You wake up to visions of loveliness with snow magically falling on the trees. The blowing flakes sparkle in the soft morning light and everything in the forest looks stunning in its covering in white. You wonder for a moment about the birds and the mammals in the woods. Are they okay? Of course they are. Snow is an excellent insulator against the cold.
Over a foot of snow has already fallen as you happily realize that you might just be able to make use of those snowshoes yet this year. But all your winter wonderland dreams get thrown into a snowbank when you realize that the driveway will be in need of shoveling.
It doesn’t matter how much you shovel snow, the task never gets easier. Here in Nova Scotia, the snow often feels heavier than the snow I shoveled back in Ontario. Am I just getting older or is the snow actually heavier here? It’s often followed by ice pellets that make it seem even more weighty if you let it sit for too long.
The job must be done and so you tackle it. Each shovelfull seems heavier than the last, but you press on. Shoveling is great exercise, but you have to pace yourself.
Once the job is finished, a freshly shoveled driveway is something to be proud of. There’s time for just a short break until the dreaded snowplow comes by to fill the end of the driveway. Well, speak of the devil. Just as I’m writing this, he’s made his first pass…
For more information on how snow affects animal life, see Snow Blankets
Text and photographs copyright Amy-Lynn Bell 2010
Beautiful! Most of the time, I kind of enjoy shoveling – as long as I don’t have to do it every day. Of course, I’m only responsible for a few trails to the sauna and birdfeeder and the sidewalk. And yes, Amy, the snow does seem heavier the older I get! 🙂
I enjoy shoveling too Cindy. Could it be because the air seems so fresh and clean after a snowfall?
You caught a very nice snowfall scene. Not only does the snow get heavier, your snow is heavier than Ontario. A lot more water content from the moist Atlantic waters.
I get very light fluffy snow off of Lake Ontario where I live. However, if I don’t clear it when quickly, it soon compacts and gets heavy, too.
Like preparing wood for the winter, shoveling snow does help to warm the body. Yeah, I didn’t buy it when my Dad told me that either. 😉
Ha ha Scott 🙂 Your dad was right. But I’m so glad the work is all done now – even the end of the driveway is cleared.
All schools in the province are closed today with many other cancellations. This is the most snow we’ve had so far this year.
That seems to be a theme this year around the Atlantic coast of the US and Canada. While here in the Snow Belt have had an average winter so far. Problem is it snows each and every day it seems so it still builds up.
I know it’s exasperating to have the driveway end refilled, but I still bless those orange trucks. I can manage my driveway, or at least the essential bit of it, but there is no way I’m shoveling all the way out to US 31.
That is a very attractive view, Ms Amy. Enjoy the fluffy stuff before it turns to slushy stuff!
Gerry, I can’t imagine shoveling beyond the driveway. There was more snow overnight so had to shovel again this morning.
Hi Amy…feeling your pain about shoveling after the snowplow comes by. I’m lucky Barry plows with the tractor. My shoveling jobs are the front porch and the back deck. In the midst of shoveling the back deck these days and it’s hard because the snow is really compressed.
Kathy, are you feeling the pain in the forearms, wrists and back of your legs? The snow keeps melting here but there’s much still left on the ground and it’s very heavy now.
I think you are shoveling harder than I am, Amy. I am a slow slow shoveler. Half the deck; relax for a day. Then shovel the other half of the deck. Sounds like you have lots more to shovel!