It was four years ago today that Andy and I began our cross country trip from Bellingham, Washington, to Pentoga Road. Two days earlier, I'd put the Blazer on the ferry in Sitka.  Andy met me in Bellingham and the rest is history. What a wonderful start to my retirement.

April 28, 2016 - Thursday

34 degrees/high overcast/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's hard to believe that I've been out of the teaching game for four years. I thought time flew by when I was working, but it was nothing compared to how quickly the days tick by now. When one retires, at least in my life, there simply aren't enough hours in the day.

The big news of Wednesday was that two of the giant pumpkins were taken from between the wet paper towels and planted in potting soil. 

For the longest time, I've been saying that I wasn't going to grow a giant pumpkin this summer, but when the seeds began sprouting, I knew I had to do it again. Since I  hand pollinated and crossed the pumpkin with itself last summer, the genetics remain pure, the direct lineage from the world champion record holder of two years ago. My goal this year is to have one over 600 lbs. 

I shuffled up to Mike's for a short visit yesterday, but otherwise, sat on my backside. 

I took the dressing off last night and saw an incision that stretches halfway across my midsection. The pain also reaches from my chest to down south of my belt line. I know the surgeon said he had to untangle a few things, but I didn't think that included my heart, lungs, and kidneys.

The good news is that the pain has subsided a great deal. Sargie (and others) convinced me that we should be proactive on the pain medication and that has helped a lot. The incision looks clean and I believe that in a few weeks, this hernia thing will be a passing memory.

Sargie was home early last night. She carried in the wood, put the plants back in the garage to protect them from freezing, and did many of those things that are usually on my nightly list.

Sargie closes tonight. I'm going to sit out in the greenhouse and transplant pumpkins and sunflowers from wet paper towels into potting mix. 

It's time for breakfast. I might have to take a nap directly after followed by thinking at least one deep thought.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...