Just lately we have had lots of deer in the garden. Most come during the evening and night and therefore it is too dark to get good photos. However one mother and baby come round during the day, sometime several times a day. The mother usually stands in the background watching and making sure everything is safe for baby and the baby comes right over to the deck to eat the food we put out there.
This means that we are literally just a few feet away from the baby whilst it feeds.
Last week we got quite a bit of snow and it fell on to about 6 inches that was already on the ground. Chris tried to drive down our very long driveway but couldn’t. Unfortunately our new vehicle is not as agile in the snow as our previous one. This left us with a dilemma – should we buy a snow blower? We have been in Canada for five winters and always got by but not anymore. So we made the decision, yes to a snow blower.
The ironic thing was we had to first clear the snow from our very long driveway in order to get the car out so we could go into town to buy a blower! So, dressed in layers we each grabbed a shovel and off we set to clear the driveway. It total it took us two hours and we were completely knackered at the end and knew we would suffer with our backs later, but it had to be done. Have I mentioned that it is a very long drive? Here is the result of our labours.
Next we went into town to find a snow blower. Of course this is the wrong end of winter to buy one as most places had very few models left. We ended up in Sears and chose one recommended by the sales guy who was very helpful. We paid for it and were told to pick it up from the collection area. This was fine until we realized it would not fit in the back of the vehicle. Remind me why we downsized our SUV? So then we decided to have it delivered. The guy told us we could have it delivered on Saturday (it was Thursday) and that it would cost $65. We then had to go back in the store to arrange this.
We had to wait at the cashier desk for ages whilst he dealt with another customer, then it turns out he didn’t know how to arrange delivery for an item that had already been issued a receipt. So we had to wait for another staff member to come over and help him. Eventually it was done and they told us they could deliver on Tuesday. We told them we had been told Saturday but apparently the person who told us this was wrong and shouldn’t have done so.
We really wanted the blower before that as we were forecast more snow over the weekend and would have to clear the driveway to allow the delivery vehicle access when it turned up. By this time (we had been in Sears nearly an hour) Chris was really fed up and decided to cancel the purchase and buy one from Lowes where we could hire a van for $20 and take it home ourselves. Unpon this revelation the sales guy phoned the manager and asked for help saying his customer wanted to cancel an order. Next thing we knew the manager was offering to deliver it himself that very afternoon.
This was great news, although one has to wonder why a store as large as Sears cannot deliver more than once or twice a week. Anyway, we gave directions to our house and drove home. About 40 mins later the manager turned up with the snow blower. We then realized we didn’t have any gas in the canister to fill it with, so whilst Chris read the instructions – well that is what he told me he was doing – but he is a man so he probably just fiddled with levers until he did the right thing! I went to off to get a canister of gas.
Within minutes of me arriving back laden with fuel the blower was up and running and off he went to try out his new toy.
Since buying the snow blower Chris has been out three times to clear the drive, so well worth the investment so far. Now he has his ride on mower for the summer and his snow blower for winter enjoyment. Boys and their toys!!
Oh, and yes we did suffer from the shoveling. Aching backs, aching arms and I am so glad we don’t have to do that again.
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