Getting ready to build a new flower box in front of the deck on Tuesday. |
44 degrees/cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road
"These are the times that try men's souls..." Boy, ours are really being tested. Carl the Weatherman is forecasting one to three inches of snow to fall on Saturday night. Talk about raining on our parade... or snowing on our garden. How the devil can I grow a pumpkin over six-hundred pounds in the snow? Oh well, it's what makes us northerners tough. Some people season their vegetables with salt and pepper. We use snow.
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I wonder where Mrs. Wilkins is? An elderly widow, she lives down the road in a small log home by herself and other than shuffling out onto her porch to smoke a cigarette, is seldom seen. There were two ambulances and a sherif's car parked in front of her home the other night and no one has seen or heard from her since. I know Mrs. Wilkins has a daughter who lives in Marquette, but I don't have a name or telephone number. All we can do at this point is pray our neighbor is doing okay.
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Today is doctor day. I have an appointment this morning and hope to have the remaining exterior stitch removed. It's the one that is continually being rubbed by my belt, the stitch that remains ugly and red and must be connected to everything on the inside. I say that because when it becomes irritated or I twist the wrong way, I can feel it pull all the way down to my toes.
It's been a different type of two weeks since the surgery and I've discovered a couple of interesting facts during that time:
* I am capable of policing myself and not lifting anything over twenty pounds. In the old days, I wouldn't have given it a thought, but it's become increasingly apparent to me in my more senior years that I am mortal. For my self restraint, I am very proud.
* That as mild and meek as she appears, Sargie has another side to her, that of turning into something forceful and frightening if she thinks I'm being too active. I swear, her eyes begin to glow red, her head does a 360 degree turn, and her voice deepens into an eery, echoing, sound as she chastises me about doing one thing or the other. I'm hardly allowed to carry my own mug of tea in Sargie's presence, let alone a piece or two of fire wood, a shovel full of dirt, the dog's water bowl, or anything else that might weigh more than a few ounces.
So today will be my two-week check up. I know I have two more weeks of light activity, but hopefully, the bonds of being a wimpy semi invalid will be lifted so I can begin to frolic and play in my usual manner. If not, well, I'll continue to police myself and steer clear of Sargie during my more active times. All teasing aside, I really appreciate her obvious love, concern, and attention. It's those glowing red eyes combined with the swiveling head and deep voice that kind of freaks me out.
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Most of Tuesday was spent building the flower planter to go in front of the deck. There was one when the house was initially purchased years ago, but it was poorly constructed and rotted away.
I occasionally become upset when constructing something. What used to take me an hour now requires several. The most frustrating thing is pounding a simple nail.
I was using five inch pole barn nails yesterday to attach the timbers to each other. Five inches! Even Helen Keller could hit a five inch nail. I couldn't.
Those things are hardened and are really difficult to bend, but I managed to put a curve in several. I really hate to get my nose too close to the nail while pounding for fear a piece might fly off and hit me in the face.
It took most the day, but in the end, the planter was built and even received two thumbs up from Sargie when she looked at it last night. I was happy.
A shrub will be planted in the ground to the left of flower box. |
I took a break from the action yesterday and drove to the lumber yard for some needed supplies. Stopping by the plant, I found Yooper Brother Mark working on the production floor, getting a large pallet of animal bedding ready to ship.
He said several workers are on vacation so he stepped away from his desk and joined those who were getting the product ready.
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Since Sargie works late today and my appointment is scheduled for mid morning, I drove to Iron Mountain last night so we could ride home together and then back today. It makes her drive seem shorter to have company and gives us some badly needed time together.
I'm not certain what's on my post-appointment agenda today. I would like to find some shrubbery to plant alongside the back of the house and deck. Since Sargie and I are going to Escanaba Friday, I might wait to purchase anything until then. She says there's a large nursery over there that should have a big selection to choose from.
I'm going to stop by a bank this morning in Iron Mountain where I've had a small savings account for several years. They seem to have difficulty with their bookkeeping and have put my automatic mortgage payment into the savings and tried charging me a late fee twice now. That won't happen again. There'll be no savings account in which to deposit the payment. I'm closing it out today.
Their newest bugaboo is a regulation that charges a five dollar monthly fee to "service" my savings account. As I told them on the phone, I'll bury the small amount of cash in the back yard before I pay them for the privilege of charging me to use my money. If the house weren't almost paid off, I'd move the mortgage too.
So with that being said, I think I'll close and spend some time listening to the news and thinking deep thoughts.
After all, a man's work is never done.
So are the tales from Pentoga Road...
Despite the forecast of snow, many of the wild fruit trees are in blossom. |
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