Mama has always said to be careful what I hope for, that it might come true. 

July 16, 2019 - Tuesday morning

67 degrees/clear skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

I'm comfortable in stating that the dry period we've had for the past several weeks has ended. 

Boy, did it ever.

Monday morning found me on the road as soon as Sargie left for work. Needing to fill one hundred sandbags that will contain the gravel filter for the pond, I drove over to Crystal Falls with the intention of ordering sand and having several yards delivered. After talking with my friend, Becky, (Germaine's sister, Jambo's sister-in-law) I discovered the delivery charge was much greater than the cost of sand. 

There was nothing to do but drive back home, hook up the trailer, and go back for a load.

Actually, in the long run, it might have worked out better. I left the trailer hooked to the Blazer and am able to move it to the coolest, shadiest, place while filling the bags.

Lord, it was hot and humid. Mississippi Brother Garry says he doesn't know how we Yankees tolerate the cold winter months, but honestly, I think summertime heat and humidity can be just as bad or worse. I've grown to dislike air conditioning in my old age and I'm not sure why. Though the temperature is certainly more comfortable, I feel boxed in and sanitized. Air conditioning also makes me lethargic and lazy and unwilling to go outside for any reason.

I hauled more maple from the woods that was cut on Saturday, but quit after an hour. The sweat was running into my eyes faster than I could wipe it away and breathing became labored. It was time to quit.

Everyone tells me I need to listen to my body and it was crying UNCLE.

Spotty storms had been forecast for the entire afternoon. If a person was under the right cloud, he might experience a quick downpour. Luck was finally on our side when one of those clouds drifted overhead. 

Four tenths of an inch fell in ten minutes. The delivery was a bit too fast, but as dry as it's been, the rain was appreciated.

The sun came out after and the humidity ramped up even higher. I retreated to the shop where it is always ten to fifteen degrees cooler. When I built the shop, I stuffed as much insulation between the walls and over the ceiling as possible. Consequently, on hot days, the temperature is always pleasant, sometimes too pleasant.

I made the mistake of plopping down in the big oversized recliner. The last I remember, I was mentally singing along with the radio, "Brandy, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be..."

I woke an hour (or more) later to the sound of thunder and the deluge of rain hitting the metal roof. Another storm had drifted overhead.

I sprinted inside the house and slammed several windows shut before returning to the shop.

What to do? Well, I'd already had a nap.

Hmm. I love my shop and have missed it this summer. I swear that after the pond and garden house are complete, I'll never ignore my shop again... well, at least until the next project comes along.

I hadn't made a Jesus in a long time. I've made Him on the cross, sitting, standing, looking, but I've never made Jesus in the form of shadow art. 

Why not try? 

I think I'm going to like this art form.

The real storm came last night just as Sargie was driving home from work. It blew, it banged, and it rained. I'm not certain what time the storms ended, but over two and a half inches of rain stood in the gauge this morning.



Afternoon storms are forecast for the rest of the week. Now that the spigot's been turned on, there's little doubt in my mind that we'll receive inches and inches of rain by the time this weather pattern moves on.

Though the moisture is great for the yard and garden, opening the flood gates didn't treat the pond too well. I awakened this morning to water in the bottom along with some pretty good erosion on the terraces.



The rain set me back a few days and worse case scenario, when it does begin to dry, I'll have to repair the terraces and pump the water out of the bottom before installing the liner. There's about three feet in there right now.

There's a reason for everything and I won't complain. The dry weather made for ideal conditions to dig the pond. 

I am looking at this wet pause as a midsummer break, an opportunity to get a few other things finished, do some maintenance and repair, even play more in the shop before the second half push towards winter begins. I think God sent the rain so the terraces would settle and and not erode under the liner later. Though I didn't realize it, I think He knew I needed a break. Then there's the practical side, the garden really needed a good watering.

Okay, enough philosophizing, spiritual and otherwise. Sargie's off today and she's agreed to hold the sandbags open while I fill them. Too bad Hambone's not here. That would be a great job for him, but I have a feeling with along with a big pile of sand would come trucks, tractors, pails, and shovels, all fun things, but not great for actually getting too much work done.

I'll go to town later this morning and get the parts for the backhoe. With the damage to the pond, I'll need it as soon as it begins to dry out. No doubt, Sargie and I will take our usual ride later this afternoon, get her Coke, and enjoy the scenery.

Meanwhile, it's time to get this uploaded and the day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Coming home from Crystal Falls Monday morning. Even with the previous lack of rain, everything was still green.