The beginning of the maple trail through the north woods

February 5, 2014 – Wednesday

4 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Well, let’s see, I guess the biggest news is we didn’t win last night’s lottery. I thought sure we’d wake up this morning being the newest instant millionaires, but that didn’t happen. Oh well, all of our friends relatives are going to have to go to work today… as is Sargie. We’re still poor common folk.

Silliness aside, we had a great Tuesday. It was Sargie’s day off and while she was doing girl-stuff inside during the morning hours, Brutus and I made a new set of trails through the north maple woods. The sun was bright, the sky blue, and nary a breeze was blowing. The worst thing that happened was when the bindings from one of the snowshoes came undone. Stepping off into three feet of snow wasn’t pleasant, especially when I had to retie the strap barehanded in the below zero temperature.

Brutus plowing ahead makes it much easier for me to snowshoe in his tracks. He actually broke most of the trail Tuesday morning. (Note the stick in his mouth)

Sargie finished what she was doing as did I and we took off for our weekly drive. It was a gorgeous day and since it was a weekday afternoon, there was little traffic. In fact, we had the entire county to ourselves.

Where to go? We had a package to mail so we stopped in town at the post office, then drove through McDonalds for Cokes. Hmm, where to? We turned to the north and east and drove to the hamlet of Amasa, spending a few minutes looking at the old buildings. From there, we wandered out on some plowed country roads.

After wandering aimlessly for half an hour, we decided to head back home. The GPS took over and started us on a series of twists and turns. I didn’t pay any attention. Sargie and I were talking a mile a minute and enjoying the scenery. It looked like a scene from a Norman Rockwell Christmas painting.

I'd like to know the history behind this old building in downtown Amasa

The roads became narrower and I noticed most were doubling as snowmobile trails. The snow banks on each side of the road were higher than the car and Sargie was convinced we were going to get wedged between the two. We topped one steep hill and peered down on a herd of deer standing in the middle of an unplowed road. Had we traveled on, we’d have had a long walk out and a hefty tow bill. After following the GPS’s directions onto a road that could have ended up in a genuine disaster, I made the executive decision to follow my gut (and training) and turn around.

The sun was getting low in the western sky. We’d been heading north and east. Home was south and west. I set the new course for whatever road headed towards the sun. Half an hour later, we popped out in civilization.

Last night was a quiet one. Sargie made soup for supper and I spent most the evening reading assignments. Bedtime was early.

I didn't realize we were ready to leave the country!

Sargie closes today so Brutus and I will be left to our own devices. I think I’ll do my five-mile walk first thing. After that, it’s a toss up. No one, including me, cleaned the garage yesterday, so that’s on the agenda. If the wind remains calm, I may ride the snowmobile down the road and make some trails on the lake, let them set overnight to pack down so I can go fishing tomorrow. It appears no one has been fishing and I’m not interested in wading out in waist deep snow a quarter of a mile in a search of meat for the table. Making trails will enable me to take the four wheeler loaded with my fishing gear out onto the ice without getting stuck… I hope.

It’s time to get this finished, throw another log on the fire, grab a cup of coffee, and think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Almost sundown on Tuesday evening. Gardening season seems a long long ways away.

In anticipation of the upcoming maple syrup season; getting ready to tap trees, the first trail of the year, using snowshoes, made through the maple woods.

February 4, 2014 – Tuesday

-15 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

This is the third day in a row that it’s dawned clear and cold and if today’s anything like that past two, the temperature will rise into the twenties and be beautiful. Yooper Brother Mark said he had a low of -26 Monday morning and I registered plus 25 Monday afternoon… a swing of fifty degrees in twenty-four hours.

Days like these remind me that maple season will be here in another six weeks, more or less. It’s the huge swings in temperature, when the highs get above freezing, that makes the sap run. Needless to say, I have maple/spring fever… bad.

Sargie had to work on Sunday. I walked my five miles then spent over an hour chipping away at the snow and ice in front of the mailbox. It had accumulated to the point that the mailman had to bend down out of the window of his car to put mail in the box.

Another hour flew by as I used the plow to push back the snow banks along the drive. With all that’s fallen this winter, things were getting a bit close. Actually, it was such a nice day that I was looking for any excuse to play outside. Pushing back the snow banks gave me just that.

The garage door opener has been acting funky. It closed, but then would come partway up before stopping. I fiddled around with the adjustment screws and finally got it just right. In reading the owner’s manual (afterwards) I discovered that very cold weather can make those things go out of adjustment.

