December 27, 2018 - Thursday evening
34 degrees/rain/mist/snow/breezy
Pentoga Road

It's been another one of those blah days. We were up early this morning and one look out the window discouraged Sargie from attempting to drive the forty miles to work. At the time, the wind was blowing a heavy snow sideways.



This has, however, been another wonderfully lazy day. I should have cleaned the shop, but that didn't happen. In fact, all I did was clean the back deck and plow Jambo's and our drive.



Mom and Sargie have been just as active, mostly wandering from the kitchen to the living room. Mom is into a good book on her Kindle.



Sargie's spent much of the day under a blanket beside me on the couch, watching movies.



What will tomorrow bring? Sargie closes the Vision Center so it will be a long day for her. I'm going for my usual walk then return to clean the shop.

Oh yes, I WILL clean that shop!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

December 26, 2018 - Wednesday evening
22 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

If Mom or I would have done any less or moved any slower today, time would have moved backwards and we'd be back to Christmas day. 

Wednesday morning began with the usual walk. The sun was just rising over the horizon and with the crystal clear skies and cold temperatures, everything seemed almost animated. 

I experimented shooting into the sun and utilized a tree to block part of the direct light rather than a filter.

Mom and I watched three movies today, two on the Hallmark Channel. Actually, I may have closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep for part of the afternoon.

We made our way to town to run a few errands. After, it was back home to watch another movie. I've definitely become a more sensitive guy as a result.

I gathered a bit of energy late this afternoon and processed ten pounds of hamburger for the freezer.



I slice the tube into burgers, wrap and put each in packs of three, then place them into a large freezer bag. It's handy to defrost a single pack when Sargie and I want hamburgers for supper.

Sargie was home later this evening. We took the Kia to the mechanic's to have the blower (fan) for the heater fixed. It went out completely last week and makes driving the subcompact a chilly experience this time of year. Sargie will drive one of the other two vehicles until it's fixed.

It appears sloppy, wet, snowy, weather is heading our direction.

Assuming the roads are passable, Sargie opens the Vision Center Thursday morning. I'll go for my daily stroll then return to work in the shop a bit. The first order of business is to clean. After that, I need to touch up a snowman I turned and painted last week.



With bad weather forecast, I doubt Mom and I will go anywhere. If the snow is wet and heavy, I'll be plowing it from Jambo's and our drives often before it can pile up and become difficult to move. 

It's about bedtime and my heavy eyes are telling me it's time to make that long climb to the bedroom.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A random baby picture taken in the store earlier today

December 25, 2018 - Tuesday night
24 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

What's that? Oh yeah, it's the sweet sweet sound of silence. Mom's working at her new computer, Sargie and I are doing the same. No one's talking and there's nary a sound of Christmas in the air. For the first time in days, a welcome void of noise permeates the house. 

Christmas has been a pleasant affair. We opened presents mid morning and let me tell you, Santa was one mighty generous fellow. 

We all scored in the presents department. Matt sent us family pictures along with other goodies.



Mom also received multiple gift cards, clothes, and a new computer. Her old Chrome Book has been acting up, so she received a new one with a much larger screen.



Sargie did okay. She's been wanting a robotic vacuum for several years and this Christmas, Santa brought her an iRobot Roomba. 



She must have really been a good girl this past year as she also received jewelry, cosmetics, and clothes.

I made out just as well. I received a new DeWalt multi tool, a coat, an Amazon Fire Box, and other goodies. Santa treated all of us well.



It was after noon before we drove to Holly and Ross's in Iron Mountain. 



It was an afternoon filled with lots of love, laughing, and Holly's good eats.

Sargie with her nephew/godson, Taylor

Little Lincoln kept us entertained much of the afternoon. He seems to love everyone and is full of smiles.

It was late afternoon before we bade all goodbye and looked at a few Christmas lights on our way home.

We've played with our toys this evening. Mom is getting used to her new computer and Sargie is tickled the way her new robotic vacuum works.

Once again, another Christmas has come and will be gone in a few short hours. It will soon be back to life as usual.

Sargie opens the Vision Center Wednesday morning. I'll go for my usual walk then hang out with Mom and take the day as it comes. I know I have a shop that is knee deep in saw dust and could use a good cleaning. On the other hand, it may very well be a great day to be lazy and do absolutely nothing.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

December 25, 2018 - Tuesday - early Christmas Day
23 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Dear Santa,

I'm sitting here getting ready to write my blog, but first, I wanted to thank you for all the wonderful gifts you left under the tree. I lay in bed quite awhile earlier this morning because I was afraid you hadn't been here yet. I guess I didn't have to worry about that! I hope you didn't give us everything in your magic bag so all the other good grandmas and grandpas around the world got their share!

Since you were out flying around the world last night, I thought I'd let you know what we did yesterday.

