Since before my stormcation I had pretty things to show you, I'm going ahead and posting those pictures. This is a catching up post and you'll just have to bear with some anachronisms here!
One day we were enjoying fall, and the next day, BAM! The Chief was worriting about who would help him get the plow rig on the Suburban, since we are woefully lacking in sons these days.
We did have a surprise visit from Nick! Yes!
How does someone who lives in Hong Kong drop in on you?
Well, he has a meeting in New York that he can't avoid (I mean, what's traveling around the world when your words of wisdom and experience are needed?), and he decides to pop up to good ole Massachusetts to see the fam!
Of course, I didn't get any in focus photos. What is wrong with me! Anyway, it was lovely weather while he was here, and normally we put the plow on at Thanksgiving, when the boys are home and can help. So we never thought to ask him.
But Bridget and I manned up and got the job done. I am woman hear me roar. That is a 70s reference. Sorry.
And may I just say that now that it's getting a little old, that dumb contraption (the plow) is the most persnickety thing. The whole rig's movement depends on three teeny tiny little wires that connect when you put the ends that dangle — all year, in all weather — out of the truck into the ends that dangle — all year, sitting in the garage sort of rotting away, with the cat and the pollen and the dirt –out of the plow.
Listen — when you get your new plow you should really wrap those things up but good. Use duct tape and plastic bags and maybe sew a special cover for them. Because why such an important connection should be left up to these flimsy little plugins that hardly even feel like anything is going to happen when you ineffectually join them — and usually, you know what, nothing does happen. Did I mention that they — the wires and their little pluggy thingies — are small? And no-account?
If I were designing those things, first, the wires would be BIG. They would be the biggest wires, instead of the littlest ones. Right? They are what make the plow work. I would go ahead and spend the extra $1.97 and use heavy-duty big wire, not sure of the technical term.
And I would want them to snap together in some sort of satisfying clicking way that told you they were together. Instead, these things kind of rest near each other in a spineless manner, possibly making contact in there under the unconvincing plastic, and possibly not, and anyway so covered in crud that, yeah, they are not. Making contact.
He ended up hard-wiring them after many dispiriting attempts at pushing the ends together –attempts resulting in the person in the truck (me) working the controls, with the only effect being that dreaded electrical dead-end thunk that tells you that it's not going up, down, side-to-side, or pushing any snow anytime soon. Mind, this is always going on when it's getting dark and cold and sort of damp in that ominous, it's-going-to-storm-like-heck-and-your-plow-goes-thunk kinda way.
I guess that since the boys do it every year I just never knew how silly the engineering of that thing is.
The three photos above are not of THE snow. They are of the snow two days before.
I was so so right that there wouldn't be much snow anyway — six inches say we, eight says our neighbor whose chestnut tree fell across his already inaccessible driveway — but that we would lose our power.
Gosh golly. Five whole days and parts of a day on either end! Good thing it was warm afterwards (outside) or the Chief was going to have to buy me a generator. (We did get the loan of one from our generous friends/outlaws the Turners {aka Rosie's in-laws — isn't that what our relationship is called? Outlaw?}, whose power came on sooner, and that saved all my food in the garage!)
And even so, I was beat, keeping warm, cooking, and not being clean. Not showering is tiring. Showering is exhilarating. You can get many things done if only you can take a shower! In this sense I am not old-fashioned. Uh uh.
Darkness is also tiring, as is constantly refilling oil lamps and shuffling candles. At one point, after exhausting my (rather ample, I had thought) candle supply, I went to the grocery store and bought all their white votives and also one blue Miraculous Medal one because I am strangely drawn to the Blessed Virgin votive candles, and would have gotten a Guadalupe one if they had had any. An emergency apparently brings out my non-Irish side….
The store's power was out also. (Everyone's was.) And you know what? It was lovely in there without the “music.” I call it “music” because music is for listening to and what is in the grocery store is precisely not to be listened to.
