That's one of my former students from Maine, Andrew Cyr, climbing a mountain in the Delta Range of Alaska.

March 15, 2017 - Wednesday

zero degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'll admit, I'm a bit jealous when I see a picture of Andrew climbing and hiking in Alaska. Seems I ought to be there beside him.

Somewhere, I've got a picture of myself and another person, the local high school math teacher in Kotzebue at the time, scaling a similar mountain in the Brooks Range. The snapshot above sure brings back a lot of memories.

Andrew was a student of mine from sixth grade through high school in northern Maine. We got to know each other on a more personal level when we both enrolled in the Maine Guide's course, a full year of classes and testing to become licensed guides.

When I was living at my cabin north of Kotzebue, Andrew transferred from the University of Maine to the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, the same university for whom I taught at the time. Since I was teaching and traveling out of my cabin, 600 miles from Fairbanks, I never got to see him.

Currently, Andrew is completing work to earn his PhD. In his spare time, he competes in some very strenuous ultra adventure marathon type competitions. Regardless what he is doing, Andrew makes his old teacher proud.

While I'm talking about adventures, check out this video of Neighbor Mike feeding some sort of spooky parrot-looking bird in New Zealand. 

It looks like a cross between a starving groundhog and a parrot, and something far far too horrible to talk about. The video makes me want to run outside and hug my little buddy, Jimmy, the chickadee, and all his little chickadee friends. Brave man, that Neighbor Mike!

Mike and Germaine are due to return to the UP at the end of the month. I've missed my good friend and part time neighbor. 

I skipped my usual walk Tuesday morning and drove to town for some needed paint. Once home, I worked in the shop, first painting the bunny rabbits, and meant to begin work on another pencil holder, except, I never did get to it.

There was still a piece of birch stock left on the lathe from Mom's pencil holder disaster on Monday. I hated to see that beautifully grained wood go to waste.

In the end, a bowl was made. I think it's one of the prettier ones I've turned.

I found another short scrap of birch from the same large limb. Having so much fun turning the first bowl, I decided to turn a second.

In the end, nary a pencil holder was turned, but there are two more bowls sitting on the dining room table that weren't there last night.

I removed the clear lid from the germination tray this afternoon and discovered that the petunias I planted several days ago are sprouting.

Some of my methods were changed for germinating the teeny seed from last year and at least so far, it appears I'm having better luck. 

I ran through the shower late in the afternoon and drove over to Iron Mountain so I could ride back with Sargie. She had to close and I hated to think of her driving home alone in the dark.

While at Walmart, I purchased an inexpensive DVD player. I have over a thousand movies and many Alaska videos I made over the years. After our old player died several years ago, it was never replaced. Hey, for $27, we can afford to have one sitting around should we want to watch an occasional movie or video.

Sargie opens this morning. I'll be riding with her then turning around and coming back home. 

On today's agenda:

I hope to hook up the DVD player and integrate it into the television/satellite system.

The rest of the flower seed needs to be planted, the hollyhocks, moss rose, and cone flowers.

Sargie's not only been sick for over a week, but she's working some ungodly hours. That laundry in the basement isn't going to wash itself.

If it finally gets above freezing, as forecast, the piece of polycarbonate paneling for the greenhouse that blew out in last week's wind storm needs to be put back and caulked.

Then there's the pencil holder. I found a piece of wood that should work well. Stay tuned. As I said previously, the third time's a charm.

Meanwhile, it's time to get this day underway.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...  

Look at Ivy's new toy! I wonder if Andy's told her that it works better if she pulls her drawers down first?