I almost Lost my Boots Getting you These Pics, so you Best Appreciate

It's cold, but not too cold, snowy, but not too snowy, and gray, but not too gray. A pretty average U.P. day. Bits had a wellness appt. and on the drive along U.S. 2, I noticed a woman in her late 60s/early 70s bundled and running a snow blower along her driveway. You know what my first thought was? I wanna be her when I grow up. Second thought? I really like her snow blower.

The day was pretty good for the boy formerly known as "Cranky Babes". Unfortunately, I don't think he quite knows his world is about to chance (for the better). He's gonna have to quit the paci and drop the pants to learn to use the potty. To prepare my Baconator, I buttered him up with a clearance Take-Along Thomas toy and splurged for a big boy Thomas toilet seat. It's going to be a bumpy ride, I'm sure, but he'll appreciate it when he's 20 and not still sucking on a paci and peeing in a diaper.

A few of you wanted pics of snow depth. About 22" the yard stick reads, but I warn you this is in an average spot, not like the front yard which gets all the sidewalk and driveway snow shot out from the snow blower. I snapped a few fun pics and am mentally preparing myself for my next three lighthouse paintings involving, rust, paint, and bolts (hence the attraction to rusty painted bolts, covered in snow).

Don't say I never gave you anything. I nearly lost the boots off my feet when plunging through the snow, and I had to do a whole new pants, fresh socks exchange when I got inside.

Please Ignore the Smell, It's just me, the Abominable Snow-Removal-Woman

It's official, I caved. I have officially used the man machine (a.k.a. the snow blower). Who knew a loud, smelly, rumbly machine could become a necessary tool of the snow removal trade.

I was whining about wet snow yesterday and hoping for light, fluffy snow today. Well, I got my wish in the form of about 6-8 inches. Man, I need to be more specific. Surprising fact is, the powder type is not so much fun to remove when you get a bunch of it, and you're already aching from the previous day's encounter.

Bits and I geared up and removed our normal duty area: steps, sidewalk, and parking square. The mounds where I throw my scoops of snow are gaining in such height that I now have to lift the snow shovel above shoulder height to discard. Not cool , not cool.

Mike has to finish grading exams and getting grades in today, leaving an undetermined time when he'll be home. Normally, I say, "Husband, the driveway and area in front of the garage is your responsibility," but my care for him won over. Seeing all that needed to still be done, and knowing how tired he probably already is, I grabbed the funny red key, read the directions carefully, and took "Spitter" for a walk.

The snow blower was very handy, sped up the removal time, and saved some wear and tear on this old lady's muscles. Although I could do without the smell of exhaust in my hair and clothes, I think I may just make another date with "Spitter" and can see this turning into a beautiful friendship.

Don't even Try Without Your 4WD

A bunch of you reading this got the same type of snow storm and winds we received up here. Mike's school was canceled.

We had a least one foot of snow to clear, if not two feet. Mike pulled out the snow blower, I watched inside, warm and toasty. Mike came in a couple times frustrated by the contraption. I blamed it less on the machine and more on the grass/cement combo driveway and the fact he was trying to push through two feet of snow. After steaming a little bit, he tried again with the snow blower and was much more appreciative when using it on the cement parking area and sidewalk next to the house. It clearly was not an easy job by any means, especially with the wind blowing all the shot out snow back onto Mike.

When Bits went down for his nap, I geared up and headed out to help. We hand dug out the driveway in front of the garage and the two porches on the house. By the time we completed clearing all of this, we had another two inches fallen on all our cleared areas. By this morning, drifting snow has put additional accumulation on the sidewalks and driveway. I'll try to tackle this while Bits takes today's nap.

I tried to make a run in the Jeep to the Post Office. With 4WD engaged, I made the short, treacherous journey into our small downtown. I pulled onto the P.O. street, and the parking was not cleared enough where I thought it'd be a good idea to stop (it'd be really silly to get stuck, just to drop off letters). So in essence, I risked my safety for a whole lotta nothing.

So, here's the deal. This snow seems almost appropriate for successful snowman building, but here's the new problem. The snow is so high, I think Bacon would get lost in it. I'm going to attempt to build a snowman (or two) and when they're built, bring him out to help put on their features.