The security light was replaced Sunday morning

January 25, 2016 - Monday

23 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I forgot to switch on the electric fireplace last night before going to bed, the one that generally runs during the night and keeps the core of the house somewhat warm after the fire dies down in the wood stove. Despite having no auxiliary heat, the inside temperatures were still very comfortable this morning. Though we had a week or two of cold weather, January came in like a lamb and at least so far, appears it's going to exit the same.

Page Two

The old security light on the barn quit working a couple of months ago. Very inexpensive, I never was happy with it and often lamented that I didn't spend more and get a better one.

When we purchased a new light on Friday, I was eager to get it installed, something that is difficult to do this time of year. Working barehanded with metal makes for a miserable existence, even when the thermometer is showing a relatively balmy 19 degrees.

The first problem was securing the ladder over a sheet of black ice that had formed due to a freezing mist that had fallen during the night. A few ashes from the wood stove solved that problem.

Then there was working without gloves, having to strip wire, and to do everything else barehanded while perched on a ladder in heavy clothes fifteen feet over the ground.

In the end, the fixture was wired and mounted and we now have a bright light that shines on demand. Job done!

The rest of the afternoon was spent attempting to remake the box on the four wheeler so the Clam ice fishing tent would fit. A satisfactory solution was never found and I ended up taking the skis off the Clam. I think it will ride, upside down, on the other sled I recently built (with both fitting in back of the Blazer) and without the skis, will ride in the box on the four wheeler.

Since I had gone to all that trouble and work, I decided to go fishing. It was nice to load everything and putt down the road on the ATV, out onto the lake, and be fishing within minutes.

Unfortunately, the fish didn't cooperate. I'm not sure what's wrong with our local lake this year, but no one has caught anything to speak of.

I quit after a couple of hours and came back home to watch the NFL playoff games. Since the Packers are out of playoff contention, I really don't care who wins.

Sargie was home early from work and we enjoyed a nice evening. She's back at the Vision Center early this morning. I think I'll complete my walk then take the rest of the day as it comes. Fishing? Maybe. Working in the shop? A possibility. 

It's tough, but then as we all know, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...