Here we are half way through March and the weather doesn’t know if it is winter or spring. One day melting, then next day frozen up again. I don’t mind if spring comes slow. I see no advantage to a big melt then water running everywhere. It looks like we have very little snow left, but my son-in-law went walking out in his field. He was surprised by how much snow was actually out there. Behind every little rise was deep snow and this wasn’t the fluffy stuff. The snow that is out there is almost solid ice. When the weather gets warmer this stuff is going to be pure water. Another factor coming is that March came in like a lamb, so we should expect it to go out like a lion. Expect snow and storms at the end of March.
On the home front, Jaco is busy in the shop fixing. We made a road trip to North Battleford for the gearbox for the blue auger. A business there had a new gearbox in stock for $350. When we went to buy the gearbox the fella holds up two one-litre synthetic oil jugs and informed us that they were $40 a piece and there was no warranty on the gearbox unless I used this oil. At $40 a jug, I told him where they could stick that oil. Considering how much work this auger has done, having to fix this auger is a real sore point for me. When we got home the gearbox got 80/90 gear oil just like any other gearbox on the farm. We also went to Keranda and bought a breather. Maybe if the engineer who designed this auger had a breather on it, the oil would still be in and I would not have had to buy a new gearbox. Over-priced, over-engineered and under-sized, that’s what we get for farm machinery these days.
Jaco now has the gearbox installed. He has a new sprocket and chain on the top. The auger had an oil leak on the motor and it was always dirty. He washed it off and used the air compressor to blow it clean. After running it 15 minutes, he determined the leak was coming from the crankshaft seal. This was a bit of a kink as the flywheel had to come off. With these motors a person has to be careful as the coil for charging the battery is behind the wheel. Some had the coil that provides spark behind there too. A motor will not run without spark. I told Jaco that, but he already knew all that. It is nice to be able to hire someone with experience. The flywheel proved to be difficult to get off, but it finally came. The wires to the coil were all frayed off so that has to be fixed. Keranda had the seal, so it is just a case of putting it all back together and that auger is done. It can go back out to machinery row. The little caster wheels for the mover are all flat and off the rim. They need fixing before it goes to machinery row.
On our road trip to North Battleford, we took my 7.3L environmental polluter. It sang to us all the way down and back. It was in two-wheel drive with the hubs turned out so I don’t know what the singing was all about. Jaco greased the drive line and we need another road trip. We knew we had a universal joint going. Upon investigation, we found the front left universal joint was gone. Jaco now has it in the shop and has been to Keranda for the parts. Hopefully, it will be back together and running by tonight.
In politics, Stephen Harper has caused somewhat of a tempest in a teapot. In speaking in the House of Commons, he stated almost all Canadians were opposed to wearing a niqab during swearing in to become a Canadian citizen. He stated the practice is offensive and contrary to Canadian beliefs. He said the practice comes from a culture that is anti-women. Justin Trudeau stated the prime minister is encouraging prejudice against Muslims. Thomas Mulcar stated Stephen Harper’s comments where race rhetoric. The media was right on it, too. Every anti-Harper critic came out of the closet and got on social media to criticize Harper’s statements. One wearing a shawl over her head and a Montreal t-shirt asked if she wasn’t Canadian? It is my opinion Stephen Harper is right on the money. If “I” was prime minister of Canada, I would pass a specific law. One that would state every person would have to show their face from the neck up and be bare-headed for the driver’s licence photos. Every person should show their face from the neck up and be bare-headed for their passport photo. Every person should show their face from the neck up and be bare-headed for in-court proceedings and Canadian citizenship ceremonies. That is not too much to ask if you want to be a Canadian.
I like to wear my John Deere hat. I wear it all the time. I do not wear it when I go to church or go to funerals. I do not wear it if I go to court. I do not wear it for my driver’s licence pictures. I do not wear it for my passport photos. Is it too much to ask that new Canadians have the same respect for our traditions that we do? If you want to become a citizen, embrace our culture. Become part of it. Become a real Canadian.
The wheat continues to move slowly, but the price at the coast is $7, $8, $9 per bushel. The people buying it know they either buy that wheat or they will go hungry. Our farmers are getting $5 to $6 per bushel. Is a dollar a bushel in there for the railroads? Who got the rest of the money? The farmer has spent a lot more money to grow that crop than the elevator companies did to handle it. As many farmers have had to sell their crop to pay bills, the elevator companies have kept the price low and have taken advantage of the farmers. When can we expect fair prices for our good quality grain?
Jokes of the week from grandson Victor Mendez (10), “What is a snake’s favorite sport? Curling.”
“Why did the golfer wear two pairs of pants?Just in case he got a hole in one.”
Victor Hult
