The First Blizzard of 2011
The Cleanup Continues

The Sears snowblower service guy arrived yesterday, replaced a shear bolt in the drive axle between a pair of chain-driven gears. The machine works fine again, probably until the next storm, due on Tuesday.  (Jan. 16, 2011)

After finishing up the heavier snow-moving from where I left off the other day, I parked the snowblower beneath the lean-to out back -- and discovered the tarp covering, and especially the new lattice strapping, are struggling to survive.

I got most of the yard cleared this afternoon, ready for the heavy wet snow, sleet and freezing rain forecasted for Tuesday. I've still got some work out there to do in preparation for the weather and sub-freezing arctic cold heading our way.

I managed to clear the path across the yard between Barbara's backdoor and my kitchen sliding door -- but had to dig out the ole chainsaw and fire it up.

I haven't used it in about five years, but it started right up with three pulls, cut through the Arborvitae trunk with ease. With the roadblock removed, I plowed on and cleared most of the remaining paths and parking spaces.

We've got a clear path between houses again. Barbara and Gilly-the-Cat are happy . . .

. . . considering that the path across the front of the house is encased in thick ice, from the downspout and melting roof snow above.

It'll be quite a while before I can get out to Chip Mate, the dinghy on its sawhorses.

Though embedded in thick ice, the pathway from the sliding kitchen door and the kitchen wood rack across the lot to the outside wood supply is clear, and I widened my parking space out front so I can back the Blazer up close.  (Jan. 16, 2011)

With the next storm forecasted to arrive tomorrow -- wet snow 2-6 inches, sleet, then rain as the high temperature today in the teens is predicted to rise above freezing -- I thought it prudent to get rid of more heavy and encrusted snow -- especially where it's still holding fast.  (Jan. 17, 2011)

That weight on the lean-to bothered me most, so I set out this morning to attack it. Getting to and at it was a serious challenge requiring a strategy.

The lean-to was surrounded and buried, encrusted in ice beneath.

With the snowblower working, I used it to cut a trench beneath it, then attacked the weight on the sides and top.

With the trench below, I gradually moved the snow and ice topside, then moved it out of the way over and over with the snowblower.

Done and on the way back, I noted yet another small tree down, this one a sumac. It'll have to be removed come spring.

The sumac, closer view.

While out there with the snowblower running, I figured I might as well finish up the path between Barbara's back door and my kitchen slider.

That Arborvitae branch sure did snap off from the snow's weight. I expect we'll lose another branch of trunk before tomorrow's over.

The path is cleared double-width, but a few of those branches sure do look vulnerable if they don't lose their snow.

Chip Ahoy, alongside the house, is faring well -- but the snow covering needs to be removed with what's in the weather forecast.

It didn't appear to be much accumulation, but it was packed and heavy, frozen solid. I needed a rake turned reverse to pull it off.

That poor dinghy Chip Mate is parked for the duration -- I'm not even going to try going there!

A shot of Chip Ahoy with its snowcover removed, taken from high above on the peak of Mt. Chip Ahoy.

A closer view, with the snow raked off, ready for tomorrow's storm.

If I could just teach them to somehow help, it'd make the outdoor cleanup they so appreciate much easier! Both Ozzie (aka "Slick") and Gilly love it when the paths are clear for them to hunt and play -- and neither cat belongs to me (though they often spend their time here in front of the wood stove)!