Nachos, Fish, and Storms

Sargie emerged as the master angler Sunday evening

July 8, 2013 – Monday

65 degrees/calm/mist/drizzle

Pentoga Road

Sunday morning’s rain and cool temperatures turned into Sunday afternoon’s steam bath. It appears today could be the same.

Sargie and I lay in bed last night listening to the sounds of thunder in the far distance. I awakened at 12:30 as Mother Nature played a well written imitation of a Wagner symphony outside our window. At 2:30, the rain began to fall and another half an inch accumulated before the storm system moved on about an hour ago.

I’m not sure Sargie or I got a lot of sleep last night. The storms weren’t dangerous, but it seems we were awake a lot. Some days are diamonds; others are coal. Last night, we mined coal. 

Brutus and I were excited about walking Sunday morning. As the clouds cleared away and the sun appeared, I decided that if we were going to attempt some sort of walk, there was no time like the present. It had been a full six weeks, almost seven.

The dog almost did canine cartwheels when Sargie got his leash from the wall by the basement stairs. He hurried to the door and sat, waiting for me to catch up.

I donned hiking socks, strapped on my ultra light shoes, and seconds later, we were on the road.

I’m not going to lie and say how good it felt to be back stepping off the miles. In fact, we only made it up the hill to Mrs. Wilkinson’s driveway before we were forced to turn around; a distance of quarter mile. The knee was growing stiff and made clicking sounds. By the time we arrived back home, I was ready to quit.

Fearing a replay of last week’s swelling episode, I immediately propped my leg up and applied ice. Thankfully, there was no swelling and I made it through the rest of the day in good shape. Brutus and I will take an identical walk again today. As Sargie says, “Baby steps.” It’s going to be a process. Right now, the Appalachian Trail seems a long ways away.

Brutus’s paw held up well during the walk, but the poor pup was overheated. I quickly turned on the floor fan and he lay his head just inches from it enjoying the fast moving air.

Sargie and I took our usual Sunday afternoon ride. She was especially happy with a few bargains found at the local Insurance Liquidators. We later took advantage of the drive-through at McDonalds and purchased a coke and ice cream cone then enjoyed the surrounding countryside from inside the air-conditioned car.

A deer browsing in someone's side yard in Iron River

I had a craving for super nachos. Sargie browned hamburger and we drizzled cheese, refried beans, jalapeno peppers, black olives, and every other ingredient known to modern man over mountains of corn chips. An hour later, we both felt like beached whales wondering why we ate so much. Oh well, it was fun and tasted good, but I swore I am never going to eat again.

Sargie took me fishing Sunday evening and holds the title of Bass and Bluegill Master Angler of Pentoga Road. The girl-guide landed multiple bass, most just under the legal size and several bluegills.

The funniest event occurred when we were trolling in front of the local summer camp. A couple-hundred high school students were seated on benches close to the beach facing the lake engaged in some sort of awards ceremony. Sargie and I were quietly trolling directly in front, trying to be as nonchalant and unobtrusive as possible. Suddenly she got a strike and a second later, a fish hit my lure. We had a double catch, both of us landing bass in front of the entire assembly. Mine put on quite the aerial display adding to show. I’m expecting a call from one of the outdoors channels at any time.

The temperatures and humidity had steadily climbed during the late afternoon hours. We arrived home just before dark and found the thermometer in the living room registering 89 degrees with 98% humidity. The dog was once again overheating (after playing a quick session of fetch) and Sargie and I were hot, sweaty, and fishy. Showers felt good and we spent the rest of the evening enjoying the rush of the cooler evening air blown in by a window fan.

Sargie’s back to work today and will enjoy supper tonight with Mr. Milligan at the VA Hospital. The boys from the internet provider are to be here before noon to install a new antenna, one that is supposed to cure my every digital reception ill. I think they’re full of poops, but we’ll see. At this juncture, I’m willing to try anything.

Loons paddling by our boat

Brutus and I will do our half-mile walk and take the rest of the day as it comes.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Sheri and Sarah stopped for a visit on Saturday afternoon. They came driving Yooper Brother Mark's brand new side-by-side ATV. When the cat's away...

July 7, 2013 – Sunday

67 degrees/rain/calm

Pentoga Road

This is one of those summer mornings that I love. It’s dark and cool with the rumblings of thunder echoing somewhere far away. The sound of the rain hitting the tin roof is hypnotic. After yesterday’s scorching 91 degrees, this is like a long, cool, drink of water. It’s as though the outside is being washed, making everything fresh and new.

