March 1, 2011

View of the day-Most of the fleet is looking for warmer weather and now that March has come in like a lion, there is no where to go but up.

We have been trying to get time to update the blog and the longer we wait, the more there is to tell and it just snowballs, so we will just sneak up on it an soon enough we will be caught up.

We are on our way to Grand Island, Nebraska to take in the US Custom Harvesters Annual Convention, so there should be lots to see and stories to tell. After working all day yesterday at our respective jobs, we drove to Carlyle and spent the night there, then got an early start for our next destination of Jamestown, ND.

We had to stop in Kenmare to load the JAKz cargo trailer with toys...and tires...that had been delivered to our 'drop off' point at the John Deere dealership. We dropped the trailer at Carpio to leave it until our return trip...no sense in hauling it all those extra miles...then stopped in Minot for lunch. Marilyn had to do some shoe shopping...Al likes to call her 'Imelda', so if the shoe fits...better buy them.

We continued on, hoping for warmer weather...something warmer than -30ºC, or if it has to be that cold, eliminating the wind would make it tolerable. No luck...just as cold and windy down here and it doesn't look like there will be any relief for a while.

Shut up and drive...

Custom Harvesters Video

In 2007 the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters celebrated their 25th anniversary. Al and Marilyn wrote and performed a play for the entertainment and it included this tribute to the custom harvester. Since the song was such a hit, Marilyn put a video together including pictures from the members of the association. It is time to share it with the world!

Canadian Wheat Board

November 4, 2010

View of the day-Al and the Big Bud that is on display at Independence, Iowa...he's not so big now.


Well, we managed to catch two mice the very night we set the trap line...and we haven't seen any sign of any more for over a week, so we hope that is the end of them.


Al had a successful toy show in Regina and had help from one of his best customers, Roger, from Lipton. Al came home every night...about 100 miles one way...and picked up/dropped off Roger on the way through, which did add a few more miles. But it was worth it because he really needed the help.

Marilyn was busy at the theatre learning the ropes for Macbeth...literally, because she was on curtain duty for all four performances. It was a hectic week with the play and being back at work...a lot had changed, and what hadn't, needed to be remembered...and that seems to be getting harder all the time.

We had a nasty snow storm on Marilyn's first day back at work...an omen, perhaps? It was a bad couple of days around town because it was just cold enough for the snow to stay, but it was so heavy and wet that first the slush came then it froze making it tough for the low vehicles to get around. And being as it was only November, the Dept. of Highways didn't seem to be prepared and there were a lot of accidents due to the fact that they left so much slush on and only used a teaspoon to spread the sand and salt so it wouldn't be slippery.

It was a good thing Al had the dozer blade on the tractor because he had to push the three and a half miles out to the highway and back...twice...to make it passable. Apparently we are on the wrong end of the Municipality to get road service. The snow was starting to disappear as we got ready for our next big excursion south, and hopefully it is completely gone when we get home.

We left early Monday morning for our week long swing through the USA to pick up our new camper from the factory and take in the National Farm Toy Show. We drove almost 900 miles the first day and made it to Madison, Wisconsin, then got up early to go the last 500 miles to Elkhart, Indiana. It was nice having four lane Interstate highways most of the way, but we were a bit leery about having to drive through Chicago.

We had asked around and were told the best times to go through the city to avoid rush hour traffic. We figured we would kill a couple of hours somewhere north of the city until it had slowed down, but then we thought...even if we have to wait in traffic we still have those two hours to get through town. So we through caution to the wind and started on our way...at 5pm.



Marilyn had her small GPS all programmed, but the last time we had gone to Dyersville through Minneapolis, it had missed a turn on a new highway and took us right through the centre of the city instead of around it. Although she had updated the map, she still brought the GPS for the laptop and had both of them running as Al drove through Chicago. We made it with no wrong turns, but we are both certain that long haul trucking or RV hauling will not be in either of our futures. Neither of us can figure what the draw is to live in such a huge city and spend all your time driving to and from work...amongst such crazy drivers...who knew 45mph limits mean you can drive 65mph?

Unfortunately, Marilyn had to stay focused on the GPS so there was no photo opportunities...very painful for her...and by the time we got through town, it was dark, so we didn't get to see much of anything. We did make it to Elkhart in one piece and had a good nights rest before going to pick up the camper in the morning.

We stopped at the dealership and they took us over to get a tour of the camper that was getting it's final run through to make sure everything was in working order and to show us how to run all the new fangled things that we had ordered. We also toured the factory where they were built...not nearly as thorough as the CaseIH plant, but very interesting, none the less. It was nice to see how they are built from the frame up and it gave us confidence that we had chosen the right brand.

We got hooked up and started back the 340 miles to Dyersville for the toy show, but this time we decided to avoid Chicago all together, even though it meant an extra 30 miles. We did hit rush hour traffic again, but it was no where near as bad as the day before...except for the detour that took some doing to get around so we could get back on the Interstate. It was dark by the time we had to cover the last 50 miles and it was probably a good thing because that road coming into Dubuque, Iowa was full of rolling hills and hair pin curves. Maybe one day we will see it in the daylight...and wonder how the heck we made it pulling a camper. It was good to finally get to the hotel and unwind for a few days.

