Saskatchewan

The laundry is all done, we have slept for two nights in our bed, there weren't any new doctor appointments or calls so we are off---just the two of us.  This time we are heading east out of the mountains and trees and into the flat prairie land of Saskatchewan.  We are going to Saskatoon to see our son and daughter-in-law and their two babies--Maksim and Nicolai  (Maks and Nic).  Taylor, our granddaughter, was away visiting her nanna and family.

It was most breath taking seeing the yellow canola fields against the endless blue prairie sky.  Hadn't see the crazy gophers playing chicken on the highway for a long time.  Here in Calgary we see their city cousins  on our cul de sac hurrying from under one porch to the next.  Our area smells like my grandmothers' attic closets--lots of moth balls.  We seem to think that will keep them away,  haven't seen a gopher lately but my sweaters will be safe.

Our kids have just rented a new place where they are hoping to stay for a loooong time.  We needed to see this place they call home.  The house is lovely with lots of room for everyone and very unique floor plan.  The yard is lots of work.  The last occupants let everything outside go back to nature!!!!!!  We helped cut grass and pull weeds.  It was fun to work outside and help get this place on the road to being ship shape.  The biggest gift and delight of this visit is the fact that God is doing a work in Mike and Cori's lives.  They are working hard at staying on track and finding how the Lord wants them to live their lives.  Lots of baggage and consequences to deal with,- yep---like forever, but loved the determination they have as a couple to  make things right and honor the Lord.  We are trusting that they will not get waylaid in any way.  In the book of Lamentations in the Bible there are verses that say we have hope "Because of God's great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning:; great is your faithfulness."  We are choosing to trust the Lord for Mike and Cori.

Each day we were in Saskatoon we watched the clouds build as the heat of the day became intense.  The wind would pick up and then the driving rain along with the thunder and lightening--usually right after dark.  Loved those thunder storms--don't see that here at home.   But Bob and I both were thinking the same thing--what is the damage to the crops? the hay will have another rain on it, the quality will be so poor, will the hay ever dry.  The cows will be walking in so much mud---they'll all get infections....  

We saw several farm yards where folks were re shingling their roofs, painting and lots of cutting grass on the big ride on lawn mowers.  Waiting for the hay to dry and the crop to ripen you gotta do the fixing and repairing.  We could feel the tension (a wee bit) that we had felt for all those years farming and that is when we decided we should only go east before seeding or after harvest!!!!  

All these thoughts also made us realize how important it is for these retired farmers to go to the "office" regularly whether it be Tim Hortons or McDs.  The times change so much from one generation to another that you need to be able to share with others who "get it"--how the weather affects so much of a farmers life, what the changing seasons mean, how new rules and regulations change what you are doing and how they affect your operation.  We talked to Uncle Henry about milk quota and how that is changing because he shared our passed experiences in the dairy industry.   So each new generation of farmers or whatever occupation we choose needs to have that connection to those who "get them"....Light bulb moment.

We saw, what we are assuming is, a huge farm.  A very large shop with a number of grain bins were situated in a yard--kinda --the grass all around was cut.  There were three big travel trailers with all the pull and push outs all set up in a semi permanent setting.  The big trucks were parked closer to the shop.  Our deduction: this was a new generation of farmers.  They were here to do the summer work, take the crop off and then load up and head south for the winter.  We thought it would be great if it worked--so many variables----they gotta start getting to the office!! and check out prices and when the grain can be moved...sheesh--oh, this generation probably has a lot of that covered by computer, maybe they will only text their cohorts.

Home again, Home again----------------test week for Bob  and the journey continues.