Pesky Varmint!

I almost got the shot that I wanted. It appears there is a slight (read 4 foot) delay in pushing the button and getting the picture. As long as the bread crusts hold out, I will keep on trying! Maybe I will have to stuff one in the position I want in order to get some critter co-operation.

It's much easier when they just sit and pose! I have to wait for the sun to come out to brighten things up, as it's been snowing for the last two days.

It could be much worse though, and I feel for the folks on the East Coast!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

 It's sitting at +30C (86F) and the humidity is way up there. This is very warm for us. To compound the issue, the mosquitoes are out in droves. I just brushed Biz's face off and already you can see them starting to land. From+5C (41F) the other night to this!

 The horses spent most of the day in the shelter, coming out only for periodic feedings.

 Boots is still on guard, making sure nothing happens to his herd.

Days like this cause a guy to wish for snow! Do you know, it was really too hot to even saddle up a horse, which was my goal early this morning.

All ready to go!

Spring is just around the corner and to get ready, three saddles were cleaned and polished. This one is a used one that we got 7 years ago when we first got the horses.  If bought new, it would likely be in the neighbourhood of $2500.  We got it for  $400 and it has a good many years life left in it. We got one saddle new when we got Biz and it is the most comfortable one we own ( at least for me). It came from EBay all the way from India for a grand total of $250, or about 10% of what the saddle would cost if bought in North America. It was amazing to receive a western saddle from India of all places.

The saddle above was made by Rocky Mountain Saddlery right here in Alberta, and is at least three steps above the one made in India as far as quality goes. Cost was the major issue in buying off shore. Would I do it again? 

When I look at what is available, used, but not abused, I probably would not. There are several reasons for this. 

First is the issue of whatever you pick up, chances are it's made offshore at pennies on the dollar. This is a concern to me as we seem to be battling  high unemployment when a lot of this stuff could ( and was) at one time, be made in Canada, or the United States. The big corporations, being mainly driven by greed, and the attempt to show generous dividends, will get it made where it's cheapest to do so. If this isn't a wake-up call to Unions and Governments, I don't know what it will take to reverse it. Perhaps having Iran cut off oil to Britain and France will set the example of what can happen if an offshore supplier decides they don't like you much any more.

Second is the issue of quality. I remember when Made in Japan meant cheap and shoddy. Then made in China meant the same thing. It continues on through Korea, India, Bangladesh and the rest of Asia.  They caught up and surpassed North America very quickly in quality. It seems that we can't compete in cost or quality on a global basis anymore.

I own an Indian saddle, and own a Korean car, but in future, I will be looking at how to get quality at a reasonable price, with a Made in Canada, or Made in U.S.A. label on it.

I expect that one of these days, our governments are going to equalize the playing field and we will find our dollars worth 60 percent of today's value. Then we can put people back to work in North America.

FWIW

Here are Five Things that I dislike, not in any particular order:

  

 1. 1. Roll backs

This just says to me “ Look, I am still making loads of money, but I’m trying to make you feel good about the over pricing that I have been charging you”. It’s the same thing with 3 cents a litre off gas prices. I really don’t want to belong to your silly club anyway. Just take the 3 cents off at the pump.

2.     2. TV sequences that are to be continued.

 In    In  most cases they don’t say when they will be continued. Tomorrow? At what time? Next week? Or never?

3.      3. Distracted drivers

I am getting tired of near misses by people talking on cell phones, primping in the mirror or in one case reading a book on the freeway. There is hope for this one as the province is implementing a distracted driving law. I guess there is a sequel to this one because I also dislike over regulation. In this case a hefty ticket may boost the common sense level.

4.      4. People who are consistently late.

Sure, everybody is late now and again for a good reason, but showing up consistently ½ hour late for a meeting, church or whatever, doesn't say to me “ Look how important I am”, but rather “See how disorganised I am”

5.      5. The word “Like”

It seem s that almost every person under 20 (in some cases, 30) has to use this word at the start of every sentence, and several times within the sentence. I almost feel sorry for them when they hit the work force and find out that their potential boss considers them illiterate!  


What are some of your peeves? I hate to think that I am all alone out here.