We dodged a bullet. The deer is drinking from a small puddle that would/could have formed into Lake Pentoga. It should disappear by the end of today.

June 19, 2018 - Tuesday

63 degrees/partly cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

I feel sorry for those who live just to the north of us. I've seen videos of the flash floods that occurred after they received seven inches of rain the day before yesterday. You may remember that was the amount that fell all at once on Pentoga Road in early June last summer. It destroyed the garden and put a huge damper on a very mosquito filled summer.

Today's my birthday. Mom wrote last night assuring me she didn't forget, that she was present when I was born and very aware of my entry into the world. Funny, I don't remember her being there. You sure that was me, Mom?

I don't understand this whole birthday business. When I was young, birthday's ranked right up there with Christmas. A countdown was started weeks before and I dreamed of what present I might get from Mom and Dad and what kind of birthday supper I'd have. After sixty-six years, it's not nearly as big a deal as it once was. In fact, if it weren't for Sargie making a cake and taking time away from work to spend with me, it would probably be just another day. 

Monday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. I'd noticed first thing that one pump wasn't working in the garden pond. Upon taking it apart, I noticed a part had worn out.

I've tried to manufacture one, two or three times with no luck. 

It's made from plastic and simply wore out. I have one more thing I want to try this morning and if that doesn't work, I'll be buying a new pump while we're down in Indiana tomorrow afternoon.

Sargie spent most the day cleaning. I helped with the floors then was happy to move out of her way. The house looks absolutely beautiful from top to bottom.

I worked on setting the posts for the porch railings. 

First came digging the holes. 



Then mixing the cement so each is firmly anchored.



And finally, making sure the posts are perfectly straight.



Railings will be at both sets of steps.

Sargie and I made a quick trip to town and noticed there was some wind damage in the area. 

I had one more set of posts to fix when I began sweating and grew shaky. Sargie reminded me that we hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was suppertime. Duh, the fuel tank had run dry.

 What better way to fill it than with Sargie's great macaroni salad and grilled pork chops!

The pumps/filters have been running nonstop in an effort to keep the garden pond clear, all to no avail. It wasn't a problem until the herd of toads moved in a few weeks ago and since, it's been a soupy, primordial mess. When I saw that one of the suckers had died, a fancy model picked up last year from Gloria at the bait shop, I knew it was time to leap into action.

The pond was drained as far as possible and clean water added. With only one pump working, I hope the new water will help.

So today's my birthday. I think I'll celebrate by finishing the hand rails and cleaning the interior of Mom's car. 

I know Sargie baked a cake last night and has a few things she wants to finish before we depart for Indiana bright and early Wednesday morning.

Our plan is to leave as early as possible for the five hundred mile drive. I know we'll run into multiple construction projects along the way, so it'll be a process. 

I'll try to upload an entry at some point. Hopefully, we'll be back to Pentoga Road late Thursday afternoon.

Better get that suitcase packed, Mom. We'll soon be on our way!



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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

We use polyester quilt batting for filtering the pond. Sargie was cold last night, so she grabbed a roll from the package and wrapped it around herself.