Sargie's cutting a support brace

September 30, 2021 - Thursday morning

46 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I don't believe the weather could be any more perfect than what we're presently experiencing. Highs are reaching into the mid 70's with low humidity, plenty of sunshine, and little wind. Coupled with the beautiful leaves, this fall is shaping up to be one of the nicest we've had in years.

Wednesday was mostly about leaves and barn siding. Strange combination, eh? Home from my usual hike, I began using the "denailer" and removing the million (or more) finishing nails from the trim that had been around the old back door. I'd place the nose of the denailer onto the sharp end of the nail that was sticking from the other side, pull the trigger, and let it shoot into the garbage can below.

A piece of cardboard was used to prevent the nails from bouncing out onto the drive.

Sargie and I took a drive later in the morning and enjoyed looking at the vivid colors. 

It was well into the afternoon before we started installing the Milligan Mountain barn siding in the garden house. Much of the time was initially spent in preparation, carrying the tools from the shop to the garden, measuring pieces, and taking stock of the inventory. 

I'm not sure "rustic" best describes the wood. Much of it has suffered from dry rot and is quite fragile. Fearing we won't have enough to complete the inside of the garden house, Sargie and I spent quite a bit of time piecing and measuring, ensuring we were getting the best possible use out of any given piece.

The biggest installation problem lies in that no two pieces are the same width or thickness. Where one board might be 8 inches wide by 3/4 inch thick, another could be 7 1/2 inches wide and 11/4 inch thick. Throw in a goodly measure of dry rot, along with a sound case of warping, and installing the siding is proving to be a, well, I'll be nice and use the word challenge.

I don't know what I'd do without Sargie's assistance. In fact, as she often takes the lead, there are times I feel as though I'm assisting her. She's adept at using the power tools and has an eye for piecing everything together. My girl also has a great deal of patience, not only for the difficult installation, but also to tolerate my grumbling. 

I don't know what I'd do without her. The row and a half we've installed so far looks beautiful. 

I was especially happy late yesterday afternoon as we measured and cut the holes in one long board for the four electrical outlets along the back wall. As Ben of the Hometown fame would say, we measured twice and barely cussed once as the outlets and holes matched in near perfect unison. 

It appears that what we thought might take a day or two will stretch into three or more before we're finished. Now that the tools are in place and the prep work complete, installation should go a little faster.

 Cutting rot from a warped end

We've decided to postpone today's leaf peeping drive until later this afternoon so we can get an early start working in the garden house. I intend to begin as soon as I arrive home from my morning walk, right around first light.

With the leaves beginning to fall from the vines, I'm finding multiple bunches of delicious, ripe, deep purple grapes.

Time to strap on the headlamp and go for a stroll.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

September 29, 2022 - Wednesday morning

42 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It was difficult to watch that large fifth wheel trailer lumber away yesterday morning as we saw Mississippi Brother and Miss Jody off. Sargie and I stood in the middle of the road, waving, until they were out of sight, as if doing so would make their visit last just a bit longer. 

Garry and I had spent time in the shop earlier in the day. He taught me how to turn and adorn a wooden bell.

My big brother also demonstrated how to use a guitar string to burn in borders and accents. It's unreal what that man knows. I can only wish I was half as talented.

Lastly, he reshaped one of my chisels into a real working tool, one that I had given up on and thought was fairly worthless. In Garry's hands, it peeled away the layers of wood on the lathe like a hot knife slicing through butter.

As I said, it was hard seeing Miss Jody and Garry leave. We'll catch up to them at some point in the future, but until then, Garry and I will keep writing daily, the same as we have for nearly four decades.

Saddened, Sargie and I decided to take a drive to the north and look at the changing leaves.

They're not quite at peak color yet, but should be in the next day or two.

Back home, I took my daily walk to Pentoga Village and back. 

Sargie met me as I was nearing the house. We talked as we walked along, mostly how much we were already missing our southern friends. 

"Hey, want to play a game of H-O-R-S-E?" she asked in an effort to cheer both of us up. 

Oh no, I've been duped into shooting hoops with my bride before and I've yet to emerge victorious. Still, I reluctantly agreed.

It was to be the best of two out of three contests. My girl won the first.

I rallied to win the second game. This was a barn burner on Pentoga Road.

The deciding game was at hand and the score close. 

Taking a deep breath, I shot, rimmed the ball and watched as it went round and round, only to fall away from the hoop. Sargie once again emerged victorious and remains as the undefeated Pentoga Road World Champion.

Having given up all hope of a professional basketball career, I started the old Ford tractor and removed the front sign. The paint and varnish have worn thin over the past ten years and a letter or two badly needs repair.

