The leaves are falling almost as fast as the rain.

October 13, 2016 - Wednesday

28 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

This is one of those early mornings, very early.

I awakened around 2:30 AM to hear Brutus walking around, something that is quite unusual. My pup and a rock basically have the same sleeping habits. There was nothing to do but get up and let him out. Of course, once I had walked downstairs and waited ten minutes while he wandered around the back yard, I was wide awake. The rest is history.

Let's see, I heard from an old acquaintance, Clyde... in Kansas?... in yesterday's comments. Clyde, his wife... Lois?... and I met ten years ago in Sitka where they were volunteering at Sheldon Jackson College. I was running a native academic summer camp and teaching during the fall and spring terms. Golly, Clyde, I hope I have where you live and your wife's name correct. Forgive me if I don't. It's been a decade. I think you were in the group of five men whom I took out on the boat one evening. At any rate, thanks for hollering. Good to hear from you. Feel free to drop me an email at alaskaprofessor@gmail.com. 

Ah heck, as long as I published my email address, (something I seldom do) would whoever is reading this in Portugal, Poland, Germany, Russia, China, and South Korea, drop me a line? Hey, Fay, in Australia, I haven't heard from you in a while. Hope all is well down your way.

I can only see what country readers are from, but not any particulars. I always wonder who you are, what you do, how did you come across the blog, why you read the very mundane, often repetitive blatherings of a retired school teacher, etc. I've made some wonderful friends throughout the years, both in the US and around the world and it's fun to get to know who is reading on a regular basis. Who knows, maybe someday Sargie and I will take a whirlwind trip around the world and we'll get to meet face to face.

Meanwhile, back to reality.

Wednesday dawned warm and damp with rain forecast throughout the day. I took a chance that it would hold off long enough for me to complete my five miles and for once, it did. In fact, I had just walked in the door when the heavens let loose. Perfect.

With rain falling, the wind blowing, and the temperatures plunging, I hopped in the Blazer and went to town in search of a pan at one of the thrift shops, something large enough in which to boil and dye a few traps. After three years of not trapping, I promised Yooper Brother Mark's son, Jerad, I'd teach him what little I know. Back when, I used to catch a few coyotes, foxes, muskrats, mink, raccoons, and an occasional beaver each fall. The money wasn't great, but the activity was something the sons and I could do together. Luke and Andy, in particular, really enjoyed trapping.

Since my sight has gone downhill in the past few years, I've quit trapping altogether. Seems those wily coyotes are particular about being caught and it takes a near perfect set to do the trick. 

I stopped by to see Mark and Ann at the plant and to drop off a couple of miniature pumpkins. It's time they get into the spirit of the fall holidays.

I ran into a bit of trouble at the lumberyard. After purchasing a few 2x4's with which to frame the new window in the shop, I rammed a sliver into the palm of my left hand. A sliver? Heck, it felt more like a full-grown tree. I immediately tried to pull it out, but the chunk of wood broke off deep within my hand.

It hurt. It hurt really bad... really really really bad. I began to sweat and immediately felt sick to my stomach. I needed my mama to make it feel better, but since she's in Indiana, I had to wait until I got back home to surgically remove the thing with tweezers, a needle, and the big stuff like clippers.

That didn't happen. The sliver is too deep. After talking with Sargie, there was only one thing left to do, call Holly, the Matriarch of the Milligan Clan and get the recipe for her sliver poultice. Last night, before going to bed, I mixed white bread, milk, and sugar, together into a paste, glopped the mixture onto my hand, and had Sargie wrap it in gauze and tape. Hopefully the sliver will be drawn to the surface, at least close enough that I can grab it with a pair of tweezers. Stay tuned.

Oh, while in town, I did find a roasting pan for five dollars in which to boil and wax traps. Other than impaling wood into my hand, the trip had been a success.

Once home, I retrieved several traps and trapping paraphernalia from storage in preparation for the upcoming season. Thankfully, I'd put everything away where it belonged three years ago and retrieving it wasn't difficult. 

The rest of the afternoon was spent fixing, adjusting, and preparing the traps.

I'll begin boiling and waxing today. They'll hang outside to cure tomorrow and if it's not raining on Saturday, I'll see if Jerad wants to make some sets. 

I spent some time putting the geranium cuttings that have been sitting in a glass of water into vermiculite so they might root. Hopefully, they'll develop into new plants for next year. I'm just experimenting and playing. We'll see what happens.

I have a system set up to where I gather some of the aged firewood from under the tarps, haul to the barn and split it before bringing it on into the house. I'll begin using that in the sheds once the snow becomes too deep to gather what is stored at the edge of the woods.

Sargie was home early last night and opens this morning. I'll go for my usual walk then drive to town to take advantage of a one day sale at our local supermarket. After that, it'll be back to boil traps and hopefully, start framing the new window. I hope to complete all the framing inside the shop before I cut through the steel siding in the barn. It's to be nice the next two days, I'll frame today, cut the siding and install the new window tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed.

I think that's all the news for this very early morning. I'm going to go back upstairs and crawl between the sheets beside Sargie, see if I can get another hour of sleep before it's time to officially begin the day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

At 28 degrees, the fire feels mighty good this morning.