Heartbreak Hill... I hoof up this incline every morning during my five-mile stroll.

August 9, 2014 - Saturday
52 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

Seems as though we're having an Arizona Effect in the weather department. The humidity is so low that there's a huge difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures. We reached a high of 84 yesterday, yet last night dipped into the upper 40's. It's a dry heat we're having... but I don't care what they say, hot is hot and dry is dry. 

We badly need some rain. The garden is beginning to show signs of a mini-drought even though I'm watering every other day. 

In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight...

The next chance of rain is Tuesday. I hope we're under the right clouds. 

Sargie's been taking advantage of the weather to hang out the laundry. It doesn't take long to dry.

Fishing, working on the shed, and landscaping has been the name of the game for the past three days.

I put down another layer of flooring in the shed to remove the bounce. What a difference. I am about ready to start putting the 4x8 sheets of OSB on the rafters, but think I'll wait until I can get a hand with that. Those heavy sheets are a two-person job.

I've been asked how Mom's doing. She still has a heaviness in her chest and underwent a stress test on Friday. She will know the results this coming week and hopefully, it'll be a matter of adjusting her medications. I sure hope so. We're looking forward to her staying with us over the holidays and who knows, I might need some help drilling holes in the ice so I can go fishing!

Anyone who knows Mom knows that she can't sit still and just watch. She's an eighty-seven year old dynamo that while visiting last month, I almost had to send to her room to keep her from helping to build the shed or work up wood. I even threatened to strap her in a chair. But she's my mom and she always wins. Mom was out there every day, helping with the shed and fire wood. 

Sargie and I made pickles the other night, six quart jars of the bread and butter variety. It'll be several weeks before we can sample our efforts, but so far, so good.

Fishing has been just so-so. It's the dog days of August and the fish aren't exactly ripping up the water to get to my lures. 

Still, I've caught enough the past two mornings to ensure Sargie and I have a good fish fry this evening. 

I finally finished one part of the side yard and will be starting on the other later today. My biggest chore is moving the excess dirt and rocks. Hmm, Sargie's off today. I wonder if I can talk her into being a heavy equipment operator on the little Ford tractor, operating the front end loader. It would save me a lot of time and effort shutting down the backhoe, climbing on the tractor, dumping the dirt, climbing off, getting on the backhoe, etc. etc. I spent almost three hours doing just that yesterday.

So life goes on on Pentoga Road. I fear I bit off more than I can chew this summer; a lesson well learned. With the eyes less than perfect, it takes me two to three times longer to complete any chore than it used to and somehow, working 12 to 14 hour days wasn't in my original retirement plan. On the other hand, once snow falls, I'll look back on these hot days of summer with fond memories and no doubt, will begin making plans for the next series of projects. Already, for next year, I'm planning to pound a sand point well in the garden for irrigation, make a small pond with a fountain in the garden area, (complete with gold fish!) possibly build a potting shed to attach to the greenhouse, and, oh, there's that hike I keep talking about.

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

Despite my efforts to call him back, Brutus was certain he could catch that duck.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...  

But after he got too close and the duck pecked his nose, he let out a whine and hurriedly swam back to shore looking for sympathy. Add ducks to the list, along with puppies and squirrels, as something Brutus is afraid of.

August 6, 2014 - Wednesday

52 degrees/partly cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

The past two days have been almost carbon copies of each other. Both included working on the storage shed, doing the same in the garden, and landscaping in the side yard.

Boy, talk about feeling stupid. I learned last night while double checking my back country reservation that I don't leave for my hike through Pictured Rocks until the 18th, not the 11th as I've been planning. Then, to REALLY screw up, all along, I thought I was leaving this coming Friday when I should have been on Monday. I was doubly wrong. When one applies, he fills out a first, second, and third choice. My first was the 11th and I thought I'd read it correctly. Well, I didn't! Other than feeling stupid, it doesn't make a bit of difference. I'll leave a week from Monday.

For whatever reason, the middle part of the floor in the storage shed decided to sag a bit. Nobody would ever know, but it bothered me after Mark pointed it out. What to do? I loosened the 2x6 and jacked the floor, then screwed it back in.

