The cover of Esquire Magazine?
No, it's Matt and Jessica, my son and daughter-in-law.
I believe they were on a "business trip" to Napa Valley

July 21, 2018 - Saturday morning

62 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Indeed, we received over an inch of much needed precipitation yesterday with 100% chance of more falling today. It looked iffy at first as the clouds went around us, but just before noon, we struck gold and the heavens opened wide.

I talked with brother-in-law, Ross, who said that Iron Mountain received less than half an inch and Foster City didn't get any. I feel fortunate to have gotten what we did.

Friday morning was spent in the garden, mostly picking blueberries.

I've been watering them regularly and it now appears this year's harvest will be close to last year's record.

Some of the branches are so heavy with berries that they are sagging to the ground and in danger of breaking.

I'll pick gently until the end of the season.

Just to make certain it would rain, I spent almost an hour watering the garden after picking the berries. I knew for sure that if I irrigated, rain was almost guaranteed. Sure enough, as soon as the spigot was closed, the first drops began to fall. 

Sargie had assigned a couple of honey-do jobs, the main one washing and cleaning the refrigerator in the garage.

Amazing how a refrigerator can get so dirty when all it holds are beverages and worms. Unfortunately, a container of worms was forgotten and left in there last fall. 

Something really bad smelled in the garage this spring once the temperatures warmed. I didn't realize where the odor was coming from until I opened the refrigerator door.

Not wanting to deal with the stench at the time, I removed the worms, swiped at the goo, closed the door, and pretended to not smell a thing.

Sargie's reminded me on an almost daily basis that real cleaning involves soap and hot water along with some elbow grease. 

Friday was the day. We currently have the cleanest garage refrigerator on Pentoga Road.

Once the rain ceased, I toured the garden and was amazed how fast everything is growing.

I'll be pickling peppers this coming week. The hot varieties are the best I've ever grown. Unfortunately, they aren't as hot as I'd prefer them, but they won't go to waste.

The cantaloupes are doubling in size every couple of days. I know I shouldn't get my hopes too high, but I'm already salivating at the thought of enjoying a real juicy, sweet, home grown melon late this summer.

I know. All it takes is one early frost like we had three years ago when the gardening season ended  the first week of August or an overly enthusiastic deer willing to brave the 9,000 watt electric fence. Still, where there're melons, there's hope. 

The remainder of the day was spent in the shop. My intentions were to clean the work bench and put all the tools away. What I really did was plop in the recliner under the pretense of watching a movie. An hour later, I awakened, then was content to doze for half an hour more while listening to the rain fall through the open window just a couple of feet from my head. 

Days like yesterday are made for enjoying a nap.

Sargie was home early last night and we enjoyed a big, fresh, garden salad, along with Filets' du Yooper, better known as brats.

Sargie closes the Vision Center tonight, but is off tomorrow. With 100% chance of rain forecast, there'll be no morning walk. 

No doubt, I'll be heading to the shop. I'd like to get a few Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, items made early this year so there's not the usual holiday rush.

It's time to step away from living in a goldfish bowl and enjoy a hiatus from the blog. My rule is: when it becomes a chore, it's time to take a break.

No doubt, I'll get shutter finger and the urge to write after a few days. After thirty-five years, the habit of writing is hard to break, but until then, I'll simply remind you that... 

A man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...