Thread: A bowl of oatmeal

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:13:26 -0500, "Nancy Young"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
>about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
>Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>
>That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
>to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
>sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
>blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
>no-snow winters of the last decade.
>
>nancy

We debated oatmeal awhile ago, but opted for home made bagels instead.

We got over 2 feet of snow here in Northern NJ. I live between 2 lakes
and a reservoir and have my own mini-climate with lake effect. We
often get a few inches more snow than other parts of town. It's
beautiful out there.

I heartily recommend the snow blower. It isn't that it gets used often
every year, but I do not know anyone in these parts who has regretted
a purchase.

Boron

On 27/12/2010 8:13 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
> about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
> Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>
> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
> nancy

I recommend both. I love oatmeal porridge, but it has to be made with
large flake or steel cut and I buy mine at the Bulk Barn because they
charge only 75 cents per pound for all types of oatmeal. For some
reason, grocery stores charge about 4 times that for steel cut.

Snow blowers are handy to have. If it is just a light snow fall it is
usually easier and faster to use a wide pusher shovel than a blower, but
if there is more than a few inches of snow and it is heavy it is handy
to have a blower. If you are going to get a blower, it may had well be
a big heavy duty model.

On 27/12/2010 8:50 AM, Dave Smith wrote:

>
> Snow blowers are handy to have. If it is just a light snow fall it is
> usually easier and faster to use a wide pusher shovel than a blower, but
> if there is more than a few inches of snow and it is heavy it is handy
> to have a blower. If you are going to get a blower, it may had well be a
> big heavy duty model.
>

.................on the other hand....... if you only get snow once in a
while, it is probably cheaper and easier to high a kid or a snow removal
service.

"Nancy Young" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:4d189159$0$29483$[email protected]..
> I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
> about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
> Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>
> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
> nancy


It snowed here briefly yesterday afternoon but it's long gone. Now there's
just some ice on the patio. I guess I won't be sitting outside today! (I
peeked outside last night and surprised a raccoon drinking out of the bird
bath before it froze.) But hey, I have some oatmeal and I might just make
some for breakfast.

Jill

Boron Elgar wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:13:26 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> <[email protected]> wrote:

>> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
>> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
>> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
>> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
>> no-snow winters of the last decade.

> We debated oatmeal awhile ago, but opted for home made bagels instead.

Now you're talkin'!

> We got over 2 feet of snow here in Northern NJ. I live between 2 lakes
> and a reservoir and have my own mini-climate with lake effect. We
> often get a few inches more snow than other parts of town. It's
> beautiful out there.

I bet it's just gorgeous up there. The white stuff is pretty anyway,
but I like to think I can get out to my car if I have to. If this freezes
before I shovel, I'm in deep doo doo. so far it's fluffy.

> I heartily recommend the snow blower. It isn't that it gets used often
> every year, but I do not know anyone in these parts who has regretted
> a purchase.

I live closer to the ocean and we don't usually get the snow amounts
other people do, but the guy across the street got busy a few times
last year with his blower and cleared out our car. I can't expect him to
keep that up. I think getting one is a foregone conclusion at this point.

nancy

On 27/12/2010 8:58 AM, Nancy Young wrote:

>
> I live closer to the ocean and we don't usually get the snow amounts
> other people do, but the guy across the street got busy a few times
> last year with his blower and cleared out our car. I can't expect him to
> keep that up. I think getting one is a foregone conclusion at this point.

How often would you actually need to use one?
I have a good snow blower, and I use it a lot. There have been times
when I have had to go out and clear the driveway daily for weeks, and
times when I have had to do it more than once per day.

If you need.... really need.... a snow blower, it has to be a good one,
and they usually cost $1000-1500. They need to be maintained or else
they won't work when you need them.

There are smaller models of snow blowers and those useless semi snow
blowers, with gas engines too small to do anything much, or
electric..... totally useless.

If you live in a climate where it rarely snows, it is likely to be wet,
heavy snow. Most snow blowers won't work on that type of snow. It just
gets clogged up in the chute.