Today we got over to Dyersville early and were given permission to unhook the camper in the parking lot at the Pamida store. That worked out great because it is right next to the school where the show is being held and the guys can load it up with all their toy purchases. After browsing around the antique store and trying to find some early bargains, we drove 30 miles west to Independence to see the Big Bud that was on display at the museum.

Al's brother Jeff, his neighbor Joey and Roger, Al's toy show helper, had come down for the show and we met them at the restaurant before going over to the museum. After a couple of hours looking around, we started back to Dyersville stopping in Lamont so the guys could pick up a load of toys they had ordered...enough boxes to fill the back seat of the Dodge...AND the box!

We got back to Dyersville in time to unload everything into the camper before the guys took off to the toy auction that was just starting. Marilyn went to give the Pamida store a bit of business for parking in the lot, then headed back to the hotel in Dubuque.

Tomorrow is the big day with some factory tours, LOTS of shopping in the different buildings around town they have set up with vendors, then getting the early bird pass so we can get on the floor at 2pm for an early peek before it is opened to the public at 6pm.

Better tighten up the laces...

October 24, 2010

View of the week-Yes, it's come to that...weekly. Al is getting the holes lined up to get the dozer blade on the tractor...it's now ready for it's winter job.

We have been going hot and heavy, trying to get everything cleaned up and put away for the season. Marilyn has been slaving away in the camper, getting everything moved into the house and getting it winterized and spotless for the new owner...whoever that might be.

Al decided to get the snowblower working before we got a dumping of the white stuff...a novel idea. A belt had broken, so we had to split the machine to get to it, and after finding the right one in town, we got it back together and it works like new. Bring it on, Mother Nature!

Al got to work for a day driving a pilot truck for Kardynal Transport, who he had driven truck for a couple of winters ago. They were moving a New Holland tank and drill from Saskatoon to Swan River, MB. They had to stop in Elfros for the night because it got dark and Al took the last leg of the journey from Elfros to Swan River...about 190 miles one way...top speed of 30 mph.

Marilyn has been recruited to help out with the production of Macbeth that is being performed Halloween weekend and is trying to get up to speed with a play she has not even seen at rehearsal...that makes it interesting to figure out where she has to move things. She will be back working at Staples for a few days, filling in at the last minute for a co-worker...got to get back into it slowly, before going back full time Nov. 8.

Al just found out about a toy show in Regina, so he decided to get a few tables to try to make some extra cash for our trip to Dyersville, IA for the National Farm Toy Show coming up the first week in November. He had to get the cargo trailer of toys out of storage at his brother Jeff's place so he could reorganize it for the upcoming toy show season. They are even thinking about having an auction before the Yorkton Toy Show, so he will be busy getting that up and running.

It is now eight years that we have been living in this house and it is the first time we have ever had a mouse in the house...must be the season for them what with Al trapping 12 of them in the General and two in the Freightliner. Marilyn was in the laundry room when one went scampering by...they have no fear the little buggers...two minutes later in the kitchen, he was making a return run back into the laundry room. He ran along the wall and took the corner so fast on the lino floor, he was just pealing out...right out of the cartoons...before hightailing it down the heat register. About a half hour later he was out making the rounds again, so we brought a couple of traps in and set them along his run.

While Al was watching his Sunday NFL games, he notice the little bugger on the top of one of the 3ft vases Marilyn had made that were filled with layers of combined grain from different states. Marilyn went in for a closer inspection and discovered that he had chewed a hole in the plastic cover and had lifted the first divider...and was actually enjoying the flax underneath it. He took off in a hurry and we changed the trap line so it would be on his run under the fireplace...when he came out he was running all over the trap, but smart enough to miss tripping it. We put saucers on top of the vases, and while we were in there with the lights and TV on, he was up there trying to get back in to the flax. Needless to say, the rest of the traps have come in out of the trucks...we will be waiting for the SNAP tonight.

We couldn't get close enough to mark it, so we hope there is only one...

October 17, 2010

View of the day-On our trip home, we saw this poor old girl...looks like she couldn't make it to the slough to get the fire put out...RIP.

A day late, but there was no way Marilyn was going to deal with the dial-up internet again...she doesn't mind the looong wait for things to load, it's the error message that comes up after the wait that is irritating. Not to worry, we are back on the high speed so it is update time.

We were up early to get more unpacking and rearranging of the yard done while we waited for Brenda, Marilyn's friend from Staples, to give us a ride back to Esterhazy so we could bring the tractor/cart and combine back to our yard. Once she showed up we went to the Parkland Greenhouse for Sunday Brunch...the best brunch in all our travels...then we hit the road.

When we got to Eugene's yard, we got the rigs started and waited for them to warm up...the tractor has battery issues, so a boost was in order. Brenda took the Dodge back to Yorkton, going on the highway...it seems she didn't want to follow us at 18mph for some reason...and we started back going on the gravel.

It was a long trek, but we figured by the time we got everything loaded on the trailers and moved up, then had to find someplace to unload...since our yard isn't that big...it was easier to just road them. And what a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than taking a 'leisurely' drive through the country?

