Better Than Sliced Bread!

[GoodEnuff]

This morning, I decided to put away tools and such that won't be needed during winter. The leaf blower was sitting near the front door so yep, it's going into the storeroom till spring. Then I remembered a YT video I had seen a few months ago.

This is my third winter here in snow country. Each year, the shoveling gets a bit more difficult; my body starts complaining sooner and sooner. The video showed a guy using his leaf blower on snow. WTH, I thought. So I tried it as it is snowing as I type this. IT WORKS! OMG!! Better than a shovel as it blows it down to the ground surface. Not so great once the snow has been packed down (walking on it, snow plow went by, etc.), but on fresh fall, not too deep, maybe 2"? it is fantastic! I would rather go out with the leaf blower several times than once with a shovel. And it was fast.

Guess where the blower will live now? Right inside the front door in the same alcove where coats, gloves, hats, keys all live.

Haven't been this thrilled in I-don't-know-how-long!

 

[That Lady in PA]

Yeah, DH uses his too. Not as often as one might think, as it does no good on heavy wet snow, and the other scenarios that you mentioned.

Oh, and if you use it on windy days, you will come inside looking like a Yeti !

 

[GoodEnuff]

Someone mentioned it is good for removing snow from cars. Mine stays garaged, however.

The worst area to shovel is access to the mailbox for the postal service. My mailbox is about eight feet from the edge of the road and the PO requires a 30 ft. "lane" leading to it. It's a tough area to shovel, especially after the plow goes by.

Yesterday must have been a good brain day. As I stood there leaning on the shovel, looking at how much more snow needed shoveling, I noticed up and down the road that others' mailboxes were close to the road. Light bulb moment: move the mailbox! That would reduce required shoveling by about 80%! Today, I will call my worker guy and ask him if he can do this.

 

[IrishEyes]

Leaf Blowers became my most ever-loved tool in my life. So versatile! Scares away mating feral cats too!
My ice maker comes in 2nd.

 

[That Lady in PA]

The worst area to shovel is access to the mailbox for the postal service. My mailbox is about eight feet from the edge of the road and the PO requires a 30 ft. "lane" leading to it. It's a tough area to shovel, especially after the plow goes by.

Perhaps this will help...
Standard Forward Mail | USPS

In my area, you would have been asked to move it closer to the road.

 

[GoodEnuff]

In my area, you would have been asked to move it closer to the road.

I did get a notice a couple of years ago about clearing access, with a diagram included. It's such an obvious solution *forehead slap*.