March 31, 2018 - Saturday morning
23 degrees/heavy snow/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I almost didn't write this morning.



SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW



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

So are the tales from....

Well, that's what I feel like writing, but I can do better than that.

I'm sitting here in the early morning hours wondering if/how we'll make it off of Pentoga Road to Foster City for the big family Easter gathering. So far the wind hasn't begun to blow and if it remains quiet, we could make it. With gusts forecast to reach 30 mph later this morning, I'm a bit hesitant.

We love Taylor's new (to them) home. He and Nicki have it fixed so nice, the whole family's going to be there, Nicki's folks are gems, it's Easter weekend, etc.

Guess we could take the snowmobile and leave the Blazer at home.

Yeah, that's it! Sargie could ride in front on the handlebars and wear a backpack. Dang, that's why I was a professor, always thinking deep thoughts.



In my arctic days, it wouldn't have been at all unusual to have Sargie ride in a basket sled behind the Tundra, covered by a caribou hide, and enjoy the fifty mile ride from here to Foster City.

Then there's the egg. That has me totally bummed. I've been working on the egg for sometime now and there's something about it I haven't liked. The shape is good and after it was painted, it looked okay, but something has been missing... just something that wasn't right.



I added some flowers around the base. The arrangement I tried looked terrible. I don't know, the egg might be bound for the wood stove yet. 

I guess I could offer it a television network should they come out with a sequel to Mork and Mindy. As I remember, Mork, Robin Williams, traveled in an egg. 

There's hope yet. 

To add icing to the cake, the coffee pot decided to be clogged this morning, dripping once every five minutes. There are a few things I just don't do well. One is to function in the early morning hours without a cup of coffee. 

Let's see, what else can I whine about?

Friday was a laid back day. I arrived home from my walk and nixed the idea of working on the frame for the strawberry bed. Though it was sunny, the temperature was well below freezing and with a storm forecast, I didn't feel like dragging all the tools out from the shop then carting them all back inside.

I saw the first robin of the season Friday morning!

Most the day was spent working on the ... egg. I've already kicked that dead horse enough.

Let's see, in the Positive News Department, this year's tomatoes have sprouted and are doing well. It appears the germination rate is quite good. 



Sargie made it home last night in good shape and  has this weekend off.

So, here I sit, waiting to see what the weather is going to do. The warning that was just published extends to 4 this afternoon with eight inches forecast to fall. I guess I could put the snow plow back on the four wheeler, but that seems like a lot of work, at least for now.

Another option is to go upstairs and crawl back into bed alongside Sargie and simply let it snow. There's plenty of time before we have to make up our minds and who knows what the weather will do between now and then.

Hmm, I could try to sweet talk her into being pulled in the ice fishing sled behind the snowmobile over to Foster City. 

Now if I can just find a caribou hide.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road... 

March 30, 2018 - Friday
13 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's been a long time since we've had a good old fashioned snow storm. Of all weekends, why now? We've had all winter for it to snow and Mother Nature chooses Easter weekend? Other than Thanksgiving and Christmas, could the timing be any worse? 

We're to head over to Foster City tomorrow to celebrate with the Milligans. Unless the wind is howling, and it appears as though it could be, we'll try to make it in four wheel drive. Of course, simply getting off of Pentoga Road, one of the last to be plowed, is in question. Only time will tell.

Sargie was off Thursday and we had a fairly quiet day. I took a quick ride around the maple woods first thing in the morning and was surprised to find a few full bags of sap. The temperature was much cooler than the day before and hadn't risen enough to cause the sap to run, or so I thought. I filled a five gallon bucket and thought I'd be finished with the maple business until the temperatures warmed again.



Macrea was working in town so we met him for lunch. We had a good visit and I enjoyed a great burger.

We were about to pull into the drive when Sargie and I noticed the bags hanging alongside the road looked rather full. Could it be? The wind was blowing and it was chilly. I guess no one told the trees conditions weren't good for sending sap through the spouts and into our bags.  In the end, we collected almost forty gallons for the day, another gallon of syrup closer to our goal.

I worked off and on throughout the day on the big Easter egg that I turned last week. All the cracks have been sealed and sanded and now it's time to get busy. It appears a good part of today will be spent fashioning something or the other from the egg.



Thankfully, Sargie works early today. The storm isn't due to arrive until later tonight. We're supposed to meet Tom and Melinda for a Friday night fish fry in Florence, but we'll wait and see what the weather is doing. It might be best to get Sargie home safe and sound and worry about eating fish some other time.

