Celebrating Macrea's birthday, we enjoyed a great dinner Monday night.

l to r - Macrea, Cheeks, Hambone, Mel

July 13, 2021 - Tuesday morning

56 degrees/partly cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Did we ever celebrate! A restaurant just south of Iron Mountain has a Monday night special, all the chicken and spaghetti you can eat for $5 a person. We laughed, ate, and of course, Cheeks kept Grandma Sargie and me entertained throughout the evening.

I'm getting ahead of myself. Let me back up the clock a bit.

I enjoyed looking at the varieties of wildflowers while on Monday morning's walk.

It's difficult to believe that three or four feet of snow covers all that beauty for several months a year. My morning walks aren't nearly so interesting during those cold, wintry, mornings, when the world is mostly white. 

We'd promised Hambone we could go fishing Monday morning and fishing we did!

Landing a boatload of small bluegills, the boy not only caught fish, he practiced and refined his casting skills. Sitting in a twelve foot boat with a boy whipping a worm and bobber around is like tip toeing through a flying mine field. Thankfully, Grandma Sargie and I had on caps and dodged the need for having any hooks removed from our heads.

As is the norm, Grandma Sargie couldn't help herself and put on a fishing clinic, this time, landing a nice bass that weighed several pounds.

We left for Iron Mountain later in the afternoon with a busy agenda in mind. Included was a stop at Jiffy Lube to have the oil changed in the Hyundai, then onto Ross and Holly's, Derek and Leahs, (to either deliver or pick up goodies) and finally, onto Aurora, Wisconsin, just south of Iron Mountain, where we enjoyed a great meal.

Saying our goodbyes last night with hugs and last minute birthday wishes, it was nearly bedtime when we arrived back home. I'm not sure what time Sargie came to bed as she was preparing for today's departure for the East Coast.

Yooper Brother Mark has said he'll come out and water the flowers and feed the goldfish while we're away, so we're all set there. After a year and a half of Covid induced delays, I think we're about ready for a Sargie/Tom road trip, one where we'll finally get to see three of my boys and grandbabies.

So, that leaves us with today. I'm going for a quick walk before making final preparations for our afternoon departure. I'm hoping we'll make it across the Mackinaw Bridge this afternoon into lower Michigan and continue downstate an hour or two before calling it a day. When Macrea asked what route we were taking to get to Matt and Jessica's in New Hampshire, my reply was simple.

"We'll drive into downstate Michigan, south to Toledo,  hang a left until we run into Boston, then hang another left and drive until we see Matt's house."

You now know as much as I do. Probably more.

Until tomorrow, from where ever we may be, just remember that...

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

A boy and a frog

Good old fashioned summertime fun on Pentoga Road

July 12, 2021 - Monday morning

51 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Funny, how after a few days of no electronics, including phones and anything that requires only thumbs, (and very little television), a boy can quickly detoxify, resulting in greatly improved hearing and a sharpened attention span. He's learned to be perfectly happy doing boy things like catching frogs, driving a four wheeler, getting dirty, and helping when needed. The boy even voluntarily clears the dirty dishes after meals, rinses them off, and puts them in the dishwasher, all without being asked. 

And eat? Holy cow, when more body parts than the thumbs are pressed into service, he becomes an insatiable empty hole into which we pour food. Last night's hamburger and large salad quickly disappeared.

There are skills that even phones and computers can't teach, mainly, how to communicate and have good, old fashioned, summertime fun.

I began Sunday morning by spraying three tanks of Round Up. It's something I do every year, but the weeds seem to be worse this summer. Donning long pants, gloves, and all the other protective paraphernalia, spraying is one of my least favorite jobs and I'm happy to have it over with for the year. 

Finished with the spraying, I slipped out of the house before Hambone awakened. Normally up fairly early in the mornings to go to daycare, he's been sleeping until 10 or even later during his stay with us. 

Playing outside in the sun, swimming, and doing all those other things, requires a lot of energy.