On the trip we only saw one field being combined and there were five or six machines making dust, so it was sure to be finished quickly...although the 4WD tractor sitting on stand by meant that it would not be all smooth sailing...been there. It took about two hours and 45 minutes to get back to our yard and once Marilyn had the combine parked in 'the shop', she went back to unloading the camper, while Al worked on getting the cameras off the cart so he could park it for the winter.

But of course, Marilyn had to get the dish set up so he could watch football...

October 16, 2010

View of the day-The combine done for the year…nice and shiny.

We were up early with the intention of finishing off the combine cleaning, but the temperature was 35ºF and the wind was nasty strong out of the NW. We tried to get a few other things done while we waited for it to warm up.

While Al went to town to do a few errands and pick up a sub for lunch, Marilyn decided to bite the bullet and start washing the combine. It took a while and when Al got back, he helped finish it off, then Marilyn got started getting the camper battened down for the last trip home.

Once the camper was ready, we attempted to start the Freightliner so we could hook up the cart trailer and take it to it’s winter storage field. The block heater didn’t seem to be working, so we had to pump the ether to it and give it a boost, but it finally ran…no one wanted to work in this cold weather. While it and the General were airing up, we got the Dodge hooked up to the camper, then headed for the trailers that were left in the field where we unloaded.

Marilyn drove the General out since we had to use the hydraulics on it to lift the trailer…usually the tractor does the lifting. By the time Marilyn got to the field, Al was having a chin wag with Glen from Whitewood, who had stopped by to see how we were making out. Once the trailer was hooked up, Marilyn drove the General back to the yard, parked it then started off for home with the camper.

Al got the trailer unhooked out at his friend’s farm near Saltcoats…where we have been parking stuff for the past few years. We got back to the farm at about the same time…from different directions, and after Al got the Freight backed into its winter spot, we got the camper parked in the unload station, ready for Marilyn to go to work.

Al got cleaned up and Marilyn got half the camper emptied out, then we took a break to go for steaks at the rink before the hockey game that Al was going to attend. Marilyn left Al at the game and came back home to get some more unpacking done. Fortunately our neighbour lady, Darlene, works at the concession at the rink and regularly gives Al a ride back from the games.

And now the battle with dial-up begins…

October 15, 2010

View of the day-Picking up the last swath of the season.

Yes, that's right, today was the last day of harvesting for 2010...six weeks ahead of last year.

We were combining before 10am and because we only had a few scattered acres to get done, we were finished before noon. Marilyn drove the combine over to the 'campground' to start the cleaning process and Al went to get the header trailer so we could load the pickup head so it would be easier to clean.

There was a good wind blowing so we got the stuff situated where we could take advantage of it, blowing off the chaff and straw. Marilyn started washing the pickup head while Al got to blow off the combine to get it ready for a swish. Marilyn was also able to get the tractor and grain cart cleaned, inside and out, before getting the combine into the wash bay next to the camper.

Al went on a road trip to visit a friend while Marilyn kept on cleaning until the pressure washer ran out of gas. She filled it up and apparently flooded it because no amount of pulling would start it, so she switched over to the garden hose with a spray nozzle...which actually works better to clean out the hopper.

Al got back and managed to get the pressure washer started so Marilyn could continue on with the washing. He worked on getting the tow strap off the chain on the back of the combine...it took a hammer, pry bar and lots of patience, but he finally got it loose and took the chain off. We wouldn't be needing it again this year...for that, anyway.

It got dark before we could finish the combine, but we have plenty of time for cleaning in the morning since Al wants AIS by 2pm...that's the Freightliner, empty cart trailer and camper going on the first trip. Sunday we will road the combine and tractor/grain cart home to Yorkton...the General and trailer will make it another day...no rush there, either.

Climbing up and down the ladders, crawling in and out of the grain cart, and fighting the pressure washer, Marilyn is pretty sure there will be some aching muscles tomorrow...better load up on the Aleve before hitting the sack.

We hope you enjoy the video of 'On The Combine' by High Valley. Visit their site and share the video...

Just have to share! High Valley - On the Combine (Official Music Video)

October 14, 2010

View of the day-The combine waits across the great divide for a productive day.

Back to work...that's right, we didn't get stuck today.

Al went out first thing to survey the other side of the field to see if there was a way he could load the General closer to the bins. After finding a flat enough spot to take the cart across, we got everything set into position, serviced the combine and started making dust.

Marilyn made a point of leaving one swath around all the sloughs so there was no chance of any surprises and that resulted in a successful day of combining. About mid afternoon, Marilyn noticed that the chaff she was leaving looked suspiciously like it did in Texas when the spreader had dropped off. She stopped to check out the back of the combine and both spreaders were on and turning, so she continued on until Al made it back to the field. When he checked out the back of the moving combine he could see that now, the right spreader was not turning and there was a pile of chaff riding on it, so Marilyn pulled over to check it out.

After taking the shields off, we discovered that the top of the spreader hex shaft had rounded off, so the gear was spinning freely on the end instead of turning the shaft and spreader...so we ended up running with only one spreader for the rest of the day. Al called to see if he could get the parts so we could replace them tomorrow and found out the only place that had them was in the USA...guess we wait.

