Wednesday was insulate the foundation/install new lattice day. Sargie's hard at work removing the old lattice.

April 25, 2019 - Thursday morning

50 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I think Sargie and I, both, could have used more sleep this morning. She opens the Vision Center, so we're both up, bright and early.

After Wednesday morning's walk to Pentoga Village and back, Sargie and I began working on the front of the house.  I'll say this, it was a major undertaking and one we're glad to have finished.

After attempting to slide under the porch, I found there simply wasn't enough room to work on the far end of the foundation. 

 

Once I found a method, removing a couple of boards every few feet wasn't difficult, it just took time. Sargie and I had our own hammers and crow bars and we set to work.

I was shocked at what was found directly beneath the kitchen. There was an area of open space where the only thing between the outside and kitchen was the interior wall. The ninety-nine year old house had shifted creating a haven for mice and cold air.

It's no wonder we had a gale blowing through the front of the house every time the wind blew out of the northwest. 

We began removing boards every few feet.

Next came filling any and every gap with either liquid foam, insulation batting, or styrofoam. In some cases, all three were used.

I was able to install some of the foam board from above. It's a special insulation made especially for foundations and I was quite impressed with it's density. It even looked decent.

 I'd measure what was needed, go to the barn, mark it out, and finally cut the piece on the bandsaw. 

 

I'd done all I could from above. It was time to go underneath and work from that angle.



Sargie worked just as hard or harder than I did all day. While I was under the porch, she was reinstalling the boards that had been earlier removed. If she wasn't doing that, my bride was removing the old lattice or handing me tools from above.

It was late afternoon before the last of the insulation was installed. Time to begin on the lattice.

We measured then measured some more. The posts were off center just enough that it made installation more difficult than it should have been.

We improvised and between Sargie and me, made it all work. The first pieces were finally attached.

Then more.

And before we knew it, the porch was finished. Insulated and latticed, that's one big job we can cross off our list.

We were almost gleeful last night as we watched the old lattice burn. I imagine we'd have done a dance of joy had we not been so tired.

Needless to say, neither one of us had any difficulty sleeping last night.

Too bad spray foam doesn't stick to wood and concrete as well as it adheres to human skin. I had it on my hands, clothes, and in my hair.

As I mentioned earlier, Sargie opens this morning. I'm going for my usual walk then begin cleaning up the mess we made yesterday. I notice the back deck has developed a definite sag towards the front so that should be investigated. Otherwise, there's the last wall of the garden house that needs to be built and a shop that could use my attention.

The unmelted snow/ice was almost our undoing. Sargie slipped once and fell heavily onto her hip. I later slipped and took a nosedive. For a brief moment, I thought I might have broken my wrist in an attempt to stop my fall. Thankfully, the only injury was to my delicate ego.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

It appears the buds of the popple (aspen) trees are about to burst open in downtown Pentoga Village.

April 24, 2019 - Wednesday

33 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I just discovered that yesterday's writing wasn't uploaded. I was running short of time Tuesday morning and seems I forgot to push the button. Oh well, it'll appear at the bottom of today's blathering.

As much as I keep saying I'm finished with substitute teaching for the year, I find myself back in one classroom or the other in Florence. Yesterday was spent with the fourth grade and I enjoyed every minute of my Bobkitty time. The students are as polite as they can be and the day flew by.

Back home, I trekked to Pentoga Village. Even with the possibility of snow in the forecast for later this coming weekend, it appears winter is definitely on the wane.

For the most part, the ground is bare and seems to be drying nicely.

Even Lake Pentoga has quit overflowing its banks and the river that's been running alongside the garden has disappeared.

What I like best are the swollen buds on many of the bushes and trees. Yup, spring's in the air.

Sargie was home early last night and we had our usual quiet evening spent in front of the television. 

Today's one that I've looked forward to, yet dreaded, for a long time. We're going to insulate the foundation under the porch and replace the lattice on the front. The old has been destroyed by the ice and snow that fell from the roof.

The last time I worked with lattice, it consisted of thin wooden strips, all stapled together. Now, it is made from vinyl and assuming one likes white, doesn't have to be painted. Since it is flexible, the four by eight pieces are easy to transport. 

As for insulating, normally, applying a specialized foam board to the part of a foundation showing above ground level would be a walk in the park. Unfortunately, we have a front porch that is five feet wide and thirty five feet long in the way.



The boards of the porch are attached with long, barbed, decking nails which make removing the boards in one piece extremely difficult. 



Still, I'm going to try. If prying isn't successful, I'll have to crawl underneath and in some places work with only an inch or two of free space over my head.

