Big snow dump

Log cabin in the Te Moana gorge
Log cabin in the Te Moana gorge

This is our first real dump of snow since moving into our new house, my wife Janice and I are enjoying the amazing views. We have had a total of fourteen inches deep of snow and to avoid a power cut I had to climb onto the shed roof and remove the snow from on top of the solar panels. I have a chuckle to myself when I hear about people in big towns when they are without power and they make such a big fuss over it.

Paradise in a snow storm
Paradise in a snow storm

Even though we live nine KM from the nearest power lines we have an endless power supply at no monthly charge. Our large fire with the oven underneath it works so well for cooking on and heating the house. We also have an endless supply of water and a gas califont for hot water and a gas hob for cooking on.

Solar panels were producing 11 watts when covered in snow and 400 watts when uncovered
Solar panels were producing 11 watts when covered in snow and 400 watts when uncovered

All of the stock have come through OK so far and I am feeding the cows bails of straw and the sheep are getting sheep nuts. I have to use the chains on my truck to be able to get out. This has also helped to squash the snow down so that it can thaw out a bit quicker.

looking down the gully to the log cabin, center of the photo
looking down the gully to the log cabin, center of the photo

The first night of snow broke a few branches on the trees but the next day the wind came up and blew the snow out of the trees which limited the amount of damage. The one big down fall of the snow is that the electric fences won’t work so I have turned that off.

Mr Pig heading up to my shed about to cause havoc
Mr Pig heading up to my shed about to cause havoc

This has allowed Mr Pig to be able to leave his block and come up and wreck as many things as he could in my shed. He made short work of the expensive bag of ukanuba dog biscuits. I had to use the dogs to put him back down to his area.