Me? I'm going for my usual walk this morning then I hope to work on the strawberry bed and get the frame finished. It'll be at least another month before I can plant any strawberries, but I'd like to get the lumber that's sitting on the floor of the barn out of the way and be able to cross this project off my growing list.

It's time to get Sargie up for the day, get her lunch packed, and breakfast ready.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Neighbor Mike (Jambo) and Germaine on a mission to gather sap.

March 29, 2018 - Thursday
27 degrees/clouds/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Naturally, just as I sat down to write and upload this morning's blathering, the internet went out. I can write, but that's about it until the web becomes available again.

This just came across my computer screen: 

Special Weather Statement

Weather Updated: Mar 29 4:00AM

Issued by the National Weather Service

For Iron County, Michigan

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 5PM CDT THU ...ACCUMULATING SNOW POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY... A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FRIDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY SATURDAY. ALTHOUGH SNOW TOTALS ARE STILL HIGHLY SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN SUBSEQUENT FORECASTS, CURRENT ACCUMULATIONS LOOK TO APPROACH AND QUITE POSSIBLY EXCEED 5 INCHES AREA-WIDE. THESE SNOW TOTALS ARE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON THE TRACK OF THE RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM, SO FORECAST DETAILS MAY CHANGE. KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION AS TRAVEL THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND COULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED.

You might know. Taylor and Nicki are hosting the Mighty Milligan Easter gathering on Saturday in Foster City. We'll just put the old Blazer in four wheel drive and make our way through the snow.

I just had an inspiration....

Over the river and through the woods

To Taylor's house we go

The Blazer will strive

In four wheel drive

To get us through the snow OH...

Never mind. It was there for free and thought I'd give it a try.

Wednesday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. After the usual early morning stroll, I returned home to work on, what will be, the new strawberry bed by the barn. The first thing was to finish removing the two middle pyramids.

Thankfully, the frozen ground had melted and it was simply a matter of prying them out of the ground. 

An outside workbench was set up utilizing the flower box and four wheeler. It certainly saved walking around the barn and into the shop to make each cut.

I'd hoped to make a three-tiered octagonal strawberry bed, but once the boards were laid out, it just wasn't practical. So much for my artistic touch.

I ended up making the base a simple rectangle. 

The power nailer Sargie gave me last year was a godsend. Once the measurements were made and the boards cut, fastening them together was a matter of a simple touch. 

I'd hate to get a finger, hand, or foot in the way. The results would be like getting shot with a high powered rifle.

The base will be filled with dirt, then a smaller tier added, that filled with dirt, and finally, a third tier. Why the design? So this old man doesn't have to bend over so far to pick the strawberries!

Neighbor Mike and his lovely bride, Germaine, came down late in the afternoon to help gather sap.

With the thermometer showing 56 degrees, the sap ran and we ended the day by gathering close to forty gallons.

Wednesday was Germaine's first time pouring water from bags into a bucket. She poured like an old pro.

We've gathered less than half the sap that is needed to reach our goal for this year. The next ten days don't look promising, so I'll store what we've collected and wait until it runs again. Only three or four sunny, warm, days are needed and we should be able to finish up gathering for the season and begin boiling.

Three of the barrels are filled to the rims and the fourth half full.

Sargie's off today. With the weather turning bad, I'll work in the shop this morning then see what she wants to do for the rest of the day.

I have an Easter project to finish over the next two days and I hope to work on the strawberry bed sooner rather than later. With heavy snow forecast, who knows?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Despite the weather forecast, hanging sheets out on the line and having them dry before they can freeze is a sure sign of spring.

What happens when it rains while the temperature is at or below freezing

March 28, 2018 - Wednesday

20 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Hopefully, today will bring copious amounts of sunshine and warm temperatures. After Tuesday night's rain, I'm beginning to wonder if we'll have a maple season this year. To make matters worse, I see Carl the Weatherman is saying Sunday's high could be twenty to thirty degrees below normal. Forecast high is for 26 degrees and snow.

Happy Easter to you too.

Tuesday was a lazy day on Pentoga Road. With fog, mist, and wind, the sap remained in the trees rather than dripping through the spouts. I decided it was as good a time as any to run a few errands in town. My running around finished, I stopped at the animal shelter, a place I've been known to inhabit on occasion, just in case the right pup might come along.

I said my hello's to the front desk staff and walked into the kennel room. There were several pups of the bulldog variety, mostly pit bulls who were wildly barking. Between them was a small rag mop pooch, a Benji clone, one who trotted over to the gate, gave my hand a lick, then retreated and lay on his bed without barking.

