Great niece, Brielle. Her face says it all.

March 24, 2016 - Thursday

25 degrees/light snow/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Thankfully, as predicted, the snow has pretty much remained to our south. Light stuff is currently falling, but we're forecast to only receive one to three inches. I've seen reports that eight inches to a foot have fallen in north central Wisconsin, all driven by winds up to forty miles an hour. 

Wednesday morning started with my usual five-mile jaunt. The temperature was eighteen degrees when I began and the stiff breeze made walking a bit nippy.

After hoofing up Heart Break Hill, I wasn't noticing the temperature and by the time I arrived back on Pentoga Road, my stocking cap had come off and my jacket was unzipped.

While letting the shop warm, I took my first walk of the year around the perimeter of the property. I like to see what, if any, trees had blown down over the winter months and any changes that might have occurred. There's a heavy wolf population that roams that back of the property and I noticed Brutus is very hesitant to accompany me. At one point, he stopped and turned around. His primal fear of a much larger and stronger wild animal was too much.

Wolves and dogs are natural enemies and anyone who thinks that, because Brutus is big and strong, he could fend off a wolf, is sadly mistaken. I've seen wolves wander into sled dog yards in Alaska and wipe out the entire population. Believe me, there's not a dog alive tougher than a working sled dog.

Back at the house, I wandered around the garden a bit, emptied the ash pail, and made some mental plans and changes for this upcoming season.

The rest of the day was spent in the shop. I completed the octagonal planter and added a slotted bottom.

Trim for each angle was also cut and added using the air nailer. 

The next step was to begin the cutting and assembling the diminishing interlocking boards that will comprise the tower. 

Since this is my own design with no previous plans or blueprints, I cut several wrong, but it's coming. The most difficult thing is to notch each board on the top and bottom so the next one will securely fit not requiring any glue or nails.

Another couple of days in the shop should see this project completed. Eventual height ought to be around four to five feet.

I'd caught word that we might have a munchkin visitor today, so I quit work to sweep and vacuum all the floors and begin to make the house Grady-proof. Sargie's off today and Macrea was going to try to make it over this way and leave Grady while he works in the local Wells Fargo branch. Macrea is District Manager over several Wells Fargo offices in the UP.

Sargie was home from the beautician's fairly early and we spent the evening in front of the television. Since she doesn't have to work today, we were in no hurry to go to bed.

I'm not certain what is on the agenda for today. It all depends on the arrival of Grady. If he does, indeed, come, then it'll be a Grady day full of toys, laughter, wrestling around, and doing whatever it is we do when Grady's in the house.

If they don't come, Sargie and I should have a quiet day. No doubt, we'll go into town at some point, but otherwise, I'll leave it up to her.

Meanwhile, I think I'll slip out into the shop and do some work before the rest of the world awakens.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Coming out of the woods on the south trail