Hastening along the second planting of winter squash, these seeds were sprouted using a damp paper towel placed in a baggie.

June 19, 2020 - Friday morning

61 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's going to be a race to the harvest line this fall. Who will win, the squash or the frost? Only time will tell.

I wish I'd have sprouted all my larger seeds in the green house this spring. With the temperatures swinging up to 70 degrees within a twenty four hour span, most just lay in the ground and rotted.

Lesson learned.

Thursday was another hot one in the neighborhood. Thankfully, the humidity was fairly low, but still, hot is hot.

I went for my morning walk then returned home and with power saw in hand, cleared brush, trees, and limbs, from the trails that wind through our property.



Last winter's heavy snows made a mess out of everything, destroying many trees and making mowing the trails impossible.

Slathering up in tick repellent, I boldly stepped into the waist high ferns and began cutting and hauling. I emerged two hours later, sweaty and dirty, but happy the trails were once again passable.

Between the Spruce Bud Worm damage and the Emerald Ash Borer that has killed most of the ash trees, our woods isn't looking the best in some places.

There is a silver lining. Where spruce trees once reigned, red and sugar maples are becoming more prominent and making for a beautiful woods. I don't know if we'll live long enough to enjoy any mature trees, but the future of our forest looks promising. 

On the left - a dead ash tree that will become firewood used this coming winter

We'd purchased a whirly gig while in Green Bay on Wednesday. 

Sargie assumed the role as head assembler.

At least for now, it's standing by the front stoop with both blades turning in opposite directions anytime the wind blows.

Preparing for Independence Day, Sargie's adorning all the flower pots with American flags

I spent a couple of hours in the shop during the heat of the day. Heavily insulated against the cold, it is much like a basement during the summer months where the temperature is always much cooler.

I'm slowly sawing away on the Lord's Prayer. It's a labor of love, but one that I can only work on for a bit here and there. The letters are exacting and require heavy concentration.

Larry the Heavy Equipment Guy continues his work in front. Yesterday, he ran into a boulder bigger than some cars.

Thankfully, it broke into a few large pieces and was low enough to be permanently buried.

As the day cooled, I worked around the pond with the water vacuum. For as warm as it's been, I'm happy that the water has remained fairly clear with the algae and pond gunk kept to a minimum.

The fish seem to be happy and are rapidly growing. 

I'm going for my walk in a few minutes then take the day as it comes. Mom gave birth to a seven pound bouncing baby boy sixty eight years ago today. I'm looking forward to dining on the New York Strip steak that Sargie got me for supper and enjoying her apple cake for dessert.

The farm house peonies, as Grandma used to call them, are in full bloom.

Other than that, the world's the limit.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

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