Nice thing about the snow cover is it covers the pot holes and makes for a smooth, soft ride.

Got to almost 50 here in Ohio today. Been wanting to get the 700 cleaned up. Pressure washer went on the blink last fall when I was half done cleaning the combine. Finally went on ebay and bought a new pump for it. Got the pump and got it mounted on Wednesday. Got the 700 hood, radiator and front sheet metal off it this morning and got it out of the barn and washed it this afternoon. Need to fix a power steering leak, a leaking fuel tank and open the transmission to see why it jumps out of high range. Also need to repair the leveling crank on the Eagle hitch that has stripped the threads. Guess I will be busy the next few days.

Forecast is for falling temps and rain changing to freezing rain, sleet and then snow by tomorrow morning. Will be a good day to be working in the shop. Been hearing a few mourning doves early each morning so spring is getting near. Turkey buzzards have been back for at least 2 weeks and they usually don't return till the third week in March. Guess they heard there was an over abundance of road kill deer. Even seeing a couple blue jays migrating north. They only make a rest stop here and don't stay long.

Gene

Gene, we have had Blue Jays stay here all winter sometimes. First spring bird is usually the common crow about the middle of May but none yet. We are having a brief respite of sunshine between yesterday's blizzard and the next one coming tonight. Guess I won't bother moving any snow as it will just have to be done all over again tomorrow or Monday.
This picture from yesterday shows how deep the snowbank is on the East side of my yard.

Hey guys, I have been slacking here.  Sorry about that.  Haven't had much to say.  I guess Spring is trying to make a showing now.  We are at 34 degrees with a spatter on rain now and then.  Far better than the 11 degrees twenty four hours earlier.  Weather people predicted 1" to 3" yesterday PM and overnight.  It turned out to be about 1/2 inch.  No freezing rain or ice pellets yet.  Winter is really making a good try at hanging on.

Not a whole lot else note worthy happening here.  Just pretty much the same routine from day to day.  We sure are ready for real spring to get here.

Charlie V.

Hanging on pretty good here too Charlie. Gene is probably looking at our weather and wondering why anybody continues to live and try to farm here. I think some of us are too. Wind chill factors today with high southeasters blowing snow into drifts. Highways really bad in some areas and closed in others. Wish I had an hour meter on the old 40 to count how many hours I have spent opening driveway and yard this winter. The last time (was it Monday?) was the worst. Deep snow for almost the entire half mile. Lucky it was fairly light so the old cockshutt powered right through but needed several trips . Then out with the big Case and blade to scrape and widen it for the grain semi I had booked to pick up flax yesterday. Just lucky he got in during the morning before the wind got up and was able to finish the job. Since then it has been just wind and drifting snow slowly filling in my driveway. We do get the odd nice day as this photo from Monday shows.

Ralph;

I just wonder how many times you have blown the same snow, only to have the wind blow it right back? Have had a fairly windy week here since Monday. Hauled some metal for Amish on Tuesday. Had to make 4 stops to deliver it all. Drove about 90 miles by the time we got it done. The last stop we had to back around behind the barn to get out of the wind. Had to unload it all by hand. I guarded the upwind side to keep the wind from catching it while Jonas and Amos unloaded it. Made a trip yesterday to northern Indiana with truck and trailer to pick up 7 tons of feed for Amish who live near Belle Center. About a 300 mile round trip. The Dodge pulled the load just fine. Scaled frght at 26,ooo gross. Truck never slowed down on any of the hills. Pretty nice trip over all. Had to make 4 stops to get it all delivered. Left here at 7:45am and got home at 5:30pm. Wind was at my back coming most of the way home, so that helped. Amish over there all have skid loaders so made unloading quick and easy.

Woke up this morning with 1/2 inch of unexpected snow and 16 degrees. Decided to go back to the woods and get some of the oak I have cut. Ground still soft in the woods. Got through the wet spot alright going in. Decided to finish clearing a path around the wet spot and that worked alright. Mostly a few saplings and down limbs to remove. Got about half a load and decided that was enough. Brought it to the house and split it, so have some good oak for my night fires.

Probably work some more on the 700 this afternoon. Been hoping for a warm day so I can power wash some of the parts before I put it back together. Looks like cold weather for the next week. Got most of the major repairs done. Still need to repair the stripped lift arm adjustable link threads.

Gene

We finally got a few looks at sunshine today, but with the cold N NW wind it did not have much warming effect.  It did melt away part of the 2 inches of snow that has fallen in the last two days.  At least temperature stayed in the high 20's last night, rather than 11 or 15 as it has been.  On the good side, we escaped the heavy snows of two feet to five feet that some folks saw of the SE and E end of Lake Ontario.  Usually it seems that by this far along in the year water and air temperature have balanced enough to prevent most of the "lake effect snow", but not so this year.

I read that Gene is still busier than a cat covering dirt on a tin roof and enjoying the Dodge.  It sure sounds like a good working truck.  If Ralph does not get some better weather soon, I think the polar ice caps may reach his farm.  That may not blow very well with the Cockshutt.  I have not heard a lot of comment from the wackos about global warming lately.  Probably afraid they will get mobbed if they say too much.  With only eight days until April first, The weather will have to mellow soon.  I for one will be waiting.

Charlie

P.S.  If this link works, this is what Ralph was up to almost a year ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WgUbrz5Zjc8

Edit:  I tried it and it worked fine.  Get lucky every now and then.