What next? Ah, one of the old snowmobiles in back of the barn? Why not? I spent over an hour digging, prying, lifting, and swearing, as I attempted to free the machine. In the end, I wasn’t sure it would even start.

I removed both spark plugs and squirted a bit of starting fluid in each hole before replacing them… one pull, nothing. Two pulls and it jumped to life. It was another half an hour before I finished digging it from the snow drifts, but the snowmobile is now ready for maple season. In fact, I used it Monday to help build trails through the deep snow.

The winter outdoorsman's best friend... the blow dryer to thaw things out.

An attempt was made to watch the Super Bowl, but it simply wasn’t a game. I felt sorry for Payton and Denver Broncos. They weren’t any match for a much stronger and better Seattle team.

Monday began with a five-mile walk. Sargie had to work so I was left to my own devices. There were plenty of papers to read when I arrived home and it was close to noon before I caught up on my homework and could turn my attentions to the outdoors.

How best to make this year’s maple trails? Last year, I gutted through the woods on the snowmobile, often running into trees that insisted on jumping out in front of me. That’s hard on the snowmobile and my body alike.  I’ve had a year to think deep thoughts about that method of trail making and it just didn’t seem like something I wanted to do again.

I strapped on the snowshoes Monday afternoon and began a slow and methodical trek through snow that was often waist-deep, sometimes missing where I wanted the trail to go, but heading in the right direction. After almost three hours of tramping in the south woods, I was ready to go over the new trails with the snowmobile, to pack them down tight.

I felt sorry for Brutus. He’s used to leading. Jumping through snow that was often over his head, the pooch had no idea in which direction to lead me and I actually saw him run into a tree once. Talk about the blind leading the blind. He finally contented himself with the knowledge that he’d have to trust where I was going and in the end, I told him to take me home, something he was happy to do.

The trail after the snowmobile has packed it down

Sargie was home early last night, tired after a long day. Brutus passed out in front of the wood stove and I had difficulty keeping my eyes open. Earlier, it seemed as though each piece of firewood weighed about fifty pounds and to rise from my chair to put a log in the stove took such effort. It was barely past 9 PM when Sargie rose from her chair saying she was going to get ready for bed. I didn’t argue.

Whoops, I missed the trail.

Sargie’s off today. I’m hoping to continue to expand the network of maple trails through the woods. There’s plenty of time before the season starts, at least six weeks, but I’ve got spring fever and for whatever reason, it simply seems like the thing to do. Regardless of the amount of snow we receive between now and then, there’ll be a good base on which to walk when tapping trees and gathering sap.

I hate to say this, but I’m going to have to clean the garage. We’ve been piling stuff on the shelves all winter, never putting anything away. There’s old food to take back to the bears (though they are still in a deep hibernation), tools to put away, boxes to burn, and all that that comes with being too cold and lazy to put anything away.

The smell of paint pervades the garage. I’m thinking perhaps a can of spray paint froze and broke open. Time was spent on Monday looking for it, but so, nothing.

With all that said, it’s time to get another cup of coffee, listen to the news, and think some deep thoughts. After all, a man’s work is never done.

A large maple burl.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Note: I didn't write how I fell over once or twice on snowshoes ending up with a face full of snow and having the white stuff inside my clothes. I'm entirely too manly and coordinated to do such a thing. Besides, to admit it might damage my delicate self esteem.

Assembling the new cabinet on Saturday.

February 2, 2014 – Sunday

Groundhog Day

2 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Okay, assuming a Yooper groundhog comes out of his den today… let’s see, even if we have six more weeks of winter… four in February… two in March. Yup, I’d be tickled with only six more weeks. That would bring us to the third week of March, just in time to start tapping trees to make syrup. Bring ‘er on, Groundhog. Let the sun shine. That would still make a shorter winter than we had last year.

Saturday was a laidback affair. I spent most the day assembling the cabinet we purchased in Green Bay. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. By far, the come-in-a-box unit is my best imitation wood, paper-coated sawdust, cheap-furniture, made-in-China, accomplishment to date.

Brutus was bound and determined he was going to help. I really appreciate the pup’s determination to lend a hand… ‘er, a paw, in everything I do, but his reading skills are poor with a dexterity level to match.

A second opinion is always a good thing... or is it?

It's funny, I put my face close to the work to see what I’m doing and he does the same. I hold the directions close to read them and he feels obligated to stick his fat nose right on the paper. Though it can be frustrating, I’m not sure what I’d do without him. He makes me laugh in what could be some rather frustrating circumstances.

