A spike horn buck standing just outside the perimeter of the garden

October 22, 2017 - Sunday

55 degrees/rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's hard to believe that both Sargie and I slept until 9 this morning. Initially, I thought it was a bit before 6 AM. Guess we both needed the rest.

Seems the bug has landed squarely on Pentoga Road. Sargie began feeling bad three or four days ago. It began in her throat then moved to her chest. Thankfully, she says she feels better this morning. She certainly sounds better. 

I had a small ache in my throat for the past two days. Yesterday it became a big ache, but like Sargie, I'm feeling much better. 

I kept busy all of Saturday morning installing the duct work for the solar heater inside the shop. 

The small fan on the wall draws the air through the solar collector outside. The larger fan in front helps to distribute the air inside.

 I really hoped my new duct work wouldn't be so ugly, but it turned out to be something that looks like it belongs in someone's.... shop. 

The problem is, heat rises and on a cold, sunny, winter day, without a fan to blow it downwards, there'll be a thirty degree difference in temperature from the ceiling to the floor.

It may not be pretty, but it's effective. 

 Getting on towards noon, Sargie and I were hungry. I decided to make omelets and fried potatoes for brunch.

The only fresh garden vegetable left are peppers. Needless to say, our omelets were stuffed with them, along with mushrooms, bacon, and cheese, most of the major food groups.

With Sargie's help, I moved the last of the patio furniture to the storage unit then blew the deck clean of needles and leaves. 

We had a pleasant afternoon drive around the local area. Most of the leaves have dropped and the woods are looking more black and white than displaying reds and yellows like they were just a week or two ago.

Back home, I decided to mow the lawn for one last time.

I swore when I mowed two weeks ago that it would be the final cutting of the season, but as I learned long ago, never say never.

This time, I really really mean it. I blocked the lawn tractor in the back of the storage container with lawn furniture and other summertime goodies. Due to all the rain that fell these past several months, it seems I spent most the summer riding the mower.

I came inside, took a shower, and after seeing Sargie covered with a blanket and shivering in her chair, I decided to fix a good old-fashioned meal that would warm her from the inside out. That girl needed comforting and the only way to do it was by feeding her some comfort food.

Hows the old saying go? "Feed a cold, starve a fever?"

I decided to make cheesy potato, bacon, broccoli soup. It hit the spot right on the head.

Mississippi Brother Garry sent a picture on the final day of their fishing trip saying his group finally got into a mess of catfish. I wish they'd send a few of those up this way. Few, if any, of the waters in the UP have catfish. It's too cold.

As I said earlier, Sargie has to work from noon until five today. I'm going over later this afternoon to deliver pumpkins. There won't be any big kisses or hugs as I don't want to spread whatever we have to the rest of the family.

Coffee's done! Time to get this day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...