I noticed two large pots that were purchased new this year were flooded after the recent rains. How could that be? Upon further inspection, I found neither had a hole in the bottom.

May 31, 2017 - Wednesday

46 degrees/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

And that's how my day began on Tuesday... with flooded pots. 

What the heck?

Moving a giant pot flooded with water, soil, and plants, isn't easy. I ended up using the two-wheeled cart and taking them along side the drive where there was enough of a lip to allow me to fit a drill underneath with which to make a hole.

Problem solved.

I spent most of the morning cleaning an old porcelain thunder mug and making a stand. Sargie found the thing in the woods several weeks ago while we were taking a walk and decided it would make the perfect flower planter.

It took sometime to clean, but is now a shiny white.

The stand took a bit of calculating as I wanted the pot to fit snug without actually touching the ground.

In the end, I painted the stand bright red to match the garden gate and called it good enough. I'll let Sargie decide where its permanent home will be.

The rest of the day was spent either trimming or riding the lawn tractor. I wore a cap, gloves, jeans, a flannel shirt, and hooded sweatshirt and was fairly wet by the time I finished four hours later. The wind was blowing and the mist and rain made mowing a miserable experience.

I didn't care how wet it was. At least the meadows, trails, and entire yard are cut. No doubt, once (if?) the sun comes out and the temperatures warm, the grass will need mowing again, sooner rather than later.

The grass was trimmed for the first time around the new garden pond. I'm delighted how that whole project has turned out. The water remains surprisingly clear and the fish, especially the larger ones, seem to be thriving. So far, so good.

I need to wade into the pond one of these days and finish hiding the cords and hoses. I keep thinking that surely it will warm, won't it?

Sargie was home early last night. We enjoyed a chicken/pasta dish and for dessert, a key lime pie Sargie had made.

Who says you need warm temperatures and a beach to live in Margaritaville?

I see we were visited by a bear overnight. Brutus had brought up a front quarter of a newly born fawn the night before last, one he'd found in the woods. I'd taken it away from him and just before burning trash, had tossed it in the barrel thinking it would incinerate. Evidently, it didn't.

I'll clean up the mess today between rain showers. Grrr.

Grady and cousin, Brielle, were at an amusement park last weekend in Green Bay. Here, they are waiting for an empty boat to float along.

Sargie opens the Vision Center today. I'm going to do some odd jobs around here and work on a making a gift in the shop. The front porch rail needs to be painted as does some trim, but until the weather shapes up, that'll all be put on hold.

Meanwhile, I'll throw another log on the fire and try to remember the old days, before the current ice age, when global warming was rampant and temperatures rose to near-normal highs.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

I haven't a clue why cousins, Coleman and Emerson were wearing helmets while playing ping pong last weekend.

The family playing bocce ball on Milligan Mountain

May 30, 2017 - Tuesday

49 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It doesn't seem fair. It seems like yesterday that Sargie and I were excited that she wouldn't have to return to work until the Tuesday after Memorial Day. My favorite optician in the world would have a rare four days to call her own. At that time, Tuesday seemed a long ways away. 

I'm not certain where the time went, but like it or not, Tuesday has arrived. Darn.

We've received .8 of an inch of rain over the past two days. Supposedly, today is the last of the current bout of monsoons and it's to turn warm and dry for a few days. Seeing is believing.

Monday's Mighty Milligan Memorial Day Celebration was one of the best ever. The story is the same as with all our gatherings, lots of laughter, way too much delicious food, love, hugs, kisses, and more laughter. 

I'll let a few pictures do the talking.

Grady and Brielle making a wish. He asked for a coin to throw in the fountain. Not having one, we walked hand in hand to the car where I stole a penny from Sargie's Coke money.

Hostess and world-famous JC Penney model, Nancy, snapped into one of her poses that made her face a household fixture the world over.

Sasha showing the rest how bocce ball is really played. Look at that grace, the poise, the form. 

We also celebrated great niece Piper's first birthday.

