Wood from the past two day's work

November 6, 2015 - Friday
38 degrees/cloudy/gale force winds
Pentoga Road

I love windy days like this one, where it doesn't merely blow, it howls. I well remember the last year I was in Sitka living on the boat and safely tied to the pier in the harbor, when the strong winds would rock my boat back and forth with heavy waves crashing into the side. Every now and then, one would be strong enough to send water over the top. Meanwhile, I would be down inside the cabin, lying in my bunk, snuggling into my sleeping bag while letting Mother Nature rock me to sleep. 

A typical Sitka gale

Or when living at Hilltop, my beloved cabin perched high atop a hill in the arctic, overlooking the mighty Noatak River. Gusts of wind approaching 75 mph (and more than once, stronger) occasionally shook my cabin and once again, I loved lying in my bunk or sitting by the wood stove, letting nature do it's thing.

We slept with the window open last night and though our house didn't shake, rattle, or roll, the wind chimes played a perfect symphony. Sargie and I slept well snuggled deep within the covers.

Page Two

Thursday can be summed up in one word: firewood. 

I made several trips to and from the woods, cut, chunked, split, and put all away. After, the entire area was raked free of small pieces of wood and sawdust. 



I took the opportunity yesterday afternoon to ride around the property on the four-wheeler and found one more tree, a gray birch, that is standing and dead. I hope to get it cut up this next week.

A trip was made into Dave's so he could recheck the brakes on the Blazer. After crawling under the SUV and not seeing any signs of a leak, he found that the gasket on the brake fluid reservoir was bad and being sucked into the tank each time the brake was applied. Fluid would splash out and most pressure would be lost. I drove to the local auto parts store and ordered a new one. For $8, I can pick it up this morning. 

So that was my day... filled with lots of physical work, but not overly exciting. Sargie was home early last night and after a supper of leftover French meat pie, we watched television for a bit and climbed the steps to the bedroom early. She was tired from working all day and my body felt as though I'd been wrestling firewood for the past two.



Sargie opens this morning. I'll drive into town after she leaves and get the gasket. No doubt, I'll stop and see Yooper Brother Mark at the plant before coming home. With the cold and windy conditions, I think I'll spend the rest of the day in the shop. It's time to remake the sign that hangs by the road. The old one has lost a letter or two and has become discolored. 

But first, it's time to pour that all-important first cup of coffee and think at least one deep thought. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

One last Grady picture

Getting ready to go fishing on Wednesday morning

November 5, 2015 - Thursday

57 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It seemed too quiet on Pentoga Road yesterday. That one-and-a-half year old tornado we call Grady had gone home, Sargie was at work, and suddenly, it was just the bulldog and me. 

Neighbor Mike and I went fishing after everyone left. We should have simply stayed home. The fog was so thick that we could barely see the water, let alone the lake and surrounding area. The fish were smarter than we were. They stayed where ever fish stay on foggy days.

We arrived home before noon and naturally, once we pulled in the drive, the sun came out and the skies cleared. I didn't let the nice weather go to waste. I spent several hours cutting, hauling, and working up a decent amount of hard wood. I think I made five or six trips into the woods, returning each time with a log or two in tow.

Lengths were cut into sizes that could be dragged by the four-wheeler, brought into the yard, cut, split, and stacked in the shed.

Mike is building a porch onto his camp and visited two or three times during the afternoon borrowing one thing or the other or asking for help.

I finally quit working at dark. My back was hurting and my arms felt as though they ought to belong to someone else. I'm thinking that a hydraulic wood splitter might be in my future, possibly in the next year or two. Now if I could just find an automatic wood cutter, hauler, and stacker, I'd have it made.

It appears it will be more of the same today. Supposedly, this is the last decent day in the foreseeable future. A high of 61 is forecast with a chance of rain. Tomorrow's high... 40. Things are about to change.

Sargie opens this morning and should be home early tonight. I hope so. She closed last night and we saw each other for barely an hour before bedtime. I know I was fast asleep before she even made it up the stairs.

Meanwhile, it's time to pour a cup of coffee and ponder changing a tail light in Sargie's car. I noticed one was out as she was pulling away yesterday. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Taking a bath and brushing his teeth, Grandma Sargie had Grady squeaky-clean before taking him home on Wednesday morning.

Today's photos taken by Grandma Sargie

November 4, 2015 - Wednesday
35 degrees/very foggy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

I'm going to try to get this uploaded before Grady wakes. Once that happens, writing is pretty much out of the question. Sargie will be dropping him off at his mother's house in Iron Mountain on her way to work this morning.

There's nothing quite as good as getting in bed with Grandma and Grandpa first thing in the morning

Tuesday morning was spent finishing the trim and caulking on the solar heater. At one point, it was discharging air into the shop that ranged from 150 to 200 degrees.

I lucked out and found a small, four-inch, inexpensive, fan at Ace Hardware in town. Even better, it easily mounted directly in front of the discharge duct in the shop and blows out about three times more volume. I learned that the previous eight- inch fan was pulling negative air pressure in the solar heater and wasn't working all that well. I'm optimistic that problem has been solved.



