Sunrise Wednesday morning

January 19, 2017 - Thursday

31 degrees/fog/breezy

Pentoga Road

Congratulations to Macrea, Sargie's youngest son, for being named as a Vice President in the Wells Fargo banking system. Macrea began working for Wells Fargo while in college and has rapidly progressed up the professional ladder since, his latest title being District Manager over several branches in the Upper Peninsula. Only twenty-six years old, I fully expect he'll own the bank by the time he's thirty-five, maybe forty. Again, congratulations, Macrea. Mom and I are proud of you!

Meanwhile, from the world of high finance to Pentoga Road...

I've foolishly contracted a case of spring fever. Though temperatures are peaking in the lower forties, I know for a fact that there's still two, maybe three, even four, months of winter remaining. 

In talking with my buddy, John, yesterday, I learned he had ordered his garden seeds and a couple of honey berry bushes to plant at his home in Sitka. 

Geesh, is there no God? I'm still undecided as to what I'm going to plant, let alone order the seeds. I'm half tempted to spend today in the garden, shovel the snow off the beds, drill holes in the frozen ground, throw in a stick or two of dynamite, and get the season started. Yeah... meanwhile, back to reality.

I see temperatures are to return to normal in the next seven to ten days. Until then, we'll enjoy our January thaw and dream of the day when spring and summer arrives. 

It was almost 1 PM before I arrived home yesterday from Iron Mountain. Seems there were a bunch of errands that needed attending to. I had the oil changed in Sargie's car and spent some time at the tire store. 

The back left tire on the Kia has had the inclination to suddenly go flat, seemingly for no reason at all. When inflated, it would remain that way for an indeterminate amount of time, often for several weeks, then suddenly go flat again.

I'd had the car in the shop three times where they removed the tire from the rim, checked it, etc. only to shrug their shoulders. Yesterday, the owner offered to replace the tire at no cost. He didn't have to offer twice. Sargie bought the complete set late last fall so it was still fairly new.

The owner said that though it rarely happens, occasionally a "bent leak" will occur. That's where there's a hole, rip, tear, or weak place, in the tire that will only leak if it's parked in a certain position. Whatever, we now have brand new rubber to replace the old one.

After another stop or two, I finally made my way home. The last of the snow had fallen from the roof onto the deck, so I cleared that before having lunch. I also managed to wash two loads of clothes while inside.

The rest of the day was spent just messing around, not doing anything really. I finished most the sanding on the crappie and further turned and began sanding the mug that's been a work in progress.

I was a bit disappointed that the cut can be so easily seen. It's where the top was separated from the bottom so the entire interior could be made hollow.

I'm going to have to talk to Mississippi Brother Garry and find out what I did wrong. I didn't realize the cut was so noticeable nor the grain was misaligned until I took a picture and enlarged it on the computer. Oh well, I'll learn.

Sargie had to close last night. I made chicken salad and we enjoyed a late evening meal before heading to bed. She opens today, but has the next three off. We've talked about driving down to Green Bay for a day. We don't really need anything, but we're ready for a little road trip. If that girl ever retires or quits, we'll probably spend half our time simply driving around the country, sticking our noses in here and there. We do enjoy our drives together.

I'm going for my walk this morning then will probably do a lot of what I did yesterday.... nothing. Oh, I'll keep busy. I've already got two other projects started in the shop and I really need to take advantage of this midwinter thaw and at least sweep out the barn.

Whoops, plans have changed. The phone just rang and it appears Hambone is going to spend the day with Pawpaw; something about the babysitter's child being sick. Macrea's going to drop him off after while.

It appears there's going to be a snowman made on Pentoga Road before nightfall and who knows what other adventures we might encounter along the way?

Meanwhile, the sheets are finished washing. I need to hang them outside on the line then start thinking about fixing breakfast.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Coming down the Mastodon Road overlooking our closest community, Alpha, Michigan