Brad Vietje
Hey Dick,

I hear ya on the snow front! Once you've put it behind you, green grass and warm winters probably have a real appeal.

I may get to the point where snow is just too much bother, but I still like having 4 distinct seasons. Living almost 1/2 way from the equator to the north pole, we get plenty of winter. With snowshoes, cross-country skis, and even sliding down hills, snow can still be fun -- BUT -- having spent about 3 hours shoveling over 24" of snow off the 44' x 64' barn roof while standing on a ladder today, I've had about enough already, and the roof job is only about 1/3 done!

Usually roofs around here are steep to shed snow, but some idiot built this barn back in 1970, just after 2 years of record snowfall, with a relatively shallow (5/12) pitch. It's been there for 40 years, so maybe it will be fine, but I worry when we get a deep snow cover. If we get a warm spell, and some rain falls before it sheds, that huge sponge could take on a LOT of water and get really heavy.

Stay warm, Dick; we'll take on the snow and cold up here.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje
Newbury, VT