October 31, 2008 - Happy Halloween!

View of the day-Say it isn't so...it's not time for ice fishing yet. Marilyn spotted this at the Case dealer.

Marilyn got a break first thing since she had unloaded the truck last night. Al went out to the field and got the combine serviced, fueled and started combining even though it was a bit wet to start. Marilyn got out to the field in time to help move the cart and pickups to the next field with Mike.

After dumping a truckload back at the bins, it was decided the General wouldn't be needed at this field, so Mike led Marilyn over to the next field about 15 miles NW. She had to make a run into Jamestown for water and to check on some jackets that had been ordered...and of course, the water dispenser was at Walmart.

After finishing the last field of the day, Al brought the General home for Marilyn to dump in the morning. Good news that the other Case combine that had been having so much trouble last week was now on day four of trouble free cutting.

The acres get covered when all three machines are running...

October 30, 2008

View of the day-Unloading at the bin...one of few times Marilyn had to wait for a big 'ol semi to finish.

Yesterday Al covered 125 acres and he was at it early today to try and match that number again...however, several moves cut down on the productivity. Marilyn had to wait for a couple of semis to dump before she could get the General unloaded and go out to the field.

They finished the field they were on and moved over to another one...and another one...and yet, another one...the last one took us back across the refuge. Marilyn didn't get a lot of hauling in, but managed to get some electrical work done in the General, so the day went fairly quick...which really was a shame because it was 70° and another beautiful fall day...why does it ever have to end?

The corn is getting close to ready, although some of the stalks still look a little green...no one has started combining it yet. There were machines all around us still doing beans and the occasion field of sunflowers was combined. The weather is supposed to hold until next week, so hopefully there will be a lot of acres covered before then.

We broke with the usual and went out for supper at the bar then got back to the farm to have some fresh made Halloween cupcakes for dessert. Tomorrow is the last day of October already...

We'll be watching out for the goblins...

October 29, 2008

View of the day-A scarecrow does a good job of protecting his corn near where we were combining northeast of Pingree.

With the green one down for repairs, Al was on his own for the first part of the day. After he changed the fuel filters on the combine, getting it fueled and serviced, he started combining and was glad that the new filters solved his power problems. Marilyn didn't have to rush out to the field with the General since there was an empty semi that needed to get filled. It was another gorgeous day even though the wind did pick up a bit in the afternoon, it was pretty much a 'no jacket day'...hard to believe it's almost November.

Marilyn's first load went to the elevator in Courtnay so she could get fuel at the cardlock there. It made more sense to have a load to haul rather than just drive empty, so she got one more visit with the elevator guys. There was only room for one more load in the bins, so she was able to top it off with some help from Todd and then went back to the field to wait. She had a long wait as they worked on getting the semi loaded first so Mike could get his last load into the elevator at Rogers.

By the time the truck was full again, the auger had moved to the quonset on the farm which was only 2 miles away...a nice change from the 'long and winding road' through the refuge to the bins. After getting that load dumped, she was able to leave the General for Al to bring back to the farm when he had it filled and had quit for the night.

Back at the house, Donna had baked cookies all day and they were everywhere cooling off, so after making supper for Al and checking in with her sister in Carlyle, it was time to sample the fruits of the cooks labor.

Time to get the milk for dunking...

October 28, 2008

View of the day-Line up at the elevator. Two semis and the General wait for the auger to get set at the next bin, but with a 20 inch conveyor belt auger, it doesn't take long before we're all on our way.

We had an early breakfast at the cafe so Al could pick up the parts for the header that he had gotten welded. Back at the farm we put the parts back on the header, then blew out the air and cab filters out. Al was going to clean the radiators out and opened the door to swing out the oil cooler rads only to find out the weld had broke and they split apart at the top...the same thing that happened a few months ago. We were able to get them back into their compartment and continue on for the day.

Al went out to the field to start combining and Marilyn took the General out to the bin to dump. Marilyn got the second load to the bin and started dumping and was figuring out how much room there should be left in the bin. She was told they were 5000 bushel bins, so by her calculations there should be 4200 bushels after the General was dumped...unfortunately she was told the size in error...several times, actually...they were 4000 bushel bins and the shear pin went on the auger when the bin got full before the truck was empty...just great.

By the time she got back to the field, filled up the truck and went back to the bins again, the guys had the auger emptied and moved to the next bin and within 30 minutes she was heading back to the field. She was hopping all day and it was a beautiful day to be doing anything outside...tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer. Al just 'shut up and drove' covering his usual 85 acres, with no further breakdowns.

He was having issues with engine power, so he called around to get some new fuel filters for the combine. When he called the CaseIH dealer in Jamestown, he asked about getting warranty work on the rads, they told him he would have to pay to have them come out...WHAT?? He decided to get the filters from Carrington, so we drove up there after we shut down for the night.

There will be phone calls made tomorrow...

October 27, 2008

View of the day-A little change of color...our green cohort with his air reel.

Marilyn took Al out to the field and after he serviced and fueled, he started combining...all by himself...until around 2pm when the green machine hit the beans to help finish off the field.

Marilyn went into Jamestown to pick up a few things before going out to the next field to pick up Mike. He had moved the grain cart over from the field on the other side of the refuge where we had been working for the last week and a half. After taking him back to the other field for the semi, she went back to the farm to get the General running so she could take it back across the refuge to dump it in the bins.

Al and Todd moved the combines over to next field and started combining and with the semi still at the elevator, Marilyn got to take another load to the bins before getting the truck filled once more. It was too late to unload so she just parked the truck in the yard and quit for the day. Al made another couple of rounds before bringing the combine back to the yard so he could take of a couple of skid plates to get welded in the morning.

