The newest member of the classic rock band, White Snake.
Rumored to be taking over from David Coverdale (lead singer) is my rocker son, Matt.

May 11, 2019 - Saturday morning

28 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Don't even ask. Obviously, Matt was having some fun last night and sent this picture to his brothers and me, starting a litany of comments and replies, none of which I'll post this morning.

When not handling his White Snake obligations, Matt can be found in China, South Korea, Vietnam, Europe, and all over the U.S. working his daytime job. 

Is it ever gorgeous out this morning. It's one of those days that I simply want to run outside and do everything all at once. Problem is, I don't know which spring/summer project to begin first. Right now, I'm dazed and confused, but no doubt, I'll get it all figured out before I'm back from my morning walk.

Friday morning began with a wonderful stroll. I am enjoying listening to a series of podcasts as I'm walking. The latest are by a man I've corresponded with, Steve Adams, an author and hiker, who is currently on the Appalachian Trail. He's the same age as me and I'm particularly interested in his take of being an older hiker. This is his second through hike of the AT, the first being in 2014. So far, his attitude is good, but his knees are giving him problems and he self describes his ascent up the mountains as "painfully slow." 

I think I'll be the same. Slow but steady, but that's okay. After all, in the end, the tortoise won the race.

I'm thinking of trying my hand at podcasting, a blog with a voice. In keeping with preparations, both mental and physical, for a two thousand-plus mile hike, I think I'd like to do a daily video podcast accompanied with pictures on the blog. 

I may be test driving some new software in the coming weeks/months, so be prepared.

I went to town Friday morning and got the bucket from Dave.

He did a wonderful job of welding, fixing, and straightening. I couldn't be happier.



Dave said if I find I need the bucket to move dirt, he could make this one into a more conventional style, or, he could simply manufacture a new bucket. 

I like the tines on this old manure bucket (built to pick up loose, soaked, straw and other goodies) as I can easily move rocks and boulders. It is also ideal for lifting a heavy log of fire wood waist high and cutting into burnable lengths without fear of hitting a rock underneath or having to bend over.

The next order of the day was to clean the shop and barn.

I've simply thrown tools and whatever onto the tops of the benches and tables during the past three weeks while doing various projects.




A messy shop is a positive sign that the near infrared treatments continue to keep my macular degeneration at bay. When I couldn't see so well, I was most careful about replacing each and every tool in it's exact place. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to see good enough to find it.

With near perfect sight, I've turned back into a tool slob.

I tackled both the barn and the shop.



With all the lumber for the new garden house, plus the walls and whatever else, all I could really do in the barn was clean and sweep around everything. Still, it's much better than before.

The shop was a different story. I ran the vacuum, swept, dusted, put tools and patterns away, and made the place ready to mess up again.



It won't stay clean for long as there are two or three projects already going through my head. All require making sawdust.

We met Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri for a fish fry last night. The meal was great, the company better. 

Since we were early, we drove around a bit and saw something unusual, a shoe tree located at the entrance to someone's drive.

It appears laced shoes and boots have been thrown high into the branches for quite sometime. Though it's not my cup of tea, it is unique.

Like I said, today's forecast is for almost perfect weather and I'm in a quandary of what to do first. I think we'll bring the summer patio furniture from the storage container to the deck. I guess the biggest project of the day will be to move some of the electric deer fence in the garden so I can use the backhoe to begin moving the dirt in four of the raised beds. 



One thing is certain, nothing's going to be done until I take my morning stroll.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

There's no lack of frost on the pumpkin this morning.
Only one problem, there's no pumpkin.