I have a snow blower because I can use it a lot.

On 12/27/2010 8:13 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
> about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
> Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>

I eat it at least 3 times/week. I usually make steel cut oats with some
dried fruit. Sometimes I prepare the "old fashioned style" rolled oats
but I like the steel cut texture better.


> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
> nancy

They are great for light snow like todays but not so good for wet snow.

Nancy Young wrote:
> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
>
> nancy

Nancy, DH would challenge himself by taking on anything. He
considered a snow blower but they often clog. He finally said to H
with it and got the local guys to come in - they snow plowed the
driveway, shoveled off the walks, etc., for $50, while DH sat inside
in the warm and watched. Think about it.

Dora

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:31:28 -0500, "Dora" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Nancy, DH would challenge himself by taking on anything. He
> considered a snow blower but they often clog. He finally said to H
> with it and got the local guys to come in - they snow plowed the
> driveway, shoveled off the walks, etc., for $50, while DH sat inside
> in the warm and watched. Think about it.

I agree with your husband. Snow is nice when you're sitting inside
looking out and not so nice when you have to shovel it every day.

--

Never trust a dog to watch your food.

On 27/12/2010 9:31 AM, Dora wrote:

> Nancy, DH would challenge himself by taking on anything. He considered a
> snow blower but they often clog. He finally said to H with it and got
> the local guys to come in - they snow plowed the driveway, shoveled off
> the walks, etc., for $50, while DH sat inside in the warm and watched.
> Think about it.
>

They do clog with wet, slushy snow. Sometimes you can make one pass
through the slushy snow, but on the next pass it is pretty well
guaranteed to clog the chute. The work great on regular snow and with
the light fluff stuff. You need one with multiple chute controls so that
you can adjust the height and angle of the discharge. Mine machine can
easily handle a foot and a half of regular snow. Just set the chute so
that it is blowing downwind and it will go up and over the driveway as
you work your way to the leeward side. There are few chores worse than
snow blowing into the wind and having it blow back on you.

If you only need to clear snow once every year or two and can get
someone to do it for $50, that is a bargain..... much cheaper than
buying and maintaining a blower.

Dave Smith <[email protected]> wrote:

>On 27/12/2010 8:58 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>
>> I live closer to the ocean and we don't usually get the snow amounts
>> other people do, but the guy across the street got busy a few times
>> last year with his blower and cleared out our car. I can't expect him to
>> keep that up. I think getting one is a foregone conclusion at this point.
>
>How often would you actually need to use one?
>I have a good snow blower, and I use it a lot. There have been times
>when I have had to go out and clear the driveway daily for weeks, and
>times when I have had to do it more than once per day.
>
>If you need.... really need.... a snow blower, it has to be a good one,
>and they usually cost $1000-1500.

I'll disagree a little here. For $600-700 you can get a decent
Ariens 2 stage.

> They need to be maintained or else
>they won't work when you need them.

Say that again. If you don't do it yourself [and it is easy to do
for $20 or so], plan on spending $100 every September.

>
>There are smaller models of snow blowers and those useless semi snow
>blowers, with gas engines too small to do anything much, or
>electric..... totally useless.

I've used single stage gas- and an electric- to keep my 70-80 inches
of snow a year off my sidewalks and driveway. The driveway is 2 cars
wide, on a steep hill, and is 100' long or so. The 2 stage is
definitely easier. [mine is a 1970's model 7 HP Bolens] Especially
in crusty, or packed snow-- or if the snow is more than a foot deep
when I get to it.

But for several years I cleared it all with an electric Toro. I
still grab the Toro to knock the tops off snowbanks, throw 6" of
slush, or if my old beast is in need of attention.
Mine is an older version of this one-
http://www.amazon.com/Toro-38381-18-...b_title_garden
$300 for a 18", 15 amp electric- free shipping.

My 12Amp one cost $300 used- It has been worth every cent of it. In
very wet snow a single stage throws it further with less clogging than
any 2 stage I've seen. I can actually empty puddles with my little
electric.

