I already wrote this post once, but apparently while TypePad was moving and when I tried to post it all I got was a whole lot of nothing! Oh well, at least I don't type with two fingers, so it could be worse!
Yesterday afternoon, the Weather Channel started scrolling a "heavy snow" warning for our area. We were supposed to get 12-18" of snow the wind was supposed to kick up sometime after midnight. Woopie! That meant it was time for a quick bonfire!
WS has managed to gather several piles of brush as he has been clearing out the deadfall and fingerling trees from his sled trails. It was dead calm last night, and with snow on the way, it made the perfect time to burn one of the piles. It stareted snowing about 4 and at 5 we went out to perform the burn.
Amazingly the Weather Channel was right, and the winds stayed calm thru the burn. By 8:30, when I headed back for the house, we had accumulated about 5" of snow. I swept off a path across the deck, from the slider to the landing below the stairs. I also swept oof the stair and pathway to the driveway.
I could have saved my energy. When we got up at 5, there was about 20" of snow, and no where could we tell that I had done any sweeping. I let the dogs out and when I let them back in, an avalanche followed them in the door. So I got to sweep the snow out of the basement while the avalanch continued. Eventually I won the battle and we went back to bed hoping that the pathways and driveway would clear themselves.
Alas, that was not to be. We got back up and commenced to snowblowing (WS) and shovelling (me). Again the Weather Channel was right and the wind had kicked up. That, coupled with the very light snow (it was way too cold for the snow to be heavy and wet), meant about 1/2 of everything shoveled blew back to where it had just been removed from. Plus, the white stuff was blowing off the roof onto the deck. WS wasn't having much fun with the snowblowing either.
After a couple hours, we had most of it tamed - to a degree. I then had to go take care of a cat up the road. I sighed with relief that someone had already plowed the driveway. I had visions of it being snow-covered and a burm about 6' high at the end of it. However, that didn't mean that it would be easy to get to the house.
The stage: An old farmhouse at the very top of a hill, with old pastureland all around (no trees or brush), and windy. Oh, and by the way, if it snows, the porch must be swept because a shovel wil mar the paint job.
The result: A snow drift up to my hips running all along the walkway and porch and me spending another 30 minutes or so shoveling and sweeping snow just to get in the door.
I lived, the cat was gratefull for my efforts, and I got plenty of exercise for the day.
I'm just glad I was smart enough to fill the woodrack on the deck yesterday. And WS is gratefull that he got himself a sled for Christmas - he is now out rewarding himself for all the hard work that he accomplished (and well deserved too).
You guys have all the fun. No snow, here-- just cold and wind (but not to compare to yours, I'm sure!)
Posted by: Cop Car | January 23, 2005 at 06:04 PM
With all the snow shoveling you do I could have used you this weekend as I shoveled approx. 4 1/2 tons of dirt and hauled it over to the house.
At least the dirt stayed put where I dropped it.
Hope you have plenty of gas for the blower and the sled. Enjoy.
Posted by: Wichi Dude | January 23, 2005 at 08:04 PM