Isabella with her fireman's hat on backwards

January 15, 2017 - Sunday

-10 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I don't know, I think Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri's granddaughter, Isabella, is making a fashion statement; the backward's hat, an auto that Barbie would be proud to drive, and horizontally striped britches. I'm pretty certain she gets her tastes from her mother. At some point in the future, we'll be able to say we knew Isabella back when...

Saturday was a gorgeous day in the Upper Peninsula. Though the temperatures were only in the lower 20's, the sunshine and lack of wind made it feel like spring. 

The day began by filleting the bluegills that were caught Friday. They'd frozen into a big solid chunk of ice during the night, so a five gallon bucket was filled with water and the fish allowed to thaw. 

I spent the remainder of the morning in the shop, working on one project or the other. I also have a nice piece of birch ready to turn. Though I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to make, I'm eager to begin. I never thought I'd see the day when a chunk of firewood could make me so excited.

Sargie cleaned house all morning while bebopping to the golden oldies. Our home sure looked nice after she was finished. As Sargie said, it won't stay that way for long and she's right, it won't. With the wood stove burning 24/7, minute ashes tend to fly around and cover everything. I've heated with wood for forty years and it's always been the same, cozy, but messy, heat.

We had a wonderful trip to town and ride around the area Saturday afternoon.

Groceries were purchased and after, we visited several lakes.

One thing is evident, there aren't many people ice fishing anymore. Northern lakes used to became small shanty towns this time of year and it was common to see fishermen perched atop overturned five-gallon buckets waiting for the big one to bite. No more. 

I've read where hunting and fishing license sales are way down across the nation. Seems older people are getting older and those who are younger would rather stay home and play with their phones, tablets, and computers. It's sad. I don't care if I have to tie a rope around his big toe and drag him outside, Grady's going to know the outdoors. So far in his young life, he's been dragging his Pawpaw out the door and I like that very much.

Sargie and I stopped at one thoroughfare between two lakes and watched a group of ice fishermen on snowmobiles fight their way through slush.

 

Though the picture doesn't necessarily show it, their snowmobile tracks quickly filled with water. In my younger days, I would have looked at that as a challenge. Today, I'm happy to watch someone else sink into the glop in the name of fishing.

Once home, I readied the fish fillets while Sargie made our Pentoga Road batter filled with secret and exotic herbs and spices.  Let the fish fry begin!

We had a supper last night meant for royalty and at least when it came to culinary delights, we were indeed the King and Queen of Pentoga Road. It's hard to beat the flavor of fresh fish caught out of ice cold water. 

Sargie has to work from noon until five today. I'm going to take my usual morning stroll then work in the shop until the Packers/Cowboys playoff game this afternoon. No doubt, Yooper Brother Mark, John, who, I think is in Boise, Idaho, these days, and I, will combine our superior coaching skills to help the Packers all we can. It's going to be a tough, but winnable, game.

I think I'll go out to the shop and start the heater. Sargie can sleep in this morning so I might as well make some wood shavings fly.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...