Westley, Emerson, Bennett
Glad to see Wes takes after his daddy

April 20, 2019 - Saturday morning

33 degrees/sunny/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Greetings from the shores of Lake Pentoga!

The water continues to rise and we can now do some serious river kayaking as well as paddling to the back of our property.

I'm seriously considering opening a duck B&B, a place where our feathered aquatic friends can pause overnight on their way north. 

I don't mind them swimming across the lake, but I'm resentful when they feel obligated to leave their residue on the drive or in the yard.

I took the following picture a few minutes ago and have a notion to go outside and tell the boy to clean up after himself. I don't appreciate stepping in duck droppings on my way to and from the mailbox.

Friday was filled with nonstop action on and off Pentoga Road. In fact, when I finally did come inside later in the afternoon, I plopped in my recliner and fell sound asleep.

The day began with a beautiful five mile walk. I know the theme keeps being repeated, but there's water everywhere that make the woods eerily beautiful.

I continue to be amazed at the amount of water running alongside and through the garden. It's now surrounded on two sides. The floor of the greenhouse is flooded and there's a stream flowing between the rows of the raised beds in the garden.

Back on dry land, I spent some time finishing the Easter gift. The base was cut, sanded, stained, and the figures attached, after which, several coats of poly were applied.

It was too nice of a day to spend in the shop. I lay out the 2x4's for the side wall of the garden shed on the barn floor.

Identical to the other wall that was constructed last week, this one went together much faster. I didn't have to convert centimeters to inches and feet or attempt to translate the plans. I simply took the measurements from the other wall and began building.

Three of the four walls are framed. Sargie and I will be going to Rhinelander tomorrow where I'll purchase several inexpensive windows for the back wall and depending on the price, I may include a small one on each side.

It was time to free the goldfish from the fifty gallon tote in the basement to the outside pond.

I lost four this winter, four more than died last year. It's one of the reasons I'm digging the garden pond larger and much deeper. Hopefully, with the aid of a bubbler, they'll be able to overwinter outside in the future.

It took a couple of trips, but the fish were soon relocated to the existing pond for the time being. They'll be moved again once the ground dries out and the excavation begins for their new home.



Fixing the windmill came next. The tail had broken off during one of this winter's storms.

Not wanting to carry the entire windmill to the barn, I performed some garden surgery and removed what was needed where it was.

It was a delicate procedure to weld the tail to the shaft. I don't have a welding table and the metal is light, cheap, and soft. 

I've always said that when it comes to welding, I could burn a hole in a Sherman tank. I experimented and finally got the right settings. The final result wasn't pretty, but effective.

A bit of grinding, some primer, and a dab of spray paint, and the fix was good as new.

Oh oh, when I took the shaft from the housing, the bearings fell out in a million pieces. Seems the winter was rougher on the windmill than originally thought.

I wanted to put it back together and get the thing out of the way.

What to do... what to do. In the end, I pulled a Little House on the Prairie. 

Lacking ball bearings, the pioneers packed the hubs on their covered wagons with rags and axle grease. Why wouldn't it work on a windmill?

I found an old rag and tore it into strips.

I then completely covered each strip with grease and began packing the housing.

Pa would have slapped me on the back and little Laura would have hugged me and told me it works just swell.

I'll replace the packed hubs with regular bearings later this summer, but for now, the windmill is fixed and happily whirling back in the garden.

We enjoyed the best of times last night with Yooper Brother Mark and Sheri while stuffing our bellies with fried fish. 

A full tummy after a hard day of projects meant I slept like a baby last night.

Sargie and I will be off to Iron Mountain for the annual Mighty Milligan Easter Celebration at nephew Garth and Courtney's, but first, I'm going to strap on the hikers and put in a quick three miles. As I keep saying during these beautiful days of spring, it's too nice to stay inside.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The frost heaves are hard on the drive.
It's an ongoing project to keep the pavement patched.

Lake Pentoga

April 19, 2019 - Good Friday

29 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I wrote today's blog last night, so when you finish looking at the following pictures, keep scrolling. Check out the video of the flood waters rushing through the gates of the Crystal Falls hydro electric dam. Pretty impressive!

Imagine my shock when I looked out the upstairs bedroom window this morning and saw how much Lake Pentoga had expanded during the night.

I knew it was too good to be true, the slow melt, cool, yet sunny days that allowed this past winter's monstrous snowfall to diminish gradually. We were doing well until the floodgates opened the night before last. 

I just moved the time table on my garden excavation back by a month. The pond will still be enlarged, but not in the next week or two or three, or probably four.

