While staring out the window yesterday, watching the snow piling up, I said to Tara, super excitedly, “Looks like it’ll be enough to bust out the snow blower!”
It was. And this morning, I did. But then I couldn’t help thinking, what is so exciting about using a snow blower?! It’s big and bulky and difficult to maneuver and the next day your body aches in places you didn’t know it could. And there is no other machine with wheels you push around that elicits the same amount of glee. You never hear anybody say, “Looks like the living room carpet is dirty enough to bust out the vacuum!” Or get excited because the grass in the backyard needs mowing. Why are those things chores while clearing the driveway with a snow blower is such a treat?
I think the snow blower just has a raw power that appeals to my Y chromosome. You fire that sucker up and it rumbles to life, emitting a primal growl. Ease off on the choke, push down on the throttle and you’d better be prepared because that thing bolts forward like a racehorse rocketing out of the starting gate, your entire body vibrating as you guide it down the driveway. I suspect it’s the same thrill bikers must feel when they climb aboard their Harleys.
Plus, the way it shoots snow 20 or 30 feet into the air is pretty badass. You know what? If my vacuum cleaner shot dust and debris into the air like that, I’d be clamoring to vacuum the carpets more often.
And also looking for a new vacuum cleaner, because that would obviously be a major malfunction and totally defeat the purpose.
How much snow did we end up with? About 1/3 of a cat.
Actually it’s kind of hard to tell, because it was windy and we got a lot of blowing and drifting snow. I measured a few different places and it was anywhere between 2.5 and 5 inches. Somewhere in the middle sounds about right. That snow blower pic above isn’t from today, but rather, two years ago. We didn’t end up with quite that much.
Here’s what it looked like yesterday at noon, from the top of our street.
It was our biggest snowstorm since mid-December, which really just speaks to how boring our winter has been.
By the way, if it seems late in the season to be dealing with snow, around here winter is just getting started. March is our snowiest month, and April is a close second. Case in point: Wednesday is looking like a repeat of Saturday. I might get to ride my hog snow blow my driveway again!
Doesn’t mean we aren’t starting to think spring. Today, Tara got her grow lights up in the basement and planted some seeds. Granted, they won’t go in the ground until mid-May, but it’s a start.
Ha. Gardening humor.
A few entries back, I posted pics of her many plants, and a couple of you wanted to know more about the AeroGarden. Check out this bad boy!
This was a Christmas gift for Tara, and we have been blown away over how well all the plants are doing. They’re going gangbusters—especially that dill, which we have already harvested bunches of and used in several dishes. I also made Kung Pao turkey meatballs last week using some Thai basil. Good stuff.
The AeroGarden, in case you aren’t familiar, is a hydroponic growing system. All you do is fill the reservoir with water, add plant food every two weeks, then sit back and watch it grow. The LED lights are on a timer, and can be raised and lowered. Pretty nifty, huh?
You can buy specialized seed kits that come in pods (I got Tara the herb kit); they also sell empty pods that you can fill with your own seeds.
We’ve tried indoor herb gardens in the past without much success, but this has been pretty effortless. And the results, as you can tell, are impressive!
Mark My Words 
That’s cool that your Aerogarden is growing so well. Sounds so easy even I might even be able to make it work.
That is funny about snowblowers being fun while all other large appliance/tool type things–however you would categorize those–are not. Maybe if you had to use it every week it would lose it’s appeal?
1/3 a cat–hilarious. Enjoy your snow!
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You’re probably onto something with the snow blower. I’m sure it would get old after awhile. But I’d be geeking out because I love me some snow!
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Forgot to tell you: I totally went on a Tears for Fears kick after reading your post. Because, after all, everybody wants to rule the world. Ooooh! Classic example of where “everyone” would not have worked in this scenario. It would have thrown off the whole syllabic theme!
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Exactly why I used that song as an example when “debating” my boss!
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Love it! Though she could counter that the sort of writing you’re doing is not lyrical.
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Have you seen some of my poignant ads?!
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I have never been able to comprehend that people actually live where that cold, white stuff falls and stays around for a while. I am impressed with your indoor herb garden, though. I’d love to have cilantro, basil, and maybe some thyme at my fingertips.
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I’m a sucker for the cold, white stuff. Spent too many years living in places with only one or two seasons. As a weather nut, that just doesn’t cut it for me.
