I have not seen much of our woods either last fall or this winter. Deer are super hungry so it would be nice if I could cut some soft maples for them. When they are finished, it goes for firewood and kindling. However, sometimes plans do not work out well. In addition to the weather problem, my second best friend (best is the ornery one) has cancer and has been battling it for almost 3 years. He is weak. His driveway is like ours; that is, like a hockey rink. We have sand, could we get some to him so his wife could walk to the truck and back to the house without using ice skates. You know how it is with friends. And of course he does not know too much about the pain I am enduring at present. So, I get the atv and head to the sand hill hoping I could get some sand on the south slope. Got stuck. Took a while getting out too and wife hollering at me for being so stupid. She thinks I should forget the sand. That was yesterday. Today, I took a gravel shovel to a different spot only this time I walk. There is an old saying about the snow being arse deep to a tall indian. Almost there. It is about mid-thigh deep and we lost a good foot of it last week. Okay, I figure I could get maybe a bucket of sand so headed back to get buckets and/or atv. Got to wondering if I came in from a different direction, perhaps I could get there with the atv. Right. Got stuck. Could not shovel my way out either. Had some appointments in town but when we got home it was time to get atv....and it is snowing. Colder than a well diggers bottom side too. Still can't budge it. On way back to house, the neighbor is outside so my wife hollers at him. He came wading through snow and together we got it out. But then I had to back all the way to the house as there was no way to turn it around. Bull.... So, spring is now less than 4 weeks away. Wood cutting will wait for that and perhaps longer depending upon the weather. Rant over. EDIT: To add to the misery, our road and driveway are so bad when we came home I had a devil of a time turning into the driveway and even hit the snowbank. That snow bank was the only reason I got straightened out to get into the driveway and then it was tough going all the way to the barn. It was the hardest yet for this winter. No damage to car but the air turned blue for a short time and perhaps the neighbor kids learned a few new words.
Take a deep breath and simmer down brother. I know how those things can sure ruffle a fellows feathers. Your heart was in the right place but sometimes the best laid plans of mice and men just don't work out the way we would like. Just keep praying hard for your friend and we'll add him into the prayers we're all saying for you.
I get it. I got the ford tractor and a load of sloppy, muddy, stones and such that pile up at the end of my dad's driveway on the front end loader, went down a small slope into some bottom land to dump it on a pile down there, couldn't make it back up I'm talkin' 4wd, using the bucket to assist, still no luck, too much snow, wet snow, packed down, spinnin' wheels. Shut it down, got the snowblower and blew off a trail up the hill, sticks and mud flyin', then shoveled out around the ford, and finally I got 'er up out of that nastiness. I'm 54 and feelin' it today.
Sorry it hasn't been going well and between not cutting and your friend I wish I could help out. I understand how frustrating it is to not be able to cut in the winter time though! I get totally jealous watching others go out and cut all winter but due to the way our property lies if their is any snow or mud it is impossible to even get the tractor up on the hill safely meaning I have a very short window in the fall that it is enjoyable to cut. There are times where I would give a lot to have a way to cut in the winter,
This winter has been a trying one, that's for sure! My driveway is like a skating rink right now, I don't even like walking on it. This weather is terrible and we have another cold week ahead of us. I'm so over this winter!
Time for more salt here. If it is not too cold tomorrow. Hang in there Sav. Things will probably look better tomorrow.
We lack the snow but the driveway is like a skating rink. Sav, how about some ashes for the driveway instead of the sand.
That's what I use on my drive and it works great. I have had plenty of them this year that's for sure.
We have three 30 gallon galvanized garbage cans for ashes, last year we filled two with the third one 1/4 full, this year the third one should be full by next week.
Sav… you're obviously a good man. Your friend is lucky to have you. You do what you can to help… and that's all anyone can do. I hope your friend is as pain free as possible. Spring will be here soon…
That really sounds nasty! For sure it is easy to picture what was happening. One of those things that would be funny watching if you weren't involved but not so funny at all. Glad you got it out though. At 54 you no doubt are feeling it. Imagine being 20 years older and doing it; for sure not fun.
I'm probably going to do that even if I don't want to. One problem is the length of the driveway so I'll no doubt just spread where anyone would get out of a vehicle and walk to the house. Also, I blocked our turn-around with snow because I had no where else to put it. Now I can't even back in where I left room because if I do, ice stops the vehicle. We'll no doubt have to bring more wood to the porch in a few days so we'll definitely have to do some spreading with either sand or ashes. Wouldn't that be crazy if I went to a neighbor and asked for his wood ashes?! What a winter...
Sav said… "Wouldn't that be crazy if I went to a neighbor and asked for his wood ashes?!" I'm pretty sure if a Hoarder does that, it's illegal…
Dennis I'll bring my big can of ashes up as soon as the motor is back in the truck.... Should be this weekend.
