Tales from Pentoga

Granddaugher, Ellie, on a ski lift heading to the top of a mountain so she can ride her mountain bike back down.

September 11, 2018 - Tuesday

56 degrees/high overcast/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Just as Josh and Wyatt had a special mountain biking day together, so did he and Ellie.

Josh was always crazy about mountain biking and even had me enthused for a while while he was in high school. In it's infancy, Josh and his friends caught the mountain bike fever. I think most got over it, but not my oldest son. I'm glad he's spreading the enthusiasm to his munchkins. They seem to enjoy it every bit as much as he did.

A gifted wordsmith, Josh has been asked to work as a freelance writer for a well known mountain biking publication and as he said, the idea excites him.

Back on Pentoga Road, life is slowly churning on. There's still another week to go before my podiatrist's appointment and hopefully, she'll give me a Get Out of Jail card and I can resume normal life.

I ventured to town yesterday in search of used exercise equipment from a couple of thrift shops. The one that I know has a rowing machine was closed. The other had nothing. I'll try again today.

On my way to town, I pulled over and snapped a picture of these sandhill cranes, no doubt getting ready to wing their way south for the winter.

The rest of the day was spent shuffling from one thing to the other, accomplishing little. I cranked up the trim mower and hobbled behind, cutting around the bushes and the small grassy area in the garden. Of course, I caught Holy Ned when Sargie arrived home. I attempted to explain that maintaining my mental health (hoping to keep from going absolutely bonkers) is just as important as my physical well being.

I'm glad there wasn't a ball bat handy or I'd not have had to worry about either.

I'm having some troubles with one variety of cantaloupe. I lost a large one due to splitting, much like a tomato does after a big rain, and this one seems to be doing the same.

It doesn't appear to be ripe and didn't easily slip from the vine. None-the-less, I picked it and brought it up onto the back patio. Hopefully it will finish ripening there.

I've never seen a cantaloupe become pale on the underside like a ripe watermelon. This is a Russian melon (don't get your undies in a bunch, there was no collusion) so I'll do some research. Maybe, like a watermelon, it ripens without turning a more traditional tan color.

You know it's getting into the fall season when cobwebs begin appearing everywhere. The chicken wire fence that surrounds our Honey Crisp apple tree gave the most beautiful display of arachnid artistry Monday morning.

I rode one of the four wheelers over onto Neighbor Mike's property the other day and felt them cling to my face. I remember telling one of my toddler sons that the delicate webs were angel's hair, a sign that we're always surrounded by cherubs who were protecting us.

The daisies and snapdragons make a nice bouquet along the back deck.

Sargie was home early last night and has today off. We're planning on going fishing later. I think I'll remove the walking cast while we're plying our angling skills on the lake. I've heard it's hard to tread water while wearing one.

Meanwhile, it's time to hobble out to the kitchen for another cup of coffee then return to think some deep thoughts.