October 18, 2017 - Wednesday - Alaska Day
41 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I find myself really homesick this morning. It's Alaska Day and more importantly, it's the 150th anniversary of the purchase of The Last Great Frontier from Russia. I wish Sargie and I were in Sitka today. She'd see how a small community of Alaskans come together to celebrate a huge event.

There'll be a huge parade with bands and floats with almost every aspect of Alaska represented. Everyone from the Alaska Native Brotherhood to the Alaska State Troopers will be present. There'll be clowns, balloons, lots of food, music, laughter and fun for everyone.

I first met Sarah Palin at an Alaska Day celebration. It was before she rose to the national spotlight and was still governor of Alaska. Standing alone, I walked up and introduced myself. We shook hands and talked for several minutes. 

After a nice conversation, I said, "It was so good to meet you Governor." 

She smiled and said, "Oh heck, call me Sarah," and I did.

She reached out and we hugged before I walked away. 

Month's later, I was sitting in first class aboard an Alaska Airline's flight to Anchorage. When we stopped in Juneau, the state's capital, to pick up passengers, Governor Palin boarded and as she walked through, stopped and said, "Tom! How are you? Are you heading out to one of the villages?" 

I offered her my first class seat, but she declined opting to sit in the rear of the aircraft between two ladies, gabbing a mile a minute.

The Governor's traveled a long and sometimes rocky road since those days, but I'll never forget her kindness. That's just Sarah.

Yes, today it would be good to once again be a real Alaskan just one more time.

Meanwhile, in the more mundane Upper Peninsula, wildlife of every shape and size seems to be coming out of the woodwork, or woods, preparing for winter.

I walked upon two flocks of very noisy and wild turkeys early this morning.



Just as I was ready to put the camera back in my pocket, a deer ran through, scattering the entire flock.



It was like a visit to a zoo. Had a bear come ambling along, I'd have felt like I'd scored a hat trick. Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

I needed to run to town to run a couple of errands. One drug store has more than a few pumpkins.



I tried to get a flu shot, but it seems the drug store didn't have what I needed, an enhanced vaccine for those 65 and older, but said the vaccine would be available on Thursday. I'll probably end up getting my shot in Iron Mountain later this week.

Back home, I worked for most the morning on the bluegill, finally finishing it.



I spent most the afternoon working on a piece for my oldest granddaughter, a member of her junior high softball team. As of right now, it's rough cut, not sanded or refined at all.



It took the longest time to get the design just right, let alone sawed. I'll be adding some other features over the next few days.

I see I had a visitor in the garden during the past few nights.



Evidently a raccoon slipped in under the electric wire. He didn't wreak any havoc with the pond or goldfish and I'm assuming he was on his way through. If I see any future signs of damage, I'll be setting a trap.

Sargie was home early with Hambone in tow. We had a fun evening eating pizza, watching Dancing With the Stars (one of Grady's favorite programs) and later, he snuggled with his Grandma Sargie while watching a children's program on her computer.



Today is leaf day on Pentoga Road. It's when we rake a pile of leaves a billion jillion feet high then jump in the middle and thrash around. When the pile gets spread out, we grab our rakes and do it all over again. At some point, probably late in the afternoon, the leaves will be raked into the woods.

I guess I better get in gear and get my big person things done before you-know-who wakes up. After that, we shift gears and all bets are off.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

With teeth brushed and face washed, it's off to bed.