Tales from Pentoga

Neighbor and educator, Matt, with a nice 9 point buck he harvested this past weekend.

November 18, 2020 - Thursday morning

34 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I've finally started to hear a few gun shots in the surrounding woods, those that tell me there's hope that a few deer are being harvested.

I sure hope so.

It's a constant fight to keep them from eating our yard and garden to ground level and driving to town finds us playing a never ending game of dodgeball or dodgedeer if you will.

The education of Hambone continued Wednesday, both inside and out. I'd be lying if I didn't say it's become more and more of a challenge as the week has progressed. Trying to get a kindergartener to sit in front of computer for any length of time, one that is connected with lousy internet causing it to continually buffer, is not only a challenge, it's tiring.

Then there are supplemental videos to watch after class time. Add to that a healthy packet of worksheets and it makes for a long and tiring day for the student and grandparents alike.

Those aren't cartoons they are watching

Sargie played school marm Wednesday morning. Needing to complete some household chores before the boys and families arrive on Friday, I took over the education process yesterday afternoon.

We took a ride at midday and were surprised to see how far out ice had formed on our area lakes. Today's temperatures are to be warm and will melt what's formed, but it won't be long before we'll be out ice fishing.

Even the foam along the shore is frozen. The froth was caused by waves hitting the shoreline on a windy day.

While Hambone was working on his packets under my watchful eye, Sargie was in the kitchen cleaning out the pantry. She found some things had been shoved to the back and were badly outdated. In the end, everything was sorted, cleaned, and put back in place.

The last worksheet was FINALLY completed. I've had shots from sadistic doctors using barbed hooks that were more fun than trying to get Hambone to finish his school work. Pawpaw's patience had run out and I had to remind myself this virtual school thing was no more fun for Hambone than it was for me.

It was time to head outside.

In my quest to prove there's more to education than paperwork, we headed to the garden house. It was time to begin wiring for electricity.

Taking the small propane heater from the shop. We worked in comfort Wednesday afternoon.

Hambone suddenly transformed from being a wiggly little kid dying to do anything other than schoolwork to a willing student.

For two hours, we measured, drilled holes, pounded, and ran wire. Hambone loved working, using his hands as well has his mind. Pawpaw's patience were restored while quietly explaining a process then watching the little guy try his best. It's proof that there's more to education than sitting in front of a computer.

We ended the day by watching even more educational videos having to do with the letter T. One was a song, a hip hop kind of ditty, that found Grady singing and dancing in the dining room. We all laughed and decided it was the perfect way to end the day.

Today will be much of the same. The biggest challenge will be to get Hambone to stay interested in his school work. The temperature is to be in the low 50's and honestly, Pawpaw's got a few things he needs to do outside while the weather is good. Grandma Sargie is frantically trying to get ready for a house full of company this weekend. It'll be a coordinated effort between the two of us to keep Hambone on task.