The photo challenge for this week invites photographers to consider what a circle represents. What came to mind was this snow shovel invention, which makes use of a wheel to create a fulcrum to lift snow.
Last year the total snowfall amounted to over 58.4 inches in our area, all of which had to be removed from the drive and walkway. Because the drive is shaded, the snow freezes making a nice, slick patch of ice to negotiate.
Then I saw our neighbor across the street using a crazy-looking device for removing snow: a huge wheel attached to a shovel. I watched as our neighbor cleared his entire driveway without having to bend over to lift the snow. He gave us the information on the device, and I lost no time checking the Internet on the invention: the Snow Wovel. Time Magazine claimed it as the best invention for 2006, so it’s been around for a few years. According to their website the Snow Wovel is
recognized by Co-op America and National Green Pages™ for its positive, pollution-free environmental standards and zero carbon footprint in usage. University of Massachusetts independent study confirms the wheeled snow shovel clears snow with a fraction of the effort and safer on the back: “comparable to simply walking.”
Wheel technology continues, as I ponder when the first human conceptualized this circular device about 3,500 BC, making life easier for us all.
Psalmboxkey's Blog 
Comments on: "Photo Challenge: Circle" (10)
Hey Kae, Happy New Year, thanks for the latest post about picture challenge. My snow shovel has 4 wheels and a motor with a seat and a steering wheel, works real good!!! John
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Happy New Year, John. If I wasn’t so cheap, I’d get one of the those motorized devices! lol . . . which I might regret if it snows two feet or more.
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I live in upstate NY. Just bought a Wovel and got a chance to use it right after Christmas. Heavy, wet, frozen snow a couple inches deep. Would have taken all day without this amazing invention. Takes a little practice, but once you get the new technique it’s so easy. I was still sweating, but no backache or soreness!
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Right. I thought it wouldn’t work on the heavy, icy snow, but was much surprised that the shovel did very well. Luckily, haven’t had any snow yet this year. K
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Wow, I want one of those, although it would have been used more when we lived in the snow belt of NE Ohio rather than the SW metropolitan area of Chicago where we don’t really get much snow.
janet
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For years, I just used a standard shovel, which was fine. For deep snow, the Wovel made the job doable, especially when the street plow piled the snow up at the end of the drive!
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I know from bitter experience how heavy that snowplow snow can be!
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I’ve never seen anything like the Snow Wovel. It sounds wonderful. Happy New Year–I hope that you have a wonderful 2016.
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Sheryl, Thanks for the good wishes for the New Year! K
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Fantastic site. A lot of helpful information here.
I am sending it to several friends ans additionally sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thanks for your effort!
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