Abby June Bug gave a beautiful ballet performance tonight at Grandma and Grandpa's.

 March 10, 2020 - Tuesday evening
66 degrees/clear skies/calm winds
Laurel, Mississippi

Isn't she beautiful? I remember my niece, Abby June Bug, as a gangly, shy, little girl. Over the past few years, much like a butterfly, the little girl has morphed into a beautiful, poised, young woman. 

Uncle Tom tried to give her a few pointers. Flitting through the room with my arms flapping while honking, I attempted to demonstrate the UP's version of Swan Lake.

I told Abby June Bug to keep practicing as she is much too refined to perform the northern version. 



Sargie and Miss Jody departed bright and early Tuesday morning for a day of shopping in Hattiesburg. Mississippi Garry and I left for local man stores that included two lumber yards and Harbor Freight.



Garry continued his teaching in the shop. I first had a lesson in air brush painting. The particular art form was Cosmic Cloud. I can see some future projects that include several vivid colors.

Garry also began working on one of the birch logs that we brought from the UP. No doubt, it will be a beautiful bowl by the time he is finished.

One of Garry's friends, James, turned a vase made from colored pencils, red cedar, and resin. We ordered colored pencils online when we first arrived and today began the planning of how to assemble and turn such a beautiful piece.

I assisted for a while and before long, Sargie was helping. She and Garry finally figured out a plan.

Sargie was the design expert

We'll be using glue and resin before turning everything into a vase.

Kari, Tommy, and the munchkins came over tonight to enjoy several pizzas. Eat? You bet!

It looks like we'll be heading to Vicksburg and the surrounding area on Wednesday to see many of the remnants of the Civil War. 

It's late and time to head to bed. Be sure to read the next entry and I'll let you know who won the war.

A foxtail squirrel
Look at that white and black face

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Kari Sue
Garry and Jody's daughter teaches seventh grade English

Tom went to school on Monday
The professor? Mississippi Brother Garry

March 9, 2020 - Monday evening

65 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Laurel, Mississippi

I thought I'd better write tonight as we have to get the Sonata to the mechanic's by 8 tomorrow morning. Sargie and Jody were coming home from shopping this afternoon when the car began losing power. Thankfully, it ran good enough for them to get home. We'll leave it at his shop early Tuesday morning.

I did, indeed, go to school today. Garry taught me all about angles, segmented turning, various types of chisels, vacuum chucks, and other wood working skills too numerous to mention.

I probably learned as much today about turning and equipment having to do with wood lathes as everything I've learned up to now.

This is a real working man's shop

I practiced on a bowl this afternoon using a couple of different types of chisels that up until today, I didn't know existed. Between using Garry's much bigger lathe and the new chisels, I was able to use some new turning techniques.

Using Garry's lathe as compared to mine is like graduating from peddling a bicycle with training wheels to driving a BMW. There's no comparison.

We kissed the girls goodbye this morning before they drove into Laurel for a day of shopping. We headed the other way to deliver lunches to elderly shut ins for a Christian ministry.

Garry and Jody, both, volunteer two Mondays a month to pick up the lunches and take them to those less fortunate than many of us.

We went to one house that had a most beautiful yard and drive. The trees were huge and everything seemed so green and alive.

Remaining in the car while Garry took a lunch to the door, I spotted a kitty cat relaxing in the warm Mississippi sunshine. 

We were driving past another house when I spotted someone's pet deer that was wearing a bright red collar.

When one is the delivery person of meals, he very well could be asked to be a handyman for those who might be unable to help themselves. 

The lady of this house thought she might have a dead animal underneath her home and asked Garry if he would check. Thankfully, no animal, alive or deceased, was found.

I wandered into a side yard and noticed some damage done by armadillos. They dig holes looking for grubs, much like the skunks do in the UP.

When we weren't in the shop this afternoon, we were at Kari's, Garry and Jody's daughter, replacing window panes that were broken a few days ago by the severe hail storm.

After replacing two, we wandered down by the barn and visited with Stella the Horse. Hoping for a handout, the girl wasn't mad at anyone.

The four of us spent time wandering around the yard this evening. Garry showed us his irrigation system and even came up with a way that we can irrigate all our flower beds this coming summer.

Speaking of flowers, the folks azaleas are beautiful.

But then, their yard and home are absolutely gorgeous, a real showplace on Meador Road.

The ladies are heading to Hattiesburg tomorrow for a day of shopping. Garry and I will deliver the Sonata to the mechanic's first thing in the morning then we'll do what guys do while the ladies are away.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

When he's not teaching shop skills, irrigation techniques, delivering lunches, or guiding tourists from the UP around the area, Mississippi Brother Garry is known to hang clothes out on the line to dry for Miss Jody.

