The winter of no power

We have had two major storms and several minor ones in a three week period causing 2 power outages lasting 8 days total. Tough when it’s very cold and we need electricity to get water. We do have a gasoline generator which we used during a heat wave last August but it was very expensive to keep fueled. Didn’t worry about food getting warm this time. We did worry about pipes freezing but the house is well insulated and the area around the pipe inlet never got below 42   We  shuttled between our kids who had power though it did shut off awhile there too. Josh was gone and his dog needed constant care so we stayed there initially. Little did I realize that this was considered a great invasion of privacy by the DIL  she was furious and I in turn am astonished by her selfishness 

Aren’t these cute? A present from Shanna

Our visitors

The first two storms were ice storms. This is from last weekend  lots of heavy wet snow took down the wires that the ice storm missed. Civilized countries bury wires. Cables and gas lines are buried here but not the grid our power company is the worst in the Midwest in terms of outages, makes huge profits and yet wants another huge increase. Hopefully our newly elected state reps won’t let them get away with that

Our canine companion at Shannas. Is fine except when kids are around 

Ice storm

Tessa has spent hours rehearsing for a community production of Aladdin. Lots of songs to sing and dances to learn They spared no expense with special effects 

As I am only about ten feet away through glass he knows I am there. If I move he retreats but quickly returns

My cousin makes quilts 

German Shepards have lots of energy. This green space runs between the backyards of houses for several blocks. On our last walk there was an inch of slippery snow on the sidewalk. A dog came charging from one of the houses unleashed and lounged snarling. When Kaya jumped up to defend herself I took a hard fall exploding a poop bag all over my coat hurting my knee which quickly was a purple painful balloon   It still hurts two weeks later though I can at least walk. No running   This huge disruption to my routine has not been good physically or mentally. Lots of pity parties. When Kaya’s owners returned not long after, it was suggested we go to a hotel which was even more painful. Also impossible as many were without power and the few open were gouging their guests. 

Roughly the same area shown during the ice storm but this is from the heavy wet thunder snow storm. Yep thunder and lightning while snowing. Our way is blocked by a tree which the road commission is pushing aside

Unless I load the photos individually Blogger rearranges them randomly. The stage and the ensemble dancing. Tessa is in there somewhere 

While we dealt with the cold and no power, they dealt with the heat in Florida 

We have two serviceberry trees this one blocks our front entrance here but both sprung back up when the snow melted. Lots of trees down that weren’t so spring. Oh the neighbor has a whole house generator across the street. show off

I have lots of battery lights. During one of the outages we had Maya off her meds entering yet another circle of hell

Full sized moving elephant, flying carpets, flying genie, fireworks confetti cannons.  Quite the production 

No one wants to come to our front door anyway 

In between storms the choruses from all the middle and high schools had a concert in Hill auditorium. This is the sixth grade chorus with Maya hidden within