May 31, 2018 - Thursday evening

67 degrees/rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Some people have watch dogs, other's electronic devices to warn of intruders. Sargie and I? We have a watch hummingbird. He sits for hours on top of the feeder keeping an eye out for any and all who dare to trespass. 

In reality, he sits there to protect, what he thinks is, HIS feeder. There are six or eight other pint-sized hummers that take turns drinking the sugar water while the others keep our guard bird occupied. 

Thursday was a busy one. I strapped on my hiking boots and did a quick three miles first thing. Since there were no problems with the feet or knees, I'll be increasing the distance.

I'd lost a paddle out of the boat several days ago while going fishing. After not seeing it, I'd assumed someone had picked it up ... finders keepers and all that good stuff. 

Look what I found today hidden in the weeds and grass alongside the road as I was walking?

It is finally cooling down a bit so I spent the entire morning and much of the afternoon weeding the new strawberry bed and most of the garden.

I actually enjoy weeding and making the beds look as good as possible. I didn't get to do too much last year as the raised beds were covered by water for much of the summer. 

The closest raised beds are melons, squash, and pumpkins. If all goes as planned, the paths and individual beds will all be completely covered with vines and fruit in another six to eight weeks.

Before someone gets the bright idea to write and offer to let me weed your garden and/or flower bed, I'm booked solid right here in my own garden.

I moved the wheels on the mower deck and made a few adjustments.

After a test run, it cuts perfectly. There are no turn marks from the deck and the blades are shearing the grass perfectly even.

The rest of the day was spent mowing the meadows and all the trails.

In some cases, it was more like cutting a hayfield. It's hard to believe everything was mowed less than a week ago. I'm grateful to have the larger commercial mower as it cut through the tall, thick, grass with no problem.

Rain threatened off and on all afternoon. I raced to the barn at one point to keep from getting wet. As soon as the shower was finished, I headed back out to finish mowing.

Wisconsin Mike gave Sargie and me some hamburger and a couple of ribeye steaks he had processed from a Jersey steer. I lit the charcoal to grill it right.

People who do fine cuts of meat on a gas grill should be spanked and sent to their room without any supper. Ribeye steaks, especially ones as good as these, deserve to be grilled over charcoal.

I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur of better steaks. The ribeye I had for supper tonight was one of the best and tastiest cuts of meat I've ever eaten, bar none. Mike said he told the butcher not to trim the fat. In doing so, the steaks were extra juicy and had the very best flavor. After writing about it, Sargie better hurry and get home from work or I might just eat her's.

Thanks Mike. You're right, that little Jersey steer made for some great eating!

Speaking of Mike, I'm wondering where Neighbor Mike is? I haven't seen Jambo in almost two weeks. Guess I should call and check on that boy.

Sargie's off tomorrow. We have to be in Iron Mountain by midmorning for her hair appointment. While she and Melinda are gabbing and making Sargie even more beautiful than she already is, I'll mosey around town until she calls and says she's ready to be picked up and whisked back home.

Speaking of Sargie, I'd better end so I can get her supper ready. She called a bit ago and will be pulling in the drive pretty soon.

The rain was sporadic Thursday afternoon. Thankfully, most of it went around us.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Turning a beautiful pinkish purple, the end is near for this year's crop of trilliums.

May 31, 2018 - Thursday
64 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I'm happy as can be this morning that another inch and half of rain has fallen over the last twenty-four hours. That makes almost three inches in the past ten days to two weeks. Perfect.

With the hot weather we've been experiencing, along with the rainfall, the garden is growing exceptionally well except for one crop, the potatoes. I had very poor sprouting from the seed potatoes I planted several weeks ago.

I can't figure out what I did wrong. I left at least two eyes in each piece and let the cuts crust over after slicing each whole potato. It was a frustrated gardener who dug into the rows yesterday morning and found many of the pieces had rotted.

Sargie, a nurturing soul, said she thinks the seed potatoes were bad. Bless her heart. It was the equivalent to kissing a boo boo and slapping a bandaid over the top to make everything feel better.

I now know how the Irish felt during the great potato famine of the mid 1800's as I had the urge to migrate, maybe to New York City, and become a cop. Sargie could take in laundry and ironing and somehow, we'd eek out an existence. 

Suddenly, I heard Great Grandpa Campbell (a true descendant of the old country) saying, "Don't move, you idiot. Simply replant. It's cheaper."

Ah, Great Grandpa was a school teacher and one of the original deep thinkers.

It was then I had a vision of sorts, an epiphany if you will. Sargie's been after me to clean out the tub in the basement that was used to store last year's spuds. We ate them until just a month ago. There were still some left. Seed potatoes? I think so.

All had sent out sprouts that were several inches long so I knew they were viable. With Irish blood running through my veins and married to a girl who's last name is Milligan, I invoked the spirit of those who had suffered before. The leftover's of last year's harvest were planted, much as in the days of yore.