I told the manager how much I was enjoying being there without the “music” and he just kept laughing, way more than is normal in a conversation of that kind. Considering what an excellent customer of theirs I have been over the years, I think he should have paid more respectful attention to me.
While the sun shone we got some stuff done, actually. It's useful to try to figure out what you can do without power tools, glue gun, crock pot,and other things you automatically reach for. The weather became so warm, Bridget and I escaped the impossible pit our house was becoming and did yard work.
At last the power was restored and I commenced scrubbing. Thank goodness it came on in the morning, because I don't think I could have gone to bed knowing that I had the capability to plug the vacuum in, get hot water in a bucket, and run the washer, and yet not do any of that! My kitchen (where we spent most of our time) is now immaculate. My refrigerator looks brand-new.
Part of the reason for my deep-cleaning achievements is that the internet failed to come on for four more days. Apparently, it's not enough to call the cable company and tell them that you have been out in the woods and seen the line on the ground, and that in addition, their competitor, who was out there fixing his company's line, confirmed that it was indeed their line. (Let's pass lightly over the question of why one of them can't just fix both lines and charge the other. Apparently only a housewife would think of something so practical.)
It's not good enough to tell them that every day for six days. When one of them finally believes you, evidently he has no means by which he pass the information to the appropriate party in order to get the job done, despite its being a communications company. They seem to have no issue with sending out multiple repairmen to tell you that they are not the kind of repairmen who can get a line back up on a pole. They don't feel it's a waste of time, somehow.
And then, in a sort of unexpected miracle, a guy shows up and fixes it, and shakes his head. Because he well knows he is doomed only to randomness in his actions. We just got lucky, that's all!
I did have a triumph of cooking an entire meal from scratch (as opposed to heated up already cooked food pulled out of various stashes for about three days) on my little woodburning stove (well, the stove is quite big, but the top of it is not ample, due to the placement in the fireplace — see photos) I have no pictures of said triumph, as it was, well, dark.
And then I was done. No more food prep in me. I vaguely gestured towards the peanut butter. My inner Ma had fled. No where to be seen. Wednesday the Turners fed us. Thursday dear Erin fed us. We showered here, there, and anywhere a friend would let us, strategically fending off the slow grind of dirt and cold. Friday the power was back.
It was all good. Do not pity us. I'm only explaining the exact details of why you haven't heard from me, and clearly I needed to talk to you.
I love electricity. I really do!
Misty says
Wow you really had to rough it. Good thing you are well prepared for that sort of thing. I loved reading this post!
shwell says
I am pleased to hear you are all OK, I'm sure everyone who reads your post has been curious about what has been going on the last week or so. We were expecting 8-12 inches here in coastal Maine but hardly got any. We did lose power for awhile. So, I am wondering about those white containers on your stove, we happen to have the exact same woodstove you have and I have not yet embraced cooking on it when the power goes out. We usually revert to heating up frozen items like soup and garlic bread made and stashed for when the power is out. Happens here A LOT in the winter. Any advice, a book you use for woodstove cooking or just ideas on what you actually can cook on it to get me inspired would be awesome (if you have time)
_Leila says
shwell, the white containers always have water in them, for humidifying the room (I just set the lids ajar) and, in this case, for hot water for cleaning up dishes and sponge baths (very minimal ones :). In an outage, we have water, but no hot water! You can't just snap your fingers for it! So you keep it going on the stove.
Ditto the kettle for tea and more hot water.
I used my cast iron pan a lot. For the meal I first cooked diced potatoes with onions and lots of butter, then transferred those to a covered dish to stay warm. In the same pan I then cooked pork chops with cream and mustard. It was good! I had beans from the garden in my freezer, and I quick grabbed them (don't want to be opening the freezer, really!) and heated them in another pot. Slices of homemade bread from before the storm, wrapped in foil, heated on top also.
I can also heat up a pot of soup there (fortunately I had made a big pot of soup the day before the storm).
And the water containers are also handy for heating up something sealed in foil — but really seal it in heavy-duty foil or your food will be soggy!
