April 27, 2010

View of the day-First load ready to roll from Yorkton.

Well, we officially made the first move to Carlyle...as planned. We got the tractor and cart loaded and hooked up to the Freightliner as if we had been doing it regularly for the last 6 months...not a hitch.

We were on the road ahead of schedule, but we did have to make a couple of stops...Marilyn at Staples while Al forged ahead solo to stop at the AGCO dealership in Whitwood. Marilyn was able to catch up with him and we continued on to Carlyle to Kim and Margs place.

We got there just in time to hlep Kim celebrate his 50th birthday with a weiner roast...the wind and cold weather didn't dampen any spirits...except his at reaching this milestone. Marilyn welcomed him to the 'dark side'...Al will be there soon enough in August.

Then plan for Wednesday is to get to Gettysburg, but all we hear is big wind warnings...all the way to Oklahoma, so we might be stopping sooner if it is a tough chug.

Shut up and drive...

April 27, 2010

View of the day-...was this really necessary??

So obviously we didn't get any loading done, waking up to this mess. Al had his last day at H&R Block and Marilyn got the paperwork in order for the border, then had the last rehearsal for the play she is directing.

Tuesday will be different...

April 25, 2010

View of the day-What we use our front lawn for.

Things are starting to happen now! Al went to get the grain cart home last Thursday so we could get it cleaned up, hooked up to the tractor and loaded for the first trip south this coming week. Of course, most of that will happen today...if it doesn't rain.

Yesterday's plan was to go to Carlyle with the new header, but first we had to pick it up from the dealer. Since we purchased it from the AGCO dealership in Whitewood (halfway between Yorkton and Carlyle), and he did not have any combines on his lot to put the header on the trailer, he had to resort to plan B. He was able to get a farmer with an CaseIH 8010 to pull the old switcheroo and get it ready for us to strap down and hit the road.

Tyler Nagy, the young farmer that was able to help us out, had actually worked for us one season on the harvest run...until the end of the season, no less. After a gab session, we went for lunch with Glen from White's Ag, then started the drive to Carlyle.

We were a bit concerned with the lights on the trailer...a case of having some wires crossed. As usual, once we got to Carlyle, Marilyn and Marg got the test lights out and did a bit of rearranging and were able to get all the lights working as they should be...and even got the brakes on the trailer working. At least that rig is ready to roll. Once it was parked and we had supper we headed back home to Yorkton.

Now to commence cleaning and loading...

March 31, 2010

Just thought I would add an update. Al's hockey team The Yorkton Terriers are going to the league finals. WOO HOO!!!

Now for some harvesting updates...we went to Dauphin to look at a pickup head for the new combine well it wasn't as advertised. We are looking for a 14' model this was a 16' model...so we keep looking.

Sorry no pic on this update but if anyone is looking for a custom harvester for this upcoming season let us know we have a few openings on our harvest run, so maybe we can help you out.

March 20, 2010

View of the day-Moving the 1020 flex header and trailer out of storage from Kim and Marg's barn at Carlyle...

Your eyes do not deceive you...we figured we better dust off the keyboard and get a blog entry in...it won't be long before we will be heading south again and we don't want to start cold turkey...that, and we have started doing some 'harvest related' stuff.

Today for instance, we had spent the night at Carlyle so we would be able to get an early start moving the flex head out of the barn. We had parked it from the back door and there was a sprayer, combine, swather and a few other implements blocking the way out and we really didn't want them started up, so plan B came into action. We borrowed a home built dolly from a friend in Yorkton, mounted a ball on it and it worked like a dream...sort of. We were pulling it backwards with a four wheeler and when we got to the 2 inch drop off in the alley way, the front end of the cart tipped up and it took Al standing on the end by the handle to get it back down...no casualties. We got it pulled out far enough to hook it up to the pickup and back it the rest of the way out.

After having a quick lunch we headed north to Whitewood where we dropped it off at the dealership where we had traded it and the 1020 straight header in on a new header. That's right, we are moving up in the harvesting world, hopefully increasing our production by running a 35ft. FD70 MacDon header. This is a flex draper, so we were able to eliminate an extra header by having it work in both flex and rigid mode. The draper will make feeding a treat...hopefully...which seemed to be the big holdup with the 1010 head on the 2588 combine...it had plenty of power, but there was always a bottleneck at the feederhouse, especially in heavy crops.

