| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Feb 08 2009 : 12:11:29 PM
Hey girlfriends! I know they only talked mostly about Kentucky but ARkansas got hit BAD with the ice storm too....quarter million here without power at the beginning and there are STILL people that may not get it until March! I'm one of the lucky ones... I went 7 days with only water, no heat, lights,,,,NADA. I had been prepared except a guy sold me a bunch of unseasoned wood which I could not get a decent fire out of.
Any tips for how to tell if the wood they deliver is any good? This happened to me last year too. I'd like to know BEFORE the storm...not during! LOL! I got electric last week but this is the first day I've felt rested...I think all that adrenaline use left me exhausted.
During the ice storm you could hear the trees cracking and snapping and it sounded like WWIII outside. It looks like it now too!
I'm glad to be back on here and hope all the AR and KY farmgirls and anyone else affected by that storm are okay now.
Any tips on the wood issue would be appreciated since tornado season and loss of electric is just around the corner!
But for today I have all my windows open and it is 65! Ahhhhhh.....good things come to those who wait! I just know it was NOT 65 last week when none of us had heat! Now, there is no sound of trees breaking just the hum of generators in the night.
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226
www.farmgirlsam.blogspot.com |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 09:12:56 AM
I know....the electric has been going on and off all morning here and it is REALLY windy so I went outside and re-potted my fern and divided into 2 plants...wind is good for LOTS of things....like blowing all the dead fern fronds off of it! I think I should do some wash and get it out on the line too before it rains later today! I wonder if there are solar batteries for pc's? I'd hate to give up my internet. We get a lot of sun and I could use it plus my house faces south so I could get a lot of solar panels up there! I don't have a lot of cash and I thought I was pretty frugal before but I can always improve! Oh, guess what....I went out to the wood pile and looked and it is ALL tan except for a few gray pieces and guess where they are.....at the bottom of the stack! LOL!!!! But the idea about the fake log to start it is good and I did buy some "firestarters" the only problem is I can get it going it just doesn't stay that way...it gets red and smolders and smokes.....but I'll be ready next year!
Great to hear from you Janice and sorry you had to go through that too! Glad you're all okay and weathered the storm! It was a doozey! Stay in touch! How's that farm coming?
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226
www.farmgirlsam.blogspot.com |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:42:10 AM
Sam - You said a couple of things that really resonated with me.
"I think all that adrenaline use left me exhausted." That's the first thing. I was surprised about how physically worn out my dh and I both were. Like we'd done a week of hard labor out in the field.
The second thing is about relying on 'stuff'. Even though I seemed to be the only female in my friends/family circle who stayed in her own home, I was still dismayed about how much I really rely on the 'grid'. I'm kind of disappointed in myself and am going to be more mindful of when/how I can be less reliant.
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
| Sandra K. Licher |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 08:12:01 AM
Thanks so much you gals! You are all SO smart! Those are the BEST tips on the wood! I never knew that....thank you all! When I woke up this morning there was no electric again! OMG....my poor appliances are just worn out from it all but it was only out about 5 hours so we're good to go again now....I am just now having my coffee! LOL! But it is warm now so no heat isn't so bad but now we are expecting storms so as in life.....5 steps forward and 10 steps back! I need to get a generator for my sump pump because if that stops I get water in my basement....LOTS! Sometimes I think it would be easier to just live in a small cabin somewhere off the grid. I hate relying on "stuff"! This is a lesson to get as self-sufficient as possible....these storms just get worse and worse everywhere. Bless you all and I am so grateful for ALL of you!!!!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226
www.farmgirlsam.blogspot.com |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 06:56:49 AM
Sorry, Sam. We went five days and that was no picnic. :( We're getting that mid 60's temps here now, too. Thanks for sending the good weather my way! And about that 'hum of generators'.....when the guy next door is so close you could smack him in the head if you reached out the window...his generator is making a ROAR! LOL!
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
| jpbluesky |
Posted - Feb 09 2009 : 06:23:29 AM
My hubby cuts firewood all the time and stacks it in our yard. When it begins to darken and look gray instead of light tan (on the inside) it is usually dry enough to burn. If you buy green wood now, it will be good for next winter. Wood should be plentiful in your area! And some of it may be already dry if the tree that fell was already dying. Just look for the dark, gray color.
I am so sorry you had to endure that without a good fire! And glad that things are looking up for you. You are a true farmgirl!
Somtimes, if you buy one of those paper wrapped logs and use it as a starter, your green wood (a couple of pieces on top of the starter log) will finally catch.
Farmgirl Sister # 31
www.blueskyjeannie.blogspot.com
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
| Mother Hen |
Posted - Feb 08 2009 : 10:05:30 PM
Sandra, I know that the wood should be dried for a year so it will burn good. If you can, see if you can get ahead on ordering wood and let it "season" at your place. Maybe now with all the trees down would be a good time to get wood as they cut it up to remove it, then it can season before you need it. You might also want to ask when buying wood if it's seasoned.
Glad you're back!
Cindy
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psalms 34:1 |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Feb 08 2009 : 3:08:56 PM
Sam,
So glad things are looking up for you. That was a hard time. We didn't have anywhere close to 65, I think it was about 30, but after three it seemed nice. I love fresh air in the house so I opened a few windows for a while. I always sleep with the bedroom window opened. I don't know much about the Wood thing, just that it should have aged a bit, and not be anything pine.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| ruralfarmgirl |
Posted - Feb 08 2009 : 2:18:49 PM
Sandra, I am sure you earned a lot of badges with the experience... disconnect to re-connect for one.... cant wait to hear more. I know that Jenn Bove' has been living off the grid too.
Rene~Prosser Farmgirl #185
http://farmchicksfarm.blogspot.com/
Circumstances made us FRIENDS; MaryJane's has made us SISTERS :) |
