The weather has turned to spring with temperatures in the teens and twenties. Thank you Big Guy, we have been waiting! Snow melt out in bushes and fence lines continues. We went to Lloydminster Friday and there is considerably less snow in their fields. We still have 10 per cent snow cover plus every bush.
The severe flooding is over with streams retuning to their banks. The streams will be running for some time as every slough and low spot is full and that will all be draining back into the creek bed. We have had more snow this winter than I ever remember, now we have higher water levels than I ever remember. South of Waseca water ran over the road to the west. So much water came it also ran over the road on the north side. The whole intersection was under water and was very scary not knowing when to make your turn. I have never seen water like that there before.
The town of Maidstone still has the old Highway 21 cut through by the old hospital just before the cemetery. This has been a real inconvenience for anyone having a funeral. They have to go north up to Highway 16, go west two miles, then south on Highway 21 two miles, then back east two miles to the cemetery. Not exactly the time or place for a crop tour or a country drive.
I looked out across my fields the other day. Every rill and low spot was full of water. It will be a quite awhile before anyone ventures out there. Obviously the frost is still in the ground and it has to go before the water can sink in. Then the ground has to dry up.
This year is a good year to see which culverts are inadequate to handle the runoff. Many culverts need replacing as water over the roads is nothing but trouble. Holding water back and having it sit in the ditch just makes the grades soft and the road will punch out. If you increase the water capacity at one spot, larger capacity all down the stream will be needed. Lots of work to do!
One effect of long term snow cover is the snow mold. It seems to take a good rain to wash it away in the fields and lawns. A crop can't seem to get going until the rain washes down the snow mold. Snow mold is also bad for kids and pets. Dogs injest it when they are playing. It leads to them puking. Kids get sick with flu like symptoms. We have a grandson who is sick at the moment. Grandma suggested he and the mother go to the doctor. What does a South African doctor know about snow mold? Here is a prescription for pills, don't take them unless it gets worse. Duh? We live out of town, no pharmacy or doctor on weekend. Double Duh! What mother is going to not give her kid medicine if they are sick?
For those who believe in it, I have a hoar frost rain marked for May 8 and May 11. We will see!
The other day a fella told me that recording hoar frost or looking at pig spleens was just a bunch of hooey. You might as well look at a pile of sticks or gravel patterns in the yard he said. I get that a lot from non believers. They also have no alternative. The local weatherman seems only to forecast a blizzard once it starts. I will just keep recording the hoar frost. I think it is worth while. If he is reading my column to critize my forecast, I have accomplished my job. I don't care, Negative Nelly to you, too!
On May 5, 44 years ago, I took my wife to the Lashburn Hospital. She was having a baby. The nurse met me at the door and said in no uncertain terms "you go home." Well that was fine with me. I am not in the modern crowd where the man has to be there, holding his wife's hand and coaching her when to push. It must have been a late spring. We must not have been in the fields then because I went home and made two loads of feed in the hammer mill for the cows. By three in the afternoon Bev had our first baby and we named him Ronald Robert Hult. As a farmer I considered that baby business a miracle, no seed to buy, no spray needed, he just came.
I see in the paper that my old teammates Rodney Rhinehart and Elwood Ferguson are to be inducted into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. In my youth I played five years for the Standard Hill Lakers. It was a great team and I remember one year losing only one game. Rodney and Elwood were an integral part of the team with many wins due to their efforts. I played only a minor role as my job was more to keep the bats picked up so no one tripped over them. I also made sure the bench didn't blow away in the wind when the other fellas were out in the field. I really enjoyed my time playing ball and I still remember the commradery and fellowship. We had many good times. I still count those who I played with as friends today. My congratulations to Rodney and Elwood, my hat is off for you. You deserve it!
Joke of the week from my neighbor Cheryl. A guy comes into the store and says "This has been a real mother-in-law winter." "What do you mean?" asks Cheryl. "Well," the guy says, "It's like when your mother-in-law comes for a visit and she just won't leave!" Oooh boy!!
My mother-in-law excluded, please!
Victor Hult