I finished the rafters on Tuesday. It seems like a huge step and I'll now wait until Yooper Brother Mark can come out and help me fasten the far ends to the exterior wall. Soon after, we should see the 4x8 sheets attached and the window being installed. It's coming... slowly but surely.

I hiked both days and am enjoying all the colorful flowers that are growing alongside the road. It's like walking through someone's flower garden.

Mark texted on Tuesday afternoon saying the truck was full of wood. I drove the Blazer to the plant, brought the Man Truck home, unloaded it in less than an hour, then drove back to the plant, left it and brought the Blazer back home.

I entered the last of this summer session's grades today and am officially finished teaching for a few weeks. I'm looking forward to the break.

I worked for another couple of hours in the side yard. About the time I think I'll be finishing one particular section, I find something else. Right now, I'm grading a sharp drainage ditch so that it can be mowed with the rider. It's a pain and takes more time, but I think I'll be glad I did it right in the long run. The old ditch was about two feet deep and very sharp, so much so that it would have had to be trimmed by hand after each mowing. 

What takes the most time is moving the excess dirt and rocks. I turn off the backhoe then hop on the tractor and take the fill to low areas elsewhere on the property. That process is repeated over and over. What I need is a tractor operator! Where's Mom? Good free help is so hard to find these days.

Today should see me doing more of the same. I need to put in more lag bolts into the sill that is holding the rafters and of course, there's always the side yard.

The blueberries are just beginning to ripen

But first, 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...

After a washout last year, the first of the jalapeño peppers are almost ready to harvest.

We weren't the only ones out, enjoying a beautiful late Sunday afternoon.

August 4, 2014 - Monday
56 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

For this first time in over two weeks, save for its usual occupants, the house is completely empty. It sure is quiet and is going to take some getting used to.

Grady was up bright and early on Sunday. Honest, the boy asked if he could go hiking with me. Well, he may not have said those exact words, but I could tell he wanted to. Not to deny the little guy, I told him he could come along. Together, we tackled three miles. I opted to use my legs; ol' Grady commandeered his stroller.



Mom and Dad couldn't stay away any longer and arrived well before noon. Sargie and I were disappointed that we had to say goodbye so soon, but Grady will be back for another stay, something we're already looking forward to.



Yooper Brother Mark called, asking if I wanted to pound a nail or two. They'd gotten in from the lake earlier in the day and Sheri was busy with one project or the other leaving Mark to his own devices.



We got the 2x6's affixed to the barn that the rafters fasten to, also the hangers, and Mark made one rafter so I can use it as a pattern and cut the rest. 

By the looks of these muddy raccoon tracks, we're not the only ones hanging around the construction site.

One disappointing bit of construction news; one section of the floor had sagged a bit. I'm not sure why, but then I've not been sure of a lot of things during this building project. What I do know is that I will take out the lag bolts and jack the floor up in that one place, then reattach everything. It's a minor setback that shouldn't take more than half an hour to remedy.



Sargie mowed the lawn while Mark and I worked. She has it looking beautiful once again and thankfully, the grass is growing much slower as the summer marches on. There were several storms that went around us yesterday and we remain dry.

I'm sad to say there probably won't be any giant pumpkins this year. The two 36 degree nights we experienced a couple of weeks ago caused the plants to drop their blossoms and fruit. That's not only for the pumpkins, but any vine plant with blossoms; cucumbers, squash, and cantaloupe. Hopefully, we'll have all the above, but they will be late. Unless it's a very late fall, we'll run out of growing days for the pumpkins to get really large. I can already hear nephew Derek and brother-in-law, Boyd, breathing a sigh of relief, but oh, how disappointed Marley, Aubrey, Brielle, and little Sasha will be.

Ready or not, fall is right around the corner. The leaves are beginning to turn.

I spent a bit of time on Sunday gathering my hiking gear. The hammock has been put away and made ready for the trip.

Sargie loves when I pile my backpacking gear in the middle of the dining room table. Just ask her!

Sargie followed me into town where we dropped off the Man Truck at the plant to be filled with wood and later, took a short ride.

