Living in Place

Little Green, We Have a Problem

63 Comments

Time was when Clif and I and our daughters hand shoveled and scooped our driveway, which is neither long nor wide. For some reason, it was a chore that Clif and I didn’t mind doing.

But then the years passed. Our daughters moved far away, and we—ahem—were no longer as spry or as strong as we were in our younger days. One Christmas, Dee took pity on her aging parents and bought us an electric snow-thrower, which I promptly dubbed “Little Green.”

Here is Clif with Little Green last winter.

Last Friday, when Clif took out Little Green to clean the snow left behind from our first snowstorm, he had an unpleasant surprise as he turned it on—a loud grinding noise and then nothing. Fortunately, the snow was light and fluffy, and clearing the driveway and walks didn’t require much effort. We were done within an hour.

Because we are Mainers, we always try to fix things when they break. Always. This trait has been passed down by our frugal ancestors. It is in our DNA. So Clif brought Little Green into our dining room. (Little Green is light and easy to carry.) When Clif set Little Green down, there was a mighty rattle, as though marbles were rolling around inside.

No, not marbles. Instead, acorns. Lots of them. Some enterprising rodent had decided that Little Green would be the perfect place to store nuts.

Those acorns snapped both belts, which is why Little Green wouldn’t throw snow.

After much measuring, Clif ordered belts.

Fingers crossed that they arrive before we have a major storm.

If not, Clif and I will go back to shoveling.

Oh, that rascally rodent!

63 thoughts on “Little Green, We Have a Problem”

  2. There truly is no outfoxing rodents when it comes to their storage of winter eats. I have my fingers crossed that the belts arrive, get installed without much difficulty, and he fires right up. He part of your extended family now. 🙂

  4. Shame of that little rodent. I find them on top of the battery in my car where squirrels put them. I hope the belts arrive soon and Little Green will be working great again soon.

  6. Paul and I enjoyed the story and acorns, that is one thing we don’t have to worry about…but please don’t let your rodents talk to our cockatoos! My Dad fixed absolutely everything himself, he couldn’t imagine going to get something fixed, it was a point of honour by the end of his life…and he and my mother managed just fine.

    1. Glad you and Paul enjoyed the story. Actually, we got a kick out of it, too. Your Dad sounds like a Mainer. A big hurray for all those who try to fix things on their own.

  9. Aww the poor squirrel wasn’t to know! I hope you can offer an alternative place for the squirrel to store his food and that the replacement belts arrive soon! 😉💜

  12. Oh, gosh, what a lode! Hope the belts fit and you’ll be all set.
    I had a little pile of acorns on the back seat of my car, which had been left lowered and my work gloves which I had in there were filled with hulled sunflower seeds – they are such clever little hoarders! For a few days there I was worried if a critter came running out while I was driving, I’d scream and go off the road! 😀 Luckily, no one was in residence.

  14. Almost forgot…I got your book in the mail yesterday. That glossy cover is beautiful. I read on my kindle too, but there’s something wonderful in a tactile sense about the physical book. You must be so proud.

    1. So very nice! How lovely that you ordered a paper copy after reading the ebook. I feel exactly the same way that you do about physical books. I have a tablet, but most of my books come from the library and are paper.

      1. I read your first book on kindle, but I haven’t read this one yet. I have to admit there are times when I tap my finger on a page of a paper book, and expect the page to turn. : ) Hope you have a nice Christmas.

  15. With us, it was nice in our car engine compartment. They used insulation to form a best and chewed wires until the engine was popping and sputtering. The techs at Charlie’s, at great expense, evicted them and replaced the chewed wires. They said Mickey ran off across the parking lot!

  17. Your story, and others in the comments, has been such an interesting one for me as this is way beyond my experience. We too tend to try and fix things first before calling for assistance – it is hard-wired into us both I think.

    1. Oh, the wonderful world of blogging! Glad to read that all around the world, there are folks who try to fix what is broken. Not always possible, but at least an effort is made.

  18. That’s so sweet! And very inconvenient! What amazes me is the squirrels here store nuts around my garden in all sorts of ways and all sorts of places but I have never seen them come back for them – I guess that means they have plenty to eat throughout the Winter – or do they forget where they are?

  20. Oh, that’s hilarious! A snowblower made a huge difference to us, too … for many years. But a few years ago we decided our bodies were ready for the next step. We now have “people” who come and snowblower for us. Even better!

  21. I always enjoy reading about little green, so I am very relived that the problem was not terminal. How funny, though, that some critter decided that was a good place to store acorns… he’s going to be very disappointed when he comes back for his dinner. Fingers crossed the belts are with you before the snow.

  22. Forgive me, Laurie, but I’m still giggling over your story! What an enterprising squirrel, hiding acorns inside something like Little Green. Perhaps he, too, knew its services wouldn’t be required until winter arrived?!

  25. That is cute. Is it a Sunjoe? It’s kind of the same color as the little rechargeable shredder that we call The Pencil Sharpener.

    On a completely different topic, have you see this article about what is “really” going on in Maine (eye roll)?

  28. That is a lovely story Laurie! I hope you put the acorns where the squirrel can find them when he gets hungry! I also hope the belts arrive in time and go on easily. As you know I try to fix things if they break so I am definitely with you on that one.

  29. We wage a constant battle with rodents. I’d love to live in harmony with them, but they seem to target vehicles, machinery, and gardens with especial zeal. Good luck.

  30. I was enthralled by your story: shovelling snow, Little Green, acorns … all very exotic and captivating to someone who squeals are tiny, short-lived snow flurries.

    Hope Little Green will be fixed and well soon.

  31. It’s been a bad year for rodents. At least it didn’t chew the wiring. Time to hunker down for another storm. Hope you don’t lose power. Merry Christmas!

  32. Oh heck! That was a lose: lose, wasn’t it? I feel a little bit sorry for the prudent rascal who found such a good storage place, only to be thwarted. It must be quite hard to find nuts under deep snow… never being certain you and Clif would Little Green the right places.

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