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View of the day-Another great sunset...it never gets old.
Al was out early to head for town, then check out the weekend auction out where we unload the equipment. He didn't come home with anything. He went out to the combine to service and by 11:30, he was making dust.
Marilyn spent the day at home, trying to get some more work done while checking the trap lines. Around 2am, the sweet sound of a trap springing got her up to do some inspection. Finally we had nailed one of the little bastards. He was still squirming and she didn't feel like making a kill, so she decided to go back to bed and deal with it in the morning. That was the wrong thing to do.
When she went to empty the trap, it was gone! Maybe Al had dumped it...fat chance, he said, so now she had to find out where it went. After looking under all the furniture and along all the places where there had been droppings, she was ready to give up. Then on a return trip to the living room, just under the corner of a blanket on the love seat, she saw the trap...with the mouse still squirming!
It was not happy and was being held by one of the front legs, so she took the trap outside to release it...hoping the neighbor's cats would be hanging around. It was still chomping at the trap and anything that came close, so Marilyn just put the trap down on the step and walked away. After an hour, it had given up and she was finally able to get the trap unloaded, just as the cats showed up. Trap lines are reset for any relatives that might show up.
Al was busy combining again, he was getting some help from another combine, but they had to have a swather cut ahead, since all they had was a pickup head.
While he was combining, he had a visit from Danny and Dillon Ismond. Young Dillon had gotten a ride in a JD combine when the local volunteers were taking off the Yorkton Terriers cash crop. It was his first combine ride and he couldn't stop talking about it, but Marilyn thought he needed to experience a red one. She had been Facebooking with Danny to get him to come out to Balcarres, where his dad lives, for a ride, but since we were working so close to Yorkton, he was able to make it out today.
Dillon was pretty impressed with Big Red, especially since he had never seen the straight cut head...they were picking up swaths on his other ride. Too bad his ride was short, but at least someone took pictures...no way Al would have done that.
These are courtesy of Danny.
Al got the field done, then moved down the road from our yard and got started on the last field. He didn't have the strong wind that was blowing last night, so he had to shut down earlier than he would have liked.
But he can see the light...
View of the day-All tucked away for the winter.
What a productive day! While Al was anxiously awaiting "go" time in the combine, we found plenty to do around the yard. Al had to take the half ton into town to get the heater looked at...unfortunately, it wasn't just a flush that was needed. It seems one of the heater doors is not working and the dash would have to be removed...we've been there, alright.
Marilyn was still working on unpacking and while Al was in town, the furnace man made it out. One look at the furnace and we found out they don't make parts for that one anymore...he even called their supplier and Marilyn heard him laughing on the other end when they told him the brand. So, it would seem we need to get a new furnace. They sent out one of the head guys out and he looked things over and gave us a quick estimate on a new furnace, took some measurements and then they were on their way. Still no furnace, but it looks like they can get the new one in on Monday or Tuesday...let's hope so, since we will both be away next weekend and it wouldn't be good to leave the fireplace going.
We got the camper winterized, closed up and parked for the winter...always a big job and a sad one...for Marilyn, at least. Al was more sad that it was 2pm and we still weren't combining. Murray had done a test around 11am, just as they had planned, but it was testing 21%...just a little high...so he decided to wait a few hours.
While we were waiting, Marilyn got the lawnmower out to clean a spot for the camper, then that spilled over into doing the whole lawn. It looks so much better now for the winter, except a good go around with the weed trimmer is in order.
We finally moved the combine and header out to the field, taking the long way around. There is a back road straight east of our place, but you have to cross a low water crossing and the combine doesn't fit through with the header.
We got out to the field, got the header hooked up, then Al stopped to talk to Murray, who was in his pickup holding part of a rotor rub bar...not a good sign. This would be the first time in a long time that we got to work alongside a silver combine.
We started combining and the wheat, while still pretty high in moisture, was going through the machine like good old Kansas winter wheat. Thick and lush and except for the fact that it was 5pm and the sun was already setting, we could have been in Kansas...well, there was also the 34ºF/1ºC temperature that brought us back to reality.
