Shovelling Hundreds of Pounds of Ice

 Yesterday was cold and windy. There was even a snow flurry with big fat snowflakes. The high got to -5C at 6 am and crept down wards all day. The windchill was horrible. This morning it is clear and -11 (windchill -21C). Today is suppose to be sunny and windy with a high of -4C (windchill -13C). We are under another freezing warning for Sunday night and Monday. 

Lifestyle

It was a busy day at this house. My two jobs of the day were to cook dinner and do ice removal. I started with ice removal. 

I started with the front landing knowing that the ice doesn't stick as hard to the composite deck boards as it does to the cement driveway. I opened the front door and began the job. It was harder than I had thought. I got the shovel under a bit of the snow and ice and tried to get a piece loose to throw on the lawn. The whole slab wanted to move. I carefully moved it a bit not wanting to hurt myself. When it started to move, I kept pushing it slowly and it slid off the landing and broke up on the sidewalk. I carefully shovelled it off the sidewalk onto the lawn. The pieces were over an inch thick. 

I went back inside and out into the garage. With the garage door opened, I could assess the situation. The driveway was sheer ice. I chipped a bit at the door but to no avail. I threw a bunch of salt on the driveway and went inside. 

While inside, I made dinner. I had decided to make Betty Crocker's Spaghetti 1950's style. I had seen it made on a YouTube video and it looked good. I didn't use the bacon as I had none. I used a different pasta which I like. I spent my time chopping and dicing and cooking this dish and had a nice pot of sauce. (I made a half batch). 

Once the sauce was made, I got dressed and was back out the door. I was able to shovel a lot of ice off the driveway where I had salted. It came up in good size chunks that I could handle easily. When I had finished that part, I salted the ice that was left on the part I had shovelled, the sidewalk, and down the driveway. I was ready for the afternoon. 

The afternoon session of ice removal was brutal. The wind was blowing harder and it was colder. But, I kept at it as the salt water had run down the driveway under the ice and it was lifting quite easily. I spent a lot of time shovelling and got most of the ice off. I am going to say I got 80% of the driveway cleared off. 

The shovelfuls of ice were heavy. I could barely lift them but I had to as I wanted it off the driveway. What I got onto the lawn slid down into the ditch. What I pushed off at the ditch went sliding into it. The ditch is quite full now as the snow plow put the road's ice into the ditch also. When I could no longer chip ice off the edge of the driveway I salted those areas and stood back to admire my work. 

The white patches are dry salt and the bottom of the driveway has a bit of snow on it. It is basically dry this morning. The sidewalk is bare and salted. 

When I got into the house, I was tired. I had shovelled hundreds of pounds of ice off the driveway. I didn't rush as I needed to make sure I didn't slip and fall. I walked only on the cleared driveway. I sat and drank liquids as I had sweat. My muscles let me know they had a good workout. 

I didn't sew or knit yesterday as I was tired and a bit sore. I knew it would be a long stretch if I got much more than I did.  Resting was on higher up on the list.

Thoughts

    I am late posting as I had to go to the community hall to make 2 batches of sandwiches. They were short on help so I was out the door is less than 30 minutes. We got done in good time even if we were still down one person. 

    I am proud of myself for what I did yesterday. I was careful and made a plan so I wouldn't fall. I did get a talking to today for doing it but if I can do it I will do it. My helper is in PEI for a hockey tournament this weekend. I am also ready for the next go round of freezing rain. Plan is to salt the driveway tomorrow afternoon in hopes that the ice won't stick as solid to the driveway. 

    My cold is improving. I have less symptoms than I had. I am over the worst and now need to get back to normal. I feel that going outside most days and keeping active when I could helped me a lot. I also rested when my body told me to. I found a balance I could live with. 

Today

My body has said to rest again today. I am tired as I didn't sleep as well has I had hoped to. I need to get my prescriptions this afternoon and will buy another bag of salt. If I have the energy I will sew and knit and if not I will vegetate on the couch. 

Until the next time..............................................