July 26, 2021 - Monday morning

51 degrees/hazy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Ain't that the truth? Seems every summer is completely different than the ones before. That's what keeps us from getting bored.

Speaking of which, we didn't have time to be bored on Sunday. Back from my morning walk, I decided to look under the hood of the old Blazer. The high pressure side of the power steering hose had broken the day before, spraying fluid all over the place.

Having earned my mechanic's degree fromYoutube Tech, it appeared replacing the hose would be a simple task. Loosen this, change that, tighten something else, and presto, the job was finished and the power steering restored.

One glance under the hood told me I should let someone else replace the hose. My sight's not the best anyway and honestly, everything looked the same. I'll "arm strong" the steering on the old SUV until Mechanic Dave has time to fix it.

* Reminds me of my first car, an old, very used, '62 Nash Rambler. The thing looked like an upside down smiling bathtub, but BOTH front seats reclined to a flat position, something my guy friends envied, but made Mom and Dad somewhat nervous. My assurances that I wouldn't drive with the seats reclined did nothing to alleviate their fears. 

Okay, I digress. Where was I? 

Oh yeah, I about had to stand on the bushel basket sized steering wheel of the Nash Rambler to turn corners as power steering was still a thing of the future for most. That's where I am currently with the Blazer.

I'm at a dilemma about what to do concerning a four wheel drive vehicle. The Blazer is twenty three years old. It still has a decent body, engine, and tires, but many of the auxiliary pieces are about worn out, including the fuel injectors that, with labor, cost in the upper hundreds of dollars.  

I've estimated that it would cost several thousand dollars to make my old Alaska Blazer somewhat dependable again. 

Here in lies the problem. During normal times, I'd kiss it goodbye and purchase a newer used SUV, one to be used for towing the trailers and dealing with the deep snow on our wintry roads. As most know, now is NOT the time to purchase a vehicle of any kind. Most are going for what used to be new car prices if not more. As several people have pointed out, I'd be spending thousands for a different used SUV with the possibility of spending that much more to fix whatever might be wrong with it. Most people, at least those whom I hang around with, don't randomly trade in perfectly good cars and trucks.

So, do I spend a hefty amount of money and fix the antique Blazer? At least I'll know what I have and self admittedly, there's a sentimental attachment to Alaska. Andy and I drove it back ten years ago to begin my retirement.

I'm leaning towards fixing what's wrong with the old car and make it good enough to pull the trailers and see us up and down our wintry roads. 

Yep, unless I find a little old lady who has one to sell and is willing to let it go at a bargain price, we'll keep what we have.

Problem solved, I think. Thanks for listening.

Hambone was on the backhoe bright and early Sunday morning. Dig? That boy can dig. I was happy to sit in the shade, one foot on the machine to keep it from bouncing too much, and watch him dig a hole before filling it back in.

An added plus happened when he dug up a large rock. It doesn't get any better than scooping one up, curling the bucket around it, and depositing it elsewhere.

Hambone also soloed for the first time yesterday on the blue four wheeler. Purposely keeping it throttled down, he made the rounds of the front meadow.

The boy was quick to offer anyone in the area (Grandma Sargie and/or me) a ride. What he didn't count on was that Grandma would wrap her arms around him and give him a quick peck to begin the ride.

When he winced, she informed him that's what she does when she rides behind Pawpaw. Hambone smiled and took it like a man before zooming off with Grandma hanging on for dear life.

Oh no! We ran out of gas. Giving my last two gallons to a man whose tank ran dry just down the road far from a filling station, we made an emergency trip to town. Hambone took over and other than punch in my debit card pin, he did the rest.

We had a good visit with Alaska Curt who has a seasonal home a mile down the road. Curt was out for his daily stroll so we were able to share any neighborhood news. Curt said he'll be heading back home to Alaska in three weeks, but promised he'd be back this fall. I hope so. He's good people.

I'm still trying to talk Curt into hiking the AT with me next year. You know, two old bare knuckled, crusty, Alaskans, conquering the eastern part of the lower forty-eight, but so far, it's like running into a brick wall. A former Alaska Warden, the boy insists his days of sleeping on the ground are over. 

