August 8, 2021 - Sunday morning
65 degrees/cloudy/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Until now, you've only seen Cheeks at her best, a sweet, loving, happy, little girl, but we've discovered another side to our youngest granddaughter.

When she decides she wants to eat, GET OUT OF THE WAY. Ain't no amount of funny faces, noises, bubble bellies, or rocking, gonna change that girl's mind. Once her tummy is filled and diapers changed, she reverts back to the sweet, chubby, little gal we all know and love.

The blackberry fairy stopped by Saturday afternoon while we were in town running errands and left a full container on the front porch. 

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Obviously fresh, the large, juicy, berries are sweeter than candy with an out of this world flavor. I've already sampled several and Sargie and I are looking forward to enjoying the rest.

 Again, thank you so much. 

Saturday was a mixed bag of activities. Yooper Brother Mark pulled into the drive just after sunrise and we enjoyed our weekly walk. The boy had just arrived home from their plant in New York and was eagerly anticipating watching Jerad drive in Saturday night's demolition derby at the Iron County Fair.

Back home, I played with Cheeks a bit while waiting for Hambone to rise from the dead and begin his day. An early riser at home, it's not uncommon for him to sleep until almost noon when he's staying with us. I think it's caused from all the fresh air he gets on Pentoga Road coupled with being so busy. Physical activity requires a lot more energy than the movement of two thumbs.

Sargie and Cheeks hung out most of the day doing girl stuff. Cheeks loves her bath and Grandma Sargie loves giving her one.

Cheeks laughed and splashed in the kitchen sink before Grandma Sargie dried her off and slathered her with a coating of Baby Magic. Grandma likes her grandbabies to smell good and feel soft.

I kept busy hauling the wood that I'd bucked up the day before. At one point, I felt eyes upon me. Looking up, I came eye to eye with a doe. Just feet apart, she could have cared less that I was invading her woods.

Two loads were made before the rain began to fall.

The trailer has sure come in handy. It's easy to maneuver in the woods and holds a surprising amount of wood.

The maple is surprisingly easy to split. Straight grained and hard as a rock, it actually pops while splitting and often flies off into two separate pieces. 

A full cord was worked up yesterday, split and stacked.

I wasn't the only one who was busy. Taking his tool box out of the shop, when he wasn't helping me, Hambone spent much of the afternoon "building," as he says. I've never seen wood from the scrap box put to such good use.

When asked what he was making, he replied, "a gun," a rifle to be more exact. The boy is getting ready for deer season.

The rain began in earnest. With the deluge pounding onto the metal roof overhead, I could hardly hear what Hambone was saying. As dry as it's been, Dad would have commented that it was a million dollar rain. So far, .8 of an inch has fallen since yesterday with more in the forecast.

Let 'er rain.

Of course, not being happy to sit under cover and watch, Hambone and I donned umbrellas and spent time walking around the yard and garden. We played with frogs, fed the fish, picked and ate fresh peas straight from the vine, plucked a blueberry or two, and filled and hung the hummingbird feeder.  

It's just a fun thing boys and pawpaws do in the driving rain.

We even made a batch of hummingbird syrup and later, Hambone helped to fill the feeder.

Note the work gloves. Serious stuff there. He says they help him build better.

Last night was a quiet one, well, except when Cheeks decided she was starving to death. I can't speak for the others, but I climbed the steps early and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

I hear Cheeks and Hambone have a first birthday party to attend later this morning, so we'll be meeting Mama and Daddy somewhere to make the munchkin exchange. 

After? 

Ah, peace and quiet, blissful silence. After almost a month of frenzied activity, I can hardly wait.

Rain's in the forecast so I can see an afternoon nap in my future. Mmm.

Possibly a drive? Nice thought.

How about chasing Grandma Sargie around the house? That's a distinct possibility, but sounds too much like work. I think I'll stick with the nap.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Singin' in the Rain

The next Gene Kelly?

I'm told the Milligan "Young Cousins" had a ball yesterday at Lisa and Benoit's on Six Mile Lake

August 7, 2021 - Saturday morning

57 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Funny. Seems like it was just a year or two ago that our generation of Milligan family was sitting around a kitchen table, pondering if the next generation was ever going to have any babies. No one needed to have worried. Most went forth and were fruitful.

