The Big Event.....And so it Begins

Another busy week has passed us by. Everyday involved working a bit on the garage and a bit getting ready for The Big Event. On the garage front, we got the north (back) side all done and of the east side walls done where our enclosed trailer is going to be housed. We also got the first few panels of steel on the front done, until I ran out of J-Channel which brought that to a stop. 

So, we worked more on the inside putting OSB up on the walls. 

Trim around the garage doors and ridge cap on top of the roof rounded out the week. 

We got some new critters on the critter cam. 

Tanager and a Robin

Flicker

Two Robins and a Red Squirrel having a chat

This was out coolest capture of the week, a bobcat!

I got chastised again for not including dog pictures last week, so here is two of them. The first is pretty funny.... I'll give you one guess as to where the bunny rabbit is hiding...

Here is a picture of Dakota trying to act invisible as she knows she is not supposed to be on the couch! What is not invisible are the "fibers of love" she leaves behind. I am not exaggerating when I say Barb vacuums every day. Anyone who has owned a lab knows what I speak of. If you skip a day all of a sudden you have balls of fur scurrying around the house like they are trying to morph into another puppy.  

But all of that is not why you are still reading this post. You want to know what our big event is. Well, the day is here. Today eight travelers from far and wide are arriving here in South Dakota.  I do not even remember how it all started. Over a beer no doubt, someone must have said "You going to be around next fall? We were thinking of stopping by." or either Barb or I said, "Let's invite a few RV friends to the house next fall" Maybe one of the participants could shed some light on it as my memory is a little foggy. 

Next thing we knew 5 couples were going to converge on our South Dakota oasis in late September of 2025. Steve and Dianne from British Columbia, Dave and Leslie from Alberta, Dino and Lisa from Minnesota. Fulltime RV'ers Steve and Deb, and Harry and Vicki from wherever they happen to be at the moment were all coming to our house! You know how things go, a lot of great plans are made over a few cocktails never to be spoken of the next day. But this plan grew legs and momentum. Over the next few months Barb and I started planning, still not really thinking it was actually going to happen. What to do, what to eat, where to put people?!?! One of the couples (Steve and Dianne) had to back out, but the rest of the crew were making plans of their own, several even changing original plans and jumping through hoops to make it!

The six of us (couples, now 5) met years ago at separate times, but eventually all came together to become good friends. We met most of this crew in Quartzsite Arizona where we wintered in the desert for several years: Steve and Dianne (December of 2014), Harry and Vicki (January of 2016) and Dave and Leslie (January of 2018). Steve and Deb, we met in January of 2015 in Abbeville, Louisiana. A few short weeks later we met Dino and Lisa in Arcadia, Florida. 

You may recognize some of these "characters" from my tall tale; Harry the Dog Hater (and his lovely wife Vicki), Dino and Detective Oliveri (Also known as Onid and Asil in another tale), Chief Roche and his bubbly wife, Leslie and of course who can forget the Forensics Officer, Steve and his Dispatcher wife, Dianne. I think the only two who have not been subjected to my storytelling are Steve and Deb. That just might have to change soon!     

So when we were not working on the garage we were busy cleaning the house. Nothing like having a bunch of people over that makes you clean areas you have been ignoring for months! The garage has probably not been this clean since we moved in. Then as I was sitting on the couch, Barb goes upstairs. Next thing I know she appears in front of the upper-level window! She had opened the bedroom window up there, climbed out of the porch roof and started cleaning windows! 

The next day she asks me to bring in the big ladder and up she went!

Well, we are ready. People should start to arrive sometime after 12:00 today for which will no doubt be a week filled with fun, laughter and debauchery. Barb has a full menu planned as well: hikes, drives, events, games, bourbon, beer and cider tastings.  If I am able, I will give you a recap next weekend, that is if our livers survives...... 

Only in South Dakota

I guess not only in South Dakota, but not unexpected. Yes, the Prepper Show is coming to Rapid City! It is no surprise that South Dakota has more than its share of preppers. In fact, we have one of the few prepper communities in the country just a few miles south of us in Edgemont. Scratch that, I just did some research, it is not one of the few prepper communities in the country, it is THE largest prepper community on the Earth! An 18-square mile former military base, this community consists of 575 bunker homes that can house 5,000 residents.  

