Trilliums everywhere

May 16, 2021 - Sunday morning
36 degrees/fog/calm winds
Pentoga Road

The woods are filled with them, millions and millions of trilliums. The flowers, initially white, will remain that way for a week or two, then turn to a beautiful hue of lavender/purple in their dying days.

It appears my Fuji camera has died. I've noticed the picture quality has diminished in the past several weeks with many of the shots somewhat blurry. It finally died yesterday afternoon.

The tough cams are hardy to a point. They'll withstand being dropped and submerged, but after twenty five years and owning almost that many cameras, I notice they're good for about a year of hard daily use and not much more.

I'm going to press the GoPro 8 into action to replace the Fuji and see how that works. It's much lighter, supposedly hardier, and I'll be taking it with on the trail anyway, so there's no time like the present. 

Yesterday was a pick 'em up and throw 'em down day. Walking through Pentoga, I met Tim, Wade's brother, who drove up to care for the family camp on the outskirts of the village. From the Milwaukee area, he said he'd read on the blog that Sargie had been mowing our grass, so he decided their's might need the same.

Tim reentered our lives later in the day.

Back home, I loaded six barrels into the Blazer and left for town. I needed to stop at the auto parts store and leave goodies off at Mechanic Dave's before continuing onto the plant for a load of wood shavings and chips.

With Sargie's help, we began laying landscape cloth and spreading the chips. Those that were spread years ago have decomposed and need refreshing. Since I'll be gone next summer, this is the year.

We also pried several large rocks from the aisles that had worked their way to the surface. On my knees, I'd just lifted one and rolled it onto the two wheeled cart. Before I could stand upright, Sargie grabbed the handles and hauled it away.

That's some super hero/Wonder Woman I'm married to!

Dave sent a text saying the Kia was finished. Sargie and I finished emptying the barrels and loaded them back into the Blazer so we could get yet another load on our way home after getting the car.

Dave and his wife, Krista, have the biggest hearts of anyone I know. Having their own children, they've adopted and fostered many others. Both work full time and Dave takes on side jobs to help with family expenses. 

Zoey, who was recently adopted

Their story could be made into a Hallmark movie, only in this case, it would be true. Both are good, loving, and hard working. Dave subscribes to my theory of child rearing. Set expectations high, combine them with unconditional love and unending support and the child will rise to meet them. That's certainly been the case with all those whom Dave and Krista have touched, including his two younger sisters that he raised when he was barely an adult.

It's people like Krista and Dave that give me hope for our world long after I'm gone.

And Meliah is just as much a part of the family

Lest you think Krista and Dave only have three year old girls, think again. There are boys in the mix. The girls just happened to be outside playing.

Before we left for town, a car pulled into the drive. It was Tim whom I'd mentioned earlier. Seems he'd found a dog wandering around Pentoga Village. Well groomed and obviously cared for, he asked if we knew who it might belong to. Neither Sargie or I had a clue.

Home from getting the Kia, Sargie and I decided to drive to Pentoga Village and visit Tim, see what was new in the world of lost dogs. On our way, we met two pickup trucks parked at an intersection. They looked as though they were looking for a pup.

To make a long story short, the very nice folks whom I'd never met and have a seasonal place not far from here, had indeed, lost their pet, and asked if I'd seen him. I motioned for them to follow me.

It was a joyous reunion late yesterday afternoon when I could introduce everyone and see the pooch reunited with their owners.

I wish I could remember names and the camera hadn't been broken. There aren't enough happy endings in this world and yesterday produced a good one.

It's goldfish spawning season in the garden pond. Seems the boys are chasing the girls all over the place, pushing on their bellies, hoping they'll drop their eggs.

One anomaly we're watching is the love fest between our resident sucker, one purchased from Gloria's Bait Shop several years ago, and a large white female goldfish. Obviously a male in full mating colors (a stripe running along his side), the overly hormonal sucker is following her all over the pond in hopes of making her his girlfriend. I've tried to do some research wondering if the two species can cross, but haven't come up with anything yet. 

The goldfish mating action is so hot and heavy that I'm tempted to open a 1-900 site and make some real money. 

Hmm, goldfish porn.

That ain't gonna happen. I'm not set up to take credit cards.

(Sorry honey, it was there for free. What can I say? I had to say it.)

Time to head out the door for my morning walk. On today's agenda will be to continue laying landscape cloth in the aisles before covering it with chips. 

No doubt, we'll go for a Sunday afternoon drive and after that, who knows? When one is married to Wonder Woman, life can be filled with nonstop action.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...