We have 2 long driveways with frozen tractor tire treads.
Metal studded soles strap onto your shoes and ankles with velcro straps.
Think of this post as a free commercial for a revolutionary product. Icers are metal studded rubber soles that strap onto your boots and give you the ability to WALK ON ICE WITHOUT SLIPPING!! Pardon my ‘yelling’ but I am so excited to have a pair that I have to spread the word.
We’ve been having a series of freeze-thaw and snow-rain-snow cyles which can create lots of icy driveways and walking paths. (There are no sidewalks in Bear River.)
I am such a scaredy-cat about falling and slipping that as soon as it gets icey outside, I don’t want to venture out. Icers totally take my fear away. It’s unbelievable….it is not possible to even try to slip around on the ice wearing them.
The only down side is that they are expensive – just over $40 Canadian. I bought mine online at Lee Valley, but I’m sure there are other places that sell them.
Icers are made in New Brunswick, where they have lots of ice knowledge.
With snowshoes and now icers, winter will never be the same.
I just discovered your blog and I love it! In the fall of 2006, we left Winnipeg for a simpler life in Nova Scotia (sound familiar?). We renovated a century home in Rossway, on Digby Neck, and we have a very similar story to tell . . . the dumpster, the chimney refit, the contractors.
A year and a half later, remodel completed, we came to the conclusion that there was absolutely no way to earn even a modest income on “The Neck”, sold, and moved to Salmon River, Colchester County. We’re very glad we did, but I do miss the being near the water, and there’s a vacation trip to Annapolis/Bear River in the works for this summer.
Bear River was runner up in our search for the first house. There’s a house on Bell Road (#88 or maybe 83) with original stained glass windows that I had my eye on. I’m a quilt maker, and I would have enjoyed the artistic community in Bear River very much.
Your photographs are beautiful!
Maggie
Hi Flora,
Imagine my trepidation as you headed out for the ice with those icers. You were scaring me and teaching me at the same time. Okay I’m getting the icers and getting back to walking.
Thanks for always being an inspiration.
Love Barbara
P.S. I drew you last night and posted it.
That’s how much I appreciate your super
ideas.
Barbara, that icers movie was for you!! I hope you get a pair. They are wonderful and you can even drive with them on. They are also pretty easy to take off and on.
Maggie, thanks for your comments! When we were looking online for possible communities to live in NS we saw some gorgeous land near the Salmon River. It looks like a wonderful part of the province.
The Digby Neck is also dranatic and pretty, but looks (to me) desolate and isolated in the winter. Still, it’s too bad that the employment prospects are so poor in Atlantic Canada because it is so beautiful and the people are so kind and friendly.
I really liked your quilt work……..please drop by our studio if you are in Bear River this summer. We’ll be part of the Bear River Working Artists studio tour. http://bearriverstudios.wordpress.com