Warning! Warning!
For those who think eating meat is unhealthy.

May 27, 2016 - Friday

52 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Thanks Eileen for sending along the opening picture. Though I love to garden, I'd much rather eat a big ol' steak than a piece of lettuce any day of the week.

Page Two:

Rain... lots and lots of rain. Another .9 of an inch fell yesterday.

I guess there's a weather front that keeps flip flopping back and forth across our area causing a series of storms and rain showers. As of late yesterday afternoon, we'd received just shy of four inches of rain over the past three days. The surrounding yard and woods look more like they belong in Emerald City. 

The flowers are sprouting in the pyramids with the strawberries, on the bottom, in full bloom.

Page Three:

I spent part of the morning working on a bird bath that sister-in-law, Jeanne, had asked me to repair. The base had broken and unable to weld it, I mixed up a batch of my super-dooper secret Indian Kickapoo Sagamon Joy Juice, clamped the pieces, and bonded it together. I think it should hold for a good many years to come. 

Page Four:

The rest of the day was spent in the barn assembling the garden arbor. It was pouring rain, thundering and lightening, and really, the perfect time for a dry run. There are so many parts to the arbor that are notched and snap together that other than being heavy and bulky, it wasn't that difficult.

With only one person to keep the pieces upright, then lift and fit the heavy cross pieces, I utilized the four wheelers with which to wedge one side or the other while I lifted what was needed overhead. 

Doing a "pre-assemble" turned out to be a wise thing. There were several pieces that needed to be shaved or sanded in order to fit properly. Since I'd made all the components in February and March in the shop, I had no idea how they might (or might not) fit together. 

I'll measure the footprint of the arbor today and hopefully, begin to dig the holes for the footings at the entrance to the garden. Depending on the weather, the arbor should find it's permanent resting place in the next few days.

Page Five:

There were still a couple of hours left in the day so I measured, cut, and cussed, over the exterior trim for the new kitchen window. As with the arbor, I painted the individual pieces first before permanently installing each. 

Sargie was home mid-evening and we enjoyed a supper of pastys (UP meat pies.) Neither of us had any difficulty falling asleep last night.

Abby, Mississippi Brother Garry's granddaughter, performed last night in her dance recital. I'm told she was a lady bug. I think she looks like a very eloquent, very beautiful, young lady.

Sargie closes for the next two days making for some very long working hours. I believe I'm going to dig four holes today for the footings and mix and pour concrete. There's the outside trim to complete on the kitchen window and I really really really want to get the boat ready for a season of fishing. I'm feeling the urge to get out on the water.

Meanwhile, it's time to listen to the news and think deep thoughts. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...