Day two of my self-imposed confinement was a mixed bag. After cleaning a large bowl of strawberries, I managed to sneak out and mow all the back meadows and trails. The belt that drives the blades slipped from the pulleys twice causing me to drive back to the shop and put it back on.

After looking at this picture, I can see why the blades weren't turning!

The thistles were tall, but haven’t yet bloomed. I got the majority hacked down and if it dries later today, I’ll go out with a hoe and chop those I couldn’t reach with the mower.

Much of the afternoon was spent watching The Buddy Holly Story staring Gary Busey and Maria Richwine. I’d seen it before and enjoyed it as much the second time around.

I remember, well over a half-century ago, at 11 AM on Saturday morning, American Bandstand came on television and the sounds of the 50’s and 60’s blared into our living room. My sister, Barb, loved the program and tried to get me to dance with her. I was the listener. She was the shaker and mover.

Page Two

Brutus playing cat and mouse with a remote car

Sheri and Sarah stopped and we had a wonderful visit. It was fun listening to Sarah tell stories of her fourth grade classroom in Wyoming. She’s come a long ways from being one of my college undergraduate students in Sitka years ago and I’m proud of her.

I sent some green onions home with Sheri

Sargie arrived home late as she had to close the Vision Center then go grocery shopping after. We won’t be starving any time soon. I think we’re going to make super nacho platters for supper tonight, one of my favorites.

Sargie’s off today and we have absolutely no plans. No doubt, we’ll take a Sunday afternoon drive and I hope that Brutus and I might take a test walk of a mile or two. My knee is weak, but the swelling is almost gone and there’s little or no pain. The large cut on Brutus’s pad has scabbed over and is healing with no signs of infection. The pup now has only a small limp. If either of us has many more days with no activity, we’re going to drive each other crazy. It’s a toss-up to know which of us is more eager to resume our normal lifestyles.

I think that’s all the news from the northern Midwest. It’s rainy, cool, dark, and from my point of view, life is pretty darn good.

All three meadows were mowed Saturday morning

Except, my coffee cup is empty. I need to get off my backside and fill it. A man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

I was standing at the sink cleaning strawberries when Sargie walked by.

Saturday, July 6, 2013

July 6, 2013 – Saturday

64 degrees/sunny/breezy

Pentoga Road

Summer seems to have settled in with a vengeance. With a high of 85 predicted, it’s going to be a warm one today.

There’s not a lot to write about. Due to the knee, after a painful Fourth of July where I got to watch everyone else swim and play in the pool, I decided to dedicate a full three or four days to doing nothing. It seems to be paying off. I was completely pain-free yesterday, slept like a rock last night, and seem to have a bit more mobility this morning.

Because I was physically inactive doesn’t mean I died. I graded papers early in the morning and did non-contact outside activities like watering the garden and picking a bowl of strawberries.

I’m encouraged with the progress of the garden. Everything’s beginning to grow and it appears this year won’t be a complete failure. I looked at last year’s log on alaskaprofessor.blogspot.com and discovered the garden is about three weeks to a month behind last year’s.

The strawberries are beginning to slow down. Even with the four inches of rain we received two weeks ago, the remaining berries are becoming small and seedy. There’s one, maybe two more pickings and we can kiss them goodbye for another year. The ever bearing strawberries, those I planted early this spring, are beginning to produce, but they aren’t doing very well and remain extremely small. I’m finding they aren’t nearly as robust as their June berry cousins.

I was going to spend the day in the barn carving, but honestly, it was too hot. I shuffled a few things around, put a screwdriver and hammer away, and blew sawdust off the band saw. I can’t concentrate on anything when there’s sweat dripping in my eyes.

It took the entire afternoon to empty almost 6,000 pictures from the hard drive on this computer. That was one year’s worth of picture taking. Why so many?

I often don’t see so good, so I snap several pictures of the same object to download on the computer. Later, I can magnify each and see the details, enjoy what I might have missed earlier. The other day, I discovered there was an infestation of potato beetles on the eggplants, garden huckleberries, and potatoes. I found insect eggs on the cherry tree in a picture. Pictures often serve as an aid as well as providing memories and entertainment. The majority are simply deleted after being viewed.

The computer is back to being lightening fast. If fact, it’s so speedy that if I didn’t sit in my recliner to work, I might get blown right out of the chair. That’s a lie.