Sunny day, not much wind...but pretty cool...a two jacket day...

October 26, 2008

View of the day-Another ND sunset...red sky at night might be sailor's delight, but it sucks for harvesting.

What a wind! You know it has to be a strong one when Marilyn has to fight to stay standing. Throw in some cold temperatures and it was a nasty day all around.

Apparently there was snow blowing around in the early morning hours, but the wind must have been strong enough to push it straight through to the east because there wasn't a trace of it once we got out to the field around 10am. After Al did his daily "changing of the guard" on the header he started combining.

With the wind blowing like it was 35+mph, tarping the trucks was going to be a chore, luckily the General and one of the semis had been tarped the night before and were ready to go to the elevator, the other semi was a bit of a problem. There didn't seem to be a direction to park it that the wind wouldn't try to take it to Minnesota, the pipe was tethered at either end, but the wind picked up the middle and put a healthy bow in it, making any hope of getting it opened up in the field impossible. Ben had to take it to the yard where there was a barn to break the wind before finally getting it opened...and it stayed that way until the end of the day.

Marilyn had to wait for the elevator to open, so she drove the grain cart until she got the call. Once Ben got back with the semi, he took over the grain cart duties and Marilyn did most of the hauling for the day...well four loads anyway, the last load went back to the farm where they will be hauling next.

Fighting the wind on the way back to the field on the highway was something else, and at one spot a 4ft piece of trim off the hood of the General flew off against the windshield then took off into the wind. Marilyn turned the truck around and tried to find the trim, but the place it had blown off had a slough full of water in it...and now some chrome off the General. Maybe the wind took it over the water...maybe...

The John Deere had a couple of bearings go out and went back to the yard for repairs, so Al was on his own. While Marilyn went back to the farm with the General after being loaded for the last time, Al worked long enough to fill the semi then called it a night. The wind never died down at all and it is supposed to go down to 19°F tonight.

A good time to be curled up by the heater...

October 25, 2008

View of the day-Al is back at the soybeans.

We were able to get out to the field and get started by 11am which was a nice change after the last few days off. Marilyn was only able to get two loads to the elevator before they closed, so she got to take over the grain cart duties once the truck was filled for the last time.

The wind was blowing pretty hard all day and seemed to get even stronger as evening rolled around making filling the trucks with the grain cart somewhat of a challenge...rolling the tarp was even more of a task without the combine blocking the wind. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder and windy again.

Time to get the insulated jeans out...

October 24, 2008

View of the day-The way we were...and soon will be, if the weather cooperates.

A late morning and after an early lunch at the cafe, we went out to the field to do a bit of servicing. Once the tires were aired up and the windows clean, we went up and back the field to take a test.

We went into the elevator at Courtnay to get the sample tested...17.2...kinda moist for the elevator. We went into Jamestown on the way back so Marilyn could return some things to Radio Shack...it went a lot easier today than yesterday at Walmart. After some unbelievable blue light specials at Kmart...good cotton work shirts for 99 cents each...we are set for next year.

Marilyn met their landlady, Donna, in the mall and they arranged to meet for supper at the Pizza Ranch for a change of pace, then it was back to the farm. Al listened to the Terriers hockey game online, as he always does when he can't get to the games and Marilyn finished getting Donna's computer backed up.

Hopefully we will be rolling tomorrow...

October 23, 2008

View of the day-Corn at sunset...it's pretty tall, but soon they will be cutting it down to size.

Finally a day to sleep in. It was cloudy, cool so it really wasn't a drying day at all. After having coffee and getting the 'returns' organized, we left for Jamestown.

Since it was lunch and we had to return the computer power supply to a place that was right next door to a Chinese Buffet, we figured that was a pretty good place to have lunch. Returning the power supply took 3 minutes and was a very pleasant transaction...next stop was Walmart.

When Marilyn had purchased the video card, she asked no less than three times, if she would be able to return the card if it wasn't needed..."no problem, just do it within 15 days". Then she asked if it was going to be an issue that the card rang through as a flash drive..."no problem, as long as the bar code matches, it will come up at the same price". No problem, right?

First Ms. Return tells Marilyn it can't be returned because it is a memory card and they don't take back anything that can hold personal data...Marilyn explains it isn't a flash drive...just look at the huge box and what's in it...it's a graphics card and there is nothing wrong with it, it's the computer that's shot. Then the performance began...the manager was in a meeting, so Ms. Return called the electronics department...they had no idea what the return policy was for video cards...there was no way she was going to part with the $90 and get into trouble. Her cohort at the next till said she wasn't sure what the return was either but she knows you can return routers...she does it all the time.

Marilyn proceeds to explain that she knows exactly how Ms. Return feels because she works at Staples in the off season and sees a lot of the same thing and because of that Marilyn also explains that is the reason she asked three times and confirmed the till mistake before she left the store...just to make sure she had the return policy figured out. Ms. Return claims there should have been something on the receipt stating the return policy (there wasn't anything) and again, she wasn't going to get in trouble for refunding the money. Marilyn is getting a bit testy by now and tells her it is a bit ridiculous that this is such an issue because after she returns the card she is going to go purchase a new computer for Donna...the cash is staying in the store!

Finally the manager comes out...with an afro that hardly made it through the doorway...honest! That thing was at least two feet wide...talk about a tough time having a conversation...it was mesmerizing. Anyway, he confirmed everything and Marilyn got her refund while Ms. R. was still frantic about doing something wrong. Ahhh, the retail life...good times...