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I have several friends who have moved out of SoCal just so they could experience the four seasons (and, probably, lower housing costs) so I understand the draw.
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Cheaper cost of living was definitely a big factor for us, too!
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That’s one impressive air garden. Wow, fresh herbs in the winter. I’m jealous. Our snowblower is a monster, an utter beast and is only used when absolutely necessary. Proof positive things can be too big.
😉
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Ha!
You probably also have a lot more area to cover with yours, I’m guessing.
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I suspect (reads comments above to confirm I’m not the only one) that if you had to use the snowblower VERY often it would be less fun. The aero garden is amazing looking! I might be tempted just for the Thai basil!
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I was already making the stir-fry dish and had forgotten all about the Thai basil. It added a nice, subtle touch though!
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I hope you patent that idea for the vacuum that shoots debris before someone else capitalizes on such an exciting cleaning tool! 🙂
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Well. Sounds like you’ll be my very first customer!
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🙂
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The happiest I ever saw my father was the day he sold his snowblower before we moved to the west coast. Four months later, we were living in Dana Point, California.
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OLFR! Fair point, my friend.
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I feel like I have to say Men and their Toys…
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Not gonna lie: it’s true.
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Deb beat me to it! So I’ll stick to getting excited over that hydroponic herb garden. I am the world’s worst gardener and kill absolutely everything. Himself said he believed I’d even be capable of killing mint. He’s right, I have. I’ve always said the only way I’d keep things alive is to have an automated system, and this sounds like the absolute biz. I shall investigate as my birthday approaches!
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Having grown mint before…and then being unable to rid the yard of it…how on earth did you manage to not let it go gangbusters?!
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I have skills I tell you.
Or it may be some form of witchcraft.
I let others decide 😀
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I’ve officially said I won’t use a snowblower again. Between the noise, the gas smell, and the snow blowing in the face, I’ll just stick to the shovel. My husband uses two different snowblowers and now his leaf blower, so he’s with you on the power trip, Mark!
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Haha! See? It is a guy thing.
I have no problem reaching for the shovel when the snow isn’t too deep or wet. But when it is, we just have too much driveway and sidewalk to cover.
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Love my aero garden!!!. Also now singing shout shout let it all out in my head
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Yeah, I had some Tears for Fears stuck in my head after posting this, too. I feel like I owe you (and me) an apology.
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I’m loving the new Tears for fears album though
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I’ve heard a couple of tracks and they aren’t bad!
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The snowblower is like the toy kids don’t get to play with often enough. Breaking it out has the same excitement as breaking out a barely used toboggan or sled when it FINALLY snows.
It’s been a dry winter for us, too. We usually get our rain in February and we got nothing.
Does Sydney actually like the snow?!
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Oh, Sydney hates the snow. My mom asked me the same thing last night. I’m not (too) ashamed to admit that was a photo opp. To be fair though, she was standing by the door, wanting to go out. We obliged knowing she’d be coming right back in.
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I think you’d make a fine TV weather forecaster. Snowfall that’s as deep as 1/3 of a cat is immediately understandable. I want one of those AeroGardens. It looks like fun.
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Right?! If they predict 3-4″ there’s no frame of reference. Add a cat to the forecast and people get it. If they were predicting “one turtle of snow overnight” I’d know exactly how deep it was going to be the next day. (For the record, not very.)
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Thanks for the in depth part about the Aerogarden. The husband isn’t for it, but when he gets back from AZ I’m going to put your influencer skills to the test and see if I can break him with your post. 🤞
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What’s his objection? It’s pretty set-it-and-forget-it, especially since the lights are on a timer and the water reservoir lasts 1-2 weeks. Just tell him since we have so much in common and I vouch for it, he’ll like it, too! 🙂
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I think it’s because we already have pots of herbs in the house as well as the garden in the summer. I’m still working on him, though. 😉
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I’m a bit shocked to read that March is your snowiest month and then April. I guess I always equate winter with Christmas and the New Year. Love the 1/3 cat snow meter; so cute!
I’ve always read how hydroponic gardening is so effortless and functional; add in the fun lights and it’s almost magical! What a great gift.
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That’s a surprise to most people. In the PNW, winter pretty much ended by Mar. 1 if not sooner!
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