One of the posts had rotted off under ground. We'd noticed it had become a bit wiggly this past year.

I'll be either making a new sign or repairing this old one in the days to come. It's still undecided which.

The end of the day saw Sargie and me sorting and measuring the Milligan Mountain barn wood. It appears we might have just enough to cover the interior of the garden house.

The forecast calls for continued sunny skies and warm temperatures in the mid to upper 70's before rain and colder weather arrive this coming weekend. I'm hoping we might get the inside walls of the garden house covered while the sun is shining. No doubt, we'll go for a ride and look at the leaves later today and I'm about to leave for my morning walk in a few minutes.

There is, however, one thing of which there is no doubt.

A man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

Miss Jody and Sargie discussing the trim to be installed around the new door.

September 28, 2021 - Tuesday morning

37 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Garry and I are up early this morning sipping coffee. The folks will be departing for points south later today. Their eventual goal is Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a weeklong gathering of religious praise and song. 

Yesterday was shot day for me in Rhinelander. All I'll say is... well, it was shot day. I received really good news in that I don't have to have another one for eight weeks. The doctor, with the aid of a newer, stronger, medication, is attempting to go as long as possible between injections so I don't have to get off the trail for shots quite so often next year. 

I'm running short on time this morning, but I think the pictures will tell yesterday's story. Garry and Sargie took charge in purchasing the needed trim to finish the back door and both worked together later to install it around both the storm and interior doors. Miss Jody and I did equally as well supervising.

Last evening ended with a wonderful meal of leftovers, food from the past several days. It was agreed by all that it might have been the best supper yet.

On today's agenda, well, Garry and I are going to sip a pot or two of coffee before the ladies get up and talk enough to hold us for the next few months. Though we write each other daily, face to face time is valuable between brothers who live a thousand miles apart.

Otherwise, I'll go for my walk at some point later on today and there's a large stack of Milligan Mountain barn boards to begin installing on the inside walls of the garden house.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

There was a quick family reunion on Pentoga Road Sunday afternoon.

Mississippi Brother Garry and Yooper Brother Mark

September 27, 2021 - Monday morning

50 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's a darn good thing I was here yesterday to keep those two yahoos in line. Mark and Sheri stopped out and the six of us had a short, but nice, visit.

I'm a lucky man to be able to call Garry and Mark my brothers. Growing up, I was envious of my friends who had actual blood brothers. There was Barb, my sister, whom I loved and still love, but she's a girl. Her ideas of what to play and mine seemed to be at opposite ends of the universe.

As Mom said more than once, "You'd never know we had the same parents."

God had other ideas in mind and let me wait until adulthood to give me not one brother, but two. Garry came into my life first, almost forty years ago. Mark happened along thirty years later. 

No, we don't wrestle, make hideouts, play pirates, or cops and robbers, but my love for both is deep and strong and for that, I'm grateful. Both know me well and I, in return, the same with each. 

Only one problem and it's a big one. Garry's a bit older than I am, Mark a few years younger. That leaves poor Tommy P as the middle child which explains everything. After being with both for a short while yesterday and being teased, picked on, if you will, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm suffering from the Middle Child Syndrome. According to healthline.com, it's defined as:

"Middle child syndrome is the belief that middle children are excluded, ignored, or even outright neglected because of their birth order. According to the lore, some children may have certain personality and relationship characteristics as a result of being the middle child."

So, that explains a lot. Hey, how about some sympathy for this middle child, eh? 

No? 

Never mind.

It's a fast write this morning as we'll be leaving Pentoga Road shortly after 7 AM for Rhinelander. It's eyeball shot day. I've tried to talk Garry into coming into the room and holding my hand, but so far, he's resisted.

Some brother he is.

Garry and I got busy yesterday morning installing the new back door.

Out with the old

For some reason or the other, the living room is level and square. Installing the door was a matter of setting it in place and making a few adjustments before permanently nailing the frame into place.

I'll post pictures of the finished installation, inside and out, in the next few days once the trim is installed. With its beveled glass and other features, we love it.

The storm door wasn't quite as easy. For whatever reason, the previous owner had removed part of the frame. Though the storm door is solid, a bit more work will have to be done to make it completely weather tight. 

Last night was a short one. Sargie and Miss Jody had gone to town to pick up fried chicken at the deli. The four of us must have been tired as it was quieter than usual sitting around the dining room table.

This morning will be filled with the trip to Rhinelander. The afternoon, who knows? Being somewhat laid up after receiving the injection, I may just plop in the shop recliner and listen to Garry turn something beautiful on the lathe.

Time to get ready.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Trying to figure out how to assemble a combination/security door knob. Wading through the instructions was like Helen Keller leading Stevie Wonder through a mine field.