Yooper Brother Mark stopped out during the afternoon to visit. He leaves today for a week at scout camp. The man has been a Boy Scout leader for many years and is known throughout the Upper Peninsula for his work with the youngsters in this area of the state. We talked for well over an hour and as always, it was great to see my good friend.

The internet company called and said they are bringing out another type of antenna Monday morning. They’ve previously tried two others. I doubt this one will result in anything different. They now think it’s “noise” that is creating the dropout periods in my service. After a year and a half of problems, I’ll try anything, but honestly, I’m not overly optimistic. You can’t win the Kentucky Derby with a mule.

Brutus’s paw seems to be doing okay, but we had one potential medical crisis the night before last.

The super glue I’d used to close the cut on Wednesday had worn out, so Thursday evening, Sargie fed him treats and petted his belly while he lay on his back and I attempted to glue the wound shut again.

All went well. The bulldog happily munched his yum yums and I pronounced another successful living room floor surgical procedure had been accomplished. We exalted in the glory of it all until the dog attempted to get up and we both discovered I’d glued my index finger to the pad of his foot. I’d been pressing the two sides of the wound together and some glue had leaked. 

The treats were gone and the dog was growing restless. There’s something fairly nerve wracking about being glued to large bulldog who was rapidly growing impatient. We were firmly attached.

Sargie left to find a one-sided razor blade. After a few minutes, I yelled and told her that anything with an edge might suffice. At that point, a serrated butter knife would have looked good. Brutus kept trying to get up and it soon became a one armed/three legged wrestling match on the living room floor.

Sargie returned a few minutes later with a window scraper; the one containing a razor blade that we use to scrape paint off panes of glass. Thankfully, it was sharp enough that I could cut between my finger and Brutus’s paw and we were soon freed of each other.

I have to admit, that’s one of the more stupid things I’ve done in my life. Year’s ago, in Maine, while taking a shower, I inadvertently used the dog’s shampoo to wash my hair. We’d given our golden retriever a bath during the winter months and had no choice but to use the bathtub. I was blind without my glasses and the bottle felt like a shampoo bottle. The rest is history.

There are no pictures today. The few I’d taken yesterday morning were inadvertently moved to the external hard drive and it’s upstairs. I could say that since I’m resting the knee, I shouldn't climb the steps, but the real truth is that I'm too lazy to go get it. Just close your eyes and conjure up photos of a garden, some strawberries, a shop that is looking more complete than it did the day before yesterday, and Brutus’s paw.

Sargie works late today. I’m going to mow the back trails and knock down some of the thistles that are getting ready to bloom. For the first time in years, I feel as though I am getting a handle on the thistle problem… simply by mowing before they can flower and spread their seeds in the wind. There’s a small area in the garden that I’d like to till, but that would require using the knee and we all know, that’s a no-no.

Meanwhile, I need to wake Sargie, get another cup of coffee, listen to the news, and think deep thoughts. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

July 5, 2013

July 5, 2013 – Friday

56 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Whew, I’ve got to clean everything from the hard drive this morning on my Mac. It’s starting to remind me of the Windows computers I’ve owned over the past twenty-five years. It’s sluggish, takes forever to boot a program, and isn’t acting Mac-like at all. I had to do the same thing a year ago and after, it was as though I’d purchased a new machine. With a year’s worth of pictures, videos, research papers, students’ assignments, and downloads and jokes of all genre’s, it’s probably a good thing I transfer it all to the external hard drive and begin again.

The Fourth was a fun one spent with the Milligan family. We swam and gabbed, laughed and ate, our way through the day. I initially swam for an hour or so, or I should say, held up a wall of the pool, but with my heart migrating back into a swollen knee, I climbed from the water and spent the rest of the day on dry land.

Regan, Emily, and Marley

Just because my knee hurt didn’t mean there was anything wrong with my stomach. I enjoyed all the munchies and especially delighted in Sargie’s brother-in-law’s homemade pickles. In fact, we did a bit of bartering and I agreed to trade a quart jar of homemade maple syrup for one filled with his pickles.

Boyd is a real gardener; in fact, he has two, one at their home and another at his camp. He said this is the lousiest gardening season he’s experienced in years. I talked with another of Sargie’s brothers-in-law and he’s completely given up on his garden. He said nothing is growing due to the cold nights and he simply quit trying.