It's hard enough to read the instructions without his help

Sargie was reading last night that bulldogs are one of the top five breeds desired for family pets. I can understand why. Certainly, Brutus has been a welcome addition to our lives.

Sargie  pulled off her Milligan Girl culinary gloves late yesterday afternoon and made shrimp Alfredo accompanied by garlic bread. I only have one complaint; that it was so good that I had a second HUGE helping. Then to make matters worse, I’d made a double layer red velvet cake a couple of days ago so for dessert and had not one, but two pieces. It must have been all the energy used during the construction of that cabinet. Whatever, I had an appetite.

Sargie grabbed the other end and we moved the completed cabinet into the kitchen

We took time away from our chores to drive into town. The trip was short as I wanted to get home and get the wood carried into the house before dark. Sargie assumed the fetch-playing duties with Brutus while I filled the wheelbarrow and carried in the night’s supply of firewood.

Last evening was spent watching a movie; Sandra Bullock in The Heat. The language was foul, but the movie was funny. Sargie had watched it a couple of weeks ago when she and her sisters were on their get away, gave it two thumbs up, and wanted to see it again.

Brutus spent most of last evening outside, in the dark, digging for a lost tennis ball in the snow. The pup was possessed about finding his favorite toy and to my knowledge, he never did root it out. Listening to him snore last night, I’d say he slept well after all his outside activity.

Sargie works today from noon to five. I’m going to grade papers this morning then ride with her five miles down the road and walk back home. I need to spend some time digging out the packed snow in front of the mailbox. It’s gotten so high that the mailman has to reach down to deliver mail. No doubt, I'll watch the Super Bowl later this afternoon. I like Payton Manning, so I’ll be cheering for the Broncos. The man's a class act, a real role model for much of today’s youth.

So, with all that being said, it’s time to get a cup of coffee and listen to the news. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… 

February 1, 2014 – Saturday

-7 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

It’s a quiet morning. Soft Celtic music is playing, a fire is crackling in the stove, the coffee is hot, and Brutus is lying on my feet keeping my tootsies toasty warm. This moment is exactly perfect just the way it is.

It’s a good feeling when a person reaches a certain age (or maturity) and discovers he needs absolutely nothing and can appreciate all that he has. Sargie and I had this discussion on our way to Green Bay yesterday morning. I had such a feeling of peace and contentment as we were driving down the interstate. The sun was warm, shining through the windshield, and the company was perfect. It dawned on me at that moment, a revelation, really, that there is nothing in the world I need. I have it all.

Note, I said “need,” not “want.” I can think of about a million things I want, projects I would like to do, and hikes I’d like to achieve. I hope that never changes. I love dreaming, planning, thinking, and occasionally, if I work and save enough, I’m able to acquire something I want. I want it all, but realistically, I’ll get only a fraction. And that’s how it should be. I’m able to appreciate my accomplishments and possessions and not having everything allows me to dream about what the future might hold.

Sargie and I were laughing while driving Friday morning. We really have nothing but a small home that could use another bedroom, forty acres of woods, two used cars, the ugliest truck in the world, a bulldog who loves us both, and a host of old, very used, machinery.

We both chuckled when one of us said, “Boy, we’re really high class, aren’t we?” Our idea of eating out is ordering cheap cheeseburgers from the McDonald’s dollar menu and an exciting evening consists of sitting at home munching popcorn and watching television.

Later, it occurred to me that it’s not about class, it’s all about happiness and being content. It’s not how many acres one owns, how fancy one’s home is, what kind of vehicles he drives, how many exotic and foreign tropic climes have been visited or cruises taken, it’s about that inner peace most of us spend our entire lives looking for.

I’ve mentioned it before. It’s said that God gives us exactly what we need when we need it. I’ve known that for some years, but I’m not sure I really understood it. I’m grateful that I’m at the age I’m beginning to. It makes me appreciate what I have that much more.

Page Two

Thursday saw five or six inches of new snow. Sargie drove the Blazer to work and found that the four-wheel drive came in handy more than once.

I graded papers most of the morning and did a couple of loads of laundry. At one point, I went downstairs and found water all over the floor, even on top of the freezer and wash machine.

Upon further examination, I discovered there’s a small trap in the discharge pipe for the washer’s waste water, a dip in the pipe that allowed a bit of ice to prevent the water from being discharged during the spin cycle.

I came upstairs and borrowed Sargie’s hairdryer.  A few minutes later, everything was good once again. Just call me Tommy Plumber.