Al got to check out some of the machinery lots...he was worn out from yesterday's "hokey pokey"...no shopping for him, so he just took it easy in the pickup and waited. Once we got back to the farm, Marilyn started getting the computer up and running while Al went out to the field to see how the combine was doing...and to fuel and service. The rain gauge there showed only .7 inch, but the home crowd will be happy to know the Riders flag is officially off the combine and will be returned back to it's owner...the stars and stripes have made their return to the flagpole.

The rest of the day was baseball and computing...

October 22, 2008

View of the day-It's good to see the fire extinguisher comes through the fire okay. This machine was parked in the John Deere dealer in Jamestown, ND.

Al was up extra early...couldn't sleep, a combination of the three hour nap and something about snoring by someone in the room. We had about .8 inches of rain last night and there were puddles all around so combining was out...what else to do?

Al finally got to go into town to do his form of shopping...which now has a name. Marilyn noticed that he puts one foot in a store, then the other, then pretty much turns around and walks out, so now we will call Al's shopping style the "hokey pokey". So after picking up a toy from the Case store, he spent the rest of the day sitting in the pickup reading and listening to the radio...Marilyn picked up the slack, though.

While passing the electronics department in Walmart she saw one of the workers unloading a pallet with one Wii Fit left...what luck! She has been trying to get her hands on one since she had gotten her Wii, but they are as scarce as hen's teeth...you have to be lucky enough to be in the store when they get their stock of five or ten units. The bonus was that it was ten bucks cheaper than anywhere else...although the way the exchange rate has been going...

We finished getting the things we needed and went back out to the farm. Al checked his eyelids for cracks to make up for the early morning and Marilyn tried the last few things to get Donna's computer working, but it was as the folks on the emachine forum had predicted...fried motherboard, so a new computer seems to be on the horizon.

Al watched the baseball game while listening to his Terriers hockey team play by play on the radio...pretty depressing...they were up 4-0 and lost 5-4 in overtime.

But on the bright side, the weather looks good for the rest of the week...

October 21, 2008

View of the day-The full size apples in the yard made it through the hard frost...and are mighty tasty.

Al went out to the field with Mike and Marilyn went into Jamestown to pick up computer parts and lunch at Pizza Hut before returning to the field to feed everybody.

It was cloudy, cold and the rain was threatening but the guys got combining and were making pretty good time. By the time Marilyn got back out to the field it had started to sprinkle and she had to take the loaded truck into the elevator. It started raining even harder and by the time she got the truck dumped and stopped to fuel up the General, the guys back at the field had called it a day...yes, the water was running off the header....and that's the rule.

Back at the farm, it was a perfect dark and dreary day to sit by the heater, or take a nap and wait for the rain to pass...except it continued well into the night...quite a bit more that the tenth of an inch earlier predicted.

And tomorrow they are talking snow...

October 20, 2008

View of the day-The two semis and the General had to be lined up to keep the colors separated.

We both went to the cafe for breakfast for a change, then went back to the farm to get fuel and "lunch up".

Out at the field we serviced and waited for the rest of the crew to show up and get ready for another great day of harvesting. We had high hopes for the other Case combine...Marilyn was betting today was the day he was going to be trouble free and run straight through. She was out by 12 hours...he made it to one end of the field and back before the reel gave out again. He was so sick of the troubles that he just wanted to quit harvesting...period. Well...we know exactly how that feels...total frustration with something that the salesman told you was in "excellent shape, no problems at all"...riiiiight. Anyway, he took his combine home and we worked with two machines for the rest of the day.

We were parked right next to some bee hives, so it was impossible to keep the doors or windows open on the truck to enjoy the beautiful fall day. Even with the doors closed they were buzzing around looking for any way to get in to the vehicles. With a pretty good wait between loads, Marilyn hit upon a plan to keep the little "buggers" busy...she put out half a grape on the top of the open door and watched as the bees checked things out...very entertaining to watch when they weren't humming around your face.

After the first trip into the elevator, Marilyn decided to stop at the tarp shop in Courtnay to see about getting some replacement bungee cords for the tarp. This was the place that had installed the electric tarp roller about five years ago, so he knew the truck. After cutting three different lengths of cord...one too short...he installed them and when it came time to pay...Marilyn had no purse, check book or card with her. The guy had no problem waiting until the next load to get paid...what a nice guy...an it was the only other load of the day, for the General, anyway.

They finished the field just at sundown and Al headed over to the next field right across the road. As he was opening up the field he noticed a moose strolling across the field and into one of the tree strips. Marilyn had enough time to get a quick picture, but the resolution isn't great because she had to zoom in so much. The moose continued, in no particular hurry, on her way to the wildlife refuge that we were working close to. Quite a wildlife day.

Marilyn wasn't able to get another load in before the elevator closed, so after moving the General over to the new field and walking back for the pickup, she got to go back to the farm. Al got a ride home from Mike an hour later...in time for a blow out game on Monday Night Football.

They are predicting rain for tomorrow...

October 19, 2008

View of the day-Once the sun goes down, it's quitting time for some...the rocks can be dangerous in the dark.

We got to sleep in a bit...the elevators weren't going to open until noon so we had some extra time. Al cut another couple of guards to replace the ones that broke and after the lunch was made we rolled to the field.

The other Case combine was almost fixed and it looked like we might finally see a three combine day. After moving over to the new field the two Case combines got started and cut enough to fill the General so Marilyn could be on her way to the elevator. When she got back...the other Case combine had stopped again, this time one of the reel supports dropped down and the knife made short work of most of the fingers on one row.

With two semis plus the General hauling, Marilyn was able to fit in a quick trip into Jamestown to see if she could find some new guards for the header...just jobber ones of course, not the high priced ones with "CaseCorp" stamped in them. No luck on that front, but she did pick up a wireless router to get the internet closer to the TV so Al could watch the games and listen to his Terrier hockey games. She also needed a video card for our landlady, Donna's computer...she hasn't been able to go online for almost a month...don't know how she handles it!