We were getting close to seeing the end of the field...we think...but as the sun and the wind went down, it was getting a lot harder to find a swath that didn't have swather ruts on either side. Al decided to fill the General and call it a night...we should easily finish tomorrow.

And then the final cleaning starts...

October 13, 2010

View of the day-First sight out at the field...the rut has filled with water.

We were at the combine early and Eugene's neighbor, Ken Patrick, showed up with his STX around 8:30am. Once the straps were hooked up, Marilyn jumped in the combine and with one big pull, the combine came out of it's predicament. The backhoe was still at the field, so he went to work filling the holes back in.

We went back to the camper, Al took the General over to get it unloaded and Marilyn made breakfast and through some lunch together...high hopes for a good day now that the combine was out of the soup.

We were able to get started combining around 10am, the straw was still a bit chewy and Marilyn was still nervous after yesterday's fiasco, so Al took over combining and Marilyn ran the tractor and cart until the General was loaded.

We were working on the second truck load and things were going great...we had two hours of combining done and Marilyn was dumping every 100 bushels to make sure there wasn't a repeat of yesterday. She had just finished unloading and made it about 50 ft along one swath when...it happened again...with an empty hopper.

This time it dropped on the other side and the back wheel went down, too. Al made a call to Dale and he figured the truck driver would be able to see the sloughs in the daylight, so he said we could use the Steiger again to pull out the combine...or try to, at least. We drove over to pick it up and Al drove it back to the field and hooked up to the combine and we started pulling...and got the Steiger stuck.

We couldn't pull the combine out and the Steiger had dug down deep enough that the strap was tight and we couldn't get the pin out to set it free. Marilyn got Al to try and back up the tractor just enough that we could get some slack to get the pin out...and that worked. Once the tractor was set free from the strap, it was able to walk right out of the holes it had dug for itself. Back to Plan B.

Eugene called to get the backhoe out again and he was told they were doing some work at the mine and would be out as soon as they could get one free. They showed up around 1:30pm and went to work digging out the gumbo that had oozed up all around the tires. Once that was done, we hooked up to the Steiger again, trying to get far enough away that there was solid footing to pull the combine to. This time the Steiger was enough to get the combine out and the job of chiseling off the mud from underneath and around the tires had to start.

We had left the chain looped through the hook holes on the back of the combine and it had sunk so low, we couldn't get the hooks slacked off enough, so we just looped the tow strap around the chain...but not in half like yesterday...Marilyn threaded it back through the loop so we could have a longer reach. Not a good idea...it was pretty much fused in the loop, so we just wrapped the whole strap around the tool box step and wired it on...just in case.

The backhoe started to fill in the ruts we had made...then he got stuck in the slough. It was a good thing the Steiger was still there and was able to pull him out. Al was feeling confident enough to take the tractor back to Dale and Marilyn was going to avoid any more sloughs at all costs.

We were able to continue combining until the sun went down, which was the plan since we didn't want to be surprised in the dark...also, Al wanted to go to Yorkton to see the Terriers play hockey. By the time he got the General unloaded and got cleaned up, Marilyn was finished filling the cart and was done for the night. Al was somewhat disgusted with the hockey game, so he left during the second period...the score was 6-0 and not for the Terriers.

The good news is tomorrow can't be any worse...or are we tempting fate...

October 12, 2010

View of the day-The swatherman must have had quite a time of it as there were a lot of swaths that looked like this. It was dried up enough to get over...once, at least.

Al was up early to go get fuel for the tractor and to unload the General, then he serviced the combined and started making dust. Marilyn went into town to run some errands before coming back and taking over the combining.

The day was fairly productive...relatively speaking...we did have to pussy foot around some of the soft spots and it was going good, Marilyn did have to lift up in some spots, but she did manage to get most of the swaths. Al was in the the cart, picking up from the combine every 150 bushels, which helped out quite a bit.

As we got closer to the highway the ground was unpredictable...there would be deep ruts that we could drive through and the next time it was flat as a pancake and you could feel the combine starting to sink...but it never did...for the longest time, at least.

Around 5pm, Al came out and waited with the cart until Marilyn had just about finished the last few swaths by the highway. After picking up the load from the combine, he drove away and was glad he hadn't waited for the last couple of swaths because the ground felt spongy as he drove to the fence line to get back to the General at the other end of the field. Marilyn had avoided making sharp turns because the tires would start to carve out the soft ground, so when she was on the straight away to those last swaths...probably over the very spot Al had softened up on his way to the fence...the left big wheel just sank. There was no easy out for this one...it dug straight down.

Al came back with the grain cart after he had unloaded into the General and was able to get close enough to the combine and just clear the auger to unload what little bit was in the grain tank. He took it back to the Dodge, which was in the middle of the field and went to get some gear to pull the combine out. The farmer came over with his front wheel assist White tractor and we got everything hooked up and attempted a pull...not even a budge. About the only thing we managed to do was fill all the lugs on the tire up...on to Plan B.

