One of Thursday's activities was plowing Neighbor Mike's lane.

January/Friday the 13th, 2017

-12 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I just read next week's forecast. What? They are predicting several days of rain with highs around forty. Ah, the old January thaw. At least the rain will settle the snow, making navigation on snowmobile much easier once it turns cold again.

My walk on Thursday morning was enjoyable. I enjoy the solitary sound and feel of snow crunching under my feet. 

I needed to check on the ice shack that is sitting at boat landing. First things first, I had to dig the snowmobile from under some hefty snow in the back yard.

I needn't have worried about the ice shack. They don't plow the road to the lake in the winter months and unless one walks or takes a snowmobile, it's difficult to get into the boat landing. 

While there, I checked on the lake conditions and as I suspected, slush is forming on top of the ice. This is due to the weight of the snow pushing the ice down and forcing the water to flow on top. Often, the conditions will stay this way the rest of the winter as the snow insulates the slush from the frigid temperatures keeping it in liquid form. 

Since next week's forecast is for mostly rain, I think I'll tow the shack back home. I just don't feel like wading around in an ankle deep snow cone. 

Back home, I decided to clean up the drive along with Neighbor Mike's lane. All went well until I was plowing by the mail box and two wheels slipped off the road and into the ditch.

It doesn't look bad, but under that snow is a four foot drop.

You can't beat experience. Having been there/done that, I simply turned the machine off and used the Blazer to pull it out before I buried the four-wheeler even deeper.

The wind picked up and was soon howling. Coupled with temperatures in the single numbers, I headed to the shop.

I had planned on cleaning and possibly working on a scroll saw piece. A small piece of discarded maple altered those plans. 

Actually, it's Mississippi Brother Garry's fault. He's the one who initially taught me to turn and after, admonished that once a person begins working with a lathe, he'll never look at a chunk of wood in the same manner as before. 

He was right. I now examine each and every piece as a medium for potential bowls, glasses, plates, vases, snowmen, or anything else my mind can imagine. 

In Thursday's case, it was a tiny piece of discarded scrap sugar maple that threw a wrench into the works... or wood onto the lathe.

I'm planning on making each of the granddaughters a tea set, with cups, saucers, plates, serving bowls, and whatever else, all in miniature. It was time to get that little piece of maple spinning and practice.

So I began and an hour later, a two inch tall stemmed glass appeared. 

What does one do with a miniature stemmed glass? Beats me, but I learned a lot and it was fun to make.

Sargie and I enjoyed a quiet and relaxing evening last night. I began yawning around 9 PM and by 10, couldn't keep my eyes open.

Sargie closes the Vision Center today so it'll be a long one for her. I think I'll skip walking this morning and tow the fish shack home. Rather than pins, I'll simply thread wire through the holes from the ice shack into the tow bar I made, something that should suffice. The shack weighs well under a hundred pounds and I'll be going slow.

Ah, another day/another project. Assuming I get the ice shack home, what to do, what to do? Maybe I'll get the shop cleaned, assuming I don't find another piece of scrap wood and let my imagination run wild.



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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...