Tales from Pentoga

I learned an important lesson Monday morning. Never open a car door into an electric fence through which 9,000 volts is traveling. Second lesson: After receiving the first jolt, don't become disoriented and walk into the fence for second shock.

May 23, 2017 - Tuesday

41 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I pulled the Blazer alongside the deer fence to unload several barrels of wood chips and didn't realize I was quite so close. The only thing hurt was my delicate ego.

Big news on Pentoga Road! After placing the peat pots on the heating mat inside the indoor greenhouse, the first of the championship sunflower seeds germinated yesterday. These seeds come from a head that measured over thirty inches in diameter and was over twenty feet tall.

Monday morning and early afternoon was spent getting more wood chips at Yooper Brother Mark's plant to spread in the orchard. Other than the actual drive to town, it wasn't a difficult job, just time consuming.

I was happy to stop and briefly talk with Mark for a few minutes. As usual, he was conducting all the business necessary to produce animal bedding.

Twelve barrels were brought home in two trips Monday to be spread in the orchard. I could use another load or two, but for now, what I have will suffice.

While in town, I stopped at one of the local greenhouses to see if they had anything I couldn't live without. Naturally, they did.

The rest of the day was spent doing odd jobs, a bit of planting, cleaning, and putting away. I might have sneaked in a half hour afternoon nap along the way.

It was cold, windy, and rainy, but I still managed to plant several tomato plants into cloth pots and place a protective red hothouse barrier around each.

This is something new, a red, plastic tube with ventilation holes. Supposedly it's to raise the temperature inside several degrees and protect the plant from frost.

The giant pumpkins I planted two weeks ago in the Walls of Water have done well and will be soon growing out of their watery confinement.

What they really need is warm air and sunshine. According to Carl the Weatherman, that could happen towards the end of the week. Seeing is believing.

I placed five different types of pumpkins and three varieties of winter squash between wet paper towels and lay them on the heating mat to germinate. They should be planted directly into the garden in the next few days. Again, we need sunshine and warm weather.

I've been so busy this spring that I hadn't taken the snow plow off the red four wheeler. It was time. While I was at it, I power washed the machine and attached this year's tags. Other than an oil and filter change, it's ready to go for the season.

My son, Luke, sent several pictures of a training exercise conducted at the South Portland Fire Department (Maine) where he holds the rank of lieutenant.

Luke is no stranger to rappelling or dangling from tall places. I remember watching him and his older brother swing from one tree to the other upside down when he was in high school. Josh, a cadet at the US Coast Guard Academy at the time, was enrolled in a rock climbing course and brought some equipment home during a weekend visit.

A career fire fighter, Luke has received several commendations for putting the safety of other's before his own. From single handedly saving a couple stranded in roaring rapids to carrying more than one victim from a burning building, he's done it all. Luke's a real life hero.

He always did like Spider Man.

Sargie closes tonight so it will be a long day for her. Weather permitting, I'm hoping to plant some of the cold weather crops, the broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onions, and I wish I could get the potatoes and peas in the ground. I think it's still too wet.

Unfortunately, after looking at the radar, it appears nothing may get planted. Rain is just a few miles to the west and heading this way.