I don't care about the snow.
But the ice is a different story.
As I write this we are currently on generator power - the electric for the whole area, and much of SW Virginia and into West Virginia lost power on Wednesday.
At one point yesterday morning there were more than 122,000 out of power.
And while I am so grateful to have our generac to the cabin, there are so many others that do not have an alternate source of power.
It's one thing to be out of power in September due to hurricanes when the weather is still nice enough, but in this kind of weather? It's brutal.
We knew these trees would be a problem!
Sitting by USB powered (can also be solar charged) lantern in the middle of the night.
It was a very sleepless night - we were up until something like 3 am just listening to trees crash and fall all around us in the complete darkness.
The dogs were even upset. Every time they heard a tree crash they'd whine and get up and pace the floor.
We did the same.
It was the longest night ever not knowing if a tree would come down on the house, or on the car, or on Dave's shed - and we didn't know what we would wake up to. What would be across the drive?
We'd already had to battle our way up the drive the day before after returning from checking on things at the inn to find that ice had taken some small trees down across the drive that had to be cleared away before we could get the RZT to the top.
Some young guys in a pickup truck stopped by to ask if we needed help and help was greatly received. They helped clear our drive so we could get up to the house.
But what fell through the night was so scary. This is what we woke up to - both on our drive and on the main road.
Click to Play:
I pressed all of those many seams as flat as I could get them.
This contains so many of your gifted aqus!
Thank you!
I really am looking way past this winter season toward spring.
Pink dogwoods are my favorite, so I'm calling this one Dogwood Daze.
I will get it machine quilted up soon - I've got to come up with a backing.
It will be released as a PDF pattern sometime this spring.
Just hang on until spring!
Back to the log cabin blocks.
Quiltville Quote of the Day -
Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day, everyone.
I'm a day off and we will draw for the winner of the Old Town PDF pattern TOMORROW>
Thanks for understanding.
I'm so sorry you had another ice storm, but glad you all survived (minus some trees, branches and bushes). Definitely doesn't sound like a good night sleep. Big hug.
ReplyDeleteHere in central Mississippi we don’t get much ice or snow. But I’d rather have snow any day. The ice is beautiful, but so dangerous and destructive.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog every morning. You brighten each and every day
ReplyDeleteYour ending quote gives me another excuse not to dust. Besides it might be someone I used to know. Ice is my nemisis . It is as you say, worst than snow or wind and when you get all three in the winter it is the pits.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the ice, no power, and downed trees. I'm with you, I don't like ice at all.
ReplyDeleteDogwood Daze is beautiful. You're so talented Bonnie!
Happy Valentine's Day, Jenny
Pray that the power in your area is back soon. Ice hit here in March of 1991. My students watched as the ice accumulated on trees in the morning, then started to melt after lunch. That was short lived as the ice started to form again. By the time I got home we had no power. The next morning the radio reported the electric crews were starting from the ground up. I thought, ‘it will be a while.’ It was nine days later that we got word that ‘you should have power tonight.’ The district FFA contests were being held at our school after school dismissed that day. The teams were already there when the power went out. With emergency lights and candles the contest happened. But when students started going home around 9 pm, light poles had already started to fall. It was a chore for some to find a way home. There are lots of memories from those days, but not something I want to go through again.
ReplyDeleteI love the colors and it's fun knowing somewhere in there are some of the aquas that I sent you. You certainly turned those gifted strings into something beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you've got the hubster to help with all that. God bless him and keep you both safe.
ReplyDeleteYou poor things! As awful as it was, it could have been far worse, and it's lovely you have the generac. But you're so right that it was awful for those without back up power. I've been thinking that we need to consider storm issues when buying our retirement house in the next few months, and your area's situation makes it even more obvious that has to be considered.
ReplyDeleteHad to put my Springy Rhododendron Trail Quilt on our bed. Counting the days until SPRING. Hubby is snowblowing inches of snow that fell yesterday and overnight. I've storms are the worst. Grateful for just Snow. Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteIce is the worst! We get that, snow, sleet, tornadoes, hurricanes...whatever Nature throws our way. We also have neighbors who don't believe in tree maintenance, so even on sunny days, a tree can go kerplop on a power line. We too had to install a Generac, but only use it if the power will be out for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI've become quite a connoisseur of back-up lighting. Ivation brand 12-LED table lanterns, Mr. Beams motion lights, and whatever brand those battery-powered under-counter strip lights are at Wal-Mart (Great Value?) are my current favorites. The motion lights help as you move through the dark house. No need to hold anything. We even gave the cats motion lights around their cat boxes. You can also buy outdoor solar lights and charge those up during the day. Hoping your lines are back up soon and you hear the Generac growl down to a halt again. Always a good thing.
Wow! Wishing you well. Loved helicopter vid - very smart way to assess damage. Hang in there, spring is coming!!!
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Bonnie, spring is coming. Been in your shoes twice here in rural Pennsylvania and it's the worst downside of living in the woods. But I still wouldn't trade it for anywhere else. And when the day finally comes to leave because we've grown too old to manage, it will break my heart.
ReplyDeleteLoving Dogwood coloration. No ice here. Or snow for that matter (St. Louis) but plenty cold. My dog likes to be outside but I have to limit his time due to the frigid temps. He is a Labrador ,but still...
ReplyDeleteThank goodness Dave is such a resourceful homeowner, seems like there is nothing he can't do. Wasn't it a blessing to have those young men stop by to help?
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentines Day, hope you can catch up on your sleep and your area gets power back quickly. Happy Sewing, stay safe and warm Bonnie.
Don't give up on the bush.. trim it back give it fertilizer. It liiks like a butterfly bush. If you replace it, but it old one near a fence line or stake it up on your property. it may take hold
ReplyDeleteDogwood Daze is so nice! Love that it has gifted turquoise fabrics in it to be extra special. Hate that you are dealing with the ice storm....they are so scary for all the reasons you mentioned. Take care. Keeping you in my thoughts. Jonnie
ReplyDelete