THERE’S NO DENYING the beauty of Minnesota’s latest snowstorm blizzard, which dumped perhaps eight inches of snow on Faribault. I’m never good at judging snow totals.
Trees iced with snow.
Heavy, wet snow layers upon trees and power lines, creating a surreal world of incredible beauty contrasted against a cobalt sky.
The snow-coated woods behind my house are beautiful this morning.
But beauty will take winter only so far.
From my fenced backyard, I photographed my neighbor, Bob, blowing snow this morning.
Faced with snow removal, I find that beauty quickly fades.
As much as I appreciate the hard-working snowplow drivers, I don’t like digging out the snow they plow onto the ends of sidewalks (shown here) and driveways. Sometimes it can be blown out, oftentimes not.
This storm, my husband and I took a two-step approach to getting the snow off our and a neighbor’s driveways and sidewalks. I initiated the plan Thursday afternoon when I realized Randy would never get the car through the snow at the end of the driveway upon his return home from work. The snowplow had gone by, creating a wall of ice and snow chunks.
Miracle of miracles, Randy actually arrived home at 5 p.m., 45 minutes earlier than usual. The boss said if he had to leave early, he could. He commutes to Northfield, 22 minutes distant, on a good day.
Randy opened the garage door this morning to continue the task of snow removal, phase II.
I had been shoveling for 30 minutes already when my spouse pulled out the snowblower. Our goal was to keep ahead of the storm somewhat. Shovel and blow Thursday and then again Friday morning.
Nearly done clearing our driveway Friday morning.
And so here it is, nearing noon on Friday. The driveway and sidewalks at our home and our neighbor’s place are cleared, were cleared, by 9 a.m.
A scoop shovel worked best for removing this snow. I shovel where the snowblower can’t go or can’t handle.
My back, leg and arm muscles feel it. I’ve shoveled way too much snow this winter.
Snow flies as Randy works the snowblower down the driveway. Fortunately we are not without power, although the lights flickered numerous times Thursday evening.
How about you?
© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
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