Snow – ick!

It’s here – has been for a couple of days now… that white, less than liquid, form of precipitation that requires fences to keep it at bay and plans for removal because it piles up. Not that we have had a LOT mind you – but enough to cover the vetch and winter rye that’s covering the garden plots now. We have had some very persistent lake effect snow bands to the west and to the east – but we have been lucky so far. And that’s enough for me…
Last night as the flakes continued to fly and we were working on maybe our 3rd inch of accumulation I decided that the time to procrastinate was past and I should REALLY get out to the barn, store the backhoe for the winter and get the snow thrower installed, tested, and ready for service. So that’s what I did – I donned my brown insulated coveralls and spent several hours out in the cold night moving seasonal implements to the back of the line as I pulled the snow thrower out.
Due to the new easy disconnect lift arms I bought this summer I needed to reverse the lift pins on the snow thrower, then the PTO shaft didn’t want to extend correctly, then – of course – the top link gave me fits. It’s not really me or the tractor at fault here – the 3pt configuration on the snow thrower was fabricated by the prior owner and is a bit of a challenge. And then – of course – the U joint I welded together last year had rusted through and needed to be re-welded. Regardless of the hurdles in the path to completion – the snow thrower is on and ready for another blustery winter of service…
One thing life clearly teaches is that the simple jobs never are – and take any time estimate and at a minimum… double it.