 

The munchkins had a wonderful time yesterday, swimming, eating ice cream, and doing whatever it is munchkins do on a near perfect, warm, summertime day.

Back on Pentoga Road, I enjoyed my usual early morning walk. I was greeted in Pentoga Village by not only the bunny rabbits, but a doe and fawn.

Due to a late freeze this past spring, there are few apples in our area, but those blossoms that survived have produced some good looking fruit. 

We have exactly ONE apple on our three trees, a real switch from last year's crop when we had hundreds, if not thousands of apples.

We're enjoying Hambone and Cheeks and have never seen a happier girl than Cheeks. Well, that is until she gets hungry and lets the entire world know that she's starving to death.

With Sargie and the munchkins headed to Six Mile Lake Friday morning, I loaded the power saw onto the tractor and took off for the woods.

Several trees that I'd laid on the ground last spring were cut into chunks. 

OK, I lied. One didn't quite make it to the ground in March as I missed my mark causing it to hang up in a nearby tree.

Over an hour was spent trying to safely get the tree untangled. Using the tractor and chain, I pulled and eventually, pushed, until it came crashing to the ground.

The rest of the day was spent sawing with just one fallen tree left to cut up before the north side will be done.

Hot and sweaty? You have no idea.

The rest of the afternoon was spent around the pond, trimming the underwater aquatic plants, raking out algae, and cleaning in general. I've come to the realization that there's little difference between a swimming pool and a large garden pond. The only difference? We get to swim with goldfish.

I was asked why I didn't post any pictures of me from the wedding. (Thanks Norriene.) Anyone who knows me, understands that I'm much more comfortable dressed as I am in the picture above than the one below. None-the-less, here's one from the wedding.

Sargie, Hambone, and Cheeks, arrived home last evening tired, but full of tales from a fun day on the lake. None of us had any problems sleeping last night.

On today's agenda? Yooper Brother Mark will be out soon for our weekly Saturday morning walk. Otherwise, Hambone and I will be hauling in wood, spreading gravel, or playing in the pond. But then, we might have to go somewhere and get ice cream. 

Time to get wrap this up and get the day started.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

August 6, 2021 - Friday morning
61 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds
Pentoga Road

Boy oh boy, I'm tired this morning. I wonder what that's all about? Sitting here in these early morning hours, I guess both Sargie and I have the right. We made a quick trip to the East Coast, driving 2,200 miles, round trip, in one week's time. Then we had a wedding that consumed us for three full days followed by the best of visits from Christy and family. Now today, Hambone and Cheeks begin a three day stay on Pentoga Road.

Yep, we've earned the right to be tired.

The kids left early Thursday morning and how we hated to see them go. We had so much fun while they were with us, but we did extract promises that they'd be back at some point in the future.

I left for my walk immediately after their departure. Pentoga Village has an excess of bunny rabbits this year. In fact, if I'm not greeted by two or three daily, I wonder if something's happened to them.

The village is also lit up with these yellow button-type flowers. Knowing that our world will be completely gray and white in a few short months, I've learned to appreciate their beauty.

Sargie and I spent the rest of the day relaxing. She did some laundry and household chores while I retreated to the shop and attempted to remove the scratches and buff a camera lens. Continually carried in my front pocket, every camera I've ever owned ends up with a cloudy, scratched, less than perfect, lens. If you don't believe me, look at yesterday's blog.

Nothing ventured/nothing gained. Attaching a hard felt tip onto the Dremel, rubbing compound was initially used. After, the same was done with glass/mirror scratch remover.

 Would it work? It did! Pictures are once again crystal clear. I even tried the method on an old pair of glasses and the outcome looks promising. I'll go over those one more time.

Last night was a quiet one. We were to get Hambone and Cheeks, but that didn't happen. Sargie will meet Macrea halfway early this morning and bring them home for the weekend.

I'm going to get Sargie up for the day then go for my walk. Some people find sleep restful when seeking solitude and peace. Me? I like to walk and walk, then walk some more. After, I may head to the woods and begin cutting up a large fallen maple tree. The sound may be loud, but the surroundings are pure bliss.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Pentoga Road

Using the newly polished and buffed lens

Wednesday was a great day for a float trip down the Brule River

August 5, 2021 - Thursday morning

60 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Christy, Josh, and Jordon, just left for home and we're sad. What nice kids and as Sargie said, the time they were with us flew by. They expect to be home, in South Bend, Indiana, early this evening.

