My Aching Shoulders!

We were out of town and got back Saturday.  We had more snow.  So far, we've had about 3 feet just in February.

When we pulled into the driveway, I was VERY disappointed.  I had called someone to plow us on Friday, but it wasn't done.  Our driveway is paved, but shoveling 1 foot of wet heavy snow was not something I wanted to do.  The driveway is over 200 feet long, so I had a lot of work in front of me.  I started on it, and at got a spot shoveled out to allow me to get the car off the street.

I looked at the roof over the back porch.  There was now about 4 feet of snow on the porch roof, with another 4 feet on the deck!  One of the bad things about the new metal roof on the house is that all the snow slides right off the roof, dumping itself onto whatever is below.

I dragged a ladder out from the garage and climbed unto the porch roof.  It is a flat roof, so I wasn't too concerned with slipping (but you still have to be careful).  I shoveled most the snow down onto the deck below.  I then climbed down and shoveled the deck back down to 4 feet.  I went to the front porch and shoveled it's roof.  My clothes were soaked.  The stove got a workout drying my gloves.

On Sunday I shoveled more of the driveway (I would have plowed it, but my yard tractor doesn't have the traction to move 1 foot of wet snow).   I then heard a rumble, and the remaining snow on the main roof dumped itself on the porch roof.  I climbed back onto the roof, and shoveled the 2 - 3 feet of snow onto the deck. I then climbed down to the deck and knocked it back to 4 feet.

Being a glutton for punishment, then went inside and jumped onto the rowing machine.  I needed 17,000 meters to row to finish the 1 million meter goal I set for myself (I row 1 million meters between September and February).  Boy, my shoulders and arms were tired.  I am proud I did it!

I then took a break.  The weather forecast showed it was going to warm up to over 40 degF on Monday, with up to 1 inch of rain.  I then climbed back onto the porch roof to get right down to the thin ice layer to make sure that any runoff would not pool on the roof.

I went around the yard and checked out the scenery.  It was very beautiful.  I checked on the barn, and it was dry inside.

Snow was sliding off the barn.

There was quite a pile next to the old chicken coop (the largest I can remember).

It was quite beautiful outside.

It started to rain this morning.  The water ran off the porch roof with no issues.  We are expecting warmer weather most of the week.  My shoulders need the break (I really don't want to be shoveling the snow off the deck)!

Just another week around the barn . . .

Winter - Part Deux

Well . . .

We are expecting around 1 foot of snow tomorrow.  Just 1 week ago I was cycling.  Now I'll be shoveling snow for exercise!

March is nearly here.  We can expect more storms over the next month.  But I know spring won't be far behind.  Stay Safe!

Got 'Em!

Okay -

If you are faint of heart, read no further.

If you have been following my posts about those sneaky red squirrels, you know that I surmised they were getting into the house.

The wife and I have been spending some time in Vermont.  We had set some traps recently.  Today, my nephew was checking on the place, and found a red squirrel had been caught (yes, I am trying to keep the details to a minimum).

Still don't know how they were getting in, but I strongly suspect there is a gap under the crawlspace on the old addition.  I'll have to find it once the snow is gone.

I ended up catching the red squirrel using a larger trap.  What I still ponder where the other smaller traps I set are . . .

Vigilate semper!

Cabin Fever

We've had warm weather the last few days . . .

... but it didn't last.  I went bicycling the lasy two days.  I even washed my car.  Today we had highs of 20 degF with winds gusting up to 40 miles per hour.   We decided to just go out and have a little road trip.

We drove down to the Vermont Country Store in Rockingham, VT.  On the way, we stopped at one of our favorite taco places.  It has some of the best overstuffed burritos (sorry I didn't take a picture of the food - I was too focused on eating!).

It was a pretty drive.  The snow was just swirling around, though it would become a whiteout when the winds gusted very high.  We visited the Vermont Country Store and looked at their various unique and unusual items.

The trip back was slower.  The road conditions through the mountains were worse, but nothing too terrible.  I actually like driving in the snow.

Based on the weather forecasts, I don't expect to be cycling any time soon.  I guess we'll still have a few more weeks of winter.

