Just down the road from Milligan Mountain 

July 31, 2016 - Sunday

49 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I peeked out the window a bit ago and standing in the middle of the back yard was a large doe. I assumed she was thinking about which tempting morsel to sample first, the flowers in the planters on the deck, those in the pyramids, or perhaps make an attempt to cross the 9,000 volt electric fence around the garden and go for the gold. In the end, she was just walking through and didn't touch any of the above. 

It's another cool and absolutely perfect morning on Pentoga Road. Lows have been in the mid to upper forties and we've been sleeping with our bedroom window open and a box fan blowing the night air throughout the upstairs. 

There's nothing better than snuggling and enjoying the cool nighttime temperatures while staying warm under two or three blankets. 

I don't believe Sargie or I move during the night. Sleeping in a double bed, there's not a lot of room for gymnastics anyway, but she has her position, facing away with her back to me. I assume mine in a spoon-like fashion, one arm draped over her, and we sleep the night away. On most mornings, making the bed means merely pulling the covers up and straightening the pillows. Within seconds, it looks as though no one ever slept in the bed. 

Saturday morning was a busy one. I began the day by working in the garden, pruning here, picking there. The zucchini are beginning to come on and Sargie has a large one that she intends to stuff. 

The girl uses mushrooms, rice, tomato sauce, browned sausage, burger, and a whole host of other ingredients far to secret to mention, and bakes it all in the oven. The rest of the zucchini will be pickled. Cleaned and cut into thin slices, it's difficult to tell it from cucumber pickles.

I finally worked on the mower deck, changing a bad spindle. 

In that past, I've occasionally had to use the torch to heat the bolts that keep everything together, but yesterday, a goodly tap of the hammer did the trick.

I hit a tree a couple of weeks ago and knocked a deck wheel completely out of line. Swearing at the person who moved the tree didn't do a bit of good, so I figured I might as well fix the wheel and bracket while the deck was off the mower. 

I attempted to bend the bracket back by hitting it with a large hammer. It worked, but also cracked the weld causing me to grind off the old paint and weld it once again. 

The deck will be put under the mower this morning and should be good to go for the rest of the summer... assuming no one moves another tree or rock.

It was time to head to Milligan Mountain. Since we were running a bit early, Sargie showed me the stomping grounds from her formative years.

Not far away is a large reservoir, one that wasn't there when she was a little girl.

Wild flowers grew in abundance along the remote gravel road so we stopped and picked Nancy a bouquet.

As always, the gathering was a fun one, filled with laughter and love. There was an abundance of young cousins, including Grady, and it was a delight to watch them run and play in the huge yard that ran down to the barn.

Nephew, Taylor, had a PA system running and it didn't take long for the young munchkins to hijack the electronics and sing for all who would listen... or even those who wouldn't.

Later in the evening, Taylor entertained everyone by singing and playing guitar. It was a wonderful day.

As usual, I'll simply post the pictures. 

It was past 8 PM when Sargie drove us back to Pentoga Road. It had been a wonderful day, a good old-fashioned family gathering.

Sargie works today from noon until five. I'm going to put the mower back together and call that job finished... I hope. Later, I want to move the backhoe to the side yard and remove one or two troublesome rocks in preparation of moving the greenhouse.  I hope to begin digging the garden pond late this fall. 

The sun is up and it's time to make hay.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

July 30, 2016 - Saturday
49 degrees/clear skies, calm winds
Pentoga Road

Congratulations to Uncle Bert for retiring ... again... after working as a Judicial Marshall in the court system in Bangor, Maine, for the past fifteen years. 

Bert began his post-education career as a County Transport Officer and rose through the ranks from there. 

I taught with Uncle Bert and his beautiful bride, Eileen, for many years in northern Maine. I also taught both their children, Stefanie and Andrew and they, my four sons. 

Bert was a middle school French teacher, Eileen a long-term sub. Together, they formed one of the more important working cogs in the school district and community, always involved with the extra curricular programs, scouting, or any projects that helped our area's youth. When Bert retired from education, they moved two hundred miles south to the Bangor area. Bert went to work in the justice system, Eileen spent years working for the state.

Why do I call him Uncle Bert? It's because his niece, Jenny, whom I also taught with for many years, ALWAYS referred to him as Uncle Bert. Once, I jokingly called him the same and it stuck.

Eileen officially re-retired last year and now Bert can take it easy. Hopefully, they can relax, spread their wings, and go where ever the wind takes them. Again, congratulations, Bert!

What a great way to begin retirement.
Taken last night (Saturday) at a Darius Rucker concert. Eileen won two tickets and away they went. 

Friday was the first fishing trip I've made in the past year and a half where I actually caught enough in one outing for a fish fry. 

I began my day on a large reservoir about half an hour away, but quickly discovered that I have no business being on a larger body of water by myself any more. I went around one cove, then another, and suddenly, it dawned on me that I couldn't make out any landmarks. With the wind blowing the boat around and on a strange lake with many island, peninsulas, and coves, I quickly became confused. Thankfully, I had a compass and simply headed the boat in the right general direction, finally coming out a short distance from the boat landing.

It was too nice of a day to quit. With a lesson learned, I trailered the boat to my favorite fishing pond and put in there. 

I didn't have to worry about losing my way as the lake is completely circular and small.

Fishing was initially quite slow, but after an hour it began to pick up and by morning's end, I'd caught enough fish to make a decent meal for Sargie and me. 

The lake is not real popular in this area. In fact, many don't even know it exists. I think the reason is that it contains few, if any, trophy-sized fish, but rather supports a large population of medium sized bluegills (eaters) with an occasional keeper bass thrown in the mix. 

