cold? you don’t know cold til you’ve experienced canadian cold!

IMG_3250So, this is what it looked like when we arrived in Calgary on December 3. It had been close to 60 degrees just the day before at home. I mentioned to someone that I had seen Lethbridge was expecting -27 degrees Farenheit for lows while we were there – they reassured me that was Celsius. They were wrong! The coldest it got was -45 degrees and that was most definitely Farenheit!

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the salt of the earth (video)

One of the events that I have come to really enjoy being a part of is the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters, Inc. convention. It isn’t the warmest location in the world to vacation in December BUT it certainly brings together a lot of great people. And…it shouldn’t surprise you. Custom harvesters (regardless of the country they call home) are a different breed of people – some of the best you’ll ever meet and good to surround yourself with. Jim and I left for Lethbridge, Alberta on Tuesday morning. I waited until the last-minute to pack (like I always seem to do) and Jim set the alarm for 3:00 a.m. The flight left at 6:00 a.m. I went to bed at 1:30. “Good, this will give me an hour and a half to catch some sleep”, or so I thought. I woke up at 2:00 and felt like I had been sleeping for hours. Who knows why I woke up – maybe I was afraid we were going to sleep through the alarm? Tuesday felt like it lasted an entire week. I would catch myself wondering, “did this really just happen this morning”? Continue reading

This is Nebraska Football (video)

“This is Nebraska football!  A tradition filled with passion…loyalty…excellence…accountability…most importantly – family. It’s game day at Nebraska!”

IMG_3293Entering Memorial Stadium

Another field trip. This time with preschoolers. And where do we go? Memorial Stadium in Lincoln – home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Another good day to be a bus driver!

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Ag Day, Ag Nerds & The Hill

One week ago today, I was still battling the not-feeling-so-good problem. I was also on my way to Washington, DC to take part in the festivities surrounding the 40th anniversary Ag Day. I had no idea what to expect. US Custom Harvesters had signed on as an “Ag Day Partner” earlier this year and I was looking forward to being a part of the group of people who are working hard at making the public aware of where their food comes from.

IMG_3037A REAL Irish meal…corned beef, cabbage, potatoes & carrots – and Guinness.

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Ag Day, Ag Nerds & The Hill

One week ago today, I was still battling the not-feeling-so-good problem. I was also on my way to Washington, DC to take part in the festivities surrounding the 40th anniversary Ag Day. I had no idea what to expect. US Custom Harvesters had signed on as an “Ag Day Partner” earlier this year and I was looking forward to being a part of the group of people who are working hard at making the public aware of where their food comes from.

IMG_3037A REAL Irish meal…corned beef, cabbage, potatoes & carrots – and Guinness.

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Combines, Tractors, and so much more – it’s nearly showtime!

For the past week, I’ve felt like a kid on Christmas Eve. I haven’t been able to get a good nights sleep simply because my brain wouldn’t shut down after I hit the pillow. It’s convention time…the Z Crews favorite event of the year!!

rp_20130127-002230.jpgKent standing by the USCHI logo.

There’s always so many preparations for an event such as this. This year is even more challenging because we’ve never collocated our convention with any other show. US Custom Harvesters, Inc. is 30 years old as of April 2013. This year, we opted to collocate our anniversary convention with the AG CONNECT event being held in Kansas City, MO. It looks like it’s going to be one HUGE show! Continue reading

Oh Canada…The End!

20121211-191710I’m fairly sure it was after 9:00 by the time our plane limped towards the runway and left the city lights of Saskatoon in its rear view mirror. Once the plane was in the air, we knew we were finally headed home…hopefully! Continue reading

Oh Canada! (Cont)

img_2571-e1355089099138Ever have to sit in an airport longer than you anticipated? Due to “mechanical issues”, our plane has been delayed from Saskatoon to Minneapolis. Not sure exactly what the issue is…something with tires. No – really! So, while sitting here, I decided it would be an opportune time to update my blog with the latest pictures. Continue reading

Oh Canada!

Being part of the custom harvesting family goes beyond the U.S. Custom Harvesters. Jim and I are in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan for the next several days attending the Association of Canadian Custom Harvesters along with a couple other members of the USCHI board.

We flew in yesterday through a snow storm. A snow storm that concerned the pilot enough that he told us he had received the minimum requirements from the control tower to land and he was going to try to “getter done”. He did. It wasn’t even a rough landing. It took us about 45 minutes, though, to get to the hotel which is usually only a short drive.

Today we have been enjoying the trade show and combine manufacturers. Each manufacturer has their own group of representatives who have also become part of the custom harvesting family. Our Canadian family has done a tremendous job of making us feel welcome!!

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Dutch Oven Pot Roast

One of our very favorite meals in the Z house is a pot roast. As far as the family goes, you can’t get any better than that (well…maybe a good steak).  So, when Mark agreed to cook the meal and I provided the beef, it was a good combination. Something interesting about the roast – it came all the way from Jordan, MT! Yep, we haul hamburger, roasts, steaks and few cube steaks all the way home from Jordan every year. Why? Well because they only have the very best locker in the entire world! We’ve got it down to a science as far as how that frozen meat makes the 2 1/2 day trip without thawing (even when the temps rise sometimes as high as 90+).

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