Jambo
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor hail, could stop Jambo from installing the Dutch doors on the garden house Monday morning.

June 30, 2020 - Tuesday morning

67 degrees/hazy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Okay, so it didn't hail or sleet, but regardless of the weather, the doors were installed.

Jambo and I went to town early Monday morning where hinges and other hardware items were purchased to hang the new doors. 

Jambo's pup, Quincy, was in the yard to greet me when I picked up Mike.
She's a real sweetheart.

Returning to Pentoga Road and the garden house, Mike worked mostly on the inside while I stood opposite, holding the doors.

Tools just seem to fit in some people's hands. Jambo treats each like it's an extension of his body. At one point, he used a saber saw to round off part of the door. There was no mark, no measuring, but rather, the man did it freehand, much like an artist would draw on a canvas.

We'd previously cut the piece of siding too high for the rounded door. No problem. Mike drew perfect lines to the roof, sawed the small section of siding free, and dropped it down an inch a half. The gap that was created on top will be covered by trim.

We were halfway through when the skies opened and let loose a torrent of rain. Poor Tom stood outside, shivering under an umbrella like a lost orphan in the dark of night while inserting shims and holding the doors. 

 Actually, I didn't get wet nor was I cold. I'm just trying to gather some sympathy votes. 

The doors were hung by late morning. Trim, stops, and latches, still need to be added, but those will come as I have time. Jambo carved a beautiful duck head that will be used as a grip on the outside latch.

The bottom and top cross pieces, sawed 5/4, are made from western red cedar. The middle boards are locally cut white cedar. All were sawed and planed at mills here in the UP.

Thanks again, Jambo. The door is a wonderful gift and will, no doubt, be the focal point of the garden house for years to come.

The rain had stopped and after our usual jaunt to town, the siding on the house was dry enough that I could begin to paint. 

I've lost a bit of sleep worrying about how to reach a couple of high places, those areas that would require me to step out onto the steep second story metal roof.

Hmmm. Hmmm. I was standing on the living room roof, painting, when suddenly, a deep thought occurred to me.

Sargie was only inches away, cleaning the windows in our second story bedroom. I asked if she might get me a broom stick handle and a roll of duct tape.

I'm unsure why I worked so hard to earn those music and education degrees forty five years ago when it's obvious I should have majored in engineering.

I walked to the edge of the roof and leaned forward, my arm stretched to full length, and began painting from afar.



A stroke here, a swipe there. CAREFUL, don't get it on the trim.

It wasn't long before the hard-to-reach area was covered. If anyone wants to climb up to see if I missed any places, feel free. Otherwise, I'll call that section "good 'nuff."

I went on to paint the area over the garage. After we finish the back of the living room, one whole side and the entire rear of the house will be done.

Time to move onto the south side.

 While in town, Sargie made a last minute purchase of a few geraniums that were on clearance at bargain prices. She got enough to fill in a couple of empty spaces in the flower planters.

Meanwhile, I'd been wondering how we could paint the back of living room with large shrubs that brush against the siding. 

Another engineering thought came to mind, the second of the day (and possibly the entire year.)

I got a rope and threaded it between the bushes and house, ran it through a slip knot on one end, then pulled the branches together and to the front, away from the siding. Since we'll need the ladder, I'll tie the rope to one of the four wheelers.

Tuesday has dawned and it's time to go for my morning stroll. After, I want to begin painting. It's my hope to have the house finished by week's end, just in time for the Mighty Milligan Fourth of July Celebration. 

There's a bowl that needs turning in the shop and I'm eager to return to working on the garden house.

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

The red roof, red hand rails, and red chairs, really stand out against the charcoal siding.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Wild daisies growing from a crack in the pavement

June 28, 2020 - Sunday evening

77 degrees/clear skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

I'm writing tonight as Monday morning will be an early one. Jambo called today and asked if I was ready to install the Dutch door he made for the garden house.

I'm picking him up first thing in the morning and we'll go hinge shopping. After, the door will be installed.

Excited? I can hardly wait. As I've said before, anything that Jambo makes is a work of art. The door is no exception.

After my Sunday morning walk, I began work trimming the large west window on the garden house. The window is actually comprised of four of our old living room windows and the idea of using them sounded good last summer. In all practicality, I'm not so sure. Trimming the four has proven to be a real challenge.

