Sargie and I enjoyed the first apple from one of our trees Friday afternoon

August 6, 2016 - Saturday

54 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I've read that it takes at least seven days for a virus to run its course. I began to feel lousy a week ago today and this is the first morning that I've felt back to normal. I'll keep my doctor's appointment scheduled for the week after next as a follow up. It's been quite the ride.

The phone rang shortly after 6 Friday morning. It was Neighbor Mike. He and his bride, Germaine, are down for the weekend from their home in Marquette.

 

After my usual morning garden activities and while Sargie was in the shower, I went to Mike's where we had a great visit. He also showed me his camp garden. It's doing well.

Since Sargie didn't have work, I asked if she wanted to go out to eat lunch. I didn't have to ask that girl twice. We went to the The Old School Cafe in Alpha where I had a great, low calorie, bacon cheeseburger.

Once home, I fired up the rider and mowed the main trail and back meadow alongside where I'll be digging fill dirt this coming week.

The last of the boulders and rocks were removed from the side yard and the backhoe moved to the rear of the property in preparation of hauling dirt.

Of course, hauling means I had to resurrect the old Man Truck.

My heart fairly raced as it roared to life. I dumped a bit of power steering fluid into the reservoir and watched it run out the bottom and onto the ground. 

Ah, who needs power steering?

The same happened with the brake fluid. Very little stayed in the tank, but a lot found it's way onto the top of the engine. Hmm, I still had brakes... sort of. Good 'nuff.

After letting the engine idle for a few minutes, I hopped in and began the journey to the rear of the property.

Sargie shouted, "STOP!!!"

The muffler had fallen off and I'd run over the thing.

With the muffler disposed of, I continued the long and treacherous journey to the rear of the property. The truck roared, it coughed, it jiggled, shimmied, and shook, but in the end, the Man Truck made it. I backed it into place where it will be ready to take on the first load of fill dirt later today.

Sargie had been cleaning the garage during the afternoon. She says since I won't do it, she has to. I try to help, but there always seems to be something else to work on.

While Sargie was doing her thing, I did the afternoon feeding of the pumpkins and watered all the planters in front of the house.

The largest giant pumpkin is approaching the hundred pound mark. I hope it will gain another four hundred over the next month. The smaller pumpkin weighs around seventy-five pounds.

We took an early-evening four wheeler ride last night. It was cool with little humidity, the perfect way to end a busy day.

Look real closely at this picture... in the apple tree over the No Trespassing sign.

Some people have watch dogs or alarm systems. These folks have hornets. Ain't no one gonna steal apples from that tree!

Sargie's back to work today, but has Sunday off. I'm going to go for a three mile walk this morning then come home and take inventory on my pickle-making supplies. I have cucumbers and zucchini squash, all key ingredients for bread and butter pickles. It's time.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...