We don't have to do this:


Yes, Jane is swinging a pick. And, yes, I know how lucky that makes me.

It had snowed several days ago. Mistake #1: I didn't immediately shovel the driveway.
Then we had a 'nice' day with over-32° weather. Mistake #2: I wasted that nice day and again didn't shovel the driveway.
Now for several days we've had temperatures in the 20's. All that snow that melted on the 'nice' day is now 1" thick ice on top of 4" of snow.
So now that we have to go out and do some shopping, we have to use a pick to break up the ice and snow. There's sun shining, and the roads are fine. But the ice on the driveway just reflects the light and stays cold and frozen.
And, oh, yeah, the driveway is 80' long and 10' wide. That's a lot of picking and shoveling.

Now that we've exposed a little of the gravel, the car can get enough traction to make it out to the street. And with that gravel in the sun it will heat up enough to melt the rest of the snow.

Winter weather sucks. I want to go cruising.