The preformed garden pond, waterfalls, and screen house are readied to bring home from Marquette on Tuesday afternoon 

April 19, 2017 - Wednesday

36 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

I awakened around 3 this morning, my mind going a hundred miles an hour. It seems there are so many things to do before Mom's 90th birthday party in June and so little time to get them all finished. 

If only the weather would cooperate.

Sargie and I left Pentoga Road mid Tuesday morning pulling the trailer to Marquette. 

A train dedicated to carrying large amounts of timber blocked our way for several minutes

The day was rainy, windy, and chilly. Perfect for a road trip.

We were amazed at the number of trees that were destroyed by last week's storm. There were sections along the road where there wasn't a tree left standing. Huge spruce and balsams had been torn out by their roots and thrown into large piles. 

I thought we had it bad. It's nothing compared to what our neighbors just north of here experienced. 

We were goal oriented this trip, to purchase a 275 gallon preformed garden pond, accompanying accessories, and a screen house.

Guilty? Holy cow I felt guilty for spending that much money on non essentials. I guess I have a dream of how I want the house, yard, and garden to eventually look, and yesterday was yet another step towards that vision. 

As usual, it was Sargie to the rescue. She reminded me that's why we put money into savings, to enable us to acquire those things we'd not ordinarily buy. 

This heavy framed metal screen house should temporarily serve us for a while. If we find we really use it, it will be replaced in another year or two with a more conventional wooden gazebo. 

I'm also unsure of a permanent location; in the garden, out of the garden? This will give us some leeway until a final decision is made.

I purchased the pond, a waterfalls, a large pump to transfer the water to the top of the falls, and several other accessories. 

Lord Almighty, what have I gotten myself into?

Sargie has been wanting a large flagpole for sometime. We came home with a twenty foot kit, a pole, flag, and hardware. Weather permitting, I'll be pouring a cement base on which to mount the pole in the near future. Sargie would also like to have lights so that we might fly the flag twenty-four hours a day. I hope to go with a solar array to keep from having to run underground wires from the house.

We stopped at the edge of town for gas and I experienced something that hadn't happened to me in almost fifty years. 

Seems that customers who buy at least $20 of gas earn a little bonus, in this instance, four rolls of toilet paper. 

Sargie and I laughed and I recounted my university days when I'd earn a piece of china each time I filled my tank at a local gas station before heading home for the weekend. A cup here, a plate there, I worked hard to get Mom a complete set. I don't think it ever happened, but it was fun trying.

The trip home was windy and rainy. By the time the Blazer and trailer were unloaded and Brutus exercised, it was time to call it a day.

Last night was spent watching the Bee Gee's special that originally aired Easter evening. It was good, really good. 

Being shakers and movers, Sargie and I had to refrain ourselves from hopping up and dancing the disco in front of the television. Pentoga Road Fever was in the air Tuesday evening.

Sargie opens this morning. I'm going for my usual walk in an attempt to get the blood flowing.

With wet and cold conditions prohibiting any outside work, I think I'll put on my big boy pants and try turning another bowl today. I've had two failures in a row, but you know what they say.

Three's a charm.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

This home owner found a huge hole in his drive after last week's big storm.