While Al was combining, Marilyn made a dash into town to pick up another heater to help with the next couple of nights that are supposed to be down to 19ºF/-7ºC.
But tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warmer...
View of the day-Getting the tractor and cart unloaded for the last time this season.
The last couple of days have been busy with trying to get the camper unloaded and put away. Marilyn was sure she had taken a lot less this year, but by the looks of what had to come into the house, that can't be right...and she certainly didn't buy a lot of stuff to bring home.
We noticed the furnace in the house was making odd squealing noises...perhaps a bearing going out somewhere...when the squeal turned into a hum, we knew there was a problem. Marilyn called a couple of places, but no one would be able to come out until Friday...three days. Good thing we have a gas fireplace. Perhaps Marilyn shouldn't have been in a hurry to get the camper cleaned...the furnace works fine in there.
Al was busy running around town getting everything back to normal...the mail and newpapers, trying to fit in a rad flush on the half ton...not a good area to have no heat for the winter. He squeezed in some time to go with Roger to check out a toy collection that someone was selling.
The only thing we had left to move was the tractor and cart, which was still down at Carlyle. Al took the General down early this morning and got it loaded up...by himself...that was a first. Kim was getting some grain moved around, but he showed up in time to help chain down the load before Al took off.
It wasn't a pleasant ride back for Al...no heat in the General, remember. He thought since it was going to be a sunny day that the cab would be sort of warm. Nope. When he got back to town with the load, he called Marilyn to meet him out at the Yorkton Auction yard so we could unload.
That went a lot faster than the loading and once he had the empty trailer hooked up to the General, he took off for Saltcoats to park it where the combine trailer had been left. Marilyn went back to her unpacking and waited for Al to get back so she could give him a ride back out for the tractor, but she got a reprieve when the neighbour was able to take him back.
He got the tractor and cart into the yard and spent another evening trying to thaw out in front of the fireplace. How convenient there was a World Series baseball game, an NFL and a CFL game to watch. Lucky guy.
Tomorrow we combine some straight wheat a half a mile from home...
View of the day-Just what we need to move home in...snow.
We were up early to have eggs before we forged into the crappy weather. It wasn't that bad at Yorkton, but as we got closer to the farm at Balcarres, the snow was coming down pretty hard.
While Al got the corners of flax that were left in the box of the General cleaned out, Marilyn got the header trailer lined up to load, then got the header ready to load. When Al got back, we got the header strapped down, then went to work getting the combine trailer moved out of the tall grass for loading.
After getting the combine loaded, chained down and hooked up to the truck, we waited for Brenda to show up with the little Dodge, so she could pull the shop trailer back with us. She got there just as we were getting the camera hooked up and the oversize signs on the trailer. Then we were off.
It continued to snow all the way to Yorkton...some would say we brought it with us. We got back out to the farm, got the combine unloaded, then Al took the trailer out near Saltcoats, to park it for the winter. Marilyn got the combine in the yard, but didn't get anything parked, because she had to get into town to meet Brenda for a late lunch, then she had a meeting and rehearsal again.
Al got back to the farm and proceeded to get as much rearranged as he could, what with the camper in the middle of the yard. He got everything into a temporary spot, then tried to thaw out...no heater in the General plus being wet from the snow is not a good combination.
There will be more combining, just not for a couple days...
View of the day-What a thing to come home to. At least it's not deep.
Today was moving day...for the camper, at least. Al had the last day of the Regina Toy Show to attend with Roger, so he was gone early...not as early as yesterday, though. The show didn't open until 10am today, so he got to sleep in a bit.
Marilyn, on the other hand, had the camper to close up and get ready to move. Normally, most of it gets done the night before, but not this time...it would be the last move of the season before winterizing and parking. Once the camper was hooked up, she stopped at the house to drop off some maps, then said goodbye and was on her way home.
