The Stars and Stripes flying high on Pentoga Road

April 25, 2017 - Tuesday

44 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

With a high of 65 and sunny, Monday was a pleasant surprise. Today, at least this morning, is to be the same. Rain is to move in this afternoon and to continue throughout the week with snow in the forecast.

I started assembling the flag pole yesterday immediately after returning home from my daily walk. Though the day started very cool, in the mid 20's, it quickly warmed and I was working in my shirt sleeves before morning's end. 

Whoever penned the instructions knew how to write in full sentences and conjugate verbs, a dying art.  The flag must have been made in America and the instructions written by someone who could actually speak English.

The flag raising ceremony followed soon after. I retrieved the smart phone from my pocket and went directly to Youtube where I punched in the Star Spangled Banner. Lady Gaga's performance at the Super Bowl blared while the flag was slowly hoisted to the top. 

I waited for the military jets to fly overhead in a salute, but had to settle for a fluttering Jimmy the Chickadee who followed me around all day.

It was time to ready the rest of the warm weather garden seeds for germination.

Three types of giant pumpkin seeds were placed between damp paper towels along with those of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and chocolate cherry tomato. I'll be busy putting the sprouts into either pots or six packs in the next two to three days.



The rest of Monday was spent working on Sargie's hillbilly woodpile. 



I labored until 1 PM before taking an hour break for lunch. Reinvigorated, I worked another three hours hauling and splitting the chunks of wood before throwing them in the shed.

The huge pile is over half gone and I hope to see it completely disappear before week's end. Of course, much depends on the weather. 

I tried picking up any scrap wood meant for the burn pile as I worked. There are always odd pieces, those that are too long, too rotten, or for whatever reason, aren't fit for burning in the wood stove.




I was coming back from the burn pile when I happened to glance over at the old truck. The area seemed dry enough that I could move it closer to the barn without getting stuck. 



The Man Truck roared to life and was soon relocated to the rear of the back yard. The biggest piece of mechanical magic needed is to find a bread tie used to attach the broken cable to the throttle. The previous one lasted six years.

It was a tired boy who shuffled into the house last evening. I took a shower and enjoyed leftover biscuits and clam chowder while waiting for Sargie to arrive home from work. It was 9:30 before my girl walked through the door.

I'm going to skip my usual walk this morning and begin working on the wood pile as soon as Sargie leaves for work. I would like to get as much done as possible before this body runs out of energy.

It's time to pour another cup of coffee and listen to the news before getting the day started, kind of the calm before the storm.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

For whatever reason, Jimmy spent most the day either on my shoulder or on a low overhead branch. Maybe he was bidding me farewell before he disappears deep into the woods for the summer months to help raise a family.