Aubrey and Brielle singing Happy Birthday

The gathering began to break up late in the afternoon and ended as it had begun, with hugs and kisses. Almost all said they would be over on the 17th to celebrate Mom's 90th birthday. There's nothing better than a Milligan Family gathering.

Hambone and Pawpaw had some quality time on Sunday. I was happy that he paused long enough to talk to his old Pawpaw.

We drove through some horrific rains coming home, but arrived safe and sound. Sargie cleaned two more kitchen cabinets last night while I fiddled around outside. 

Sargie's back to work today. Assuming it doesn't rain, I'm going to mow... again. The grass is, literally, growing inches a day. The front meadow and side yard are more than ankle deep and the front and back look shaggy. 

Speaking of growing, the squash that were planted on Friday are already poking through the ground. Crazy, eh? All we need is some warm, dry, weather to make the entire garden jump to life.

I better get busy here and pack Sargie's lunch and get breakfast ready.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

May 29, 2017 - Monday - Memorial Day
49 degrees/clouds/mist/breezy
Pentoga Road

I hope everyone takes a moment today to think of the true meaning of Memorial Day. We tend to assume that freedom comes naturally and so many are quick to find fault with our military, yet without them, we'd have no freedom.

God bless the men and women of the Armed Forces who have served in the past and currently in the present.

God bless America.

Sunday flew by in a blur. I was out in the shop bright and early, searching for just the right piece of aged wood from which to turn a bowl. Birch? Cherry? Maple? Hickory?

I spotted a piece of red pine, one that I'd found while carrying in firewood last winter. On the outside, it appeared to be a perfect candidate. Only one problem, pine is a soft wood with huge grain. It's difficult to turn pine, but no risk/no reward. Why not?

Rounding and turning a tenon
The piece is almost ready to turn around so the tenon can be clamped into the jaws of the chuck on the left. The tail stock on the right will be removed.

I enjoyed turning this different type of wood, softer, by far, than any I've worked with. It gave a much different look than anything I'm used to and after sanding and soaking it with tongue oil, I liked the rustic look.

The bowl absorbed more oil than normal and I'm not certain how many coats of polyurethane were applied. One thing for certain, it should be well preserved!

 

It was around noon before we made our way to Iron Mountain. A quick stop was made at the park to attend a high school graduation party for the daughter of a friend. Alissa will be attending Michigan State University this fall majoring in premed. I love a good success story and this young woman seems to be right on track. 

The park was filled with holiday weekend picnickers. For a moment, I was transported back to the small town park of my childhood.

Spring is evident everywhere. The latest display of color is in front of the Iron Mountain High School where flowering trees line both walks leading up to the building.



After running several errands, we stopped by Grady's house where some of the young cousins were gathered.

Hambone and I spent a few minutes sitting outside on the front stoop catching up on the latest news. Just as quickly as he appeared, he disappeared to rejoin his young cousins. A three year old's attention span doesn't last long.



Sargie worked long and hard in the kitchen last night. She's in the spring cleaning mode these days. I'm afraid I wasn't of much assistance, but I did sit at the table to keep her company. As she said, it makes the job easier when there's someone to talk with.

We cooked southern style ribs on the grill last night. 



Sargie had parboiled them for an hour before I coated each with barbecue sauce and set them on the grill.



Needless to say, along with fresh sweetcorn, last night's supper was a three-napkin (each) meal.

We'll be leaving a bit later this morning for Milligan Mountain and the annual Mighty Milligan Memorial Day Celebration. Nancy and Ron are hosting the gathering and we're keeping our fingers crossed for a warm and sunny day. So far, it doesn't look too promising, but between the screen house and house, everyone will enjoy the day just the same.

It's time to wake up Sargie and get the blood circulating. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Ivy and Andy

The garden pond has a new look

May 28, 2017 - Sunday
55 degrees/clouds/rain
Pentoga Road

You'll have to pardon if my writing is a bit foggy this morning. With rain hitting the metal roof and our bedroom window open, sleeping past the usual get-up time was no problem. I'm waiting for this morning's first cup of coffee to kick in and so far, it's not happening.

Yesterday can best be described in one word: PLANT. 