I truly believe that God has His hand on everything that happens, and in this instance, He was telling me to be sure and build a berm around the far side of the garden when I dig the pond and construct the garden house later this spring. 

Amazing how all that happens. I've been in a quandary over what to do with and how to move the dirt that will be excavated.

God speaks in mysterious ways and for this, I'm grateful. Building a berm now beats having a flooded garden house and overflowing pond in the future. 

So for this morning, it's a disappointed, but NOT discouraged boy who's signing off for now. This setback simply means my summer work has increased a bit, certainly a worthwhile project, and everyone knows I like a good project.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road....

Keep reading for Saturday's update.

Water being released from the hydro electric dam in Crystal Falls 

April 18, 2019 - Thursday evening
40 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

It's been a lazy, mellow, day. The weather was less than perfect and honestly, Sargie nor I felt like doing anything too strenuous.

I went for my early morning hike and found there is water everywhere. The spruce trees in front of the house look like they are standing in a cypress swamp.



Every little valley and gully is filled with running water.

Lake Pentoga has risen steadily all day. Another two or three inches will see it spill over into the side yard and garden.

One thing is certain, we'll be guaranteed a bumper mosquito crop early this coming summer.

Sargie and I enjoyed an afternoon ride and ended up at the hydro electric dam in Crystal Falls. 



The Paint River is officially in flood stage and the amount of water being released is impressive.



It looks as though there is still plenty of ice on our local lakes, but it's growing dark in color, a sure sign that it's rotten.



It won't be long before the ice goes out for yet another year.

Sargie and I spent the rest of the day watching a movie and doing absolutely nothing. 

She opens in the morning. My plans include going for a walk, taking the goldfish from the basement and releasing them into the old garden pond, finishing an Easter gift, and working on the garden house wall. 

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


So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A sure sign of spring, the lowly earth worm.

It was just a bit foggy on the way to Florence Wednesday morning.

April 18, 2019 - Thursday morning

36 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry...."

Seems that's what happens more often than not on Pentoga Road. I'd just finished uploading yesterday's writings when the phone rang.

Uh huh, it was my buddy, Principal Neil. Seems they needed a PE teacher for the morning.

Lest you think I was a miserable sub driving to Bobkittyland, I wasn't. Kickball was played in the upper grades, Doghouse Tag for the little ones. The old professor may not have enjoyed his walk yesterday, but he certainly got his exercise. 

I met Sargie on my way home from Florence as she drove to Iron Mountain. We had a quick rendezvous in inner city Alpha and shared a passionate, quick-peck, kiss and talked about what to have for supper. It's a wild life Sargie and I lead, meeting in clandestine places like the hood.

Back home, the wood box was filled just as the rain began to fall. Since I had to assemble and glue the St. Bernard, I decided to bring him in and work at the dining room table.

It took a while, but by afternoon's end (that included a nap by the wood stove as the rain pounded on the metal roof overhead) the pup was finished.

I did a St. Bernard because of one I once met. Albert was my sister and brother-in-law's pet. I only knew him briefly, but he was a great companion. The pup made such an impact on me that I decided to resurrect Albert, at least in some fashion.

There's a problem. What does one do with a growing pack of dogs? We need more wall space, another room. 

Yeah, well, that ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

I give away 99% of everything I make, but I have difficulty parting with my homemade pups. I think it's because I have hours of cutting, carving, shaping, painting, and mounting each. This sounds strange, but when I place the last dot of white onto the pupils of their eyes, each takes on a personality of his own.

I'm amazed that a piece of scrap pine can eventually be made into something that ought to be able to bark, wag its tail, and lick my face. 

I know, I'm out there a bit, but it's the way I feel. Hey, I was born a musician. We're supposed to be out there.

I like my dogs. Now all I have to do if figure out what to do with them.

Rain rain rain rain... wish I had the rain gauge up for the year. I'd bet money that well over an inch fell during the night, probably closer to two or three. 

With our bedroom window wide open, the wind and rain acted in tandem like a well tuned symphony as we slumbered through the night.

The symphony thing might sound grand and romantic, but dang, Lake Pentoga's creeping closer and closer to the garden and back yard.

At least most of the snow is gone, so assuming the forecast is correct and it quits raining, the garden should remain high and dry.

Sargie arrived home from the funeral and we made a quick dash to town to purchase ingredients for her super duper soup that is one of our favorites.  It's a low carbohydrate mixture that tastes very similar to chili, but replaces kidney beans with French cut green beans, bean sprouts, and water chestnuts along with tomato juice and well drained hamburger. It was the perfect kitchen magic for a chilly, rainy, night.

