Bears, Parades, a Garden, and a great Chinese Meal

I set up the trail camera on Friday and immediately caught this two-year-old black bear on video.

July 21, 2013 – Sunday

51 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

The clouds moved in sometime during the night and their presence kept the temperature from dropping as low as previously forecast. That’s okay, we can live with the upper forties to low fifties. It’s certainly more comfortable than it was two days ago.

Garden huckleberries are blooming. These are a faux blueberry and only edible after being exposed to a heavy frost, cooked, and sugared. Most are used in jam or for pie filling.

Saturday turned out to be a very active day. I worked in the garden for a couple of hours in the morning. The tomatoes have become top heavy. Even pruning each plant hasn’t stopped them from falling over, cages and all. I tied garden twine onto the cages and fastened each to the sides of the raised beds, keeping them from toppling again. If necessary, I’ll stake the cages upright, but the bottom of each bed is lined with water-soluble synthetic mulch and I hate to poke holes in it.

Small fruit are setting on the egg plants

I pulled a bag of beets for Mrs. Wilkins, our widow neighbor, who lives up the road. 

She’s always so appreciative for the veggies and is a sweetheart. We visited at length, the first time this summer. I usually wave or honk the horn in passing, but yesterday we got to gab a bit. Now that the knee is returning to normal, I need to make myself more available should she need help.

Mom and I went to town, presumably to go to the bank, but soon ran into a crowd lining the street in anticipation of the Upper Peninsula Championship Rodeo Parade. We never did get to the bank, but how we enjoyed the hour procession. 

Kiddies with their plastic grocery bags ready to collect the candy thrown from the floats

Standing under a shade tree, we clapped, hooped, hollered, and enjoyed free ice cream sandwiches and Cokes that were being handed out by one of the local groceries.

God Bless America. Patriotism and good American values are still alive in the UP.

Moola Man was passing out dollar bills

Mom's enjoying her ice cream sandwich

Sargie worked half a day on Saturday and was home by early afternoon. We found an hour-and-a-half biography of Johnny Carson on Netflix and really enjoyed watching it. He was a major icon in television for over thirty years and I forgot how really funny, intelligent, and good of an entertainer he was.

We’d put up the trail cam on Friday and retrieved the card Saturday afternoon. I’m happy to report that at least one young bear, a deer, and a raccoon, still live back in the woods. It was the first time I’d set up the camera this summer.

We visited Mr. Milligan last night at the VA and had a wonderful time walking  around the outside of the hospital enjoying the cool evening air and talking.

Mom treated us to a Chinese buffet after. I ate around half a dozen clams, sweet and sour chicken, fried shrimp, and other nonfattening goodies way too numerous to mention. What a treat.

We’re heading to Marquette later this morning so Mom can see Lake Superior. We’ll try to meet up with Macrea and Mel to take them to lunch somewhere along the way.

Sargie’s off today and tomorrow. She’s taken some vacation time to be home with Mom and be able to relax. It’s nice to have her here so much and we both agree, it will be doubly difficult when she returns to work on a normal schedule.

Now there's some scary wildlife

Time to think about getting ready for the day. Mom and Sargie are up and around and after a quick breakfast, we’ll point the car towards the north to see if there’s still any water in Lake Superior. There will be a lot of sight seeing, some shopping, and visiting. It'll be tough, but you know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

The cold front finally arrives!

Mom and Brutus playing fetch

July 20, 2013 – Saturday

60 degrees/sunny/calm

Pentoga Road

Now this is the way the north woods are supposed to be. Low humidity and cool temperatures seem to mark this coming week. I don’t see the number 80 (or above) anywhere in the upcoming forecast. I do see the number 30 however. The forecasted low for tonight is 39 degrees. I told Mom that maybe it will go ahead and frost and end this year’s gardening agony. It’s not pretty.

Friday started with thunder and intermittent periods of heavy rain. Unfortunately, it didn’t amount to much, but we knew the arrival of the much anticipated cold front was at hand.

 At 9:45 AM, we were sitting on the front porch, still commenting on how warm it was, but that the humidity seemed to be lessening. The wind was blowing and for the first time in days, it felt good to be outside and breathing some fresh air.

 We soon migrated to the barn. Commanding a lawn chair, Mom helped to point out objects that could be moved and made suggestions where/ways/methods of storing various items. Honestly, there’s more room in the barn now with more things put away, than ever before. She needs to visit several times a year just to keep the shop and barn straightened up!