Al had noticed a 4WD Steiger parked on one of the fields we had combined last year for Dale Leftwich. He had been having issues getting stuck as well, so the tractor was sitting ready by the field...but when Al called him, they had already moved it north to pull out one of their tandem trucks that had gotten stuck in the field. It was out, so Dale said we could use it, so off we went.

We were right across the highway from the farmers yard and he had left the fence down so he could get in easily with the White tractor that we tried first. We left the field the same way, down through the ditch and on to the highway. After we got the Steiger and Al figured out how to lift the big dozer blade that was on it and find the right gears, we went back to the combine.

Marilyn decided to go through the ditch on the way back and didn't quite make it up the ridge to the fence line, so after trying a couple of times, she backed up...letting the front wheels drop into the hole that she had dug with the duels...now that was stuck too. She got out to walk over to the combine and stepped ankle deep in water...cold, wet and the only pair of shoes left in the camper...could it get any better?

Al went all the way to the end of the field and came in the long way. We got the tractor hooked up and gave a couple of pretty good tugs, before it started digging in like the front wheel assist did. All we managed to do was move the combine back about 8 feet by piling up the mud behind the big wheel. Time for Plan C.

Eugene called the backhoe man, Sheldon...from Triple G Enterprises, to try and dig some of the mud out from behind the wheel...that was the plan. While we waited for him to show up, we took the Steiger back to Dale's field...he needed it to pull out the tandem again...but first we had to get the Dodge pulled out. Al got around it through the ditch, but almost got stuck himself when the severity of the grade made the dozer blade dig in and carve out some dirt, then he had to deal with the highway traffic. But we managed to get it out and return the tractor.

Back at the combine, Sheldon had showed up and was digging out the mud with the backhoe as Eugene supervised. He did a heck of a job cleaning out the mud pack and even did a little tweaking on the high side. We couldn't get the big tractor back to try and pull again, so we gave Sheldon a ride back home and left the combine for the night. Eugene has lined up a big STX 4WD for the morning and Sheldon left his backhoe just in case we need to reach China.

Al's old boss Roy Johnstone once told him when they had to leave a stuck combine overnight..."tie a ribbon to the muffler so we can find it in the morning"

Let's hope that is not needed...

October 11, 2010

View of the day-The last load to leave Carlyle. Al gets the safety chains hooked up on the shop trailer while Kim supervises.

We were up early to get the camper ready for the road trip north, after 45 days it tends to need a bit of organization to get everything tucked away. We had everything hooked up and after saying our goodbyes, started on our way.

The trip was once again, uneventful, and we made it out to the field where the combine was parked, two hours ahead of Al's schedule. Marilyn went on ahead to the 'campground' at Eugene's yard and unhooked the shop trailer and camper...just plugging in the power and leaving the rest for later...there was combining to be done.

Al was just unhooking the trailer from the Freightliner when Marilyn got back to the field and we got the tractor unloaded and ready for action before taking the Freightliner back to the yard...it's work was done for a while. We went into town to get subs for lunch, then went back to the field to see what kind of damage we could do.

We have combined this field several times and it is a half section that is usually swathed east to west, so we have nice long runs with minimal turning. Normally there aren't a lot of sloughs or potholes, but this year was really different...they are everywhere, which made swathing it a creative endeavour. There probably isn't one swath that runs the full length of the field. Add to that the fact that the seeder that was being demoed missed one full pass across the field and there is total kaos out there.

There were three headlands, so we tried to get those done first, just to get a feel for how wet the field was going to be...so far so good. Marilyn let Al make the first truckload and she got to slum it in the grain cart until the truck was full, then she took over combining. We found that the ground had dried out quite a bit and that the ruts where the swather had plowed through were pretty solid...in most places so far, at least.

We had about 15 different rain showers go through and every time it seemed like we might have to quit, but using the old gauge for quitting in the rain...you don't quit until it is running off the header...we kept on going.

Al sent Marilyn back to the camper just after dark to get it set up while he filled the grain cart and General. Marilyn got the dish aimed, water hooked up and the internet rolling, while Al combined until he almost got stuck...then he decided we would not be combining that field in the dark...especially since we have no idea how it was swathed.

Thank goodness for mapping...

October 10, 2010

View of the day-Al moves the combine trailer with the combine to get it on to solid ground so we can load up.

Road trip first thing back to Kisbey to get the General and the straight header. That went without incident...unlike the 40 minute wait for our breakfast at the Skyline...and the horrible cup of coffee to go that Marilyn insisted on grabbing before we left for Kisbey. She actually threw it out and for someone who always has half cups laying around, that was really painful.

We got back to Carlyle with the header and Big Gen, then Al got the pickup head loaded and tied down on the trailer before moving the combine trailer so we could load up. It went surprisingly well considering it had been even longer than the Gettysburg stay...45 days this time! We got the combine loaded then moved on to the tractor and cart, which went even faster.

Al had AIS by 3pm so we could beat the sunset and we were on the road by 2:45pm...ahead of schedule. This leg of our journey was going to take us to Esterhazy, even though Marilyn had sworn that we would not be combining north of the Qu'Appelle Valley. She has a new camper dangling in front of her and since we will not be going back south for soybeans, it was time to bite the bullet. Besides, it is 85 miles closer to Yorkton which means Al will be able to make a couple or more hockey games.