I just wish it would stay warm and dry enough so I wouldn't have to wash the car again . . .

Flocks of Robins

As I previously posted, I heard robins about.  Over the weekend we saw a few robins by the side of the road.

I decided to go for a bicycle ride at lunch today.  I went home, put on my riding clothes (and being only 40 degF I still had to wear several layers).  I jumped on the road bike and went out.  It was great.

One of the best things about the ride were the robins.  There were literally dozens upon dozens on the sides of the roads.  As I would ride up to them the would take flight and fly down the road.  I was riding around 18 miles per hour, while the robins would fly about that speed.  This went for miles - me following flocks of robins.  I have never been in a situation like this.  It was pretty magical!

I even saw some turkeys fly across the road.  As I came by the river, there were ice fisherman on the ice.  Pretty crazy - me cycling with a foot of snow on the ground, ice fishermen out on the rivers, flocks of robins.  Mother Nature seems really confused.

Punxsutawney Phil Might be Right!

I heard it yesterday.

The melodic "Peek, tut, tut, tut, tut, tut"

It was the call of the American Robin.

Even though we have 2 feet of snow on the ground, and the highs are only around 20 degF, they are here!

I haven't seen one yet, but I'll keep looking.

Are the robins out where you live?

. . . Wait 5 Minutes!

You've heard the saying . . .

"If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes."

Yesterday was one of those days.  It started out sunny.  The highs were around 32 degF.  We were going to go out, but then it started to snow like crazy (about 2 inches per hour).  We stayed in.  Then we could hear some rattling by the windows.  It was sleet.  We then had some rain.  A few minutes later, we saw flashes if light, and then could hear thunder.  It seemed the thunder just went for many minutes, rumbling through the sky.  It turned back to snow.

This morning we have about another 6 inches of snow to clean up (we had around 1 foot earlier in the week).  Last night's snow was wet and heavy.

I am glad we put a new metal roof on the house and barn.  The snow slides off pretty easily.

I came across this picture yesterday about a barn in Vermont that collapsed due to the weight of snow!

Getting the roof on the house has been a real pain (contractor issues - ggrrrrr!).  But it is done, and with all the snow we have had this year, timing was good!

Waiting

The streams and most rivers are nearly frozen.

The lakes are fairly ice free, but the bays are mostly ice choked.

My kayak waits patiently in the barn.

I can't wait to be back on the water...

Brrrrrrrrrr!!!

Don't get me wrong.  I like the winter.  I like being outside, enjoying the snow, skiing, snowshoeing.  Heck, I even bicycle in the winter.

But when it get below 10 degF, it is too cold.

Yesterday at 4:30 PM (6 degF)

Yesterday at 9:30 PM (-2 degF)

Today at 7:30 AM (-18 degF ... YIKES!)

Today at 6:00 PM (-2 degF)

When I got home from work, the wife told me the cold water line in the kitchen had frozen.  The maintenance man was over and had it going after 30 minutes.  We probably need to let the water trickle all night!  Luckily, it will only get to -3 degF tonight!

Please stay warm and safe.  Watch out for those who might need our help.

Happy Birthday Mom

It's been over 8 years since you and Dad passed away. 

We still think about you all the time.

I'd love to get a great, big hug from you again.

Happy Birthday!

My Morning X-Country Skiing

Step step step kick glide step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step  step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step stumble step kick glide kick glide kick glide . . .

. . .  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide stumble fall oomph! step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick . . .

. . .  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide stumble fall oomph! step kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick . . .

. . . step step kick glide wheee!  wheee!  kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide kick glide step step step whoo.

Dirty, Dirty, Dirty

Can you believe it.  It is January 2nd and I was out for a bike ride.  For more southern readers, you might not think this is a big deal.  But here in the northeast, our typical high is around 28 degF.  Kinda cold for cycling (though I will do it if the roads are dry).  But today, it was around 40 degF.  I just had to get out and enjoy the day.

The roads were wet.  It rained yesterday, and the snow was melting.  The roads were also covered in sand and mud.  The sky was grey.  I rode by the river.  It was still ice-covered.  The farm fields were mostly snow-free.  The snow-melt was flowing in the drainage ditches and gullies.  It is expected to cool off again, and the water will soon freeze.  It may be a while before we see water in its liquid form!

