September 30, 2008

View of the day-The old and the new. Marilyn combines next to a few old combines in the farmers yard.

Another beautiful fall day, perfect for harvesting...and harvest we did. Al was dealing with small bins so he had to move the auger quite often seeing as the wheat was running around 60 bu/ac.

We finished the remainder of the first field then moved the combine to the next field...quite a task. The field was a stones throw across from the one we were on, but it was across a creek valley so we had to drive the long way around with the combine. The rest of the rigs were able to get through the 'Pete's Pass' through the valley...very scenic but rough.

Once all the bins were full it was to dark to move the auger over from the bin so we just filled the truck and cart then started a pile on the ground, which is where the rest of it will go now that there are no bins left. We made 100 acres today and quit around 9:30pm.

More fabulous weather to come...

September 29, 2008

View of the day-Al picking up the wheat swaths to make room to park the equipment.

After spending the better part of the morning moving the rigs from the field south of town to one just west of town, we were able to get everything organized and ready to start just after lunch.

Fortunately Al was able to park the truck at the bin in the field and dump into it with the cart when he got a load, which was often since the wheat was running 50+ bu/ac. Marilyn had to go into town for groceries so Al got to take over combining and when she got back, Al had stopped and was preparing to dismantle the front end.

The feeder had been sounding rather noisy in the canola and after tightening up the feeder chain, it had subsided somewhat, but was back to the rattle after 100 acres. Once we had the pickup head was removed we were able to get in to see what the problem was and discovered a roller that holds up the arm of the feeder drum was bent out of shape on one side and missing completely on the other. A call to the Case dealer confirmed they had the rollers but not the bolts, so rather than run for the parts, we were able to find enough washers and bolts to fabricate a replacement. We shortened the feeder chain by a link and once the header was back on, it was running like a top and we were back in the field.

We worked until Al had filled the first of the bins and had moved the auger to the next bin before calling it a night.

After all, it was Monday Night Football...

September 28, 2008

View of the day-The Qu'Appelle Valley has its fall colors on as Marilyn passes through on her way to Moose Jaw.

**By the time we got in from the field last night the internet was down in the camper and the 'tech support' in the house had gone to sleep already, so we had to forgo the entry until Marilyn could get in and fix it up this morning...

Another early day as Al got up to get his grain unloaded and Marilyn took the day off to go celebrate her mother's 78th birthday in Moose Jaw.

Al had to do the combining and hauling on his own for the day. There was 75 acres left and he was doing alright filling everything up then stopping to get everything dumped...until the bin would get full and the auger would have to be moved. It wasn't helping things much that the canola was running over 50 bu/ac.

Marilyn got to get a visit in with her family and of course get a good feed of her mom's home cooking...some birthday for her having to do all the cooking, good thing she enjoys doing that every once in a while to keep in practice. Marilyn had to do some tech support there as well, getting her mom's computer cleaned up and leaving her a few 'cheat sheets' so she could load pictures on her new digital picture frame for all the world to see...well, at least the seniors in the building.

Al had the Sirius radio hooked up in the combine so he could listen to the NFL games during the day, helping him to make the day pass quicker...but not the field. Marilyn stopped in Grayson on the way home to pick up the mail and when she got out of the truck she could hear a snake by the front passenger wheel...well, a leak, anyway, at the valve stem. After getting the duct tape out to rearrange the valve so that the air wouldn't leak as much, they filled it with air and she "drove 'er like she stole 'er" back to Esterhazy.

The plan was to at least get to the camper, but since it seemed to be holding air, she was able to make it out to the field. Since the shop was out there, it wouldn't be a problem to air it back up to bring in to the tire shop in the morning. Al also needed to unload the truck again, so at 9:30pm Marilyn took over...at a time we are usually quitting.

The field seemed to go on forever, but by 11:30pm we licked up the last swath and headed back to the camper...exhausted, but done.

And no internet...

September 27, 2008

View of the day-More colors changing in the valley...not for long with the frost last night and the gusty winds today.

Same day as yesterday as far as most of the day went. Unloading, servicing and combining...the usual. Al had to strategically time his unloading so that he would be able to leave Marilyn combining with an empty truck and cart while he went to Yorkton for the Terriers hockey game...his first of the season.

Al left around 6:30pm and Marilyn carried on combining but came up short of the 100 acre goal, due to the fact that there wasn't any room to put anymore grain. In fact, the General was heaped so full that she had to get the 'box stretcher' out to get the tarp closed. After sitting in the combine for 11 hours, getting up into the box to rearrange the canola was a bit of a shock to the system...time to get back into shape.

Tomorrow Marilyn is on a road trip to Moose Jaw and Al works on his own...

September 26, 2008

View of the day-Canola swathed into...beaver houses...you have to sneak up on them.

Up early to unload, have breakfast and move to the next field of canola. It was another cool wet morning, no rain but plenty of dew. By the time we got everything moved and serviced Marilyn was able to start the outside rounds of the big canola field. This one is yielding better, around 50 bu/ac so there isn't much rest for Al especially with the haul being farther.

It was slow going to start but as the day went on the straw started to break up a bit easier making the beaver houses less of a task to dismantle. Marilyn combined until Al had hauled the last load for the night, then he took over so she could do a laundry run...actually one load...in the house...and she walked.

Not quite 100 acres...maybe tomorrow...

September 25, 2008

View of the day-The neighbors field is done and the canola we are on is not far behind.

Up early again, but it was pretty wet out with the dew, so we got to fit breakfast in again before going out to the field to service. We got a phone call from our Kansas harvester friend from Kenmare, he was finished there and was getting ready to move back to Gettysburg to wait for his fall harvest to start.

Another perfect day for combining and not only were the hawks busy but the ravens had moved in and it was starting to look like a scene from The Birds...they were mobbing up and the rodents didn't have a chance. It was interesting to see how they got braver as they got hungrier...they wouldn't even wait for the combine to go by before dive-bombing their grub and wouldn't move until it was eaten.

We continued on with the canola until the field was finished around 8pm...another productive day without any hold-ups...Al hauled, Marilyn combined...same old, same old.

And the phone is still ringing with people looking for harvesters...

September 24, 2008

View of the day-Al picking up canola swaths. The hawks were making short work of all the rodents we were scaring out of the swaths...couldn't snap a picture without one of them in the frame.

Up early unloading and servicing...Al was, anyway. We got to get eggs in at the restaurant in town...mainly to get a portion pack of peanut butter to put on the trap line Al has to set up in the General...the paper towel is starting to look like lace.

The rest of the day was picking up and hauling canola...no getting stuck, no breaking down...pretty uneventful until we quit at 9:30...a long day.

And so it continues...