I kept it simple, as my top is limited there. It would be cool to have a real range heated by wood, wouldn't it?
shwell says
thanks so much for the reply, ideas to plan around are always great. When I lived in England we had an AGA, I agree something like that wood fueled would be awesome I would use it all the time.
I have seen something that looks like it attaches to the flue and you can bake it in, but you wouldn't be able to do that with yours. I was wondering really if you were rising bread back there or something, but of course when there is no power there is no real cooking, too many dishes and no hot water for cleaning up, I think I will plan to cook dinner down on the woodstove once every other week just to get in the habit now, before I need to do it. Because I will need to this winter. Love your blog, 🙂 Shwell
Deb W. says
Love the plow story!
I would HIGHLY recommend a generator! We were out only 4 days here in NH but that generator saved my sanity! Something psychological about heat & a few actual light-bulbs being on…not mentioning of course the spared freezer full of meat.
Blessings on the journey~
Lisa G. says
I've been wondering how you've been! Welcome back. So, you did yard work? Are you talking about regular yardwork, or multitudes of limbs and branches all over the place? Hopefully you didn't have that – I heard CT got it worse than MA in that regard. I see you grew your own butternut squash! Great.
Is that your chicken poking around there??
pippajo says
Being me, I've found a lot to comment on here. So I hope you don't mind if I comment in random slashes:
-So glad you all are safe, sane, warm and clean
-A surprise visit from Hong Kong would be a surprise indeed! You must have nearly fainted! What a wonderful treat (and, I admit, I'm enough of a stalker to have looked at those pics and thought, “What is Nick doing there,” before I read the following description.)
-The Viking would LOVE a plow. I will tell him your idea.
-Also, he would think me the Most Amazing Woman Who Ever Lived if I could cook him an entire meal on the wood stove. I've not even boiled a cup of tea on ours yet. I should get right on that.
-Once when we had an ice storm that sent us scurrying to the store for emergency candles, all we could find were those tall, white votives. We bought several, feeling like we were scraping the bottom of the barrel and they have turned out to be the best emergency candles ever! We all fight over them whenever the power is out. I'm sure that is quite the opposite of their purpose and so I am sorry.
-Lastly, Helen Reddy! Haha!
_Leila says
Well, I certainly use votives in emergencies. They are safer than an open candle and you can leave them going in the bathroom for instance — as long as you need to, for days. And of course they are a prayer as well, so that's all good!
Jess says
We've all missed you, and are glad you are safe and sound!
Jess
Laura Jeanne says
Honestly, I can't imagine living for 5 days without electricity and hot water. I am a very old fashioned person in many ways, but every morning when I get in the hot shower I think to myself “I am so glad I have this.” I can't stand going even one day without a shower, let alone 5! My hair would look like a complete grease slick, eww.
It's good though that you at least have a wood stove, to keep warm and do a bit of cooking. Not many people have those these days (virtually no one in the city anyway) and I think it's just foolish that in areas where it can get really cold in the winter, there is literally no way for most people to warm up when the power goes out in winter. I mean, it's just crazy that people actually die during power outages because of it! Electricity is a lovely thing, but we should know by now that we can't depend on it being there 100% of the time. We are renting a house now, but we're hoping to buy our first house next year and I want to make sure we get one with a wood stove, or fireplace at the very least. I live in Canada too, it's just ridiculous that more people don't have an alternate way to heat when the power goes out.
I think I would prefer the grocery store quiet too! Shame on the manager for laughing at you.
Rachel says
My mother says, “I am woman, hear me roar!” all the time! I've thought many times what we would do if we had a power outage and frankly I haven't a clue what we would do. Probably vacate to my parent's house. I'm glad to hear you've survived!
Kate says
If housewives could repair snowplow and cable wires things would be much less stressful. When I finally took a shower after all those days I promised to never complain about our outdated and not so good looking bathrooms again.