Donna's sister and husband were visiting and brought a care package of 'pigs in a blanket'...which we at home call cabbage rolls. When Marilyn got back from Jamestown, they had packaged up lunch for everyone out at the field...working or not. After Marilyn delivered the grub to everyone, she was able to get in one more load before the elevator closed for the day. It was getting down to the wire when she finally got the truck filled...then the truck wouldn't start. After having Al explain all the techniques he uses when it won't start and trying them all...and a few more made up on the fly...Al told her to pick him up and he would see what he could do. She has been with him when he has tried to get it running before and she used all the "words" he usually does, but after driving to the far end of the field to pick him up and bring him back to the truck...it must have sat long enough...he turned the key and away it went. Good news for getting to the elevator, but bad news for the razzing she had to take...she did remind him that only two hours earlier he had called her on the radio wanting to know how to fix the thermostat in the combine...it was flashing an error message and he couldn't get it to quit...but, according to him, "that was different".

It was five minutes until closing time when she left the field and after a phone call to the elevator, they said they would stay until she got there...and they did. Once she got back to the field she was able to go home for the night and it was only an hour later that Al got a ride back to the farm...everyone had called it a day...

Even the other Case combine, who managed to get in a couple hours work...

October 18, 2008

View of the day-Al dumping "on the go" into the cart...a lot of different color machinery out there.

Another day just like the other day. Al went for breakfast on his own this morning, Marilyn had lunches to get ready before we headed out to the field.

The cart was full by the time we got out there so Al started combining and Marilyn attempted dumping the cart in to the General. A different tractor and grain cart made it a bit of a challenge...knobs in different spots that you only push halfway...not an easy job when you are in a panic. Al had to help tarp the load, but it was still smaller than the first one the farmer loaded on the General...live and learn...

Al was short 3 acres in getting his 100 acre day and Marilyn had a four load day. With two other semis running, it took a while to get a load. Although they were filling up pretty fast when the other Case combine made it back to the field after the full day of repair to the header...but it didn't last very long as the bearing went out on his chopper around 7:30pm. Al kept breaking guards on the header and they were the same two every time...and, of course they would be the ones that have the shorter arms on the top, so Marilyn had to run back to the farm to doctor up a couple of old ones with the cut off saw...the "new" ones didn't last much longer, so we will have to investigate further in the daylight.

We finished the patch around 9pm, then went back to the farm for supper, It was another beautiful fall day, combines going all around us...and moving down the road after dark with 36 ft heads on a two track trail...

Damn harvesters...

October 17, 2008

View of the day-Al putting in a good day on the soybeans.

We were up early and off to the community cafe to get an egg fix...and mighty fine eggs they were. Back at the farm, Al emptied out the slip tank of fuel into the General and headed out to the field with to get the combine ready to roll...which he did for the rest of the day, making pretty good time and getting 75 acres covered.

Marilyn got to go shopping...at the new Walmart, of course. It is a smaller version of most of the supercenters she's been in, but it was still a Walmart and that's what counts. After stocking up on groceries and stopping at several places to find a new rechargable battery for the grease gun...how convenient that it gets replaced now, when Al is driving combine and has to do the greasing. After getting everything put away back at the farm and throwing a quick snack together for the combine driver, Marilyn headed out to the field to haul some beans.

Al had been combining on his own as the John Deere was getting it's gearbox replaced before it could start combining and the other Case combine was in the process of getting a bearing replaced in the header reel. It looked like that was a major task, with a makeshift block and tackle holding the reel up so they could get at it...and it never did get to combine anything.

Marilyn helped to get the other grain trucks moved to the new field and then filled the General with the beans that were heaped on the grain cart. It was time for Marilyn to haul her first load of grain to the elevator about 10 miles away...and what nice gentlemen there...they even shoveled out the corners. She made it back in time to get one more load in before the elevator closed, then spent the rest of the evening sitting in the pickup, waiting for the two combines to fill the semi...their final goal for the night.

Tomorrow the laptop goes out to the field...

October 16, 2008

View of the day-Unloaded and getting things set up for soybeans in Pingree, North Dakota.

Well, we were up at the crack of dawn, which thankfully arrives a lot later than it used to in the summer. We left Carlyle around 8:30am and with no wind to speak of made the border an hour later.

We stopped at the Canadian side and were very happy to see our old friend working at the port. We gave him the paperwork, and once again he said "you don't need this". we told him of our experience coming through the last time and he just rolled his eyes...a couple of times according to Al. He stamped and initialed just in case and when Marilyn asked if it was okay to call the border to see who was working before we crossed, he laughed and said to call and ask for the hours of operation and that way you would figure out who was there by their voice. On to the USA side...

Marilyn pulled up to the stop sign with Al right behind her and was uncertain how to take the fact that a new officer was coming out of the building...and another new one was right behind him...just great. He looked at our passports then took the paper work Marilyn had filled out in duplicate and went in to check us out while we waited in the vehicles...still no "feeling" for what we were going to experience. He came back out with his partner and while one went and "browsed" the serial numbers the other talked to Marilyn about where we were going, and how it was obvious we had experience crossing considering the way the forms were filled out. He got Marilyn to sign both copies and then said...

Have a nice day, and walked away!!! We never even got out of the trucks...and we were there for less than 10 minutes...what a crap shoot...