Last evening was a quiet one with both of us in bed shortly after nine. This Grandma/Grandpa business takes some energy!

Sargie works early today. I'm going to take my five mile stroll first thing then begin work on the shed. With Mark's help yesterday, there's enough work to keep me busy for the next several days. It's time to close down this summer's university session and enter grades, then upload next semester's classes and prepare to begin once again.

But first, I need to grab another cup of coffee and listen to the news.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

What's this? Baby clothes hanging over my camping gear? 

August 3, 2014 - Sunday morning
56 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

The past twenty-four hours have been wonderfully Grady-filled. 

The little guy has done everything from taking power naps to going camping. He's cried, laughed, giggled, spit up, slept, and of course, all those other things that babies do.



I worked on the outside wood bin, a corral really, finishing it then laying down a tarp, and emptying the wood from the pickup.







We went to see Mark and Sheri at Golden Lake last night. 

I forgot that every time a baby travels, it's like a major move.

Grady's chillin' and enjoying camping life

Joining us for supper were Jerad and Macy. We talked and laughed and ate some wonderful pork loin, salad, rolls, and cake. 



Macy is able to perform magic with young babies. Any time Grady became fussy he became instantly happy by a mere touch from Macy. 





She said she's always had that ability. Macy's in nurses training at Bay College. With her healing touch, I think she's in the right field.

Sheri is using her mother's magic with Grady and will be a first-time grandma when Sarah has her baby this fall.

We came home at dark and it didn't take long for all of us to head to bed. Grady awakened once during the night for a bottle, but went back to sleep soon after and slept until six this morning.



Mommy and Daddy will be along sometime today. Grady's had his bath, his nails trimmed, and has fallen asleep for the morning, giving Grandma Sargie a chance to take a shower and get ready for the day.










I'm going to take my five mile walk then turn my attentions to mowing the lawn. The usual lawn keeper seems to be preoccupied with grandma duties. It's so hard to find good help these days.

Time to strap on the shoes and get to hoofing. After all, a man's work is never done.



So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

August 2, 2014 - Saturday
45 degrees/clear/calm
Pentoga Road

Poor Brutus doesn't know what to think. Grandma left yesterday and was replaced by Grandbaby Grady. 



Where'd Grandma go? Brutus has looked all around the house for her, but in his true protective fashion, he abandoned his search so he might sleep beside Grady's crib in the guest room last night. No one is going to walk out of this house with his newest BFF!



Mom and I had a good trip down to Green Bay on Friday. I kept the speed slow and steady and really, we made good time.

My sister and brother-in-law were held up in traffic  and were running an hour late so Mom and I went to Menards and did a bit of shopping. I managed to spend a hundred dollars on "bargains."

Doesn't everyone need three or four Topsy Turvey hummingbird feeders that cost 77 cents each?

We had a good visit while enjoying lunch and it wasn't long before they headed south while I turned the car to the north. Traffic was heavy with campers and boats, all headed from the city to the lake country for the weekend.

I made it home in good shape. Cruising between 45 and 50 mph, I had one person wave to me as he passed, waggling his middle finger.

Mom called a bit ago saying they made it home around 11:30 last night and that she was doing well, just tired. For sure, we'll miss her here on Pentoga Road, but are hoping she'll be back for the holidays.

Baby Grady arrived with his parents around 6 Friday evening. The old folks had a bite of pizza and left for their weekend activities. 

Grady slept great last night and woke only once at 1:30, chugged a bottle of milk, and instantly fell back to sleep until 6 this morning.

Grandma Sargie had the little guy cooing and laughing for quite a while. They definitely have bonded. 



Me? I'm waiting until Grady's another year older before I show him how to spit and whittle... (The "spit and whittle" phrase originated from the musical, The Music Man, where Winthrop is telling his mother what Professor Harold Hill had promised to teach him.)

I've got a truckload of wood to work up today. Geesh, where's Mom when I need her? The lawn needs mowing and of course, the side yard should be further landscaped. We're heading to Golden Lake later this afternoon where Mark and Sheri are camped this weekend. It's a busy busy day that lies on the horizon, but should any of us be surprised?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...