can help me prepare the rest of the ice fishing equipment.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Don't even ask.
Sargie was having fun with the Christmas tree skirt.
I prefer to look at it as a Christmas kilt.