2014-01-26 11.58.24
That’s right!!! 2clicksaway is 1 year old today! And to celebrate, here is a photo of your squinty eyed, snowbound author with some of his favorite snow removal equipment. For those uninitiated in the art of snow removal, let me explain what we need here in Webster (Where Life is Worth Living – except in winter) to clear snow from driveways and walkways. The big gas powered orange thing is a “snowblower” though it really doesn’t blow any snow but actually throws the snow, up to 20 feet. I only use it when there is too much snow to shovel, which is most days that it snows. The big blue shove is use to just push the snow around and the black scoop is used to remove the snow the blue shovel pushed around. The small gray shovel is used in tight spaces such as walkways and around the mailbox.
You need some warm, heavy duty cloths to operate this equipment, especially when the temperatures have been in the single digits every day as they have been. You need to wear snow pants, which fit over your regular pants, a face mask, scarf, two pairs of gloves, down jacket, hat and waterproof, heavy duty boots with good tread. It takes me almost as much time to get dressed as it does to clear the driveway, which can fit 6 Ford Focuses like mine or two normal sized cars.
Because there are only very limited number of places to put the snow you are removing, technique is very important once you are ready to start. After several years of experience, I have developed a technique that is easy, time efficient and effective. It involves all pieces of equipment and a lot of brute force. I start out by revving the snow blower engine as loud as it can in an effort to scare the snow away. This is fun but it seldom works. That’s where the brute force comes in. Once you start there are no breaks because it takes too long to take the outerwear off and put it back on again. When you’re finished you get a feeling of satisfaction for doing a good job. And then you get to do it all over again the next day because it’s been snowing every day.
2clicksaway 
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Smacked.
An impressive toolkit, Ken. I like the little cabin that keeps the snow clearer dry. I guess the real problem here is blowing the snow somewhere else that doesn’t annoy the neighbours, or chuck it onto the road. Congrats on the anniversary – I’ll raise a glass to you for year two later.
Thanks, Andy. i added the hood 2 years after I got the blower and it is quite a relief not to worry about blowing snow. We have a lot of space on either side of the driveway to put snow so we don’t have to put it in the road.
Gee, has it really been that long?! It seems only like yesterday that you closed your other blog and opened this one. Congrats, ken! Though how is a person supposed to see what you really look like in that get-up? Could be your wife….
Thanks, Janina. My wife dresses a lot more stylish than this.
Boy, all that snow must be a pain. I am not sure how you deal with it. So glad I live in Webster (Where life IS worth living) and not Webster (Where Life is Worth Living – except in winter)… or are they the same place?
Oh, and happy birthday.
It’s the same place with a different attitude.
Next time we have a big snow, I’m wondering if you could stop by and take care of my driveway. If not, I understand. And happy birthday…I am shocked a year has gone by since oneowner was retired!
Thanks, Charles. I’d be happy to take care of the driveway. Just pay for my transportation and the snow blowing is free!
Happy birthday!
Thanks, Gracie.
Congrats on reaching 1 year with “2clicks…” and we hope there will be many more with photos to share, Ken. I’m an equipment type of guy but you can keep that array of snow moving gear. I’ve got one orange plastic snow shovel I believe I’ve used a couple of times — although it’s snowing here as I write this!
I have an orange plastic shovel that I keep on my deck to keep it clear. The snow blower isn’t good at climbing steps, even if it’s just two.
Congrats on the one-year mark… Happy Birthday!
May there be, and I am sure there will, many, many more years of great photos and insight. 😉
You have in your snow abatement arsenal just what I would expect for survival in your neck of the woods. Looking good, Ken.
Thanks, Jimi. The snow blower is quite small compared to my neighbors. Mine is a lightweight by comparison but it gets the job done, though with a little more effort on my part.
Damn, all I’ve got is a hose and a broom to clean the tiles around the pool. Some guys get all the cool gear 😉
Congrats on reaching your first birthday Ken.
By cool gear I suppose you mean a pool!
Actually I was talking about all your gear Ken. But yeah, it was tongue-in-cheek 🙂 I’d rather have a pool than snow.
Me too!!!
Happy birthday to the blog! And thanks for the lesson on snow removal, which is something we don’t really think about too much in Texas.
I’m seriously considering making a movie of all this equipment in use. It would be especially valuable for those who have never had to deal with snow.
It’s been a while since I used snow removal equipment, but that’s a nice looking setup, Ken. I remember that what usually happened was that just about the time I got back inside and removed all those layers, the snow plow would come by and bury the end of the driveway. 🙂
Happy Birthday!
Thanks, Tom. The big scoop is perfect for clearing the end of the driveway after the snow plow comes around. It does a terrific job, it’s fast and easy and the scoop is actually inexpensive.
We all love snow – don’t we? 😉
Nice to see this post and a big Happy B-day to you/the blog.
🙂
I don’t mind a little snow but …
One of these days I will build my Superheat Snow Steamer that alleviates where to put it – because it vaporizes snow as you move through it.
Great idea! I’ll be your first customer. An added benefit is that it supplies needed humidity on our dry winter days!
Wishing you a belated one year birthday!
Wow – all that kit. I love the gas-powered snow blower – in particular the canopy for the person behind it. I could do with one of those canopies for my walk to and from work to protect me from all the rain we are having here 🙂
Thanks, Meander. You could just buy an umbrella. It’s probably a lot cheaper and more effective than that hood.
It sounds like quite and operation…Happy One Year!
Thanks, Roberta. I’m getting a little tired of it to tell you the truth.
I’m sure you are!! Think of something you are really happy to have.. like strength to shovel snow and then let it overcome the looming winter outlook. I only say this, not because it’s easy but because I am getting on in age and I am happy to wake up and experience life. Sorry, don’t mean to sound like a mother…lol!