Living in New England: Good Neighbors

There are many aspects of life here that are so unique from other parts of the country, and I want to share those things with my family, and perhaps with you- if you have never been to New England.  I do a collection of posts called : "Living in New England" that highlight quintessential New England sights, events, situations, and experiences.

I know of many people who have lived here in New England their entire lives and perhaps don't realize that some of the events and sights that I will describe don't happen elsewhere in the country. Or, maybe you are originally from New England, but have moved away... I hope these posts will bring back some fond memories for you. 

In any event, I wish to share New England with you through the eyes of this Southerner!

(To read other "Living in New England" posts HERE. On the bottom of the page click on "older posts" to continue reading)

This post could also be named "Boys and their Toys," (insert eye-roll;) but I instead decided to include it in my Living in New England series since "good neighbors" really are the back bone of New England.  A good neighbor takes many forms here, not only can a good neighbor be the person who lives down the road or a mile away, but it is your community as a whole.  Neighbors helping neighbors is an unspoken credo in New England.  Volunteerism plays a major role, and "community" is a powerful element since small towns and villages can be spread out far and wide.  For example, since so many small towns and villages do not have the funds for their own fire departments, the building and equipment will be funded by the town but the firefighters and first responders will all be trained volunteers.   Need help raising a barn, plowing your driveway, getting your Christmas wreath down ;) or getting your tractor out of the mud?  When the word gets out someone (or many someones) will willingly offer to come help.  There is a kindness here that is undeniable.  Several Thanksgivings ago I noticed in the "free" section on Craigslist (fyi- our Craiglist covers the entire state of New Hampshire) that many people were giving away the makings for Thanksgiving dinner to people who were in need, other listings offered to pay for a Thanksgiving meal at a local restaurant, and even others were inviting those in need to join them for Thanksgiving in their own homes.  Thinking this might be a new trend I looked on different Craigslists from all over the country, and in no other place (I that looked) did I find these random acts of kindness being offered.  Being a good neighbor is a New England way of life.

Back to "good neighbors" and "boys and their toys"... this post is for all the husbands out there who, I've been told, read the blog sometimes with their wives.  Since Big Blue seems to be a favorite amongst the men readers I thought they might enjoy hearing a Big Blue story... 

We've had a very warm winter this year for New Hampshire, last heard it was at present the 5th warmest on record.  We've had snowed, then had a run of temperatures in the 50's, then the melting snow would refreeze at night and every surface would be covered in ice. Trying to walk down the driveway to get the mail has, at times, been dangerous and impossible.  I've gotten the car out to drive down the drive just to get the mail to avoid a fall.  We don't need any more trips to the emergency room this year ;)  During one of the high temp days of 56 degrees Dan decided to move some  dog poop   sugar-by-product  debris that had been "stored" behind a tree close to the front of the house since the ground was too icy to dispose it daily, as we usually do.  He was moving it using the scoop on Big Blue, the tractor, to the "compost area" that is located off of the "tractor path" which is located just below the "motor court" just off of the barn.  Got that?:)  Let's just say that three dogs create a lot of daily "debris";)   Now, if he had asked his wife (which of course, he didn't ) I would have told him that it was waaaaaay too snowy, muddy, slippery to go down the tractor path.  Since he didn't ask me he went down the path to dispose of the pile of "debris";) and got Big Blue stuck in the mud which had the consistency of quick sand.  

Dan chained up Big Blue and I tried to get the tractor out with our Yukon XL, to no avail, (we brought the Yukon with us from Texas and it is not a 4 x 4 much to the astonishment of every mechanic who works on it as they have never seen one that wasn't a 4 x 4 up here!) after that a neighbor came down with his 4 x 4 Jeep and that also was a bust.  The next day Dan left for a 4-day trip. During that time we got another round of 4" of snow.  The whole time Dan was gone he worried and fretted over Big Blue being left out in the snow.  It was as if he had left one of the puppy-girls out there all by herself.  Dan spoke with another neighbor, who owns a tractor, while away on his trip and the neighbor was very excited to help Dan get big blue out of the mud; even coming over to the house one dark pouring-rain night to check out the situation so he could devise an exit plan!  Hence the boys and their toys comment ;)  One fretting, one scheming and the whole time I'm thinking "if he had only talked to me..... :)

Poor, stuck Big Blue :(

 

Please note the decorative antlers in the back of the yellow spreader.  I even decorate our tractor.... kidding-  they are being stored there til I found a home for them inside:)

The cavalry arrived in the form of our neighbor Phil with his Kuboda tractor (which definitely needs a name don't you think?!  Big Orange?  Tiger? )   Phil had come up with an ingenious plan to extricate Big Blue using four tree posts and some ice melt.

The tracks to the left take you down the tractor path (the path is hidden from view from the house) where things like firewood on pallets, extra tractor blades, Big Blue's aerator,  granite stones and the compost pile can be found.

Phil turning down the tractor path.

 The discussion of the removal plan commences. 

The plan is further discussed at the incident site.

The tree logs are carried to the site...

and placed perpendicular to Big Blue's bucket.

Phil smartly had chains on his tractor as opposed to Dan someone else who shall remain nameless ;)

Phil's plan was to place the tree logs under Big Blue's bucket and use the logs as stability to push Big Blue back to the salted area where Dan could then get some traction.

Slowly and carefully...

the two worked together moving Big Blue backwards out of the mud and...

within just a few minutes Big Blue was freed!  Phil's plan worked so well he didn't even have to use his tractor to pull Big Blue out of the mud.

"Phil, you're the man!" was the phrase of the day!

After Big Blue's rescue the two men talked and debriefed the mission as "boys and their toys" are wont to do;) 

Thanks Phil, you saved the day!

Couldn't live here without Big Blue or "good neighbors!"

(To read other "Living in New England" posts HERE. On the bottom of the page click on "older posts" to continue reading)