Happy Birthday Patrick

April 15, 2019 - Monday morning

15 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

We made it to Patrick's birthday party and back yesterday without incident. Regan and Jess have a beautiful home just outside of Green Bay, one that comfortably held a large gathering of relatives and friends who joined in wishing Patrick a happy first birthday.

As is typical with any family gathering, I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Sasha and Boyd talking with Sargie. Sasha's due in June, yet another soul to add to the Mighty Milligan's!

 

The party ended early in the afternoon and we made our way home by way of Sam's Club. After leaving Hambone with his parents and filling the car with gas, we arrived home well before dark.

Though it is still chilly, the sun is long and has a lot of heat. With any luck at all, the drive should be completely melted off by the end of today. It's sure been a mess these past few days.



Sargie opens the Vision Center this morning. I'm going for my walk then plan to spend the rest of the day working on the garden house walls or in the shop. With warmer temperatures and sunshine forecast, it's entirely too nice to stay in the house!

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Surprise! Even if it is a sleeping one.

 April 14, 2019 - Sunday morning

22 degrees/clear/calm winds

Pentoga Road

This is going to be one of those ten minute blogs again this morning. Grandma Sargie had a surprise last night when she pulled into the drive from work. Yup, the Bone was with her, sound asleep in his car seat.

Originally, Mel, Macrea, and Grady, were all going with us to Green Bay to Patrick's first birthday party, but due to a death Mel's family, only Grady is going.

I rode with Sargie to Iron Mountain yesterday morning to retrieve the Blazer.

As hard as it is to believe, I burned a pancake the other day so Sargie's getting to feed the wildlife.

I arrived back home and didn't feel like doing much of anything. It was windy and spitting rain and snow. In fact, I didn't even feel like warming up the shop.

After two hours of simply fiddling around the house, watching tv, and wanting to eat out of sheer boredom, I strapped on the hikers and out the door I went.

Not all the local roads have been plowed. Though there are only several inches of snow left from the last storm, it made for tough walking in a few places.

I decided to go around the block. Our country block is seven miles long and involves several large hills.

The wood peckers are sure having a time with the old tree stump, eh? 

The first of this year's robins have arrived for the summer. 

I feel sorry for them as there's not a lot of bare ground for them to hop around on and worms have to be almost nonexistent.

Sargie arrived home and I carried Hambone inside and set him on the couch. He never woke up.

Well, I should say he didn't wake up at that moment. Mr. Chatterbox certainly did a bit later.

Last night was spent watching Superman, the first movie with Christopher Reeves, and doing the Jammie Dance.

What's the Jammie Dance? It's what we do after we change into our PJ's.

"Oh you shake it the left and you shake it to the right,

You put on your jammies and dance all night!

Do the Jammie, shake, shake, shake

Do the Jammie, shake, shake, shake,

Put on your Jammies and you shake your little butt all night!"

Hambone's doing the Jammie Dance 

And so with that, it's time to end this and hop in the shower with Hambone, aka Superman. No doubt, we'll dance our way in and dance our way out, but that has another name for another time.

We'll soon be on our way to Green Bay and Patrick's first birthday party!

After all, a man's work and that of Grandma Sargie and a super hero's, is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Suddenly, there are turkeys everywhere.
Seems all the Toms are looking for a girlfriend.

April 12, 2019 - Friday evening

31 degrees/snow/breezy

Pentoga Road

I was writing this morning when the phone rang. I knew even before I answered who it would be. Seems Florence Elementary needed a second grade teacher. Sure, why not?

Thursday's storm didn't arrive until almost noon. Sargie had no problem getting to work and I enjoyed my usual walk.

Back home, I began working on the St. Bernard. A couple of pieces needed to be sanded before I could begin painting.

I experimented with several colors of brown and finally quit until I could go somewhere to purchase what was needed.

It was almost noon before the snow began falling in ernest. For a while, I was hopeful that it would miss us, but that wasn't to be.

