Thanks to Norriene and Big Jim
They seem to know me pretty well

June 7, 2020 - Sunday evening

52 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I just received a high temperature warning on my computer for Monday with highs reaching into the mid 90's. The National Weather Service is already warning that rainfall might be measured in inches Tuesday evening into Wednesday. 

And to think, Sargie started a fire this morning in the wood stove and I wore a flannel shirt and jeans all day. The temperatures this year are yoyo'ing all over the place. 

Friday's forecast high is only in the mid 50's with the low in the 30's. The weather is sure making it hard to grow a garden this year.

I was up very early this morning. In fact, all my emails and the blog were written before daylight and I found myself sipping coffee while waiting for the sun to rise.

Once it was light enough, I pulled the trailer to Yooper Brother Mark's plant and filled it with fire wood.

I was back home before the clock chimed eight.

With Sargie's help, we began the semi annual process of exchanging my winter and summer clothes this morning. My closet is quite small so my collection of flannel shirts, lined jeans, and long sleeve t shirts were exchanged for summer wear.

Meeting Tim and Rose at our usual place a bit later, we walked together to the Brule River and back. Poor Tim had to return this afternoon to the Chicagoland area to work this week. Rose opted to stay and work on their home and yard here.

Though it rained for much of the day, Hambone, aka Captain Pollywog, found time to catch tadpoles and put them in an ice cream pail.

For those grandparents with young grandchildren, I suggest if you want to keep them away from the tv, smart phone, computer, or tablet, dig a pond. Throw in a life preserver and it's the best babysitter money can buy.

Oh, about Hambone's, er' Captain Pollywog's nicknames... they come naturally. 

Dad rarely called me by my given name. If he called me Tom, I knew the belt was soon to follow. 

I readily answered to any of the following:

Charlie (the most used)
Chaz
Nodnick
Watermelon Head
Knuckle Head
Fat Boy

Grandpa Pennington always called me Tbuster after Howdy Doody's famous sidekick, Filius T Buster.

Since there were five Tom's in my first grade class, I always went by Tommy P, a name that has stayed with me for almost 70 years. I've NEVER introduced myself as Tommy P, yet several in Alaska call me that and even my sister in law, Holly, has called me Tommy P since we first met almost ten years ago. 

I guess I must look like a Tommy P.

Hambone's been Hambone since the first time he stayed with us and as a baby, had thighs that looked like big ol' Easter hams. Like Pawpaw, he answers to almost anything: Hambone, Captain Pollywog, Captain Tadpole, and after he accidentally tooted, Captain Thunder Belly.

Mel and Macrea came over this afternoon. We had a good visit while enjoying fried chicken along with mashed potatoes and gravy.

Macrea was in charge of making the instant mashed potatoes

I was going to smoke a pork loin today, but the rain fell intermittently until mid afternoon. I didn't feel like getting wet while running in and out of the house tending the smoker.

Grady, Grandma Sargie, and I, got busy splitting the trailer filled with wood after dinner. Hambone was especially anxious to show his mama and daddy how he could operate the splitter before they left. 

We had our jobs down pat. I'd load the wood onto the splitter after which Hambone would push the button and lever at the same time moving the ram forward.

Grady was so proud to be operating a machine and making firewood alongside Grandma Sargie and Pawpaw. I think his daddy was just as proud.

This evening's been a quiet one. With the trailer fully unloaded and empty of firewood, we may drive to Iron Mountain tomorrow and purchase the siding for the garden house. Jambo about has the Dutch door completed and suggested it not be installed until the siding is on. Since measuring 4x8 sheets of siding around windows that are curved on top are not exactly my forte, Yooper Brother Mark has said he'd give me a hand.

With high temperatures forecast for later, we'll probably spend most of today in and around the pond. 

Showers taken and jammies on, Hambone and I often share a bit of computer time before bed. Pawpaw's usually the first to bed so Hambone later wedges himself alongside Grandma Sargie where he plays a game on her phone.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...