So now we have a new header and while it does have it's own built in slow speed transport, we needed to have something for the long hauls at higher speeds, so that meant we needed to get a new header trailer. After a long search, we decided to go with a Horst...another learning curve...but it looks like it is a good heavy unit and after taking it for a test drive, it trails like a dream, something that we were concerned about with the four wheel configuration...we'll see what happens.

Well, now that we have a new header, the issue was getting the adapter plate for the 2588...do we go with one for that combine, knowing we would be updating in the future and then it wouldn't be compatible with the new one, or do we stay with what we have...decisions, decisions. We finally decided to upgrade the combine and will be having a new CaseIH 7088 being built the end of April...that should really up the productivity...but of course that means another learning curve. The first stop should be interesting to say the least...hopefully we can get down earlier so we can get some tweaking done. In the meanwhile, Al picked up a 7088 pedal combine for his collection...a little to big to display on a shelf.

Now we have to go on a search for a new pickup head to fit the new combine because the old one will not fit...very clever, you engineers...so we are on the lookout for a used CaseIH 2016 pickup head...let us know if you are aware of one in your neck of the woods.

Marilyn was on a whirlwind air trip to Raleigh, North Carolina at the beginning of March, to attend a US Department of Labor meeting with another harvester's wife, Kim Taylor from Alberta. She took the scenic route leaving Regina on Monday at 8am then going on to Calgary to meet Kim, then to Edmonton, Toronto and Raleigh arriving at 10:30pm. The meeting was all day Tuesday and we were able to get a flight out that evening and with only one stop in Toronto got to Calgary at 1am. Marilyn stayed at her brother's overnight, then caught a 1pm flight out for Regina on Wednesday...and came home so much wiser. This year the filing for work visas has gone a bit better than last year...a few hiccups...but is now in the final stages and hopefully we will know something this coming week and we can start our planning for the first trip down. We hope to time it right so that we can see the combine being built and drive it off the line like we did with the 2588.

Al has been busy with his Farm Toy Shows...first in Saskatoon, then Yorkton and last weekend in Lloydminster. Marilyn got to take in the Lloyd one, since Jeff couldn't make it and Al would have been on his own. It wasn't the best show, income wise, but we did manage to find a new LaZyboy recliner that we had been looking for, for quite some time...unfortunately it won't fit in the camper...unless we get a new camper. Fat chance this year.

Now Al is elbow deep in tax returns at H&R Block, Marilyn is still making copies at Staples after being moved into the Copy and Print center to cover a maternity leave...quite a change from the computer department...not near as many miles put on in a day. And the theatre thing is keeping her busy with an upcoming performance of the Queen of Bingo...she is directing this play and has had a couple of 'rehearsals' at the bingo hall with the cast...to get them immersed in all things bingo...a good excuse to play a some games and win a few bucks.

That should keep you for a while...

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...

November 23, 2009

View of the day-Shades of the summer...this lineup was at the elevator north of Yorkton that we pass on our way home.

Yesterday Marilyn drove Al to the farmers yard to pick up the combine and road it home to Yorkton, while she got to do some more set construction. We had a cat that was quite interested in what we were doing...or maybe it was just a warm place to sit in the crisp morning air. It took Al 2 and 1/2 hours to get back home even avoiding the traffic by taking the back roads most of the way.

Today Al got the combine all cleaned off...not washed, though...too cold to bring out the pressure washer. Then he loaded up the General with all the branches that he had cut down so we could get around the back of the house to load up the lumber from our deck. It is on the north side of the house and had gotten quite rotten, so it had to go. After driving to the village dump that we are allowed to use, thanks to our outrageous taxes, he discovered that it was locked, pending some sort of environmental report...now we have no where to dump. He check into taking it to the Yorkton dump...they would let him dump it...for $140!

Looks like there might be a big bonfire happening in the near future...