The trip up was smooth...no wind and not a lot of traffic, so it went pretty fast. We unloaded on the road, then moved everything into the field across the road that had already been combined. We took a tour around the half section to see how the mud situation was...lots of ruts on the outside rounds but it has been down for 2 weeks and the weather has been good, so hopefully there won't be too many problems. We stopped in Whitewood for supper on the way back to Carlyle...more crappy service, but Marilyn won $10 on scratch tickets...and spent $7 to get it.

Tomorrow we break camp and get the rest of the stuff moved...

October 9, 2010

View of the day-A field on our way over to Kisbey...just a little green for October.

We were on our way over to Kisbey to start the last field of swathed wheat and after taking a drive around it with the pickup...in 4X4...we knew we wouldn't be able to get it all picked up, without getting stuck.

We put the straight header into transport and dropped it off, then got the pickup header put on before moving over to the wheat. Marilyn parked the straight header by the bins then started the General so it could air up while Al made room to park the truck at the field. After Marilyn picked Al up from the combine and dropped him off to take the General out, she had the rest of the day off...sort of.

With only 40 acres left on the field, Al offered to combine so Marilyn could join her family for a joint 80th birthday celebration for her mom and Canadian Thanksgiving. She wasn't going to go at first, but Al figured he could manage and would just drive the combine back to Carlyle when he was done...and god forbid she should be the only child not to show up.

The trip to Moose Jaw, about 175 miles, was uneventful...some combining being done and surprisingly, several fields still standing. When she got to Moose Jaw, her mother was in a state of panic...a Butterball turkey that she had put in the oven at 9am was still pink at 4:30pm. Marilyn took a trip over to the grocery store and bought 4 rotisserie chickens to fill the gap...and we never did get the turkey. That really was a "turkey".

Once we had the meal set, everybody was stuffed to the gills and after the candles were blown out on the cake, dessert finished everyone off. After supper in the common room of their high rise, they set up to play a few tunes. Anne and John, Marilyn's mom and dad play in an orchestra that entertains at various senior functions, anywhere from 1-4 times a week, so the group came to entertain for her birthday. In addition to the regular orchestra, Marilyn's oldest(Tim) and youngest(Brian) brother grabbed their guitars and joined in the jam session.

Tim and his wife, Naomi, had come from Calgary and brought Anne's older sister from Dawson Creek, BC with them as a surprise...and it was just that. Of course, Marg, Kim and Gordie were there and Marilyn's other brother, Mike, and his wife Lila and their family showed up...so all the brothers and sisters were together...once you get older, the frequency of that happening goes down dramatically.

Al called to say he had finished the wheat and only 'almost' got stuck once, but he managed to get most of the swaths picked up. After unloading the truck, he started back to Carlyle...our harvest down here completed.

Marilyn left Moose Jaw around 9:30pm after having a good visit with the family, including some cousins and good friends who had made the scene...a really great time with a lot of plans for getting together more often...isn't that always the way. A long trip back but in bed by 2am.

Tomorrow it would appear we are loading up to move...north...

October 8, 2010

View of the day-Getting the combine blown off, fueled up, spreaders on and ready for the move to Kisbey and some straight wheat.

We did not combine one acre of wheat in September this year...that's a first!

Al got an early start on the flax and Marilyn got the straight header moved back to the yard so she could get it cleaned up for the organic wheat we would be combining later in the day. Another hot day with no wind didn't make the job of cleaning off the chaff very pleasant...not that it ever is. Al only had about 40 acres to get done and with the help of the 9600 it didn't take too long to get that done.

Al brought the combine back to the yard and Marilyn got it cleaned off as well, then it was time to start the move west to Kisbey. It took about an hour and after we got the headers swapped out, we got started combining. There was some worry that it might be wet in the field, but after making the first round, we didn't find any mud.

Al combined until he had a truck load, then Marilyn took over and finished the first 30 acres then moved over to the last 20 acre patch. The farmer wanted seed off this field, so he had a truck parked and waiting for the seed. Al got a ride out with the second truck so he could leave the General in the yard, since we wouldn't be needing it again at this field. Al finished off the field and we were done with the wheat...the standing stuff anyway...tomorrow we tackle some swaths that really could be laying in water.

Looking at their pull-type combine and the ruts it has left in the oat swaths doesn't give us much hope...

October 7, 2010

View of the day-Al picks up the flax on another warm and windy day.

It was another early...relatively speaking...start to the flax harvesting. This time the 9600 was out picking up swaths and Kim was able to get some harvesting in before the 2388 started wrapping again.

Since there was more manpower than machines, Marilyn had the day off...sort of...she did help shuttle things over to the last field of flax, but mostly she was in the camper trying to get it cleaned up so that unloading won't be such a task.

Kim was able to get started on the last flax field and was making pretty good time until the flax started wrapping on the rock beater. He cleaned it off a couple of times then decided to quit when he discovered the front rotor bearing had packed it in...not a good thing at all. We had that happen a few years back when the flax wrapped so bad around the front of the rotor that it popped the seal on the bearing...and it ain't an easy fix.