The spuds were planted deeper than usual with plenty of sprout left above ground. I probably should have trimmed them, but at least I feel as though they are already growing. We'll see. Worse case scenario, we'll have to move to New York City.

It was a cloudy day, but calm with rain forecast for later. Just as I'd felt Great Grandpa Campbell's spirit calling to me earlier, I heard Dad yelling in my ear. 

"Go fishing, Charlie (Dad's nickname for me.) The conditions are perfect."

Dad was a wise man. Who was I to argue?

Fishing was good. No, it was great. 

I know Yooper Mark's daughter and my former student, Sarah, loves to see my fish pictures, so with her in mind, I took a few.

I used light spinning tackle to begin with, then changed over to a fly rod. It made no difference. Each cast produced a nice-sized bluegill.



On a serious note, I'm so grateful for my restored sight. I've caught more fish in the past three weeks than I did in the past three years total. A year ago now, I was ready to quit fishing altogether. It's just no fun casting into a void of fuzziness and running into people's docks. 

Thank you to the scientist and doctor who stepped forward to help. Most of all, thank you God.

Back on the lake, I quit after catching fifteen fish, more than enough for a future fish fry for Sargie and me.

A notice came across my phone saying rain was to begin in fifteen minutes. The timing was perfect as the first drop fell immediately after the boat was loaded.

Hmm, how to clean fish in a pouring rain? I moved the cleaning table (that is kept under the apple tree in the garden) to the door of the greenhouse where I could remain dry while still cleaning them outside.

Great Grandpa Campbell didn't have no dummy for a grandson. The only part of me that got wet were my forearms that were sticking out the door.



Yooper Brother Mark had called earlier saying my trailer was filled with firewood. I hooked onto his empty trailer and dropped it off at his house, ran a few errands in town, then stopped by the plant for a visit and to hook onto my trailer. Working up wood appears to be in my near future.

I think another three, possibly four loads, will be enough with plenty left over should next winter go longer than expected. 



The rest of the day... well, it was mid afternoon and raining. I made the mistake of eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich then reclining after. 

It must have been the P&J as my eyelids became heavy shortly after eating and I was soon sound asleep.

I didn't move far from the living room for the rest of the day. I promised my brother in law that I would make him a sign and spent a couple of hours looking at various fonts online. Then there was the Outdoor Channel to watch and before I knew it, the day had slipped away.

It was past nine last night before Sargie pulled in the drive and picked me up so we could get her car from the mechanic's in town. She now has a fully functioning, anatomically correct, horn. Better not get in her way or she's liable to blast you to smithereens. 

My girl closes again tonight, two long working days in a row. 

I'm going to resume my walking schedule this morning. I've been so busy this past month that my physical well being has been put on the back burner. Unfortunately, my burgeoning belly hasn't. It's time to get out there and pick 'em up and put 'em down.

I just heard from Great Grandpa Campbell again. I'm pretty sure he said, "Don't sweat the potato crop. If these don't grow, just go buy some at the store. It'll be cheaper."

Yup, he truly was one of the original deep thinkers.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Swallow Tail Butterflies

May 29, 2018 - Tuesday evening
76 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

First it was a gathering of toads. Then it was toad bliss. Pump clogging eggs followed. Now the garden pond has tadpoles, lots and lots of tadpoles.

With it being dead calm early this morning, I began the day by spraying herbicide around much of the yard. Without it, more time would be spent trimming than there are hours in the day.

Speaking of mowing, I haven't been able to get the deck adjusted on the new mower so that it cut evenly. I finally gave up and called the dealer who said to bring it in, he'd be happy to make everything work correctly.

I have to give the dealer, Dan, credit. There were over thirty mowers in for repair and somehow, he found the time to sharpen the blades and make all the necessary adjustments on mine. I told him he had a customer for life. 

Sargie and I took a nice ride today on a forest road from Pentoga Village to Tipler, Wisconsin.



The day was extremely warm, in the 90's, but the ride was pleasant driving in the deep shade. 

Coming home, Sargie saw a bear. I turned around and unfortunately, by the time I got the camera out of my pocket, all I got was his back end.

The bear was only feet away from a next door neighbor who was working in her yard. We stopped and informed her she was closer to some real wildlife than she knew. The last we saw Mary, she was heading in the house to call her husband.

I moved the last of small fish that have called a five gallon aquarium on the kitchen counter their home all winter out to the garden pond.

They're just minnows, but at least for the summer, they're free to swim in the pond.

It was time to try the mower. It cuts even and after I adjust the wheels on the deck, it should be absolutely perfect.



With lots of dips, hills and valleys, our yard is anything but level. I'd forgotten that I made multiple adjustments to the wheels on the deck of the old Cub Cadet until it mowed perfectly. 

