Polar Vortex

The term "polar vortex" is back in our weather reports lately.
Anybody that has watched much on youtube videos will know the popularity of "cold start" videos. Often comprised of some smart guy going out in the extreme cold to try and start an engine that has not been pre-heated. Not a thought given to the permanent damage being done to the engine. I won't be doing that to any of mine unless it is a matter of life and death.
Today was not that serious but I had not had my mail for over a week and needed a few groceries. Long weekend starting so today was the last chance til next Tuesday. After a failed attempt yesterday on the "new" truck (97 Blazer) I figured it would go today after being plugged in to both coolant heater and battery charger on the new battery all night. But no. Seems to be something else going on  as it would turn over ok but not start. I still had time to plug in the old 81 for a few hours and give it a try. Not too surprising that it started as it has a 30 year history of dependable starting and performance for me. After a night of -37 everything was stiff and cold. I warmed up the vinyl winter front in the house so it would be flexible enough to install. Even so, the cold air stiffened it to the point I could not get all the snap fasteners locked on. Good enough to work though and it made the old engine run warm as summer. Daytime high of -22F here so its been the coldest day yet. Its been a week of below normal temps after 3 weeks of above normal. Always keeping it interesting.

Sunset Pics and Getting Stuck

Stuck in the ditch in the snow again. Same truck, same driveway almost a year apart. Last year trying to fly the new drone and drive the truck backwards on a narrow driveway. Big surprise when I slid into the ditch. This time I just mis-judged the edge of the driveway on a slight curve. No drone involved this time. I didn't have to walk a mile this time either. Never did get the sunset pictures so I had to settle for some video shot while driving the tractor.

Getting Used To Winter

Although the calendar won't admit it, we are well into winter here in Sask. A good layer of snow everywhere now and down to -20F this morning. If that isn't winter weather I don't know what is. Although it was not a bad day since the sun was shining bright and no wind at all. Anybody that spends much time outdoors in Sask. knows that it is not just the temperature that determines whether a day is nice. Like this caller to CBC radio last week. He got it right and that clip went viral.
Have a listen
I took the opportunity of this cool though sunny day to haul a tank of water from the well before the truck's license expires end of the month.
That went so well that I was inspired to head to the hundred acre woods and pick up a hay bale that I had missed when hauling last month. It was not worth running the tractor and trailer five miles (one way), plus way too cold to sit on an open tractor. So I used a little ingenuity along with a cable winch and ramp to pull the bale up onto the truck box and haul it home in comfort.
The sun was getting pretty low by the time I took this photo.

Back before it got too cold or snow too deep I finally got the 30+ year engine oil change done on the 39 Ford. And of course there is video evidence.