Sargie was busy on Sunday spray painting some of our old outdoor patio chairs, those that have been confined to the barn in recent years. As with most of what Sargie does, after a good cleaning and a coat of paint, she has them looking like new.

When Hambone learned that Grandma Sargie was painting, he was eager to help and she was happy to teach him how. It's another of life's practical lessons that requires more than a mere thumb.

We purchased a patio umbrella sometime ago and upon assembly, found that a part was missing. The company has been called and emailed, but the only response I've received has been, "Let me look in the warehouse and I'll see what I can find."

I can see the writing on the wall with that kind of response. Since we've heard nothing since and having grown tired of tripping over the umbrella and supporting parts in the garden house, I decided to improvise. 

With Sargie's help and advice, we made it all come together yesterday afternoon.

I have a feeling snow will be falling before we get the part, and that's if the company sends it.

Grandma Sargie and Hambone spent some quality time together yesterday. With the temperature in the upper 70's and lots of sunshine, the pond was, by far, the most popular place on Pentoga Road.

Dollar for dollar, digging that big hole and filling it with 18,500 gallons of water has produced the most bang for my buck possible. Not only do we enjoy sitting around it and watching the fish and other wildlife, but it's the perfect backyard pool.

Since we'll be away for a week to ten days visiting the sons and their families, I decided to mow the front meadow and lawn. Hopefully, it won't grow too much.

Darkness fell, the stars came out, and the frogs began to croak. What better way to finish a perfect day than by making s'mores!

With a fire blazing by the pond in the chilly nighttime air, it quickly became evident that Hambone wasn't the only person who enjoys toasted marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers, all smooshed together in a big, tasty, sticky, morsel.

Today's going to be a busy one. I'm going for my walk as soon as the sun is up. I promised Grady I'd take him fishing this morning and he said he'd like to spend this afternoon playing in the pond. Since today's Macrea's birthday, we'll be heading to Iron Mountain later, first to have the oil changed in the car, then meeting Mel, Macrea, and Cheeks, for not only a birthday supper, but also for the Hambone exchange. It's been a fun five days. 

Sargie and I will be leaving for the East Coast either Tuesday after lunch or fairly early Wednesday morning. The Pennington boys, sans Andy who is working off the coast of Trinidad, and families will be gathering at Matt's outside of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, this coming weekend. Grandma Sargie and I are looking forward to seeing and playing with eight of our fourteen grandchildren during that time, plus catching up on life with the Pennington boys and their spouses. 

This will be a quick trip for a weekend gathering, a warm up for a longer, more leisurely one this fall, when New England's famous colors are on full display. We'll time it when Andy's back in the states so we can play with Ivy. 

Oh yeah, we'll play with Andy too. 

OK, time to get the day started. I recorded a short video yesterday that I'll put at the end of today's writing.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Missing most of his front teeth, I don't know how Hambone can clean the corn off a cob, but he does and in short order.

July 11, 2021 - Sunday morning

49 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

I'm making this a short one today as I want to get outside and spray for weeds before any wind begins to blow. We continue to experience near-perfect days, temperatures in the 70's to low 80's with lots of sunshine and little humidity.

Saturday was a busy one on Pentoga Road. Back from my early morning walk, I loaded Hambone into the Blazer and we drove to the local sand and gravel pit for a load of sand.

Like most boys, he was enthralled watching the big dump trucks be loaded and just as excited as a bucket of sand was dumped into the trailer.

Once home, we began began filling sand bags. They would be used to extend our "beach" a bit further into the water so any little ones playing in the sand wouldn't be able to slip into deeper water.

We had quite the assembly line going. Hambone and Grandma Sargie filled the bags so quickly that I couldn't keep up with carrying and placing them in the water.

 

Slowly, the small box being built out from the beach began to take form. Once the bags were set in place, we filled the area with sand.

Finally, Hambone was sent into the water to walk around and pack it all down.