Boy, was it a busy one!

I started by cleaning the drive of two to three inches of light, fluffy, snow. I'm so happy it fell and can hardly wait until daylight so I can see the tracks left by your sleigh. I know there will be plenty of deer tracks in the yard, but I think those are from the pesky, garden-eating varmints that live in the woods surrounding our house!

I finally got Mom's Christmas present pretty well finished in the shop yesterday morning, the one that I've been working on for the past several days. 

 There's still more touch up to do with the paint, but hey, you of all people know that Christmas waits for no one and I've been working long and hard to get this done by today. I hope my effort scores me some points for your Nice List. Can those count towards next year?

It was soon time to pack the car with all the presents and head to Iron Mountain. Boy oh boy, I don't know how you do it, Santa, loading all those presents for all the good little girls and boys the world over. Why, we hardly had room at all after packing all the gifts we had for the family!

It's a good thing we had the Equinox! I told Mom and Sargie that I might have to strap them onto the top as we might have to use their seats for cargo space! Of course, Santa, I was only kidding. Really I was. I hope I didn't get my name on the Naughty List for saying that.

After first stopping for Mom to get her hair done, we went to Hambone's house. Was he ever happy to see Grandma Hedy, Grandma Sargie and if I may say so, his old Pawpaw.

I think he was most excited knowing that you were coming to his house last night.

His mommy, Mel, had made the most delicious plate of Christmas cookies, plus lots and lots of other holiday goodies. I'd bet Grady made sure he left plenty out for you!

Holy cow, Santa, everyone got so many presents! I couldn't believe it. At one point, we almost lost Hambone in all the wrapping paper. He must have been a good boy as he was surrounded by presents.

Mom and Sargie had so much fun opening their gifts. There was something for everyone!

You should have seen Macrea. He was wearing his silly Christmas reindeer cap! We all laughed as I'm sure you will when you see this.

Nikki and Shea were there along with munchkins, Logan and Kylie. There were lots of presents for them too!

It wasn't long before we made our way to the annual Milligan Christmas Eve celebration in Sargie's hometown, Foster City.

Sargie's nephew and godson, Taylor, was hosting it this year and boy, did we ever have fun!

One of the best parts of the evening was listening to the performance that Marley and her younger sister, Aubrey, had prepared. Marley just started playing trumpet this year, but, can she ever play!

Aubrey led us in singing and thank goodness, we had Auntie Debbie to assist as the official music holder!

So the evening went. I wish you could have been there, Santa. It was so much fun.

At one point, I was a little bit sad and wished that my four sons, their wives, and our nine other grandbabies could have been with us, but then as you know, that's what happens when little boys grow up and become daddies and husbands and have homes of their own.

We ate and we laughed and we ate and we sang and we talked and we giggled. Macrea and I had a pretend argument over who would get any left over stuffed mushrooms that Auntie Debbie made! I must have eaten eight or ten and he claims to have eaten even more! Yes, for one night, Macrea and I were little piggies!

Famous JC Penney model, Nancy, was there and though she was busy talking to all the "beautiful people," she agreed to pose for a picture.



Nancy is still waiting for a call from her nonexistent agent that will see her jetting off to Europe, the South Pacific, perhaps Vale or Sun Valley, for a catalogue shoot. I haven't had the heart to tell her that JC Penney quit sending out catalogues years ago. 

The best gift I received yesterday came in a little tiny package. It was one of the most meaningful presents I've opened in a long time.



As you might guess, it came from that munchkin wedged between his mommy and daddy.



And Santa, I guess you know that I love Hambone too along with our other nine grandchildren. Each is special and beautiful and I wish I had your power to snap my fingers and be with them this morning as they unwrap the presents. I hope they know how much we truly love them.

So Santa, it's been a great year. One in which my sight went from 20/200, legally blind, to 20/15, better than perfect. Thank God for modern technology and the near infrared light treatments. As you know, it's a miracle.

Despite last spring's surgery for colon cancer and diagnosed with congestive heart failure, Mom is like a well-built Timex. She may take a licking every now and then, but she not only keeps on ticking, she thrives! Mom will be 92 this next June and I'm happy to say she's going strong, certainly hearty enough to keep her little boy in line!

Then there's my beautiful, wonderful, Sargie, who gives real meaning to my life. I'm not sure how I deserve such a wonderful and loving woman, but together, we make a pretty good team! We're fishing partners, shopping partners, driving partners... why, Santa, we do most everything together and the miracle of this union is, I don't even mind! (I do have to say that I'm not too wild about going shopping for girl stuff though.) God was sure being kind when he put Sargie and me together, something I thank Him for each and every day.

I hope Santa that you remind everyone that though you are the spirit of Christmas, the true meaning is through the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Without Him, we'd all be lost.

