Midsummer Sam, a local celebrity, who resides on one of our rural roads, is still adorned for Christmas. His clothing changes with the seasons.

March 7, 2018 - Wednesday

15 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I don't know who provides the change of clothes and maintains Midsummer Sam, but someone has a lot of fun keeping the stick figure dressed. Sam stands alongside a rural gravel road, greeting everyone. I actually waved to him the first time Sargie and I drove by. We assumed he was just another friendly person out for a walk.

Tuesday was uneventful on Pentoga Road. Sargie had the day off and with chilly temperatures and snowy conditions, neither of us were in any hurry to head out the door. 

I managed to get out to the shop and remove the drive belt from the lathe before we went to town.

Small and narrow, I doubted I'd be able to find a replacement locally and I was right. One has been ordered via the internet and should arrive in the next day or two.

Sargie and I had a good drive. Chomping healthy and nutritious chicken tenders (right out of the deep fryer) from the local deli and sipping Cokes, we drove around the countryside simply sticking our noses in here and there. 

We did stop at a local shop that sells crafts and wood products on consignment. As I told the owner, I wasn't interested in adding to her collection of salable goods, simply trying to get a few new ideas. I didn't find any.

The rest of the day was a lazy one. I can report that the overhauled wheelbarrow works like a charm.

With a new tire and bed, it fairly zoomed from the wood shed to the house filled with the fuel meant for today's heat. Had it gone any faster, I'd have been forced to wear a helmet and fasten a nonexistent seat belt.

Sargie closes tonight, but has Thursday off. We sure like this new trial four day a week work schedule. I'll go for my walk later this morning then return to the shop. Though the lathe is temporarily out of commission until the new belt arrives, there are a couple of scroll saw projects that need my attention.

Oh, I've had plenty of suggestions what to do with the barley twist. Making a lamp appears to be the readers' choice, hands down. So, a lamp it will be. Someone suggested I make another identical twist so there'd be a pair of matching lamps. I'm not sure I could duplicate the first twist if my life depended on it. Sounds like a challenge to me. Maybe I should try. Why not?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A finch (I think.) Hopefully, my buddy, Matt Goff, in Sitka, is reading today. He's an expert and recognized birdologist and will let me know.

It started with this simple piece of firewood

March 6, 2018 - Tuesday

25 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Talk about lazy, that's my middle name this morning. Sargie's off today and the clock was chiming eight times before I bothered to get out of bed. I can't say I was lying between the sheets simply snuggling beforehand. I wasn't. In fact, it was the chiming clock that woke me. I went to bed last night at ten and awakened at eight this morning. Not a bad night's sleep!

Yesterday was my kind of day. After arriving home from my morning walk, I turned the heat on in the shop and with computer in hand, began studying some rather detailed instructions on how best to proceed with making a barley twist from a piece of maple firewood.

The most difficult part to understand was how to grid the piece into sixteen identical rectangles, then using two pieces of masking tape, wrap spirals around the wood and trace the tape before removing it.

The process wasn't that difficult, but I had to keep referring to the plans over and over until they sunk into my rather thick skull. The detailed instructions were like a rock skipping across the water of a shallow pond. 

Bear in mind, I'm the boy who failed simple algebra two times and geometry twice in high school. I finally passed the final mandatory sophomore geometry class the second semester of my senior year just before graduation. 



I've been teased about owning two active laptop computers. I use the relatively inexpensive Acer Chromebook ($175 new) to store any patterns and shop related materials used around my wood working. I value my Apple MacBook Pro ($2,400) far too much to expose it to sawdust and other shop grime.

For my needs, the Acer is perfect.

After drilling a hole lengthwise through the wood, an angle grinder was used to cut through the initial spirals. The hand electric hand tool with a metal cut off blade isn't made to do such things, but it was the only thing I could think of. It worked... sort of.



After lots of blue smoke, literally, the wood was down to the hole in the middle. I had my spirals, big, fat, ugly, spirals.