If you are interested, or just mildly curious here is a link to one for sale. It can be yours for a mere $100,000! But you cannot just buy it and you are in, you have to be interviewed and approved before you can buy it. They boast having doctors, trades people, farmers, you name it. A diverse community should the zombie apocalypse come to our area. 

I have several friends who lean a little on the "preppy" side; all good people, just a little more cautious than others with stores of food, water, fuel and yes, ammo should the world go to pot. No, I will not be going to the show, I am content with our stores. Maybe one of our friends will take us in as we have some skills that would by useful should the world come to an end. Well, Barb does, maybe they will take me out of pity. 

What other oddities do we have in South Dakota? Did you know that South Dakota is basically two states? Even us SD residents refer to it in such a manner that one geographical feature is basically a border within the state. Hang around here long enough and you will hear someone refer to someone as either a west-riverer or east-riverer. Meaning, what side of THE river do you live on. THE river is the Missouri river which basically cuts the state in half. You will also hear people refer to east-river residents as "flat-landers" as well, as the terrain east of the Missouri is basically flat, which west-river is more rugged. 

Other oddities? Of course, there are the tourist attractions, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park, the Sturgis Rally, but those are not really oddities. Well, maybe the rally is. Oh wait! How about a 140-acre polygamous compound a mere 5 miles from us! Originally founded and built by Jeff Warrens in 2005. Jeff reportedly had 24 wives. Hell, I cannot handle one, who would anyone want 24?!?!? While Jeff is now in prison, the compound is going on live and well. They pretty much just keep to themselves and do not bother anyone. 

Another oddity about our area is that a large percentage of residences do not have water, us included. We have a 2,200-gallon cistern buried in the ground that pumps water into our house. We have to have our water delivered or get it ourselves. While we used to have it delivered, for the past year we have just been getting it ourselves with our 450-gallon tank at the water station in Custer when we go into town. 

That is all the oddities I can think of at the moment. Wait one more, I caught this oddity on one of my trail cameras! Neighbor Jim is about as scary as they get. 

I have a camera on one of his water tanks. Here are a few more captures from each of our tanks.... We are in a severe drought in our area and water is vital to the survival of everything around. It is amazing how many critters we capture using these water tanks not to mention the countless bees and other insects that do not trigger the camera. 

Dove

Jays

Squirrel

Robin

Whitetails

Mule Deer

And of course, the ever-present turkeys

Work on the garage continues. Kevin came over one day to design and show us how to make some wood features for the front. We have them all cut out, Barb has sanded and stained them, now we just have to get them up. Barb insulated and wired her shop; we got two windows and doors installed and I have been working on some metal trim and completing the north side of the building. We have not been hitting it too hard, so progress has been slow. 

Barb has also been out in the forest playing lumberjack jill. She sent me this picture the other day. The biggest tree she has cut down with her mighty DeWalt battery operated chainsaw. 

This coming week will prove to be equally has busy as we have a lot to do before the Big Event! Barb's list of things to get done is competing with mine. Next Saturday will be here before either list is completed, so we are prioritizing. Just 8 days left!

Headed Home!

 Here is an interesting tidbit of information..... Since we have moved into this house, I did not think I had spent a night alone in it. After thinking a while I realized that I had spent 2 nights alone in it when Barb flew to Oregon to pick up Zoey 4 years ago. Barb on the other hand cumulatively has spent over a year alone in that house while I am away at the farm or other places. Kinda of crazy to think about! 

But my days here are numbered, 1 day left. We should finish the last Canola field today as I write this on Monday morning. All of the Canola was sent directly to the elevator.

Once that is done, they need to wait for about two weeks for the chickpeas to finish out. I will of course be gone for that and miss that harvest. 

This past week was another busy one. Cool, foggy mornings prevented us from getting into the fields before noon each day as moist plants just do not go through the combines very well. 

