I'm off to make an oval track in the front meadow. More about that further down.

February 19, 2021 - Friday morning 

12 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's the calm before the storm on Pentoga Road as Hambone will be spending the weekend with us. Grandma Sargie and I, both, are looking forward to his visit a great deal. After spending so much time with us last summer, we got used to having my shadow around and miss him.

I used the snowmobile yesterday afternoon to make a large oval in the front meadow. With a hard path carved into the deep snow, the Tundra tends to follow the track on its own. In fact, it's difficult to steer it out and is perfect for a six year old driver.

Hambone can drive the Tundra all by himself while he's here, round and round and round and round.

The little guy is growing up.

After stopping at the hardware store for a couple of electrical outlet boxes, much of yesterday was spent putting the finishing touches on the wiring inside the garden house.

It feels good to have that chore out of the way. All the outlets, save one, worked, and after some sleuthing, I found one wire that had come undone. It was a quick fix and we're now in business.

The pump in the garden pond continues to circulate water, seemingly without a problem. Sargie snapped a few pictures yesterday while I was looking through the hole, ensuring it was running.

I've observed (from afar) polar bears waiting by an air hole on the surface of the sea ice for a seal to pop his head through. 

After making Hambone's snowmobile track, I came inside and was roped into a game of Rummy. It took no small amount of finesse and skill... well, okay, I was lucky, but after an hour of living room floor war, I emerged victorious.

Yooper Brother Mark will be here in a bit for our usual Friday morning walk. 

Sargie made some mention yesterday about going to Cheeks' house today and help care for the baby while Mel gets some rest. Hambone will be coming home with after school.

I think I'll bow out of the baby care time, keep the home fires going on Pentoga Road, maybe light up  the outside wood stove, and try to be creative in the shop.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The harbor in Thorne Bay, Alaska

Joanna Schneider photo