An old homestead hidden away in Pentoga Village

November 29, 2017 - Wednesday

19 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Finally, after winds with gusts up to sixty mph blew through yesterday, it's calm this morning. At one point late yesterday afternoon, the artificial trees that sit on both sides of the front door blew over and that's after I'd placed two heavy bricks on the base of each. 

The galvanized bucket into which the wood stove's ashes are shoveled was full, but I was fearful of dumping it for fear there'd be a live spark which might be blown into the woods. 

I'll take a walk later today and see if any balsam trees were lost in yesterday's blow. No doubt, there'll be a few lying on their sides.

It was a lazy day we enjoyed on Tuesday. After Sargie's unexpected one day respite from the Vision Center, we weren't in any rush to do anything.

I walked to Pentoga Village yesterday morning. The temperatures were warm and it seemed more like a late spring day than one just prior to the winter season.

Fear not, I see in the extended forecast that by a week from today, temperatures will be doing well to rise out of the single numbers for highs. I've been around enough years to know that what Mother Nature giveth, she can also taketh away. In this case, the springtime temperatures.

The history of Pentoga Village continues to fascinate me. I walk around what was once the center of the community and try to imagine what it was like over a hundred years ago.

The street in front of the old home was an active thoroughfare. Now there's simply a trail that runs in front of the house. I'm told Pentoga had several businesses of the time including a church and school. Today, the old house, mostly hidden by trees and brush, is one of the few remaining structures. Unless one is looking for it, he might not know it's there.

Closer to home, I am amazed how bare the garden has become. Seems it was just a few weeks ago that the sunflowers were towering fifteen feet in the air, pumpkin and squash vines spreading everywhere, and flowers blooming in every corner.

What a difference a few weeks make. Other than the rutabaga bed, the garden is lying fallow, ready for next spring's planting.

I worked for a couple of hours yesterday on puzzles, putting the final touches on some, making plans to saw others. I'm hoping to have them all completed by week's end or the beginning of next week at the latest.

Sargie and I enjoyed our afternoon drive, going nowhere really, just making a stop here, another there, and poking our noses in other places.

We fixed the first of the delicata winter squash from this past summer's garden for supper.

Their high sugar content makes them one of the best eating squash, but also makes them poor candidates for storage. 

What goes better with winter squash than brat patties grilled outside?

Mom called last night and we had a nice conversation. She's happy that as lobby leader of her floor, she and another lady had completed the holiday decorating. 

Mom has an Indianapolis Symphony Christmas Concert to attend on the 15th of December, but said after that, she'd be ready to head north for Christmas. We'll be leaving sometime or the other soon after to get her.

Sargie opens the Vision Center this morning. I'm going for my usual walk then finish harvesting the rutabagas while the temperature is above freezing.

I hope to finish the puzzles and kiddy presents by week's end, so there's little doubt that most of today will be spent in the shop.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...