>
>If you live in a climate where it rarely snows, it is likely to be wet,
>heavy snow. Most snow blowers won't work on that type of snow. It just
>gets clogged up in the chute.

2 stage blowers don't--- Single stage eat slush for breakfast. [and
spit it 40 feet<g>]


Oh-- and my oatmeal was Irish- boiled it for a few minutes then put it
in the double boiler to simmer while I blew my snow-- It was ready
when I was.

Jim

On 27/12/2010 9:40 AM, sf wrote:
> On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:31:28 -0500, "Dora"<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> Nancy, DH would challenge himself by taking on anything. He
>> considered a snow blower but they often clog. He finally said to H
>> with it and got the local guys to come in - they snow plowed the
>> driveway, shoveled off the walks, etc., for $50, while DH sat inside
>> in the warm and watched. Think about it.
>
> I agree with your husband. Snow is nice when you're sitting inside
> looking out and not so nice when you have to shovel it every day.
>
Snow is part of winter here. We expect it. We cope with it. Most of us
find it much nicer to look out and see white snow than to see dull lawns
and bare trees. When the sun is shining it seems so much cheerier and it
feels warmer when there is snow. We have learned to play in the
snow.... skiing, cross country skiing, skating, toboggining etc. It
makes winter a lot more fun. We are are used to having to clear snow.
It is not a big deal.

On 2010-12-27, Nancy Young <[email protected]> wrote:

> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.

YOu must be getting our snow. Eight thousand feet in the heart of the
CO Rockies, and it's still dry as a bone!

nb

On 27/12/2010 9:52 AM, notbob wrote:

>
> YOu must be getting our snow. Eight thousand feet in the heart of the
> CO Rockies, and it's still dry as a bone!

I am surprised there is much left after the dumping that southern
Ontario got last week. I was talking to a friend in London who said that
he had more than 5 feet of snow on his front lawn. My SiL in Bracebridge
has close to 3 feet on here lawn. The snow storms missed us. We have
only 2-3 inches of it. My wife has been shovelling it. If it gets to be
too much for her to handle I will get the blower out. I am banned from
shovelling for a while.

Nancy Young wrote:
> I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
> about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
> Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>
> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
> nancy


I have about 10" of ice on my roof I'm trying to figure out what to
do with. It's supposed to warm up above freezing (barely) next
weekend; maybe I can pull it off then. The roof has a very steep
pitch and usually ice and snow don't accumulate except at the
gutters. But we had a heavy sticky wet snow followed by light
freezing rain, then low temps...

The snow drifts are about 4 feet deep here, and it's 2 feet deep out
in the opens. Crazy.

Lately when I want to have oats in the morning, I put about 1/3 to
1/2 cup of rolled oats in a bowl and cover them with milk and let
them soak while I shower and get dressed. Then I stir in just a
little bit of sweet granola-type cereal such as "Crispy Raisin
Bran." Kind of like muesli, sort of. (maybe not)

Bob

Dora wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
>> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
>> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
>> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
>> no-snow winters of the last decade.

> Nancy, DH would challenge himself by taking on anything. He
> considered a snow blower but they often clog. He finally said to H
> with it and got the local guys to come in - they snow plowed the
> driveway, shoveled off the walks, etc., for $50, while DH sat inside
> in the warm and watched. Think about it.

I'm not adverse to hiring people, that's for sure. We really don't
generally get a lot of snow, maybe one big storm a year. I know
my lawn guy would plow, but it was a contract, you paid for him
for the season, I never asked how much. I'd be happy to pay
someone $50 at this point.

I read all the comments on snowblowers, thanks everyone for the
advice. It's actually why I hate buying stuff like gas chain saws,
etc., when you need them the (bad word) won't start. Then they
don't work as well as you'd hoped. But I see that guy across the
street, I have to find out what he has because he's out there now,
snow's aflying. We had some heavy snow last year and he didn't
seem to have a problem with it.