It comforted me to read this post as during our “adventure” I thought I was just a fish out of water with my feelings.
Glad you are all wired and sharing again!
Rachael says
As for the internet issue — we've been through that, too. Plus the same for electricity. Our electricity had been out for a day, and kept calling to tell them, but always got an automated voice… finally got it fixed after one neighbor did an amazing thing and got an actual person! Very frustrating, and amazing that these companies can't get there acts together.
Glad you are back on the grid. I love the grid. I like my electricity if only for a light, or to boil water. Otherwise, its the camp stove to heat water, and that's about it. No wood burning stove here or a fire place… but then, it doesn't get cold and stay cold, really ever. The joys of the south!
Jonathan says
So delightful to have you back! We only lost power for an evening when we got our eight inches. It's wonderful to read about your resourcefulness – you have to love a woman who can conjure up images of Ma Ingalls and quote Helen Reddy in the same post. And your landscape shots are super gorgeous!
Kimberlee says
Whoops – sorry I didn't notice the login! That comment was not from some guy named Jonathan but from me, his mother!
justamouse says
lol, I do that all the time!
Elizabeth says
About 3 years ago a strong windstorm (leftovers from a hurrican down south) passed through Ohio and we were out of our power for 8 days. This was September though, and we had an absolutely gorgeous week of weather, so it is quite different than losing your power to a snowstorm! A gas water heater and gas stove certainly helped with the showering and cooking, so we didn't have much to complain about and it's always to be reminded that you *can* survive without electricity.
Advantage of losing power in the winter-no worries about losing food in fridge or freezer.
Advantage of losing power in the spring/summer/fall-no worries about keeping the house warm!
ReaderStitcher says
So glad you have your power back, and so glad YOU are back.
justamouse says
I am so glad you're all ok. And yep, I'd be feeling like you. I don't know how anything got done without showers. The hole post is cracking me up. I have often walked through my grocery, grumping about product placement, and wanting to call them up and tell them I could fix that problem for them-they seem to lack organizational skills or common sense. So you could call the communications company, and the plow company and tell them they have engineering problems and with a good hack, you'd have that all better for them. And same with the internet. 🙂
Anitra says
We got almost a foot, and most of our town lost power – but our neighborhood did not! Good thing, because with no fireplace and no generator, we would have had precious few ways to keep our little ones warm. (I was also really glad it happened on a weekend – I was disappointed that church was canceled, but happy that my husband was home to shovel so that I didn't have to wait for the baby to take a nap to do it!)
We did lose internet (cable) for 4 days – it's amazing how isolated you can feel in a suburban neighborhood without it!
Robin says
Oh, dear. I have to fourteenth that you should have a generator. We didn't lose power this time (though we did get 21+ inches of snow), but having one can't be beat! We don't power everything all the time (though some in the 'hood do) but we turn it on a couple of times a day to get food out of the fridge, top off the freezer with Cold, and showers for all. I have a gas cooktop, so cooking isn't a problem, and a woodstove for heat. You may now laugh, but we also power up the internet to see how long the power will be out! And charge up the laptop so we can have movies for any littles that are having withdrawals. Or mommies who are foaming at the mouth!
Yep. First world problems here.
I have to look into votives, though. What a great idea!
Lori says
It turns out to be so true — there is nothing like living without something to make one really appreciate it. But then the flipside is the things the “simple life” give us that we tend to lose with our conveniences — time to just sit and stare at a fire. more sleep when we go to bed earlier because it's hard to stay warm and read or do other work by lamplight, etc.
I'm glad you are back.
Teresa says
So happy for you that power is restored! I prayed for you but didn't wonder what had happened as your Rosie kept us informed (and entertained with pics of your sweet grandson). Can totally relate to the hassles of power outages. My husband and I lived on a farm in Kentucky for many years, and once lived through a snowstorm outage of the same period of time. It was so very awful not just because of the extreme cold, but mainly because our water was supplied from a well. No electricity – no water (because no pump, etc). That was a bad one. But we survived and have a good tale to tell. Feeling' your pain and so happy it is over. Love that Nick got to visit. Love that you and Bridget helped with the plow install. Love the meals cooked from scratch pioneer fashion. You are awesome.
