October 7, 2009

View of the day-Trying to unload the camper in the rain, sleet and wind...not a nice day at all.

More rain...another 1/2", but we had planned on taking the camper home to unload it so it just didn't matter...except for the strong northwest wind making the 35ºF temps feel even more frigid.

Al got a ride from Eugene into town to get the Dodge out of the body shop...they did a darn nice job, it's ready for another parking lot idiot. We got the camper battened down and hooked up, then left the yard to fight the wind back to Yorkton. Al followed in the van and had to stop for fuel at the #9 junction, so we figured we might as well stop for lunch, then we wouldn't have to stop until we got home.

We made it home, raining all the way and after we got parked in front of the house...close enough to put the awning out to keep dry while unloading...it got cold enough to start sleeting. So far there hasn't been any flakes, but the weekend isn't here yet, either.

First on the list was getting the internet hooked up. Fortunately it was just a matter of bringing in the router and hooking it up. Next priority was the dish...after all there was a baseball game to watch so it good thing it didn't take too long. Actually, it took longer to get the coax untangled than it did to aim the dish.

While Al made sure the fireplace still worked, Marilyn started to move some stuff out of the camper...but we really didn't want to overdo it and have a mess inside and out, so there was a break or two taken to avoid that. Al decided to take a shower and we unpleasantly surprised to find the water wasn't very hot...or even warm. After inspecting the water heater, Marilyn discovered it had just been put on pilot for the summer, so no wonder there was no hot water...that got turned on immediately.

Marilyn went into town to have coffee with one of her friends, who also is the manager at Staples where Marilyn works in the 'off' season...there was a couple of hours spent catching up on all the latest news. If the rain keeps up the red Staples shirt could be making an appearance before we actually finish the harvesting season.

At least we can sleep in a warm house...

October 6, 2009

View of the day-The old rigs sit out in the rain...a daily event lately.

Got to sleep in...again and although the sun was actually shining, it didn't take long to cloud over...and eventually the rain showed up and continued well into the night. Same poo...different pile.

We went into town to do a few errands and have some lunch, then went back to the camper to decide what to do with the next few days. The forecast is for rain right through to the weekend and there is a possibility of the 's' word...that will make for a chilly night or two in the camper.

We agreed the best thing to do was to take the camper home and empty all the summer stuff out of it...it will make the mass panic that hits when we get done combining and move south for soybeans a lot shorter. Besides, Al wants to take the hockey game in on Friday and Marilyn wants to take in the rehearsal for the theatre group...win-win.

And the rain continues to fall...

October 5, 2009

View of the day-The trees are changing along the Kaposvar Valley north of Esterhazy. After the freeze expected tonight things will really start dying off.

We were up early and Al took the Dodge in to the body shop to get the fender fixed...it should be out tomorrow. Marilyn went in to pick him up then we went for breakfast at the motor inn...it was a nice change from leftovers. We stopped out at the combine so Al could get the mileage off the General and do his quarterly fuel tax online...still muddy out there.

Back at the camper, Marilyn worked with some new software on the computer and Al went on a road trip to Whitewood to get out of the camper for a few hours. Of course when he came back it was time for Monday Night Football. It sprinkled off and on most of the day and even though we actually saw the sun for a while, it didn't do a lot of drying.

Another productive day...

October 4, 2009

View of the day-Nothing is moving in the yard as we have another day like the other day...cold and damp.

We got to sleep in again and it was another 'super-do-nothing' day. Marilyn spent it getting the old laptop cleaned up for Al...complete reformat and reload. He wanted something that didn't have all the extra crap slowing it down...and that's what he got.

Al, on the other hand pretty much spent the day in front of the TV watching NFL football mixed in with the occasional trip outside to check the weather. Eugene fired up the BBQ and we all had steaks for supper in the camper. After that, it was time to take it easy for the rest of the night.

It was a day of rest, all right...

October 3, 2009

View of the day-The Steelers were at it again in Regina. What a difference from two weeks ago...then 33ºC/91ºF, this time 33ºF/1ºC...and not dressed for the evening. The boys lost but managed three touchdowns...their best to date.