Today, what's on the agenda for today?

Well, first of all, I'm going to strap on my hikers and stroll a quick five miles. The snow's not the only thing disappearing, so's my belly. I told Sargie the other day that it's time to regain my summer weight that features a muscular, cut, trim, body, along with well defined tan lines.

Yeah, I get about as cut and trim as the Pillsbury Dough Boy, but I usually end up with a decent farmer's tan.

I think I'll move the goldfish out of the basement to the garden pond today. They're looking a bit sick and it's time they go outside. It'll be at least two to three weeks before I can begin digging the new garden pond, so they might as well spend their time in the old one for now. 



Once I begin digging, they'll have to go back into a fifty gallon tote and kept under the apple tree until I'm finished.


It must be spring. I noticed the rhubarb is beginning to poke from under the ground. Mmm, could a rhubarb/strawberry pie be in the making? 

Patience, Tom. Patience.

It's time to get walking. This ugly winter fat around my belly ain't gonna go away by itself.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Talk about not very bright... while working on the the dog yesterday, I somehow managed to glue my wedding band and finger together. Sargie thought it was hilarious. 

April 16, 2019 - Tuesday evening
57 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Today felt like the first true day of spring. At one point this afternoon, the thermometer registered a high of 63 degrees and I frolicked around outside without a coat.

This morning started with the usual walk, the first of two I took today. Part of my normal route was never plowed after the last snowstorm. Some brave soul drove through earlier in a four wheel drive truck which made for much easier walking.

Only one problem; the half mile of unplowed road was like walking through a hog lot. My feet often sank several inches into the wet mud and made for tough walking.

Back home, I finished framing the front wall of the garden house. The most difficult part was cutting the arches that serve as headers for the two windows. 

I'll start the second side wall in the next day or two. The front door and both windows will also need to be made in the shop.

I moved from the barn into the shop and worked on the St. Bernard. 



The painting is finished. The next step will be to mount the pieces onto the backboard then finish the pup with multiple coats of poly.

I decided to begin work on an Easter gift. One thing led to another and before I knew it, it was late afternoon and the sawing was complete.

I'll cut a base tomorrow, apply a finish, and I should be able to check this project off my list.

It was such a nice day that after Sargie called, saying she was on her way home, I began walking in her direction. She picked me up an hour later and we rode home together. According to my pedometer, I hiked a total of ten and a quarter miles today.

Sargie's off for the next two days, but will be attending a funeral Wednesday. I'm planning on going for my early morning walk, building the next side wall of the garden shed, and finishing the St. Bernard.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Ready to be mounted and finished

Since when does a little bit of snow stop a good ol' fashioned game of recess basketball?

April 16, 2019 - Tuesday morning

38 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

As you can see, my plans changed dramatically Monday morning. I'd just uploaded the daily blathering when the phone rang. It was my buddy, Principal Neil. Could I teach third grade?

I sighed and hesitated just enough to make him feel bad, then hesitantly said I would. I was off to Bobkitty Land and the world of education.

Actually, in a team teaching situation, the other third grade teacher took the lead and bore the brunt of the yesterday's work. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and as usual, learned by watching a real pro at work.

The day was almost finished when the kidlings jumped from their seats and headed to a closet. All either brought out brooms, a vacuum, brushes, spray and paper towels, or other cleaning aides.

I've never seen a semi messy room become so spotless in under five minutes in my entire life. Their teacher has them well trained, not only in their classroom, but is teaching them some serious household skills for later on in life.

It's just another one of a million reasons why I don't mind filling in occasionally at the elementary school. There's some old fashioned, common sense, education still happening under that roof.

Back home, I strapped on my hikers and started walking in the direction where I knew Sargie would be coming from work. I got in almost five miles before we met and she plucked me from alongside the road.

Last night saw a grilled burger/mushroom supper eaten in front of the television. Bedtime came early since Sargie has to open today and honestly, I was all done in.

She opens this morning. Assuming the phone doesn't ring, I'm going for my walk then plan to spend the rest of the day in the shop. I have some Easter gifts to make and time is getting short.

Speaking of time, I need to get breakfast on the table and Sargie's lunch packed.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

I purchased this large watermelon at Sam's Club last Sunday. An early season variety from Florida, I assumed it wouldn't be very good. I couldn't have been more wrong. Sargie and I agree that it's one of the best melons we've had in years.