With the snow coming down hard, Sargie left work an hour early so she might be home before dark. Brutus and I went outside and began to plow and clear the drive. I was pushing the snow from the end of the drive across the road and into the ditch.

I started to back up when I felt something in back of me. I turned around and found a school bus parked just a few feet away. I’d failed to see him coming down the road. I mouthed, “I’m sorry,” and hurriedly got out of his way. The driver smiled and waved. Nice guy.

Brutus and I ended the day with a blood and guts game of fetch and even managed not to lose any tennis balls.

Sargie and I were up early Friday morning and on the road to Green Bay by 8 AM. We talked and laughed the entire way and enjoyed ourselves a great deal.

Stops were made at Fleet Farm, Sam’s Club, the mall, Best Buy, and Harbor Freight. I knew I was going to spend a bit of money on needed items, but I didn’t realize I might have to mortgage the family farm.

We found some lights for the kitchen that were on clearance, then a cabinet that will fit behind the kitchen door where we can keep Brutus’s food and other goodies. There was a solar yard light, pole included, we’ve been looking at, and of course, I had to have that indoor seed starter green house that will fit perfectly in front of the south window by my recliner. I purchased a Chromecast gizmo that transmits everything in my Chrome browser on my computer onto our television screen. It works well and I was hoping to use it as an aide when I read and grade assignments. That’s not going to happen unless we get a television with a larger screen… and that’s NOT going to happen. Oh well, it’s great to watch videos, online movies, or share pictures that are on my computer with others.

We even stopped at the jewelry store so Sargie's ring could be checked and cleaned, something required to keep the lifetime warrantee valid. 

After a very full day of shopping we finally headed north. It was two tired people who pulled into the drive last night. After unloading the car and getting everything put away, we were more than happy to flop in the living room and enjoy what was left of the evening.

I think today will be a quiet one. No doubt, we’ll go to town and run a few errands and take a drive around the local lakes. The cabinet we purchased yesterday needs to be assembled meaning there’ll be no small amount of muttering going on. If it’s like most of those “assemble it yourself” pieces of furniture, the directions will be pretty sketchy and I’ll put it together and take it apart half a dozen times before it’s just right. Oh well, it’s only time and I have plenty of that.

Before I end, my son, Matt, has a friend, whose daughter’s class (kindergarten) is looking for postcards from all over the US and world. I’ll include the details below and if you have the time, could you send a postcard from your area to the class? I’d consider it a personal favor. Thanks.

“My daughter’s class had a Gingerbread man run away and people are sending postcards saying they saw him and what he was doing.  Could you each send her a postcard and where you saw the Gingerbread man?”

Here is the address and start it off by saying “Hi Addyson”

Mrs. O’Leary’s Kindergarten

Timony Grammar School

45 Pleasant View St.

Methuen MA 01844

As I said, if you could send a postcard, you’d make a class of kindergarten children very happy and after all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Thanks again.

So, with all that being said, I need to get this uploaded and begin to think about assembling the cabinet.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Lambeau Field. In hibernation, it will awaken next August in time for the 2014 season.

January 30, 2014 – Thursday

20 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

It was nice waking up this morning to a warm house… 65 degrees. The fact that the fire didn’t go out during the night helped, but the biggest factor is that it’s a full forty degrees warmer this morning than it was a mere 48 hours ago. What a difference a day or two makes. We’ll enjoy it as the temperatures are to dip again after a twelve-hour reprieve.

A bit of frostbite following Tuesday's walk

 I spent Wednesday morning reading assignments and making up this week’s test. A couple of students were given the boot who had yet to attend. I wrote them a few days ago and received no response. We’re well into the semester now and it would be difficult for them to catch up and not very fair to the rest.

A trip was made into town to purchase some gasket adhesive for the wood stove. I’ve been tired of the gasket falling each time I open the door to add wood and have waited for warmer days since doing it correctly means to let the stove cool down, clean the groove where the gasket fits, let it gradually dry, etc. etc.

I stopped by the plant and talked with Yooper Brother Mark for a few minutes. The lucky guy… he and Sheri are heading to Florida for a few days this next week. They own a floating time share and decided to take theirs at a resort far south of here this year. I had some banking to do and saw Sheri there where she was conducting some business of her own.

It was too nice a day to stay inside. The thermometer was registering 13 degrees… THIRTEEN ABOVE ZERO. The breeze was stiff, but as they say, I had to make hay while the sun shone. A few minutes later, I was hoofing south on Pentoga Road to the Brule River. It was a wonderful time, probably the most I’ve enjoyed walking in a year.