Hmm, a small dog, one who sheds little and doesn't bark. I played with him in the visitor's room at length and learned he was surrendered because he doesn't like other dogs. The family who gave him up had another who was their original pooch, so Trego had to go.

Only one thing wrong with my new friend. Sargie says the name has to go and I agree. When I say Trego, I get the urge to play with locking building blocks. I'm thinking Larry would be much better.

The pup impressed me. At three years of age, he introduced himself by standing on his back legs and doing a two-legged hop around in a complete circle. Ah, the little guy was a show off. My kind of pooch.

In the end, I filled out a ream of papers and expressed interest in adopting the little guy. Now it's up to the shelter. They said interest was high and he wouldn't be in the shelter long, so who knows where he'll end up calling home? 

Do we really want another dog? I figure if the pup comes to live with us, the answer will be yes. If it doesn't work out, then so be it. I could use a companion that does tricks and loves his belly rubbed.

I stopped at the plant and visited with Yooper Brother Mark and Ann for a few minutes. All was good in the wood products business.

Neighbor Mike and I talked a couple of times yesterday. We got his four wheeler started for the year and plan to take the snow blade off today. He helped to gather sap, but in reality, not much ran. 

Sargie is back to the Vision Center today. I'm going for my morning walk then will return home and get ready for a big sap run... I hope. The forecast high is 56 degrees, little wind with lots of sunshine, all key ingredients for a good sap day.

 And who knows, maybe I'll hear from the shelter today and spring the pooch.

I mean, who doesn't like to have his belly rubbed?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The way the bags are supposed to look

March 27, 2018 - Tuesday

33 degrees/clouds/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I was awakened several times during the night by rain pounding on the roof. I have no idea how much fell, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't well over an inch.

I dread seeing what the trails winding through the woods look like. I've been using the snowmobile to aid in gathering the sap and the trails were beginning to get a bit bare in a few places. After this rain, who knows? It might be time to trade the snowmobile for the four wheeler. Once the day dawns, I'll know for sure.

After arriving home from my walk Monday morning, I began emptying the dirt from the middle two strawberry planters.

Those will be replaced with one, low lying, sixteen foot, octagonal bed, built in tiers.

What to do with the dirt? In the end, I laid a piece of black landscaping mulch between the two pyramids and simply piled the soil there. The new bed will fit around that area, so I'll just need to spread it out when it is added next month.

Work went well until I hit frozen ground. After last night's rain and with the temperatures forecast to be in the 50's for the next two days, I ought to be able to finish removing both pyramids in short order.

I needed a spade and had to make my way to the garden shed. The snow had melted directly in front and when I opened the doors, the most wonderful whiff of last year's garden escaped, odors of greenery.

I forgot how good a garden smells during the summer months, the dirt, the vegetables and flowers. It was an excellent preview of the season ahead.

Not to throw rain on my parade, but turning around, I was greeted with reality. Less than two feet away from the shed were the raised beds, or I'm assuming they're still there under all that snow.

I did as much as possible with the pyramids and called that job temporarily done. Next came filling a flat's worth of six packs in the greenhouse with potting soil so this year's tomato and pepper seeds could be planted.

I was happy to leave that mess outside rather than dirty the kitchen counter and sink.

Once everything was planted, I placed the flat in the indoor greenhouse to germinate and grow until the temperature is warm enough to transfer them to the garden greenhouse.

I was hungry and a bit tired. After a quick mid afternoon lunch followed by a solid half hour Grandpa nap, it was time to begin emptying the sap bags.

With warmer weather comes more sap. Almost forty gallons has been gathered so far. Translated, that amount should make about one gallon of syrup.

Monday ended by washing the sap pans for the last time before the initial boiling begins. I carried buckets of hot, soapy, water from the sink and scrubbed and rinsed each. They're ready.

I made a big pot of cheddar broccoli potato soup for supper, something that would be ready once Sargie arrived home.

It was 9:30 before she walked through the door. Poor girl, opens this morning. Yep, vacation is definitely over. It was a mighty short night for my Sargie.

I'll go for my usual walk this morning then see what the rest of the day brings. Neighbor Mike called last night and said they are heading in this direction today from Marquette. He wants to help collect sap and with the highs forecast to reach into the 50's, I'd say he'll get his chance.