Boyd and Macrea playing "washers"

Talking to both made me feel better. I was fearful it was me… evidently others are having the same results. It’s simply not a good growing year.

I spent much of the day with Sargie’s older brother, Pat. He’s not a huge noise, heat, and crowd person and we often find ourselves together in a quiet corner at the family gatherings. We spent much of yesterday in the air conditioning, watching the History Channel, and talking. He’s a really nice man, an avid reader, and one of the smartest people with real common sense I’ve ever met. Pat’s never been to Alaska, yet probably knows more about the state, it’s people and history, than I do… and I teach Alaska studies at the university and graduate level.

Nephew Derek is cooking the brats and burgers. Sister Jeannie is assisting, and Sargie is supervising.

We left the gathering around 5 PM and went to the VA Hospital to have supper with Mr. Milligan. After, the three of us took a stroll around the block and enjoyed the evening air.

Sargie and I decided to forsake the local fireworks last night in favor of a full night’s sleep. She has to work early this morning and then close on Saturday. Sargie may have gotten the holiday off, but is certainly paying for it the next two days.

I’ve got papers to grade this morning and probably won’t do much today or for the next several. I’ve got to lay off the knee and get this darn thing healed. The way it’s going, the summer will be a long and distant memory before I’m able to get active again. To say I’m frustrated is somewhat of an understatement.

I think I’ll start carving again. I’m no artist, shaper of wood, or artisan. I simply enjoy piddling around, making stuff appear out of what used to be ordinary boards or chunks of firewood. 99% of what I carve ends up in the wood stove and that’s okay. It’s fun, I learn something new each time I begin a project, and occasionally, something actually turns out looking passable.

Time to get another cup of coffee and think deep thoughts. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

July 4, 2013

July 4, 2013
69 degrees/sunny/breezy
Pentoga Road

Happy Fourth of July and may God bless America.

After over extending the knee yesterday, I took a Tylenol PM last night before going to bed and overslept. I've got to admit, it sure felt good to lie between the sheets this morning, listening to the leaves rustling outside our bedroom window, the breeze blowing across the bed. Sargie was laying beside me reading from her Kindle. It was the perfect beginning to what should be a great day.

Wednesday began by picking several pounds of strawberries. I think that's when I strained the knee. I was stretching so as not to step on any berries when I turned and tried to hop from one spot to the other. The result wasn't good. The doctor should have told me I shouldn't hop as well as  jump. There's a difference you know.

I compounded the problem by walking up and down the basement steps to the clothesline multiple times when doing the laundry. Oh well, at least it's done.

I traveled into town to purchase some jar lids and rings and as soon as I arrived home, began making strawberry preserves. In the end, I put up two pint and eight half pint jars. Using a potato masher to juice up the berries, I left many whole.

I noticed Brutus was limping. A pad on the front right paw was deeply cut. I have no idea how/when/why it happened, but I went into my doctor mode and cleaned the cut, filled the gapping wound with triple antibiotic cream, then used super glue to close it. It appears my living room floor surgery might have worked. He's doing well, not limping nearly as badly, and best of all, the wound appears clean and not infected.

I spent most of the afternoon cleaning the house. Since today is Sargie's only day off this week, I didn't want her feeling as though she should clean and spend her day off running from one room to the other. By 5 last night, the place looked passable.

Sargie was home by 6:30 and we had a wonderful evening of eating, watching television, and talking; mostly talking. She purchased an extra bag of nacho chips and jar of taco dip (other than those we are taking today) and we stood in the kitchen for almost an hour, talking, laughing, and eating chips and dip. After, I popped popcorn. And as long as we were having a completely junk food meal... we finished it off with ice cream topped with strawberry jam.

Today is the Milligan Fourth of July celebration. We'll attend that, no doubt spend most the afternoon in the swimming pool, then go to the VA Hospital this evening and have supper with Mr. Milligan.

I'm not sure if we'll attend the local fire works display tonight. I don't care one way or the other and will leave that up to Sargie.

So for today, all is well. The only work I have any intentions of doing is to change from my shorts into my swimming trunks.

Oops, I forgot... I'll have to shovel all the delicious Milligan Family food into my mouth later this afternoon... just when I thought I had nothing to do. I'm not surprised. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

July 3, 2013

I caught several undersized bass while fishing Tuesday evening. 

July 3, 2013 – Wednesday

46 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I took a day’s vacation from writing Tuesday morning. I don’t know, unlike when I lived and traveled the length and breadth of Alaska, caught giant fish, hunted giant animals, and climbed giant mountains, life in retirement poses a challenge in the writing department.