The road over the Mighty Brule is turned into a formal snowmobile trail during the winter months.

The take-out point on the Brule River. If you look closely, you can see a lone wolf's tracks on the ice.

Brutus and I played fetch after until we lost his ball. Sargie brought home a bag full of tennis balls last night. When the snow melts this spring, Brutus is going to think the Easter Bunny visited and left him all those balls under the snow during the winter months.

Sargie wasn’t home until past 9 last night. She is working early today, but thankfully, has Friday and Saturday off.

I see there’s three to six inches of snow forecast to fall today, then the wind’s to pick up and the temperature plummet once again. Looks as though Brutus and I will be clearing the drive and patio… again.

That's a car buried under all that snow. Thankfully, it's not ours.

We’re heading to Green Bay Friday morning for the day. As mentioned in yesterday’s log, I’m ready to get away for a few hours. Even when I lived in the cabin, I’d occasionally throw care to the wind after being cabin-bound for days and fight blizzards and cold to make my way the seventeen miles on snowmobile into Kotzebue to see Brother Elmer and the rest of the family. I can feel a good trip to Harbor Freight coming on, a Fleet Farm stop, a stroll through Sam’s Club and the Mall, and possibly, inhaling a good steak. Oh yeah, we’re going to Title Town.

But first, I need to take a loaf of homemade bread out of the oven, pour some more coffee, and think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Looking at the snow on the kayaks, it sure seems as though summer is a long ways off.

January 29, 2014 – Wednesday

-4/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

I’m up entirely too early this morning. After putting wood in the stove at midnight, I went back to bed and awakened at 4 AM to load it again. What I found was a house whose temperature was in the low forties and a cold stove. Rather than catching, the wood had smothered any coals that lie underneath.

There was nothing to do but get dressed and build the fire from scratch, something I’ve not had to do in the past month. Keeping a fire going is like baking with sourdough; you always keep a pinch to begin the next batch.

As I sat shivering on the floor in front of stove this morning, I was reminded of those days in the Arctic Circle, when I’d awaken to -30 degrees inside the camp and desperately try to get a small pile of kindling to catch fire. This wasn’t that bad, but it served as a reminder to take better care of my coals overnight as long as this cold spell lasts. Currently, it’s up to 55 degrees in the living room and the house should be approaching a balmy 70 by the time I wake up Sargie.

I rode with Sargie five miles down the road on her way to work and walked home Tuesday morning. With the temperature registering -24 and a heavy northwest headwind, I probably should have stayed home, but I get cabin fever and my feet get itchy to walk somewhere, to put one in front of the other.

In the end, I made it just fine. My face got frostbit in several places, but it was nothing that hasn’t happened hundreds of times before. Right now, it looks as though I have a patchy sunburn. In another day or two, it will be unnoticeable.

The rest of the day was spent inside, keeping the stove filled with wood, grading, reading, doing correspondence, watching a movie, and doing a bit of cleaning. Brutus and I slipped out at one point so I could work up a wheelbarrow full of wood. Despite his delicate puppy dog feet, we also spent time playing fetch. He has plenty of energy when in the warmth of the house, usually sitting alongside my chair hoping I’ll get up so he can walk with me. Where I go, he goes. I go to the kitchen, he walks with me. To the garage? He’s out the door, even for a few seconds, then back in the house when I enter. It’s a great thing when we’re outdoors, but after being confined inside this winter, it could drive me crazy.

Brutus’s assistance especially wasn’t appreciated yesterday afternoon while I was perched upon the throne in the reading room and had failed to close the bathroom door tightly. Brutus used his head to bang the door open then proceeded to walk in, sit in front of me, and lay his head in my lap. Bless his heart. I know he’s trained to be with me, but there are times I wish he’d be a bit more selfish.

So Brutus and I played fetch late yesterday afternoon after until he simply ran out of energy. The little guy was one tired puppy last night and seemed to have no trouble imitating a bear rug in the middle of the living room floor.

Luke called last night saying the kids wanted to read to us via Skype. Sargie and I spent the next half hour being thoroughly entertained by Coleman and Abigail. Coleman, who is in first grade, read an entire book, and Abigail recited some poetry. We loved it all and are hoping that they will call back soon to read again. I’ve got nothing but time and what better way than to share it with grandbabies?

Sargie was home early and arrived bearing a family-sized pizza. I’m not sure if it’s because we’re pigs, or possibly it’s the cold weather, but regardless, there was little left over. We spent the rest of the evening watching television. It was a good night to hibernate.