I tell you, it was nice coming back from vacation last year to 18" of
dense snow to find our driveway clear. I have to get this guy a
thank you gift that doesn't say And I expect you to clear my
driveway from now on.

nancy, really tired now

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:13:26 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> I haven't had oatmeal in as long as I can remember, just
> about. I mean, I've had oatmeal cookies, I've had granola.
> Whatever. But not a bowl of oatmeal.
>
> That's what I'm having for breakfast today. I need something
> to stick to my ribs while I move 21 plus inches of snow off my
> sidewalk and driveway. If this keeps up, I'm getting a snow
> blower. This winter and last winter have made up for all the
> no-snow winters of the last decade.
>
> nancy

dear god. that much snow would lead me not to leave the house until the
liquor ran out.

your pal,
blake

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 09:12:39 -0500, Dave Smith
<[email protected]> wrote:

>On 27/12/2010 8:58 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>
>> I live closer to the ocean and we don't usually get the snow amounts
>> other people do, but the guy across the street got busy a few times
>> last year with his blower and cleared out our car. I can't expect him to
>> keep that up. I think getting one is a foregone conclusion at this point.
>
>How often would you actually need to use one?
>I have a good snow blower, and I use it a lot. There have been times
>when I have had to go out and clear the driveway daily for weeks, and
>times when I have had to do it more than once per day.
>
>If you need.... really need.... a snow blower, it has to be a good one,
>and they usually cost $1000-1500. They need to be maintained or else
>they won't work when you need them.

Well, I hate to sound sexist, but that is guy-talk.

>There are smaller models of snow blowers and those useless semi snow
>blowers, with gas engines too small to do anything much, or
>electric..... totally useless.

We do not have a large driveway. It fits 4 cars/trucks comfortably. We
do not have sidewalks. Our snow blower is 2-stage, 24" 5.5 HP
Craftsman. It has gotten us through a lot of deep and heavy snows. I
assure you, it was under $600. Anything larger would be absurd over
here. We've plowed out many a neighbor with it, too.

It really depends on the size of the area that has to be plowed out
regularly. If you have a large driveway and sidewalks, then a wider
and more powerful machine is called for, but believe me, I used to
regularly handle a driveway twice the size of my current one along 100
feet of sidewalk and all I used was a Barbie-sized Toro power shovel
years ago.

The reason snow blowers come in all sizes is that it makes sense to
buy one that is suited to the size of the area it will be used upon.
Not everyone need a ride-on mower, either.
>
>If you live in a climate where it rarely snows, it is likely to be wet,
>heavy snow. Most snow blowers won't work on that type of snow. It just
>gets clogged up in the chute.

Here in NJ we can get very wet, heavy snows or light fluffy ones like
yesterday's. Yesterday's was more the exception. It could have been
swept away, all 2+ feet of it. Breeze to take care of, the
shovels-full were light as a feather.

I am 61 with rheumatoid arthritis, so it isn't as if I am a 24 year
old ex- college linebacker. Let me tell you, though, there is nothing
hat causes more laughter than seeing some guy with a small driveway,
such as I have, roll up the garage door and wheel out a snow blower
big and powerful enough to clear the parking lot of a ski lodge in
January.

>I have a snow blower because I can use it a lot.

I have one just because I use it. Period. Some years it may get used
20 times, other years all it does is sit there, get tidied up, have
the oil checked and the fuel additive dribbled in and maybe its cord
pulled a couple of times.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go make more hot chocolate.

Boron

On Mon, 27 Dec 2010 08:52:47 -0500, Dave Smith wrote:

> On 27/12/2010 8:50 AM, Dave Smith wrote:
>
>>
>> Snow blowers are handy to have. If it is just a light snow fall it is
>> usually easier and faster to use a wide pusher shovel than a blower, but
>> if there is more than a few inches of snow and it is heavy it is handy
>> to have a blower. If you are going to get a blower, it may had well be a
>> big heavy duty model.
>>
>
> ................on the other hand....... if you only get snow once in a
> while, it is probably cheaper and easier to high a kid or a snow removal
> service.

i thought the kids were already high.

your pal,
blake