The rest of the afternoon was spent sanding (and I don't say that lightly.) Every piece of machinery was used if it even looked like it might work. My new spindle sander was effective for a while in widening the grooves, then it was onto the Dremel and multiple sanding drums. In the end, it came down to good old fashioned sand paper. Eventually, the barley twist was complete. 

So what does one do with a barley twist? My first thought is to give it away so the recipient could think, "That's nice, but what do I do with it?"

That would be mean.

I'm down to one of several options. It could be made into a:

* candle stick holder

* stem of a large goblet

* small night stand lamp
* modern art object potentially worth millions

or

* Do nothing. Put it in the unfinished projects drawer alongside Chuckie the Possessed Rabbit so my sons will find it after I've passed away and let one of them wonder what to do with the thing.

Unless Sargie has other ideas, the last option seems to be the best. On the other hand, knowing my ADD - ridden, math challenged, mind, something will pop into my head and I'll continue onwards and upwards.

Seems I never know when to quit. 

Hey, I graduated from high school, didn't I?

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

I can't understand why Sargie won't let me bring my tools inside the house so I can work where it's cozy warm.

A hay bale that fell from a wagon last fall. Food must be plentiful in the deer world. It hasn't been touched.

March 4, 2018 - Sunday evening

31 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's damp, just plain damp. Though the temperature hasn't yet begun to fall tonight, the high humidity makes it feel colder than it really is. I had the heat on fairly high in the shop earlier and had difficulty keeping warm. It's just one of those days.

I did a short three-mile walk this morning then tackled the fire breathing wheelbarrow after arriving home. The fix was easy, but trying to tighten with one hand while reaching clear around the bed and hanging onto a wrench with the other presented a real challenge. 

In the end, the wheelbarrow was reassembled with a new tire and tub. I'm back in business.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the shop. I wrestled with Chuckie the Bunny for a while and finally, growing disgusted, set it aside.

Ah, my newest project, a twisted candlestick holder that can be made into a lamp... or it might end up being a fancy piece of firewood in the wood stove.

My wood of choice for this project - maple

The biggest problem I've encountered is converting millimeters into inches so I can understand the pattern and measurements. I ran into the same problem when I made the arbor/pergola in the garden. The plans were written in Russian and all the measurements were metric. The internet does a fairly decent job of translating, but it's not nearly the same. Sometimes the translation takes a bit of translating. 

All I accomplished today was rounding the piece of maple, turning it symmetrical. I spent most the time converting the metric numbers and studying the very detailed instructions.

This will be, by far, the most difficult piece I've ever tried on the lathe.

Sargie was home early from work and we had a quiet evening. She opens Monday morning.

I'll go for my usual walk in the morning then will, no doubt, spend most the day in the shop. I have a couple of Easter presents to begin, the candlestick holder, and then there's always Chuckie the Bunny. I hope to begin carving and sanding his little rabbit arms tomorrow.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

What's for Sunday breakfast? Whole grain toast, strawberries, cheese curds, and a glass of milk. I like peanut butter and raisins covering my toast while Sargie prefers only butter.

Chicks, anyone?

March 4, 2018 - Sunday

27 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I was in the local farm store yesterday morning when I heard the tell-tale peeping of spring chicks. Who can resist rubbing one of the furry little critters on his cheek, then consider taking a handful of little peepers home.

I can.

It won't be long before the flock of cute and cuddly chicks turn into a hoard of patio-pooping, coyote attracting, run-down-the-middle-of-the-road, noisy, dirty, birds. 

No thanks. Been there/done that. 

Eggs you say? When we raised chickens in my former lifetime, the eggs must have cost us at least ten dollars a dozen. Between purchasing the feed and continual disappearance of both birds and eggs at the hands of coyotes, foxes, weasels, and snakes, I finally gave up any hope of raising "farm fresh eggs." 

I know commercial eggs have lighter yokes and thinner shells, but selling for well under a dollar a dozen, I can be just as happy not chasing chickens back into their coop or shooting at coyotes and other predators. 

