Look what came in Monday's mail.
It's official! I'm old!

February 28, 2017 - Tuesday

30 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Sure enough, I'll finally get to take advantage of your tax dollars and my hard-earned contributions from the past fifty years in a mere four months. According to Social Security's calculations, I began contributing at age fourteen when I obtained a work permit and mowed grass for our community's public schools. I've been working and paying in ever since in one way or the other. 

Wow, Medicare. I'm extremely fortunate that I retired with full defined benefits out of Alaska. My current health coverage will become my secondary insurance and I'll let Medicare do the rest. From what I have learned, I can just sit back and let it happen around me. Come June 1st, everything automatically switches. Bring 'er awn.

I'm so tickled this morning. I received an email from one of my former graduate students, Tia, who is a special needs teacher in Kenai, Alaska. 

I worked with Tia when she interned in Petersburg, Alaska, years ago, and we developed a wonderful working bond. As time went on, we became friends, but I'd lost touch with her after retiring. 

I well remember the first day I walked into Tia's classroom. She was so afraid and insecure. Poor thing. I gave her a big hug, a smile, and assured her that between her mentor teacher and me, we'd get her through her student teaching and she'd be just fine.

My predictions came true. Tia is doing well and even has a student teacher of her own. 

Sometimes rewards are few and far between in the business of education, but occasionally, a student comes along that makes it all worthwhile. I'm happy to sit back, close my eyes and remember when Tia was one of my kids.

Just reminiscing here... that class had several outstanding students. What a magical year. Another student, Joanna, an old soul who was born to teach. Then there was a young man, Paul? I can't remember his name off hand, but he was a born educator who managed to get even the biggest and toughest boys in his high school classes to practice yoga. There was a young lady who was a mountaineering guide and had summited Mt Denali, North America's tallest peak, several times. 

I was so lucky to work with such a wonderful, talented, group of graduate students. How fortunate am I now that I can sit and think back on those days and simply smile. Life has been good.

Monday morning was spent in the shop. I turned a small figure out of hickory to send out to Isabella. Sarah has said one of her favorite toys is the small snowman we gave her for Christmas. This will be a little girl made out of the hickory that Isabella's grandpa, Yooper Brother Mark, brought back from Kentucky. I'm hoping to talk Sargie into painting the figure so I can get that, along with other goodies, out in the mail.

I was busy, turning, when I noticed dust was everywhere. My homemade dust collector wasn't working. What the heck?

Seems the collector has been working a little too good. The filter was so clogged that it's a wonder the motor didn't burn out.

Sargie takes off her rings and other goodies each night and lays them on the bathroom counter. I've come close to knocking something or the other off several times, so I decided to turn a larger, shallow, bowl made from white birch for her.

This is a new design I'd never tried before.

In the end, it seemed to all come together.

I've been making block names for the grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and worked on Aubrey's yesterday. I have five or six completed and still have a bunch to go.

Some are made free hand, other letters are traced. Sargie thinks I should custom make them to sell, but I'm not so sure. If I do, it won't be until next fall. There aren't enough hours in the day now, let alone when summer arrives and gardening season begins.

Sargie and I went for our usual day-off drive around the countryside.

Despite last week's warm weather, there's plenty of ice left on the area lakes, enough that people are driving cars and trucks to their favorite fishing places.

Late Monday afternoon and evening was spent being lazy. I watched turning videos on Youtube while Sargie did her thing. 

Talk about frustrating. This red pine squirrel has been stealing from the bird feeder. I placed a trap nearby, but so far, he's not taken the bait. Undaunted, I swear, he will be mine. Oh yes, by all that is holy, that bushy-tailed rat will be mine.

This is Sargie's last day of vacation and I'll let her decide what's on the agenda. I just came inside after turning the heat on in the shop. Guess I'll grab another cup of coffee and head out that way, see what kind of mess I can make this morning.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...