Sargie on one of the ATV bridges that straddles the Brule River between the UP and northern Wisconsin

July 13, 2016 - Wednesday

66 degrees/clear/windy

Pentoga Road

It appears we're going to have one more day of hot and humid weather before the current heat wave moves to the east. In fact, the current temperature at 5 AM is forecast to be the same for tomorrow's high, sixty-six degrees. We'll take it.

More than an inch of rain has fallen in the past three days and we're still cutting the grass once a week. This time of the year, once every two weeks is normally sufficient. Not this summer. 

There should be a decent crop of apples from the young Macintosh tree in the back yard. 

I've noticed the winter squash that are growing in the new section of the garden have kicked into overdrive. They are spreading runners in every which direction and I keep redirecting them away from the potatoes. 

The blueberries, all fourteen plants, have never grown taller than two to three feet. This year, they are stretching into the five-to six foot range. Since berries develop on the last year's new growth, prospects for a bumper crop look positive for next year. Of course, it all depends on the weather. This year's should be average. 

The storm that blew through here the night before last sure left it's mark. Several of the giant sunflowers in the garden were leveled. 

I straightened each and tied them to stakes. As of last night, it appears my efforts were successful and they should continue to grow and produce giant flowers by summer's end.

Even the potatoes weren't spared the wrath of the strong wind and rain.

They, too, had righted themselves by late Tuesday afternoon.

The old kitchen window that has been leaning against the barn had blown over. Thankfully, though the frame broke, the glass didn't. The window will be permanently going away in the next few days.

After my usual early morning garden chores on Tuesday, I headed to the shop. I'd like to tell you that I finished the lattice and can move on. 

Yeah, sure.

I discovered a mistake in my marking and found I'd spent a couple of hours painstakingly measuring and marking for nothing. Thankfully, I hadn't made any cuts, so today, I'll erase what I did and begin again.

Sargie and I had a few errands to do in town. The storm had blown a large popple tree across Pentoga Road, barely missing an old, abandoned, house.

Once home, Sargie suggested we go for a four-wheeler ride to the river. Anything was better than sitting inside waiting for the cooler evening air.

As might be expected, the Brule River was full to overflowing.

A woods nymph peeking between the branches

We rode close to thirty miles yesterday afternoon. It was a good outing.

Sargie performed some kitchen magic last night and made loaded baked potatoes. They consisted of fresh broccoli from the garden, shrimp, cheese, butter, sour cream, and of course, the major food group of life, bacon.

We later watched America's Got Talent and called it day. Sargie opens this morning so it didn't take us long to climb the stairs to bed.

I'm going to take my walk this morning and depending on how warm it is after, either work up fire wood or retreat to the cooler confines of the shop. Either way, I'll keep busy.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One of Brutus's favorite hot weather activities... attacking the spray from the hose.