Finally, we got snow. Town got rain; we got snow: the first precipitation in our neck of the woods since Christmas. It began Saturday night and it snowed for the next two days. Big Red, my diesel tractor, and I had our work cut out for us.
The clearing of the snow took me all day. Did it go smoothly?
It did not. It almost never does, and why? Murphy, that’s why; but I’ll get to him and his tricks shortly.
The snow was very heavy and wet – perfect for snowmen and snowballs. Tricky for tractors, snow-blowers, and shovels.
We awoke Sunday morning to a gathering white that didn’t quit. Folks from town said that it was raining there, that only when you climbed up into the hills where we live, did the forest turn white.
So Monday morning, I arose to make coffee and turn on the radio to learn if it would be a snow day from school. It was. Did we let our urchins sleep in?
Nope. They had to accompany Mum and volunteer Leslie, who’d spent the night since she was off school anyway due to exams (she was all through hers), and deal with the morning barn chores while I climbed on board Big Red to begin clearing laneways from barn to outdoor paddocks, to the shaving shed where they fetch the bedding for the cleaned stalls, and to the manure pile where the nights leaving gets delivered.
It began well, this clearing the snow. When the snow is as heavy as it was since the weekend storm, I must choose to use either the bucket that takes a long time or the blower that can cover twice the width.
But, with the snow being so wet and heavy as opposed to the nice dry, fluffy kind, both tractor and blower must work extra hard. Sometimes the weight of the snow is too much for the blower. Fortunately, not this time. I elected to begin by using the blower and everything was going hunky-dory for the first six passes with the blower.
Then, on pass number seven, I noticed no snow being thrown from the blower funnel. Aw, dang! Murphy (of Murphy’s Law) just couldn’t resist. Off I climb to go and investigate.
Nope, the usual causes – sheared cotter pins, was not the problem. Turned out to be four bolts that attach the auger screw to the drive chain.
I would have to put a hold on everything, jump into the truck and head for the Farmers Co-op to get new bolts.
They must have worked loose. But, Laura, my wife, wanted me to drive the quad that is attached to a trailer containing the muck from the stalls to the manure pile and empty same since her arm was very sore.
So, I did that, each time she requested, and spent my snow-clearing time using the bucket.
Meanwhile, the power went off. We lost lights and the pump for water. No znits (electricity) from 10 in the morning until six in the evening.
Laura, and the kids hauled water in buckets from one of the water tubs that serve the paddocks, to fill the pails in the barn.
Eventually, I made it to the Co-op, purchased the bolts, returned and repaired the blower in time for dark. And did I get angry with these typical set-backs? No. During my snow clearing on Big Red, I took time to pause and look around at the incredible scene of a true winter wonderland.
When I finally finished my snow-clearing chores, I re-entered Casa Jones to discover lit candles, oil lamps, and a bright fire in the fireplace giving warmth. Immediately, the power was restored. Murphy had departed.
You can contact Rural Roots by e-mail at [email protected] or by letter at Rural Roots, P O. Box 402, South Gillies, Ont. P0T 2V0.
The clearing of the snow took me all day. Did it go smoothly?
It did not. It almost never does, and why? Murphy, that’s why; but I’ll get to him and his tricks shortly.
The snow was very heavy and wet – perfect for snowmen and snowballs. Tricky for tractors, snow-blowers, and shovels.
We awoke Sunday morning to a gathering white that didn’t quit. Folks from town said that it was raining there, that only when you climbed up into the hills where we live, did the forest turn white.
So Monday morning, I arose to make coffee and turn on the radio to learn if it would be a snow day from school. It was. Did we let our urchins sleep in?
Nope. They had to accompany Mum and volunteer Leslie, who’d spent the night since she was off school anyway due to exams (she was all through hers), and deal with the morning barn chores while I climbed on board Big Red to begin clearing laneways from barn to outdoor paddocks, to the shaving shed where they fetch the bedding for the cleaned stalls, and to the manure pile where the nights leaving gets delivered.
It began well, this clearing the snow. When the snow is as heavy as it was since the weekend storm, I must choose to use either the bucket that takes a long time or the blower that can cover twice the width.
But, with the snow being so wet and heavy as opposed to the nice dry, fluffy kind, both tractor and blower must work extra hard. Sometimes the weight of the snow is too much for the blower. Fortunately, not this time. I elected to begin by using the blower and everything was going hunky-dory for the first six passes with the blower.
Then, on pass number seven, I noticed no snow being thrown from the blower funnel. Aw, dang! Murphy (of Murphy’s Law) just couldn’t resist. Off I climb to go and investigate.
Nope, the usual causes – sheared cotter pins, was not the problem. Turned out to be four bolts that attach the auger screw to the drive chain.
I would have to put a hold on everything, jump into the truck and head for the Farmers Co-op to get new bolts.
They must have worked loose. But, Laura, my wife, wanted me to drive the quad that is attached to a trailer containing the muck from the stalls to the manure pile and empty same since her arm was very sore.
So, I did that, each time she requested, and spent my snow-clearing time using the bucket.
Meanwhile, the power went off. We lost lights and the pump for water. No znits (electricity) from 10 in the morning until six in the evening.
Laura, and the kids hauled water in buckets from one of the water tubs that serve the paddocks, to fill the pails in the barn.
Eventually, I made it to the Co-op, purchased the bolts, returned and repaired the blower in time for dark. And did I get angry with these typical set-backs? No. During my snow clearing on Big Red, I took time to pause and look around at the incredible scene of a true winter wonderland.
When I finally finished my snow-clearing chores, I re-entered Casa Jones to discover lit candles, oil lamps, and a bright fire in the fireplace giving warmth. Immediately, the power was restored. Murphy had departed.
You can contact Rural Roots by e-mail at [email protected] or by letter at Rural Roots, P O. Box 402, South Gillies, Ont. P0T 2V0.