All the big equipment was removed from the barn so I could start putting things away right.

... and then the cold front marched through and it poured for several minutes.

Mom and Brutus are having a love fest. Unless Brutus is behind the barn chasing a squirrel, he’s generally in the vicinity of Mom. They have talks, and I noticed yesterday, Mom wasn’t slow in picking up the launcher and ball, and playing fetch with her newest bestest friend in the world.

Mom retired to the house Friday afternoon where she read and relaxed. I hopped aboard the mower and sheared the trails and back meadows.

We enjoyed brat patties, turnips, and chips, for supper last night. Poor Sargie had to close the Vision Center and it was almost 9:30 before she got home. It was a short evening for her.

Brat Patties. Mmmm.

Naturally, the internet company called saying it would be Monday before they’d be out to work on the antenna. I expected nothing less. Some things never change.

Today. I hope to work in the barn and continue putting things away. Between the cool weather, my knee feeling 100% better, and Mom’s company and suggestions, maybe I’ll finally get that beast finished in the next few days.

There’s university work I really need to complete. I’ve been putting it off the past several days. With the heat and humidity, I simply wasn’t interested in academics.

Sargie works early this morning, but should be home shortly after lunchtime. The three of us will go over to Iron Mountain this afternoon to enjoy supper with Mr. Milligan. We want Mom to meet him.

Mom just commented how time is flying. Ain’t that the truth. I was so busy yesterday that I didn’t have a chance to enjoy the new four-wheeler. As you well know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

The giant pumpkin I hand pollinated last week. Only 199.9 lbs to go before it becomes a "giant."

Heat, beets, Brutus gets a bath, and a new four wheeler!

Look who has a new four wheeler!

July 19, 2013 – Friday

77 degrees/breezy/very humid/haze

Pentoga Road

Well darn it anyway. I was hoping after some brief, but heavy, showers flew through earlier this morning, the cold front might have brought some real relief. No such luck. It’s already pushing 80 degrees and its not even 7 AM.

We could use some precipitation. Areas fifty miles to the north are getting pelted with inches of heavy rain, but unfortunately, are also experiencing strong storms. Trees have been blown over and damage sustained to homes and buildings. We don’t need that, just the rain.

Nasturtiums are beginning to bloom in the garden

Thursday was another day spent in air conditioning. We talked and sipped coffee most the morning. I hand pollinated a couple of big pumpkins, picked a cucumber or two, but mostly, Mom, Sargie, and I, gabbed and tried to keep cool.

I took time to play fetch with Brutus

After a game of fetch, it was time for a thorough scrubbing and shower for both of us.

We took a drive during the afternoon, grabbed a burger, and looked at how the other half live in their beautiful lake homes. We drove by one that was for sale. Asking price was a mere $295,000. Sargie and I both agreed that if we pooled our untold millions, we’d still not have enough money for the first month’s payment, let alone the down payment or property tax. Ah, it’s fun to look and dream. Personally, I’d rather live right here on Pentoga Road.

Mark, Sheri, and Sarah, came out last night to pick a couple of bags of beets. 

I've not seen anyone have so much fun pulling beets as Sarah. I love to tease her. Living in Wyoming with her husband, Curtis, my former student is all grown up and has already taught for several years.

I didn’t realize that Mark had brought his old four-wheeler on a trailer, one that I told him I’d like to purchase when he bought his new side-by-side earlier this summer.

Yooper Brother Mark unloading his old (and my new) ATV

 So now, I’m the proud owner of a gently used Polaris 500 4WD ATV complete with a snow plow. I told Sargie I could hardly wait until it snows. A new drive, a new four wheeler, a plow… I’m going to have fun pushing the white stuff this winter! Of course I’ll keep the little blue one. It’s my workhorse for the chores around here. The 500 will used to drive to town and is big enough for Sargie and I to ride double.

I ordered another book about hiking the Appalachian Trail last night. My knee must be feeling much better as my enthusiasm for a future attempt has been rekindled. Brutus and I will be back to a daily regimen of walking as soon as the heat breaks.

The cucumbers are beginning to set on, but I'm not sure I like this variety. You never know unless you try.

Sargie’s back to work today and has to close tonight. It’ll be 9:30 before she arrives home.

The internet guys are coming back out today to hoist the antenna further into the sky. I may have them put the over-the-air television antenna on the tower while they are up there so I can receive some more local channels. I’m not convinced height, or the lack of it, is what’s wrong with the internet connection, but at least they’re doing something. I’ll reserve judgment until the net works for more than a few hours a day.

