Tuesday, September 17, 2013

photo source
A woman surveys a treacherous mountain pass in the Pyrenees of France, 1956 - Photograph by Justin Locke, National Geographic. Doesn't this take your breath away? I think we are so fortunate these days to have better equipment to take care of the snow. I'm so lucky to live on a county road that is plowed around the clock. I'm having my furnace serviced for the winter on Friday. I still have visions in my head of getting stuck in the snow on a pretty regular basis when I was young and we lived in Pennsylvania. Do people even use chains on their tires these days? What are you doing to get ready for winter? 
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13 comments:

Gail, northern California said...

My main source of heat is a wood pellet stove in the living room. Coincidentally, I have the man scheduled this morning for a thorough stove cleaning and a chimney sweep.

Yikes! I just looked at the clock. I best get in the shower before he's on my doorstep, rods and brushes in hand.

Content in a Cottage said...

Gail...
The chimney sweep commeth! My guys are coming at 8:30 on Friday morning when I am normally still in my pajamas drinking coffee. Will set my alarm that day.
xo, Rosemary

Anonymous said...

When we lived in Colorado and couldn't get enough of skiing, we traveled in all sorts of weather (young fools that we were back then). There were occasions when we not only couldn't get over a pass without putting chains on the tires, it was mandated!

I believe I will winterize myself! I need a new everyday/all occasion warm coat.

For now. let's enjoy the fall . . . the cool temps have restored my vigor.

Happy Day
Linda

Diana said...

We're two miles from the main road here in the mountains of Montana and 17 miles to town and our snow plow guy gets to us when he can. I'm stocking the pantry, stocking extra pet food, and I just ordered some thick cable knit throws to keep us cozy. :) We love our e-readers - when we run out of books to read, we can always get books in an instant.

JudyMac said...

The service guy was just here this morning to make sure my furnace and AC are up to snuff.

I do remember the days back in the 1960's when my new little Volkswagen would go up and down the hills in WNC, while others were still having to use their chains. One of the main reasons I moved out of the mountains. :-)

Sue said...

Wow-love the photo, though I'm not sure I'd be comfortable driving on a road like that!!

I know they still use (and in some places are REQUIRED to use!) chains in the mountains out west.
We got caught in October in Yellowstone without chains a few years back---absolutely TERRIFYING careening down the mountain. I literally kissed the ground when we got to the valley. Scary!!

Content in a Cottage said...

Sue....That takes my breath away just reading about sliding down the mountain like you did.

JudyMac...I still miss my yellow VW Beetle. It never failed me in the snow.

helene said...

Just had a serviceman out to clean our boiler. He also put in a new expansion tank. Now we're ready and we love fall. Bring it on!

Karen said...

What a great photo. We change our filter on our heater and stock pile some wood for the fireplace, other than that, not much needed her in Southern California...I do wish it would snow around Christmas.
Karen

The Queen Vee said...

I think we need to have the plumber check our sump pump. My biggest fear is that the electricity will go out during a major storm and our basement will flood. I always wash the windows in the spring and fall, crazy to do it in the fall because they just get dirty again very quickly when the weather turns nasty. Due to my husbands bad back problems I do all the snow shoveling. We've had so little snow the past two winters that it hasn't been a problem but I think we're due for more snow this year, hopefully not the 70" in 10 days that we had about 4 years ago. I'm beginning to think that a snow blower and generator are two things we really need to buy. I need to order wood for the fireplace and also get also schedule the chimney sweep. With two trips planned and company coming several times in the next two months I fear I will be behind on my winter prep.

Anonymous said...

This photo reminds me of seeing a photography exhibit at the Natl Geo building in DC that was a tribute to Kodachrome film. The rule the photographers followed was to include something red in their color photos, preferably a person wearing red. This photo has the bonus red license plate. Works, doesn't it.
I dread winter and don't want to think about it. For me the critical preparation is lots of blankets.

JudyMac said...

P.S. Rosemary, forgot to mention my little beetle had a "Moon Roof" (that's what they called them back then, you know). Used to love to drive on a cool night with the windows rolled up, Moon Roof rolled back, the radio turned way up ... 'twas fun cruising down the road. :-)

Anonymous said...

We live 18 miles out of town on a very curvy road with the elevation going from 1,000 ft to 3,000, then down to 1,200 and up to 2,400 at our house. The county does a good job keep the main road clear. We are a half mile off the main road, hubby finally got a big tractor with a big snow-blower ~ now he prays for snow ~ ha! I grow a big garden, preserving the goodies and we keep the pantry full. In seven years we have only been snowed in twice. A good reason to stay home! We love all the seasons in north-central Idaho. Thanks for your wonderful blog, it keeps me very informed and entertained!
Blessings, Cathy