Congratulations to great niece, Aria, on her baptism
Sunday morning.

March 9, 2020 - Monday morning

53 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Meador Road - Laurel Mississippi

Though we went to church Sunday morning, it wasn't to Aria's baptism. We sure hated to miss it, but the timing just wasn't there. I'm sure the rest of the family filled in for us and know it was truly a joyous occasion.

We did go to church and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Garry and I went on ahead a bit early so we could meet some of the other men before Sunday School.

Jody and Sargie seem to think the informal meeting of the church's somewhat elderly male group is more of a half hour gossip session than anything else. Then, to add insult to injury, both say men are as bad or worse than women about making small community talk. 

I think that's kind of harsh, don't you?

We did laugh a great deal and I felt right at home. Some of the boys I've met in past years. Others, I felt as though I'd known forever. The pre Sunday School occasion made me miss Uncle Bobby, Rod, and the rest of my daily Coffee With The Grandpas clutch in Sitka.

Sargie and I both loved our Sunday School classes. Jody had to prepare to direct her preschool choir for the upcoming church service, so Garry's sister, Annette, adopted Sargie and they went to the women's class. Garry and I meandered to the men's group. Once again, I felt at home and the hour flew by.

Church was just as wonderful. Brother Richard preached a message on temptation and after listening to his rather emphatic and passionate delivery, I don't believe Sargie or I will ever be tempted to sin again.

At one point, I glanced over at Sargie. The look on her face said, "We're not in Kansas any more!"

It was my bride's first sojourn into a Southern Baptist Church, a contrast in worship from her Catholic upbringing. 

I've been to Indian Springs Baptist Church on multiple occasions in the past and as always, I left feeling as though we made an entire congregation of new friends. I don't care if one is Catholic or Baptist, Methodist or Presbyterian, from the far north or deep south, we all worship the same God and He loves us all.

Amen.

Indian Springs Baptist Church

Miss Jody's warbling munchkins gave a stellar performance. As is the case with all four and five year olds, we didn't know exactly what to expect, but they came through with flying colors.

In family news, Grandson, Coleman, continues his winning ways. He wrestled up fifteen pounds from his normal weight division and emerged victorious.

I'd like to say he gets his physique from his Grandpa P, but then I'd be lying.

Now that Grandma Sargie is retired, we hope to attend one or more of Coleman's meets in future years. I'm fearful that he'll give Grandpa a heart attack while watching. That's my little grandson out there on the mat!

And finally, Ross sent this short clip of a herd of deer crossing in back of their home on Ice Lake in Iron Mountain. Looking at all the water on the ice, I'd say spring has finally arrived in the North Country.

Closer to home in the deep south, we enjoyed one of Miss Jody's Sunday meals after church. What could possibly be more delicious than sitting down to a meal of roast beef, black eyed peas, butter beans, hot rolls, and rice and gravy? 

Eat? Man oh man, we feasted. When it comes to cooking, Miss Jody could have her own show on the Food Channel. I'm getting fat. Just paint me red, white, and blue, call me Tommy Tubby, and roll me down the street like a beach ball.

The afternoon was spent playing tourist, letting Garry and Jody drive us around the area looking at different lakes and area homes.

No tour would be complete without learning the history of an area. Here, Garry's talking about the Masonite Lake, an impoundment that was created specifically for those workers in the areas Masonite factory. At one time, it employed over 4,000 workers.

My kind of fishing
Enjoying a warm sunny Sunday afternoon

A giant agave plant

We saw multiple lakes and impoundments and some of the most beautiful countryside in the south. It was a beautiful, lazy, warm, Sunday afternoon.

We weren't the only ones enjoying the perfect weather.
Around every corner lay a puppy dog or ten.

Having local knowledgeable guides has its advantages. Garry and Jody took us to the latest of Ben and Erin's (Home Town) projects located several miles out of Laurel and will be featured on one of the upcoming shows.

Sunday evening was spent talking and laughing and bedtime came early. All the we did yesterday must have been the magic formula for a good night's rest as I slept straight through for the first time in several years. I didn't awaken once until this morning.

Garry and I have been up for a while this morning. Miss Jody just walked around the corner and Sargie won't be far behind. It's time to get this uploaded and get the day started.

The scourge of the south, FIRE ANTS
Garry stepped in a nest of these last year and thought he'd have to chew his leg off before the pain subsided.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road, via Laurel, Mississippi...