Granddaughter, Emerson, ready for her spring dance recital

April 8, 2018 - Tuesday morning

56 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Darn it. Sargie's off today and I could have slept in a bit this morning. 

Did I? 

Noooo. 

I was awake before the sun peaked over the horizon, lying in bed listening to her breathing, waiting for the clock to strike six. I finally gave up any hopes for more sleep and started the day.

Monday was a busy and productive one on Pentoga Road. It started with my doctor's appointment in Iron Mountain.

Dr. Katie and I spent quite a while together and in the end, I was pronounced in good shape. We also took the time to catch up on family news, talked about her boys, my grandchildren, and life in general.

Katie is going to work with me beginning with next November's physical to prepare, should I decide to try hiking the Appalachian Trail next spring. She had some great suggestions like seeing a physical therapist to strengthen various muscles, stretching ideas, core exercises, etc. 

Although Katie's all for me attempting the marathon hike, we both acknowledged that the attempt could be more mental than physically challenging. Being away from Sargie and home for six months would be tough, really hard. 

I told her my biggest fear is waking up tired, sore, wet, and cold, some morning, and being homesick for Sargie and Pentoga Road, giving up. 

I hate a quitter.

I'm still not sure I'm going, but at least there'll be a plan in place should I decide to attempt the hike. Meanwhile, I'll keep walking daily and try to keep my belly from spilling too far over my belt.

From the doctor's office to a greenhouse, I got a three-foot tall tin chicken for Sargie for Mother's Day. She received a smaller one last Christmas, but the girl has wanted a large one for the past couple of years. I've not yet discovered the fascination people have with tin chickens, but the owner of the greenhouse said he's almost sold out and can't get any more. 

Next began my quest to find the perfect riding mower. Home Depot, Tractor Supply, the John Deere dealership, and a Troy Built dealer were visited. Honestly, all the machines began looking the same. Most are stamped out of the same material by the same company and merely painted different colors and called different names.

For instance, MTD makes Troy Built, Cub Cadet, and Craftsman mowers. Most of the parts are interchangeable and only the names are different.

I ended up in Iron River at the Husqvarna Dealer and that's where I found the yard machine of my future. I asked about new mowers, but on the way to the shed to look at some, the dealer said he'd taken in a heavy duty commercial machine with only 21 hours. A man, obviously with more money than I have, had purchased it and found it was too big for his yard and wouldn't fit in his trailer. The machine is still under factory warranty and the dealer said he'd personally guarantee if for the next year then added he'd let it go for the price of a brand new, but much smaller and lighter, model.

He didn't have to offer twice.

I am the proud owner of a slightly used Husqvarna mower, 26 horse power, fifty inch cut, welded deck, with a bumper should a deer jump out in front of me, a built in battery tender, and even a power port to keep my phone or radio charged as I mow. I was hoping for a small refrigerator to keep my water cold, but a guy can't have everything.

I think my buddy, Scott, in Atlanta, would agree that this is a man mower.

I'm excited and for the first time in many years, can hardly wait for the grass to grow so I can put the new mower to work.

I spent an hour in the greenhouse planting a few squash and pumpkin seeds to give them an early start for the growing season.



The warm, sunny, weather we've been experiencing is about to come to an end and if the rest of this month is anything like years' past, the highs will only be in the 50s with plenty of clouds and rain. We'll get these guys growing inside and hopefully, gain a week or two of growing season.

I felt something crawling on my arm.



They're back. My first tick of the season. I flicked him into the garden pond where a goldfish immediately rose and inhaled the bloodsucking critter.

I've been wanting to do away with the old rock garden in the side yard. It's been nothing but a weed patch that has sat directly alongside the clothesline and a haven for Sargie's most feared critters, snakes.

First things first. The backhoe needed to be brought up and made ready for its first workout of the year.

The backhoe is lifted and pulled by the tractor for transporting.

I knew there were some large rocks to be moved, but had no idea a few were boulders.





I even uncovered Grady's dinosaur egg.



In the end, the rocks were removed and the area somewhat smoothed over. It will take more raking, some fill and grass seed, but the old rock garden is no more.

Sargie arrived home last night around 9:30. I'd closed the door and put her chicken in the middle of the garage so when she opened it, she'd be surprised.

That she was. Initially, my brave, pioneering, soul mate thought it was a wild animal that had gotten into the garage and was going to call me to come chase it out. In the end, she discovered it was only a tin chicken and was delighted and happy.

Today is potting day on Pentoga Road. Sargie's off and we'll be bringing all the plants from downstairs that have been growing under lights this past winter. I'll help Sargie fill her half a million pots, some as big as a Volkswagen, with soil and we'll get that process under way. It's become a yearly tradition.

While she's still sleeping, I'm going to sneak out to the garden and plant onions. The sun's up and the temperature is warm. It's time.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Okay, so I was outside last night riding my new mower around the yard in my man jammies. Don't even go there.