In the meantime, Chris had many other projects for us. Ty was busy cleaning grain. I know I have shown this process in past years, but it is quite amazing taking 9 different pieces of equipment to complete the process. Here is the layout. Starting in the bottom lefthand corner you have the semi (1) that brings the seed to the cleaning area. #2 is the conveyor that moves the seed from the semi into the dump truck (3). The dump truck regulates the flow or speed at which the seed enters the cleaner. As the seed leaves the dump truck, it goes up another conveyor (4) and enters the hopper of the cleaner (5). The cleaner itself is quite the piece of machinery pushing the seed through a series of shaking plates separating seeds and other material by size and weight. The seed that makes it through goes up the last auger (6) and into the bin (7). The waste product will go into the semi on the right side (9). There is another tractor (8) which you cannot see that powers the auger going into the bin by its PTO. 

The entire of process of cleaning a 4000-bushel bin will take up to 10+ hours and once you start, you really want to keep going until the entire bin is done. My job in this process is to fill the input semi (#1) as it empties (about once an hour) making sure the entire process continues without stopping. 

While Ty was doing that, I was lifting empty bins. Unless the bin is on concrete it is going to sink and settle from season to season, so they have to be lifted periodically. If you are lucky, as I was, it will pop right out of the ground using the skidsteer. You then fill it with gravel underneath, do the same to the other side and you are good to go for another season or two. 

Dylan and I also took a couple of hours to clear some trees along a road near one of their fields. The trees were so tight along the road we could not get some of the equipment down it. After talking to the landowners, we went to cutting! We utilized a scissor lift on a trailer to get up to the tallest limbs. 

All of those things before noon each day as after 12:00, it was finally dry enough to get into the fields! Several of us will jump into a semi and ride out to the field. 

Upon arriving I jump into my office.....

Which is where I will remain for the next 7-9 hours watching the combines go back and forth across the field. 

One day I was going down the field when all of a sudden, I was surrounded by hundreds of honeybees! Not sure why, there were no hives near me, but they buzzed the cab for hours. Those little dots in the picture below are only a fraction of the bees buzzing around me. 

Some more sad news this week, DeAnne's mother passed away on Saturday morning. I almost hesitated to call it sad as she had lived a full life and at 89 years old, she had been declining for a bit and is now in a better place. 

So, with that, I made it through another harvest season without any major catastrophes. I did spill a little grain here or there, ran over a shovel and a broom (in my defense, that first picture of the sun was right in my eyes), and a few broken shear bolts on the auger, several on the PTO and other on the swing away winch. I wrenched my back once but that was it. No major breakages or injuries. I think they just might invite me back for another year!

The night I left, Bob, DeAnne and I went to supper in Minot. When we got back Bob washed my truck and I hit the road about 8pm to get a year start on my 8 hour drive. Talk about service!

Now, it is time to go home, see my wife, sit on my couch for 15 minutes before she presents me with a list of things I need to get done in the next couple of weeks before the big event. Big event you ask? Yup, we have something in the works, too early to talk about, but we have some special guests coming in a few weeks that will no doubt be entertaining and terrorizing all at the same time!

À la carte

 That word came to mind this week as I drove the grain cart all week. Bob S. had to go back home for a wedding. That left an opening in the grain cart. I was more than happy to fill that spot as the tractor has air conditioning and with temps in the 90's AC is much appreciated! Despite having them worked on the trucks, not so much at the moment. 

I have reached the two week point at being away from home. This is when I start getting homesick and count the days until I am released from my servitude and am allowed to roam the country free again. At this point, it is unknown when they will let that happen. I am thinking 10-14 days, I will find out more at my parole hearing later this week. 

We worked on wheat most of the week, getting into the field about noon and home about 10ish depending on the moisture levels and humidity. 

Then sunsets here are beautiful. And there is something about watching the sunset from the cab of a tractor that makes it even more beautifuler (that was for all you teachers out there!).

Here is a video of Dylan thinking he is a he-man of sorts. There was a round bale in the edge of the field that was in the way, his 29-year-old ego and brain said, "No problem, I will just roll it out of the way". Not so much!

