The sun shining through the haze on Tuesday morning

February 19, 2014 – Wednesday

23 degrees/clear/calm (the calm before the storm)

Pentoga Road

I lay in bed earlier this morning mentally constructing what the day ahead should look like and it appears I don’t have time to walk, at least first thing this morning. There’s too much to do while the weather remains good. It’s time to make hay while the sun shines.

I took full advantage of Tuesday’s above freezing weather, the first we’ve had in weeks, but it seems like months or even years. I began by shoveling off the back deck. As I was walking away, a goodly amount of snow slid off the tin roof and covered it again. Once more, I shoveled and was about to finish when another avalanche fell from the roof. I was tempted to get the snow rake and simply clean the entire side, but I had bigger fish to fry, the driveway.

The snow around the deck is beginning to get a bit deep

As I finished plowing the drive, I noticed it was getting narrow, too narrow if we receive as much snow from this coming storm as forecast. Only one thing to do; I cranked up the old Ford 8N tractor, pulled it from the barn for the first time this year, greased the fittings, checked the oil, and began moving the snow banks.

The Ford and I are exactly the same age. We’re twins and as with many twins, are equally ugly. I looked up the serial number several years ago and found my beloved tractor was made in June of 1952, my birth date. So, when it creaks and groans in protest, I can well identify.

It took over three hours to widen the drive. I moved snow banks and dumped several tons of what’s fallen this winter either back further in the yard or took it to the ditch across the road. In the end, I think a person could land a plane sideways in the drive, let alone lengthways.

My attentions next turned to the snow on the maple/wood sheds. Last year, I left the snow on top and when I began the process of boiling sap, the snow melted, water ran down the slope to the back, dripped from the roof, and flowed straight into my fire. I ended up hauling in gravel to raise the level inside the shed so the fire could burn over the puddles and would be out of the mud.

I always think a good offense is the best defense. I put the bucket of the tractor up to the roof and shoveled this year’s snow into that and carted it away so that it might be completely out of the area. More will fall between now and maple syrup time, but at least the first layer is removed.

Brutus and I played fetch for well over an hour before calling it a day. We walked in the house about an hour before Sargie was due home.

We didn’t do much last night… watched a bit of tv and talked. I spent some time looking at seed catalogues. I’ve still not made my orders. That will happen after the weather turns bad in another day or two.

Sargie works late today, her last before she takes a mini vacation of four days. We’re looking forward to her time off. Thursday morning will be busy with appointments in Iron Mountain. Hopefully, we’ll get to enjoy a Chinese buffet before the next winter storm comes galloping in.  Sister Nancy is sponsoring the first annual Mighty Milligan Sledding Adventure this coming Saturday on Milligan’s Mountain if the weather is halfway nice.

I’m going to get on the roof of the living room fairly soon and shovel the several feet of snow from that before it begins to melt and the tin roof gets too slippery. I’m certain the load factor could handle anything Mother Nature throws at us, but I’d rather err on the side of caution.

Removing the snow from the roof on the left, over the living room, is the first project for today

Hopefully, I’ll make it to the dump today as we’re out of garbage can space. All eight are full. First, I have to shovel out the bed of the Man Truck. It seems nothing is ever simple this time of the year, but then, I’m not surprised.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…