Thank Heaven For Andy...

 

We purchased this property in the fall of 2016, and moved in the spring of 2017.  We brought our yard tractor from Florida, and then purchased a second larger tractor with a bucket and mower attachments once we got here. Most of the time, they serve us well, but in the winter, no one moves snow like Andy.

Every snow day, he gets out his truck with a snow plow attachment. He takes the first pass of his drive as he heads to our neighbor, Mary Jane's down near the south end of our road. She's the first drive he clears. Then he heads back north and clears Connie and her husband's drive. Once he finished there, he comes to our place, which is where his in-laws used to live. Thankfully, we're still on his route. He moves all the snow that accumulates on our drive, and when I'm here alone, he will frequently shovel the walk and garage approach, or help me to do it. After he leaves here, he finished his drive on the way home, before he puts his truck away until the next time.

This last big storm, we got a whopping twelve inches of snow in a twenty four hour period, with more that came in the following twenty four hours. Then the winds came up and moved all the snow into drifts across our drive and yard. In some places, it was thigh-high on me. Even though we had shoveled our walk so the dogs could air out when they needed to, there was absolutely no way Handsome and I would ever be able to move all that snow in one day, let alone a few hours. Andy to the rescue. Rather than bring his plow truck this time, he'd planned ahead, attaching a huge snow blower to his big tractor. Seeing him come down his driveway got me all teary-eyed.

 

 

He traveled his usual route, and then started blowing as he came up our driveway. The bad thing about a snow like this was that our ground wasn't fully frozen, so there were iced areas under the snow, where his wheels just turned with no traction against the snowbanks. He got frustrated that he "couldn't do a better job", but we were beyond grateful that he accomplished all he did.

At one point, as the guys were talking in this picture, I opened the front door and called out to Andy to tell him how much we appreciated his help. He responded with his usual, humble "No problem", but I said thanks again, and told him (with a choked, emotion-filled voice) that it meant the world to us. I went back inside before he saw me in tears. It really did mean the world to me.

When Handsome came in for a bit, he asked me if I was starting to cry when I said thanks to Andy. I said I had. I also told him how grateful I was that he was home instead of in Florida. I told him being snowed in for multiple cloudy days was bearable because I was with him. Alone would have been too lonely for me. I guess I just didn't realize how much it meant to me that he wasn't in another state until just then. 

I told him that when he goes, I just put on my big girl panties and do what needs to be done. I didn't come from "whiner stock", and I consider myself a strong, strong-willed woman. I do it so he can do what he loves...making music. I wanted him to know, though, just how much I appreciate the strong, protective men in my life, and in this instance it wasn't just my husband. It is also the man who lives with his kind and generous wife up the hill from us.

After Andy moved so much of the snow drifts and cleared our drive, Handsome got out our tractor and moved what was too close to the buildings for Andy to get to. We also have a blade on the back that Andy loaned us last year "just in case", and it's come in really handy. He helped my husband put it back on last week, anticipating the storm. Handsome can pull snow away from the buildings with the blade, and then scoop it up with our bucket on the front. After another hour or so, the yard was again passable. 

Of course, the wind blew snow around over night, but that was more easily dealt with. The ice underneath is another matter, so after being holed up for the weekend (we've been home since Thursday because the heavy snow started before daybreak on Friday), we'll need to get out this morning for sand and salt to cover and deal with the ice. We have a ten foot long slab of quartz arriving this afternoon to be installed, and I don't want a single thing to interfere with that!

As an aside, as the temperatures dropped in the minus category, the barn girls were allowed into the house. As soon as the temps rise above zero again, they can go back to their cozy accommodations in the barn, but for now, they're safe inside.

Poor Tag and his short legs will be here to chat with you tomorrow, but I'll have lots of photographs to share on Wednesday. By then, the counter will be installed, the plumber will have completed his work, and with the possible exception of the electrician, we should be wrapped up on the project.

I just wanted to be sure that I wrote a special tribute to a wonderful man, neighbor, and friend today. Thanks for indulging me - and a million thanks to Andy for his kind, generous, and gracious heart. If it weren't for him, I sometimes wonder just how we'd get along here at the end of the road. He really is a gift in our lives.

