There's definitely frost on the pumpkin... and ice on the water this morning.

October 25, 2016 - Tuesday

22 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

A P.S. at the beginning... I have no idea what's up with the font on the following. I make it large so Mom and I can more easily read it, but today, it's coming out large, small, double spaced, and every other way possible. Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow.

Just when everyone had high hopes that summer might last until Thanksgiving, Mother Nature reminded us last night that colder weather is at hand.

The weather people are predicting a mild November before winter lets us have it with both barrels for the rest of the year. Supposedly we are to experience temperatures far below normal with precipitation exceeding normal amounts. 

The meteorologists are calling it the La Nina Effect. Here in the Upper Peninsula, those of us with our feet flat on the ground simply refer to it as cold and miserable.

One thing is certain. I have to get the trailer out of the water today. Thankfully, Lake Pentoga receded about a foot yesterday making it possible for me to drive the four-wheeler to the trailer without getting water over the engine... I hope.



Assuming the trailer makes it to high ground, I'll have to grease the bearings and make it ready to use this fall and winter.

Meanwhile...

I received a text yesterday from great niece, Piper, wishing her Uncle Tom and Auntie Sargie a happy Monday. 

I walked only three miles on Monday due to the nippy temperature coupled with strong winds. Cold weather doesn't seem to bother me, but oh those winds! Yesterday's cut through me like a hot knife in butter.

Once home, I resumed work on the log splitter cart, making a few adjustments and adding an edge around the top.

It was finished by late morning and I encountered my first difficulty. How to load the heavy splitter onto the cart?

Though willing, Brutus was no help at all.

Of course, the boat trailer! Doesn't everyone use a boat trailer when loading heavy objects? I put the lip of the cart under the trailer with the metal ramps leading up to the rear. Pulling the splitter onto the top took little effort.

What makes me the happiest is the fact that the cart is easy to pull, even with the heavy splitter. The majority of the weight is over the back making pulling it by hand no problem at all.

I'm happy to chalk that project off my things-to-do list.

Sargie's brother, Pat, stopped by for a visit. On his last self-proclaimed motorcycle ride of the year, we spent time in the shop talking and enjoying each other's company.

Pat's one of the smartest and most knowledgeable people I've ever encountered. Quiet, well read, and thoughtful, he knows more about current events and US and world history than anyone I know. 

In fact, other than relating to computers and digital usage, I don't know any subject that Pat's not well versed in. The man is a walking talking encyclopedia. I wish I had some of his smarts.

What remained of the day was used up by piddling around. The battery is bad in the Ford tractor, so I had to wrestle it out of the machine. I'll be purchasing a new 6 volt battery in the next day or so.

Also, the battery on the Blazer has been discharging. I've discovered the battery is good, but there's a short in the Blazer. I'll have to talk with Mechanic Dave and see when he'll have time to look at it. Until then, I'll unhook one cable when I'm not using the SUV. I don't drive that much so it's not really a big deal.

Sargie was home early last night and we spent the evening watching Dancing With the Stars, you know, learning some new moves that Sargie and I can practice during our free hours. Nephew Regan is getting married next July and his younger brother, Garth, in August, and should there be a dance at the reception, Sargie and I want to be ready. We saw a full-arm lift, double twirl overhead, down between the legs, and over the left shoulder, that would be a good one for us. Failing that, maybe we'll just sway to the music and shuffle our feet as we enjoy the music and each other.

I caught word that Grady is coming home with Grandma Sargie tonight and babysit me tomorrow. It's forecast to rain and spit snow. Of course. Otherwise, we might load some firewood at Yooper Brother Mark's plant and/or continue cleaning the garden, or, we might stay inside and watch Sesame Street, eat raisins, play drums on the bottom of old cardboard oatmeal containers, and take naps. It's all good.

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

Today's project is to don the hip waders and using the four wheeler, drag the trailer from Lake Pentoga. The rotary mower will have to wait until I can get the tractor out there without getting stuck.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie was in the basement last night retrieving a bag of winter caps and gloves and emerged wearing one of my city-boy hats, looking like a French hippy chick.