When I got back, I had to clean my bike.  It was very dirty.  I wiped it down and rinsed it off.

I look forward to my next ride.  Just waiting for the weather to cooperate.

Resolutions - How Silly!

I find it somewhat strange . . .

We go through our lives, doing what we do, forgetting to do what we should, doing things we shouldn't, and then . . .

It's New Year's Eve.  We Celebrate.  We Reflect.  We Resolve. 

For 24 hours (or 1440 minutes or 86400 seconds) we stop and think about where we are, where we are going, why, how, who . . .

You read the articles essays from the experts about how most resolutions fail.  We suddenly expect to much of ourselves, and then don't seem to find the time to follow through.  Our resolutions fail.

1440 minutes of reflection (or drinking, or talking, or sleeping, or . . .)

That works out to roughly 4 minutes a day.

Maybe . . .

Instead of waiting around until the end of the year to reflect, we should spend 4 minutes a day to focus.on what we need to do.

Just a thought.  What do you think?

Happy New Years . . .

I Told You So...

We have been traveling a lot lately.  At our daughters for Thanksgiving, traveling for work, Christmas in Vermont.  We keep moving.  We found ourselves back at the farm in NY.  We had to plow the driveway, check the fridge, etc. The farmhouse got a new roof (more about that later).  The barn and outbuildings were fine.  All was good.  I went down the cellar to check on some mousetraps I had set a few weeks ago.  As soon as I started to go down the steps, I felt a crunch.

I won't keep you guessing (and no it wasn't an animal) - it was a pine cone.

Yep - they are back.  I sense the red squirrels are repeating their invasion like they did 2 years ago.

I knew this would happen.  A few weeks ago I posted about a lot of spruce boughs collecting in the yard.  I figured that the red squirrels were up to something.  Some of my readers thought I should just leave the poor rodents alone.  Now I have found cones in the cellar, and the mousetraps got roughed-up!  They were knocked around, chewed up, and even moved 20 feet.  Not the work of harmless little field mice.  The red squirrels are up to something.

For any red squirrels that follow this blog - consider yourself warned!  I am for gunning you.  The traps will be coming out.   Non capimus!

Winter Wonderland

I went snowshoeing again today. It was very cold - around 10 degF.  It wasn't too windy, but there was a steady wind from the east.  The day was overcast.  We expect some snow tonight.

I decided to venture out to the Green Mountain National Forest again.  The Robert Frost parking area was open, so I started there.  I decided to go south and follow the Widow's Clearing trail.  It would be around 5 miles in total.

The woods were quiet.  Because of the grey sky it was somewhat somber.  The woods were cloaked in white, and the trees seemed to have grey bark.

That being said, it was still beautiful.  I came across a small tree that seemed to put any man-made Christmas tree to shame.

Though it was very cold outside, there were still places were the ground was exposed due to melting water.  There were little patches of snow in the clear areas.  Beautiful ice crystals had formed on the snow patches.  They looked like ice flowers.

The rivers are starting to ice up.  In places, the ice was thick and almost blue-green.

After a few hours, I returned to my car.  I pulled by windproof layer off, and found I had ice crystals between the windproof layer and my outer fleece layer.  It was good to get home and enjoy a warm drink.

Merry Christmas

I thought I'd share a few pictures of our tree.  As you may know, my wife and I love glass ornaments.  Here's what our tree looks like.  Enjoy!

The wife and I wish all the world a Merry Christmas and a joyous holiday season.  Peace.

Happiness is a Pair of Tired Legs and A Pair of Wet Gloves

Some of us are 'indoor dogs', while others are 'outdoor dogs'.  I'm an outdoor dog - I need to get outside, even in the winter.  I need the sun on my face, the feel of changing terrain underfoot, the smell of the water and the woods.

As I posted yesterday, we've been real busy with work and the holidays.  Today, I took some time to go snowshoeing.  It was great!