Meanwhile, back home:

Hambone's been fascinated with the powers of a magnifying glass. I furthered his interest by telling him that while taking an advanced survival course years ago, I learned that a person could start a fire using the power of the sun. A magnifying glass would work, but even a pair of glasses or the bottom of a glass jar could suffice. Now that got his interest.

With the usual warnings and cautions, a piece of toilet paper was set ablaze.

With Hambone convinced that he and Pawpaw should be on the survival show, Alone, and win $500,000 while surviving in the arctic, I thought that would be a good survival skill to teach him. Of course, it only works for a few short summer months in the arctic. Solar power's not worth a darn during the long dark days of winter.

Oops, that magnifying stand he was building turned out to be a bench. Don't ask me. I don't live in the mind of a seven year old boy, but am happy he has such an active imagination. Assembled with small nails, he was allowed to use the driver and screws to make it a bit more stable.

Finished with the assembly, Grandma Sargie thought his new bench should be painted. Choosing the right color from the shelves in the garage proved to be quite a challenge. 

In the end, camo gray with white was Hambone's choice. Fearing he'd spray more paint on his play clothes than the bench, Grandma had him strip down before beginning.

It was late in the afternoon and we were hot after the day's activities. What better way to cool off than going for a swim? We ended the day in the pond.

Though Bone was supposed to go home last night, he was given the choice from his daddy to stay another night if he wanted. 

He chose Grandma Sargie and Pawpaw's.

We'll go get another load of gravel and spread it later this morning. After that? 

Well, there're more holes to dig, a four wheeler to ride in circles in the front meadow, and a pond in which to swim. Duh.

After all, a man's work and that of Grandma Sargie and Hambone, is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Hambone and Isabella

Legos are still alive and well on Pentoga Road

July 25, 2021 - Sunday morning

55 degrees/clear skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

It's fun to watch the two munchkins play together. Though Isabella lives in Wyoming and Grady here in the UP, they've been buddies since day one.

Home from my early morning stroll, Hambone and I went for a load of gravel. There's something about a mountain of rocks that attracts a boy's attention. This one certainly did.

Our friend, Gene, arrived shortly after and loaded the trailer with two tons of pea gravel. 

We were on our way back from town when we met Sarah and Isabella who'd come out for a visit. The girls will be leaving this coming Tuesday for Wyoming after a month long visit with Grandma and Grandpa. (Mark and Sheri.)

We gabbed and laughed. Sarah's due with baby #2 in early December and we were happy to hear of the baby's progress. Sarah said the little one is already moving at her mother's expense. 

Isabella and Hambone spent the time playing with Legos.

My former student while in Alaska, Sarah will return to her developmental kindergarten teaching position in mid August and said she's already making plans for her sub to take over while she's on maternity leave.

With the girls having departed, Hambone, Grandma Sargie, and I, headed out the door and began shoveling/spreading gravel on the far side of the barn.

I'll brag, but that's my right as a grandpa. Hambone is a worker. Man, there's no holding the boy back.

We quickly fell into a routine where he and Grandma Sargie shoveled gravel into the wheelbarrow while I dumped and raked it over the heavy landscape cloth.

Only a third of the way finished, we ran out of gravel and will continue this next week after we get another load.

With work comes rewards. Hambone was soon into the scrap wood box constructing some sort of device that will hook up to magnifying glass and ??? It's an ongoing project that can only be concocted in the mind of an active seven year old.

The backhoe had to be moved to make room for new gravel, but first, there was that pile of sand in the way that I'd shoveled from the trailer the day before. 

It was time for Grady's first heavy equipment lesson.

I'm not surprised the boy did so well. He's a cinch at video games (all strictly outlawed at Grandma Sargie's and Pawpaw's house) and it wasn't long before he had the bucket and boom under his command.

I realize Pawpaw's old fashioned and stuck in his ways, but when there's a video game or phone in Hambone's hands, all we see is the top of his head. When he's playing, my little buddy becomes completely deaf and is completely oblivious to the world around him. 

