What a change in the weather. From hot and dry to showers or rain every night. The crops have responded in leaps and bounds. They are all looking good now. We are so fortunate in this area as we had just enough moisture for the crops to hang on until these rains came. Other areas were not so lucky and have no crop. Our heart goes out to those people, as Mother Nature has given them a low blow. They may have done everything right but they have no crop through no fault of their own. That old Saskatchewan saying of “there is always next year” comes to mind.
The only problem with these benevolent rains is some are not benevolent and are storms sent by Da Devil and they are called the Big White Combine. There is nothing more heart wrenching than to have a good crop and get hailed out. Hail has fallen all around us, but mercifully no serious hail has landed on our area. Hail has hit Lashburn and north of Maidstone and I am sure other areas. Farmers need to check their crops if you have insurance. The year I was hailed out, beside my house was fine but a quarter mile away it took out my whole crop. Not nice and not expected. The crop came back, froze and I harvested tough and damp. That is how I got into the feedlot business. The tough, damp frozen grain was unmarketable so I bought steers and they ate the grain. That feedlot paid my bills for several years. I really liked feeding cattle, but soon there wasn’t a dollar in it.
On the home front, the three-ton truck is out of the shop, finally. Different transmission, new clutch, pressure plate and throw out bearing. New pilot bearing also. It is done. The road test is over and it runs and shifts like a little top. I was trying to teach Ty how to do a Tarzan yell, which he should do after a troublesome project. After struggling with a project and finally getting it done, it is very important for one to beat ones chest and let out a roof raising Tarzan yell, as it releases built up tension in the body. A cold beer after the yell sooths your throat and then you are on to the next project. Ty learned a lot doing that job, but he must practise his Tarzan yell.
Jaco is here today. He just got back from South Africa where he was visiting his family. Jaco and Ty are changing out my shop door. After 35 years the original wood is rotten, but the track is still good. Jaco said this track is heavier made than the new ones. That is good because I priced out a new door at these door places and their prices are ridiculous (Redonkulous big time). We have a 12- by 24-foot door. I was able to buy new aluminum clad door panels for about $250 a piece. I needed six of them. There is Ty and Jaco’s time that I will have to pay for, but it is whoopingly less than the door experts were going to charge me. I look forward to at least another 35 years of a good looking door.
I have had an irritating happening with my F-350, 7.3L environmental polluter. I was driving in my hills and it just quit. I had to get son Ron to come and rescue me. He towed me to my shop. Jaco looked at it and we know it is something electrical but it just will not run. The truck is still good, the motor doesn’t burn oil, I have had to fix the transmission last year so it should be good for a while. I don’t know. The truck has 383,000 K on it, the gas mileage is terrible, down in the teens. Should I look for another truck? I am waiting for a practical electric vehicle. One with some range. I swear the car companies are not bringing them out on purpose. I have been looking on the Internet at electric vehicles. There is some interesting stuff there — electric drive Mustang with 800 horses, 650-horse Tesla. I just want one to take me to town and back without a gas bill.
I have three young German guys staying with me at the moment. Our former exchange student Ben and two of his friends. Ben came for my birthday party and brought two of his friends with him. I was the devil’s advocate and got them discussing politics. It is always interesting what other people’s view are. A lively discussion on the bailout of the Greek banks happened. I personally feel sorry for the people of Greece as they have worked, put their money in the banks and now cannot get it out. This bailout is a bailout of the banks not the citizens as they are caught up in a situation they did not cause. Everything Greece produces like olive oil, the fishery, etc. will not pay the billions the bankers want. Sad situation. It could happen to any country with bad government.
I also have two Danes staying here. Stefan who was a trainee here in 2008 and Soren who was a trainee for Keith and Clare Paton. They came for my birthday party. They are staying in the motor home. They cook their own breakfast and do dishes. It is nothing but a pleasure to have these young gentlemen here.
The party Saturday night was as I hoped it would be. There was lots of visiting and food. I can’t thank my family enough as they all pitched in and made things run smoothly. A big hats off to Curtis Sutherland and crew for running the bar. The band played some nice music but there was not much dancing as people seemed to be more interested in visiting. My mother who is 92 and her special friend Dirk came all the way from Victoria. Dirk’s birthday was on the 25th when he turned 89.
I had a special delegation from Peterbough, Ont. — six Howsons and family. I was overwhelmed that they came. My best man in our wedding 46 years ago, Garry Issicson from Yorkton, came. People from all over came. We think there were about 300 people were there. Some were friends I had not met yet and some were old friends. A big thanks to one and all for making the effort to come. I am humbled.
A shocker was my daughter Crystal put together a book of what I have written since I don’t know when. I wasn’t expecting that. She had help from other family members and my wife Beverly. Apparently my wife has stored away almost all that I have written. I was dumbfounded. I am now not allowed to call Beverly a hoarder any more. A big thank you to my children and grandchildren for putting on the party. I love every one of you. Thank you, thank you.
