Happy 1st Birthday, Lincoln!

January 5, 2019 - Saturday morning

31 degrees/sunny/breezy

Pentoga Road

It seems like it was just a year ago that Lincoln was born. Man, time flies by.

Oh wait. Never mind. It was just a year ago.

We're leaving for Iron Mountain later this morning to help celebrate Courtney and Garth's son's first birthday. The Milligans have a tradition that the first is an entire family affair, filled with gifts, and goodies. After year one, celebrations become more of an immediate family affair.

Let's see, what's new?

The weather has been crazy warm. Say what you want about these warm cycles, but I'm not complaining. Yesterday's high was in the upper 40's. It was time to go ice fishing!

Despite the warmer than normal temperatures, there is still sixteen inches of solid, clear, ice covering the lake.

With sled in tow, I zoomed down Pentoga Road on the mighty Tundra and was fishing within minutes.

I tried the usual crappie spots, poking a dozen or more holes through the ice in search of anything that swam.

My fish finder is homemade and isn't nearly as effective as the newer units, but it tells me the water depth and if there are fish in the area. None were to be found.

The day began by fishing in the Clam, protected from the colder temperatures. As the sun rose, I didn't bother with the portable shelter and opted to fish Alaska style, sitting on the seat of the snowmobile in the open.

Forsaking all the areas that treated us so good last summer, I moved to much deeper water, to a place where Neighbor Mike and I slayed the bluegills and crappies six years ago. The place hasn't been worth a darn since, but it showed some promise yesterday.

I didn't catch a lot of fish, but they were down there. It was frustrating. They'd swim up to my jig, nose it around a bit, then swim away. I tried everything known to modern man save for a lobster tail and ribeye steak.

Back home before noon, Sargie and I took our usual drive. It was a gorgeous day, too nice to stay inside.

Hmm, there was still an hour left before the sun set. What to do... what to do.

With Sargie's blessing, I hopped on the snowmobile and returned to the lake. Last night's expedition wasn't much better than those earlier in the day. I caught a few bass, but saw plenty of fish on the sonar. I missed two. I'm fairly certain one was a crappie, no doubt a world record holder. Most fish that get away are. 

Oops, Mel just called saying that Lincoln's party has been cancelled. Seems Lincoln's mommy, Courtney, woke up this morning with the flu. It's going around and appears as though no one is impervious to the nasty bug. I hope the flu shot I had earlier this year works.

January's calendar is quickly filling up. I teach two days this coming week, Tuesday and Thursday. The following week I'm at the elementary school for three days as the first grade teacher. Oh boy, that ought to be fun. Couple those with a dentist appointment and who-knows-what and the month will be over before we know it.

So what's on the agenda for today? I don't know. I could go fishing or scrape the drive bare by hand. There's the shop and several ongoing projects, and no doubt, Sargie will be up for a drive around the area.

Oh decisions, decisions. If only you had my life, you'd understand.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Walking down the hill to Pentoga Village

January 3, 2019 - Thursday evening

33 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm excited. Tomorrow will see my first trip out onto the ice for the year. I know Jambo will be calling any day, wanting to go fishing, and he'll expect me to guide him onto the lake and put him on fish. I'd hate to disappoint the boy so I think I'll head out first and see if I can locate a bluegill or crappie.

I spent much of yesterday working on ice fishing equipment. The first order of business was to get the gas auger going for the year.

A change of fuel and squirt of starter fluid saw the mini machine roar to life.

Next was making sure the Tundra was ready for another season of fishing. I checked the oil and after I add fuel in the morning, it too will be ready.

The entire afternoon was dedicated to getting the ice fishing tent, the Clam, ready.

Since I had previously made a rigid hitch for the old wooden ice shack, I decided to remake it to fit the Clam. Having it will let me pull the Clam to the lake at the end of the road.

The base was ten inches too wide which resulted in having to reconfigure the angles and cut the bracing down significantly.

