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I never realized there was an art to snow shoveling until I saw my teen-aged daughters(14 and 20) vainly trying to shovel snow. Of course, they did not have the "advantage" of being born and raised in a snow-weather climate like Wisconsin.
As many of you know, the Portland, OR Metro area has received 20 to 26" of snow over a week's time. In an effort to spread neighborhood kindness, my wife and I "recruited" our daughters to help us shovel out the driveways and sidewalks of several elderly couples on our street.
My daughters have always considered me eccentric(in many other ways we don't need to discuss here) for keeping three sets of snow shovels--a flat-shaped shovel, a C-shaped shovel, and a scoop shovel. Keep in mind that we have some winters out here where those shovels are never touched due to lack of snow.
After talking about ways to plan the shoveling, I was able to show them how each shovel has its own particular strength and weakness for a particular type of snow--powder, slush, and ice. Much of their own learning this week came for "hands-on" experience of course.
No, I won't get on the topic of using snow-blowers. There is definitely some skill and strategy involved in their use. Snow-blowers are a rarity in our part of Oregon because they would hardly be used. You will see them in our Cascade Mountains.
Yes, while you Wisconsites and ex-Wisconsinites shovel snow this winter, take pride in your skill than many other people don't possess!
As many of you know, the Portland, OR Metro area has received 20 to 26" of snow over a week's time. In an effort to spread neighborhood kindness, my wife and I "recruited" our daughters to help us shovel out the driveways and sidewalks of several elderly couples on our street.
My daughters have always considered me eccentric(in many other ways we don't need to discuss here) for keeping three sets of snow shovels--a flat-shaped shovel, a C-shaped shovel, and a scoop shovel. Keep in mind that we have some winters out here where those shovels are never touched due to lack of snow.
After talking about ways to plan the shoveling, I was able to show them how each shovel has its own particular strength and weakness for a particular type of snow--powder, slush, and ice. Much of their own learning this week came for "hands-on" experience of course.
No, I won't get on the topic of using snow-blowers. There is definitely some skill and strategy involved in their use. Snow-blowers are a rarity in our part of Oregon because they would hardly be used. You will see them in our Cascade Mountains.
Yes, while you Wisconsites and ex-Wisconsinites shovel snow this winter, take pride in your skill than many other people don't possess!
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