So we were through and on our way to Pingree. After a pit stop in Drake, we drove straight through to the farm and got unloaded. Once Marilyn got the combine all lubed up and the windows washed...funny how the truck driver has to do the combine drivers work...we moved about 10 miles out to the field. Once out there, we got the header hooked on the combine and ran it to see how it would work. After tweaking a few things and getting the crop dividers on, it was dark and time to call it a day. While we were there, the John Deere and CaseIH combines that we would be working with each had a breakdown so they called it a day as well...the Case with a header repair and the JD with a gearbox issue.

Back at the farm, we got booked into our room then went out for supper. Marilyn had planned on going in to the Walmart Supercenter after dropping Al off at the farm, but even though it is a 24 hour store, she just didn't have the energy to enjoy it so she will get up early and get some shopping in after an early night...ah, yes...the time change again...

A pretty darn good day, and hopefully we roll tomorrow...

October 15, 2008

View of the day-Crack of dawn...really...ready to move the rigs to North Dakota.

Another day of getting last minute things looked after. We went into town to drop a few things off, then Al had to make a trip to Grayson so we had to take separate vehicles. Marilyn finally got her house in order, then had the task of packing…decisions, decisions…what to take and what to leave.

Al went to the hockey game…woo, hoo…they won for a change. Marilyn finished up the packing and Al when in to the game with the neighbour, then Marilyn picked him up after the game. After grabbing a coffee for the road, we were on our way to Carlyle and made it there just after midnight.

And that’s why it’s short and sweet…and late...

October 14, 2008

View of the day-And the day was October 17, 2001...soybeans in North Dakota...where we soon hope to be.

It rained off and on all day today so there was really nothing of note for the view of the day...except that most of the snow had been washed away.

Al did go into town to cash in his bottle collection at the recycling place...too bad they know the difference between Canadian and US pop cans, or we could be making some extra cash. They know enough to look for the french writing on the cans...a dead giveaway...and no .10 a can for us. Marilyn finally finished getting everything put back where it belongs in the house and spent the rest of the afternoon printing and cutting tickets for the theatre group's upcoming dinner and dessert theatre...and that was it for the day.

We're off to Carlyle tomorrow...after the hockey game of course...

October 13, 2008 - Happy Thanksgiving!

View of the day-The snow continues to fall for the better part of the day.

Another day of snow piling up, but we did get to see the sun later on in the day as the weather system died out. It was even warm enough to start melting so we didn't need to get the tractor in service.

Al had a busy day of NFL football, CFL football, baseball playoffs...he did manage to take a break from all the action to go into town after lunch.

We were having some light switch problems in one of our bathrooms in the house, they were getting rather worn out and you had to hold your tongue just right to get the light to stay on. Marilyn decided it was time to change out the switches so we went in to Canadian Tire to pick up some new ones...and she decided to switch out the razor plug in while she was at it. The switches went in like a dream and the hooking up of the new GFCI plug in wasn't a problem either. The trouble came when she realized the faceplate that came with the plug in was a single and the razor was a double...not only that, but there was no place to screw the cover to...the holes were all wrong and with football on TV, there was no way Al was going into town to get the right part...if there was such a thing.

Out came the dremel tool and some fancy fabricating went on and with a few zip ties, a flat bracket and some hole drilling, it looks like factory...well...let's just say that it works. At least until we get back from soybeans and get the right box put in.

And as for football, we took the flag down off the combine, but the Roughriders got their a$$es handed to them on a platter...42 to 5...

October 12, 2008

View of the day-The old farmer's almanac was right...snow in early October...our trees with a heavy load of snow.

We got up to a dreary day...no rain or snow, just dark skies that threatened for the first part of the day. The afternoon saw a change as the forecasted snowflakes started falling...and falling...and falling. There was quite an accumulation as you can see by the picture, and that was taken at about the 2/3 point of the "blizzard".

The rest of the day was was pretty laid back...Al watched football, then went into town for a few groceries...then watched some more football...and baseball...and more football. Marilyn continued unpacking and can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel...good thing too, since her back was all but healed up and she managed to go back to square one when she pulled the same muscle again. An early night with some Aleve and sleep should help...

A phone call from our farmer in Pingree told us they had 2 inches of rain over the weekend, so we will be at home for another day or two...getting organized, and...

...thank goodness there is more football on TV tomorrow...

October 11, 2008

View of the day-Trying to keep 30 helium balloons in check so Al can see to drive.

It was wedding day for Al's nephew Myron so it was an early day to get things done at home then drive 45 minutes back to Al's home town of Grayson for the festivities. Marilyn had been delegated to video tape the occasion...a job that came up on Tuesday of this week...no pressure. They had wanted some video of the guys getting ready at the house and the other usual stuff so we were to be there by noon to get started...until we got the phone call...

The groom needed some 'helium-to-go' so he gave us a call and asked us to pick some up...AT WALMART!!! There goes Marilyn's Walmart free run. She tried to convince Al to go in and pick the stuff up, but he had no idea what they wanted, but he did volunteer to go into the McDonalds in the store to pick up a quick lunch for the road. Now, bear in mind that it is Thanksgiving here in Canada, so the store is more mental than usual...he went to stand in line at the grub joint while Marilyn went in search of the helium.

Apparently, Myron had previously bought two of the three that were left on the shelf...in between time, someone else had picked up the last one...we were out of luck, and how do you break the news to somebody on the brink of "YAAARGHHH!" on their wedding day? Marilyn went to find Al in McDonalds and found his line hadn't moved, so they left to find...gas, the helium kind...and grub, somewhere else...they hoped. So...nothing was purchased at Walmart...Marilyn walked out empty handed. Technically, she didn't patronize Walmart, so...the streak is intact, right?