 Again, Santa, thank you for all the wonderful gifts you left under our tree last night. No doubt, Mom and Sargie will be joining me later this morning and we'll have a good time opening each and every package. Later today, we'll make our way to Holly and Ross's and rejoin the family in an informal Christmas family gathering where we'll celebrate all over again, eat and laugh and talk and giggle and most importantly, love one another. It's what we do best!

So Santa and whoever else may read this, from Sargie and me, it's with love and peace that we wish you and everyone, God Bless and Merry Christmas!

This man's work is finished for today. Let Christmas begin!

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

There's over 91 years of deep thoughts going through Mom's head while staring into the fire

December 24, 2018 - Christmas Eve

20 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I planned on writing a Christmas letter and posting it today, but time is dictating that it may come a bit later. There's a drive that needs plowing, a present in the shop that requires a few finishing touches, a trip to Iron River, then to Crystal Falls for errands, get Mom to the beauty shop for an afternoon hair appointment, then onto Foster City for the annual Milligan Christmas Eve gathering late this afternoon. Whew, I'm tired before the day even begins and I've barely taken a sip from my first cup of coffee.

Though there was a bit of snow on the ground previously, the three inches that fell yesterday made our world look like... well, like Christmas.

Carl, the Weatherman, says we're in for some more significant precipitation beginning on Wednesday. Guess we can't complain, snowfall has been at a minimum so far this winter.

I spent most of Sunday in the shop and finally made some real progress. I should be able to move out of the shop and back into the house later today.

We were pleasantly surprised last evening when Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri stopped by for a visit.

We exchanged gifts and had a wonderful conversation.

The greatest present from Mark and Sheri is too large to wrap or place in a box. It's called love and friendship, the best gift of all.

Who's that guy schmoozing up to my mama?

I'm going to wrap this up (no pun intended) and head outside to plow the drive while the shop is warming up. You already know the agenda for the rest of the day. 

I'll end by saying Merry Christmas Eve. It's my intention to be back in the wee hours of Christmas morning, just after Santa has visited and well before anyone else is awake. It's my favorite time of the day when I can share my most special holiday thoughts with friends everywhere.... you.

From Mississippi - Miss Jody and granddaughter, Abby, making Christmas goodies together. 

No time to get sappy and syrupy now. There's snow to plow, barges to tote and bales to lift!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

What secrets, memories, and wishes do those coals harbor?

Good friends, Eileen, Andrew, and Uncle Bert, in Fairbanks, Alaska

December 23, 2018 - Sunday morning

23 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Congratulations to my former student, Andrew, for defending his PhD dissertation at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks, last week. As a former professor at UAF, one might think that's where I met Andrew, but it's quite the opposite. I was Andrew's band director in Madawaska, Maine, from the time he was in sixth grade until he graduated. The boy played a mean trumpet.

When I left UAF for Sitka, Andrew transferred from the University of Maine to Fairbanks. Seems we've played catch up  and Ring Around the Rosie ever since. He began his studies as an undergrad and has worked hard to attain his PhD.

Andrew and I took a Maine Guide's course together many years ago. It was during that time that I got to know him as a friend rather than just a student. 

I'd love to tell you that I taught the boy everything he knows, but that would be a lie. He far surpassed his old teacher in knowledge and education long long ago.

It's every high school educator's wish that his students graduate and prosper. Andrew's made that happen and more.

Congratulations, Dr. Cyr! You've made ol' Mr. P. a happy and proud man. 

Saturday was a busy one, alternating time working in the shop and bopping in the house to visit with Mom. She spent much of the day watching tv or listening to Christmas music while reading or working on her puzzles.

I took my usual walk Saturday morning. I thought of Jambo as I trod down the road. His luck this past season was slim to nil when it came to bagging a large Tom. Seems that now, turkeys are everywhere, lots and lots of wild gobblers.

I finished sawing my last piece and now comes the painting. Seems the further I get into this piece, the more work that is involved to get it "just so." I think my expectations are growing as my experience expands. I don't know if that's a good thing, but I enjoy it, none-the-less.

Sargie was home early last night and we enjoyed chicken salad for supper coupled with watching a feel-good Hallmark Christmas movie. Mom and Sargie thought is was wonderful. As for me? Well, let's put it this way, I feel as though I got in touch with my feminine side and became a much more sensitive guy. 

Yeah...

Sargie's off through Christmas. I HAVE to do some work in the shop today or You Know Who won't have one her little boy's presents to open Christmas morning. No doubt, we'll head to town later this afternoon. 

Meanwhile, I think I'll grab another cup of coffee and visit with Mom while the shop is warming up.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Our good friend, Melinda, sent the above. You might recall that Chief spent a few nights here as a puppy. He's grown a bit since.