I remember my mom once telling me to be careful what you promise. Now I remember that lesson after I promised an article daily... I apologise I will try to write regular articles weather and farm life permitting. Ahhh thats better now for the guts of my learning experience.
Saturday we knew we had severe thunder storms coming and probable freezing temperatures so we began our outdoor preparations. The garden and greenhouse got our first attentions as we wanted to protect all our newly emerging seedlings and transplants. We covered everything as the temperature began to drop. There were many things that needed to be secured so as to not blow away. Those things done we covered exterior water spigots to prevent freezing. Wishing we had a few more batteries, extra propane and more firewood the rains began.
Sunday morning it was cold and rainy, no big deal right..............
By evening it was still raining and starting to freeze. As we watched the trees become heavier and heavier with ice I knew we would loose our power. It was not long before we had about an inch of ice on everything. I wondered if my garden "babies" would survive. The thought of no electricity excites our family. We have always used it as a time of celebration! How better to spend the time than rotating the food in the 72 hour kits and snuggling up with a good book and a warm fire? The children danced and gathered their bags as they are filled with fun and nourishing food for just such an "emergency" dah dah dah dah............
To our sad surprise we remembered our recent camp out, the use of our kit contents and a procrastination of restocking. Note to self always keep bug out bags stocked ready for use. Thanks for a back up plan and our long term preparations, we put our dutch oven skills to work. WOW! Mom is every ones hero as she saves the day because we love dutch oven cooking. It takes a bit more time and care but the results are mouth watering!
Sunday night we had the crock pot of bean soup Dad had put together for us with some dutch oven biscuits. Despite our efforts to prevent the water freezing Monday morning several fixtures burst and had to be repaired. With roads being messy traffic was slow and a bit stressful (I would rather be prepared than be one of those desperate and on the road). We don't get much ice in the south and it is a might scary. Country people tend to slow down and use caution and surprisingly the nearest town with a Lowe's did not have the severe weather we did so the roads just twenty minutes away were not bad at all. I was tempted to rent a room and send for the rest of the family. Being the brave adventurous woman I am we gathered our needed supplied for the repairs and ventured home.
Dad was able to get our water on by late afternoon and boy that was something to be thankful for! Heating water to wash dishes takes more time and lugging and the water had to be changed often as it was a bit chilly and got cold quickly. I do have to say with a bit of a childish grin that it made doing the dishes a bit funner. Carrying the big pots of hot water and doing dishes by dim light made me grateful for running water and water heaters. We truly are a blessed people!
Monday was busy so we warmed leftover from the fridge for meals, ate sandwiches, and more dutch oven biscuits. We had to make a little stop at the local walmart for some propane to heat the greenhouse. Which Rachel Thank you your little buddy deer stand heater works wonderful. It used 2-3 small bottles per day and kept the temps up in the high 60's. I wondered if I had wasted all that time planting tomatoes and peppers could we keep them warm enough in our greenhouse from tractor supply.
Tuesday the hubby got the day off and joined the fun. Paul and Gramp gathered more firewood as we knew not when the power would return. There was a business unlike our day to day routine but by Tuesday we had it down. Morning chores and breakfast, then clean up and chores, a little time to enjoy the ice...some sledding, then dinner prep and evening chores, then the best part of the day Louis L'amour and smores.
After two days of physical work (more so than normal) and 3 meals a day I definitely decided that when the power goes our two meals is more than enough. Lugging the water for dishes is good exercise but twice a day was enough for this woman! Those that need a snack can just grab another biscuit and jelly.
Tuesday when we were reading Down the Long Hills there was an awesome scene where the horse is attacked by a grizzly I wont spoil the book for you but it inspired dinner......dutch oven bear stew and it was fabulous. With some biscuits and cherry cobbler and candle light we had us an amazing evening. The power came un just as we were sitting together toeat so we ran about the house and turned everyting off for a memory making evening country style!
I am surprised we were able to keep our home above 60 with our fireplace without the electric blower. I am a bit disappointed I did not take pictures. I need to hire Rachel or one of the children to be in charge of that. I am well surprised all our garden goodies and greenhouse starts have survived. Our family had some much needed QUALITY family time. With the ice and snow melting our temps are supposed to reach into the whoppin 60's, I am excited to get back to planting!
Thank you for reading and letting me share. Angie on ripplecreekranch@gmail.com also see our family farm blog at ripplecreekranch.blogspot.com
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