There’re only so many ways one can describe pulling weeds or arranging the contents of a barn. Even catching average-sized bluegills pose a description dilemma.

Two panfish caught Tuesday evening

 Writing a daily log serves as a diary. They say once one gets to a certain age, he begins to think more of days gone by rather than making plans for the future. I’ve started a process where once or twice a week, I look back to see what I was doing X amount of years ago on this date. After reading the entry and looking at the pictures, I often close my eyes while thinking of those events and drift off to sleep. It’s become a precursor to the occasional afternoon nap.

Some people do crossword puzzles; others play Solitaire. I write. It’s a passion I’ve had for over thirty years; a hobby that fills the dark, early-morning hours when normal people are still sound asleep. It keeps me between the lines, reminds me of where I’ve been and where I want to go.

I awakened Monday morning to the realization that my knee seemed to be much looser and for the majority of the day, my limp was noticeably less. Honestly, it was the first time in six weeks that it wasn’t painful to walk. I also noticed my attitude changing. I was happier than I’d been in a long time, had more energy than normal, began thinking of a sensible workout schedule, and was almost gleeful. It had been exactly a week, almost to the hour, since the surgery.

The good news was confirmed on Tuesday. My leg is healing on schedule, nature’s, NOT mine. The doctor pointed to several x-rays confirming that indeed, there is no fraying on the end of my fibula or tibia. The picture confirms they are in good shape. Even the remaining cartilage seems healthy and strong.

Those pictures are of my knee. I'll let you do the interpretation. Personally, I think they look like a full moon that is cracking apart. I know the dark band in the middle is the cartilage separating the fibula from the tibia.

 I asked why the knee has been so stiff and sore. The doctor took his time explaining even though “scoping” is considered more non-evasive than surgery, that during the procedure, (and I’ll use his exact words) “We sometimes have to really crank on the joint to get to the area that needs work.” 

He continued, saying that the affects of the procedure can be compared to a bad sprain, the muscles and ligaments were all stretched and bent in ways that aren’t natural.

So, I’ve been given the go-ahead to resume long distance hiking as soon as all the pain and stiffness is gone, but there is to be, absolutely, no long-term jumping or running. I learned my lesson. Walking it will be. I hope to begin in the next week or two.

I worked in the garden for over two hours on Tuesday. We dodged a potential bullet Monday night when the temperature dipped to 36 degrees. Records were set all over the UP and northern Wisconsin. Thankfully, we stayed on the warm side of the frost line. The giant pumpkins are setting female fruit. As soon as a male flower appears, I’ll fertilize the female flowers by hand and after the best baby pumpkin is selected, I’ll pluck off all others and concentrate on growing one giant pumpkin per plant.

There’s a banana pepper that’s almost ready to harvest, our first real vegetable of the summer. The first batch of beets will be ready to pull this coming week. I see there are some small green tomatoes and the eggplants will set fruit in the next few days.

I turned my attentions to the garage and barn. It was quite a chore removing a large counter/bench by myself from the garage, but utilized the frontend loader to do all the lifting and carrying. I don’t know what I’d do without the little Ford 8N. I’ve mentioned before, after researching the serial number, I discovered it was manufactured the exact month and year that I was born. We’re the same age, almost to the day.

The barn should be finished in the next few days with the shop being built inside this fall. I took the opportunity to snap a chalk line on Tuesday so I could see just how big the area will be. I’m looking forward to spending some time in it this winter playing, listening to music, and no doubt, enjoying a grandpa snooze every now and then.

After inhaling a venison burger, leftovers from Monday night’s supper, I loaded the Man Yacht and took off for our local lake. 

The secret to good venison burgers? Add in ground pork at the time of processing. 

Dummy me, I forgot this is a holiday week. Every tourist in the world seems to be visiting the area and the lake, normally empty during the week, was teaming with activity. There were several boatloads of fishermen, swimmers at the summer camp, a water skier, and people fishing from the dock. Still, I was entertained by catching undersized bass and landed a few nice bluegills.

Sargie wasn’t home until 9:30 last night. She had to close the Vision Center and will open it this morning. Thankfully, she doesn’t have to work on the Fourth.

I’m going to pick strawberries first thing this morning and make jam later in the day. Sargie enjoys a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on most days for her noon meal so the jam is disappearing. We’re presently finishing up a jar from last summer’s tomato preserves.

