Mama always said to watch out what we wished for.
The drought is over.

July 9, 2020 - Thursday morning

65 degrees/clouds/rain

Pentoga Road

Rain? Man oh man, it came down last night by the buckets full. How we can go from dry, dusty, conditions, to overflowing in a few short hours is beyond me.

I took these pictures a few minutes ago between rain showers. The pond looks as though it's filled with coffee and cream.

Other than one small place, it appears the berm that I built around the garden area is working and keeping any overflow water away. The one low place will be remedied when it eventually dries.

Wednesday's early morning walk was beautiful. Wildflowers line Pentoga Road and I'm reminded of the poppy fields just outside of Emerald City, the ones in which the Wicked Witch caused Dorothy and company to fall asleep.

I noticed a car driving in an unusual manner in Pentoga Village. It would stop, start, back up, etc. Somewhat curious (a nice way for saying I was being nosey) I walked over to the car and introduced myself.

I soon learned that dad, Jerry, was teaching his son, Zach, how to drive. From the Milwaukee area and staying at a friend's cabin, they found Pentoga Village a perfect place for Zack to hone his driving skills.

Despite the sun, heat, and humidity, Tuesday was a productive day on Pentoga Road. After my morning walk, I made a bee line to the garden house and worked until well into the afternoon.

It took as long to caulk and spray foam in any gaps around the windows as it did to cut and install the outside trim.

The last piece was nailed onto a corner and other than a bit of caulking on one window, that part is done. All that's left for trim on the outside is covering the fascia.

Initially, I was going to build the cupola that will be fitted on the roof, but I think I may order one.  

Sargie was anything but idle throughout the day. She hopped on her riding mower and sheared not only the front meadow, but also the Hundred Acre Woods in back of the yard, the nearby trails, and made a quick pass over the immediate yard so everything is the same height.

The girl is a mowing machine. With this latest round of rain, it won't be long before she's back on the tractor grooming the yard and meadows.

We took a late afternoon drive and afterwards, returned home to lay out the new outdoor rug on the patio.  

It's smaller than the previous rug, but we like it. The gray color also compliments the house much better than the old one.

The new transplanted greenery in the pond seems to be holding its own. So far, so good.

 With frequent waterings, the grape vines growing up the garden arbor are doing well. 

The hollyhocks are beginning to flower along the south side of the house. I guess one could say that summer is in full bloom.

I was sitting on the bench by the garden pond last night when this little bird hopped up in front of me and gave himself a bath. For a minute, I thought he was going to perch on my shoe.

 Brother Elmer called last night from the arctic and we began reminiscing about some of our adventures together. Talking for almost an hour, the time flew by. 

Laugh? At times, we roared.

There was one occasion when we guided a guy from Texas up into the mountains and convinced him that to enter sacred Native ground, he needed to be sworn in as an honorary Inupiaq Eskimo.

Long story short, high on a mountain in below zero temperatures, we had the Texan standing naked on his snowmobile seat, facing the rising sun, right hand raised, and take the solemn vow of an Inupiaq Eskimo. Without once cracking a smile, Brother Elmer administered it in Inupiaq. When the guy failed to pronounce a word correctly, Elmer would stop, correct him rather sternly, then begin again. 

How Elmer and I made it through the "ceremony" without laughing is beyond me, but we solemnly made the guy an honorary Inupiaq Eskimo, butt naked and all. 

Hmm, I wonder if the Texan is still carrying his rather heavy "sacred" rock everywhere he goes? He swore he would.

Brother Elmer will be 80 years old this coming January

Brother Elmer and I agreed that it's time we visit each other as neither of us are getting any younger. He said, just once more, he'd like for the two of us to sit and drink kook pak (coffee), smoke pipes, and talk, something we used to do often.

We're going to try to make that wish come true.

It's raining with more storms on the way. I hope we don't get another four inches.

This looks like a shop day, or, could it be a nap day? Only time will tell.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...