Yep, a big difference from last year. Ralph had bare ground and we had warm dry weather. I was working bean ground at this time and planted some soybeans on March 28 and they did fine. We are cold today after 2 sunny days and 46 degrees. I actually worked in the shop with the door open and did some parts cleaning outside for the 700. Got it all back together. Just have to repair the 2 point adjusting link. Got a piece of 3/4 all thread I will weld on to replace the stripped threaded rod. Picked that up at TSC this morning. Also have a front tire I will replace.

Have a winter storm warning here with snow predicted to total 6 to 10 inches. Radar shows it should be snowing now at 12:00 but nothing yet. Temps for the next 10 says forecast to be a few degrees of freezing day and night. Forecast to be 10 to 15 degrees below normal. Won't be planting any soybeans this week. Got a trailer load of firewood in the barn out of the snow. Got a stack in the house in case it gets too nasty to get to the barn.

Buckeyes playing basketball this afternoon. May be a good time to stay in and watch the game and then the Nascar race.

Gene

Started snowing here in Ohio about 9:30 tonight. Real fine fluffy snow and about 1 inch so far. Radar looks like most of it will go west and north of us. Bandy just came in after about 15 minutes outside and covered with snow. I keep a short handle broom by the back door and sweep the snow off him. He likes that, thinks he is being petted I think.

Have a good night.

Gene

Charlie, the youtube link worked well but what a difference a year makes. I spent 5 hours moving snow today and did not shoot any video since I think I have enough recorded already. Wind blew so hard on Wednesday that it put some major hard drifts on the driveway. Solid ice underneath so traction was a problem. Used the blade to scrape down and ridge the snow in the centre and then cleaned up with the blower. I think this winter equals about two winters worth of snow removal so far. Trans Canada highway was even shut down on Thursday for a while.  
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/03/21/sk-highways-hit-by-stormy-weather-1303.html

I feel fortunate here in Ohio. We had about 8 inches of heavy wet snow Sunday night. Some wind and drifting. but not bad as the wet snow pretty well stays put. Been shoveling all morning to get the sidewalk cleared and paths to the shop and barn. Cleared out around the house and shoveled paths so Bandy can get to his latrine and his favorite watchdog spots. Walked down and shoveled around the mailbox and a clear approach approach path. wanted to get cleared back far enough that the snowplow didn't destroy my new mailbox by throwing the heavy snow at 45 MPH. Just got back to the house when the plow went by. Good timing. Not going to plow out the drive. I can get through alright and the soft ground under the snow would just plow out too much gravel. Did my grocery shopping Sunday, so don't have any place I have to go. Can get to the barn for firewood now so just hibernate.

Sounds like the Canada highway crew have got their work cut out for them. Gotta be bad if they can't keep up. Our county highway crew here does a good job keeping the roads open with normal snowfalls. Helps being located on the same road as the highway garage since they have to come by my house to get to any road in the western part of the county.

Gene

Ralph, I hope you are catching up with your snow by now.  If you do not get a break soon, you will probably need a Chiropractor to rebuild your neck and shoulders.

Yahoo!  We missed the snow that Gene got Sunday night and beyond.  What was left of it went pretty well south of here.  Not only that, but we broke 40 yesterday for the first time in two weeks.  Today was even better with a lot of sunshine and into the high 40's.  The spoiler was the constant wind at I would guess about 15 MPH.  When I stepped out the door, 47 felt a lot more like 37.  Even so, it begins to look like we are inching toward some better weather.

Charlie

Well we are getting a break from the snow. The snow has not moved since last Thursday so the roads stay open. I've had a semi load of fertilizer hauled into the yard and two loads of oats hauled out so made good use of the driveway while it was open. And a good job to get done before the roads soften up from spring thaw. Still well below normal temps  with only a little melting on the gravel roads.
My neck and back are pretty much back to normal. Here is a photo of a front mount blower owned by a friend of mine. He took this shot in his yard last week while using his 3020 to do some yard clearing. That must be nearly a five foot pile of snow.

Ralph;

Hope you are finally getting a little break from the snow.

Hope you don't think I am bragging, but we had another sunny 46 degree dat here in Ohio. The snow has melted, except in the piles and drifts. The areas I shoveled off on Monday are getting fairly in the lawn. Actually starting to get green in spots and some spring flowers are peeping through. Forecast is for sunny and in the 50's the next 2 days.  I have been stuck in the house all day doing my income tax. Got the federal done and in the mailbox. Get a whole $53.00 refund.  Plan to do the state tomorrow.

Don't know if toy saw the YT post on the Case forum that I bought a Case 970 with loader. Kinda rough looking but seems to be pretty sound mechanically. Even has a full tank of diesel fuel. I thought it was cheap at $4000.00. Think I have the loader sold, so brings the price down a lot. Planning to pick the tractor up on Saturday.

http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/3607992967.html

The link is to the Craigslist listing of the tractor. May have to copy and paste.

Gene

Hi Gene
I am patiently waiting for spring but so far not much change in the snowbanks with 20 degree highs. I missed the post on YT where you bought a 970. It is unusual to see one without a cab here. I couldn't tell from the picture, is it a white or yellow one? My brother has my uncle's yellow 970. Its not a bad old tractor and we use it on the grain vac when hauling from his yard. I might have already posted the link to this video I shot of it working last April. Sure was smoking, must have had too much air on the vac or something.
Brakes were a problem sometimes. Dry disk brakes and sure as anything somebody will drive away with the park brake on and burn up the disks.
[video=youtube;4m9DZ6RKGPc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m9DZ6RKGPc[/video]