Hello?

July 25, 2020 - Saturday morning
64 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It was nearing dusk last night as we were driving home and met this little guy in the middle of Pentoga Road. Stopping, we watched the fawn walk towards the car. His curiosity evidently satisfied, he wandered off into the woods to join a nervous mama who'd been observing from afar. 

Well, darn it anyway. My Macbook Pro has quit working so I'm back to using the Chromebook. Thankfully, the Macintosh computer is under warrantee, but in this day and age, who knows how soon I'll get it back. 

The Chromebook is adequate, it just doesn't have all the convenient bells and whistles that I'm used to. 

I met Tim yesterday morning and we enjoyed an elongated morning walk. Rather than trek through Pentoga Village, we made a detour and utilized the old railroad grade which runs near their home. It made for an extra mile walk for me, but I didn't mind. In fact, I enjoyed the change of scenery.



Back home, I manned up and despite the rising temperatures and very humid conditions, trimmed the yard and garden. I swear, that push mower gets heavier each summer, especially now that we're mowing the steep ditch along the road in front of the garden.

I wonder how I'll do that twenty five years from now when I'm in my 90's? Guess I'll worry about it then.

Sargie hopped on the riding mower and finished the front meadows and nearby trails. The yard is officially groomed, at least for this week.

We stopped by the lumber yard in town for a few treated 2x4's with which to make a stoop for the garden house. Boy, did we get a sticker shock.

Normally in the three dollar range, I found that due to the COVID virus, they were selling for an inflated $7.50 each. The clerk told me that all dimensional lumber is rising out of sight and it very well could get worse. 

I bought exactly what I needed and muttered all the way home.

While talking with Yooper Brother Mark last evening, I learned that I was lucky to even find any treated lumber. It's become a rare commodity.

Speaking of bringing 2x4's home, we had to laugh as I snaked our very expensive lumber into the trunk of the Kia, up past the rear seat, and resting the far end on the center console.

They really do build these compact cars from the inside out.



Road construction and resurfacing is happening all around us this summer. We can't travel in any direction without encountering long, often frustrating, delays.



I began building the frame of the stoop in the shop Friday afternoon. It will be covered with a piece of leftover treated plywood with plastic deck tiles attached on top. The sides will be trimmed and painted.



We met Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri last night at our local golf course and enjoyed a Friday night fish fry. The folks came over after and we sat around the pond talking, laughing, and catching up on the news.

I'm heading out for my walk fairly soon. I'd like to finish the stoop today and finish trimming the Dutch doors on the garden house. With high humidity and temperatures in the forecast, this afternoon will be a lazy affair.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

We're having to refill the hummingbird feeder on a daily basis. There are eight or ten that are regularly feasting on the sugar water.