January 1, 2018 - Monday
-7 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Indeed, Happy New Year to all! I'd pretty much forgotten it was New Year's Eve last night until Sargie and I heard the fireworks being set off at our local ski hill. With the thermometer registering well below zero, I knew it wasn't thunder.

At the risk of sounding repetitive, I have to say I absolutely don't know where this past year went. Seems like last week I was trying to retrain myself to write 2017 rather than 2016 each morning. Now I have to start anew remembering that it's 2018. It's a good thing I won't live to see the year 2100. I'd be in a heck of a fix.

New Year's Eve started with a brisk walk. The thermometer was showing -18, but the sun was bright and the wind not blowing too badly. 

The neighbor is evidently logging some trees from his land.

I saw Yooper Brother Mark and family as I as walking and they pulled over so I might wish Isabella, Sarah, and Curtis safe travels. They were on their way to the airport and scheduled to leave on the noon flight. Mark later told me the flight had been substantially delayed.

Ah, holiday travel. You can't beat it.

I felt invigorated once I arrived home. Despite the cold temperatures, it was simply too nice of a day to go inside and there was plenty to do out of doors.

So, for the next four hours, I played, I mean, worked, enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.

My first chore was to get the ice auger that had been hung on the garage wall down and bring it inside to warm up.

It eventually started and is ready for another season of ice fishing.

The cold weather presents different types of problems not encountered in warmer climes. The two front tires of the Blazer needed air added. Both slowly lose pressure when the temperature dips below zero.

I pulled the ice shack from alongside the barn and readied it for action.

All that is needed is to repaint my name and address on each side. It's tough to do when the temperatures are so far below freezing.

The Tundra was started and used to go up to Neighbor Mike's and check on his camp. The furnace is working and everything appears to be normal.

I picked 'em up and put 'em down throughout the afternoon, but as the sun began to set, a chill  invaded my body. I went from being comfortable to being downright cold in a matter of minutes. It was time to head inside.

Sargie arrived home later than normal from work. Walmart's annual 10% employee discount on food items ended last night and she wanted to take advantage of it while she could. Needless to say, the trunk of the car was filled to overflowing when she pulled into the garage.

We actually made it to midnight last night. The grandfather's clock chimed twelve as we lay in bed talking. After a kiss and a hug and wishing each other a Happy New Year, we snuggled in tightly and went to sleep.

The perfect ending to another good year.

We're planning on taking Christmas decorations down today. I told Sargie I'd give her a hand so we can get them done. I'll be running totes in and out of the storage unit and boxes to the basement. The outside decorations also need to be put away.

It's going to be a busy day, but are we surprised?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Happy New Year!!