Holly had a special surprise waiting for us at our last wheat field. She had planned an impromptu picnic in the field! Complete with a grill, burgers and all the fix'ins! All the spouses and kids attended as well. DeAnne, Stephanie, and Sydney. 

We then took group pictures in front of some of the equipment. She is thinking of making it an annual tradition, I think it is a great idea! She even made a Facebook reel about it which you can see here.

After that field was done, we moved on to Canola! Much slower pace for the cart driver. While wheat can be anywhere from 50-100 bushels/acre, Canola is more like 30-50bu/acre meaning I have a lot more downtime between dumps. Same goes for the truck driver too.

Of course, there is always the morning fueling of the combines. One thing I forgot to mention is that sometime while doing that we are also fixing guards and sections on the header. The header is the thing in front of the combine that gathers all the grain as the combine goes across the field. The section are little cutting blades that cut the stalk of the plant and the guards, well they guard the sections from rocks and other debris. Both are constantly getting broken; we often have to replace 4-10 sections a day. 

Meanwhile back in South Dakota, Barb is as busy as usual. Just when I thought we were done with the rock wall outside the house I caught this image of her scrubbing the wall with what appeared to be my toothbrush! I certainly hope I am wrong as I was planning on using that thing when I got home after being gone for several weeks!

When I called her to see what the heck she was doing, she said she was scrubbing the face of the stone with Muric acid where we got mortar on them. I knew she was a compulsive clean freak, but this is taking it to a whole new level! But what there is more. She said she also took everything out of each and every cabinet and cupboard and cleaned inside of them as well. While I think this is a little over the top for my standards, it is also one of the things I love about her!

Yet another day she texted me a picture of a door saying that she thinks she found a door for her workshop on Marketplace, and she was going to look at it. Now everyone knows that Marketplace is full of reputable sellers and women alone should just rush right to strange houses to look at items, right? Well, that is what she did. Next thing I know she is texting me pictures of windows, insulation, heaters, saws, sanders... She said she was going home to get the trailer so she could bring home all the treasures she bought. 

Here is where I knew that I married a strong and capable woman.... (As if I didn't know it already). The enclosed trailer had fallen off the block of the wood holding it up a week before I left and I had yet to put it back up on the block. This means Barb would not be able to get it on the Jeep without getting a hand jack and lifting it up. I called her and explained the situation to her and to her credit, she did not give one sigh of frustration, she just asked where the jack was and went to! Next thing I knew I received this picture of our trailer full of stuff she bought from the guy! I am sure the guy is going to talk about this crazy lady who showed up at his house to look at a door and drove away with a trailer full, leaving $1,000 behind in the process. We needed all that stuff and it would have cost well over twice that much if we bought it new, so it was a win/win for everyone involved. Especially me, as I did not have to load a thing!

Last, but not least, she broke out the log splitter. I had cut down a couple of standing dead trees before I left at Barb's request as she said she might "put up some wood". Next thing I know I get a couple of photos of a pile of split wood and a full wood storage area!

The critter cams this week showed more of the same. Deer and turkeys. Still fun to see though!

A different kind of "dear"! (or turkey depending on your perspective)

I know I get in trouble if I do not include at least one dog picture in a post. This week I have several for you! First are Dylan's two dogs, Nova and Nellie. They just hang around the farm all day waiting for someone to play with them. 

Barb sent me a few pictures of Zoey and Dakota. Zoey is being her usual goofy self while Dakota is more content just being around Barb and sleeping. 

I do have one "Find the Frenchie" photo for you. Why she does this, I have no idea, but it seems to be a trait with Frenchies. If you google "Find the Frenchie" you will see all sorts of images they seem to be peeking around things to see what you are up to!

You know how much I love picking on my "friend" Dino. The last "dog" image for the week is this one I found on Facebook. Now some of you may think this article was doctored up a little bit, but I assure you, it has not and since it is now on the internet it is true. As we all know, everything on the internet is true!

So, if you see this guy walking around your town, run. Run very fast. Well, at least at a fast-paced walk as he is practically an invalid and limps along at pretty much a snail's pace.