So, as I said when I started this blog, a year ago, it definitely has been and will continue to be a learning experience...

What have we learned so far? Well among other things...

• Shovels (and manual labor) are your friend: You can always count on a shovel (and the associated required manual labor) even when the tractor (with plow) won't start, or gets stuck...or when there's nowhere for the ATV (with plow) to put the snow. When all else fails, you can always do things the hard way -- it takes a lot longer and hurts a lot more, but it'll get'r done eventually.
  




• Treasure the mud room: We have 4 seasons...spring mud season, summer, fall mud season, and winter. Without the mudroom, I shudder to think what the rest of the house would look like. Where would we keep our boots (rubber and winter), coveralls (insulated and not), and defrosting chicken waterers?




• Invest in good tools: We learned this lesson after returning the first leaf blower we bought..right after moving in. It just wouldn't cut it. We went back and got the slightly more powerful model, with backpack straps (it's a long driveway)... This principal has held true with leaf blower, chainsaw, ax, ATV, shovel and others. Whenever we think we can save a few bucks by skimping on quality, we end up regretting it.




• Plan ahead: several notes under this one -- First of all, never ever ever procure lifestock until they have appropriate housing--you'll regret the race against time that ensues. And remember the other important details...like how you're going to get them water when the spigot and hose are frozen solid....and how to keep said water from freezing in the waterer/trough/whatever. :-)




• Rewards: All that said, there's a very rewarding feeling about having weathered near 5 feet of snow with the power out for over 40 hours.... about being able to bring in and sell your own, farm-fresh, conscionably-raised eggs... about building your own chicken coop, form scratch, even after a rebuild and rewriting the plans yourself... about cracking open a jar of your own apple butter.... about successfully pulling a wineberry thorn out of a duck's foot...
  

So, with the exception of maybe investing in a set of tire chains for the truck...I wouldn't trade it. :-)