We went to most places where they might have the gas...no luck...they had it, but it wasn't 'to go' and since they had their special balloons, they needed to fill them on site. Either that, or you had to order a big tank at least a week in advance...and who would do that? The best we could do was find someplace that would fill 30 balloons for us pronto and get rolling to Grayson. The way the time was going, we would be lucky to make it to the church on time and Marilyn had to figure out the camera she was to use at least a few minutes before the 'show'.

Well, we made it in time and everything was beautiful, a few tears of joy were shed...the usual things that happen at a wedding. We got to catch up with a lot of friends and relatives...didn't get to dance much since Al complained about how much his shoes hurt, but it was still a wonderful wedding...but a late night. Al wanted to stay for the midnight lunch so by the time we left Grayson and got home, we were exhausted...that's the reason the blog is really late.

That, and several Coors Light and a bottle or two of table wine...

October 10, 2008

View of the day-A frosty Friday. The grass was white with frost this morning...could be whiter before the weekend is over.

Another early day as we were getting a visit from the water conditioner man...our old one tends to think the brine tank is bottomless and floods the garage when it regenerates if we are not there to pull the plug. It would be nice to have one that works on it's own...or at least properly...it had twenty good years. We will wait to get it installed until we get back for good.

More unpacking...surprise, surprise...and still not done, but we did take time off to go into town to get some items picked up...still no Walmart. It's kind of like quitting smoking...you think you've made it a month, what's another day...or week. Actually Marilyn figures if she has to get into a Walmart, the first time back will be a good one...no small town stuff for her...there's a brand new Supercenter Walmart that just opened in Jamestown, ND...what a perfect way to break the fast.

We stopped in at Staples to get some copying done and everyone was glad to see us back...and they wondered if Marilyn can start back at work today. Al said she is not getting this fall harvest off like she did the last couple of years...and she doesn't want it off. During the fall harvest Al does the combining and Marilyn gets to haul the beans...ah, the life of a trucker...now she can sit on the tailgate of the pickup watching the geese fly by...maybe take a nap in the fall sun...oh, it will be great. Al will be slaving away in the combine, switching between his XM radio for the baseball playoffs and hockey, and the Sirius radio for football...wait a minute...that doesn't sound like hard work either. No terraces, no hills, no rocks, no cart driver puddling along picking you up on the go...that's just not right. Shut up and drive.

Al went in to see his Terriers hockey team lose again...and against their highway 10 rivals the Melville Millionaires...oh, the shame of it...socks need to be pulled up. Marilyn worked on the computer most of the evening, never turning around to see the bags of stuff multiplying...but she checked in with Donna's Bed, Breakfast and Cat Emporium in Pingree where they will be staying. Donna said it was raining out and it was expected to do the same all weekend, so we might have an extra day reprieve to get the last of the stuff put away before heading south. They aren't supposed to get the snow we are...yes...snow...the weather band said we are in a 'winter weather watch' this weekend. Hopefully we won't get the 9 inches that Deadwood, SD got.

And tomorrow is Al's nephews wedding in Grayson...

October 9, 2008

View of the day-The flex head has been sitting in the barn too long, someone took up residence but it looks like they have moved out for the season.

Another early day with lots to do. We left town around 8am and after grabbing a quick McMuffin, we headed out to get the combine. We saw the farmer where we had the combine parked was out in the field, so Al had to stop and have a long chat with him, putting us slightly behind schedule…not that we had a tight schedule. Once the General was aired up we left for Carlyle.

It was an uneventful drive, with no stopping until we got to the yard. We timed it just right getting there just as Kim was building lunch for him and Marg. After we had filled the furnace we went out to get the flex header out of storage where it had been for the last three years. Once we had it moved out we swapped it out with the straight header, putting it back in the barn where the flex had been. Al drove the rig into the back pasture where we would be unloading and cut a little to close to a pile of gravel Kim had to fill the potholes in the yard and ended up carving a corner off it, then driving over it with the combine trailer. There was a one foot high bead of gravel neatly piled the length of the trailer so he parked along one of the potholes and we made like highway workers and shovelled it off the trailer into the puddle…and Marilyn pulled something in her back…just like a highway worker.

We had to unload the combine and drop the pickup head off out in the pasture for the winter, then Al took a leaking brake pot off the General, then went into town to get a new one. Marilyn got the hot water pressure washer out and gave the combine a swish, making it look like new…except for the shield that she had driven over. Al had taken the shield out to his brother’s press to straighten it out but hadn’t used anything flat between the press head and the shield, so it looked like he had used a sledge hammer to doctor it up…it still looks better than it did after the crunch.

After Al had the General back together, we started in changing the small wire concaves out for the wide wire ones we would need for the soybeans. There are three of them in pretty tight quarters and they weigh just under a ton each…or at least it feels like that much…not only that, they are kind of clumsy to get out of the machine. We have changed them out annually so we have it down to a science. Nephew Gordie was helping out, holding the bucket of bolts and passing the tools…and listening to the ‘well oiled machine’ cursing at each other. We got them in without any bloodshed, then loaded the combine back on the trailer and parked it where it will sit until we head for Pingree, North Dakota for the bean harvest.

We all went out for supper before heading back home to Yorkton with Al driving and Marilyn trying to get the blog done early for a change.

All that fresh air has made us sleepy…

October 8, 2008

View of the day-The camper, shop, tractor and Freight are tucked away for the winter...well, maybe not the tractor...snow's coming.

Al was up before the sun...well, it would have been the sun if it hadn't been cloudy...and windy...with rain off and on all day. He was on the road to Esterhazy and Grayson to get settled up and pick up the latest batch of mail.

Marilyn was back at the same old job...cleaning and winterizing the camper...and unpacking...forever unpacking. The camper looked so good after the scrub down that she just wanted to stay in it and never face the mountains of stuff yet to be put away in the house. Unfortunately, while scrubbing one of the fancy mirrors in the camper, she got a little ambitious and put a couple of cracks in it...bad luck for a few years?