Other than a few small additions, the garden is finished as are the planters, pots, and any other area where a flower or plant might call home.

I spent the majority of the day in the garden, planting everything from beans and beets, to zucchini and several varieties of winter squash and pumpkins. 

Sargie was busy on the other side of the electric fence doing the same with the planters and pots.

On her way to get another bucket of compost from the trailer

We drove to town later in the morning for a few more flowers, needed supplies, and of course, Sargie's Coke.

Even the flowering trees in the McDonald's parking lot are out in full bloom.

The problem of where to plant the spikes was solved when we discovered there was enough space for one on each side of the waterfalls.

 

I'm not at all sure what we'll do with them this coming winter, but for now, they should do just fine at the head of the garden pond.

It was late afternoon and I was worn out, tired, too pooped to pop, and all done in. Sargie still had more planters she wanted to fill.

I suggested we take a break. How about a short four wheeler ride? She readily agreed.

We rode to the lake then down to the river.

The old railroad trestle amazes me, how it was in such disrepair for so long, then revitalized as an ATV bridge between Wisconsin and Michigan.

After a quick foray into Wisconsin, we crossed the bridge back into the UP and made our way home.

Sargie finally pronounced our labors finished just before dark. Another spring time job could be checked off the list.

Neighbors, who are residents of Alaska, walked by last night and we enjoyed a good catch-up conversation. Now retired, Curt was an Alaska State Wildlife Trooper in Kotzebue and we know many of the same people and places. Calling Seward, Alaska, home, they own an old farmhouse a mile away and come down several months a year to enjoy the UP. 

What are the chances of two people who worked in Kotzebue and the arctic ending up a mile apart in the Upper Peninsula? 

We're heading to a high school graduation party this afternoon. After, we'll run a few errands while in town before coming back home.

I'm going to head out to the shop and play, guilt free. The garden's in, the flowers are planted, it's too wet to mow... what else is a guy to do on a rainy weekend morning?

Trilliums are everywhere in the woods

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One of Sargie's giant spikes

May 27, 2017 - Saturday

57 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I love growing large pumpkins and sunflowers, actually, vegetables and flowers of any kind. Sargie's specialty lies in raising giant spikes. The one pictured above began four years ago as a mere bedding plant in a four inch pot.

The large spikes went from four-inch pots to the planters on the deck. They outgrew those and are now in huge pots. This one is a mere yearling.

It not only thrived in the basement over the winter months, it continued to grow. Our biggest problem currently is to find a container large enough in which to plant it for the summer months. We've talked about simply putting it in the ground for the summer, then digging it up next fall to bring to the basement. Sargie has another one or two that are nearly as large.

It must be spring. I noticed yesterday that one of the apple trees is beginning to blossom. Last year, the small Macintosh had half a bushel of fruits. A six year-old tree, it's prolific for its size.

Other than riding with Sargie to an appointment, the entire day was spent outside. 

Purchasing a few more flowers

The planter by the road was refilled with compost, plants were brought up from the basement, and seeds were planted in the garden.

These are spaghetti squash seeds that were sprouted between damp paper towels in the house. I find using this method extends the growing season by almost one week.

The trug planter is filled with various types of flowers. Hopefully, they'll spread out and there will be a mass of flowers by mid summer.

The first watermelon of the season. It wasn't horrible for being so early.

The flowering crab apples are in bloom around the countryside. It's too bad the blossoms don't last longer. Seems all it takes is one good rain accompanied by a wind and they're gone for another year.

It was almost 6:30 before rain forced Sargie and I into the house last night. We made quick dashes though the shower and enjoyed popcorn after in front of the tv set.

I was convinced the popcorn would fit into one bowl. Whoops.

Violets in the flower box

It appears today could be a replay of Friday. I hope to finish in the garden and begin planting the pyramids. It's going to be a busy one.

One of the more important crops.
The rutabagas are planted for the annual Mighty Milligan Thanksgiving Feast

There's rain in the forecast to begin again tonight and continue for the next couple of days. I'd better quite gabbing and get to planting.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...