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| Much of Thursday was spent in the shop working on an ancient Dremel Moto Shop (scroll saw). |
45 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road
I guess we're experiencing the calm before the storm. At least that's what Carl the Weatherman is saying. It's forecast that we're to get some snow blown by heavy winds and frigid temperatures. Thankfully, Sargie doesn't have to work on Saturday, so let 'er snow and blow!
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| Two years ago, I was ice fishing. Yesterday, I was working in the yard without a jacket and even plucked a few weeds from a row in the garden. |
 Winter Weather Advisory | ||
Weather Updated: Nov 18 4:46AM
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Issued by the National Weather Service
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en-US WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 12AM CST SAT UNTIL 3PM CST SAT ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ TO 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ SATURDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MARQUETTE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GUSTY WINDS...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ TO 4 PM EST /3 PM CST/ SATURDAY. HAZARDOUS WEATHER... * RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW LATE TONIGHT...THEN DIMINISH ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED BY LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON. EXPECT THE HEAVIEST SNOW OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE HURON MOUNTAINS. * NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING AS HIGH AS 45 MPH WILL ALSO CAUSE BLOWING SNOW AND SHARPLY REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN OPEN AREAS. IMPACTS... * ROADS WILL QUICKLY BECOME SLIPPERY AFTER SNOW BEGINS LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE TO BE SLIPPERY THROUGH SATURDAY. EXPECT HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS DURING THIS TIME. BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE REDUCED VISIBILITIES...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. * THE GUSTY WINDS MAY ALSO BREAK TREE BRANCHES AND CAUSE SPORADIC POWER OUTAGES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... * A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. * PREPARE...PLAN...AND STAY INFORMED. VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MQT &&
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Thursday was a mixed bag of activities. My five-mile walk was enjoyable, but I'm glad Sargie insisted I wear a hunter's orange vest. There must have been at least a dozen trucks parked alongside the roads on which I was walking. Somewhere, deep in the woods, but still in the vicinity, hunters were waiting for the opportunity to shoot a deer.
I darned near stepped on a partridge not far from our drive. I gave up hunting a few years ago, but even I could have shot this one!
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| He's in the middle, under the tree. I knew he was in there somewhere but couldn't find where he ran until I downloaded the picture. |
The rest of the day was spent either doing housework or playing in the shop. I practiced turning more wood on the lathe. The skill set required is quite high and I find it extremely enjoyable that to become proficient, a person needs to practice so much. When I'm at the lathe, I get the same feeling as in years past, when I've sat at a potter's wheel shaping a mound of wet clay. In the end, I made nothing on Thursday afternoon but pretty kindling for the wood stove.
I also enjoy the fact that I don't need to actually see what I'm doing. A quick touch, occasionally running my hands along the piece, paints a mental picture of how it's being shaped. I've got a long ways to go to become proficient, but the Lord and the weather willing, I have all the time in the world.
Neighbor Mike gave me an old scroll saw several months ago. It was one that he'd discovered under a pile of rubbish in his basement, a left over from the previous owner. He asked if I wanted it and said otherwise, he was going to throw it away. I brought it home.
The lightweight machine, a Dremel Moto Shop, is a relic from the early 70's. When I initially plugged it in, it sort of ran. I quickly turned it off and lubricated the motor. After, it sprang to life, almost like Brutus does after being tied to his house for any length of time.
Quite a bit of time was spent on Thursday working on the saw, taking it apart, cleaning years and years of basement dirt from it's interior. I really like the machine. Rather than a five inch blade, it requires one that is three inches in length. It's not made for anything heavy, but for lighter work, it's ideal. With heavy duty projects, I'll use the fourteen inch band saw.
Mid afternoon came and I dashed into the house, ran through the shower, and made my way to Iron Mountain. I had to be there well before dark. I missed Sargie and figured we could ride home together, spend some quality, quiet, time together. It was nice.
Last evening was spent munching popcorn and watching television. After two days of nonstop Hambone action, it seemed quiet, almost too quiet. We already miss the little bugger.
I'll ride back with Sargie this morning. She works late today, but thankfully, has Saturday off. I have a bit of shopping to do in the big city then plan on spending the rest of the day in the shop. There are several things to make for people and of course, there's my continuing love affair with the lathe. Everyone I know this year may receive pretty pieces of kindling for presents.
It's time to get a cup of coffee, throw another log on the fire, and think some deep thoughts. This morning's deep consideration is whether to eat Cheerios for breakfast or go full monty and have toast with peanut butter and jelly. Dad always said that life is full of challenges and it's what you do with them that counts. Put me in coach, I'm ready to play.
After all, a man's work is never done.
So are the tales from Pentoga Road...
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| All that is left of Lake Pentoga after four weeks. It's hard to believe that water was up to the top of the front tires on the man truck. |
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