At 7 months of age, granddaughter, Makenna, all eleven pounds of her, has decided to skip the rather mundane progression of rolling over and crawling in favor of standing. No doubt she'll be taking her first tentative steps soon.  

January 12, 2021 - Tuesday morning

26 degrees/clouds/fog/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Makenna's been an enigma since her very premature birth last summer. Having recently moved from size new born clothes, she's a complete package in a teeny tiny body. Currently in the 1% range for size/age, she's perfect in every way. 

All I really know for sure about my baby granddaugher is that it's hard for Pawpaw not to play bubble belly or nibble on her cheeks. The girl's laugh is infectious and it's impossible to be in the same room without feeling good about life. 

Miracles come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Our latest gift from God is tiny Makenna, a wonderful, happy, little girl.

I'd started a fire in the outdoor wood stove so the shop would be warm when returning from Monday's early morning walk. I'd found an interesting piece of aspen (popple) wood earlier that looked to be a good candidate from which to make a bowl.

With a knot running through, turning was a bit tricky as the chisel likes to snag the harder wood. I found myself taking very tiny slivers off with each pass. As Dad would have said, it takes a delicate touch.

I'm also trying to leave some bark on one side for a more natural look. Popple is naturally somewhat boring. There's little grain and once it's sanded and finished, it appears almost white in color. The bark should add an interesting feature.

I'm excited over the prospect of having a different bowl, but as I've learned time and time again, never count your bowls until they are finished.

Oh, no, here comes a random, early morning, deep thought. Other than on a rotisserie, who turns a chicken?

Turning a bowl before it's finished, a chicken before it's hatched, get it? Never mind. Give me an A for effort at least.

I made my favorite brunch for Monday's mid morning meal, three eggs, two peppers, two bratwursts, all covered with a delectable layer of hot seasoning. I call it my heart burn casserole. 

Monday's drive began as usual, but we soon found ourselves winding around on various country roads. It wasn't long before we were closer to Rhinelander, Wisconsin, than home. As long as we were in the neighborhood, why not stop in?

Sargie found a park bench at Hobby Lobby she loved. On clearance (of course) I told the store manager we'd buy it if he'd take it apart to accommodate the space in the trunk. Ten minutes later, our new park bench was on its way to Pentoga Road.

We made stops at Aldi's and the local home/lumber store, but mostly, we meandered, just enjoying life, poking our noses in here and there. The world was blanketed in frost and we felt as if we were driving through a magic kingdom.

 

Not arriving home until early evening, I rekindled the fire while Sargie put our treasures away. As we both said, for being totally spontaneous, it was a fun day.

I learned a free subscription to Discover Plus is a benefit that goes with our Verizon plan and  registered for that last night. We immediately found a couple of shows we like and the evening went by quickly. 

Cousin, Penny, called from Arizona and we talked at length. Penny's the only relative, other than my sister, whom I keep in contact with on a regular basis and it was good to catch up on what's happening in the sunny southwest.

I received an email yesterday from Pokalong, a fellow hiker from West Virginia, who also is planning to step off from Springer Mountain in Georgia in February of 2022. He was reading my online hiking journal and dropped me a line. Pokalong's also been planning his AT thru hike for quite some time, as in thirty five years, and hopes to celebrate his 75th birthday on the trail. I told him I think we're both a couple of crazy old guys, but hey, as I've always said, it's better than sitting at home watching Ellen while eating a bag of chips.

Stay tuned. I have a feeling you'll be hearing of the adventures of Pokalong much more in another year or two. 

So with that, it's time to get the day started. That walk's not going to take itself.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...