Our local community, Crystal Falls
American flags are displayed up and down the main thoroughfare.

July 3rd, 2017 - Monday

46 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I can't believe this. Today's the annual Mighty Milligan Fourth of July Celebration and there's nary a cloud in sight. The high is forecast to reach 76 degrees with no mention of rain. 

I worked in the shop for a while Sunday morning, finishing one project and beginning another. The God Bless America scroll saw piece was glued and clamped and is now finished.

I also did a bit of preparatory work using some of the hickory Yooper Brother Mark brought from the Kentucky plant last fall.

The boards, dimensional cut 1x8's, are too thin to turn in a conventional manner, yet are far too valuable to use for only making craft projects.

I cut two circles using the band saw, one full-sized, the other small enough to fit in the chuck on the lathe.

The smaller circle was then glued and clamped in the middle of the larger one.

Now there's a way to mount the larger piece of hickory on the lathe and hopefully, a plate or shallow bowl can be turned. Stay tuned, this is definitely a work in progress.

Sunday afternoon was beautiful. Sargie and I did absolutely nothing other than hop in the car and drive. I love when a plan comes to fruition.

After a quick pause at the deli in our local grocery store and a drive through McDonalds for Cokes, we drove and ate our way all around the local countryside.

There were families enjoying the holiday weekend and fishermen dotted the lakes.

Admittedly, I had the itch to grab Sargie with both of us hopping into a stranger's boat and racing off into the sunset in the name of putting meat on the table.

Thankfully, I regained control and we were content to walk around several boat landings taking pictures, talking, and simply enjoying the day and each other.

The last stop was at our local lake where the water level has risen several feet this spring. 

It's getting difficult to fish from the dock without getting one's feet wet. I bet more than one dandy-footed, city boy, tourist, swore as he tried to put his high priced boat in and ended up getting his Eddie Bauer shoes soaked this weekend.

Once home, I fed the goldfish and snapped a few garden pictures as the mosquitoes attempted to drain the blood from my body.

The flowers are doing really well, but I'm fearful many of the vegetables are a lost cause. We need sun and heat to salvage this summer's garden.

I'm beginning to wonder where we'll keep the garden pond goldfish this winter as most have more than doubled in size over the past two months. I suggested we keep them in the freezer then thaw them out next spring, but Sargie informed me that probably won't work. 

Another possibility was to get a three or four hundred gallon fish tank for the dining room and Grady could swim with the goldfish when he visits this winter. As with the previous deep thought, Sargie nixed that idea.

If only you had my life, you'd understand.

Meanwhile:

I almost forgot to get the ten pounds of chicken quarters out of the freezer to thaw. I'll clean and parboil those this morning in preparation for today's family meal.

We'll be leaving around noon for Derek and Leah's. My red, white, and blue, swimming trunks are already packed along with my appetite. 

I guess I ought to quit writing and get in gear. That chicken ain't gonna parboil itself.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...