Sargie got her tin chicken. I ought to be able to have a lawn ornament of my own. This sasquatch is at the base of the ski hill in Iron Mountain. 

May 12, 2018 - Saturday
24 degrees/clear skies/calm winds 
Pentoga Road

I was sound asleep early this morning when I heard a little voice alongside our bed. It was Hambone. Today's his big 4th birthday party and it seems the boy is excited. When he climbed into bed with us, I could feel him shaking in anticipation. For a few moments, the clock was turned back many years when the Pennngton boys piled into bed with their mother and me in anticipation of a special holiday.

It's cold again this morning, but if the forecast is to be believed, spring/summer is going to return with a vengeance this coming week. Seems there are temperatures in the 70's and 80's forecast with little mention of rain.

We saw the last vestiges of winter at the base of the ski hill in Iron Mountain yesterday.

I can't say I'm going to miss the white stuff or cold temperatures. After experiencing one of the coldest Aprils on record, a warm May is a real treat. We've already had more warm and sunny days this spring than we did all last summer combined.

I headed to the garden first thing Friday morning. It had become apparent that the filters in the garden pond were being clogged by decomposed leaves. The only practical solution was to stir the water and use the skimmer to remove as many as possible. It worked. The filters are much better now and the water is once again crystal clear.

The shop was next on the agenda. I have to say, I'm having a love fest with the place.



I hung the foldable table in the craft/paint area. I spend a lot of time at that little table, especially around the holiday season.

Neighbor Mike's planer found a home in the new addition.



 I seldom use the table saw or a planer, so I decided to set the planer on the saw. If I need the table saw, I'll simply set the planer aside.

I'm especially happy that all the heavy equipment that makes the most sawdust is away from the most important item in the shop, my recliner. 

I'm thinking of installing an exhaust fan on the wall above the lathe next fall in an attempt to try to keep the dust at bay.

It was time to head to Iron Mountain to pick up Hambone from day care. We offered to take him yesterday and last night so his mommy and daddy can prepare for today's fourth birthday party.

Hambone scored a double whammy with yesterday's Happy Meal. In his box were TWO boxes of French fries. He inhaled those along with some chicken nuggets and washed it all down with juice.

Grady was a tired boy. He'd been with his parents to a gathering the night before and hadn't gotten to bed until late. Once back on the Pentoga Road, he announced that he was ready to take a nap in Grandma Hedy's bed. (The bed Mom sleeps in when she visits)



It didn't take long for sleep to come and sleep he did, over three hour's worth.

I took advantage of the warm temperatures and lull in activity to clean and fill the cracks in the driveway left by the frost from this past winter.



The North Country is a difficult place to have a nice blacktop drive. Some areas heaved back and forth as much as six inches earlier this spring. Naturally, such yearly mini-earthquakes result in cracks and the breaking apart of the blacktop.

I'm trying a new (to me) latex blacktop dispensed from a caulking gun. Trimmed for a smaller opening, I stuck the tip as far down into the cracks as possible and filled each.

A putty knife was used to smooth the repair as much as possible.

Hambone and Grandma Sargie spent some quality time together last night reading and watching a few kiddy videos on the computer.

It was almost bedtime and PawPaw was about ready to climb the steps when who should appear but The Flash - Super Hero!

I'm not at all certain why Hambone got to be The Flash while I was relegated to playing PawPaw the Claw, but no one said life is always fair.

The battle between good and evil lasted almost an hour and for a while, it appeared PawPaw the Claw would emerge victorious.

















The Claw even managed to blow a few belly bubbles leaving The Flash totally incapacitated.



But in the end, The Flash was just too strong for PawPaw the Claw and declared the winner of the late night living room match.

We'll be heading over to Iron Mountain later this morning with the birthday boy in tow. It's going to be a big day for our resident super hero. The party begins at noon. 

It's time to send Hambone upstairs to wake up Grandma Sargie and get this show on the road. We have a birthday to celebrate!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Isabella called all the way from Wyoming via Facetime to wish a Happy Birthday to Grady.