Toro 828 First Run - Bandi And The Beast

 

Song:  Above All

Artist:  Helen Jane Long

It had lightly snowed last night.

As it wasn't snowing at the time...

and snow was building up in the driveway...

and, I had yet to try out my Toro 828 Snowblower...

I decided to use it on the driveway...

as more snow was expected soon.

This way I could familiarize myself with it...

as well as give myself a head start on any snow buildup.

Although I know now...

as there was no real wind blowing...at the time...

and the air didn't feel so cold...

I had initially thought that I could just go out in my snow boots...

sweat pants and sweat shirt...

without a hat or gloves.

It was a big mistake.

I had forgotten just how fine the powder is here.

As the snow...

as it was being blown by the wind...

quickly coated me in a very fine snow powder...

which had almost immediately melted on my head and hands...

I soon felt the effects of being wet in a building wind in winter.

You can see how fine the powder of the snow is.

It is great for skiing...

and when I walk in it...

it feels like I am walking on baby powder...

but...

as the combination of the powder quickly melting on my skin...

and the wind picking up...well...

I will certainly wear a hat and gloves next time.

Although the snow wasn't deep...

I got used to my Toro...

and I am so glad I had gotten it.

So long as I adequately dress while snow blowing...

even during blizzards...

I will be comfortable.

Afterwards...

I took Bandi out to use the bathroom.

I have two funny stories from Bandi's forest bathroom.

Just yesterday...

right at this spot...

Bandi started acting strangely.

She alerted and then began aggressively pulling at her leash...

as she barked and growled.

This was unusual for Bandi.

She was acting as if some creature were very near by...

and that it may have been a threat.

As it was in the evening hours...

but there was light enough to see...

I began to scan the surrounding forest for any nearby creature.

I became acutely aware of any motion...

especially of any creature running towards me  :)

It was then that I saw that it was a deer in the distance...

on the far ridge.

I had only seen it because it ran off up the ridge and out of sight...

but the opening on the far side of picture was where it had been.

Another time...

 a couple of weeks ago...

as I was taking Bandi out for a late night bathroom run in her forested area...

Bandi started sniffing the air and pulling at her leash...

even before we had reached the far berm we have to summit before 

we reach her bathroom area.

As it was late at night...

I had my flashlight...

 which I always use to scan the forest as soon as I summit the berm...

and even though I had done this many times...

the fact that Bandi was acting strangely alerted me to the possibility

of there being a creature just over the berm.

As I scanned the forest...

these rocks are what I had seen.

When they are covered in snow...

they take on different shapes in the mind...

especially at night and with shadows being cast by the beam of a flashlight.

My mind had told me...

it was a bear.

I momentarily froze in place until I realized it was just the same rocks I had seen many...

many times before.

Although it was funny...

after my initial shock...

I decided I would find and unpack my .357 holster.

I will start wearing it when taking Bandi out...

especially at night...

no joke.