Sargie and Joanne in the old Mansfield Church

July 24, 2017 - Monday

48 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's Monday and Sargie's back to work today. Today will be Joanne's last with us and I wish Sargie could stay home so we could continue the good times we've had this past weekend. Darn.

Little was accomplished on Sunday other than talking and socializing. We were slow to get around in the morning, but I managed to sneak out to the shop for a bit. Joanne soon caught up to me and asked how a bowl is turned.

Boom, the words I love to hear.

In the end, I made her a small bowl from a convenient piece of maple.

I made omelets for brunch stuffed with shrimp, bacon, and all kinds of vegetables. Good stuff.

It was past noon when the three of us left for town, first stopping to purchase fried chicken at the deli, then later for Cokes. We eventually made our way over to the old Mansfield Church on the other side of Crystal Falls.

Mansfield is a ghost town that suffered a mine tragedy in the late 1800's when the Paint River poured into the 1,500 ft. deep iron mine, trapping and killing 28 miners. That alone was devastating, but a huge fire swept through the following year burning much of the community to the ground.

All that's left are a few derelict log structures and the church that's been resurrected.

I enjoy playing the old bellows pump organ each time we visit the church. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of playing, I Come to the Garden, and the song ran through my head for the rest of the day.

The girls explored the building and read the history. We've been there many times and I never tire of visiting. It's like stepping back in time.

We arrived back home and I noticed the ladies had disappeared. 

What?

Both were grazing in my garden!

It was a contest to see who could pick snap peas the fastest. If that wasn't bad enough, they migrated from the peas to the blueberries. 

I knew I was in trouble when Joanne, without looking up, said, "Go get a bowl."

Both discovered the beets and I made the mistake of checking on the potatoes where I found a handful of new spuds, the very best kind.

Needless to say, we had a huge supper last night consisting of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fresh beets, and beet greens.

For dessert, we enjoyed ice cream with generous dollops of honey berry jam ladled over the top.

Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri dropped by for a visit last evening. The five of us had a wonderful visit.

As I said, Sargie's back to work today. Joanne and I are going to take her car through the car wash in town and no doubt, spend much of the day solving the problems of the world... even if no one will listen to us. 

It's time to get breakfast going and pack Sargie's lunch.

Sargie giving her newest BFF a doggy treat before supper

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...