My good buddy, Scott, with his sixteen week old Sheltie. Obviously, Scottie's a fashion guru... the ribbon around the pup's neck and all.

February 6, 2018 - Tuesday

-18 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Scott and I first met each other years ago in Sitka. He and his best friend, Mike, were up on a fishing vacation visiting Mike's brother and my friend, Preacher Pat, the chaplain at Sheldon Jackson College.

Mike was a heck of a nice guy, but it was Scott and I who really hit if off. We hadn't been together on my boat for more than five minutes before we discovered our values, beliefs, and politics, were pretty much the same. In other words, we man-bonded. 

Scott and his two sons were in the UP several years ago and stopped in for a visit. We quickly renewed our friendship and took up talking right where we left off in Sitka.

Though Scott, his wife, Becky, and two sons, live in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, he and I have kept in fairly close contact throughout the years and recently, he's been sharing his thoughts on a canine companion for me. Scott's something of a dogologist and has given me much to think about.

I've heard rumors that Scottie's put in for retirement. Hopefully, once that's official, we can see each other more than once every decade. I sure hope so. We have lots of catching up to do.

Since Sargie didn't have to leave for work until mid Monday morning, I brought in my flower making materials from the shop and sat in front of the wood stove making the last bloom for the white birch vase.

It was windy and far below zero outside and the shop wasn't much warmer. I was happy to sit on the floor and soak up the heat from the wood stove while working.

It took a while, but in the end, the flower was cut, glued, and assembled.

Acting on Sargie's advice, I painted the flower a light, pastel, pink, with white accents. (Don't even go there Yooper Brother Mark. There's nothing saying an Alaska mountain man can't enjoy the beauty of the arts.) After it dried, I sprayed several coats of sealer over everything and called it finished.

No, the upside down bowl isn't part of the display

It was time for Sargie to go to work. I hopped in the car and rode several miles down the road before getting out and walking back home.

It was cold, but I was protected from the wind for most of the way so walking wasn't bad.

I needed to scan some documents, normally a five minute procedure. Not yesterday.

Somehow or the other, the printer/scanner software had become corrupted and refused to work, I think with the last automatic software update on my computer. It took well over an hour to straighten it out and get the documents remade into digital form.

In this cold weather, it takes well over an hour for the shop to warm up. Since more than half the day had passed and my flower making materials were already in the living room, I decided to set up a tv tray and work in the house.

You know, I could get used to working in the luxury of the living room. There are worse ways to spend a very cold, windy, winter afternoon than sitting in Grandma Pennington's rocker in front of the television, making flowers, and binge watching recorded episodes of Naked and Afraid.



I wonder if Sargie would mind if I brought the lathe and possibly the band saw inside? I wouldn't even have to worry about heating the shop and we could be closer together when she's home.

Sargie had to close last night and it was almost 9:30 before she walked through the door. Thankfully, my girl doesn't have to work today, so we weren't in any hurry to go to bed. In fact, it was close to midnight before I finally closed my eyes.

I think I'll close now and get the day started. Since the flower making material is still in the house, I may set up a tv tray and make a few more blooms while Sargie's doing her morning girl stuff. We'll, no doubt, go for a ride later today, get Sargie her Coke, and poke our noses in here and there around the area. 

I just had a thought, a very deep one. If I can get Sargie to agree, maybe, with her help, we can carry the lathe and band saw into the house and set up in the living room. There are still several recorded episodes of Naked and Afraid I've yet to watch.

The other side of that coin is that she might banish me permanently to the shop for even suggesting such a thing.

Never mind.

God paints some beautiful pictures on the garage windows this time of year.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

This is what happens when one is watching television and not paying attention to what he is doing. It didn't take long for me to figure out why it's called hot glue.