April 21, 2017 - Friday
34 degrees/partly cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

It just dawned on me that I didn't take many pictures Thursday and I'm not sure why as I really enjoy looking at the photos each morning of the day before. It's about the only time I get to see what I did up close and clear. Other than a couple of trees with fungus growing on them, there's nothing to view.

Yesterday was rainy and cold. I skipped walking in favor of taking the bowls I'd made for the 4H fund raiser and dropping them off at Yooper Brother Mark's plant. As usual, Mark was busy with the business of making laboratory animal bedding. 

Once home, I painted the pieces of a parrot puzzle for one grandchild or the other. I've been tripping over that parrot for the past six weeks and it's time that it flies out of the shop and gets out of my way.

I'd just begun rounding a piece of wood on the lathe when Sargie's brother, Steve, pulled in. A logger, I've asked Steve to assess the condition of the softwoods, spruce and balsam, that are growing on the property.

We spent the afternoon talking and walking the property. The diseased forest, most damaged by the Spruce Bud Worm, is in pretty dire straits. Many trees have blown down during the past two wind storms and what remains standing doesn't look all that good. It's time they go.

As Steve said, the forest is like a garden. It needs to be tended and cared for. Mine has been neglected for decades.

It appears there'll be some logging done in the coming weeks. I hate to see the trees go and it'll be ugly for a year or two, but in years to come, the woods will be much healthier and productive. 

I drove to Iron Mountain late Thursday afternoon so I could ride home with Sargie. Since I needed to be in town before dark, I stopped and visited with Jeanne and Boyd. It's always good to see them and we're never short of conversation. They have the most beautiful home, lawn, and garden area and I always learn something from both. 

Last night, I learned of the solar lights mounted on their flag pole. It appears I won't have to run electric wires after all.

Sargie and I weren't home until almost 9:30 last night. After a quick supper, it was bedtime.

Sargie opens this morning and I'll be riding back with her to get the Blazer. Today is supposed to be dry and fairly warm. Hopefully, the ground will begin to dry and I can accomplish something outdoors. If not, it'll be a shop day.

Time to get breakfast made and Sargie's lunch put together. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...