Our friend, Michelle, at the Vision Center

August 18, 2020 - Tuesday morning

44 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's another clear and cool morning in the Upper Penninsula. One thing's becoming increasingly clear. Summer's drawing to a quick ending with fall just around the corner.

You can see, feel, and smell it. 

I discovered yesterday that I still have both eyes inside my noggin at my annual check up. It was good to see Sargie's former coworkers, also Sargie's old friend, John, the optometrist. 

Sargie lived across the street from John, and his wife, Barb, for many years. The children of both families freely ran from one house to the other and were more like brothers and sisters than mere neighbors.

While Sargie was socializing after my appointment, I strolled through the adjoining Walmart and was surprised how empty a few of the shelves were in some areas.

Fishing gear seemed to be in short supply

Back home, Sargie said she wanted to finish painting the trim on the back door. Thankful to have escaped the curse of the paintbrush, I immediately volunteered to mow the lawn.

The grass is thinner later in the summer and much easier to cut. I finished all the lawns and meadows by late afternoon before pulling the yard sweeper over everything. 

I mowed the new area in front of the garden for the first time since seeding it several weeks ago. The annual rye has done a great job of holding the soil and should continue to do so until the more permanent fescue and bluegrass takes over.



There's one wet area that will always be the last to dry. Hopefully, conditions will be favorable to plant and germinate grass seed before winter arrives. There's little doubt that water will be standing there next spring after the snow melts. 



Sargie and I took a quick tour of the garden and were pleasantly surprised when we picked our first tomato of the season!



I plant Siberians, a variety well suited for our short seasons. Though the tomatoes are on the smaller side, four to six ounces each, they are very flavorful and juicy. 

The sunflowers have kicked into overdrive this past week. Having a smaller garden than usual, I planted fewer sunflowers, but what we have are doing well.

Sunflowers aren't the only variety doing well. The hollyhocks are also reaching high into the air with some stalks nearing eight feet.



Sargie has a date with her sisters this morning in Iron Mountain. I'm going for my walk then think I'll finish cleaning in the shop. If there's time remaining, I'm going to begin trimming the lower limbs on the spruce trees in front. If anyone feels like getting sticky (from the sap) and itchy, feel free to come on over.

Mowing yesterday for the first time under the trees, I managed to get the mower hung up on a small stump.

We'll be going to visit our friends, Mike and Cosmo, later this afternoon. Cosmo said to bring two five gallon buckets as they want to send some goldfish home from their pond. 

OK, time to get this show on the road.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

With the completion of the area in front of the garden, the front yard has more than doubled in size.