Sargie and I took an afternoon drive north of Iron River. Driving past the old prison camp that has long been closed, we were surprised to see a "For Sale" sign in front.

We spent some time trying to think of who might want to purchase it. Bars on the windows and multiple secure rooms galore, it was difficult to think of any use for the old prison.

Back home, Sargie began painting the last side of the house around the deck. I later joined her and together, we finished that area. Next comes the rear living room wall.

Hot and tired, we walked to the garden where, hot and sweaty,  I took a quick dip in the pond.

Sargie and I talked for some time. I tread water as she sat a few feet away on the garden bench.

Deciding that it looked best above the entry to the garden, we hung the garden sign. 

Today's random photo is of a robin's nest that was removed from the barn. 

I've been chasing the robin for several days and hoped she wouldn't nest inside. Obviously, the girl had other ideas. 

Jambo and I are going to install the Dutch door on the garden house in the morning. No doubt Sargie and I will be painting in the afternoon once the back of the house is in the shade.

Otherwise, maybe we'll go water skiing, bake a cake, or invent perpetual motion. Who knows?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A family gathering at Grandma and Grandpa's farmhouse, circa 1963

June 28, 2020 - Sunday morning

57 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

My cousin, Penny, has been going through a box of Grandma and Grandpa's things that she inherited long ago. Penny is the glue that holds Mom's side of the family together and has started sending pictures that are stirring some fond memories of my childhood.

Just as the Milligan family does today, we'd gather for almost every major holiday at Grandma and Grandpa's house. As an accountant, one of Grandpa's clients was a large livestock auction business. If there was a runt pig, pony, cow, goat, or any other form of critter, winged or legged, that no one bid on, Grandpa would pay a dollar and bring it back to the farm. Over the years, Grandpa's collection began to resemble those on Old McDonald's Farm.

We cousins loved our weekend stays at Grandma and Grandpa's. We made pets of the animals, played in the treehouse, swung on the tire swing suspended from the branch of a large oak tree, swam at a nearby lake, and ran and laughed as we played Hide and Seek after dark. Grandma and Grandpa made sure it was a grandchildren's paradise. 

Posted by another cousin, Bunny. Penny sent this from Bunny's Facebook page.

In the opening picture, I'm the tallest child sitting at the children's table for one of the holiday gatherings. Evidently my sister, Barb, had graduated to the adult table, the one with the real table cloth complete with Grandma's good china. The big people ate around the same table that now sits in our dining room on Pentoga Road. Grandma's matching hutch is sitting in the corner filled with her good china.

I will, no doubt, be sharing more Grandma/Grandpa photos as they arrive.

Sargie and I decided not to paint until later Saturday afternoon. With the sun strong and temperatures rising, it was a wise move to wait until the back side of the house was in the shadows.

I fiddled around in the garden after arriving home from my walk. Sargie and I later went to town for her Coke. It was a nice, pleasant, lazy, morning.

I'd just begun working on the trim of the garden house when Wisconsin Mike stopped for a visit in his new (to him) side by side. We hadn't seen each other since last summer, so we caught up on all the news in each other's lives.

Mike's daughter, Andrea, a dentist who lives in Wisconsin, owns a beautiful home/camp not far from here that is on my usual watch list during my daily walks, especially during the winter months.

Bidding Mike goodbye, I turned my attention back to the garden house. The blue four wheeler was loaded with tools and I made my way to the garden.

The four wheeler also serves as a bench for the miter saw

Boards for one window were previously ripped in the shop and since the window trim, siding, and underlying particle board weren't cut exactly the same, I'm getting to be a bit creative, something I enjoy. 

Sargie started taping the windows around the deck area while I worked on the garden house. 

The wind was calm later in the afternoon, perfect for using Mississippi Brother Garry's paint sprayer. 

Sargie and I each switched off spraying and/or brushing. With a steadier hand than I possess, she does around the windows and trim. I'm more of the high ladder person, although she wasn't slow to climb up several rungs herself.

One thing we learned, never fill the paint pot full then try to spray with one hand out to the side. That full pot can get mighty heavy after a few minutes.

Switching places every few minutes, we worked for several hours at a steady pace. 

It was nearing dark before we finally quit. The usual good natured talking and laughing between us was beginning to get "edgy," a sure sign that we both were hot and tired. I'm the first to admit that when I get tired, especially if I'm hot, my personality (as Dad used to say) goes to hell in a hand basket.

My hand basket was well on its way.