The water began to resemble coffee with creamer and I became a bit concerned. I need not have worried. After sitting overnight, it has settled and the fish seem to be doing quite well.

In the picture below, all those white dots are baby goldfish, thousands of them.

Last night was spent in front of the television. Grady has discovered Josh Gage's Expedition Unknown on the Travel Channel and soaks up the true facts and figures of each program like a sponge. He was so interested in the Bermuda Triangle that he spent half an hour on the phone last night educating his father. 

Mississippi Brother Garry sent a picture of his latest work, a turned plate that included some detailed wood burning to incorporate any imperfections in the wood. 

As with all of Mississippi Brother Garry's pieces, it's beautiful, just beautiful.

I'm not sure what today will bring. I'm going to spray weeds, go for my walk, then continue to split firewood. No doubt, we'll be swimming, possibly fishing, and I've promised Hambone that we'll have a fire tonight, complete with s'mores. 

Sounds like a pretty good time to me.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Having filled sandbags, Grandma Sargie was content to observe as Hambone and I added the finishing touches.

Making memories

July 10, 2021 - Saturday morning

46 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Funny how little things remain in your memory from childhood days long ago. I remember being allowed to stick my hand into the large cookie jar at Grandma Pennington's and grabbing a soft, homemade, sugar cookie during my summertime visits. 

Every kid (and grandparent) knows that two cookies always stick together. It was no different back then so I was forced to eat them both. Grandma always smiled and acted as if she didn't notice.

We let Hambone dip ice cream for our evening dessert and it appears the boy subscribes to the same theory as countless children have done for years.

With me, it was cookies. For Hambone, it's ice cream.

One scoop for you, two scoops for me. One for you, two for me.

It's called making memories at Grandma and Pawpaw's.

Friday morning produced near perfect weather and the miles seemed to fly by as I went for my morning walk. The wild geraniums are beginning to bloom, adding a new pallet of pastel colors along the way.

The others were still sleeping when I arrived back home, so I got busy splitting the chunks of ash that filled the trailer. It took a while, but in the end, the trailer was emptied as the rows of firewood grew larger.

Hambone said he'd like to go kayaking. Grandma Sargie and I loaded three boats into the Blazer.

It was one of the nicest days of the summer and we had the lake completely to ourselves. 

Well, I lied about being alone on the water. At one point, we were met by a mama goose and her babies that are nearly grown.

A dragonfly kept me company for a goodly part of our journey. 

Of course, any good paddle wouldn't be complete without dunking in the water after.

We eventually traded one body of water for another. Back home, Hambone and I dove in the pond to do a bit of work.

I used the underwater vacuum to clean the sides and worked on the pump and filter system a bit. Of course, no pond time would be complete without a good, old fashioned, squirt gun fight.

We were excited to see thousands of tiny goldfish that were hiding in the moss and muck away from where we swim. 

Over the past two and a half years, I've found that it's difficult to establish an artificial pond. Having a heavy rubber liner holding 18,000 gallons of water, the goldfish have presented a challenge and despite losing some earlier this spring, really didn't do well until we established a decent plant base. It appears that now, everything is beginning to come together and a natural life cycle, including the regeneration of fish, is happening. 

I worked a bit in the garden. It continues to do well and if the size of pumpkin leaves are any indication of how large a giant pumpkin may grow, we could have a winner. On second thought, I guess it would help if a pumpkin would actually form, but it hasn't even blossomed yet. Maybe next week.

The onions are in full bloom. Most people grow them to eat and we do use an occasional bulb in cooking, but mostly, we raise onions for their beautiful flowers.

It appears that today will be much like yesterday. I'm going to head out for my walk in a bit then come home and continue to work up firewood. There are still fifteen or twenty large, back breaking, pieces to split. After that, the world's the limit. We may kill a can or two with the pellet gun and of course, there's always the lake that seems to attract a young boy and his grandparents.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...