Sometimes the prettiest flower in the yard is attached to something as simple as a Butternut Squash plant.

August 4, 2015 - Tuesday

55 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Today is Pour Day on Pentoga Road. The big concrete vehicle will be pulling up to the deck/patio area and things will be shaking and moving. 

The vehicle? My wheelbarrow. Shaking and moving? That'll be me mixing the concrete with a hoe in one hand, the garden hose in the other. I might buzz my lips and make motor sounds so I feel like the big boys who pour cement for a living.

Monday was a busy one. I hung out a couple of loads of laundry that Sargie had started before she left for work.

Next came measuring and pounding stakes for the future walk and patio. 

I knew I was in trouble when attempting to pound stakes and several broke as they hit rocks and boulders directly under the surface. 

The rest of the day was spent digging. I thought about using the backhoe, but I didn't want to dig that far down; just three inches. Still, by afternoon's end, I used a pry bar as much as I did the shovel.

It took some real muttering and no small amount of effort, but in the end, the area was made ready. 

I hope to begin with a circular pattern in the middle of the widest part and expand out. That's where the chiminea (outdoor fireplace) will be. Only problem... I'm not sure how that pattern will work with the cobblestone mold. Plans call for a short flower box on the deck from the garage to the step and a railing coming down alongside the step. Stay tuned. Things like that tend to change as progress continues.

The area was finally leveled and raked smooth. I decided to reward myself by doing something enjoyable and walked to the garden.

The cantaloupes are beginning to set. Like everything else in the garden, its success depends on when the first frost arrives. So far/so good. This is a Minnesota Midget, a short season/northern variety.

Jalapeno peppers are doing well. It'll soon be time to freeze some and pickle the rest.

The sweet bell peppers are setting on. With last week's heatwave and the recent rains, they are very sweet and crunchy, just like we like them!

The petunias in the two pipe planters I made this past spring have done well, but despite pinching and "dead heading" the plants have become spindly with the leaves getting smaller, the vines longer, and the flowers not nearly as pretty.

At one point, a couple of weeks ago, I could barely see the planter for the flowers.

I called sister-in-law, Nancy, a certified Petuniaologist, who used to work in a nursery/flower shop. Her advice was to clip them much shorter, causing them to become bushy and full.

I brought the planters to the barn, grabbed the hand clippers, and gave each a haircut.

Liquid fertilizer and water was applied after and now it's a matter of waiting. 

The last chore of the day was to bury the root nodes that appear along the vines of the giant pumpkin plant. I waded into the forest primeval with trowel in hand and covered several. 

The twice a day regimen now includes watering the entire plant, not just the base. It's currently receiving four gallons a day, two in the morning, two in the evening, along with Miracle Grow and Epsom Salts included in each watering.

Sargie was home before 7 last night and we had a quiet evening. The papers and final projects are winding down for the summer session and it's difficult to believe that after Friday, my teaching days will be over. I think I'm going to enjoy not reading quite so much.

Sargie works early today. I'm going to head out the door fairly soon, feed the beast (the pumpkin,) then begin mixing concrete. 

Deep thoughts? Not today. I'm too busy.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Just once, I'd like to do something that Brutus doesn't appear to be supervising. I didn't need his guidance between the new walk and wheel barrow.

The Milligan Sisters; Nancy, Jeanne, Holly, Tricia, and Sargie

August 3, 2015 - Monday

53 degrees/clear/calm

Pentoga Road

Finally, we got some rain. Almost half an inch fell yesterday. Yooper Brother Mark said he had three-quarters of an inch in his rain gauge while other places received much less than we did. It's all a matter of being under the right cloud at the right time.

Mark sent a text while sitting alongside the road in Crystal Falls saying they were experiencing heavy rain and large, damaging, hail. Thankfully, we received the rain, but just a brief smattering of hail, not enough to do any damage.

Sargie and I left late morning and headed to Tricia and Donnie's for a gathering of the Mighty Milligan's. 

Caitlyn and Auntie Sargie. If you remember, we asked for your prayers last January when Caitlyn was deathly ill in the hospital. Obviously, they worked!