I rather imagine that today will be a repeat of yesterday… and the day before… and the day before that. Temperatures are to moderate a bit and it’s actually to get above zero. Unfortunately, the ten-day forecast indicates little relief and I heard a meteorologist say last night that February is looking to be much the same as January has been. I’ll spend most of my day inside feeding the stove.

Sargie closes tonight so it will be long day for her. Thankfully, she is off on Friday and Saturday this week; a rare two days in a row. I think we’ll go to Green Bay for at least one of those days. I’m ready to get out of Dodge, even if it’s a temporary reprieve, and Sargie’s always up for a road trip.

So with that, I think I might actually sneak back upstairs and crawl into bed alongside Sargie. There’s still an hour and a half before the alarm sounds and honestly, I could use a bit more sleep.

But rest assured, even in slumber, I’m relatively certain my mind continues to think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

Its that time of year again for our annual sled dog race happening this weekend

January 28, 2014 – Tuesday

-24 degrees/windy/clear skies

Pentoga Road

I’m rather proud of myself. After checking the electric rate schedule yesterday afternoon, I discovered that our power company has come out with a new rate schedule. Peak hours (and the most expensive) are from 8 AM to 2 PM. Mid peak hours from 2 PM to 8 PM, and from 8 PM to 8 AM, the rates are about a fourth of those during the peak hours.

So, in a very scholarly fashion, I sharpened my pencil and began doing the calculations of how much it would cost to run a small 1500 watt ceramic heater through the night. It comes out to just a dollar. I placed the unit in the kitchen, the coldest part of the house. It was still cold last night, but the furnace never kicked on. I’m happy to spend a few extra dollars during this latest cold spell to keep the home fairly warm and not spend mega money on heating oil.

Monday was spent throwing logs on the fire… or wood in the stove. The living room attains a temperature in the mid 70’s once it warms up, sinks to the low 70’s in the evening hours, and dips into the 50’s during the night when the stove is banked and producing only “maintenance heat.”

Sargie and I don’t mind. I sleep with my electric blanket on low. She opts to turn hers off and cuddles on my side of the bed, assuming I’m happy to share the heat from my body. Yes, it’s true. Sargie’s a blanket/heat vampire. She looks innocent enough, but let a cold night/warm body combination occur in just the right fashion and she’ll steal any and all warmth.

I had all my papers read and grades entered Monday by mid morning. What to do? I brought the rowing machine from the basement and set it up in the dining room,  paddling myself exactly nowhere. After twenty very boring minutes, I gave up rowing and decided to keep on my regular schedule and go for a walk.

It was cold, but wasn’t brutal. In fact, I overdressed and found myself unzipping the top layers (I was wearing seven) to let some body heat escape.

I’m having trouble with cramps in the back of my thighs. I’m sure there’s a real name for those muscles, but I wish the cramps would go away. I stretch for several minutes a day, take plenty of magnesium, and drink gallons of liquids. I may have to call my buddy, Mandy Jo, a certified weight trainer, and see what her take is. The knee, though occasionally sore, is doing better. I think it’s a matter of training.

I carried in wood when I got home and called it a day. Though I’d been warm, once I stopped walking, cold settled in and I was happy to get into the shower and let a few gallons of steaming hot water pour the chills from my body.

Brutus is beginning to feel the effects of cabin fever. He wants to go outside to play, but after running around for a few minutes, the pup sits and begins to lift one paw, then another, and begs to come back inside. Yesterday, for the first time, he left me and sat on the back deck whining to come in. I opened the door for him, then went back to loading wood. It’s cold.

Sargie was home early last night bearing tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers. In a winter-be-damned fashion, I cooked pork loins at the stove and sliced those into strips atop a good old-fashioned, summer salad complete with whole almonds and topped with dilly beans that I had canned from the garden.

Sargie works early again today. I imagine mine will be a repeat of yesterday. With the temperature threatening to push even lower, I probably will stay inside for the morning and walk later. And Brutus? He’ll just have to contain all that big bulldog energy until his tender tootsies can tolerate the cold weather.

It’s time to end and fix Sargie’s sandwich for her noon meal. Yes, some things are still alive and well in the world, including packing a sandwich for her lunch. It’s kind of the Donna Reed thing… I stand by the door on her way out and hand her the lunch bag expecting a hug and kiss in return. It’s the least I can do.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

After rowing hard for twenty minutes and going nowhere, I decided to take my usual walk. This was the high for the day. I decided to seize the moment and go.