It's been a beautiful week of pleasant spring type weather with a little shower Thursday night. It washed down some of the snow mold. The grass is greening up. The trees are putting out green leaves. Oh, things are finally getting beautiful, ah.
On the home front, I have been out heavy harrowing in my hills. It was great to have something to do, but I was left wondering if I was doing much good? Last fall when the chopper broke on the combine we just slid it forward out of the way and continued on. We had 50 acres or so with the straw dropped in windrows. The air seeder will not get through without plugging so I harrowed it. Hopefully that will cure the problem. Only a couple of hollows were damp, but I was able to go right through them. Sloughs are sloughs and I don't harrow in the water! I see my tractor needs a can of Red-tec in the air conditioner. It was quite warm in there.
Weeds are coming nicely. Clumps of foxtail seem to be thriving. Dandelions and Hawksbeard are spreading their leaves trying to get a jump on the neighbours. I'm sure other little weeds are there just starting out, too. I observed all this as I went past at 10 miles an hour from the tractor seat. Good thing my good eye works. I have plans for those pesky weeds and they won't like it. My field is going to be "black" baby "black," I tell you. My apologies to all you zero tillers. I can't help it if you don't know what a beautiful field looks like!
Alvin and his boys got combine chopper that we fixed last winter back on today. We had trouble starting the one combine. Alvin had his little tester out. Power to the electric fuel pump but no fuel coming, no pumpy pumpy. A phone call to Wanda at Agland and the next day the combine is running. Now, we just need to drain the wheat that was trapped in the hoppers and we are in business. Next week I am hoping the ground here is as dry as my hills. I was out here where I live driving around yesterday and in four wheel drive with the truck pinned, I just about got stuck three times. I didn't appreciate the field tour. I'm too old and out of shape to walk. I like to take my truck to where I want to go. If I can't take the truck, I won't go there!
In political news, the audit firm Deloitte has found that some of the less than honourable members were a little loose with the rules and claimed money they were not entitled to. Among the most guilty senators is Liberal Senator Mac Harb who will have to pay back $100,000. He has hired a lawyer and is appealing. Conservative Senator Mike Duffy has already paid back $90,000. Disgraced Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau will have to repay $48,744. The investigation continues on Senator Pamela Wallin's travel allowance. Who is next?
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced another tightening of the rules about who can come to Canada. He plans to not allow family members to come to Canada because they could apply for welfare and become a burden on the taxpayers. This is just cruel to not allow a spouse or mother and father or grandparent to join their family in Canada. In most countries where these immigrants are coming from, it is customary for all the generations to live together under one roof. Is there something bad about that? These guys in immigration can't seem to tell a Taliban from a Pakistan grandmother. They make a bunch of tough rules that keep out honest people who want to work, but let in a bunch of Asian gangs. "He is going to restrict the work visas." What is wrong with him? I think he has been in Ottawa too long! Who do you think takes all the low paying jobs in food services? It is not Canadians!
I advertised for three months on SaskJob for a farm worker. Three people from South Africa, two from the Ukraine, three from the United States and one recruiter from the Philippines phoned. None had a work visa. Not one Canadian even sent a resume or asked for an interview. Give your head a shake Jason Kenney! Get in the real world. We have a labour shortage in Western Canada. You are not helping!
Joke of the week: Two guys were riding in the car, arguing about how to pronounce the name of the city they are in. One said, "Louisville," the other said "Lewisville." They came upon a fast food restaurant, went inside and said to the cashier, "Tell me the name of the place where I am right now really, really, really slowly." The cashier replied, "Burrrrgerrrr-King."
