View of the day-Technically not crop harvest, but Marilyn and her Paper Bag Players group did manage to harvest a couple of trophies for their performance of Queen of Bingo, (Winning Entry, Best Actress-Pam Milani) and an honorable mention for directing (Marilyn and Brenda McMillan) at the provincial short play festival, TheatreOne, in Kamsack. L to R, Teresa Weber-Babe, Pam Milani-Sis, Marilyn-Director, Leslie Moldowan-Exec-Sec, Theatre Saskatchewan, Brenda MacMillan-Co-Director(while Marilyn was planted in the combine), missing was Mike Hall-Father Mac, who's employer, Cargill, had him racing around the province.
So much for getting in at least a monthly update. It seems one week runs into the other and before you know it...Christmas is not that far away. Marilyn was back at work full time, working 8-4:30 M-F and between that and the rehearsal schedule for the Queens, there wasn't time for anything else. Our first big snow of the season hit while we were north at Kamsack for the festival so the trip home was a 'white-knuckeler' and took a couple of hours longer than normal.
So much for getting in at least a monthly update. It seems one week runs into the other and before you know it...Christmas is not that far away. Marilyn was back at work full time, working 8-4:30 M-F and between that and the rehearsal schedule for the Queens, there wasn't time for anything else. Our first big snow of the season hit while we were north at Kamsack for the festival so the trip home was a 'white-knuckeler' and took a couple of hours longer than normal.
While Marilyn was slaving over a hot script, Al got to make his pilgrimage to Dyersville, Iowa for the National Farm Toy Show. This year, he went with his toy buying buddy, Roger, from Lipton, SK...he said it was almost like having Marilyn along, since she never offers to drive, either. They were fortunate they didn't run into any nasty weather until they got north of the border, then they had issues with the cargo trailer loaded with farm toys slip-sliding around...but they kept it upright.
Once Marilyn's mad rush for festival was over, it was time to get some set construction done for the group's annual dinner theatre, which was two weeks later...nothing like leaving things to the last minute. Two weekends at the Painted Hand Casino in Yorkton, and right now we are mid way between performances, so after Saturday, we will pack up the bus and wait for our next performance, Dec. 9 in Spy Hill, about an hour away.
Al was busy getting things put away after his big toy trip...he managed to get a toy show in at Regina to disperse of some of his stuff before the tour south. He hasn't gone back to work at H&R, so he had a lot of free time on his hands, which he managed to fill up with some winter prep around the house...getting the snowblower operational, winterizing the camper and pressure washer, cleaning out the garage to make room for more toys...you know...that sort of thing.
Al was busy getting things put away after his big toy trip...he managed to get a toy show in at Regina to disperse of some of his stuff before the tour south. He hasn't gone back to work at H&R, so he had a lot of free time on his hands, which he managed to fill up with some winter prep around the house...getting the snowblower operational, winterizing the camper and pressure washer, cleaning out the garage to make room for more toys...you know...that sort of thing.
Al also had some field prep to get done on the land we had bought in the spring. It never got seeded, just sprayed, so he helped work it over, then hauled some gravel in to make a base for the hopper bin he had purchased...and he is still waiting to get it delivered. It seems there is a call every other day that it is coming, then it isn't, then it is...hopefully it gets here before the next big dump of snow. We have had a couple of days with beautiful weather, just above freezing, which was a nice change from the -30ยบ that we had been experiencing the last couple of weeks, so the outside work that was left was almost bearable.
We have always had a 'beater' for our second vehicle over the winter at home...an '87 Grand Marquis, an'89 Dodge Caravan, and most recently a '91 Grand Marquis. Because we have different schedules...and interests, there was no way one rig was going to cut it, but we had always been looking for another 4x4 pickup because our road can be treacherous in the winter. Al made the rounds of quite a few auctions, but always came back with a 'thumbs down'...until a couple of weeks ago...he finally lucked out, and now we are the proud owners of a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. Exactly what we had hoped to find, and today someone came and bought the Marquis...bonus!
We have always had a 'beater' for our second vehicle over the winter at home...an '87 Grand Marquis, an'89 Dodge Caravan, and most recently a '91 Grand Marquis. Because we have different schedules...and interests, there was no way one rig was going to cut it, but we had always been looking for another 4x4 pickup because our road can be treacherous in the winter. Al made the rounds of quite a few auctions, but always came back with a 'thumbs down'...until a couple of weeks ago...he finally lucked out, and now we are the proud owners of a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500. Exactly what we had hoped to find, and today someone came and bought the Marquis...bonus!
Today was the day that the combine came out of it's hiding place to get cleaned out for the last time. It seemed wrong to get into the cab and not be heading out to the field, although the snow on the ground might have made things a bit tough. Tomorrow Al drives it into the Case IH dealer in town to go on the lot...that's right, we are retiring it. Well, trading it in, actually. We will be making a fast trip down to Grand Island, NE once again to see our final (according to Al) new combine being built and to drive it off the line...on Dec. 21.
And if we aren't busy enough, next Tuesday we are driving to Calgary for a fun-filled four days of catching up with other harvesters at our Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters annual convention...there a lots of changes on the horizon, so it won't be all fun and games.
And if we aren't busy enough, next Tuesday we are driving to Calgary for a fun-filled four days of catching up with other harvesters at our Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters annual convention...there a lots of changes on the horizon, so it won't be all fun and games.
Watch for pictures and news of the event...
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