Besides, who eats the shells anyway?

Home from Iron Mountain on Saturday morning, I decided to hike around the block. Unlike a city block, our's is just shy of seven miles in length and entails a good combination of straight aways, hills, and valleys.

Much of our snow has melted, but there's still a goodly amount left to remind us that spring has yet to arrive.

Two hours later, I removed my hiking boots, ate a bit of lunch, then reclined for a half an hour nap. 

I love this retired life I live.

One of the tires on the duel-axle wheelbarrow has been going flat nightly for the past month. It's become a habit to inflate the tire each afternoon before filling the wheelbarrow with firewood and pushing it to the house. I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new tire and tube Saturday morning while in Iron Mountain.

I had all my tire tools and was ready to pry the tire off when I saw it was a split rim. 

What a joy to be able to remove a few nuts and bolts to free the old tire and tube rather than compress, pry, tug, and cuss, the thing from the rim.

It wasn't long before the rim was split in two and the new tire mounted, aired, and back on the wheel barrow.

I love my duel axle wheelbarrow. Other than the little blue four-wheeler during the summer months, it's my most important outside tool. It not only hauls firewood all winter long, it's moved, yards and yards of top soil, rocks, and whatever else I may not be able to transport in the truck, on the trailer, or by hand.

I'd purchased a new tub (bed) for it last spring as the old one had cracked and was falling apart.

The rest of the afternoon was spent squirting lubricant on the old nuts and bolts in an effort to loosen the things. As I told Mississippi Brother Garry on the phone yesterday, I could have used a third hand. Of course, where was he? The boy was driving charter bus somewhere in SW Missouri. 

With Yooper Brother Mark in Green Bay competing in a bowling tournament, I simply had to man up and replace the tub on my own.

I wrestled with the thing for over two hours before quitting and coming inside. I'll finish today and the wheel barrow should be as good as new. I hope so. I'll need to bring in firewood before nightfall.

Being wheelbarrow challenged didn't stop me from doing some housework last night. Sargie has to work today and I didn't want her running all over the place trying to clean and dust then turn around and have to go to work.

My bride arrived home last night and we spent a relaxing evening in front of the television. She works from noon to five today, labors a full day on Monday, but thankfully, has Tuesday off. With a spring  snowstorm forecast to arrive and drop several inches about then, it appears her timing will be perfect.

I'm going for my walk this morning then come home to finish that wheelbarrow. Thankfully, I have long arms and should be able to reach around the tub to hold a wrench in one hand, a screw driver in the other.

After? There's that six inch tall bunny rabbit that's sitting on the workbench in the shop making fun of me. I'm starting to regard the unfinished hare much like one does that pint-sized star of horror flicks, Chuckie the Doll.

I've made an oath.

The rabbit will be mine. Oh yes, by all that is holy, I will complete the wooden Easter Bunny.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Whoops, it appears I missed the driveway while backing out. I well remember before we had the drive paved, it was one, huge, muddy mess every year when the snow began to melt.

March 2, 2018 - Friday evening
24 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road


It appears the thermometer is bottoming out again tonight. Goofy weather. The low this morning dipped to 5 above zero then topped out today at 50 degrees. 

If we weren't heading to Las Vegas the week after next, I'd be tapping trees. Large variations in the temperature causes heavy sap flow. These past few days would have been ideal for gathering sap and making maple syrup. Hopefully, the season will last into the last week of this month and a week or two beyond. My goal is to make five gallons this year.

The chilly beginning to the day produced some outstanding hoar frost this morning. I kept busy snapping pictures while on my walk.

Once home, I headed to the shop to continue working on the Easter Bunny. I came to understand the skill Mississippi Brother Garry has when he makes pens and other delicate items. I spent most the day turning blanks for the ears, arms, and legs.



The smaller and thinner the piece, the more challenging it becomes for a successful turning. I quickly discovered that a sharp chisel is essential.