Gathered around the dining room table, looking at pictures of Lisa's wedding in France (where Lisa's husband is from) several years ago. Naturally, the Milligans were well represented.

I spent most of the afternoon with the brothers-in-law, talking gardening and whatever happened to be the subject of the hour.

Donnie is showing us his greenhouse, one he built himself. A hot water mixture circulates under the floor from an outside boiler system and he's able to grow and harvest tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers throughout the year. After seeing this, you know what the newest addition is on my project list.

A black pepper Donnie grew

The weather cleared so we could remain outside. It was sunny and cool, perfect for socializing.

 Meanwhile, those in the house kept the conversations going.

Sister-in-law, Nancy, in one of her many, now-famous, JC Penny poses.

Caitlyn and Sasha

It was early evening before we bade the family goodbye and made our way home. The evening was beautiful, the drive most enjoyable. The perfect ending to a perfect day.

Sargie's back at the Vision Center today. I'm going to begin work on the cobblestone walk/patio between the deck and drive. Donnie has poured several around their home and all look absolutely beautiful. I'm hoping to do half as well.

It's time to wake Sargie and get the day started. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Holly and Tricia

Grandson, Wyatt, running his first triathlon. Wyatt placed 3rd overall in the eight-year-old age division... and he's only seven.

August 2, 2015 - Sunday

67 degrees/cloudy/calm

Pentoga Road

Speaking of Wyatt, I want to say Happy Birthday to his daddy, Josh. My oldest son turns the big FOUR-OH today. 

It's hard to believe it's been forty years. I was so naive' and thought I knew everything about fatherhood and life when he was born. His mother was a mere teenager, I wasn't much older. 

Despite being raised by child-parents who were basically clueless, (I was. Thankfully, his mother had the brains and common sense.) Josh thrived and excelled and is happily married, has three beautiful children, and enjoys a successful career in the Coast Guard.

Happy birthday, son. I love you.

Granddaughter, Ellie, was in the lead in her age group until she fell and scraped both knees. Still, she finished strong.

Saturday was a mellow day on Pentoga Road. I began installing the vents in the wood shed immediately upon returning from Iron Mountain.

I really wanted to place them in the eave, but the construction of the building made that prohibitive. A roof vent is really needed, something that may have to be done next spring if the two wall vents don't provide enough air circulation. I just hate ripping into that gambrel roof.

The rest of the day was spent on the riding mower. The grass in the yard really wasn't long, but there were several places where long tufts made the entire thing look shabby.

I'm amazed how green everything still is. We've not had a significant rainfall in several weeks, yet brown areas of grass are few and far between.

The side yard was mowed for the first time. Most of it is dirt, but what grass is growing was several inches long. Talk about a dust storm! There were times I thought I'd have to get out my compass to keep from getting lost. I'll sow grass seed later this fall and again next spring in that area.

I spent some time in the garden, moving the drip hose, watering, plucking a few weeds and tying a cucumber vine or two to the trellis. The pumpkin continues to grow at the fastest rate I've ever seen. It's gaining, literally, pounds per day and has definitely surpassed the size of a basketball.

My goal, other than to produce a giant to dump in Derek and Leah's front yard for the girls this halloween, is to gather, save, and possibly sell the seeds from this genetically pure strain. I paid $35 for the single seed from which this plant originated. I'd be happy to sell a few hundred, or a thousand, for somewhat less. Oh yes, there's a method to my madness.

Sargie was home early last night and after catching up on the news of the day, headed to the garden and immediately disappeared behind the seven-foot tall tomato plants. What was she doing?

I went into the stealth mode and finally found the girl eating sugar snap peas. They are nearing their end, but are still full, tender, and unbelievably sweet and crunchy.

This pea-stealer was caught on camera eating her supper directly out of the garden. 

We're heading to Tricia and Donnie's today, Sargie's sister and her husband, to see Sargie's niece, Lisa and her three children, who are visiting from Texas. With so many Milligan's and so little time, the family is gathering in one place so Lisa and the munchkins won't feel as though they have to travel all over the UP. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and naturally, eating some great food, something that seems to happen whenever the Mighty Milligan's get together. 