Only a few feet were left, but Sargie and Tom's fuel tanks were on empty.



Time to quit.

We'll pick up where we left off either later this afternoon or on Monday. 

We've noticed the darker color really emphasizes the red roof, something we both like.

It won't take long to finish the patio area before moving to the back and opposite side of the living room. 

Sargie watered in the garden last night while I took a refreshing dip in the pond.

In the random picture/video category of the day, Andy sent a before and after picture of his "new" ATV, following a nighttime ride. 

First the ride. Andy's never been one to shy away from a challenge.

Despite all the mud, the machine cleaned up and once again looks new.



I'm heading out for my walk pretty soon. Today looks to be a carbon copy of yesterday, going for a walk, working on the garden house, and possibly painting later on.

We'll check the lake traffic this afternoon and if the weekend tourists leave for south of the border, we might substitute fishing for painting.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

June 29, 2020 - Saturday morning

60 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's so nice to have my old camera back and working. The Fuji XP arrived just in time to take a few snapshots of this year's bloom of wild flowers around Pentoga Road.

It was enjoyable getting reacquainted with it on yesterday's walk. A yearling doe popped out from the woods and posed long enough to have her picture taken.

Back home, I pulled a few weeds in the orchard until it was time to leave for Tim and Rose's to help install a kitchen cabinet. 

We currently have the most beautiful ruffled peonies in the garden. Sadly, it won't be long before they are finished and another year will have to pass before we once again see the huge red blooms.

Since Sargie and Hambone would be following later in the morning, I opted to ride the red four wheeler to Tim's. Sargie gave me a new helmet for Christmas and it was the first opportunity I'd had to wear it this year. 

I especially like the retractable sun visor. Makes me feel like I'm a bad a**.

Easy Rider - Part Deux
Born to be Wild... or how about, Rebel WITH a Cause

I learned a lot yesterday assisting Tim with their new cabinet. We measured, leveled, assembled, and installed.

The job began with level floors. Living in a hundred year old house, that's something that I'm unaccustomed to and it took me a while to wrap my mind around a bubble that refused to budge from the middle of the level.

Tim's an excellent teacher and led me through the step by step process of assembly. The cabinets, purchased from Ikea, are beautiful and significantly less expensive than those that are custom made.

Sargie and Hambone arrived shortly after noon. Grady and Greta the pup were quickly reacquainted and spent no small amount of time playing together outside.



With the cabinet installation finished for the day, Tim put chicken on the grill while Rose fixed a feast meant for royalty.



The girl made a dessert that ranks right up there with Miss Jody's sweet tater pie. Concocted from baked egg whites with homemade whipped cream on top, it was all covered with a fresh honeyberry syrup made from those that Rose had picked in the orchard earlier in the day. 



The folks have a large spotting scope that immediately captured Hambone's attention. Mr. Tim took the time to teach Grady how to use it.



Hambone spotted flying feathered action around a bird house.

What kind were they?

Miss Rose had an identification guide and gave her six year old friend a lesson on how to match a picture with the name of the bird.



We were sitting around the table talking when very dark clouds began to appear on the horizon.



Running outside, Rose spotted one with a slow circular pattern. With windows open in our house, it was time to head for home and fast! 



As it turned out, the clouds produced quite the show with very little rain, thunder, or lightening. 



The Hambone exchange was made last evening while enjoying cones at the ice cream stand in Florence. Sargie and I returned home to a very quiet house and neither of us had any trouble sleeping last night.

Our friends, Cosmos and Mike, sent recent pictures of their pond. Now in its fourth year (I believe) the pond is beautiful and well established.



You may remember that Mike and Cosmos helped design our pond and served as mentors for the entire process.



Theirs serves as a model for what I want our pond to look like. It just takes time and patience. 

Time I have. It's patience that I seem to be in short supply of. 



I'm going for my walk this morning then will begin painting the area around the deck. If the wind remains still, I hope to use the sprayer Mississippi Brother Garry gave me. There are few windows with plenty of room for mistakes. 

I'm hoping to get serious about installing the trim on the garden house this afternoon. My goal was to finish both the garden house and our home by the Fourth. 

Yeah, well, it was a rather lofty goal, but I can see right now that ain't gonna happen. We're supposed to be retired. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering that.

It's that patience thing I was talking about earlier.

At any rate, talking's not going to accomplish anything, so I guess I'd better get this show on the road.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...