Audrey brought supper out to the field and after a good batch of stew, Al went back to work while Kim took over in the green machine while his dad booked off for the night. Al combined until his rock beater was all wrapped up, the quit for the night around 8pm. He figures there is around 40 acres left for tomorrow, then Kim and Bob will be done with there harvest...except for an acre or two where Kim planted his combine in the mud.

Tomorrow we return to Kisbey...

October 6, 2010

View of the day-Kim starting in on the flax...ohhh, it started out so good today...

It was another great day for harvesting, we were ready to start by noon and after doing a test to find out the moisture was 10%, it was go time.

Al made the first couple of rounds while Marilyn went to town for groceries, then she took over. It was going great until she plugged the feeder house. After reversing the wad out, she kicked the front end in to start combining again and since flax tends to bind together, especially after having the feeder chain mash it together, the wad was too much for the rotor...yep, plugged the rotor.

Al was just leaving the field when he saw the smoke coming off the rotor belt, so he turned around and came back...with similar smoke coming out of his ears. It was plugged at the back of the rotor and we had to take the grates out, something we have only had to do once before...a long, long time ago. It took about an hour and we had it back together, then Marilyn went back to combining...being a LOT more cautious.

Kim was having his own problems as the flax kept wrapping on the beater, then the feeder would quit. He struggled for an hour or so, then took the combine to the shop to change out the clutch pads on the feeder house. Bob didn't even bring the 9600 out because we were dropping the flax straw and the wind was so strong that it would have just blown his straw all over the field. The red machines chopped it up so the wind didn't have a lot to blow around.

Marilyn kept on combining until just after dark, then she started having the same trouble Kim was having so that was it for the flax today. Back at the shop, we helped Kim and Gordie get the clutches changed and that was it for the day.

Let's hope tomorrow goes a bit better for both machines...

October 5, 2010

View of the day-All lined up at the bins waiting to get started on the last field of wheat at Carlyle.

Al was up early getting trucks unloaded and moved back to the field so we could get started by 10am. Start time got moved back to 10:30 when he saw how wet the straw was. He had time to move the cart from the south field 6 miles north and across the moat to the present field.

There is a grassy water run that cuts the field from north to south and the only way across it was over a low passing that was holding water. Al was nervous about taking the empty trucks through, never mind a loaded one, but once he drove through he could tell there was a rock base and it was really very solid.

Marilyn, Kim and Bob started combining and Al was running the cart and filling the bin until it was time to top it off, then Kim took over the trucking and Al got to drive the 2388.

It was another great day for combining, the wind was really huffing...which came in handy when Marilyn had the unfortunate luck of clipping a skunk...and he didn't take to kindly to being disturbed. No amount of air fresheners would be helping get rid of...or even effectively cover, that odor. Kim was at the bins 3/4 mile away and he even got a healthy whiff of it. Along with the skunk, she also scared up three coyotes, one fawn, one fox and several rodents who met their demise at the claws of the hawks that were circling around like buzzards all day.

We got finished that half section by 6pm, then roaded the machines with the headers on this time, back to Bob's farm and the 20 acres of standing barley that he had left to do. Well, perhaps "standing" was a bit generous. Most of it was lodged and flattened right down, so there was lots of stopping to dig the dirt out of the headers...by all three of us. A nasty bit of business, but we got it done.

Kim's mom had whipped up some chili for supper and since we were done the field that was right by the yard, we ate in the house instead of the field. After we had finished we went back to the wheat field to get the General and the two pickups that were left there...tomorrow we will get the tractor and cart over to the next field we have to do.

It should be interesting...swathed flax...

October 4, 2010

View of the day-The lights are flashing as Marilyn heads for the truck with another hopper full of wheat.

Another day of beautiful weather which made for a good day of combining with an early start...and this time nobody got stuck...even though it was in a sticky part of the field.

We finally got the field finished and got ready to move north to the next field. We were right across from Precision Ag, so Marilyn pulled in to get the header into transport mode so we could get up the road without blocking any traffic. After Al got the truck unloaded, he hooked up the header to the pickup and we were on our way.

Since we couldn't put the header on in the field, we stopped at an intersection just south of the field to hook it up. Al had talked to his brother Jeff up at Gerald, about 90 miles from where we were and he said he heard Marilyn talking on the radio from the combine as she was lining up to the header...all the way from his house. Bizarre, since half the time the tractor can't reach more than a couple miles with the two way radios.

Once we got everything moved up to the field, we got back to combining. We took a break for pizza when Marg, Gordie and Kim's mom came out to the field for supper. After they left, Al switched from truck driving to running Kim's combine and we put a healthy dent in the acres on that field before quitting for the night.

Tomorrow we finish the wheat...or should...

October 3, 2010

View of the day-Getting the semi weighed empty at Precision Ag...and, no, Marg was not trying to hitch a ride.

We were up early on another gorgeous harvesting day, to get things organized to move to the next field. This field of standing spring wheat had some plots where Kim had used four different chemicals, so we had to keep things separate so they could see the results. Al got the semi weighed empty so we could calibrate the combine for the test loads and Kim cut around them with his combine so Marilyn would have the same size sample on all tests.