It's time to grab another cup of coffee, listen to the news, think some deep thoughts, then head to the garden and feed the pumpkin. The ravenous beast demands my attention twice a day, every day.

But are we surprised? Not hardly. After all, a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Run, Wyatt, run!!

The traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall 

August 1, 2015 - Saturday morning
57 degrees/clear/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I'm running a day late and a dollar short here this morning. First off, it's already August 1st? Let's see, tomorrow's Josh's birthday. My oldest son will be forty. Makes no difference, he'll always be my little buddy.

I skipped walking Friday morning in favor of nursing a huge blister on the bottom of my left foot. With cool temperatures and a hefty breeze, I grabbed a brush and finished painting the side and back of the wood shed. 



As soon as I work up the two cords of wood on the west side, I'll get that cleaned, primed, and painted. A new ramp still needs to be constructed, one that is heavy enough to support a wheelbarrow filled with firewood.



I didn't mind this painting job quite so much. First off, it was cool with low humidity making it comfortable. Secondly, I was able to listen to our local morning buy/shop/sell show, Telephone Time, on my small, solar and crank powered radio.



I purchased it sometime ago for emergencies, but find it useful when I'm working away from the house or shop. I had one at the cabin years ago, but it was several times larger and not nearly as efficient. 

The shed was finished around noon and loading fill and working in the side yard started right after.



 The area was officially finished by mid afternoon. No doubt I'll be piddling around with it for several years to come as boulders are heaved by the frost from the ground, but I've put the official FINISHED stamp on the south side yard, at least for this summer.



The brake job on the Blazer was finished. I called Yooper Brother Mark and he came out to bring me to town.

While we were visiting, Neighbor Mike pulled from his drive with a large enclosed trailer, went partway up the road, then suddenly stopped, backed down the large hill, and pulled into our drive.

Seems he had a flat tire. Mike and Germaine were hauling a large load of their daughter's belongings to her new apartment two hours north of here. Amelia just got a new job and Mom and Dad were loaded to the gills when the flat occurred. Only problem... no one knew how to remove the spare tire along with the accompanying hardware.



But, with Germaine's abilities to follow directions from the owner's manual and a bit of help from Mark and myself, Mike got the tire changed. Oh, he also had a bit of help from his best friend in the whole wide world, Brutus.





Mark and I eventually made our way into town where I got the Blazer. I've already made arrangements to have brakes put on Sargie's car, plus new balljoints need to be installed on the Blazer before we travel to Mom's in Indiana later this fall.

The traveling Vietnam Wall is in Quinnesec, Michigan, (adjacent to Iron Mountain) for the weekend, so I met Sargie after work and we visited the wall. The local veteran organizations have the cemetery where the wall is displayed looking beautiful and one can't view the wall and surrounding area without a lump in his throat.



I've been so disgusted by the various events happening with our country during the past several years that I needed my patriotism recharged; sort of like going to church to renew one's faith. The Traveling Vietnam Wall, a tribute to those who died while fighting, did it. 

Sargie's tracing the letters of a POW whose name was on a bracelet she wore for years.

God bless America. Under our current leadership, we need it.

I found out yesterday that I'll not be teaching this fall. With budget constraints and new rules and regulations by the university system in Alaska, I'll be finished after this current summer session.

A couple of people have asked how that makes me feel. I feel sad. I think it's the old "put out to pasture" thing. We'll certainly miss the extra money and the days of buying backhoes, trailers, and pressure washers are finished, but more than that, it will be hard to not teach. Old habits die hard.

At one time, three years ago, I was offered a position at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, but my heart is in Alaska. After more than forty years, I think it's time to close the chapter on teaching and simply enjoy all the pleasures we have here on Pentoga Road. I have been, and continue to be, truly blessed, both personally and professionally. If I miss teaching that much, I can always substitute teach. Yeah, and I can go have a root canal just for the fun of it too.

I'll be heading back to Iron Mountain with Sargie this morning. After a quick stop at the lumber yard for a few two by fours, I'll come back home and install the vents in the wood shed. After, I want to stake out the area for the new cobblestone walk and patio to be poured between the deck and drive.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...