The Christmas frenzy continues on Pentoga Road

December 22, 2017 - Friday

22 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

The Christmas season really is a magical time. Lately, I've been serenaded in the early morning hours by a wind-up music box playing Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.

One thing though. The music box barely works, even with encouragement, yet it has suddenly begun playing on it's own. 

In fact, the first time it sounded, I had no idea where the tinkling originated. Sargie and I eventually traced it down to a Santa/Christmas decoration adorning the top of the refrigerator.

Another thing... the wind up clock Dad made back in the 90's only works at Christmas time. It sat idle for years until I randomly tried to restart the thing last year, just before Mom arrived. It kept perfect time and chimed until she left. After, despite all my urgings, it sat silent for the next eleven months. Suddenly, it's ticking and chiming with the best of them.

Grandma and Grandpa's grandfather clock has begun chiming again also. It's kept perfect time for years, but the chimes always remained silent. Two weeks ago, they began booming throughout the house on the quarter, half, and hour.

A musical street car that Dad made many years ago after the folks visited San Francisco has been known to randomly play on it's own also. 

The tune? I Left My Heart in San Francisco of course!

Our cozy home seems to be filled with a loving spirit of one or more who are letting us know they are here with us. 

Hmm, Dad, or could it be Sargie's folks or sister? Perhaps it's her oldest son who was a loving prankster. The grandparents? Whoever it is, I hope they keep it up. It just helps to make for a merrier Christmas.

The countdown to Christmas continues. Sargie worked all day Thursday wrapping and working her Christmas magic.

She says her preparation is almost over and I can see that she's already more relaxed. Anyone who knows Sargie KNOWS that Christmas and the giving of gifts is a big deal. In fact, I've never known anyone who personifies the act of giving more than Sargie.

Meanwhile, I finished painting the growth chart.

I'm beginning to wish that I'd have made the paint tray larger. Seems I need to buy a pint or two of a different color every time I create a new project.

At any rate, as soon as the growth chart is dry from the final application of poly, it will be ready to wrap.

Yooper Brother Mark had mentioned early Thursday morning that the several inches of snow that had fallen was light and dry and he jokingly mentioned something about how a person could remove it using a leaf blower.

A leaf blower?

Why not?

The extension cords were already there to power the outside decorations. All I needed was my brand new, barely used, Black and Decker leaf blower. Just so happened it was in it's original box in the garage.

I'm not certain if Yooper Brother Mark was making a joke or serious, but the leaf blower worked well on the back deck and around those places where I normally use a shovel. The much larger drive was plowed using the four wheeler.

We took a short drive Thursday afternoon around the area and got to see, up close and personal, a pileated wood pecker of the Woody Woodpecker fame.

The pileated variety is quite large, extremely noisy, and very skittish. It's unusual to get so close to one.

Mom was busy all day supervising Sargie's and my activities. I'm fearful we wore her out. In fact, at one point, I asked Mom a question and failed to get an answer. 

Despite the cold weather and snow, I grilled pork chops for supper. Those, along with winter squash from last summer's garden made for a delicious meal.

Sargie opens today. I've got several things to do around the house, presents to wrap, and a couple that need to be finished in the shop.

Mom and I are going to meet Sargie in Iron Mountain tonight then go onto Grady's house for a family gathering. Sargie's sons will be there and of course, Hambone will, no doubt, be wound up like an eight-day clock.

It's time to get this holiday show on the road. Santa can't do it all by himself you know!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...