We picked up an extra truck to use for the day, one which held more than the General, so there would be less trips...in theory at any rate. Al was in charge of trucking for the day and we didn't bring the grain cart over, so he got lots of exercise walking between the trucks.

Marilyn got the plots combined and all the samples collected, then we started in on the rest of the field. Bob was out with the 9600, so we had three of us in the 50 bu/ac wheat, so Al was really hopping.

At one point during the day, Kim's combine found a wet spot and when he tried to back out...down he went. He went home and got the 4WD tractor and was able to get it out of the hole he had dug. Marilyn inquired about someone over there taking pictures, but the only thing they had was cell phones, so they didn't get any.

Marilyn and Bob were gun shy, so they stayed on high ground most of the day. Al took over combining from Kim later on in the day and things were going fairly well until he got a call from Marilyn who had tried to get "that last little corner of wheat". That's right...dropped down just like Kim did and couldn't back out. She got a few texts wondering where the camera was...it was in the Dodge on the other side of the field and since it was dark, the cell phone took a crappy picture, so no evidence.

Al brought the 4WD tractor over...good thing Kim didn't take it back to the farm...and after a couple of tugs, it came out and Marilyn was back in business...and not taking any more chances for the rest of the night.

We got back to the camper and after getting cleaned up, settled in to catch the season premier of Battle of the Blades. This show is like Dancing with the Stars, but it teams NHL hockey players with world champion figure skaters who compete and get voted of weekly. It is amazing to see how those hockey players are transformed over the course of the program.

But now to get those maps printed...

October 2, 2010

View of the day-Getting used to the straight header again, unloading wheat on the go...never spilled a kernel.

Frozen hose again this morning, but the sun came out and fixed that right up. Al went to pick up a few swaths of canola that were left in one of the fields, then came back to the yard to blow the combine off before starting in on some wheat swaths.

Kim had swathed some of the wheat that was lodged so part of the field was down and the other part was standing. Bob wanted to bale the straw so, he was dropping it with the JD. We swapped out headers after all the swaths were picked up and Marilyn had to get used to going from a three foot swath to a 35 foot straight head. That didn't take too long and she actually got to test out the reverser that was put on a while back...the straw was still pretty tough.

We finished off the first field, then moved to the next one which was just on the other side of the fence. It was only 80 acres and with three machines running it didn't take long to get that lapped up and once the trucks were all filled we parked for the night.

Al got to run Kim's machine, and will again tomorrow, but Marilyn has orders to make sure the Sirius radio is installed so he can listen to all the NFL games.

More straight wheat tomorrow...

October 1, 2010

View of the day-The morning line up, Kim's 2388, our rig and Bob's 9600...ready for action.

Another perfect harvest day and we got a later start today...well, later than normal but WAY earlier than yesterday. All machines were running but we had to be a bit careful because now we had mud issues to deal with.

There had been a lot more rain up here and there were a lot of low spots...and a couple of water runs where the water was still standing and we had to cross to get to other parts of the field. Fortunately, we had the tractor and cart, so nobody got stuck trying to get the trucks loaded.

Al had a hydraulic hose on the tractor wear through, creating a messy leak, so he went into town to get a new hose made. While he was gone Marilyn had a bit of downtime when the hydraulic motor running the pickup belt on the header quit running. After checking it out, we discovered that the key way had worn away and the motor couldn't get a grip to turn the shaft. Al was still in town, so he picked up a piece of key stock and when he got back, we put it all together and were back in business.

We got the field finished by 4:30 and had another day with bankers hours, but that was it for the canola. Once everything was moved back to the yard, we went over to Bob's where Kim's mom had made supper for us, then it was back to the camper.

After all, there was a CFL game on TV that Kim and Al had to watch...

September 30, 2010

View of the day-The wheels are off...well one was, anyway. The only way to get the shaft out to get the bearing changed was to get the big tire out of the way.

The guys from Chicoine Equip. showed up bright and early with the parts and immediately set to work. It seemed like the further they got into the job, the more things had to get removed. After they got the tire shifted, they were able to get started...until the jack and blocks started sinking into the soft ground. They made a road trip to get some steel sheets to put the jacks on, but then decided to put the tire back on so they could remove the pickup head and find some solid ground for the jacks.

It took the better part of the day, but they were able to get everything apart, and since they had it apart, they made a point of changing out both bearings. With things being beefier inside, they had to unpin the feederhouse and almost take it off to get enough room to get the larger rock beater drum out...but they did, and once everything was back where it belonged, it was test time.

While the combine was getting worked on, Marilyn started getting the broken disappearing fingers replaced. Even though there were a couple of openings to reach inside the drum, Al's reach was further than Marilyn's, so with teamwork, that job was accomplished.

The other two combines had finished the canola field and came back to the yard to see what was going on. We were ready to roll with everything running better than ever, so it was time to try the combine out on some canola swaths. We all moved north to the next field and started in...success! Big thanks to the guys from Chicoine Equipment, they did a hell of a job.

There were a lot of low spots that were wet but fortunately no one got stuck and once we finished the first piece, we quit for the day.

No point in starting a new, wet field in the dark...