I was lucky yesterday to catch this 16 inch bass just before heading for home. It capped a great day of fishing, one that restored a bit of mojo to my slightly bruised angling ego.

It was mid afternoon by the time I arrived home and cleaned the fish. Other than do a few chores around the house and garden, nothing more was accomplished. It was a perfect afternnoon to be lazy.

Speaking of garden, the giant pumpkins continue to grow. The first picture below was taken on July 24th, last Sunday.

This next picture was taken on July 28th, just four days later. Note, it's now resting on a pallet.

Every time I go out to the garden, I can definitely tell that the pumpkins have grown. 

Sargie wasn't home until late last night as she had to close the Vision Center. It was almost midnight before we finally went to bed.

Today's a midsummer Mighty Milligan gathering high atop Milligan Mountain. The weather is perfect, the company even more so. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

It's time to pour another cup of coffee and think deep thoughts before I head down to the garden to slop the pumpkins. Those babies aren't going to grow by themselves.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Speaking of babies...
Grandpa Yooper Brother Mark sent this picture yesterday. Appears Isabella is having no trouble demolishing her hamburger and fries!

When you've got it, you've got it, upside down sunglasses and all.

July 28, 2016 - Thursday evening
63 degrees/clear/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's almost bedtime and I'm tired after a full day in Green Bay. Normally, I'd write in the morning, but I'm planning on going fishing. Life's about priorities and I hope Friday morning will be spent on the lake.

It was cool enough this morning that mist was rising off the top of the wood sheds.



Initially, I thought both were on fire.



Poor Grady was sound asleep when we awakened him.



I've never seen a little guy who loves to ride in a car like he does. He was wide awake all the way down and for most the day before he finally fell asleep about an hour before we left for home.

We shopped, bought essentials, and found a few goodies for the upcoming Milligan Family Labor Day gathering we're hosting.

Grady's showing our Sam's Club membership card to gain admission.

Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers

We came home through Iron Mountain where we left Grady with his daddy. I hated to say goodbye to my little buddy, but after two days of nonstop two year old action, I'll sleep well tonight.

Sargie worked in the flower beds this evening, pruning back petunias and pinching dead heads from the geraniums.

The new battery for my Macbook Pro computer arrived in today's mail. I spent an hour taking the laptop apart and installing the battery this evening. It seems to be working well. So far, so good.

Sargie closes on Friday. I plan to be on the lake fairly early and depending on the fishing, I ought to be back home before noon. After that, the sky's the limit.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Today's random picture... the first cucumber of the year. It's ugly and undersized, but neither should affect it's taste.

Look who came to visit on Wednesday! Isabella stopped in and brought her mommy with.

July 28, 2016 - Thursday
58 degrees/clear/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I should never look at the weather forecast. After writing on Wednesday morning, I casually clicked on a weather page and was thrown into a panic when I saw the following:



Should your eyesight be as poor as mine, it says, "Thunderstorms likely. Rainfall will be locally heavy at times. High 73. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 3 to 5 inches of rain expected."

Oh no, I'd be alone here with Grady while the sky was falling in.



The back patio area is the only place where the basement is prone to seeping. Water rushes off the roof and runs down alongside the basement foundation. The last time we had a frog strangler of three inches in a short period of time, I ended up spreading tarps onto the deck so the water could run out into the yard. It worked then, why not now? 

I changed into my Tommy Pentoga - Super Hero! outfit and jumped into action, spreading three tarps over the patio. I was as ready as I could be.



In the end, we received half an inch of rain spread over the entire day yesterday. It was just enough to keep Grady and I indoors the entire time. 

Sarah and Isabella came out to visit for part of the morning. The munchkins played well together while Sarah and I caught up on the news. 



The babies began rubbing their eyes and yawning making it obvious it was nap time. With hugs and kisses, Sarah and Isabella departed for home. It wasn't long before ol' Hambone fell sound asleep and Pawpaw might have closed his eyes to the sounds of falling rain while reclining in his chair.

Following nap time, we watched Mickey Mouse, sang and danced. At one point, I kiddingly called Grady, "Knuckle Head," causing him to reach up and rub his noggin wondering what that meant. I told him it's what loving Pawpaw's call their grandsons. He seemed satisfied with that explanation and repeated the name several times. 

Mel, Grady's mother, texted me the other day saying that Grady has started pulling down his pants and tinkling on his other grandmother's trees in her yard. Mel wondered if Pawpaw might have taught him the fine art of tree tinkling. 

A country boy watering down trees? Heck yeah. As I explained to Mel, it's a rite of boyhood. Now I have to figure out how to teach him that there's a time and a place for everything.... including tree tinkling.

There were other lessons learned on Wednesday, mostly how to wear one's shorts on his head, making him look like an Egyptian pharaoh. I even sang Steve Martin's King Tut while we both danced in the living room. It was an action-filled day.

Grady was showing Grandma Sargie how to wear his pants on his head. He got a bit confused and put them on too far, causing him to look out one leg.

Grandma Sargie arrived home early last night and we had a quiet evening. After a rough and tumble day with Pawpaw, Grady was happy to sit on his grandmother's lap the entire evening. It was just as it should be.

Sargie's off and we're heading to Green Bay today. We need some basic supplies from Sam's Club and Grady enjoys road trips, so why not? We'll stop at the mall, Sam's Club, Fleet Farm, and of course, no trip to Title Town would be complete without a walk through of Harbor Freight Tools. The plan calls for us to drop Grady off in Iron Mountain late this afternoon after his daddy gets off work.

I've got chores to do before we leave, mostly slop the giant pumpkins. Both have doubled in size during the past two days and without question, the creaking and groaning caused by their rapid growth, will keep us awake for the next several nights. It's the price we giant pumpkin growers pay. 

Time to feed the monsters.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...