The fall colors are approaching peak and would be gorgeous if only the sun would come out. I'm fearful that the constant rain and cold temperatures will destroy the leaves before we have a chance to really enjoy the colors.

October 5, 2019 - Saturday morning
40 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I'm free! Ah, yes, after several weeks of helping to keep the Good Ship Bobkitty afloat in the Sea of Education, I'm once again a retired deck hand. Sure does feel good.

I'm happy I could help the school district and I'd be lying if I didn't admit that, for the most part, I enjoyed it, but you know what? What I do best is being retired. 



A teacher told me yesterday that I "do" education really well. I told her that was nothing compared to how well I "do" retirement.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY love being retired.

Wild turkeys wandering in front of the school

It's been a busy past week. 

Mom seems to be doing well and holding her own. She's still in ICU with the various doctors trying to get her meds straightened out. I call twice a day and talk to the nurse who's in charge of Mom's care and get a full update. I've not talked to Mom since we left, but I do send her a daily morning email and know that she's reading them on her iPad. 



Hopefully, Mama will be able to transfer to the rehab floor sooner rather than later and begin the road back to being in her apartment.

We arrived home from Indiana late Wednesday afternoon, but not before a large piece of metal pierced a tire just an hour and a half from home. We limped forty miles on a donut spare to Iron Mountain and purchased a new tire before coming on to Pentoga Road.

There's been a lot of activity on Pentoga Road this past week, both before and after we traveled to Terre Haute.

With the temperature dipping into the thirties, the flue needed to be cleaned. 



It's one of my less than favorable twice-a-year chores, but with Sargie's help, it was completed in no time and we can rest knowing that there is no danger of a flue fire.

Clean as a whistle!

I particularly enjoy the views from the roof of the house while I'm scrubbing the chimney and had time allowed, I'd have sat down and soaked in the scenery. 

I love our home and yard. As frustrated as I occasionally become at all the maintenance that a 99 year old house requires, I just love it.



Simply put, it's home and our hearts are definitely here.

We shopped for garden house siding last weekend before being called to Indiana. No matter what we found, it was either too expensive or we didn't like what we could afford.


How's the saying go? "Champagne taste with a beer belly budget." That's us.

Wait a cotton pickin' minute! If we're shopping for siding, how did Sargie end up in the Christmas section?

Sargie's come up with some novel ideas about how to use the pallet boards that I took apart last winter. We'll be experimenting with those this coming week. 

No Sargie, that's not siding.

My last two days as kindergarten cop went well, but boy, was I busy. Seems I either had a parade of Bobkitties marching through my office or a stack of referrals to wade through. 

It was a bitter sweet time Friday afternoon as I told my fellow educators goodbye. 

God, I love those people. All are great educators, team players, and have huge hearts. What's there not to love?

I gathered lots of hugs and told all I'd see them soon, as in Monday morning when I show the new man around before returning home.

Oh, and I'll be back on Tuesday to fill in for the second grade teacher. After that, I'M DONE! Well, unless they get really desperate and need me.

We had a great Homecoming pep rally Friday morning. The high school band, cheerleaders, and football team, all came to the elementary school to lead cheers.



It was wonderful and the baby Bobkitties loved it. I was most impressed at how the older students took their time with the little ones and made sure they felt a part of the activities. In the end, the high school students made a tunnel so each and every grade schooler could run through on their way back to class, just like the football team did!

No egos, but lots of school spirit and pride!

The fall apples are ready to harvest. 



I began picking the Macintosh apples the night before last. They are almost flawless and nice sized with great flavor.

There is still another bushel of Macintosh apples to pick, plus quite a few Wolf River apples and several Honey Crisps from the year old tree in the back yard. We'll eat some fresh, give most away, store some in the basement, and dehydrate the rest.

The last pile of dirt was moved away from the pond this past week. When we get the time and if it ever stops raining, Sargie and I will lay landscape cloth around the pond and shovel crushed gravel over the top. 




The gravel will eventually be replaced with pavers, but for now, anything is better than wading through mud. We'll be especially happy for the gravel next spring during the thaw.

Jambo stopped by for a quick visit. I miss my good friend and am looking forward to both of us getting back to our regular schedule of solving the world's problems.



Dr. Katie sent a picture of Graham and Cody taken last weekend while she was running a half marathon in Iron Mountain.

Graham and Cody

I'm so proud that Katie finished in under two hours. This girl, who I think of as a daughter, has been training for sometime.

Poor Dr. Ryan, watching from the sidelines, got to be on Boy Watch (like Bay Watch, only not quite the same) while Mama ran the race. Sargie works with Ryan at the eye clinic in Crystal Falls.

Congratulations Katie!!

It's time to get this uploaded and ready for the day. With any luck, I'll get back on my daily schedule.

Hambone, Grandma Sargie, Macrea, and Mel, and of course, Pawpaw, are all heading to Laona, Wisconsin, about an hour away, for a train ride today. I'm told there'll be a train robbery along the way, complete with horses and bad guys.

Too bad there's 100% chance of rain. Oh well, we'll take rain clothes and umbrellas and have a good time. 

Retirement will REALLY resume on Sunday when real work begins in ernest, getting ready for the winter ahead.

The last of this summer's white cosmos flowers

Until I see you tomorrow, rest assured that a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...