I want to work in the barn and there’s a place in the garden that needs attention. The back trails need mowing before week’s end. It’s busy around here these days because as you well know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

The new shop will be on the other side of the long counter. Hopefully, the walls and ceiling will be built this fall.

Sargie's helping to move more lumber back into the barn Sunday morning

July 1, 2013 – Monday

50 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I’m watching a deer walk around the perimeter of the garden facing the electric fence just inches from the wire. I’d love to see how a deer and the 9,000 volts making contact with its wet little tongue or nose, would mix. I’m not an animal hater by any sense of the word, but over the years, there has been multiple fruit trees and plants consumed by the wildlife living in the woods surrounding Pentoga Road. I’ve inadvertently touched that fence several times. It’s not a killer, but certainly an attention getter.

What’s this? Tonight’s low is forecast at 37 degrees? That would be an all-time low record for this date. Hopefully it won’t frost. The garden and plants are much too big to cover this late in the game. I remember once, thirty years ago, when we received a killer frost the first week in August. The following weeks saw highs in the 90’s, but it was all to no avail. The garden had been lost for the year.

A recent hatch of butterflies has produced thousands on the ground and in the air

Sunday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. I started the day by working in the garden then changed gears and mowed the lawn. Right now, it looks like a golf course. In another two or three days, it will need mowing again.

Sargie drove the tractor and together we moved a large pile of lumber that had been covered in the yard back into the barn.

Sargie decided it was time to wash the blinds in the living room. She took all eight down and soaked them in the bathtub filled with detergent. Unfortunately, we later found that the sun had discolored several. We’ve talked of replacing the windows, now around twenty years old, and if so, we’ll probably hang drapes that can be easily removed and washed. With the wood stove being used six to eight months a year, blinds are nearly impossible to keep clean.

The window sills and frames are drying out. Sargie’s applying a new coat of polyurethane in an attempt to keep some moisture in the wood. The previous owners didn’t use the living room during the winter months, opting to close the addition off from the rest of the house and utilize what is now the dining room as their central living area. The very cold temperatures in the winter, coupled with those much hotter in the summer, took their toll on the wooden frames.

Yooper Brother Mark and Sarah stopped out during the afternoon. We had a good conversation and later, Mark hung the light in the barn that I’d inadvertently knocked off last week while moving lumber. We never did get it working, but that’ll be a project for a later date. For now, the large globe is hung and out of harm’s way.

With the knee throbbing, I lay down on the bed and was seconds away from a Sunday afternoon Grandpa nap when the phone rang. It was the owner of the internet company saying they’d worked all weekend to reroute, rewire, and reconfigure, the signal from the local tower and asking if I would get on the computer/internet and read some numbers to him. When I went to do so, I found the internet down… again.

There’s some sort of sick satisfaction that after a year of horrible service, I can be on the phone with the owner of the internet company while the signal is out. I guess it’s back to square one. Anyone else, in any other location, would be out of business. Since he’s the only provider in the area, we’re connected at the hip and I can only hope that some year, they’ll figure it all out.

I helped Sargie move the blinds from the bathtub upstairs to the back deck. Each was sprayed and scrubbed and later, hung back in the living room. None are perfect, but at least they are clean.

We wanted to go fishing all weekend and finally, a couple of hours before dark, decided to pull the boat to the lake a mile down the road in search of meat for the table. Pulling into the boat landing, we saw several cars with trailers and people on the dock. Everyone else had the same idea. We turned around and came back home.

I’m not sure either of us was too disappointed. It had been a long day and we were tired.

I had a problem falling asleep last night, something that is quite rare for me. It was past 11 PM before I turned off the light and it was around 1:30 when I awakened. Try as I may, sleep would not return. The knee was throbbing and I simply couldn’t get comfortable. Then the mind kicked in and I lay in bed thinking of everything from why I couldn’t grow decent radishes to the national debt. When I started thinking about all the strawberries that need to be picked, the clock was showing 3 AM. I gave up and came downstairs.

Sargie will be back at the Vision Center today. I’m going to pick strawberries first thing this morning then head to one of the lakes and fish for a few hours. Maybe I’ll tired myself out enough that I can take a nap this afternoon, stay up past 9 tonight, and get my sleep cycle back on schedule.

But first, while waiting for daylight, I’m going to pour another cup of coffee and read the news. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

The setting sun seemed huge Sunday evening