Sargie's off today and will be assisting, mostly cutting the foam from above and sliding it to me underneath. Best case scenario, we'll get this baby done in an hour or two and feel mighty good about it. Worst case? Well, come back tomorrow and I'm sure you'll be able to read all about it.

It's time to strap on the hikers and do a quick five miles; you know, get into a pregame mental state of mind for the rest of the day.

A woodpecker pecked this tree in half

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Oh yeah, since we have to remove the timbers around the closest flower bed to replace the lattice, there's also a bit of snow in the way

April 23, 2019 - Tuesday

37 degrees/clouds/windy
Pentoga Road

No pictures this morning. Matter, of fact, there's little time. Regardless of my oath to swear off teaching for the year, I'm back to Florence Elementary for a day with the fourth grade Bobkitties. Might as well. It's too wet to do anything outside.

With rain falling intermittently throughout the day, Monday was a slow one. I took my early morning walk and was caught in a downpour. Thankfully, I didn't melt.

Sargie and I went to Iron Mountain later in the morning where we purchased the lattice to go around the bottom of the front porch. As of now, I'm planning on insulating the foundation and putting on the lattice work tomorrow. Sargie's off and she said she'd help by sliding whatever is needed to me from on top. 

We stopped by Tom and Melinda's on the way home and picked up the red four wheeler. Tom had serviced it for the season and it's now ready for another year summertime activity.

The rest of the day was spent inside, mostly watching tv or gabbing. 

Last night was productive. I booked reservations and camping spots in Pictured Rocks National Park for a four day/three night, forty-two mile hike in June for Macrea and me. Having shed fifty pounds, the boy's anxious to try out his new body and put a few miles under his feet. I'm looking forward to the stroll along Lake Superior and our time together.

Sargie's working today, but is off tomorrow. The same can be said for me. Well... I may not be subbing on Wednesday, but not working? 

C'mon. We all know that a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Andy and Ivy

April 22, 2019 - Monday morning

41 degrees/cloudy/breezy

Pentoga Road

Amazing. Easter's come and gone for another year and now our sights are set firmly on summer. I know as we grow older, time seems to fly faster and faster, but it's flying way too fast. Won't be long and we'll be wondering where the summer went, but let's not talk about that right now.

Easter was a very laid back affair on Pentoga Road. Recovering from the celebration and gluttony of Saturday's gathering, I went for my usual morning walk. I feel as though I'm getting my summer hiking legs (and lungs) and later realized that I couldn't recall walking up the very steep hill coming out of Pentoga Village. In year's past, I've had to stop to catch my breath before reaching the top.

Sargie and I made our way to Rhinelander later in the morning and spent the afternoon shopping at Menards Lumber, a large home supply store.

I purchased a single hung, factory second, window for the garden house at a significant discount.

It will be mounted in the middle with a window that was previously in the living room on each side.

Other than household items and other goodies too numerous to mention, we shopped for potential roofing for the garden house.

I'm uncertain what the color of the roofing will be as the picking and choosing falls into Sargie's area of responsibility.

My mama didn't have no dummy.

Back home, Sargie busied herself making trail mix from ten different bags of goodies.

As most may know, commercial trail mix is very costly. We found a special that featured ten bags of all the right ingredients for ten dollars. It was Sargie who suggested we purchase those and make our own. Her mama didn't have no dummy either!

The heavy rain that was forecast had yet to begin so Sargie and I made our way to the orchard where we dug two sand cherry bushes to transplant elsewhere.

They were just sticks when I put them in the ground several years ago, but have grown substantially since and were crowding everything around them out. 

We transplanted the bushes by the wood sheds and storage area and hope they'll make a nice hedge in that area.



Poor Jambo. Today's the opening of turkey season and I know he's sitting out in a wet field, covered in camouflage, chirping, in hopes that a big ol' Tom turkey will come strutting towards him.

A few minutes ago, I was scared out of my wits when a huge Tom turkey, chasing a feathered harem, let go with a resounding gobble on the other side of the outside wall, just a few feet from where I'm sitting. All I had to shoot him with was my camera.



Sargie's off today. I'm going for a quick walk before we head over to Tom and Melinda's to pick up the four wheeler and trailer. I think from there we'll head onto Iron Mountain so I can purchase some lattice to go around the bottom of the front porch. Sometime this week, I want to crawl under and insulate the foundation before attaching the new lattice and be able to call that job finished.

We received .7 of an inch of rain overnight, but so far, Lake Pentoga hasn't risen. In fact, it shrank a bit overnight. More rain is forecast for today and the flood warning is still in effect, but so far so good.

