Tag Archives: snow shoveling

Take This Job and Shovel It!

I fight the lawn all summer and the snow all winter.  I often say I prefer the winter, because it MIGHT snow in the winter while the grass will DEFINITELY grow in the summer.  Of course Mother Nature has to prove me wrong.  There has been no maybe about snow this year; it snowed.  While a neighbor has been very kind about snow-blowing my front walk and driveway on occasion, I feel I should take responsibility for my own home.

White on white hurts my eyes. Just to whine a little more, what a kvetch I am!

I remembered to take a couple of “before” pictures before I shoveled and pushed the snow this morning.  We had not gotten all that much, but I thought it was well to stay caught up.  Additionally, I need the exercise.  I was delighted to find that the snow was the white, fluffy kind (see, I don’t just complain!).  I started my car and brushed it off, then took on the driveway from the road on in.

The problem is there is not much space to put the snow I move out of the driveway.  I try to pile it on the growing banks but cannot keep some of it from running down into the road or sidewalk.  At least the banks are not over my head, and so I count my blessings.  I backed the car out and parked it in the street and tried to clean out where it was.  Full disclosure:  as winter wears on, I park my car closer and closer to the sidewalk.

After.

You can see my car across the street.  It is the one with the wipers up in the air.  I also tried to clean a space for my trash and recyclable container.  They are actually supposed to be kept out back, out of sight, but I was unable to clear a path that far.  At least I got them out of the mailman’s way, and where I hopefully will not hit them with my car.

One does what one can.

I did the usual shovel-width across the front.  I wondered how much I was really accomplishing, as the snow continued to fall.  Then again, it is easier to clean off a smaller amount twice than a huge amount once.

Looks like a Christmas card!

I took a shot to show the snow coming down like a sonofabitch.  I like to describe things as “like a sonofabitch.”  It actually tapered off as the morning wore on, so perhaps I will not have to bear winter’s brunt again tomorrow.

 

But Truman Capote Didn’t Shovel the Driveway

I did venture from my house on Tuesday but did not take any pictures.  Today I have further adventures in mind, but I spent a certain amount of time shoveling my driveway and did take a couple pictures, so I will do a Pre-Adventure Snow Shoveling post.  I guess that is not a regular feature for Mohawk Valley Girl but I beg you will bear with me.

Monday, of course, was the terrible day of shoveling, with the snow all the way up to my bumper.  The bottom of the bumper, but still.  I am just a  crazy old lady with very few muscles.  I shoveled in two parts Monday.  Today I hoped to accomplish it in one.  Really, there was a lot less snow and most of it was at the bottom of the driveway where the plow had pushed it (I know they do not do these things on purpose).  I huffed and puffed and got it done, lamenting that the road is becoming narrower and narrower as the snow banks pile up.

White on white makes it a little hard to see.

The sidewalk plow had gone by at some point, but more snow had fallen, so I attempted to make a shovel’s width, which I consider the Reasonable Man Standard (an insurance guy taught me that expression).  I wanted to take a picture of what a lousy job I did on the driveway, but I was not sure it really showed.

I ponder my experience.

I took a selfie for entertainment purposes.  Also because my Melfi’s hat gives a shout-out to a local business.  Melfi’s shoes in Mohawk, NY is where I used to get my work shoes, when I used to work.  Now I am one of those people who Just Don’t Want to Work.  You can be polite and say I am retired.  I know I am lazy.

Apparently I was not too lazy to make a blog post of over 300 words (oh yeah, like sitting here typing is such an effort) (as Truman Capote once said, that’s not writing, that’s typing).  Now I must rouse myself further and try for a Mohawk Valley adventure.  We’ll see how I do.