I've explained to Hambone that Grandma and I love him too much to be content by merely looking at the top of his head. 

So, it's up to Pawpaw and Grandma Sargie to fill in the blanks while he's visiting. Bone's learning some simple carpentry skills, how to drive a four wheeler, operate the tractor, work up firewood, and I've promised that he can dig a hole with the backhoe later today. That doesn't include occasionally going fishing, swimming in the pond or nearby lake, water gun fights, or something as simple as picking fresh peas from the garden for a snack. 

Yep, Pawpaw's old fashioned and set in his ways, but a funny thing occurs when Hambone visits. He always seems sad to leave and is eager to return when he gets the chance. If nothing else, the boy is learning some real life skills and together, Grandma Sargie, Hambone, and I, are making memories.

Last night was a fun one spent at our park just a couple of miles away. A vocal quartet, comprised of four local women, entertained a large crowd by singing songs ranging from the 1940's to the 70's that were popular at the time, much of it in Doo Wap style.

Hambone had fun before the concert began playing in a nearby bounce house. 

The ladies were entertaining and put on a fun hour-long concert. It was hard not to sing along or get up and dance.

Back at home after, we watched two episodes of Alone on the History Channel. Hambone has it figured out that he and Pawpaw can go to the arctic and survive long enough to win the half million dollar prize. 

I hated to inform the boy that Pawpaw has already been there/done that, although I never saw a half million dollars for my effort.

I'm not certain what's on the agenda for today. I moved the backhoe to an area in back of the barn where Hambone can practice digging a hole.

Otherwise, the world's the limit. There's a backhoe to operate, a four wheeler to drive, a carpentry/building project to finish, and a pond in which to swim.

After all, everyone knows that a man and his grandson's work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

There's a cotton pickin' pea stealin' munchkin in the garden!

July 24, 2021 - Saturday morning

67 degrees/rain/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Hambone and his grandma are the main reasons I plant sugar peas. I've never seen two people who enjoy grazing in a pea patch as much as those two.

Hambone became a bit discouraged that he couldn't find any more pea pods. Grandma Sargie had a bird's eye view from the top and quickly came to the rescue.  

Hey hey, look at this rain that's falling. 

This summer's been a different one in the precipitation department. About the time it could become seriously dry, just enough rain comes through to keep the garden and lawn happy. We've had drier years, many more that have been wet, so we'll take what God gives us and be grateful.

Meanwhile, Mississippi Brother Garry says they are having a hard time turning off the water in the south while the drought continues in the west. 

Returning home from my Friday morning walk with Yooper Brother Mark, I headed to the garden and finished weeding the west side.

Other than the peppers, both jalapeno and sweet, everything looks good. The aphids destroyed most the pepper plants and the prognosis for a crop of any kind is bleak. 

I could have made a garden adult video yesterday when I assisted a giant male pumpkin blossom pollinate a female. Hopefully, the act will result in a baby giant pumpkin being formed. All that was needed yesterday was a a bit of nasally guitar music along with a slimy boom-chicka-chick background and I'd have had all the makings of an adult-only flick. 

Since this is a family website, I didn't take any pictures.... wacka-wow-wow-boom-chicka-chick... baby.

Sargie and I finished cleaning the pond with two objectives in mind:

1. trim the underwater weeds

2. scrape off the long, stringy, algae that was clogging the gravel filters and growing on everything

At a loss of what to use to trim the water plants under the surface, I grabbed one of our kiddy kayaks and with a pair of old fashioned shears in hand, paddled out and got to work.

Sargie's leaf rake, with an added four feet of PVC pipe, was used to rake in the algae and gather the water plant clippings.

Sargie wasn't idle by any means. She was either emptying the moss from the rake as I handed it to her or raking the algae from those filters that she could reach from shore.

In the end, the pond was cleaned, the water returned to crystal clear, and is as good or better than ever. 

Mission accomplished!

