This St. Bernard pup and I became instant BFF's Monday morning.

December 1, 2020 - Tuesday morning

22 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Look at that. It's already December. Joy to the World and all that good stuff. 

Just one question.

Where'd November go? Weren't we just celebrating Halloween?

Watching Sargie drive away after being let off alongside the road, I enjoyed a four mile walk back home Monday morning. It was cold and very windy, but I like feeling the sting of freezing air against my cheeks. It reminds me of my Alaska travel days, those times when I was younger and the nip on my face meant I was living life to its fullest.

My philosophy of life hasn't changed other than my daily activities are a bit slower and possibly more age appropriate. 

Worry, not, I still subscribe to the Peter Pan Syndrome, that of being a boy and young forever, but you understand, there are certain limitations.

Home from Monday's walk, I drove to town to take advantage of a one day sale at the grocery. I hadn't stopped by Yooper Brother Mark's plant for quite a while and enjoyed a visit with both him and Ann, his assistant.

The three of us had a good talk. Mark took a picture of Ann and me then said, "Just wait until Sargie finds out what you're up to when she's gone."

Laughing, Sargie later showed me the following text.

Thanks, Mark. You KNOW what they say about paybacks. You will pay. Oh yes, by all that is holy, retribution will be mine!

Mark asked if I wanted to ride with him to take his buck to Crystal Falls to be processed.

Heck yeah. We haven't had a chance to catch up in a long time.

I was initially greeted by a huge St. Bernard who was just a sweetie. No matter which way I'd move, she'd position herself to lean in, preventing me from moving any further. The gal wanted attention.

Extricating myself from the pup, I helped Mark unload his buck and place it with the others that were waiting to be processed.

It soon became quite obvious that Yooper Brother Mark wasn't the only hunter in the UP who put meat on the table this year.

Leaving instructions on how he wanted his deer prepared, we drove back to Iron River where I retrieved the Kia and came on home.

I made decent progress yesterday afternoon in the shop, not stopping until Sargie called and said she was about forty five minutes out and on her way home.

Work on a new scroll saw piece was started. The first step after attaching the pattern is to drill very small holes through which the blade is inserted to saw the letters or design. It's my least favorite part of the entire process.

Each hole in the back means that the tiny blade will have to be taken from the top clamp of the saw and threaded through to cut that part of the pattern on the opposite side.

My Sargie came through the door last night all smiles and giggles saying she and Nancy had a wonderful day in Escanaba. I'd made a large pot of potato soup (with corn and shrimp) earlier to simmer all afternoon and we enjoyed that for supper while sitting by the wood stove. Sargie said the strong wind blowing in from Lake Michigan was brutally cold.

I'm heading out the door for a quick three miler this morning. After, it'll be back to the shop. The window for making Christmas presents is quickly diminishing. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...