Grandbabies, Emerson and baby brother, Bennet, both at three months of age. Think they are related?

May 9, 2016 - Monday

30 degees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Well, darn it anyway. I've slept well this past week, but it wasn't to be last night. I fell sound asleep, but awakened around 2 AM, my mind going a hundred miles an hour. Try as I may, I was still thinking deep thoughts two hours later, so I finally gave up and came downstairs. Maybe I can grab another hour of slumber when I finish writing. If not, I'm up for the day.

We had Grady up and ready by the time his mama and daddy arrived to pick him up Sunday morning.

Grandma Sargie had him bathed, fed, and dressed for church, all before she had to leave for work.

We're hoping Grady will be back this next weekend for a day or two. After all, it will be time to plant peas and make roads and play in the sandbox!

Sargie left for work Sunday morning and I prepared the turkey for the smoker.

It seems to take about as long to prepare a piece of meat as it does to smoke the thing. This turkey was injected with a quarter pound of melted butter, then had a pound of fat bacon draped over the top with about half stuffed in the cavity.

I should have become a doctor rather than a school teacher

It takes quite a while to get a decent bed of charcoal ready for good even heat with charcoal and dampened hickory chips added throughout the day. 

By late afternoon, the turkey was finished. Tasty and moist, it was done just the way we like it. As I've said previously, butter and bacon makes everything taste better.

While the turkey was in the smoker, I worked on rebuilding parts of the planters on the back patio.

Though the timbers are treated, it seems those around the top need replacing every few years. This was the year.

I forgot to purchase long deck nails and was very careful to remove the old ones so they could be used again.

Unfortunately, I occasionally ran into one that had outlived its usefulness. 

Looks like a nightcrawler with a nail head on one end.

With the turkey still in the smoker, I fired up the backhoe and dug several rocks from the rear of the backyard, those that I've occasionally hit with the mower. 

I'll move them today using the tractor, but will have to wait until the doctor gives me the all clear before I can fill in the holes.

Four o'clock came along, the turkey was finished, and since it was Mother's Day, I decided to drive to Iron Mountain and ride home with Sargie. It would give us an opportunity to spend a little more time together. 

What's for dinner? Naturally, we had a Thanksgiving meal on Mother's Day, doesn't everyone? Mmm, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, a big salad... all food groups that make up a special meal. The turkey that is left (lots of it) will be used to make sandwiches for Sargie's lunches. Some will be frozen to provide a variety later this summer. 

I'll ride back with Sargie first thing this morning. On the agenda for today... well, I'm not sure. There's so much to do and so little of me. If only you had my life.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One of Sargie's vinca vines that over wintered in the basement is in full blossom. Its roots are barely covered and has yet to be planted in its permanent summer growing place.