The last of the outside Christmas decorations were finished on Friday

December 2, 2017 - Saturday

33 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Jim Nabor's passed away.

Darn.

I was fond of ol' Gomer and genuinely liked the man who played him. I read that Jim Nabors was named an Honorary Marine by the USMC, an honor seldom bestowed on a civilian. America lost an icon and there are many, at least in my generation, who will miss him.

Rest in Peace, Gomer.

I had my blood drawn Friday morning as planned, but must confess, I was disappointed after. Usually I get a Snoopy bandaid for not fussing or crying. I was a good boy on Friday, nary a peep was made, but the phlebotomist, someone I didn't know, made no mention of a Snoopy bandaid. 

With quivering chin and moist eyes, I said my thanks as I bade her goodbye, wished the receptionist a Merry Christmas, and left, sporting a plain, brown, ugly, big boy bandaid. No one ever said life is always fair.

Back home, I climbed the ladder and retrieved Rudolph and his sleigh from storage over the shop.

It took some doing, but the reindeer and sleigh were firmly fastened to the ground using long stakes. 

I'll worry how to remove them from the frozen ground after Christmas. 

Sargie's been wanting me to put garland and lights over the garage door.

I'm no Scrooge, but Sargie will be the first to tell you how much I hate putting up Christmas decorations. I enjoy being with her when she decorates and love the Christmas season, but I find little joy in hanging strings of fake balsam branches along with strings of lights. 

If you want to hear me whine, just wait until after Christmas. The only thing I hate worse than putting up decorations is taking them down.

It took a few trips back and forth to the shop and more than a bit of muttering, but the garland and boughs, along with the lights, were finally hung.

It was mid afternoon before I made it to my happy place, the shop. Friday's goal was to make a lid for the birch bowl that was turned earlier this week.

Again, I ran into soft wood which created a challenge. The second challenge was to turn a thin lid, inverted downwards on the top.

I wear old gloves when I'm sanding to protect my hands that occasionally brush against the chuck that is holding the wood. After loosing several layers of skin over my knuckles and fingers, I find wearing a cheap pair of leather work gloves provides excellent protection.

So far/so good with the lid. Today's goal is to carve a small cross to fasten on the top.

Sargie worked later than planned Friday afternoon. Busy and shorthanded, she later said that she had enough unfinished paperwork to stay until midnight. 

My girl opens today, but thankfully, has Sunday off. I'm going for my usual walk then get up on the roof and clean the screen on top of the flue while the weather is good. In the shop, I hope to continue working on the lid, start a new bowl, sand the hickory piece, and hopefully, cut out another puzzle.

In my spare time, I might go water skiing or bake a cake. A guy never knows.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...