It all began on Thursday night when the rain began. Then it turned into ice. LOTS of ice. The ice has covered all our trees in over 1/2 inch of thick, heavy ice. The trees have just drained their sap for the winter months and are very vulnerable to the elements. The result has been tree branches bending and breaking off. And in the worst case, whole trees have toppled under the oppressive weight of the ice. It is SO sad to see so many beautiful trees in our yard struggling to stay upright. Normally they are so stately and strong.
I couldn't help but go out very early and take pictures yesterday morning. All night we laid awake hearing branches fall in our yard at least every 10-15 minutes. I'm NOT exaggerating. I have to admit though, my imagination got the best of me. When I woke up I looked outside with much trepidation. I truly believed that we would have no trees standing at all on our very wooded lot. The good news is, we have kept most of our trees. The bad news is our yard is a total mess with fallen branches (big ones!) that have been cruelly ripped from the trunk, leaving gaping wounds and scars. The poor birds are so confused that they are flittering here and there, looking for a safe, familiar place to roost. Even our scrappy, tireless squirrels (who can be real pests) look as though they need a rest from the chaos. I wish I could invite them all onto our big enclosed back porch for a safe haven. That'd be interesting wouldn't it? LOL!
Friday, the kids did not have school. Even Daddybug came home from work at 8:00am due to the power outages everywhere. So it was a fun day, but not your typical day at all. Just before lunchtime we lost our power. We knew we were on "borrowed time" as most everyone all around us had lost theirs. So, lunch was prepared in the kitchen on the Coleman stove, camping-style. Thankfully we did have water.
Later on it was time to start the fire and try to keep warm until our power came back. For entertainment, DB brought in one of our power inverters from the RV so that we could watch "White Christmas" by candlelight. This helped to pass time and provide a distraction from the ruin outside and the uncertainty of when our power would come back on.
By 9:00 pm we were all in bed and quite tired from a busy day living like pioneers. All was quiet until about 3:00 am. The fire had gone out and our noses were cold from sticking out from under the covers. Not too long after, Little Ladybug stirred and cried that she needed "more covers". Being that was not an option, we brought her into bed with us. This child is the NOISIEST sleeper on the planet. She snores, grunts, sniffs and twitches. Thankfully these are things we normally don't hear on the monitor! I must say though, she is best person to wake up next too. She so cutely takes your face in her little hands and says,"I wake you up Mama!" Then plants a little kiss right on your lips. Now how can you not be charmed by that?!
LL and I and rolled out of bed at about 8 am, to a chilly 58 degree bedroom. The living room and kitchen, however, were a toasty 65 degrees as Daddybug had been up since 5:00am keeping the fireplace going. Thank You Daddybug!!
Today, Saturday, has been more of the same. The good news is:
1. We now own a generator. It was HARD to find, but we got it!
2. We have a solid plan should this continue (meals, heat, lights, etc.)
3. We are getting rather used to the "pioneer life-style"
4. Life by firelight and candlelight is SO fun and cozy
The bad news is:
Once we went to all these pains...
THE POWER CAME BACK ON!!!!!!!
OK so it's not REALLY bad news, but isn't that the way things go? Had we NOT rushed around we likely would STILL not have power. Sigh...such is life in the great Northeast.
Memorable Moments from the Ice Storm of 2008
1. How still and quiet our little village is when the power is out
2. How much fun a family can have when the power is out
3. How much you appreciate warm water and a lightbulb when the power is out
4. How nice it is to spend 12 hours under the spell of candlelight and firelight when the power is out
5. How neighborly people become when the power is out
6. How crazy the grocery store is when the power is out
7. How scarce relatively common items become when the power is out
8. How marvelous is God's creation when covered in an icy blanket
Enjoy the shots of our big adventure. I don't know if it's over yet as the ice is still looming large, some of the roads are still impassible, many people are still without power, and we are due to get strong winds tonight. Not good news.
Hey, we may still get to use that (not so inexpensive) generator after all. Guess we can invite the neighbors over for kettlecorn tonight!
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