Income, no profit yet?

Kirk is working diligently on completing this job. He is building 4 safety cages, (2 small and 2 large) for the pumping station at Kettle Point. This will be our first income producing job since we arrived here. Mind you, what money we will make is already spent in more ways than one.

Kirk has his eye on and using a new welder. The salesman let Kirk try it out for two weeks to see how it works. I already know where this is going. We are going to be the proud owners of a new welder. Yes, it does it all and faster too. I just hope the operator can do it all and faster too. Just to catch up to the bills. I shouldn't worry as past experience has shown, we have to spend money to make money. We always manage to succeed in both departments.

Since Kirk is capable in making moving parts like the door hinges and latches it saves on the material expenses for this project. The cutting and welding is moving right along. I think the hard part will be removing old steel cages and moving the new aluminum ones to the location and installation. These things are awkward and heavier than the look. I know, since I helped in setting this small cage outside.

The Fine Line

I was giving Shadow, the old, fat and mean dog a bath. It has been my past experience this is one of the only times she co-operates with me. She likes being clean and really accepts the soapy lather and rinse. As in the past when she get a burr in her fur I lather well which lets the burr slid away with a little pull on my part. Not this time! I didn't even get close to the pull part of the process. She bit my thumb. She did a good job at it too.

I don't want to admit this but I lost it and now I feel bad about it. They say 'there is a fine line between love and hate'. I experienced that first hand. I took her head and held it under the water. I was going to drown Miss Mean. After only a few seconds I came to my senses and stopped. There was a positive result, she let me finish the bath without incident.

I'm trying to learn something from this. It doesn't matter how hard you try to care for something or someone it could come back to bite you.

Victoria Day

For you in the south who may, or may not know, this is a holiday in Canada. For many here it is a long weekend to go camping. I remember doing this years ago. It was wet and cold then and it is wet and cold now. But, you still go camping.

For me, this holiday was the excitement of being busy at work (IGA) and if it would warm up I'll go kill some weeds too. I like and enjoy working where I feel I'm being useful.

Friday and Saturday morning were the best. Laura, lead person in charge, is very organized and carried most of the load due to the fact she is there first, 5 and 4 am respectively. You have to move it to get everything topped, baked while getting bags and printing labels ready for packaging. On this occasion, having the later hours, I arrive at 8 and 7 am concentrating on packaging and display by the time the store opens. It is a routine and it is not. For me it is exhilarating.

Finding myself more of a follower than the leader of my younger past, content with just doing my job to the best of my ability, not wanting to question why? Yet, every once in awhile I get a notion that someone might be interested in how something was done in the past (which could be yesterday) or elsewhere. Wrong. I get this look, which is the same look I use to give when I was their age. 'What do you know?'

Saturday afternoon was an eye opener. After Laura had left I was surrounded by four young veterans of the afternoon/evening procedures of the job. I got the 'What do you know?' look. It was obvious my presents was no longer needed and I left to enjoy the holiday weekend.

The following is taken from world book on reference encyclopedia.

Victoria Day commemorates the birthday of Queen Victoria on May 24, 1819. The people of the British Commonwealth have always celebrated the birthday of the ruling monarch as a patriotic holiday. During the long lifetime of Queen Victoria, her birthday came to have a special meaning. After Queen Victoria's death, people continued to celebrate her birthday to express their loyalty to the British Empire. In the early 1900's, the people of Canada celebrated Queen Victoria's birthday as Empire Day. The name was changed to Commonwealth Day in 1947. Canadians now celebrate Victoria Day and the official birthday of the reigning monarch as a legal holiday on the Monday before May 25.

Cast net

Sharing "how to" ideas is one of Kirk's gifts. He loves to show people an easier way to get something accomplished, built or fixed. It may not always work or be accepted but he is there to help in any way he can.

Some of the items that arrive at his door to be repaired or improved upon are interesting. Yesterday he was working on a homemade gadget that helps let the fishing nets into the water. It was made of a frying pan, car wheel and 2" iron pipe. All these items are very heavy. (It is something you have to see to believe). His job was to make this thing shorter/lighter in weight. At this point, I'm not sure if this was accomplished.

This leads to fishing and catching fish. One thing Kirk is good at is catching bait with his cast net. We have gone fishing many a time in Florida, only to catch bait and lots of it. Kirk introduced his net and use of it to the new customer/friend, Brian. Brian, who is an elected official on the First Nation council was very interested in this new method. I would have thought this is something all fishermen would know about. Guess I'm wrong again, it was new to him. Kirk let him have one of his old nets to practice and play with. I'm sure they will be getting together again soon to exchange more ideas.

NEWS from North Carolina

Sharing a moment and proud to know and be part of their excitement. The following is an email we received and hope we are helping in sharing this news;

So proud I could pop! Eli has graduated from N.C. State with a Bachelor in Political Science.

Elliott is 9 hours away from his degree at App. Elliott’s band is also on the radio tonight (Sunday) on a Charlotte based rock station. Tune in to New Rock 106.5 The End, 9-10:30 PM. If you can’t pick up here go online to www.1065.com and look for the streaming audio link. Listen for “The Influence”.