The pieces were cut in half, length ways, and will be shaped and carved further by hand tomorrow.

I drove to Iron Mountain late this afternoon so I could ride home with Sargie tonight. Arriving early, I spent some time visiting with Ross and Holly before going onto the Vision Center.

Sargie and I have had a quiet evening. She opens again in the morning, so we'll be leaving bright and early. I'll run a few errands while in town then head back home. After, well, there's plenty to do around here. Those bunny ears aren't going to carve themselves.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Mississippi Brother Garry sent me a link to this 1950's article. I wonder if he's trying to tell me something?

March 1, 2018 - Thursday

19 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Does that guy in the above picture have his lathe and drill press set up in their living room? I love the wife who is supposed to be in his shop wearing her apron, dress, and high heels. Also, the coffee table with flowers.

I'll have to show the picture to Sargie, see if she'll wear a dress and heels when she comes out to my work area. 

Spring? The mere thought was a laugh for the first several hours earlier today.

Snow came down by the bucketfuls, but thankfully, for the most part, the roads remained wet but bare.

I walked five miles this morning. It was going well until I slipped on a piece of black ice under the new snow and almost fell on my backside. Only my quick athletic prowess of a mongoose kept me from falling.

Back home, I made my way to the shop and began working on turning an Easter Bunny. 

Yooper Brother Mark brought me a piece of beech wood from Kentucky last year.



I ripped enough for what I thought was needed.



I've never turned an Easter bunny before. The body took a while, but was slowly shaped.



The head was more difficult.



It took some imagination, but each was somewhat shaped. There's still plenty of handwork remaining, ears, arms, legs, and other bunny parts, but it's a start.

I know, it looks nothing like a rabbit. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Yooper Brother Mark stopped out mid afternoon for a quick visit. It was sure good to see my friend. 

The late afternoon was spent with my nose buried in a book, a true story about an older guy who at age 61, solo hiked the Appalachian Trail two years ago. Though he's several years younger, I figure if he could do it, so can I.

It was almost 9:30 before Sargie walked in the door tonight. She had a quick bowl of chili and is currently getting ready for bed. Poor girl has to open bright and early tomorrow morning.

I'll go for my walk first thing Friday then I plan to spend some time making those two lumps of wood look like a rabbit. It will be a challenge, but someone around here should make an Easter Bunny.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Melting snow and water dripping from the rooftops

March 1, 2018 - Thursday

15 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Whew, where'd February go? 

Funny what a difference a day can make. I consider February a deep winter month, but March an early harbinger of spring. At the stroke of midnight, my mindset completely changed. It's time to put away the snow shovel and get out the gardening tools. Bring 'er on.

Meanwhile, back to reality, I took advantage of the above normal temperatures and walked twice Wednesday. I covered 5.8 miles in the morning and a bit over 3 late in the afternoon. Almost nine miles. Hmm. Not bad.

I am walking for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. An organization called Charity Walk has an app with Johnson and Johnson Company donating .25 for every mile I walk. I'm happy that my walks are going for a good cause.

I wasn't the only one taking advantage of the nice weather. I came across several sets of raccoon tracks, most of them in Pentoga Village.

 Much of Wednesday was spent working at the lathe. It's been some time since I turned a bowl. I didn't have anything particular in mind. I just wanted to turn.



Beginning with a salvaged piece of white birch from the firewood pile, I began.

It's nothing special, simply a bowl.

There was enough wood left on the stock to fashion a top. 

I wish I had enough sense to leave well enough alone, but one of today's goals is to turn a bunny rabbit on the lathe to mount on top of the lid in hopes of making some sort of Easter bowl.

The last walk of the day was taken an hour before sunset. It was just too nice to let the perfect conditions go to waste.

Sargie closes again tonight, so it will be a long day for her. For me, today will be spent in much the same manner as Wednesday. The temperature's to be cooler with snow showers. So much for spring.

It's time to get Sargie up, pack her lunch, and prepare breakfast.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...