November 13 2020 - Friday the 13th
22 degrees/cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

I was starting the fire Thursday morning in the outside wood furnace and took the above picture towards the storage container. Last November and December were brutal with the heavy snow toppling many of the trees in the area. Sargie and I cut up over forty in back of the barn alone.

Plans are to make this area part of the lawn next spring. Already claiming several acres as our immediate yard, what we really need is a couple more to mow and trim each week.

We're up early this morning as Sargie is heading to Iron Mountain to "teach" Grady as he attends school online today. Both his parents have to work and Grandma Sargie is available, so off she goes.

Hambone will be with us all next week and (ahem) attend school from Pentoga Road. Once again, Grandma Sargie will be in the instructor. 

Me? I retired. When it comes to matters of education, I've left all that behind. With the scientific statistics of how the Covid affects the younger generation, I think it's a crock that our children aren't attending school in person. 

The dumbing down of America continues. I'm just grateful I'm out of the education business.

Thursday was spent doing a poor imitation of an elf in Santa's workshop.

I started a fire in the outdoor wood furnace before leaving for my morning stroll. The walk was great and it was nice to return to a cozy, comfy, shop upon my return.

I'd show you what all I worked on and give you blow-by-blow detail of each hair raising moment, but then those for whom I making presents would know what they are receiving. What fun is that? 

I will say that if I wasn't perched in front of the scroll saw, I was turning on the lathe or sitting at the work table, sanding and painting.

There are four separate projects in the works right now. One's in the lathe, three at the scroll saw, and one sitting on the work table. 

Someone mentioned the pig that's always sitting on the table, seemingly observing my every move. Chuck's a hollow piggy bank that I laminated, then carved using a chain saw attachment several years ago and has yet to be finished. I could easily sand and paint him in a few hours, but somehow, I've grown fond of the oinker just as he is. Chuck the pig has become my good luck charm, my rabbit's foot.

I don't usually become attached to anything I create in the shop, but Chuck? I love my pig.

It's time to head outside and get the fire going in the wood furnace. On tap today is another action packed few hours of sawing, cutting, cussing, carving, and painting. I hope to finish the segmented project sitting at the work table, work on a bowl in the lathe, and complete three puzzles.

First will be to ride with Sargie a few miles up the road and walk back home, you know, get the blood that feeds those creative juices flowing.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Sargie outdid herself fixing last night's supper of barbecued ribs and winter squash with chocolate ice cream for dessert.

Just call me Tubby Tommy.