With snow and cold temperatures on the way, it was time to clean the garden Saturday morning.

November 4, 2018 - Sunday morning

31 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Good grief! Not only do we have snow predicted to fall later today, I just read that we're to expect temperatures in the single numbers over the next ten days. This winter is beginning to shape up like the one several years ago when I was ice fishing by the second week of November. As I recall, it was well into May before we saw the last of the snow. 

Saturday began by cleaning the garden, no small chore. My passion is growing squash and pumpkins, but I pay for it every fall. The vines tend to run over everything and raking them is not only time intensive, it's tiring on the body.

Sargie joined me later in the morning to help spiffy up the area and stow any missed garden tools or equipment. We had several large pots that needed to be emptied and put away for the year.



Though the day began at 21 degrees, it quickly warmed once the sun peaked over the trees. I thought it was interesting how the mere shadow of a fence post could dictate such a temperature difference on the ground.

We moved from the garden to refilling the front shed from the woodpile.

We began by using the tractor. It alleviated us from having to bend over quite so much.

Once the shed began to fill, we utilized the wheel barrow so we could more easily place one piece at a time. Filling the three sided shed to the top takes a bit of geometrical calculating!

Eight loads of wood were moved, the total amount burned from mid September to early November. Considering we've had a continual fire, at least during our waking hours, I didn't think that was too bad.

With time growing short, Sargie went inside to begin getting ready for Saturday night's cancer benefit in Iron Mountain. I grabbed a rake and began smoothing out the dirt where the burn pile used to be.

It didn't take long. Grass seed will be sown in the next few days and hopefully, it should sprout next spring.

The Bras for a Cause cancer benefit was once again a fund raising success. The Milligans showed up in force and even provided several of the models.

Leah and Jeanne

.... along with Derek

Ashley

Marley

Aubrey

Brielle

Cale made his annual appearance as one of the male models

Not to be outdone, even Hambone made an appearance or two. His bra brought the largest bid for the evening, three hundred dollars.

 Sister-in-law, Debbie, has chaired the event for the past nine years and since she retired this past year, will be giving up the huge responsibility. She was honored last night for her hard work and dedication.

Sargie decorated two pieces this year, one in remembrance of her sister, the other of her mother. They were modeled by Cale and Ashley. 

So the evening went. Everyone seemed to have a good time and thousands of dollars were raised.

With the time change, I find myself with an extra hour this morning. I think I'm going to turn on the propane heat in the shop and begin installing the inside duct work for the wood furnace. Once I'm done with that, I might even fire up the furnace and see if all my hard work paid off.

Otherwise, I'll leave the day up to Sargie. I envision a quiet, dark, snowy, Sunday afternoon, a fire crackling in the wood stove, cuddled on the couch under a shared blanket, munching popcorn while watching a movie.

It's tough, but someone has to do it.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...