It was late Monday morning before a plow came through on Pentoga Road.

December 13, 2016 - Tuesday

-5 degrees/clear/windy

Pentoga Road

Happy Birthday to Sargie! As mentioned yesterday, the love of my life turns twenty-nine today for at least the sixth year in a row (the number of years we've celebrated together.) I love you, Sweetheart.

Notices of new weather advisories keep popping up on my computer. Temperatures today aren't to rise much over zero and the winds are to blow twenty to twenty-five miles per hour.

Though wind chills are to be a million bajillion below zero, there is a beauty in this frigid air like no other.

Just like the rest of the Upper Peninsula, Pentoga Road has suddenly become a beautiful winter wonderland.

I cleaned the drive then headed directly to the shop Monday morning after returning home from my walk.

A base was broken on a rotating musical snowman the other night and I told Sargie I thought I could fashion a replacement. Actually, I looked forward to the challenge.

A piece of round wood, large enough to accommodate both the snowman, on top, and the music box, that had to be placed inside, was needed. A quick trip to the wood shed provided a piece of birch. Perfect.

I found this 1950's kitchen chair in an old deer blind several years ago. I was going to throw it away until I discovered how perfect it is for cutting short round wood.

I measured six inches off the log.

I'd never turned a large piece of raw wood. My lathe is quite small and I found the birch cleared the table by only a fraction of an inch.

It took quite a while to get the piece rounded and ready to shape. Being somewhat out of round, the lathe and bench on which is sits shook, rattled, and rolled.

I was patient and with the rpm's initially quite low, I began to shape the birch, forming it into the needed base.

I was tempted to forego the snowman and make my first-ever bowl. Still, the snowman needed a base.

I measured, figured, measured, calculated, made my marks, measured again, and with a router, began to hollow out a rectangle in which to place the music box. Oh how proud I was when the final cut was made. 

What? What the heck? What in tarnation?!

When attempting to assemble the musical ornament, I found I'd cut on the wrong line. What I thought had been a pencil mark turned out to a line in the grain. The birch was ruined, not only for the base, but also to be turned into a bowl. 

I'm going to use a mixture of sawdust and glue and attempt to salvage something from the hunk of wood. Failing that, it will go into the wood stove. 

Isn't it strange how life has a way of humbling us when our heads get a bit too large? Lesson learned.

I walked out of the shop late in the afternoon thoroughly disgusted and swearing that I would never ever never ever NEVER EVER enter again. 

A trip was made to the super market to purchase a cake mix and frosting for Sargie's birthday cake. I'll make it this morning as soon as I'm finished writing.

I also stopped to see Yooper Brother Mark and Ann at the plant. Both seemed to have everything under control and neither asked for my help or advice in making wood bedding for laboratory animals. We visited for a bit before I left them to their tasks at hand.

Sargie was home early last night and entered carrying a large pizza. By evening's end, there were only four pieces left. Yup, we can be piggies.

The evening was spent relaxing, eating, watching television, and talking. It was the perfect precursor to Sargie's birthday and vacation. 

I'm not certain what lies ahead for today. I need to make Sargie's cake, but other than that, we'll do whatever she desires. It's her day.

While she's in the shower, I may sneak back out to the shop. What I really meant yesterday afternoon was that I was never ever going back into the shop for the rest of the day. Yeah, I'm pretty certain that's how it went down.

I hear movement upstairs which means the birthday girl is ready to begin her day. Time to get busy.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...