Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Grandson Westley
Wes took his first steps this past week and is now officially walking

June 5, 2019 - Wednesday morning
57 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

With yesterday's high nearing 80 degrees, it's beginning to feel and look like summer in the Upper Peninsula. While working on the pond, I alternated hands either wiping sweat from my brow or swatting the occasional mosquito. Yep, it feels like summer.

While I think of it, you who drive by, coming or going through Wisconsin, thanks for honking. I hear you and though you are usually past, I wave each and every time. I appreciate the greeting.

I've met some of you, most camp owners or summer vacationers, checking in to see the temperature or weather conditions. 

I have to laugh. Even when we are in the house and someone honks, I still wave. Hey, it can be a solitary life we lead here on Pentoga Road and howdy-do's in the form of a honk or two are always welcome.

I went to Iron Mountain with Sargie Tuesday morning to bring the Equinox home. Stopping at a greenhouse along the way, I purchased a few pepper plants, both sweet and hot, to compliment this summer's mini garden. 

The greenhouse garden plants weren't nearly as impressive as the hanging baskets suspended from the overhead hoops.



This is the first year in many that I haven't started my own vegetables and flowers from seed. 

One question. Has anyone else noticed the sharp increase in bedding plant prices? Holy cow, those things have gone up. Honestly, I've watched the cost of seeds do the same.

I paid $4.75 for a packet of hybrid cucumber seeds earlier this year. The catalog stated I was purchasing ten seeds and that's exactly what I got, only ten seeds. 

I know that variety of cucumber is a specialty item, but still...

The rest of the day was spent working on the pond. If you look at the following picture, you can see where I began trellising the left side.


I realize looking at pictures of a hole isn't the most interesting thing in the world, but take my word for it, progress is being made. Seems I am spending as much or more time now removing the dirt on top as I am actually digging. I bet I hopped on and off the tractor and/or backhoe yesterday fifty times, going from one to the other.


I've tried repeatedly to get Mississippi Brother Garry to drive his big, ol' four-wheel drive Kabota tractor with a super duper bucket up here from the deep south to move a bit of dirt, but so far, my pleadings have gone unheard. 

I think it would be the perfect road trip. Miss Jody could ride on the fender and they could have some real bonding time together. The journey from the Gulf to the far north wouldn't take more than a month or two, maybe three, depending on the weather.

As I was telling Garry earlier this morning, when I begin a project, I want it done yesterday, if not sooner. I have to keep reminding myself that digging this pond and the subsequent landscaping is a project. After the excavation and shaping will come just as much or more work with installing the underlayment, the thick and heavy rubber liner, landscape cloth over that, the gravel filter, and so on. 

I want subtle lighting around and in the pond and haven't even begun thinking of the electrical schematics of that task, let alone the large pump to keep the water flowing. That doesn't include the large waterfalls at one end and then final landscaping, pavers, planters, pots, park benches, etc. 

Lord, I just read the above. Maybe I'd be better off filling in the hole and calling it good 'nuff.

Completion goal is Labor Day. We'll see. It may be a year from Labor Day.

Could this be the year we finally have apples on Pentoga Road? Due to the fact that we live in a valley, our apple trees are slower to blossom than most. That can have its advantages as the blooms were still closed during the heavy freeze of two nights ago. They're open for pollination now.


Sargie arrived home from work late yesterday afternoon and helped me put the electric fence back in place for overnight. With rain in the forecast, I took the time to plant the tomatoes and peppers.


Planting only half the normal raised beds, hopefully, we'll harvest enough vegetables to keep us and the neighbor lady satisfied. Like I said, if not, I'll go raid Jambo's garden. I looked at it the other day and it appears to be doing well. 



Sargie and I enjoyed the best of summer meals last night, fresh asparagus, sweet corn, and grilled hamburgers. The only thing missing were fresh tomatoes to top off the near perfect meal.

Before anyone asks, that's mayonnaise and hot pepper slices topping my burgers.
Sargie closes the Vision Center tonight. It will be a long one as it's a doctor day with patients coming and going. I'm going to get back out to the garden and get to work as soon as I see my bride off.

Labor Day will be here before we know it.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...


Yooper Brother Mark sent this picture of their flowering crab apple tree saying it's the first time it has blossomed.

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