September 14, 2017 - Thursday
51 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I'm uncertain why we're having summer weather in the middle of September, but I don't hear anyone complaining. These past few days are, by far, the most pleasant that we've experienced all summer. With highs in the low 80's, accompanied by low humidity and lots of sunshine, it's simply good to be alive. 

I was in the shop first thing Wednesday morning. My goal was to finish cleaning, sorting, and completing any maintenance work.  



After being torn up for the past two weeks, it was good to get everything back where it belonged. 



The morning hours flew by, but in the end, I was able to call this job FINISHED. The shop is now ready for another year of making creative messes and being the perfect place where a grandpa can enjoy the occasional afternoon nap in an overstuffed recliner.

Remember when you were little, there was a place that you really liked and made you feel secure and happy? Maybe it was your bedroom, a closet, a hideout somewhere, a tree house, maybe even a quickly made fort in a cardboard box. Where ever it was, it embraced you and made you feel safe and kept the outside world far away.

I remember crawling into a cardboard box as a small boy and playing with my plastic toy soldiers. They kept the bad guys at bay.

Now that I'm all grown up, the shop is my big boy cardboard box, my hideout. The tools are my soldiers and each helps to keep the bad guys at bay. My shop makes me feel safe and for a short time every now and then, keeps the outside world where it belongs, far far away.



Tired of being indoors, I went to my other happy place, the garden. Four heads of cauliflower were harvested along with a large bag of tomatoes.



I'm beginning to pick green tomatoes along with those that are ripe and letting them ripen on the workbench in the garage. With all the previous rain and now, the warm, sunny weather, I'm fearful many could rot. As poor as the garden was this year, that's not an option if I have any say in the matter.

I didn't realize how dirty the trim and fascia had become along the roof above the deck and on the barn until Sargie called it to my attention. It was time to bring out the pressure washer.




Spraying over one's head can be a miserable experience with the mist and the spray dripping all over the place. I didn't mind getting a bit damp Wednesday afternoon. It felt good. It felt darn good.



I'm fearful the wood under the white aluminum trim could be suffering from rot. I'm waiting until the flowers die down underneath before checking. If need be, I'll replace the boards before cold weather arrives. 

It was hot and I was sweating up a storm. The conditions were perfect for working with the blacktop. The hotter the better.



I first made a curb along the shop wall to keep the melt water that drips off the cars from running under the wall and into the shop.



There are several low places along the edge of the drive that have deteriorated over the years. I used what blacktop patch was remaining in the pail to fill the worst area. I'll finish the rest after I purchase more.

Check out that homemade tamper powered by those sexy legs. 

After running through the shower, I drove to Iron Mountain to ride back home with Sargie. Leaving early, I took a gravel road for part of the way so I could take my time and enjoy the woods, farms, and of course, the early fall colors.



Back home, Sargie and I enjoyed chicken and fresh cauliflower for supper.



Sargie opens this morning and I'll be riding back with her. I'll take her car to have the oil changed then go to Home Depot to purchase more blacktop patch. With the continuing warm temperatures, this afternoon should be a perfect time to finish the drive.

It's time to pack Sargie's lunch and start making breakfast. I better get a move on.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...