Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[RaZ]

There is maybe 3 inches of total snowfall here over the past few days. And it's been light snowfall so there are some pretty nice drifts here and there but nothing to strand a vehicle. Unless the operator can't drive at all. It is more slick on the lightly covered areas.

I was going to plow but the tractor doesn't want to start. It started reluctantly yesterday but start it did. Today it failed to start at all in spite of being in the garage. Too cold maybe? Currently at 15 degrees. I put the charger on it (2 amp setting) and will try again in a couple of hours. It has been winterized and the fuel has the anti-gel stuff in it.

I was going to plow and bring in some more firewood but that might have to wait if I can't get to start. I wonder if JD has a block warmer for this model.

Indoors, the temp is a balmy 81 degrees thanks to the fire that has been burning since 8:30 this morning. There is enough wood inside that will get me through the weekend with ease. Tuesday, a crew is coming out to install the new wood stove. So no fire on Monday so they can do the switchover. I'm working Monday so no big deal to rely solely on the furnace.

I guess I'll do some indoor chores for the time being.

 

[Sally PB]

It got down to zero here. It's now a balmy 22 and sunny!

When it gets that cold, we have to run the furnace to keep the extremities of the house from freezing. We found that out one year when we kept the fire going just about non-stop. A pipe froze, but did not break, thank goodness. After that, we didn't chance it. The furnace is near where the pipes are, so even running it a few hours will keep them thawed.

Doing a load of laundry with all hot water helps too.

 

[1muttsfan]

Zero here this am too, but did not get out of the low teens. It is a bright sunny day though, and this morning after the sun rose there was a sun dog, haven't seen one of those for a while.

 

[Dreamzchaser]

Weel, there were 18" totasl for sure. To the point that we could not get out at all.
Girls are ok. Steady 21 on their coop. It was feeling like -1 this morning. They want out but it is windy.
Fighting now with AT&T. Anyways, stay safe and warm!!!

~Hugs~and~Kisses~

 

[RaZ]

It was a beautiful day here, Bright and sunny all day until just a few minutes ago. It is now completely overcast. January in Michigan, eh?

I worked today and on the way in I ran into the store director. He saw that I was wearing my name tag and asked if I was back to work. I said that this was my second week back. He had no clue that I was back. Every other person in the store knew that I was back. The rumor mill in this store is astounding. Him not knowing I was back shows how disconnected that management is.

A nice thing about going back to work are the perks that come along. I got the holiday bonus of $250 in gift cards to use in the store. That helps a bunch. Even if I have to pay the tax on it as income. Got my eye on a new toaster.

 

[aart]

24" total here, tho it settled some.
Freezing rain tonight.

Driveway cleared with no trouble, everything worked pretty much flawlessly...
...except my brain right at the end.
Took one last swipe too close to the ditch got tractor stuck bad.
Was saved by a gracious strong man who stopped and lifted the back of the tractor out of the holes (good thing I had taken the counter weights off in anticipation of a friend coming over with a tow chain) then pushed me the rest of the way out.
Feeling blessed, exhausted, and pretty stupid.

 

[Sally PB]

@aart, I'm sure you aren't the first person to have done that!

I was driving to work one day, got stuck in the mud. One of the farmers came out in his Carhartts, pushed me loose. I splattered him toe to forehead with mud. He just waved and smiled.

 

[aart]

@aart, I'm sure you aren't the first person to have done that!

Probably not, but....I knew better than to go there. DOH!

 

[RaZ]

I always like to hear stories of people helping each other out. Isn't that they way it should be?

 

[aart]

I always like to hear stories of people helping each other out

I'm not good at asking for help, but called a farmer friend to come with her all wheel drive and some chain.
Meanwhile I got the weights off so we could hook to the rear hitch and was just sitting on the fender when the guy pulled over, walked up and picked up the back of the tractor while my jaw dropped(I'm going to vividly envision that for days/months/years). Took about 10 minutes to get me out of the holes.
Took my buddy about 30 minutes to get here, I felt a bit bad she went to all that trouble gathering gear and it wasn't needed.