The Band also made it to the second round of a national battle of the bands called the Zippo Hot Tour. Please go to www.zippohottour.com beginning Monday and under the contest page, vote for The Influence. They need as many votes as possible in the next month and a half so you can vote as often as once per 24 hours, per Email address. If you have more than one address, you can vote once per address.

Also check out band’s official site www.areyouinfluenced.com for pics, music, and other fun stuff.

Thanks!
Norene & Patrick Langford

Relax

Rainy days make you want to just sit and relax. (After an eight hour day of work)

Flying memories

I just got to witness my very own airplane show.
I only say my "very own" because this pilot was doing all the maneuvers over our property. I'm not sure if anyone one else was watching but I was.
It may be that the person was practicing which only makes sense to me because open fields are where I would practice.

I don't miss flying. It is one of those things that I can say "been there done that". I do like watching others fly and doing it well. This person was good. They did things that only a seasoned pilot would do. (Well beyond just practicing a stall and spin). I just hope they come back again to practice some more in the future. I really enjoyed the moment.

Dining out

Dining out is something we very rarely do on our own. It is safe to say "We don't get out much".

It is great to have friends, who drive great distances, find the time to visit with us and insist on taking us out for dinner. We truly had a great time. Enjoyed the company, experienced new foods and hope to return the hospitality soon.

Thank you, Wilf and Sheila for your friendship.

Back in the Saddle again?

This is not my favorite tractor but it sure does a good job. It is big and powerful. It takes every ounce of energy I have to push in the clutch to change gears. I call it my "only go forward tractor". I only use it on the days that my favorite tractor is being used elsewhere.

(I should get a picture of my favorite tractor)

The other day I scared the crap out of myself. I'm going to try to explain the situation. "Time" being the culprit here the field is full of large holes because of lack of time to fill them after a tree is dug. I know the holes are there and watch very carefully to avoid them because it could turn a tractor over in a heartbeat.

My mission is to kill weeds. After hoeing for as long as my back can stand it, which is usually only for 2 to 3 hours, I got brave and decided to till some ground with the "only go forward tractor". Since there seemed to be plenty of open space with weeds that needed to be killed I continued my mission. Soon I found myself getting braver and wanting to attempt going between the larger rows of trees. Things were going well until what looked like a wide row at one end of the field became narrow only due to the spreading branches of the trees. At the last moment I noticed an opening to change rows without trying to stop and change gears. Big mistake.

I hit a hole! I went flying into the dash. Not knowing at the time what just happened my only concern was to keep the tractor from damaging any trees. God being with me, I had the front bucket down low which must have stopped the tractor from turning over. It stalled and I regained my thoughts and realized what had just happened. I wanted to be brave and keep working but I couldn't do it. I got out of the situation, the shakes set in and I put the tractor back in the barn.

I got through this with one large bruise on my leg and a broken spirit. I don't think I'm ready to get back in the saddle again.

Mulch bucket

Another project built and ready to go.
Custom built oversize bucket for a Kubota tractor to move mulch.
Sure hope it works!

Pictures of Gas Tank

I had trouble adding pictures to last post.
So here are the pictures of his stress job.
Tank loaded on truck and delivered on time?

No pressure?

Kirk got a job Thursday to build a gas tank. They need it by Monday. He picked up the material needed in Sarnia on Friday morning and started on it right away. The customer dropped by Saturday to check on the progress. They called at 2:00 pm today. They need it now! And they don't know how to hook it up?

Correct me if I'm wrong. Is Kirk going above and beyond the call of duty here? I understand the concept of pleasing the customer which in turn brings in more business. I feel now he is under pressure to rush for what? Surely, it has to be for more business because I don't think he charged enough for his services. Besides, I know he gets stressed out when he is under pressure.

Blogger problems

Not sure what is happening. I created a post on May 1 and it is not showing up on my blog.
This is just a test to see if this post will show up first or disappear into cyber-space too.
The site where I create these posts, is telling me that all posts have been published. I can see it but it is not showing on the blog.

Then comes the help buttons. You can hang that stuff up. I've yet to really get any help from them. Computers boggle my mind but I can't seem to live with out it. Life is a test and I'm trying to pass.

One Year Ago

This is sort of an anniversary. After a very long nerve wrecking drive towing a trailer with some personal possessions, one year ago today, I returned to Canada at approximately this time 6:00 pm. I was advised at customs that you can't just come back this way? Not sure what that meant. I still don't, other than paper work forever.

The next day I was put on this tractor. No experience at this. I had a crash course in tractor operation and trail and error on digging trees. Nerves were put to the test. The weather was cold. I wore winter coveralls, coat, hat and anything else that I could put on. I thought I was going to freeze to death. What was I thinking. Canada?

Today, I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I got finished killing weeds today, I took these pictures. I missed being part of the crew. Mind you, it was a beautiful day. I'm just glad I get to work there, on nice days. So, I guess I have it made. IGA bakery toasty warm job and sunny day nursery ground control and home control on all the rest of the days. Life is great!