I thought it was about time for a new youtube video from Roosty6. This old Mercury truck belonged to my uncles and last ran over 40 years ago. Its home now but I have not made much progress on it yet.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Statistics
I think Mark Twain had it right about lies and statistics . I made the mistake a while back of actually by passing my answering machine and picking up the phone. Wouldn't you know if was somebody from Statistics Canada wanting me to participate in a survey on employment.
Really , what a poor source of information I am. The nature of this self employment called farming means some days I work maybe 15 hours while others I might not work 1 hour. Winter time on a grain farm is a pretty slow time. The big herd of 8 cattle might take an hour of my time, some days less, some more.
So when the nice statistics person calls up to ask the questions on my work hours for the past month it is a really wild guess on my part.
Time spent driving the tractor pushing snow, running the grain vac to load grain, lining up the auger to unload fertilizer. All work. Driving to town to pick up grain cheques and pay the fertilizer bill. I guess that would pass for work too. But do I deduct the hour spent talking to a neighbour outside the post office from the total?
Helping cut firewood on the weekend definitely felt like work but I doubt it would qualify as part of my self employed farming career.
Really, some days I am sure that the lazy farmer works harder than I do.
Really , what a poor source of information I am. The nature of this self employment called farming means some days I work maybe 15 hours while others I might not work 1 hour. Winter time on a grain farm is a pretty slow time. The big herd of 8 cattle might take an hour of my time, some days less, some more.
So when the nice statistics person calls up to ask the questions on my work hours for the past month it is a really wild guess on my part.
Time spent driving the tractor pushing snow, running the grain vac to load grain, lining up the auger to unload fertilizer. All work. Driving to town to pick up grain cheques and pay the fertilizer bill. I guess that would pass for work too. But do I deduct the hour spent talking to a neighbour outside the post office from the total?
Helping cut firewood on the weekend definitely felt like work but I doubt it would qualify as part of my self employed farming career.
Really, some days I am sure that the lazy farmer works harder than I do.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
A Hard Way To Gain Ground
Thats my dad standing beside the water flowing from the floating slough pump we just set up on the slough in the background. It may be relaxing to watch the flowing water but it involved some hard labour getting everything set up . It was the spring of 1979 and likely a couple of weeks before spring planting judging by the remaining snowbanks.
That big flat slough in the background covered some pretty productive soil that would only grow bulrushes if we could not get it dry enough to seed a crop. I don't recall how successful it was but it was always a gamble pumping out these sloughs. Hours of setting up and pumping could all be literally washed away by a heavy rain storm that would flood the land again.
The floating pump was one heavy unit to carry out into the water. Wearing hip waders and sinking in the mud at every step. On a windy day you needed to get that long length of light plastic collapsible hose anchored down or filled with water before the wind took it and twisted it up in a tangle. Every few hours (or less) you needed to walk out into the water with fuel for the engine.
Nowadays that slough is probably about twice the size it was in 79. I just drive around it, plant what I can and hope for a return to normal moisture conditions one of these days.
Monday, February 15, 2016
I Saved 147 Dollars
At least that is what statistics say and they don't usually lie. The average guy spent $147 on his wife/girlfriend/significant other for Valentine's day this year. So not having any of those I now have some extra cash to spend on something. Maybe a Phantom drone similar to the one used shooting this amazing snow pushing video shot this January in Washington state.
Or maybe new brake cylinders for the "legendary Mercury"?
In other news, it is raining in some parts of Oregon according to weather forecaster Bud E. Shepherd.
Sask . weather continues above normal temps and below normal snow. I don't hear anybody complaining.
Or maybe new brake cylinders for the "legendary Mercury"?
In other news, it is raining in some parts of Oregon according to weather forecaster Bud E. Shepherd.
Sask . weather continues above normal temps and below normal snow. I don't hear anybody complaining.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
The Things You Find
When you are looking for something else. I figured the bill of sale for the 52 Mercury was long gone but guess what I turned up today? Its all there right down to the serial number. Only thing missing is the mileage.
Surprising to see you could buy a good used 7 year old Mercury for $800 in 1959. Although using the inflation calculator from the bank of Canada that sum would be equal to $6529.03 in 2015. But that $800 was pretty hard to come up with in 1959 as the document indicates a $300 down payment and the balance financed through GMAC payable one year from the date of purchase. Money was scarce raising a family on a small farm in those days.
Surprising to see you could buy a good used 7 year old Mercury for $800 in 1959. Although using the inflation calculator from the bank of Canada that sum would be equal to $6529.03 in 2015. But that $800 was pretty hard to come up with in 1959 as the document indicates a $300 down payment and the balance financed through GMAC payable one year from the date of purchase. Money was scarce raising a family on a small farm in those days.
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