July 25, 2017 - Tuesday
51 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

We hate to see Joanne leaving us this morning and beginning her long drive back to the Atlanta area. There are some people who will always be friends, regardless of distance or time. Joanne is one of the best. 

I spent most of Monday turning a bowl, a keepsake that Joanne could take home with her as a reminder of her visit to the North Woods. I had a piece of birch that I thought might work.



I worked on it for a while Monday morning before Joanne said she was ready to go for a walk. By the time our hike was finished, we'd covered three miles to our local lake and back.

Some time was spent in the garden later in the morning. My giant pumpkin plants are colossal with some of the largest leaves I've ever seen.



Unfortunately, there is nary a pumpkin on any of the vines. The few female blossoms that have been pollinated haven't taken as it's simply been too cold and wet this summer. This very well could be a pumpkin-less year.

Joanne wanted to have her car clean before she headed south. We drove through a carwash in town, filled her tank with gas, and came back home.

Joanne cleaned the interior while I headed to the shop to work on her bowl.

Made from old and spalted birch, I had difficulty with the wood cracking once the walls were turned thin. Quick (and permanent) fixes with CA glue, a super glue for wood, solved any problems and the bowl was finished by afternoon's end.



I also made a block/carved name for Joanne's granddaughter, Lola.



Sargie arrived home around 7 and the three of us had a nice, quiet, evening, just talking and watching television.

Sargie opens this morning and Joanne will, do doubt, leave shortly after. Once again the house will be quiet, too quiet. 

I think I'll hook up the trailer and drive to Yooper Brother Mark's plant for another load of firewood this morning. I can't believe July's almost over with August knocking on the door. The leaves will be turning colors in another month and before we know it, winter's snow will be covering the ground.

A person could almost say that this is the summer that never happened. Oh well, that's why there's next year.

On that happy and positive note, it's time to get this day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The giant sunflowers are FINALLY beginning to grow. Will they bloom before the first frost?