September 30, 2020 - Wednesday evening

48 degees/cloudy skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

It's a quiet evening so I thought I'd go ahead and write tonight. 

We were on the road bright and early this morning headed to Iron Mountain.  The valley through which the Brule River flows on the Wisconsin/Michigan border was especially beautiful.

While in Iron Mountain, we stopped by Home Depot to purchase enough insulation to finish the garden house. Though I have sufficient foam board, I'm anxious to finish insulating before really cold weather arrives.

We stopped by Ross and Holly's before leaving town. Ross had been mowing and doing yard work prior to our arrival.

 

Back home, I began work on the oblong mahogany bread bowl.

Initially, I used a chain saw attachment on an angle grinder. It works, but takes a light touch, something I didn't begin with.

After making a mess on the first attempt, I stopped, thought about it for a bit, then started all over again with a whole new approach.

Part of my plan was to saw a top for a second bowl that would reach well into the center then laminate it onto the bottom. Great idea, but it made for a difficult sawing job. I had to tilt the table on the scroll saw almost 45 degrees to achieve the desired angle.

The top was finally sawed, glued, and clamped, onto the new bottom. The bread bowl should be finished in the next day or two.

Talk about a mess. Between all the sawing and sanding, the shop is covered in a thick layer of sawdust.

Our friend, Melinda, sent a second picture taken by their trail camera. It shows a coyote sneaking through, looking for an opportunistic meal.

It quit raining long enough this afternoon that I could take my daily walk. In fact, the sun poked out from beneath the clouds for a few minutes, but was soon hidden again and it wasn't long before I was walking through yet another shower.

On Thursday's agenda: I hope to finish the bread bowl and get that out of the shop. It'll take at least two hours to clean. The garden beds need to be cleaned, a walk taken, and there's always insulation to install in the garden house.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Grandbabies Wes, Ben, and Em

September 30, 2020 - Wednesday morning

42 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

We're up early this morning for an 8:30 appointment an hour away. At least it's not raining and the air is calm. 

In family news, I received a picture from Luke of my oldest grandson, out on a fall fishing expedition, poised to set the hook and reel in a big one at any time.

In happenings closer to home, I worked on cutting up the popple tree that had blown over in this past weekend's storm.

The tree was completely blocking the lower road. I used the tractor to lift the heaviest parts of the trunk off the ground, ensuring I didn't hit any rocks while cutting it into burnable pieces.

The wood was so green that sap dripped from the ends while being loaded.

Consequently, it was stored under cover and won't be used until early next spring, either in the outdoor wood furnace to provide heat for the shop or in the evaporator while making maple syrup.

Sargie and I worked up the last of this year's melons. Ours are a honeydew type from the Ukraine bred for northern climates.

I'd picked those we hadn't eaten before the last freeze and stored them on the workbench in the garage. Sweet and full of sugar, they just wouldn't keep any longer. 

Needless to say, we're enjoying some sweet sweet eating as part of our breakfast these days.

Sargie and I enjoyed our usual afternoon ride. The colors continue to disappear at a quickening rate. It's a matter of days before the reds and yellows are replaced with bare branches.

Speaking of leaves, I used the leaf blower and cleared the drive Tuesday afternoon. Both Sargie and I were tired of tracking them inside each time we entered the house.

Since the wind was howling, it was kind of like (pardon my crassness) peeing into the wind. The drive and walk remained clear for about ten seconds before another gust brought a flurry of color onto the blacktop.

Sargie was watching the debate last night so I made my way to the shop and cut a bread bowl from two pieces of mahogany wood I'd laminated earlier. 

I'll use a chainsaw attachment that fits onto my angle grinder to hollow and shape it. After, it will be sanded, coated with food safe finish, and polished, to be given as a present.

OK, it's time to get this show on the road. We've got the early morning appointment, then it's off to the Jiffy Lube to get the oil changed in the Hyundai, followed by a stop at Holly and Ross's.

It's going to be a busy morning, but then, are we surprised?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

There's beauty in everything, even when looking straight down while operating an old Ford tractor. All you have to do is look.

 

Luke sent the above from Maine

My daughter-in-law, Melinda, snapped this photo of the river that flows through their backyard

September 29, 2020 - Tuesday morning

45 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

The Upper Peninsula doesn't have a corner on beauty in North America. Gorgeous, eh? When it comes to seasons, southern Maine seems to be a week or two behind the UP in the fall and that much or more ahead each spring. 

Between the storms and heavy rains, our trees are rapidly shedding their leaves.

Seems I find myself cleaning leaves out of the boat and off the cars each time we want to use either. I look at it as nature's way of getting me in shape for clearing this coming winter's snow.

There are several pictures that have come my way over the past few days. The first was sent by my young friend, Kyle, who's been goose hunting this fall.

Kyle's on the far left

It's apparent he and his friends have been quite successful.

Our friend, Mel, sent this photo of a bobcat taken by one of their trail cameras. It's one of the better cat pictures I've seen in a while.

