April 7, 2020 - Tuesday morning
34 degrees/heavy rain/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Thankfully, it sounds as though the rain is lessening. It awakened me around 4 this morning pounding on the metal roof overhead. I remember smiling, pulling the covers over my shoulders, throwing an arm over and snuggling tightly with Sargie before going back to sleep.

It was almost three hours later before my eyes popped open again. A cold, damp, miserable, rainy morning almost guarantees that I'll be able to sleep in. 

I went for my short walk Monday morning before returning home to putz around the barn, shop, and yard. I swear, I must have a severe case of ADHD as I begin one project, then see something else that needs to be done, and from there, yet another, crying for my attention. It's getting worse as I get older. 

Sargie and I are sad that this year's Mighty Milligan Easter Celebration has been cancelled. The COVID 19 virus hasn't really affected our daily lives to speak of, but it hit home yesterday. 

We'll be spending Easter Sunday alone as will much of the rest of the world.

Sargie and I talked of traditions, family, Easters gone by, and of course, the Easter meal. There's a big ol' frozen turkey in one of our freezers, but it's Easter, not Thanksgiving. We usually feast on ham this time of the year. Not just any ham, but a spiral ham.

With faces getting longer by the second at the thought of no family gathering, we threw caution to the wind, drove to town, and purchased one of two spiral hams that were left in the store. Our spirits may be dampened this year, but not our appetites. The ham is huge, enough to feed most of the starving third world and all their relatives.

Home once again, Sargie emerged from the back door in her work skivvies. I knew I was in trouble when I started gathering the clean maple supplies to put them away and she said in passing, "I thought you were going to help me today."

Yep, darn straight, I WAS in trouble.

We spent the day on the shores of lovely Lake Pentoga in what used to be woods, brush, and a rock pile. 



We raked, burned, pried, cut, clipped, hauled, stamped, stapled, ripped, tore, and danced the hootchie coo, as a new, yet untamed, area was made ready for mowing this coming summer. 



The Superintendent of Lawns and Pretty Things is expanding the yard. 



There's still a bit of backhoe work needed to remove a couple of boulders and some fill to spread before the area will be ready to sow and mow. (Sounds like an HSN commercial. "Just Sow and Mow!")

When not helping Sargie, I managed to store away  the remainder of the maple equipment. 



After taking showers and finally relaxing last evening, we celebrated the fact that I've shed ten pounds since arriving home from Mississippi and Miss Jody's unbelievably great southern cooking. 

How? 

Duh. 

We both enjoyed SMALL bowls (as Mom used to say, a "sensible" amount) of ice cream covered with maple syrup. 

Ten pounds down, fifteen more to go. 

 You can't keep a good forest down
From that dead stump sprouts a new spruce tree

The rain has finally stopped. I'm unsure how much fell overnight, but it was enough to put a damper on any lawn activities for today. I think I'll try going for my walk then head to the barn. One more day of cleaning should see it ready for the coming summer months. Sometime this week, we're going to install a new floor and stool in the downstairs bathroom. 

Today?

We'll see.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Today's random Alaska picture:
The Kobuk Baptist Church
I was quite good friends with the missionary who helped build the log church. Kobuk, population 150,  is located 200 miles east of Kotzebue on the Kobuk River. Attending services in the church more than once, I found it strange that some of those who attended services every Sunday morning also visited the Shaman on Thursday evening. I guess it's good to have all the bases covered. If one doesn't work, maybe the other will.