Ivy's getting ready for Easter
She and Daddy decorated eggs Sunday afternoon

March 29, 2021 - Monday morning
15 degrees/partly cloudy/windy
Pentoga Road

Boy oh boy, there's just nuthin' to write about this morning as Sunday was a nuthin' day. At least Sargie accomplished sumthin'. She made a big ol' pot of clam chowder.

Me? I did nuthin'.

The weather was so lousy yesterday morning that my morning walk was postponed until later in the afternoon. Hiking through several inches of wet glop just didn't sound appealing.

Even Sadie was satisfied to stay inside. When we eventually ventured out, she managed to lose her tennis ball in the snow and seemed happy to return to her spot in front of my chair and sleep the day away.

Sargie and I watched a movie late yesterday afternoon, our excitement for the day. 

I ordered a pair of micro spikes to take on the trail next year. Expecting to encounter ice in the early going, the spikes are mini crampons, human tire chains with sharp picks, to help keep me from slipping while hiking up and down the mountains. 

I'll ship them back home along with my winter wear once I'm out of the Smokies and into warmer climes.

Micro spikes aren't cheap, but what are they worth?

Quite a bit compared to a hike ending injury.

I also purchased a brand new, genuine, knock-off, made-in-China, carburetor for the backhoe at a whopping $12. Easier and less expensive than installing a kit or simply cleaning the old carb, this will the the fourth year in a row I've purchased a new one. Hey, for $12 and ten minutes of my time, why not?

Speaking of all things mechanical, Andy sent a picture of the additions to his four wheeler. I'm told he now has complete surround sound for his stereo system and check out that light bar.

Ivy's two-up seat in the back looks more comfortable than my recliner. Seems both are ready to head out on the trails for the coming summer months.

Andy's heading back down to Louisiana to move an oil rig in the Gulf. He hopes to be back in Maine for a week or two before flying to El Salvador off the coast of Venezuela for another oil rig move. Eventually, once the Covid travel ban is lifted, he'll be working out of Norway. 

Hambone, Cheeks, Mel, and Macrea, arrived back home last night from a weekend vacation to Wisconsin Dells. Hambone told me yesterday on the phone that he mined all kinds of precious stones.

I'd bet good money Cheeks was more interested in her next bottle than finding gems or playing at the indoor water park.

What's on today's agenda? Put it this way, if I even breathe hard, I'll have expended more energy than any of yesterday's efforts. 

Naw, I'm heading out the door fairly soon for my morning hike. Though it's cold and windy right now, today's high is forecast to reach nearly 60 degrees. Should that actually happen, I'd like to drain the hydraulic fluids from the tractor and replace those. There's an Easter puzzle that needs to be finished in the shop at some point this week, and sometime today, the kids will be over to pick up Sadie. It'll be time to tell my fuzzball four-legged girlfriend goodbye.

Time to elevate the heart rate and get the day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One of the local Lutheran churches at the top of Stambaugh Hill