Reflections of katlupe: shoveling snow

Showing posts with label shoveling snow. Show all posts

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Snow Is Here Today Gone Tomorrow

We got a lot of snow the other night. Not as much as everyone said we'd get. So that was a good thing, as Martha Stewart would say. Some people said we'd get 40 inches! Not quite. More like 6 inches. That is more my style. I mean, I don't live in Montana! My cousin, Judy lives there and she loves it. But she tells of huge snowfalls and very low temperatures. Not for me, I'm afraid I am too old for that kind of weather. Though, she is older than me.........

New York state gets its share of snow. But after it is shoveled and plowed out, the house is warm and everyone has some food to eat, it doesn't seem quite so bad. Actually when it is really cold, we don't usually get the snow. If it warms up a bit, then it snows. Or rains. If it rains, the rivers in our area flood.

Paths are shoveled the first thing in the morning. That makes the chores easier to do. Then wheeling the wheelbarrow through the snow is much easier if you have a path to follow. The work is not easy. I used to be able to help with some things, but not as much as I used to do. It is hard on my husband, but for now, my son is here with us and he has been a very big help to us. I am lucky to have him!

Firewood is a constant thing if you use wood heat. Cutting the wood from the logs. Then splitting it down so it will fit into whichever stove it is for. The cook stove takes smaller sizes of wood than the big heating wood stove. That stove is a monster and takes big pieces. We fill it up and let it burn.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Fresh Snow Fall Today

This is the link to my new blog. Please read there. I am working on setting up the comments section. I am hoping to keep my blog going and am afraid Blogger might take down this blog as they have taken down some others recently.

The Beauty Of Fresh Snow!

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Working Or Playing In Snow

Shoveling the driveway

This morning was a mixture of thunder, lightning, rain and snow. I guess it gave us a little bit of everything. When I was awakened by a big crack of thunder during the night, I quickly said a prayer to protect my horses, who are out in their paddock during the night. I have learned that you are not safe from it no matter where you are, even in your house.

Georgie Girl was energized by the snow!

Horses are afraid of many sounds and circumstances if they are new to them. Our horses are used to many different things now. Things that used to scare them, do not any longer. They are not afraid of thunder and lightning, but are afraid of wind, since they survived a tornado. They love snow though! I am not sure if other horses love snow the way our girls do.

Dark Shadow & Georgie Girl

This year we did not get as much snow as usual. Maybe we will make up for that now. March 6th and 7th of last year, is when we had our blizzard. It never crosses my mind to think winter is over before mid April. We have had heavy snow in April in past years. So we stay prepared for more snow. If we do not get it that is fine with us. I can't honestly say I hate it. I love its beauty and the sheer quiet it brings to the forest. Of course, I am not the one outside shoveling it. My husband does not like it one bit.

Plowing our road this morning

How you perceive snow, depends on what it means to you. When it snows, do you have to do extra work? Work, such as, shoveling and cleaning solar panels off? Maybe you work a job that involves snow removal? Or do you run, jump, roll, buck and play in it? That's your answer!

Friday, May 27, 2011

I Am Already Thinking About Winter! Are You?

Path from the forest.

Spring, summer and fall are the three seasons of the year that we do our hardest work. We need to make our winters easier around here. Winter this year was very stressful for us. Not that it hasn't been before. It is always stressful for my husband and that makes it the same for me. So I am working from a list this year to get many things done that will make our winter much easier.

Outdoor fireplace area and raised beds

One area that I am working on which I always do anyway, is our food supply. Growing food. Buying food in bulk. Buying locally what I can not grow here for whatever reason. Stocking up the pantry with not only food to eat, but our supplies. Supplies for every day living. Not having to run to a store in winter is one of the ways to make our winter easier.

Outside at last!

My husband is working on getting our wind turbine set up so that will give us more power in the winter. NY does not have much sun to speak of during the winter months. This project also includes the finishing of our battery room and bringing the water into the house. It will be cold water for now, but just having it inside will make a big difference to me. The hot water heater will only be working when the charge coming in is more than we need. Meaning the batteries are at full charge, and instead of dumping it, the charge controller will divert it to the hot water heater.

Pump and solar shower!

Having the water coming into the house means that my washing machine will be able to be used. I will not have to wash laundry by hand any longer. That will be a real convenience for me and I look forward to that. I will still hang the laundry, but during the winter I use a wooden drying rack, and dry it in my bath tub. When it is not dripping anymore, I move the clothes to the upstairs line. Dries great that way. I am happy with it.

Snowfall 2011

One thing that my husband has had trouble with is shoveling the driveways and paths during the winter. He shovels it immediately so it is done for the day. But it is a lot of work! I am not sure what we can do about that. Unless we got a plow for our truck. That may be a thought. I plan on buying the Wovel in August when it becomes available. It is a shovel that looks strange but makes shoveling easier.

I will be posting on these topics as I work on them. What summer projects do you have planned? Do you do anything now to prepare for winter? Or doesn't winter affect you that much? I know when I lived in the suburbs it wasn't such a big deal. But things are changing and everyone needs to prepare no matter where you live.......on a homestead in the Cariboo Valley..........or in a penthouse on Fifth Avenue! Everyone!

Friday, February 25, 2011

Guess What My Day Was Like!

This is what we woke up to this morning!

Beautiful And Peaceful but so much work and stress.

Our backyard this morning!

Snow hung heavy in the trees.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Paths Need To Be Kept Clear In Winter

Backyard

I get tired of talking about cold weather and snow. Then summer comes and all anyone does is to talk about how they hate the heat.......that is everyone but my husband. He loves it and even when we lived in St. Petersburg, FL he would be outside working on our house and yard and never complain. The neighbor lady used to worry about him and would bring him lemonade to make sure he drank something. She didn't have to worry, he always drinks a lot of water.

Path To Barn, Manure Pile & Forest

Our paths have to be kept shoveled out or they get icy and hard to walk on. I would have lots of trouble going down them if that happened. So my husband keeps them clear even if he has to shovel all day. The path going out to the manure pile has to be clear for the wheel barrow. He cleans the barn daily, and never lets it build up. That is when it can become a nightmare. There are some people who don't clean their animals' barns or sheds every day. Then when it comes time to clean it............nobody wants to do it. Poor animals!

Another Path To Barn, Driveway, Mailbox & Pump

We also have to have a path to the water pump which isn't far from the door of the house. Then onto the barn, the drive-way, the mailbox. That is a lot of shoveling! Not to mention the path to the propane tanks in case the fuel company comes to deliver propane. Then the path goes on to the satellite so that if it snows it can be cleaned off. The front path also goes to the generator where my husband fills it with gas and checks it for maintenance. That needs to be easy to get to daily. No matter what the weather is. Hopefully, winter is on the way out!

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