It has been a while since I worked barehanded in cold weather. Many years ago, I thought nothing of working outside in the arctic without gloves or mittens. Yesterday, the relatively mild twenty-degree temperature seemed a bit harsh on my delicate hands.

The hitch was soon made to fit the Clam.



Sargie had to close last night and didn't arrive home until after 9:30. By the time we drove to town to get the Kia from the mechanic's, it was well past 10 before we ate supper. Bedtime was after midnight.

This morning began with a walk to Pentoga Village. The temperature had moderated and made for a pleasant stroll.

An old abandoned house in Pentoga Village

The temperature may be warmer, but there's still a solid inch of clear ice over all the secondary rural roads. Thankfully, most have received a liberal coating of sand making traction possible.

After a quick brunch, Sargie and I began taking down and putting away Christmas decorations. Every year we swear we'll cut back and every year we decorate more than the year before.

We developed a system where Sargie would pack the totes, all five hundred of them, and I'd carry each out to the storage shed one at a time. It took almost all day, but all the holiday glimmer is  stored away for another year.

The only item on my agenda for Friday is to go fishing in the morning. The equipment is checked and packed, the wax worms purchased, the Tundra ready. I plan to ride the snowmobile down the road towing the Clam filled with the auger and other fishing tackle. With any luck, I'll be jigging through a hole in the ice ten minutes after leaving the house.

Unless fishing is unbelievable, I'll be home well before noon and will let Sargie decide what the rest of our day will bring. No doubt, it will involve a ride while sipping a Coke.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

January 3, 2018 - Thursday

22 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm sad this morning, really sad. A phone call last night, along with several texts, informed me that a good friend of the family passed away yesterday morning. 

Louise was a band mom from my high school teaching days in northern Maine. Her husband, Kurt, was the perennial band booster president and combined, they were integral cogs ensuring our marching band toured all around the eastern seaboard. 

I used to tease Louise by singing in my loudest voice, ala Frank Sinatra, "CUZZ LOU LOU'S BACK IN TOWN!"

She'd laugh, blush a bit, then tell me to stop. 

The family was more than school acquaintances, they were friends. Matt, their oldest, went out of his way to guide my oldest son, Josh, when we first arrived in the remote French Acadian community many years ago. Jenny and Nina were in the band from day one and both were sweethearts. I was able to confide in Kurt and share worries and even some personal family problems. At the head of this all American clan was Louise, strong, stable, and usually full of smiles.

One of the reasons I left public school education many years ago was that I grew tired of burying my students. The final straw was attending the funeral of young girl that I'd known from infancy, a freshman in high school, who died in a needless car accident. I lasted a year or two beyond her death, but it was the beginning of a personal downward spiral that I couldn't escape. 

Teaching should be about life, not death. It was the only time in my life I ever questioned the existence of God. Thankfully, He came to my rescue and reminded me that we just rent these bodies while we're here and our real home is with Him.

So, as time marches on, with increasing regularity, many of my friends and acquaintances are being called Home. It's called life and life is good. Some days are just better than others.

I'm sad today and that's as it should be. I know the day will come when I'll catch up to Louise and Natalie and Dad and all my relatives, students, friends, and acquaintances who've gone before. I'm looking forward to seeing them again.

Though Louise is no longer in our town, there's little doubt that someone, somewhere, is filling in for me, singing, ala Frank Sinatra, "CUZZ, LOU LOU'S BACK IN TOWN!" They'll have to do until I get there.

Rest in peace Louise. We'll see you one of these days... 

January 1, 2019 - Tuesday evening
6 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's been a busy New Year's Day for both Sargie and me.  Each of the four opticians choose a major holiday that the Vision Center is open to work (New Years, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July) so they can count on being off for the others. Today was Sargie's turn. At least she won't have to work any other holidays for the rest of 2019.

The early morning weather was gorgeous during my walk. The temperature was bumping near zero, but the skies were partly cloudy and the winds calm.



Back home, time was spent taking down the outside Christmas decorations. The larger ones will be stored over the shop in the off season.

I took a break late in the morning and watched the last part of the Parade of Roses. My favorites are always the marching bands.

