We may never pass this way again

The scurs and the Weather Eye saw Mother Nature giving us a taste of somewhat wetter fall weather. Will that continue or are we in for smoother sailing? Starting Thursday, mostly sunny with a slight chance of evening rain.

 

Highs in the mid-60's with lows in the mid-40's. Mostly cloudy Friday with a good chance of late day rain. Highs in the upper 60's with lows in the mid-50's. Mostly cloudy on Saturday with rain likely. Highs in the low 60's and lows in the upper 40's. Sunday, mostly cloudy with rain. Highs in the low 60's with lows in the upper 40's. Mostly cloudy on Monday with more rain. Highs in the low 60's with lows in the mid-40's. Tuesday, sunny with highs in the mid-50's and lows in the low 40's. Sunny Wednesday with highs in the low 50's and lows in the upper 30's. On October 31st our sunset will occur at 6:05 p.m. November 1st the sun will set at 5:04 p.m. through the magic of government meddling. On the 5th it'll set at 5 p.m. CST. The normal high for November 1st is 49, and the normal low is 30. The scurs await their spooky visitors on the 31st.

 

Sunday may or may not be the last time we have to change our clocks in the fall. Legislation to change our time to permanent Daylight Saving Time is pending and could make the hassle of changing clocks ahead or back a thing of the past. It has been less of a headache for today's agriculture than it was say 50 or 60 years ago. More dairies across the land meant grumpy cows when their milking schedule was suddenly disrupted. It also meant grumpy farmers when the routine they'd been operating under was abruptly changed. It's still like that at the ranch. The sleepy sheep look at you when they're fed an hour earlier than normal and beller when it's an hour later than normal. Note to our government: Please quit messing with the time. Pass and sign legislation one way or the other ending this folly.

 

Harvest is nearing an end, and we are likely in a good place. As expected, with corn yields coming in well above expectations, on-farm storage has filled up, causing some to haul corn to elevators and to utilize other alternatives.

 

Sitting here writing this column in Canada, watching the snow flurries pass by, it's an indication of things to come.

 

For those of us who lived through the Halloween Blizzard, it heightens the anxiety this time of year to finish any outdoors activities. This has been a storybook growing season for many, and we'll analyze what broke our way to make it happen in future columns and perhaps special edition articles. It was truly unlike any other I've ever experienced and may never see one like it again.

 

As mentioned, am writing this column off-site, from my fortress of solitude in suburban Flanders, ON. The weather has been pleasant, although it sent warning shots across the bow the past couple mornings. A 29-degree low on October 25th followed by 28° the next morning with snow flurries was a clue. In the meantime it's generally been a treat to enjoy the fauna. The only fly in the ointment has been the boxelder bugs and Asian ladybeetles spotted in the cabin. Ruffed grouse were seen near the end of the driveway, reminding me I'm not in Bugtussle anymore. Their brown and gray coloration made them difficult to pick out. Seeing a snowshoe hare changing into its winter attire was a highlight. The ears turning white along with a white underbelly made me appreciate how animals have adapted to this frequently harsh environment. They don't split wood and stay inside away from predators, folks.

 

One of the treasured memories of these ventures north has been the meals and company shared with the Canadian neighbors down the lake. This one was no exception with some of the best walleye I've ever eaten, a wonderful salad and homemade French fries. Topped off with homemade apple pie and whipped cream, it simply doesn't get much better than that. The conversation following the meal afterwards was equally delicious. If we were allowed to implement our solutions to the world's problems as formulated, it would be a better place. Our hosts were so accommodating that, even though they had more company coming, they wanted us to stay a little longer. Good thing we did. Their niece filled us in about the potential for Canadian yak production. Where else on the planet could one encounter that kind of information, let alone experience an evening more entertaining or enlightening?

 

Despite my lengthy absence, upon my return I suspect Poppy will be glad to see me. Hopefully we can return to our routine of watching Adam 12 at bedtime once again. It'll likely involve me falling asleep during the second episode at which time I shut the TV off. The Corgi then repairs to the living room. She must like the white noise created by Barney Miller. There isn't a lot of gunfire or police car sirens, so it's pretty mundane. That or Poppy wants to stay up later and watch The Beverly Hillbillies. Guessing she's a fan of Ellie May's critters.

 

See you next week... real good then.