snow shoveling tips?

yes, we have about 2 feet of snow with more coming. shockingly i am the most fit person in the house right now (with two elderlies and someone with a bad back) forget the back door. i could force it open about a foot and plunge into the snow if need be. i shoveled off the front porch and steps enough to plunk the little doggies out there on their leashes. they were very affronted but did their business. wind whipping snow in my face is not too fun.
i figure i will go out again in a little while and scoop just a path to the street wide enough to walk.
when it drifts back in where you've shoveled it's so discouraging. the elders say not to shovel until it stops but i like to have a little path to the street just in case. i won't remind them of the time one of them suddenly needed to get out via ambulance in the snow and the other fell in the snow and had to go, too* for stitches across the bridge of the nose and an arm cast;
nor the time one of them decided to 'just step outside for a look' *see above*
any suggestions? there's no one to hire so far, i am on several lists with nary a nibble
miracle of miracles our power (and heat) has stayed on! thank you.

I like to shovel by section for this deep snow. Scoop off the first inch in front of you, check wind direction, throw it to the side going with the wind, reach for the next inch, do these steps until you reach the ground level. Move on to the next section of snow in front of you. This way you don't hurt your back with a shovel full of snow. Snow is light and fluffy until a shovel appears, then it weighs a ton! I better reach for my shovel and start clearing a path.

Not apply to shoveling the walk, but for large driveways/small parking lots you can:
- buy a plow attachment for your riding mower. $200+
- check out the Nordic plow for a car/truck, which I plan to get. Essentially, a plastic-based large plow attaches rapidly to the front of your car, with elastic tensioners to the body. You drive 1-2 miles an hour and can quickly clear, which staying inside the car. Like $500-$600.

seriously. up to my waist in this stuff. not going back out for another few hours.

We did not have much, but one of the men who were here for their Mother's funeral gave me a goodbye thank you as he swept off steps, sidewalk, back deck, and path to the car. I had a bag of salt on the porch and he salted everything down - including the path to the car.
No kids looking to money today because school was only a 2-hour delay.
I am so sorry you have the chore. The previous advice of a couple inches at a shovelful is good advice. And yes, it makes sense to do it every few hours so you can identify where the sidewalk IS. Be careful on the steps. Last winter I was NOT on the last step when I thought I was and had a painful landing - that shoulder seems to be the one I get every time.

No neighborhood kids on the loose? We haven't touched the snow yet. Still blowing like crazy.
The sidewalk plow went thru earlier, that's all filled back in. The driveway plow went thru, that's all filled in.
Wish I had some suggestions.

no one in sight - just one lonely soul who decided to walk down to the harbor to see the water and was on his way back - said no one was around and told me to be careful.
I just got scolded by one of the oldies (sworn at actually) for going out mid storm and trying to stay ahead of it. I don't need that. Hurts my feelings. I don't need praise or thanks, but I do need people to be civil.

seashanty said:

no one in sight - just one lonely soul who decided to walk down to the harbor to see the water and was on his way back - said no one was around and told me to be careful.
I just got scolded by one of the oldies (sworn at actually) for going out mid storm and trying to stay ahead of it. I don't need that. Hurts my feelings. I don't need praise or thanks, but I do need people to be civil..

Click to expand...

seashanty said:

no one in sight - just one lonely soul who decided to walk down to the harbor to see the water and was on his way back - said no one was around and told me to be careful.
I just got scolded by one of the oldies (sworn at actually) for going out mid storm and trying to stay ahead of it. I don't need that. Hurts my feelings. I don't need praise or thanks, but I do need people to be civil.

Click to expand...

{{hugs}}

well i just went out again to shovel out what blew in. another foot but not hard to deal with. sparkly light snow, not heavy except at the curb where a plow packed it in with ice chunks. sp very pretty and only one plow rumbled by ... no other cars nor trucks while i was out there. it's a sound from childhood - a plow on a snow packed street.
i would have taken a picture of the snow but can't capture the glitter. time to get my late husband's nice camera to a shop to ask what's wrong with it so i can use it. learn to use it.

seashanty said:

well i just went out again to shovel out what blew in. another foot but not hard to deal with. sparkly light snow, not heavy except at the curb where a plow packed it in with ice chunks. sp very pretty and only one plow rumbled by ... no other cars nor trucks while i was out there. it's a sound from childhood - a plow on a snow packed street.
i would have taken a picture of the snow but can't capture the glitter. time to get my late husband's nice camera to a shop to ask what's wrong with it so i can use it. learn to use it..

Click to expand...

I'll be out there in a bit. I can't see out my bedroom window. The snow is packed against the screen.

Neighbor's car is parked 3' from road. After all the street plowing, there was a 4' bank of packed snow in front of her car.
Owner of the big hotel came over and plowed her out. Yes, the owner, not a flunky.

Thoughts are with you! Not dealing with anything down South.
I used to like to stay ahead of the snow a bit. Gets too heavy to deal with if you wait until the end...
Take care and be careful out there!