Happy New Year!

Well it has been a while since our last update so first we would like to say to all of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here is a link to our Christmas newsletter...mostly stuff that the faithful blog readers already know...but in readers digest form.

We had nice weather until the end of November...good enough to finally finish combining at least. Al got the header and combine cleaned up and put away...headers in the barn at Carlyle and the combine in it's winter parking spot...on the lawn right outside the bedroom window. Al wasn't able to get the General parked in it's spot until he finally got the lumber from the deck unloaded...he was able o get into the dump just north of us and the guy was nice enough to only charge him $5 to dump it...as long as it was only wood. The barbecue came back home...

With early December, it was once again time for the annual Canadian Custom Harvesters convention. It was in Edmonton this year and we decided to drive the 600 miles instead of flying...a long drive, but worth it in the end. And really, 600 miles? What's that to us hard driving harvesters...except we for sure didn't need the A/C on his run. At the fund raising auction, Al thought it would be a good idea to support the association by bidding on a John Deere item and yes he became the owner of a piece of John Deere equipment...well, it is only an air compressor...but it is GREEN, none the less. Marilyn, meanwhile, thought she should do her part and bought a pretty blue tool box which covered the New Holland brand of equipment in our collection. All in all, we managed to cover all the manufacturers and it was a good thing we drove...the truck was full, front and back. The drive home from Edmonton was a bit scary because there was a huge blizzard when we left. We managed to stay ahead of it as we headed east for home, driving out of it as we hit the Saskatchewan border.

Marilyn had her production of "The Wild Guys" going on before Christmas and it was received quite well by all who attended for the six nights that it ran. Between that, and working full time at Staples, there wasn't any time to take it easy before Christmas. The temperatures took a turn for the worse as the great November weather gave way to the -40º...C or F, it's the same at that temperature...COLD! Toss in a bit of wind, maybe some blowing snow and you have a recipe for winter...and we choose to stay here??

Christmas was in Grayson, at Al's step dad's place. We had a good meal...too much, as usual...then set off some fireworks and had a good visit with everyone. New Year's Eve we went to Carlyle to spend it with Marilyn's sister and her husband, who was recuperating from a broken leg, which he got while skiing in Montana just before Christmas. Another big meal and lots of visiting before heading back to Yorkton on New Year's Day.

Marilyn cashed in big in the gift department by getting an embroidery machine...although she had to work to get it. Al had the 'goal thermometer' on the fridge and every time a bit of cash rolled in, it went up until he capped it at the 'close enough' level. As you can see from the picture it is a four needle computerized machine with endless capabilities...which Al claims will never be realized because Marilyn has no time to use it. Marilyn is pretty sure we need a bigger camper if she is going to be able to take it with her this summer. The machine is sitting next to the sewing machine she has had for many, many years...one that her mother got for a wedding present 61 years ago. They don't make them like that any more...it sews through four layers of jeans and will do shear curtains with just a few adjustments, and it embroiders...but not by itself...like the new one will. Let the digitizing begin!

It is now early January 2010...yes 2010! It seems like just yesterday we were all worried about the Y2K thing and now here it is 10 years later. What's even weirder is when they recap the last decade and you expect to hear about the 90's...


Al is getting ready for the Toy Show season, here is his Versatile toy collection. This coming weekend he will be in Saskatoon at their toy show and as he comes home Sunday night, Marilyn will be loading up to go to the Crop Production Show in Saskatoon, January 11-13 to man the Canadian Harvesters booth with Lynn Prevost.

Al will be going back to work at H&R Block after the Saskatoon toy show and Marilyn will be working full time in the copy and print centre at Staples...a big change from the computer department...and the furniture department...and the receiving department.

Hope everyone has a great 2010 and may there be good crops for all...