I hope to work in the barn today. Mom told me to do what I normally do which (I think) means she wants me to go outside to play so she can read her book and take an occasional nap. Maybe I can talk her into taking a ride on the new four-wheeler!

Mom was outside last night helping Sargie pick off "dead heads," those geraniums that had bloomed and were withering.

So with all that being said, it’s time to awaken Sargie, talk with Mom, sip coffee, and think deep thoughts. It’s all part of my daily routine because after all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Mom at Pine Mountain Ski Resort on Tuesday afternoon

July 18, 2013 – Thursday

72 degrees/thunder/rain

Pentoga Road

It’s one of those dark and stormy mornings that I love. A cooling rain is replacing all the heat and humidity of the past three days and making everything fresh and clean.

It was good to see Mom walk off the plane on Tuesday. It’s a good thing my knee is doing well so I can keep up with her. At 86 years of age, most would guess that she’s at least a decade (or more) younger and has the spirit and energy that puts me to shame.

Mom and Brutus have become best friends.

Since it was noon, we went to the local ski hill and ate lunch.

After, we drove to the large ski jump where the world championship is held each year. 

We also took a bit of time to walk around the Veterans’ Memorial located in the same area.

Wednesday dawned hot and humid… very hot. We spent the day inside looking at old pictures from Mom’s side of the family. There were relatives, great-great grandparents, aunts, and uncles, that I knew were relation, but I had no idea who they were. We must have looked at well over a hundred pictures.

The three of us ventured into town later in the afternoon. Our first stop was at Insurance Liquidators where I found the deal of a lifetime, a double-sized dorm refrigerator for $20. It was brand new, but had a few dings on the top and side. Needless to say, we loaded it into the Kia and brought it home and set it up in the garage. It’s presently chilling watermelon and worms.

Sargie in a hot-looking $1.99 straw hat. She opted not to buy it.

It appears today is to be a bit cooler and less humid. There’s a cold front that is supposed to flop back and forth across our area before temperatures dip into the upper forties this weekend. We’re ready.

I’m not sure what’s on today’s agenda. No doubt, Mom, Sargie, and I, will solve all the world’s problems. I may sneak out to the barn and work on my carving and into the garden to pluck a cucumber or turnip. I don’t believe we’ll have any peppers this year. Blight seems to have infected all the plants. I’ve sprayed each, but I think it’s a lost cause. Everyone agrees; this is a tough year to raise a garden.

Time to get Mom and me another cup of coffee. A man’s work is never done you know.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Bluegills at the boat ramp

July 16, 2013 – Tuesday

76 degrees/clear – hazy/calm

Pentoga Road

I stepped out onto the front porch a few minutes ago and thought I was in Florida. The humidity is 92% and the thermometer is already registering close to 80 degrees. For the southerners who read this, please keep your heat and humidity and not send it this way. We northerners are built for ice and snow, temperatures plummeting way below zero. We laugh at a bit of frostbite on the end of our noses or earlobes and giggle at the thought of a wind-driven snowstorm dumping a few feet overnight. Simply put, it’s hot. The cycle is to break sometime tomorrow and temperatures registering highs in the 70’s are to move in.

Brutus and I started our Monday by riding with Sargie, on her way to work, a mile and a half up the road to the lake. After allowing Brutus to pretend he’s a sleek and smooth retriever of some sort, we walked home.

The knee did well. Mostly it was the muscles of my left leg that were hurting, those that haven’t been used properly since last spring. Brutus and I will take another walk today, probably this evening, and continue this process of healing and conditioning.

I worked in the garden for a while, spraying herbicide in the fence line and around the posts. It should be good until next spring.

There was a bolt that had fallen out of the four-wheeler; one that fastens the luggage rack onto the machine. Try as I may, I couldn’t get to the thing. Heck, I couldn’t see it, let alone touch it, let alone put in a new one. In the end, about a dozen other parts had to be removed, including the muffler. The actual process of inserting and tightening the bolt took less than twenty seconds of my valuable retirement time. The overall job, two to three hours.

I tried carving, but it was simply too hot to sit in the doorway of the barn. The flies were biting and the sweat was dripping into my eyes. I thought how I’d waited for years to finally have a place in which to carve and now that I did, it was miserably hot.

The next several hours were spent indoors. Even Brutus opted to lay in front of the fan inside rather than explore the normally cool and shaded woods. I spent no small amount of time on a chair reattaching a piece of trim around one of the kitchen lights.

