Basking in the warm sun, there were plenty of ice fishermen trying their luck on Saturday

January 31, 2016 - Sunday

27 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

With record breaking temperatures reaching well into the forties, one might be lulled into thinking spring is here.

Oh, quite the contraire. I've heard rumors that a major winter storm is on the way and could drop over a foot of snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The last two days have been somewhat lazy, although it seems I've kept busy. 

I started construction on the strawberry planters on Thursday and worked until running out of treated wood.

The treated posts have been leaning against the barn and it took some doing to scrape the ice and snow from each.

Without lumber, there was nothing more I could do, so I worked on a flat piece of artwork, Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. The very fine scroll saw blade broke and with my eyes growing weak, I decided it was time to quit.

Despite continuing trouble with my formerly frost bitten toes, I'm doing pretty well about keeping up my walking regimen. The three miles pass under my feet quickly, but I pay for it later in the day, usually the evening, when several toes swell to the size of (and look like) bloody breakfast sausages on steroids. Staying off my feet causes the swelling to subside so the cycle is repeated daily as relinquishing my outside activities during the winter months isn't an option.

I gathered some winter squash and other goodies Thursday afternoon and dropped those off at Jeanne and Boyd's in Iron Mountain. I also took veggie goody bags for Holly and Ross. Accomplished growers, I always learn something new and really enjoy our times together. 

The squash we enjoyed for supper last night.

Sargie was surprised when I walked into the Vision Center just before she was to get off work. We rode back together and bypassed home in lieu of meeting Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri for a Friday night fish fry. As always, the fish was good, the company even better.

I rode back to Iron Mountain on Saturday morning with Sargie, taking advantage of being in the big city to purchase enough treated lumber at Home Depot to get really serious about building the strawberry planters.

The sun was bright, the temperatures warm. Upon returning home, I plowed the drive, then spent the rest of the day scraping much of it by hand down to the bare blacktop. A couple of the trails were plowed into the maple woods and hopefully, I'll be able to keep those open until it's time to tap trees. In essence, I played outside all day.

Sargie came home from work last night with Grady in tow. We played last evening and no doubt, will continue outside until his daddy picks him up later today.

Grady looking at the "ish" as he calls them. I took minnows, used for bait, from the minnow bucket and put them in a large glass jar. Grady is fascinated and loves watching them.

I'm frustrated. Luke sent a picture of Abigail holding a letter from a local state politician congratulating her for making high honors in school. (Congratulations Abigail! Grandpa's proud of you!) I can't find the picture anywhere. Probably a good thing I'm no longer teaching as I'd lose half the assignments.

Andy sent a new picture of Ivy. She sure is one happy little girl.

That's about all the news I know from Pentoga Road, at least for today. 

Munchkin child will be awake fairly soon, then life as we know it will no longer exist, at least for the next few hours.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...