Uneventful trip, except that there seemed to be a several vehicles coming towards her that were covered in snow. Not a good sign. By the time she got home, there was snow on the ground, but only enough to make a mess. After the camper got parked in its "unloading zone", the dish had to get set up so Al would have his NFL when he got home.
Marilyn had rehearsal at 1pm, so she had time for a quick shower before heading into town. After rehearsal was over, it was back to the farm for the dreaded unloading of the camper. Which strategy to use this year...load one rubbermaid tub, then bring it in and unload it...or load several tubs and bring them all in to unload...or load everything into tubs and bring them in one at a time to unload. The last one seemed to be the one selected. Too bad there weren't enough tubs to do the job.
Al made it home from the toy show around 8pm, after stopping to catch the last five minutes of the Terriers hockey game in town. He had a pretty good day of sales...for a Sunday...the income goes to his "Dyersville fund". That trip is coming up pretty quick at the end of the month.
We are still getting calls for combining, but at least they are a bit closer to home...like a couple miles...so we won't need the camper. Harvest isn't done yet.
But first we have to get the combine home...
View of the day-The combine is back in the yard and finally finished at Balcarres.
Al was up before the crack of dawn to meet Roger in Fort Qu'Appelle, then they were off to Regina and their tables at the Regina Toy show. By the time Marilyn woke up there was snow falling, but fortunately it didn't stick around...the rain did, however.
Before Al left, he discovered that we had run out of propane during the night, so it was mighty chilly in the camper...good thing the fireplace took some of the chill off. When Marilyn finally pried herself out from the warmth of the bed, she got the tanks in the back of the pickup and headed for Melville to get them filled.
When she got back to the farm with the full tanks, she stopped at the house and picked up Jean and headed out to where the combine was parked, to move it back to the yard. Bob had finished the last field of flax last night around 2:30am, which meant his harvest was finally done. Yay!
After getting the combine back to the yard, she figured she might as well get the hoses rolled up and put away. Then it was "take it easy" time as she took the rest of the day off.
After all, tomorrow the camper goes home...
View of the day-Quite a load of ice...about an ice cream pail worth...got cleaned out of the water hose this morning.
After making lunch and getting the hose thawed out, Marilyn had the job of servicing a fueling today. She was on her way to the field around 10:30, but was pretty sure there wouldn't be combining for a while...there was actually some snow pellets that fell. Just enough to wet everything down, but not enough to stay.
While she was waiting for the combine to warm up, she got a text from Jean that the crew was going into Balcarres to have lunch at the rink and she should join them. Just as she got close to town, she got a call that she should go back to the field to pick up Jake, who was just moving over with his combine to help out. After picking him up, we were off to lunch...without the company of his guard dog, who remained in the cab.
After a delicious and filling lunch, we were back at the field, ready to get started. Jake had ridden back with Marilyn and when we got back to the field, the HoneyBee tech was out there with a demo header for him to try out on his CaseIH 8120 combine.
While they worked on the header, Marilyn cranked up and tried to combine to the other end of the field...it took quite a while...it just wasn't ready yet. Undaunted, she plugged along, stopping every 50 feet or so to unplug the feeder house, or pull wads off the reels...and only once to get the feeder chain back in place after it jumped a cog. Since Al had been doing the repair every time it happened before and he wasn't around, she had to figure it out for herself. Must have done it right, because it never happened again.
Around 2pm, it was like a switch was flipped and the flax started going through like a dream and she was off to the races. There were four quarters in a row, with three red machines and a couple of green ones all split up among the fields. That poor cart driver had his work cut out for him, trying to keep all the machines running as they worked so far apart.
By the end of the evening, Al had gotten back from his Regina road trip and had started hauling to the bins. Marilyn finally got finished with the piece she was working on...occasionally going out to pull straw off the feeder drum and reels. It was getting back to the way it had started, but she could see the end of the field and kept on cutting to the end.
We even had snow flurries tonight...