Sargie took command of the mower and made it her own. I'm not sure I'll be able to call it the Man Mower any longer. 



The yard was finished and it was hot. My lawn mowing bride made mention that it might be cooler if we were on the lake rather than in the yard. Was that a hint? What better reason to go fishing?

Once again, Sargie put on a clinic. 

Casting a small lure rather than fishing with worms, she caught several nice-sized bass and more than half of the bluegills we put in the fish basket. In the end, we kept twenty.



It was almost dark before I finished cleaning fish. I promised Mom we'd have a big fish fry while she's visiting next month and by golly, we will!

Sargie closes Wednesday and Thursday, two long days for her. With cooler temperatures forecast along with an 80% chance of rain, I'm planning on being in the shop on Wednesday. There are several projects I have in mind and a rainy day would be a great excuse to begin at last one.



As always, my eyelids are getting heavy. I think it's time to begin that long, difficult, climb up the steps to bed.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

May 29, 2018 - Tuesday
62 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It appears every picture that was taken on Monday is gone. The computer said each was in an unrecognizable format and they simply vanished. I've searched high and low to no avail. 

What the heck?

Oh well, a week from now, who's going to know or care?

On a more relaxing note:

It's so nice sitting here in the early morning hours, the remaining coolness of the night drifting through the screens and listening to the birds, those that are up extra early, begin their song.

There's an aroma of last fall's decayed leaves mixed with a hint of pine and coupled with the fragrance of newly mown grass. Perfect, absolutely perfect.

Yesterday was a busy one. After Sargie left for work, I eyed the trailer filled with firewood, donned a set of work gloves, and began. About half was done before late morning arrived when it was time to get cleaned up and head to Milligan Mountain.

The day was hot, but as always, there was a breeze which made sitting outside under the trees ideal. I enjoyed catching up on all the family news, talking, laughing, and of course, what the Milligan gatherings are best known for, EATING.  Nephew Taylor grilled hamburgers and brats. Those, coupled with wonderful, good, old fashioned potato salad, some of the best pork and beans (with copious amounts of hamburger included) a person could ask for, macaroni salad, garden salad, cookies and cake along with other culinary goodies too numerous to mention, made eating a pure pleasure. Let me put it this way, if anyone went hungry, it was their own fault. 

With hugs, kisses, and handshakes, I bid all farewell mid afternoon and made my way back to Pentoga Road. I really wanted to get the last of the wood worked up.

You know, there's something wrong with a person who does that kind of work on one of the hottest days of the year. By the time I finished, you could have wrung me out like a wet sponge.

Time was spent in the bedroom folding and placing my winter jeans and shirts into totes. Those will be stored until next fall when they'll come out of hiding and exchange places with the summer wear.

Sargie arrived home around 7 and we took the trailer to Yooper Brother Mark's plant. She followed in the Kia so we could leave it at the mechanic's to have some work completed from the deer damage. 

Sargie's off today. I'm going to mow the area on the other side of the garden at some point. Otherwise, I'll leave it up to Sargie. Fishing? Simply a ride? Visiting some far off and distant city? It's all up to her.

Meanwhile, I need to get this uploaded and head to the garden for some early morning weeding and coffee sipping.

Sorry about the lack of pictures. Dang.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

May 27, 2018 - Sunday evening
81 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Memorial Day - Lest we not forget. Amen.

Today was one of the hottest days we've had in the past several years. Coupled with the high humidity, any activity other than sitting in the shade was just plain miserable.



I worked all morning in the shop finishing the Memorial Day project.

Two pieces had to be glued together. What better place to dry quickly than on top of the parked car.




It all finally came together this afternoon, just in time for Memorial Day!



While the glue was drying, I wandered out by the pond. The fountain pump was completely clogged with toad eggs and slime. Both were cleaned this morning and again this afternoon. 



Most of the toads have laid their eggs and gone away. A male and female were still in the pond, so each was caught and relocated. After, I removed as many eggs as possible. I'm fearful the pumps will burn out if they keep getting clogged.

Sargie and I took a long drive today and explored several new roads.



With the temperatures being so warm, we weren't in any hurry to leave the air conditioning of the car.



We found a stream that was loaded with bass and bluegills.



It looks as though there could be an infestation of tent caterpillars this year. Though they make great fishing bait, it was too hot and I was too lazy to get out of the car and gather a bunch. 



We arrived home late in the afternoon. Sargie cleaned the interior of the Kia while I made some height adjustments to the mower deck and mowed the front and back yard. Neither of us could believe how quickly the grass has grown in the past four days.

The strawberries, those I thought might not make it after being kept in the refrigerator for two months, are doing well.

Sargie works all day tomorrow by herself. I'll head over to Nancy and Ron's later in the morning for the family gathering. The weather looks hot, but favorable. Seems there's always a breeze high atop Milligan Mountain.

