I looked out the window Wednesday morning at sunrise and saw one of our apple trees adorned with hoar frost. The temperature was -9.

February 4, 2021 - Thursday morning

28 degrees/freezing rain/snow/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Oh yeah, baby, bring 'er awn!

I know I'm at the age where I'm supposed to hate cold and snow and basically, I do... to a certain extent, but you know, there's still that spark of a little boy that exists somewhere deep down inside. One that gets excited at the prospect of a good old fashioned snow storm.

Other than play principal and substitute teacher, I haven't taught anything for almost ten years, yet I rejoice in the fact that Sargie and I might have a snow day. I mean look at this way. Retired, we are able to enjoy a snow day and NEVER have to make it up at the end of the school year.

The downside of this storm is that Cheeks might get to come home today. We hate to see them try to drive from Green Bay to Iron Mountain in a raging storm.

Also, Sargie's son, Cale, drives a box truck on a specified route and will get to deal with less than perfect conditions. 

As far as Sargie and I are concerned, we'll just throw another log on the fire and watch the snow fall, even if it is blowing sideways.

There's something I've been hiding for the past two days, something that takes all my manhood genes just to spit this out.

Here it goes.

Mel and her mother painted Sadie's toenails a girly girl, hot pink, last weekend. Yep, I've been playing with and walking a fifi dog.

Seems like a grown up version of playing with dolls. 

Looking down from above, I'm sure Dad is laughing his backside off and I know once they learn I've been hanging out with a less than manly pooch, the group texts from my sons will come pouring in. I know my good buddy and trail boss, Scotty, the most manly man I know, will not let me live this down. 

Even Gary, my AT hiking buddy in correspondence, probably won't write any more. 

I knew going into this that caring for a pup that is half poodle could possibly tarnish my manly reputation. 

I mean, a poodle? 

"Oooh lala, mon cheri." 

Makes me kind of want to throw up in my mouth a bit.

Thankfully, half of Sadie is golden retriever. 

"HEY DOG, GO FETCH THAT DUCK AND WHILE YOU'RE AT IT, STOP BY THE FRIDGE AND FETCH ME A COLD ONE ON YOUR WAY BACK."

A golden retriever, now there's a real dog, kind, faithful, and hard working. I've owned two golden retrievers in my lifetime and both were outstanding companions.

When people ask what kind of dog Sadie is, I say,

"Why Sadie's a GOLDENdoodle."

"She's a noodle?"

"No, she's a GOLDENdoodle."

Now that her pink toenails are public knowledge, I guess the secret's out. I'm simply going to have to toughen up and learn to be that sensitive type of guy.

Sometimes you have take one for the team and Sadies on the team, pink toenails and all.

All the above aside, Sadie is one smart pup. I've enjoyed working with her as she's eager to learn and work, but then, a poodle is classified as a working dog.

One thing thing that she's adept at is hiding when it's time to go in her kennel. She's like a little kid. I know exactly what she's thinking.

If I stand under the table behind a chair, they'll never see me.

Yeah, well, that just doesn't work, but I have to give her an A for effort.

I spent much of Wednesday afternoon in the shop where I finally made my first official segmented ring using the newly constructed segment sled, wedges, and a stop.

First came ripping pieces of pine and mahogany to the exact widths of each other.

Anticipating less than perfect sight in the future, I'd built the sled two weeks ago to lessen the need for a tape measure. With preset wedges all cut to an exact angle, I only need to adjust the arms of the sled to the wedge, remove that before sliding the wood past the saw blade to a preset stop that measures an exact length.

Before beginning, I marked how many segments would be required to make a complete circle on the wedges.

Everything worked great and I was grateful I'd found the pattern online. The "stop," is located on the other side of the blade and is permanently marked at predetermined lengths (for an eight, sixteen, etc. segmented circle) eliminating the need to read a tape measure.

There's more than one way to skin a cat... or make a segmented bowl.

Next came gluing the segments. That was the fun part. I still have a kindergartener's mentality when it comes to pasting or gluing anything together. 

Finally, a large hose clamp was fastened around the sixteen pieces and tightened. The segmented ring will be laminated into a full sized bowl in the near future before being turned smooth.

Sargie proposed playing another game of Rummy late in the afternoon. I should have known better than to pick up the gauntlet she'd thrown down.

Revenge for her one game loss while in Madison was extracted as she showed absolutely no mercy during her march to a resounding victory. 

Sargie, Sadie, and I, walked three miles yesterday afternoon. Learning quickly, Sadie has turned from the lunging, pulling, idiot mutt, into a near perfect walking companion.

Let's see, in grandbaby news, Makenna's beginning to enjoy the world while standing on two legs. Weighing just a pound or two more than Cheeks and barely out of newborn clothes, the pint sized, six month old is beginning to enjoy life as a big girl.

OK, time to get this uploaded and the day started. Sargie's already in the shower and I'm way past due for my morning walk. It's warm enough outdoors that Sadie can go with.

On the other hand, maybe she ought to stay home. Being the newly sensitive guy that I've become, I'd hate for her to ruin her pink toenails.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

In a sensitive, caring-guy, kind of way, I noticed the light seemed to be bothering Sadie last evening, so I reached down and pulled one ear over her eye. She didn't move after.