Me? Well, someone has to supervise Neighbor Mike.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Winter is slowly loosening its grip on some of the area streams and rivers

March 26, 2018 - Monday

16 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Arg, I see we're to receive a third of an inch of rain later today and tonight. At least it's not snow... yet. That's to come later in the week. There's the chance that this afternoon's rain might freeze later and wouldn't you know it, Sargie has to close tonight. I'll make sure she packs her toothbrush should she have to stay in Iron Mountain tonight.

Today's her first day back to work after almost two weeks of vacation. My girl wasn't looking forward to getting back into the routine and I can't say I blame her. She loves her job, but like most in the active workforce, she dreams of the time when she can call the days her own. 

As I tell anyone who's interested, retirement is the best job I ever had.

Sunday dawned cold and windy. I was out early emptying blocks of ice from the sap bags as several had run late Saturday afternoon.

With the temperature still in the teens, I turned the heater on in the shop and scrounged around the scrap lumber pile until I found a large pine fence post.

I wanted to turn an egg, not just any egg, but a large one that I could decorate with flowers and other festive goodies.

In the end, it came out okay. I brought it in the house and set it by the wood stove so if any moisture were still in the wood, it would crack before I do any more work.

Sure enough, it cracked, but isn't that what an egg does? Just ask Humpty Dumpty.

Sargie and I took a wonderful ride around the area. Spring has taken over some places, yet winter is still definitely present in others.

If the forecast rain falls later today, the snow will definitely settle, but what a mess there'll be. The difficulty of gathering sap will increase substantially.

We came across this old farm hall about twenty miles to the north. The date on the sign says 1919. We noticed the electric service has been pulled so it's evidently no longer being used.

Back home, I changed a few taps from dry trees to some growing in areas where the sap has been running. I still don't understand why some trees seem to give very little or no sap. It doesn't have anything to do with size, but I think it's where they are geographically located. 

Not a drop to be had from this tree.

While changing some dry taps, I decided to add a few more to an area that receives plenty of sunshine and is out of the wind. All the trees gushed water as soon as the drill was pulled from the hole.

Bags are hanging from over a hundred trees, a mere pittance compared to the big boys with their tubes and pumps, but a hundred is all this old guy can keep up with when carrying the water by hand in five gallon buckets. 

I'm going to resume my walking schedule this morning then take the lumber that was purchased from Home Depot out of the Blazer.

Oh, speaking of lumber, I wrote to Home Depot expressing my displeasure at the quality of their lumber. I received a wonderful email back assuring me things would change in the Iron Mountain store and offering a partial refund. Evidently, there are still some big box stores who care about the little person.

It's time to get Sargie up for the day, fix breakfast, and pack her lunch.

The new bags added Sunday afternoon

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Congratulations to Coleman for wrestling his way to 2nd place in the New England championships!

March 25, 2018 - Sunday

10 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

From what I know, grandson, Coleman, lost a heartbreaker in this season's final tournament. Congratulations, buddy!

Between all his medals and trophies, Luke's going to have to build a separate room in which to keep Coleman's hardware.

Saturday was a mellow day on Pentoga Road. With well below normal morning temperatures, I found myself in the shop turning the first Easter egg of the season.

Made from a scrap piece of pine fence post, I decided to do something different, a relief turning that resulted in the ribbon sticking out from the egg.

I later scored the ribbon and colored it before putting a coat of poly over the entire thing. I found that I'm a bit rusty on my egg making skills, but no doubt, I'll make several before Easter gets here.

Sargie and I made our way to Home Depot where I purchased enough treated lumber to build a new strawberry planter.

I had difficulty finding fifteen boards good enough to bring home. Most were warped, cracked, and one about fell in two when stood on end.

I'll be writing a letter to the good folks at Home Depot corporate asking why they insist on trying to sell such an inferior product. Doubt I'll hear anything from them, but at least I'll get it off my chest. 

We found Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri parked in the drive when we arrived home. They had a shirt I'd bought in LasVegas in their luggage and had brought it out. As always, we enjoyed a good visit and it was fun to talk about the trip.

Sargie and I gathered about ten gallons of sap last night before calling it a day. The temperatures never rose far past freezing and coupled with a fairly strong breeze, there wasn't much sap in the bags. That all should change in the next three days with highs up to fifty forecast.

This is Sargie's last day away from the Vision Center. Neither of us want to see her go back. Oh well, just two and a half more years and she can join me in retirement.

I'm going to remove several taps this morning from dry trees, those that, for some reason, never seem run. There always seem to be a few and I've yet to understand why. Wanting to get as much sap as possible in the shortest amount of time, I'll find other trees that are good producers. 

It's time to get this show on the road.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Isabella's sporting her new fashionable basket at Saturday's Easter egg hunt.