Mel, Braelyn, Shea, Sargie

February 9, 2020 - Sunday evening

21 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's been a nice break from writing and blogging, but I'm glad to be back. A couple of mornings, my usual writing time, have been spent simply being lazy. Others were put to good use as I worked on my manuscript. As I said, it's good to be back. Old habits are hard to break.

Let's see. I worked on assembling and mounting the shield on the new snow thrower this past week.

For having eighty million and one parts, the thing went together fairly easy and was mounted onto the snow blower in less than an hour.

Sargie and I worked together out in the shop. She learned the in's and out's of the bandsaw and continued working with the scroll saw.

She also completed her first wooden name. I'm proud of my girl. She'll be giving me lessons before I know it.

I worked on several things, including this bowl.

Turned from dead ash, the wood obviously had a high moisture content as the entire piece, bowl and the stock it's fastened to, cracked wide open the very next day.

It's back to the drawing board.

I've been walking three to seven miles daily. When Jambo's at their camp from Marquette, we often walk together. I especially enjoy those times when I am able to enjoy clicking off the miles with my good buddy.

Our condolences go out to Mike (Jambo) and Germaine. Germaine's mother, Lettie, or Grandma, as she was known, passed away early Sunday morning after suffering a severe stroke several weeks ago. Grandma was a wonderful lady. I enjoyed giving her fresh vegetables from the garden and cherished our occasional conversations. Of course, I loved the hugs she so freely gave to those who wanted or needed one.

We'll all miss Grandma.

My friend, Eileen, a former band mom and volunteer, sent a couple of pictures taken MANY years ago. My high school band from northern Maine had been invited to perform at the St. Pat's Day parade in Greenville, South Carolina. We first performed at the Capitol Building in Washington DC where we were met by our Congressman, then went onto South Carolina. I also addressed the music education students at Anderson College.

Before one performance, I was surprised to see Mom and Dad. They'd driven up from Florida to watch the band perform and surprise me.

My grandson, Coleman, had a successful wrestling weekend at the Nationals in New Jersey. He had victories over opponents from Colorado and Pennsylvania as well as other states and his team from Maine won the tournament.

We had a wonderful weekend with Sargie's sons, Cale, Shea, and Macrea, and of course, Mel and Grady. Mel's niece, Braelyn also came, along with a couple of pups, Sadie and Romeo.

I don't need to make comments on each of the following pictures. They all tell their own stories. What I will say is that we had a wonderful time. It's been a long time since we've laughed so much.

Grady and Uncle Cale

Sadie and Romeo

Macrea and Shea

We all went swimming Saturday night.

After a VERY active weekend, it's pleasantly quiet tonight with just Grandma Sargie and I at home on Pentoga Road. We loved the organized chaos that only family can create, but ah... sweet silence.

So Monday begins the new week. I'm going to continue walking, writing, working in the shop, and no doubt, Sargie will have all kinds of items on our agenda that I don't even know about.

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

Sadie is sporting a President Trump hair do.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...