A tree heavy with wild plums in Pentoga Village

July 8, 2021 - Thursday morning
48 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Unfortunately, most of the plum trees are barren, probably as a result of the hard freeze we experienced in early May that saw temperatures plummet into the mid teens. Most of our area trees were in full blossom so there'll be little fruit this year of any kind, including apples.

Wednesday was a different kind of day. Light rain persisted in falling throughout the morning. I managed to sneak in my walk between showers and arrived home unscathed. With the recent rains, Black Eyed Susans are beginning to replace the daisies that have adorned Pentoga Road for the past month.

We made a quick dash to town for Sargie's Coke with a stop at the local hardware store for a couple of needed sale items.

Back home, with the rain ending, Sargie and I finished working up the firewood from the second ash tree. It was time to move on.

The two wheeled weed trimmer is used to remove any weeds or brush so I can easily work around the base while cutting down a tree. It, along with the power saw and other equipment, was loaded into the trailer before leaving for the woods.

I was a bit fearful, not really fearful, but greatly respected, the next tree that was to be sawed. The large ash, like many, was perfectly symmetrical at the top, had no lean one way or the other, and was harder than a rock. I asked Sargie to come out with me, just in case, as I made a large notch 2/3rd's the way into the trunk, back cut on the opposite side, and used a wedge to finally make it come crashing to the ground.

In the end, I missed my mark by about ten feet, but the tree was down and I could begin cutting it into chunks.

The rest of the day was spent working alongside Sargie, cutting and hauling. Just one problem. The tree, even sawed into workable lengths, proved too heavy for the old tractor to lift very far off the ground. I often had to tease it a foot or two into the air before shoving a chunk of wood underneath so it could be sawed through.

If the tractor had a soul, I'd have felt sorry as the antique machine creaked and groaned while lifting the heavy trunk.

We slowly made progress. 

It was late afternoon before the final piece was cut. Sargie took a load to the barn while I loaded the bucket on the tractor with larger pieces and followed. We'll finish hauling what's left later today.

Later, in the shed, I quit counting the rings on a bottom piece of the tree at 125. It wouldn't surprise me if the tree was 150 to 175 years old, possibly more, before it died. Located on the main trail that runs through our property, one that was used by the local Indian tribe for their annual spring and fall migrations to the local lake, I'm sure the old ash could have told stories not written in any history books.

I did a bit of "cyphering" (as Sargie calls it) and figure that tree, alone, will supply enough firewood to heat our small home for nearly a month this coming winter. Even in death, it was a valuable addition to Pentoga Road.

It was time to meet Mel, Macrea, Cheeks, and Hambone for the Grady exchange. We had a quick, but pleasant, conversation before loading our seven year old chatty cargo into the car and returning back home.

The big news is that, I swear, I heard Cheeks say her first words. Yep, she said "Pawpaw." 

Darn straight and I wouldn't lie about something that important.

Well, that, or she might have just been blowing bubbles, but I'm pretty sure she said Pawpaw. 

If you don't believe me, just ask her.

With a ban on electronics, playing with a phone or any other electronic devices, INCLUDING watching Mine Craft videos on youtube, we had a wonderful evening. Chatty Cathy, I mean Hambone, showed us a candle he'd made at daycare and was delighted when Grandma Sargie struck a flame to the wick.

Other than my morning stroll, I'm not at all certain what's on today's agenda. Hambone and I may get a load of sand for the pond. Yooper Brother Mark made mention earlier that he and Isabella might come out and we'd go kayaking, something that's become an annual tradition when Isabella's visiting Grandma and Grandpa. She and Hambone have been buddies since they were babies. Whatever we do, the sun's up and it's time to get the day started.

So much to do, so little time.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

I have it pretty good, eh?

Sargie's driving me to the work site on the four wheeler.