The rest of the morning was spent in the garden, digging taters, carrots, and beets.



I'm disappointed in the potato harvest this year. They simply aren't the quality we hoped they'd be and those grown in the pots seem to have become infested with some sort of worm that burrowed in and left only the outer shell. I think the critters came in with the leaves I used for mulch. It's back to the drawing board for next year's crop.



The carrots and beets both produced quality, bumper, crops. No complaints on either.





Page two

With Grady's help, we raked the leaves from around the wood sheds.










... and later hauled them into the woods.





Grady loves to ride anything motorized with his grandpa. With temperatures in the 70's, the pint-sized leaf-raker would have been happy to have skipped the work and simply ridden around all afternoon... with, or without, Grandpa.



It was two tired grandparents, an exhausted little boy, and a weary bulldog, who turned in early last night. Brutus was growing tired of dodging Grady's affections and was trying to stay out of his way. 

At one point early yesterday morning, Brutus was eating from his bowl. I heard a growl and looked up to find Grady had crawled between his legs from the back and on his way to the food bowl, had reached up and gave anything that might have been dangling overhead a good tug. 

Grady laughed, Brutus growled and looked cross-eyed, and Grandpa sighed. In the end, everyone made up and went on to have a good day.

They're having a boy to bulldog conversation that only they can understand.

We enjoyed pork steaks done on the grill last night along with winter squash. Both were excellent.

Neighbor Mike has determined that we're going fishing, so that's on this morning's agenda. There's a downed maple tree to haul in and work up this afternoon.

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

Grady's about all done in after a long day of playing outside.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Grady's back in the house

November 3, 2015 - Tuesday
34 degrees/clear/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Strange, I seldom remember other's birthdays and have been known to forget my own, but I always remember November 3rd. 

It was 1964. Barry Goldwater, Republican underdog, was running against Lyndon Johnson for President. True to our Conservative nature, we were huge Goldwater fans. 

Dad took us to a Goldwater rally where we heard the famous senator extoll the consequences should the nation reelect a liberal politician from Texas. At the end of the rally, the thousands of supporters stood and sang:

"I'm just wild about Barry,

and he's just wild about me,

He's honest, forthright, and courageous,

He fits me to a T!

I'm just sick about Lyndon,

Humphrey, Baker, and boys,

On November 3rd

Out with Lyndon Bird

And ON TO VICTORY!"

I stood with the rest, belting out the words, my fists pumping the air. Barry would fix the nation. He couldn't lose. It was a new day for America.

Most of us remember how that election turned out. Barry Goldwater lost by the biggest landslide in this nation's history. The man faded into obscurity and Lyndon Johnson went on to govern for another four years, giving hard-working people's money away, raising taxes, and escalating the war in Vietnam. Politicians haven't changed much over the past fifty years.

Page Two

It was a bit foggy going to Iron Mountain with Sargie early Monday morning. Thankfully, the sun quickly burned it off.

I arrived home from Iron Mountain Monday morning ready to work on the solar heater. It was warm, mostly sunny, and I was in the mood.

I spent all day measuring, cutting, and experimenting on how best to fasten the polycarbonate sheets onto the frame. I was also worried about how best to cut the sheets. At $22 each, any mistakes would be costly.

In the end, I used a plywood blade turned backwards on the circular saw with a very shallow setting. It sliced through the panels like a hot knife through butter. I measured, I cut, I puttered, and drilled holes. In the end, the panels were fastened to the frame. All that remains is the trim on the top and bottom and the sheeting caulked to that. The solar heater should be finished by mid-morning.

Brother Reverend Dr. Pat called from California Monday afternoon and we spent a goodly time solving the ills of the world. We talked of days gone by, salmon fishing and deer hunting in Sitka, boats, weather, and people. We both admitted we missed it, but were quick to agree that we wouldn't trade our lives as they are now. Time marches on.

Yooper Brother Mark stopped by on his way back from Iron Mountain. The boy had several appointments during the afternoon and took the opportunity to check in. 

Sargie and Grady pulled into the drive early last evening. I'm not sure who was happier to see whom, Grady - Brutus, or Grandpa/Grandma - Grady. 

At any rate, we had a wonderful evening filled with toys and dancing. Oh yes, not only do we have a future linebacker with the Packers in the family, we also have another John Travolta/Patrick Swayze. Sargie put on a few tunes and Grady kept us entertained by groovin' to the music. His specialty seems to be a one-foot stomp while going around in circles. I definitely see some potential there.

His newest favorite toy... a flashlight

We were all in bed by ten last night. Grandma Sargie and Grady are still sound asleep. I'm going to try to get this uploaded then head outside to finish the trim on the heater before the dancer awakens. Once that happens, anything goes.

Wait a minute... Grandma went up there, why can't I?

Today is potato day in the garden on Pentoga Road. I'm going to teach Grady a new song:

"Pickin' up taters, puttin' 'em in your pocket,

Pickin' up taters, puttin' 'em in your pocket,

Pickin' up taters, puttin' 'em in your pocket,

Way down yonder in the tater patch!"