While inside, I managed to do three loads of laundry. 

Several Christmas totes were brought in the house from the storage unit. We're planning on taking down the tree and decorations on Thursday when Sargie's home. It won't take us long working together.

I moved into the shop during the afternoon to work on the piggy bank. I was anxious to try a new attachment, one that allows an angle grinder to perform like a mini chain saw for carving.

It works well and made short work of soft wood. 

I roughed out the shape of the pig today. Tomorrow, I'll try smoothing it out before actually using a knife to carve the features.

Sargie and I have had a quiet evening. Even after we both slept for nine hours last night, I'm sure we won't have any problems falling asleep tonight.

Sargie closes tomorrow so she'll get to sleep a bit later in the morning. I'll go for my walk first thing then it will be time to get my ice fishing gear ready for the season. 

With all that being said, it's time to think about making that long, difficult, climb up the stairs to bed.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

With wood shavings flying everywhere this afternoon, the shop once again looks normal.

We're back home after navigating through torrential rains and heavy snow.

December 31, 2018 - Monday evening

New Year's Eve

24 degrees/cloudy/windy

Pentoga Road

Happy New Year! Here's hoping 2019 is the best yet!

It's a mighty tired Sargie and Tommy P who are attempting to keep their eyes open this evening. It's been a long two days, one which saw us drive over 1,300 miles.

The three of us left early Sunday morning for Terre Haute, Indiana, to take Mom back home.

We were well downstate in Wisconsin when the sun peeked over the horizon painting a beautiful picture.

The skies may have been pretty, but the wind and temperatures were brutal. 

Sargie was fascinated with the large windmill farms located outside of both Pawpaw and Bloomington, Illinois.

There are, literally, hundreds, maybe thousands, of large windmills on the flat plains of the Illinois.

We arrived in Terre Haute later Sunday afternoon. After feasting on delivered pizza, we left Mom to her own devices and did a bit of shopping. Bedtime came early last night.

After a quick goodbye and giving hugs and kisses to Mom this morning, we began our long drive back to the northland.

Today's journey consisted of a ten hour drive through torrential downpours and some of the heaviest snow I've seen in a long time.

We outran the monsoons in Illinois and decided to stop at an outlet mall in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Sargie took off in one direction, I in another. 

She found a few treasures at discount prices. I bought a reconditioned, inexpensive, chain saw for $50. I have two good ones, a Stihl and a large Husqvarna. Both are excellent, actually too good to cut brush and limbs. I purchased a reconditioned Homelite nine years ago for such work and it lasted eight of those nine years, saving the good saws for more serious hardwood harvesting. I'm hoping my latest acquisition, a Ryobi, will be as good as the old Homelite.

We drove from the outlet mall directly into the snowstorm from hell. 

There were times that we had difficulty seeing just a few feet in front of us. It wasn't pretty.

The snow finally ended between Green Bay and home. In fact, the last seventy-five miles were driven on dry, clean, pavement.

We noticed during this past trip just how far gas prices have fallen over the past few weeks.

After paying over $3 a gallon last year, the $1.77 in northern Illinois seemed downright cheap. I know gasoline is even less expensive in the more southern states. 

We arrived home late this afternoon just before dark. Sargie emptied the car while I built a fire and warmed the house. This evening has been very quiet. We both agree that bedtime will come early.

I'm so grateful to Sargie for spending her precious days accompanying me down and back to Indiana. She not only gave up her time for twenty hours of hardcore riding, the poor girl has to open the Vision Center bright and early in the morning.

Tomorrow's New Year's Day. Since Sargie's working, it will be, more or less, just another day on Pentoga Road. I'll, no doubt, go for my usual early morning walk. If it's not too windy, I may begin to take down the outside Christmas decorations. Otherwise, I told Sargie I'd help finish the laundry. Other than that, there are several projects I'm anxious to begin in the shop.