I ventured back out around 5 to mow. As long as the tractor kept moving and I was in the long shadows of the spruce trees, it wasn’t bad. Remaining in the sun made me feel like the Wicked Witch melting after Dorothy splashed the water on her.

Sargie arrived home before dark and we had supper. After, she cleaned here and there while I watched a survivor show on television. The girl later went outside after dark and worked in the flower boxes. We slept last night with the air conditioner running in our bedroom, something we rarely do.

Guarding the upstairs bedrooms. Actually, he was climbing the steps and suddenly decided to take a break. A bulldog's work is never done either.

Mom arrives today! We’ll pick her up at the Iron Mountain Airport shortly after noon. I’m disappointed with the weather as I suggested Mom visit during the hottest part of the summer so she might enjoy our cool temperatures. I just received an email from someone in Atlanta, Georgia, saying it is hotter here than there. How’s that work?

Sargie just asked me to do a few chores around the house before we leave to get Mom. It’s tough, all this preparation, but I’m used to it. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

X rated promiscuity, carving, a swan dive, and Native teacher education

We've told Brutus a monster lives under the steps going down to the basement; one who eats puppy dogs like candy. I doubt he understands, but he's yet to go down the steps.

July 15, 2013 – Monday

66 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

I believe it’s going to be another scorcher today. With the temperatures climbing into the mid to upper 80’s on Sunday, Brutus and I spent most the day inside, sitting in the air conditioning. Looks as though today will be a repeat.

I did spend some time in the garden before it got too hot. I sprayed the pepper plants that seem to be suffering from aphids. Amazing, two hours later, they were already looking much better.

The biggest chore was manually pollinating a large female pumpkin blossom with that of a male. I poured a couple of glasses of wine, put on some soft music, dimmed the lights…

Okay, that’s a lie. I simply took a male blossom and rubbed his stamen on one of a female blossom. I’m fairly certain the female was disappointed as it was over in a matter of seconds. Manual pollination ensures that the pumpkin stay true to it’s line and not be contaminated. It also is a sure way to know the female blossom is fertilized.

That's right, you're eyes aren't playing tricks. In a wild session, a female Dill Atlantic pumpkin blossom was pollinated by hand on Sunday morning. 

Honestly, I’m not sure there are enough days left before frost to grow very big pumpkins this year. The garden is a month behind schedule due to the cold weather earlier this spring and summer. That’s what is fun about this gardening business. There’s always next year.

I worked for a couple of hours on the carving. Sitting in the doorway of the barn, trying to catch any hint of a breeze, Brutus plastered himself to the floor beside me in an attempt to stay cool. He’d look at me every few minutes as if to ask how soon we’d be going inside.

Speaking of inside; I was swatting a wasp that was in the living room yesterday when I stepped backwards, tripped over the coffee table, and landed on my back. As I lay there doing a damage report one limb at a time, Brutus came over, lay beside me, and put his huge head on mine. That pup was going to protect me; from what, I have no idea, but I was well covered.

We had deer burgers and a pork loin barbequed on the grill, plus fresh beets for supper last night. After, Sargie whipped up some yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in for dessert. No one around here went to bed hungry.

I’m going to get this uploaded then wake Sargie. She works from 10 to six today. After, I want to spray Round Up around the garden before the wind begins to blow. I was about ten minutes late yesterday and just as I was going to begin, a breeze came up and I had to postpone my activities.

Mom arrives tomorrow from Indiana to spend a couple of weeks with us. Sargie took the day off and we’ll pick her up in Iron Mountain a bit after noon on Wednesday. For the first time in a long time, we should have the time to sit around and talk and enjoy visiting without being rushed.

I received an email from the former Commissioner of Education, in Alaska, who was talking about a new Native teacher education program sponsored by Illigsavik College in Barrow, Alaska, beginning this next year.

The high arctic (doesn’t get much further north than Barrow), education, Natives… initially my pulse quickened. It wasn’t but a few seconds that I came to my senses and remembered how very good I have it right here on Pentoga Road. I’ve got the most beautiful, loving, girl in the world, a dog who may not be very bright, but he loves me, forty acres of maple woods that any outdoors person would die to own, and a retirement I’ve always dreamed of having. No, I’ll stay right where I am and do those things that allow me the privilege of saying, “A man’s work is never done.”

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Until I tell him he can go and play, Brutus is never far from my side.