Shoveling...

    The current moderate snowfalls have given me the opportunity to do a bit of shoveling, No, not at the OFH. Shoveling was a big part of my youth, corn, oats, barley, flax and especially snow required shovels. The farm was only rudimentally mechanized. Mechanical snow removal didn't arrive until my brother became the farmer.

   U.S. Highway 81, was the west border of the farm. The driveway from highway to farmyard was longish. It climbed a hill and then wound through the grove of trees grandpa planted. Northwest winds would drift snow into the yard. To clear a car path out of the yard required shoveling. The four of us, Dad and his three sons, could move much snow.

   The winter of 1948-49 defeated efforts to keep the car in the yard. Dad's 1942 Chevy was parked at the highway. No matter how cold it always started. Highway 81, was kept open. The township and county roads were an issue. The National Guard opened them with bulldozers. Walking to school the drifts were so deep we could step over telephone wires. Time to say winters are like they used to be?

Takk for alt,

Al

With good rains in May, June and July, the native grasses responded with lush growth. Evidence is this windrow of hay in July.