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...

November 21, 2009

View of the day-The Qu'Appelle River runs through the last field that Al combined...he made a point of taking pictures today.

Al was up early this morning and Marilyn got to lay in...for a change. Al left for the field around 8:30am and was able to start combining right after servicing and doing the windows. He finished the straight flax and there were a few canola swaths left in one of the fields, so he switched up the headers and made short work of them...he had to change headers anyway, before coming home.

Marilyn was up at Ebenezer for the afternoon, rehearsing and set building until dark...which is at 4:53 this time of year, which makes for a short day. After having a productive rehearsal, it was time to head back to the farm, meeting Al on his way into town for the hockey game. We stopped on the road and got caught up on the day, then went our separate ways...what a difference from being together 24/7 all summer...

So, now it is officially, official...we are done combining for the season. We still have to clean things up and tuck them away for the winter...if that ever shows up.

November 20, 2009

View of the day-Nope, not out of the archives and not getting ready for storage...we, or rather, Al is still combining!

Just when we thought it was all over...

Yesterday Al got a ride down to Grayson to bring the combine home...he was going to road it the 45 miles rather that get the trailer from its winter storage. Al had roped in Brenda to help him out by driving our pickup back to Yorkton...which she started doing as soon as she dropped Al off at the combine. While he was getting fueled up by the farmer, another neighbor came over and asked if he would be able to stay and do a couple of quarters of straight flax...what the heck...and besides, Marilyn has a sewing machine fund that needs a little help. Of course this meant he had to call Brenda to come back to pick him up and by this time she was only 10 miles from Yorkton...she wasn't getting much done, but she did manage to see the countryside courtesy of Al's directions...and that's all we'll say about that.

The weather has continued to be unseasonably warm and dry, so he thought he would give it a whirl...the cutters the farmer had before blew out the wobble box on their header, so Al was a bit concerned that the same thing might happen to ours. He needn't have worried, it was plenty dead and cut like a dream, so with the farmer supplying the trucks and another neighbor joining him in the field with his combine...today turned out to be quite productive.

Marilyn on the other hand was still spending the day working at Staples, then getting home in time to change, eat and head north to Ebenezer for rehearsal for The Wild Guys. We are still three weeks ahead of our first performance, but it will be here before you know it and we will be gone to Edmonton for the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters annual convention the first week of December so that only leaves two weeks to doll things up for the cast and crew...no problem...to quote a harvester we used to work for a long time ago..."as long as it looks good"...and it will...you'll see.

Here's hoping Al gets a few more pictures tomorrow...

November 17, 2009

View of the day-Well, not today...but wouldn't it be nice to be back in this again?

Last official day of harvesting for the 2009 harvest season, and what a day it was record setting high temps. 15ºC/60ºF. It is sort of a sad, yet sweet day when you finish the harvest season.

Al picked up the last swath at 6:03 PM Tuesday November 17th. The farmer was happy to have his harvest done as well. His bins were full and a semi came out and picked up a load from the combine and the farmers truck was full when the field was done. There was still about 500 acres of flax in the area where Al was working he called the farmers but they thought they could finish it up on their own. It is deer hunting season here and the back roads by the fields were quite busy so it gave Al something extra to see.

On Wed. Al put away the grain cart and then he came back home and even with the gorgeous weather, he figured he should put the dozer blade on the tractor because at some point in time we will need it this winter and from past years experience it is far easier to put it on the tractor when you don't have to dig it out of a 2 foot snowbank.

Well as this may be our last entry for a while we would like to say thanks to all of our readers from all over the world and we hope that you enjoyed our daily updates.

God willing we will be back at the harvesting next year. Tentative start of 2010 harvest is May 20 only 183 days away.

But wait...there could be more...