April 7, 2017 - Friday
28 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Thursday flew by in a blur. Judging by today's weather forecast and with everything on our agenda, I'd say today will be the same.

I sneaked out of the house early Thursday morning to cut out the pieces for Grady's birdhouse that we'll assemble today.  



I cut enough lumber to make another birdhouse to hang here and labeled the pieces of a third that I won't assemble, but will keep those as a pattern for the future.

Grandma Sargie had just finished her shower when Grady awakened and was ready to shake, rattle, and roll. First, came a bath. He likes to brush his teeth, take a bath, and socialize all at once.



I told Sargie that it won't be long before Hambone's legs are too long to fit into the kitchen sink. We have a tub in the upstairs bathroom, but the convenience of the kitchen sink is too good to pass up.

One thing that hasn't changed is Grady's love of being wrapped in a huge bath towel, held, and sung to right after his bath. I started that when he was just a few months old and it has now become tradition.

What do I sing?
Rock a Bye Baby of course!

I love traditions and hate to see this one end, but the way Hambone is growing, he'll be holding and singing to me in another year or two.

The day was spent doing one thing or the other, most of the activities outside. I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Using Pawpaw's "lookers" (binoculars)
He never did catch on that he's supposed to use both eye pieces, so opted to look through just one.

Grady helped Grandma Sargie and Pawpaw bury an extension cord and water hose from the house to the garden.

Sargie worked alongside me during the afternoon.

Note that Grady is in the background, doing major excavation in the garden where the digging was easier. I should have had him begin to dig that pond I keep talking about.

Either Sargie or I would dig while the other tucked the hose and cord inches deep under the grass. I'll drain the hose each fall so the water won't freeze.

We stopped at the park in Gaastra on our way to town. Grady's favorite was the slide.

Pawpaw went down with him once or twice, but Hambone grew tired of waiting and was soon going ahead on his own.

Ducky was also a big hit

Once home, I managed to do some big guy stuff while Grady was taking a nap.

The tomato seeds that were placed between wet paper towels had sprouted and were planted in potting soil and placed in the greenhouse. They should emerge in a few days.

We'd purchased a few pieces of cheaper, tough, round steak last week so I decided to make chicken fried steak last night.

First came the scoring, then pounding the living daylights out of it. Sargie made me put wax paper over each piece before hitting it with a hammer we use to pound nails. She has no sense of adventure.

In the end, the steak tasted great and was quite tender. Sargie made mashed potatoes and gravy and we ate like the piggies we know how to be. Even Grady ate every morsel on his plate. 

Since we were eating all low calorie foods, the evening was topped off with ice cream and cookies for dessert.

Today's agenda looks to be just as full as yesterday's. We're headed to the dump this morning, pulling the trailer filled with this past winter's trash. I also need to stop by the recycling place and purchase a new burning barrel. Then there's the park to visit and of course, we have a birdhouse to assemble at some point. 

Macrea's to stop by late this afternoon and since it's Friday and Lent, I promised to fry fish for supper. He and Grady will head home to Iron Mountain after. 

Meanwhile, I'm going to sneak out to the shop while the sneaking's good and do some big people stuff before you-know-who awakes for the day. Once that happens, all bets are off.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Modeling Grandma Sargie's "cheaters"