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Monday's sunrise

November 2, 2015 - Monday
35 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

These are fairly mundane days, real yawners. Carl the Weatherman has changed his mind and is now calling for cloudy skies with the possibility of showers today. Originally, the boy said it was going to be sunny and warm all week. Carl seems to change his mind a lot.

I managed to get a few things accomplished on Sunday. After Sargie left for Iron Mountain, I parked the boat, unloaded all the tackle and fishing paraphernalia, and tucked it away for the winter. Though only twelve feet long, the boat is made from steel and is heavy. None of this fifi aluminum stuff for me, no sir.



The only way I can turn the boat over and have it rest on the trailer is to physically drag the thing onto the ground, flip it upside down, then wrestle it back onto the trailer. It took some time, but it's in its winter resting place, there to remain until next spring.

I next turned my attention to the deer fence. I replaced two more poles and tightened all the wire. In the four years since I've surrounded the orchard and garden with the 9,000 volt barrier, this is the first time a deer has ever jumped over or gotten through. I checked it several times after I was done yesterday. 

There are a full 9,000 volts flowing through the wires. If you don't believe me, feel free to touch it. 



In fact, for the full effect, take off your shoes and socks, stand in a tub of water, and touch it with your tongue. Just let me know first. I want to watch and take pictures.



Sargie's brother-in-law, Donnie, lost his brother to cancer a few days ago. I ran through the shower, put on some decent clothes, and drove to Iron Mountain before dark to meet Sargie. Together, we went to the visitation after she was finished with work. 

I won't even talk about watching the Green Bay/Denver game last night. Whew, I think the only people who showed up to Mile High Stadium from Green Bay were the fans and those watching on television. The team forgot we had a game. We're going to have to get serious about playing football if there's a 2015 Super Bowl in our future. Right now, it's not looking too promising.

I'm going to ride back with Sargie this morning to get the Blazer. There are several stops to make in Iron Mountain before coming home, dog food to buy, a bill to pay, a couple of totes to purchase that are on sale. Assuming it doesn't rain, I hope to install the new polycarbonate glass in the solar heater today. Garry and I have talked on the phone and I think we're got it figured out. Stay tuned.

There are potatoes, carrots, and beets, to dig and store for the upcoming winter months. It's going to turn nasty one of these days and I'd like to be ready when it does.

Suddenly, I can't do anything outdoors without being supervised and bossed by a lowly Chickadee. Jimmy seems to think I'm his pet... and on second thought, maybe I am. He's got me well trained.

What's my life become? I answer to a bulldog and a bird.

Meanwhile, it's time to upload what pictures I have, pour a cup of coffee, and think deep thoughts.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

While at the Vision Center on Monday afternoon, I talked my favorite optician into adjusting my glasses.

Grady's going trick or treating

November 1, 2015 - Sunday morning

43 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Now I am all screwed up. Let's see, we moved the clocks back an hour so it's light earlier in the day. OK, I got that. I awakened this morning at normal time only to find that it was really 4 AM, even though my body was telling me it was 5 and this afternoon, just when I'm getting warmed up to go back outside after lunch to do some more work, it will be too dark to accomplish anything meaningful.

I wish to heck the politicians would leave their hands off our time zones and the changing of the clocks. They can't even balance their own check book. What makes them think they can adjust the clocks twice a year? 

Now get this... the three or four counties along the Wisconsin border in the Upper Peninsula are on Central Time, BUT all of the UP, along with the rest of Michigan are in the Eastern Time Zone. How does that translate?

The western part of the Upper Peninsula, some of it almost two hours away WEST of here, is in the Eastern Time Zone. 

Sargie and I like Daylight Savings Time. We vote to keep it there all year round. Don't laugh. At least we can balance our checkbook.

Page Two

Yooper Brother Mark and I had a good drive to Watersmeet, thirty miles to the west, Saturday morning. It was rainy and cold, but we didn't let a little inclement weather ruin our good time. His side-by-side was soon loaded on the trailer and we were back home by midmorning.

Since Mark had a new heater and defroster installed, I thought it would be a good idea if I drove the truck and he rode in the ATV on the trailer to make sure the heater worked. Yeah, that sounds good!

Sargie made one of my favorite breakfasts, her oatmeal casserole. The girl loads up regular old oatmeal with maple syrup, honey, coconut, peanuts, peanut butter, and other secret ingredients and in the end, it's a great breakfast meal all by itself. 

With the exception of going to town for a short while, the rest of the day was spent indoors. I took a long nap and slept deeply. It was one of those sleeps that when I awakened, I wasn't even sure what day it was.

Poor Sargie came out on the short end of the stick. She did laundry and cleaned while I snoozed the afternoon away.

Sargie has to work from noon to five today, but has an appointment with her friend, Melinda, first thing this morning to have her hair done. 

I'm going to work on the deer fence. There was another one in the orchard this morning. If it was a bit later, the doe wouldn't live to see the other side, but it's not yet deer season. All I could do was yell and wave my arms.

It's time for breakfast. There's no rest, even on a Sunday morning.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

I'm not sure what the occasion was, but granddaughter, Abigail, center back, and her herd of girlfriends, went to a Boston Celtics game a couple of days ago.