I called Sargie and told her the storm had started and if she wanted to make it home, she ought to leave as soon as possible.

Sargie's boss agreed and told her that she ought to leave while getting was good.

It was almost an hour and a half before my bride pulled in the drive. She'd had to stop several times to clear the wipers of heavy snow.

We settled in for the afternoon with huge bowls of popcorn, watching television and being comfy warm while the storm raged outside.

After Principal Neil called this morning, I made a track to the main road with the Blazer in four wheel drive. Sargie drove that to work today and I stayed in the track I'd made with the two-wheel drive Equinox. Both Sargie and I made it out with no problem.

I was, indeed, the second grade teacher today.

The bobkitties were good as they could be, but with so many of them, the day was action packed and flew by.

We had our first tornado drill today. The boys and girls were good to get in line quietly and walk to the assigned safe place.



After arriving, we practiced kneeling over and putting our hands over our heads.

A spring snowstorm may be a pain for big people, but it means extra fun on the playground at recess time.

Arriving home this afternoon, I walked up to Jambo's to get his four wheeler with the plow so I could open his lane and plow our drive.

Moving several inches of wet, heavy, snow was a challenge, but in the end, both Jambo's and our drive were cleared. The job was ugly, but effective.

 I drove over to Iron Mountain this evening and rode home with Sargie. I'll ride back with her first thing in the morning to retrieve the Blazer.

Tomorrow's agenda includes the trip to Iron Mountain, a walk after, and working in the shop. 

Looks to be a busy day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Grandson, Coleman, helping his dad split firewood.
All four of my sons were taught to split wood as soon as they could swing a maul. I learned from my Grandpa, the boys learned from me, and now Luke is passing the skill onto Coleman. I'm so proud of both.

April 10, 2019 - Wednesday evening
32 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

We're sitting here tonight enjoying the calm before the storm... literally. 



It's been obvious all day that the National Weather Service has no idea how much snow will fall. I've heard several local forecasts, all predicting different amounts. The least is for one to three inches, the most is calling for over a foot of snow. 

Wednesday was a good day, one of the best I've had in a long time. Seems everything I did worked and for me, that's rare.

My morning walk was a chilly one, but good. It's that time of year where wildlife is abundant. Evidently, humans aren't the only ones sick of the snow and cold.

Two Tom turkeys chasing a couple of hens

Back home, I was walking around one side of the barn when I noticed the ground was somewhat frozen. It was time to change the carburetor on the backhoe.

The engine, a 9 HP Honda imitation was manufactured in China. I've read that the Chinese stole the Honda schematics and are manufacturing these motors by the millions for a fraction of the cost.

I found a new carburetor, a Honda knockoff, on eBay for $12, shipping included. For that price, I figured why not try it?

 Sure enough, the carburetors were identical. In fact, it was difficult to tell one from the other.

I had to do a bit of filing to make one hole fit, but otherwise, the installation was flawless.

A bit of work with the round chain saw file did the trick

The new carburetor was fastened, hoses and parts connected. 

I held my breath as I choked the engine and pulled the rope. It started on the first pull and runs like a top. I like when a plan comes together and actually works.

Having somewhat of a big head, I spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon in the shop making two wooden names for Sargie's great nephews.



We'll see the little guys on Sunday at Patrick's first birthday party in Green Bay.

With the names finished, I turned my attentions to greasing the front end of the Blazer. The folks at Jiffy Lube, where I recently had the oil changed, claimed that neither of the lower ball joints in the front end would take grease.

Strange, they did earlier this winter. For one fitting to not take grease could be expected, but both at the same time?

I crawled under the car with grease gun in hand, found the zerks, (grease fittings) fastened the hose, and pulled the trigger on the electric grease gun. Both sides took their fill of lubricant and the Blazer is once again happy.



Sargie was home early and we made a quick trip to town. Making a detour through the small hamlet of Gaastra, we saw deer everywhere. Most are so tame that I thought they might walk up to the car.