Reading the tracks, a deer came up onto the deck and peered in the kitchen window while we were gone. It's nice to be missed.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The woodpeckers have this stump pecked to death

December 29, 2018 - Saturday evening

11 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm about to turn in for the night, but wanted to get something posted first. We're planning on leaving in the wee hours of tomorrow morning for Indiana and I doubt I'll have the chance to write Sunday evening.

Saturday was a good day. I began with the usual walk. Though it was only six degrees, the sun came out and made it a pleasant hike.

Mom and I went to town later in the morning, searching for an old cabinet or two to mount on the wall in the shop. The thrift store had several, but all were overpriced and not really what I wanted. I've about come to the conclusion that I'll simply make my own. They won't be pretty, but I bet they'll be effective.

I enjoyed a nap after lunch and failing to get up from the couch, fell asleep again later in the afternoon. Tired? No. Lazy? Uh huh!

The downstairs was swept and dusted this afternoon and I did a load of laundry. That was about the extent of my housework. Like I said, I was lazy today, really lazy. 

Mom and I had several good conversations today and Sargie and I will sure miss her. The twelve days she's been here have flown by.

Sargie was off of work early tonight. She, Mom, and I, met Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri in town for supper and had a good time.

I think we're all packed and ready to go. Hopefully, we'll arrive in Terre Haute mid afternoon on Sunday. Sargie and I will turn around and make the ten hour trip back to Pentoga Road on Monday. It's going to be a long two days.

It's time for bed. Since Mom no longer drives and I didn't hear Sargie volunteer to sit behind the wheel, it appears I'll be the captain of the ship tomorrow. 

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road... 

Think the shop needed cleaning?

December 28, 2018 - Friday evening

16 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Since the maid didn't show up Friday morning, I had no choice but to start cleaning the shop. To get mentally ready, I braved the temperatures in the upper teens, the snow, and strong northerly winds to walk the usual four and a half miles.

With yesterday's rain/snow, I could have laced on a pair of ice skates and completed the distance in a fraction of the time. The roads were coated with a thick layer of ice.

Once home, I lit a fire in the outdoor wood furnace then came inside while the shop warmed up. A hot cup of coffee to warm me from the inside out and a leftover sweet roll were relished while visiting with Mom.

I couldn't put it off longer. It was time to play Mr. Clean and head to the shop.

There wasn't a square inch of clear surface area and EVERYTHING was covered with sawdust. It seemed to take forever to wipe the tools and put them away. 

Then came sweeping and running the vacuum. One of the best gifts Sargie's ever given me is a large, extra heavy duty, industrial vacuum.

I used the brush on the vacuum to dust every surface.

It was time for lunch. Mom and I had her favorite noontime meal, peanut butter and pickle sandwiches.

Oh quit turning up your nose. You've never tried it.

I've eaten them for over sixty years and look how big I grew to be. As a little boy, I was the only student in Windsor Elementary School who carried a peanut butter and pickle sandwich in his lunch.

After some more visiting and quick nap, it was back to the shop where I swept, dusted, vacuumed, hung and nailed.

More than two hours passed before I called it finished.

The pig that I started two months ago is my next project

It's not perfect, but for this evening, the entire shop is clean. Put it this way, if Mississippi Brother Garry visited first thing in the morning, I'd make him take off his shoes.

OK, that's a lie. You know, I look at someone's shop and if it's too clean, I wonder if it's ever used. A shop without sawdust is just another room.

Mom and I enjoyed sister-in-law Holly's French meat pie for supper tonight. To say it was delicious would be a complete understatement. It was to-die-for good.

Sargie just called and will be home in a while. She's had a long day in the Vision Center and as luck would have it, she opens in the morning.

Saturday is Mom's last day with us for this visit. We're planning to leave early Sunday morning for Terre Haute, Indiana, and return Monday so Sargie can go back to work on Tuesday. 

We're to meet Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri Saturday evening for supper. No doubt, there'll be lots of good food and great conversation.

I'll go for my usual walk Saturday morning, visit with Mom, do some laundry, and who knows, I might even get out to the shop and make some sawdust. I don't want anyone to think it's just another room.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...