Gotta Love A Farm Boy...

When I went to bed on Wednesday night, it was still snowing and blowing. We'd already had about 20" of snow dumped on us, and the yard was blanketed in a thick blanket of white. I wondered whether or not to cancel an overdue oil change for my Explorer, but I thought I'd wait until morning to see whether or not I'd be able to get out.

I awoke to the sound of heavy equipment. It didn't sound like the county plow, so I got up and looked out the window. Andy had brought out his big tractor with the rear snowblower attachment, and it was already shooting snow in a huge plume off his driveway.

By the time I got my act together and got dressed, he'd already finished two other driveways on our road, and in his usual circuit Hickory Hill Farm was the last stop on this route before he made the final pass back up his own driveway.

All the snow in the foreground of this picture is actually what built up on the roof over our big porch. I took the image from the second story, (new) studio window. Even so, there was at least 19" of snow that needed to be moved, and where it drifted, it was even higher. There's no way I would have been able to get out onto the road the way our drive looked before Andy came to the rescue.

I gave him the loaf of bread I'd made for him and Shelly, thanked him profusely, and went and got dressed into proper clothes for my appointment. Thanks to our friend, the driveway was cleared again...until last night.

It was still snowing when I went to bed, and another 2" or so had fallen on the drive. The wind was driving against the house, and the temperature had dropped. Time to take down the "Let It Snow" snowflake door decor on our front door. I've had enough now.

Thanks to Andy for being such a considerate neighbor. I couldn't have moved a foot out of the garage without his help. I'm serious. You've really gotta love a farm boy.

This Area Is Next...

This is the regenerated honeysuckle that used to reside next to the staircase on the old wooden porch. I moved it next to our big pole barn/garage right before the old porch demolition, and prayed that it would survive the move. It looked more than a little rough last year, but this year it's back like gangbusters!

This area was mulched a couple years ago, and has pretty much gone renegade since. It's the next area I/we'll tackle. Handsome loves that dang weed wacker, but the problem with that is it doesn't leave much to grab onto to pull weeds/grass. I'm going to be getting down on my (ouch) knees to get the leverage to clean this all up. I'll train the honeysuckle onto the fence rails while I'm at it. It's worth it. The fragrance for this bush is heavenly! I may do some research on propagating this, too. I'd love to have it growing along the front of the house, too. Once this is all weeded and tamed, we'll put dark mulch here, too.

These galvanized tubs and livestock sink all have history. Andy found the double, curved front sink for me after we first moved here. I usually plant tomatoes in it, but this year I did onion sets, lemon grass, and lemon balm (for jelly). 

I found the square sink - filled with auto parts - in Dad's garage. I knew it would be coming to the farmhouse. I brought it home, scrubbed the sink, and left the stand as is. I'll probably give it a clear coat or even clean up and paint the base with Rustoleum in the same creamy color. I have thyme, rosemary, and I forget-what-else growing in it. 

The two round-bottom tubs were just purchased at an estate sale. The person running the sale actually lives with her husband in our first farmhouse/home. It's the place where Handsome and I were married and started our lives together. I still love the place, and I'm so glad she loves it as much as I do. They've lived there about thirty years now. 

The watering can was also a gift from Shelly. I planted it with flowers and hung it from a hook one year, but I'm using it for water now. 

This whole length of planting bed along the building needs to be weeded and remulched. I have plans for this whole area, too. Handsome and I actually talked about it yesterday. I'm going to be taking some measurements and drawing up some plans to see what works best. Then we'll either build cedar raised beds, or purchase galvanized stock tanks to implement the plan. 

Don't fret, though. Whatever we decide, I'll bring you along on the process. If you don't yet follow me on Instagram yet, you might consider it. I think when we start working on this, I'll be doing short videos (reels) to share on that platform. You can find me @brynwoodneedleworks, or search "Donna Liljegren".

It's the weekend, and I'm looking forward to more time outdoors. It supposed to be in the mid-70s all day today, with lovely sunshine. Wishing you beautiful weather, and you doing something you love. See you tomorrow!