We got to sleep in after a frosty night...down to 30ºF, we thought the sun would warm things up, but the clouds weren't going to let that happen.

We left for Regina around 11am and did a bit of shopping...browsing, really...to kill some time before the football game. While Marilyn went in to look around one of the outlets stores, Al stayed in the truck and decided to give Kim a call to gab a bit...he got a surprise to find out he was sitting in his pickup in the same parking lot.

We followed Marg and Kim out to the University of Regina football field and waited for the game to start at 5:15pm. We weren't anticipating the weather, although Marilyn did bring two umbrellas, this time in case of rain...it didn't rain but they came in handy to block the biting wind. We really could have used those insulated jeans and flannel jackets hanging at home...you know it's cold when "I don't need a jacket" Al, has the heat jacked up all the way home to thaw out. It was a good game just the same.

We left the field after the game then went to pick Jeff up from his in-laws to give him a ride back home, then we met with Marg, Kim and Gordie for supper before grabbing a Tim Horton's coffee and hitting the road for the 2.5 hour trip back home.

Al dropped Marilyn off at the camper to crank up the heater while he drove Jeff back to his farm over at Gerald, then when he got back to the camper, when directly to sleep.

The fresh air really kicked the stuffing out of us...

October 2, 2009

View of the day-Al blows out the air filter as we find a bunch of things to do at the field.

Al was up early to drop the pickup off at the body shop. He got Eugene to follow him in to give him a ride back home, but he found out it would not be ready until Monday, so he ended up coming back home with the truck.

We had to be in Grayson to visit the friendly banker...and she was friendly...then Al when over to visit with his step dad and Marilyn went to have coffee over at the hardware store with one of her old friends. After a stop at the famous Ottenbreit meat market to pick up some of their fabulous beef jerky, we went back to Esterhazy.

We stopped at the camper to hook up the shop trailer before heading out to the field to do a bit of servicing and cleaning. We changed out the fuel filters, hoping that will cure the power issues...we won't know until we actually get back into the grain. The rain gauge on the combine showed 1.2"...enough to slow things down for a few days. Mind you, back at the camper there was 2.25" of rain, so we weren't that bad off at the field. Marilyn gave the windows a thorough washing inside and out and gave them the RainX treatment...that cuts down on the frequency of hard washed that they need...a quick shot with the dash duster at night and no washing needed in the morning. Al blew out the air and cab filters and that was the end of our work for the day.

We took the scenic route home, stopping at the farmers yard to see how things were going with them. They were putting bins on hoppers, so we didn't want to keep them from their work and after a half hour, we continued on back to the camper.

Al got the shop trailer parked back in its corner of the yard, then came in to start watching football...CFL football. Al's brother, Jeff and his hired guy came over to watch the Rider game...lots of yelling going on.

Tomorrow we hit the really bright lights...we are off to Regina to watch Gordie play football in the afternoon.

But first we might have to hit an auction sale...

October 1, 2009

View of the day-The Qu'Appelle Valley at Round Lake just before the rain started...again.

We woke up to rain on the roof around 4:30am and even though we knew we would be able to sleep in, we were up early...not 8am early...but early for a rainy day.

It came down pretty much all day off and on...sometimes heavy and the last report was over an inch had fallen. That was earlier in the day and we never did go out to the combine to check the rain gauge...could be more.

Al went into town for a garbage run and to see if we could get the pickup in to the body shop to get the fender fixed...from the parking lot incident last winter where someone backed into it and fled the scene. We can take it in tomorrow and leave it for the day and it will finally be good as new by quitting time.

The rest of the day was pretty much spent inside the camper until we left to go down to Chillys bar down at Round Lake for their steak night. We, along with Eugene, were passengers of a couple from England that had moved to the area a couple of years ago. We had an excellent steak supper, then left to come home...in the rain again. Another soaker had started and we drove in it the 25 miles back to the farm.

Back in the camper it was more internet and TV...after all hockey season has started...