Wednesday was a wonderful day spent on the Brule River. The weather was absolutely perfect with highs in the lower 80's and just enough breeze to be comfortable.

Opting not to go, Sargie served as our logistics person who dropped us off at the beginning and pulled the trailer home. Since the ending was in Pentoga, we parked a car at the bridge and once finished, I drove home and got the Blazer and trailer to retrieve the kayaks.

I apologize for the quality of snapshots. The lens on my relatively new camera has lost its coating. Insured, I'll be filing a claim and hopefully, will have a replacement in the next few weeks. Until then, I'll use my iPhone 12 or if I'm in a circumstance to where it might get wet, I'll suffer with the camera and less than perfect pictures.

We had a wonderful sixteen mile paddle that took a bit over four hours. The only mishap was when Jordon hit a large rock causing her kayak to turn sideways in the strong current. After that, it was a done deal.

Thankfully, she only had to stand up in the knee deep water and after Josh emptied her kayak, we were on our way.

Everyone was to bed early last night and from what they said this morning, no one had any difficulty falling asleep. With hugs, kisses, I love you's, and promises to visit again, Christy, Josh, and Jordon, left just before 6 this morning.

We have today to catch our breath before Hambone and Cheeks arrive tonight for the weekend. I'm not sure what all we'll be doing, but then, I'm just Pawpaw and along for the ride. I'll simply fasten my seatbelt and hang on for dear life.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

 

Great Niece, Jordon, with her Aunt Sargie

August 4, 2021 - Wednesday

57 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Holy cow, this week's going fast. It's Wednesday already. Hard to believe it's been almost a week since we were preparing for Mel and Macrea's wedding. 

Time, she's a flyin' by.

Josh, Christy, and Jordon, are a delight to host. Josh, having served 21 years in the Armed Forces including two tours of Iraq, works in cyber security for a company in South Bend, Indiana. Christy is a nurse and Jordon is back from New Mexico visiting her father and Christy for a couple of weeks.

We enjoyed a big breakfast Tuesday morning. Of course, Uncle Tom made the most of it with Jordon at his side helping to make a large egg scramble filled with everything but the kitchen sink. 

Sargie had left earlier to attend a funeral. The kids and I gabbed a bit before seeing them off for a day of exploring this end of the Upper Peninsula.

Meanwhile, I strapped on my hikers and took a nice, leisurely, four mile walk.

New wild flowers are blooming, making the walk even more interesting. It's easy to tell the end of the summer is quickly approaching. Seems everything is in a rush to show their brilliant colors.

 I spent the next few hours in the garden, weeding and picking.

First order of business was to set the giant pumpkin onto a platform of wood to help keep it from rotting underneath.

The pumpkin has doubled in size in twenty four hours and should continue to grow just as rapidly until frost. Right now, it's a race with time. 

I picked a large bag of green beans. Brother in law, Boyd, had suggested the variety Jade and he didn't steer me wrong. The beans are long, plentiful, and if their raw taste is any indication of their cooked flavor, they'll be delicious.

The broccoli is coming on fast and furious. I picked several heads, all large and very tasty. We'll be sending some back to Indiana with the kids.

Everyone arrived home mid to late afternoon. It didn't take them long to find the four wheeler and Josh was soon giving Christy and Jordon rides.

Jordon helped to feed the fish and quickly found the peas, green beans, and blueberries. It makes me feel good when I see people eating fresh from the garden. She is also fascinated with the frogs that live in the pond.

Quite the photographer, Jordon took some great snapshots.

We had a huge fish fry of crappie and bluegill filets for supper. If anyone went hungry last night, it was his own fault.

The day ended by sitting around a fire by the pond, talking and stuffing our faces with somemores.

It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.

We're kayaking down the Mighty Brule River today. The sixteen mile paddle usually takes around four hours. Aunt Sargie has opted out of the float trip and will be our logistics person, dropping us off at the beginning and making sure we have a vehicle in Pentoga at the end. As she says, she's been there/done that.

I hear the rustling of feet overhead which means it's time to get this uploaded and begin the day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

The smoke from the forest fires in nearby Canada makes the sun look surreal.