Al got back from his junket and we did some rearranging to find space to park everything for the winter. We don't have a lot of room in our yard, it is mostly trees, so things have to be strategically parked in order for them to fit. Once we had things where they belonged, we officially removed the 5th wheel hitch from the back of the truck and put it away for the season.

Al went in to see his Terriers play hockey...or rather skate around...it wasn't good, they lost 5-2. Marilyn continued on, putting things away until she could stand it no more. How did all this stuff fit in the camper? It must multiply during the night...

Tomorrow we move the combine to Carlyle...

October 7, 2008

View of the day-Tools catching a few fall rays, waiting for work.

Al was up early to take the pickup in for a new muffler and to kill several hours in town so he could avoid having to do any unpacking/putting away jobs.

Marilyn spend an exhausting day getting everything out of the camper and into the house...a job which started out nice and orderly, but eventually fell apart as the goal was to just get it emptied and not worry about putting things away as they came in the house...not a pretty site...good exercise though, dodging the boxes, baskets and bags of 'stuff'.

Al got the oil changed on the pickup and then did help get the last 30 bags out of the camper and by then he got to sit in his recliner in an empty camper and check his eyelids for cracks...since his favorite nap spot was covered with...well...stuff. Marilyn decided to get the satellite dishes aimed and set up before it got cold. It took a little longer than usual because there were two dishes to aim on opposite ends of the house...a coaxial nightmare. Good thing she was smart enough to make a road map of the hookups for three receivers and a dvd player all going into one TV...now there's no jacks left to hook up the Wii.

Al went into town in the evening to watch a hockey game and Marilyn continued on unpacking until it was time for a conference call that killed an hour and a half. And as usual things got left until the last minute...an annual report, a newsletter and of course the blog has to be written before going to bed.

If it can be found in this obstacle course...

October 6, 2008

View of the day-The tractor dressed for the winter waits for the snow to fall...which is supposed to happen this weekend according to the forecast...but what do they know?

We were up early, after a great night's sleep back in our own bed. It was kind of weird waking up during the night,being half asleep and expecting to be in the camper...it was almost as cold...don't want to turn the furnace on too early. It had rained a lot during the night and was cool, windy and overcast for most of the day...which turned into a misting rain in the evening.

We decided to go and vote at the advance polls for next Monday's federal general election, but we got there too early so we had to wait until after lunch to do our civic duty. It's nice we only have to put up with the campaining for five weeks as compared to the three years...or so it seems...to our south. After we voted we did a bit of shopping...winterizing stuff for the vehicles and camper, then Marilyn took Al out to the tractor so he could bring it back to the farm and get the dozer put on for all the snow pushing he will have to do this winter.

Marilyn got to work on getting the camper unloaded, but first and foremost was getting the high speed internet hooked back up...what a performance that was...and it still isn't right. For some reason, the wireless router will not hook the other computers up to the internet...not even when they are hard wired directly. So having the wireless on the laptop is useless at this point since only one computer can be hooked up at a time to the modem. It was one of those things that you work at for four hours, then walk away from...to find a hammer. But at least she doesn't have to drive into town to do the blog tonight.

Marilyn had a meeting for the theatre group in town and Al was pumped to watch his Monday Night Football, but a phone call at half time took him away from the rest of the game...and he said it was a good one.

More bad news on the financial front...and is it any wonder?? Marilyn hasn't been in a WalMart since Sept.1...

October 5, 2008

View of the day-Ready to drop seeds…these sounded like maracas when the wind was blowing…

A big day today…loading and moving, with a big change in the weather…gone are the warm sunny days, they have been replaced by a cool overcast windy day.

We had started to get the combine loaded when we felt the first few sprinkles…nothing serious. We moved it to a farmer friends yard about 20 miles south east, on the #9 highway so it was handier for our move to Carlyle later in the week. We ran into the farmer at the coffee shop on the way back to the camper and had an extended gab before heading back to get the tractor and cart loaded.

We had gotten the tractor loaded and tied down when the skies let loose and we got a terrific soaking. It was short lived and with soaked clothes, we headed north of Saltcoats to the winter spot for the cart and trailer. Marilyn drove ahead pulling the shop trailer and we made it to the farmer’s yard and started to unload, when the rain started up again…oh well, we couldn’t get any wetter at this point. Once everything was unhooked and parked, Al took the Freightliner and Marilyn, the shop and we drove back to our house north of Yorkton to park both items before heading back to Esterhazy for the camper.

We got back to Esterhazy in time to go out for Chinese buffet with our camping landlord/farmer then got back to the yard to get the camper closed up for the trip back to Yorkton…in the dark…and in the rain. It was only misting this time, but the wind was howling making it a bit unpleasant to get things done. Once we had everything flanged in, Al drove the car and Marilyn, the camper, back home…our real home.

It rained all the way home and the last three miles of gravel…wet gravel…made a mess of the camper, but hopefully it rains some more to wash it off. It could wait until we get it unpacked…a chore and a half. After parking it on the lawn and getting the most needed stuff unloaded, we decided to leave the rest of the unpacking for tomorrow.

And now there is no internet…well, there is **&^%ing dialup…so painfully slow…can’t get anything uploaded…it hurts.

Looks like a road trip back into town is in order…nay…a necessity…

October 4, 2008

View of the day-The Freightliner comes out of retirement to dump the last load of the year.

