Joining Carole and friends for Three on Thursday, today with three types of snow shovels. I know, it doesn't sound very interesting, but it dawned on me yesterday when I used all of them that it's really a matter of using the right tool for the job. We had different amounts of mixed precipitation, so it only makes sense I had to use different shovels.
This yellow one is the pusher, because that's what it's best at. It's got a steel 24" wide blade and weighs 7 pounds, but it's ideal for getting under the crust of freezing rain and sleet and pushing the whole mess out of the way. It's almost too heavy to lift if it's loaded with snow, plus most of it slides off the sides if you try to lift it, but it's great for pushing. John and I each try to get to this one first because it's easier to push the snow than actually shovel it.
Next is the aluminum grain shovel, which we use for picking up the chunks of ice and snow that the pusher dislodged and getting them out of the way. It's nice and light so it's good for actual shoveling, but doesn't work on ice at all.
Last is the gift shovel. We don't know where this one came from, but we found it leaning against our front stone wall a few years ago. It's light plastic, holds a lot of snow, and has a metal edge on the front, so it works well on the slate stones of our walk up to the house. It's wide, but not too wide, and even though it's plastic, the metal edge on the front allows it to scrape ice and snow fairly well. Since it's lightweight, it's also good for raising over your head when you are cursing the weather gods and shaking your fist that it's snowing again while you are shoveling.
Now that you've heard more about snow shovels than you probably ever wanted to know, head on over to Carole's for more Three on Thursday.
Gift shovel! I love it!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you've had so much experience with all three of those shovels this week! (and I'm sure you wouldn't be surprised to know that we don't own even one :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL - Gift Shovel - Priceless!!
ReplyDeleteAnd there is HOPE - I saw a Red Winged Blackbird this morning and I normally don't see them till Spring!! (also a skunk waddling across the road - lol)
We have two but only one that really works. Once the stores are restocked, I plan to buy a second one, just in case!
ReplyDeleteOMG... raising a shovel and cursing the weather gods!! I will actually do this, now, and think of you every time!! (Hopefully, not until next winter...) :)
ReplyDeleteI laughed at the gift shovel! That is the best! We have lots of Steve Shovels but not a single Kat Shovel... lol.
ReplyDeleteOh my, three shovels! You must get a lot of snow. We have one like your gift shovel back in the Netherlands, but it doesn't get much use.
ReplyDeleteWe started "collecting" shovels while we lived in Syracuse, NY. With an annual snowfall of ~125", it's impossible to live there and not own a shovel (or four)!
DeleteGreat summary of your snow shovels! Let's hope you don't need them again until Winter 2020!
ReplyDeleteMy husband finally broke down and bought a real snow shovel this year because he was tired of me using his drywall/ceiling mud scrapper thing to 'shovel' the snow off our steps. (He's a builder/contractor with all kinds of fun tools and we don't get much snow here in VA.)
ReplyDeleteHope you can put your shovels away soon. Happy Valentine's!
It is all about using the right tool for the job, you are so right! I have gotten into the "right tool" since I am the only one now that does work around the house. My husband has loads of tools, but I am finally learning to pick the right one. It makes a huge difference. The only snow shovel I own is plastic, and we don't get snow, we get ice, so it has been worn down to a nubbin. I will have to look for a shovel like your gift shovel. Here's hoping you do now need them any more this season, and/or finding a teenage boy to do it for you.
ReplyDeleteWe have a hard plastic version of your grain shovel that we use to keep our back patio clear for the dogs to get out. We also have a pusher and a good old flat snow shovel. I'm thinking that we need a gift shovel, though . . . That looks handy! We actually get so much snow and have such a big driveway that we've now hired a plow guy. It's a treat -- but sometimes he doesn't get there when we need to get out (we aren't his only customers) (sadly), so we still need the shovels . . . I'll be glad when we don't need them again for the season. (But I'm afraid it's too early to wish for that.)
ReplyDeleteWe have two different ones and I like the green one (it's more expensive than the basic orange one) because it works better for me. I think my husband likes the orange one. We both love the snow blower!!
ReplyDeleteYes, the right tool for the right job. I'm with Karen, I prefer the snow blower.
ReplyDeleteAll our snow has me being very grateful I live in a condo and I can watch our grounds keepers using various shovels to do the job of clearing our walks (The would be happy to commiserate with you on using the proper shovel.) :)
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