One other thing. There must be a thousand or more baby goldfish swimming all over the pond. No matter where you look, there's a herd of baby goldfish. (I know it's called a school, but the misuse of certain words just drives some I know up a wall. Ain't it fun?) 

I assumed we'd lose quite a few babies when they first hatched, but all have doubled in size this past week and I don't believe we've lost nary a one.

Appears the pumpkins aren't the only ones practicing adult activities in our, otherwise, benign garden. 

Sargie took off for Iron Mountain early in the afternoon. She had several items to either pick up or shop for and in the end, stopped and played with Cheeks for a while before bringing Hambone home for the weekend.

I mowed the yard while she was away. It's amazing how fast the grass grew during the week we were gone.

With the green jungle once again tamed, I turned my attentions to shoveling sand and gravel from the trailer into a low area by the barn. 

The two yards of heavy fill about did me in and I was happy to call it a day.

Today, hmm.  The rain has let up so I guess I ought to think about going for my morning stroll. I really wanted to get a load of gravel today and begin spreading it on the other side of the barn, but with the rain, I'll wait and see. Otherwise, it very well could be a movie and popcorn day.

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...

Watching American Ninja Warrior on DVR

I remember back when little Hambone was happy to snuggle with Pawpaw. Appears our little guy is growing up.

Sargie laughed as she said we both were assuming the Al Bundy positions. 

Still in velvet

A hunter's dream come true

July 23, 2021 - Friday morning

63 degrees/cloudy skies/calm winds

Pentoga Road

That big boy walked out alongside the road in front of us yesterday and stood there, STOOD THERE, daring us to take a shot.

Well, I showed him. I pulled the camera from my pocket and nailed that big ol' buck right between the eyeballs. That'll teach him to give me sass.

Thursday was a busy one on Pentoga Road playing catch up. I went for my usual early morning walk and was happy that I didn't keel over from a heart attack. I notice at this age, skipping a day or two results in my body rebelling from doing any strenuous exercise. It was kind to me yesterday and I chugged up and down the hills as usual.

The rest of the morning was spent in the garden.

Weed or water? Take your choice.

I picked the first of the cucumbers and zucchini with the promise of many more to come.

In fact, we enjoyed a young zucchini for breakfast Thursday morning.

Fried to a golden brown, it, along with eggs, cottage cheese, bacon, and fruit, made the perfect meal.

The flowering onions are at their absolute peak. Perfectly round and fully in bloom, the bees are busy collecting pollen.

There are some who shake their heads when we tell them we grow onions for their beauty. The bulbs, which we occasionally use for cooking, are simply an added bonus.

The pond needed my attention as it had grown a mega crop of algae while we were away. A lot of time was spent raking the long, stringy, stuff and getting the water quality back to where it normally is. I'll go swimming later today and trim the underwater weeds from our swimming hole. After, it should be good to go.

The rest of the day was spent digging an old tree stump from alongside the barn. It was the first test of the backhoe since being overhauled and I was thrilled that it performed like new.

The stump, a large one, is from a spruce that Andy and I cut over ten years ago. We are preparing to lay gravel on that side of the barn and though it was sawed close to the ground, the stump was something we'd be tripping over for the next umpteen years.

Talk about a challenge. At one point, after using a reciprocating (sawzall) saw to cut any stubborn roots, I employed a twelve ton jack to loosen the stump.

It took most of the afternoon, over an hour, for clean up after, but in the end, the stump was moved to the burn pile, the large hole filled, and the area raked level. Time for gravel!

I thought Hambone was coming last night to spend a day or two, but evidently, he found something better to do. I heard through the grapevine he may come tonight. 

Yooper Brother Mark is due to arrive for our usual Friday morning walk so I guess I better get this uploaded. If I can get the old Blazer started, I'd like to get a load of gravel today and begin spreading it on the far side of the barn. There're underwater weeds to trim in the pond, garden beds to clean, and then there's the cords of wood waiting to be brought in from the woods. Time to get a move on.

Sargie's day lilies in full bloom

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

So are the tales from Pentoga Road...