Need Winter to have Spring

Who knows if it will be a snowy winter. The USA forecasters are predicting that due to La Niña, the sister of El Niño, quite a lot for Northern USA & suggesting that may be the case in Europe.

I don't think the snow blower got used once last winter and so with a bit of trepidation got it out of its shed, dusted it off a bit, some fresh petrol and .....pull. Unbelievably at the second pull she fired up and was ready to go! Cheap 2006 bought Chinese machine! Then added the self-made snow plough which is a lot easier & quicker when there are small amounts up to 10 cm.

Rarely is the actual snow any real nuisance (March 2006 with 50 cm in one night was an exception & hence the blower purchase) but what happens is the sun that inevitably appears melts the surface a bit which then freezes overnight, and you have an ice rink for weeks, especially dangerous for the horses. Our property is very shaded & cold being on the edge of the forest. Added to that the road is about 60 m+ away from the garage, and it ought to be kept reasonably clear for legal reasons if you invite someone on your property whether as a guest or worker such as postman.

So winter can come, we are ready.