I was planning on starting at the Robert Frost trailhead (part of the Green Mountain National Forest).  It's been a while since I've been to that trailhead.  Unfortunately, this area was closed.  As I was going to snowshoe to the Chatfield trailhead, I drove to it instead and then would hike to the Robert Frost trailhead by way of the Water Tower trails..

I got to the Chatfield trailhead, put on my snowshoes and gear, and started out. It was a beautiful morning. All the woods had a light dusting of snow, the temperatures were around 20 degF, and there was no wind.  The sky was a clear blue.  Beautiful.

I headed down Widow's Clearing Trail.  At first, the trail was bordered by conifers, but as the trail  rose, the trees turned to yellow and white birches.  There were some x-country tracks, but the conditions were marginal for skiing (2 inches of snow over 2 inches of ice).  It warmed up yesterday, and tiny streams of water crossed the trail.  I had to make sure I didn't step in any (not because it would make my feet wet, but the water causes ice chucks to form under your snowshoes - very uncomfortable).  Once as I stopped to take in the scenery, my presence must have unnerved a thrush - it bolted by after I was standing in the trail.

As I climbed up the trail, you could see the snow-covered mountains off in the distance.  I got to the junction for the North Star trail, and then headed down the trail.

I got to the trail junction for the Robert Frost trail, and then headed down to it.  As the access was closed, the trails were untouched.  My tracks were the only ones around.

Periodically, I would stop and just listen.  All was quiet.  You would hear an occasional chickadee chirping.  I circled around the Robert Frost area, then proceeded back to the Water Tower trails.

I followed the trails back, but then turned off onto the Afternoon Delight trail.  Like the North Star trail, there were a lot of areas where the snow cover was thin and there was wet, exposed ground.  As I climbed back up the Water Tower mountain, the snow cover got better.

I got to the junction of the Trepidation trail.  Trepidation is a short, but very steep trail.  It has a grade around 25%. I just step-kicked my way to the top (only about a 150 foot ascent).

Once I got to the top (and caught my breath), I then had an easy descent back down the Widow's Clearing trail back to my car.  I came across a bunch of feathers - looks like something caught a wild turkey).  

In time, I found myself back at my car.  My legs wee tired, and I was drenched with sweat.  It was great.  I can't wait for my next trek.

Maybe 'll see Santa out on the trails soon!

Finally!

I have't been blogging much lately.  Work and travel have been consuming me.  With the holidays, we have decorating, shopping, mailing and cooking to do.  And . . .

I also row 200K meters every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It isn't hard because of the distance (works out to about 7K meters every day), but because time is so precious this time of year.

But I finished it today.  I typically row 10K to 15K a sitting.  Today I just worked through it and did 20K meters.

Now I can devote some exercise time doing other things.  We have snow on the ground at our places in NY and VT.  Maybe I can get some snowshoeing in tomorrow!

Remember, "You rest, you rot!"

My Bucket List

Laura at Simplifying in the South asked me and others to post our Bucket Lists.  A bucket list is the list of things you want to do before you 'kick the bucket'.  Some things were obvious, but I did have to think about this a little.

Here's my list:

See the Northern Lights

Travel to the Mediterranean with my wife

Dance with my grand-daughter at her wedding

Retire early and spend some years doing what I want when I want

Publish something non-technical

See the Grand Canyon and the desert southwest

Revisit all the places I lived

See Yellowstone

See mankind set foot on another planet again

Leave this world a better place . . . 

What's your list?

Found It!

As you may know, we split our time between our home in the Finger Lakes area of NY and Vermont.  Recently, work brought me to Vermont.  I went to the local library in town and rediscovered a favorite book of mine, "The Soul of Lambs - a Fable".  It is a book by a local shepherd / writer / teacher named Don Mitchell.  Don is noted for his Upcountry books, following his life moving to Vermont and raising sheep and his family.  This book is a piece of fiction which explores a widowed shepherds life raising sheep.  It brings out themes about stewardship and the cycles of life.  It really resonated with me.  My daughter worked on the Mitchell farm one spring during lambing season.  While working there one cold night she helped bring a lamb into the world.  What a great experience for her -  and a great memory for me and Mrs. Tractor!    I will need to find a copy for my library.  If you get a chance to read it, let me know what you think!

Enjoy!