Speaking of rain, I better get to walking before the overhead floodgates open again.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

He has Risen! 

April 21, 2019 - Easter Sunday Morning

44 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Happy Easter to all. It's a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

I'm not a regular church goer, don't pretend to be, and I try hard not to wear my beliefs on my sleeve. I find those who have to remind everyone that they are Christians are often those who should probably take a good, long, look in a mirror.

That being said, I find that Easter Sunday is the one day of the year that I feel almost guilty for not regularly attending church. I miss a good old fashioned sunrise service, the choir singing The Holy City, the true joy of celebration, even the colors of the day. 

My very good friend and baby brother, the Reverend Dr. Pat Sheahan, a Presbyterian cleric, would be disappointed if he didn't hear me say at least once today, "God bless Baby Jesus." 

Amen and Amen.

We learned yesterday of the passing of a good friend of Mom's. Phyllis lived in the same community as Mom and was not only Mom's buddy, but also mine. A retired librarian, Phyllis and I occasionally exchanged emails and when visiting Mom, we always sat at the same table in the dining room and caught up on life. We're all going to miss Phyllis.

The world's loss is Heaven's gain.

Proceeding onward...

Luke sent a great picture of Abba and Coleman. The family is spending some time playing tourists in Boston this Easter weekend.

My oldest grandbabies are growing up so fast. I'm looking forward to the day when Sargie is finished working so we can make occasional trips to Maine and spoil them just a bit before they are all grown up.

As most know, I enjoy playing in my shop while fashioning one thing or the other. When it comes to true craftsmanship however, I look up to Mississippi Brother Garry. He recently made this yarn bowl for his sister, Ruthie. 

I see some of Garry's work and realize what a true amateur I am. (I'm also wondering if eating Ritz crackers with a slice of cheese might be his secret to success?)

Well, lookie what ol' Yooper Brother Mark drug home! The boy sold his old side-by-side and bought himself a brand, spankin' new one. 

I'm told this one has all the amenities including roll up windows, a heated cab, radio, windshield wipers, and even comes with air conditioning!

I don't see Mark going out "muddin'" or hauling too much fire wood in his new baby.

Saturday was the big Milligan Easter Celebration hosted by nephew Garth and his lovely wife, Courtney, in Iron Mountain. 

Ol' Hambone, complete with tie and vest, had just found an Easter egg.

We talked and laughed, ate, enjoyed watching the little ones hunt Easter eggs, and all appreciated the most perfect day. With a high of seventy degrees, the sun was bright and there wasn't a hint of wind.

Grandma Sargie's helping to direct traffic

The gathering broke up later in the afternoon. With full bellies and smiles, we made our way back to Pentoga Road.

I was so full of ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, and other goodies that I decided to walk around outside to ease some of the fullness.

The best surprise of the day was discovering that the thornless blackberries in the orchard made it through the cold and snowy winter months.

The nursery sent the wrong order a year ago, thornless blackberries that are meant to grow in a warmer Zone 5 or above. Pentoga Road lies in a much colder Zone 3 and even flirts with an occasional Zone 2, the coldest growing conditions possible. 

Frustrated, there was little doubt that left to winter over without any assistance, the three berry bushes would freeze and die. I decided to take nature in hand and covered each with copious amounts of dead leaves last fall, two to three feet deep.

I was so happy to uncover the plants last night and see that not only had they lived, but a couple even had leaves. 

Hey, the way the weather's been, we'll take our victories when we can get them, even if they come in very small doses.

I shouldn't brag. The water is just beginning to recede from the garden and I was trying to be optimistic until this popped up on my computer screen:

Yeah, well, as I said, we'll take our victories when we can get them.

Jambo and Germaine are down for the weekend and we enjoyed a wonderful walk and visit last evening with our good friends. I'm not sure who's looking forward to the coming summer months more, Jambo or me.

Sargie and I are taking off for Rhinelander later today. It's become an Easter tradition that we enjoy a leisurely drive into Wisconsin and do a bit of shopping at the local Menard's Lumber. Windows are on sale this weekend and I'd like to find two or three inexpensive barn windows for the back wall of the garden house.

It's time to strap on those hikers and put a few miles beneath my feet before the rain starts. I'm certain there's an extra inch of mashed potatoes, gravy, and ham, around my middle that wasn't there before yesterday's meal.

So, from both Sargie and me, we wish all a Happy Easter. 

Hambone, Uncle Cale, and Grandma Sargie

As always, remember...

... that a man's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Little Lincoln will tell you that the very best Easter meals come in a bottle!