ArdenLynn says
We had a huge storm hit Ohio in '08 that knocked out power for a week. It was the week I brought my preemie home from the hospital on oxygen and an electric apnea monitor. Oh my goodness I will never forget checking his oxygen tank by flashlight. We were afraid to use candles and couldn't light the fireplace.
I like electricity too. A lot.
Dawn says
I love your wire dilemma and the solution! And it is apparent that men are the ones fixing the wires on the internet connections to because your solutions are so practical and men just aren't! Because it is so much more fun and testosteronish to do things the most difficult round about way possible!
Sue says
What does it say about me that I now cannot get the “I am woman, hear me roar” son out of my head?
I am also jealous that you can buy candles at your grocery store – and don't even get me started on grocery store noise. Our neighborhood store has tape player positioned strategically around the store blasting their latest sales and specials over and over, ad infinitum. Ugh! I try not to think about American grocery stores – I only wind up homesick.
I always thought that ice storms and power outages were so much fun when I was young (yes, we even got them in GA on occasion), but as a mom I can say that I don't really miss them! I am sure I would have given in to “gesturing toward the peanut butter” long before you did!
Sheryl says
So glad to have you BACK! Lovely of Rosie to keep us informed and entertained with the Marines and scrumptious little Pippo but we are still in posting withdrawal! 🙂 Perhaps you could post the name and number of your internet company. I am sure they would get you back on line much quicker if women from all over the country called them continuously to report your internet being down!! Sorry, just my troublesome, rebellious sense of humor. Too bad you can't get your engineering fixes out into the world where they are obviously needed! Glad you are all ok. Sheryl
Margo says
I guess roughing it is only fun if you've chosen it, like in a vacation cabin. I enjoyed your description immensely! What triumphant meal did you cook on the stovetop?
Joyce Ackley says
I really enjoyed this post. I love reading about you and your family and the pictures. Little Pippo is oh, so adorable!
I must say I was perplexed when I read about the plow. It finally dawned on me you must be talking about a snow plolw? Forgive me for appearing so dumb, but I don't live in a part of the country where snow plows are needed. I live in sunny Florida, and I am still running the AC. Last night, I was a little cool, but a quilt and a furry kitty served to warm me up quite nicely!
It is so difficult to imagine snow this time of year. It's been several years since I've seen snow,and of course, it wasn't here in Florida. Our weather woes are during hurricane season, but we've been fortunate for the last few years.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving. You seem so happy and close, all of you, and it's a joy to hear your stories.
Mary says
So very glad you are safe and the lights are back on. It sounds like you went through quite the ordeal. Yowza. You made me think about our storm preparedness and I have spent the last two days making sure we will be OK if we loose power for a bit. Would not have thought about it without you.
Enjoy a lovely shower and a hot cup of tea…then repeat! Blessing and Grace to you and yours.
Donna L. says
Oh, my goodness I have missed you!
I laughed so hard at your explanation about a “communications company” haphazardly fixing your wires…Amazingly funny!
We live “way out” too, and have had the same sort of thing happen during winter storms when everyone around us seems to be enjoying power, computer, phone service—just not us! I suppose they don't think “little ole' me” who is home with 5 kiddos has nothing better to do than bug them! Sheesh!
Nancy says
Glad you are back. Like the title of your post. I have to share a billboard sign I just saw in Portland (traveling with husband while he works). It says ” Go Peopleless – Adopt a dog”. The visual is a man sitting at a table with a dog sitting upright like a human being at the table, across from the man.
Cassandra says
I'm glad you are back–I missed your posts! 🙂
Mary says
That story about the cable company is CRAZY! I love how the cable guy shrugged and was surprised to get it working. !!! I really love the pictures of your yard before the storm-gorgeous. You were missed!