January 19, 2020 - Sunday morning
19 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Unless you're interested in reading about and looking at snow, read no further. It has fallen intermittently for the past thirty six hours. 

You know, snow brings out the best and worst in a person. 



Take, for instance, Yooper Brother Mark.

Now I'd do absolutely anything for Mark. He's one of the good guys in the world. He volunteers for community events, is the occasional mayor of his small community, keeps the Boy Scouts alive in the UP, lends his hammer and carpentry skills if called upon, and supplies a listening ear when needed. 

That's all well and good... until it snows.

I was texting with the boy early Saturday morning and knowing he had been outside, I asked how much snow we'd received.

"It appears the storm missed us. Maybe an inch to three," he replied.

It was still dark outside our windows and having no way to verify his answer, I took his word for it. 

Two hours later and ready to hike to Pentoga Village and back, I stepped out into snow and sunk somewhere between my ankles and knees. 

I've grown used to Carl the Weatherman's fibs, but Mark?

I've teased him about it since and he claims it snowed that much in the two hours from the time we talked until I almost drowned in the white stuff on our back patio.

I still love Mark like a brother, even if he did tell a.... white (as in snow) lie. Sorry it was there for free. (Ah, the story I had to fabricate just to set up that punch line.)

All kidding aside, it did appear as though we were going to miss most of the snowfall, but somehow or the other, it found us.

I took off for Pentoga Village Saturday morning and found a truck track made by some brave soul in which to walk.

The snow continued to fall from the sky and I found downtown Pentoga Village completely unplowed. 

I wondered at the time how the morning rush hour would fare until I remembered it was Saturday. Traffic downtown should be lighter than usual.

Though I saw few, I could hear the snowmobiles zooming along on the trail, enough so, that it caused me to pause and look both ways before crossing and continuing on.

The snow pounded down as I shuffled back home. 

The rest of the day was spent cleaning the patio, walkway, and of course, the drive.

I was carrying in wood just before dark when I looked over at the greenhouse and saw how much snow was lying on the roof. 



Since moving the structure to the far end of the garden, I'd completely forgotten about it. The snow needed to be taken off the lightweight panels and now!

The first obstacle was to dig down several feet so the garden gate would open. With the electric fence still operating, I wasn't going to try going between the strands of wire.

It took no small amount of digging through almost four feet of snow that had accumulated from this and previous snowstorms this winter.

It seemed strange to step down to enter the garden.

The pond opening has been reduced to a small hole. Hard to believe that there are goldfish living eleven and a half feet below the bubbling surface.

The vegetable and fish cleaning table Matt gave me years ago tells the story of the most recent snowfalls. I've cleaned the snow from it twice already this winter.

Wading in snow between my knees and hips, I waded to the greenhouse and began shoveling. 

I'm a big believer in the polycarbonate panels. Strong? You better believe it. This inexpensive Harbor Freight structure is seven years old. The panels have yellowed and I'll be replacing them soon, but as the old Timex commercial went, "It takes a licking and keeps on ticking."

It's time to begin the day. Jambo just went zooming down the drive on his four wheeler, plowing and pushing the snow to one side. All smiles and grins, I've never seen a little boy have more fun.

He yelled that he'd like to walk with me this morning so I'll finish clearing the drive and deck  until he's ready to go.

Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri are coming out this afternoon to help coach the Green Bay Packers as they play in the NFC championship game against San Francisco. I hope the Packers bring their A game. They'll need it.



Meanwhile, it's time to head out the door. That's what we do here in the UP.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

"... good night Mary Ellen. Good night Jason. Good night Elizabeth. Good night John Boy. Good night Tommy. Good night Sargie. Sargie? SARGIE?"