Al was up extra early...he couldn't sleep, so he went out to unload the grain from everything. Marilyn got out to the field at 10am and started combining on the last 30 acres of canola. We had the wind blowing pretty hard today and the trees must have decided since the harvest was over, it was time to give up the ghost and just let their leaves fly...the show was over.

Al was hoping the bin would hold everything that was left, but no such luck...he had to wait for the farmer to get another bin ready at another site...then it was official...the 2008 Canadian harvest was over for us. Don't worry Dyson, there's plenty of blogging yet to come.

We got the combine, tractor and grain cart moved back to the yard where the camper and shop trailer were parked and Marilyn started cleaning the combine. After how many years of doing the same job, and making sure all the shields were back in place after cleaning the chaff out of all the hidey-holes, who would have thought she would miss one? Yep, tucked behind one of the big tires was a shield on a leash...which now has no leash...and needs major reconstructive surgery.

We met the crew from out east, Al's brother Jeff and his bunch for steaks at the Gerald bar. They had finished yesterday and the meal was a great way to get some visiting in to celebrate the end of the harvest for both of us.

Tomorrow we will be loading up again and getting things moved around. The Freightliner and grain cart will be parked for the winter, the combine loaded and ready to move to North Dakota for the soybean harvest and the camper will get unloaded...that's the biggie...it's surprising how much it holds.

Al found where that flying saucer from the other day landed...not far from the camper, at 'Area 22' along the 22 highway, and it brought a friend...

No reports of abductions or mutilations...except for the skunk on the highway...

October 3, 2008

View of the day-The good old days...this tractor is in retirement, watching the world go by.

How many ways can we describe the beautiful days we have been having...the warmth, the colors, the harvesting...just perfect.

Al got a ride out to the field with the farmer to get the auger moved and Marilyn got lunch ready then serviced and started combining by 10:30am. We got the first field finished then moved over to the last 90 acres we have to do in Canada...kind of bittersweet with the weather being what it is.

And speaking of weather...we are constantly watching the weather channels and have a couple of weather bugs on the computer...one from the US weather channel and one from a Canadian source. It was interesting to compare them this week, with the US one predicting rain on the weekend...60% chance on Sunday and Monday, while the Canadian one said clear sailing straight through to next weekend (Oct 11). We were wondering how they could be so far apart in their forecasting...the Canadian one did come up to 10% for Sunday in it's forecast, but still...we'll be watching...

About mid-day, Marilyn thought she heard a strange sound coming from the header so Al jumped in the combine to see if he could pinpoint it. Marilyn heard what sounded like metal ticking...something hitting somewhere, and Al heard a squeaking...perhaps a bearing, he thought. This wasn't going well. Upon further investigation it turned out to be a large eyebolt that adjusts the big auger in the pickup header...it had broken off flush with the adjusting nut.

We had no shop...it was back at the camper...so we had to "McGyver" a fix. We found an extra nut and screwed the two halves in so that the break was in the middle and it worked like a charm for the rest of the day.

We lost an hour with the fixing, but even so, Marilyn was able to get another 100+ acre day. Al left with the loaded General around 9:00pm and Marilyn kept on going until the grain cart and combine were full leaving around 30 acres for tomorrow. Al wanted to get in to watch the Saskatchewan Roughrider's play football on TV. They haven't been doing too good the last few games and we figured it was because Marilyn had been flying a Roughriders flag...that's when the down hill slide started. There were two phone calls and one call on the radio before the game requesting the flag be pulled, or at the very least put at half mast on the combine ladder. Marilyn left it up until half time and when it seemed like they were starting to lose their lead...it came out of the holder an into the cab...and they won. Coincidence? Perhaps.

We finally got to see the moon for about half an hour...a little sliver of a thing seemed to pop up then sink out of sight leaving it black again...

It sure made the northern lights stand out...

October 2, 2008

View of the day-Dusk at Esterhazy...on the way to yet another moonless night.

Do these great days ever end? Another perfect day for harvesting...combining by 10am and going non-stop all day.

Once Al had the auger set up he was able to get both bins full just around sunset and since he had to move it to another yard, we just filled the truck and cart to finish off the day. Finally a 100+ acre day and after dropping the grain truck off at the yard, we called it a night.

It won't be long now...

October 1, 2008

View of the day-Al at the "bin" unloading the General.

The fabulous fall days don't seem to be ending and today was no exception. The only thing we missed was the wind...even a breeze would have made things at the 'bin' a little less dusty for Al.

We continued combining on the wheat, with Al running cartloads back to the pile which meant he didn't have a day of moving the auger...well, actually he did have to move it to the pile first thing in the morning.

Marilyn got to take some pictures while Al was taking a turn in the combine and found something interesting in six of the pictures. She always shoots in burst mode, taking three quick shots at a time...just in case the first one turns out bad. While reviewing the pictures of the day, two sets of three pictures had a small pink spot in the sky...all the rest taken from the same angle had nothing...very strange...see what you think...and the lens was clean. The bugs were like those tiny no-see-ums, it's kind of neat they look so big in the picture.

We finished the wheat around 7pm and after getting everything dumped into the pile, moved over to a canola field half a mile away. Al drove the combine and Marilyn followed in the pickup as he combined his way over to the bins...real ones...in the field. Now, this is a field we have never been in, it was dark and there was no wind making following the combine almost impossible...the dust would not clear, so Marilyn would wait a bit, then drive along the swath and hope she didn't end up in a slough. Al had no idea where the bin was so it was the blind leading the blind, until he called the farmer for directions and we finally made our destination.

We went back to get the General, then returned for the cart and after six trips figured out where we were going to be starting in the morning. Once everything but the auger was at the new field, we called it a day and headed back to the camper.

We are wondering where the moon has gone to these past weeks...it is blacker than the inside of a whale out there at night...