This was our driveway on Monday, after we had shoveled part of it of course. It normally usually only snows here on Vancouver Island once or twice a winter except at higher elevations. We are 1000 feet above sea level and approximately one mile from the Ocean. Sunday there was no snow, Monday we woke up to 1/2 a foot of it. We kind if miscalculated when we moved to a warmer climate. We sold all of our snow shovels before we left Alberta, not understanding that when it does snow you shovel quickly or go nowhere as it sets up like cement very quickly due to the high moisture content. Coast snow is 10 times heavier than fluffy prairie snow. We bought one shovel last year and on Monday took turns five minutes at a time until we had the whole thing shoveled. No, I am not a wimp but in Alberta I could shovel the driveway in 10 minutes flat. Due to the weight of the snow here it took both of us an hour.
The good news? After a day of rain and warm temperatures yesterday there is only a little bit here and there. Now the dilemma, do we go buy a 2nd shovel to have on hand now or wait until next fall?
Well, I learn something new everyday. I just thought snow was snow. Or white crap as we lovingly call it here.
ReplyDeleteThat phrase is used on this side of the border as well lol :)
DeleteOh, that wet snow is THE worst kind of stuff to shift. If you leave it,you're stuffed!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Yes, no option except to get our butts out there and shovel. Glad we did though as neighbors who waited later in the day had rain on top of the snow to deal with which was even heavier
DeleteWe had one of those curved snow shovels that made it easy to just push heavy snow like that without having to lift it. I'm so glad I'm not living in PA right now, but I'm not happy about having to still be wearing my winter coat either.
ReplyDeleteWe talked about getting a shovel just like that, so funny as a local store was just advertising about 10 days ago how they were fully stocked with shovels - I bet not so much anymore :)
DeleteI sort of miss that, but sort of don't! I keep forgetting in Edmonton that when it snows 2 cm it actually sticks around, instead of melting in a few hours!
ReplyDeleteFor your first winter in Alberta you sure got hit hard with the weather, are you sure you don't want to come back to Beautiful BC?
DeleteI would say to look for a shovel on clearance. If you can't find one on clearance, wait till next year. I wish our snow was wetter so it wouldn't blow the way it does. We have too much wind.
ReplyDeleteWe had loads of biting wind in Alberta too - I am familiar with that biting wind that blows drifts everywhere.
DeleteWow that's a lot of snow! Vancouver Island snow is like the snow we used to get in Seattle a quick and sometimes deep amount of snow but at least it is gone quickly and doesn't stay around for weeks at a time! Shovels are still needed though :)
ReplyDeleteWe have kind of decided since this posting that I will wait for a sale on a shovel or try and find one this Spring at a garage sale, no rush as likely now we won't see any more snow until next December.
DeleteDoesn't it kill you how you have to work so hard to shovel it and then it's gone the next day anyway?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest if I didn't have to go to work and get the car out we might have considered it just sit there and wait for it to melt like some of the neighbors did, but for several days leading up to the snow it was below zero, it only warmed up after the big snow so no telling how long it could have been there if it stayed cold
DeleteWishful thinking weren't you? That being said I would be thrilled to only shovel twice per winter!! I would wait til snow shovels go on sale! Meanwhile engrave the one you have with your husband's name :)
ReplyDeleteI like that Idea! I shall also go personalize the lawn mower and weedwacker for him, maybe in gold pinstriping :)
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