I'll share more pictures as the week goes along. Keep 'em coming as I appreciate them all as do fellow readers.

Monday was a rainy, chilly, windy, blah, kind of day. I spent most of it in the shop where I finally completed the segmented pumpkin/ravin piece.

Brushing on the final touches, it was time to mount the piece onto a backer board. I decided to try something new. Rather than glue each individual piece to the other, I attempted to mount the entire thing to the backer board using wood glue.

It worked, but I wouldn't do it that way again. Still, in the end, Sargie has a new Halloween decoration and I can once again claim my work table in the shop.

Though it wasn't a very nice day, we went for our daily ride and enjoyed the pockets of colors that still remain.

The Brule River that flows alongside Pentoga Village is higher than I've ever seen it.

It wouldn't take very much more rain for the water to be hitting the bottom of the bridge. 

Sargie fixed a comfort meal last night, broccoli cheddar soup. That, along with a fire in the wood stove, made for a cozy and relaxing evening. I found myself in the "writing zone" and worked on the book while keeping one eye on the television, a perfect way to end the day.

Today's forecast promises the weather will be about the same as yesterday. I'm going for my walk at first light then head to the shop. Kyle gave me several pieces of mahogany wood scraps from where he's employed that I'm itching to begin working with.

Weather permitting, I'd like to get a start on cleaning out the garden beds so I can begin pulverizing leaves to till into the soil. New cable was purchased to run from the shop tv to the antenna over the barn, so I'll be climbing up and down the ladder. Other than that, maybe Sargie Pants and I will go water skiing or perhaps, work on solving perpetual motion. Regardless, we'll take our daily drive and enjoy life and each other.

It's just the way we roll around here.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Water Water Everywhere

September 28, 2020 - Monday morning

56 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I don't believe it will ever quit raining. In fact, I predict all this rain will turn to snow in another month and our yearly total will be measured in yards rather than inches or feet. 

I sincerely hope that's an exaggeration and we did have a week of Indian Summer not that long ago, but it seems when it rains, IT RAINS. The 2.1 inches that fell the night before last has the water table remaining well on top of the ground. That puddle in front of the garden has been there for six weeks. I'm thinking that we may have to plant some sort of aquatic grass (for real) in that area next spring.

Saturday night's severe storm also brought down a small popple that's lying across the lower road.

The parade of storms marching through are causing the leaves to fall as quickly as the accompanying rain. It happens every year, but with this past summer passing so quickly, we hoped the colors might have stayed around for an extended period. It's not happening.

I enjoyed my walk early Sunday morning. It's evident the trees are growing increasingly bare by the day.

Still, when viewed from a distance, there's still plenty of color to enjoy.

I worked for much of the day in the shop, trying to finish the pumpkin and raven that's been lying on the work table for the past six weeks.

Finished with sawing and shaping, I was able to begin painting. Sargie assisted me in trying to decide what color a pumpkin's lips should be. So far, they've changed colors several times.

Tired of playing with a pumpkin, I turned my attentions to the ongoing Lord's Prayer and finished yet another line.

Sargie worked some more kitchen magic last evening and fixed a great supper that included fresh garden vegetables, zucchini, tomatoes, and mushrooms, all sauteed in butter that included her own secret herbs and spices. They were delicious. A side of healthy and nutritious Yooper bratwursts delicately grilled outside made the perfect meal.

 Assuming it doesn't begin to rain... again... I'm heading out the door for my daily walk. I'd like to begin clearing the dead and dying vegetation from the garden, but with more rain forecast, that's somewhat "iffy" at best. Otherwise, I'll be in the shop finishing the pumpkin, working on the Lord's Prayer, chasing Sargie Pants around the house, and beginning yet a new project.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Ivy and Daddy went partridge hunting early Saturday morning in the big woods of Maine. Andy said they limited out within the first hour. I'm so proud of my sons. When they were young and growing up, it seemed every time I went hunting or fishing, I had one or all with me. A single father, Andy takes Ivy fishing, hunting, four wheeling, just about anywhere he goes. Luke, Josh, and Matt do the same.

High atop Brockway Mountain in Copper Country

The very most northern Point of the Upper Peninsula

September 27, 2020 - Sunday morning

54 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I arrived home from my early morning walk Saturday and asked Sargie if she'd like to take a drive and look at the last of this year's leaves.

When it comes to taking a road trip, I don't have to ask Sargie twice.

We drove straight west to the shores of Lake Superior, then followed the shoreline north through the Porcupine Mountains and onto the Keweenaw Peninsula and Copper Harbor, the most northern point in the UP.

At any rate, the pictures tell the story, so enjoy.

 

We arrived home last night amid a horrible storm that dumped 2.1 inches of rain. Total rainfall for the past forty eight hours on Pentoga Road? Four inches even.

It can dry up anytime it wants. Naturally, more rain is forecast to fall Monday and sporadically throughout the week with temperatures in the mid forties.

I'm heading out the door for my usual morning hike. Since it's too wet to do anything outdoors, today appears to be a shop day... or possibly nap day... or both!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...