Winter is rapidly closing in on the Upper Peninsula

December 7, 2016 - Pearl Harbor Day

16 degrees/cloudy/very windy

Pentoga Road

This is one of those rare days that if we had a power generating windmill, we could supply electricity to everyone in the area. It's blowing up a gale. I generally walk outside with Brutus first thing in the morning, but only made it to the edge of the deck before I turned around and came back inside. The wind is unmerciful and cutting.

Tuesday began on a sour note. Heading to the shop directly after Sargie left for work, I found the new propane heater I'd purchased last week wasn't working. I'm told there's an internal safety switch that is often faulty.

I tried and tried to get it started, all to no avail. There was nothing to do but take the heater back to the hardware store and exchange it for a new one.

While in town, I stopped to see Yooper Brother Mark at the plant. He was up to his eyeballs with managing the making of wood products. Seems if an employee or two aren't the problem, then it's a hiccup with shipping. I didn't offer to fill in for him yesterday and remembered all the reasons why I'm grateful that I'm retired.

The septic tank people were waiting for me when I returned home.

It took two hours, but in the end, the tank was emptied and the pumper man said we should be good for another five to six years. 

I learned one thing yesterday; after watching the men work for two hours, I quickly came to realize that I don't want to be a septic tankologist when I grow up. Someone has to do it and they perform a vital job, but it wouldn't be for me.

The rest of the day was spent in the shop finishing and mounting the Old Man and the Sea.

I got the old guy mounted onto a painted background, but I'm not sure I like the frame that I made.

After gluing, weight was needed to press the background and cutting together. A full gallon of paint thinner and a brick worked well.

I was running out of eyes and patience by afternoon's end and made a couple of dumb mistakes while making the frame.  I'll see what it looks like this morning, but wouldn't be surprised if I make a new one.

Sargie was home early last night and we had a pleasant evening together. Brutus was in a good mood and I spent a bit of time on the floor playing with him. Honestly, some of his antics make Sargie and I roar with laughter. He was using his nose to push me around, then suddenly lick my face and get me laughing so hard that I could hardly move. I think the goofball was warming up for Mom's arrival on the 15th. Once she's here, he forgets about Sargie and me and becomes her pup.

Sargie's back to work early this morning. I may or may not go for my walk. The wind is howling, it's cold, and as we all know, I'm delicate. 

Regardless, I hope to end up in the shop at some point and continue working on Christmas presents for all the good little girls and boys. 

Look closely and you'll see a partridge on the right-hand side at the edge of the drive. Two of them had been pecking around on the back deck, no doubt, looking for a pear tree.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Neighbor Mike was down to his camp deer hunting, but all he went home with were a couple of Christmas trees cut from his property.