[RHClarke]

The sun was shining and the temperature was great! A perfect day to get to the barn to work on the Mistress! Alas! This was not to be. This morning son number three joined me on a trek to the barn - not to work on the truck, but to gather some information for a school project.

On the way to the barn we thought our eyes were deceiving us - it looked like it had snowed in one particular field just west of the village of Sarsfield. Upon closer examination it was found to be a field of snow geese that had decided to drop in for a snack prior to heading to the wild north. So, we snapped a few pics and carried on to the barn.

Jesse is putting a project together on the majestic beaver (castor canadensis) that well-known symbol of Canadian sovereignty. Fortunately for Jesse (not so for Bob), Bob's farm has a few of them hanging around. Jesse asked Bob if we could trek through his back 40 to see if we could spot a beaver. Bob agreed and even volunteered to act as our tour guide.

There are a few streams that run through Bob's property - one in particular really attracts beavers. So off we went. Bob showed us six dams and evidence of beaver activity (freshly gnawed stumps of trees, paw prints in the mud and food caches). We did not spot any of the timid creatures. Bob surmised that they were in their dens which are burrowed into the banks of the stream. We did however find a skull of a dead beaver, which would soon donate its two upper teeth to Jesse's cause.

After an hour of slogging through the underbrush and the mud, we headed back to the barn to do some dentistry on the beaver skull (thanks to Dr. Bob). After both teeth were extracted, Jesse and I headed back to the city with his treasures. He chattered all the way home about Bob's great nature preserve.

Later that afternoon, the better half arrived and I departed for the barn to do some welding on the HUP roof. While some progress was made, I am sure that I would never be hired by the hour or by the reel of wire...I spent about three hours welding and grinding the gap between the original cab roof and the new metal of the HUP's rear end. Pics of the finished work will be posted later this weekend. For the first time in recent history, I left the barn after Bob and Grant departed. The ride home was a bright affair as the sun was just above and on the horizon for most of the trip home. Small price to pay for a great day at the barn!

Photos:
1 - "Snow" in the fields
2 - Snow Geese in the fields
3 - Evidence of recent beaver activity
4 - Jesse and his tour guide at dam number 4 of 6
5 - HUP roof prepped for MIG welding