Like The Saying Goes. . .
. . . out with the old, in with the new. This is my old snow shovel. I’ve had this beauty for around fifteen years. It’s seen its fair share of snow. But with all the recent snowstorms, and the amount of snow we had, it was getting used up. The right side is worn off a little, the left side is bent in a little, and the handle is slightly twisted so you had to watch how you held it. In short, it has served it’s time.
So, I broke down and bought a new one. I’m not completely happy with it because it has that new ergonomic handle. I prefer a straight handle shovel but couldn’t find one. But the real exciting news is on that little yellow sticker.
It has a nylon wear strip!That will extend the blade life!
Maybe I’ll get more than fifteen years out it.
The shovel will be put to the test this weekend – we are expecting another snowstorm.
posted by Ralph at 5:41 PM
13 Comments:
Your old shovel sure does look a bit raggedy at that. Ours has no wear and tear at all. Gee, I wonder why?? :)
Maybe this time you won't get as much and it'll melt real quick. I'm being very optimistic for you Ralph!!
I tell you what...if we get any snow here that I can make a snowman from I'll make a Ralph snowman! How's that? Doesn't that make you feel special? I'll even put clothes on you so you won't be nekkid!
Rachel
Clothes would be good.
Just make sure you wipe the smile of his face - I don't smile when it snows.
Ralph
I didn't know they made one with a nylon wear strip. I'll have to check into that.
Our snow is gone for now. I'd rather it didn't return. We've had enough!
I want spring now.
Grrrr...some people have all the luck. I am still waiting patiently for our first significant snowfall.
Yes Cheyenne, Ralph has all the luck.
Hey Ralph, if my Dad would have seen your old shovel he would scold you.
Grain scoops were a big part of rural life for both moving grain AND snow. All of the old timers were equally as good at running them from the left or right side. This to make it easier on the body and also to ensure that the steel (and later aluminum) wore evenly and not just on one side like yours. I got so I could scoop from both sides with equal ability but one of my brothers made me do it or probably would have remained 'non-scoopadextrous'. I can still hear my Dad, "Cliff, get on the other side a while, you're going to wear that scoop out", but on the other hand we didn't have 'nylon wear strips'.
My advice is to have Jeno do it from now on. $10 a shot.
I think that Cliff is right, let Jeno do it! He would probably feel "all grown up" and you would get a rest from the weariness of shoveling! We have a snowblower, but there is some snow that just doesn't do well with it, so out come the old shovels! We all shovel around here, the boys, myself, Scott, and Cassidy. Scott is now allowed to do it, the doc has no restrictions on him! We haven't had any significant snow though, yesterday we had big flurries and large flakes, they started "sticking" but....melted by 10:30 am! Good luck with that new fangled shovel, though!
We're expecting a little snow tomorrow, but not enough to dampen our Colts spirit.
Of course, we should worry about folks driving on snow after watching the game with some Colts spirit in their system.
I use a combination of a newfangled snow shovel and my Great-Uncle Herman's scoop shovel. My farm cousins all like to tease me, but I have an unnatural affection for old tools. I like to think about those great relatives when I'm doing a chore, like shoveling snow or that dead squirrel off of the road.
Stay warm and dry.
Couldn't we all use a wear strip!
I've still got my "old" shovel .... maybe 20+ years. While reading your post I was reminded of shoveling snow with the coal shovels .... and then there was chopping ice .... I don't missing. I need a "nylon wear strip" for this carbon based being. ' know where I can get one? ;0)
man i had a shovel like your old one when we lived in ohio. it looked just like yours. we had to get a new too the last winter we were there and your right you can't find the straight shovels anymore. all the ergonomic ones!! thats why we went to the snowblower, lol. hope you don't get too much snow.
The old snow shovel looks a little bigger to me... but then I have never used a snow shovel...
ralph, tom hear, judging by the angle of the blade you only shovel to the right. you need to spend more time on the farm, that is where you will learn to shovel both directions. maybe you could have got one more year out of that baby.
Ralph,
I give that new shovel a year. They can't make a shovel that would last forever; why the shovel companies would go broke.
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