I need to make several large batches of popcorn in the morning to take tomorrow. I'll pack a small cooler with some pop and flavored water and I should be ready to go.

My eyes are beginning to get heavy which means it's time to make that long climb to the second floor.



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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

May 27, 2018 - Sunday
54 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

There's just not a whole lot to talk about today. I worked all day yesterday in the shop and am happy to say that all the sawing on the pieces that go into the plaque is finished.

I tried counting how many types of blades I've used on this piece.



Everything from the fattest, widest, blade down to one that is barely larger than a a human hair has been utilized. It's been a challenge.



On a completely different subject: I'm not one to gripe, but I've got the horny toad blues this morning. Seems the eggs and goo from my herd of amorous toads that are currently calling the garden pond their breeding ground are clogging the pump.



There's a reason the saying "Horny as a toad," came came about. I changed the filters yesterday morning and I see one is not even running this morning. You know what I'll be doing as soon as I'm finished writing. Good Lord, only one word can describe the upcoming chore. 

YUCK!

The rain and storms went around us yesterday. I know of areas that received some pretty good amounts, but we remained hot and dry with high humidity. The garden is growing by leaps and bounds as is the grass in the yard. It will need to be mowed in the next day or two.

It was late afternoon and with Sargie not yet home, I decided to fix the door to the shop. When it was installed in the new addition a month ago, there was still frost in the ground. Once the frost melted, the entire floor shifted and the door became difficult to close. It caught the jamb by a quarter of an inch or so. 

The frame was torn apart and in the end, Dad's old plane was brought out of storage so a bit could be shaved. The door now fits perfectly.

Sargie walked in last night carrying a pizza. How two grown people can completely destroy a family-sized pizza is beyond me, but in the end, nary a piece remained. No one will ever call either of us light-weights when it comes to eating a good pizza.

It's time to get busy. I'm going to change the filters on the pumps in the pond then head to the shop. I'd like to get the current project finished today and have that out of the way. There's a trailer filled with wood that needs to be worked up plus the lawn is growing out of control. No doubt, Sargie and I will take a drive later this afternoon and see how many tourists have invaded our normally quiet neck of the woods.

Sargie has to work Monday. I'll head over to Nancy and Ron's high atop Milligan Mountain for the annual Mighty Milligan Memorial Day Celebration later in the morning. I'm looking forward to seeing the folks.

Okay, I've stalled as long as I can. Time to move on and get those filters changed. With any luck, the toads are finished and are sitting back, comparing notes, enjoying a cigarette, preparing to leave the pond, and go back to gulping bugs and other insects.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Each one of those black dots is a tadpole... or is that a toadpole, in the making.

Phoebe found Frank
Upon closer examination, I discovered that Frank and Phoebe aren't frogs, they're toads!

May 25, 2018 - Friday evening
79 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's been a day where storms have threatened, but all went around us.  

After arriving home from Iron Mountain this morning, I headed to the shop. This current project's been a challenge.



I'm going to have to work pretty steady the next two days to have it finished by Memorial Day. There are so many cuts, both interior and exterior and of course, there's no guarantee that it will turn out. All it takes is one wrong cut.



I received a call this afternoon from my neighbor and friend, Wisconsin Mike (not to be confused with Neighbor Mike, aka Jambo.)

Seems Wisconsin Mike had been out on his side-by-side when the transmission gave out and needed a little help.

Had my trailer not been filled with firewood, I'd have taken it with, but I had no choice other than to meet Mike, go back to his daughter's camp to retrieve his trailer, hook it up to the Blazer, then go back to load the side-by-side.

Thankfully, it had a winch and could be pulled onto the trailer. It wasn't long before we had Wisconsin Mike and his ATV back to his daughter's camp.

 I spent another couple of hours in the shop, but grew tired of the close work and took a stroll in the garden. Rather than one or two toads in the pond, there must have been ten or twelve. All were in the throes of connubial bliss.



With toad love comes toad eggs, strings and strings of eggs. The pond should be full of tadpoles in a matter of ten days to two weeks.

Sargie gave me an early Father's Day present today. I've been wanting a folding table to put in the shop, one where I can lay out patterns or do other light work. I later cut a piece of OSB board to help protect the surface.

Sargie opens Saturday morning, is off Sunday, but has to work on Memorial Day. The ladies all work one holiday a year and Sargie was happy to get her's out of the way so she can look forward to enjoying the rest.

I hope to be in the shop most of Saturday as I'm under a bit of a time crunch. Baring any wood working disasters, the project should be finished by Monday.

Sargie just called from Alpha saying she'd be home in a few minutes. I guess I'd better close and start fixing supper.

More wild flowers growing in the ditch by where Wisconsin Mike's side-by-side broke down.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...