Mowing Jersey Style

Yesterday we woke up to 2 inches of very wet snow. Mick had just gotten in from California the night before, so had slept in until 6am. Since he didn't have time to do the driveway before heading to work, guess who got to use the snowblower. Me!!! That's right!! And........I loved it. It helped to fill my "mow the lawn" fix. It is just like mowing the lawn, only it is white and you don't have to empty the grass catcher. I was so happy the landlord was in Florida and had left his little toy for us to use and that Mick had slept in so he didn't have time to do it.
Yep, that's me working the snowblower. I had so much fun. I wanted to go up and down the block and do everyones!!! Well today it is snowing really hard again. We are expected to get 1-2 feet of snow. (We shall see.) The landlord has returned and has taken back my little toy so I was out with the shovel trying to keep up with the snowfall. Well I am out shoveling the 4 inches that have fallen so far, and Andy my snowplow friend from last post, is coming down the street. He stops and says he found me a snowplow guy for my driveway. Great!!! He calls Joe up and we make a 1:30 appointment to give me a bid. I hang up and ask Andy, "Ok what will be a fair price to just go up the driveway and that is all. I can do all the walks and fancy stuff around the house." "50 bucks would be a great deal," he says. Well after recovering from the snowplow bid heart attack, I came right in, called Joe the snowplow guy and told him he didn't need to come give a bid. I WOULD BE THE SNOWPLOW GUY!!! Just a note: I'm thinking about retiring from Kohls and attaching a snowplow to the front of the toyota truck and go out and do driveways. Do you think anyone out there would hire a California Girl?

I've always wanted to go out on the lake when it is frozen. So last friday I went over to my friend Eliana's home on Lake Shawnee. She has a beautiful home right on the lake and she said it was frozen. Well here I am, standing on the lake. Wish I was doing what these guys were, but hey, I'd probably break my wrist or something.

Keep checking on updates. I told Andy the snowplow guy I had to get his picture for the blog.

Oh what do you do in the Winter Time?

Last week we got about three inches of snow in two different snowstorms. Janelle and I went out each morning to clear the driveway before we ran our errands so we wouldn't have icy tire tracks on the driveway. I hate those. Well as you can see our driveway is really loooooooooooong. The bummer was that by the time we got home from errands all the driveways in the neighborhood were clear, even those that didn't shovel one flake. So when the big storm hit tuesday night on my drive home from work, I thought to myself.....self, don't shovel that drive until you know it is worth it. Well as you can see from the next picture I waited until we had 5 inches and had to do it 3 times before the storm was done. Thank goodness last night our landlord loaned us his snowblower so we could get the 10 inches cleared.

Here I am in the middle of the storm around noon trying to get the driveway cleared. By noon we had 5 inches. After one pass down the driveway and back and I gave up. By the time I came back up the drive, there was already an inch where I had shoveled.

This is the cute neighbor kids who came over yesterday afternoon and asked if I wanted to help build a snowfort and have a snowball fight. They said they wouldn't hit me in the face, just right here they said as they pounded on their chest. Did I go out? You betcha. Went straightway and got my snow boots and coat on for the 3rd time that day. Jersey snow doesn't pack very well so our fort was not huge, but they loved it. I would love to build a snowman, but the snow will not pack to do so.

I love how this picture shows how deep the snow gets after the plow has come through. I was shoveling the snow this morning on the driveway, once again, when I heard the plow coming down the road. I promptly went out to the edge of our driveway and started waving my shovel at him to stop. Did he? No!! He plowed right through piling the snow 2 feet deep at the end of the driveway. Your killing me I yelled. He went to the end of the block, you can see the stop sign way off in the distance, turned around and came back to talk to me. I told him he was killing me by plowing all that snow at the end of my driveway. "How much to clear it so I can get the car out?" Plow guy: "Sorry mam but I would get fired if I did that. Instant dismissal for plowing driveways." Joni: "Well I can appreciate how great you keep the roads cleared, but I hate this mess." Plow guy: "OK how about next time I come down I swerve away from your driveway and try to help you out?" Me: "I would love that!!!! I am a California girl here on a temporary assignment and need all the help you can give me." So next time he comes down he swerves away from the driveway. I give him a thank you wave and he gives me a smile. Gotta love those guys!

Here's the house the day after the storm. You can see the pile of snow the snowplow left for me to clear from the end of the driveway.

Doesn't get much prettier than this. Not a footprint in the snow. Even the deer were not out last night. The birds were busy this morning though in the birdbath. Picture was taken from my office desk.

Mars Hackettstown New Jersey Remodel complete

The New Jersey Mars site has been under remodeling for over a year now. They just had the ribbon cutting ceremony and unveiled the new exterior. I love how green is sitting so pretty making the guys do the work.

The crossing guards in New Jersey are usually moms. Well this mom really got into her job and the holiday spirit this year. Jamie caught this picture while we were driving by. Who would have thought Mrs Claus also works part time as a crossing guard.

Just another sight in our 2 Year Adventure for Mars. When does the adventure end? We should know soon..........could be soon.......better plan your trip to come see us in Jersey.