I'm ready for the weather here in Western Washington to quit making national news...
As you may have heard, we had yet another record breaking weather experience, this time with wind storms. 70+ mph winds in our neighborhood. Strong enough to be seriously frightening (we are surrounded by tall, tall trees.) The power went down Thursday evening around 10pm. It was eerie to be in total darkness - I live in the suburbs, (many houses of which are covered with Christmas lights right now) and there is a street light literally at the end of my driveway - so it is *always* light outside. I stood at the window watching the occasional car drive down the street, its headlights showing the road strewn with fallen fir branches and sheets of water blowing vertically with the winds. The giant pines in my front lawn were whipping and swaying dramatically. I crawled into bed and tried to cover my ears with my pillow so that the winds would not keep me up.
We awoke to absolute tree-carnage on the lawn and streets. Trees down all over - hanging on the power lines and blocking the roads. Power off everywhere - I think they said 1.1 million households were effected. We were in OK shape (plenty of candles, lanterns, batteries, food, water, etc...) but our house does not have a fireplace, so it has gotten progressively colder the longer we have gone without power. It is STILL off at my house - I have commuted to a friend's whose power came on again this afternoon. I am basking in the heat. And light. And the computers and internet that work!
So, we are going on three days of no-power now. (I think I may need to haul my sleeping bag over here if it does not come on before bedtime).
Is the deadline-god conspiring against me? I did work some in the studio by lantern, with fingerless gloves and lots of votives to warm my hands on - but I find that I am not very efficient in the cold and dark. It's starting to get seriously scary - the time that is passing and I am not working enough. I can bring work here, but again, they are not set up with really good working lighting, plus I need so many reference things, it is daunting to transport... I'm crossing my fingers for power to come up some time today (although the power company says it could be several days yet).
My 'countdown' paintings are also stuck inside my powerless computer at home - so when the lights come back on there, posted paintings will resume...
Here's hoping you are all surrounded by warmth, light and internet access...
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12 comments:
Thanks for visiting me, too. Hope all returns to "normal" very soon.Summer or winter, losing power for days is always awful.Especially with a freezer FULL of festive fare!
It must be awful for you so near to Christmas. We have been on flood watch for the last few days, and just got the all clear yesterday. With all the rain the river had burst its banks and was spreading over the surrounding fields. It was a worry because even if your house escapes flooding the water knocks all the power out. Two years ago we had six days without power because of flooding so I know what you are going through, its really horrible being in a cold house. Hope things get better soon.
High winds are a common occurance for us but I can understand why they are worse for you with your trees. Here we just get the tumbleweeds and dirt going from one place to the other. We often say it isn't the farming that wears out the soil it is the blowing back and forth. Hope you get your power back soon and that the work goes well.
Wow you really having it weather wise - i hope all comes out the other end Ok!
I hear by now your lights and power are on... hope that's accurate! How awful for you.
Hope all is well soon. Warmth to you too.
It is unbelievable the unpredictable weather we are experiencing globally! I cannot remember as mild a Dec. as we are having here on *~my mountain~*
I can just imagine the anxiety you feel as I {{hate being cold}} I am sure you are chilled to the bone.
I wish you power heat and I send you a ~*warm blanket of hugs*~ NG
Oh Tara, hope by now you are electrified again and feeling your toes...
Tara, what a downer. Living in Washington, DC ment to endure many a power outage and the worst one was five days in freezing weather. I don't know how we'd have endured that long without a fireplace. Our neighbors finally got a generator, it took off the edge of power outages. I hope your trees survived.
I send you a warm hug from Vienna.
Tara,
Hope the power is back on now and you have all your creature comforts around you, if not I am sending you warm virtual hugs from across the sea. Oh by the way your SOSF parcel should be with you this week. Take care Debs
Hey Tara!
So glad to hear that you are back online! I just hate to be cold... and I hate to have deadlines crunching down on me! Especially ones that I am powerless (no pun intended) to do anything about. I'm sure your clients will understand that we are having a state of emergency in Washington right now and they should just be grateful that you don't have frostbitten fingers!
Take care,
Rebecca
glad to hear you are finally 'electrified', too! i don't know how you did it without a fireplace, though! i sat in frontof our's for much of the three days...rotisserie-style, warm the front, turn, warm the back, repeat!
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