One of the problems with living in a 'rural' community in winter...
 

All I can smell all the time is smoke, so I'm always thinking something's on fire. God I miss gas heat.

Sell Mesquite firewood in your area so you can get a better smell.

Problem we have is we are the last place to get the roads swept of snow. That and the chickens in the farm at the back of the house.

With the budget cuts coming from every which way but up, snow removal is a growing concern in both rural and metropolis communities. They keep letting the snow sit longer and waiting until the storm is tapering off before they do the first sweep. Scary shit, even if you have proper tires and know how to drive.. I'm worried about the other guy :(

Yeah, that bugs me too. You have to be doubly careful out in the country, if something catches fire you'll probably lose everything. So a faint whiff of burning wood sets me off.

Our "fire department" is strictly volunteer, and our equipment is seriously antiquated. Always something I'm nervous of. I don't believe they've successfully put out a fire, ever.

grew up in a very rural place that was so far back in the woods that the plows hardly ever came back to our roads. Not to mention we had a 1/4 mile down hill drive way that would mean whenever it was going to snow my folks had to park the cars at the top of the driveway or they would never get out. My sister and I had to take the groceries down from the car on sleds.

I think I am practicing my stories for the grand kids.

Yeah that's sort of what it was like when we were still out of town..being in town is a big help now. But it's amazing how many people are still on wood heat. Then again, switching to oil furnaces can cost a fair bit.