Look who's out enjoying the beautiful spring weather!
Sargie's throwing rocks into the river.

April 2, 2017 - Sunday

31 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Spring must be here to stay. Though I've not seen one yet, I am listening to a robin warbling his little heart out. It sure sounds wonderful after a winter devoid of any sound.

The doorbell rang early Saturday morning. It was Neighbor Mike back from New Zealand lugging a dead raccoon with a trap attached to it's leg.

So this was the trap stealing varmint who, a month ago, had destroyed our back yard and bird feeders with it. Seems the crimping on the cable had pulled loose when the coon was caught and he ran, trap attached, the quarter mile to Mike's barn. Mike found him yesterday morning.

Raccoons are a real problem in the UP. In fact, they, along with coyotes, are the only two animals that can be legally hunted or trapped year round on private land if they are causing any damage. This coon did plenty, before and after he was caught.

Mike also gave me two burls that I'll let dry and see what I can turn out of them at a later date.

They aren't very big, but possibly I could make a couple of small bowls. First, they have to dry.

Mike returned, asking to borrow my ramps so he could load his tiller into a trailer to take back to Marquette. 

I was working in the shop a bit later when Mike knocked on the door asking to borrow a four wheeler. Seems Quincy, his pup, had run off. She eventually returned to the back porch of his camp. 

Yep, for sure, Neighbor Mike's back.

With the morning awash as far as accomplishing anything, Sargie and I hopped in the car for our daily drive. We stopped at the local hardware store to purchase a tube of caulk so I might work on the solar heater attached to the shop.

Our Ace Hardware, the largest north of Green Bay, has a bit of everything. When was the last time you saw five-buckle overshoes?

Sargie and I were talking not long ago about how I wore them outside all winter long, even to go ice fishing with Dad. First came two or three pair of socks, then my shoes, and finally, the toes of the boots were stuffed with newspaper. I'd wobble out onto the ice and fish all day alongside Dad. My feet are still attached, so they must have worked.

We eventually wound our way to the hydroelectric dam in Crystal Falls.

The spring melt is fully on and torrents of water are rushing over the spillway.

Foam and spray have frozen at the bottom creating a rather interesting sculpture.

Sargie and I were laughing that someday, when we take a honeymoon, rather than spend the time at Niagara Falls, we'll simply drive ten miles and visit the dam in Crystal Falls. 

There is a child in each of us. I've yet to see Sargie fail to pick up a rock (or boulder) and give it a toss into a nearby puddle, lake, or river. Yesterday was no exception.

Sargie also loves to look in the car's rearview mirror and see the tracks created by driving through a puddle. I'm glad I'm not the only big kid who lives in this house.

We stopped by our local lake where the ice is still firmly in control. At this rate, I imagine it will be a couple of weeks before break up occurs.

Back home, I busied myself in the garden transplanting a couple of bush cherry plants.

I wanted to get them moved before they emerged from dormancy. I also transplanted a blueberry bush that I've been tripping over for the past two years. 

A sure sign of spring is when the rhubarb begins to poke from the ground.

Sargie spent time cleaning the garage and after, we enjoyed a three mile stroll to the lake and back.

I imagine today will be much the same. I'm making two bluebird houses using one Mike gave me as a pattern. Hopefully, I'll get to repair the solar heater today, and there are seeds to sow inside. 

Spring is roaring in with guns a blazing. 

Time to strap on the hiking boots and walk to the Brule River, see if there's any water flowing.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Also featured at our local hardware store