It's been a quiet and enjoyable evening, but we're both a bit on edge wondering what this storm will bring. Sargie is scheduled to open the Vision Center and we worry about her drive in the morning then back tomorrow afternoon. If it's too bad, she'll simply have to stay home.

I'm planning on walking first thing, then spending most the day painting and assembling the St. Bernard. I'd like to get it done so when the snow melts, I can begin insulating the foundation in the front of the house under the porch, the first big job of the spring season.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

My oldest son, Josh, and grandson, Wyatt

April 9, 2019 - Monday night

31 degrees/cloudy skies/breezy

Pentoga Road

Josh sent a few pictures from a mountain bike race this past weekend where Wyatt competed. Josh is very active in their state biking groups (Connecticut) and enjoys the sport himself.

It was pretty ho hum at the elementary school today. The kids were good and the day passed quickly. I'm beginning to notice that with the warmer weather, my want to substitute teach is on the wane. I'm only scheduled for one more day this spring, Wednesday next week, and after that, nothing's on my calendar.

All that being said, I well know that come next fall and winter when the temperatures drop, I'll be charged and ready to head back into the world of substitute teaching.

Making my way to Florence this morning was like driving through a wildlife park.

I wish I'd have had a wide angle lens as there must have been over a hundred deer in the field.

I took a walk around the yard this afternoon and saw something I've been fearful of, the beginning of Lake Pentoga.

If the slow melt continues, there'll be nothing to worry about, but should the snow storm develop that is forecast for Thursday, we could eventually be looking at more water than we know what to do with. Only time will tell.

The Sweet Williams stay green all winter and show the first color as soon as the snow melts. It won't be long and the perennials will be covered in pink, red, white, and blue, flowers.

Speaking of flowers, I saw the first bloom of the season today, a lowly, yet beautiful, violet.

They are volunteer, wild, and grow throughout the yard and in the flower beds from now until well after the first hard freeze next fall.

Sargie spent the day in Marquette where she did some shopping and met Cale for lunch.

She opens the Vision Center tomorrow morning. I'll go for my walk then spend the rest of the day either in the shop or working on the garden house in the barn. I suspect I'll do some of both.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

April 8, 2019 - Monday evening

45 degrees/rain/breezy

Pentoga Road

Once again, I'm in my pregame mode and writing tonight as I'll be out of here bright and early Tuesday morning to sub at the elementary school.

It was warm today and this morning could be described as downright nice. The sun shown and the thermometer was quickly rising towards the sixty degree mark.

I was in the backyard after my walk when I spied a hole in the ground by the snowmobile. It took a second to figure out what was the cause.

Seems the ground is heaving around a large boulder barely under the surface. The rock is big enough that it's not rising, but everything around it is. I tried removing the boulder several years ago and after excavating around it for several minutes with the backhoe, declared it a permanent fixture.

Other than my walk, the entire day was spent working on one wall or the other. The mistakes I made yesterday were all remedied within the first hour and I was able to continue construction until I ran out of 2x4's. 



A quick trip to town remedied the situation, but rain and darkness dictated that I quit for the day.



I'll begin work on the arches that go over the windows when I have the time. Until then, the walls will remain leaning against one side of the barn.

It appears winter isn't going out quietly. There's a huge blizzard in the southwest moving this way and snow accumulations for Thursday into Friday are forecast to be anywhere from a few inches to two feet. The plow is off the four wheeler for the year and the snow blower won't move wet, heavy, snow. We'll just have to wade through whatever falls until it melts.

I've had a quiet evening working on one thing or the other with music playing the background. Sargie just called, saying she's on her way home. 

Our timing isn't very good. She's off tomorrow, but I'm working. It's the only day this week I'm scheduled to sub and as luck would have it, the only day she's off.

It's time to get this uploaded and finish getting ready for tomorrow. Sargie and I will have a short evening together as she'll want to stay up and unwind from her long day. I'll be in bed at my regular time.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

This popple branch blew down this past winter during one of our storms. Note how the rabbits cleaned the bark from the smaller limbs.