The wind blew all night long and along with the blowing wind comes a driveway full of snow. We have, in years past, cleared our drive a number of different ways. While living in town we had a rather short driveway which was somewhat protected by both the house and a nice stockade fence. We normally got a good running start and drove right on through. Once the snow accumulates too much, the good old fashioned way to clear a driveway is to purchase a quality snow shovel, get out there and set your mind on exercise. (With an ample supply of snow, who needs a gym membership?) Children are, or can be, helpful in this venture. (Buy them a reliable snow shovel too. My kids are out there right now.) A third way to clear a path is to purchase a snowblower. The advantage of owning one of these machines is that you can also use it to blow all the snow in your backyard into one big pile. This pile makes a great snowfort for your kids and all the neighbors will be jealous. (Right, Rachel?) If you are not into moving snow and slush yourself, you can hire someone to plow your driveway for you. This will normally be someone who lives nearby and they will come to clear your driveway in the wee hours of the morning even when there is less than one inch of snow on the ground. You must be willing to pay for this service whether needed or not. Finally, you may want to consider purchasing a multipurpose piece of equipment, like say, a Bobcat. With this dandy machine you can not only clear the snow but push your car right out of the driveway too. And... they do come in rather handy if your vehicle should happen to get stuck in your own yard!
So how did you clear yours today? Did you get out a few shovels and pass them out to your kids, and then have a snow shoveling party?
ReplyDeleteI live in an apartment, so I never have to move snow, except for a time when I was the caretaker; which didn't last long because it worked out to about $4/hour which isn't worth it when you have to clean toilets and move snow. Oh Ick- that reminds me I also had to unclog the industrial size trash compactor with a pitchfork.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, we keep hearing about your snowfall on the news. Hope you are staying warm & dry.
We are staying warm and dry and actually, the bigger snowfall is about an hour east of here. My kids used to go to camp in Oswego, right on the lake.
ReplyDeleteThe snowfall here is more managable! Enough to have fun with but not so much that we don't know where to put it.
It's amazing how much snow they're getting in Oswego!!
ReplyDeleteI used to live in NY and I remember a few huge snow storms. Not as huge as this one however. And I remember shoveling for hours clearing the driveway and just as I finished the snowplow would come along and plow it all back in!!
ReplyDeleteSo did the bobcat push your car into the yard or Dad's?
ReplyDeleteThe bobcat didn't push the car in it pushed it out. The big van was stuck!
ReplyDeleteWow! I feel very blessed to live in the pacific northwest now, we have depressing rain but not that much snow. You seem have a positive attitude and creative solutions, I admire that.
ReplyDeleteYes, Helen, I always dreaded seeing that snowplow coming down the road after I spent so much time and effort clearing the snow and ice out.
ReplyDeleteBeth, I meant you could use the Bobcat to push the car out of the driveway into the road, like if you're stuck... In the case with the van, the tires on one side happened to have slipped off the driveway and onto the grass.
gmjlm2, without a positive attitude winter would be no fun at all!