The hanging cabinet and wiring is finished. Note the relationship of the television to the recliner.  

September 12, 2016 - Monday

56 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

The internet went into hiding Saturday afternoon and didn't come out until later in the day on Sunday. I'm not sure where it went, but I am grateful it found its way back to Pentoga Road.

Amazing. A person doesn't realize how much he uses the World Wide Web until it disappears. I picked up the computer several times yesterday simply to find out information, football scores, the weather, etc., only to realize it wasn't available. The internet has become so much a part of everyday life, the ability to access instant knowledge.  

I'm one of the first to say that I long for the good old days, but I've come to realize that I enjoy the modern conveniences; mostly the internet and the ability to have the world at my fingertips.

Another inch of rain fell Friday night and into the weekend. I spent most of Saturday running wires and finished hanging the television cabinet in the shop. 

I finally figured out the internet reception puzzle and now have full access to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Plus, Youtube, and all the other online television services. I tell everyone that I wanted a television in the shop so I could watch instructional wood working videos on Youtube, but secretly, I'm certain I'll be watching more conventional programing from the comfort of my recliner while surrounded by sawdust and wood chips during the long, cold, dark, days of this coming winter. 

The garden suffered some weather damage over the weekend. Several of the giant sunflowers tumbled over due to saturated ground and heavy gusts of wind.

A couple of flowers were candidates to provide seed for next year, so I laid those aside to dry.

There must be several thousand seeds in these two heads. I'll save only twenty or so and let the birds have the rest.

One giant pumpkin has quit growing. It was doing well until fungus destroyed the leaves last month. Still, it has more of a Jack-o-lantern shape and color and for fall decoration, is the more desirable of the two giants.

Probably too big for fall table decoration

I'm not at all certain how much the second giant pumpkin weighs. It's still surrounded by dense foliage and is difficult to measure by myself. Since it's still actively growing, I don't want to take a chance on destroying any vines, so I'll have to wait until a killing frost comes along to fully see its size and calculate the weight. 

Guessing? Well, let's just say it's a big 'un!

Only a small part of the pumpkin can be seen in the picture. Unlike other pumpkins, this one is very long and more slender, although it's gaining daily in girth and is much more solid than last year's giant.

Sunday was pretty much a waste of a beautiful day. While Sargie was frying potatoes for a big brunch, I flicked on the television and watched the weekly Polka Party.

Oh, gawd, I've turned into my parents and grandparents.

In the end, I stole my favorite cook from the kitchen and we took a few turns dancing around the dining room to the oom pah music. 

Sargie was off to work by 11 and I settled in front of the tv for the opening of the Packers football season.

It was a close contest, but in the end, the Pack came through and edged out a good Jacksonville team.

So as not to completely waste the day, I spent the rest of the afternoon on the roof of the storage shed installing the over-the-air television antenna.

Originally, I'd placed the antenna on top of a water pipe alongside the barn in the back yard, but my favorite cook and dance partner informed me, under no circumstances, was it going to stay there. In the end, it went up on top of the storage shed in back of the barn.

I'm able to get the NBC affiliate out of Rhinelander and an ABC affiliate out of Wausau, Wisconsin. Once the trees are bare, I should get several more to the south. I doubt I'll be able to pick up any of the Marquette stations since there are solid spruce trees directly in front of the antenna to the north.

I've noticed the flowers are in their end-of-the summer bloom and many are brilliant. 

Sargie was home early last night and drove me into town to get the Blazer from Mechanic Dave's. With new pulleys, tensioner, and serpentine belt, our aging SUV no longer squeals.

Sargie opens the Vision Center this morning. I'm going for my usual five-mile walk then will be working on the weed bed, also know as the perennial garden, in the front of the house. There are several shrubs to plant and a lot of thinning of hostas and irises to take place. It's going to be wet and muddy, but with more rain in the forecast, today might be my best bet.

Time to get breakfast ready and Sargie's lunch packed.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...